Part of Milestones on the path to stability (series completed) · Lesson 6 of 23

Milestones on the path to stability | Episode (6) | Among the means of steadfastness: honesty and sincerity

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0:00 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
0:03 Milestones on the path of steadfastness.
0:10 Sincerity and devotion.
0:13 Among the means of steadfastness:
0:18 Engaging in righteous deeds with an open heart, sincerity, devotion, and certainty.
0:24 Allah the Exalted says:
0:27 “And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.” (2:265)
0:32 Seeking the pleasure of Allah and as a confirmation [of their faith].
0:38 “And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.” (2:265)
0:51 “And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.” (2:265)
1:00 “And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.” (2:265)
1:06 And Allah is Seeing of what you do.
1:11 Al-Tabari said in his Tafsir:
1:14 By this, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, means:
1:17 That their souls were certain and believed in the promise of Allah to them,
1:23 Regarding what they spent in His obedience, without reminders of generosity or injury.
1:27 Thus, He confirmed them in their spending of wealth, seeking the pleasure of Allah,
1:32 And He validated their resolve and their intentions,
1:35 Out of certainty they held regarding that,
1:37 And in confirmation of the promise Allah made to them.
1:42 That is why some of the exegetes said regarding His saying:
1:46 "And as a confirmation" — meaning, in belief.
1:49 And some of them said: "And out of certainty."
1:53 Meaning that the confirmation of the souls of those who spend their wealth seeking the pleasure of Allah,
1:59 Was only out of their certainty and belief in the promise of Allah.
2:04 Ibn al-Qayyim said in *Tariq al-Hijratayn*:
2:07 This is the likeness of one whose spending originates from devotion and sincerity.
2:12 For seeking His pleasure, Glorified is He, is sincerity.
2:17 And the confirmation of the soul is the truthfulness in giving.
2:20 For the one who spends faces two afflictions when he gives:
2:25 If he is saved from them, he is like the one mentioned in this verse.
2:30 The first is seeking through his spending praise, commendation, or some worldly objective.
2:38 This is the state of most of those who spend.
2:41 The second affliction is the weakness of his soul, its reluctance, and its hesitation:
2:47 "Should I do it or not?"
2:49 The first affliction is removed by seeking the pleasure of Allah.
2:53 The second affliction is removed by confirmation (steadfastness).
2:57 For the confirmation of the soul is its encouragement and strengthening,
3:01 And urging it toward giving.
3:04 This is its truthfulness.
3:06 And seeking the pleasure of Allah is desiring His Countenance alone.
3:10 This is its sincerity.
3:13 Sincerity is a fundamental pillar in all righteous deeds,
3:17 And their distinction is only achieved through it.
3:20 As the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
3:24 "Deeds are only by intentions,"
3:26 "And every person shall have what he intended."
3:30 Sincerity is singling out the Truth, Glorified and Exalted is He, in one's intention during acts of worship,
3:36 And purifying it from the observation of created beings.
3:40 Ibn al-Qayyim said in *Madarij al-Salikin*:
3:44 They are the people of sincerity to the Worshipped and of following [the Prophet].
3:47 They are the true people of "You alone we worship."
3:51 All their deeds are for Allah,
3:53 Their words are for Allah,
3:55 Their giving is for Allah,
3:57 Their withholding is for Allah,
3:58 Their love is for Allah,
4:00 And their hatred is for Allah.
4:02 Their dealings, outwardly and inwardly, are for the Countenance of Allah alone.
4:07 They do not desire from people any reward or gratitude,
4:12 Nor do they seek status among them,
4:14 Nor do they seek praise or a position in their hearts,
4:18 Nor do they act out of fear of their blame.
4:21 Rather, they have come to regard people as being like the inhabitants of the graves:
4:25 They possess no power to harm or benefit them,
4:28 Nor to cause death, life, or resurrection.
4:32 So, to act for the sake of people,
4:34 To seek status and position among them,
4:37 And to hope for harm or benefit from them,
4:40 Is not the act of one who truly knows them at all.
4:44 Rather, it is the act of one who is ignorant of their state and ignorant of his Lord.
4:48 For whoever knows people places them in their proper perspective,
4:52 And whoever knows Allah makes his deeds and words sincere to Him,
4:56 As well as his giving, withholding, love, and hatred.
5:01 No one deals with the creation instead of the Creator,
5:04 Except due to his ignorance of Allah and his ignorance of the creation.
5:08 Otherwise, if he knows Allah and knows the people,
5:12 He prefers dealing with Allah over dealing with them.
5:16 The sincere are those whom Allah confirms,
5:20 Especially in times of trial and tribulation.
5:24 Just as Allah confirmed Yusuf, peace be upon him,
5:27 And attributed that to the fact that he was among the sincere.
5:31 Allah the Exalted says:
5:34 "And she certainly determined [to seduce] him,
5:37 And he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord."
5:43 “She verily desired him, and he would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness. Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves.” (12:24)
5:50 “She verily desired him, and he would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness. Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves.” (12:24)
5:57 And the accursed Satan has no way to reach them.
6:02 Allah the Exalted says:
6:04 “He said: My Lord! Because Thou hast sent me astray, I verily shall adorn the path of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one,” (15:39)
6:15 "And I will surely mislead them all,
6:19 Except Your chosen servants among them."
6:24 And He said:
6:26 “He said: Then, by Thy might, I surely will beguile them every one,” (38:82)
6:32 "Except Your chosen servants among them."