From ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak’s ‘Kitab al-Jihad’ :
‘When the people came to the door of ‘Umar (radhiallahu `anhu), there was from amongst them Suhail ibn ‘Amr as well as Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and other chiefs of Quraysh. So he (‘Umar) went to let the people in, and he began to give permission to the people of Badr first, to the likes of Suhaib, Bilal and others from Ahl al-Badr. By Allah, he himself was a Badri (partook in the battle of Badr), he loved them and advised others regarding them. So Abu Sufyan said, ‘I have never seen the like of today before! He gives permission to slaves like these while we sit here and he does not even look at us?!’
So Suhail ibn ‘Amr said, ‘O people, by Allah I can see what has come over your faces. If you are angry, then only be angry over your own selves. The people were called (to Islam) and you were also called, they hastened to respond but you were slow. By Allah, what they have preceded you in of virtue, in matters that you don’t know, is more of a loss than your competition here in front of this door.’
Then he said, ‘O people, these people have succeeded you in what you can see, and so by Allah, there is no way for you to attain what they have succeeded you in. Look to this matter of Jihad and adhere to it so that perhaps you may be granted martyrdom.’ Then he took hold of his garment and went off to al-Sham (Greater Syria).
Al-Hasan said, ‘By Allah he was truthful. Allah will never allow a slave who hastens to Him, to be equal to a slave who is slow.’
[Kitab al-Jihad, narration #100, pg. 32]
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-> Deeds are by intentions because intentions are what drive a person’s heart and their consequent actions. People become distinguished in this world by their responses to the call of guidance and so their rank in the Hereafter is established according to this fine foundation. May Allah bring life to our hearts and make us from the Sabiqun – those who are foremost in good deeds, who recognise the Signs and guidance of Allah and subsequently rush to respond. آمـــــــــــــين
walekum salaam wa rahmatualla
Jazakallahu khairan katheeran ya ukhti
Allahu akbar!!! Indeed the number one’s in deeds are always the number ones in ranks.
May Allah make us among the number one’s in deeds & ranks.
Ameen,Ya rabbal alameen.
As salam aleikum ukhti,
Regarding Ibn Mubaraak’s ‘Kitaab al Jihad’, do you know if it was translated in its entirety in english? I have a hard time finding it online.
Wa salam aleikum
Wa `alaykumusalam wa rahmatullah
آمـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــين
Abu Abdallah, I have yet to come across a translation of his book.
jazakillahu khairan ukhti. Your postings are always very beneficial.
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaaatuh,
May Allaah reward you for another beneficial article. I like the point that you emphasize in the last paragaraph. You’re right what is the difference between a scholar and another person of the same age or a da’ee or even a person who just manages to fulfil all his fard and sunnah acts of worship and someone who doesn’t do these things? It is nothing else except the speed at which they respond to Allaah’s guidance and the efforts they make towards seeking Him. Of course, sins do slow a person down as well but if a person is sincere Allaah will guide a person to recognise their sins and then slowly abandon them one by one.
The reminder does really benefit.
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah.
asSalaamu’alaykum
Here are some more translations from Kitaab Al Jihaad.
http://iskandrani.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/selections-from-kitab-al-jihad/
“Deeds are by intentions because intentions are what drive a person’s heart”
Salaam. Something very important I learned after I converted to Islam was that my deeds did not compliment the right intention. I soon realised that things I did openly [told people about or put my name on] should have been done privately; things I may have bragged about [to others] should still be a secret today. Now I do what I need to do and if it’s charity, then I do it as privately as I can.
If it’s an act I want to do, I try to remember [not always, I hate to admit] but I try to remember to ask myself, “Why are you going to do this?” If I lived in a big city where there was a large ummah, I’d hope they would keep my intentions ‘checked,’ but since I live so isolated, I have to check myself or be checked by what I read online or whatever sisters I have online as friends to check me.