WEBVTT

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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The best of generations in deeds and example,

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Who followed the Messenger in all he strove for or said.

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Mawaddah Association

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Presents

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Vignettes from the Lives of the Tabi'un

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By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha

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May Allah have mercy on him.

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Salamah Ibn Dinar

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May Allah have mercy on him.

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In the ninety-seventh year of the Hijrah,

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The Caliph of the Muslims, Sulayman Ibn Abd al-Malik, set out

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On a journey to the Holy Lands,

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Responding to the call of the Father of the Prophets,

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Abraham, peace be upon him.

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His caravan hastened its pace

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From Damascus, the capital of the Umayyads,

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To Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.

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For he harbored a deep longing in his soul to pray

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In the Noble Rawdah,

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And a yearning to send blessings upon Muhammad,

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The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

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The Caliph's entourage was filled

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With Qur'an reciters, hadith scholars,

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Jurists, men of knowledge,

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Princes, and military commanders.

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When he reached Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah

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And dismounted there,

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Prominent figures and men of status came forward

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To greet him and welcome him.

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However, Salamah Ibn Dinar,

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The judge of Al-Madinah, its authoritative scholar,

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And its trusted imam,

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Was not among those who visited

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The Caliph to welcome and greet him.

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When Sulayman Ibn Abd al-Malik finished

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Receiving those who came to welcome him,

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He said to some of his companions,

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"Truly, souls rust

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Just as metals rust

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If they do not find someone to remind them

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From time to time,

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And polish away their rust."

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They replied, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful."

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He then asked, "Is there not in Al-Madinah

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A man who met a group

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Of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

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Who can remind us?"

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They answered, "Indeed, O Commander of the Faithful!

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Right here is Abu Hazim al-A'raj."

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He asked, "And who is Abu Hazim al-A'raj?"

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They said, "Salamah Ibn Dinar,

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The scholar of Al-Madinah and its imam,

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And one of the Tabi'un who met a number

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Of the noble Companions."

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He said, "Summon him to us,

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And be gentle in inviting him."

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So they went to him and invited him.

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When he arrived before him,

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The Caliph welcomed him, seated him close by,

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And said to him reproachfully,

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"What is this coldness, O Abu Hazim?"

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He replied,

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"And what coldness have you seen from me, O Commander of the Faithful?"

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He said,

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"The prominent figures of the people visited me, yet you did not visit me."

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He replied,

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"Coldness only occurs after acquaintance,

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But you did not know me before today,

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Nor had I ever seen you.

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So what coldness could have come from me?"

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The Caliph said to his companions,

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"The Sheikh is correct in his excuse,

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And the Caliph was mistaken in his reproach."

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Then he turned to Abu Hazim

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And said,

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"There are matters in my heart

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That I would like to share with you, O Abu Hazim."

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He said,

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"Bring them forth, O Commander of the Faithful,

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And Allah is the One whose help is sought."

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The Caliph asked,

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"O Abu Hazim,

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Why do we hate death?"

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He answered,

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"Because we have built up our worldly life

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And ruined our Hereafter,

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So we hate moving from a built-up land to ruins."

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The Caliph said,

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"You have spoken the truth."

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Then he added, saying,

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"O Abu Hazim,

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Would that I knew what awaits us with Allah tomorrow!"

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He replied,

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"Examine your deeds in light of the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic,

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And you will find that."

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He asked,

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"And where do I find it in the Book of Allah Almighty?"

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He said,

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"You find it in His saying—exalted is His Word: ◁'Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss, and indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire.'▷"

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The Caliph asked,

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"Then

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Where is the mercy of Allah?"

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Abu Hazim replied,

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"Indeed, the mercy of Allah

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Is near

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To the doers of good."

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The Caliph

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Asked,

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"Would that I knew how the arrival before Allah, Mighty and Majestic,

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Will be

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Tomorrow!"

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Abu Hazim replied,

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"As for the doer of good,

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He is like an absent traveler returning to his family.

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But as for the evildoer,

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He is like a runaway slave

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Being dragged forcibly back to his master."

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The Caliph wept until he sobbed loudly,

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And his weeping grew intense.

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Then he said,

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"O Abu Hazim,

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How can we rectify ourselves?"

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He replied,

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"By abandoning arrogance—

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Meaning pride and conceit."

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The Caliph

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Asked,

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"And this wealth—

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What is the way to fear Allah regarding it?"

