Advising one another

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would advise one another. The elder would not be offended if advise by the young. This is the opposite situation to the light headed people we have today. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallaam) said “Religion (Deen) is advice/sincerity (nasiha).” They asked, “To whom O Messenger of Allaah?” He (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallaam) said: “To Allaah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their public.”¹ They used to accept advice and thank the adviser. One of them would not think that he had repaid his adviser fully even if he was benevolent to him all his life. That is because the matters related to the Afterlife cannot be compared to the vain things of the world. A person once said to Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullaah), “Advice me”. He replied to the man, “Exalt the commands of Allaah wherever you are, and Allaah will exalt you wherever you are.” They would also write to each other even if their lands were far apart. The counseled would accept the advice and thank his counselor though things have become opposite today. Thus you could rarely advise anyone today who did not complain about your own faults or insult you. Taa’woos wrote to Makhool (rahimahullaah) and he said to him, After salutations- My brother! Beware of regarding yourself as having a high standing in the sight of Allaah, because of what you see of your actions. The one who thinks about himself moves onto the Afterlife empty handed. The people may exalt you because of your good deeds but that is so that you reward is hurriedly given to you in this world. O brother! Know there facts, advise yourself and then your Muslim brothers, orally or by writing, but beware of being offended if someone advises you. ~ [Transcribed from/by: (UmmAa): Characteristics of the Salaf, by Shaykh Ahmad Fareed|Chapter 17, Pages 37-38] Footnotes: [¹Collected by Muslim (2/36-37) in al-Imaan and by Abu Daawood (4923) in al-Adab and an-Nasaa'i (8/156) in al-Bai'ah.]