The statement of Allah “The path of those whom you have favoured” is an evidence that it’s upon us to look into the lives of those whom Allah has favoured, as to who they were and what their condition was. This is so that we may be guided to their path. And an extension to that is an encouragement for us to know the biography of The Prophet – صلى الله عليه وسلم – due to him being the most favoured by Allah.
It is obligatory for the slave if he falls into sin, that he hastens to repentance and confession and he says that which the two parents (Aadam and Hawaa) said, with a sincere heart and turning repentantly (to Allah); for Allah did not narrate to us the description of their repentance except that we emulate them; so that we are successful with happiness and saved from destruction.
Whomsoever performs the Prayer upon a manner of laziness then in him is a resemblance to the Hypocrites…so be wary & cautioned from resembling the Hypocrites.
Perform the prayer with energy and happiness & pleasure; and by Allah, indeed the Believer in reality is certainly pleased when the (time for) Prayer arrives because he will stand before Allah and call upon Him.
Due to this, if you see in of yourself laziness in the Prayer then blame yourself because you are without a doubt comparable with the Hypocrites in this characteristic, so alter your way (regards to Prayer & all worship) toward Allah عز وجل and do not be negligent”
Sickness of the heart; (and protection is sought from Allah) it brings about corruption in one’s worldly life and after life. If the heart becomes sick with doubt, polytheism, hypocrisy or a dislike for what Allah has revealed, or hatred towards Allah’s allies, or with anything that is similar to that, then indeed (as a result of that) his worldly life and after life will end up in ruin. Therefore, it is binding upon you whenever you ask for well-being to bring to mind that you’re asking (for both) well-being against illness of the heart as well as illness of the body.
Shaykh bin Baz was asked about writing in the Mushaf, he replied:
It is impermissible to write anything, nothing is to be written in the Mushaf. It should be devoid of anything but the speech of Allah – glorified and exalted be He – no footnotes should be written, neither any symbols of tajweed nor anything else. Because it’s a must for the Mushaf to be safeguarded and solely contain the speech of Allah – glorified and exalted be He.
Whosoever Allah blesses with knowledge then he recognises and acknowledges the blessing of Allah upon him and he says just as the Angels and the Prophets said:
They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”
And he ceases talking about that which he does not know. For indeed knowledge is the greatest of blessings and (the slave) gives thanks for this blessing by recognising and acknowledging Allah with it.
And he praises Him by teaching it (knowledge) and teaching the ignorant and stopping upon that which the slave has learnt, and remaining silent about what he hasn’t learnt.
Which of the two is better? Seeking of knowledge or dawah to Allah – Glorified and Most High – because I hear some of the groups saying: “Ad-dawah (to Allah) is of greater benefit than the seeking of knowledge”
Answer:
Seeking of knowledge is first because it is not possible for a person to call to Allaah except if he has knowledge. As for if he does not have knowledge then he is not able to call to Allah, and if he (does) dawah he makes mistakes much more than he is correct. So it is conditional for the caller to be upon knowledge before he commences Dawah due to the statement of Allaah:
Say (O Muhammad), “This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me” (Yusuf:108)
There are (however) obvious issues where it is possible for a common person to call (to Allaah), such as commanding with the prayer and prohibiting from its abandonment, commanding with the congregational prayer (for men), commanding the children with the prayer- these affairs are known to the common person and the beginner student of knowledge. However the affairs which require understanding and knowledge of the Halal and Haraam, and the affairs of Shirk and Tawheed, then knowledge has to be acquired (regarding) these (affairs). And (generally) those who say that dawah is more beneficial than studying, they are the jamaat at-tableegh and this is a misguided innovated Sufi group.
Shaykh Uthaymeen – Rahimahullah -was asked a question by a group of youth who pray, fast and perform what they are able from (various) acts of worship – They said: during our rest, we joke a lot what is the ruling on this?
The Shaykh began by making dua for them:
Firstly we ask Allah – Glorified and Most High – for thabaat (steadfastness) for these brothers upon that which they perform from acts of worship and that HE makes it in the manner in which HE is pleased with and that it is in accordance to the guidance of the prophet – peace and blessings upon him and upon his family – with out going over bounds and without deficiency.
We say about your legislated acts of worship be steadfast upon them. As for joking after that; then there is no good in lots of joking indeed it has been said: “Joking in speech is like salt in food, the food is not sound without it and the food is not sound if there’s too much salt”
If there is a person who is excessive in joking he may speak about his brother with distasteful expressions which are not befitting. And it is possible that he will arrive at what is worse than that; his speech may mock something from the acts of worship or from the religion. And this is extremely dangerous, indeed it could result in disbelief. And refuge is sought with Allah, so upon them is that they joke moderately without excessiveness.
Slightly paraphrased from Shaykh Uthaymeen’s Fataawa Noor ala ad-Darb vol 12 page 687
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan – May Allah preserve him – was asked:
There is found in these times those who fanatically cling to personalities, although the truth opposes them; so how do we advise these youth?
We advise them first and fore-mostly to study , for they did not fanatically cling to anyone except due to ignorance; so upon them is to study beneficial knowledge(*) and to gain understanding of the religion of Allah and the truth will become clear/manifest to them. – if Allah wills -But as long as they are ignoramuses or pseudo seekers of knowledge, this will not increase them in anything except differing. And it will not increase them except (in) disagreement
Source
Al-ijaabatu al-faasilatu ala ash- shubuhaat al-haasila page 10
* Ibnul qayyim said in his poem “Al- kaafiyah ash-shaafiyah”
“Knowledge is what Allah, His messenger, and the companions said.
Speaking about the people of innovation and those who carry unsound concepts or a methodology which is not upright, (then) this is from advice, and not backbiting.
Rather it is (an act of) sincerity to Allaah, His Book and His Messenger (by carrying out what is commanded and forbidding evil etc) and it is (act of sincerity) to the muslims (by giving them good advice).
So if we see an innovator spreading his innovation then it is obligatory that we make clear that he is an innovator so that the people are saved from his evil.
(Likewise) If we see an individual who has an ideology/concept opposing that which the Salaf were upon, then it is obligatory for us to clarify that so that people are not deceived by him.(Likewise) If we see a person who has a specific methodology (whose) outcome is evil then it is obligatory for us to clarify that so that the people are saved from his evil, and this (done) out of sincerity to Allaah, His Messenger and His Book; and it is sincerity to the rulers and their subjects (by giving good advice so that they saved from evil etc).
Regardless of whether speaking about the people of innovation is (done) amongst students (of knowledge) or in other gatherings, this is not backbiting.
And as long as we fear the spread of these innovations, or that concept or that methodology which is in opposition to the methodology of the Salaf; it is obligatory that we clarify so the people are not deceived by that.
