1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,410 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,410 --> 00:00:08,500 Landmarks on the path of steadfastness. 3 00:00:08,500 --> 00:00:12,029 The remembrance of Allah. 4 00:00:12,029 --> 00:00:17,039 Among the means of steadfastness 5 00:00:17,039 --> 00:00:20,039 is the frequent remembrance of Allah, the Exalted. 6 00:00:20,039 --> 00:00:23,100 Allah has commanded frequent remembrance, 7 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:25,100 for He, the Exalted, says: 8 00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:28,100 "O you who have believed, 9 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:32,100 “O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.” (33:41) 10 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:35,100 and exalt Him morning and afternoon." 11 00:00:35,299 --> 00:00:38,429 Even in the context of battle, 12 00:00:38,429 --> 00:00:41,429 Allah commanded frequent remembrance, 13 00:00:41,429 --> 00:00:43,429 for He, the Exalted, says: 14 00:00:43,429 --> 00:00:46,460 "O you who have believed, 15 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:50,460 “O ye who believe! When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much, that ye may be successful.” (8:45) 16 00:00:50,460 --> 00:00:53,460 “O ye who believe! When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much, that ye may be successful.” (8:45) 17 00:00:53,460 --> 00:00:56,460 that you may succeed." 18 00:00:56,460 --> 00:00:59,880 Remembrance is the believer’s fortress 19 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:01,880 against Satan. 20 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,980 It is narrated from al-Harith al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) 21 00:01:05,180 --> 00:01:08,180 that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 22 00:01:08,180 --> 00:01:10,180 said: 23 00:01:10,180 --> 00:01:12,180 "Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, 24 00:01:12,180 --> 00:01:14,180 commanded Yahya ibn Zakariyya 25 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:16,180 with five words." 26 00:01:16,180 --> 00:01:17,340 The hadith... 27 00:01:17,340 --> 00:01:19,340 And among these words, 28 00:01:19,340 --> 00:01:20,340 he said: 29 00:01:20,340 --> 00:01:23,340 "And I command you to remember Allah, 30 00:01:23,340 --> 00:01:25,340 for the likeness of that 31 00:01:25,340 --> 00:01:27,340 is like a man pursued by an enemy 32 00:01:27,340 --> 00:01:29,340 following him swiftly, 33 00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:31,340 until he comes 34 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:33,340 to a fortified stronghold 35 00:01:33,540 --> 00:01:35,540 and protects himself from them." 36 00:01:35,540 --> 00:01:37,540 Likewise, the servant 37 00:01:37,540 --> 00:01:39,540 does not protect himself from Satan 38 00:01:39,540 --> 00:01:41,540 except through the remembrance of Allah. 39 00:01:41,540 --> 00:01:43,859 Ibn al-Qayyim said 40 00:01:43,859 --> 00:01:45,859 in *al-Wabil al-Sayyib*: 41 00:01:45,859 --> 00:01:47,859 "If there were no other virtue in remembrance 42 00:01:47,859 --> 00:01:49,859 than this single quality, 43 00:01:49,859 --> 00:01:51,859 it would be fitting for the servant 44 00:01:51,859 --> 00:01:53,859 that his tongue never ceases 45 00:01:53,859 --> 00:01:55,859 from the remembrance of Allah, the Exalted, 46 00:01:55,859 --> 00:01:57,859 and that he remains constantly engaged 47 00:01:57,859 --> 00:01:58,859 in His remembrance. 48 00:01:58,859 --> 00:02:00,859 For he does not protect himself 49 00:02:00,859 --> 00:02:01,859 from his enemy 50 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:04,060 except through remembrance. 51 00:02:04,060 --> 00:02:06,060 The enemy does not enter upon him 52 00:02:06,060 --> 00:02:08,060 except through the gate of heedlessness. 