In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Shaikh, may Allah preserve him, stated about Sayyid Qutb:
Indeed, the Fitnah of this man and those with him is the Fitnah of this era. It is the severest fitnah in this era because it (falsely) wears the garb of the Salafi Methodology (i.e. falsely attributes itself to Salafiyyah).
Adh-Dhari’ah ilaa Bayaan Maqasid Kitab Ash-Shariah 1/112
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
“Indeed, knowledge has transgression (associated with its possessor or seeker), similar to the transgression (associated with the owner of wealth)”.
Al-Allamah Ibn Al-Athir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
It can lead its possessor to permit concessions [I] through what is ambiguously derived from it, thus leading him to what is not permissible for him, looking down on those below him and not fulfilling its rights due to not acting upon it, just as the owner of wealth does (with wealth). [1]
“Beware of the disease of the despots because pride [a], avarice, and envy were the first (sins through which) Allah was disobeyed. Raising yourself above your teacher is pride, [b] being arrogant towards the one who benefits you from amongst those who are below you is pride, [c] and falling short in acting upon knowledge is a sludge of pride and an indication of being deprived.
Imam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
[a]The Prophet said, “Pride is to reject the truth and mock the people”. This refers to Shaytan’s behaviour when he was commanded to prostrate to Adam, but pride prevented him from doing so. He refused and was haughty. [b] Raising oneself can either be by way of the tongue and it can also be by way of sentiments (feelings, attitude, etc). He (the student) may be walking with his teacher, while swaggering and saying, “I did this, and I did this”. [c] Likewise, being arrogant towards the one who is below you in knowledge is pride. This also occurs with some of the students that if someone below him in knowledge informs him of something, you find him arrogant and does not accept. We ask Allah for well-being because this type of pride is a lack of acting upon the knowledge one knows. [2]
[I] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2021/11/20/unjustified-pursuit-of-concessions-and-mere-claim-of-khilaaf-unbefitting-a-people-who-want-to-be-regarded-as-followers-of-clear-proof/
Some factors leading to elevation or degradation of a possessor of knowledge.
[1] An-Niyahah Fee Ghareeb Al-Hadith 3/128
[2] An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyah Talib Al-Ilm. 38-40. (1st Edition Rabi ul Awwal 1443AH)
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
[الغي والضلال يجمعان جميع السيئات – (Ghay – to deviate from upright conduct) and Dalaal (misguidance related to knowledge and creed) combine all evils]
Al-Allmah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allaah protect him] stated:
All Praise be to Allah, Lord of the entire existence, and prayers and peace be upon the most honorable of the prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions. To proceed:
Presented to all Muslims is this [الكلام الرائع – wonderful, remarkable, speech] of Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] in which he spoke about the danger of Hasad (envy), and the danger of Ghay and Dalaal, and that they combine all evils. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all to [مراقبة الله – i.e. to recall the fact that Allaah sees us, knows everything about us at all times, knows everything in our souls etc], strive to correct our beliefs and purify our hearts from envy, arrogance, transgression and all kinds of sins, especially major sins. Here is the speech of this Imam, who [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated in his treatise (titled) At-Tawbah (repentance) pages 236-238:
Indeed, Allaah commanded His believing servants to supplicate to Him in every prayer with His statement:
ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ
صِرَٲطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Guide us to the straight path (of beneficial knowledge coupled with righteous action); the path of those (Prophets and their truthful, righteous followers) upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who earn Your anger (by not acting upon what they know) and nor of the astray (who act without knowledge). [Surah Al-Faatihah. Aayaat 6-7] [Translation by Shaikh Abu Iyaad (may Allaah preserve him): https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/1/6]
And for this reason, Allaah freed His Prophet from these two (i.e. Ghay and Dalaal), saying:
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ
By the (phenomenon) of the star when it descends (and vanishes with the appearance of dawn). Your companion-(O Pagans of Quraysh)—has not erred (in the knowledge he has been given) nor has he erred (in his sincerity of purpose). Nor does he speak out of the desire (of his own soul) (and forge revelation thereby). It is nothing but revelation revealed to him (containing guidance, rectitude and piety which he follows). [Surah An-Najm. Aayaat 1-4] [Translation by Shaikh Abu Iyaad (may Allaah preserve him): https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/53/1 ]
[الضال – The misguided one]: He is the one that does not know the truth, but rather thinks that he is upon the truth while he is ignorant of it, as is the case regarding what the Christians are upon. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
[وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا أَهْوَاءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّوا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّوا كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّوا عَنْ سَوَاءِ السَّبِيلِ – and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and misled many and have strayed from the soundness of the way. (Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 77)]
And [الغاوي – the one who deviates from upright conduct] follows his whims and desires even though he knows that this is contrary to the truth, as is the case regarding what the Jews are upon. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِنْ يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ
I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the Signs, they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness (monotheism, piety, and good deeds), they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error (polytheism, crimes and evil deeds), they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our Signs and were heedless (to learn a lesson) from them. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 146]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْ
