In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: He is not a (true) believer whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry”. [Ref 1]
This Hadeeth [clearly shows] that the one whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry is not a believer of complete Eemaan. A person of complete Eemaan is the one who checks on his neighbour if the neighbour is in need of him. It is not possible for a neighbour to be enjoying himself with foods and drinks while his [other] neighbour cannot find anything and he does not give him anything. This [behaviour] does not reflect the manners of a believer with complete Eemaan. And because of this-in this hadeeth- the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] negated the completeness [of the Eemaan of the one who behaves in such a manner]; rather a believer of complete Eemaan is the one who is generous to his neighbour as much as he is able, especially when in need of a necessity such as food and drink. [Ref 2]
[Ref1: Reported by Imaam Al-Bukhaari (rahimahullaah) in Adabul Mufrad Number 112 & declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in his checking of Adabul Mufrad page 50. Publisher Daar As-Siddeeq 2nd ed [1421 AH/ Year 2000]; [Ref 2: An Excerpt from Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharhul Adabul Mufrad’ page137, Vol 1- by Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Moosaa [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed the water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. [And] another portion of it was hard and held the water and Allaah benefited the people with it and they utilised it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. [And] a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation [so that land gave no benefits]. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allaah’s religion and benefit [from the knowledge] which Allaah has revealed through me, learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allaah’s guidance revealed through me. [He is like that barren land]”. [Ref 1]
Imaam Muhammad Ibnu Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: In this similitude, the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me with, is like abundant rain falling on the earth”. The earth [upon which the rain fell] is of three types: The First Type of Earth: It is the earth that absorbed the water and produced abundant grass and vegetation, so the people were benefited through that. The Second Type of Earth is a Plain: It retained the water and the people benefited from it. They utilised it for drinking and as a source of irrigation [for their crops]. The Third Type of Earth: It absorbed the water but does not produce any benefit. This is the relationship between the people and the knowledge and guidance with which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with.
The First Category of People: Amongst them is one who has understanding of Allaah’s Religion. He learns and teaches- benefits the people and himself. This is similar to the earth that produces grass and vegetation, so that the people and animals eat from it.
The Second Category of People: They are a people who have been entrusted with the guidance, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first category of people]. They transmit knowledge and Hadeeth amongst themselves, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first group]. The similitude of these people is that of the earth that retained the water and the people were provided with water. They used it for drinking, their animals drank from it and they used it as a source of irrigation; but the earth does not produce anything.
The Third Category: The one who is not benefited by the knowledge and guidance given to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). He turns away and does not incline towards it. He is neither benefited by that which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with nor does he benefit others. His similitude is that of the earth that absorbed the water, but does not produce anything. [Ref 2]
[Ref 1]: Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Hadeeth Number 79. Book of Knowledge; [Ref 2]: Source: Ash-Shar’hul Ma’mool Li-imthaali- Ar-Rasool. pages 7-8
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [rahimahullaah] said:
Protests [or demonstrations] are newly invented matters in the religion. Every newly invented matter in the religion is a bidah; every bidah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire [i.e. is a path leading to the hell fire]. Allaah’s legislation is perfect and complete-based on The Book and The Sunnah-and we do not know of anything by way of the evidences in the Book and the Sunnah that makes it permissible for a handful of people to gather for demonstrations, which causes disturbance for the people and time wasting. And greater than this [disturbance and time wasting] is abandonment of the prayers [during protests] and the loss of life [i.e. murder]. If one was to kill a Muslim in a single protest, the one [or those] who called to such protests will carry his sins-be it an individual, a group or those who participate. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim [i.e. without right].[a] These protests are nothing but bidah and acts of misguidance advocated by shaytaan; [enticed] by the urge of the evil soul and desires. And these enemies [i.e. shaytaan, the urge of the evil soul and desires] do not come together in any affair except that the religion and worldly affairs are destroyed, just as it is the case in these demonstrations [or protests].
The end results of protests [or demonstrations]: Carnage, destruction, wastage of wealth and time and terrorising those living in peace. And how many disadvantages are there in [that]! It is enough to be considered something sinister due to the fact that the Noble Messengers and the Great Prophets who were put to trial and harmed by their people did not hold protests [or demonstrations]. Neither did they engage in plotting to cause explosions nor committing suicide; rather Islaam has forbidden all of that.
Those who call to protests [or demonstrations] and hold that there is success in it, they are mistaken and they have missed the correct path. Rectification of the affairs can only be by way of the Book and The Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of those scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. So whoever calls the people to this chaos, then indeed he has brought about a means to corrupting the land and the slaves, and what has occurred – in the past and at present- is a witness to that.
Therefore, we warn the students of knowledge that they are not persuaded by the speech of those who allow protests [or demonstrations]. They say that peaceful demonstrations are permissible-as they categorise it into this categorisation- without proofs and concrete evidence from the Book and the Sunnah- neither from the actions of the Messenger and the Noble Sahaabah nor from the Notable Imaams; rather the verdict on protests [or demonstrations] is only what has been stated earlier and as well as what has been written by other than myself [i.e. protests (or demonstrations) are not permissible] [Slightly paraphrased. Source: الأفنان وتوحيد ابن خزيمة وحديث عن المظاهرات4-4-1432هـ.]
