بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
1) Ponder over the signs of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and it will build tawheed and yaqeen (reliance in Allah).
2) Ponder over the blessings of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and it will build love for Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and gratitude.
We should look at what and how much Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has given us. He has provided us with more than sufficient food, shelter, a family, clothing and the ability to worship. We must realize that all worship; the fasts which we kept, the salaat and taraweeh which we prayed, the Qur’an which we recited, the dhikr which we uttered, the care which we took of our parents, the nights which we stood and the du’as which we cried are all blessings from Allah (سبحانه و تعالى).
3) Ponder over the promises of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and it will bring attachment (رغبة).
4) Ponder over the warnings of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and it will build fear of Allah (هيبة).
This fear is not like the fear person has from a killer or a gangster. This fear is the fear which comes out of greatness and the high status of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). Usually when a big sheikh comes and he is around us then we are more humble and quite near him, when we talk to him then we stutter and when we pray then we make sure it’s in the best of manner. We are extra careful because we don’t want him to see us doing something wrong or to hear us saying something wrong. This fear is not because he will give us one two if he finds out a mistake in our actions but it’s because of the high status which he has. The same is the fear of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) in this point.
5) Ponder over your shortcomings in pleasing Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and it will bring humility.
What is the condition of the ‘ibadah which we do; how much concentration do we have our salaat, in which arkaan (position) do we remember Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), how much of ‘ibadah resembles the ‘ibadah of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم), on which nights did we feel like standing in front of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and pray taraweeh and tahajjud or did it feel like a burden, how much of our time did we waste in playing games, chatting with friends, sleeping long long hours and just lofting and how much time did we spent pleasing Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), what was the condition of our recitation of Qur’an. We should compare our actions and ‘ibadah with that of the sahabah (رضي الله عنهم), at what level was their ‘ibadah and how much did they strive to please Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) compared to the provisions and means which they had and how much are we striving with the provisions and means which Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has given us.
May Allah give us all the ability to bring these points into practice. May he grant us his love and the love of his Rasul (صلى الله عليه و سلم, and May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) give us the desire for His deen. Ameen
From Al-Munabihaat Ala Al-Istia’daadi Li yaumir Al-Mia’aadi, By: Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalan
