Ahmed Salim Jn

Shahwah (desire or lower appetite) is the general expression of all lower desires. Some of the lower appetites can pose a very strong temptation towards forbidden pleasures. The powerful urge at times affects people to a degree that it makes them even ignore the threat of divine punishment. Otherwise, who would aspire to harams in the face of all the torment that will follow? No one. If there were no enjoyment in haram things, there would be no meaning of testing. No one is tempted to something that isn’t attractive. Is there any intelligent person who hungrily tries to eat soil? Is it possible for a sane person to gnaw wood with pleasure? That’s why Allah has connected certain forbidden things to our natural lusts and desires. The issues on which this feature intensifies and attracts people the most are generally gathered around the following three points: • Wealth • Fame • Desire These three issues are the three places where the lower self can easily overcome our spiritual s...

It is bravery. It is to use power with a high will, in its proper place and to the extent necessary. It is not to go to extremes in punishment. It is to eliminate the weakness of being defeated by the ego by being enraged. As it is stated in the Hadith, “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who overcomes his anger.’’ (Bukhari, Adab, 102; Muslim, Birr, 106-108) ®Jn Salim ✍️

This is cowardice. The ugliest kind of cowardice is the one shown in the face of the enemy and the oppressor. It is necessary to fear Allah in order to eliminate cowardice. The fear of mortal beings decreases as the fear of Allah increases and eventually all other fears lose their power. For example, the Pride of the Universe PBUH, used to send letters of invitation to Islam to various kings. When he asks, ‘Who will take this letter?’ Many young people used to come forward and say, ‘O Messenger of Allah let this honor belong to me!’ They didn’t think, ‘How will I cross these deserts, how will I read this letter in front of the executioners who look at the eye of the kings?’ They would set out with a great strength of faith. They would stand upright in the presence of the kings and would not feel any fear from the cruel glances of the executioners. They would read the Prophet’s letter of invitation to Islam with dignity even putting their lives at risk.  The love of the Messenger ha...

It is being angry uncontrollably, which is called rage. This is the bane of the mind because when anger comes, the mind leaves. In this respect, the worst influencer that weakens the positive and ideal mind is anger. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of murders and cruelties occurred as a result of a moment of anger.  Indeed, it has been said, ‘Anger darkens the sight when it comes and it reddens the face when it leaves.’ When Abu Darda RA said to The Prophet PBUH, ‘Teach me something that will make me enter Paradise!’ The Pride of the Universe said, ‘Don’t get angry!’ (Bukhari, Adab, 76; Tirmidhi, Birr, 73). Again, the Prophet PBUH advised those who became angry to make wudu, to sit if they were standing and to lie down if they were sitting, which means to change their situation.  ®Jn Salim ✍️

 At the Boundary of the Mind Philosophers prioritize reason before everything and the result is they go  astray. Theologians work with reason within the field of revelation, but they  also get stuck at a certain point. For this reason, the Muslims (who submits their will to Allah's will)reach the perfection of servitude with submission where the power of intellect ends because Islam is named after submission. In this respect, the Muslims  do not enter into disputes with Allah,  since they continue on their way by surrendering to Allah, the Prophet and the  Book of Allah. The devil was the first one who disputed with Allah due to an excess in the force of the intellect stemming from his arrogance. He could not comprehend the inadequacy of his mind and opposed the command of Allah, he said, ‘I am superior to Adam.’ However, Allah didn’t ask him, ‘Are you superior or Adam?’ He only commanded him to obey. In the same way today, saying, ‘It  cannot be other...

It is the state of the mind to be in divine balance in a way that is safe from all kinds of excess and understatement, extremism and laxity. In other words, reason is acceptable when it surrenders to the guidance of revelation. It is to have knowledge of the divine secrets and wisdoms displayed in the Qur’an and the universe. For this reason, it is necessary to use the mind within the limits determined by the revelation. Just as the eye has a certain distance to be able to see and the ear of hearing, the mind undoubtedly has a limited distance to perceive. The reason is useless once it goes beyond that limit. Just as a person cannot breathe outside of the atmosphere, the mind falls into the same situation once it leaves its own field. Thinking that the mind can grasp everything is similar to believing that a small scale can weigh mountains. Fact I: “Reason is essential and necessary for human beings, but man must be wise enough to understand that reason is limited.” Every believer must...

