HEARTFELT ADVICE TO A FRIEND pdf download

HEARTFELT ADVICE TO A FRIEND by Imām ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751H) – ‘Risalatu lbn al-Qt!Jyim ila Abadi Ikhwanihi’

Book Sample

HEARTFELT ADVICE TO A FRIEND

Heedlessness (al-ghefla) and Desire (al-hawa)]

If heedlessness (al-ghajla) of Allah and the Hereafter is coupled with following ones’ own whims and desires (ittibti’ al-hawa), then only evil emanates from such a relation – and it is often that both exist hand in hand and never are apart from each other.

If a person ponders on the corrupt state of the world, in general and in particular, one will understand that heedlessness stands as a barrier between the servant [of Allah] and understanding and knowing Allah.

Following of whims and desires keep one away from searching for the truth and following it. In the case of the former, such a person becomes from those who are astray, and in the case of the latter, he becomes among those upon whom Allah evoked His Anger.

The Favored Ones]

In contrast, those to whom Allah conferred His Favour upon are those·that He has guided to acquire knowledge about Him, then submit to Him, and prefer Him over everything else. Truly, those are the ones who embarked the path of safety while the rest are walking on the road of doom. It is for this reason, Allah ordered us to ·recite every day and every night for a number of times [during the ralah],

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (6) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (7)

“Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” [al-Fatihah (1): 6-7)

To be among those whom are guided by Allah to the right path

– the servant of Allah is in great need to know all that which will benefit him in this life and the Hereafter; to be inclined to favour what will benefit him over anything else, and to avoid all that which harms him [in this life and the Hereafter].

If however, one overlooks knowledge, they will then be embarking upon a path of those who are astray, and if one deviates, does not comply nor submits to Allah, one will then be treading on the path of those whom Allah is angry with.

By this elucidation, it becomes clear [to us] the high-status and significance of this supplication and prayer, and the great need of people to have it fulfilled in their lives as the happiness of a person in this life and the Hereafter depends on it.

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