Take Time to Think

Sohbah on 25 October 2021 by Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil Ar Rabbaniق

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

We should be careful while doing everything.

Even while speaking, you should be careful and say good things, says our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

When someone speaks, he should either speak about good things or stay quiet. He ﷺ says not to speak about bad things. It is better to stay quiet because when you speak, angels write it down and people listen.

When the word is said, you cannot take it back. Whoever’s heart you broke, whomever you lied to, it is already done. It is hard to turn it back.

People shouldn’t rush in anything. They should do what they plan after thorough thinking.

When they hear something from someone, they should not run around and tell about it. Also, when they hear about a job, they shouldn’t jump on it straight away without looking into it in order to avoid loss. 

It is said,

“في التّأنّي السّلاَمَة وفي العَجَلَةِ النّدَامَة”,

“In caution is safety and in haste is regret.”

In slow action, there is safety. And in rush there is regret. You will regret it. There will be either physical or spiritual loss. But when you think and examine if it’s good or not and act accordingly, it will be good for you.

To consult with people and to take their opinions in things you will do – to consult is Sunnah.

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ said that Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla ordered,

‘وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ’,

‘Wa-shāwirhum fī l-ʾamri.‘ ‘And consult them in the matter.’ (Qur’ān 03:159).

Even to our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam, He ﷻ said to ask ṣaḥābah for their opinions. The biggest proof for this is when our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam made a plan in the battle of Badr.

One of the ṣaḥābah asked our Holy Prophet ﷺ, “Is this an order from Allāh ﷻ, or you made it by yourself? If Allāh ﷻ ordered so, we’ll follow with pleasure.”

When our Holy Prophet ﷺ asked him if there was something he thought about, he suggested, “Let us stop at a different place. Then we won’t be defeated but we will win instead.”

Our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam said, “Well done”. It is a good thing. Based on the plan of that ṣaḥābah, they came out as winners from that battle. 

Everything that our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam did is a lesson for us. Whoever it is, everyone should consult their actions; it is Sunnah.

To consult is not a shame or a sin. Always consult so that you don’t regret afterwards. If you decide on your own and do as you like, you will be at loss yourself and cause harm to others.

Many people don’t condescend to it out of pride, whereas to do so is good and has thawāb. They will perform Sunnah of our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

You should rush in good things. It is not good to rush in other things. Good things are charity, praying, fasting, going to ḥajj. Rush to do them. Same with marriage; you should rush for that as well. You shouldn’t rush in other things.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Sohbah by Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Adil Ar-Rabbani

25 October 2021 | 19 Rabi’ul Awal 1443

Lefke Dergah, Cyprus

More on the Battle of Badr here.

Wassalam.