| From The Best Ways Of Seeking الاستعانة (al-Isti’aanah - appealing for aid and assistance), Is Through The Prayer |
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
أما بعد
قال الشافعي رحمه الله تعالى
شكوت إلى وكيع سوء حفظي فأرشدني إلى ترك المعاصي
وأخـبرني بأن العـلم نــور ونور الله لا يهـدى لعـاص
Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee rahimahullaahu ta’alaasaid, "I complained to Wakee’ about the poorness of my memory. So he directed me to abandon disobedience, and informed me that the knowledge of Allaah is light. And the light of Allaah is not given to the disobedient."
{Deewaanush-Shaafi’ee (p.88) and Al-Jawaabul-Kaafee of Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim rahimahullaah (p.104).}
Sins and disobedience are substantial obstacles hindering the ways to attainment of every good and benefit which one seeks after as well as khushoo’(concentration and humility) in the Salaah.
From these (hindering obstacles) is that a man remains married to a woman of evil character and he doesn’t divorce her, or that he gives wealth to those lacking in intelligence, or makes a loan to someone without witnesses.
On the authority of Abee Musaa radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said:
ثلاثة يدعون الله عز و جل فلا يستجاب لهم: رجل كانت تحته امرأة سيئة الخلق فلم يطلقها و رجل كان له على رجل مال فلم يشهد عليه و رجل آتى سفيها ماله و قال الله تعالى: و لا تؤتوا السفهاء أموالكم
"There are three who call upon Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and they are not responded to: A man married to a woman of evil character and he doesn’t divorce her, and a man who has wealth held by another man but does not get that witnessed, and a man who gives wealth to one lacking in intellect, and Allaah, the Most High says:
وَلاَ تُؤْتُواْ السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَاماً وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمْ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفًا
"And do not give unto the foolish Your property which Allaah has made a means of support for You , but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them Words of Kindness and justice."
{Sooratun-Nisaa’(4):5, Reported by Imaam al-Haakim and Imaam al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.3076).}
There also occurs in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umarradhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhumaa that Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said:
اثنان لا تجاوز صلاتهما رءوسهما: عبد آبق من مواليه حتى يرجع و امرأة عصت زوجها حتى ترجع
"There are two whose Prayer does not ascend above their heads: A slave who flees from his owner until he returns, and a woman who disobeys her husband until she returns (to obedience)."
{Reported by Imaam al-Haakim and Imaam al-Albaanee in his Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.137).}
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم :( إن
الله تعالى طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا ... ثم ذكر الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يده إلى السماء : : يا رب ! يا رب ! ومطعمه حرام ومشربه حرام وملبسه حرام وغذي بالحرام فأنى يستجاب له ؟ رواه مسلم
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, who said: The Messenger of Allaahsallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said: "Verily Allaah is Tayyib (Good) and accepts only that which istayyiban…then he mentioned (the case of) a man who, traveled far, disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky (saying): "Yaa Rabbu yaa Rabb (O Lord! O Lord!) –as his food is Haraam (un-lawful), his drink is haraam, and he is nourished haraam, so how can he be answered!"
{From ‘Arba’eenin-Nawawiyyah (hadeeth no.10) reported by Muslim.}
And Allaah said:
إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ
"…To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds)…"
[Sooratul-Faatir 35:(10).]
وَعَنِ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ خَلْفَ اَلنَّبِيِّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. يَوْمًا, فَقَالَ: { يَا غُلَامُ! اِحْفَظِ اَللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ, اِحْفَظِ اَللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ, وَإِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلْ اَللَّهَ, وَإِذَا اِسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ } رَوَاهُ اَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ, وَقَالَ: حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
And the narration of Ibn ‘Abbaas radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, who said, "One day I was riding behind the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam and he said to me, "Yaa Ghulaam (O young boy), be mindful of Allaah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allaah and you will find Him in front of, when you ask (for anything) ask of it from Allaah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allaah."
Concerning الاستعانة (al-Isti’aanah- appealing for aid and assistance),
Allaah 'azza wa jalla said,
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
"You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)."
[Sooratul-Faatihah(1):5.]وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ
قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. { اَلْمُؤْمِنُ اَلْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اَللَّهِ مِنْ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ اَلضَّعِيفِ, وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ, اِحْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ, وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ, وَلَا تَعْجَزْ} أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said:
"A Strong believer is better and more beloved to Allaah than a weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Strive and persist in what brings benefit to you, seek Allaah’s help and aid, and do not weaken or become incapable..."
