‏المحبُ لأهل سنةِ أحمدٍ ‎ﷺ ‏

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al Tarifi حفظه الله وفرج عنه said:


“The abandonment of the Muslims in Gaza is a partnership in oppression and aggression, and greater than abandonment is aiding in the siege. Whoever aids in their siege is allied with the Jews. O Allah, grant victory to the people of Gaza and humiliate those who abandon them.”

“Allah delays His victory for His servants because, through increased trials, comes distinction, and the truthful are distinguished from the hypocrites. (And if Allah had willed, He could have defeated them, but [He delays it] to test some of you by means of others).”

This reflects the idea that Allah’s wisdom may include delaying victory to test people’s faith and sincerity. It emphasizes that trials help differentiate between those who are truly sincere and those who are not. The quoted part is from the Qur’an (Surah Muhammad 47:4), showing that victory could be instant if Allah willed, but the delay serves a purpose of trial and growth.

Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

The world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever.

Explanation of "Sahih Muslim" al-Nawawi said:

This means that every believer is, in a way, imprisoned in this world, being restricted from engaging in sinful and prohibited desires. The believer is tasked with fulfilling difficult acts of obedience. So, when the believer dies, they will rest from this, transitioning to the eternal bliss and pure comfort prepared by Allah, which is free from any deficiencies.

As for the disbeliever, the world is like their paradise, as they experience ease and pleasure in it, despite the anxieties and worries. But when they die, they will face the eternal punishment and endless suffering in the Hereafter.

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al Tarifi حفظه الله وفرج عنه said:

"Among the forms of Allah's punishment for the oppressor is that He imposes upon him another oppressor to test him with, and this suffices for the people from the evil of the oppressors. Indeed, Allah punishes some of them through others or causes them to suffer in factions and taste each other's torment."

—
This is a reflection on the divine justice where the oppressor is subjected to the same kind of oppression as a form of punishment from Allah, often through another oppressor, which also relieves people from their collective harm. The idea is that oppression is often met with an equal form of retribution in this world.

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al Tarifi حفظه الله وفرج عنه said:

One of the reasons for the removal of worries and the forgiveness of sins is sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ. On the day of Friday, its impact is even greater. The Prophet ﷺ said to the one who sends prayers upon him: 'It will suffice you for your concerns, and your sins will be forgiven

Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:


That the obedience displayed by Muslims on Friday and the night of Friday is greater than on other days. In fact, most of the wicked respect the day of Friday and its night. They believe that whoever is audacious towards committing sins against Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, on that day, Allah hastens His punishment upon them and does not delay it. This belief has become firmly rooted among them and is something they have learned through experience. This is due to the greatness of that day, its honor before Allah, and Allah's selection of it from among all other days. Thus, there is no doubt that standing in this time has a unique virtue that is not found on other days.

📚زاد المعاد ١/٦٣

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Indeed, the worst of people is the two-faced person, who comes to these people with one face and comes to those people with another face.

This is considered one of the major sins. This is because the Prophet ﷺ described the doer of this action as the worst of people. It is obligatory for a person to be honest and straightforward, expressing only what is truly in their heart. If there is good in their heart, they should be praised for it, but if it is something other than good, then it should remain as is until it transforms into good.

As for being two-faced, it means a person comes to one group with one face and then goes to another group with a different face. Whether it pertains to matters of worship, where the person outwardly displays piety but inwardly they are hypocrites, or in dealings with others, they show loyalty and goodness in someone's presence and then, once absent, they criticize and belittle them. This is impermissible.

Explanation by Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al Tarifi حفظه الله وفرج عنه said:


"The happiness of Muslims at the calamity of their fighting enemy is evidence of faith. So, let the believer's soul breathe easy, and let his heart be relieved of its anger, for Allah has caused the downfall of his enemy, and He heals the hearts of a believing people and removes the anger from their hearts."

Hadith:

عنْ تَميمٍ الدَّاريّ رضيَ الله عَنْهُ أنَّ النَّبيَّ - ﷺ - قال:
"الدِّينُ النَّصيحَةُ" ثلاثًا، قُلْنا: لِمَنْ يا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قالَ: "للهِ ولِكتابِهِ ولِرَسولِهِ ولأئمَّةِ المُسلِمِينَ وعامَّتِهم"
رَواهُ مُسلمٌ

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “Religion is sincerity.” He said it three times. We asked the Prophet, “To whom, Oh Messenger of Allah?" He replied, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and to their general masses."


Explanation from Jami' al Ulum wal Hikam of ibn Rajab:

sincerity to Allah-
• pure monotheism and ascribing to Him only all attributes of perfection and majesty, along with exalting Allah far above any defects and imperfections
• to avoid any disobedience of him and stand firm in obedience to Him and utmost devotion to Him
• to love and hate only for Allah's sake
• to wage Jihad against those who oppose Allah
• to call others to all of this and encourage them in that direction

sincerity to the book of Allah-
• Belief in it, honoring it, defending it, reciting it as it should be recited and binding oneself to its orders and its prohibitions.
• To understand its knowledge and its parables, contemplate its signs and call others to it.
•To defend it against the extremists who distort it and the attacks of the atheists.

sincerity to Allah’s Messenger-
•To believe in him and in what he brought.
•To respect and honor him.
•To hold fast to obedience to him and the revival and preservation of his Sunnah.
•To collect and spread the knowledge he brought.
•To be an enemy to whoever
bears enmity to him and to have allegiance to all those who have allegiance to him.
•To take his lofty character traits as your own as much as you can and his manners as your manners.
•Finally to love his family members and his Companions.

sincerity to the imams of the Muslims-
•To aid them and assist them in the way of the Truth
•To obey them therein and remind them of the truth.
•To bring to their attention any shortcomings of theirs gently and with respect and to avoid attacking them.
•To pray to Allah to grant them every success and keep them on the correct way.

sincerity to the masses of the Muslims-
•Guiding them to what will benefit them.Teaching knowledge of both the religion and [beneficial] worldly matters.
•Concealing their faults and shortcomings.
•Aiding and protecting them against any who bear enmity toward them unjustly.
•Avoiding any lying or deception of any of them, nor having any envy of anyone and to learn to love for another what you love for yourself and to dislike for another what you dislike for yourself.

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

"And for this reason, it is necessary for a servant to not place his hope in anyone except Allah, and he should not fear anyone except Allah. A person should not fear that Allah will wrong him, for Allah does not wrong people in anything, but people wrong themselves. However, a person should fear that his sins may be the cause of punishment.

This is the meaning of what is narrated from Ali رضي الله عنه when he said:

A servant does not hope except in his Lord, and does not fear except his sins."

Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi رحمه الله said:

‎When you understand the meaning of a bad ending, then beware of its causes.

‎Prepare what is suitable for a good ending, and beware of procrastination in preparation, for life is short.

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al Tarifi حفظه الله وفرج عنه said:

The suffering of Muslims today, if it were written in the books of history, would break the heart of any believer. Some of them witness these sufferings directly with their own eyes, yet they seem indifferent, as if it does not concern them. The weakness of their compassion reflects a weakness in their faith.

Abu Umamah al-Bahili رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent them from entering Paradise except death."


‏عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:

‏من قرأ آية الكرسي دبر كل صلاة مكتوبة، لم يمنعه من دخول الجنة إلا الموت.

Ways of increasing one's rizq :


•Abundant istighfar-

“I (Nuh) said (to them): Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.” [Nuh 71:10-12]


•Having taqwa of Allah and staying away from sins-

Thawban (rA) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘A man is deprived of provision because of the sins that he commits.’” [Ibn Majah: sahih]

“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.” [At-Talaq 65:2-3]


•Upholding ties of kinship-

Anas ibn Malik (rA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his life to be extended , should uphold the ties of kinship.” [Bukhari and Muslim]


•Giving charity-

“Say: Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” [Saba’ 34:39]

The day of Ashura is the day that Musa (AS) and the believers were saved from they tyrant, Firawn.

فَأَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰۤ أَنِ ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَۖ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرۡقࣲ كَٱلطَّوۡدِ ٱلۡعَظِیمِ﴿ ٦٣ ﴾ وَأَزۡلَفۡنَا ثَمَّ ٱلۡـَٔاخَرِینَ﴿ ٦٤ ﴾ وَأَنجَیۡنَا مُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥۤ أَجۡمَعِینَ﴿ ٦٥ ﴾ ثُمَّ أَغۡرَقۡنَا ٱلۡـَٔاخَرِینَ﴿ ٦٦ ﴾ إِنَّ فِی ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ لَـَٔایَةࣰۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكۡثَرُهُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ﴿ ٦٧ ﴾ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِیزُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ﴿ ٦٨ ﴾

Then We inspired Musa (Moses) (saying): "Strike the sea with your stick." And it parted, and each separate part (of that sea water) became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. (63) Then We brought near the others [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) party] to that place. (64) And We saved Musa (Moses) and all those with him. (65) Then We drowned the others. (66) Verily! In this is indeed a sign (or a proof), yet most of them are not believers. (67) And verily, your Lord! He is truly the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (68)

[Surah Ash Shu’arah, Verses 63-68]

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina and he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. The Prophet said, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a great day in which Allah saved Moses and his people, and he drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted on it due to gratitude, so we also fast on it.” The Prophet said, “We are more deserving and are closer to Moses than you.” The Prophet fasted the day of Ashura and he commanded fasting on it.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3397 and Sahih Muslim 1130]


The virtue of fasting in Ashura is that it removes 2 years worth of sins.

Abu Qatadah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about fasting the day of Arafat and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” Then, the Prophet was asked about fasting the day of Ashura and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.”

[Sahih Muslim 1162]


It is recommended to fast 2 days (either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th) to distinguish between us and the Jews.

Al-Hakam ibn al-A’raj reported: I went to Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and I said, “Tell me about fasting the day of Ashura.” Ibn Abbas said, “When you see the crescent of the month of al-Muharram, count the days and wake up to fast on the ninth day.” I said, “Is this how the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, fasted it?” Ibn Abbas said, “Yes.”

