Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) Said in Liqa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, 1/153
Our advice to this young man who is heading in the right direction,
in sha` Allah, is:
1.He should always ask Allah to keep him steadfast and on the right path.
2. He should read the Qur'aan a great deal and ponder its meanings, because this Qur'aan has a great impact on the heart, if one reads it carefully and ponders it.
3. He should strive to do acts of worship regularly, without getting bored or feeling lazy, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from incapability and laziness.
4. He should strive to keep company with good people and avoid keeping company with bad people.
5. He should advise himself when his nafs is influencing him and should say to himself: The distance is far and the path is long, let him advise himself to be steadfast, because Paradise is surrounded with difficult things and Hell is surrounded with whims and desires.
6. He should keep away from bad friends, even if they were his friends before, because bad friends will influence him. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of a bad companion is that of the one who works the bellows: either he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell from him.” End quote.
Liqa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, 1/153
Finally:Ask Allaah steadfastness on the straight path
The du’aa’, “O Allaah, I ask You for steadfastness in this matter …” is a proven du’aa’ of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Ahmad (17155), al-Tirmidhi (3407) and al-Nasaa’i (1304) narrated that Shaddaad ibn Aws (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught us to say: “Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amri, wa as’aluka ‘azeemat al-rushd, wa as’aluka shukra ni’matika wa husna ‘ibaadatika, wa as’aluka lisaanan saadiqan wa qalban saleeman, wa a’oodhu bika min sharri ma ta’lam wa as’aluka min khayri ma ta’lam, wa astaghfiruka mimma ta’lam, innaka anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob (O Allaah, I ask you for steadfastness in this matter, and I ask You for the resolve to adhere to the path of guidance, and I ask You for gratitude for Your blessings and to worship You well, and I ask You for a truthful tongue and a sound heart, and I seek refuge with You from the evil of what You know, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I ask You for forgiveness for what You know; You are the knower of the Unseen).”
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah no. 3228, and classed as hasan by Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot in Tahqeeq al-Musnad.
It was narrated by Ahmad with the words: “When people accumulate gold and silver, you should accumulate the words ‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amri…’”
The words Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amr (O Allaah, I ask You for steadfastness in this matter) mean steadfastness in adhering to Islam.
Wa as’aluka ‘azeemata al-rushd (and I ask You for the resolve to adhere to the path of guidance) i.e., to adhere to all matters that lead to what which is right and proper.
Wa as’aluka shukra ni’matika (I ask You for gratitude for Your blessing), i.e., to be enabled to give thanks for Your blessings.
Wa husna ‘ibaadatika (and to worship You properly) i.e., so that I may perform all acts of worship in a manner that is pleasing to You.
Wa as’aluka lisaanan saadiqan (I ask You for a truthful tongue) i.e., one that is protected from lying; wa qalban saleeman (and a sound heart) i.e., one that is free of false beliefs and whims and desires.
A’oodhu bika min sharri ma ta’lam (I seek refuge with You from the evil of what You know) i.e., what You know and I do not.
This is a comprehensive request that includes seeking refuge from all evils, and seeking all that is good. This du’aa’, which is concise in wording, ends with a plea for forgiveness which is the main point of the du’aa’, and says: Wa astaghfiruka mimma ta’lam, innaka anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob (and I ask You for forgiveness for that which You know; You are the knower of the Unseen).
May Allaah help us all to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
And Allaah knows best.
Our advice to this young man who is heading in the right direction,
in sha` Allah, is:
1.He should always ask Allah to keep him steadfast and on the right path.
2. He should read the Qur'aan a great deal and ponder its meanings, because this Qur'aan has a great impact on the heart, if one reads it carefully and ponders it.
3. He should strive to do acts of worship regularly, without getting bored or feeling lazy, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from incapability and laziness.
4. He should strive to keep company with good people and avoid keeping company with bad people.
5. He should advise himself when his nafs is influencing him and should say to himself: The distance is far and the path is long, let him advise himself to be steadfast, because Paradise is surrounded with difficult things and Hell is surrounded with whims and desires.
6. He should keep away from bad friends, even if they were his friends before, because bad friends will influence him. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of a bad companion is that of the one who works the bellows: either he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell from him.” End quote.
Liqa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, 1/153
Finally:Ask Allaah steadfastness on the straight path
The du’aa’, “O Allaah, I ask You for steadfastness in this matter …” is a proven du’aa’ of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Ahmad (17155), al-Tirmidhi (3407) and al-Nasaa’i (1304) narrated that Shaddaad ibn Aws (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught us to say: “Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amri, wa as’aluka ‘azeemat al-rushd, wa as’aluka shukra ni’matika wa husna ‘ibaadatika, wa as’aluka lisaanan saadiqan wa qalban saleeman, wa a’oodhu bika min sharri ma ta’lam wa as’aluka min khayri ma ta’lam, wa astaghfiruka mimma ta’lam, innaka anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob (O Allaah, I ask you for steadfastness in this matter, and I ask You for the resolve to adhere to the path of guidance, and I ask You for gratitude for Your blessings and to worship You well, and I ask You for a truthful tongue and a sound heart, and I seek refuge with You from the evil of what You know, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I ask You for forgiveness for what You know; You are the knower of the Unseen).”
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah no. 3228, and classed as hasan by Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot in Tahqeeq al-Musnad.
It was narrated by Ahmad with the words: “When people accumulate gold and silver, you should accumulate the words ‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amri…’”
The words Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-thabaat fi’l-amr (O Allaah, I ask You for steadfastness in this matter) mean steadfastness in adhering to Islam.
Wa as’aluka ‘azeemata al-rushd (and I ask You for the resolve to adhere to the path of guidance) i.e., to adhere to all matters that lead to what which is right and proper.
Wa as’aluka shukra ni’matika (I ask You for gratitude for Your blessing), i.e., to be enabled to give thanks for Your blessings.
Wa husna ‘ibaadatika (and to worship You properly) i.e., so that I may perform all acts of worship in a manner that is pleasing to You.
Wa as’aluka lisaanan saadiqan (I ask You for a truthful tongue) i.e., one that is protected from lying; wa qalban saleeman (and a sound heart) i.e., one that is free of false beliefs and whims and desires.
A’oodhu bika min sharri ma ta’lam (I seek refuge with You from the evil of what You know) i.e., what You know and I do not.
This is a comprehensive request that includes seeking refuge from all evils, and seeking all that is good. This du’aa’, which is concise in wording, ends with a plea for forgiveness which is the main point of the du’aa’, and says: Wa astaghfiruka mimma ta’lam, innaka anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob (and I ask You for forgiveness for that which You know; You are the knower of the Unseen).
May Allaah help us all to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
And Allaah knows best.
