Value of Tawheed...

Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله

 The value of Health is not known except to

the one who has experienced illness...

The value of light is not known except to

the one who has fallen into darkness...

The value of water is not known except to

the one who has experienced thirst...

The value of food is not known except to

the one who has experienced hunger...

The value of safety & security is not known

except to the one who has seen fear...

(Similarly...) the value of Tawheed is not

known except to the one who has

knowledge & understanding of Shirk to

avoid it..

Reactions to Calamity

Q: What is the ruling on one who becomes discontented when he is afflicted by calamity?

A: In times of calamity, people divide into four different levels:

The First Level: Discontent and there are different types of discontent:

1. In the heart, as if he is angry with his Lord, and so he rails against what Allāh has ordained for him, and this is forbidden and could even lead to disbelief. Allāh says:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ

“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter.”

(Al-Hajj 22:11)

2. That it is spoken, such as invoking woe, destruction and the like and this is forbidden.

Beg Allaah to Forgive You!

وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you, O believers, that you may become successful!"

[An-Nur 24:31]

Sheikh Uthaimeen رحمه الله says: 

"This verse shows that Repentance is an act deemed compulsory upon every mature, sane individual, because of the order entailed in this Verse. The Sheikh points out, that merely saying the words like Ya Allaah Agfirhlee (Oh Allaah forgive me), but at the same time persisting upon a sin or sins, and refusing to give up this sin, then this form of Tawbah will not benefit the individual and is at the same time mocking Allaah the Most High." 

(Sharh Riyaad'us Saaliheen, Chapter of Tawbah vol.1, pg.62-63)

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله says:  

Ponder this...

"I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet..."

And Do Not Cut Ties with the Wombs that Bore You...

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيراً وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Haawa), and from them both He created many men and women, and fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (DO NOT cut the ties with) the wombs (of kinship) . Surely, Allaah is Ever an All-Watcher over you."

Surah An-Nisaa [4:1]