1076.    Note that the Jinns of Fire will be burnt by Fire, the angels of Light would have been burnt by the veils of Light that are the “Hijab” (Veil) of Allah. So our normal understanding gleaned from the natural world fails in these matters.

1077.    People talk about needing to reconsider rulings due to circumstances. Yet now we see mass cheating, lying (white collar, not only in low-level jobs or from “low-level persons”)- so would the Mufti be forced to say that virtue and honesty were traits of the past, but now we should look at cheating as a good thing?

The same goes for mass killings by nation-states, etc., if the secular system as a whole has serious ethical and belief problems, are we the Muslims expected to play along or are we to oppose it based on our normative Islamic principles, even though blame will definitely come towards us from many quarters?

1078.    OK, so we Muslims living in Muslim lands see the refugees from other Muslim countries and incredulously, we complain that Australia, or the UK, or the US, or Germany are not talking enough refugees. But let us wake up, these are Muslims whom we should help first and foremost. Regardless of the “evils” of the “imperialist world” and what have you, these Muslims are our collective responsibility, it is not at all good to fling them onto these nations that will not care for their Deen in any holistic manner at all.

1079.    The Markab (the medium of transportation) has an effect on the rider. That is why riders of horses were warned about arrogance, since even the trot of the horse is haughty (yet mules and donkeys were not like that).

1080.    When Allah wishes to elevate a person’s spiritual position he shows the person his faults so that he may repent from them – this is a huge blessing from Allah, reserved for those who can make use of these slips to get closer to Allah.

1081.    The Prophet (ﷺ) had the seal of Prophethood on his blessed back. One, so that Shaytan’s snout could not enter, and two as an indication that there is no Prophet after him (ﷺ).

1082.    With every Ni’mah (bounty) there is a Fitnah (tribulation). This is the rule of Allah’s Creation.

1083.    Being silent can be worship if the intention is right. It is said that the tongue and the privates are the source of so much evil, since they have no bones to hold them back.

1084.    It is often asked, why do we have all these problems in the Ummah? One big reason is Jahl Murakkab. People think they know, people think they are acting on behalf of Islam, but they are acting on behalf of themselves only, and often (indirectly) on behalf of Satan as well.

1085.    (As mentioned) Teaching people is so important in this age of Jahl Murakkab, that even if the teacher finds some ego problems within himself, he must continue to teach, since the Kifaaya (making the community and its individuals reach a suitable level of knowledge) is more important than the teacher’s personal struggles controlling his ego.

1086.    If one is just complaining to those who cannot help him (i.e., as per apparent material causality) during his tribulations, it is a sign that Allah is debasing him, so be very careful of how you seek help during difficult times.

1087.    Rudeness is not as difficult on the Nafs [lower ego] as indifference from others; this is because in the first case one may still think his opinions are being valued even if negatively, but in the second case the views of one become totally irrelevant and the ego is extremely hurt.

1088.    A poignant analysis: Other Umam (Nations) have their “isms”, and Allah has granted them some fleeting Izzah (dignity) in this world due to their “isms”; but the Muslims’ covenant was that they were not to seek Izzah except through Allah. However, we sadly also took to the “isms” and we are now being punished, materially and also psychologically, we are the laughing stock of the world.

1089.    There are various levels of Dhimmah (protection) within an Islamic polity- yes, the Muslims have the highest one, but others have protection as religious communities composed of persons, not as individuals in a stand-alone manner; this is an important difference between the classical Muslim polities and modern polities- the latter in fact legislate towards the quick extinction of religious communities.

1090.    Hawa (base desires) in our Sunni lexicon is in a sense, following cowboy democracy in reading the texts of Islam and following one’s own opinions in their research, and denying the Isnad traditions.

1091.    Envy is wishing for removal of religious blessings, or those worldly blessings that are not detrimental to the possessor’s religion.

1092.    Arrogance and Hasad are related to one another, and the cure for both is an intellectual and spiritual realization of Tawhid, of the radical Sunni Tawhid; because then we know how little everyone is and how Allah does whatsoever He wills upon whoever He wills.

1093.    (As mentioned) Ghibtah is jealousy but not connected with wanting the ‘good thing’ removed from others. If it is about religious matters, it is recommended (like seeing someone else being generous and giving Sadaqah); but if it is strictly about worldly matters, it is blameworthty, though not Haraam.

1094.    Note that Naseehah (having genuine concern for other Muslims) is Waajib in our Spiritual Fiqh.

1095.    One aspect of arrogance is to feel a hate in the heart towards the one who corrected you, even if you accept the correction as a correction.

1096.    Satan used a bad syllogism to refuse Sajdah. That is why when we receive the Hukm of Allah, in the abstract sense we are making a Sajdah towards that Hukm (Divine Legislation). (This is not a statement against the use of logic or syllogisms, the Ahkam of Islam and sound reason do not contradict).

1097.    (Advice given): It is from Zuhd to be detached from your one’s own personality since one will definitely have vices in need to removal.

1098.    We should be careful of saying that “Muslims are just like everybody else”. There is some truth to it, but there are limits set by Islam itself, even if many Muslims say and do things forbidden or outside the fold of Islam.

1099.    (As mentioned) Any time there is a person or group striving towards a goal (religious or worldly) there is envy ready to ambush some people’s hearts in order to make them feel bad about someone else’s success, and in the process ruin any progress that could have been achieved.

1100.    What we require in this world is Fadhl (extra things that eventually terminate), but in the next world we need the Rahmah of Allah. This is connected to the supplications made when entering and exiting the Masajid. Because when entering the Masjid we are entering the “realm of Allah” and we require His Mercy. But when we go out and about our daily business, what we obtain is extra, and of this lowly perishable world.