How does a Muslim advance in the stages of calling to Allah the Exalted?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. How does a Muslim elevate himself in the field of calling to Allah, Mighty and Majestic?
The Shaykh : In fact, when I delivered that brief word on beneficial knowledge and righteous action just now, I had intended to speak about something related to the call to Allah. This question has now come to open the way for me to delve into what I had thought of but did not do. As for how a person elevates himself in the path of the call? That undoubtedly requires two things, as it appears to me:
The first thing: that he maintain his connection with the people of knowledge, whether they are alive in their books or alive in their call. I mean: that he have the closest connection with the books of the people of knowledge who are known for their uprightness in their creed, so that he does not cut off the review, reading, and increasing from their knowledge; because that helps him to advance and to move forward in his call to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
And the second thing: that he increase his connection with the living people of knowledge, especially those among them who are known for their sound creed and their noble, good morals; because we know that a good example has a very great effect on the people who follow them, if the man or the scholar orThe Shaykh : the one being followed has some deviation in thought or character, it is not far-fetched that that person orThe Shaykh : it affects those who connect with them or receive knowledge from them.
It is well known that there are many famous hadiths from the Messenger (peace be upon him) in which he encourages accompanying the righteous and keeping them company, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2395Sahih (Darussalam) So the advice of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in this hadith is that we should accompany the pious Muslim; that is only because the influence of the righteous spreads good to the one who accompanies him. And therefore, it came in Sahih al-Bukhari from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) his saying: And therefore, whoever wants to move forward and advance in the path of the call must maintain these two things:
The first thing: that he have frequent connection with the books of the past people of knowledge who are known for beneficial knowledge and correct creed.
And if it is also facilitated for him in the society in which he lives to have some of the people of knowledge and righteousness, then he must also connect with them as much as he is able, so that he is influenced by their path, and benefits from their morals and their conduct. This is what appears to me as the answer to this question.
The Shaykh : In fact, when I delivered that brief word on beneficial knowledge and righteous action just now, I had intended to speak about something related to the call to Allah. This question has now come to open the way for me to delve into what I had thought of but did not do. As for how a person elevates himself in the path of the call? That undoubtedly requires two things, as it appears to me:
The first thing: that he maintain his connection with the people of knowledge, whether they are alive in their books or alive in their call. I mean: that he have the closest connection with the books of the people of knowledge who are known for their uprightness in their creed, so that he does not cut off the review, reading, and increasing from their knowledge; because that helps him to advance and to move forward in his call to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
And the second thing: that he increase his connection with the living people of knowledge, especially those among them who are known for their sound creed and their noble, good morals; because we know that a good example has a very great effect on the people who follow them, if the man or the scholar orThe Shaykh : the one being followed has some deviation in thought or character, it is not far-fetched that that person orThe Shaykh : it affects those who connect with them or receive knowledge from them.
It is well known that there are many famous hadiths from the Messenger (peace be upon him) in which he encourages accompanying the righteous and keeping them company, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not accompany except a believer, and do not serve your food except to one with Taqwa.
لا تصاحب إلا مؤمناً، ولا يأكل طعامك إلا تقيThe example of a good companion is like the seller of musk; either he gives you some, or you buy from him, or you smell a pleasant scent from him. And the example of a bad companion is like the blacksmith; either he burns your clothes, or you smell a foul odor from him.
مثل الجليس الصالح كمثل بائع المسك؛ إما أن يحذيك -أي: يعطيك-، وإما أن تشتري منه، وإما أن تشم منه رائحة طيبة، ومثل الجليس السوء كمثل الحداد؛ إما أن يحرق ثيابك، وإما أن تشم منه رائحة كريهةThe first thing: that he have frequent connection with the books of the past people of knowledge who are known for beneficial knowledge and correct creed.
And if it is also facilitated for him in the society in which he lives to have some of the people of knowledge and righteousness, then he must also connect with them as much as he is able, so that he is influenced by their path, and benefits from their morals and their conduct. This is what appears to me as the answer to this question.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.