The Arena of Courageous, Conscientious Men

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah, The Most High, said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah; even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. [An-Nisaa. 135]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, commanded His servants to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone – be it an enemy or an ally, and the matter that is most worthy of being established with justice are the statements and methodology related to the commands of Allah as well as everything that Allah has (revealed in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah). Therefore, to establish these affairs based on desires and disobedience is contrary to Allah’s command and a negation (i.e. either intentionally or unintentionally) of that which Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was sent with.

The establishment of justice is the responsibility of those entrusted with the task of conveying Islam after the death of the Messenger, and this task cannot become a reality unless one establishes it based on pure justice and sincerity to Allah- (sincerity) based on Allah’s Book, to Allah’s Messenger (by adhering to his guidance), and sincere dealings and advice when dealing with Allah’s servants. These people are the true inheritors (i.e. inheritors of the knowledge left behind by the Prophets), but not that one who merely makes his companions, sect, and path the determinant of truth and the distinction between (truth and falsehood) by showing enmity to the one who opposes him and allies with the one who agrees with him, merely based on being opposed or agreed with [i.e. without sound proofs based on the Book and the authentic Sunnah], because where is that command to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone, even though standing out firmly for justice is the greatest command and obligation!

Then Allah, The Most High, said:

 شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ

As witnesses to Allah.

A witness presents information about something; so if he presents credible information, he is a just witness and his (statement) is accepted; but if he gives false information, he is a false witness. Allah, The Most High, commands us to stand out firmly as just witnesses for His sake, therefore it has to be carried out for the Sake of Allah and not for other than Allah. In [Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayah 8, Allah said]:

كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ

Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses.

This Ayah establishes four affairs: stand out firmly for justice and do so for the sake of Allah; witness to justice and do so for the Sake of Allah.

Then Allah said:

وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ

Even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin.

Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, commands us to stand out firmly for justice and testify, even if it were someone who is the most beloved person to us. A person should stand out firmly for justice (for or against) himself, his two parents, his close relatives, and his best friend among the people. If a person’s love for himself, his parents, and his relatives prevents him from standing out firmly for the truth against them, especially if the truth is with someone he hates and regards as an enemy due to them, then none would stand out firmly for justice in such circumstances except one whose love for Allah and His Messenger is more than their love for everyone else. Also, a person has to establish justice when dealing with his enemies and that one who deprives him of his rights because it is not permissible that hatred for his enemies leads him to be unjust towards them, just as it is not permissible that love of himself, his parents and relatives makes him abandon standing firmly for justice against them. Therefore, hatred harboured against someone should not lead him to falsehood, and love (of himself, parents, and relatives) should not make him fall short in establishing truth, just as one of the pious predecessors said, “The just person is that one who when angry, his anger does not lead him to falsehood, and when he is pleased it does not remove him from the truth”. The two Ayaat of the Qur’an [i.e. Surah An-Nisaa 135 and Surah Al-Maa’idah 8] convey two rulings and they are: standing out firmly for justice and making a truthful testimony on behalf of one’s allies and enemies.

Then Allah said:

إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ

Be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you).

Meaning, Allah is the Lord of both of them and their Protector, and they are both His servants. It may be that you become fearful of standing firmly for justice by testifying against a rich person or a poor person – either fearing that the rich person might lose his wealth or because the poor person has nothing, so your heart becomes lackadaisical about standing out firmly for the truth. Therefore, it should be said to them, “Allah is a better Protector of both the rich and poor person. Allah knows the affair of the rich person more than you and He is more Merciful to the poor than you, therefore, do not refrain from standing out firmly for the truth and from giving testimony (for or against) the rich or the poor.

Then Allah said:

فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ

So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice.

Meaning, Allah forbids (His slaves) from following desires, which will lead them to abandon justice.

Then Allah said:

وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا

And if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Meaning, Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, mentions two reasons that will inevitably lead to concealment of truth then He warned against them and issued a threat: the first of them is distortion and the second is to turn away from giving truthful witness. That is because when a proof that supports the truth is manifested and the one who wants to repel it finds no way of doing so, he refrains from mentioning it and thus becomes a silent devil, and sometimes he distorts it. Distortion is of two types -distorting words and meanings. Distorting words occur when one utters a word in a context in which it does not establish the truth – either adding to the word, omitting something from it, or substituting it with something else to the extent that the listener is made to believe something, whilst something else is intended, just as the Yahud [i.e. those Yahud who disbelieved in the Prophet and hated him in Madinah] used to distort words when giving Salam to the Prophet [i.e. saying As-Saamu Alayka (death be upon you), instead of saying Assalaamu alaykum)]. This is one type of distortion. The second type of distortion is related to meanings – distorting the wording, giving it an interpretation that is not intended by the one who uttered it and pretending not to know its unintended meaning; or dropping other meanings intended by it.

When it is the case that a witness is required to bear witness based on what the matter should be [i.e. the complete truth], therefore neither should he hide nor change it. Turning away from the testimony is tantamount to concealment and distortion is tantamount to alteration and substitution. Therefore, contemplate this Ayah and the treasures of knowledge it contains. The faith of a person cannot be complete, except through accepting the texts of the Shariah and calling the people to them – neither turning away from them at times nor distorting them at other times. [An Excerpt from ‘Bada’i at-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim. 1/300-303]

The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

The best of the people are those living in my generation, then those who will follow the latter, and then those who come after them. Then there will come after them people who will be treacherous and will not be trustworthy. They will bear witness without being asked to do so, and they will vow, but will never fulfil their vows, and fatness will appear among them.” [Al-Bukhari. 6695]

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

They give false testimony, act treacherously and deceitfully. They behave in a very sinful manner and follow evil desires, except those whom Allah safeguards amongst the Taa’ifatul Mansoorah [i.e. the aided group of Muslims upon the straight path] – those whom Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] praised. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to acquire knowledge for the sake of Allah [The Mighty and Majestic] and act upon it. Ignorance is a deadly disease, and knowledge is a weapon that will destroy you if you do not act upon it, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. [Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm pages 268-270]

Imam An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said regarding the statement:

“They will bear witness without being asked to do so”: This can mean that they bear witness before being asked, or they bear witness based on falsehood, or they give witness without being from those who are worthy of it.” [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 12/17]

However, there is another Hadith in which the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stated: “Should I not inform you about the best of witnesses, they are those who bear witness before being asked.” 

The scholars say that what is intended by this hadith is, for example: someone has a witness to give on behalf of another person based on truth, but the person does not know about it, so he [i.e. the one who should give the witness] informs the person about it. Or, for example, a person has already passed away and another person knows what the deceased person has left behind as inheritance, so he bears witness to that and makes it known. [Fat-hul Baari 5/260]

And regarding the statement: “And fatness will appear among them.” Imaam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Meaning, these people give importance to the means of fattening themselves – food, drink and over-abundance. So, their only concern is their bodies and fattening themselves. As for being fat without choice, then one cannot be blamed for that, just as a person cannot be blamed for being tall, short, black or white…” [Majmu Al-Fataawaa 10/1056]

Imaam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

The (type) of luxurious lifestyle that exist (today) is that a person does not desire except to drive a comfortable vehicle and to build a spectacular mansion. He does not want to receive any inconvenience – neither cold during cold (days) nor the heat during hot (days), nor does he want to be touched by anything, so he (finds) himself in complete luxury. Because of this, health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and breathlessness is rife amongst them due to a lack of (minimum required) movement (or activity). So, you find some youth climbing a mountain and even before getting halfway, he becomes breathless. Someone else older than him finds himself in ease, because he is accustomed (to some hardship), but he (i.e. this youth) is not. [Sharh Hilyati Taalibal Ilm. page 40]

http://www.healthymuslim.com/index.cfm

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“(By Allah) the rights of justice will surely be restored to their people on the Day of Resurrection, even the hornless sheep will lay claim to the horned sheep”. [Muslim 2582]

 ففي هذا الحديث أقسم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو الصادق المصدوق بغير قسم، أقسم أن الحقوق ستؤدى إلى أهلها يوم القيامة ولا يضيع لأحد حق، الحق الذي لك إن لم تستوفه في الدنيا استوفيته في الآخرة ولا بد، حتى إنه يقتص للشاة الجلحاء من الشاة القرناء الجلحاء التي ليس لها قرن والقرناء التي لها قرن، والغالب أن التي لها قرن إذا ناطحت الجلحاء التي لا قرن لها الغالب أنها تؤذيها أكثر، فإذا كان يوم القيامة قضى الله بين هاتين الشاتين واقتص للشاة الجلحاء من الشاة القرناء، هذا وهن بهائم لا يعقلن ولا يفهمن، لكن الله عز وجل حكم عدل أراد أن يري عباده كمال عدله حتى في البهائم العجم فكيف ببني آدم

In this hadith, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and He is truthful and believed, even without swearing (by Allah). He swore (by Allah) that all rights will be restored to their rightful owners on the Day of Judgment, and none will lose their rights. Any right that belongs to you, if not received in this life, will definitely be given back to you in the Hereafter.

