Part of Echo of the Pulpits
· Lesson 48 of 48
Echo of platforms | By Sheikh Khaled Al-Hamoudi | Sermon (45) | God is kind to His servants
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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The echo of the pulpits
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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A sermon by his eminence the Sheikh.
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Khalid Ibn 'Abdullah al-Humudi
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May Allah preserve him.
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Praise be to Allah, abundant praise.
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And gratitude to Allah, gratitude upon gratitude.
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All praise is due to Allah, a pure and blessed praise.
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Praise be to Allah, a blessed praise.
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Praise that our Lord loves and with which He is pleased.
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Praise be to Him, filling the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them.
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And it will remain for as long as our Lord wills thereafter.
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The most deserving thing a servant can say is to acknowledge the Lord of praise and glory.
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We are all servants of Allah.
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O Allah, to You belongs all praise, and we cannot encompass the praise due to You.
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You are as You have praised Yourself.
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And I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, having no partner.
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“All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah; unto Him belongeth Sovereignty and unto Him belongeth praise, and He is Able to do all things.” (64:1)
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He answers the one in distress and removes all harm.
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He is the All-Mighty, the All-Powerful.
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He is the Subtle, the All-Aware.
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So, O You whose kindness is hidden, grant us Your aid.
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My expectation of you, O great support, is immense.
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Upon You, O Lord, I place my trust, for I am...
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For whatever good He sends down to me, I am in need.
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And I bear witness that our master, our prophet, and our beloved, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the servant of Allah and His messenger.
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His chosen one and His intimate friend.
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He was tender-hearted and possessed a pleasant disposition in his social interactions.
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Whoever saw him was struck with awe, and whoever associated with him grew to love him.
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He was gentle in his demeanor and kind in his companionship.
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He does not turn away any seeker, for He is compassionate and merciful toward the believers.
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If the longing of the worlds for one another were to grow long
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The longing for You is a depth that cannot be encompassed.
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May the blessings of Allah be upon you for as long as the dew rises.
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And lips moved with the everlasting righteous deeds.
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O Allah, send peace, blessings, and increase upon him.
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upon Your servant, Your messenger, Your prophet, and Your beloved, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
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And upon his pure and immaculate household.
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And upon his noble and blessed Companions.
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And grant him abundant peace until the Day of Judgment.
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To proceed, O servants of Allah:
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I advise you and myself to be mindful of Allah.
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O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared.
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“O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not save as those who have surrendered (unto Him)” (3:102)
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O assembly of the believers,
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When you read, O servant of Allah,
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Surah al-Shura in the Qur'an
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When you read it, you are struck by the marvelous sequence of its verses.
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Then he passes by the words of Allah the Exalted:
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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He provides for whom He wills.
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He is the All-Powerful, the All-Mighty.
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I implore you, O servant of Allah, to pause and reflect.
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Repeat this verse.
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Reflect upon it and contemplate its meanings.
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Then, I have a question for you following that.
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Did you notice anything?
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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What is the meaning of
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The name of Allah, al-Latif (the Subtle, the Most Kind).
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And how could He, glory be to Him, be otherwise?
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He is ever-gentle with His servants.
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The Subtle (Al-Latif)
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He is also the Knower of the hidden aspects of all matters and things.
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He is likewise the One who manages the affairs of His servants in subtle ways.
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He is Most Subtle with His servants.
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He is compassionate toward them.
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Close to them.
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He treated them with compassion, kindness, and benevolence.
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He accepts their repentance and rewards them with forgiveness.
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Regardless of the extent to which they may fall into extravagance, sin, and disobedience.
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As Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, stated:
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He is the Subtle and Kind to His servant and for His servant.
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Gentleness in His attributes is of two kinds.
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Grasping the underlying realities of matters through experience.
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And gentleness is required when one is in a position to show kindness.
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He shows you His might and manifests His gentleness.
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And the servant remains in states of heedlessness regarding his true affairs.
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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You should understand its meaning.
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When you reflect upon the story of Yusuf, peace be upon him.
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Whoever harbors resentment toward his brothers for his sake.
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Because of their father’s love for him.
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Then he was cast into the well, all alone.
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Then came his servitude in the house of al-Aziz, far away.
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And the guile of women.
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Those of high status and great beauty.
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Then he remained in prison for a number of years.
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And the grief and sorrow that afflicted his father.
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And the loss of a child, and blindness.
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And suddenly, the Subtle One [Al-Latif] manifested His grace.
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He is sent to the king's palace.
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A subtle vision.
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It transcends the walls and the dense ranks of soldiers.
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Then, after that, Yusuf—peace be upon him—will emerge.
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established firmly upon the earth
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“Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good.” (12:56)
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He will then be reunited with his father and his brothers.
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After a long absence in his palace.
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After Allah, the Exalted, responded to his father.
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Whatever he lost of his eyesight.
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He says, in the end,
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“And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise.” (12:100)
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Indeed, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
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Yes, by Allah.
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Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Kind.
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He is Most Subtle with His servants.
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Servants of Allah
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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You believe in it.
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When you examine the mother of the believers, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, you find a profound depth of knowledge.
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She casts her nursing infant into the sea.
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Then the Subtle One, Allah, sustains him.
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Upon the waves
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So that he may live in the palace.
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And He casts His love into the heart of the wife of Pharaoh.
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Then He protects him.
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The one whom she feared would suffer from his tyranny.
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Then, the infant is prevented from breastfeeding.
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despite his hunger and his thirst
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Let him return to the heart of his mother.
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Which has become empty.
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A promise from the Most Subtle, in truth and in sincerity.
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“And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?” (28:12)
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She said,
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“And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?” (28:12)
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“And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?” (28:12)
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So We returned him to his mother.
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So that she may be comforted and not grieve.
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“So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.” (28:13)
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Yet most of them do not know.
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He is Allah, the Subtle.
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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Learn something of its true reality.
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When you remind yourself
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And you were in your mother’s womb.
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Who was it that used to bring food and drink to you?
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Who was it that guarded you from harm and protected you?
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At a time when it was your mother who carried you in her womb
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Do not let Him see you [in a state] where He has forbidden you.
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And they are unable to reach you.
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“He created you from one being, then from that (being) He made its mate; and He hath provided for you of cattle eight kinds. He created you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in a threefold gloom. Such is Allah, your Lord. His is the Sovereignty. There is no Allah save Him. How then are ye turned away?” (39:6)
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“He created you from one being, then from that (being) He made its mate; and He hath provided for you of cattle eight kinds. He created you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in a threefold gloom. Such is Allah, your Lord. His is the Sovereignty. There is no Allah save Him. How then are ye turned away?” (39:6)
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In the midst of three layers of darkness.
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That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs the dominion.
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There is no deity worthy of worship except Him.
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So where are you being turned away?
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Rather, it is He who placed [mercy] in the heart of your mother.
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A factory that produces milk.
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And I guide you to suckle from the breast of
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To extract the food.
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Then you leave it once you are satisfied.
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You should begin to play and smile.
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He is the Subtle, the All-Acquainted.
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He is Allah, the Subtle.
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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And among the manifestations of His kindness toward His servant
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He tests him with an incurable illness.
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Before which the towering mountains would crumble.
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He will then establish him with a profound and wondrous firmness.
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You will see him as nothing but grateful.
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Patiently enduring.
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Turning in repentance to Allah.
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He rejoices.
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When he remembers the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:
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When Allah loves a people, He puts them to the test.
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And he yearns
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When he remembers the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:
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Those who were granted well-being will wish [for the same rewards as the afflicted when they see the high status of the latter on the Day of Resurrection].
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The Day of Resurrection
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When those who have endured trials are granted their reward.
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If their skins
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They were cut to pieces in this world with shears.
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It was recorded by al-Tirmidhi, and al-Albani classified it as hasan.
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People come to him.
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So that they might console him for the affliction that had befallen him.
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They then depart from his presence.
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They have learned a profound lesson.
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Practically, in terms of exercising patience with the decree of Allah.
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He is Allah, the Subtle.
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Allah is Most Subtle with His servants.
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When a loved one of yours passes away.
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He used to fill your life.
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He was your companion throughout your night and your day.
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And all of your other times.
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It was never a day
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Can you imagine this world without meeting him?
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Do not imagine
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That you come to his place and do not see him.
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He was the absolute fulfillment of the eyes, the sight, and the heart.
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He was the balm for every wound.
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And the source of true happiness
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And in a single moment
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He has joined the ranks of the deceased.
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And suddenly, the Subtle One [Al-Latif] manifested.
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He inspires you with patience, submission, and steadfastness.
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She says, "What did he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, enjoin upon you?"
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There is no servant who is afflicted by a calamity
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He says, "Indeed, Allah..."
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And indeed, to Him we shall return.
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O Allah, reward me for my affliction.
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And replace it for me with something better than it.
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Except that Allah will reward him for his affliction.
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And He shall replace it for him with something better than it.
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It was recorded by Muslim.
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And suddenly, sorrows [overwhelmed him].
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And the anxieties.
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replaced by contentment and peace of mind.
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And when a constricted chest
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feels a sense of expansion,
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then know
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that your Beloved has gone to the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful,
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who promised His servants the Gardens of Bliss.
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He is Allah, the Subtle.
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How many hidden subtleties does Allah possess,
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whose subtlety eludes the understanding of the clever.
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How much ease has come after hardship,
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relieving the distress of a sorrowful heart.
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How many matters you feel anxious about in the morning,
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yet joy comes to you by the evening.
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If circumstances ever become difficult for you,
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then trust in the One, the Unique, the Exalted.
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Do not despair when calamity strikes,
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for how many hidden subtleties does Allah possess.
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Allah is subtle with His servants.
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He has surrounded severe hardship with two instances of ease,
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and has placed clear relief after every distress.
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People disobey Him,
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yet He grants them respite,
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and when they repent to Him,
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He turns to them with even greater acceptance.
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He does not hasten the punishment,
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because He is Forbearing.
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He does not withhold His provision,
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because He is Generous.
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He does not test anyone beyond their capacity,
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because He is Merciful.
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He ordains for His servants what benefits them,
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because He is Wise.
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Nothing is ever hidden from Him,
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because He is All-Knowing.
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He is Allah, the Subtle.
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O Allah, have mercy on us, O Most Merciful.
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And be subtle with us, O Subtle One.
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O Allah, be subtle with us, O Subtle One.
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May Allah bless me and you through the Magnificent Qur'an,
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and benefit me and you with the verses and the Wise Reminder it contains.
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I say what you hear and I seek Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness.
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How triumphant are those who seek forgiveness!
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Praise be to Allah.
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Praise be to Allah for His benevolence,
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and thanks be to Him for His guidance and grace.
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I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner, in reverence to His majesty.
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And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the caller to His pleasure.
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May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, his Companions, and his brethren.
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And may He grant them abundant peace until the Day of Judgment.
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To proceed, O servants of Allah:
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Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, says
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something wondrous that deserves to be written in tears.
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He said, may Allah have mercy on him:
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"If Allah were to lift the veil for His servant,
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and show him how He manages his affairs for him,
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and how Allah
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is more concerned with the servant's welfare than the servant is himself,
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and that He is more merciful to him than his own mother,
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the servant's heart would melt out of love for Allah."
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The servant's heart would melt out of love for Allah,
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and his heart would be torn apart in gratitude to Allah.
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And he spoke the truth, may Allah have mercy on him.
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Indeed, by Allah, O servants of Allah,
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Allah is subtle with His servants.
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Allah is subtle with His servants.
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So be, O servant of Allah,
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content and tranquil,
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patient, praising, and grateful.
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I ask Allah that we may be so,
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and even better than that.
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O servants of Allah,
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in a few days,
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we will welcome a blessed month.
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If only we would welcome it
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with repentance and seeking forgiveness,
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and turning back to Him.
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And along with repentance,
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let us be keen, O servants of Allah,
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to return rights to their owners,
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to be absolved of injustices,
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to uphold ties of kinship,
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and to be dutiful to parents,
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and to every act of righteousness, goodness, and benevolence.
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Let us be extremely keen on that.
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For the month of Ramadan is a great opportunity
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to enter Paradise.
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So let us be keen
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on this great opportunity,
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for we do not know when we will depart.
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Whoever longs for his Lord,
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finds hardships easy to bear.
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O Allah, make us happy through our consciousness of You,
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and make us fear You as if we see You.
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O Allah, grant us happiness without misery,
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and lawful provision without toil.
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O Allah, grant us the answering of our prayers,
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the righteousness of our children,
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and the blessing of Your gifts.
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O Allah, grant us purity of intention,
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and sincerity of heart,
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and set our affairs right.
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Keep us far away from all harm and affliction.
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O Allah, grant us happiness of the heart,
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and the delight of the eyes,
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and beautiful tidings.
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O Allah, bestow upon us provision that cannot be counted,
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and open for us a door to Paradise that will never be closed.
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O Allah, heal our sick,
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grant well-being to those among us who are afflicted,
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and have mercy on our dead.
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O Allah, have mercy on our dead,
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especially our fathers and mothers,
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our callers to the truth, and our relatives.
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O Allah, we ask You for security in our homelands,
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safety in our religion,
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and health in our bodies.
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O Allah, illuminate the graves of those in the graves,
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and make the graves of those who have departed this life
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be in a constant, unceasing light.
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And place them in the dwellings of Your Paradise,
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safe and tranquil.
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O Allah, bless for us what remains of Sha'ban,
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O Allah, let us reach Ramadan,
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O Allah, let us reach Ramadan,
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O Allah, let us reach Ramadan,
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while we are in health and well-being,
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and in security, safety, and faith.
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O Allah, O Hearer of prayers,
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O Vast in giving,
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O Allah, grant victory to our brothers in Gaza,
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O Allah, grant victory to our brothers in Gaza.
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O Allah, show us the wonders of Your power against the Jews,
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and heal the hearts of a believing people.
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Do not raise a banner for the Jews,
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and do not let them achieve their goal.
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Make them a lesson and a sign for those who come after them.
16:32
O Allah, set right the affairs of the Muslims everywhere,
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O Allah, set right the affairs of the Muslims everywhere.
16:39
Protect and guide our leader,
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to what You love and are pleased with.
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O Allah, protect our leader and his Crown Prince,
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and grant them righteous advisors.
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Our Lord, we have called upon You as You commanded us,
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so answer us as You promised us.
16:55
O Allah, just as You have gathered us upon this carpet,
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gather us beneath Your Throne,
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as loving brothers,
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facing one another on thrones of dignity.
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“Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him)” (37:180)
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And peace be upon the messengers,
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and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.