Al-Imām Ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh)
All praise belongs to Allāh, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allāh, his family, and his companions and all those who follow in their way. To Proceed:
The ummah of Islām is the foremost of nations in commanding with good and forbidding from evil. This is an obligation prescribed upon every Muslim in accordance with his capability and his ability in fulfilling the task of sincere advice and instruction so that he is absolved of any blame and so that others are guided by way of him. Allah (تعالى) says,
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And remind for indeed the reminder benefits the believers.[1]
There is likewise no doubt that every believer, rather every person is in dire need of remembering the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants and being encouraged in performing them.
Likewise, they are in dire need to mutually encourage one another with the truth and to be patient upon it. Indeed Allāh — in His Clear Book — has informed of the trait of the successful and their praiseworthy actions against the trait of the losers and their reprehensible manners. This is found in many verses of the Noble Qurʾān and has been combined in what Allāh (سبحانه) has mentioned in Ṣūrah al-ʿAṣr, when He said,
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
By Al-ʿAṣr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.[2]
So, He (عز و جل) guided his servants — in this tremendous short ṣūrah — to the means of success and concentrated them into four characteristics.
Firstly, al-Īmān (sound Islamic belief and creed), secondly, al-ʿAmal aṣ-Ṣāliḥ (righteous actions), thirdly, enjoining with ḥaqq (truth), fourthly, encouraging with ṣabr (patience).
Whoever perfects these four stations has attained the greatest success and Allāh — out of His Mercy and Generosity — has made it binding upon Himself to honor him and grant him everlasting bliss on the Day of Resurrection.
Whoever opposes these four traits and does not embody himself with them has incurred the greatest loss and ended up in al-Jaḥīm (the Hellfire), the abode of disgrace.
Indeed, Allāh in His Noble Book has explained the traits of the Rābiḥīn [those who combine belief and righteous deeds in pursuit of reward in the Hereafter], their types and repeated them in many places throughout His Book, so that the seeker of salvation learns them, embodies them and calls to them.
He has explained the traits of the Khāsirīn (the losers) in many verses, so that the believer can learn them and keep far away from them.
So, whoever contemplates on the Book of Allāh and is plentiful in reciting it, is aware of the traits of the Rābiḥīn and the traits of the Khāsirīn in detail.
Allāh has said in many verses, from them what has preceded and from them,
إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise).[3]
كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.[4]
وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
And this is a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allah (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. saved from the torment of Hell).[5]
And it is authentically reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said,
خيركم من تعلم القرآن وعلمه
The best of you are those who learn the Qurʾān and teach it.[6]
He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said in his Farewell Sermon on the day of ʿArafah,
إني تارك فيكم ما لن تضلوا إن اعتصمتم به، كتاب الله
Indeed, I leave amongst you that which if you were to cling to it you would not go astray, the Book of Allah.[7]
Allāh elucidated in these verses that He revealed the Qurʾān so His servants would contemplate over it, and be reminded by it, to follow it, be guided by it to the causes of happiness, honour and salvation in this world and the hereafter.
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) directed the nation to learn the Qurʾān and teach it, he explained that the best of people are the people of the Qurʾān, those who learn it and teach it to others, whilst acting upon it, following it and stopping at its prescribed limits, ruling by it and referring disputes to it.
He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) clarified in a great gathering — on the Day of ʿArafah — that the people would not be misguided whilst they adhere to the Book of Allāh and follow its teachings. When the Salaf aṣ-Ṣāliḥ (Pious Predecessors) and the first generation of this nation followed the teachings of the Qurʾān and the life of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), Allāh gave them honour and might, raised their station, and established them in the land. Fulfilling what He (سبحانه) promised them, in His statement,
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَمَا ٱسۡتَخۡلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ دِينَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱرۡتَضَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِهِمۡ أَمۡنٗاۚ يَعۡبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ بِي شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ
Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).[8]
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ
O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.[9]
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ
Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order for Iqamat-as-Salat (the five compulsory congregational prayers), to pay the Zakat and they enjoin Al-Maʿruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden). And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).[10]
Therefore O Muslims, ponder over the Book of your Lord, and recite it plentifully, act upon its commandments, keep away from its prohibitions, recognise the noble manners and deeds the Qurʾān commended, hasten towards them and cultivate yourselves with them. In addition, you should recognise the manners and deeds which the Qurʾān has censured, and threatened those who perpetrate them, so beware of them and keep well away from them. Encourage each other with this advice and have patience upon it until you meet your Lord. Through that you will triumph with salvation, happiness, and honour in this life and the hereafter.
