Sayings of Ibn Al-Qayyim al-Jawzziya:

[Abu Juwairiya]

Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab spoke of his teacher [Ibn Qayyim], saying: "He was an accomplished scholar of Islamic science, and no one could rival him in his deep understanding of the Qur'an and prophetic saying, and his interpretations were unique in accuracy." (Source Islamicity)

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

"When the Glorious Qur'an and the Sunnah are abandoned, because it is thought that they are insufficient; and when human opinions, analogy, discretion, and the words of scholars are sought, people's natures are corrupted, their hearts become dark, their understandings become confused, and their minds become distorted.

All the previously mentioned matters had a great impact on their lives to the extent that the young and the old lived under these circumstances, thinking them to be allowed.

Alternative conditions prevailed, in which innovated matters replaced Prophetic traditions, inclination replaced wisdom, vain desires replaced reason, doing astray replaced guidance, the wrong replaced the good, ignorance replaced knowledge, hypocrisy replaced devotion, the unlawful replaced the lawful, lying substituted truthfullness, flattery substituted advice, and injustice replaced justice, thus these evils reigned supreme, and their holders became privileged, despite the prevalence of their opposite in the past, where their holders were the privileged ones.

If you see the superiority of such evils, and their slogans are set up where their armies are invading, surely the bottom of the earth would be much desirable than it's surface, the peaks of mountains would be more preferable than the plains, and accompanying beasts would be better than accompanying people."

[Taken from "Al-Fawaid" by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyah]

 

[a_stranger]

Subsequently, the hearts of man can be divided into two kinds, the first of which is the heart of those, who incline to the Beneficent, which is the source of brightness, life, happiness, pleasure, delight and blessings.

The second one is the throne of the devil where narrowness, darkness, death, sorrow, distress and grief are settled therein. This heart is obsessed by sorrow for the past, and grief and distress for the present.



(AL-FAWA’ID A COLLECTION OF WISE SAYINGS Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim)

 

[a_stranger]

Don’t get tired

“Do not get tired of standing at His door, even if you were thrown out And do not stop apologizing to Him, even if you were turned back And if He opens the door for the ones who were accepted, then enter (with them) the entrance of the ones who were unexpected and say, ‘Miskeen (poor) so give me Sadaqah (charity)” Ibn-ul-Qayyim

 

[Abdur_Rahman1]

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

“There are several ways in which Shaytaan fooled the Mushrikeen onto idol worship. He played with every nation in accordance with their mind set and way of thinking. He invited some people to idol worship through honoring the dead. These people sculptured idols in the shape of the righteous as had occurred with the people of Nooh. This is why Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) has cursed those who make Masjids on graves and he forbade Salaah at graves.”

[Igaathat Al-Afhaan, 2/222-223]

 

[Abdur_Rahman1]

Having Good Expectations of Your Lord

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy upon him) said:

“Most people – in fact, all of them except those protected by Allah – assume other than the truth, and assume the worst. Most people believe that they are deprived of their rights, have bad luck, deserve more than what Allah gave them, and it is as if they are saying: ‘My Lord has wronged me and deprived me of what I deserve,’ and his soul bears witness to this while his tongue denies it and refuses to openly state this. And whoever digs into his soul and comes to know its ins and outs will see this in it [is] like fire in a triggered explosion…And if you dig into anyone’s soul, you will see that he blames fate and would rather have something else happen to him than what actually did, and that things should be this way or that…So, dig into your own self: are you protected from this? If you are safe from this, you have been protected from something great. Otherwise, I do not see that you have been saved.”

[Zaad al-Ma’aad’ (3/235)2. ‘Tahdheeb Madaarij as-Saalikeen’ (p. 240)]

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy upon him) also said:

“The more you have good expectations of your Lord and hope in Him, the more you will rely on and trust in Him. This is why some explained true reliance and trust to be having good expectations of Allah. In reality, having good expectations of Him leads to relying on and trusting in Him, as it is unthinkable that one can trust in someone that he has bad expectations of or no hope in, and Allah Knows best.”

He (may Allah have Mercy upon him) also said:

“The one who hopes in Allah should always be optimistic, cautious, and hopeful in Allah’s bounty, expecting the best from Him.”

