Start With the Self.

[Julaybib]

As Salaam Alaykum.

I decided to delete that post completely.Just dont seem appropiate although it showed the compassion of Umar (ra).

[Saad]

Asalam Alaykum,

Jazak Allah brother Khan I did not know that, Subhanala, such a treacherous tyrant as Hormuzan yet the promise to even him was not broken . One marvels at the Justice of Umar (ra)

Now this is very interesting:

Hazrat Umar’s son, Ubaidallah, was infuriated by the murder of his father. Ubaidallah killed both Harmuzan and Jafeena. Ubaidallah was thus charged with murder and brought to the court of the new Caliph, Uthman bin Affan. Ali bin Abi Talib, Uthman’s vizier, advised that Ubaidallah should be executed for murder because there was not enough evidence to convict Harmuzan and Jafeena of any crime. Furthermore, reasoned Ali, extra-judicial vigilante justice was not permitted in Islam; Harmuzan and Jafeena should at least have been entitled to a fair trial and-–if found guilty–-be executed by none other than the state.

However, the other Sahabah–-including Amir bin al A’as-–differed with Ali’s position , because they sympathized with Ubaidallah , who was the son of the great Umar . His father had just been murdered in cold blood, and so they wished that Ubaidallah be forgiven due to the fact that he was acting out of distress. Caliph Uthman thus ruled that Ubaidallah must pay blood-money. But because Harmuzan and Jafeena had no relatives, Uthman declared that the blood-money should be given to charity and the Baitul Mal. However, Ubaidallah was unable to pay the blood-money due to lack of funds, and so it was that Caliph Uthman paid this money out of his own pocket.

This was one of his first acts as Caliph, and the conspirators (in particular Abdullah Ibn Saba’s father) viewed Uthman’s decision very unfavorably. It was in this atmosphere that Uthman bin Affan came to power, and the machinations of the conspirators continued in full force. Ubaidallah had killed Harmuzan and Jafeena, but Saba bin Shamoon remained alive. His son, Abdullah Ibn Saba, “converted” to Islam and he would uphold the task of destroying Islam from within.

The fact that Uthman showed mercy upon Ubaidallah angered Saba bin Shamoon and his son, Abdullah Ibn Saba. These two men looked sympathetically towards Ali, due to the fact that Ali had taken a harsh stance towards Ubaidallah’s actions. It was thus that Abdullah ibn Saba “converted” to Islam and founded the Shia sect, calling the masses to adore Ali and agitating them against Uthman. It was Abdullah Ibn Saba’s propaganda against Uthman that helped fan the flames of civil discontent and caused the people to rise against the Caliph. And so it was that the Saba’ites (followers of Abdullah Ibn Saba) assassinated Uthman.

[Saad]

Also some people were suspecting that something big is about to happen, and alot is going underground. When Hazrat Umer r.a. went to his last Hajj and he was in Arafaat, Hazrat Huzaifa r.a told Hazrat Umer r.a that there is lock on the doors of "fitna", once its un-locked, fitna will come out. When Hazrat Umer r.a heard it, he got nervous and asked him what door, and what is meant by its opening? So Hazrat Huzaifa said, a person will be killed"

Tabqat ibn Saad vol III, page 134.

So its not as simple as its portrayed, that out of no where Abu Lulu came and martyred Hazrat Umer r.a. He was just the glove, and not the real hand.

[Julaybib]

As Salaam Alaykum.

Jazak Allah brother Khanbaba this has clarified a lot of facts for me,

Allah bless the Sahabas and the Khalifa al Rashideen abundantly and give us the tawfiq to follow, in their footsteps and instil love in our hearts for them ameen

What a door that was one, whose very foundations were built on Justice and truth.

[Julaybib]

As Salaam Alaykum.

I would just like to recommend some books that I am reading right know. concerning, this topic of Self reformation.

1) Purification of the Soul a compilation of works from earlier scholars such as Imam AlGhazali, Ibn Rajab al Hanbali and Ibn Qayim.

2) Remembrance of Death by Shaykh Zakarriya ,(ra).A very small easy to read book, with excellent insights from hazrat Shaykh ul Hadeeth (ra)

3) Remedies for spiritual Maladies, By Hazrat Shaykh Hakeem Akhtar Shah (Sahib).
A an excellent section in this book dealing with,Lust and the malady of Love sickness.

Brothers and sisters feel free to make their own suggestion's, and contribute their thoughts on the issue of Self Reformation.

This Thread is turning more into a blog, rather then a forum.

May Allah give us the Tawfiq to practice what we Learn ameen.

[poga]

As Salaam Alaykum. This thread is intended mostly as reminder for myself I hope Inshallah that others will also derive benefit, and contribute with their thoughts on self reformation.

A man was on his death bed, Someone asked him to give some wise counsel before he departed, the world he Said.

