In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Aghaaleet

Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “If Allah wishes to deprive a servant of His blessing of knowledge [Footnote a], He places the Aghaaleet on his tongue”. [1] The Aghaaleet are the odd and difficult subject matters. [2]

The Aghaaleet are the issues in which many err, thus triggering evil and temptation- neither beneficial to the religion nor appear (for discussion), but rather they are initiated in matters that have not taken place (i.e. pursued based on speculation, conjecture, fruitless debate, etc); hated that one burdens himself with and delves deeply into them, whilst it is something a person can do without; ambiguous to people nor understood, things said that are not made clear from which problems arise, and affairs become confusing to people. Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud [may Allah be pleased with him], “I warn you about (unwarranted) length and complexity in speech”- meaning, with regards to the complex, vague issues. [3]

The Tuboobiyyaat

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: [الطبوليات ] are those Masaa’il [affairs related to the religion] by way of which fame is sought. They are called Tubooliyyaat because it is similar to a Tabl (drum) which has a sound and an echo. So when an odd affair comes to the people and a (person) becomes famous by way of it, then it becomes as if it is the sound of a drum. [4]

[Footnote a]: This can occur due to a hidden plot in one’s heart [5], one turning away from guidance and behaving as if he does not know Allaah’s guidance [6]; turning away from Allaah’s reminder, which he revealed to his Messenger, turning away from understanding it and pondering upon it, and that which Allaah intends by way of it, so Allaah leaves such a person with his devil as a punishment – the devil that follows him. So, this devil becomes his ally [7] because none submits to Allah sincerely and truthfully, and performs the deeds of the people of Jannah, except that Allaah will never abandon him. [8] Such a person was not compelled to go astray, rather he made a choice, but his choice is under the Will of Allaah. We do not know what was in the hearts of those who deviated, so Allaah deviated their hearts; but we know – with absolute certainty – that Allaah passes Just Judgments and He does not do injustice to anything; rather it is the people who wrong themselves. [9]

[1] Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 1087

[2] Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm. Number 2038

[3] (Awnul Ma’boob Sharh Sunan Abee Dawud. 5/64-65. Daar kotub Al-Ilmiyyah. 1st edition 1419AH. 1998) (Taghleedh Al-Malaam Alaa Al-Mutasrri’een Ilaa Al-Fityaa Wa Taghyeer Al-Ahkaam. page 28 By Shaikh Hamood At-Tuwayjiree)]

https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/23502/%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%BA%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%B5%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%87%D9%89-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7

[4] Sharh Hilya Taalib Al-Ilm. Page 19

[5] Sharh Arba’een page 87-88. 1st edition. 1424 (2003)- Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)

[6] Zaadul Maseer. Tafseer Surah Az-Zukhruf Ayah 36

[7]Al-Jawaab Al-Kaafee 136-137. By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah)

[8] Sharh Arba’een page 88. 1st edition. 1424 (2003)- Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)

[9] Sharh Al-Arba’een pages 55-56- 1st edition 1428 (2007)-by Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh.