Abdullah Junction

I’ll share benefits from the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, plus insights from scholars throughout Islamic history, for my benefit and insha’Allah yours. I’ll also share reflections and join conversations on character, responsibility, and everyday life. May Allah allow us to benefit from what we learn and share, help us put it into practice, and forgive our shortcomings.

Today I attended the funeral of an old friend’s mother. He is older than me, a strong man whom I had never seen emotional. But losing a mother can bring even the strongest of men to tears. He gave us a reminder that stayed with me: his opportunity to care for his mother in this life had now closed. For some of us, that door is still open. He encouraged us to stay in regular contact with our mothers and fathers. To spend time with them, keep them company and be present in their lives while we still can. After she was lowered into her grave, we began placing the soil over her. He handed some into my hand himself, gently reminding me what to say. There were tears in his eyes, but also a resolve and hope that I could see in his face. Even in that moment, he spoke about what he could still do for her. He recalled the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ explained that when a person dies, their deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who supplicates for them. Sahih Muslim (meaning summarised) He spoke of funding a well on her behalf, giving ongoing charity and continuing to make du‘a for her. He could no longer sit beside her and care for her, but he could still honour her and seek reward for her. I left thinking about how easily we postpone a phone call or a visit, assuming there will be another opportunity. If your parents are still here, make time for them. And if they have passed away, remember them in your du‘a. O Allah, forgive our Muslim parents who have passed away, have mercy upon them, illuminate their graves and admit them into Jannah. Preserve our parents who are still with us, bless their lives in obedience to You and help us care for them with patience and love. Guide our parents who are not yet Muslim to Islam, open their hearts to the truth and grant them a good ending. Ameen.

I recently caught up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a while What began as a catch-up became a heart-to-heart, and something he said has stayed with me He spoke about the last ten years of his life, the sacrifices he had made to get ahead and the things he had hoped those sacrifices would bring him Looking back, he felt betrayed by the very life he had worked so hard to build The cost had been far greater than his time His worship had suffered, friendships had faded and his marriage had come under strain The wake-up call came when he realised he was struggling to maintain his prayers and had almost lost contact with his daughter Then he said something that made me stop and think “Abdullah, don’t let this dunya deceive you the way it deceived me” Hearing that from someone reflecting on ten years of his own life carried a weight that ordinary advice sometimes doesn’t I reminded him of the words of the Prophet ﷺ: “Deeds are judged by their endings” Sahih al-Bukhari His past mattered, but it did not mean the opportunity to change had passed “As long as you’ve still got breath in you, it’s not over yet, we’ve still got a chance to make things right” He smiled, and there was comfort in that moment When I left him, I remembered the verse: “So let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver” Surah Luqman, 31:33 I left thinking about how easily we can count what we are gaining while overlooking what it is costing us A missed prayer, a conversation postponed, a relationship left unattended, each can seem small in the moment, until we look back at the years they have become May Allah bless our efforts in this world, protect us from neglecting what He has entrusted to us and grant us a good ending, Ameen

I’ve been thinking this morning, prompted by some thought-provoking posts and articles from @DaarusSunnah and our brother Hishaam @aitchmk__, about how much we need to look at ourselves and put our own affairs right. How often do we read a reminder and immediately think of someone else who needs it, without first asking what needs to change in us? Allah tells us now what people will say when the reality of the Hereafter becomes clear, including those painful words: “Oh, I wish I had sent ahead (some good) for my life.” Surah al Fajr That word “life” really makes us pause. Imam al Sa‘di (d. 1376 AH) رحمه الله explains in his tafsir that it means the permanent, everlasting life. The dunya is a life we pass through, while the life ahead is the one we should be preparing for. We are being told about that regret while we still have time to do something about it. There are times when we need to address what others are doing, but our own hearts, prayers, character and responsibilities deserve most of our attention. Our families have rights over us, there are faults we need to correct and good deeds we keep putting off. I’m reminding myself first, because being moved by a reminder should lead to something changing in how we live. May Allah help us recognise our faults, sincerely rectify ourselves and use the time we have to prepare for the life that never ends. Ameen.

I’ve been thinking about the battles we face in life. Our open enemy Shaytan works to turn our struggles into disobedience and our failures into despair. This is a lifelong war and every war needs preparation. Al-Hasan al-Basri (d. 110 AH) رحمه الله was asked whether Iblis sleeps. He replied: “If he slept, we would find some relief.” Recorded in al-Zuhd of Imam Ahmad. Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH) رحمه الله said: “Patience repels desires and corrupt intentions. Certainty repels doubts and misconceptions.” Zad al-Ma‘ad. We need to prepare before temptation arrives. Learn our religion. Guard our prayers. Remember Allah. Take seriously what we allow into our hearts. We may lose a battle here and there. We may stumble into something we thought we had overcome. But we must keep repenting and striving. A fall must never become surrender. May Allah protect us from Shaytan and grant us a good ending. That is the victory we cannot afford to lose.

Looking forward InshaAllah for Lesson 3 tonight: Benefits from Lesson 2 (Last Week) Uṣūl as-Sunnah — Foundations of the Sunnah With Ustādh ʿUthmān as-Sūdānī 📍 @DaarusSunnah An amazing lesson last week, and quite emotional when we discussed the Ansar welcoming the Muhajireen رضي الله عنهم. We covered the statements of Imam Abu Bakr al-Humaydi (d. 219 AH) رحمه الله on the Companions, the Qur’an, faith and the believers seeing their Lord. ▪️ From the Sunnah is asking Allah to have mercy upon the Companions and seeking forgiveness for them. Al-Humaydi cites: “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.” [Al-Hashr 59:10] ▪️ Al-Humaydi states that whoever reviles or belittles any of the Companions is not upon the Sunnah. We also covered the Prophet’s ﷺ prohibition: “Do not revile my Companions.” [Al-Bukhari 3673; Muslim 2541] ▪️ The Qur’an is the Speech of Allah. Al-Humaydi transmits from Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah (d. 198 AH) رحمه الله his rejection of the claim that it is created. ▪️ Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah (d. 198 AH) رحمه الله reaffirmed that faith is speech and action (including actions of the heart, such as intention, and actions of the limbs): it increases and decreases. He firmly rejected the objection to saying that faith decreases. ▪️ Al-Humaydi affirms that the believers will see their Lord in the Hereafter. We covered the Prophet’s ﷺ words: “You will see your Lord.” [Al-Bukhari 554; Muslim 633] We stopped at the section on Allah’s attributes. We may finish the book tonight, inshaAllah. Reference: Uṣūl as-Sunnah, DuSunnah Printworks edition, pp. 24–28.