Refat Ahmed

When you change yourself for the sake of Allāh ta'ala, you'll have no time to think about what people around you are saying about you. Because you know your purpose is big.

As we continue on this journey, we discover that the blessings of Allāh ta'ala begin to manifest in our—lives in ways that we could never have imagined.

The doors of opportunity open before us, the challenges we face become opportunities for growth; and the burdens we carry become lighter as we surrender them to the Almighty. We find that our relationships with others deepen, our hearts become softer, and our souls become more attuned to the will of Allāh ta'ala.

No matter how small deeds you do in your life, do it only for the sake of Allāh ta'ala, and you'll see many blessings in your life. Every deed we do should be done with sincerity, for Allāh ta'ala sees all and knows our every intention; our actions must be filled with purity and clarity.

In the end, it is not the opinions of others that matter, but the pleasure of Allāh ta'ala.

Because Allāh ta'ala is just. He sees your heart. He sees your intention. You sincerely will try for something; He will open doors for you.

May Allāh ta'ala bless us all and guide us on the path of righteousness. May our hearts be filled with His love, and our deeds be a reflection of His greatness. Ameen.

-Ibn Rajab Hanbalee رحمه الله

[Laataif: 371]

He (‏رحمه الله) also wrote:

Latā'if al-Ma'arif, (p. 384)

“When Allah allows your tongue to move in supplication, know that He wants to give you what you desire, no matter how great your wish may be or how bold your demand is.”

— 'Ata ibn Rabah

An-Nawawī said :

شرح مسلم للنووي (10/92)

We leave a small thing for the sake of Allāh ta'ala, and we think we did something amazing. But we forget that our purpose is big, and we have to take a very long journey.

We find ourselves celebrating small acts of devotion, convinced that our modest sacrifices are monumental. We may feel a sense of achievement that fills our hearts with pride. We think we've achieved, in our moments so brief. Yet in our hearts—the journey’s ignored.

The journey extends beyond dreams of relief, for every small sacrifice; we must keep in mind that greatness is built on the struggles and challenges aligned.

Remember the journey, the bigger path we make. Yet, in doing so, we sometimes overlook the grander purpose that life beckons us towards. Our journey is not merely defined by the little things we leave—but it's about the growth, compassion, and connection that await us.

As we navigate this path, let us remember that every small step is but a part of a much larger journey, one that requires sustained effort and a commitment to our ultimate calling.

The road may be long and filled with challenges, but it leads us to the deeper fulfillment we seek in our quest to serve Allāh ta'ala.

May Allah guide our boats to find its shore and help us to distinguish between truth and deception. May Allah makes us strengthen us in our Imaan and make us amongst the ones who engage in His remembrance and make our hearts firm and help us to remain steadfast. May Allah give us a better understanding of His wisdom and allow us to exhibit our efforts to alleviate doubt and error at individual levels and guide each other. May Allah cleanse our hearts from hypocrisy, arrogance and ignorance and rectify our intentions and grant us sincerity in speech and in our deeds. Ameen

Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd [187H] – Allah have mercy on him – said:

“Allah ‘azza wa jalla accepts only those deeds which are both correct and sincere (pure). If the deed is done correctly but not sincerely, it will not be accepted. And if it is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted.”

He was asked, “Abû ‘Alî! What is the sincere and correct deed?”

He replied, “The sincere deed is one that is done only for Allah ‘azza wa jall. And the correct deed is one done according to the Sunnah.”

(Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol.8 p95.)

Alī b. Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه said:

● [ربيع الابرار ٢/١٥٦]

بعلمك أن نظر الله إليك أسبق من نظرك إلى ما تنظره

(Jaami'ul 'Uloomi wal Hikam)

Al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله said:

“I never gazed with my eyes, spoke with my tongue, used my hand or stood on my feet but after contemplating if it was in obedience or disobedience of Allah. If it was in obedience, I would move forward. Otherwise, I would take a step back.”

[Jaami’ul al-Uloomi wal-Hikaam]

Sufyan ibn Uyaynah رحمه الله:

"Never leave off making dua nor allow whatever bad deeds you have done prevent you from it, for, verily, Allāh answered the dua of Iblees and he is the most evil of creation.”

[Shu'ab al-Iman (v. 2 p. 1147) of al-Bayhaqi]

"The more you ask Allah (in du'a), the closer you get to Him-and the more beloved you become to Him.

And the more you insist in supplication, the more He loves you”

—Ibn al Qayyim | Jalaa' al-Afhaam, 1/3441

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ:

“Be aware of the fact that when you ask Allah you are a winner in every situation, because He will either give you what you ask for or divert an evil which is greater [than what you asked for] away from you or He will store it away for you as reward on the Day of Resurrection.

So whoever supplicates to Allah then he will not be let down, so supplicate to Him a great deal, and seek forgiveness and turn in repentance to Him a great deal.”

[Sharh Riyadis-Salihin, vol. 6, p. 52.]