How Fudayl ibn Iyaad turned to Islam whole heartedly…

HE BROUGHT ME TO THEM SO THAT I CAN REFORM MY CHARACTER..

Al-Fudayl bin Iyaad was famous for his piety and worship, but he was not always a practicing Muslim. In his early years, al-Fudayl was an infamous highway robber; he would prowl in the night for victims on the road from Abiward to Sarakhs. Between these two cities was a small village in which lived a girl that al-Fudayl was in love with. One night, out of desperation to be with her, al-Fudayl climbed the wall of her home. As he was climbing over it, he heard a voice recite:

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder?

[Qur'an al-Hadeed : 16]

At that moment, al-Fudayl answered, “O my Lord, the time has indeed come.” He returned from where he came and sought refuge near a traveling party on the main road. They were busy engaging in a serious discussion. al-Fudayl heard one of them say, “Let us continue our journey now.” Another answered, “No, not until the morning, for al-Fudayl is lurking on the road somewhere out there, just waiting to rob us.”

Having heard the entire conversation, al-Fudayl thought to himself, “I go around in the night to sin, while a group of Muslims remain here because they fear me. Indeed i feel that Allah has brought me here to them only so that I can reform my character. O Allah, I indeed repent to you..”

THE INTEGRITY OF AL-FUDAYL BIN ‘IYAAD

Ar-Rashid, a first century ruler, once said to al-Fudayl bin Iyaad, “Admonish me.”

“O Leader of the believers!” said al-Fudayl. “Indeed your grandfather, al-Abbaas, the uncle of the Prophet, once went to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, appoint me to be a leader.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘My uncle, indeed, being a leader leads to sorrow, and regret on the Day of Resurrection. If you are able to go without ever being a leader, then do so!’”

Moved to tears, ar-Rashid said, “Give me more.”

al-Fudayl looked at ar-Rashid and said, “O one who has a handsome face, if you are able to protect that face from the Hell-fire then do so. And beware of ever cheating or betraying your people.”

Being much moved by al-Fudayl’s words, ar-Rashid wanted to reward him.

“Do you have any debts?” he asked.

“To my Lord, yes, and He will hold me accountable for them,” said al-Fudayl.

“I am of course referring to debts to other human beings,” said ar-Rashid.

After al-Fudayl answered in the negative, ar-Rashid said to one of his assistants, “Give him 1000 dinars, which he can use to help his family.”

Al-Fudayl was greatly offended by these words and said, “How perfect Allah is! I am guiding you to safety and you want to reward me with this paltry, worldly sum!” He then left, refusing to take anything.

>How Fudayl ibn Iyaad turned to Islam whole heartedly…

>

HE BROUGHT ME TO THEM SO THAT I CAN REFORM MY CHARACTER..

Al-Fudayl bin Iyaad was famous for his piety and worship, but he was not always a practicing Muslim. In his early years, al-Fudayl was an infamous highway robber; he would prowl in the night for victims on the road from Abiward to Sarakhs. Between these two cities was a small village in which lived a girl that al-Fudayl was in love with. One night, out of desperation to be with her, al-Fudayl climbed the wall of her home. As he was climbing over it, he heard a voice recite:

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder?

[Qur'an al-Hadeed : 16]

At that moment, al-Fudayl answered, “O my Lord, the time has indeed come.” He returned from where he came and sought refuge near a traveling party on the main road. They were busy engaging in a serious discussion. al-Fudayl heard one of them say, “Let us continue our journey now.” Another answered, “No, not until the morning, for al-Fudayl is lurking on the road somewhere out there, just waiting to rob us.”

Having heard the entire conversation, al-Fudayl thought to himself, “I go around in the night to sin, while a group of Muslims remain here because they fear me. Indeed i feel that Allah has brought me here to them only so that I can reform my character. O Allah, I indeed repent to you..”

THE INTEGRITY OF AL-FUDAYL BIN ‘IYAAD

Ar-Rashid, a first century ruler, once said to al-Fudayl bin Iyaad, “Admonish me.”

“O Leader of the believers!” said al-Fudayl. “Indeed your grandfather, al-Abbaas, the uncle of the Prophet, once went to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, appoint me to be a leader.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘My uncle, indeed, being a leader leads to sorrow, and regret on the Day of Resurrection. If you are able to go without ever being a leader, then do so!’”