" When I was young I wanted to change the world and solve its problems, As I got older I realized that perhaps I should lower my sights, I thought I would be better served in changing my country as time went on I realized that people of country could not be changed. I decided to change the people of my town , but they also did not wish to change, When I reached my old age I thought I would try changing my Family, here also I found my endeavors go to waste, try as I might my family members would not change.

" Now that I am on my death bed, I have realized that if I had sought to improve myself, and removed my own defects, then perhaps my family members would have been influenced. Then seeing the behavior of my family people of my town would have been influenced. By seeing the spiritual change and improvement of the people of my town, the people of my country would have been influenced. And perhaps through the people of my country the world may have been influenced."
* Source Unknown.

Is it not the case that we spend very little time reflecting on ourselves, but seek out the faults and defects of others. I joined this forum last week, to help improve my knowledge, instead what I have found myself doing is getting engaged, in fruitless debates be it sectarian issues, political issues or otherwise. I wish to change the world but I find it near impossible, to change myself.

MaY Allah give us all the Tawfiq to improve our own behavior and conduct and a sinner like me in particular, ameen.

sure start with the self because self is the centre of one's existance yet we forget this fact and we start with the fictional surroundings
thank you very much for sharing SALAM

[Julaybib]

As Salaam Alaykum.

Two dervishes where traveling on a journey. During their journey they came across a Stream, by the Stream there was a young maiden.She was afraid to cross the stream for fear of her clothes getting wet. One of the dervishes offered to carry her across the river. When they got to the other side, she thanked the Dervishes and went on her way.

The Other Dervish started chiding the first one he said, "dont you know it is Haraam to have such physical contact, should you not repent."

So the first Dervish said:" indeed you are right I did make a gross error, I repent onto Allah."

But the other Dervish kept admonishing him for several miles: So the first dervish said
"Brother I only carried her across the stream, why are you still carrying her in your heart?

Story Taken from another source and Islamicised By Julaybib.

Two points to reflect.

Often we find people who have lived a sinful life, but they make Tawbah and start practicing their deen, yet we keep reminding them of their past behavior and judging them for it.

Secondly like the dervish in the afore- mentioned story, when we are judging others or admonishing others we don't stop to ponder on our own inner intentions or desires. Surely our admonishments should be purely for the sake of Allah and to bring others closer to the deen.


May Allah protect us all from passing Judgement, on others give us the tawfiq to reflect on our own intentions, ameen.

[Waleeja]

'Why do you say that which you do not do?' (Quran)


أَتَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبِرِّ وَتَنسَوۡنَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ*ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

Do you order people to do good and forget your own selves, even though you have read the book, do you not have sense? (Quran)

those are only the ones of the top of my head.... there are plenty more, each accurate in the description of man's haste to rectify others' mistakes whilst ignoring his own.
May Allah guide us all. ameen.

[Julaybib]

As Salaam Alaykum:

A Young professor of botany arrived at a small village, to study the local plant species, he met an old Man ,and asked him if there where any guest houses near by, where he could stay for the night. The old man said there where no guest houses, but he would be honoured if he would stay with him,besides he lived on his own and would really enjoy some company.

As the evening progressed the subject turned towards religion. The young professor started boasting about his religious Knowledge, the Young professor had studied the works of Imam Ghazali (ra), Shaykh Abdul Qadir Gilani (ra) amongst many others.

The Old Man was fascinated to hear the words, of the great Scholars being relayed to him, and listened intently. The old man noticed that despite the young professors vast Knowledge , of religion, he did not offer prayers, nor was his manner of sitting speaking or even eating according to the sunnah.

The young Professor carried on boasting, about his Knowledge . Finally the old man spoke and said " my Son Only a blind man knows the value of eyesight, whilst those of us who are blessed with it take it for granted. My son I have spent my entire life in regret that, I am illiterate and cannot read and I did not get the opportunity, to learn from the great works of all the scholars you have mentioned. Yet I ask you my son what is the use of all the knowledge you have gained, when you cannot bring yourself to make one sajda before your creator, what use is such knowledge my son? The young Professor, was silenced upon hearing this. He announced he was tired and went to sleep. The old mans wise counsel had no effect on him."

Story Written by Julaybib.


Something to think about:

Is not our condition like the young professor, we study book after book, we spend hours listening to lectures; Yet we have no inclination to put into practice what we learn. Even admonishments, come to us whether through illness, poverty or other afflictions yet we remain in slumber, and like the young Professor we fall asleep, we gain nothing from our knowledge other than arrogance and boast fullness.


May Allah give us all the tawfiq to practice what we learn and embrace Islam in its entirety especially a Sinner like me ameen.

[Julaybib]

As salaam Alaykum:

Jazak Allah for the reminder sister,

May Allah give us all the tawfeeq to see our own faults and to rectify them ,ameen.