Love of Allah is the Greatest Delight in this Life

Love of Allah is the Greatest Delight in this Life

Ibn al-Qayyim [d.751H] - rahimahullaah - said:

“Rushing towards Allah and depending on Him, being pleased with Him, filling the heart with love of Him, constantly remembering Him, feeling happiness and joy with knowing Him – all of these are instantaneous rewards, a paradise of this world, and a life that the lives of kings cannot even compare to. I heard Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H - may Allah have Mercy on him) say:

“Indeed, there is a paradise in this world. Whoever doesn’t enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter.”

And he once said to me:

“What can my enemies do to me? My paradise and garden are in my chest, and they are with me wherever I go. My imprisonment is my privacy with Allah, my killing is martyrdom, and my expulsion from my homeland is tourism."

And Allah Knows that I never saw anyone with a purer life than him despite what he was experiencing of hardship and lack of relaxation and rest, and despite his imprisonment and fear of being killed. With all of this, he lived the purest life, had the strongest and most open

heart, was happiest in spirit, and had a face that emanated the brightness of delight.

When we were frightened, had desperate thoughts, and felt as if the world was choking us, we would rush to him. Simply by seeing him and hearing his words, this would all turn into relaxation, certainty, and assurance. So, glory to the One who allowed His slaves to witness His Paradise before meeting Him and opened for them its doors in this life, giving them from its taste and sweet breeze that they have been dedicating their strength to seeking and competing for.

And some of the People of Knowledge would say: “If the kings and their sons knew what we were experiencing, they would have fought us with swords over it.” Another said: “The people of this world are deprived. They left this world without tasting the sweetest thing in it!” It was asked of him: “And what is that?” He said: “Love of Allah, knowing Him, and remembering Him.”

So, love, knowledge, and constant remembrance of Allah, leaning to Him, feeling tranquil with Him, singling Him out for love, fear, hope, dependence, and attention – such that He alone is the main concern and preoccupation of the slave and his goals – is the paradise and delight of this world that no other delight can compare to, and it is the coolness of the eyes of those who love Allah, and true life for those who know Him.”

[Source: al-Waabil as-Sayyib of Ibn Il-Qayyim, p. 44]

Scholars of the rulers

Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله

وليس المراد بالشرع اللازم لجميع الخلق " حكم الحاكم " ولو كان الحاكم أفضل أهل زمانه ; بل حكم الحاكم العالم العادل يلزم قوما معينين تحاكموا إليه في قضية معينة ; لا يلزم جميع الخلق ولا يجب على عالم من علماء المسلمين أن يقلد حاكما لا في قليل ولا في كثير إذا كان قد عرف ما أمر الله به ورسوله ; بل لا يجب على آحاد العامة تقليد الحاكم في شيء ; بل له أن يستفتي من يجوز له استفتاؤه وإن لم يكن حاكما ومتى ترك العالم ما علمه من [ ص: 373 ] كتاب الله وسنة رسوله واتبع حكم الحاكم المخالف لحكم الله ورسوله كان مرتدا كافرا يستحق العقوبة في الدنيا والآخرة قال تعالى : { المص } { كتاب أنزل إليك فلا يكن في صدرك حرج منه لتنذر به وذكرى للمؤمنين } { اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكم ولا تتبعوا من دونه أولياء قليلا ما تذكرون } . ولو ضرب وحبس وأوذي بأنواع الأذى ليدع ما علمه من شرع الله ورسوله الذي يجب اتباعه واتبع حكم غيره كان مستحقا لعذاب الله بل عليه أن يصبر وإن أوذي في الله فهذه سنة الله في الأنبياء وأتباعهم قال الله تعالى : { الم } { أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا آمنا وهم لا يفتنون } { ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهم فليعلمن الله الذين صدقوا وليعلمن الكاذبين } وقال تعالى : { ولنبلونكم حتى نعلم المجاهدين منكم والصابرين ونبلو أخباركم } وقال تعالى : { أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مستهم البأساء والضراء وزلزلوا حتى يقول الرسول والذين آمنوا معه متى نصر الله ألا إن نصر الله قريب

“Whenever the `alim follows the hukm (legislation) of the ruler, and leaves off his knowledge, in contradiction to the book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, he is a kafir (an unbeliever) and a murtadd (an apostate), who deserves to be punished in this life and the hereafter. This rule can also be applied with regard to the group of scholars who jumped and joined the Mongols due to fear of them and that they wanted to take benefit from them. These scholars made the excuse that some of the Mongols were speaking the Shahaada and that they were Muslims. Allah has said, (It is as if he is describing our situation today to the letter.)

‘Alif Laam Mim Saad. A Book sent down to you, so do not have any worry in your breast from it, so that you may warn and be a reminder to the believers. Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord and do not follow protectors and helpers besides Him. Little is it that you remember!’ [Surat al-A`raf, 1-3]

“And even if this `alim is captured, put behind bars and tortured to leave what Allah I has taught him from His Book, he should be patient with that. If he leaves all that and follows the ruler, then he is one of the people that are supposed to be doomed by Allah. He should be patient even if he is harmed in the cause of Allah. This is the sunnah that Allah I has wanted and accepted from the Prophets and from the people who follow the Prophets. Allah says,

‘Alif Lam Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. Allah will certainly make it known those who are true and will certainly make it known those who are liars. And He (Allah I) will make it known who the liars are.’ [Surat al`Ankabut 1-3]

Majmu`a Fataawa, V. 35, page 373