Moved to tears, ar-Rashid said, “Give me more.”

al-Fudayl looked at ar-Rashid and said, “O one who has a handsome face, if you are able to protect that face from the Hell-fire then do so. And beware of ever cheating or betraying your people.”

Being much moved by al-Fudayl’s words, ar-Rashid wanted to reward him.

“Do you have any debts?” he asked.

“To my Lord, yes, and He will hold me accountable for them,” said al-Fudayl.

“I am of course referring to debts to other human beings,” said ar-Rashid.

After al-Fudayl answered in the negative, ar-Rashid said to one of his assistants, “Give him 1000 dinars, which he can use to help his family.”

Al-Fudayl was greatly offended by these words and said, “How perfect Allah is! I am guiding you to safety and you want to reward me with this paltry, worldly sum!” He then left, refusing to take anything.

‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d.181AH)’s Letter to Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d.187AH)

‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d.181AH)’s
Letter to Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d.187AH)

Download Audio:
http://media.ribaat.org/audio/anashid/ya_3abed_al_haramayn.mp3

SOURCE:
http://www.islamicboard.com/islamic-history-biographies/43735-abdullaah-ibn-al-mubarak-al-khorasanee.html#post849292

يا عابد الحرمين

يا عابدَ الحرمين لو أبصرتْـَنا … لعلمتَ أنَّكَ في العبادةِ تلعبُ
مَنْ كانَ يخضبُ خدَّه بدموعِه … فنحورنُـا بدمـائِنا تَتَخْضَبُ

أوكان يتعبُ خيله في بـاطل … فخيـولنا يوم الصبيحة تتعبُ

ريحُ العبيرٍ لكم ونحنُ عبيرُنا … رَهَجُ السنابكِ والغبارُ الأطيبُ

ولقد أتـانا مـن مقالِ نبيِنا … قولٌ صحيحٌ صادقٌ لا يَكذبُ

لا يستوي غبـارُ أهلِ الله في … أنفِ أمرئٍ ودخانُ نارٍ تَلهبُ

هذا كتابُ الله ينـطقُ بيننا … ليسَ الشهيدُ بميـتٍ لا يكذبُ

This is an amazing poem written by the Imam, Zaahid, and Mujahid ‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d. 181 AH) to another great Imam and Zaahid Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d. 187 AH). Both from amongst the Imams of the salaf.

The audio above starts off by quoting the narration of this poem/letter found in the Tafseer of alHafidh Ibn Katheer (d. 774 AH) which is quoted below:

Al-Hafiz ibn `Asakir mentioned in the biography of `Abdullah bin al-Mubarak, that Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Abi Sakinah said,

“While in the area of Tarsus, `Abdullah bin al-Mubarak dictated this poem to me when I was greeting him goodbye. He sent the poem with me to al-FuDayl bin`Iyad in the year 170,

‘O ye who worships in the vicinity of the Two Holy Masjids!

If you but see us, you will realise that you are only jesting in worship.

He who brings wetness to his cheek with his tears should know that our necks are being wet by our blood.

He who tires his horses without purpose, now that our horses are getting tired in battle.

Scent of perfume is yours, while ours is the glimmer of spears and the stench of dust [in battle].

We were narrated about in the speech of our Prophet, an authentic statement that never lies.

That the dust that erupts by Allah’s horses and which fills the nostrils of a man shall never be combined with the smoke of a raging Fire.

This, the Book of Allah speaks among us that the martyr is not dead, and the truth in Allah’s book cannot be denied.’

“I met al-Fudayl ibn `Iyad in the Sacred Masjid and gave him the leter. When he read it, his eyes became tearful and he said, ‘Abu `Abdur-Rahman (`Abdullah bin al-Mubarak) has said the truth and offered sincere advice to me.’ He then asked me, ‘Do you write the Hadeeth?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Write this Hadeeth as reward for delivering the letter of Abu `Abdur-Rahman to me.’ He then dictated,

‘Mansur bin al-Mu`tamir narrated to us that Abu Saalih narrated from Abu Hurayrah that a man asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Teach me a good deed that will earn me the reward of the Mujahideen in Allah’s cause.’

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Are you able to pray continuously and fast without breaking the fast?’ The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I cannot bear it.’

