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Author: Abdullah Jallow

Reflections from some statements of Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [24 of 80]

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allamah Rabee, may Allah preserve him, was asked: Shaikh Al-Albani, Shaikh Ibn Baz, and Shaikh Uthaymeen have passed away, so who remains from the scholars?

Response: Allah’s Messenger- peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- died and his noble companions- may Allah be pleased with them- remained. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal died and his companions remained. Ibn Taymiyyah died and his companions remained. Ibn Abdil Wahhab died and his companions remained. Those [i.e. Al- Albani, Ibn Baz, and Uthaymeen] died and their students and brothers remain by Allah’s Will. The truth will not be lost. When Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was stabbed, it was said to him, “Appoint a successor!” He said, “Allah will not allow His Religion to be lost”. By Allah! This Religion will never be lost. It is obligated to you to put shoulder to shoulder and embark upon work- raise the flag of the Sunnah and truth. “There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest upon the truth, neither will they be harmed by those who betray them nor by those who oppose them till Allah’s promise come to pass (i.e. the day of Judgement)”.

Our Salafi brothers are in different regions of the world. The world is filled with senior students of knowledge who fill this gap, all praise is due to Allah. Therefore, neither can the people of falsehood rejoice nor become happy. [An Excerpt from “Adh-Daree’ah Ilaa Bayaan Maqaasid Kitaab Ash-Shariah” 1/208-209]

NB: At the time this question was presented, the Shaikh also noted that the committee of Major Scholars (Lajnah Da’imah) are alive and upon good.

[18] The Ascent and Decline of The Ottoman Empire

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

The Emergence of French Ambitions in North Africa

The Battle of Lepanto presented a significant opportunity for France to pursue its ambitions in the Islamic Maghreb. Following the news of the Ottoman fleet’s defeat, King Charles IX of France proposed to the Ottoman Sultan in 1572, through his ambassador in Istanbul, a request for permission to extend French influence over Algeria and offered to pay a tribute to the Ottoman Empire in exchange. However, the Sultan rejected the French ambassador and showed no interest in the proposal. Despite this, France has persisted in its ambitions, employing various diplomatic channels to achieve its objectives, finally obtaining special privileges in the port and in other areas along the Algerian coast, as well as the authorisation of the Sultan to establish trade centers.
The Reconstruction of the Ottoman Fleet:

Grand Admiral Ali Pasha approached the task of renewing the Ottoman fleet with increasing energy and enthusiasm, hoping to make up for what had been lost, and by the summer of 1572 AH 980 preparations were already in full swing. Fifty new ships were built and Ali set sail with his fleet, which caused concern in Venice about the readiness of the fleet. Venice then sought peace with the Ottomans on humiliating terms: ceding Cyprus and paying a war indemnity of 300,000 ducats. Nevertheless, this activity was a moment of vigilance preceding a decrease in military power, since the empire became embarked on continuous wars against Austria and its allies on one front and Persia on another, and also focused on suppressing current internal uprisings.

Philip II was motivated to invade Tunisia by the appeal of Sultan Abu Abbas II, who ruled from 942 to 980 AH (1535 to 1572) and sought help to suppress uprisings. In return for considerable privileges, he asked for Spanish forces to occupy all of Tunisia and to hand over the cities of Annaba, Bizerte, and La Goulette. Although Abu Abbas declined these conditions, his brother Muhammad Ibn al-Husayn agreed to them. As a result, Don Juan departed from Sicily in Rajab 981 AH (October 1573) with a fleet of 138 ships and 25,000 soldiers. He landed at the fortress of La Goulette, which had previously been under Spanish control, and launched a surprise attack on Tunis, causing the local population to flee to the Tunis Valley to escape the Spanish threat, while the Ottoman governor retreated to Kairouan. This prompted Europe to realise that a united effort was necessary to eliminate the state.

Ali Pasha focused on equipping sailors and training them in modern firearms, which attracted the attention of foreign residents. His stature grew to the extent that the Pope advised King Philip II of Spain to entice him with a salary of ten thousand and a fief from the Kingdom of Naples or other Spanish crown properties, which would be inherited by his descendants, along with a title such as Count, Marquis, or Duke. The plan also included granting similar privileges to two of his aides. The Pope realised that if this attempt failed, it would at least raise suspicions in the Sultan regarding Ali, the only individual capable of supporting the state’s affairs. However, the attempt failed, resulting in Ali’s rage rather than drawing him closer. The integrity of the Muslim warrior could not be bought, as his service to the state was a dedication to the path of Allah, a principle that guided the state in all its conquests, and the the rapid success in various regions and fields. The Ottoman served the state with utmost loyalty, and such service was ultimately a service to Islam.

Sultan Salim II issued orders to his minister, Sinan Pasha, and Admiral Ali to prepare for a definitive campaign to conquer Tunisia and restore Ottoman influence in the region. Similar directives were sent to other provinces to prepare soldiers, ammunition, and supplies, along with two hundred eighty-three ships of various sizes. He emphasised the necessity for those stationed at Anatolia and Rumelia to participate in the maritime expedition and ensured that the required provisions for the fleet were facilitated. Furthermore, he warned that those who failed to report for duty would be dismissed from future assignments. Meanwhile, the Ottoman fleet in Tunisia, which had retreated to Kairouan, was under the command of Deputy Haydar Pasha, who rallied local fighters to the cause.

The Ottoman fleet, under the command of Sinan Pasha and Ali, set sail on the 23rd of Muharram, 982 AH / May 14, 1574, departing from the straits into the Mediterranean Sea. They approached the coast of Calabria, specifically Messina, where the Ottomans managed to capture a Christian ship. Subsequently, they crossed the sea in five days. During this period, the Ottoman governor in Tunisia, Haydar Pasha, arrived, accompanied by a force of Algerians led by Ramadan Pasha and another contingent from Tripoli under Mustafa Pasha, along with volunteers from Egypt. Fighting started in the spring of 981 AH / 1574, with the Ottomans successfully capturing Halq al-Wad after enduring a rigorous siege. Meanwhile, other forces besieged the city of Tunis, prompting the Spaniards and the Hafsid king Muhammad Ibn Al-Hasan to retreat to the Bastion, which the Spaniards had heavily fortified, making it one of the most secure strongholds in North Africa.

The Ottomans, after gathering their forces, laid siege to the city of Bastion, tightening their grip on its inhabitants from all sides. Minister Sinan personally engaged in the battle, even ordering the construction of a parapet from which he could oversee the fighting, while carrying stones and earth on his back like the soldiers. When one of the military commanders recognised him, he remarked that they needed his strategic insight more than his physical presence. Sinan replied that he did not wish to be deprived of the reward for his efforts. He intensified the siege until the Bation was successfully captured. Thereafter, the Hafsids sought protection in Sicily. The Spaniards utilised them as tools to further their political ambitions as circumstances dictated. The fall of Tunis dashed Spanish hopes in Africa, leading to a gradual decline in their control, which became limited to a few ports such as Melilla, Oran, and the Great Harbor. The dream of establishing a Spanish state in North Africa faded away.

The situation in Yemen became unstable with the rise of the Zaydi leader al-Mutahhar, who reached out to the people of Yemen and encouraged them to revolt against Ottoman control. The tribes united behind al-Mutahhar, who later entered Sana’a after achieving a significant victory over the Ottomans. Aware of the seriousness of the situation, the Ottoman government opted to send a large military campaign to Yemen. Sultan Salim II took a strong interest in this mission, as Yemen was an essential part of the Ottomans’ strategy in the Red Sea, helping to thwart Portuguese threats and serving as a fortress for the Hijaz, in addition to being a launching point for operations into the Indian Ocean.

The Ottoman minister Sinan Pasha arrived in Egypt to carry out the Sultan’s directives, gathering soldiers from different regions while leaving behind only the elders and those unable to fight. The campaign progressed to Yanbu, where he received a warm welcome from the Chief Judge of Makkah. Upon his arrival in Makkah, the local people embraced him along with the Ottoman forces. He performed acts of charity and demonstrated kindness towards the scholars of Makkah before heading to Jazan. As he approached Jazan, he was welcomed by the Zaydi Imam al-Mutahhar, and during his time there, Sinan honored the local tribes, including those from Sabya, who sought his support. Delegations representing the tribes of Yemen also came to him, pledging their loyalty and requesting his protection. He then hastened to Taiz after securing Jazan, having learned that the Ottoman governor and his troops in Taiz were in a difficult situation due to the mountain Arabs cutting off their supplies. Faced with severe shortages, he swiftly covered the distance outside Taiz and deployed his soldiers in the surrounding mountains. Upon witnessing the size of the Ottoman army, the Zaidis took refuge in a mountain known as Al-Aghbar. He, along with some of his forces, pursued the Zaidis into Al-Aghbar, leading to a confrontation where the Zaidis were ultimately defeated and they fled. In recognition of their efforts, Sinan rewarded all the Ottoman soldiers. He then organised two campaigns aimed at capturing Aden, the first by sea under the command of the renowned captain Khairuddin, while the second was overland led by Prince Hami, accompanied by some cavalry.

The Ottoman Empire’s policy shifted after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, prioritising the protection of Islamic lands, followed by the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf as a security buffer around these locations. This necessitated a capable fleet to counter Portuguese threats. The empire successfully established a robust defense that safeguarded Islamic lands from Christian assaults. Additionally, the Sultan maintained a special Ottoman garrison in Makkah, Madina, and Yanbu, while the state set up guard stations near water wells along the route between Egypt, Syria, and Mecca to protect caravans. The governor in Jeddah was designated as the representative of the Sublime Porte in the Hejaz, a region characterised by dual authority during the Ottoman era. The state also decided to share the customs revenue collected from ships at Jeddah port between the Ottoman governor and the Sharif of Makkah.

The Mamluks: The Mamluks faced defeat in 1516/1517, marking the decline of their state as a significant Islamic power in the Middle East and beyond. They had lost their vitality and ability to rejuvenate, leading to the dissolution of their state and the transfer of their territories to Ottoman control. Egypt returned to its governance as it was earlier. Following their defeat, the Mamluk governor of Yemen, Iskandar, led a delegation to Sultan Salim to express loyalty and submission. The Ottoman Sultan agreed to retain him in his position, recognising Yemen’s strategic importance as a key to the Red Sea, where its stability ensured the safety of Makkah and Madina. During the Ottoman rule from 1538 to 1635, Yemen was marked by conflicts between the Ottomans and the Zaydi Imams, as the Ottomans struggled to establish genuine control due to persistent resistance. However, they capitalised on their presence in Yemen by launching naval campaigns aimed at liberating the region from Portuguese pressure.

In 1514, Portugal initiated a campaign against Morocco led by Prince Henry the Navigator, successfully capturing the Moroccan port of Ceuta, which marked the beginning of a series of aggressive actions. Subsequently, Portugal continued its military endeavors in North Africa, ultimately seizing Asilah, Larache, and Tangier in 1471. Portugal’s focus on the Atlantic Ocean and its attempts to circumvent the Islamic world were primarily driven by fervent crusading motives against Muslims. They viewed themselves as defenders of Christianity, believing that combating Muslims was an imperative duty and regarded Islam as a formidable adversary that needed to be confronted wherever it appeared. Prince Henry the Navigator exhibited intense zeal for Christianity and harbored deep animosity towards Muslims. He received a papal endorsement from Pope Nicholas V for all his expeditions, including those to India, emphasising his commitment to the Christian cause. The Pope expressed great satisfaction in knowing that Prince Henry, inspired by a soldierly zeal for Christ, was advancing into distant lands to spread Catholicism and confront perceived enemies of God and Christ, such as the Arabs and other non-believers.

Furthermore, Afonso de Albuquerque, in a speech to his troops upon arriving in Malacca, articulated that the Portuguese aimed to weaken Islam by disrupting Arab trade routes. In the same speech, it was stated that the significant service to be rendered to God involves expelling the Arabs from these lands and extinguishing the flame of Muhammad’s Allies, ensuring that it does not reignite hereafter. The speaker expressed confidence that if the trade of Malacca were seized from the Muslims, cities like Cairo and Makkah would become mere memories, and Venice would be deprived of spice trade unless its merchants turned to Portugal for their supplies. Their objective was to reach the sacred sites of Muslims, storm the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque, and take his remains hostage to negotiate with the Arabs for the return of Jerusalem. King Manuel I of Portugal declared the goals of the Portuguese campaigns, stating that the purpose of discovering a sea route to India was to spread Christianity and acquire the riches of the East. Thus, it becomes evident to the impartial researcher that the religious motivation behind the Portuguese explorations was a crucial factor driving Portugal to navigate the seas and encircle the Islamic world. Decrees and orders were issued, with the cross and cannons symbolising the campaigns, indicating that Muslims were expected to convert to Christianity or face the cannons. Economic motives were secondary yet influential in the course of Portuguese geographical explorations, as the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope facilitated trade routes. It is noteworthy that the Portuguese relied on some Jews during their campaigns, utilising them as spies due to their knowledge of the Arabic language. For instance, King John II of Portugal sent his personal servant along with another Jewish companion to Egypt, India, and Ethiopia, resulting in a report that included several Arabic maps of the Indian Ocean.

To achieve their objectives, Portuguese explorers and their leaders recognised the necessity of controlling the straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to effectively launch their incursions into the Islamic world from the rear, thereby undermining the economy of Arab and Islamic regions and facilitating the spread of Christianity wherever they reached. They succeeded in their plans, managing to dominate trade routes along the African coast, the Arabian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea. The stance of Muslims regarding this aggressive invasion was complicated, as the Mamluks found themselves in a precarious situation marked by economic and political weakness. Consequently, the populations along the African coast, the Gulf, and Yemen had to fend for themselves, launching attacks on Portuguese garrisons in various locations such as East Africa, Muscat, Bahrain, Qurayyat, and Aden, albeit with little success due to the imbalance of power.

However, during the reign of Sultan Sulayman the Magnificent [927-974/ 1520-1566], the Ottoman Empire successfully expelled the Portuguese from the Red Sea and launched attacks on their established positions in the Arabian Gulf. Subsequently, he issued a decree to Sulayman Pasha, the governor of Egypt, instructing him to prepare for a military campaign in the name of Allah. The directive emphasised the need to assemble a fleet, gather supplies, and mobilize a sufficient army to seize and secure territories in India, thereby cutting off Portuguese access and removing their flag from the sea. Sulayman Pasha acted on the Sultan’s orders, reaching Jeddah within seven days, then proceeding to Kamaran, where he took control of Aden and stationed a garrison of six hundred soldiers there. The Ottomans successfully repelled the Portuguese, preventing them from encroaching on Islamic kingdoms and curtailing their activities. This achievement allowed the Ottoman Empire to secure the Red Sea and protect sacred sites from Portuguese expansion driven by colonial ambitions and ulterior motives aimed at influencing Islam and Muslims in various ways. The Ottoman Empire’s success in countering the Portuguese threat to the Islamic world deserves significant recognition. The weakened Mamluk state was on the verge of collapse and lacked the strength to resist the Portuguese invasion. The Ottomans took on the responsibility of defending Muslim rights and properties, effectively limiting the invaders’ ambitions and their access to sacred sites (Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem) as they desired.

In contrast, the Safavid State (Rawafid Shiites) abandoned the inhabitants of the regions affected by the Portuguese invasion, leaving the cities of the Arabian Gulf to face their fate alone. Furthermore, the Safavids aligned themselves with adversaries, catering to their interests, particularly due to their sectarian conflict with the Mamluks and the Ottoman Empire. Consequently, the Portuguese commander Albuquerque exploited this situation. The situation coincided with the period when Ottoman forces were advancing to confront the Safavids at the borders, leading to the Battle of Chaldiran in 920 AH / 1514, where the Persians suffered a devastating defeat against the Ottoman army. This defeat prompted the Persians to be more inclined to ally with the Portuguese against the Ottomans, presenting an invaluable opportunity for Portugal, particularly as they recognised the significant threat the Ottoman Empire posed to their security. They capitalised on their occupation of Hormuz in 921 AH / 1515 and subsequently established a direct alliance with the Safavids through a treaty that included critical provisions, such as the Portuguese fleet assisting the Shah in his campaign against Bahrain and Qatif in exchange for the Shah’s recognition of Portuguese protection over Hormuz, thereby uniting their forces against their common enemy, the Ottoman Empire. It is evident that the Portuguese viewed their alliance with the Safavids as a means to foster discord among Islamic states, which, if united, could have challenged their control over the Gulf, the Red Sea, Aden, and other regions under Portuguese dominance. Additionally, the Safavid-Portuguese alliance, coupled with the deteriorating political and economic situation of the Mamluk state, placed the Ottoman Empire in a position of full responsibility for the unfolding events.

An Excerpt from Ad-Dawla Al-Uthmaniyyah Awamil An-Nuhood Wa Asbaab As-Sukqoot 6/310-320

And remind, for verily, the reminding profits the believers

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah [The Exalted] stated: [وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ – And remind (by preaching the Qur’an, O Muhammad) for verily, the reminding profits the believers]. [Adh-Dhaariyaat. 55]

Imam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated regarding this Ayah:

Reminder is of two types- reminding by way of that which whose full details is unknown, however it is known in general by sound innate disposition and intellect. That is because Allah created the intellect upon the sound natural disposition to love good and give it precedence, hate evil and abstain from it, and His divine (commands and prohibitions) are in consonance with that. All the commands and prohibitions of the divine law is reminder. The complete reminder is to mention the good, the merits and welfare in what is commanded, and the harm found in that which is prohibited.

The second type of reminder is to remind the believers regarding that which is known to the believers, but they’ve become negligent and absentminded, so they are to be reminded and (the reminder) repeated to them so that it becomes firmly established in their minds, become attentive and act upon what they have been reminded, then they become active and enthusiastic which will bring about for them benefit and improvement.

Allah informs us that reminder benefits the believers, because what they possess of Imaan (sound faith), Khasyah (fear of Allah founded upon knowledge of the greatness of the one who is feared, and the complete and perfect Sovereignty and Dominion that is His), Inaabah (turning to Allah in obedience and avoiding disobedience etc) and seeking after Allah’s Pleasure, this necessitates (i.e. with the help of Allah) that reminder will benefit them, and makes the admonition more useful in such circumstance, just as Allah [The Exalted] said:

فَذَكِّرۡ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ
سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰ
وَيَتَجَنَّبُہَا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى

So remind (the people with this Qurʾān), where reminder (will) benefit (them); (for) he will receive reminder (and take admonition) who fears Allāh. But the one who is (decreed to be) wretched (in Allāh’s prior knowledge) will avoid it (by choosing disbelief) (and thus become wretched). [Surah Al-A’laa. Aayaat 9-11. Translation by Shaikh Abu Iyaad]