53 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:10,060 He lies in wait for him, 54 00:02:10,060 --> 00:02:11,060 and when he is heedless, 55 00:02:11,060 --> 00:02:13,060 he pounces upon him and devours him. 56 00:02:13,060 --> 00:02:15,060 But when he remembers Allah, the Exalted, 57 00:02:15,060 --> 00:02:17,060 the enemy of Allah, the Exalted, shrinks away, 58 00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:19,060 becoming small and suppressed, 59 00:02:19,060 --> 00:02:21,060 until he becomes 60 00:02:21,060 --> 00:02:23,060 like a sparrow or a fly." 61 00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:25,060 This is why he is called 62 00:02:25,060 --> 00:02:27,060 the *Waswas al-Khannas* (the whisperer who retreats), 63 00:02:27,060 --> 00:02:29,060 meaning he whispers in the hearts, 64 00:02:29,060 --> 00:02:31,060 but when Allah is remembered, 65 00:02:31,060 --> 00:02:33,060 when Allah, the Exalted, is remembered, 66 00:02:33,060 --> 00:02:35,060 he retreats—that is, he desists and shrinks back. 67 00:02:35,060 --> 00:02:37,310 Ibn 'Abbas said: 68 00:02:37,310 --> 00:02:39,310 "Satan is perched 69 00:02:39,310 --> 00:02:41,310 upon the heart of the son of Adam; 70 00:02:41,310 --> 00:02:43,310 when he becomes forgetful and heedless, 71 00:02:43,310 --> 00:02:45,310 he whispers, 72 00:02:45,310 --> 00:02:47,310 but when he remembers Allah, the Exalted, 73 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:49,379 he retreats." 74 00:02:49,379 --> 00:02:51,379 In *Sahih al-Bukhari*, 75 00:02:51,379 --> 00:02:53,379 from Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 76 00:02:53,379 --> 00:02:55,379 The Prophet 77 00:02:55,379 --> 00:02:57,379 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 78 00:02:57,379 --> 00:02:59,379 "The likeness of the one who remembers 79 00:02:59,379 --> 00:03:01,379 Allah and the one who does not remember his Lord 80 00:03:01,379 --> 00:03:03,379 is like the living 81 00:03:03,379 --> 00:03:05,539 and the dead." 82 00:03:05,539 --> 00:03:07,539 And in the two *Sahihs*, 83 00:03:07,539 --> 00:03:09,539 from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), 84 00:03:09,539 --> 00:03:11,539 he said: 85 00:03:11,539 --> 00:03:13,539 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 86 00:03:13,539 --> 00:03:15,539 "Allah, the Exalted, says: 87 00:03:15,539 --> 00:03:17,539 'I am 88 00:03:17,539 --> 00:03:19,539 as My servant expects Me to be, 89 00:03:19,539 --> 00:03:21,539 and I am with him 90 00:03:21,539 --> 00:03:23,539 when he remembers Me. 91 00:03:23,539 --> 00:03:25,539 If he remembers Me to himself, 92 00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:27,539 I remember him to Myself; 93 00:03:27,539 --> 00:03:29,539 and if he remembers Me in a gathering, 94 00:03:29,539 --> 00:03:31,539 I remember him in a gathering 95 00:03:31,539 --> 00:03:33,539 better than them. 96 00:03:33,539 --> 00:03:35,539 If he draws near to Me by a span, 97 00:03:35,539 --> 00:03:37,539 I draw near to him 98 00:03:37,539 --> 00:03:39,539 by a cubit; 99 00:03:39,539 --> 00:03:41,539 if he draws near to Me by a cubit, 100 00:03:41,539 --> 00:03:43,539 I draw near to him by an arm's length; 101 00:03:43,539 --> 00:03:45,539 and if he comes to Me walking, 102 00:03:45,539 --> 00:03:47,539 I come to him running.'" 103 00:03:47,539 --> 00:03:49,889 And in *al-Tirmidhi*, 104 00:03:49,889 --> 00:03:51,889 from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 105 00:03:51,889 --> 00:03:53,889 from Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, 106 00:03:53,889 --> 00:03:55,889 that He says: 107 00:03:55,889 --> 00:03:57,889 "Indeed, My servant—the true servant— 108 00:03:57,889 --> 00:03:59,889 is the one who remembers Me 109 00:03:59,889 --> 00:04:01,889 while he is meeting his opponent." 110 00:04:01,889 --> 00:04:03,889 This hadith 111 00:04:04,139 --> 00:04:06,139 is the decisive word 112 00:04:06,139 --> 00:04:08,139 and the distinction between the one who remembers 113 00:04:08,139 --> 00:04:10,139 and the one who struggles (in jihad). 114 00:04:10,139 --> 00:04:12,180 For the one who remembers while struggling 115 00:04:12,180 --> 00:04:14,180 is better than the one who remembers 116 00:04:14,180 --> 00:04:16,180 without struggling. 117 00:04:16,180 --> 00:04:18,240 And the one who struggles while heedless, 118 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,240 and the one who remembers without struggling, 119 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,240 the latter is better than the heedless struggler 120 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,240 who is heedless of Allah, the Exalted. 121 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,300 The best of those who remember are the strugglers, 122 00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:28,300 and the best of the strugglers are those who remember. 123 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:32,300 Allah, the Exalted, says: 124 00:04:32,300 --> 00:04:34,370 "O you who have believed, 125 00:04:34,370 --> 00:04:36,370 when you encounter a force, 126 00:04:36,370 --> 00:04:38,370 stand firm, 127 00:04:38,370 --> 00:04:40,370 stand firm, 128 00:04:40,370 --> 00:04:42,370 and remember Allah much, 129 00:04:42,370 --> 00:04:44,370 that you may succeed." 