In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

O people! Allaah [The Blessed and Most High] obligated on every Makhlooq (i.e. every Jinn and human) to obey Him and His Messenger in every era and place, and forbade us from disobeying Him and His Messenger. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] stated: [يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ وَأَنتُمۡ تَسۡمَعُونَ – O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him (i.e. Messenger Muhammad) while you are hearing].

And Allaah [The Most High] said: [قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ‌ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ – Say (O Muhammad): “Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad).” But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers].

And Allaah [The Most High] said:

لَّا تَجۡعَلُواْ دُعَآءَ ٱلرَّسُولِ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ كَدُعَآءِ بَعۡضِكُم بَعۡضً۬ا‌ۚ قَدۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمۡ لِوَاذً۬ا‌ۚ فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦۤ أَن تُصِيبَہُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad) among you as your calling of one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter (of some excuse without taking the permission to leave, from the Messenger). And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” [Noble Qur’aan 24:63]

In these noble verses, Allaah (The Most High) commanded (us) to obey Him and His Messenger, and He made obedience to Him and His Messenger a means to happiness in this life and the next. And He forbade (us) from disobeying Him and His Messenger, and He made disobedience to Him and His Messenger a cause of punishment in this worldly life- a punishment (whose severity) cannot be perceived. And because of this Allaah ended these two verses by mentioning Fitnah (as an indication of the) severity of His Punishment and the painful torment (afflicted on) the one who disobeys Him and His Messenger. Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said about this Aayah (i.e.24:63): Do you know what Al-Fitnah is? Al-Fitnah is Shirk. Perhaps if he (i.e. the person) rejects some of his (i.e. the Prophet’s) saying, something of deviation may enter into his heart, so he is destroyed. [Reported by Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah Al-Kubraa 97]

The punishments for sins and disobedience do vary depending on the level of the offenses (committed). Sometimes the punishment occurs (as trial) in one’s religion and this is the greatest of punishments. It is (when) the act of disobedience comes between a person and Imaan and between him and Husnul khaatimah. (see footnote 1)

Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡـِٔدَتَہُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَنَذَرُهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ – And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly].

And Allaah (The Most High) said: [فَأَعۡقَبَہُمۡ نِفَاقً۬ا فِى قُلُوبِہِمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يَلۡقَوۡنَهُ ۥ بِمَآ أَخۡلَفُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ – So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant with Allah) which they had promised Him and because they used to tell lies].

It is Obligatory to ponder upon the punishments that were afflicted on the previous nations Allaah (The Most High) promise to punish the Faasiqeen [rebellious, disobedient people] just as He punished those before them by way of [خسف— swallowed by the earth]; [نسف–wind blast]; [ريح—wind] and destruction. They were punished for being inattentive and heedless (to Allaah’s commandments and prohibitions).

Allaah (The Most High):

أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُواْ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِہِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَوۡ يَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
وۡ يَأۡخُذَهُمۡ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمۡ فَمَا هُم بِمُعۡجِزِينَ
أَوۡ يَأۡخُذَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ تَخَوُّفٍ۬ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ

Do then those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not sink them into the earth, or that the torment will not seize them from directions they perceive not? Or that He may catch them in the midst of their going to and fro (in their jobs), so that there be no escape for them (from Allah’s Punishment)? Or that He may catch them with gradual wasting (of their wealth and health). Truly! Your Lord is indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful?

Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَہُم بَأۡسُنَا بَيَـٰتً۬ا وَهُمۡ نَآٮِٕمُونَ
أَوَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَهُم بَأۡسُنَا ضُحً۬ى وَهُمۡ يَلۡعَبُونَ
أَفَأَمِنُواْ مَڪۡرَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَلَا يَأۡمَنُ مَڪۡرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ

Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment by night while they are asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment in the forenoon while they play? Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.

Allaah (The Most High) said: [مِّمَّا خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِہِمۡ أُغۡرِقُواْ – Because of their sins they were drowned]. And Allaah (The Most High) said: [فَلَمَّآ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ – So when they angered Us, We punished them, and drowned them all].