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

‘By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Even if you were able to do it, you would not achieve the grade of the Mujahideen in Allah’s cause. Did you not know that the horse of the Mujaahid earns rewards for him as long as it lives?’”

[Musnad Ahmad]

‘Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak said,

“Whomsoever is given something of love and is not given its equivalent of awe and veneration (khashyah), then he is deceived.”

‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, said:

“The beginning of knowledge is the intention, then listening, then understanding, then action, then preservation and then spreading it.”

‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d.181AH)’s Letter to Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d.187AH)

‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d.181AH)’s
Letter to Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d.187AH)

Download Audio:
http://media.ribaat.org/audio/anashid/ya_3abed_al_haramayn.mp3

SOURCE:
http://www.islamicboard.com/islamic-history-biographies/43735-abdullaah-ibn-al-mubarak-al-khorasanee.html#post849292

يا عابد الحرمين

يا عابدَ الحرمين لو أبصرتْـَنا … لعلمتَ أنَّكَ في العبادةِ تلعبُ
مَنْ كانَ يخضبُ خدَّه بدموعِه … فنحورنُـا بدمـائِنا تَتَخْضَبُ

أوكان يتعبُ خيله في بـاطل … فخيـولنا يوم الصبيحة تتعبُ

ريحُ العبيرٍ لكم ونحنُ عبيرُنا … رَهَجُ السنابكِ والغبارُ الأطيبُ

ولقد أتـانا مـن مقالِ نبيِنا … قولٌ صحيحٌ صادقٌ لا يَكذبُ

لا يستوي غبـارُ أهلِ الله في … أنفِ أمرئٍ ودخانُ نارٍ تَلهبُ

هذا كتابُ الله ينـطقُ بيننا … ليسَ الشهيدُ بميـتٍ لا يكذبُ

This is an amazing poem written by the Imam, Zaahid, and Mujahid ‘Abdullah ibn alMubarak (d. 181 AH) to another great Imam and Zaahid Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad (d. 187 AH). Both from amongst the Imams of the salaf.

The audio above starts off by quoting the narration of this poem/letter found in the Tafseer of alHafidh Ibn Katheer (d. 774 AH) which is quoted below:

Al-Hafiz ibn `Asakir mentioned in the biography of `Abdullah bin al-Mubarak, that Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Abi Sakinah said,

“While in the area of Tarsus, `Abdullah bin al-Mubarak dictated this poem to me when I was greeting him goodbye. He sent the poem with me to al-FuDayl bin`Iyad in the year 170,

‘O ye who worships in the vicinity of the Two Holy Masjids!

If you but see us, you will realise that you are only jesting in worship.

He who brings wetness to his cheek with his tears should know that our necks are being wet by our blood.

He who tires his horses without purpose, now that our horses are getting tired in battle.

Scent of perfume is yours, while ours is the glimmer of spears and the stench of dust [in battle].

We were narrated about in the speech of our Prophet, an authentic statement that never lies.

That the dust that erupts by Allah’s horses and which fills the nostrils of a man shall never be combined with the smoke of a raging Fire.

This, the Book of Allah speaks among us that the martyr is not dead, and the truth in Allah’s book cannot be denied.’

“I met al-Fudayl ibn `Iyad in the Sacred Masjid and gave him the leter. When he read it, his eyes became tearful and he said, ‘Abu `Abdur-Rahman (`Abdullah bin al-Mubarak) has said the truth and offered sincere advice to me.’ He then asked me, ‘Do you write the Hadeeth?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Write this Hadeeth as reward for delivering the letter of Abu `Abdur-Rahman to me.’ He then dictated,

‘Mansur bin al-Mu`tamir narrated to us that Abu Saalih narrated from Abu Hurayrah that a man asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Teach me a good deed that will earn me the reward of the Mujahideen in Allah’s cause.’

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Are you able to pray continuously and fast without breaking the fast?’ The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I cannot bear it.’

The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

‘By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Even if you were able to do it, you would not achieve the grade of the Mujahideen in Allah’s cause. Did you not know that the horse of the Mujaahid earns rewards for him as long as it lives?’”

[Musnad Ahmad]

‘Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak said,

“Whomsoever is given something of love and is not given its equivalent of awe and veneration (khashyah), then he is deceived.”

‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, said:

“The beginning of knowledge is the intention, then listening, then understanding, then action, then preservation and then spreading it.”