Lazy Boy - It's All in Your Mind!
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Creator: Muhammad Alshareef
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Identifier: http://www.khutbah.com/en/return_allah/lazy.php
Language: en
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Subject: tazkiyah
Title: Lazy Boy - It's All in Your Mind!
Created on: Tue Jan 29 11:04:04 -0500 2008
Updated on: Tue Jan 29 11:04:04 -0500 2008
Version: 1
Abstract: ... would have had and it will be said to them this is because you weren’t lazy when other people were lazy. Recognize the opportunity, seize it, and kick start the worship of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala by others. But if you choose not to heed these words, to yawn, and to be lazy, you are turning your back on the words of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. And the consequences will be grave, for the sunnah of creation, indeed the law of nature, stipulates that that which does not contribute will be destroyed. What do you do with weeds in your garden? You pull them out, you get rid of them. What do you do when your nails get too long, when there is no purpose to their length? You snip them off, discard them in the trash. And so it is, as a community and as individuals in that community, if we are not contributing, and if we are not energetically producing, we will be deemed useless and we will be eliminated. Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala says: In this way, He gives forth the parable of the truth and falsehood and the vanity. Vanity is like the foam, the dirt on the ocean (there is no benefit to it). But the things that do bring benefit (those devoid of laziness) will remain steadfast in the land (Ar-Ra’d 13/17). Even after you are gone, your good deeds will continue to benefit. Do not make the mistake of thinking that Allah pays attention to the lazy one’s worship. Prophet Muhammad sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Do those deeds that you are able to perform, for verily, Allah will not tire of your ‘ibadah (worship) until you tire.” Ponder the phenomenon of those who make du’a absentmindedly, not knowing what it is that they are saying. They may even be yawning, confused, or focused on something else entirely. Allah is not paying attention to that person just like they are not paying attention to their du’a. That is a du’a that is not answered by Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. A du’a that is answered is the one where the person’s heart and energy are invested in it. Allah will listen. If you can consistently take your du’a to that level, you’ll see dramatic changes in your life. When I was younger, there was an imam from overseas who came to lead the taraweeh prayers in Ramadan. We would have to pick him up at Fajr time and drive him to the masjid. One early morning, I was feeling particularly tired and lazy. My parents had an especially hard time waking me up. Yet, when we arrived at the Imam’s house, I noticed that the neighbors were in the midst of an all-night party. It was 5 am and their lights were blaring, their music was booming, and the party-goers were still drinking their alcohol. They’d spent the entire night awake in qiyaamul layl, but not to Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. Their worship was for the devil. I remember thinking to myself that this disbeliever has the stamina and energy to waste the night away, how can the servant of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala not have the energy and ability to worship Him? After all, they too are humans like us. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allaahu anhu is quoted as saying, “I seek Allah’s protection from the time when the fasiq or disobedient will have much energy and enthusiasm and the righteous will be lazy.” The fasiq will open up bars everywhere and run his houses of immorality with vigor. And the righteous will do little to nothing in the sake of Allah. When this happens, there is an imbalance on earth, and corruption will be widespread and prevalent. Brothers and sisters, let me tell you about the blessedness of having energy and enthusiasm in worshipping Allah and what it will do for you. Number 1: The extra energy will win you the pleasure of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. Musa alayhis salaam was told to come to the mountain for 40 days. And come he did, not walking slowly, not ten minutes late, but running. In explaining his arrival, Musa said, I came hastily to you, oh Allah, so that you will be pleased with me (Taha 20/84). And indeed, his words were so pleasing to his creator that Allah recorded them in the Qur’an for all eternity. When you hear a name of a prophet’s companion, you say, “May Allah be pleased with him.” Well, this is how you get that same distinction for yourself. Be hasty in your desire and actions that lead to goodness. Number 2: Having energy is the characteristic of the believer. Being lazy is the characteristic of the hypocrite. Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala says the munafiq, or hypocrite is he who has disbelief in his heart, while outwardly claiming belief. Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala describes them in the following verse: If they get up for the salah (prayer), they get up with laziness (An-Nisaa’ 4/142). “Give me ten more minutes…give me ten more minutes… oh! I missed Fajr…oh no. I’ll pray after Fajr. Give me ten more minutes…give me ten more minutes…” A characteristic of hypocrisy is when they reach for that snooze button and get up lazily for prayer. In this moment they’re experiencing a state of nifaq or hypocrisy. May Allah protect us. May He also protect us from using excuses to not follow through with our deeds. A Canadian may say it’s too cold; an African will say it’s too hot. Both are making excuses for not doing good actions. It was summer in the desert during the time of the Battle of Tabuk, and there was a walking distance of what is today a seven-hour car trip from Madinah to Tabuk. The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam was rallying his troops for an exhaustive trek that, back then, would have taken months. Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala says, …they (the hypocrites) encouraged people not to go with the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam by saying, “Do not go out in the heat.” Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala’s response was to tell them, “The fire of hell is much hotter; if only they understood” (At-Tauba 9/81). Ibn al-Jawzee, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “I have never seen a flaw sadder to me than a community whose people stop working, despite having the ability to continue.” PART II The ramifications of laziness can be very harmful. Some of you may have come across a person who displays a genuine interest in Islam. That person may be about to take the shahada when Shaytan gets to him and her. An excuse the devil uses is, “You have to comprehend the Qur’an first.” Hence the would-be Muslim is convinced that they do love Islam, but perhaps further study is required. And so it is that he or she delays coming back to Al... [Full Article...]
