Loving Leisure

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy (r.a.) wrote, in Thib ar-Ruhani, that loving leisure, preferring idleness, and avoiding the perceived difficulty of tasks, are what lead one to laziness.  It is found in ash-Shaykhayn, from Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.), that the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to frequently say, “I seek refuge in Allah (s.w.t.) from grief and distress, old age and laziness.” 

Imam Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn Shihab az-Zuhri (r.a.) reported, in his Swahih, that Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “A strong believer is better, and More Loved by Allah (s.w.t.) than a weak believer.” 

At all times,  we should strive for that which will benefit us, seek the help of Allah (s.w.t.), and do not be helpless.  If anything bad befalls us, we do not say, “If only I had done such-and-such, then such-and-such would have happened.”  Rather, we say, “Allah (s.w.t.) Ordained this, and whatever He Wills, He does,” for the words, “if only”, open the door to Satan. 

Sayyidina Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) said, “I detest a man whom I see idle from striving for this world, and the hereafter.”  He also said, “At the end of time, there will be people whose best actions will be blaming each other, also known as the lazy.” 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.) said, “Slackening married laziness, and they gave birth to poverty.” 

Shaykh Malik ibn Dinar (q.s.) said, “There is no righteous deed except that there is an obstacle that comes before it.  If a person endures it patiently, he will reach comfort, and if he fears it, he will abstain from it.” 

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Sufyan ibn Sa’id ats-Tsawri (r.a.) said, “People left riding fast horses, and we have stayed on indolent camels.”