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Abu Hazim replied,

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"When you take it rightfully,

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Place it with those entitled to it,

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Distribute it equally,

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And act justly with it among

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The subjects."

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The Caliph said,

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"O Abu Hazim,

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Tell me, who are the best of people?"

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He replied, "Those who possess piety and intellect."

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Then he asked,

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The Caliph,

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"And what is the most just speech, O Abu Hazim?"

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He replied,

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"A word of truth spoken by a person

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Before one he fears and one

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From whom he hopes for gain."

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The Caliph asked,

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"Which supplication is most quickly answered,

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O Abu Hazim?"

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He replied,

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"The supplication of a doer of good for other doers of good."

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The Caliph asked,

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"And what is the best charity?"

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He replied, "The effort of one with little wealth—

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Meaning what a person with scarce means

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Can afford—

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Placed in the hand of the miserable and poor,

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Without following it up

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With reminders of generosity or injury."

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The Caliph asked,

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"Who is the shrewdest of people, O Abu Hazim?"

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He replied,

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"A man who gains the obedience of Allah

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Almighty,

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Acts upon it, and then guides the people

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To it."

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The Caliph asked, "And who is the most foolish of people?"

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He replied,

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"A man who indulged the desires of his companion

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While his companion was an oppressor,

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Thus selling his Hereafter

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For another person's worldly gain."

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The Caliph said,

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"Would you accompany us, O Abu Hazim,

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So that you may benefit from us and we may benefit

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From you?"

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He replied,

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"No, O Commander of the Faithful."

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The Caliph asked, "And why not?"

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He replied,

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"I fear that I might incline toward you even a little,

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Whereupon Allah would cause me to taste a double punishment

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In life and a double punishment after death."

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The Caliph said,

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"Present your needs to us,

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O Abu Hazim."

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But he remained silent and did not answer.

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So the Caliph repeated his statement,

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"Present your needs to us,

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O Abu Hazim,

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And we shall fulfill them for you, whatever they may be."

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He replied,

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"My need is that you save me

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From the Fire

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And admit me into Paradise."

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The Caliph said,

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"That is not within my power, O Abu

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Abu Hazim.

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Abu Hazim said:

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"I have no need other than this,

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O Commander of the Faithful."

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The Caliph said:

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"Pray for me, Abu Hazim."

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So he said:

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"O Allah, if Your servant

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Sulayman is among Your allies,

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then make easy for him the good of this world

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and the Hereafter.

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But if he is among Your enemies,

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then set him right and guide him

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to that which You love and are pleased with."

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A man among those present said:

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"How wretched is what you have said

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since you entered upon the Commander

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of the Faithful!

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You have made the Caliph of the Muslims

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one of Allah's enemies

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and offended him!"

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Abu Hazim replied:

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"Rather, wretched is what you have said!

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For Allah took a covenant from the scholars

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to speak

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the word of truth."

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He recited:

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"You shall surely clarify it to the people

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and not conceal it."

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Then he turned to the Caliph

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and said: "O Commander

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of the Faithful,

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indeed those who passed before us

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from the past nations

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remained in goodness and well-being

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as long as their rulers came to

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their scholars desiring what

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they possessed.

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Then there arose a people from the vilest

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of men

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who sought thereby to attain

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something of the fleeting gains of this world,

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so the rulers dispensed with

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the scholars.

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Thus they stumbled, relapsed,

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and fell from the sight of Allah, Almighty and Glorification be to Him.

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Had the scholars

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renounced what is in the hands of

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the rulers, the rulers would have desired

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their knowledge.

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But instead, they coveted what

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the rulers possessed, so the rulers disdained

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them and they became humbled in their eyes."

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The Caliph said:

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"You have spoken the truth.

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Admonish me further, O Abu Hazim,

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for I have seen no one

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to whose mouth wisdom is closer

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than yours."

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He said: "If you are

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among those who heed,

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I have told you enough.

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But if you are not

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among them, then it is not fit

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for me to shoot from a bow

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that has no bowstring."

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The Caliph said:

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"I urge you to advise me,

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O Abu Hazim."

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He replied: "Yes,

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I will advise you briefly.

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Exalt your Lord, Mighty and Sublime,

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and deem Him far above

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seeing you where He forbade you to be,

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or missing you where He commanded you to be."

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Then he offered greetings of peace and departed.