As for the one with neither Imaan nor ready to accept reminder, this one will not benefit -similar to the swamp land that is not benefitted anything by rain. With regards to these people, even if every (clear) sign came to them, they will not believe until they see the painful punishment”. [Paraphrased]

والتذكير نوعان: تذكير بما لم يعرف تفصيله، مما عرف مجمله بالفطر والعقول فإن الله فطر العقول على محبة الخير وإيثاره، وكراهة الشر والزهد فيه، وشرعه موافق لذلك، فكل أمر ونهي من الشرع، فإنه من التذكير، وتمام التذكير، أن يذكر ما في المأمور به ، من الخير والحسن والمصالح، وما في المنهي عنه، من المضار
والنوع الثاني من التذكير: تذكير بما هو معلوم للمؤمنين، ولكن انسحبت عليه الغفلة والذهول، فيذكرون بذلك، ويكرر عليهم ليرسخ في أذهانهم، وينتبهوا ويعملوا بما تذكروه، من ذلك، وليحدث لهم نشاطًا وهمة، توجب لهم الانتفاع والارتفاع.
وأخبر الله أن الذكرى تنفع المؤمنين، لأن ما معهم من الإيمان والخشية والإنابة، واتباع رضوان الله، يوجب لهم أن تنفع فيهم الذكرى، وتقع الموعظة منهم موقعها كما قال تعالى: { فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَى سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَنْ يَخْشَى وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا الْأَشْقَى }
وأما من ليس له معه إيمان ولا استعداد لقبول التذكير، فهذا لا ينفع تذكيره، بمنزلة الأرض السبخة، التي لا يفيدها المطر شيئًا، وهؤلاء الصنف، لو جاءتهم كل آية، لم يؤمنوا حتى يروا العذاب الأليم

Reflections from some statements of Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [23 of 80]

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Hasten towards good deeds, because there will be trials which would be like a part of a dark night, wherein a man wakes up as a believer and becomes a disbeliever by night or he begins the night as a believer and wakes up as a disbeliever, and a man would sell his religion for a portion of the worldly life”. [Sahih Muslim Kitab Al-Iman number: 118]

Many trials have occurred and from them the trial of the khawarij, the Rawafid and killing. Deviation and misguidance have occurred – either fighting and trials (related) to politics or trials (related) to creed, methodology and what is similar to it. Many people who were to be destroyed were destroyed and the one whom Allah protected was saved and (enabled) to adhere to the true methodology. Indeed, all praises and thanks be to Allah, many were saved due to the clarity and establishment of this methodology (of the Salaf), just as the Messenger promised that “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth, neither harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them until the hour is established”.

So, Allah’s proof has been established against the people from the time Muhammad was sent until the establishment of the hour. A time will not come except that His proofs are established by the inheritors of the prophets [i.e. the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah]- the people of sound knowledge, the Taa’ifatul Mansurah [the victorious group] that adheres to the truth and will not depart from it until the establishment of the hour. Allah’s proof has been established against (the people) and through them (i.e. the upright scholars) Allah saves many people, and all the praises and thanks be to Allah.

Therefore, during every trial, they (the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah) must openly proclaim the truth and clarify it for the people. They should distinguish – for them – between guidance and misguidance, truth and falsehood, the manner in which the people will be safeguarded from these trials, the path through which they will be saved from entering into trials and other affairs (by way of which) Allah guides this (victorious) group when (they) face every trial. And indeed the author [i.e. Imam Al-Aajurree] reiterated this hadeeth, “A man will wake up in the morning as a Muslim and by evening he becomes a disbeliever”. Yes, a man may be upon truth and then you do not see him thereafter except that he has become a disbeliever or a misguided innovator (in the religion)! This is nothing else but humiliation! He used to claim that he is upon good, a possessor of knowledge and upon the truth, but then he falls into disbelief-either major disbelief that exits a person from the fold of Islam or the one that does not exit a person from the fold of Islam. This is ignominy and Allah’s Protection is sought. How many people have been humiliated and exposed by a trial! You come to know of them and their false claims are unveiled, and their reality is clarified for you. [An Excerpt from ‘Adh-Dharee’ah Ilaa Bayaan Maqaasid Kitaab Ash-Sharee’ah – 1/200-202]

The benefits of bravery

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

This is a great quality that Allah commands in many verses about Jihad, praises the people who possess it, declares that it is the path of the Messengers and the Truthful, and forbids its opposite, which is cowardice, dismay, and fear of the creation when striving in Allah’s path. This lofty quality is inherent in a servant of Allah and is strengthened by the Islamic faith – helps to strengthen and calm the heart during important events and difficult situations, and it is a necessity, especially for leaders engaged in important matters. The Qur’an commands a person to fear Allah alone and not the creation, and the person’s heart is strengthened when he fears Allah alone and understands that the creation cannot help or hurt him except by Allah’s Will. His heart is strengthened when he is steadfast and relies on Allah, just as Allah [The Most High] said concerning the best of creation.

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَڪِيلُ

Those unto whom the people said, ”Verily, the people have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: ”Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)” (3:173)

When a person is aware of the reward that results from being strengthened in courage and commitment to the Islamic religion, their strength and bravery increase, just as Allah said:

إِن تَكُونُواْ تَأۡلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمۡ يَأۡلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأۡلَمُونَ‌ۖ وَتَرۡجُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَرۡجُونَ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

If you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not] (4:104)

And what is observed and known about the situation and characteristics of the creation is that they do not own any means of benefit, assistance, and protection (unless Allah bestows it on them and makes it effective by His Will), therefore, it must be understood that attaching the heart to them with fear, veneration, awe, fervent desire, and reverence is a loss, rather it is harm. A person is required to attach their fear, hope, expectation, and awe to Allah (Alone), Who (alone) owns everything. Allah is The One who wants the best for you even when you don’t want it for yourself, knows (with perfect, all-encompassing knowledge) what is best for you even when you don’t know it, and makes it possible for you to attain what you are unable to receive on your own.  The individual comes to understand that cowardice is a disease and a weakness of the heart that results in the loss of good and advantageous things -affects the helpless, and those affected resemble timid women.

And among the benefits of bravery are the fulfilment of Allah’s and His Messenger’s commands, and (as a result) one is described with the qualities of the people of insight among the men of (sound) understanding. There is no greater way to achieve what is desired and a way to safety from obstacles and troubles when the heart is strengthened by the relief and tranquility Allah places in it. The brave individual is able to guide and benefit the people with wisdom and fair speech in accordance with their various social statuses, but as for the coward, he misses out on a lot of good since fear prevents him from reaping the benefits of his knowledge and from guiding and giving sincere advice to Allah’s servants.

