WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.929 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:08.929 --> 00:00:10.929 Cowardice and stinginess. 00:00:10.929 --> 00:00:14.019 Two blameworthy character traits. 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:19.019 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, linked them together. 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:23.050 He frequently sought refuge from them in his supplications. 00:00:23.050 --> 00:00:26.050 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 00:00:26.050 --> 00:00:30.050 "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, 00:00:30.050 --> 00:00:34.049 and from incapacity and laziness, and from cowardice and stinginess." 00:00:34.049 --> 00:00:36.049 Agreed upon. 00:00:36.049 --> 00:00:39.049 It is rare to find one of these traits in a person 00:00:39.049 --> 00:00:42.049 without the other being present as well. 00:00:42.049 --> 00:00:45.049 For the stingy person is often a coward, 00:00:45.049 --> 00:00:47.049 and the coward is often stingy. 00:00:47.049 --> 00:00:50.049 This is because greed is the common denominator between them. 00:00:50.049 --> 00:00:53.049 The coward is stingy with his own self, 00:00:53.049 --> 00:00:55.049 and the stingy person is stingy with his wealth. 00:00:55.049 --> 00:00:58.049 Allah the Exalted has said: 00:00:58.049 --> 00:01:03.049 "And whoever is protected from the greed of his own soul, it is they who are the successful." 00:01:03.049 --> 00:01:06.180 These two traits may remain hidden 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:10.180 due to the absence of situations that reveal them. 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:13.180 But when a situation of fear arises, 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:15.180 the trait of cowardice appears, 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:17.180 or when a situation of greed arises, 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:19.180 the trait of stinginess appears. 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:22.269 The Children of Israel were tested with both situations, 00:01:22.269 --> 00:01:26.269 and most of them failed in both. 00:01:26.269 --> 00:01:29.269 When they were commanded to enter Jerusalem, 00:01:29.269 --> 00:01:31.269 they were cowardly and said: 00:01:31.269 --> 00:01:34.269 “They said: O Moses! Lo! a giant people (dwell) therein and lo! we go not in till they go forth from thence. When they go forth from thence, then we will enter (not till then).” (5:22) 00:01:34.269 --> 00:01:37.269 Allah withheld the fish from them, 00:01:37.269 --> 00:01:39.269 except on the Sabbath. 00:01:39.269 --> 00:01:42.269 It was forbidden for them to work on that day, 00:01:42.269 --> 00:01:45.269 yet they could not restrain their desire to accumulate wealth. 00:01:45.269 --> 00:01:48.269 They resorted to trickery to fish on their Sabbath, 00:01:48.269 --> 00:01:50.269 by setting nets before it, 00:01:50.269 --> 00:01:52.269 and collecting the catch after it. 00:01:52.269 --> 00:01:55.269 This was out of stinginess, fearing that wealth might be lost to them. 00:01:55.269 --> 00:01:59.370 Allah tested the Companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, 00:01:59.370 --> 00:02:01.370 with both situations, 00:02:01.370 --> 00:02:03.370 and they succeeded in both. 00:02:03.370 --> 00:02:05.370 Regarding the situation of fear, 00:02:05.370 --> 00:02:07.370 Allah the Exalted said: 00:02:07.370 --> 00:02:09.370 “Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!” (3:173) 00:02:09.370 --> 00:02:12.370 “Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!” (3:173) 00:02:12.370 --> 00:02:14.370 "So fear them," 00:02:14.370 --> 00:02:16.370 and it only increased them in faith. 00:02:16.370 --> 00:02:19.370 “Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefor fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!” (3:173) 00:02:19.370 --> 00:02:22.400 They were neither cowardly nor afraid. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.400 As for wealth, 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.400 they were forbidden from hunting in the Sacred Precinct or while in the state of ihram, 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.400 as the Exalted said: 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.400 "O you who have believed," 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.400 “O ye who believe! Kill no wild game while ye are on the pilgrimage. Whoso of you killeth it of set purpose he shall pay its forfeit in the equivalent of that which he hath killed, of domestic animals, the judge to be two men among you known for justice, (the forfeit) to be brought as an offering to the Ka'bah; or, for expiation, he shall feed poor persons, or the equivalent thereof in fasting, that he may taste the evil consequences of his deed. Allah forgiveth whatever (of this kind) may have happened in the past, but whoso relapseth, Allah will take retribution from him. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).” (5:95) 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.400 and they complied with the ruling and did not disobey it. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:43.430 Furthermore, when Allah opened the world to them toward the end of their era, 00:02:43.430 --> 00:02:46.430 they rose above it and remained ascetic toward it. 00:02:46.430 --> 00:02:51.039 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.