My respected Shaykh gave a short speech today after the completion of the Qur’an in the Taraweeh prayers.
He mentioned how we usually hear people complaining regarding the lack of time we have and how time is so short. However, we should take an alternative approach to our thinking and consider time, regardless of how short, an important element in our efforts to connect to Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
An example of this is our worldly affairs is akin to our experience of making an important call to a person. We may have experienced this that at times our call isn’t answered and we are desperate to get in contact with this person. What do we do in such a situation? We continue to call, regularly if not continuously, without fail to ensure that we get through to this person. Our efforts continue until we are successufl.
In the same manner, we need to establish the same urgency, dedication and commitment when we make a ‘call’ to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. We should continue our efforts until we do not establish a connection with Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
This is extremely important and we must always be very vigilant in regards to our worship and servitude to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. When it comes to the matter of worship, Shaytan is forever trying to deviate us and misguide us. He has two specific approaches which are detrimental to our worship and our Imaan.
The first approach of Shaytan is to create a sense of self-conceit and ego within our hearts in relation to our worship. He will remind us of our worship and efforts and how people hold us in esteem or high respect. His aim will always be to create a sense of pride and haughtiness within our hearts where we will feel we have achieved a status and ranking and are of extreme worth and value due to the worship we have carried out, or the the knowledge we have acquired, or the charity that we have given.
By doing so, Shaytan’s plan is to make us arrogant and proud in front of Allah سبحانه و تعالى and leave Allah سبحانه و تعالى just as Shaytan did during the time of Adam عليه السلام.
We therefore need to be extremely careful and vigilant in this regard and continuously check whether this pride, arrogance and self-conceit has crept into our hearts and minds. On every occasion, Shaytan will present himself and make us believe that we have made great achievements in our worship and that we have achieved success. Our ultimate task is to always keep our wealth of worship safeguarded or our balance will remain zero regardless of our efforts.
This is an important lessons for all of us, but more importantly for those who have a higher standing in the community, or those who are actively involved in the work of Deen (religion), or those who tirelessly worship Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Shaytan will always come and use this as a basis to deviate us and make us think highly of our positions and efforts.
This is one of the reasons why we see many scholars and many pious people going through extreme difficulties in the last stages of their lives. Allah سبحانه و تعالى puts them through a cleansing process and protects them from Shaytan. We should therefore always be content with the decision Allah سبحانه و تعالى makes for us as He is the most knowing.
Our scholars would always seek pleasure in the decree of Allah سبحانه و تعالى through the following Du’a of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم:
اللّهُمَّ رَضِّنِىْ بِقَضَائِكَ
O Allah, keep me content with Your decree
[Tabrani]
Another ploy of Shaytan is to make you think about your own achievements and successes by reminding you of how many people you may have helped, supported, guided, taught made Huffaz or Ulama. This is extremely detrimental when we consider these for ourselves. Yes, we can and should always look at the achievements of others, but never of our own in the context of how successful and elevated we are. This is the ploy of Shaytan to deviate us and he builds a small foundation of pride and self-conceit and works his way forward.
Our fight and struggle against Shaytan will be till our last breadth. my Shaykh, mentioned that he actually feared the ploy and trickery of Shaytan even after that, when being lowered into the grave and whilst being questioned in the grave.
An incident regarding Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal رحمه الله تعالى is mentioned by his son that took place at the time of his death.
Abdullah bin Ahmed رحمه الله تعالى mentions that when death approached my father, I sat with him and he began to drift in and out of consciousness, then he opened his eyes and said, indicating with his hand: “No, not yet. No, not yet” And he repeated it three times. After the third repetition, I said to him: Oh, my father! What is this thing which you have said at this time? You fall into unconsciousness so that we say that you have gone, then you return to consciousness and say: “No, not yet. No, not yet”
He said to me: Oh, my son! Shaytan stood before me, and said to me: ‘Oh, Ahmad! during your entire life I have tried to devoate you and you have eluded me. Now I concede and accept that you have become successful. But I replied: “No, not yet, not yet until I die.”
This is the trickery of Shaytan that he will come to us until our last moments, in our weakest moments and try to deceive us and deviate us to devoid us of the rewards of all of our efforts and worship. May Allah سبحانه و تعالى save us all. Aameen.
The second approach of Shaytan is that he will try to make us lose hope in the mercy and Rahmah of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. He will try his utmost to make us despondent and discourage us to such an extent that we reach the level of Kufr (disbelief).
Allah سبحانه و تعالى states:
ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
“Truly no one despairs of Allah’s mercy except those who have no Faith”
[Surah Yusuf – 12:87]
We must be strong in our conviction of the mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. We must make every effort, but at the same time believe that the wave of Allah’s سبحانه و تعالى mercy is such that it will sweep away all of our shortcomings on the Day of Qiyamah (Hereafter).
My Shaykh then continued to mention incidents of the pious predecessors, their struggles and how Shaytan was every ready to deviate them, either through self-conceit or through despondency from salvation. May Allah سبحانه و تعالى protect us all from Shaytan and give us death upon Imaan. Aameen.
May Allah سبحانه و تعالى grant my respected Shaykh Barakah and blessings in his life, keep his shadow over us and grant him good health. Aameen.
Collection of Treasures 