WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:15.240 The month of piety and fasting arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of the Blazing Fire are closed, the devils and rebellious jinn are shackled, and a caller of good proclaims: "O seeker of good, come forward!" 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:24.980 Thus, a vast portion of sinful whispers is cut off, the soul flourishes in the meadows of goodness, and faith is revitalized across the realms of the heart. 00:00:25.670 --> 00:00:33.670 Then this season passes while the servant is in the best of states—and after that, what, one wonders, will happen? 00:00:34.170 --> 00:00:39.469 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book *Al-Da' wa al-Dawa'*: 00:00:41.670 --> 00:00:49.170 "The king of evil forces advanced with his hosts and armies, and found the heart in its fortress, seated upon the throne of its kingdom, 00:00:49.670 --> 00:00:56.170 its command executed among its helpers, and its troops surrounding it, fighting on its behalf and defending its territory. 00:00:56.670 --> 00:01:01.670 So they were unable to attack it except by inducing betrayal among some of its commanders and troops. 00:01:02.170 --> 00:01:05.670 He asked about the most elite and closest of its soldiers in station, 00:01:06.170 --> 00:01:07.670 and it was said to him: 'It is the soul.' 00:01:08.170 --> 00:01:15.170 So he said to his helpers: 'Approach it through its desires, and see where its inclinations lie and what it loves. 00:01:15.670 --> 00:01:17.670 Promise it that and entice it with false hopes, 00:01:18.170 --> 00:01:22.170 and engrave the image of the beloved within it during its waking and sleeping hours. 00:01:22.670 --> 00:01:25.170 Once it feels secure with it and finds tranquility therein, 00:01:25.670 --> 00:01:28.670 cast upon it the grappling hooks and barbs of lust, 00:01:29.170 --> 00:01:31.170 then drag it with them toward you. 00:01:31.670 --> 00:01:34.670 If it betrays the heart and takes your side against it, 00:01:35.170 --> 00:01:39.170 you will control the outposts of the eye, the ear, the tongue, the mouth, the hand, and the foot. 00:01:39.670 --> 00:01:42.670 So guard these outposts with utmost vigilance, 00:01:43.170 --> 00:01:47.170 for whenever you penetrate through them to the heart, it will either be slain or taken captive, 00:01:47.670 --> 00:01:49.170 or severely wounded with debilitating injuries. 00:01:49.670 --> 00:01:51.670 And do not abandon these outposts, 00:01:52.170 --> 00:01:56.170 nor allow any scouting detachment to enter through them to the heart and expel you from it. 00:01:56.670 --> 00:02:02.170 If you are overcome, strive to weaken and enfeeble that detachment so it cannot reach the heart; 00:02:02.670 --> 00:02:06.170 and if it does reach it, let it reach it so weakened that it avails it nothing. 00:02:06.670 --> 00:02:08.669 Once you have seized these outposts, 00:02:09.169 --> 00:02:12.169 prevent the outpost of the eye from looking with contemplation and taking heed; 00:02:12.669 --> 00:02:16.169 rather, make its looking merely for amusement, fascination, and idle distraction. 00:02:16.669 --> 00:02:23.169 If it manages to steal a glance of admonition, ruin it for it with a glance of heedlessness, lustful admiration, and desire, 00:02:23.669 --> 00:02:27.169 for that is closer to it, more deeply attached to its soul, and easier upon it. 00:02:27.669 --> 00:02:32.900 Focus intently on the outpost of the eye, for through it you will achieve your desire; 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.400 indeed, I have not corrupted the children of Adam with anything like the gaze. 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.400 For through it, I sow the seed of lust in the heart, 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:41.900 then water it with the water of false hope, 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:46.400 then continue to promise it and entice it until I strengthen its resolve, 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.900 and lead it by the reins of lust to strip away all restraint. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.400 So do not neglect the matter of this outpost, 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:54.900 and corrupt it to the best of your ability, 00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:56.400 and make light of its danger to him, 00:02:56.900 --> 00:02:57.900 and say to him: 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:02.400 "A mere glance invites you to glorify the Creator and the Incomparable Provider, 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:03.900 and the beauty of this image 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.900 was only created for the observer to infer through it its Maker; 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:09.900 Allah did not create your two eyes in vain, 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:13.900 nor did Allah create this beauty only to veil it from sight." 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:19.460 Then, prevent the outpost of the ear from receiving anything that would spoil your plans, 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:22.460 and strive to let nothing enter through it except falsehood, 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:24.460 for it is light upon the soul, 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.460 and the soul finds it sweet and charming. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:30.460 Choose for it the sweetest words that most captivate the minds, 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.460 and blend it thoroughly with whatever the soul desires. 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:34.960 Cast the word, 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:37.460 and if you see him listening attentively to it, 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:38.960 reinforce it with its counterparts. 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:41.960 Whenever you find him admiring something, 00:03:42.460 --> 00:03:43.960 keep his tongue devoted to mentioning it. 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:47.960 And beware lest anything of the speech of Allah enter through this outpost, 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:50.960 or the speech of His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:52.960 or the speech of sincere advisers. 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:54.460 But if you are overpowered in that, 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.460 and something of it enters, 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.460 then interpose yourselves between him and his understanding, pondering, 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:01.960 reflecting upon it, and taking admonition from it— 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:04.460 either by introducing its contrary, 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:06.960 or by exaggerating its difficulty and making it seem daunting, 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:10.960 making him believe that souls have been completely barred from achieving this, 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:12.460 so there is no way for him to reach it, 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:16.959 and that it is an unbearable burden upon it that it cannot shoulder, and the like; 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:19.459 or by belittling its value in the eyes of souls, 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:23.459 arguing that one’s engagement should instead be with whatever is held in higher esteem among people, 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:25.959 more prized by them, more novel to them, 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:27.459 and has a larger market of buyers. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:29.459 As for the truth, it is forsaken, 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.459 and whoever speaks it exposes themselves to hostility, 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.459 and worldly gain among people is more worthy of preference, and the like.' 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:40.959 Thus they present falsehood to him in every mold that he accepts and finds light, 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:45.459 and they present truth to him in every mold that he hates and finds burdensome. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:47.459 And if you wish to see this, 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:50.459 look at their brethren among the devils of mankind: 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:53.959 how they present enjoining good and forbidding evil 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:55.959 in the guise of meddlesome interference, 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:57.959 tracking people's slips, 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:00.459 exposing oneself to trials one cannot bear, 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:03.959 stirring up discord among people, and the like. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:06.040 Then he says: 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:08.040 'Stand guard over the outpost of the tongue, 00:05:08.540 --> 00:05:10.040 for it is the greatest outpost. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:13.540 Make it utter speech that harms him and does not benefit him, 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:16.540 and prevent it from uttering anything that benefits him, 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.540 such as the remembrance of Allah and seeking His forgiveness, 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.540 reciting His Book, advising His servants, 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:23.540 or speaking with beneficial knowledge. 