With the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
To the honorable, Abee Haatim ’Alee Ibn Zayd al-Madkhalee – may Allaah guide him to that which He is pleased with.
May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allaah be upon you…
After the greeting:
I pray that you remain upon the guidance and the right way in terms of knowledge and action throughout life and after death. My advice to myself and to you is:
Firstly: Be from the strangers (ghurabaa‘) who remain upright when the people have become corrupt.
Secondly: Safeguard with all concern and care the congregational and Friday Prayers.
Thirdly: Leave your beard and let it grow as an establishment of the obligation (waajib) and a revival of the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and as an opposition to the enemies of the Religion of Islaam. Keep in mind that we do not know whether our life will be long or short, so what is important is a good end with good deeds.
Fourthly: Abandon the wearing of European clothing and how the westerners wear their hair. Wear the qamees (i.e. thawb) and keep the pants above the ankles. You will live in righteousness and tranquility and you will die – if Allaah so wills – happy, pleased with Allaah and having attained His pleasure.
Fifthly: Take control of the tongue and imprison it, except for the remembrance of Allaah and whatever that entails and whatever is necessary to say.
Sixthly: Safeguard something from the remembrances of the morning and the evening because they are an invulnerable fortress against calamities and destruction. It is necessary for the servant who is weak to seek recourse to His Lord who is strong. So he seeks refuge with His Protection.
Seventhly: Safeguard the time that you are at work and observe excellent manners within the bounds of the Sharee’ah, with your superiors as well as your colleagues, you will attain the goodness of this life and the Hereafter. Good character will bring about almost all forms of goodness.
Lastly: Take account of giving precedence to Allaah, and give precedence to that which will bring you closer to Him and cause Him to be pleased with you.
And Allaah is the best Guardian and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
And may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allaah be upon you…
Your father who fell short with regards to your right,
Zayd Ibn Muhammad al-Madkhalee
29/6/1415H [1]
Endnotes:
[1]: Taken from Majmoo’ah Rasaa‘il (p. 689-690) of Zayd Ibn Muhammad al-Madkhalee.
Translation by Maaz Qureshi