Our mind has great potential. When involved in productive activities, it can build us, but when left idle, it can break us with our own thoughts.
Overthinking happens when we give unnecessary thought to something beyond our control. From one thought, we create another, and these series of thoughts only end up creating imaginary problems for us.
To stop overthinking, you need to keep your mind occupied. Whenever you start thinking unproductive, divert your mind, indulge in something else, talk to someone or just draw yourself away somewhere else. Your mind is meant to solve problems, don’t let it create more for you.
Bukhari mentions in his Saheeh from Wahab bin Munnabih that it was said to him: ‘Is not ‘La ilaha illa Allaah’ the key to Paradise?’
He said: ‘Of course, however there is no key except that it has teeth, so if a key is brought which has teeth then it will be opened, otherwise it will not open.’
Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله continues:
‘Allah has placed keys for everything that is necessary, and they open the way, so Allah made purification the key for prayer, as the Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:
‘The key to prayer is purification.’ [Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer No.5885] .
Like wise
Ihram is the key to Hajj,
Truthfulness is the key to righteousness,
Tawheed is the key to Paradise,
Asking good questions and being attentive is the key to knowledge,
Patience is the key to victory and triumph,
Gratitude is the key to increase of provision,
Remembrance of Allah is the key to having loyalty to Allah and His love,
Taqwa (piety) is the key to success,
Fervent desire (for Allah’s reward) and dread (of Allah’s punishment) is the key to being successful,
Dua’ (Supplicating) is the key to being responded to,
Zuhd (Abstaining from the luxuries of the world) is the key to desiring the Hereafter,
Reflecting about that which Allah calls His slaves to is the key to Eeman (having faith),
Making the heart accept Islam and making it secure for Allah and being sincere to Him in loving and hating [for his sake], and fulfilling His commands and leaving the prohibitions is the key to going in front of Allah,
Pondering upon the Qur’an, and imploring Allah before dawn and not sinning is the key to giving the heart life,
Being kind to the worshippers of the Creator and striving to benefit His worshippers is the key to obtaining mercy,
Striving to seek forgiveness from Allaah and Taqwa (piety) is the key to Rizq (provisions),
-Obedience to Allaah and His Messenger is the key to honour,
-Longing for the Hereafter is the key to being prepared for the Hereafter,
-Fervent desire for Allaah and the Hereafter is the key to all goodness,
-Love for the world, continuously longing for it and turning away from the Hereafter is the key to all evil.
This is a great matter from the most beneficial chapters of knowledge, namely ‘knowing the keys to goodness and evil.’
[Taken from: ‘Haadi al-Arwaaha ila Bilaad al-Afraaha’ by Ibn Qayyim vol 1 p.139]
“Transcendent is the One Who caused His slave to travel by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa.” – 17:1
Most of the scholars of the Sirah say that the Isra’ and Mi’raj (Night Journey & Ascension) took place on the 27th night of Rajab.
This amazing journey was a most beautiful gift to the Prophet, peace be upon him, from Allah SWT after the Prophet had displayed great patience in the face of a series of hardships and tribulations. It was after the Year of Sorrow – the year when the Prophet, peace be upon him, lost both his beloved wife Sayyidatina Khadija due to years of persecution & boycott of the Muslims, and his uncle and protector, Sayyidina Abu Talib. That year, the Prophet was violently rejected in Ta’if, when even children pelted him with stones and he left the city bleeding.
“They encountered suffering and adversity and were shaken such that the Messenger and those of faith who were with him said: “When will Allah’s assistance come?” Truly Allah’s assistance is always near.” – 2:214
One can only imagine the immense grief and terrible suffering that so severely tested the faith of the Muslims in those years. There are many lessons to be learned from the miraculous event that is the Isra’ & Mi’raj but the one we will share today is this: after all that hardship and grief and disappointment, Allah gave the Prophet (and the Muslims) the commandment of prayer.
Prayer is a gift. Allah gave us the prayer not to burden us, but to unburden ourselves to Him. There is nothing like prayer.”
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: “Salah has an incredible impact in warding off worldly harm, especially when perfectly fulfilled with its due right outwardly and inwardly. As such, nothing averts the harms of this world and the Hereafter, nor attracts the benefits of both worlds, like salah does.
The secret to this is that salah is one’s connection with Allah the Exalted and Majestic. Thus, the doors of goodness are opened for the servant according to their connection with their Lord, whilst the means of evil are removed from them. Additionally, the means of divine ability (tawfiq) abundantly come to them. Similarly, well-being, success, independence, comfort, bliss, happiness and joy are all readily and swiftly available to them.” [Zaad al-Ma’ad, 4/304]
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