Be Upright and Don't Fool Yourself

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Be Upright and Don't Fool Yourself
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Source: Jumu'ah khutbah under the title "Be Upright and Don't Fool Yourself!," delivered by Abu
'Abdis Salaam Siddiq Al Juyaanee at Masjid Jama'atul Ahlis Sunnah in Nassau, Bahamas.
Notes taken by Umm Sufyaan



On the authority of Aboo 'Amr, though others call him Aboo 'Amrah Sufyaan bin
'Abdullaah (radiyallaahu 'anhu) who said:

I said: "O Messenger of Allaah, tell me something about Islaam which I could not ask
anyone about save you." He answered: Say: 'I believe in Allaah,' and then stand
firm and steadfast (in one narration: after you...)

Tell me something about Islaam which I could not ask anyone save you...

Shaykh al-`Uthaymeen commented: Meaning: Teach me a statement in Islaam that is
comprehensive, a statement with clear and understandable meanings, and easy to
understand, so much so, it would not necessitate that I would have to ask anyone
other than you with regards to its meaning. And not just to know, but so I may
implement and practice...

So the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) responded: Say: 'I believe in
Allaah,' and then stand firm and steadfast And this is from Jawami' Al-Kalim
(short but comprehensive expressions) that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam)
was given that carried great meanings.

Within these two short expressions, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam)
combined all the meanings of Islaam and eemaan. This statement commanded the
questioner [the companion] to renew his eemaan. There is none from amongst us,

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except that we are in need of our Eeman to be renewed, to be revitalized. We are in
need of the reminder so that we may revitalize our Eeman.

We are in a place that necessitates that we continuously renew our eemaan. We
continuously need that recharge. We continuously need that energy.

You recharge yourself by what? By the Book and the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam) according to the understanding of the pious predecessors.

So we have to ask ourselves: On a day-to-day basis, do we refer back to these sources
to revitalize and recharge our eemaan? Do we read the Qur`aan every day? Do we
contemplate over what we read? Do we seek to know the meaning of what we read?
Do we seek to apply what we are reading? Do we seek to weigh ourselves in light of
what we are reading? Each one of us knows best the answer with regards to his
situation. So fear Allaah with regards to yourself and revitalize [your eemaan].

When is the last time you read a hadeeth on the authority of so-and-so that the Prophet
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said [such-and-such]?

The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) encouraged the companion to revitalize his
eemaan with his tongue whilst having his heart present and attentive. The only way it is
going to affect you is when that which is within your heart coincides with good and
when it is articulated and acted upon. The person will then benefit from it.

The Qur`aan that he is reading and learning, the ahaadeeth that he is reading and
learning will be a hujjah for him and not against him. The `ilm will be a hujjah for him
and not against him, if he is implementing that which he knows.

The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to be upright in the deen. And
this is what Allaah commands us with [as well] in the Qur`aan. Allaah says:

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Verily, those who say: "Our Lord (is only) Allaah," and thereafter
istaqamoo...
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What does al-istiqamah mean? It was said that 'Umar bin al-Khattaab said: Become
upright, by Allaah, [meaning] it is [to be] upon obedience to Allaah.

So what is our level of obedience? Of being compliant to Islaam? To become upright,
we have to be obedient to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala) and we do not go back and
forth like the swaying of the swaying of the fox.

Shaykh al-`Uthaymeen commented: Become upright upon the obedience to Allaah
(`Azza wa Jall) in belief, in statement, and in action.

In order for us to become upright upon the obedience to Allaah in belief, statement,
and in action, it would necessitate knowledge from us. It would necessitate that we
learn. It is a must that we learn that which the Qur`aan and Sunnah calls us to and that
which the Companions were upon. If we do not do this, we will never become
upright, because the one deprived of something does not have the ability to give it.

Allaah says:

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Those who believe and work righteous good deeds.
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Eemaan is not something that which just sits in our hearts. It is a statement of the
tongue, actions upon the limbs, and belief in the heart. It increases and decreases.
That's Eeman.

Allaah says:


2
Sooratul-Fussilat (41): 30
3
Sooratul-Maa.idah (5):93
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And those who believe that which was revealed upon Muhammad (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam), and it is the truth.
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Who is this truth from?! It is from your Lord.

If we are to be upright, we have to cling to what Allaah sent down upon the Prophet
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). It is for our benefit.

If we become upright, we benefit.

When a person becomes upright upon what Allaah sent upon the Prophet (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam), their evil deeds will be forgiven and will make good their
state.
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Their baal will become rectified. What is the meaning of baal? Scholars of tafseer have
said: Their affairs will become upright and rectified. Where? In the religion and in
worldly affairs.

In his book al-Istiqamah, Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah commented: Problems will
betide (befall) the individual when he moves away from istiqamah. Things fall apart.
His life falls apart. His affairs are ruined. However, if he clings to it, [Allaah] will
make good their state both in deen and in dunyaa.

If there is anything about your existence which troubles you, return it back to Allaah.
Rectify. Rectify. Rectify that which is between you and Allaah, and Allaah will rectify
for you everything in your affairs of your deen and dunyaa.


4
Soorah Muhammad (47):2
5
Ibid
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In explaining istiqamah and its realities, the mufassiroon say: Istiqamah is a level in which
affairs are completed and perfected therein. When istiqamah is present, it brings about
the attainment of good. Everything is properly arranged. Everything falls where it
should fall. Everything is placed where it should be placed.

This is from the fruits of istiqamah. On the other hand, whoever is not upon
uprightness, whoever thinks he has a better way, whoever assumes he can accomplish
what he is seeking by unIslaamic means and methodologies, then his efforts are lost
and his wealth and reputation have gone to ruin.

Istiqamah necessitates hard work. We have to put forth tremendous effort. It is not
something easily attained.

Allaah says:

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This day, I have perfected your religion for you.
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The religion is PERFECT.

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And completed My Favor upon you.
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COMPLETE Favor.

.,

,

And I am pleased with Islaam as your religion.
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6
Sooratul-Maa.idah (5):3

7
Ibid
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Allaah is PLEASED with us that we have Islaam as our deen.

So what do you mean you do not have time for certain aspects of Islaam? And you say
you have culture? You say you are one whose culture is progressive?! You are not
progressive! You are astray! You are not one who has achieved anything! You are
one who is lost! Because Islaam is perfect. These distractions have no benefit for you
in the akhiraa. These things don't mean ANYTHING when you meet Allaah! They
might be something against you. But NOTHING in your favor! They might be your
detriment. But nothing to your benefit. So we have to leave alone these things.

How many of the Muslims are so obsessed with pop culture?! Following [the news of]
this entertainer and that entertainer. Where is the benefit in that?! When you meet
Allaah, how will that benefit you on Yawm al-Qiyamah?!
When you die in your grave, are the angels going to come to you and ask: 'Who won
the super bowl?' 'Who won the soccer finale?' 'Who won the world cup?' They do not
ask you because it is not important.

Just like they do not come to you and ask: 'Who is your favorite entertainer?' 'Who
were they married to?' 'Why did they get divorced?' They do not ask you that because
it does not matter.

When they come to you, they ask you: "Who is your Lord?" "What is your religion?"
"Who was your Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam)?" That is what is important.
So, how come on a day-to-day basis, you're not worrying about that? How come on a
day-to-day basis, we're not looking into that which is important?

You are not going to become upright worrying about what he said, she said; what they
are doing or how they are doing it! You will attain istiqamah by looking after what will
benefit you when you meet Allaah. Anything shy of that, you are fooling yourselves!

If you are addicted to Twitter and all you are worrying about is doing this and that,
you are fooling yourselves! If you are addicted to the tabloids, worrying about who
is doing what, you are fooling yourselves! If many months have gone by, and you
have not read the Qur`aan, you are fooling yourselves! If many months have gone

8
Ibid
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by, and you have not read from the Sunnah, you are fooling yourselves! If many
months have gone and you have not read the biographies of the companions, so that
you know what to be like and what they are upon, you are fooling yourselves! If
many months have gone by, and you are a stranger to the circles of knowledge, you
are fooling yourselves! Say what you want, but you are fooling yourselves!
Let us not be distracted. Let us remember what benefits us. Let us remember what
will help us attain Jannah. Let us strive and be diligent upon that. Let us build our
relationship based upon that. Let us love each other for Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta`aala).
Let us run away from those distracting things. Let us run away from those things that
will hurt us when we meet Allaah. Let us run away from those things that we will
regret on Yawm al-Qiyamah. Let us learn be amongst those who are truly striving to be
upon istiqamah. Let us be around those who enjoin good and forbid us from evil. We
have to help each other.

We have to strive. We have to want the good for ourselves and our brothers.