They Were Not Curators of False Inference, Ambiguity Engineers, Prestige Parasites or Perception Managers

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

Husayn Bin Abdir Rahman narrated: I was with Sa’eed Bin Jubair when he said, “Who amongst you saw a shooting star last night?” I said, “I did”. Then I said, “I was not in prayer, but was stung by a scorpion”. He said, “Then what did you do?” I said, “I performed Ruqyah…” [1]

Question: Why did Husayn Bin Abdir Rahman mention that he was not in prayer after informing Sa’eed Bin Jubayr that he saw the shooting star last night?!

Answer:

Imam Sa’di, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“This is because the pious predecessors were far removed from praising a person for something he does not possess”. [2]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

He (Husayn) made this statement to prevent people from thinking that he was engaged in prayer, thus he is praised for what he did not do. This is the opposite of what some people do, as they rejoice when others think they were praying. This behaviour reflects a deficiency in one’s Tawhid. Husayn’s statement is not viewed as showing off, but rather as a virtuous deed. It is not comparable to someone who avoids acts of obedience due to the fear of showing off, as Shaytan manipulates them and convinces them to abandon good deeds due to fear of showing off. Instead, one should perform acts of obedience, but nothing should be in your heart that you desire to be seen by people. [3]

Al-Allamah Salih Aala Ash-Shaikh, may Allah preserve him, said:

He (Husayn) uttered these words due to his fear that those who were present may assume that he saw the shooting star during his prayer. Thus, he disclaimed any association with it. This highlights the virtue of pious predecessors, their eagerness for sincerity, distance from ostentation, and adorning oneself with something not possessed”. [4]

Imam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

If you are able not to be known, then do so. Is there anything against you if you are unknown? Is there anything against you if you are not praised? Is there anything against you if you are considered blameworthy in the sight of the people but praiseworthy in the sight of Allah [The Mighty and Majestic]?” [5]

Imam Ibrahim An-Nakha’ee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

It is enough a trial that a person is pointed out due to his religious or worldly affairs, except the one whom Allah protects. [6]

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

There are many cases in which the souls are mixed with Ash-Shahawaat Al-Khafiyyah [i.e. desires that are concealed, subtle etc] that corrupts its fulfilment of (perfect) love of Allah, servitude to Him and establishment of the religion sincerely for the sake of Allaah, just as Shaddaad Ibn Aws [may Allah be pleased with him] said, ‘O Arabs! Indeed, the affair I fear for you the most is Riyaa [show off] and Shahwa Al-Khafiyyah’. It was said to Abu Daawud As-Sijistaani, ‘What is Ash-Shahwa Al-Khafiyyah?’ He said, ‘Love of leadership’”. [7]

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

O youth! Be mindful of Shaytaan who is next to you. Seek Allah’s protection against his destructive evil whispers.

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ نَزۡغٌ۬ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

And if an evil whisper from Shaitan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower]. [Fussilat. 36]

If you sense that your soul is inclined towards showing off to the people and bragging about knowledge, then turn to Allah, lower and humble yourself in His presence, and ask Him to grant you sincerity and to save you from Shaytaan – to save you from his whispers and plots. One of the scholars said, “Indeed, it is extremely difficult [upon a person] whose enemy can see him, but he cannot see him.” He [i.e. this scholar] said this when he explained the statement of Allah [The Blessed and Exalted] about Shaytan and his armies:

إِنَّهُ ۥ يَرَٮٰكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ ۥ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَہُمۡ‌ۗ

Verily, he and (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. [Al-Araf. 27]

He [i.e. that scholar] said, “By Allah! Indeed, it’s a bitter feud and extreme difficulty [for the one] whose enemy can see him, but he cannot see him, except for the one whom Allah safeguards’’- meaning: This enemy is more dangerous than the army you can see that has troops and strength. This hidden enemy – whom you cannot see – is extremely difficult and will destroy you whilst you are unaware and unable to see him. We ask Allaah for well-being”. [8]

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

O my brothers! Sincerity is a mighty affair. It is obligated to a Muslim to protect it and self-reflect at all times. One of the pious predecessors: “I used to think that the hadith required an intention [i.e. sincerity when seeking hadith in general], but then I realised that every hadith requires an intention.” So, when you convey or speak, do you desire praise from the people or do you desire the Face of Allah? Do you desire that it is said, “He is a scholar, intelligent, a jurist”, or do you seek the pleasure of Allah and fulfill the duty you bear? [9] [end of quotes]

For this reason, one must seek Allah’s Tawfiq to avoid getting caught up in the numerous obstacles to truth and insincere behaviour on social media. This is particularly true for those who believe that by undermining others, they will gain prominence, or by arguing on behalf of someone else using deceptive semantics, they can obscure their opponent’s position while elevating their ally’s. Therefore, before engaging, one should ask Allah for Tawfiq to assist in discerning between individuals who are simply emotional, those who are opportunistic, those driven by psychological factors, those who use intellectual arguments as weapons, and those who are strategically manipulative. When someone’s behaviour raises doubts because they are trying to gain status for themselves or a loved one in matters of Deen or Dunyah, whether through passive manipulation or openly and aggressively, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself:

Is this person just an occasional troublemaker, so you can avoid engagement as long as their Baatil doesn’t affect anyone?

Is he an opportunistic troublemaker, so that you refrain from engaging as long as his actions do not obscure a serious truth?

Is he an avowed opponent, someone who is relentless and whose troubled personality constantly seeks attention, so that you let them burn out like a fire with nothing left to consume, unless their actions threaten the wellbeing of vulnerable individuals in your community?

Is he a verbose stooge with some qualifications, eager to prove a point to his handlers who assist him with tactics and retweets disguised as Ilm and justice, so that you address him based on facts and principles, avoiding engagement with their verbosity, diversionary tactics, calculated silence, and name-dropping?!

Is he a puppet master – a smooth talker and chameleon who pretends to be an adviser, a seeker of justice, Maslahah, and harmony, while having their hands in many pots and maintaining a clean image, trying to revive willing victims of self-incrimination and, through stooges, they intensify selective rage and attacks against the oppressed, whom they falsely accuse – in private or public, directly or indirectly, then deal with them based on frankness, openness and unwavering clarity, and never allow their status or credentials to blur your vision. And Allah knows best.

[1] Saheeh Muslim 220

[2] An Excerpt from “Al-Qawl As-Sadeed Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed”. page 77

[3] An Excerpt from “Al-Qawl Al-Mufeed Alaa Kitaab At-Tawheed”. 1/97

[4] An Excerpt from “Sharh Fath Al-Majeed Li-Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed”. 1/162

[5] Hilyatul Awliyaa 8/89

[6] Taareekh Dimashq 18/33

[7] Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 10 /214-215

[8] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ pages 55-57

[9] An Excerpt from “Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm” pages 53-55