A Turning Point

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Habib Al-Ajmi was one of the students of Hasan Al-Basri, who was the student of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was student of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Habib was a wealthy merchant, very much interested in the dunya and not interested in the akhirah. Hasan Al-Basri used to give his lessons and admonitions to the people next to him. But Habib was not listening to this and completely unmindful, busy attending to his trade.

One day Habib turned towards Hasan AlBasri who was speaking about Jannah and Hellfire. This one moment changed Habib's life. He started listening to it. Whoever reads in the hadith of Prophet about Jannah and Hellfire, who will not aspire to be the people of Jannah and who will not be scared of Hellfire? Habib left the session and began giving away his money in sadaqah (charity) until he has nothing left. He started taking loans to give sadaqah.

It was said about Habib that his du'as were answered.

Once a man came to Habib and complained about a debt that he has for 500 dirhams. So Habib told him to borrow money from another person to pay off the debt, and he would guarantee the new loan. When the man didn't pay, the second creditor went to Habib asking for the 500 dirhams. Habib asked the second creditor to come the next day. After the man left, he made wudu' and entered the masjid, prayed 2 raka'at and made du'a to Allah. When the second creditorcame the next day, Habib told him to go to the masjid and that if he finds anything there, it is his. The second creditor found a bag of money which contained more than 500 dirhams. He went back to Habib to give him the extra. Habib did not take the extra rather he said it is all yours. If someone lends you something, it is sunnah to reward the person who did you the favor, by giving more than you owe.

There is no doubt that the du'a of every single Muslim is answered. But there are some people whose answer to their du'a is delayed because they have not met the conditions of du'a or Allah knows that it is better for them that it is delayed. Habib was very close to Allah and if he ever asked Allah for anything, he would find it in front of his eyes immediately.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, spoke about such people: There are slaves of Allah, no one cares about them nor pays attention to them. If they speak, no one hears; if they are absent no one remembers them or misses them; if they ask someone for hand in marriage, no one accepts, but such people if they ever ask Allah for anything, if they ever make an oath upon Allah, Allah will fuflfill that oath. Why? Because He loves them. Why? Because their hearts are attached to Him and filled with love of Him and Divine Light.

Of course, with such people, Allah is not going to deal with their du'a the way He deals with the du'a of those who are unmindful of Him with hearts attached to other things and Allah is one item in a long list of what they want. If we see this in ourselves, we should now ask Allah to cure ourselves and make us of people like Habib, who always give to others, despite having nothing.

May Allah Almighty fill our hearts with the love of Allah and illuminate our hearts with His light. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam