Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2304Sahih (Darussalam) This is because when a person is healthy, he is able to do what Allah has commanded him to do, and he is able to leave what Allah has forbidden him from doing, because his body is sound, his chest is open, and his heart is at ease. Likewise, leisure: if he has what shelters him and what suffices him in terms of expenses, then he is free. So if he is free and healthy, he is greatly defrauded in this, because much of our time is wasted without benefit. Much time is wasted while we are in health, well-being, and leisure, and yet much is lost to us, but we do not realize this loss in this world. A person only realizes the loss when his time comes, and on the Day of Resurrection. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mu'minun 23:99-100] And He, Mighty and Majestic, said in Surat al-Munafiqun: [Al-Munafiqun 63:10] Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [Al-Munafiqun 63:11] The reality is that these many hours pass us by in vain; we do not benefit from them, nor do we benefit any of the servants of Allah, and we do not regret this except when our time comes. A person wishes to be given a chance of one minute to make amends, but it does not happen for him. Then, a person may not miss this blessing, or indeed these two blessings—health and leisure—by death. He may miss them before he dies. He may fall ill and be unable to perform what Allah has made obligatory upon him. He may fall ill and have a tight chest that does not open, and he may be tired. He may be occupied with providing for himself and his family until much of the obedience is missed by him. Therefore, the sensible person should seize the opportunity of health and leisure by obeying Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to the best of his ability. If he is a reader of the Qur'an, let him increase in reading the Qur'an. If he does not know how to read, let him increase in the remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. If he cannot do that, let him enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and let he offer his brothers all the assistance and kindness he can. All of these are many good deeds that pass us by in vain. The sensible person is the one who seizes the opportunities: the opportunity of health and the opportunity of leisure.
And in this is evidence that the blessings, the blessings of Allah, vary, some being greater than others, and that is the case. The greatest blessing that Allah bestows upon a servant is the blessing of Islam, the blessing of Islam in which Allah has led many people astray. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] So if a person finds that Allah has blessed him with Islam and opened his chest for it, then this is the greatest of blessings. Then comes the blessing of intellect, for if a person sees someone afflicted with a lack of intellect who does not handle things well and may harm himself and his family, he praises Allah for this blessing, for it is a great blessing.
Thirdly, the blessing of security in the homelands, for it is among the greatest of blessings. We give you an example of what preceded from our fathers and grandfathers of the great fears in these lands, until we hear that when they went out to pray the Fajr prayer, a person would not go out except with a weapon, fearing that someone might attack him. Then we give an example of the Gulf War that passed in the last year, how the people were afraid until people began to smear their curtains with wax, fearing something imagined that would be sent to them, and the people were in great anxiety. So the blessing of security is not matched by any blessing except the blessings of Islam and intellect.
Likewise, the fourth thing that Allah has blessed us with, especially in this land, is the ease of living. It comes to us from every direction. We are in great good, praise be to Allah. The houses are full of provisions, and the tables are set with provisions that are sufficient.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Two favors that many of the people squander are health and free time.
نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس الصحة والفراغuntil, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back (100) That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind."
حتى إذا جاء أحدهم الموت قال رب ارجعون لعلي أعمل صالحا فيما تركتbefore death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous."
من قبل أن يأتي أحدكم الموت فيقول رب لولا أخرتني إلى أجل قريب فأصدق وأكن من الصالحينBut never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
ولن يؤخر الله نفسا إذا جاء أجلها والله خبير بما تعملونAnd in this is evidence that the blessings, the blessings of Allah, vary, some being greater than others, and that is the case. The greatest blessing that Allah bestows upon a servant is the blessing of Islam, the blessing of Islam in which Allah has led many people astray. Allah the Exalted said:
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام ديناThirdly, the blessing of security in the homelands, for it is among the greatest of blessings. We give you an example of what preceded from our fathers and grandfathers of the great fears in these lands, until we hear that when they went out to pray the Fajr prayer, a person would not go out except with a weapon, fearing that someone might attack him. Then we give an example of the Gulf War that passed in the last year, how the people were afraid until people began to smear their curtains with wax, fearing something imagined that would be sent to them, and the people were in great anxiety. So the blessing of security is not matched by any blessing except the blessings of Islam and intellect.
Likewise, the fourth thing that Allah has blessed us with, especially in this land, is the ease of living. It comes to us from every direction. We are in great good, praise be to Allah. The houses are full of provisions, and the tables are set with provisions that are sufficient.