Inspiration and Spirituality
Be Like the Bee
by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
As people are content with the world, so you should be content with Allah. As they are delighted by the world, so you should be delighted with Allah. As they are intimate with their loved ones, so you should seek intimacy with Allah. As they desire to know their kings and their leaders, and to draw near to them in order for honour and status to be conferred on them, so you should come to know Allah and seek His love: this will lead to the utmost honour and distinction.
Said one of the ascetics (zuhhåd): “I can never imagine that someone could hear about Paradise and Hellfire and can still waste an hour without performing any act of obedience to Allah; neither remembrance, prayer, reciting Qur’an nor an act of charity or kindness.” Someone said to him: I weep profusely. He replied: “That you laugh while confessing your sin is better than weeping yet being puffed-up with pride because of your deeds. For the deeds of a conceited person will never rise above his head.” The person then requested: Please counsel me. So the ascetic replied:
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“Leave the world to those who hanker after it, as they leave the Afterlife to its seekers. And be in this world as the bee: it eats only good, produces only good, and when it rests upon anything it neither ruins it nor deflowers it.”
FOOTNOTES
* Al-Fawa’id (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Rushd, 2001), 187; trans. Surkheel Sharif.
Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah
Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.
The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.
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Mujahideen Ryder
July 29, 2007 at 12:05 AM
I love the ‘ulema of tasawwuf! MashaAllah. JazakAllah khair!
Moiez
July 29, 2007 at 1:30 AM
Nice!
Jazakallah Khair!
Umm Reem
July 29, 2007 at 1:00 PM
I didn’t understand the last part…
“and when it rests upon anything it either ruins it nor deflowers it.”
Typo: it should have been “Neither” not “either”. -MM
Niamah
July 29, 2007 at 10:06 PM
MR, what does this have anything to do with tasawwuf? and ibn Qayyim is scholar of tasawwuf>
SaqibSaab
July 29, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I love the ‘ulema of Ahl-Sunnah! MashaAllah. JazakAllah khair!
=P
Bint Amina
July 30, 2007 at 1:29 PM
SubhaanAllah, I need to get this book.
BarakAllahu Feek.
May Allah ta’ala have mercy upon the ‘ulamaa of Ahlus-Sunnah and grant them Firdaus. Aameen.
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
abu ameerah
July 30, 2007 at 10:28 PM
@ Niamah
“…what does this have anything to do with tasawwuf?”
I was wondering the same thing myself.
Faiez
August 1, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Isn’t ibn Qayyim a student of ibn Taymiyyah?
Amad
August 1, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Yes Faiez, he sure was.
Kishwar Sheikh
August 20, 2008 at 7:01 PM
speechless….
there is so much wisdom in each and every word of this great thinker
May Allah guide us and bless us with His love
thanks for sharing this with us