Every believer has a desire and yearning to enter Paradise, and each of us strives according to our individual capacity to achieve that goal. We perform good deeds according to our ability, and through them we intend to attain Paradise.
Every person carries this desire; however, success is not achieved through desire alone. Until a person makes an effort to achieve his goal, he will not attain it.
Each of us has been given free will in this world as a test. We should work hard to attain Paradise. Whoever strives sincerely will gain the assistance of Allah ta'ala. He will open the pathways of ease for him to practise the Deen, and He has promised this.
If we fail to work hard and still expect Paradise and success, then it is our own mistake. If we are struggling to take the first step, we should at least try to advance towards Allah ta'ala, and He will take care of the rest.
We should make it a daily habit to reflect upon ourselves, ponder over our lives, and consider what actions we should be doing.
Allah ta'ala loves us immensely, and He is closer to us than our own jugular vein. He desires that we speak to Him and seek from Him if we wish to become close to Him.
What is the deed that will take most of us to Paradise? Abstention from sins. The most cautious person will be the most successful. Such a person will rise from his grave without burdens. These people are known as the Muttaqi.
We should remember that it is only through the mercy of Allah ta'ala that we will enter Paradise. Our worship alone is not sufficient to take us to Paradise. Therefore, we should always remain hopeful for Paradise. We must continue performing good deeds and, alongside that, leave sins behind.
We often find it easy to perform many good deeds, yet we find it difficult to leave even a single sin.
If Allah ta'ala has ordered us to do something, then it is certainly not difficult, even if we perceive it to be. We are only required to make some effort and firmly intend to abstain from sins. In return, Allah ta'ala will assist us.
Nabi ﷺ showed the companions a man who was destined for Paradise. He was a villager who appeared to be a very simple man outwardly. One of the Sahabah sought permission to stay with this man in order to observe his actions and understand why he had earned Paradise.
He did not witness him performing any special acts, so he questioned the villager. He informed him that according to the narration of the Prophet ﷺ, he was destined for Paradise, and asked what special deed he performed to attain it. The villager reflected and replied that since he became a Muslim, he had not committed sins. He explained that he controlled his tongue and did not backbite about anyone, and as a result, many other sins were also eliminated. This shows how important this action is.
Al-Harith ibn Hisham reported: He said, “Tell me of a matter I can hold firmly.” The Messenger of Allah ta'ala, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed to his tongue, saying: امْلِكْ هَذَا Control this. [Tabrani Shareef]
In other words, the root cause of many sins is the tongue. We should control our tongues and work hard on this. In this way, we will have less burden in the Hereafter. We should make it a habit not to use our tongues unnecessarily.
Nabi ﷺ said, "When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all of his limbs defer to the tongue, saying: Fear Allah ta'ala regarding us, for we are only a part of you. If you are upright, we are upright. If you are crooked, we are crooked.” [Tirmidhi Shareef] Thus, the one who controls his tongue has saved himself from the Hellfire.
We should revive two qualities in our lives which will help us control our sins. The first is silence, and the second is the dhikr of Allah ta'ala.
The Prophet ﷺ’s first worship was isolation, and isolation helps a person remain safe from sins. We should detach ourselves from unnecessary friendships and excessive socialising. Instead, we should prioritise attending dhikr gatherings and visiting the WaliAllah. These are among the means of reducing sins.
We should spend time in solitude in the mosque and in our homes and prepare for the Hereafter. We should keep our lives simple and refined, and only keep the company of those who are righteous and the friends of Allah ta'ala. This is the method of eliminating sins.
When we meet our friends, we should speak about gaining promotion in the Hereafter and speak about our Sheikh.
By being in the pure company of the Sheikh, sins are removed, and the effects of that companionship remain.
We should learn the dhikr of the heart from a Naqshbandi Sheikh. This is known as Muraqabah, whereby a person focuses solely upon Allah ta'ala and worldly thoughts are removed. This is the path to success.
Actions are according to intentions, as mentioned in the Ahadith. If we correct our intentions, then all of our deeds will be corrected.
Only through sincerity will our deeds be accepted.
We should strengthen our relationship with Allah ta'ala instead of worshipping Him solely for the expectation of wealth and worldly assets in return.
We should not complain or make a fuss regarding the blessings and treasures He has granted us, because our condition could always be worse. Throughout our lives, we disobey Allah ta'ala without realising that He is swift in His punishment.
Shaytan is cunning, and he makes a person feel satisfied because of wealth, power, and strength. However, the pious remind us that it is only through the mercy of Allah ta'ala that we have wellbeing.
The first person who will be taken to account is the ungrateful person. Even if we are faced with calamity, we should not complain to Allah ta'ala.
The Noble Companions went through severe tests in their lives, yet they never complained to Allah ta'ala. Rather, they spent their nights worshipping, crying to Allah ta'ala, and remaining grateful to Him.
Allah ta'ala commanded the Prophet ﷺ to visit the company of the companions. The Noble Companions had dishevelled hair and were facing poverty. They had not eaten for some time and were not fully clothed. They were in severe need and hunger, yet they had left behind worldly comforts in order to remember Allah ta'ala. This was their gratitude to Him.
When we rise in the morning each day, we should thank Allah ta'ala that our limbs are functioning, our senses are working, and we should praise Him. We should make this a habit in our lives. This is how a person becomes a grateful servant. In doing so, Allah ta'ala will grant us better health.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement these precious pearls of wisdom. Ameen.
Every believer has a desire and yearning to enter Paradise, and each of us strives according to our individual capacity to achieve that goal. We perform good deeds according to our ability, and through them we intend to attain Paradise.
Every person carries this desire; however, success is not achieved through desire alone. Until a person makes an effort to achieve his goal, he will not attain it.
Each of us has been given free will in this world as a test. We should work hard to attain Paradise. Whoever strives sincerely will gain the assistance of Allah ta'ala. He will open the pathways of ease for him to practise the Deen, and He has promised this.
If we fail to work hard and still expect Paradise and success, then it is our own mistake. If we are struggling to take the first step, we should at least try to advance towards Allah ta'ala, and He will take care of the rest.
We should make it a daily habit to reflect upon ourselves, ponder over our lives, and consider what actions we should be doing.
Allah ta'ala loves us immensely, and He is closer to us than our own jugular vein. He desires that we speak to Him and seek from Him if we wish to become close to Him.
What is the deed that will take most of us to Paradise? Abstention from sins. The most cautious person will be the most successful. Such a person will rise from his grave without burdens. These people are known as the Muttaqi.
We should remember that it is only through the mercy of Allah ta'ala that we will enter Paradise. Our worship alone is not sufficient to take us to Paradise. Therefore, we should always remain hopeful for Paradise. We must continue performing good deeds and, alongside that, leave sins behind.
We often find it easy to perform many good deeds, yet we find it difficult to leave even a single sin.
If Allah ta'ala has ordered us to do something, then it is certainly not difficult, even if we perceive it to be. We are only required to make some effort and firmly intend to abstain from sins. In return, Allah ta'ala will assist us.
Nabi ﷺ showed the companions a man who was destined for Paradise. He was a villager who appeared to be a very simple man outwardly. One of the Sahabah sought permission to stay with this man in order to observe his actions and understand why he had earned Paradise.
He did not witness him performing any special acts, so he questioned the villager. He informed him that according to the narration of the Prophet ﷺ, he was destined for Paradise, and asked what special deed he performed to attain it. The villager reflected and replied that since he became a Muslim, he had not committed sins. He explained that he controlled his tongue and did not backbite about anyone, and as a result, many other sins were also eliminated. This shows how important this action is.
Al-Harith ibn Hisham reported: He said, “Tell me of a matter I can hold firmly.” The Messenger of Allah ta'ala, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed to his tongue, saying: امْلِكْ هَذَا Control this. [Tabrani Shareef]
In other words, the root cause of many sins is the tongue. We should control our tongues and work hard on this. In this way, we will have less burden in the Hereafter. We should make it a habit not to use our tongues unnecessarily.
Nabi ﷺ said, "When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all of his limbs defer to the tongue, saying: Fear Allah ta'ala regarding us, for we are only a part of you. If you are upright, we are upright. If you are crooked, we are crooked.” [Tirmidhi Shareef] Thus, the one who controls his tongue has saved himself from the Hellfire.
We should revive two qualities in our lives which will help us control our sins. The first is silence, and the second is the dhikr of Allah ta'ala.
The Prophet ﷺ’s first worship was isolation, and isolation helps a person remain safe from sins. We should detach ourselves from unnecessary friendships and excessive socialising. Instead, we should prioritise attending dhikr gatherings and visiting the WaliAllah. These are among the means of reducing sins.
We should spend time in solitude in the mosque and in our homes and prepare for the Hereafter. We should keep our lives simple and refined, and only keep the company of those who are righteous and the friends of Allah ta'ala. This is the method of eliminating sins.
When we meet our friends, we should speak about gaining promotion in the Hereafter and speak about our Sheikh.
By being in the pure company of the Sheikh, sins are removed, and the effects of that companionship remain.
We should learn the dhikr of the heart from a Naqshbandi Sheikh. This is known as Muraqabah, whereby a person focuses solely upon Allah ta'ala and worldly thoughts are removed. This is the path to success.
Actions are according to intentions, as mentioned in the Ahadith. If we correct our intentions, then all of our deeds will be corrected.
Only through sincerity will our deeds be accepted.
We should strengthen our relationship with Allah ta'ala instead of worshipping Him solely for the expectation of wealth and worldly assets in return.
We should not complain or make a fuss regarding the blessings and treasures He has granted us, because our condition could always be worse. Throughout our lives, we disobey Allah ta'ala without realising that He is swift in His punishment.
Shaytan is cunning, and he makes a person feel satisfied because of wealth, power, and strength. However, the pious remind us that it is only through the mercy of Allah ta'ala that we have wellbeing.
The first person who will be taken to account is the ungrateful person. Even if we are faced with calamity, we should not complain to Allah ta'ala.
The Noble Companions went through severe tests in their lives, yet they never complained to Allah ta'ala. Rather, they spent their nights worshipping, crying to Allah ta'ala, and remaining grateful to Him.
Allah ta'ala commanded the Prophet ﷺ to visit the company of the companions. The Noble Companions had dishevelled hair and were facing poverty. They had not eaten for some time and were not fully clothed. They were in severe need and hunger, yet they had left behind worldly comforts in order to remember Allah ta'ala. This was their gratitude to Him.
When we rise in the morning each day, we should thank Allah ta'ala that our limbs are functioning, our senses are working, and we should praise Him. We should make this a habit in our lives. This is how a person becomes a grateful servant. In doing so, Allah ta'ala will grant us better health.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement these precious pearls of wisdom. Ameen.