Shaykh Abdullah Adhami

One of my all time Favorite Scholar!
btw, this was forwarded to me by a friend.

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bismillahi al-rahman al-rahim

Laziness, or lethargy can come from running low on "spiritual reserves,"from being in uninspiring settings (tell me about that) -- but, you know,I really believe that for the (mu`min) the center of tranquility, the (sakina),the inspiration, all of that, is within. I know it is very hard -- but (by the grace and mercy of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala), it is in there).Sometimes what appears to be laziness could also be misinterpreted"burnout" or exhaustion because we're too hard on ourselves. May Allah(jalla thana`uhu) bless us with vision and wisdom to see the difference.The du`a that's specifically against laziness is the "Sahih" of Imam Bukhari(rahimahullah) on the authority of (sayyiduna)

Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu'anhu):
"... Allahumma inni a'outhu bika {you know this part}mina al-hammi wa al-hazan, {from anxiety and sadness}
wa al-'ajzi wa al-kasal,* {and inability and laziness}
wa dhala'i al-dayni, {and the burden of debt}
wa ghalabati al-rijal ..." {and the "humiliation" of men}*

The word ('ajz) is not just inability or incapacity. It indicates a certain "lack" to act that comes from (inner) weakness. As in the hadith of Tirmidhi (rahimahullah), our beloved messenger (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "al-kayyisu man dana nafsahu wa 'amila lima ba'da al-maout. wa al-['ajizu] man atba'a nafsahu hawaha, wa tamanna 'ala Allahi al-amani." - - the intelligent or, vigilant servant is ever blameful of himself, and works for what comes after death; the ['ajiz] is the one who lets himself follow its whim, and then wishes for goodthings from Allah. Notice how the one who "follows his whim" is attributed to "weakness."

Abu al-Hasan al-Mada`ini related the following (du'a):
"Allahumma la takilna ila anfusina fa na'jaz, wa la ilan-naasi fa nadi'." -- Oh Allah! do not leave us to our own selves for we would weaken. And, do not leave us to the whims of people for we would be lost." When One is always concerned with how people think, that would ultimately affect her sincerity.(sayyiduna) "umar (radiyallahu 'anhu) said: "Whoever purifieshis intention to be sincere to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala), Allah would take care of what would be between him and people."

This is reminiscent of the (hadith) of Zayd ibn Aslam (rahimahullah)that I related to you from the "Muwatta`" where he said: "Fear Allah (have "taqwa"), and people would respect (or, have an affinity toward) you --- even if they hated to."('ajz) comes from being low on spiritual reserves and from the (ghaflah) -- or, absent-mindedness, that comes from being content with little deeds. al-imam al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah) said: "the righteous 'salaf' were as fearful of their good deeds being squandered or not being accepted as the present generation is certain that their neglect would be forgiven." Please remember that al-Hasan passed away 110 A.H.

In this capacity, Rabi'ah al-Qaysiyah al-'Adawiayh (rahimahallah)said: "We need to repent to Allah (ta'aala) for the way that we repent to Him." In this capacity, (sayyiduna) Sa'id ibn al-Jubair (radiyallahu 'anhu) said: "The reward of a good deed, is a good deed after it. The 'reward' or, (jazaa`) of a bad deed is a bad deed after it. May Allah ('azza wa jall) save us from (ghaflah) here, and humiliation in the (akhira) -- amin.('ajz) is also synonymous to (dha'f), as in sura al-nisa`: "wa khuliqa al-insanu [dha'ifan]." Some scholars of language distinguish between (dha'f) -- with a (fatha); and (dhu'f) -- with a dhamma. The former is weakness in body or in intellect or opinion; the latter is weakness in body only. In surat Rum, Allah (jalla thana`uhu) said: "He created you from [dha'f], and provided you with strength after it ..."The word (kasal) implies a certain "heaviness" (or, tathaaqul) to do something, rather than inability. Since the ('ajz) is the more complex inner dynamic associated with defeatism, we are taught to seek refuge from it first, because it is the inner weakness that leads to outer laziness and lethargy. [likewise, we are taught to seek refuge from anxiety because it leads to sadness. . .]

Therefore, in the "Sunan" of Abu Dawud (rahimahullah), our beloved messenger (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: ". . . Allah judges for ['ajz], so be "mentally vigilent" - - 'alayka bi al-kays - - and if something overwhlems or overcomes you, then say: 'hasbiyallahu wa ni'ma al-wakil'."Allah (jalla thana`uhu) describing the believers who were tested (in al-'imran): "fa ma wahanu lima asabahum fi sabili Allahi wa ma [dha'ufu] wa ma istakanu..." -- and they did not "act weak" in the face of what befell them in the path of Allah, and they neither exhibited (inner) weakness, nor acted as if humiliated..." Our beloved messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) warns: "He is not among us -- i.e. does not embody our (adab), who willingly agrees to humiliate himself, without being coersed."When this happens on a communal level, you have a prevalent (wahn), or defeatism. It means "weakness of the sort that no longer enables its bearer to stay 'upright'."

And, so Allah (jallah thana`uhu) gives the believers the proper perspective and focus in surat al-'imran: "wa la [tahinu] wa la tahzanu wa antum al-a'laouna," --- do not become "weak," do not grieve, for you will be dominant (i.e. high) --- with the catch, however, "in kuntum mu`minin," --- (if) you would be believers. Surrender to Allah ('azza wa jall) first, and you rise, you transcend the need for anything, truly. This yearning to be with Allah (jalla thana`uhu) is what begets the inner (sakina) referred to in the beginning. Yahya ibn Mu'adh (rahimahullah) said: "The servant who is 'aware' of Allah (ta'aala) leaves this world not having done enough of two things: crying over himself -- and yearning to be closer to His Lord (subhaanahu wa ta'aala)." May Allah grant us awareness.