130 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:48,750 He commanded them to have frequent remembrance 131 00:04:48,750 --> 00:04:50,750 and to struggle simultaneously, 132 00:04:50,750 --> 00:04:52,750 so that they may be in hope, 133 00:04:52,750 --> 00:04:54,750 in hope of success. 134 00:04:54,750 --> 00:04:56,750 Allah, the Exalted, has said: 135 00:04:56,750 --> 00:04:58,750 "O you who have believed, 136 00:04:58,750 --> 00:05:00,750 remember Allah 137 00:05:00,750 --> 00:05:02,750 with much remembrance." 138 00:05:02,750 --> 00:05:04,750 And the Exalted said: 139 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:06,750 "And the men who remember Allah 140 00:05:06,750 --> 00:05:08,750 often and the women who do so," 141 00:05:08,750 --> 00:05:10,750 meaning often. 142 00:05:10,750 --> 00:05:12,750 And the Exalted said: 143 00:05:12,750 --> 00:05:14,750 "And when you have completed 144 00:05:14,750 --> 00:05:16,750 your rites, 145 00:05:16,750 --> 00:05:18,750 remember Allah as you remember 146 00:05:18,750 --> 00:05:20,750 your forefathers or with greater 147 00:05:20,750 --> 00:05:22,910 remembrance." 148 00:05:22,910 --> 00:05:24,910 It contains the command for remembrance 149 00:05:24,910 --> 00:05:26,910 in both frequency and intensity, 150 00:05:26,910 --> 00:05:28,910 due to the servant's intense need for it 151 00:05:28,910 --> 00:05:30,910 and his inability to be independent of it 152 00:05:30,910 --> 00:05:32,910 for even the blinking of an eye. 153 00:05:32,910 --> 00:05:34,910 For any moment 154 00:05:34,910 --> 00:05:36,910 in which the servant is heedless 155 00:05:36,910 --> 00:05:38,910 of the remembrance of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, 156 00:05:38,910 --> 00:05:40,910 is against him, not for him, 157 00:05:40,910 --> 00:05:42,910 and his loss in that moment 158 00:05:42,910 --> 00:05:45,300 is greater than what he gained in his heedlessness 159 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:47,300 of Allah. 160 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:49,300 There is no doubt that the heart rusts, 161 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:51,300 just as silver and other metals do, 162 00:05:51,300 --> 00:05:53,300 and its polishing is through remembrance. 163 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:55,300 It polishes it 164 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:57,300 until it leaves it like a mirror, 165 00:05:57,300 --> 00:05:59,300 bright and clear. 166 00:05:59,300 --> 00:06:01,300 If he abandons remembrance, it rusts; 167 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,300 if he remembers, he polishes it. 168 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:05,519 The heart rusts due to two things: 169 00:06:05,519 --> 00:06:07,519 heedlessness and sin. 170 00:06:07,519 --> 00:06:09,519 Its polishing is through two things: 171 00:06:09,519 --> 00:06:11,519 seeking forgiveness and remembrance. 172 00:06:13,709 --> 00:06:15,709 Whoever is heedless for most of his time, 173 00:06:15,709 --> 00:06:17,709 the rust will accumulate 174 00:06:17,709 --> 00:06:19,709 upon his heart, 175 00:06:19,709 --> 00:06:21,709 and it will rust in proportion to his heedlessness. 176 00:06:21,709 --> 00:06:23,709 When the heart rusts, 177 00:06:23,709 --> 00:06:25,709 it does not reflect 178 00:06:25,709 --> 00:06:27,709 the images of realities as they 179 00:06:27,709 --> 00:06:29,709 truly are; 180 00:06:29,709 --> 00:06:31,709 he sees falsehood in the image of truth, 181 00:06:31,709 --> 00:06:33,709 and truth in the image of falsehood. 182 00:06:33,709 --> 00:06:35,709 This is because, 183 00:06:35,709 --> 00:06:37,709 when the rust accumulates upon it, 184 00:06:37,709 --> 00:06:39,709 it darkens, 185 00:06:39,709 --> 00:06:41,709 and the image of truths does not appear in it 186 00:06:41,709 --> 00:06:43,740 as they truly are. 187 00:06:43,740 --> 00:06:45,740 When the rust accumulates upon it 188 00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:47,740 and the *ran* (covering) settles over it, 189 00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:49,740 his perception and understanding 190 00:06:49,740 --> 00:06:51,740 become corrupted; 191 00:06:51,740 --> 00:06:53,740 he neither accepts the truth 192 00:06:53,740 --> 00:06:55,740 nor rejects falsehood. 