And recite (O Muhammad) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Signs, but he threw them away, so Shaitan (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray. nd had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayaat 175-176] (see footnote a)
And in a hadith, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Indeed, what I fear most for you is the desires of the stomachs and privates parts that deviates a person from upright conduct, and the misleading trials”. That is because indeed Ghay and Dalaal combine all the evils of the children of Adam, because the human being is as Allaah [The Exalted] stated: [وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولً – But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results)] [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayah 72] (see footnote b)
So, by way of his wrongdoing, he becomes one who deviates from upright conduct, and by way of his ignorance he becomes a misguided one. And often he combines both these two affairs, so he is misguided in one thing, and deviated from upright conduct in another thing, because he is unjust and ignorant, and each of the two sins succeed one another, as Allaah said: [فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا – In their hearts is a disease (of doubt, disbelief and hypocrisy), so Allāh increased their disease (by subjecting them to trials in which they preferred disbelief)]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 10] [Translation by Shaikh Abu Iyaad: https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/2_10]
And as Allaah said: [فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ – So when they turned away (from the Path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the Right Path)]. [Surah As-Saff. Aayah 5]
Just as a believer is rewarded for a good deed with another good deed; if he acts according to his knowledge, Allaah grants him knowledge he did not know; and if does a good deed, it invites him to another good deed. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْوَاهُمْ – While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety. (Surah Muhammad Aayah 17]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى – And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright [true believers in the Oneness of Allah who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. (Surah Maryam. Aayah 76]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا – As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism). (Surah Al-Ankabut. Aayah 69]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُوا مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا
وَإِذًا لَآتَيْنَاهُمْ مِنْ لَدُنَّا أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
وَلَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا
And if We had ordered them (saying), “Kill yourselves (i.e. the innocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes,” very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith); ad indeed We should then have bestowed upon them a great reward from Ourselves. And indeed We should have guided them to a Straight Way. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayaat 66-68]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
لِئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
O you who believe [in Musa (Moses) (i.e. Jews) and ‘Iesa (Jesus) (i.e. Christians)]! Fear Allah, and believe too in His Messenger (Muhammad ), He will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), and He will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. So that the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allah, and that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His Hand to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. [Surah Al-Hadeed. Aayaat 28-29]
And he [.e. the Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] mentioned the desires of the stomachs and private parts that deviates a person from upright conduct as reported in the Sahih (i.e. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari and Muslim) that he said, “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” [Al-Bukhaari 6474]
The common people know that this is a sin, but they commit it in pursuit of their desires. As for the misleading trials, if a servant of Allaah is tempted, he will stray from the path ordained by Allaah, whilst thinking that he is guided, as Allaah stated:
وَمَنْ يَعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur’an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan – devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him. And verily, they (Satans / devils) hinder them from the Path (of Allah), but they think that they are guided aright! [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Aayaat 36-37]
Allaah said: [أَفَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ – Is he, then, to whom the evil of his deeds made fair-seeming, so that he considers it as good (equal to one who is rightly guided)? Verily, Allah sends astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. (Surah Faatir. Aayah 8)]
Allaah said: [وَكَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِي تَبَابٍ – Thus it was made fair-seeming, in Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh) eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the (Right) Path, and the plot of Fir’aun (Pharaoh) led to nothing but loss and destruction (for him). (Surah Ghaafir. Aayah 37)]
Allaah said:
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالً
الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
Say (O Muhammad ): “Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds! [Surah Al-Kahf. Aayaat 103-104] – And due to this, the companions of the Prophet [may peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] interpreted this Aayah (and applied it) to those devoted in worship based on other than Allaah’s Sharee’ah with which He sent His Messenger, such as the idolaters, the people of the Scripture like the monks and the people of desires from this Ummah (of Muhammad), such as the Kharijites whom the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] commanded that they should be fought against, saying: “One of you will belittle his prayer compared to their prayer, his fast compared to their fast, and his recitation compared with their recitation. They will recite the Qur’an but it does not go beyond their throats, they pass through Islam as an arrow goes through the game’s body. Kill them wherever you meet them (i.e. when they initiate bloodshed), for indeed in killing them there is a reward from Allaah – on the Day of Resurrection – for those who killed them”.