O Slaves of Allaah! Indeed Allaah is The Exalted and All Mighty, Compeller – The One Perfect In Strength, The One and Only (Who has no partner in His Names, Attributes and Actions and Allaah alone deserves to be worshipped) etc] and Allaah is The Overwhelming Subduer Who is Never Overcome. Allaah shows His slaves signs and punishments by way of which they can reflect and contemplate, and so that they may return to obedience and not remain in their misguidance and heedlessness.

How much wisdom is there regarding the afflictions by way of which Allaah afflicts some of the slaves and not others!? And from that wisdom–and Allaah knows best–is so that they serve as a lesson for those who are present regarding (the affair of those who) have preceded, and so that they may take heed regarding what has already gone by and prepare themselves for what is to come. Allaah’s admonitions and reprimands are of various types- sometimes it is by way of drowning, just as the people of Nooh were destroyed through drowning. Sometimes it is by way of winds, just as Allaah destroyed the people of Ad by way of that. Sometimes it is by way of (severe torment- destructive loud thunder bolts), just as Allaah destroyed Thamood by way of (thunderbolts followed by an earthquake). Sometimes is it by way of turning their houses upside down, just as Allaah destroyed the people of Lut. Sometimes is it by way of a violent wind with shower of stones just as Allaah destroy Shu’aib’s people..
And sometimes it is by way of enemies who are given the upper hand, just as Allaah the upper hand to a people who had extreme strength over Bani Israa’eel. Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) commanded us to reflect upon, saying:

قُلِ ٱنظُرُواْ مَاذَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَمَا تُغۡنِى ٱلۡأَيَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوۡمٍ۬ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ
فَهَلۡ يَنتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثۡلَ أَيَّامِ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ‌ۚ قُلۡ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓاْ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُنتَظِرِينَ
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّى رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيۡنَا نُنجِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

Say: “Behold all that is in the heavens and the earth,” but neither Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) nor warners benefit those who believe not. Then do they wait for (anything) save for (destruction) like the days of the men who passed away before them? Say: “Wait then, I am (too) with you among those who wait.” Then (in the end) We save Our Messengers and those who believe! Thus it is incumbent upon Us to save the believers.

O slaves of Allaah! These calamities, miseries, admonitions and wars that we see here and there and hear about, are in reality a chastisement from Allaah upon His slaves, so that they may return (to Allaah in repentance)-seeking rescue and deliverance from Allaah. Allaah (The Most High) said: [فَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ جَآءَهُم بَأۡسُنَا تَضَرَّعُواْ – When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility?] – Meaning: Did they humble themselves when our Torment reached them? [ وَلَـٰكِن قَسَتۡ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ -But rather their hearts became hardened, and Shaitan (Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do].

Therefore, O slaves of Allaah! Indeed it is a calamity that these afflictions have reached many people but they still remain upon what they are upon. They have neither turned away from their sins nor repent to Allaah (Glorified and Exalted Be He). The one who stays away from the congregational prayer has not ceased doing so; the who does not pay attention to his children and their upbringing has not ceased doing so; the one who eats usury and engages in forbidden dealings is still not paying attention and not turning away (from his sin). This (behaviour of the people) is the same regarding all other acts of disobedience and major sins. The people remain upon their misguidance and increase in it-neither being reminded nor learning lessons.

Footnotes in the booklet:  Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said: Among the punishments for sins are (the following): It causes blessings to cease and brings about punishment. A blessing does not cease from a slave and punishment does not befall a slave except due to sin, just as Ali Ibn Abee Taalib (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: A calamity does not descend except due to sin and a calamity is not removed except due to repentance. And indeed Allaah (Glorified and Exalted Be He said: [وَمَآ أَصَـٰبَڪُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِيكُمۡ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٍ۬ – And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.’’ [42:30] And Allaah (The Most High) said: [ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمۡ يَكُ مُغَيِّرً۬ا نِّعۡمَةً أَنۡعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ‌ۙ – That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves]

So Allaah (The Most High) informed (us) that He does not replace the blessing He bestows on any individual unless the person changes their own state of affairs-by replacing obedience to Allaah with disobedience; replacing gratefulness to Allaah with ungratefulness and replacing the means to Allaah’s Pleasure with the means leading to Allaah’s Displeasure. When a person changes, Allaah changes his state of affairs as an exact recompense (according evil crimes), “And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves”.

