Tazkiyah
Al-Akhlâq wa’l-Siyar
In the name of Allâh the Most Merciful and Clement: [O Allâh I implore Your assistance, O Allâh bless Muhammad and his family and grant them peace.] Abû Muhammad ‘Alî Ibn Ahmad Ibn Sa’îd Ibn Hazm [the Andalusian jurist]. Allâh may be pleased with him has said: 1. Praise be to Allâh for His great gifts. May Allâh bless [our master] Muhammad, His servant, the seal of His Prophets and Messengers; may He grant them eternal blessings. I rely on Him for any ability and strength I may have, and I seek His aid and protection against all the various terrors and ills of this world. And may He deliver me from all horror and suffering in the next world.
Contemplation
Contemplation is one of the greatest deeds performed by the heart; it is the key that opens the door which allows the light of guidance to enter; it is the initial step in the direction of correct understanding and comprehension; many people know its virtue but are unaware of its reality, essence and its fruits. Allaah Has commanded us to contemplate, but few do so. This book is an adaption of a friday khutbah given by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid which explains the ways in which contemplation can beefit the believer.
Deeds of the Heart
The issue of the deeds of the hearts is an immensely important subject, and this is why many scholars have written countless books on the subject - in order to remind and encourage people to perform them. These deeds require sacrifice and exertion because one's salvation is dependant on them; moreover, the deeds of the limbs will not be performed if these of the heart are absent. Reliance upon Allaah is something that has an immense impact on a person; it is an implication of belief and is one of the finest deeds and acts of worship by which the slave can draw close to Allaah, the All-Merciful; It is one of the highest ranks of Islaamic monotheism because nothing can occur except through one relying and depending upon Allaah for it to do so.
Fear
There is a certain type of fear that is experienced only by the knowledgeable, and it is called Khashyah in Arabic. This is a fear that is based on knowledge. Standard fear of Allah is experienced by the general Muslims whilst Khashyah is only experienced by the devout and the scholars from among them; the more knowledge one has regarding Allah, the more he will fear Him. When one fears a person who may or may not apprehend him then this is regular fear, whereas if he is absolutely sure that this person can seize him and inflict harm upon him, then it is Khashyah.