It has been reported from Qays ibn Abi Hazim, may Allah have mercy upon him, who said:
When Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, arrived in Sham, its scholars and elders came out to meet him. They said, ‘Ride this mule so that people will see you’. He said: ‘Indeed, you see the matter from here’, then while pointing to the sky, he said: ‘Instead the matter (regarding nobility, honour, recognition etc) is really up there. Leave me on my way.”
Tarikh Dimashq 4/44
Abdullah Bin Salam, may Allah be pleased with him, walked in the marketplace while carrying a bundle of firewood. It was said to him: “Has Allaah not given you enough wealth [to prevent you from] this?” He said, “Certainly, but I want to repel pride. I heard Allah’s Messenger, saying:
‘The one with the weight of a grain of mustard seed of pride will not enter paradise'”.
Al-Allamah Zaid Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
This hadith is clear proof regarding the fact that pride is forbidden and that is one of the major sins. And because of this, a person is forbidden to characterise himself with pride-mocking at the people and rejecting the truth. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, described pride in his statement,
“Pride is to reject the truth and belittle the people”- meaning: rejects the truth and does not accept it; mocks at the people and does not consider them to be nothing by looking down on them and raising himself above them- either due to his abundant wealth, high [social] status, lineage or due to other reasons.
In this hadith, there is proof to show that a Muslim servant of Allah- the sensible and smart one – guards himself, places himself in a situation that is pleasing to Allah and disciplines himself with the Islamic manners. And when it is the case that the soul is weak and can be misguided, thus Abdullah Bin Salam, may Allah be pleased with him, desired to discipline his soul by carrying a bundle of firewood on his back or his head, even though he was able to hire someone else to carry it on his behalf; but he desired something that was very important and that was to repel pride from his soul, and place himself in a situation of humility, which Allah loves to see from His slaves.
An Excerpt from “at-Taliqat Al-Malihah Alaa Silsila Al-Ahadjth As-Sahihah. 1/269
It is narrated from Maymun ibn Mihran, may Allah have mercy upon him, who said:
“Al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported to me that he saw Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, riding a female mule and his boy servant was on it behind him, while he was the khalifah”.
Hilyah Al-Awliya 1/60
One day, Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, came out then the people followed him; he said to them: “Do you have a need?” They said, “No, but we want to walk together with you”. He said, “Go back, for indeed it is humiliation for the one following and a trial for the one followed”.
Az-Zuhd 195 by Imaam Ahmad
Hisham bin Hassan, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
They (some people) mentioned humility in the presence of Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy upon him, while he kept quiet until they spoke a lot about it. Then he said to them: ‘I see you speaking profusely about humility’. They said: ‘O Abu Sa’eed! What is humility?’ He said: ‘He (a person) exits his house and does not meet a Muslim, except thinking that the other is better than him'”.
Az-Zuhd 1598 By Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Imam Fudayl Ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
“If you are able not to be known, 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?!”
Hilyah Al-Awliyaa 8/89
Khalaf Bin Tamim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
I saw Ath-Thawree, may Allah have mercy upon him, at Makkah and many people came to him, so he said, “To Allah do we belong! I fear that Allah has made this Ummah to be lost when the people are in need of the likes of me”.
Siyar A’lam An-Nubula 7/275
Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Al-Arabi Al-Maliki, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Muhammad Bin Qasim Al-Uthmani, may Allah have mercy upon him, told me more than once:
“I arrived in Fustat one day, then I went to the gathering of Shaikh Abi Al-Fadl Al-Jawhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, and there I witnessed a statement that he uttered to the people. And that which he stated – in the first gathering when I sat with him – was that ‘The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, طلق – i.e. he did divorce, ظاهر – i.e. he did utter the statement to a wife, ‘You are like my mother’s back’, and آلى – i.e. he made an oath to abandon his wives for a month”.
When he (i.e. Shaikh Abi Al-Fadl Al-Jawhari) left, I followed him until I reached his house with a group of people; then he sat with us in the vestibule and acquainted them with my affair because he saw a stranger [i.e. I (Muhammad Bin Qasim)] and did not know the person among those who came to him before. When most of them departed from him, he said to me, “I see that you are a stranger; do you have anything to say?” I said, “Yes”. He said to his companions, “Excuse him from having to speak in your presence”, so, they got up and I stayed alone with him. I said to him, “I attended your gathering today so that Allah may bless me (with some of the knowledge you possess), and I heard you say, ‘Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] آلى – i.e. he once made an oath to abandon his wives for a month and what you said was true; طلق – i.e. he did divorce women, and what you said was true, and you said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ظاهر i.e. he did utter the statement to a wife, ‘You are like my mother’s back’, but this never happened and can never be correct to say that it happened because Az-Zihaar [i.e. to say to one’s wife, ‘You are like my mother’s back’ (i.e. unlawful for me to approach)] is an evil statement and false speech, and this can never be uttered by the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him”. He hugged and kissed my forehead, and said, “I repent from this statement. May Allah reward you on my behalf as a good teacher”.
I departed from his presence, and the next day I went early to his gathering, but he was in the Central Masjid before me and was sitting on the pulpit. When I entered the Masjid and thus he saw me, he called out at the top of his voice (saying), “Welcome, my teacher. Make room for my teacher”. So, the people turned towards me and their eyes stared at me! O Abu Bakr! And you know me – meaning, he (i.e. Muhammad Bin Qasim Al-Uthmani) was indicating to Ibn Al-Arabi about his extremely shy character because when someone greeted him by surprise, he would feel shy – due to his extreme shyness – and turned red as if his face was painted with Gulnaar (pomegranate blossom). He (i.e. Muhammad Bin Qasim) continued, “People hastened towards me, raising their hands towards me (i.e. acknowledging me) and nudging me until I reached the pulpit, and I did not know in which part of the earth I was due to my extreme shyness (i.e. shocked), whilst the Masjid was overcrowded with people and I sweated due to shyness. Then the Shaikh turned towards the people and said to them, ‘I am your teacher and this is my teacher! Yesterday, I told you that Allah’s Messenger آلى – i.e. he once made an oath to abandon his wives for a month; طلق – i.e. he did divorce women, and ظاهر i.e. he once uttered the statement to a wife, ‘You are like my mother’s back’, and neither did a single one of you give me the correct understanding nor respond to me, but he (i.e. Muhammad Bin Qaasim) followed me to my house and said such and such to me. I repeat (i.e. right now) what took place between him and I, repent from yesterday’s statement, and return to the truth. Whoever hears it from those who were present, let him not rely on what he says, and let the one who is present convey this affair to the absent one. May Allaah reward him with good’”. Then he (i.e. Shaikh Abee Al-Fadl) started supplicating a lot and the people responded with Aameen.
Ibn Al-Arabi stated – after narrating this incident- “So look – may Allah have mercy upon you – at this firm adherence to the religion and an acknowledgment of the people of knowledge given by this man – whose leadership was manifest and whose worth was well known- to a stranger whom he neither knew nor where he came from! Follow his example and you’ll be led aright”. [Ahkam Al-Qur’an 1/248-249]
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Zihaar: Allah [The Exalted] says:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآٮِٕهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِهِمۡۖ إِنۡ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمۡ إِلَّا ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى وَلَدۡنَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّہُمۡ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنڪَرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ وَزُورً۬اۚ وَإِنَّ
Those among you who make their wives unlawful (Az-Zihar) to them by saying to them “You are like my mother’s back.” They cannot be their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And verily, they utter an evil statement and a lie. [Surah Al-Mujaadilah. Ayah 2]
Despite Abū Bakr ibn al-Anbārī’s (strong) memorisation, he, may Allah have mercy upon him, was a Zahid and a humble person. Abu al-Ḥasan ad-Daraqutni, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported that he attended one of his gatherings on a Friday during which he was dictating. He misread a name that he cited in the chain of transmission of a ḥadīth: it was Ḥibbana, but he either said Ḥayyanu, Ḥayyana, or Habbanu. Abu al-Ḥasan said:
“I considered it too grave that an error should be transmitted from someone like him due to his virtue and lofty status. I was in awe of him and hesitant to notify him. Then when the dictation ended, I went to the one who was taking the dictation, mentioned the mistake to him, informed him of the correct word, and then left. Then I attended his gathering the following Friday, so, Abu Bakr said to the one taking the dictation:
‘Make it known to those present in the gathering that we misread such-and-such a name when we dictated the ḥadith on such-and-such an occasion last Friday, and that a young man notified me regarding the correct name, which is such-and-such. And inform that young man that we referred back to the original source and found it as he said'”.
Tarikh Baghdad 4/301
The Mufti, Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, in the introduction of his book titled:
O reader! So, whatever benefit you find in it is from Allah’s bounty and His grace (favor), and whatever shortcomings or mistakes you find in it are from my own shortcomings and limited knowledge.
والله المستعان
Written by Salih Bin Fawzan Bin Abdillah Al-Fawzan on 19/10/1425H
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Accepting Advice and Wholehearted Submission to The truth is One of the Great Obligations (Obligated) to all Muslims
All praises be to Allāh, and may peace and blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger, his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:
I came across what some internet websites have disseminated (or posted) regarding a statement attributed to me, that I stated during one of my lectures: “If the Messenger of Allah disowned (or freed himself) from you through (or upon) the tongue of our Lord”. I said it while citing (or utilising as proof) the statement of Allah, the Exalted:
إن الذين فرقوا دينهم وكانوا شيعا لست منهم في شيء
“Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) have nothing to do with them” [3] regarding the prohibition of splitting (divergent sects, groups, parties). Then I stated: “How can we, my brothers, not fear while we choose this splitting and live with it for generations and ages?”
I seek Allah’s forgiveness – a hundred times – for this ugly (disgusting) and false statement. I request the removal of this statement from all cassettes (recordings) in which it appears, and I emphasise that anyone who possesses a recording containing this statement should delete it. And I say: Indeed, this statement is ugly (disgusting) and false; exalted is Allah above it, and free is He from it. That is because He, The Exalted, is free from any resemblance to the created things, as He, Glorified be He and free from all imperfections, says:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
There is nothing like (similar) to Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.
