The Muslim's Enthusiasm for the Deen
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
The following two narrations from the Sunnah
explain how a Muslim’s enthusiasm for the Deen
changes from time to time and also the essential
point of not falling short of what is required during
the period of inactivity and rest.
It is in these times in particular that an
encouragement of other fellow Muslims is particularly
beneficial. Ibn Shawdhab, from the third generation
of Muslims, said: "From Allah’s blessings upon a
youth when he turns to worship is that he is given a
brother who is a follower of the Sunnah encouraging
him upon it."
From Hanzalah al-Usayyidee, radiyallahu `anhu, who said:
"Abu Bakr met me and asked: How are you O Hanzalah? I
replied: Hanzalah is guilty of hypocrisy! He said: Free is Allah
and far removed from all defects! What are you saying? I said:
When we are with Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam, and he reminds us of the Fire and Paradise it is as if
we are seeing it with our own eyes. Then when we depart from
Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, to attend to
our wives, children and our business, then much of this slips
from our minds. Abu Bakr said: By Allah we also experience
the same. So I went with Abu Bakr until we entered upon
Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. I said: When
we are with you, you remind us of the Fire and of Paradise and
it is as if we are seeing it with our eyes. Then when we depart
from you and attend to our wives, children and business then
much of this slips from our minds. So Allah’s Messenger,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: By Him in whose Hand is my
soul if you remained continually as you are when you are with
me and in remembering (Allah) then the angels would shake
hands with you upon your beds and upon your roads. But O
Hanzalah, (there is) a time for this and a time for that, (there is)
a time for this and a time for that, (there is) a time for this and a
time for that.
[Muslim, no. 6623]
From ibn `Umar radiyallahu `anhuma who said that Allah’s
Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:
For every action there is a period of enthusiasm/activity, and
for every period of enthusiasm/activity there is a period of
rest/inactivity. So he whose period of rest/inactivity is in
accordance with my Sunnah then he is rightly guided, but he
whose period of rest accords with other than this, then he is
destroyed.
Ahmad 2/188 and 210.
Courtesy Of: Islaam.com