[Sahih Muslim 1133]

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْيَهُودَ صِيَامًا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا هَذَا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي تَصُومُونَهُ فَقَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ أَنْجَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ وَغَرَّقَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمَهُ فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى شُكْرًا فَنَحْنُ نَصُومُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ وَأَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ فَصَامَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ


عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ

الْحَكَمِ بْنِ الأَعْرَجِ قَالَ انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضى الله عنهما فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ صَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ‏ فَقَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ هِلاَلَ الْمُحَرَّمِ فَاعْدُدْ وَأَصْبِحْ يَوْمَ التَّاسِعِ صَائِمًا قُلْتُ هَكَذَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ

In 1991, a scientist called Armour discovered that the heart has its own “little brain” or an “intrinsic cardiac nervous system” consisting of 40,000 neurons that are similar to the ones found in the brain. Its elaborate circuitry enables it to act independently of the cranial brain which means the heart has its own basic functions to learn, understand, perceive and obey as well as to feel or sense.

This changed the way we viewed what the hearts actual function was, for years it was thought the heart was there to pump blood around the body.

The reason I have mentioned this is because, over 1400 years ago, the Quran alluded to this.

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌۭ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌۭ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ


Have they not travelled throughout the land so their hearts may understand, and their ears may listen? Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind.

[Surah al-Hajj, verse 46]

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.

[Surah ar-Ra’d, verse 28]

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ

Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?

[Surah Muhammad, verse 24]

لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌۭ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا

They have hearts with which they do not understand

[Surah al-Araf, verse 179]

These are just a few verses that pertain to this as further proof that the Quran is the word of Allah.

There is major emphasis on the qalb in the Quran and hadith, it is so important that we soften our hearts and purify it with the remembrance of Allah and doing righteous actions.

Sufyan al-Thawri said:

I heard a Bedouin at Arafat saying ........

Virtues of the Day of Arafah:

⁃ 2 years worth of (minor) sins are expiated

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah and he said: He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. [Sahih Muslim 1162b]

⁃ Day of forgiveness from sins and freedom from the fire.

A’isha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no day upon which Allah frees more of His servants from the Hellfire than the day of Arafat. He draws near and then he boasts of them to the angels, saying: What do these servants want?” [Sahih Muslim 1348].

As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allah descends to the sky of the Dunya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.” [Tabrani, Al-Albani graded it Hasan, Taken from ‘Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb’. Volume 2,Page 9-10, hadeeth no. 1112].

Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah Almighty boasts to His angels of the pilgrims on the afternoon of the day of Arafat, saying: Look at My servants, coming to Me disheveled and dusty.” [Musnad Ahmad 7089, classed as Sahih by Al-Albani]

⁃ Best Dua is to say it on this day

‘Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best supplication is that which is made on the day of Arafat. The best of it is what was said by myself and the prophets before me: There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belong the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.” [Tirmidhi 3585, graded as Hasan by Al-Albani]

The arabic for the dua:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُو عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Transliteration: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay in qadeer


Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Kurayz narrated in a mursal report: “The best of du’a is du’a on the day of ‘Arafah.” [Narrated by Malik in al-Muwatta’ (500); classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ (1102)]

⁃ Allah perfected the religion on this day.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Tariq bin Shihab said, "A Jewish man said to `Umar bin Al-Khattab, `O Leader of the Believers! There is a verse in your Book, which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration.' `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, `Which is that verse' The Jew replied (This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you...) `Umar replied, `By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to Allah's Messenger . It was the evening on the Day of `Arafah on a Friday."' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith through Al-Hasan bin As-Sabbah from Ja`far bin `Awn. Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith.

In Surah al-Araf when Shaytan was outcast from Jannah for disobeying Allah’s command and for being arrogant, part of what he said is this:


ثُمَّ لَـَٔاتِیَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَیۡنِ أَیۡدِیهِمۡ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ وَعَنۡ أَیۡمَـٰنِهِمۡ وَعَن شَمَاۤىِٕلِهِمۡۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ شَـٰكِرِینَ﴿ ١٧ ﴾

“Then I will approach them from their front, their back, their right and their left. And you will find most of them ungrateful.”

[Al-Aʿrāf, Ayah 17]

This is in reference to preventing the believers from the right path. Shaytan mentions each direction but one thing he doesn’t mention is from above.

قال ابن عباس: ولا يستطيع أن يأتي من فوقهم لئلا يحول بين العبد وبين رحمك الله تعالى.

Ibn Abbas said: Iblis cannot come from above because there is no barrier between the servent and the mercy of Allah.

[تفسير الجلالين]

One such mercy is the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, the best days of the year. Lets make the most of these 10 days and keep our oppressed muslim brothers and sisters in your duas.

The main supplication of Ibrahim ibn Adham رحمه الله was:

"O Allah, move me from the humiliation of disobeying You to the honor of obeying You.