[CB] Hikayat Al Sighar / حكايات الصغار

Ranks of The Fearful by Shaykh Al Islam Muwaffaq Al Din Ibn Qudamah Al Maqdisi (Died 620 Hijri) Allah, the Most High, has praised those who possess the attribute of a heightened sense of fear Saying, “And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord…” (Al Muminun, 57) And He also Said: “… fear Me alone, if you are believers.” (Ali’ Imran, 175) The element of fear exists within mankind in varying degrees. When the fear of Allah is established in the hearts, it eliminates wrongdoing and attachment to worldly desires. It is alight that navigates a person through sin and temptation, and when this fear is removed, it easily leads them astray – for surely true and praiseworthy fear is being vigilant from transgressing the limits of Allah. Yet when fear exceeds its proper boundary, it gives rise to hopelessness and despair, which is equally blameworthy. The attribute of fear therefore, is not the end goal itself, but a means towards a successful end. ‘Al-Khawf ‘ is from the smaller works of Imam Ibn Qudamah, who is better known for authoring major authoritative treatises of Hanbali jurisprudence and doctrine. In this short book, he brings disquieting realities of fearing Allah in a unique perspective; elucidating some profound insight into the topic, its reality and merits, types and levels and cures that bring about fear. It also discusses causes that lead to a bad ending for people on this earth, while taking rooted examples from the lives of the fearful ones from among the Angels,Prophets and our righteous predecessors.

What is Islamic medicine? Is it medical knowledge that is completely subject to the will of Allah The Exalted, or is it the art of treatment adopted and followed by Muslims when the Muslims were at the peak of their development? Or is it the most modern medicine, guided by divine teachings and completely in accordance with them?

On the basis of Islamic teachings in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, this book devises the following six basic categories for Islamic medicine:

• Adhering to Islamic teachings and etiquette.
• Adhering to logic in practicing medicine.
• Holistic approach, paying equal attention to the body, mind and soul, for individuals as well as societies.
• Universal approach, taking into account all resources and aiming to benefit all people.
• Scientific approach, based on logical conclusions drawn from sound observations, accurate statistics and trustworthy experience.
• Excellence, achieving what other kinds of treatment have failed to achieve.