Have Taqwaa of Allaah Wherever You Are

Have Taqwaa of Allaah Wherever You Are
by Shaykh Muhammed As-Subayyal حفظه الله
Delivered on September 18th 2004

Brief Introduction To Lecturer by Moderator

Shaykh حفظه الله Zahid started praising Allaah and sending salaat and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and all his Companions. He then welcomed everyone and proceeded by saying, Dear brothers and sisters in Islaam, our speaker today is no stranger to you at all. He is one of the major Scholars of our time. Some of you may have heard him before during our weekly lectures. He is well known for his knowledge and is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars as well as an Imaam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Haraam. He is also the President of Affairs of three holy masaajid. Brothers and sisters in Islaam, our Shaykh حفظه الله is very, very tired and we thank him for giving us his time. Today he is scheduled to have two meetings in two different locations and he is very tired. However, he made himself available to us and we thank him for that. Therefore he will not be talking on the topic which he’s supposed to be talking on, rather he will give a hadeeth inshaa Allaah and then explain the hadith. The topic which we were supposed to have him discuss, he will discuss inshaa Allaah in the following weeks. Jazakum Allaahu khairun.


Introduction by the Shaykh حفظه الله

Dear brothers and sisters in Islaam, our Shaykh Muhammad As-Subayyal حفظه الله started by praising Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and then sent salaah and salaam upon the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم and his family and his Companions and those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Judgment. Then he said, all brothers in Islaam, all believing brothers, I greet you with the greeting of Islaam, “Assalaamullahi alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.”


Hadeeth: “Have taqwaa of Allaah wherever you are…”

Then he said that we all know very well that the best speech is the speech of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم. From his teachings and guidance is a short paragraph containing three sentences, yet containing much benefit and great meaning. It is binding upon us to understand it because in it we will find all goodness. And the Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said as he addressed some of his Companions رضي الله عنهم, "Ittiqillaaha haithumaa kunta – Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed. And deal with mankind in the best manner.”[1]

And then our Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying that this is from the best actions and they are short and concise words, meaning the hadeeth of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه و سلم when he said, “Ittiqillaaha haithumaa kunta – Fear Allaah wherever you are…”[1] to the rest of the hadeeth, he said these words are very short and concise. However, their meanings are great and they contain much benefit in it.


Having taqwaa of Allaah

The Shaykh حفظه الله said inshaa Allaah we will deal with some of its meanings, such as Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم saying, “Fear Allaah, have taqwaa of Allaah”.[1] He حفظه الله said that fearing Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is from the best of actions. Fearing Allaah means to make between yourself and Allaah سبحانه و تعالى a protection, a barrier, a protection that would protect you from the punishment of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. This protection from the punishment of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is by doing what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has ordered you with, and leaving off what He has prohibited you from. If you do this, you will have protected yourself from the worst of punishments.


Have taqwaa of Allaah in all circumstances

“Ittiqillaaha haithumaa kunta - Fear Allaah wherever you are…”[1] ‘wherever you are’, meaning in any place or any time. He حفظه الله said some of the scholars have explained the meaning of taqwaa and spoken about the reality of taqwaa. From such statements is that fear of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is:

• ‘It is a vessel (ship) of the righteous.’
• ‘It is a path for the one taking the way of guidance.’
• ‘It is the light for the one following the light.’
• ‘It is joy if you are able to enter into its valley.’
• ‘It is honour that is higher than any other honour.’

The reward of those who have taqwaa of Allaah

Then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying that there is a great reward for those who have taqwaa of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, those who are conscious of Allaah, they will have a great reward with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. As Allaah عز و جل said:

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ {54} فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
{ Verily, The Muttaqûn (pious), will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers (Paradise). In a seat of truth (i.e. Paradise),
near the Omnipotent King (Allâh, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honour). } [Al-Qamar 54:54-55]

This is the reward of the Muttaqeen. This taqwaa – fear of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will place between you and the punishment of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى a protection, a protective barrier. It is to do what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has ordered you with, and to leave off what He has prohibited you from. Remember the fear of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى in every place, time or position that you are in. You must have taqwaa of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, you must have awareness of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and awareness of taqwaa wherever you are. Your mind and thoughts should always be focussed and aware so that you keep away from entering into any undesirable affairs. This taqwaa of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will protect you from entering into or committing these undesirable actions. If you bring the fear of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى to your thoughts and mind, it will protect you from falling into sin as it will protect you from falling into what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has prohibited you from. And no doubt doing what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has prohibited you from is the opposite of taqwaa.

