بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Islam taught us many things and if we apply even a fraction of what we know, life would be wonderful for us and people around us. Take for example the following two ahadeeth:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported a tradition of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): Every person is influenced by the faith and way of life of his friends. Therefore, one must be very mindful when selecting his friends. [Bukhari]
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was asked what sort of friends should we keep in our company. To this he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: The one who reminds you of Allah when you see him, and adds to your knowledge when he speaks, and reminds you of the Hereafter when he acts. (Qurtubi)
If we maintain the reading of Surah Al-Kahf every Friday, we are directly reminded of some of the virtues of choosing and keeping righteous companions. Just look at the following verses of Surah Al-Kahf:
In the story of the companions of the cave...
A source of mercy, guidance and help from your Lord:
نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿١٣
It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:13]
وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿١٦
[The youths said to one another], "And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility." (16) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:16]
In the story of a man with two gardens ...
Your righteous friend will remind you of your Lord before it's too late:
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? (37) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:37]
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." (42) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:42]
In the story of Musa and al-Khidr...
Help you in the path of knowledge:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠
And [mention] when Musa said to his young companion, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:60]
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿٦٢
So when they had passed beyond it, [Musa] said to his young companion, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue." (62) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:62]
In the story of Dhul-Qarnayn ...
Give you support to ward off evil:
الُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?" (94)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:94]
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. (95) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:95]
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا ﴿٩٧
So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration. (97) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:97]
Where do you find people righteous people? Actually they are not hard to find if you are one of them. Birds of a feather flock together.
First, you need to look to your heart and ask these questions. Does my heart incline towards righteous people? Is the heart avid in desiring righteousness? If your heart is moved at the mention of righteous people, this is a sign that you are one of them.
One of the companions came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and said, “I traveled through the day and night and I am filled with thirst and my mount is tired and fatigued, and it was just because I wanted to reach you before you leave this world to ask you a question.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “What is it that you want to ask me about?” He replied, “My question is, what is the sign of those whom Allah chooses, and what is the sign of those whom Allah does not choose?” So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “In what state did you awake this morning?” Note here that the man asked about divine election and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked him what his state was. He said, “I awoke this morning loving goodness, and joyous with any goodness I do, and saddened by any goodness that I missed….” “Enough,” said the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, “these are the signs of Allah in those whom he chooses. If He wanted you for something else he would have prepared you for it.” [at-Tabrani]
May Allah grant us righteousness and righteous companions and make righteous works beloved to us. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Islam taught us many things and if we apply even a fraction of what we know, life would be wonderful for us and people around us. Take for example the following two ahadeeth:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported a tradition of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): Every person is influenced by the faith and way of life of his friends. Therefore, one must be very mindful when selecting his friends. [Bukhari]
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was asked what sort of friends should we keep in our company. To this he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: The one who reminds you of Allah when you see him, and adds to your knowledge when he speaks, and reminds you of the Hereafter when he acts. (Qurtubi)
If we maintain the reading of Surah Al-Kahf every Friday, we are directly reminded of some of the virtues of choosing and keeping righteous companions. Just look at the following verses of Surah Al-Kahf:
In the story of the companions of the cave...
A source of mercy, guidance and help from your Lord:
نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿١٣
It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:13]
وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿١٦
[The youths said to one another], "And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility." (16) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:16]
In the story of a man with two gardens ...
Your righteous friend will remind you of your Lord before it's too late:
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? (37) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:37]
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." (42) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:42]
In the story of Musa and al-Khidr...
Help you in the path of knowledge:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠
And [mention] when Musa said to his young companion, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:60]
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿٦٢
So when they had passed beyond it, [Musa] said to his young companion, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue." (62) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:62]
In the story of Dhul-Qarnayn ...
Give you support to ward off evil:
الُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?" (94)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:94]
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. (95) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:95]
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا ﴿٩٧
So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration. (97) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:97]
Where do you find people righteous people? Actually they are not hard to find if you are one of them. Birds of a feather flock together.
First, you need to look to your heart and ask these questions. Does my heart incline towards righteous people? Is the heart avid in desiring righteousness? If your heart is moved at the mention of righteous people, this is a sign that you are one of them.
One of the companions came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and said, “I traveled through the day and night and I am filled with thirst and my mount is tired and fatigued, and it was just because I wanted to reach you before you leave this world to ask you a question.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “What is it that you want to ask me about?” He replied, “My question is, what is the sign of those whom Allah chooses, and what is the sign of those whom Allah does not choose?” So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “In what state did you awake this morning?” Note here that the man asked about divine election and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked him what his state was. He said, “I awoke this morning loving goodness, and joyous with any goodness I do, and saddened by any goodness that I missed….” “Enough,” said the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, “these are the signs of Allah in those whom he chooses. If He wanted you for something else he would have prepared you for it.” [at-Tabrani]
May Allah grant us righteousness and righteous companions and make righteous works beloved to us. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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