If he (the person) replaces obedience with disobedience, Allaah replaces his state of wellbeing with punishment and his state of honour with humiliation. Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

فَكُلاًّ أَخَذۡنَا بِذَنۢبِهِۦ‌ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ حَاصِبً۬ا وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ خَسَفۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَغۡرَقۡنَا‌ۚ وَمَا ڪَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظۡلِمَهُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن ڪَانُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ

So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment – awful cry, etc. (as Thamud or Shu’aib’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qarun (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.’’

Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

[فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ أُولَٮٰهُمَا بَعَثۡنَا عَلَيۡڪُمۡ عِبَادً۬ا لَّنَآ أُوْلِى بَأۡسٍ۬ شَدِيدٍ۬ فَجَاسُواْ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ وَعۡدً۬ا مَّفۡعُولاً۬ – So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled]. [17:5] [End of Footnotes]

Shaikh Continued: The All-Encompassing Wisdom of Allaah Regarding the Punishments He Decreed.

Indeed Allaah (The Most High) is All-Wise and All-Knowing regarding what He has decreed and what He causes to occur from what He has decreed; just as He is All-knowing with regards to what He legislated and commanded. He created what He willed of the [Universal Signs and Events] and decreed various types of punishments in order that His slaves may fear (destruction), and as a reminder of what is obligated on them with regards fulfilling His Rights; a warning against associating partners with Him, opposing His commandments and doing what He has prohibited by way of turning away from the Sunnah [of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] and the guidance of those who were foremost to embrace Islaam (i.e. the Salaf). Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

[وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ بِٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ إِلَّا تَخۡوِيفً۬ا – And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)]. Allaah (The Most High) said: [سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ – We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

[قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلۡقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبۡعَثَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا مِّن فَوۡقِكُمۡ أَوۡ مِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِكُمۡ أَوۡ يَلۡبِسَكُمۡ شِيَعً۬ا وَيُذِيقَ بَعۡضَكُم بَأۡسَ بَعۡضٍ‌ۗ – Say: He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another].

Abus Shaikh Al-Asfahaaniy (rahimahullaah) reported from Mujaahid (rahimahullaah) that he said about this ayah: He has power to send torment on you from above]- Meaning: destructive thunderbolts, stones and winds. Or from under your feet- Meaning: earthquake and swallowed by the earth. All the calamities that take place, the trials and other than them, by way of which the slaves receive harm and different types of injuries are all due to Shirk and acts of disobedience.

Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) said: [وَمَآ أَصَـٰبَڪُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِيكُمۡ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٍ۬ – And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much].

Allaah (The Most High) said: [مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنۡ حَسَنَةٍ۬ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ۬ فَمِن نَّفۡسِكَ‌ۚ – Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself].

And Allaah (The Most High) said about the nations of the past:

فَكُلاًّ أَخَذۡنَا بِذَنۢبِهِۦ‌ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ حَاصِبً۬ا وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ خَسَفۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَغۡرَقۡنَا‌ۚ وَمَا ڪَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظۡلِمَهُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن ڪَانُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ يَظۡلِمُونَ

So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment – awful cry, etc. (as Thamud or Shu’aib’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qarun (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.”

An Obligation Upon All Muslims: It is obligatory upon all the Mukallafeen among the Muslims–those who have reached the age of accountability in Islaam and are of sound mind– to repent to Allaah (Glorified and Exalted Be He); adhering to steadfastness in Allaah’s Religion (i.e. Islam) and to be careful of what Allaah has prohibited, such as Shirk and acts of disobedience, so that they can receive wellbeing and be safeguarded from all evils in this life and the next. And so that all calamities are repelled from them and all good is conferred upon them. O slaves of Allaah! All these affairs cannot be accomplished except through obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, just as Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) stated:

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡہِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُواْ فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.).

And Allaah (The Most High) said about the Ahlul Kitaab:

[وَلَوۡ أَنَّہُمۡ أَقَامُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡہِم مِّن رَّبِّہِمۡ لَأَڪَلُواْ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَمِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِهِم‌ۚ – And if only they had acted according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur’an), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet].

And Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَہُم بَأۡسُنَا بَيَـٰتً۬ا وَهُمۡ نَآٮِٕمُونَ
أَوَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَهُم بَأۡسُنَا ضُحً۬ى وَهُمۡ يَلۡعَبُونَ
أَفَأَمِنُواْ مَڪۡرَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَلَا يَأۡمَنُ مَڪۡرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ

Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment by night while they are asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment in the forenoon while they play? Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.