That is because these people exited the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger and the Jamaa’ah of Muslims to the point that those who opposed them – such as Uthmaan, Ali and the rest of the believers who ruled over them – were declared infidels, and they declared it lawful to kill Muslims and confiscate their wealth, as the Prophet said about them: “They will kill the adherents to Allaah and leave the idol worshippers (i.e. when Jihaad is established)”.
And if the desires that deviates a person from upright conduct combines with misleading trials, the affliction becomes severe and the one upon this path becomes one who earns Allaah’s Anger – an astray person. This often occurs because of the love of leadership and self-exaltation in earth, as was the case of Pharaoh. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
Verily, Fir’aun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidun (i.e. those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.). [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 4]
So, Allaah described him as one who exalted himself in the earth and caused corruption. Allaah stated in the end of Surah: [تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ – That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (pious)]. [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 83]
This is why Allaah stated about Fir’awn’s affair in particular: [وَكَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ – Thus it was made fair-seeming, in Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh) eyes, the evil of his deeds. (Surah Ghaafir. Aayah 37)]
And that is because love of the leadership is a hidden lust, as Shaddaad Bin Aws [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “O Arabs! What I fear for you the most is Riyaa and hidden lust”. It was said to Abu Dawood As-Sijistani, “What is hidden lust?” He said, “Love of the leadership”.
Your love for a thing blinds and deafens (i.e. one neither sees the truth nor listens to truth), so the love for that will beautify for him what he loves of self-exaltation and hatred against its opposite, until haughtiness and pride are combined in the affair, and envy, which is to harbour hatred against Allaah’s blessing bestowed on His servants, especially those who oppose Him. Pride and envy are two diseases that destroyed the early and latter generations, and they are the greatest sins by which Allaah was first disobeyed, because Iblees became arrogant towards Aadam and envied him. Likewise, the son of Adam, who killed his brother, envied his brother, and that is why arrogance contradicts Islam just as polytheism contradict Islam, because Islam is submission to Allaah alone. Whoever submits to Allaah and to others is a polytheist, and whoever does not submit is an arrogant person, like the case of Pharaoh and the chiefs of his (kingdom). This is why Musa said: [وَأَنْ لَا تَعْلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنِّي آتِيكُمْ بِسُلْطَانٍ مُبِينٍ – And exalt not (yourselves) against Allah. Truly, I have come to you with a manifest authority. (Surah Ad-Dukhaan. Aayah 19)]
Allaah stated about Fir’awn: [وَاسْتَكْبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا يُرْجَعُونَ – And he and his hosts were arrogant in the land, without right, and they thought that they would never return to Us.(Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 39)]
Allaah said: [وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ – And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof [i.e. those (Ayat) are from Allah, and Musa (Moses) is the Messenger of Allah in truth, but they disliked to obey Musa (Moses), and hated to believe in his Message of Monotheism]. So see what was the end of the Mufsidun (disbelievers, disobedient to Allah, evil-doers, liars.). (Surah An-Naml. Aayah 14)]
And whoever submits himself to Allaah as a Hanif (i.e. one who worships Allaah alone), then he is a Muslim who is adhering to the religion of Abraham, about whom Allaah said to him, “Submit”, he said, “I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds”. And this Islam is the religion of the first and the last of the prophets and their followers, as Allaah described – in his book – Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Yusuf, Sulayman and others amongst the Prophets, such as the statement of Musa to his people: [إِنْ كُنْتُمْ آمَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُسْلِمِينَ – If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to Allah’s Will). (Surah Yunus. Aayah 84)]
Allaah said: [إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا – Verily, We did send down the Taurat (Torah) [to Musa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah’s Will, judged the Jews. (Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 44)]
Nuh said: [فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ – But if you turn away [from accepting my doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah], then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah’s Will).(Surah Yunus. Aayah 72)]
Yusuf said: [تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ – Cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous. (Surah Yusuf. Aayah 101)]
Bilqees said: [وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ – And I submit (in Islam, together with Sulaiman (Solomon), to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (Surah An-Naml. Aayah 44)]
And deviating from upright conduct is not limited to the desires of the stomach and the private parts only, rather it related to desires of the stomach, the private parts, the desires of leadership, pride, self-exaltation and other than that. He (i.e. the person) is following his desires, even if he does not believe that it is a desire; (but) he is not like the misguided one, because he (i.e. the misguided one) thinks that he is doing well, and that is why Iblis was the first of those who deviated from upright conduct, as Allaah said:
فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَنْ شَمَائِلِهِمْ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ
Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You). [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayaat 16-17]
رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ
O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them. [Surah Al-Hijr. Aayaat 39-40]
Allaah said:
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَا أَغْوَيْنَاهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا تَبَرَّأْنَا إِلَيْكَ مَا كَانُوا إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ
And (remember) the Day when He will call to them, and say: “Where are My (so-called) partners whom you used to assert?” Those about whom the Word will have come true (to be punished) will say: “Our Lord! These are they whom we led astray. We led them astray, as we were astray ourselves. We declare our innocence (from them) before You. It was not us they worshipped.” [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayaat 62-63]
Allaah said:
فَكُبْكِبُوا فِيهَا هُمْ وَالْغَاوُونَ
وَجُنُودُ إِبْلِيسَ أَجْمَعُونَ
Then they will be thrown on their faces into the (Fire), They and the Ghawun (devils, and those who were in error). And the whole hosts of Iblis (Satan) together. [Surah Ash-Shu’araa 94-95]
That which is in the hadith, “What I fear for this Ummah of deviation from upright conduct”, is tantamount to deviation through desires of the stomach and private parts; but as for the deviation from upright conduct that is tantamount to arrogantly turning away from truth, this is the origin of unbelief, and the person upon this path is not from this Ummah, such as Iblis, Pharaoh and others. As for deviation from upright conduct by way of the desires of the stomachs and the private parts, this can happen to the people of faith, then they repent, as Allaah said:
وَعَصَى آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَى
ثُمَّ اجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَى
Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance. [Surah Taa Haa. Aayaat 121-122]
And in the Sunan and Al-Musnad from the hadith of Laith bin Sa’d on the authority of Yazid bin Al-Haad on the authority of Amr on the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khudri who said: I heard Allaah’s Messenger (saying), “Indeed, Iblis said to his Lord [The Mighty and Majestic]: ‘By Your Might and Majesty, I will not cease to deceive the children of Adam as long as the souls are in them (i.e. as long as they are alive)’. His Lord [The Mighty and Sublime] said to him, ‘By my Might and Majesty, I will not cease to forgive them as long as they ask forgiveness from me'”.
May Allaah have mercy on Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and I ask Allaah that this article will benefit all Muslims, especially students of knowledge. May Allah bless and bestow peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
Written by
Rabee Bin Haadi Omair Al-Madkhali
On 28/8/1432 AH
Paraphrased:
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Footnote a: https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2020/04/12/the-scholar-his-abundant-knowledge-and-the-dog-that-lolls-its-tongue-out-a-mighty-parable/
Footnote b: إِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا ٱلۡأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡجِبَالِ فَأَبَيۡنَ أَن يَحۡمِلۡنَہَا وَأَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡہَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ ظَلُومً۬ا جَهُولاً۬
Verily, We did offer AlAmanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah’s Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results). [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayah 72]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“Beware of Ghuluw (extremism exaggeration, or excessive zeal) in religion, for those who came before you were destroyed due to extremism in religion”. [1]
Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Ghuluw is the act of exceeding the limit in something, by either praising or criticizing (dispraising) something beyond what it truly deserves, and similar actions.” [2]
The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The over-stringent ones are destroyed”. [3]
Imam An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
“They are those who exceed the Hudud [prescribed legislated Sharia limits] in their statements and actions”. [4]
Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said that:
This applies to both speech and actions, and that in most cases some people in this state may become self-amazed and arrogant. [5]
We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي
وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ
وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return; and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [Sahih Muslim. 2720] [6]
[1] Sahih Al-Jami 2680
[2] Iqtidaa As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem 1/289
[3] Sahih Muslim 2670
[4] Sharh Sahih Muslim. 16/180-220
[5]https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=126682
[6] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2020/12/29/o-allaah-rectify-my-religion-for-me-which-the-safeguard-of-my-affairs-a-tremendous-supplication/
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Al-Allamah Abdur Rahman Bin Yahyah Al-Mu’allimee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
In this era of ours, you even see a woman who comes across an affair related to the religion – in which there is a difference of opinion between the mother of the believers Aa’isha and others amongst the companions, may Allah be pleased with all of them, thus, she defends Aa’isha’s position solely due to the fact that she is a woman like her. So, when she presumes and then claims that Aa’isha is correct and those men who oppose her position are mistaken, then in this is an affirmation of Aa’isha’s virtue over those men, which then becomes a virtue for women unrestrictedly and she receives some of that. And through this appears – to you – the underlying reasons behind the illegal partisanship of an Arab to an Arab, a Persian to a Persian, a Turk to a Turk and other than that.