Likewise, He, The Mighty and Majestic, says:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Say (with a firm, resolute statement): “He is Allāh, (who is) uniquely One (in His perfect names, attributes, actions, and His right to worship). Allāh, the Eternal, Self-Sufficient Master (of utmost perfection in His attributes, to whom all creatures turn for their needs whilst He has none). He did not beget (such that He became a father) nor was He begotten (such that He became a son). And there is none equal, similar or comparable to Him (in His perfect names, attributes and actions).” https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/112/1
And He, the Most High, said:
هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيًّا
Do you know of any that is worthy of His name (due to having similarity to Him)?
In these noble verses are an affirmation of the Attributes of His Perfection and the descriptions of His majesty, while also exalting Him above attributes and descriptions of deficiency and the likeness to created beings. Neither is anyone similar nor comparable to Him in His Dhat (Self), and His Attributes, nor in any of His Magnificent Attributes.
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah affirm all of the attributes mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah without Tashbih, Ta’teel, Takyeef, or Tamtheel with regards to anything of His Attributes, such as Ascension above His Throne – above all of His creations, His Highness, Descent, Hearing, Sight, Ability, Iraadah, knowledge, Speech, and Wisdom, and the fact that He, The Exalted, is the Creator, the Provider, Giver of Life, and Causer of Death, among the other affirmed Names and Lofty Attributes of His. Ahlus Sunnah affirm them without Takyeef, Tamtheel, Tashbih, or Ta’teel, standing in opposition to Ahlul Ahwa (the sects upon vain desires in their creed), such as the Jahmiyyah, Khawarij, Mu’tazilah, Rawaafid, and Ash’ariyyah.
And all praises be to Allah, I am from those whom Allah blessed with this methodology, which I firmly believe in the depth of my inner-self. I teach it, advocate for it, and defend it as a student and a teacher; calling to it with all my ability, establishing allegiance and enmity based on it from the beginning of my life (i.e. when he became acquainted with it). This statement, which I made during my lecture- in which I called to this path and urged those who oppose it to revise it – is extremely hated to me. This ugly (repugnant, disgusting) statement was a slip of the tongue on my part and had someone alerted me at the moment I uttered it, I would have rejected and distanced myself from it. It is not justified for anyone who comes across it to remain silent about it. It is akin to the statement made by the man whom the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, cited as an example, who said out of overwhelming happiness: “O Allah! You are my servant and I am Your Lord”.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stated, “He (i.e. this man) erred due to overwhelming happiness.” Nevertheless, I experience profound pain from it and strongly condemn it for both myself and others (.e. not to utter this statement).
I beseech Allah, the Generous Lord of the Mighty Throne, to forgive me for all my sins, both those I have concealed and those I have made known. I ask for forgiveness for my slips and errors, including those of the pen, the tongue, the limbs, and the heart. “All the children of Adam commit mistakes, and the best of those who err are the repentant.” I beseech Allah to make me among the repentant and the purified. Accepting advice and adhering to the truth is one of the most obligatory duties for all Muslims, regardless of the source. It is not permissible for a Muslim to belittle or disdain the advisor, no matter their status. I seek refuge in Allah from rejecting advice or defending any wrong or falsehood that originates from me, for such behavior is characteristic of the corrupt, arrogant, obstinate, and those who, when given a reminder do not reflect (or take heed). I seek refuge in Allah from these ugly (repugnant, disgusting) traits. I ask Allah to include me among those about whom He said:
وَٱلَّذِینَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَمۡ یَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَیۡهَا صُمࣰّا وَعُمۡیَانࣰا
And those who, when they are reminded of the Signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat.
I advise myself and all Muslims to adhere to this methodology and remain steadfast in it, to accept the advice of those who advise, and to follow the path of the righteous predecessors in mutual advice, enjoining one another upon truth, and accepting guidance, in consideration (and application) of Allah’s statement:
وَٱلْعَصْرِ
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allah manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss. Except those who believe (in Allāh, His Angels, Books, Prophets, the Last Day and the Divine Decree) and work righteous deeds (which are sincere and correct) and mutually advise each other (in calling to and abiding by) the truth and mutually advise each other with patience (in facing the inevitable harms brought by calling to the truth).
And in consideration (and application) of Allah’s statement:
والمؤمنون والمؤمنات بعضهم أولياء بعض يأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر
The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin good and forbid evil.
Among the signs of upright guidance, uprightness, truthfulness (in statement and action), and salvation in this worldly and the Hereafter is to be steadfast upon the Book and the Sunnah, and to follow this methodology in belief, action, manners, and in enjoining good and forbidding evil, addressing shortcomings with wisdom and through (honourable, straight forward, honest) ways.
And I beseech Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, to grant success to this Ummah, particularly Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, to advance this great methodology, unite their word upon it, and enable them to achieve (or attain upright) leadership, dignity, and honour in this worldly life; enable them to adhere to this methodology that will lead them to safety and salvation in the Hereafter. Indeed, my Lord is All-Hearing of supplications.
May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Written by:
Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali
8/7/1425 AH
Makkah Al-Mukarramah
