Some young people, when they become upright, do not adopt a methodology for seeking knowledge, but rather are content with companionship. What is your advice for them?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you: You find that some young people, when they commit themselves to the path of guidance, do not adopt a methodology or principle to follow, but are content with adopting companionship. So if a circumstance arises that separates them from this companionship, their commitment may weaken, and it may cause them a relapse.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct. Some young people commit themselves and become upright because they are with a committed, upright group. So if Allah wills that they part from them, their uprightness and commitment weaken. We say: This is correct. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning either he will guide you, or he will sell you, or you will find a pleasant scent from him. But it is obligatory for a person to commit himself with those who are committed for the sake of Allah the Exalted and Mighty, not just because he is the companion of the committed, so that this becomes his methodology and he remains upright upon it, even after parting from them. For this reason, we say: I always ask, if the committed brothers agree to fast, for example, on Monday or Thursday, all of them, and break their fast all together, we say: No, do not do this. First, because this resembles the way of the Sufis who say the takbir in unison and recite dhikr in unison.
And secondly, because it leads to the situation where, if a person parts from these people, what happens? He does not fast, because he only fasted for the sake of following them or agreeing with them. Yes, if they fast without an agreement, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It is easy...
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We will open the eleven o'clock quarter session, by the permission of Allah, from next week, if Allah wills. May Allah provide us and you with beneficial knowledge. And I give good news to my brothers who come that they have taken a path in which they seek knowledge, and whoever takes a path in which he seeks knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct. Some young people commit themselves and become upright because they are with a committed, upright group. So if Allah wills that they part from them, their uprightness and commitment weaken. We say: This is correct. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The example of a good companion is like the carrier of musk
مثل الجليس الصالح كحامل المسكAnd secondly, because it leads to the situation where, if a person parts from these people, what happens? He does not fast, because he only fasted for the sake of following them or agreeing with them. Yes, if they fast without an agreement, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It is easy...
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We will open the eleven o'clock quarter session, by the permission of Allah, from next week, if Allah wills. May Allah provide us and you with beneficial knowledge. And I give good news to my brothers who come that they have taken a path in which they seek knowledge, and whoever takes a path in which he seeks knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.