How to be the best in everything

[baba]

Khalid Ibn El-Waleed narrated the following:

A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet (pbuh) and said to him, "O, Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter.

Ask what you wish.

I'd like to be the most learned of men.
Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.

I'd like to be the richest man in the world.
Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.

I'd like to be the most just of men.
Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.

I want to be the best of men.
Do good to others and you will be the best of men.

I wish to be the most favoured by Allah.
Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be favoured by Allah.

I would like to complete my faith.
If you have good manners you will complete your faith.

I wish to be among those who do good.
Adore Allah as if you see Him, for surely He sees you.

I wish to be Obedient to Allah.
If you observe Allah's commands you will be obedient to Allah.

I'd like to be free from all sins.
Bathe your body from impurities and you will be free from all sins.

I'd like to be raised in the Day of Judgement in the light.
Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgement in the light.

I'd like Allah to bestow His Mercy on me.
If you have mercy on yourself and on others Allah will bestow His Mercy on you.

I'd like my sins to be very few.
If you seek forgiveness from Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.

I'd like to be the most honourable man.
If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honoured of men.

I'd like to be the strongest of men.
If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.

I'd like for Allah to enlarge my provision.
If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.

I'd like to be loved by Allah and His Messenger.
If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.

I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgement.
If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgement.

I'd like my prayers to be responded.
If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded.

I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgement.
If you guard your chastity Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgement.

I'd like Allah to protect me with a covering protection on the Day of Judgement.
Do not uncover your fellow creatures faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering on the Day of Judgement.

What will save me from sins?
Tears, humility and illness will save you.

What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah?
Gentle manners, modesty, and patience in adversity.

What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah?
Hot temper and Miserliness.

What extinguishes hell's fire on the Day of Judgement?
Patience in adversity and misfortunes.

What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and the hereafter?
Concealed charity and kindness to others."

(my emphasis)

[AbuMubarak]

Sincerity and Sincere Advice
Imam an-Nawawi

Al-Ibanah Magazine

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Tameem ad-Daaree radiallaahu `anhu said: The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said (three times): "The Deen is naseehah (sincerity and sincere advice)." We said: To whom? He said: "To Allaah, His Book, His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and the general people." 1

Commentary upon the Hadeeth Imaam an-Nawawee (d.676H) - rahimahullaah - said: 2

"As regards sincerity to Allaah - the Most High - then its meaning refers back to having eemaan (faith) in Allaah and the denial of any partner with Him. To abandon ilhaad 3 with regards to His Attributes. Describing Him - the Most High - with the qualities of completeness, perfection and greatness, whilst declaring Him completely free from any defects and deficiencies. To avoid disobedience to Him. To love for His sake and to hate for His sake. To keep good relations with those that obey Him and to have enmity with those that disobey Him. To fight Jihaad with those who disbelieve in Him. To recognise His favours and to give thanks to Him for them. To have sincerity in all affairs. To call to everything that we have mentioned, and to encourage it. To show kindness to all the people, all those whom you are able to, in this call. Al-Khattaabee (d.388H) - rahimahullaah - said: "The reality of this attachment refers back to the servant being sincere to himself, since Allaah - the Most High - has no need of the sincerity of the one doing it."

As regards sincerity to His Book - then it is to believe that: It is the Speech of Allaah - the Most High - and His Revelation. Nothing resembles it from the speech of creation. No one from the creation is able to match it. Then, to give it due respect. by reciting and acting upon it as it should be done, and to do that well. To have khushoo' (humbleness and submissiveness) when doing so. To correctly recite its letters. To defend it from the misinterpretations of the people who make tahreef (corruption and changes) and from the onslaught of those who attack it. To believe in what is in it. To affirm its rulings. That you learn its sciences and examples. That you take heed of its warnings and ponder over its amazing matters. That you act upon those things that are clear and that you submit to those which are not so clear. That you seek after those matters which are general and specific, abrogated and abrogating. To promulgate its sciences and to call to it. All of this being sincerity to it.

As regards sincerity to Allaah's Messenger - then it is: to testify to the truth that he was sent with. To obey him in what he ordered and forbade. To aid and assist him in life and in death. To be at enmity with those who are his enemies. To align oneself with those that have allegiance to him. To respect his rights and his honour. To revive his way and his Sunnah. To spread his da'wah and his Sharee'ah. To expel any doubts that are raised against it. To give ones full attention to the sciences of Hadeeth. To gain understanding of its meaning and to call to it. To have mildness and kindness in learning and teaching it. To give due place and importance to it. To display correct manners when reading it. To withhold from speaking about it without due knowledge. To give due respect to its people because of their attachment to it. To take on board its manners and conduct. To love the Ahlul-Bayt and his Sahaabah. To avoid those who introduce bida' (innovations) into his Sahaabah, and to avoid those who attack even a single one of his Sahaabah.

Sincerity to the leaders: It is to help them upon the truth. To obey them in it. To order them with it. To remind and advise them, with kindness and gentleness. To make them aware of what they are heedless and neglectful of To help them fulfill those rights of the Muslims that have not reached them yet. Not to rebel against them. To enamour the hearts of the people with obedience to them. Al-Khattaabee - rahimahullaah - says: "From sincerity to them is Prayer behind them, Jihaad along with them, to give the Zakaah to them and not to rebel against them with the sword when injustice or bad treatment appears from them. And that they are not praised with false praises and that du'aa is made for their righteousness." All of this is based upon the fact that what is meant by the leader of the Muslims is the Khaleefah, and other than them, from the administrators who take charge of the affairs of the Muslims. Al-Khattaabee also quotes it, then says: "And it has been taken to refer to the Imaams who are the Scholars of the Religion. And that sincerity to them includes: Accepting what they report, following them as regards rulings and to have good thoughts about them." Sincerity to the General Muslims - and they are those who are other than the Rulers and Scholars: It is to guide them to what is beneficial for them, both in the Hereafter and this life. To keep harm away from them, so that he teaches them that which they are ignorant of as regards the Deen. To help them in this by words and actions. To hide their faults and to fulfill their needs and wants. To remove that which is harmful for them and to bring that which is of benefit to them. To order them with good and forbid them from evil, with gentleness, sincerity and compassion for them. Having respect for their elderly and mercy for their young. To give them good admonition, not acting deceitfully towards them. To love the good things for them, which he would love for himself. To hate the bad things for them, which he would hate for himself. To protect their wealth and reputation and other than that, with sayings and actions. To encourage and advise them to take on the character of all that we have mentioned, from all the types of sincerity. And to enliven their feeling for acts of obedience. And there were some from the Salaf - may Allaah be pleased with them all - whose advice was so great, that it caused severe harm to his worldly affairs - and Allaah knows best."

Related by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh (no.55).
Sharh Saheeh Muslim (2/38).
Denying or altering the meanings of Allaah's Names and Attributes.

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http://www.islaam.com/Article.asp?id=203

[Musaafir/a]

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[Arsalan]

gr8 thread jazakallah khair.