Accepting The Apologies of Others,

Al-Imam Ibnul Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“…Whosever wrongs you then comes and apologizes for his wrongness then the trait of humbleness obliges upon you to accept his apology whether it be true or false and to leave his hidden affairs to Allah ta’alaa, as the Messenger, alayhi as-salaatu was-salaam, done with the hypocrites those who fell behind from joining him in the battle, so when he, alayhi as-salaatu was-salaam, arrived (back) they came to him apologizing to him, whereas he accepted their excuses and left their hidden affairs to Allah Ta’alaa and from the signs of nobility and humbleness is that if you see deficiency in his apology then do not take him to account for it and do not debate with him rather say perhaps the affair is as you say and if something has been decreed then it will occur and there is no prevention of it…”

Ref: Madaarij as-Saalikeen (333/2)

As al-Imam ash-Shaafi’e, may Allah have mercy upon said:

دية الذنب الاعتذار

“The blood-money of a sin is by apologizing”

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Zakariyya, upon him be peace, worked as a carpenter.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2379
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Imam Muslim

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ كَانَ زَكَرِيَّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام نَجَّارًا
2379 صحيح مسلم كِتَاب الْفَضَائِلِ بَاب فِي فَضَائِلِ زَكَرِيَّاءَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام

THE PATH TO HAPPINESS – SHAIKH BIN BAZ

Question: I want happiness, however I do not know the path that leads to it? Along with the fact that I have begun being steadfast upon the legislation of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger sallahu alayhi wa salam and all praise is due to Allah. Please direct me oh Generous Shaikh?

Answer: “The path to happiness is clear. Whoever wants happiness, then it is upon him to take the means. Its means are: obedience to Allah and his Messenger sallahu alayhi wa salam, accompanying the good people, staying far from the wick, patience upon calamity, gratefulness upon blessings. This is happiness: that you are patient upon the obedience of Allah, patient from disobedience of Allah, grateful for the blessings, far from accompanying the wick, close in accompanying the good, increased in remembering Allah, the Exalted and supplication. This is happiness. The one who wants happiness then it is upon him to obey Allah and His Messenger, be steadfast upon the religion of Allah and accompanying the good people, patient upon the decree of Allah, grateful for the blessings. This is the happiness in the worldly life and hereafter. In Allah aid is sought”

[http://binbaz.org.sa/node/17697]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan

Abu Sulaymaan

Q: What are the ways to strengthen one’s Iman (faith/belief) in the face of the many temptations that confront us today (on televisions, in streets, from the western societies)?

A: There are many ways to strengthen Iman, among them: observing acts of obedience and abstaining from prohibitions, keeping company with pious people, frequently reciting the Noble Qur’an and contemplating its meanings, studying the Sunnah (acts, sayings or approvals of the Prophet), constant engaging in Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah), making Du`a’ (supplication), and being totally and poorly dependant on Allah.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member Member Member Member Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd , `Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh, Salih Al-Fawzan, `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan, & `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Fatwas of the Permanent Committee

Does Supplication Change That Which is Written?

Question: Does supplication have any effect in changing what is written for a person before he was created?

Answer: There is no doubt that supplication has an effect on changing what is written, but this change was also written because of the supplication. So, do not think that if you supplicate to Allaah that you are supplicating with something which was not written; rather the supplication is written, and what results from it is written. This is why we find that the reciter recites over the sick person and he is cured, and in the story of the military expedition which the Prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sent, they stayed as guests with a people, but they did not treat them hospitably, and it was decreed that a snake bit their leader, so they requested someone to recite something over him. The Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, imposed the condition that they should be paid for that, and they gave them a flock of sheep, so one of them went and recited Surat al-Faatihah over him, and the man who was bitten arose as if he had been freed from shackles, that is, as if he was a camel which had broken free from its tethering rope. Therefore the recitation had an effect in curing the sick person. So supplication has an effect, but it does not change what has been ordained, rather it is decreed because of it, and everything with Allaah is according to Qadar. Likewise all of the causes have an influence on the effects by Allaah’s permission, so the causes are written and the effects are written.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen Fataawa Arkanaul-Islaam p.190 DARUSSALAM Fatwaislam.com

Sahl ibn Sa’d reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of minor sins like a people who descend into the bottom of a valley, so one comes with a stick and another with a stick until they have fire to cook their bread. Verily, when a person is held accountable for these minor sins they will destroy him.”

Source: Musnad Ahmad 22302

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to As-Suyuti

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ كَقَوْمٍ نَزَلُوا فِي بَطْنِ وَادٍ فَجَاءَ ذَا بِعُودٍ وَجَاءَ ذَا بِعُودٍ حَتَّى أَنْضَجُوا خُبْزَتَهُمْ وَإِنَّ مُحَقَّرَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ مَتَى يُؤْخَذْ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا تُهْلِكْهُ

22302 مسند أحمد باقي مسند الأنصار حديث أبي مالك سهل بن سعد الساعدي رضي الله عنه

المحدث السيوطي خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح

Another benefit on happiness:

Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:

من علامات السعادة والفلاح أن العبد كلما زيد في علمه زيد في تواضعه ورحمته وكلما زيد في عمله زيد في خوفه وحذره. وكلما زيد في عمره نقص من حرصه. وكلما زيد في ماله زيد في سخائه وبذله. وكلما زيد في قدره وجاهه زيد في قربه من الناس وقضاء حوائجهم والتواضع لهم

“From the signs of happiness and success is that every time a servant increases in knowledge he increases in humility and mercy. Every time he increases in knowledge he increases in fear and caution. Every time he increases in age he decreases in his eagerness [for the worldly life]. Every time he increases in wealth he increases in generosity and spending. Every time he increases in ability and honor he increases in nearness to the people, fulfilling their needs and humility in dealing with them”

[Kitab al-Fawaaid pg. 155]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan