Our sins are weighing us down – Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

Allah the Exalted said:

وَوَضَعْنَا عَنْكَ وِزْرَكَ

And We removed from you your burden

(Soorah As Sharh verse 2)

َوَضَعْنَا عَنْكَ

Meaning: We removed, pardoned, forgave, and disregard.

وِزْرَكَ

Your burden

Meaning: your sins

الَّذِي أَنْقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ

Which weighed down your back

Meaning that Allah the Exalted forgave the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم his sins and mistakes to the extent that he was completely forgiven.

The result: Allah the Exalted forgave the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم for his sins and He explained that these sins had been weighing down his back, meaning they had been hard and tiring upon him.

Thus if this was the sins of the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام then how about the sins of other than him?!

Our sins weigh down our backs. Our sins are hard upon us and tire us out but it is as though we are not carrying anything, it is as though we are not carrying anything at all; this due to the weakness of our faith, and our lack of insight. We ask Allah to encompass us with His forgiveness.

Some narrations have mentioned that the believer, when he commits a sin it becomes like a mountain hovering over his head.

As for the hypocrite, when he commits a sin it becomes like a fly that landed on his nose thus he swipes at it, meaning it does not concern him.

So the believer is concerned with his sins, thus he attaches importance to his sins until he can free himself from them by way of repentance and seeking forgiveness or by performing noble good deeds that will erase the traces of his sins.

And you; if you find your heart heedless concerning your sins then know that your heart is sick. Because it is not possible for the heart which is alive to be pleased with illness and the illness of the heart is sins.

As Abdullah ibn Al Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him said:

I found that sins kill the hearts

And they bring about humiliation by being addicted to them

And abandoning sin gives life to the hearts

And it is better for your soul that you disobey it

At any rate I say, it is obligatory upon us, and I direct this statement to myself and I ask Allah to assist me upon this before I ask Him to assist you. I direct this to myself before I direct it towards you. And I hope for Allah to assist us all.

I say, it is obligatory upon us to be concerned with our souls and to take them to account.

And if the merchant does not go to sleep until he reviews his book of sales; reviewing what he sold, what he spent and what he earned, then surely it is upon the merchant of the next life to be even more concerned because the commerce is greater.

The commerce of the people of this world, what does it benefit them?

Most of the benefits, if it benefits them, will only bring harm to their bodies.

This type of commerce causes a lot of anxiety and stress, if he loses merchandise this causes him stress, and if he is in his country in fear of the highway robbers or the thieves, this causes even more stress.

But the commerce of the next life is the opposite of this.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ، تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Oh you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous torment?

That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if you but knew!

He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow

(Soorah As Saff verses 10, 11, and 12)

Safety from the punishment, Allah forgiving him for his sins, and entrance into paradise. Gardens of Eden meaning gardens of eternity.

وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ

Beautiful mansions in gardens of eternity

Mansions which are beautiful in the manner in which they are constructed and beautiful in the material used to construct them.

Do you think the material used to construct the mansions in paradise is cement and gravel? No!

As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Two paradises with gold utensils and everything in them is gold. And two paradises with silver utensils and everything in them is silver.

I swear by Allah, if a person were to remain prostrating from the time he reached puberty until he died, this would be a small price to pay for such a great treasure.

Or if there were no other reward other than the person being saved from the fire this would be enough.

Sometimes a person will contemplate and they will say, ‘I wish I was never born’.  Or, ‘It will be sufficient for me if I can be saved from the fire’.

Take for example Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه he said, ‘I wish I could have been an uprooted tree, I wish my mother had never given birth to me.’

This is because the individual is afraid.

He could think that he is safe now, because he prays and fast, gives charity, performs Hajj, and honors his parents and things like this.

But there could be in his heart—and we ask Allah for safety and security—some type of hatred that leads him to an evil end; and refuge is sought with Allah.

As the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ

Verily one of you will perform the actions of the people of paradise until there does not remain between him and it except for an arms span.

Meaning the time span before his death and it does not mean the span of his actions because all of his actions are in vain.

He, ‘performs the actions of the people of paradise according that what is apparent to the people while (in reality) he is from the people of the fire’; as appears in an authentic narration.

His statement: Until there does not remain between him and it except for an arms span; does not mean that his actions take him close to paradise. No, the meaning is, until he does not remain upon it except for a short period of his life and then he performs the actions of the people of the fire thus he enters it. But this is if the actions of the person were performed for the sake of the people.

As the Messenger of Allah عليه الصلاة والسلام said:

إن الرجل ليعمل بعمل أهل الجنة فيما يبدو للناس وهو من أهل النار

Verily a person will perform the actions of the people of paradise, according to what is apparent to the people while he is from the people of the fire.

If a person comes across this type of text he fears for himself. He fears showing off. He fears being impressed by himself. He fears from being presumptuous over Allah with his actions.

Thus we ask Allah the Blessed and Exalted to protect us and you all from the evil of our actions. Oh Allah we seek refuge in you from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our actions; we seek Your forgiveness and to You we turn in repentance.

 Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee

إلى كل خجولٍ في وقتٍ يُحتاج فيه إلى جرءة To all timid at a time when they should be brave‏

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله و بركاته

 

The Noble Student of Our Noble Father The Great Scholar A-Shaikh Al-Fuzan, Shaikh Jamal Al-Frayhan wrote this excellent reminder and appeal to those who are keeping quiet about the affair of Damaj and the Jihad against the houtis.

 

After the Islamic greeting, The Shaikh started by saying:

 

 

"To all timid at a time when they should be brave
In light of the attacks waged by the houthi on our brothers the PURE Sunnis in the north of Yemen and the siege they suffered at their hand; we do not find support from the Sunnis to them neither with money or weapon nor a treatment for their wounded, not even a word is heard in international political forums to say the least, except few.
Why is that, the people are ashamed to show  help to our brothers the Sunnis, the protectors of the country and the protectors of the people in the north of Yemen, in fact the protectors of the people of the Gulf states from the attacks  of the corrupt houthi the tails (followers) of  Shiites the majus?

  

Why is that the people are ashamed of showing support to our brothers the Sunnis by aiding them with money, weapons,  medicines, food supply and make their cause to be known openly and well ?
Why is that bank accounts are opened to help the people of Syria- May Allaah give them victory over the tyrant- yet the hands are hold tight when it come to donate to our brothers the Sunnis in the north of Yemen?
Why is that committees are set to help and announced to intervene to deliver aid to the people of Syria, while the doors are closed when it comes to deliver aid to the Sunnis in the north of Yemen?
The Sunni children in the north of Yemen are they not vulnerable and overwhelmed (by their enemies), like the children of Syria?
Is it racial discrimination .... Or political discrimination??

In the other hand the country of rafidah who sponsors and spreads corruption and crime;we do not find them shy of reaching out to their loyal followers in any place and any time no matter how remote they might be.
Here is an Iranian ship carrying weapons in the port of Hodeidah on the way to the port of Maidi, loaded with different types of weapons, including mortars, launchers and armor to support the houtis.
The one (i.e. iran) who supports Syria, is the same one that stands and supports the Houthis in Yemen.

Is there any one to take notice????????

O Allah bear witness

written by Jamal Freehan Al-Hariti

 

 

Wednesday 23 / 03 / 1433 H"

 

Mourad 06/04/1433

27/02/2012

 

 

 

 

إلى كل خجولٍ في وقتٍ يُحتاج فيه إلى جرءة

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله

في ظل الهجمات الحوثية على إخواننا أهل السنة الخُلّص في شمال اليمن وحصارهم لهم؛ لا نجد المساندة من أهل السّنة لهم لا بمال ولا سلاح ولا علاج لجرحاهم، ولا حتى بالكلمة المسموعة في الآفاق ـ المحافل الدولية ـ كموقف سياسي على أقل تقدير ـ ونستثني النزر اليسير ـ .

لمـــــــاذا هذا الخجل من إظهار الموقف المشَرّف ، ولماذا تقبضون أيديك لمد يد العون لإخوانكم أهل السنة حماة البلاد والعباد في شمال اليمن ـــ بل هم حماة أهل دول الخليج كافّة ـــ من المعتدين المفسدين الحوثيين أذناب الشيعة الرافضة المجوس ؟

لمـــــــاذا الخجل المطبق في دعم إخوانكم أهل السنة بالمال والسلاح والأدوية والمواد الغذائية والكلمة وإظهار قضيتهم إظهاراً مستحقا ؟

لمـــــــاذا فُتحت الحسابات البنكية لمساعدة أبناء سوريا ـ نصرهم الله على الطاغية ـ علانية؛ بينما تكبلت الأيدي عن التبرعات لإخواننا أهل السنة في شمال اليمن ؟

لمـــــــاذا أُعلنت اللجان والدعوات للتبرع لأبناء سوريا في بعض البلدان اليوم، بينما الأبواب مؤصدة لإيصال حفنة أو رزمة من المال لأهل السنة في شمال اليمن ؟

أليـــــــس أبناء شمال اليمن من أهل السنة مستضعفين مغلوبين على حالهم مثلهم مثل أبناء سوريا ؟

هـــــــل هي التفرقة العنصرية .... أم التفرقة السياسية ؟؟


بينما نجد دولة الرفض والراعية لنشر الفساد والجريمة؛ لا تخجل من مد يدها لأي أحد من أهل الولاء لها في أي مكان وأي زمان مهما بعُدت الشُّقة.

فهذه سفينة تنقل أسلحة إيرانية في ميناء الحديدة في طريقها إلى ميناء ميدي، محملة بمختلف أنواع الأسلحة بما فيها قاذفات الهاون والقناصات ومضادات الدروع لدعم الحوثيين.

إنّ الذي يساند سوريا ويقف معها وخلفها؛ هو نفسه الذي يقف ويساند الحوثيين في اليمن .


فهل من مدكر ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟


اللهم اشهد


كتبه الاخ الفاضل الشيخ
أبو فريحان جمال بن فريحان الحارثي بارك الله في علمه
الأربعاء 23/ ربيع الأول/1433هـ

Encouragement to have Affection & Friendliness... [Shaykh Rabee bin Haadee al-Madkhalee]‏

The Noble Shaikh Mohammad bin Hadi, endorses more of the Jihad against the houtis and requests to help them‏

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله و بركاته

 

 

For those who are honestly and sincerely interested to what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Damaj and to what is happening to our brave soldiers in Wa-eelah and its allies, then here is an excellent answers to three questions from the battle field sent to The Noble Shaikh Mohammad bin Hadi (May Allaah Almighty preserve him and reward him greatly), listen to the audio on the link below you can too find this recording on Sahab.

 

The summary of The Shaikh's answers is as follows:

 

The Shaikh stated after answering a fiqh question related to someone with business partners, how should he deal with them if he wants to participate in the Jihad, The Shaikh mentioned that He has not changed his Fatwah on the Jihad, eventhough that the siege is lifted from Damaj

 

The Shaikh praises the people of Damaj and the Mujahideen in Wa-eelah and Kateef and he call them the "camp of people of Tawheed and Sunnah..etc..."

 

The Shaikh emphasised on aiding the Mujahideen and He stated that it is NOT permissible to let the Mujahideen-  who are fighting the houtees - down, and all kind of help and aids must be giving to them.

 

The Shaikh stated houtis have accepted the cease-fire with Damaj because they know that The people of Damaj and the people of Wa-eelah are strong, regardless of their small number or less equipment. The Shaikh is well happy about the victories accomplished by the Mujahideen.  

 

The Shaikh stated that The People Of Damaj and Wa-eelah are people of Sunnah and Tawheed and that it is NOT permissible to let them down.

 

He requested that we make Du'ah for them and we aid them with all what we can.

 

The third question was about some advises in regards to how to deal and how to allow the non-salafi to fight with the Salafi, The Shaikh stated that it is not permissible:

 

- to give the non-salafi any leadership in Jihad

- to allow them to speak, or preach their Da'wah

- to allow them to take this opportunity to further their agenda.

 

but if the above conditions are met than there is no-harm in them fighting with the Salafi, because the matter is between Islam and kufr i.e. Islam and heretic houtis.

 

The Shaikh concluded his answers by making Du'a for the Mujahideen.

 

http://aloloom.net/listen.php?actn=fatawa&id=239

 

How come that we do not see the speech of The Shaikh and other Mashaikh translated into English and put on the non-Arabic sites, bearing in mind that all what we provide is voice recorded of our Noble Scholars, yet any testimony reported without voice recording or it is meant as a general advise by our Scholars is utilised in the favours to defend oneself ??!!

 

Ahlu-Sunnah accepts the testimony of the reliable but my point is that how come it is only accepted by some brothers when it is in their favours, but if it is against them they put all kind of obstacles, and why is that the clarification is not sought from our Scholars as the testimony is sought?!

 

 

Mourad

 

05/04/1433

26/02/2012

Giving Salaam to One Person (As-Salaamu Alayk)

Giving Salaam to One Person (As-Salaamu Alayk)


By Shaykh AL-Uthaymeen (may Allah rest him in Jannah)


Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen was asked about the description of Salaam.


He (may Allah have mercy upon him) answered by saying,” Say As-salaamu

Alayk if you are greeting one person and As-Salaamu- Alaykum if you

are greeting a group of people. The proof for this is found in the

hadeeth about the man who came to the masjid and didn’t pray

correctly. After finishing he went to Allah’s messenger (peace and

blessings be upon him) and said, “As-Salaamu Alayk ya Rasulallah”-

Peace be on to you oh Messenger of Allah. The Prophet (peace and

blessings be upon him) returned the greetings. Then he(peace and

blessings be upon him)said,” Redo your prayer; as you didn’t pray

correctly.”[1]


Now if you are giving the greetings to two people then say,”

As-salaamu Alaykum. It is permissible to greet two people using the

plural tense. And if you are greeting your mother how would you greet

her? Say As-salaamu Alaykee ya ummi-peace be on you mommy. Why?

Because whenever you talk to a female the Kaf (كِ ) takes a kasra.


If you entered in a room and greeted your aunts and there were four or

five of them, how would you greet them? You would say,” As-salaamu

Alaykunna wa Rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu.” The Kaf (ك ) follows suit

to the person being addressed .i.e (ك, كم, كن )


How does a Muslim reply to someone who says to him “ As-salaamu

Alaykum wa Rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu, or Salaamu Alayk. The person

responds by saying,” As-salaamu Alayk wa Rahmahtullahi wa

barakatahu.” as well. There is no harm in doing this. It is important

to say As-Salaamu Alayk. Is it wrong to say,” Alaykumus Salaam wa

rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu? Does a person say it with the wa ( و ) or

without it? To say it either way is fine, but it is better to say “Wa

alaykum As-salaam.”


What do we say about the person who replies to our greeting with

greetings like; “Welcome, May Allah preserve you come in, Today is a

happy day, This is one of the best days, or May Allah grant you

success, increase your knowledge, piety and guidance etc. Are these

legitimate replies to the greeting-As-salaamu alaykum? Even though he

extended a reply; I say (Shaykh Uthaymeen) if a person filled up the

earth with every reply possible it could never take the place of

“Alaykus salaam”. And while replying without this word he is a sinner.

To reply with Salaam or one better is an obligation for the Muslim.

This is taken from Allah’s verse,


وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا


“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is

better than it, or (at least) return it equally.” [ an-Nisa’I 86 ]


Taken from Darus wa Fatawa Al-Haram Al- Madanee by Uthaymeen (1/81)


Translated by Abu Aaliayh Abdullah ibn Dwight Lamont Battle



Doha, Qatar

I Never Missed the Congregation in Forty Years

I Never Missed the Congregation in Forty Years

Al Qaadee ibn Samaa'ah said: For forty years I never missed the first Takbeer of the congregational prayers except on one occasion; my mother died and I missed it. So I got up and prayed twenty seven times in order to make up the reward.

When I slept, it was said to me in my dream; 'Indeed you have prayed, but what about the Angels saying Ameen?'

[i.e. he made up for the reward of the congregation by praying twenty seven times, as the congregational prayer is twenty seven times greater in reward than a prayer on your own, but how is he going to make up for the angels saying Ameen at the same time that the people in congregation say Ameen, as this cannot be made up when one prays on their own.]

On the authority of 'Ubaydullah ibn 'Umar al-Qawareeree , may Allah have mercy upon him, who said: I never used to miss a prayer in congregation, but one time I had a guest and was preoccupied with hosting him so I missed the 'Ishaa at the Masjid. I left to pray with the congregation at the Masjid but found that all the Masaajid had finished the prayer and closed.

I returned home, feeling sad that I missed the congregation; I said to myself; In the Hadeeth it states that a prayer in congregation is better than twenty seventy prayers alone, so I prayed the 'Ishaa twenty seven times.

I went to sleep and saw myself in a dream riding a horse with other people in front of me also riding horses. I pushed my horse to catch up to them but I wasn't able to.

I looked at one of them, he said to me; 'Do not tire your horse, you will not be able to catch up with us!'

I said to him; 'Why, my brother?'

He said; 'Because we prayed the 'Ishaa in congregation and you prayed by yourself.'

So I woke up in a state of sadness and worry.

[Al-Waafee bil Wafayaat by as-Safde: 3/116]

Haatim al Asam said; I missed the prayer in congregation one time, and only Abu Ishaaq al Bukharee gave me his condolences. If a child of mine were to pass away, more than ten thousand people would have given me their condolences; a calamity regarding religion is lighter to the people than a calamity in worldly life.

[Az-Zawaahir 'an Irtikaab al-Kabaa-ir by al-Haythamee: 1/277]

Some Golden Advise of Imaam Muqbil (Rahimahullaah) [Part 2]

Some Golden Advise of Imaam Muqbil (Rahimahullaah) [Part 2]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

(1) It is not enough to shape the Imaamah (round the head) O brothers, but there has to be (seeking) knowledge alongside shaping the Imaamah 

(round the head).

(2) Co-operate all of you in acquiring beneficial knowledge and acting upon it.

(3) Indeed, whoever sticks to the religion and knowledge, Allaah will raise him; also whoever acts upon knowledge, Allaah will raise him.

(4)  The hindrances are many, so it may be that Allaah puts you to the test with an illness and you will not be able to reach knowledge.

(5)  What I advise myself and everyone is pre-occupation with knowledge.  The worries of the worldly life do not have an end; so beware of pre-occupying 

yourselves with the difficulties of life, for had we pre-occupied ourselves with them, we would not have been able to seek knowledge.

(6)  The youth must fear Allaah in their occupations, and they should divert them towards that which is of benefit to Islaam and the Muslims.

(7)  Fear Allaah with regards to your time. Fear Allaah with regards to your time. Fear Allaah with regards to your time.

(8)  The greatest affair that has afflicted the Muslims is ignorance.

(9)  Had you known how much the people are in need of knowledge, you would have strove day and night.

(10)  The person’s concern should not be limited to the people of his land; rather it is incumbent upon a person to know that he is responsible for the world. 

(He is even responsible) regarding a Christian, whilst he remains upon disbelief.

(11)  The caller to (Allaah) is in need of patience, abstinence from the worldly life and endurance.

[Source: 'Al-Bashaa-ir Fis-Samaa-i Al-Mubaashir': Compiler: Abdullah Ibn Ayyaash with the introduction of Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdul-Wahhaab 

Al-Wassaabee]

Some Golden Advice of Imaam Muqbil (rahimahullaah)

Some Golden Advice of Imaam Muqbil (rahimahullaah) [Part 1]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Meerciful The Bestower of Mercy

(1) The study of Tawheed is from the most virtuous affairs of drawing close to Allaah.

(2) Our call with us is more precious than gold and (more precious than) our souls, and (our souls) are more precious than gold.

(3) Argumentation is from the greatest reasons of splitting.

(4) The watered down calls (to Islaam) will not be successful.

(5) It is not permissible for anyone to hurt his brother’s heart.

(6) All the Muslims–arabs, non-arabs, white and black; it is incumbent upon them to be one  united party.

(7) I advise you to out- do the secularists and the socialists.

(8) I advice you to have eagerness in keeping the company of the righteous people.

(9) If you desire well-being, and (if you desire) safety from bewilderment, then I advice you with following the predecessors of ahlus Sunnah wal 

jamaa-ah.

(10) O people of Dammaaj! Acquire knowledge with strength.

(11) I advice the student of knowledge to marry a sunniyyah (i.e. a woman upon the sunnah), so that he can establish a sunni household.

[Source: 'Al-Bashaa-ir Fis-Samaa-i Al-Mubaashir': Compiler: Abdullah Ibn Ayyaash with the introduction of Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdul-Wahhaab 

Al-Wassaabee]

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh Speaks About Twitter‏

The Muftee of Saudi Arabia

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh

Speaks About Twitter in his Friday Sermon in Riyadh (1433/3/4)

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23229742/352183132/name/The%20Muftee%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%20Speaks%20About%20Twitter.pdf

The More One Obeys the More He is Guided...

Shaykh ibn 'Uthaymeen Rahimahullah said: 

"The more a person sticks to Allaah's Legislation the more He, the Most High, will guide him, due to His Saying, ' And He guides them to a Straight Path.' [5:16] So sins are a cause for deviation and obedience and submission are a cause for guidance."

 [Tafseer Soorahtul- Maa'idah, v. 1, p.221.]

The Keys to the Success

The Keys To Paradise 

By Shaykh ul –Islaam Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah as-Salafi -Rahimullaah-

Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
http://followingthesunnah.wordpress.com

Shamsuddeen Muhammad bin Abee Bakr Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah (d.751) -Rahimullaah-said:

Bukhari mentions in his ‘Saheeh’ from Wahab bin Munnabih that it was said to him: ‘Is not ‘La ilaha ‘illa Allaah’ the key to Paradise?’

He said: ‘Of course, however there is no key except that it has teeth, so if a key is brought which has teeth then it will be opened, otherwise it will not open.’

Ibn Qayyim continues:

‘Allaah Subhanahu has placed keys for everything that is necessary, and they open the way, so Allaah made purification the key for prayer, as the Messenger 

-sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:

‘The key to prayer is purification.’ [Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer No.5885] .

Like wise

• Ihram is the key to Hajj,
• Truthfulness is the key to righteousness,
• Tawheed is the key to Paradise,
• Asking good questions and being attentive is the key to knowledge,
• Patience is the key to victory and triumph,
• Gratitude is the key to increase of provision,
• Remembrance of Allaah is the key to having loyalty to Allaah and His love,
• Taqwa (piety) is the key to success,
• Fervent desire and dread of Allaah is the key to being successful,
• Dua’ (Supplicating) is the key to being responded to,
• Zuhd (Abstaining from the luxuries of the world) is the key to desiring the Hereafter,
• Reflecting about that which Allaah calls His slaves to is the key to Eemaan (having faith),
• Making the heart accept Islaam and making it secure for Allaah and having sincerity for Him by having love and hate and fulfilling His commands and leaving the prohibitions is the key to going in front of Allaah,
• Pondering upon the Qur’aan, and imploring Allaah before dawn and not sinning is the key to giving the heart life,
• Being kind to the worshippers of the Creator and striving to benefit His worshippers is the key to obtaining mercy,
• Striving to seek forgiveness from Allaah and Taqwa (piety) is the key to Rizq (provisions),
• Obedience to Allaah and His Messenger is the key to honour,
• Longing for the Hereafter is the key to being prepared for the Hereafter,
• Fervent desire for Allaah and the Hereafter is the key to all goodness,
• Love for the world, continuously longing for it and turning away from the Hereafter is the key to all evil.

This is a great matter from the most beneficial chapters of knowledge, namely knowing the keys to goodness and evil.’

[Taken from: ‘Haadi al-Arwaaha ila Bilaad al-Afraaha’ by Ibn Qayyim vol 1 p.139]