Thariqus Shalihin – Entering Heaven By Fearing Allah (Part 1 of 6)

Entering Heaven By Fearing Allah (Part 1 of 6)

Translated from: Thariqus Shaliheen by Ust. Anshari Taslim (may Allah preserve him), Chapter I: Iman and Aqeedah

Translator: Fajri Matahati Muhammadin

Picture yourself on a small boat, paddling through a deep river at night in the middle of a forest. There is no light, and you know the river has tons of crocodiles. Then, your boat sunk. Very tall trees stand on your right, and an even taller and un-climbable cliff stands on your left. You have neither friends nor tools to help you, except your very self desperately trying to reach the shores and you can hear the movements of more than one crocodiles closing in around you.

That, my brothers and sisters, is just in the world. Imagine facing the afterlife, where ahead of you lies the deepest pits of hell fire because of all your sins! Nobody stands in your defense, and no lawyer could help you here. No kind of wordplay or bribery can do you any good. There are no NGO where you can seek for assistance to, and no social media where you can complain at.

Hasan Al-Bashri (rahimahullah) was once asked, “How are you today?”

He answered, “You ask how I am?! What do you say of a group of people sailing in the middle of the ocean in a ship, then the ship was torn apart, and each of the people had to hang on a mere piece of wood. Can you imagine how scared they would be?”

The questioner replied, “Yes, they must be terrified!”

Hasan continued, “I am in a graver state than them!”[1]

Hasan Al-Bashri’s fear is towards Allah’s azhab or punishment, and how he fears death because he feels that he has prepared so little for the afterlife. He feels that the fate of the people hanging on the piece of wood in the ocean is less terrifying than his own state.

Astaghfirullah, why is it so easy for us to commit sin and how sloppy and lazy we are in good deeds and worship? Will we not realize our mistake until we share the fate of the man who’s ship sunk in the middle of the ocean and that there is no hope to be rescued?

[1] This story was narrated by Al-Ghazali in Ihya’ Ulum Ad-Din, Juz IV, p.128

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Notes From the Translator

General Notes:

Probably I shall just repeat the general note in the previous Thariqus Shalihin translation:

Translations for texts of hadeeth and Qur’an are taken from credible English translations (M. Marmaduke Pickthall for the Qur’an, and www.sunnah.com forhadeeth from the as-Sittah).

The other notes I make below (and for future translations of Thariqus Shalihin) is not intended to be some sort of academic commentary, as I am no scholar and definitely not in the position to make such commentary. However, these are just some thoughts that came to my mind when reading the text so I just thought I should share them (since its my blog anyway)

A physical copy of this book (in Bahasa Indonesia) can be purchased for Rp. 80.000,- (excluding delivery costs). Kindly contact Ust. Anshari Taslim directly through his facebook account to place your order.

Note 1:

Some arrogant atheists think that when they die and face Allah (although not directly, because we know that only the best of people will be able to see Allah in the afterlife. I mean facing His wrath), they will start blaming Allah for all the calamities in the world.

Look at Stephen Fry. When asked “what will you say to God if you die and you find out that He exists?”, he replied “Bone cancer in children? Whats that about?” and continues to ‘judge’ Allah for all the suffering in the world, seemingly and arrogantly without any fear. Check the full interview here.

Check all the verses that describe what hell fire is like. If Stephen Fry actually dies as a kaafir, he will be too busy begging Allah for a second chance (see Surah Al An’am ayat 27). But will he get this second chance? No.

Spend all your arrogance in this world, and lets see what happens.

Note 2:

Just an additional point I wish to make. When you are actually facing The Judgment, not only that you cannot bribe or find a lawyer. You cant even blame Iblees! Allah says in Surah Ibrahim ayat 22:

وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَڪُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِى‌ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓاْ أَنفُسَڪُم‌ۖ مَّآ أَنَا۟ بِمُصۡرِخِڪُمۡ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِىَّ‌ۖ إِنِّى ڪَفَرۡتُ بِمَآ أَشۡرَڪۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

“And Satan saith, when the matter hath been decided: Lo! Allah promised you a promise of truth; and I promised you, then failed you. And I had no power over you save that I called unto you and ye obeyed me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can ye help me, Lo! I disbelieved in that which ye before ascribed to me. Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom.”

You’re on your own, mate!!

Note 3:

Look at how Hasan al-Bashri (rahimahullah) really fears the punishment of Allah, and how much he feels unprepared for the afterlife. This is THE Hasan Al-Bashri, one of the very well renowned scholars of the tabi’een, yet he fears so much! Think about ourselves. It may seem that we are soooooo far below these people. I have cited in a the previous part of Thariqus Shalihin, another statement of Hasan Al-Bashri about hypocrisy. Do we feel safe despite doing so little?

Ibn Abi Mulaykah (rahimahullah) mentioned that he has met THIRTY SAHABAH (including ‘Aaisha, Umm Salamah, Ali bin Abi Thalib, Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas, Abdullah ibn Mas’uud, Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, Abdullah ibn Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and also others, radhiAllaahu ‘anhuma!). They are among the most pious people after the Prophets, yet they still fear of hypocrisy! How about us?

Note 4:

Please make du’a for me so I can settle my (tedious amount of) affairs and find time to translate the next parts

OTHER PARTS OF THARIQUS SHALIHIN

Chapter I : Imaan and Aqeedah

1. Iman and Islam: The Main Road to Jannah

2. The Believing Sinner can Enter Jannah?

3. Entering Heaven By Fearing Allah (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3), (Part 4), (Part 5), (Part 6),