And then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying “Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed.”[1] So fear Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and if you fear Him, if you have taqwaa of Allaah, He سبحانه و تعالى will reward you with good as He has described the Muttaqeen. He سبحانه و تعالى said,

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ {54} فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
{ Verily, The Muttaqûn (pious), will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers (Paradise). In a seat of truth (i.e. Paradise),
near the Omnipotent King (Allâh, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honour). } [Al-Qamar 54:54-55]

With whom are they sitting? They are sitting with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى the Almighty King. And then he حفظه الله quoted the ayah when Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

أَلا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللّهِ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ {62} الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ
{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyâ' of Allâh [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allâh and fear Allâh much
(abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allâh much
(perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.
Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and used to fear Allâh much
(by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Yunus 10:62-63]

Therefore, the Awliyaa’ of Allaah shall have no fear nor shall they grieve, not in this world, nor in the Hereafter. In this world they shall have no fear for their children or families, all of their affairs will be free, which means Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will take care of their affairs. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will protect them. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is their Protector. He has protected them. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

أَلا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللّهِ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ {62} الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ
{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyâ' of Allâh, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.
Those who believed and used to fear Allâh much.} [Yunus 10:62-63]

So if you loved and feared Allaah and refrained from sinning and from those actions that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has prohibited you from and you did what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى ordered you with, from upholding the prayers and making salaah on time, giving the zakaah, fasting the month of Ramadaan and making the Hajj to the House of Allaah, and refrained from what you were prohibited from, such as zinaa (fornication), ribaa (usury), and other things that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has prohibited you from – what He has made haraam upon you; then if you were to do that you will win with the best reward and the greatest victory.


Following up a bad deed with a good deed

And then the Shaykh proceeded by saying “Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed.”[1], as Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “All of the sons of Aadam make mistakes.”[2] There is no one innocent or free of sin, but if the person makes a mistake then he remembers and returns to Allaah and repents to Him and seeks His forgiveness, then Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will erase his sin.


Repentance to Allaah is from the Best of Actions

Because of this, the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “All the children of Aadam make mistakes and the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent”[2] because if he repents from his sin or from his mistake, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will forgive him and this is what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى wants, and this is what He has ordered us with as He سبحانه و تعالى says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
{ O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins,
and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allâh will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم)
and those who believe with him, their Light will run forward before them and with (their Records Books of deeds) in their right hands
they will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirât (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely]
and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things.} [At-Tahreem 66:8]

This repentance, this tawbah is the best of actions. A person needs to remember this. He needs to always have complete awareness of returning to Allaah and repenting to Allaah. “Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed. And deal with mankind with the best manner.”[1] If someone falls into sin, and of course a person is not free from sins, he is going to fall into sins; a person may fall into sin, but he has to remember to return to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى in repentance because repentance erases what came before it. So if he repents to Allaah, Allaah wipes off his sin and forgives his mistakes which he repented from. So race towards repentance and indeed repentance erases the bad deeds. This is the reason that the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said, "follow up the bad deed with a good deed. It will erase it.”[1]


Good deeds erase the bad deeds

From the good deeds are: repenting to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, seeking His forgiveness and charity and righteous actions, all of this erases sins. All the good actions erase the evil actions and this is a reminder for those who remember. So righteous actions erase bad deeds because of what was said: "follow up the bad deed with a good deed. It will erase it.” [1] This is taken from Allaah’s statement as He سبحانه و تعالى said:

إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ

{.. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice). } [Hud 11:114]

Deal with the people in the best way

And then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying “Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed. Wa khaaliqinnaasa bi khuluqin hasan – And deal with mankind with the best manner.”[1] Dealing with mankind with the best of manners is from the etiquettes of Islaam. You greet them with as-salaam, you meet them and you give them salaam. You make room in the sittings for them, and you do not show bad feelings towards them, or offend them, or talk about their honour. These manners will bring everyone together. Because of this, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “deal with mankind with good manners”. The word, an-naas (mankind) is general here and likewise its meaning is also general. It relates to Muslims and non-Muslims.


Deal with the non-Muslims in a good way is a form of Da’wah

Your good manners with the non-Muslims i.e. if you are easy and lenient with them and treat them in the proper manner, then this is a means from amongst the means used in calling to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. So when you are doing this, you are using a means from the means of Da’wah. If you act like this, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will put love for you into his heart, and he will like sitting with you and then he will like what you talk about. Then this might become a way, a means for him to come to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and to come to al-Islaam. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى might guide him because of your efforts. So the people, the mankind, they are everyone, Muslims or non-Muslims alike, as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has said in the Qur’aan:

وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً
{...and speak good to people [i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad Peace be upon him } [Al-Baqarah 2:83]

The ‘mankind’ stated here are the Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He didn’t say, “Say to the Believers or Muslims or Muttaqeen (those with taqwaa) that which is best.” Rather He سبحانه و تعالى said, ‘mankind’. He used the word ‘an-naas’ which means every human being. And if you apply the best manner in your Da’wah then you have used the proper tools in giving Da’wah and the best akhlaaq (character) is the best tool to be used. So, if you are easy and good in dealing with mankind, even with the kuffaar, if you are good with them then you have applied the proper means in calling to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. A kaafir would be more inclined in learning from you if you come to him with good manners. As Allaah سبحانه و تعالى said:

وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً
{...and speak good to people [i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad Peace be upon him } [Al-Baqarah 2:83]

So good manners and talking to mankind in a good way, this is from the Da’wah to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and a way to call to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and to call to al-Islaam, the Deen of Allaah.


The ones most deserving of being dealt with in a good way

And then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying Wa khaaliqinnaasa bi khuluqin hasan – And deal with mankind with the best manner.”[1] The ones most deserving of your good manners and good dealings are your parents, then those closest to you, meaning your relatives, then your Muslim brothers and then the non-Muslims. This is how Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم was with everyone.

"When he (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was out in the desert (in the sahara), a Bedouin came to him and the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم called him to al-Islaam and presented al-Islaam to him and then man said, “What is al-Islaam? And how does one become a Muslim?” Then the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “Islaam is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship, there is no other God worthy of worship other than Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, and to perform the salaah and to give zakaah and … (to the rest of the hadith)” Then the man replied, “no, I don’t accept this and I wouldn’t become a Muslim.” The Bedouin was about to walk away and with him was a kind of desert animal which they eat. So when the Bedouin was about to tie the animal, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم called him and said, “If this animal that you have becomes Muslim, would you accept Islaam?” The man said, “Yes.” Then, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم asked him to give him the animal. Then the man handed him the animal, and Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said to the animal, “Who am I?”, and the animal replied, “You are the Messenger of Allaah.”[3] So with this good manner from the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, the Arab Bedouin who was harsh, unsocial, tough and ignorant just like an animal, as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said in another hadith, “Do you see who is more misguided – the Bedouin or the animal?” [4] But when the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم spoke to him with good manners and expressed and showed him the miracle, he was affected and the Bedouin accepted Islaam.


Dealing with the Parents

Therefore brothers and sisters in Islaam, deal with mankind with the best manners, and first and foremost in this respect are your parents, and the rights of mother are more that the father, as in the hadith of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه و سلم when he was asked, “Who has the most rights?” And the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) replied, “Your mother.” And he was asked again, and again he replied, “Your mother.” And he was asked again, and again he said, “Your mother.” And then on the fourth time, when he was asked again, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “Your father.”[5] So the right of the mother is greater than that of the father, but still the father’s right is great. So the closer they are to you in their relation to you, like your brother, sister, cousin and so on, then they are those who have the most right to your kindness and good manners and this is from keeping the ties of the womb or ties of kinship.


