Requirements of the Journey
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Creator: Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
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Identifier: http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=397
Language: en
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Subject: character
Title: Requirements of the Journey
Created on: Wed Dec 26 13:27:41 -0500 2007
Updated on: Wed Dec 26 13:27:41 -0500 2007
Version: 1
Abstract: ... be taken along? What’s the way to follow? And what are the means to be used for transportation?” The answer would be as follows. The Provisions The provisions for this journey are the knowledge inherited from the Seal of the Prophets, peace be on him. There are no other provisions. Let anyone not prepared with these provisions stay in his home and sit with those who lag behind. He will find a multitude of others who lag behind to accompany him. Let him follow their example, but let him know that this company will not avail him anything on the Day of Distress. Allah Ta`ala said: “When you have done wrong, it will avail you nothing on that Day; then you shall be partners in punishment.” [Az-Zukhruf:39] Thus Allah Ta`ala assures us that the association of the wrongdoers in punishment will not help them. It is tru4 that people feel comforted when they share disasters in this life. Al-Khansaa`, an Arab poetess who lived in the early days of Islaam, said, “If it were not for the large numbers of people wailing around me because of the loss of their brethren, I would have killed myself. And even though none of those for whom they are wailing resembles my brother, yet, I comfort myself in that we all share similar disasters.” However – this kind of consolation will not exist among those sharing the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. The Way And the way to accomplish this journey is by exerting full capacity and by striving to the extreme. It can never be accomplished by wishes, or by going slow. It is only as an Arab poet once said. “Dive into the darkness of death and rise to eminence. Thus will you earn a distinguished and lasting honor. No good is there in a soul which fears death, nor in a willpower which is annoyed by the reproaches of those who like to find faults.” In fact, it is not possible to take this way except by two means: Firstly, never to be afraid, so long as you are right, of the reproaches of those who like to find faults. Some forms of reproach can hit even a strong knight so hard as to cause him to drop to the ground dead. Secondly, one’s self should be so worthless to him, for Allah’s sake, that he would rush forward, f... [Full Article...]
