Heaven's Door by Imam Ghazali, Imam Jawziya, Iman Hanbali

Heaven's Door
Part Two of
The Purification of the Soul
compiled from the works of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya & Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
CONTENTS
Introduction
Author's Preface
Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Fighting in the Way of Allah
Remembering Death
V
ix
1
7
13
Punishment and Blessings in the Grave
..... 23
The Day of Rising
29
Heaven and Hell
Conclusion.....
41
57
Counsel on Death
Glossary of Arabic Terms
62
63
Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
3
This hadith shows that rejecting evil should be done according to your strength and ability, but should be done at least with your heart, because if your heart does not deny evil, this means that your iman is gone. Therefore you must change evil with your hand and tongue if you are able to do so, but in any event you must reject it with your heart and this is an obligation and the least of faith - otherwise Allah's punishment will come.
Hudhaifah related that the Prophet said, "By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, or Allah will certainly soon send punishment from Him to you. Then you will make supplication and not receive any answer." 2
An-Nu'man Ibn Bashir related that the Prophet said, "The metaphor of a person who complies with Allah's orders and pro- hibitions in comparison to those who violate them is like the meta- phor of some people who drew lots for their seats in a boat. Some of them were given seats on the upper deck, and the others on the lower deck. When those on the lower deck needed water, they would have had to go up to fetch the water, so they said, 'Let us make a hole in our part of the ship and save those who are above us from our troubling them.' If the people on the upper deck let the others do what they suggested, all the people in the boat would be de- stroyed, but if they prevented them, both groups would be safe."3
Abdullah Ibn Mas'oud related that the Prophet said, "There was never a Prophet sent before me by Allah to his nation who did not have among his people disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then after them came their successors who said what they did not do, and did what they were not commanded to do. Whoever strove against them with his hand was a believer; whoever strove against them with his tongue was a believer; and whoever strove against them with his heart was a believer; and beyond that there was no faith, not even as much as a mustard seed."4
Abu Bakr related that the Prophet said, "If acts of disobe- dience occur among any people and they do not change them even though they are able to do so, Allah will soon punish them all."5
Guidelines on Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Knowledge
In order to enjoin good and forbid evil, you must know the princi- ples governing them and how to distinguish between them. Actionsa