Character Archives

The Exemplary Patience of Prophet Ayyûb/Job ( ﷷ ﺳﻼﻢ )

Since time immemorial, Almighty Allah has sent many prophets to mankind to preach the oneness of Allah and to guide people who had, time and time again, deviated from the true religion of islâm (islâm = submission to the one God) as…

Character, Character, Character: Living By the Book

This article, dear reader, is a message of hope and action. Our life on this earth is short; the real life is what Allah (I) has prepared for the believers in Jannah. To enter Jannah, we have to pass the test of…

Translations from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of Adab (Etiquette) – 1

THE AUTHOR OF Al-Manâzil states: Al-Adab is to be wary of the extremities of exaggeration (ghuluww) and neglect (jafâ’), realizing the harm of transgression. This is one of the best definitions, for transgressing to either extremity is lack of adab. Al-Adab is to…

The Ramadân Muslim

The surge of spiritual energy, the feeling of goodness within your soul, the hopes of doing good – the time of Ramadân! Undoubtedly the best kickstart a Muslim can get in trying to set aright their wrongs, rectify bad habits, or simply…

Translations from Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) of Imam Ibn Al-Qaiyym: On the Deeper Meanings of Gratitude – Part 2

THE AUTHOR OF Manazil Al-Sa’irin [Shaykh Al-Harawi Al-Ansari] says the following of gratitude (shukr, sometimes better translated as ‘thankfulness’): Gratitude is the name for the recognition of a blessing, and it leads to the recognition of the Giver. This is why Allah,…

Translations from Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) of Imam Ibn Al-Qaiyym: On the Deeper Meanings of Gratitude – Part 1

THE LEXICAL MEANING of the Arabic word ‘shukr’ [root: sha ka ra, represented by the English letters ‘s’ ‘k’ ‘r’, respectively] is “appearance of the effect of food on the body of an animal.” It is said: shakarat al-dabbatu tashkuru shukran: “The…

Translations from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers)

The Proper Way to Contemplate the Quran THREE THINGS AID proper contemplation (tafakkur): (1) Thinking of the transience and shortness of this life and avoiding long hopes; (2) reflecting on the Quran; and (3) avoiding corruptions that ail the heart. To recognize…

Translation from Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim | The Five Despoilers of the Heart

TH FOLLOWING ARE five things that can corrupt the heart: Company of worldly people Endless wishes Attachment to other-than-Allah Excessive Eating Excessive Sleeping. These five things extinguish the light of the heart and weaken its will to tread the path of truth…

Translations from Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim | The Station of Fear

FROM AMONG THE stations of worshipping Allah and seeking His help is the station of fear. Fear is one of the most important stations on the path and most beneficial for the heart. Fear is an obligation upon everyone, Allah said, So…

Translations from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | Rulings Regarding Repentance (2)

Repenting and Sinning Again As it has been established that repentance is incumbent upon all believers and lovers of Allah, it is not becoming of a servant to be ignorant of its rulings in Islam. Delaying Repentance is Itself a Sin From…