I went to Steal from him, but he Ended up Stealing my Heart!

A burglar scaled the wall of Maalik bin Dinar’s house one night and easily managed to get inside. Once inside the house, the thief was disappointed to see that there was nothing inside actually worth stealing.

The owner of the home was inside at the time, he was busy performing prayer. Realizing that he was not alone, Maalik quickly ended his prayer and turned around to face the thief. Without showing any sign of being shocked or afraid, Maalik calmly extended greetings of peace and then said, ‘My brother, may Allah forgive you. You entered my home and found nothing that is worth taking, yet I do not want you to leave my home without taking away some benefit.’

He stood up, went to another part of the room, and came back with a jug full of water. He looked into the eyes of the burglar and said, ‘Make ablution and perform two units of prayer, for if you do so, you will leave my home with a greater treasure than you had initially sought when you entered it.’

Much humbled by Maalik’s manners and words, the thief said, ‘Yes, that is a generous offer indeed.’

After making ablution and performing two units of prayer, the burglar said, ‘O Maalik, would you mind if I stayed for a while, for I want to stay to perform two more units of prayer?’

Maalik said, ‘Stay for whatever amount of prayer Allah decrees for you to perform now.’

The thief ended up spending the entire night at Maalik’s house. He continued to pray until the morning.

Then Maalik said, ‘Leave now and be good.’

But instead of leaving, the thief said, ‘Would you mind if I stayed here with you today, for I have made an intention to fast the day?’

Stay as long as you wish,’ said Maalik.

The burglar ended up staying for a number of days, praying during the late hours of each night and fasting throughout the duration of each day.

When he finally decided to leave, the burglar said, ‘O Maalik, I have made a firm resolve to repent for my sins and for my former way of life.’

Maalik said, ‘Indeed, that is in the Hand of Allah.’

The man did mend his ways and began to lead a life of righteousness and obedience to Allah.

Later on, He came across another burglar he knew. [His friend] said to him, ‘Have you found your treasure yet?’

He said, ‘My brother, what I found is Maalik bin Dinaar.

I went to steal from him, but it was he who ended up stealing my heart.

I have indeed repented to Allah, and I will remain at the door [of His Mercy and Forgiveness] until I achieve what his obedient, loving slaves have achieved.’

[al-Mawaa'idh wal-Majaalis: 85]

Shaheed Sahaabah

In 1932, the Sahaabi Hadhrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu anhu) in a dream instructed king Faisal of Iraq to relocate their graves elsewhere since water from the river was seeping in.

The king issued orders for the bodies of Hadhrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat Jaabir Bin Abdullah (radhiyallahu anhu) to be exhumed. The exhumation was done in great style and pomp. Thousands of people witnessed the event. When the bodies were removed, it seemed as if they were buried o­nly a couple of hours ago inspite of the lapse of almost 14 centuries. The bodies were fresh and glittering with Noor.Thousands witnessed the exhumation and many non-Muslims who were present embraced Islam.

http://www.themajlis.net/

A man of Almighty

Hadhrat Shaqeeq Balkhi (rahmatullah alayh) said:

"If you wish to recognize a man of Allah, then look at his attitude to promises— does he generally ignore the promises of Allah and has he reliance o­n the promises of people."

If his reliance is o­n the promises of Allah, not o­n the promises of people, he is a man of Allah.

There is no love in an immoral person

“A haasid (jealous person) never experiences peace of mind. There is no faithfulness in a miser. A man with a small (constricted) heart has no friends. A liar is bereft of culture. An abuser of trust cannever be trusted. There is no love in an immoral person.”

Hadhrat Ahnaf Bin Qais

Bears your annoyance

ALLAH’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

“The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the one who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.”

[Al-Tirmidhi 5207, Ibn Majah 4032]

A good life

A Western thinker said:

"It is most possible for you, while you are behind steel bars, to look out upon the horizon and to smell roses. It is also extremely plausible for you to be in a castle replete with opulence and comfort, and yet be angry and discontented with your family and wealth."