Maintaining the ties of kinship

These ties are a great affair because the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم praised keeping the ties and warned from cutting them off and breaking the relation of kin. The Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by quoting the hadith of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم who said, “When Allaah سبحانه و تعالى created the womb, it clung to the throne and said, ‘O my Lord, I seek refuge in You from being cut off.’ So Allaah سبحانه و تعالى replied, ‘Will you not accept that I cut off whoever cuts you off? And I keep connected to whoever keeps connected to you?’ And then the womb replied, ‘Yes, yes.’”[6] So Allaah سبحانه و تعالى revealed in the Qur’aan:

فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ {22} أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبْصَارَهُمْ
{Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship?
Such are they whom Allâh has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. } [Muhammad 47:22-23]

So whoever is related to you from near or far, then they have a right over you. You should say good things to them and honour them as much as possible. This is from al-birr (righteousness) and from good manners that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم have ordered us with. And, be aware of cutting off these ties. It is a very serious and dangerous matter. And as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has said:

فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ {22} أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبْصَارَهُمْ
{Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship?
Such are they whom Allâh has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. } [Muhammad 47:22-23]

So brothers and sisters in Islaam, these are our three short sentences from the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم and to each of them there are no bounds or ends concerning their benefits and blessings. “Have taqwaa of Allaah, have fear of Allaah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for verily a good deed will erase a bad deed. And deal with mankind with the best manner.” [1]


The results of having good manners

And then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by saying that good manners are such that it will bring forth light for you, as well as for the kuffaar. So if you deal nicely and politely with non-Muslims and render your hand to them in good services in the best manner, then this is from the means of calling them to al-Islaam. Perhaps he will be guided to al-Islaam with Allaah’s سبحانه و تعالى tawfeeq (success) and then from your Da’wah and your efforts and your kind words so you will reap the reward of it. Speaking of this, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “If Allaahسبحانه و تعالى guides by you one man, then it is better for you than a red camels.” [7] And the red camels have the highest type of capital, of highest value with the Arabs, so we should be aware and memorize these verses of the Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم and act on them and order with them with what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم have ordered us with.

Then the Shaykh حفظه الله proceeded by making du’aa in Arabic, and Shaykh حفظه الله Zahid proceeded by thanking the Shaykh حفظه الله and saying brothers and sisters as we said earlier today, the Shaykh حفظه الله was very, very busy. He has two appointments and it was very kind of him that he made himself available for us and we thank him sincerely.



References

[1] Found in Imaam an-Nawawi’s Forty Hadeeth (#18). Reported by at-Tirmidhi (#1987). Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says Hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#97).

اتَّقِ اللهَ حيثُما كُنتَ وأتبعِ السَّيِّئةَ الحسَنَةَ تمحُها وخالِقِ النَّاسَ بخلُقٍ حسنٍ

[2] Reported in Sunan ibn Maajah 2/1420 (#4251). Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says Hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#4515).

كل بني آدم خطاء، وخير الخطائين التوابون

[3] Reference Pending

[4] Reference Pending

[5] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab al-Adab (#5626) from Abi Hurayrah, and in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Birr was-Silah wal-Aadaab (#2548).

جاء رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله، من أحق الناس بحسن صحابتي؟ قال: (أمك). قال: ثم من؟ قال: (ثم أمك). قال: ثم من؟ قال: (ثم أمك). قال: ثم من؟ قال: (ثم أبوك)

[6] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab at-Tafseer (#4552) and with a similar wording in Kitaab al-Adab (#5641,5642), and also in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Birr was-Silah wal-Aadaab (#2554).

خلق الله الخلق، فلما فرغ منه قامت الرحم، فأخذت بحقو الرحمن، فقال له: مه، قالت: هذا مقام العائذ بك من القطيعة، قال: ألا ترضين أن أصل من وصلك، وأقطع من قطعك؟ قالت: بلى يا رب، قال: فذاك

[7] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab al-Jihaad was-Sayr (#2783) and with a similar wording in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab Fadaa’il as-Sahaabah (#2406).

فوالله لأن يهدي اللَّه بك رجلاً واحداً خير لك من حمر النعم