[‘Tahdheeb Madaarij as-Saalikeen’ (p. 300)]

Some of the Salaf (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:

“Whenever a crisis comes your way, utilise your good expectations of Allah in order to repel it. This will bring you closer to relief.”

[al-Faraj Ba’d ash-Shiddah]

Sa’id bin Jubayr (may Allah have Mercy upon him) would supplicate:

“O Allah, I ask you to grant me true reliance on You and good expectations of You.”

[Siyar A’lam an-Nubala]

‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radi Allahu anhu) said:

“By the One besides Who none is worthy of worship, the believer is not given anything [good] better than his good expectations of Allah, and by the One besides Who none is worthy of worship, no servant of Allah expects good of Him except that Allah gives him what he expected, since all good is in His Hand.”

[Husn adh-Dhann bi Allah]

‘Ammar bin Yusuf (may Allah have Mercy on him) said:

“I saw Hasan bin Saalih in a dream, and I said: “I was hoping to meet you! What can you inform us of?” He replied: “I give you the glad tidings that I see nothing better than to have good expectations of Allah.”

[Husn adh-Dhann bi Allah]

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

“Allah the Most High said, ‘I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.’”

[Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

"During his early student life, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim sought the company of most shaikhs of his period, and he was particularly proficient in interpreting the Hanbali Muslim school of thoughts." (Source: Islamicity)

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

“He who keeps his heart near God will find peace and tranquility, whilst he who gives his heart to the people will find restlessness and apprehension.”
— Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

“Ibn al-Qayyim: “Delaying repentance is a sin which requires repentance.” [مدارج السالكين ١\٤٨٧-٤٨٨]”

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

Ibn al-Qayyim: “A single desire can cause long term sadness.” (Al Fawa'id)

 

[a_stranger]

Tests of a believer

“The ibtilaa’ (testing) of the believer is like medicine for him. It cures him from illness. Had the illness remained it would destroy him or diminish his reward and level (in the hereafter). The tests and the trials extract these illnesses from him and prepare him for the perfect reward and the highest of degrees (in the life to come).” Ibn Qayyim

 

[a_stranger]

Trees in the Heart

“Ikhlaas (sincerity) and Tawheed (oneness of God) are a tree in the heart. Its branches are good actions. Its fruits are a good life in this world, and eternal comfort in the Hereafter, and just like in Paradise the fruits whose supply is not cut off, nor are they out of reach, likewise are the fruits of Tawheed and Ikhlaas in this world.”

“An action done without Ikhlaas and without following the Messenger is like a traveler whose sock becomes filled with sand, which weighs him down, and has no benefit.” “Allah loves from His slave that he beautifies his tongue with the truth, and his heart with Ikhlaas and love, turning repentantly with reliance upon Allah.” Ibn al-Qayyim

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

"If you knew Allah as He should be known, you would leave people aside and take Him as your Companion." (Ibn Qayyim)

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

"Ibrahim (AS) said to his father;, 'O my father, indeed there has come to me knowledge that which has not come to you'. (Qur'an 19: 43)

So do not say: 'You are ignorant, and have no knowledge.' But rather, turn away from this (type of) expression to a more gentle/kinder expression." (Ibn Qayyim)

 

[a_stranger]

Calamities and trials are a medicine

“Were it not that Allah treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allah wills good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified for the most honorable position in this world, which is that of being a true slave of Allah (‘uboodiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter, which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him. Ibn Qayyim al Jawzziyah

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah said: 'Religion consists entirely of good character (الدين كله هو الخلق). Whoever surpasses you in good character surpasses you in religion.'

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

Due to his commitment to defending Islam and his determination to strive against Bid'ah, oppression, injustice and tireless efforts in preserving the true teachings of Islam from deviant sects and groups, Ibn Qayyim was sent to jail several times including on a few occasions alongside his teacher, Ibn Taymiyyah.

The last time they were both imprisoned together, the authorities had them incarcerated within the same castle but in separate rooms.

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

"Whoever remembered Allah whilst being alive and in good health, will remember Him at the time of death." -Ibn Al Qayyim