TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

15. ANGER

ALLAH´S COMPLETE PLEASURE ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

Hadhrat Abu Umamah Baahili (R.A) narrates from Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that the person who controls his anger despite having the ability to vent it, will attain Allah´s complete pleasure on the Day of Judgement.

Allah says the following in the Injeel: "Oh son of Aadam! Remember Me when you are angry and I will remember you when I am angry. Be happy with My assistance because it is better than yours."

IT IS INCORRECT TO PUNISH ANYONE TO GRATIFY ONESELF.

Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (R.A) once had a drunkard arrested to face punishment. When the drunkard started to swear and abuse him, Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (R.A) had him released.

When someone enquired about this, Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (R.A) replied, "I became angry when he began to swear me. If I had punished him in the condition of anger, the punishment would have been to appease myself. I do not like to have any Muslim punished merely to gratify myself."

ALLAH LOVES THAT ONE FORGIVES ANOTHER.

A slave woman once dropped some gravy on the clothing of Hadhrat Maymoon bin Mihraan (R.A). When he became angry, the lady recited the following verse of the Qur´aan, "Those who suppress their anger..." His anger immediately abated.

Taking advantage of the situation, she recited the following part of the verse, viz. "...and those who forgive people..." He then told her that she was forgiven. Full exploiting the opportunity, she recited the concluding part of the verse, "...and Allah loves those who do good." Thereupon he said, "I free you for the pleasure of Allah."

THE SWEETNESS OF IMAAN IS NOT TASTED WITHOUT THREE TRAITS.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "The person who does not possess three qualities cannot taste the sweetness of Imaan. These are:

Forbearance, by which the ignorance of the
ignoramuses is rebutted.
Taqwa (abstinence), by which haraam actions are avoided.
Good character, by which one can associate with people."

AN INCIDENT OF HOW SHAYTAAN IS INFURIATED.

A saint possessed a horse, which he loved very much. One day, he noticed the horse standing on three legs. He asked his slave, "Who is responsible for this?" The slave admitted that it was him. The saint asked, "Why have you done this?" The slave replied, "I intended to aggravate you."

Thereupon the saint said, "Fine. I shall rather aggravate the one who instigated you to do this (i.e. shaytaan). Go! You are free, and you may have the horse as well."

AN ASTONISHING INCIDENT OF HOW SHAYTAAN DEVIATED PEOPLE: - 3 METHODS.

Shaytaan repeatedly tried to deviate a saint of the
Bani Isra´eel. Once, when the saint came out of his
house for some necessity, shaytaan attempted to
aggravate him and entice his carnal passions. However,
he failed each time. He even failed to threaten and frighten him. He caused a large boulder from a mountain to roll towards the saint, but that saint immediately engaged in dhikr, whereby the boulder was diverted in another direction.

Shaytaan even assumed the appearance of a lion and then a wolf to frighten the saint, but was unsuccessful. Shaytaan then assumed the appearance of a snake and coiled himself around the entire body of the saint as he performed salaah. He then placed his mouth wide open at the spot where the saint was to prostrate. However, this also had no effect on the saint.

Shaytaan finally admitted to the saint that he could not deviate him despite all his efforts. He added, "I have now decided to befriend you and have resolved never to attempt to mislead you again. Therefore, stretch out your hand to befriend me." The saint burst out, "You wretch! (i.e. This is your final plot to lead me astray. I do not require your friendship)." Shaytaan was now totally despondent and came face-to-face with the saint saying, "I wish to inform you how I mislead people." "Please do so," said the saint.

Shaytaan said, "I employ three methods viz.

Miserliness,
Jealousy and
Intoxication.

When a person, becomes miserly, he craves for accumulating wealth and does not want to spend on others. He is then engrossed in thoughts of how to usurp people´s wealth and destroy the rights owed to them."

