Awakening of high spirits selected from the collection of sciences and wisdom

To the حافظ Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, by the pen of Salim bin Eid Al-Hilali The opening statement: Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, there is none to misguide him, and whomever He misguides, there is none to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. As for what follows: The book "Jami' Al-'Uloom wal-Hikam" in the explanation of fifty Hadiths from the comprehensive words has spread across the regions, traveled in the countries, and surpassed in fame like the sun in the bright day, until people flocked to it and it became their refuge. It is deserving of being sought, as it was authored by the distinguished scholar, the famous Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, who specialized in explaining the Prophetic Hadiths, the chosen wisdoms, and the Salafi effects. He composed an explanation that heals the sick and quenches the thirsty, embedding in it various benefits, lining up rows of wisdoms, embellishing it with pearls of news, and adorning it with jewels of poetry. In all this, he moves the reader from one issue to another with a delightful literary style, far from dullness, understandable by both the young and the old. The reader finds after each Hadith he explains, several matters: 1. The authentication of the Hadith from its sources, collecting its chains, and clarifying its wording, accompanied by its grade of authenticity, good, or weak. 2. Increasing the Quranic verses that clarify the meaning of the Hadith and make it clear. 3. Quoting what is narrated from the righteous predecessors in explaining the intended meaning of the Hadith or related to it, most of which are influential judgments that penetrate deep into the heart and soul. 4. Explaining the strange parts of the Hadith and clarifying its meanings. 5. Presenting the jurisprudential rulings derived from the Hadith and attributing them to their scholars among the Companions, Tabi‘un, and Imams known for knowledge, piety, and righteousness. All this results in sentences that the knowledgeable must know, as they are the basis for judgments and the relied-upon knowledge in the religion of Islam. Therefore, it is the most deserving of precious time being spent on it, and the highest effort to understand and master it belongs to the pure souls. Those who hasten to do good and strive to adorn themselves with it are the forerunners and the ones who compete for goodness. Many verses from the Noble Qur'an, authentic and well-known Hadiths, and the shining sayings of the righteous predecessors have supported what I have mentioned, but there is no need to mention them here as they are clear and obvious. I have dedicated some time to studying and experiencing it, exerting effort and hardship, and I became its night and day companion until it revealed its secrets to me, its concealed beauties in the tents, and uncovered for me the alluring women with their captivating eyes. I understood its purposes, uncovered its hidden meanings, and clarified its benefits, treasures, and exquisite benefits. The purpose of this brief explanation is to organize it along one of its sides, connected to the beginning of Prophethood, and to enter the group of those who have strived to establish religion and have exerted effort to revive the Sunnah of the Seal of the Prophets—passionate about it and loving its owner. If I fall short of the efforts of the earlier Imams, suffice it to say that I love them for the sake of Allah, hoping for Allah’s promise on the tongue of His Messenger: "The person is with whom he loves" (1). And because I see the signs of knowledge returning to lessons, and the prevailing desire of the people of this time for worldly pleasures, so that only the appearance of religion remains, and only the name of knowledge, I have taken as my example the saying of Abu al-Hasan bin al-Mu'ammal al-Maqdisi: "Every foolish fool who calls himself a jurist is fit to teach, so it is right for the people of knowledge to imitate an old house that has become famous in every gathering. They have become so thin that all of them have become weak, and every bankrupt has taken them on." (2) But I wish you would remain silent and not speak, or not improve your false imam, and push him to injustice, deceive him. Because of this, I have fallen out of his favor and the favor of the believers! So, I ask you by Allah: When will the one who is pleased with what harms him succeed? And when will the one who does not watch his Lord succeed? And when will the one whose departure is near, whose generation has perished, and whose deeds and speech are bad, succeed? What Allah wills happens, and we do not hope for the rectification of the people of the time, but we do not cease to pray, hoping that Allah will be gentle and rectify us. Amen (2). And since the matter is as I described, I saw the need to renew the matter of this book in a way that brings it closer to the understanding of the people of our time, so that perhaps a motivated and attentive person will be encouraged, or a hesitant one will be inspired, or a confused one will be guided, or a seeker will find a way and not be disappointed or lose his share. The fruit of my effort—praise be to Allah alone—is this book in your hands, my brother reader, titled "Awakening of the Determined: Extracted from Jami' Al-'Uloom wal-Hikam." If I have succeeded and been guided, it is from Allah; He is the Helper, and upon Him I rely. If I have fallen short and made mistakes, then it is from myself and Satan. It is enough for me that I have exerted my utmost effort, and I pray to Allah to accept it with good acceptance. He is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs. I trust in Him and to Him I turn.