Even retribution will be established for the hornless sheep against the horned sheep. In most cases, when a horned sheep strikes (or headbutts) a hornless one, it harms it more. Therefore, on the Day of Judgment, Allah will judge between these two sheep and establish justice for the hornless one against the horned one. This is despite (the fact) that they are animals that lack reason and understanding. However, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is perfectly just and He wants to demonstrate to His servants the perfection of His justice, even among animals that cannot speak, so how about between human beings? [Paraphrased]

An Except from the Sharh of the hadith by Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him. Visit link: https://www.alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=213751

Allah, The Most High, said:

فلذلك فادع واستقم كما أمرت ولا تتبع أهواءهم وقل آمنت بما أنزل الله من كتاب وأمرت لأعدل بينكم الله ربنا وربكم لنا أعمالنا ولكم أعمالكم لا حجة بيننا وبينكم الله يجمع بيننا وإليه المصير

So unto this (religion of Islam, alone and this Qur’an) then invite (people) (O Muhammad ), and Istaqim [(i.e. stand firm and straight on Islamic Monotheism by performing all that is ordained by Allah (good deeds, etc.), and by abstaining from all that is forbidden by Allah (sins and evil deeds, etc.)], as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say: “I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, this Qur’an and the Books of the old from the Taurat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham)] and I am commanded to do justice among you, Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return. [Ash-Shuraa. 15]

وَأُمِرۡتُ لِأَعۡدِلَ بَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ

And I am commanded to do justice among you.

Meaning, when passing judgement regarding that which you have differed between yourselves. Therefore, your enmity and hatred does not prevent me from judging with justice between you. And from justice is that when judging between people who make different statements – amongst the people of the Scripture and others – one accepts what they possess of truth and reject what they possess of falsehood.

ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمۡ‌ۖ لَنَآ أَعۡمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُڪُمۡ‌ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return.

لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ

There is no dispute between us and you.

Meaning, there is no dispute between us and you after the realities have been manifested, and after the clear distinction between truth and falsehood, and after the clear distinction between guidance and misguidance, there is no room for debate because the goal behind debate is to distinguish between right and wrong, so that the one to be guided is guided and the proofs established against the misguided one.

ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return. [An Excerpt from Tafsir As-Sadi]

Allah, The Most High

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due; and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer. [An-Nisaa 58]

This includes judgement between them in matters related to [الدماء – homicide, killing, physical violence], wealth, and honour, whether minor or major; (includes) relatives, non-relatives, the righteous, the unrighteous, an ally or enemy.

The intent behind justice Allah has commanded to be upheld is that which Allah has ordained through the speech of His Messenger regarding divine ordainments and rulings, and this necessitates knowledge of justice in order to judge by it.

And since these are good and just commands, He said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer.

This is praise from Allah for His commands and prohibitions due to their inclusion of the welfare of the two abodes (the worldly life and after life) and repelling their harms. This is because the one who legislator them is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing; nothing is hidden from Him, and He knows the welfare of His servants in ways they do not. [An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi.]

Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and Marwan: (whose narrations attest to each other) Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, set out at the time of Al-Hudaibiya (treaty), and when they proceeded for a distance, he said, “Khalid bin Al-Walid leading the cavalry of Quraish constituting the front of the army, is at a place called Al-Ghamim, so take the way on the right.” By Allah, Khalid did not perceive the arrival of the Muslims till the dust arising from the march of the Muslim army reached him, and then he turned back hurriedly to inform Quraish. The Prophet went on advancing till he reached the Thaniya (i.e. a mountainous way) through which one would go to them (i.e. people of Quraish). The she-camel of the Prophet sat down. The people tried their best to cause the she-camel to get up but in vain, so they said, “Al-Qaswa’ (i.e. the she-camel’s name) has become stubborn! Al-Qaswa’ has become stubborn!” The Prophet said, “Al-Qaswa’ has not become stubborn, for stubbornness is not her habit, but she was stopped by Him Who stopped the elephant.”

