Day 2 Recap: Means to firmness after Ramadan Keep your eyes on your heart: it is the place where Allah (swt) is looking at all the time, and it is the place where the shaitan whispers. Continue performing the good deeds you were doing in Ramadan: if you were praying 11 rakahs of qiyam, do at least 3, 5, 7, but don t abandon. Try to fast at least 3 days in the month. Abundant dua a: after every sujood, before tasleem, ask Allah (swt) to accept your deeds and keep you firm. You have to have fear in your heart that you could lose your deeds. Ask Allah (swt) to keep you firm and not to go back to how you were before Ramadan. Recap: The one who does good deeds and loses it all أ ي و د أ ح د ڪ م أ ن ت ك ون ل ه ۥ ج ن ة م ن ن خ يل و أ عن اب ت جر ى م ن ت حت ه ا ٱ ل ن ه ر ل ه ۥ ف يه ا م ن ڪ ل ٱلث م ر ٲت ( :266 Surah Al Baqarah ف أ ص اب ه ا إ عص ار ف يه ن ار ف ٱحت ر ق ت ك ذ ٲل ك ي ب ي ن ٱ لل ل ڪ م ٱ ل ي ت ل ع ل ك م ت ت ف ك ر ون (Would any of ) و أ ص اب ه ٱل ك ب ر و ل ه ۥ ذ ر ي ة ض ع ف ا ء you wish to have a garden with date-palms and vines, with rivers flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruits for him therein, while he is striken with old age, and his children are weak (not able to look after themselves), then it is struck with a fiery whirlwind, so that it is burnt? Thus does Allâh make clear His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses) to you that you may give thought) o A person could have done abundant good deeds and it is lost because of a sin committed, like what? Could be self-conceit, pride, hypocrisy, riya a (showing-off) these burn the deeds. o So we need to focus on the heart all the time. Recap: What are the causes of ( بعد الكور (الحور relapses Weakness of faith: how do you know if your faith is strong or weak? The weak believer is unaware of Allah s watchfulness of his heart. He is unaware that Allah (swt) will account him for his deeds, He knows that Allah is Al Haseeb, but the feeling is not strong in his heart. He takes it easily when committing sins. Weak intellect: it means a person is not acting with wisdom, he is not preparing an answer for each question. Weakness of faith and intellect makes a person to commit a sin easily. Allah (swt) will ask us about every moment, every dirham, every blessing have we prepared for this? Subhan Allah. Weak insight: (البصيرة) is the light of knowledge in the heart of the believers, it is eyes in the heart. He does not see what is behind the good deeds and sins he does not see paradise or hellfire, his heart is blind, subhan Allah. For this reason, he takes committing sins lightly. What should be the state of the believer all the time? A look at Surah Al Layl Verse 1: ٱل يل إ ذ ا ي غش ى ) (و (By the night as it envelops): Allah (swt) is swearing by the night / (و ) is an article of oath. Verse 2: ٱلن ہ ار إ ذ ا ت ج ل ى ) (و (By the day as it appears in brightness): Allah (swt) is swearing by the day Page 1
Verse 3: م ا خ ل ق ٱلذ ك ر و ٱ ل نث ى ) (و (By Him Who created male and female;): Allah (swt) is swearing by His Noble Self Who created the male and female or it can also mean Allah (swt) is swearing by the creation of the male and female. Verse 4: س عي ك م ل ش ت ى ) (إ ن (Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes)): Why is Allah (swt) swearing? To show that all of mankind s efforts are different, like the difference of the day and night, like the difference of the male and female that is how much our efforts differ, subhan Allah. Our efforts take course during the day and night and our efforts differ between males and females, subhan Allah. Sheikh As Saady (may Allah have mercy on him) said our efforts are different: o In the same type: for example the prayer, some people don t pray so it is like the darkness of the night, and there are those who pray, but not perfect, like mid day, and there are those who pray the best like the brightness of the day, subhan Allah. o In the amount: there are those who offer only obligatory, there are those who offer both voluntary and obligatory o In the dedication: and this depends on their faith, the stronger it is, the more diligence in performing good deeds because he is hoping to obtain paradise, he is not diverted by the duniya he is not lazy, he hates that his time is wasted. According to your dedication, will be your effort accordingly. What is the effect on us when we know that our efforts are different? To strive hard. You have to check if your efforts are on the right path there are those whose deeds are like the darkness of the night and there those whose deeds are the like the brightness of the day check yourself. Don t compare yourself to others Allah (swt) said everyone s efforts are different, so focus on your efforts. When you compare your efforts, and you might be doing more, then you might feel you are