B. B. Abdulla - Timeless Seeds of Advice: The Sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn al-Jawzi and Other Prominent Scholars in Bringing Comfort and Hope to the Soul

Timeless Seeds of Advice

The Sayings of Prophet Muhammad , Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn al-Jawzi and Other Prominent Scholars in Bringing Comfort and Hope to the Soul

B. B. Abdulla

2019

Copyright 2018 B. B. Abdulla

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means for commercial purposes without prior permission of the author. The author affirms the readers right to share this book for personal, non-commercial purposes.

All praise and gratitude are due to Allah . May Allahs peace and blessings be on Muhammad , on his family and on his companions.

This book is dedicated to those who feel an emptiness, sadness, loss of hope or distance from Allah . May Allah guide you by the way of these reminders and heart softeners to better yourself and rise above the cloud that is covering your heart.

And go on reminding [people], it is good for those who believe to be reminded. [Quran 51:55]

I have taken these sayings with me and carried them in my heart. They have lent me great strength and hope throughout the years. I wanted to compile them into a book so as to benefit the wider community InshaAllah (God-willing). I am only a servant in need of mercy.

Whoever desires goodness, then let him take account of himself and reproach himself day and night in self-development. Nothing is more beneficial than reflecting upon the Quran which is a love letter composed to you from Allah Himself.

The root of happiness in this world is contentment. By being content, you are led to the doors of gratefulness. By being content, you are patient and satisfied with the decrees of your Master, Allah . By being grateful, you take that a step further and are not only content, but happy, and grateful for the state you are in. As for the reward of the patient ones, Allah says: Say, [God says], believing servants, be mindful of your Lord! Those who do good in this world will have a good reward Gods earth is wideand those who persevere patiently will be given a full and unstinting reward. [Quran 39:10]

A servant in need of Allahs mercy

In sujd (prostration), I found my home

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Shaykh al-Islm Ibn Taymiyyah , may Allah honor his soul and illuminate his grave, once said to me (explaining with a metaphorical example the purpose of seeking refuge in Allah from Satan):

If the shepherds dog ever barks at you attempting to attack you, then do not engage it in a fight. Instead, turn to the shepherd and seek his help for he will leash it and save you the trouble.

When a person takes refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, He protects him and keeps away Satans harm and evil from reaching him.

Ab Bakr al-iddq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I wish I were a hair in the side of a believing servant.

He expressed the extent of his fear of Allah and how he would do anything to please his Master. He used to weep and say: cry and if you cannot, try hard to.

To this effect, Ibn al-Jawzi said: When true fear of God is realized in your heart, all good things will come to you.

My God, and my Lord, who do I have besides You?

In life, we are taught time and again that in blessing and in hardship the only one who can fully comprehend our situation is Allah . The ultimate help is from Allah. Striving to gain the acceptance and love of Allah will inevitably lead to an escape out of every difficult and misery one experiences in life.

Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should heed this: God will find a way out for those who are mindful of Him, and will provide for them from an unexpected source; God will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. God achieves His purpose; God has set a due measure for everything. [Quran 65:2-3]

These words remind us that besides Allah we have no one to aid us. Allahs help is near and the believers will be victorious by the will of Allah. Despair not; Allah will never leave the one He loves out in the dark. Imagine for a moment what you would do for someone you love if they are distressed or sad. It is incomparable on any level to the help and support that will be received from Allah . Allahs timing and knowledge are far beyond ours to comprehend the delaying of ease or the answer to a supplication.

Ibn al-Jawzi to this effect remarked: If you repent and supplicate but are not answered, reflect on your condition, for perhaps your repentance has not been realized, therefore work toward completing it. Then supplicate, and do not tire of supplication, for perhaps it is in your best interest for the answer to be delayed, or for it not to be answered. In this way you accumulate rewards, and you will be answered through that which benefits you, and perhaps it is to your benefit that you do not get what you seek, but are given something better that replaces it.

Ultimately for a true believer it comes down to: God is enough for us: He is the best protector.

He is with you wherever you may be. [Quran 57:4]

The words of Allah are tranquility to the hearts of the believers and those who reflect upon the Quran. Knowing that Allah is with us in our affairs at all times is one of the greatest blessings a servant can have in their lifetime. For the one who is deprived of Allah is deprived of all good; while the one who has Allah has gained all goodness. Allah has infinite knowledge of our affairs. Knowing this should bring joy and happiness to our hearts. He has the keys to the Unseen: no one knows them but Him. He knows all that is in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowledge, nor is there a single grain in the darkness of the earth, or anything, fresh or withered, that is not written in a clear Record. [Quran 6:59]

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah