Milestones on the path to stability | Episode (1) | The truth and importance of consistency

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:03 Landmarks on the Path of Steadfastness.

0:09 By the honorable Sheikh Dr. Fayiz Ibn Husayn al-Salah.

0:15 Introduction.

0:21 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:24 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

0:27 I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the Manifest Truth.

0:32 And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the truthful and trustworthy.

0:37 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and his companions.

0:41 And upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

0:45 To proceed:

0:47 Steadfastness upon the religion is the aspiration of every sincere Muslim.

0:51 It is the ultimate goal of every successful worshiper.

0:54 It is the way of the prophets, messengers, saints, and the righteous.

1:00 The need for it is urgent at every moment and time.

1:05 Especially in an era where many have fallen away from the path.

1:10 Both among the common people and the elite.

1:14 Since this is the case,

1:16 This brief treatise was written,

1:19 As a reminder to myself and my Muslim brothers traveling upon this path.

1:25 I have titled it,

1:27 Landmarks on the Path of Steadfastness.

1:30 I have organized it into two sections:

1:33 The first: The reality of steadfastness and its importance.

1:37 The second section: The means of achieving steadfastness.

1:41 Consisting of twenty complete means.

1:45 I ask Allah to keep us steadfast upon His religion until we meet Him.

1:51 Our final prayer is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

1:59 First Section:

2:01 The reality of steadfastness and its importance.

2:06 Steadfastness means constancy and continuity.

2:10 It is firmness and solidity in the attachment of a thing to what it relies upon or stands for.

2:16 The reality of steadfastness is uprightness upon the path.

2:21 Al-Sa'di said in *Taysir al-Latif al-Mannan*:

2:24 Uprightness is adhering to the straight path.

2:28 By the servant remaining upright in their faith in Allah,

2:32 Performing His obligatory duties, and abandoning His prohibitions.

2:35 Maintaining this consistently,

2:37 Repenting for any shortcomings in fulfilling these rights.

2:41 That is why He said:

2:43 "So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness."

2:46 Meaning, for any deficiency that occurred in your uprightness.

2:51 What is required of a Muslim is to strive for perfection (sadad).

2:54 If one cannot achieve that, then one should draw as close as possible (muqaraba).

2:57 If one falls short of drawing close,

2:59 Then nothing remains but negligence and loss.

3:03 In the *Sahihayn*, from 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

3:07 From the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said:

3:11 "Strive for perfection, draw as close as you can, and receive glad tidings.

3:15 For no one will enter Paradise by their deeds alone."

3:19 He said:

3:21 "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?"

3:23 He said:

3:24 "Not even me,

3:26 Unless Allah covers me with His mercy."

3:30 Know that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most consistent, even if it is small.

3:36 Allah, the Almighty, has commanded His believing servants,

3:40 To remain steadfast upon this religion until death.

3:44 The Almighty says:

3:46 "And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death)."

3:50 And He said:

3:52 “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)

4:01 “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)

4:08 And the Almighty said:

4:11 “So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn (unto Allah) with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.” (11:112)

4:18 "Indeed, He is All-Seeing of what you do."

4:23 And He said:

4:26 “Unto this, then, summon (O Muhammad). And be thou upright as thou art commanded, and follow not their lusts, but say: I believe in whatever scripture Allah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works; no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.” (42:15)

4:31 "And do not follow their inclinations."

4:35 “Unto this, then, summon (O Muhammad). And be thou upright as thou art commanded, and follow not their lusts, but say: I believe in whatever scripture Allah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works; no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.” (42:15)

4:42 "And I have been commanded to do justice among you.

4:45 Allah is our Lord and your Lord.

4:49 For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds."

4:53 “Unto this, then, summon (O Muhammad). And be thou upright as thou art commanded, and follow not their lusts, but say: I believe in whatever scripture Allah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works; no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.” (42:15)

4:57 “Unto this, then, summon (O Muhammad). And be thou upright as thou art commanded, and follow not their lusts, but say: I believe in whatever scripture Allah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works; no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.” (42:15)

5:03 Whoever struggles with their soul to remain upright on the path,

5:07 Allah, the Almighty, will never let them go to waste.

5:11 As Allah said:

5:14 "Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remained on a right course—

5:20 There will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

5:29 Those are the companions of Paradise."

5:34 And He said: "Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remained on a right course—

5:42 The angels will descend upon them, [saying],

5:50 'Do not fear and do not grieve.'

5:56 There will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

6:01 Those are the companions of Paradise.

6:04 Do not grieve, and receive glad tidings.

6:07 Receive glad tidings of the Paradise which you were promised."

6:16 “We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There ye will have (all) that your souls desire, and there ye will have (all) for which ye pray.” (41:31)

6:24 “We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There ye will have (all) that your souls desire, and there ye will have (all) for which ye pray.” (41:31)

6:29 “We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There ye will have (all) that your souls desire, and there ye will have (all) for which ye pray.” (41:31)

6:33 “A gift of welcome from One Forgiving, Merciful.” (41:32)

6:40 Steadfastness is the legacy of the prophets and messengers to their children and followers.

6:46 As in His saying:

6:50 “And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.” (2:130)

6:58 “And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.” (2:130)

7:02 "And indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous."

7:09 “When his Lord said unto him: Surrender! he said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds.” (2:131)

7:12 “When his Lord said unto him: Surrender! he said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds.” (2:131)

7:18 “The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).” (2:132)

7:23 “The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).” (2:132)

7:29 “The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).” (2:132)

7:34 “The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).” (2:132)

7:40 If steadfastness upon Islam is the legacy of the prophets and messengers,

7:46 Then in times of disagreement and division,

7:49 Steadfastness upon Islam and the Sunnah becomes the ultimate goal of all who follow the true path.

7:56 Al-Hasan al-Basri said:

7:59 "Your Sunnah, by Allah, besides Whom there is no deity, lies between them,

8:03 Between the extremist and the negligent.

8:06 So be patient upon it, may Allah have mercy on you.

8:09 For the people of the Sunnah were the fewest in the past,

8:14 And they are the fewest in what remains,

8:17 Those who did not go along with the people of luxury in their luxury,

8:22 Nor with the people of innovation in their innovations,

8:25 But remained patient upon their Sunnah until they met their Lord.

8:30 So be like them, if Allah wills."

8:34 If the people of disbelief are patient upon their disbelief,

8:38 And advise one another to hold onto it,

8:41 As Allah said about them:

8:45 "And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], 'Go on and be patient over your gods.'"

8:51 “The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.” (38:6)

8:57 And he said: "He almost misled us from our gods."

9:02 “He would have led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch to them. They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road.” (25:42)

9:06 Then the people of truth are more entitled to be patient and steadfast upon it.

9:10 As the Almighty said:

9:13 "O you who have believed,

9:16 Endure and be more patient and remain stationed (on the path),

9:24 And fear Allah that you may succeed."

9:31 And He also said:

9:34 "By time, indeed, mankind is in loss,

9:39 Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds,

9:44 And advised each other to truth,

9:48 And advised each other to patience."

9:51 And He said:

9:53 "So be patient; indeed, the promise of Allah is truth.

9:57 And ask forgiveness for your sin,

10:00 And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord

10:05 In the evening and the morning."

10:09 Sheikh al-Islam said in *Al-Istiqamah*:

10:12 "He commanded him to be patient,

10:13 And informed him that the promise of Allah is truth,

10:17 And commanded him to ask forgiveness for his sin.

10:20 No tribulation occurs except from abandoning what Allah has commanded.

10:25 For He, the Almighty, commanded the truth and commanded patience.

10:29 So tribulation arises either from abandoning the truth,

10:32 Or from abandoning patience."

10:36 Landmarks on the Path of Steadfastness.

Milestones on the path to stability | Episode (1) | The truth and importance of consistency

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