All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation—and may He extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels, and grant him peace and security—likewise to his family, Companions, and true followers.
[Lesson Nine | 13/09/2025] Selected Benefits from Madārij Al-Sālikīn of Imām Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله– By Shaykh Abu ‘Iyaad Amjad Rafīq حفظه الله. Monthly class at Masjid Salafi, Small Heath, Birmingham, UK.
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Some points discussed during this lesson:
– Recap of the previous lesson.
– The four categories of people as it relates to the actualisation of ‘ibādah and isti’ānah:
– 1. Those who worship Allāh (‘ibādah) and seek His aid (isti’ānah) in doing so.
– The most excellent and beneficial type of supplication to Allāh.
– The greatest of gifts a person can be granted.
– An observation by Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) regarding the thing that all of the reported supplications revolve around.
– Ibn Taymiyyah’s (رحمه الله) reflection on what he found to be the most beneficial supplication.
– 2. Those who turn away from worshipping Allāh and seeking His aid.
– The reason they ask of Allāh, if they were to do so.
– Proof that Allāh gives to even the one most hated to Him.
– The one who is made distant from Allāh.
– Clarification that Allāh’s responding and giving or not responding and withholding has no connection to the honour or disgrace of a servant.
– The importance of istikhārah.
– “As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honour and bounties, then he says (in exultation): ‘My Lord has honoured me.’ But when He tries him by straitening his means of life, he says: ‘My Lord has humiliated me!’” [Sūrah al-Fajr 89:15-16]
– True honour, and the sign of true humiliation.
– 3. Those who worship Allāh but do not seek His aid in establishing that worship.
– The two groups of people within this category:
– 3.1. The Qadariyyah/Mu’tazilah
– How their deviant belief that man creates his own actions prevents them from seeking Allāh’s aid in worship.
– 3.2. The Jabariyyah
– What is necessitated by their belief, and how it impairs their worship.
– Practical examples that highlight how an incorrect belief can be detrimental to a person’s worship and nearness to Allāh.
– The meaning of Tawakkul, and a similitude that captures the manner in which the servant should depend upon his Lord.
– “And whosoever puts his trust in Allāh, then He will suffice him.” [Sūrah aṭ-Ṭalāq 65:3]
– 4. Those who seek Allāh’s aid (in order to achieve their worldly objectives) but do not worship Him.
– Affairs given to both the righteous and sinful.
– The most ignorant and distant people from knowing Allāh and His religion.
– The two foundational principles required to actualise إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ.
– The four categories of people in regard to these two foundations:
– 1. Those who combine ikhlāṣ and mutāba’ah.
– Affairs that are not from sincerity.
– A beautiful similitude regarding how the people of ikhlāṣ and mutāba’ah view those around them.
– Fuḍayl b. ‘Iyāḍ (رحمه الله) on the meaning of, “Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed.” [Sūrah al-Mulk 67:2]
– “So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [Sūrah al-Kahf 18:110]
– 2. Those who have neither sincerity nor mutāba’ah.
– “Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised for what they have not done—think not you that they are rescued from the torment, and for them is a painful torment.” [Sūrah Āli ‘Imrān 3:188]
– The people who fit this description.
– 3. Those who have ikhlāṣ without mutāba’ah.
– Examples of ignorant worshippers.
– 4. Those who have mutāba’ah without ikhlāṣ.
– The danger of carrying out actions in order to be seen by the people.
– “And they were not commanded except to worship Allāh (alone), being sincere to Him in religious devotion, being upright and inclined (to truth) and to establish the prayer and to give obligatory charity. And that is the upright, correct religion.” [Sūrah al-Bayyinah 98:5]
– The four orientations as it relates to what people deem to be the most beneficial form of worship:
– 1. The acts of worship that are the most difficult and require the most struggle.
– The incorrect mindset that you have to punish yourself, otherwise it cannot be the best worship.
– 2. az-Zuhd (abstinence from the world).
– The two types of people in this category:
– 2.1. Those who believe fleeing from the world is the actual objective of worship and is an end in itself.
– 2.2. Those who believe fleeing from the world is the means to an end.
– The two categories of those who view zuhd as the means to an end:
– 2.2.1. Those who rush to fulfil the commands and prohibitions even if their hearts become slightly distracted from remembering Allāh.
– 2.2.2. Those who do not fulfil the obligations because they say it disturbs their hearts from being preoccupied with Allāh.
– 3. The acts of worship that benefit others.
– Evidence they use to support their position.
– The erroneous reasoning of the first three categories.
– 4. The act of worship done to please Allāh at the time it is most suited to be carried out.
– Examples of the best acts of worship to carry out in different situations.
– Restricted vs unrestricted worship.
– The servant who is بالله ,لله and مع الله.
– The four levels of ‘ubūdiyyah.
– Summary of the lesson.
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