Therefore happiness is not determined by time or by place, but instead by faith in Allah and obedience to Him, matters that are rooted in a person's heart. The heart has a far-reaching significance in that it is the place that Allah looks at and scrutinizes. If faith settles itself in the heart, happiness and tranquility will pervade both the heart and the soul.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal was a venerable scholar and a prolific compiler of hadith. He lived a productive life, yet he was not rich: his garment was patched in many places and every time it tore again, he would sew it himself. He lived in a three-room structure made of mud. Often, all that he could find to eat was a piece of bread. And his biographers mention that he had the same shoes for seventeen years and he would often patch them up or sew them if there was a tear. Meat would find its way to his plate only once a month, and on most days he fasted. He journeyed throughout the lands seeking out ahaadeeth (hadiths). Yet, despite all of the hardships he had to bear, he was contented, comfortable, serene, and unworried, qualities that can be attributed to his fortitude, to his knowing his goal and final destination, to his seeking reward from Allah, and to his striving after the Hereafter and Paradise.

On the other hand, the rulers of his time, such as Al-Ma'moon, Al-Wathiq, Al-Mu`tasim and Al-Mutawakkil, all lived in castles. They owned hoards of gold and silver; an entire army was at their disposal; they had all that they desired. In spite of all their material wealth, they lived in turmoil and they spent their lives in anxiety and worry. Wars, uprisings, and insurgencies brought them misery. In the records of history we even find that many of them would renounce the world bitterly on their deathbed, feeling regretful for their extravagances on the one hand and for their shortcomings on the other.

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah is another example: he spent his time on this earth with no family, no place to call home, no wealth, and no position. He had a room adjoining the central mosque, a slice of bread to keep him going for the day, and two garments. Sometimes he would sleep in the mosque. But, as he said about his situation, his paradise was in his breast, his execution meant martyrdom, imprisonment was peaceful seclusion, and being exiled from his country meant traveling abroad as a tourist. Such sentiments could come from him only because the tree of faith in his heart had firm and solid roots.

...whose oil would almost glow, forth [of itself], though no, fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. [Qur'an 24: 35]

He will expiate .from them their sins, and will make good their state. [Qur'an 47: 2]

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety. [Qur'an 47: 17]

You will recognize in their, faces the brightness of delight. [Qur'an 83: 24]

Abu Dhar was a Companion known for his abstemious lifestyle. Taking with him his wife and children, he left the city and settled in an isolated location. After setting up his tent, most of his days were spent chiefly in worship, recitation of the Qur'an, and reflection. Most days he fasted. His worldly possessions were limited to a tent, some sheep, and a few other trifling things. Some friends visited him once and they asked, "Where is the world (i.e. where are the material things that others have)?" He said, "In my house is all that I need from this world, and the Prophet (bpuh) informed us that in front of us is an insurmountable obstacle (i.e. on the Day of Judgment), and no one will pass it (safely) except for the one who has a light load."

Despite living a life of penury, he had all that he needed from this world. As for superfluous possessions, he felt that they would divert him from his main purpose and would only cause him worry.

[Dont be Sad]

A few words on patience

Ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with him) is related to have said: "Relief and aid are from faith and contentment. Anxiety and grief are from doubt and anger."

He also used to say:

"The patient one achieves the best of aims."

Abban ibn Taghlab said:

"I heard a Desert Arab say, `One of the noblest of characteristics becomes manifest when one is afflicted by a trial and then uses patience to overcome that trial. His patience and hope affect him positively; it is as if he constantly visualizes himself being saved from his problem; his state of mind is positive to such a high degree because of his trust in Allah and his good opinion of Him. Whenever one possesses these characteristics, he will never have to wait long for Allah to fulfill his needs and remove hardship from his life. He will be saved, and his religion and honor will remain safe."'

Al-Asma'ee related that a Desert Arab said:

"Fear evil when you find yourself to be in a good situation; hope for good when you are in an evil situation. Many have lived who have sought after death and many have died who have sought after life. And safety comes most often for a person after he has followed the path of fear."

Some of the wise would say:

"The wise person, when afflicted by hardship, consoles himself in two ways. The first is to be contented. The second is in hoping for a way out of the difficulties that have befallen him. The ignorant person is shaken and nervous in situations of hardship in two ways. The first is in the number of people from whom he seeks aid. The second is in his constant fears and apprehensions about that which is worse than what has already befallen him."

And as I mentioned earlier, it has been said that Allah, the Exalted, disciplines us through trials, a form of education that opens hearts, ears, and eyes.

Al-Hasan ibn Sahl described trials as being a wake-up call for the forgetful ones, a means of achieving reward for the patient ones, and a reminder of blessings for everyone. And the decree of Allah is always better, especially for those who, through their bravery, appear to be seeking out deaths - who are searching for a life of remembrance, and who are unlike those that are described in the following verse:

[They are] the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat [at home]: If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed. Say: Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth. [Qur'an 3: 168]

[Done be Sad]