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.040 You will have two great achievements at this outpost, 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:29.540 and whichever of them you attain, it does not matter: 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.540 one of them is speaking falsehood, 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:35.540 for whoever speaks falsehood is a brother of yours, 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.040 and among your greatest soldiers and helpers; 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:41.040 the second is remaining silent regarding the truth, 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:44.040 for whoever remains silent regarding the truth is a mute brother of yours, 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:46.540 just as the former is a speaking brother of yours— 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.540 and perhaps this second brother is more beneficial to you than the other! 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.540 Have you not heard the saying of the sincere counselor: 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.540 "The one who speaks falsehood is a speaking devil, 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:58.540 and the one who remains silent regarding the truth is a mute devil"? 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.540 So stand constant guard over this outpost, 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.540 lest he speak truth or withhold from falsehood! 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:07.040 Beautify speaking falsehood for him by every means, 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:11.040 and terrify him from speaking truth by every means! 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:13.040 And know, my children, 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:16.040 that the outpost of the tongue is the one through which I have destroyed the children of Adam, 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:19.040 and cast them down on their faces into the Fire. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:22.040 How many have I slain, captured, and wounded, 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:24.040 taking them through this very outpost! 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:27.040 And I give you an instruction, so preserve it: 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:31.040 let one of you speak a word through the tongue of his human brother, 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:33.040 while another stands upon the tongue of the listener, 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.540 praising it, glorifying it, marveling at it, 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:38.540 and asking his brother to repeat it! 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:41.540 And be helpers against mankind by every means, 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:43.540 enter upon them through every door, 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:45.540 and lie in wait for them at every ambush! 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:49.540 Have you not heard my oath which I swore to their Lord when I said: 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:53.540 “He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path.” (7:16) 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:57.540 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17) 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:00.540 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17) 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:03.040 “Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).” (7:17) 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:07.040 "Do you not see that I have lain in wait for the son of Adam on all of his paths? 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:11.040 If he escapes me on one path, I lie in wait for him on another, 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:14.040 until I attain my desire from him, or part of it."' 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:18.389 And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, warned them of that, 00:07:18.889 --> 00:07:19.389 and said to them: 00:07:19.889 --> 00:07:23.389 'Indeed, Satan sits in wait for the son of Adam along all his paths. 00:07:23.889 --> 00:07:25.389 He sat in wait for him on the path of Islam, 00:07:25.889 --> 00:07:28.389 and said to him: "Will you submit and leave your religion and your religion?" 00:07:28.389 --> 00:07:31.889 He said to him: "Will you submit and leave your religion and the religion of your forefathers?" 00:07:32.389 --> 00:07:33.889 But he disobeyed him and submitted. 