193 00:06:55,740 --> 00:06:57,740 This is the greatest punishment of the heart, 194 00:06:57,740 --> 00:07:00,160 and the root of this 195 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,160 is heedlessness and following 196 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,160 one's desires. 197 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,160 For they extinguish the light of the heart 198 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,160 and blind its vision. 199 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Allah, the Exalted, says: 200 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,160 “Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.” (18:28) 201 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,160 "his heart from Our remembrance, 202 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,160 and he followed his desire, 203 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,160 And his affairs were in a state of neglect. 204 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,160 So, if a servant intends 205 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,160 to take a man as a role model, 206 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,160 he must observe: 207 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,160 Is he among the people of remembrance, 208 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,160 or among the heedless? 209 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,160 And is that which governs him 210 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,160 his own desires or divine revelation? 211 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,160 For if the one who governs him 212 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,160 is his own desire, 213 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,160 and he is among the people of heedlessness, 214 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,160 and his affairs are in a state of neglect, 215 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,160 then he should not take him as a model nor follow him. 216 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,290 As for the meaning of "neglect" (fart), 217 00:07:45,290 --> 00:07:47,290 it has been interpreted as squandering; 218 00:07:47,290 --> 00:07:49,290 meaning, the affairs that he is obligated 219 00:07:49,290 --> 00:07:51,290 to uphold and fulfill, 220 00:07:51,290 --> 00:07:53,290 and upon which his guidance and success depend, 221 00:07:53,290 --> 00:07:55,290 are lost, for he has neglected them. 222 00:07:57,350 --> 00:07:59,350 It has also been interpreted as excess, 223 00:07:59,350 --> 00:08:01,350 meaning he has gone to extremes. 224 00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:03,350 It has been interpreted as ruin, 225 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:05,350 and it has been interpreted as opposition to the truth. 226 00:08:05,350 --> 00:08:07,350 All of these 227 00:08:07,350 --> 00:08:09,350 are closely related interpretations. 228 00:08:09,350 --> 00:08:11,350 The point is that Allah, 229 00:08:11,350 --> 00:08:13,350 glorified and exalted is He, 230 00:08:13,350 --> 00:08:15,350 has forbidden obedience to one who embodies 231 00:08:15,350 --> 00:08:17,350 these characteristics. 232 00:08:17,350 --> 00:08:19,350 Therefore, a person should examine 233 00:08:19,350 --> 00:08:21,350 his teacher, his role model, 234 00:08:21,350 --> 00:08:23,350 and the one he follows. 235 00:08:23,350 --> 00:08:25,350 If he finds him to be as described, 236 00:08:25,350 --> 00:08:27,350 he should distance himself from him. 237 00:08:27,350 --> 00:08:29,350 But if he finds him to be someone who is dominated by 238 00:08:29,350 --> 00:08:31,350 the remembrance of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, 239 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:33,350 and the following of the Sunnah, 240 00:08:33,350 --> 00:08:35,350 and whose affairs are not neglected 241 00:08:35,350 --> 00:08:37,350 by him, 242 00:08:37,350 --> 00:08:39,350 but rather he is resolute in his affairs— 243 00:08:39,350 --> 00:08:41,450 for there is no difference between 244 00:08:41,450 --> 00:08:43,450 the living and the dead except through remembrance— 245 00:08:43,450 --> 00:08:45,509 then the likeness of the one 246 00:08:45,509 --> 00:08:47,509 who remembers his Lord and the one 247 00:08:47,509 --> 00:08:49,509 who does not remember his Lord 248 00:08:49,509 --> 00:08:51,509 is like that of the living and the dead. 249 00:08:51,509 --> 00:08:54,409 These are milestones on 250 00:08:54,409 --> 00:08:56,409 the path of steadfastness.