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Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali –May Allah have mercy on him- said:
Every slave [of Allah] who is asked about his condition is between either: being thankful, complaining, or remaining silent.
[As for] being Thankful, [then it] is an act of obedience.
As for complaining [about your condition to others], then it is an ugly sin [especially when it comes] from the people of Religion. And how can it not be so when you are [in reality] complaining about the King of Kings who in His Hands are all things.
It is thus more appropriate of the slave [of Allah] if he isn’t able to be patient over the trials and the divine decree [that has befallen him], and his weakness leads him to complaining, then let his complain be to Allah –Glorified and Exalted is He- for He is the one capable of relieving and dispelling that tribulation.
And indeed in the Humility of the Slave [of Allah] to his Lord is Glory and Honour, while in complaining to others is shame and disgrace.
Reference:
[1] Al-Muhazab min Al-Ihyaa 2/288
قال الغزالي رحمه الله: وكل عبد سئل عن حال فهو بين ان يشكر او يشكو أو يسكت. فالشكر طاعة. والشكوى معصية قبيحة من اهل الدين وكيف لا تقبح الشكوى من ملك الملوك وبيده كل شيء الى عبد مملوك لا يقدر على شيء. فالأحرى بالعبد ان لم يحسن الصبر على البلاء والقضاء وأفضي به الضعف الى الشكوى ان تكون شكواه الى الله تعالى فهو المبلى والقادر على ازالة البلاء وذل العبد لمولاه عز والشكوى الى غيره ذل وإظهار الذل للعبد مع كونه عبدا
Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali said:
Glad tidings is for whoever dies and his sins die with him [1-2].
Footnote:
[1] Rawdat Al-Talibeen p. 52
[2] Sh. Saleh al-Shami said: Meaning that the traces and effects of sin ends by the death of the person, since from the Good deeds, as well as the Evil deeds, are those that do not end by the death of the person but rather continues even after the time of death.
An example of the first is what was narrated in (Saheeh Muslim) #1631 that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When the son of Adam dies, all his deeds come to an end, except for three: Ongoing charity, Beneficial knowledge, or a Righteous son who will pray for him”.
As for the second, an example of it is what was narrated in the agreed upon tradition that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No soul is killed unlawfully, but there is a share of the sin on the first son of Adam, because he was the first one to set the precedent of killing”.
So each person who starts a deed which the evil of continued after his death, then the sin of this deed will continue to be recorded on him for as long as this sin continues.
قال أبو حامد: طوبى لمن اذا مات ماتت ذنوبه
Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali said:
How fast is Arrogance to creep into scholars!
It is not long after the scholar is fortified with knowledge and feels its beauty within him that he [begins to] revere himself and belittle the people …
He looks at them as he would look at cattle and views them as ignorant …
He expects them to start him with greetings and to stand up for him and serve him …
[You would see that] they would mostly be the ones visiting him and he would not visit them in return. They would visit [and check on him] when he is sick, but he won’t [check on] them [in return] …
He would use whoever he mixes with from among them as if they were his slaves or labourers …
It is as if his acquiring of knowledge was a favour he has done for them and a blessing he has upon them.
This is when it comes to the [matters of the] Dunia.
As for [matters] of the Hereafter: From his arrogance towards them, he sees himself at a more elevated and better state in front of Allah –the Exalted- than they would be, so much so that he would fear for them [and for what their condition would be in the Hereafter] more than he would fear for his own self, and he hopes for himself of reward more than what he hopes for them …
Such a person is more deserving to be called an Ignorant than a Scholar. For True Knowledge is that which makes a man knowledgeable of himself and of his Lord and the dangers of the Hereafter. This Knowledge would thus increase him in fear, humbleness, [and humility].
[Allah] The Exalted said: {It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah} [Fatir 35:28]
Reference:
[1] Al-Muhazab min Al-Ihyaa 2/204
قال أبو حامد: وما أسرع الكبر إلى العلماء فلا يلبث العالم أن يتعزز بعزة العلم يستشعر في نفسه جمال العلم وكماله ويستعظم نفسه ويستحقر الناس وينظر إليهم نظره إلى البهائم ويستجهلهم
ويتوقع أن يبدءوه بالسلام وأنه ينبغي أن يرقوا له ويخدموه
الغالب أنهم يبرونه فلا يبرهم ويزورونه فلا يزورهم ويعودونه فلا يعودهم ويستخدم من خالطه منهم كأنهم عبيده أو أجراؤه
وكأن تعلمه العلم صنيعة منه إليهم ومعروف لديهم واستحقاق حق عليهم هذا فيما يتعلق بالدنيا
أما في أمر الآخرة فتكبره عليهم بأن يرى نفسه عند الله تعالى أعلى وأفضل منهم فيخاف عليهم أكثر مما يخاف على نفسه ويرجو لنفسه أكثر مما يرجو لهم
وهذا بأن يسمى جاهلا أولى من أن يسمى عالما بل العلم الحقيقي هو الذي يعرف الإنسان به نفسه وربه وخطر الخاتمة وهذا العلم يزيد خوفا وتواضعا وتخشعا ويقتضي أن يرى كل الناس خيرا منه لعظم حجة الله عليه بالعلم وتقصيره في القيام بشكر نعمة العلم
قال الله تعالى إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء
Al-Sirat Al-Mustaqeem 