Baseerath

It is reported that Ibrahim ibn Adham {May Allah have mercy upon him} once passed through the market of Basrah. People gathered around him and asked: O Abu Ishaq, Allah the Exalted says in His Book.  ‘Call on me, I will answer your prayers’, but we have been calling on Him for a long time and He does not answer our prayers.  He replied, “O people of Basrah, Iraq; your hearts have died in respect to ten things. 1} First, you know Allah but you do not give Him His rights 2} Second, you have read the Book of Allah, but you do not act by it 3} Third, you claim to love the Messenger of Allah {Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him} yet you abandon his Sunnah. 4} Fourth, you claim to be enemies to Shaytan, but you conform to his ways. 5} Fifth, you say you love Paradise, yet you do not work for it. 6} Sixth, you say you fear The Fire, yet you put yourselves closer to it by sinning. 7} Seventh, you say death is true, but you do not pr...

Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullâh - says: Firstly: Reciting the Qur‘ân, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent. Secondly: Drawing closer to Allâh - the Most High - through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties. Thirdly: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allâh, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs - under all circumstances. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah develops and intensifies. Fourthly: Giving precedence to what Allâh loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires. Fifthly: Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allâh. Sixthly: Recognising and remembering the favours and bounties of Allâh - both the manifest and hidden. Seventhly: To be humble and submissive before Allâh - and this is the greatest matter. Eightly: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur‘ân, during that time in which Allâh descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night...