A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ) wrote, in Risalah al-Mustarshidin , “Know that the one who has given you sincere advice, has displayed love for you.   The test for one’s love for the other is sincere advice, just as the test of one’s faith is action.   You ought to give sincere advice to those you love.   Your love for them should not allow you to stand idly by while they engage in action that will lead them to ruin, such as, inaction in good deeds, overlooking the injunctions of Allah, procrastination, making excuses, and so forth.   Hence, when we ourselves receive sincere advice from those we trust and care for, know that they have done so out of love for you.   Conversely, the one who has displayed a false face to you has betrayed you.   One who does not accept you sincere advice is not your brother.   ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab ( r.a. ) said, ‘There is no good in peo...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Abu al-Qasim ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Huzan al-Qushayri (r.a.) recorded, in his Risalah al-Qushayriyyah , Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ) was unique in his age in regard to religious knowledge, piety scrupulosity, acts of devotion, and mystical states.   He came from Basra, and died in Baghdad in 243 AH.   It is said that he inherited, from his father, the sum of 70 thousand darahim , but he did not take anything from it.   It is said that this was because his father was an adherent of the doctrine of the Qadariyyah and he considered that it would be unscrupulous to take anything from his legacy.   A sound report from the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) says, “People of two different religions do not inherit anything from one another.”   Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ( r.a. ) said that he heard from Shaykh al-Husayn ibn Yahya ( r.a. ), who heard from Shaykh Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Nuswayr al...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ), commenting on swalah , said, “What predominates in the heart of the mystic while he is at prayer is his sense of the Mystery of Him, in Whose Presence he stands, and the Might of Him, Whom he seeks, and the love of Him, Who Favours him with familiar intercourse with Himself, and he is conscious of that, until he has finishes praying, and he departs with a face so changed that his friends would not recognise him, because of the awe that he feels at the Majesty of God.  It is so that one who comes into the presence of some king, or someone for whom he yearns, and whom he fears, stands in his presence, with a different attitude from what was his before he entered, and goes out with an altered countenance.  And how should it not be so with the Lord of the world, Who has not ceased to be, nor will cease to be; He Who has no equal?”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ) said, “The truthful is he who would not be concerned if the welfare of his heart demanded that all his fame among men should vanish.   He does not want even one jot of his good works to be known by men, nor does he care if men were to know his wrongdoings.   Any desire to be held in the good opinion of men is not the characteristic of the truthful.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ) said, “It is said, that whenever you feel arrogant, go and stand next to a mountain.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi ( q.s. ) said, “We did not learn Sufism by discourse; but rather by hunger, abandoning the world, and severing familiar and pleasant things; since Sufism consists of purity of relationship with God.  Its foundation is in turning away from the world, as Harits,” referring to Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ), “said, ‘My nafs has turned away from the world; so, I have spent my nights in wakefulness and my days in thirst.’”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from Risalah al-Mustarshidin , by Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ).   Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq ( r.a. ) said, “One who fears Allah ( s.w.t. ), does not vent his rage.  He also refrains from doing whatever his ego desires.  Were it not for the fact of the Day of Resurrection, you would see things totally different than they are now.”  Therefore guard our concerns and be pre-occupied with addressing our faults and not seeking faults of others.   We must stop searching for faults in others, and busy ourselves with our own shortcomings.  This does not mean that when wrong is apparent, we ignore it.  Giving counsel and advice, even if firm, is either encouraged or necessary depending on the status and knowledge of the person giving the advice.  However, we should not be involved in slandering, backbiting, mocking, or cond...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is adapted from an extract of Risalah al-Mustarshidin by I Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi.   Allah ( s.w.t. ) Mentions, in the Qur’an:   سُوۡرَةُ القِیَامَة أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى (٣٦)   Does Man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)? (Surah al-Qiyamah:36)   There are several explanations given by the ‘ulama regarding this verse.   Do people think that they will be left alone, uncontrolled and free to do as they chooses without consequences to their actions, neither in this world or the next; that they have no accountability before Allah ( s.w.t. ) and them being Blessed to enter Heaven or dispensed of Hell?   Do they think that they will be left alone without any moral responsibilities?   Do they think that they will be left without a higher purpose?   Do they think that they will be abandoned and forsake...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from Imam Abu ‘Abdullah al-Harits ibn Asad al-‘Anazi al-Muhasibi’s ( q.s. ) Risalah al-Mustarshidin .   Imam al-Harits al-Muhasibi ( q.s. ) wrote, “You should know that the relationship between patience and faith is like relationship between the head and the body.  When the head is cut off, the entire body dies.  Therefore, if you hear something that angers you or offends your honour, forgive the perpetrator and overlook the wrong.  This is firmness of purpose.  If you have no patience, your faith will eventually be eroded.   Patience is the necessary ingredient that allows faith to produce its fruits.  Actions cannot be consistent if one lacks patience.  Procrastination sets in when a person is not patient.  The most Beloved acts with Allah are those done most consistently even if they appear mundane.   When others attack you or offend you, forgive them and avoid yo...