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The Caliph said

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to him: "May Allah reward you

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with goodness as a sincere scholar

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and adviser." Hardly had

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Abu Hazim reached his home

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when he found that the Commander

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of the Faithful had sent him

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a pouch filled with dinars,

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and written to him saying:

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"Spend these,

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and you have much more like them

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with me." But he returned them

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and wrote back saying:

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"O Commander of the Faithful,

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I seek refuge in Allah lest

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your asking of me was a jest

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and my response to you was in vain.

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By Allah, I do not accept

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that, O Commander

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of the Faithful, either for you

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or for myself.

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O Commander of the Faithful,

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if these dinars are

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in exchange for the discourse I shared with you,

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then carrion

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and swine flesh in cases

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of dire necessity are more lawful than them.

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But if they are my rightful share

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in the public treasury of the Muslims,

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have you treated me equally with

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all the people regarding this

00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:34.220
right?" Indeed,

00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:36.220
the home of Salamah ibn Dinar was

00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:38.220
a sweet watering place for the hearts

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:40.220
of those seeking righteousness,

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.220
making no distinction in that between

00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:44.340
his brothers and his students.

00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:46.340
On one occasion, there entered upon him

00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:48.340
'Abd al-Rahman ibn Jarir

00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:50.340
accompanied by his son.

00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:52.340
They took their seats with him,

00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:54.340
greeted him with peace, and prayed

00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:56.340
for him to have the best of this world and the Hereafter.

00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:58.340
So he returned their greeting

00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:00.340
with a better one, welcomed

00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:02.340
them both, and then conversation

00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:04.340
ensued between them.

00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:06.340
'Abd al-Rahman ibn Jarir said to him:

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:08.340
"How do we attain spiritual breakthroughs,

00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:10.340
O Abu Hazim?"

00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:12.340
He replied:

00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:14.340
"When inner intentions are made sincere,

00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:16.340
major sins are forgiven.

00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:18.340
And when a servant resolves to abandon

00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:20.340
sins, spiritual breakthroughs head toward him—

00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:22.409
that is, divine openings come upon him.

00:12:22.409 --> 00:12:24.409
And do not forget, O 'Abd al-Rahman,

00:12:24.409 --> 00:12:26.409
that a little of this world

00:12:26.409 --> 00:12:28.409
distracts us from much of the Hereafter.

00:12:28.409 --> 00:12:30.409
And every blessing

00:12:30.409 --> 00:12:32.409
that does not bring you closer to Allah, Mighty and Sublime,

00:12:32.409 --> 00:12:34.470
is a affliction."

00:12:34.470 --> 00:12:36.470
His son then asked him:

00:12:36.470 --> 00:12:38.470
"Indeed, our elders are many,

00:12:38.470 --> 00:12:40.470
so whom among them should we emulate?"

00:12:40.470 --> 00:12:42.470
He said:

00:12:42.470 --> 00:12:44.470
"O my son,

00:12:44.470 --> 00:12:46.470
emulate the one who fears Allah in secret,

00:12:46.470 --> 00:12:48.470
refrains from being tainted

00:12:48.470 --> 00:12:50.470
by defects,

00:12:50.470 --> 00:12:52.470
rectifies himself during the time of his youth,

00:12:52.470 --> 00:12:54.470
and does not defer that

00:12:54.470 --> 00:12:56.470
until the period of old age.

00:12:56.470 --> 00:12:58.470
And know, O my son,

00:12:58.470 --> 00:13:00.470
that there is no day on which the sun rises

00:13:00.470 --> 00:13:02.470
except that there comes

00:13:02.470 --> 00:13:04.470
upon the seeker of knowledge his desire and his knowledge.

00:13:04.470 --> 00:13:06.470
They then struggle against each other

00:13:06.470 --> 00:13:08.470
in his chest like the struggling

00:13:08.470 --> 00:13:10.470
of two litigants.

00:13:10.470 --> 00:13:12.470
If his knowledge overcomes his desire,

00:13:12.470 --> 00:13:14.470
his day is a day of gain

00:13:14.470 --> 00:13:16.470
for him.

00:13:16.470 --> 00:13:18.470
But if his desire overcomes his knowledge,

00:13:18.470 --> 00:13:20.470
his day is a day of loss

00:13:20.470 --> 00:13:22.570
against him."