00:07:34.389 --> 00:07:35.889 Then he sat in wait for him on the path of migration, 00:07:36.389 --> 00:07:36.889 and said: 00:07:37.389 --> 00:07:39.889 "Will you migrate and leave your land and your sky?" 00:07:40.389 --> 00:07:41.889 But he disobeyed him and migrated. 00:07:42.389 --> 00:07:44.889 Then he sat in wait for him on the path of jihad, and said: 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:48.889 "Will you fight, only to be killed, your wealth divided, and your wife married?" 00:07:49.389 --> 00:07:50.889 But he disobeyed him and fought in jihad.' 00:07:51.389 --> 00:07:53.889 So in this manner, lie in wait for them on every path of good: 00:07:54.389 --> 00:07:56.889 if one of them intends to give charity, 00:07:56.889 --> 00:07:58.389 lie in wait for him on the path of charity, 00:07:58.889 --> 00:08:00.389 and say to him within his soul: 00:08:00.889 --> 00:08:03.389 'Will you give away wealth and become like this beggar, 00:08:03.889 --> 00:08:06.389 falling to his level so that you and he are equal?' 00:08:06.889 --> 00:08:09.389 Have you not heard what I cast upon the tongue of a man 00:08:09.889 --> 00:08:12.389 when another asked him for charity, 00:08:12.889 --> 00:08:13.389 and he said: 00:08:13.889 --> 00:08:14.389 'This is our wealth; 00:08:14.889 --> 00:08:17.389 if we give it to you, we will become just like you'? 00:08:17.889 --> 00:08:20.389 And lie in wait for him on the path of Hajj, and say to him: 00:08:20.889 --> 00:08:22.389 'Its road is perilous and arduous, 00:08:22.889 --> 00:08:25.389 and whoever travels it risks the loss of life and wealth.' 00:08:25.389 --> 00:08:28.889 In this manner, lie in wait for him on all paths of good, 00:08:29.389 --> 00:08:32.889 repelling him from them and reminding him of their hardships and perils. 00:08:33.389 --> 00:08:36.210 Then lie in wait for them on the paths of sin, 00:08:36.710 --> 00:08:39.210 beautifying them in the eyes of the children of Adam and in their hearts. 00:08:39.710 --> 00:08:43.210 And make women your greatest helpers in that; 00:08:43.710 --> 00:08:46.210 through their doors enter upon them and beautify them, 00:08:46.710 --> 00:08:48.210 for what an excellent aid they are to you! 00:08:48.710 --> 00:08:51.210 Then hold fast to the outpost of the hands and the feet, 00:08:51.710 --> 00:08:54.210 preventing them from striking out with what harms you or walking toward it. 00:08:54.210 --> 00:08:57.710 And know that your greatest aid in guarding these outposts 00:08:58.210 --> 00:08:59.710 is to make peace with the soul that enjoins evil. 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:01.710 So assist it and seek its assistance, 00:09:02.210 --> 00:09:03.710 reinforce it and draw strength from it, 00:09:04.210 --> 00:09:06.710 and unite with it in waging war against the tranquil soul. 00:09:07.210 --> 00:09:09.710 Strive to break it and destroy its powers, 00:09:10.210 --> 00:09:11.710 and there is no way to do that 00:09:12.210 --> 00:09:13.710 except by cutting off its sustenance. 00:09:14.210 --> 00:09:15.710 For if its sustenance is cut off, 00:09:16.210 --> 00:09:17.710 the provisions of the soul that enjoins evil will grow strong, 00:09:18.210 --> 00:09:19.710 and its helpers will obey you. 00:09:20.210 --> 00:09:22.710 So dislodge the heart from its fortress, 00:09:22.710 --> 00:09:24.210 dislodge the heart from its fortress, 00:09:24.710 --> 00:09:26.210 strip it of its kingdom, 00:09:26.710 --> 00:09:28.210 and install in its place the soul that enjoins evil. 00:09:28.710 --> 00:09:32.210 For it only commands what you desire and love, 00:09:32.710 --> 00:09:34.210 and will never decree anything you despise, 00:09:34.710 --> 00:09:38.210 while never opposing you in anything you suggest to it; 00:09:38.710 --> 00:09:42.210 rather, whenever you suggest something to it, it hastens to do it. 00:09:42.710 --> 00:09:46.909 If you sense the heart disputing its kingdom, 00:09:47.409 --> 00:09:48.909 and you wish to be secure from that, 00:09:49.409 --> 00:09:51.909 conclude a marriage contract between it and the soul that enjoins evil: 00:09:51.909 --> 00:09:53.409 adorn it, beautify it, 00:09:53.909 --> 00:09:57.409 and show it to it in the finest form a bride can take. 00:09:57.909 --> 00:10:00.409 Say to it: 'Taste the sweetness of this union 00:10:00.909 --> 00:10:02.409 and the delight of enjoying this bride, 00:10:02.909 --> 00:10:04.409 just as you have tasted the flavor of war 00:10:04.909 --> 00:10:07.409 and endured the bitterness of stabbing and striking. 