Naseeha from Dr. Ibrahim Dremali

Naseeha (Sincere Advice) by Dr. Ibrahim Dremali

25 Dhul-Hijjah 1431 / November 2, 2010

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh.

This is a transcribed lecture given by Sheikh Ibrahim Dremali, while in his hospital bed at the Medical Center of Arlington in Arlington, Texas.  Despite dealing with his challenging health condition and being under severe pain, the Sheikh insisted on giving this very important naseeha, with great hope that the brothers and sisters may reflect on the wisdom given to us by our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم.

After praising Allah سبحانه و تعالى and sending the salat and salam upon our Prophet Mohammed صلى الله عليه و سلم, his family and Companions until the Day of Judgment, the Sheikh حفظه الله said:

Introduction

There was a request from Brother Moin (Jazaa Allahu khayran) regarding giving advice for the brothers and the sisters, and what came to my mind was the hadith of Rasulullah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam).  There are two favors, two bounties, that Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) has given us, and a lot of people unfortunately are unaware of these two favors, and they are As-sihha wa al-faraagh, the good health and the free time.

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet said, “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.”  [Sahih al-Bukhari 76:421]

The Blessing of Free Time

My dear brothers and sisters a lot of people are just wasting their time, wasting their life for nothing.  There is no purpose in their life, and there are no benefits in their life.  They are not using the two favors that Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) has given to us for doing good, such as Siyam (fasting), Salah (prayer) Dhikrillah (remembrance of Allah), or enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.  Dhikr makes a difference between the one who is dead and the one who is alive.  “The example of the one who remembers his Lord in comparison with the one who does not remember his Lord is that of the living and the dead.” [Sahih al-Bukhari; 11:208, Muslim; 1:539]

In another hadith there was a man who came to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) and asked for a good deed that he would be able to do to earn Allah’s pleasure.  The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) advised, “Keep your tongue always moist with Dhikrullah.” [Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibh Hibban] The one who has free time should utilize it for what will benefit him in this life and the hereafter, because he will regret not mentioning the name of Allah, not reading the Quran, and not making Tasbih.  These are things that make the heart come alive, even when the person sleeps his heart is always remembering Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la), his heart is pumping with the name of Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la).  A simple and beautiful Dhikr is Astaghfirullah (I ask Allah forgiveness), which increases your Rizq (provision), blesses your kids, your life, and forgives your sins.  When you make Dhikr of Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) you are mentioning His name and it will make your heart always sensitive.  Dhikr brightens your life, your tongue, and your heart and you will be guided by Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) to do right; and with Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) with you, who do you think will be against you?

Valuing the Purpose of our Lives

When a person lives for himself and only for himself, collecting money, information, materialistic things, one who is ‘living for the moment’, that means his life is empty… there is no value for his life.  Even if the person dies he is not leaving a good memory behind him.  But the one who is worshipping Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) and who strengthens his relationship with Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la), he feels that his life is very valuable and important.  Why?  Because there is a goal that person is running after.  If we live for a purpose like to obey Allah, we are living for one duty and goal and that is to worship Allah.  Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).

Surat adh-Dhariyat [51:56]

When you live to strengthen the relationship between you and Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) you will feel there is a value in your life.  You will feel your life is important and you are running after one important goal and that goal is Allah and the Jannah.  That is called Mujahada (striving for the sake of Allah).

The Blessing of Good Health

My dear brothers and sisters the good health is a crown on the top of the head of the people.  No one knows the value of the health except the sick person.  When a person has good health, his liver is functioning, his kidney is functioning, his heart is functioning, all of his body is functioning, and that person should be thankful to Allah millions of times that their body and organs are functioning well.  We should be appreciative and thankful to Allah for the great favors that Allah has given us.

Allah created man in a very beautiful manner and picture.  Allah says:

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ

Verily, We created man in the best stature (mold). [Surat at-Tin 95:4]

We should appreciate everything we have every day; and every morning we wake up we should thank Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) for our good health for indeed that is a great bounty.

My dear brothers and sisters you have to strengthen your relationship with Allah when you have good health: remembering Allah, reading the Quran, making Tasbih, praising Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) because in the Jannah you will have one regret.  That regret is when you remember how you wasted an hour in your life, when you wasted a single moment in your life not remembering Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la).  That is a real regret.  Why?  Because all of our time should be busy in the act of worship of Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la).  My dear brothers and sisters we are al-Insan, and the human beings live in terms of days.  If one day is gone that means we are closer to Allah one more day, and closer to the grave one more day.  We must take advantage that we are still living and we still have free time.

Conclusion

My dear brothers and sisters every day and every morning you wake up and you are alive it is a bounty, and that day will tell you, “O son of Adam, I am a new creation and I am a witness over your actions (for whatever you do in the daytime and in the nighttime.  I am a witness with you or against you.) Take advantage of me (that day) for I will never return until the Day of Judgment.”

When the angel of death comes to take our soul, one thing we will wish is to be alive again.  We will wish that for one reason… maybe I will do something good, that will make me closer to Allah.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) says:

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ

Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: “My Lord! Send me back, So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!”

[Surat al-Muminoon 23:99-100]

Yes my dear brothers and sisters the free time is a bounty from Allah so take advantage of it.  There should not be any free time for it to be wasted.  If you have an hour, two hours, whatever the time is make it busy remembering Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la).  Remember that Dhikrillah makes your heart alive.  When you say Astaghfirullah, Subhan’Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, you make your life alive again.  That is actually making your heart attached more to Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la).

My dear brothers and sisters don’t waste time!  Life is very short.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

O you who believe!  Fear Allah with true (Taqwa), the true fear of Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la). Do not die in any state, in any situation but as a Muslim.  [Surat al-Imraan 3:102]

Take advantage of these two bounties.  Take advantage of these two Ni’ma.  Take advantage of your good health before you become sick.  Take advantage of your free time before you become completely occupied.  May Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) give you good health and long life.  May Allah (subhanahu wa ta A’la) be with all of you.  Ameen.