Bravery saves a person from a lot of hardships! When faced with afflictions and calamities, the person finds peace and responds with what Allah loves: patience and firmness, while hoping for Allah’s reward, (but) as for a coward, he becomes distracted when confronted with these affairs, and what is beneficial to him is wasted away. He becomes unsettled due to harbouring harmful thoughts (or views), which result in (other) painful things along with calamities and difficulties, and he loses the benefit and reward for enduring difficulty. This praiseworthy quality (bravery) stems from the excellent and all-inclusive quality of patience. And Allah knows best. (1)

We ask Allah:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

O Allah! I seek refuge with You against distress and grief, helplessness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, being heavily in debt and being overcome by men. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Number 2893]

Grief, Distress, Helplessness, Laziness, Miserliness, Cowardice, Being Heavily In Debt And Being Overcome By Men – [The Prophet Used to Seek Allaah’s Refuge From These Eight Affairs]


An Excerpt from “Fat’hul Raheemil Malikil Allaam Fee Ilmil Aqaa-id Wat-Tawheed Wal Akhlaaq Wal Ahkaam. page 40

Contemplate Surah Al-Qamar – Part 1

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

We find among the shortest and most impactful stories in Surah Al-Qamar. The stories (in this Surah) are very brief, yet they contain profound warnings, each concluding with the statement [فهل من مذكر – Is there anyone to take heed?] The one who reads this Surah with reflection is bound to be affected by (its significance) because it is tremendous. [1]

Allah said:
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ

The (Last) Hour (in which the heavens and earth will perish) has drawn near (while they continue to mock and reject) and the moon has been split (as a sign for them).

Allah informs that the Hour, which is the Day of Judgment, has drawn near and its time has come. Despite this, the disbelievers continue to deny it and remain unprepared for its arrival. Allah shows them great signs that indicate its occurrence, signs that would convince people in similar situations. One of the greatest signs demonstrating the truth of what Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, brought is that when the disbelievers asked him to show them miraculous signs that would prove his truthfulness, he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, pointed to the moon by the will of Allah, and it split into two halves, one half landing on Mount Abu Qubais and the other on Mount Qu’ayqi’aan. The polytheists and others observe this great sign present in the skies, which creation cannot falsify or distort.

وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ

And (even) if they see a sign (as great as the splitting of the moon), they turn away and say (with arrogant transgression): “This is fleeting magic (whose effect will soon expire) (or: This is powerful magic superseding all other magic).”

They witnessed something unlike anything they had ever seen before, nor had they heard of anything similar event related about any of the messengers before him. They were astonished by this, yet Iman did not enter their hearts, and Allah did not will good for them. Instead, they resorted to their dumb-foundedness and transgression.

Muhammad has bewitched us, “however, the proof to establish this would be that you ask those who come to you from their travels because if he bewitches you, he wouldn’t be able to bewitch those who are not present like you are”. So they questioned everyone who arrived, and they informed them that it indeed happened.

They said: [سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ – This is fleeting magic]- Meaning, “Muhammad bewitched us and others”. This is a falsehood that only fools and the most misguided and misguided in intellect can accept. This is not just a denial of this sign alone; but every sign that came to them because they were ready to respond to any sign with falsehood and rejection. Due to this, Allah said: [وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا – And (even) if they see a sign (as great as the splitting of the moon), they turn away and say (with arrogant transgression)… The pronoun did not refer to the (specific incident regarding the) splitting of the moon, thus Allah did not say, “And if they see it,” but rather Allah said, “And if they see a sign, they will turn away.” Their intention is not to follow the truth and guidance, but rather to pursue their desires.

[وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ – And they belied (the Prophet and what they saw with their own eyes) and followed their (futile) desires (which Satan beautified for them), yet every matter has its established purpose and outcome (or: every matter decreed leads to good for those who do good and evil for those who do evil)].

If their intention had been to follow the guidance, they would have certainly believed and followed Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as Allah showed them, through Muhammad, clear signs, proofs, and decisive evidences that indicated Allah’s Perfect Lordship, Perfect Names and Attributes and His sole right to be worshipped and goals of divine law. [وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُسْتَقِرٌّ – yet every matter has its established purpose and outcome]- Meaning, so far, the matter has not reached its conclusion, and it will eventually come to an end. The believer will enjoy the gardens of paradise, along with Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure, while the disbeliever will face Allah’s wrath and punishment forever.

[وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّنَ الْأَنبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ – And there has already come to them of news (regarding past disbelieving nations in this Qurʾān) wherein there is (sufficient warning) to prohibit them (from their disbelief and associationism)].

Allah stated, clarifying that they lack a true intention and do not follow guidance. [وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْبَاءِ – And there has already come to them news (regarding past disbelieving nations in the Quran) – Meaning, the news of both past and future events and clear miracles; [مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَر – wherein there is (sufficient warning) to prohibit them (from their disbelief and associationism)]- Meaning, a warning that deters them from their Ghay (deviation from upright conduct) and Dalaal (misguidance in knowledge and Creed). [Refer to Footnote a]

[حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ – The conveyance of this news is) far-reaching wisdom (from Allāh, to guide some and establish His proof against others)—but warning (or: warners) avails them not (since their hearts have been sealed due to their rejection of His Signs)]- Meaning, in order to establish a proof against the opponents, leaving no one with an excuse before Allah after the sending of the messengers.

[فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ الدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيْءٍ نُّكُرٍ – So turn away from them (O Muḥammad) (for they have waiting for them) a Day (when) the Caller calls them to a terrifying thing (of resurrection, accountability and recompense)]- Meaning: Allah said to His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: It has become evident that there is no means to guide those who deny the truth. Therefore, the only course of action left is to turn away from them and distance oneself. Anticipate a momentous day filled with great terror, which will occur when the angel Israafeel, peace be upon him, blows the trumpet by way of which the dead exit their graves for the Day of Judgment. This event will be of such a dreadful nature that creation itself will find it unimaginable, as there has never been a sight more horrifying or painful. [2]

To be continued…InShaAllah


[1] An Excerpt from “Sharh Usul Fee at-Tafsir” pages 347
[2] An Excerpt from Tafsir As-Sadi

The antisemitism virus

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Exalted, 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]

The purpose of this brief article is not to challenge the right of race to exist within humanity, nor to endorse the oppression of any person. Rather, it aims to provide a quick analysis that highlights aspects the article’s author may have overlooked in their argument, as well as some potential exaggerations in their perspective. It’s important to understand that not all individuals who identify as Jewish agree with or support the actions of Netanyahu’s government, which has been guilty of committing violence and oppression against Palestinians—actions that many have labeled as genocidal in the past year. Furthermore, we are not implying that the author endorses such actions, as we have not found any statements from them that indicate this. Likewise, we condemn the actions of any group or individual identifying as Muslim—whether in Palestine, the UK, or elsewhere—that inflicts harm on non-combatants or fellow citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. We also firmly oppose vigilantism and anti-Semitism in any form, a stance we will emphasise throughout this article, InShaAllah. To proceed:

The antisemitism virus in the view of Dr. Raheli Baratz

In the above article penned by Dr. Raheli Baratz for the Jerusalem Post, entitled “The mutating virus of antisemitism: 2024’s most infectious social disease”, she stated: “It seems that the epidemic of antisemitism has become a real global threat in recent years”. [End of quote]

Response: It is not our role to explore the complexities and theory of viral mutations; that responsibility lies with the dedicated scientists, both from Muslim backgrounds and others, who can engage in meaningful dialogue and diverse perspectives without succumbing to the fearmongering frequently portrayed in the media. When it comes to the metaphorical rise of antisemitism mentioned by the writer, we acknowledge that, irrespective of our opinions on extent of its prevalence, it is undeniably a form of racism that Islam condemns. However, it is crucial to emphasise that the violence and oppression linked to Zionism over the last 70 years deserves more condemnation.

Dr. Raheli, may Allah guide her to the path of the final Messenger and seal of the Prophets, stated: “While it didn’t start following the October 7 massacre, these events served as a powerful catalyst that brought hatred out of the shadows”. [End of quote]

Response: The tragic loss of innocent lives, including unarmed civilians and non-combatants, is an act that can never be justified, whether it occurred on October 7 or at any other time. However, it is also incumbent to acknowledge the deep-seated animosity towards Palestinians that has persisted for over seven decades, alongside the alarming rhetoric of hatred employed by some people who associate with Judaism. Refer to “Footnote a” for the remarks made by Yair Netanyahu, Ehud Olmert, Eli Yishai, Bezalel Smotrich, Tally Gotliv, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Arieh King. Additionally, you will find the content of “The Friendship Song.”

Dr. Raheli stated: “The tragic murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in Dubai, by Islamic terrorists in early 2024 further demonstrates this escalating crisis. His death, which shocked both the Jewish community and people of goodwill worldwide, illustrates how even in places of apparent progress and interfaith cooperation like the UAE, antisemitic violence can emerge with devastating consequences”. [End of quote]

Response: The murder of any innocent individual, whether they are a Rabbi, a Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu, a Sikh, or an atheist, is unequivocally condemned. However, what about the horrific acts of murdering infants and non-combatants, as well as the starvation of mothers and their children. These actions are far more heinous than the tragic murder of a 28-year-old Jewish man, which, while a grave crime, pales in comparison to the suffering inflicted by Zionists over the past 70 years. For a deeper understanding of the atrocities committed by Zionists even prior to the recent violence, please refer to Footnote b at the end of this article. As for when discussing what some people refer to as interfaith cooperation, it is essential to clarify its meaning from an Islamic perspective. This concept does not imply that Muslims should abandon their identity or engage in practices that contradict Islamic law. Instead, it should be framed as peaceful coexistence, where the principles of Shariah compel Muslims to safeguard the lives and dignity of non-Muslims. We reiterate that antisemitism is condemned by the Creator, as are the acts of starving and bombing innocent children. Just as antisemitic violence can lead to catastrophic outcomes, the actions of Zionists have resulted in even more devastating consequences for the lives and dignity of Palestinians, all while the world observes the ongoing genocide and the inflammatory rhetoric from certain Zionist leaders. For further details, please refer to Footnote d.

Dr. Raheli stated: “The infection rate has reached unprecedented levels, with reports showing a staggering 400% increase in antisemitic incidents over the past year. This exponential growth rate surpasses any previous outbreak in recent history, marking what epidemiologists would call a “super-spreader event” in social terms. The velocity and scale of this surge mirror the behavior of highly infectious diseases, demanding immediate global intervention”. [End of quote]

Response: We must once again assert that antisemitism and its repercussions have no place in any society. However, it is crucial to recognise that the incidents of antisemitism observed by the writer pale in comparison to the staggering loss of over 45,000 Palestinian lives within a single year, alongside countless others buried under rubble, children starved due to interference with food supplies by Jewish settlers etc. While antisemitism is undeniably a grave injustice, the scale of brutality inflicted by Zionists today is unparalleled and demands more urgent global intervention. Furthermore, I believe the writer has overstated the current prevalence of antisemitism, suggesting it surpasses all previous instances, when in fact, the suffering endured by Bani Israel at the hands of Fir’awn was far more severe. There is no need for such exaggeration; instead, we should engage in a fair discussion of these issues without inflating the reality of antisemitism, which has not even approached the magnitude of Zionist brutality experienced over the past 70 years.

Dr. Raheli stated: “The similarity between antisemitism and COVID-19 is striking. Just as we saw colorful maps describing the spread of the epidemic at its peak – green, yellow, orange, and red – we can now imagine the spread of antisemitism. If, in the past, many areas were “green” and relatively clean of this hatred, today, more and more areas are turning orange and red”. [End of quote]

Response: Antisemitism, akin to a profound affliction of the heart, finds its parallel in Zionism; both are manifestations of deeply flawed beliefs and ideologies that inflict far greater harm than mere physical maladies. If the writer’s view she has observed an increasing prevalence of regions marked by shades of orange and red, it is essential to recognise -without any doubt or ambiguity -that Zionism has long been entrenched in the crimson of its historical transgressions, characterised by acts of extreme violence and transgression that have persisted for over seven decades in our contemporary world. We have already presented instances of this behaviour, and the entire world has observed the situation unfolding in Gaza.

Dr. Raheli stated: “On social networks, hatred spreads like a virus. Antisemitic posts travel from device to device in seconds, echoing across the network without real supervision and strengthening ignorance and incitement. What is the cause? The root of the problem lies in ignorance. When people don’t understand Jewish history, the lessons of the Holocaust, or the heavy price of blind hatred, they easily fall for antisemitic rhetoric. Therefore, education is the most effective cure for dealing with the antisemitism epidemic”. [End of quote]

Response: We denounce anti-Semitism wherever it is perpetrated. However, we must also address the blatant genocidal rhetoric and actions of Netanyahu’s government, which are as evident as the midday sun. These provocations have incited ignorant soldiers to perpetrate atrocious acts. It is undeniable that all forms of racism arise from ignorance, which positions Netanyahu and his far-right associates as some of the most ignorant individuals, given their openly genocidal statements and the actions that follow.

Dr. Raheli stated: “In the US, where campuses have become conflict-ridden arenas, there is an urgent need to implement comprehensive educational programs. Holocaust studies, which are currently mandatory in half of US states, must become a requirement, not just as a historical gesture but as a tool to prevent future infections of ignorance and hatred”.

Response: Firstly, refer to “Footnote e” for a concise overview of America’s historical relationship with Zionism. Furthermore, while any initiatives aimed at combating antisemitism are commendable, the most pressing need is to implement programs that focus on deradicalising Zionists. This is essential to address the sense of superiority that has contributed to recent genocidal actions, as well as the ongoing violence that has persisted for over 70 years.

Dr. Raheli stated: “Legislation is another crucial tool. In Germany, for example, there are clear penalties against inciting calls such as “from the river to the sea,” which deter potential hate spreaders. Other countries need to learn from this example. When there is a real price for spreading hatred – whether legal punishment or social sanctions – people will think twice before choosing it”. [End of quote]

Response: Certainly, the principles that apply to others equally extend to Zionists in every nation and aspect of life, ensuring they respect the rights of all individuals. In my opinion, if the writer is aware that some individuals who support Zionism also utilise this slogan, it would reflect a level of hypocrisy and an unhealthy sense of entitlement to criticise others for using it while defending its use among their own allies. However, if the writer is simply unaware of those who share similar sentiments and align with Zionists, she bears no fault. Regarding this slogan, there are indeed those, particularly among certain evangelists, who advocate for the concept of a Greater Israel. [“The National Christian Company” that was purchased by the Zionist priest Jerry Falwell and its name changed to “Daily Freedom Broadcasting” operates (or operated) from Leechburg, Virginia, and offers religious programming 24 hours a day. Its owner, Jerry Folwell, a close friend of former US President George H.W. Bush, frequently asserts through his station that “the re-establishment of Israel among fundamentalist Christians is a fulfillment of biblical prophecies, and every American must make every effort to ensure full support for Israel.” He also states that the Torah’s Book of Genesis declares that Israel’s borders will extend from the Euphrates to the Nile and that the promised territory will include Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, and Kuwait”. [Refer to Footnote f] While both Zionists and antisemites propagate hatred, it is undeniable that the Zionists have perpetrated a greater number of atrocities against the Palestinian people over the past seven decades.

Dr. Raheli stated: “Furthermore, there is an urgent need for cooperation between countries. The antisemitism epidemic crosses borders and cannot be treated separately in each country. Information sharing between countries about incitement networks, joint global campaigns to raise awareness, and encouraging international agreements to protect Jewish communities are critical steps. Democratic countries need to unite around shared core values and work together to eradicate hatred. Just as international cooperation works to fight terrorism and cross-border crime, we can also stop the spread of antisemitism and ensure a safer and more equal society for all. The public needs to understand that antisemitism is not just a problem of the Jewish community. It’s a symptom of a broader disease – the collapse of democratic and liberal values. Throughout history, hatred of Jews has been the first stage in broader social disintegration”. [End of quote]

Response: This is indeed a positive idea, but there is a more pressing need for all countries to work together to stop the much larger atrocities and serious crimes committed by Zionists. We also need to raise awareness about protecting Palestinians in their own land. All good people should oppose racism and antisemitism, but we must also challenge and eliminate Zionist arrogance, impunity, terrorism, and crimes to ensure that Palestinians are safe and treated justly. The public should recognise that antisemitism is not only a Jewish issue; it reflects a wider problem. Similarly, Zionist arrogance, terrorism, and brutality are not just Palestinian issues; they indicate a larger failure of compassion, kindness, fairness, and the values found in the infallible final revelation- the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah. Regarding the writer’s point that hatred of Jews has historically been the first sign of social breakdown, while the writer does not explicitly say that all Jews are innocent, this statement could be misinterpreted by extreme Zionists to claim moral superiority, despite their actions suggesting otherwise. No nation or group is without wrongdoing by its leaders or certain factions throughout history, which can lead to retaliation that harms the innocent. This is not to deny that Jews have faced injustices at times, but no nation can claim to be free from injustice during its rise and fall or ensure that all its citizens and lands are free from it.

Dr. Raheli stated: “Like COVID-19, the way to stop the epidemic is through combined action – education, regulation, international cooperation, and public awareness. The murder of Rabbi Kogan underscores the urgent need for these interventions. Only if all establishment factors and government ministries cooperate can we break the chain of transmission and stop the antisemitism epidemic before it too becomes the norm”. [End of quote]

Response: The views of Dr. Raheli regarding Covid-19 and its mutations, shaped by her scientific perspective, are not the focus of this article of ours. Instead, we emphasise that both antisemitism and Zionism represent deep-seated ailments of the heart and soul. Furthermore, only the final divine revelation – the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah – can provide the healing needed for these ailments. The tragic murder of Rabbi Kogan calls for immediate action, but the urgency surrounding Zionist brutality and genocide demands even greater attention and intervention. It is imperative for all governments to unite in confronting these two issues and putting an end to them. However, it is important to note that Zionist violence has been a persistent reality for the past 70 years. Mere human ideas will not suffice to resolve these conflicts; we must seek a return to the final revelation.

