Hi guys, I trust you’re doing good. AlhamduliLlah, it’s another episode of my compendium and I hope you’re not expecting it to be lengthy. It is just going to be a summary of some important benefits.
So, don’t delay reading it when its notification hits your inbox. I wrote this at 11:41 a.m when I was supposed to clear all my important and urgent tasks of the day before Jumu'ah time. Though, I was able to clear some before jumping on this. I thought if I didn't write this, then there is no guarantee that I’ll not start sailing a boat of fantasy or procrastination till it becomes a sorry story and ends in regret.
So let’s ride in…
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My recent bookshop experience
A few weeks ago before 'Eid, I entered a bookshop with my family and came across a book written by Ibn Taymiyyah (Raḥimahullāh) titled; ESSAY ON THE HEART. The book at a distance pleaded to my eyes and the title itself is beguiling. Right from time, I have been a lover of books with good prints and also pay attention to how scholars name their intellectual works.
That day, I was a bit indisposed but I wasn’t restrained by that to spot some beneficial books around the store.
ESSAY ON THE HEART was annotated and translated by Dr Bilal Philips (Hafiẓahullāh), which happened to be the first of his works I’ll ever read. Indeed, the book is worth your time, especially if you’re interested in working on your heart. I’ll advise that you get yourself a copy.
In the book, Ibn Taymiyyah (Raḥimahullāh) demystified the role of the heart in the life of a true Muslim. After elucidating the purpose and function of the heart, he established the pertinency the Qur’an and Sunnah give to the hearts. Afterwards, he mentioned the efforts of the Salaf in purifying their hearts. Just to iterate, no amount is worth the benefits of this book. May Almighty Allah be merciful to the author and reward him abundantly for this ingenious treasure he left for the Ummah.
Before I leave you this week in the safety of Al-Hafeedh (The Preserver, The All-Protecting), it is good to mention two of Salaf’s statements I specifically noted and benefitted a lot from.
First Benefit
A true Muslim will always love to do good deeds. This which he purposefully does to increase in faith. He knows and acknowledges that faith does fluctuate. At one time, it increases, and at other times it decreases. It increases with engaging in good acts and decreases with falling into sins. He (a true Muslim) will want to zealously safeguard his good deeds from actions that undermine its rewards (such as show-off) just as he guides his sins from people.
Dr Bilal Philips in his explanation mentioned how people before us resisted the urge to expose their private worship to the public as they know it is one of the easiest ways to invite show-off and thus affecting the reward of such worship. He also mentioned that
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (Raḥimahullāh) said, “Whenever a worshipper does a good deed in private, Shaytan keeps whispering to him until he tells other people about it. It then changes from a private act of worship to a public one.” [Tables Iblees, p. 180]
📝 Lesson
Resist the urge to mention your private worship to anyone no matter how close the person is. It is mentioned that our pious predecessors will perform an action and keep it private so much that even their wives or close friends would not be aware of it.
Second Benefit
Not everything that you know should be mentioned. This is clear from the statement of Abu Hurayrah referring to the knowledge which he learned from the Prophet (ﷺ). Dr Bilaal Philips brought the hadith from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī while pointing reference to the ‘container’ metaphor used for heart.
He said, “I memorized from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) two containers. As for one of them, I spread it. As for the other, if I were to spread it, this head (of mine) would be severed.”
📝 Lesson
Resist the urge of mentioning everything you know, most especially when the evil consequences of doing so are conspicuous.
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The Extra
Leave out the past when parents take pride in not being approachable and uncorrectable by their children. Make a paradigm shift towards being a correctable and approachable parent.
"Be a correctable and approachable parent.”
— Abdulaleem Akinyoola ✍️
How can I get a copy of that book (Essay on the Heart? please?
MaashaAllah!