“The greatest people that change the society are three: the scholar, the generous donator, and the Mujahid. These three types of people are the nucleus of societies. The societies revolve around them, and they are the founding base of the society, since they are the ones holding it up and supporting it with solid strength and influence. Because of this, if these three types of people are truthful and sincere – the scholar, the donator, and the Mujahid – the entire society will be pure and unified. On the other hand, if their intentions become corrupt, the entire society is transformed into a pile of junk and rubbish. This is because the hearts are like fruits, like flowers: if these fruits are pure and clean, they will bring forth a clean, sweet smell, and if they are corrupt and ruined – like spoiled fruit – they will only bring forth rotten smells that congest the nostrils and evoke feelings of disgust.
So, when the hearts become corrupt, the foul smells begin to emanate that harm the society as a whole from its corruption, and this is manifested in the form of slander, backbiting, tale-carrying, assuming the worst about others – and this all turns the society into one that is full of spite and turmoil, with everyone holding their nose so that they would not smell the foul smells coming from his neighbor.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى اهللا علیھ وسلم) specifically warned these three types of people in the ‘Sahihayn,’ as is mentioned in the narration: “The first people to be consumed by the Fire on the Day of Resurrection are three,” three categories of people: “…the scholar, the one who gives charity, and the Mujahid.” These are the first to fuel the fires of Hell: the scholar, the charitable donator, and the Mujahid! O Allah! A Mujahid who presented his blood, and after this, he becomes the first fuel for Hell?! One who donates, and not a single bit of money remains in his pocket since he has been sustaining the society, paying off debts of others, fulfilling the needs of others, saving others from tight situations – and the Fire consumes him, and he is being used to fuel it and keep it burning?! Yes! This is how it is described in the ‘Sahihayn’:

“The first who will be consumed by the Fire on the Day of Judgement will be three: a scholar, a Mujahid, and a generous donator. As for the scholar, Allah will bring him and ask him: ‘What did you do in the dunya?’ So, he will say: ‘I acquired knowledge for Your Sake, and I spread it seeking Your Pleasure.’ So, it will be said to him: ‘You lied. You learned so that you would be referred to as a scholar, and it was done, and you have obtained your reward in the dunya.’ Then, he will be ordered thrown into Hell. Then, the donator will be brought, and Allāh will ask him: ‘What did you do in the dunya?’ He will say: ‘I acquired wealth from permissible means, and I donated it for Your Sake.’ It will be said to him: ‘You lied. You donated your money so that it would be said that you are generous, and it was done, and you have had your reward in the dunya.’ Then, he will be ordered thrown into Hell. And the third…’What did you do?’ ‘I fought in Your Cause until I was killed.’ ‘You lied. You fought so that you would be referred to as a brave man, and it was done, and you took your reward in the dunya.’ Then, he will be ordered thrown into Hell.”

When Mu’awiyah (r.a.) heard this hadith from Abu Hurayrah (r.a.), he wept until his beard was soaked with tears, and he fainted. After he regained consciousness, he said:

“The Messenger of Allah (صلى اهللا علیھ وسلم) has spoken the truth, as Allah Said: {“Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full their deeds therein, and they will have no decrease in that. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds they did therein, and of no effect is that which they used to do.”} (41:42)

And when I would read this story from Mu’awiyah, I would never come across this verse except that it would shake my very depths, and it might even be the most frightening verse that I would come across when I would read the Qur’an. The human being might temporarily forget about the Power of Allah, or he might not give Allah His proper due, or he might not seek the means to Allah, or he might not glorify Him in the manner He deserves, as a result of which he will unknowingly deal with other people as if the ultimate power and final say is in their hands. When the Power of the Mighty and Powerful is forgotten by the human, he tries to dominate over others, oppress them, usurp their belongings, and try to wipe away the traces of the truthful and sincere. However, the Truth does not accept except the truth, and the Pure does not accept except that which is pure: “Verily, Allah is Pure, and does not accept except that which is pure,” and He rejects except that His Light is completed, even if the disbelievers, polytheists, oppressors, and wrongdoers may hate that.”

-From ‘Being True with Allah’ by ‘Abdullah ‘Azzam (rahimahullah)

Alhamdulillah I returned back safely from a Muslim family retreat in England, and being in that atmosphere, around Muslims and constantly learning from people with knowledge, as well as praying in congregation, especially Qiyam ul Layl has truly softened my heart. Subhan’Allah, with that being said I just want to send out a message-pay attention to this important organ. The heart is soft and fragile, and it needs constant care. We often don’t realise what we expose it to, but treat it like a sponge. Whatever goes in, will come out-and if good goes in, then goodness in belief, thought and action will also-so immerse yourself in doing everything for the sake of Allah (swt), gain khushoo’ (humility and attentiveness) in prayer, read the Qur’an frequently, learn about the life of the Prophet (pbuh) daily, grow closer to Allah (swt) through perfecting obligatory deeds first and then doing extra deeds, for He will love you and with this, your life will change, and insha’Allah, your place in the hereafter will change also. Feel the sweetness of ‘eeman dear brothers and sisters, and never forget that Allah (swt) has placed you on Earth to worship none other than Him and He has truly blessed us, so how can we dare to disobey Him and how can we not strive for his approval and love? We all know that we love him, no believer would say no on this matter, but are we sure that He loves us? Truly ask yourself that question. May Allah grant you all success in this life and the hereafter. 

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: “Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.”
-40 Hadith Qudsi (Number 25), Related by al-Bukhari

Invocation 106. - Pleased and Displeased

What to say if something happens to please you or to displease you?

When something pleased the Prophet (SWS) he would say;

-Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee bini-matihi tatimmus-saalihat. -(Praise to Allah Who by His blessings all good things are perfected).

When something happened that displeased him, he used to say;

-Alhumdu lilaahil ‘alaa kulli haal. -(Praise is to Allah in all circumstances).

[Bukhari 7/163 Muslim2/980]