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

إن البهائم تمدح على مكارم الأخلاق، فإن ناقة النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام في غزوة الحديبية لما بركت وخلأت أبت أن تستمر في السير إلى مكة صاح الناس وقالوا خلأت القصواء خلأت القصواء يعني حرنت ووقفت فقال النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام: ( والله ما خلأت وما ذاك لها بخلق  دافع عنها ( وما ذاك لها بخلق ولكن حبسها حابس الفيل

Animals are praised for their good manners because when the Prophet’s She-camel – during the Battle of Al-Hudaybiyah- refused to continue walking to Makkah, the people shouted “Al-Qaswa has become stubborn! Al-Qaswa has become stubborn!” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “By Allah! She has not become stubborn because stubbornness is not her character”. He defended her (saying), “But she was stopped by Him (i.e. Allah) Who stopped the elephant (i.e. the elephant amongst Abraha’s army that came to destroy the Kabah)”.

https://www.alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=31665

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “A woman entered the Hellfire because of a cat or kitten she had imprisoned. She did not let it eat, nor release it to eat the vermin of the earth, until it died emaciated.” [Muslim 2619]

Imam Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

This is a (Shariah) text regarding that woman being  punished in the fire due to killing a cat through incarceration and not feeding it. Was this woman who was seen by the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the fire – a tall woman from the Children of Israel –  a disbeliever or not? It could be either case. If she was a disbeliever, it serves as evidence that disbelievers are held accountable for the subsidiary (issues) of the Shariah and are punished for neglecting them. If she was not a disbeliever, it is evident that the reason for her punishment in the fire was due to incarcerating the cat until it died of starvation. [An Except from “Al-Muf’him Limaa Ash’kala Min Tal’khees Kitab Muslim” 5/544]

Aa’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated:

There was a black slave girl belonging to an Arab tribe and they freed her but she remained with them. The slave girl said:

“Once one of their girls (of that tribe) came out wearing a red leather scarf decorated with precious stones. It fell from her or she placed it somewhere. A kite (i.e. a medium to a large long-winged bird of prey) passed by that place, saw it lying there and mistaking it for a piece of meat, flew away with it. Those people searched for it but they did not find it. So they accused me of stealing it and started searching me and even searched my private parts.”

The slave girl further said: “By Allah! While I was standing (in that state) with those people, the same kite passed by them and dropped the red scarf and it fell amongst them. I told them, ‘This is what you accused me of and I was innocent and now this is it.”

Aisha added, “That slave girl came to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and submitted in Islam. She had a tent or a small room with a low roof in the Masjid. Whenever she visted me, she had a conversation with me and whenever she sat with me, she would recite the following, ‘The day of the scarf (band) was one of the wonders of our Lord, verily He rescued me from the disbelievers’ town’ Aisha added, ‘Once I asked her, what is the matter with you? Whenever you sit with me, you always recite these poetic verses.’ So she told me the whole story'”. [al-Bukhari 439]

Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

In the hadith is that it is permissible to stay overnight and sleep in the Masjid for those Muslims – whether a man or woman – who do not have a place to live if that would not lead to trouble.

The permissibility of placing a covering in the Masjid by way of a tent and the like.

To leave the land where a person is put to trial in the hope of relocating to a better place for oneself just as what happened to this woman.

The virtue of migrating from the land of disbelief.

Allah’s response to the supplication of an oppressed person even if he (or she) is a disbeliever because the context of this hadith shows that she became a Muslim after arriving in Medinah. Allah knows best. [1]

Imam Abdul Azeez Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

This oppressed woman was aided by Allah, for indeed Allah aids a person (even) an unbeliever.

Exit the Masjid if menses begin in the Masjid or stay out of necessity.

There is no harm in erecting a tent for a woman who is in need until a safe place is found.

There’s no harm in sleeping in the Masjid if that would not lead to harm. [2]

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Do you know who is bankrupt?” They said, “The one without money or goods is bankrupt.” The Prophet said: “Verily, the bankrupt person of my Ummah are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting, and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding blood, and beating others. The oppressed will each be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, then their sins will be cast upon him and he will be thrown into the Hellfire”. [Muslim 258]

[1] Fath Al-Bari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/692. Publisher: Dar As-Salam. 1st Edition 1421AH (Year 2000)]

[2] Al-Hulal Al-Ibreeziyyah Min at-Ta’leeqaat Al-Baaziyyah Ala Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/141-142