Stated Shaykh ‘Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah preserve him), one of the scholars recommended by Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jaabiree shortly before his passing (may Allah have Mercy on him):
We eat, drink, sleep, relax, we read and listen, but despite that there is weakness in us, a lack of action, a lack of remembrance, a lack of supererogatory prayer, night prayer, mid-morning prayer, and other than that from the supererogatory acts of worship.
Among us there is a wastage of time, and a creation of problems between us because of spare time – because we have spare time we end up becoming involved in problems and issues, we stir up problems between us. If you were preoccupied with memorisation of the Qur-ān and its recitation, and memorisation of the Sunnah and lessons, you would not have spare time for gossip.
As for the knowledge of appraisal and disparagement then this field has its men from ahlus-Sunnah, and the students are behind their scholars. However, we have begun delving into matters that do not benefit, matters that are actually harmful, that are causes of splitting occurring. If you know that this particular matter – a matter from the affairs of the world, some statement or action – you know it upsets your brother and is a cause of placing your brother into a difficult situation, and discomforting him, then why do you do it! Why do you do it? Why do you engage in it? Stay away from everything that is a cause for splitting and separating, and likewise from that which causes pain to your brother, or is a reason for causing him pain…
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Translation by: Shaykh Taqweem Aslam Abu Muadh (may Allah reward him well)
May Allah bless and reward both Shaykh ‘Arafat and the translator. This is beautiful advice, and I ask Allah to allow it to reach our hearts! This entire passage reminds me of the beautiful admonitions we would hear so often from our beloved shaykh, al-‘Allaamah Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah preserve him). –Moosaa Richardson