Characteristic of a Seeker!

Narrated by Ibn Abee Haatim ar-Raazee:

I entered upon the students of hadith and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo’ee. I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearence amazed me and I herad him saying:

“Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time: When you are present you are not known; When you are absent you are not missed; When you are seen your advice is not saught; When you say something your saying is not accepted and When you have some knowledge you are not given anything for it. I also advised you with five things: When you are treated unjustly then do not behave unjustly; When you are praised then do not become happy; When you are criticized do not be upset; When your are not believed do not become angry; And if people act deceitfully towards you do not act deceitfully towards them.”

Ibn Abee Haatim said: “So I took that as my benefit from Damascus.”

Words of Wisdom...

Some words of wisdoms and benefit for the one going through Trials, Tribulations and Adversaries:

“Do not look at the test itself but look at One Who the test is from…”

“Be like a tall tree with a purpose, if a stone is thrown at it, it simply lets its fruits drop…”

“There is your Rabb Who provided you with solutions to yesterday, and He (SWT) will similarly provide for what is to come tomorrow…”

“What can my enemies do to me! My gardens and paradise are in my heart; wherever I go they are with me. If my enemies kill me, I become a shaheed and if they exile me from my land, I am given the privilege to tour the Earth and the creation of Allah (SWT). If they imprison me, they assist me to fulfil the greatest purpose of my creation, and they honour me by leaving me alone to worship Allah (SWT)…”

“Be among those who, when blessed, give thanks; when tried, persevere; and when sinful, seek forgiveness…”

Is it a Trial or Punishment?

Many people ask these questions: 'What's the difference between a trial and punishment?' 'Am I being tried or punished?' There are differences between the two cases. So, When is it a trial? When is it a punishment? How does one know? Ustad Abu Hasan said:

It is a Trial - when you are doing your utmost responsibilities with the best of quality. Doing your waajibaat, sunnan, mustahabaat, doing your best with your mother, your kids, [etc] – then, it is a trial. When you are fulfilling you fundamentals, your obligations, fulfilling the rights of Allah (SWT) and the creation, and you do not see [yourself] doing any wrong – then, it is trial.

It is a Punishment - when the person is committing sins. When this trial [as punishment for him] comes, the person either begins to:

a) Commit more sins.
b) Begins to slack on the fundamentals, in the obedience [of] the fundamentals, waajibaat and sunnan.

If Allah (SWT) has mercy on the person, then He (SWT) will punish him with the trial, but – that punishment will bring him close to Allah (SWT) i.e. the sinning person is punished with jinn or an evil person, [then] the person asks Allah (SWT) to help him. This is the majority of the believers. Allah (SWT) trials a person who commits sin with punishment, then the punishment becomes a source [for the person to get close to Allah (SWT)].