He continued to say, "The jealous person becomes a toy in our hands, just like a ball is in the hands of a child. Therefore do not concern ourselves with his acts of worship and spiritual exercises. Even though his du´aas could resurrect the dead, we are still not overly concerned with him because we are able to destroy all his devotions and spiritual exercises by a single indication. When a person is intoxicated, we lead him by the ear like a goat and involve him in every type of sin with the greatest of ease."

Shaytaan also added that the person who is angry becomes like a ball in his hands. Shaytaan treats him just as a child who becomes happy when he tosses a ball around. Man should endeavour to restrain his anger so as not to become a toy for shaytaan.

HADHRAT MOOSA (A.S) AND IBLEES: - 3 CONDITIONS IN WHICH ONE SHOULD BE WARY OF SHAYTHAAN.

Iblees once came to Hadhrat Moosa (A.S) and told him, "You are the chosen messenger of Allah and have been blessed with the privilege of speaking directly to Allah. I wish to repent, so please intercede on my behalf before Allah so that He may accept my repentance."

Hadhrat Moosa (A.S) was happy and thought that Iblees´s repentance would put an end to sins. He therefore made wudhu, performed salaah and prayed to Allah. Allah told Hadhrat Moosa (A.S), "Iblees is lying. He merely wishes to deceive you. If he is really sincere, test him by telling him to prostrate before the grave of Hadhrat Aadam (A.S). If he does this, his repentance will be accepted."

Hadhrat Moosa (A.S) was extremely overjoyed, thinking that this was a very easy condition for Iblees to comply with. When Hadhrat Moosa (A.S) informed Iblees about the condition, Iblees became a whirlwind of fire and said, "I did not prostrate to him while he was alive, how can I prostrate to him when he is dead? Nevertheless, you have done me a good turn by interceding on my behalf. I shall therefore inform you of three conditions wherein you should be wary of me.

When man is angry, I run in his veins like his blood.
I incline the heart of the person fighting in jihaad towards his wife, children and wealth, thereby causing him to desert the battlefield. Shaytaan also attempts to dissuade the student of Deen in this manner. Strengthening one´s resolve may combat him.
When a strange man and woman are in isolation, I become the emissary between the two and incline each one towards the other. I remain engaged in this task until the two are tainted in sin."

THE AD VICE OF HADHRAT LUQMAAN (A.S):- RECOGNISE 3 ON 3 OCCASION.

Hadhrat Luqmaan (A.S) told his son, "Oh my son! You will recognize three types of persons on three occasions viz.

A forbearing person at the time of anger.
A brave person at the time of battle.
A friend at the time of poverty."

AN INCIDENT OF A TAABI´EE (R.A):- 3 QUALITIES OF ONE WORTHY OF PRAISE, 3 QUALITIES OF JAMATIES, 3 ADVICES FROM ALLAH.

When someone praised a certain Taabi´ee in his presence, he said, "Did you ever test me?

Did you find me to be forbearing at the time of anger,
displaying good character during a journey
and trustworthy at the time of being trusted?"

When the person replied in the negative, he said, "Then why have you praised me without first testing me? You should never praise anyone until you have tested them on these three accounts."

He then continued to say, "Three qualities are present in the people of Jannah, and these are exclusive to the noble people. These are:

Forgiving an oppressor,
giving one who deprives you,
and behaving well to someone who behaves ill towards you."

Allah says, "Adopt the habit of forgiveness, enjoin good and ignore the ignorant." When this verse was revealed to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), he asked Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) for an explanation thereto. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) enquired from Allah, whereafter he informed Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) saying, "Oh Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)! Allah commands that you join relationships with the relative who severs them, that you give to those who deprive you, and that forgive the one who oppresses you."

THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ANGELS UPON THE PATIENCE OF THE OPPRESSED: - 3 ACTS RESULT IN 3 OTHERS.

A person once swore Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) in the presence of Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). They both remained silent throughout. However, when the person stopped, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) replied to his abuse. Thereupon Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) immediately got up and left.