{Reported by Imaam Muslim (no.2664).}
ولهذا جاء في بعض الآثار: استعينوا على قضاء الحوائج بكتمانها, فإن كل ذي نعمة محسود
And concerning this (striving and seeking help towards that which benefits) comes in some of the Aathaar (narrations) from the wise Arabs:
"Seek help for fulfilling needs by being discrete, for verily every owner of a blessing is envied."
Along with this wording as well,
Furthermore jealousy and envy is not permissible except in two cases,
عن سالم، عن أبيه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. قال "لا حسد إلا في اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله القرآن. فهو يقوم به أناء الليل. وآناء النهار. ورجل آتاه الله مالا. فهو ينفقه آناء الليل وآناء النهار
Saalim reported his father (Ibn ‘Umar)radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhumaa, narrating that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said:"Envy is not justified except for two cases; A man to whom Allaah has taught and granted the Qur’aan, so that he stands in Salaah reading it throughout the night and day, and a man whom Allaah has given wealth and he gives it in charity (in Allaah’s Cause) during the hours of the night and during the hours of the day." {Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no.5025) and Muslim in his saheeh (2/388/no.1777). }
And from the best ways for seeking aid and assistance is through the Salaah. It is mentioned from Hudhayfah radhiyallaahu ‘anhu that "When anything distressed him (the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) he would pray." {Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad, Aboo Daawood, and Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.4579).}
This is the true Prayer by means of which the servant turns for refuge and help to Allaah, the Most High, from sorrows, distress, grief and anxiety. So he then feels consolation and that he is aided by Allaah, the Most High, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. This assists him to proceed successfully through this life and gain the Pleasure of Allaah, and he wins Paradise whose width is like the heavens and earth.
Concerning this Isti’aanah through the Prayer Allaah 'azza wa jalla said:
وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ
الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلاَقُوا رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
"And seek help in patience and As-Salaat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khaashi'een [those who humble themselves].(They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are going to return." [Sooratul-Baqarah(2):45-46.]
قال الحافظ ابن كثير رحمه الله تعالى
يقول تعالى آمراً عبيده فيما يؤملون من خير الدنيا والاَخرة بالاستعانة بالصبر والصلاة, كما قال مقاتل بن حيان في تفسير هذه الاَية: استعينوا على طلب الاَخرة بالصبر على الفرائض والصلاة, فأما الصبر فقيل: إنه الصيام, نص عليه مجاهد, قال القرطبي وغيره: ولهذا يُسمى رمضان شهر الصبر كما نطق به الحديث, وقال سفيان الثوري عن أبي إسحاق عن جري بن كليب عن رجل من بني سليم عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم, قال «الصوم نصف الصبر» وقيل: المراد بالصبر الكف عن المعاصي, ولهذا قرنه بأداء العبادات وأعلاها فعل الصلاة. قال ابن أبي حاتم: حدثنا أبي حدثنا عبيد الله بن حمزة بن إسماعيل حدثنا إسحاق بن سليمان عن أبي سنان عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه, قال: الصبر صبران: صبر عند المصيبة حسن, وأحسن منه الصبر عن محارم الله. قال: وروي عن الحسن البصري نحو قول عمر, وقال ابن المبارك عن ابن لهيعة عن مالك بن دينار عن سعيد بن جبير, قال: الصبر: اعتراف العبد لله بما أصيب فيه واحتسابه عند الله ورجاء ثوابه, وقد يجزع الرجل وهو يتجلد لا يرى منه إلا الصبر. وقال أبو العالية في قوله تعالى: {واستعينوا بالصبر والصلاة} قال: على مرضاة الله, واعلموا أنها من طاعة الله, وأما قوله: والصلاة, فإن الصلاة من أكبر العون على الثبات في الأمر كما قال تعالى: {اتل ما أوحي إليك من الكتاب وأقم الصلاة إن الصلاة تنهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر ولذكر الله أكبر} الاَية
Al-Imaam al-Haafidh Ibn Katheerrahimahullaahu ta’alaa said in his Tafseer:
"Allaah has commanded His servants to use patience and prayer to acquire the good of this life and the Hereafter. Muqaatil bin Hayaan said that this ayaah means, "Seek help in patience and the obligatory prayer in seeking the Hereafter. As for patience (here), they say that it means fasting." There are similar texts reported from Mujaahid. Al-Qurtubee and other scholars commented, "This is why Ramadhaan is called the month of patience" as is mentioned in the Hadeeth literature. It was also said that "patience" in the ayaah means, refraining from evil, and this is why "patience" was mentioned along with practicing acts of worship, especially and foremost, the prayer. Also, Ibn Abee Haatim narrated that ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab said, "There are two types of patience: good patience when the disaster strikes, and a better patience while avoiding the prohibitions of Allaah." Ibn Abee Haatim said that Al-Hasan Al-Basree was reported to have said similarly.
Allaah then said,
وَالصَّلاَةِ
(And the Salaah.)
The prayer is one of the best means of assistance for firmly adhering to Allaah's orders, just as Allaah said;
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
"(Recite! (O Muhammad
From ‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, who said that "I heard Allaah’s Messengersallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam say: "A man of myUmmah gets up at night, strives against his own self to purify himself and there are knots upon him, so when he washes his hands a knot is untied, when he washes his face a knot is untied, when he wipes his head a knot is untied and when he washes his feet a knot is untied. So Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says to those who are behind the screen: "Look at this servant of Mine striving against his own self makingDu’aa (request) to Me. Whatever this servant of Mine asks Me then it is his."
{Reported by Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and the wording is his.}
عن انس رضي الله عنه ، قال : سمعت رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم يقول : ( قال
الله تعالى : يا ابن ادم ! إنك ما دعـوتـني ورجوتـني غفرت لك على ما كان منك
ولا أبالي ، يا ابن آدم ! لو بلغـت ذنـوبك عـنان السماء ، ثم استغـفـرتـني
غـفـرت لك ، يا ابن آدم ! إنك لو اتيتني بقراب الأرض خطايا ثم لقيتـني لا
تـشـرك بي شيئا لأتـيـتـك بقرابها مغـفـرة
From Anas radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, who said:"I heard the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam, say, "Allaah the Most High has said, "Yaa Ibna Aadam (O son of Adam), whatever you call upon Me for, and hope of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I will not mind. Yaa Ibna Aadam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and then you were to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. Yaa Ibna Aadam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you to face Me not committing shirk (ascribing partners) in anything, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." {It was reported by at-Tirmidhee, who said that it is hasan saheeh.}
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم : ( إن
الله تعالى قال : من عادى لي وليا فقد آذنته بالحرب ، وما تقرب إلي عبدي بشيء
أحب إلي مما افترضته عليه ، ولا يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتي أحبه ،
فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به ، وبصره الذي يبصر فيه ، ويده التي يبطش
بها ، ورجله التي يمشي بها ، ولئن سألني لأعـطينه ، ولئن استعاذ ني لأعيذ نه
رواه البخاري رقم : 6502
From Abu Hurayrah radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, who said: "The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam, said, "Allaah ta’alaa said, "Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant doesn’t draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with the Nawaafil (supererogatory deeds) so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask (something) of Me, I would surely give to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely protect him." {Reported by al-Bukhaaree.}
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال
ينزل ربنا تبارك وتعالى كل ليلة إلى السماء الدنيا، حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر، يقول: من يدعوني فأستجيب له، من يسألني فأعطيه، من يستغفرني فأغفر له
From Abu Hurayrah radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhuthat the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallamsaid:"Our Lord tabaarak wa ta’alaa descends every night to the lowest heaven, when only one third of the night has remained. He says:"Who would supplicate to Me? I shall respond to him, who is asking of Me? I shall answer, and who is it that seeking forgiveness from Me? I shall forgive him." {Reported by Imaam al-Bukhaaree (no.1145) and Imaam Muslim (no.756).}
ََعَنْ سَلْمَانَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ يَدَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفَرًا
From Salmaan radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu: who said, "Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said, "Verily your Rabb (Lord) isKareem (Most Generous), and is too Shy to turn away empty the hands of His servant when he raises them to Him." {Bulooghul-Maraam (no.1344).}
عن ربيعة بن كعب الأسلمي: قال
كنت أبيت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. فأتيته بوضوئه وحاجته. فقال لي "سل" فقلت: أسألك مرافقتك في الجنة. قال "أو غير ذلك؟" قلت: هو ذاك. قال "فأعني على نفسك بكثرة السجود
Rabee’ah bin Ka’b al-Aslamee radhiyallaahu ta’alaa ‘anhu, said "The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam, said to me, "Ask!" I said, "I ask your company in the Jannah (Paradise)." He replied, "Anything else?" I said, "That is all." He said, "Then help me with regard to your soul by making much Sujood ( prostration)." {Reported by Muslim (no.489).}
عن أبي هريرة: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد. فأكثروا الدعاء
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam also said, "The closest that the servant is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so make much supplication."
{Muslim (no.482).}
والحمد لله أولا وأخيرا وبالله التوفيق
كتبه الفقير إلى الله تعالى
أخوكم
أبو رقية عبد الرحمن عمر ﺍﻟفيلادلفي الأَثَرِيّ
20th of Ramadhaan, 1428AH
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