00:13:22.570 --> 00:13:24.570
'Abd al-Rahman ibn Jarir said to him:

00:13:24.570 --> 00:13:26.570
"You have often urged us

00:13:26.570 --> 00:13:28.570
to give thanks, O Abu Hazim.

00:13:28.570 --> 00:13:30.629
What is the reality of gratitude?"

00:13:30.629 --> 00:13:32.629
He replied: "For every limb

00:13:32.629 --> 00:13:34.629
among our limbs, there is a duty

00:13:34.629 --> 00:13:36.629
of gratitude incumbent upon us."

00:13:36.629 --> 00:13:38.629
'Abd al-Rahman asked:

00:13:38.629 --> 00:13:40.629
"What is the gratitude of the eyes?"

00:13:40.629 --> 00:13:42.629
He said: "If you see good with them,

00:13:42.629 --> 00:13:44.629
you make it known;

00:13:44.629 --> 00:13:46.629
and if you see evil with them,

00:13:46.629 --> 00:13:48.759
you conceal it."

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.759
'Abd al-Rahman asked:

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.759
"And what is the gratitude of the ears?"

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.759
He said: "If you hear good with them,

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.759
you comprehend it;

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.759
and if you hear evil with them,

00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:06.720
you bury it." 'Abd al-Rahman asked: "And what is the gratitude of the hands?" He replied: "That you do not take

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:14.019
with them what is not yours, and that you do not withhold with them a right among the rights of Allah. And do not overlook,

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:20.419
O 'Abd al-Rahman, that whoever restricts his gratitude to his tongue and does not engage all

00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:27.460
his limbs and his heart along with it, his likeness is that of a man who has a cloak, but he takes hold

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:34.299
of its edge and does not wear it. That does not protect him from the heat, nor does it safeguard him from

00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:42.019
the cold." In a certain year, Salamah ibn Dinar set out with the armies of the Muslims

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:47.379
heading toward the lands of the Romans, seeking jihad in the cause of Allah alongside

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:53.179
the fighters. When the army reached the final stage of the journey,

00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:59.620
it preferred rest and recuperation before meeting the enemy and engaging in battle.

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:05.299
There was in the army a commander from among the commanders of the Umayyads, so he sent a messenger to Abu

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:12.539
Hazim saying to him: "The commander invites you to come to him so that you may speak to him and teach him fiqh." So he wrote

00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:18.620
to the commander saying: "O commander, I have known the people of knowledge, and they do not

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:24.860
carry religion to the people of worldly pursuits. Nor do I think you wish for me to be the first to

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:31.259
do that. If you have a need of us, then come to us. Peace be upon you

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:37.940
and upon those with you." When the commander read his letter, he went to him, greeted him

00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:45.940
warmly, and said: "O Abu Hazim, we have reviewed what you wrote to us, and it has only increased your

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:53.289
honor and nobility in our eyes. So remind us and admonish us; may you be rewarded on our behalf with the best

00:15:53.289 --> 00:16:00.529
reward." Thereupon Abu Hazim set about admonishing and reminding him. Among the things he said

00:16:00.529 --> 00:16:07.009
"Look at what you would wish to have with you in the Hereafter, and strive for it in this world;

00:16:07.009 --> 00:16:13.690
and look at what you would hate to have with you there, and renounce it here. Know,

00:16:13.730 --> 00:16:20.289
O leader, that if falsehood finds favor with you and gains currency, the purveyors of falsehood and hypocrites will flock to you

00:16:20.289 --> 00:16:27.450
and gather around you. But if the truth finds favor with you and prevails, the people of goodness will gather around you

00:16:27.450 --> 00:16:35.789
and assist you in upholding it. So choose for yourself whatever pleases you." And when death approached Abu Hazim al-A'raj, his companions asked him, "How do you find yourself, O

00:16:35.789 --> 00:16:41.870
Abu Hazim?"

00:16:41.870 --> 00:16:50.350
He replied, "If we are saved from the evil of what we have acquired in this world, then whatever of it was withheld from us will do us no harm."

00:16:50.350 --> 00:17:09.440
He then recited the noble verse, repeating it continuously until certainty (death) came to him.

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:22.779
"I have never seen anyone whose speech was closer to wisdom than Abu Hazim,"

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:30.869
said 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Zayd.

00:17:55.950 --> 00:18:05.950
They filled life with glory through their deeds, and the world blossomed through them.