better than others, and then you will slack because you are looking at those less than you. Don t compare yourself to those around you who are still alive, because you don t know what fitna may make them relapse, we ask Allah (swt) for the well-being. Compare yourself to the righteous predecessors who have already achieved. Don t let your own efforts to be in diverse for example, in Ramadan you are doing qiyam, fasting, charity and then afterwards there s nothing what happened? The most beloved deeds to Allah (swt) are those that are constant, even if little. Even if you are praying 2 units at night, every night it is better than praying 11 units everyday in Ramadan, then nothing after Ramadan, subhan Allah. When you are doing good deeds then you have your connection to Allah (swt) but when you cutoff your good deeds, then you cut-off your connection, do you want to cut your connection to Allah (swt)? Of course not. Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said people are of five ranks regarding their prayer: 1. They don t perform their prayers regularly, they don t perfect their wudhu they will be punished 2. They perform on time, perfecting their wudhu, perfecting the pillars, but from the beginning to the end of the salat, their mind is somewhere else doing business, traveling, visiting, etc. he has no idea what he said. This person will be accounted. Page 2
3. They will perfect the wudhu, offer on time, perfect the pillars, though they are struggling to keep their thoughts focused all throughout the prayer. They are struggling against their nafs, whispers of the shaitan. His prayer is an expiation for his sins. 4. They will perfect the wudhu, offer on time, they are concentrating in their entire salat they will be rewarded for their salat. 5. They did like the 4 th rank, in addition, he prays as if he witnesses Allah (swt) as if he is talking to Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) is talking to him, subhan Allah. This is the one whom Allah (swt) brings close to Him, subhan Allah. So which rank are you? Subhan Allah. The greatest means to firmness is sincerity in performing good deeds. You have to pray, fast, give charity, and love someone all for the sake of Allah (swt). You need to check yourself in detail, why did you give that advice, why did you say that word, why are you wearing the hijab, etc. That is why the believer asks Allah (swt) for the forgiveness after every act because the hearts can turn. Love of praise is something natural, but the believer hopes only for the praise of Allah (swt). You have to ask Allah (swt) profusely to keep you firm and to accept your deeds. May Allah (swt) purify out intentions. Ameen. Sincerity is not something easy, but Allah (swt) will make it easy to those who are truthful. Allah (swt) will appreciate even the little deed you do sincerely because Allah (swt) is Ash Shakir Ash Shakoor. A man removed a branch from the road and his sins were expiated, why? Because he did it purely for Allah s sake. Continuation of Surah Al Layl: We have to do three things before Allah (swt) will make the path easy for us: We have to take the first steps if someone asks why are you not Muslim, why are you not wearing a hijab? Don t say Allah (swt) didn t guide me, this excuse cannot be accepted. You have to take the first step. Verse 5: ٱت ق ى ) (ف أ م ا م ن أ عط ى و (As for him who gives and keeps his duty to Allâh and fears Him): the person gives, but it is not said what, so when it is not mentioned, then it shows generality. So he can give from his time, monetary like charity, and physical like praying, hajj, etc, he is giving the rights of Allah (swt) and the rights of the people. What else did he do? He had taqwa, a shield from the wrath and displeasure of Allah (swt). He will avoid any sins, even vain thoughts he will repel them. He will avoid to make his heart occupied from any distractions to his purpose in life, subhan Allah. What will make a person to give and have taqwa? Verse 6: ص د ق ب ٱل ح سن ى ) (و (And believes in Al-Husna): He believes in the compensation and reward of (ال اله الا هللا ( in Allah (swt) he believes in paradise. That is why he gives without account. He believes what does this word entail? Tawheed. What will Allah (swt) do for him? Verse 7: ۥ ل ل ي سر ى ) (ف س ن ي س ر ه (We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).): Allah (swt) will make the path easy to be righteous and perform good deeds so that he may achieve paradise, subhan Allah. Allah (swt) will make it easy for you to avoid sins. You have to know that the ease from Allah (swt) will not come unless you show that you are struggling against the evil of yourself, and to perform that deed regularly, then the ease will come to you, subhan Allah. For example, after Ramadan, you are intending to recite the Quran every day, which you never did before Ramadan. And as you begin to recite, you read one page and you feel tired, distracted, every day is like that, but you continue every day, remember Allah (swt) is watching your strive, you have to know that Page 3
Allah (swt) will one day make the path easy for you and you will enjoy your recitation, why? Because it is the promise and affirmation of Allah (swt) you just have to strive hard and perform the deed regularly. There are those who quit, so how do they expect the ease to come, subhan Allah. Similarly with prayer, you want to improve your rank, maybe everyday your heart is focused on Al Fatiha, and then you ve lost your heart, it s ok. Continue to strive everyday, then one day Allah (swt) will make you to enjoy your entire prayer, subhan Allah. There are from the salaf whom for 20 years they are struggling to purify their intentions, until Allah (swt) helped them to make their intention sincere, subhan Allah. What is the strive against one s self? Surah Al Ankaboot 69: ( و ٱل ذ ين ج ه د وا ف ين ا ل ن ہد ي ن ہ م س ب ل ن ا و إ ن ٱ لل ل م ع ٱل م حس ن ين ) (As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh's religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers).") This is the promise of Allah (swt), do you know what it means that Allah (swt) will be with you? Meaning He will support you, guide, and help you against the shaitan, your evil self, enemies you will be in the guardianship of Allah (swt). But who will get this? Those who strive against themselves. What is required to strive against one s self? o Knowledge of the law of Allah (swt): He needs to know what Allah (swt) is commanding and prohibiting. o Knowledge of the movement of your heart: our hearts move, either with good or evil, and many people have their hearts moving, but they don t understand these actions. Why is she sad when she finds out her friend got promoted or got married? She doesn t understand that she has envy in her heart, subhan Allah. You hear many people say I am fed up with my job, husband, children, etc and this is a major sin, a person is committing this while not knowing they are ungrateful for the blessings they have. o Knowledge of one s weak points: every one of us has weak points, and if you don t know them, then you will not strive hard to overcome them. Because these weak points can become enhanced and make the person to commit sin. For example, a person likes to be praised, and she will do so many things to get the praise and attention of people, and she should know that is haram, everything should be for the sake of Allah (swt). Or a person thinks he has no value in society if he doesn t have money, so it causes him to cheat, steal, deal in usury. Or a lady is into her beauty, so she is not wearing the hijab, she is afraid people will say she is ugly or she will lose her job she is committing a sin, subhan Allah. Or a person has strong desires and he is not married, which can lead him to adultery. The shaitan has steps, he is plotting and planning against all of us. He wants us to fall into sin this is the danger of ignorance. Surah An Nisa a 120: ( ي ع د ه م و ي م ن يہ م و م ا ي ع د ه م ٱلش يط ن إ ال غ ر ور ا ) (He [Shaitan (Satan)] makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and Shaitan's (Satan) promises are nothing but deceptions.) The shaitan is using our weak points and our ignorance against us, subhan Allah. The believer might wake up at night to offer the night prayer, and the Page 4
o o shaitan will say, rest just for 30 minutes so you can be more lively to offer the prayer, and you will find you will sleep until fajr and miss the night prayer the shaitan offers false promises. Or during the prayer, the shaitan will give you great ideas which you never thought of, and instead of being sad at the end of your prayer that you were distracted, you think I got a great idea during prayer, but it was all from the shaitan and there will be no blessing in that idea, subhan Allah. Do you actually think the shaitan wants to help you? The shaitan arouses fear in the heart of the believer, especially when the believer wants to obey the commands of Allah (swt) the shaitan will come and say if you obey, this and this will happen. But strive hard, and Allah (swt) will make the path easy after striving hard. Allah (swt) will give the honor and dignity in the duniya and akhira for the one who strives against himself. Make dua a and ask Allah (swt) to keep you firm. We cannot repel the shaitan with our might and power, but seek refuge in Allah (swt) it is Allah (swt) who has created the shaitan in the first place, subhan Allah. We have no power, Allah (swt) has the power, and He will drive him away from you. May Allah (swt) increase us in faith and knowledge and keep us firm. Ameen. Page 5