When Hadhrat Abu Bakr (R.A) later asked him why he had done so, Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) replied, "As long as you remained silent, an angel was replying to the abuse. However, when you began to reply, the angel left and shaytaan took his place. I therefore left. Three things are certain viz.

When an oppressed person forgives the oppressor, Allah grants honour to the oppressed.
The person who opens the door to begging due to greed for wealth will always remain a pauper.
Allah will increase the wealth of the person who continuously gives people gifts for Allah´s pleasure."

CONCISE WISDOMS.

Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned:

"Everything has a sterling factor, and the sterling factor of a gathering is that it is faced towards the Qibla and that the matters discussed are regarded a trust."
"Do not perform salaah behind people who are sleeping or talking."
"Kill a snake or a scorpion immediately upon sighting them even though you may be performing salaah."
"Do not hang curtains upon doors."
"The person who reads his brother´s letter without permission has peeped into Jahannam."
"The person who wishes to be the greatest hero should trust only in Allah."
"The person who wishes to be the most independent should have more reliance in what Allah has than in what he possesses."
"The worst person is he who eats without feeding others and who beats his servant."
"Even worse than him is the person who detests people and is detested by people."
"Worse still is the person who does not catch one who is falling, who does not accept excuses and who does not forgive the shortcomings of others."
"Even worse is him from whom no good is expected and from whose evil others are not safe."

THE FOUR TYPES OF ASCETICISM.

Totally relying on Allah in matters concerning the world and the Hereafter.
Praise and scorn are akin to him (i.e. he is not pleased with praise for him, nor affected by the scorn of others).
Having perfect sincerity in all actions.
Ignoring an oppressor, not getting angry at servants and slaves and being forbearing and patient.

THE 5 ADVICE OF HADHRAT ABU DARDA A (R.A).

When someone requested Hadhrat Abu Dardaa (R.A) for some useful advice, he said, "I am advising you with a few things that will guarantee a high position to whomsoever carries them out.

Always eat halaal food.
Beseech Allah for the sustenance of each day.
Always consider yourself amongst the dead.
Hand over your honour to Allah.
Hasten to repent after every sin (even though the sin may seem small).

THE TEST OF STRENGTH.

Hadhrat Mujaahid (R.A) reports that Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) once passed by some people who were competing with each other by lifting a weighty rock. Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said to them, "There is a heavier rock than this whereby you may able to test your strength."

When the people asked what this was, he replied, "For a brother to approach his brother in reconciliation after the two have been split over some issue and shaytaan has assumed control of both. (He then has to forgo the temporary ´honour´ of this world and may even have to ask forgiveness. This he does for Allah´s pleasure)."

"Or," Rasulullaah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) continued, "for a person to control his anger solely for Allah´s pleasure (even though he may be in a position to vent it)."

DO NOT CURSE AN OPPRESSOR.

Hadhrat Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "the person who curses an oppressor has grieved Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and pleased the accursed shaytaan. Whoever will forgive the oppressor has pleased Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and grieved the accursed shaytaan."

THE DEFINITION OF HUMANE BEHAVIOUR:- 4 ADVICES, 3 BENEFITS OF PATIENCE, 3 HARMS OF HASTE

When someone asked Hadhrat Ahnaf bin Qais (R.A) as to what the definition of humane behaviour was, he replied,

Being humble, despite possessing wealth and riches.
Forgiving, despite possessing the ability to avenge oneself.
Assisting people without reminding them of your favour.
Exercising patience at the time of anger instead of
being nasty.

Patience has three benefits, while haste has three harms. The three benefits of patience are:

The end result of patience leads to pleasure and happiness.
People praise the patient person.
Allah will confer a bountiful reward to the patient person.

The three harms of haste are:

It leads to regret and embarrassment.
People curse the hasty person.
He will receive a terrible punishment.

The beginning of forbearance is bitter, but it´s end is sweeter than honey.

TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi