Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
22. One should always be connected to some pious, rightly guided shaikh (spiritual mentor).
Such a person should be one who leads a life of taqwa, possesses sound knowledge and understanding of deen, follows the sunnah in all departments of his life, and gives preference to the aakhirah over the dunya.
Such a person should be one who the pious, righteous servants of Allah Ta’ala and the ulama recognize him to be a spiritual mentor who is capable of guiding people to Allah Ta’ala.
One should refer to him for seeking guidance in all one’s deeni or worldly matters.
In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta’ala says:
وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ (لقمان: 15)
And follow the way of those who turn to Me
عن عبد الله بن عمر قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لكل شيء معدن، ومعدن التقوى قلوب العارفين. رواه الطبراني وفيه محمد بن رجاء، وهو ضعيف. (مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 17944)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Everything has a mine (source from where one will acquire it), and the mine (source) of (acquiring) Taqwa is the hearts of the Aarifeen (i.e. those who possess the recognition of Allah Ta’ala).”
عن ابن عباس قال قيل يا رسول الله أي جلسائنا خير قال من ذكركم الله رؤيته وزاد في علمكم منطقه وذكركم بالآخرة عمله (مسند أبي يعلى، الرقم: 2437)
Hazrat ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that once Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was asked the following question by a Sahaabi, “Which person should we associate with and take as our companion?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “The one who when you see him, you are reminded of Allah Ta’ala; when he speaks, your knowledge of deen increases; and when you look at his actions, you are reminded of the Hereafter.”
23. Whatever laws of Allah Ta’ala are directed towards you at different times in your life, then ensure that you fulfil those laws according to the sunnah e.g. performing your salaah in the musjid with jamaat, discharging your zakaat, fulfilling the qurbaani on its time, taking care of one’s parents who are ill, etc.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Majeed:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ الله فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ الله وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (آل عمران: 31)
Say, [to the people, O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)], If you love Allah, then follow me (my sunnah), then Allah will love you and forgive you for your sins. And Allah is most forgiving, most merciful.
24. One should regularly ponder over death. The remembrance of death prevents a person from committing sins and motivates him to obey Allah Ta‘ala and carry out good deeds. This is due to the fact that when a person often ponders over death, his worldly hopes and aspirations decrease and his good actions will increase.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر أن يقول: أكثروا من ذكر هاذم اللذات الموت (صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: ٢٩٩٢)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would often say, “Increase the remembrance of the destroyer of all pleasures i.e. death.”
عن سيدنا عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أنه قال: أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عاشر عشرة فجاء رجل من الأنصار فقال: يا نبي الله من أكيس الناس وأحزم الناس؟ قال: أكثرهم ذكرا للموت، وأشدهم استعدادا للموت قبل نزول الموت أولئك هم الأكياس ذهبوا بشرف الدنيا والآخرة (المعجم الكبير، الرقم: ١٣٥٣٦، وإسناده حسن كما في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: ١٨٢١٤)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) mentioned, “I once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with a group of ten people, when a man from the Ansaar arrived and enquired, “O Nabi of Allah! Who is the most intelligent and prudent person from among the people?” Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “The one who remembers death the most, and the one who makes the most preparation for death before the time of death arrives. Such people are the most intelligent people. They have attained the honour of this world and the Hereafter.””
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once mentioned the following while admonishing himself, “Every day it is said that so-and-so has passed away, and a day is certain to come when it will be said that Umar has passed away.” (Ar Rasoolul Muallim pg. 145)
