Between the Past and the Future

 

Ibnul-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله said:

“Your life in the present moment is in between the past and the future. So what has preceded can be rectified by tawbah (repentance), nadam (regret) and istighfar (seeking Allaah’s forgiveness). And this is something that will neither tire you, nor cause you to toil as you would with strenuous labour. Rather it is an action of the heart. Then as regards the future (then it can be corrected) by withholding yourself from sins. 

Taking Account of Oneself

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

(May Allaah have mercy upon him)

                                                                         

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah mentioned: 

"Taking account of oneself is of two categories. A category that's before the performance of the action and a category that is after the performance of the action.

As for the first category: Taking account of oneself before the performance of the action:

It is that the person stops at his desire and want (to perform an action). He doesn't hasten to perform it until it because clear that it is better to perform the action than leaving it off. 

Al-Hasan Al-Basree (may Allaah have mercy upon him) stated:

"May Allaah have mercy upon the servant who stops at his desire (to perform an action). If it is for Allaah he proceeds. If it is for other than Him, he hesitates (and leaves off the action)."

The Difference between Taubah and Istaghfar

Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (751H)

There are two types of Istaghfar:

1.    Istaghfar that is mentioned alone.

2.    Istaghfar that is mentioned with Taubah.

The Istaghfar that is mentioned alone is found in the words of Nuh (peace and blessings be upon him):

“I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; ‘He will send rain to you in abundance.”

[Nuh 10-11]

Wastage of Time & Corruption of the Heart

“Be cautious of (the) mixing with a person which will cause wastage of time and corruption of the heart. For verily, when time is wasted and the heart is corrupted, all of the affairs of the servant will become ruined, and he will be of those about whom Allaah, the Exalted, said:

وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا

.. and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost. (Al-Kahf 18:28)”

- Ibnul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. 

The Path to Guidance, page 9. Refer to Chapter 13: Ibn al-Qayyim on Making Use of One’s Time in Changing Evil into Good.