True Virtues

Assalaamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh

In today’s Western society we are always bombarded by messages on how to live long and given so many different reasons as to how people who have lived over a century have done so and what they did to get to their age. Usually what happens is that people will fall into two camps: One who realize that okay, you know what, we live as long as God/Science has ordained us to live, therefore let us just live and let be, forget this longevity stuff, and others who take an active role in prolonging their life as much as possible (and their death as much as they wish to try).

Unfortunately, not many realize that the length of our lives is actually determined by our Creator, Allah سبحانه وتعالى.

I’ve read so many different scientific derivations of how to achieve longevity such through my courses, readings, own personal research as a personal trainer, such as extreme low caloric diets, moderate exercise, alcohol consumption, genetics, paleolithic diets, anthropological background, stress, happiness… and all have their studies to support them and studies that go against them based on different experiments, different interpretations of experimental results etc.

I have also seen and read many stories of people, 110+ years old, who eat sugary cakes and pastries often, could be considered alcoholic for their age group, and do no exercise at all!

In the end, Alhamdulillah its pretty easy to find out what the TRUE key to longevity is through a very simple deductive method.

1) Is there really a way to live for a long time?  Answer: Perhaps
2) If there is, who definitely has knowledge of this method?  Answer: Allah سبحانه وتعالى
3) So do we have anything in the Quran and/or Sunnah that offers insight into this matter? Answer: Yes, we do.

From Tafsir Ibn Kathir, on the 4th ayat of Surah Nuh:

[وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى]

(and respite you to an appointed term.) meaning, `He will extend your life span and protect you from the torment that He would have made befall you if you did not stay away from His prohibitions.’ This Ayah is used as proof by those who say that obedience (to Allah), righteousness and maintaining the family ties truly increase the life span of a person. This is like that which has been reported in the Hadith,

«صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ تَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمُر»

(Maintaining the family ties increases the life span.)

Surprisingly, I found there was a study done that did affirm this fact, although I know of no further studies on the topic, however there is empirical evidence in scientific community to confirm this

“We have seen evidence that an increased degree of positive contact with family can add years to your life. We have strong reason to believe that people with active children and grandchildren relationships live longer.” [Dr.Vern Bengtson –USC]

And don’t get me wrong, this is no excuse to not exercise, not eat right etc, as those can also be a form of ibaadah to Allah سبحانه وتعالى when done with the right intentions and in a halal manner, and are not taken to extremes to the point where the interfere with your other duties in life, and with your obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم.

Also remember, one thing I learnt from Sheikh Waleed Basyouni, it is not wrong in Islam to wish to live for a long time, because one can use a long lifespan to do more good deeds, spend more time in ibaadah, as this will inshAllah help to increase one’s level in Jannah. Allah knows best, but you never know, that 1, 5, 10, 20 years more could help you to move up to the highest levels of Jannat-ul-Firdaws!

And Allah knows best.

And from among his (shaytaan’s) repertoire of schemes and ploys is that he invites the slave (of Allaah) with his good character, cheerfulness and joyfulness to types of sin and wickedness.  As a result, he will meet and greet him with that which will not enable him to rescue himself from his evil except his display of displeasure, giving an angry look and turning away from him.  So, the enemy will act kindly towards him, greeting him with joyfulness, a glowing face and beautiful speech. Then, he will attach himself to him, and have a strong desire to save himself from his clutches, however he will be unable to. As a result, the enemy (Iblees) will continue to move among them (the deviant, innovator that works for Shaytaan and against the slave of Allah) until he achieves his desired goal.  Finally, he enters upon the slave with his plots by way of good character and a shining face.  It is for this reason, the ‘Doctors of the Heart’ have advised (us) with turning away from the People of Innovation, not extending to them the greetings of salaams and happy, glowing faces or even meeting them (at all) unless it is with gloominess and sternness!”

Taken from Ighaathatul Lahfaan 1/140

Tip:

The most important thing to do is to ALWAYS ask Allah سبحانه وتعالى for guidance in the matters of difference of religion, and to NEVER stop asking even if you feel you are at the straight path. The deviant sects will at time seem appealing to a Muslim, and their false evidences and proofs alluring, because of the Shaytaan that lurks at the end of each deviant path. I advise my brothers and sisters to always make this dua’a, not only because of the benefits it has brought me and continues to bring me Alhamdulillah, but because the issue of deviant sects and differences in Aqeedah amongst these groups, is NOT a small one,  because  at the pool of Hawd, where the believers will congregate before entering Jannah, the innovators will be removed and taken away to the Hellfire.

This quote is also not meant to indicate that we should not engage in soft, well-spoken, merciful and wise dawah with the members of these sects, although we still should be careful, and be acting upon concrete knowledge of dawah itself AND the proofs and evidences used by Ahlus-Sunnah against the sect in question. I have personally seen that the majority of Muslims belonging to these sects are actually ignorant and not very knowledgeable in these matters, usually because they found their parents, their cultures practicing the innovations they act upon, or they just fell in with a certain crowd.

This quote is however, very applicable for the knowledgeable members of these sects, because that is where we must be most careful in protecting ourselves from alluring and eternally harmful bid’ah and misguidance.

And Allah knows best.

It is not appropriate for the beginning students of knowledge, and others besides them from the common folk, to busy themselves with declaring people innovators (Tabdee’) and declaring people to be immoral sinners (Tafseeq). This is because it is a matter that is dangerous, and they do not have the knowledge and comprehension in this matter. Also, this causes hatred and enmity between them. Therefore, it is obligatory upon them to busy themselves with seeking knowledge, and restraining their tongues from that which contains no benefit – rather it contains harm for them, and for others besides them as well.