Aathaar Ash-Shaikh Abdur Rahmaan Bin Yahyah Al-Mu’allimee. 11/294
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah said:
وَإِن تَلْوُا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
And if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. [Al-Nisa 135]
Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, mentioned the two reasons that necessitate concealing the truth, warning against them and issuing a threat regarding them. The first one is distortion and the other is refusal. For indeed, when the truth is evident and there is one who cannot find a way of repelling it, he either disregards it and does not mention it, thus, he becomes a mute devil; at times, he distorts and misinterprets it. The example of distortion is the misinterpretation and it is two types: distortion of the wording and distortion of the meaning. The distortion in wording occurs when it is uttered in a manner that does not necessitate the truth, either by adding to the wording, omitting from it, or substituting it with another.
Distortion of its true usage and confusing the listener through words and other than its intended meaning, similar to how the Jews would twist their tongues in greeting the Prophet, [i.e. saying “As-Saam Alaykum” (death be upon you) instead of “Assalaamu Alaykum” (peace be upon you)]. This is one of the two types of ndistortions.
The second type is the distortion of meaning, explaining the wording in manner that is not intended by the speaker’s intent, either through ignorance of what was intended or by omitting certain aspects of the intended meaning. This is distorting meanings, thus Allah said:
وَإِن تَلْوُا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
And if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. [Al-Nisa 135] [Bada’i at-Tafsir Al-Jami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim 1/302]
In The Name of Allāh, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, said: “Indeed Allah is pure and He does not accept, except that which is pure”.
Al-Allamah Salih Al Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, said:
In this hadith he, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, described Allāh, The Exalted, that He is pure. “Allah is pure”, meaning: Allah is free from all imperfections and deficiencies. He is pure in His Essence, His Names and Attributes, and His Commandments and Prohibitions. Allah is pure in every aspect and imperfection cannot reach Him. Due to this, Allah does not accept actions, statements and intentions except that which is pure. He does not accept filthy statements, actions and intentions. Allah does not accept except what is pure, as Allāh, The Most High, said:
إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ
To Him ascend (all) the goodly words. [35:10]Allah does not accept, except good speech and good actions. As for filthy speech, indeed Allah rejects and hates it, such as lies, backbiting, tale carrying, abuse, false speech and false testimony, and all filthy statements, (such as) shirk and kufr. All of this is filthy speech and does not ascend to Allah, and they are not accepted.
Al Minhatur Rabbaaniyyah Fee Sharh Arba’een An-Nawawiyyah’ page:133-134
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Will advanced modern weaponry remain at the end of time?
Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, stated:
As you know, nothing lasts forever and continues. There is no doubt that these inventions and manufactured (modern weaponry) will fade away. There is nothing that remains (forever) in this world. (Prophetic) reports have been transmitted that they will become obsolete at the end time and people will return to (using) horses and (traditional) weaponry. (I) For this reason, it is incumbent that horses remain and should not be abandoned. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Good will remain (as a permanent quality) in the foreheads of horses (for Jihad) till the Day of Resurrection”. (II)
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy. (Al-Anfal 60)
There is no doubt that what currently exists will not last and will disappear and change. [end of quote]
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(I) The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Madina (to counteract them). When they will arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans would say: “Do not stand between us and those (Muslims) who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them”. The Muslims would say: “No, by Allah, we would never get aside from you and from our brethren that you may fight them”. They will then fight and a third (part) of the army would run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah’s Sight, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople. And as they would be busy in distributing the spoils of war (amongst themselves) after hanging their swords by the olive trees, the Satan would cry out: “The Dajjal has taken your place among your family”. They would then come out, but it would be of no avail. And when they would come to Syria, he would come out while they would be still preparing themselves for battle drawing up the ranks. Certainly, the time of prayer shall come and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and would lead them. When the enemy of Allah would see him, it would (disappear) just as the salt dissolves itself in water and if he (Jesus) were not to confront them at all, even then it would dissolve completely, but Allah would kill them by his hand and he would show them their blood on his lance (the lance of Jesus Christ). [Sahih Muslim 2897]
(II)https://abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
Whimsical statements about the end of the world and its signs
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah said:
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا
And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge (e.g. one’s saying: “I have seen,” while in fact he has not seen, or “I have heard,” while he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah). [Al-Isra 36]
Prior to delving into the biography of Sultan Abdul Hamid I, the author briefly touched upon the life of Sultan Murad V. However, we have chosen to omit his biography from this series due to certain negative claims associated with him that we cannot verify. Given that this matter pertains to the honour of a Muslim, we are obliged to withhold any information regarding his life until we can confirm the veracity of these allegations. It is undeniable that the decline of the Ottoman Empire brought about numerous unfavorable transformations, yet attributing these specific changes to any individual necessitates concrete evidence. Now, let us proceed with the biography of Sultan Abdul Hamid I.
Sultan Abdul Hamid I [1293 – 1326 AH / 1876 – 1909]
He was the thirty-fourth sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He ascended to the throne at the age of thirty-four, having been born on the 16th of Sha’ban in the year 1258 AH (1842). His mother passed away when he was just ten years old. Subsequently, his father’s second wife, who was unable to bear children, took on the responsibility of raising him. She strove to fulfill the role of a mother, showing him with affection and even bequeathing her inheritance to him. He was profoundly influenced by her nurturing, admiring her dignity, piety, and calm demeanor. This upbringing left a lasting impact on his character throughout his life.
He received a structured education at the royal palace, guided by a select group of the most renowned scholars of his time (within the empire), both in knowledge and character. He studied the Arabic and Persian languages, delved into history, developed a passion for literature, and explored Tasawwuf. (I) He also composed some poetry in Ottoman Turkish. He trained in weaponry, mastering the use of the sword and achieving accuracy with a pistol. He maintained his physical fitness and showed a keen interest in global politics, closely following news related to his country with exceptional attention to detail and rare precision.
An Excerpt from ‘Ad-Dawlah Al-Uthmaaniyyah Awaamil An-Nuhood Wa Asbaab As-Suqoot. 6/441
[I] The Sufism practiced during the some periods of the Ottoman era is extensively recorded. While the author did not elaborate on the extent to which this Sultan engaged with Sufiyyah, we can infer that if his understanding aligned with contemporary Sufiyyah, there would be significant concerns regarding this practice. However, if his approach mirrored that of the early Sufis, we can glean insights into his practices from the information shared in the link by Shaikh Abu Iyaad, may Allah protect him. http://www.ibntaymiyyah.com/articles/dgfil-the-origin-of-the-sufis-is-from-basrah-iraq.cfm
To be continued…InShaAllah
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
One of the greatest characteristics of Islam is the fulfilment of contracts and promises, even towards non-Muslims. Among the characteristics of the believers is the avoidance of betrayal and treachery. There is a story about Al-Mughirah Ibn Shu’bah, may Allah be pleased with him, who accompanied a group of polytheists during their time of disbelief, while they traveled to Egypt for trade and acquired wealth. Then they spent the night there, thus, he attacked and killed them, and took their wealth. He came to Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as a Muslim, presented the wealth and narrated the incident to him. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “As for your Islam, we accept it; however, the wealth is that of treachery, and we have no need for it.” This is because it was acquired through treachery. Islam does not permit treachery under any circumstances.
Another incident: There was a treaty between the Romans and the Muslims, then as this treaty approached its end, Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, proceeded with his army, stating: “Once the time of the treaty ends, we’ll launch an attack on the enemy”. An old man mounted his horse, shouting, “Allahu Akbar! Fulfilment and not treachery! Allahu Akbar! Fulfilment and not treacheryl!” Mu’awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him (about it), so he said: “I heard Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say, ‘When one has covenant with people, he must not strengthen or loosen it till its term comes to an end or he brings it to an end in agreement with them (to make both the parties equal)'”. So Mu’awiyah stopped.
Treachery and betrayal are not permissible (to be perpetrated against) unbelievers, despite them being upon misguidance. Acts of destruction and devastation in this manner are not permissible because they result in the killing of women, children, and innocent people, and it does not harm the enemy. Indeed, the enemy rejoice about it (i.e. such actions) to tarnish the image of Islam and its adherents, and it is exploited by the media to oppose Islam and give Islam an image darker than the corrupt religions. This is what results from the actions of these people (i.e. the terrorists) against Islam and the Muslims. It is incumbent upon the Muslims to serve as role models of truthfulness, lofty manners, fulfilment (of covenants) and trustworthiness, and be distant from what contradict these characteristics, such as treachery, betrayal, lies, and bloodshed which does not benefit Islam, rather it harms it. [Paraphrased]
An Excerpt from the link below: