WEBVTT 00:00:00.210 --> 00:00:03.730 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.730 --> 00:00:08.820 Milestones on the path of steadfastness. 00:00:08.820 --> 00:00:16.589 Responding to divine promises. 00:00:16.589 --> 00:00:18.589 Among the means of achieving steadfastness: 00:00:18.589 --> 00:00:24.719 Responding to the promises of Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:26.719 Allah the Almighty says: 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:32.719 "And if We had decreed upon them, 'Kill yourselves or leave your homes,' they would not have done it, except for a few of them." 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:37.719 “And if We had decreed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening;” (4:66) 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:42.719 “And if We had decreed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening;” (4:66) 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:46.719 “And if We had decreed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening;” (4:66) 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:51.719 “And if We had decreed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening;” (4:66) 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:58.719 “And then We should bestow upon them from Our presence an immense reward,” (4:67) 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:04.719 "And We would have guided them to a straight path." 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:20.719 “Whoso obeyeth Allah and the messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah hath shown favour, of the prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they!” (4:69) 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:32.719 “Whoso obeyeth Allah and the messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah hath shown favour, of the prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they!” (4:69) 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:37.719 "And excellent are those as companions." 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:46.420 “That is bounty from Allah, and Allah sufficeth as Knower.” (4:70) 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:49.420 Al-Sa'di says in his Tafsir: 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:55.420 That if Allah had prescribed for His servants commands that are burdensome to the soul, 00:01:55.420 --> 00:01:59.420 Such as taking one's own life or leaving one's home, 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:03.459 Only a few, the rare among them, would have done so. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:08.460 Therefore, they should praise their Lord and thank Him for making easy what He has commanded them, 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:13.460 From the commands that are easy for everyone and not burdensome to perform. 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:20.460 In this is an indication that the servant should observe the opposite of the hardships he is currently in, 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:26.460 So that acts of worship become lighter for him, and he increases in praise and gratitude to his Lord. 00:02:26.460 --> 00:02:30.710 Then He informed them that if they had done what they were exhorted to do, 00:02:30.710 --> 00:02:34.710 Meaning, what was assigned to them at every moment according to its requirements, 00:02:34.710 --> 00:02:40.710 And they exerted their efforts and dedicated their souls to fulfilling and perfecting it, 00:02:40.710 --> 00:02:46.710 And their souls did not aspire to what they had not yet reached and were not yet tasked with, 00:02:46.710 --> 00:02:49.710 This is what is appropriate for the servant: 00:02:49.710 --> 00:02:54.710 To look at the state he is required to fulfill and perfect it, 00:02:54.710 --> 00:02:57.710 Then progress step by step, 00:02:57.710 --> 00:03:03.710 Until he reaches what has been decreed for him of knowledge and action in matters of religion and worldly life. 00:03:03.710 --> 00:03:10.840 This is contrary to one whose soul aspires to a matter he has not reached and has not yet been commanded to do, 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:18.840 For he hardly reaches that due to the dissipation of focus, the onset of laziness, and lack of energy. 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:26.099 Then He arranged what they would attain by doing what they were exhorted to do, which is four things: 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:32.099 The first is goodness, in His saying: "It would have been better for them," 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:40.099 Meaning, they would have been among the righteous, characterized by their traits of performing the good deeds they were commanded to do. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:49.099 That is, the attribute of the wicked would be negated from them, because the establishment of a thing necessitates the negation of its opposite. 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:54.349 The second is the attainment of firmness, steadfastness, and an increase thereof. 00:03:54.349 --> 00:04:03.349 For Allah makes those who believe steadfast because of the faith they have upheld, which is the fulfillment of what they were exhorted to do. 00:04:03.349 --> 00:04:11.349 He makes them steadfast in this worldly life when trials arise regarding commands, prohibitions, and calamities. 00:04:11.349 --> 00:04:19.350 Thus, they attain a steadfastness that enables them to perform commands and abandon the forbidden acts that the soul desires to commit. 00:04:19.350 --> 00:04:29.350 And when calamities occur that the servant dislikes, he is granted steadfastness through being enabled to have patience, contentment, or gratitude. 00:04:29.350 --> 00:04:34.350 Then aid descends upon him from Allah to fulfill that. 00:04:34.350 --> 00:04:38.350 And he attains steadfastness upon the religion at the time of death and in the grave. 00:04:39.350 --> 00:04:48.579 Furthermore, the servant who fulfills what he is commanded with continues to train himself in the legal commands until he becomes accustomed to them, 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:56.579 And he longs for them and their like, which becomes an aid for him in remaining steadfast in acts of obedience. 00:04:56.579 --> 00:04:59.899 The third is His saying: 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:11.899 Meaning, in the immediate and the ultimate future, which pertains to the soul, the heart, and the body. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:20.899 And from the everlasting bliss, which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and has never crossed the heart of any human. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.180 The fourth: 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:26.180 Guidance to a straight path. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:32.180 This is a general statement following a specific one, due to the nobility of guidance to the straight path, 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:40.180 In that it encompasses knowledge of the truth, loving it, preferring it, and acting upon it. 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:43.220 And the fact that happiness and success depend upon that. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:53.220 So whoever is guided to a straight path has been granted success in every good and has been shielded from every evil and harm. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:58.139 Milestones on the path of steadfastness.