The foundations of all that is beneficial

Repentance, awareness of God, and uprightness are the foundations of all that is beneficial. Know that repentance is a key, God consciousness (taqwa) is vast, and uprightness is the source of rectification.

[Shaykh Ahmad al Zarruq]

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Taqwaa

When Ibn `Aun was bidding farewell to another man, he said:

“Upon you is to fear Allah, for the one who has taqwaa never feels loneliness”.

Zaid bin Aslam said:

“Whoever fears Allah people will love him, even if they had previously hated him”.

Imaam Thauri said to Ibn Abi Dha`ib

“If you fear Allah, He will be enough for you so that you do not need people. And if you fear people, they will not satisfy you in the least terms of your total dependence on Allah”

Sulaiman bin Dawood said

“We have been given what others have been given and more, and we know what others know and more, and we have found that nothing is better than the fear of Allah in secret and in open, justice during times of happiness and sadness, and moderation in times of poverty and richness”.

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And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [of every difficulty]

Ibn al-Jawzi said:

“Something was causing me a great deal of grief and distress, and I started to think long and hard about how to get out of this situation by any means, but I could not find any way out. then I came across this verse:

‘…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [of every difficulty].’ (65:2)

I realised that Taqwa (Piety, fearing Allah) is the way out of every kind of grief and distress. As soon as I followed the path of taqwa, I found the way out.”

I say: for the wise men, taqwa is the way that leads to everything good, for calamity happens only as a result of sin, and it can only be lifted through repentance. Sadness, grief and worry are punishments for sins that you have committed, by falling short in your prayers, or backbiting about a Muslimah, or taking the matter of hijab lightly, or committing a haram (forbidden) action. Whoever goes against the laws of Allah, the Almighty, has to pay the price for that shortcoming. The One Who created happiness is the Most Gracious Most Merciful, so how can you seek happiness from anyone other than Him? If people had control over happiness, there would be no deprived or grieving person left on earth.”

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The Qur’aan is your soul amongst the people of the heavens

It is narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radhiallaahu `anhu) that he said

“Have taqwa of
Allaah because it is the head of all matters and upon you is Jihaad because it is the
monasticism of Islaam and upon you is the remembrance of Allaah and the recitation of
Qur’aan as it is your soul amongst the people of the heavens and your mention amongst the
people of the earth, and upon you is to remain silent except in the truth as you will then over
power the Shaytaan.”

Narrated from Jundub that he said

“I advice you with the taqwa of Allaah and I advice you
with the Qur’aan for truly it is a light by the dark night and a guidance by the day – act upon
it in difficulty and in poverty. If a calamity befalls, sacrifice your wealth instead of your Deen
(religion) and if the calamity intensifies, then sacrifice your wealth and your life instead of
your Deen for surely the ruined one is he whose religion is ruined and the deprived is he who
has been deprived of his Deen. Know that there is no poverty after entering Paradise and no
prosperity after entering Hellfire.”

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Abandon sins big & small

خَلِّ الذنوبَ صغيرَها و كبيرَها ذاكَ التُّقى
واصْنَع كَماشٍ فوقَ أرضِ الشّوكِ يَحْذَرُ ما يَرَى
لا تَحْقِرَنّ صغيرةً إنّ الجِبالَ منَ الحَصى

Abandon sins – big and small: that is Taqwa…
And be like a person walking one a land of thorns, cautious about what he sees…
Belittle not the small sins,

Indeed mountains are made up of small stones….

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In a manner beyond all expectation

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
…And unto everyone who is conscious of God, He [always] grants a way out [of unhappiness]. and provides for him in a manner beyond all expectation; and for everyone who places his trust in God He [alone] is enough…
[65:2-3]

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Fear Allah

When Ibn `Aun was bidding farewell to another man, he said: “Upon you is to fear Allah, for the one who has taqwaa never feels loneliness”.

Zaid bin Aslam said: “Whoever fears Allah people will love him, even if they had previously hated him”.

Imaam Thauri said to Ibn Abi Dha`ib “If you fear Allah, He will be enough for you so that you do not need people. And if you fear people, they will not satisfy you in the least terms of your total dependence on Allah”

Sulaiman bin Dawood said “We have been given what others have been given and more, and we know what others know and more, and we have found that nothing is better than the fear of Allah in secret and in open, justice during times of happiness and sadness, and moderation in times of poverty and richness”.

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I did not find a better friend than safeguarding the tongue

Umar (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu):

“I looked at all the friends and did not find a better friend than safeguarding the tongue. I thought about all the dresses but did not find a better dress than piety. I thought about all sorts of wealth but did not find a better wealth than contentment in a little. I thought of all sorts of good deeds but did not find a better deed than offering good advice. I looked at all types of sustenance but did not find a better sustenance than patience”.

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