Question to Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah]: Going out to demonstrations, [initiating] revolutions and nurturing the youth upon it; is this from the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah or not, whether [carried] out within or outside the Muslim countries? Answer: This is the methodology of Marx (i.e. Carl Marx), Lenin (i.e. Vladimir Lenin) and those similar to them. It is not from the Islamic methodology. Revolutions, bloodshed, trials and troubles are Marx’s and Lenin’s school of thought. [Source:An excerpt from كشف الستار Page: 18]
[a] Hadeeth declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee. Saheeh Al-Jaami 9208]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
Performance of deeds without sincerity and adherence [to the Sunnah of the Messenger] is like a traveller whose travelling bag is filled with sand; it burdens him and does not benefit him. [Al-Fawaa-id: page:89]
I have created all My slaves Hunafâ’ (with the inclination to worship Allah alone), but the devils come to them and turn them away from their religion (true path). They forbid to them that which I have permitted to them, and they tell them to associate others with Me for which I have not sent down any authority. [Reported by Imaam Muslim (rahimahullaah); Saheeh Muslim Chapter 16. Hadeeth Number: 2865]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
Ikhlaas and Tawheed are a tree in the heart; its branches are the [good] deeds and its fruits is the good life in this world and everlasting bliss in the afterlife. And just as the fruits of Jannah are neither cut off [by change of season] nor are they out of reach, likewise this is the case with the fruits of Tawheed and Ikhlaas. Shirk, lies and Riyaa are a tree in the heart; its fruits – in the worldly life- are fear and anxiety, grief and distress in the soul and oppression against the heart. Its fruits in the afterlife are the tree of Zaqqoom and an everlasting punishment. And Allaah has mentioned these two trees in Surah Ibraaheem:
See you not how Allaah sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high). Giving its fruits at all times, by the Leave of its Lord, and Allaah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability. [Surah Ibraaheem. Aayaat 24-26]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abdullaah Bin Salaam [radiyallaahu-anhu] walked in the marketplace whilst carrying a bundle of firewood; so it was said to him, “Has Allaah not given you enough wealth [to prevent you from] this? He said, ‘Certainly; but I want to repel pride. I heard Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] saying, ‘The one with the weight of a grain of mustard seed of pride will not enter paradise”.
This hadeeth is clear proof regarding the fact that pride is forbidden and that is one of the major sins. And because of this, a person is forbidden to characterise himself with pride-mocking at the people and rejecting the truth. Indeed, the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] described pride in his statement, [saying]: “Pride is to reject the truth and belittle the people”- meaning: rejects the truth and does not accept it; mocks at the people and does not consider them to be nothing by looking down on them and raising himself above them- either due to his abundant wealth, high [social] status, lineage or due to other reasons.
In this hadeeth, there is proof to show that a Muslim servant of Allaah- the sensible and smart one – guards himself, places himself in a situation that is pleasing to Allaah and disciplines himself with the Islamic manners. And when it is the case that the soul is weak and can be misguided, therefore Abdullah Bin Salaam [radiyallaahu-anhu] desired to discipline his soul by carrying a bundle of firewood on his back or his head, even though he was able to hire someone else to carry it on his behalf; but he desired something that was very important and that was to repel pride from his soul, and place himself in a situation of humility, which Allaah loves to see from His slaves. [An Excerpt from At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 269. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Qutaylah narrated that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stood before the people during the farewell hajj and said, “Neither is there a prophet after me nor an Ummah after you, so worship Allaah your Lord; establish your five daily [prayers], pay your zakaat, fast your month of [Ramadhaan], obey those who have been placed in charge over your affairs and you’ll enter paradise”.
Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said, This hadeeth gathers a number of beneficial Prophetic commandments, and the first and foremost affair is to worship Allaah, which is a general command that includes all types of worship- statements and deeds, apparent [actions of the limbs] and deeds concealed [in the heart]. Then the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] specified some of the types of worship and the most important of them being the obligatory prayers, payment of Zakaat, fasting during the month of Ramadhaan out of Eemaan and hoping for Allaah’s reward, and obedience to the ruler of the Muslims in that which is good. The fulfilment of these affairs are a great means of entry into paradise which Allaah has prepared for His believing servants. [At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1 page 309. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ – And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. [16:116]
Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said: Do not declare (this or that) to be unlawful and lawful on your own accord – lying and fabricating things against Allaah, and forging statements against Him (i.e. passing judgements or rulings that such and such is lawful or unlawful based on ignorance, guessing, assumptions, desires etc). [إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ – Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper]; neither (will they proper) in this worldly life nor in the afterlife. [Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem al-Mannaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan. Publisher Daar Ibn Hazm 1st Edition 1424AH (Year 2003). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
Allah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Nuh (Noah) and the wife of Lout (Lot). They were under two of our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands by rejecting their doctrine) so they [Nuh (Noah) and Lout (Lot)] benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: “Enter the Fire along with those who enter!”
And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe, the wife of Fir’aun (Pharaoh), when she said: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allah). [Surah At-Tahreem’ Aayaat 10-12]