O slaves of Allaah! Fear Allaah and be mindful of Him in your actions, within your own souls and among your families. Enjoin obedience to Allaah, adhere to the truth and establish it in your families. Abandon disobedience, evil and corruption. Exalt Allaah’s Sharee’ah (i.e. Allaah’s commandments, prohibitions, laws and everything Allah has ordained), and exalt the Qur’aan and the prayer.

The Shaikh (may Allaah reward him with abundant good in this life and the next) ended these beneficial reminders with long supplications-asking Allaah by His Lofty Names and Attributes for Guidance; Taqwa; wellbeing and self-sufficiency. He also supplicated to Allaah to repel all calamities from us and include us from those who are repentant. He also asked Allaah to grant the Muslims victory in every place, especially the people of Sunnah etc [End of excerpt from the booklet titled: Uqoobatul laahi Mutanawwi’ah]

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Translator’s Footnote: Footnote 1: An act of disobedience comes between a person and Imaan: Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) stated about the Ayah: [وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَرۡءِ وَقَلۡبِهِ – And know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart]

Therefore, beware of rejecting the command of Allaah when it comes to you at first, lest He comes between you and it [i.e. Allaah (The Most High) prevents you from guidance as a just recompense) when you turn away from it and your hearts (turn) in opposition– for indeed Allaah intervenes between a person and his heart—Allaah causes it (i.e. the heart of the person) to change and turns it in any direction as He wills (i.e. as a just recompense for the one who rejects or turns away from the truth). Therefore, a slave (i.e. the Muslim) should increase in (uttering) the statement (i.e. the Du’aa): ”O turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon your Religion; O turner of the hearts, turn my heart towards obedience to You.” [For further details, see [For further details, see Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan] [Also see Tafseer of this ayah in Al-Fawaa-id of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) pages 140-144. Publishers: Maktabah ArRushd. 3rd edition 2005]

“Whoever He misguides, then none can guide him”. This occurs based on Allaah’s Perfect Wisdom and Just Decree, as recompense for one’s wickedness (a); due to a hidden plot in one’s heart (b); due one turning away from guidance and behaving as if he does not know Allaah’s guidance (c); turning away from Allaah’s reminder, which he revealed to his Messenger, turning away from understanding it and pondering upon it, and that which Allaah intends by way of it, so Allaah leaves such a person with his devil as a punishment – the devil that follows him. So, this devil becomes his ally (d); because none submits to Allaah sincerely and truthfully, and performs the deeds of the people of Jannah, except that Allaah will never abandon him. (e) Such a person was not compelled to go astray, rather he made a choice, but his choice is under the Will of Allaah. We do not know what was in the hearts of those who deviated, so Allaah deviated their hearts; but we know – with absolute certainty – that Allaah passes Just Judgments and He does not do injustice to anything; rather it is the people who wrong themselves. (f) [a. See Tafseer As-Sadi, Surah Israa. Aayah 5; b. See Sharh Arba’een page 87-88. 1st edition. 1424 (2003); c. Zaadul Maseer. Tafseer Surah Az-Zukhruf Aayah 36; d. Al-Jawaab Al-Kaafee 136-137. By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim; e. See Sharh Arba’een page 88. 1st edition. 1424 (2003)- By Shaikh Uthaymeen; f. Sharh Al-Arba’een pages 55-56- 1st edition 1428 (2007)-by Shaikh Saaleh Aaala As-Shaikh].

Husnul Khaatimah: (i.e. A Muslim leaves this world in obedience to Allaah and in obedience to Allaah’s Messenger; or leaves this world in a state confirmed to be a good end by textual proof. Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) stated some of these good signs in Ahkaam Al-Janaa-iz and from them: [a] The one who dies whilst uttering the Shahaadah; [b] The one who dies during the day or night on Friday; [c] Death by way of a plague, drowning etc; [d] The woman who dies during the period of post-natal bleeding as a result of giving birth; [e] death by fire; death through defending one’s wealth against a robber etc [See Ahkaam Al-Janaa’iz pages 21-24 –Shaikh Albaani (rahimahullaah) quotes the authentic ahaadeeth to establish these affairs and others]