FATWA: ADVICE
By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله
Question: What is your advice for a youth at the beginning of the path of Al-Istiqaamah (uprightness)
The response: Our Advice for this youth who's inclined to correctness in shaa Allaah:
First: That he ask Allaah for firmness (constantly) and for correctness.
Second: That he read the Qur’an in abundance with reflection, because the Qur’an for him will have a great affect on the heart. When the person reads it with reflection .
Third: That he restricts himself upon sticking to obedience and don’t lean or become lazy. For indeed the Prophet صلى الله عليه و على آله و سلم sought refuge from being weak and lazy.
Fourth: That he restricts himself upon making friends with the best companions and be far from accompanying the evil companions.
Fifth: That he advise himself while it has an affect upon him, and that it says to him: ” indeed this is long range, the path is long” therefore advising himself for firmness; because the jannah is surrounded with deception and the Naar is surrounded with desires. (1)
Six: That he stays far from the companions of evil Even if it was a prior companion; because the evil companionship has an (negative) affect on him and due to this the Prophetصلى الله عليه و سلم said: ” the evil siting is like the blower of bellows (black smith) either he burns your clothing or either you find a smell from him that is offensive.”(2)
Source:لقاء الباب المفتوح (70/ 23) الشيخ: محمد بن صالح العثيمين -رحمه الله-
Translator: Abu Abdil-Haadee Khaleel Davis
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(1) The shaykh is refering to the hadeeth found in Saheeh Muslim and Bukhari with another wording. قَوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: حُفَّتِ الْجَنَّةُ بِالْمَكَارِهِ، وَحُفَّتِ النَّارُ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ ـ هَكَذَا رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ: حفت ـ ووقع في البخاري: حفت ـ ووقع فيه أَيْضًا: حُجِبَتْ ـ وَكِلَاهُمَا صَحِيحٌ.
(2)The whole hadeeth as reported by Bukharee and Muslim رحمهم الله on the authority of Abi Musa al-Ash'ari رضى الله عنه is as follows: إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الجليس الصالحُ والجليسُ السوءِ كحامِلِ المسك، ونافخِ الكِيْرِ فحاملُ المسك: إِما أن يُحْذِيَكَ، وإِما أن تبتاع منه، وإِمَّا أن تجِدَ منه ريحا طيِّبة، ونافخُ الكير: إِما أن يَحرقَ ثِيَابَكَ، وإِما أن تجد منه ريحا خبيثَة أخرجه البخاري ومسلم عن أبي موسى الأشعري