From the most important of obligations upon the Muslims is to have concern with the Sunnah of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم), understanding it and walking in its light. It is the second revelation, the explanation of the Book of Allāh, and the guide to what may be obscure of its meanings. As Allāh (سبحانه) said in His Noble Book,
وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And We have also sent down unto you the reminder and the advice (the Quran), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.[11]
وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).[12]
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.[13]
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.[14]
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.[15]
The verses indicating the obligation of following the Messenger, exalting his Sunnah, holding firm to it, and warning against opposing it or being negligent towards it are abundant — whoever contemplates the Noble Qurʾān and deeply understands what has authentically been reported from the Messenger will know this well. There is no rectification of the servant, no happiness, power, honour, nor salvation in this life or the Hereafter, except by following and adhering to the Noble Qurʾān and the Sunnah of the Messenger; venerating them, and advising with them in all situations and having patience upon that, as Allāh (عز وجل) said,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart. And verily to Him you shall (all) be gathered.[16]
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).[17]
وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.[18]
So in these noble verses Allāh (سبحانه) showed His servants that the good life, ease, contentment and complete honour is only attained by the one who responds to Allāh and His Messenger and is steadfast upon that in speech and action.
As for the one who turns away from the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger and is preoccupied with other than them, then indeed he will remain in torment, misery, anxiety, distress and a life of hardship, even if he possessed the entire world.
He will then be moved to that which is more severe and horrendous — the punishment of the Fire, refuge is sought with Allāh from that, as He (تعالى) says,
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَى وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ
And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger; and that they came not to the prayer except in a lazy state; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly. So let not their wealth or their children amaze you; in reality Allah’s Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.[19]
فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى
Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.[20]
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَى دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities, etc.) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam).[21]
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ وَإِنَّ الْفُجَّارَ لَفِي جَحِيمٍ
Verily, the Abrar (pious and righteous) will be in delight (Paradise); And verily, the Fujjar (the wicked, disbelievers, sinners and evil-doers) will be in the blazing Fire (Hell).[22]
Some of the scholars of tafsīr say these verses encompass the condition of the pious and the wicked in this life and the hereafter. So the believer is in bliss in his life, his grave and his hereafter, even if he is tested in this world with the various types of trials, such as poverty and illness and its like.
As for the wicked, he is in the fire in his life, his grave and his hereafter. This is even if he obtained whatever bliss he has obtained in this world — in reality that is not true bliss, as the true bliss is the bliss of the heart, its relaxation and contentment.
Therefore, the believer with his belief in Allāh, his reliance upon Allāh, his sufficing with Him, and fulfilling His rights, believing in His promise — with a content heart, an opened chest and relaxed soul.
The wicked, with his diseased heart, ignorance, doubt, turning away from Allāh, and the scattering of his heart among the pursuits and desires of the worldly life — he is in torment, worry, perpetual fatigue, and the intoxication of whims and base desires which blind the heart from reflecting upon that and from responding to it with right conduct.
So O Muslims, focus on that which you were created for: the worship of Allāh, His obedience, gain understanding of that and be steadfast upon it until you meet your Lord (عز وجل), then you will be blessed with everlasting bliss and be saved from the torment of the fire. Allāh (تعالى) says,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ نُزُلًا مِنْ غَفُورٍ رَحِيمٍ
Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah (Alone),” and then they stood firm (Istaqamu), on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”[23]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is (only) Allah,” and thereafter stood firm (Istaqamu) (i.e. stood firm and straight on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and by performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever), a reward for what they used to do.[24]
Allāh is the one that we ask to make us and you from them, to protect all of us from the evil of ourselves and our misdeeds, indeed He is Capable of all things.
May Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon His servant, His Messenger, our Prophet Muḥammad, his family and his companions.
Majmū’ Fatāwa wa Maqālāt of Shaykh Ibn Bāz vol.2, p.154
References
- Ṣūrah adh-Dhāriyāt, Ayah 55 ↩
- Ṣūrah al-ʿAṣr, Ayah 1–3 ↩
- Ṣūrah al-Isrāʾ, Verse 9 ↩
- Ṣūrah Ṣād, Verse 29 ↩
- Ṣūrah al-Anʿām, Verse 155 ↩
- Al-Bukhārī 5027 ↩
- At-Tirmidhī 3788 ↩
- Sūrah An-Nūr, Verse 55 ↩
- Sūrah Muḥammad, Verse 7 ↩
- Sūrah Al-Ḥajj, Verses 40–41 ↩
- Sūrah An-Naḥl, Verse 44 ↩
- Sūrah An-Naḥl, Verse 89 ↩
- Sūrah Al-Aḥzāb, Verse 21 ↩
- Sūrah Al-Ḥashr, Verse 7 ↩
- Sūrah an-Nūr, Verse 63 ↩
- Sūrah al-Anfāl, Verse 24 ↩
- Sūrah An-Naḥl, Verse 97 ↩
- Sūrah al-Munāfiqūn, Verse 8 ↩
- Sūrah At-Tawbah, Verses 54–55 ↩
- Sūrah Ṭā Hā, Verses 123–124 ↩
- Sūrah As-Sajdah, Verse 21 ↩
- Sūrah Al-Infiṭār, Verses 13–14 ↩
- Sūrah Fuṣṣilat, Verses 30–32 ↩
- Sūrah al-Aḥqāf, Verses 13–15 ↩