00:10:07.909 --> 00:10:10.409 Then weigh between the pleasure of this peace 00:10:10.909 --> 00:10:12.409 and the bitterness of that warfare; 00:10:12.909 --> 00:10:14.409 so let war lay down its burdens, 00:10:14.909 --> 00:10:16.409 for it is not a matter of a single day that quickly passes, 00:10:16.909 --> 00:10:19.409 but rather a war that continues until death, 00:10:19.409 --> 00:10:21.909 and your strength is too weak to sustain ongoing war.' 00:10:22.409 --> 00:10:25.169 And seek help, O my children, through two mighty armies 00:10:25.669 --> 00:10:27.169 with which you will never be defeated: 00:10:27.669 --> 00:10:29.169 one of them is the army of heedlessness— 00:10:29.669 --> 00:10:32.169 Render the hearts of the children of Adam heedless of Allah the Exalted 00:10:32.669 --> 00:10:34.169 and of the Abode of the Hereafter by every possible means, 00:10:34.669 --> 00:10:38.169 for you have nothing more effective than that in achieving your objective. 00:10:38.669 --> 00:10:41.169 For when the heart becomes heedless of Allah the Exalted, 00:10:41.669 --> 00:10:43.169 you will gain full mastery over it and its faculties. 00:10:43.669 --> 00:10:45.169 The second army is that of lusts and desires; 00:10:45.669 --> 00:10:47.169 so beautify them in their hearts, 00:10:47.169 --> 00:10:48.669 beautify them in their hearts, 00:10:49.169 --> 00:10:50.669 make them attractive in their eyes, 00:10:51.169 --> 00:10:53.669 and assail them with these two armies, 00:10:54.169 --> 00:10:56.669 for you have no weapons more devastating against the children of Adam than these two. 00:10:57.169 --> 00:10:58.669 Use desires to foster heedlessness, 00:10:59.169 --> 00:11:00.669 and use heedlessness to feed desires, 00:11:01.169 --> 00:11:02.669 and bind the heedless closely to one another. 00:11:03.169 --> 00:11:06.669 And if you see a gathering convened upon what harms you—namely the remembrance of Allah 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:09.669 and the study of His commands, prohibitions, and religion— 00:11:10.169 --> 00:11:11.669 and you are unable to disperse them, 00:11:12.169 --> 00:11:15.669 then seek assistance against them through idle men of their own human kind; 00:11:15.669 --> 00:11:17.169 bring them close to them, 00:11:17.669 --> 00:11:19.169 and use them to distract and disrupt their gathering. 00:11:19.669 --> 00:11:20.169 In summary, 00:11:20.669 --> 00:11:22.169 match every matter with its proper counterpart, 00:11:22.669 --> 00:11:27.169 approach every single human being through the doorway of his own desires and inclinations, 00:11:27.669 --> 00:11:29.169 aid him in pursuing them, 00:11:29.669 --> 00:11:32.169 and become his willing helpers in fulfilling them. 00:11:32.669 --> 00:11:35.169 And since Allah has commanded them to exercise patience, 00:11:35.669 --> 00:11:37.169 to endure against you, to outlast you in perseverance, 00:11:37.669 --> 00:11:39.169 and to station themselves vigilantly at the frontlines against you, 00:11:39.669 --> 00:11:41.169 then you too must be patient, outlast them in perseverance, 00:11:41.669 --> 00:11:43.169 and station yourselves vigilantly against them at those very outposts. 00:11:43.169 --> 00:11:45.669 Seize your opportunities against them in moments of lust and rage, 00:11:46.169 --> 00:11:49.669 for you will never ensnare the children of Adam at moments more vulnerable than these two. 00:11:50.169 --> 00:11:52.669 Indeed, I only expelled their two parents from Paradise through lust, 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:56.669 and I only cast enmity among their offspring through anger; 00:11:57.169 --> 00:11:58.669 for through anger, their ties of kinship were severed, 00:11:59.169 --> 00:12:00.669 their blood was shed, 00:12:01.169 --> 00:12:03.669 and through it, one of the sons of Adam murdered his brother. 00:12:04.169 --> 00:12:08.179 And Allah has instructed them to seek help against you through patience and prayer, 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:10.179 so stand as a barrier between them and that, 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:12.179 make them completely forgetful of both, 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:14.679 and employ lust and rage as your chief weapons against them. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:17.679 The most potent and lethal of your weapons against them 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:19.679 are heedlessness and following base desires, 00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:22.679 while the greatest of their weapons against you, and their most fortified strongholds, 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:25.679 are the remembrance of Allah and opposing base desires. 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:28.679 So if you see a man who consistently opposes his base desires, 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:31.679 flee even from his shadow and do not approach him.' 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:35.059 End of his words, slightly adapted. 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:38.059 The point is that a person must understand the schemes of his enemies 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.059 so that he may remain constantly on guard against them, 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:41.559 so that he may remain constantly on guard against them.