Deficiency in using the intellect is stupidity. Such a mind is foolish, confused and it lacks understanding. The greatest manifestation of this stupidity in this mortal life is to prefer this temporary world to the hereafter. In other words, the mind that has left the hereafter aside, no matter how clever it is in this world, it is essentially stupid. Prophet Isa AS, became friends with someone. One day, they came across a pile of bones on their way. That person immediately said, ‘O Isa! Please teach me that sublime name (Ism al-Adham) so that I revive those bones and bring them to life.’ Prophet Isa warned him by saying, ‘Do not try to do things that are beyond your power, know your limits! Give up such stupid demands!” This time the man said, ‘O Isa, then you recite it so that I can see their resurrection.’ Astonished at the folly of this wish Prophet Isa murmured:"O Lord, what is this, He wants to resurrect the bones even though he is (spiritually) dead!” Advice, warnings and r...

There are four divine manifestations: 1. Both good at the internal and external level 2. Both bad at the internal an external level, 3. Good at the external level but bad at the internal level, 4. Bad in appearance but good at the internal level. 1. Both good at the internal and external level; A great generation that became a sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity) and khayrul khalef (dutiful descents) to their parents by using all their means in the way of Allah, such as strength, health, knowledge, halal wealth… 2. Both bad at the internal an external level; Worldly troubles and calamities such as illness or bankruptcy that lead a person to disobedience and spiritual disasters… 3. Good at the external level but bad at the internal level;A newborn child that was welcomed with joy becomes a heavy calamity  to his parents by becoming an unbeliever in the future, wealth that spoils its owner with arrogance, knowledge that brings pride, position/rank that leads to arrogance, etc… 4. Bad in...

 The activation of certain hormones or brain functions in a person’s body while committing a crime are also facts that shed light on the training of the will. Man acts with three basic forces:  1. Quwwayi Aqliyya or the force of intellect 2. Quwwayi Ghadhabiyya or the force of anger 3. Quwwayi Shahwiyya or the of the force of desires. The importance of bringing these three elements to the point of moderation is by getting rid of excess and infringement.  Excess in the Intellect: In its most succinct terms; over-reliance on reason, overestimating it, and immodesty. It is to idolize the intellect by not evaluating it within its real limits and abilities. It is an attempt to connect everything to the mind and its power. However, the reason is a tool. It is like a double-edged sword. It can be used for both good and evil. It is a vehicle, so the important thing is where it takes you.  Therefore, acting on the basis of reason tarred with egoism leaves a person in the arms...

Real contentment and submission is that the servant doesn’t lose his good thoughts, love and pleasure with his Lord with a heart always devoted to Allah Almighty, no matter what the outcome may be. Our Blessed Prophet PBUH went to Taif to call the people to the truth, and he was met with a very harsh response. They mocked and insulted him and threw stones at him. He was only concerned for their eternal salvation and he said, “O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and the humiliation I have been subjected to by the people. O Most Merciful of the merciful. So long as You are not angry with me, I do not mind what You do with me. I desire Your pleasure and satisfaction until You are well pleased.” (Ibn Hisham II, 29-30) Allah is pleased with His righteous servants who are content with His decree. Our Lord indicates: “Nothing occurs, either in the earth or in yourselves except, without its being in the Book before We make it happen. That is something easy for A...

This advice could help us to be more content with our Lord. For example, a poor person should say to his heart; “Whatever Allah has ordained for me is the best for me. If I was rich, maybe I would waste my life by falling into Qarun’s situation. I would fall into wastefulness and go astray, and I would not be able to account for my lifestyle…” As a matter of fact, when they used to ask Umar Ibn Abdulaziz (Allah have mercy on him);”- What do you like?” he used to say;”- I only like my destiny.”  For example, someone who does not have a child can find peace and  consolation by contemplating; “Aisha RA had no children and she never complained.  As in the story of Khidr AS reported in Surah Kahf, maybe it would not be good for me if I had a son. My patience with submission to deprivation is of course a greater source of reward for me.” The increasing psychological disturbances of our era mostly arise from being discontent with one’s place in life and resulting, conflicts and ...