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Even though there is something in the paths of analogical reasoning and reflection that will lead to knowledge, however sometimes it cannot give detail explanation in a dispute between the people of the earth due to the minute details and ambiguities (in the dispute), and at other times due to the fact the people differ when prioritising necessities. Due to this, Allah [The Most High] commanded [us] to return to the revelation in times of dispute. Allah [The Most High] said: [كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ‌ۚ – Mankind were one community (i.e. upon Tawheed and Allaah’s Sharee’ah) and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. [Al-Baqarah. 213]

Therefore, Allah designated the revealed Books [i.e. the Qur’an being the final of them] as the judge between the people in matters wherein they differ”. [Dar Ta’aarud Al-Aql Wan-Naql:. 9/17-18]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Everyone with a bit of (sound) intellect knows that the corruption of the world and its ruin occurs due to giving precedence to opinion over the divine revelation and (evil) desires over sound intellect. These two corrupt motives are not entrenched in a heart except that its destruction becomes inevitable nor in a nation except that its affairs are completely corrupted”. [A’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een 1/67-69]

And Allah knows best

Read: Muslims and Antisemitism by Shaikh Abu Iyaad- may Allah preserve him: https://abuiyaad.com/sn/muslims-antisemitism


Footnote a: Brief Observation On Elon Musk’s Proposal “The second thing is to change the education so that a new generation of murderers is not created” – salafidawahmanchester.com/

Brief Observation On Elon Musk’s Proposal “The second thing is to change the education so that a new generation of murderers is not created”

Footnote b: https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2024/11/26/we-have-a-mandate-from-the-almighty-that-we-are-an-eternal-nation/

Footnote c:

http://www.shariah.ws/articles/duviqgl-shaykh-salih-al-fawzan-the-islamic-shariah-provides-security–for-muslims-and-non-muslims-and-those-who-violate-it-are-kh257rijites-who-are-to-be-fought-and-severely-punished.cfm

http://www.shariah.ws/articles/szsumlh-the-foundation-of-muslim-relations-with-non-muslims-who-do-not-show-aggression-and-hostility.cfm

http://www.shariah.ws/articles/nmsdfkp-islam-and-the-muslims-are-free-and-innocent-of-the-kharijite-extremists.cfm

Footnote d:

https://abuiyaad.com/a/slaughtering-children-holy-war/print

https://abuiyaad.com/a/amalekite-genocide-doctrine-gaza

https://www.abuiyaad.com/a/pharoah-slaughtering-babies

Footnote e: An Overview of Christian Zionism in America Since the Arrival of The Puritans:

An Overview of Christian Zionism in America Since the Arrival of The Puritans

Footnote f: https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2024/11/15/american-christian-zionists-media-initiatives-aimed-at-influencing-public-opinion-with-a-brief-mention-of-the-concept-of-greater-israel/

It’s not the end of the world!!!

https://twitter.com/__mike91/status/1733557647603875952

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

It used to be said: [لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ وَارِث وَلِكُلِّ أَرْضٍ حَارِث وَلِكُلِّ ضَرٍّ هَالِك – For every people there is an inheritor, every land has a cultivator and every evil has one destroyed by it].

Some members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Zionist/far-right army detained some unarmed Palestinians and left them in their underwear. Following this incident, a prominent Zionist leader was questioned about it as follows: “Dozens of men, some bound and blindfolded, stripped to their underwear, and we believe some of that was filmed by IDF members, what was the purpose of the exercise that was going on at that point in that part of Gaza?” He replied, “First of all remember it’s the Middle East and it’s warmer here, especially during the day when it is sunny. To be honest, to take off your shirt might not be pleasant, but it’s not the end of the world“. [Footnote a: Refer to source at the end of the article]

Who Preceded Them In This Behaviour?

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Bani Israel [i.e. some of them] used to take bath naked (all together) looking at each other. The Prophet Musa [peace be upon him] used to take a bath alone”. They said, “By Allah! Nothing prevents Musa from taking a bath with us except that he has a scrotal hernia”. So once Musa went out to take a bath and put his clothes over a stone and then that stone ran away with his clothes. Musa followed that stone saying, “My clothes, O stone! My clothes, O stone, until the Bani Israel saw him and said, “By Allah, Musa has got no defect in his body”. Musa took his clothes and began to beat the stone. Abu Huraira added, “By Allah! There are still six or seven marks present on the stone from that excessive beating.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari 278]

Musa [peace be upon him] was a very shy man and used to cover his body completely. No part of his skin was seen due to shyness. So, he was hurt by those amongst the children of Israel who said, “He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin- either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect”. Allah wished to free Musa [peace be upon him] from that which they said about him, so one day whilst he was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone, and started taking a bath. When he finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes to take them, but the stone fled with his clothes. Musa [peace be upon him] picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, “O stone! My clothes” until he reached a group of the children of Israel who saw him without (clothes), and found him the best of that which Allaah had created, and Allah freed him from what they had accused him of. They said, “By Allaah! Nothing is wrong with Musa”. The stone stopped there, so Musa took his clothes and wore them, and thereafter started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting- three, four, or five marks. This was what Allah referred to in His statement:

[ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاذَوۡاْ مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُواْۚ وَكَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَجِيہً۬ا- O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa (Moses), but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honourable in the sight of Allah].[Surah Al-Ahzaab. Ayah 69]

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: This hadeeth (contains) one of the most amazing stories – a story through which Allah raised the status of Musa [peace be upon him]. In this hadeeth, there is a clarification regarding the fact that the Messengers and the Prophets were put to trial at the hands of the evil ones in their nations; so they exercised patience whilst facing harm, received abundant reward from Allah [The Mighty and Majestic] and carried on propagating Allah’s message. Indeed, the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] informed us that Musa [peace be upon him] was harmed by Bani Israa’eel but he exercised patience. In this hadeeth, there is proof to show that the miracles of the Messengers and Prophets are affirmed. With regards to this particular miracle, the stone- an inanimate object – moved and fled with the thobe; then Moosaa [alayhis salaam] was finally able to catch up with it. He hit it several times and left a mark on it. This is the great miracle that has been mentioned in this hadeeth. [at-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahadith As-Saheehah. 1/135]

Footnote a:

https://twitter.com/__mike91/status/1733557647603875952

Reflections from some statements of Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [22 of 80]

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

All praise and thanks be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger, his family, his companions and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:

Indeed, lying is repugnant and heinous – considered extremely repugnant and loathsome by the Islamic legislation, sound intellect and sound natural disposition; abhorred in all nations, all religions and creeds. Indeed, Allah made it forbidden in all messages of the Messengers, dispraised lying and liars in many verses and promised them the severest punishment. Allah, The Blessed and Exalted, said:

قُلۡ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡہَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلۡإِثۡمَ وَٱلۡبَغۡىَ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَن تُشۡرِكُواْ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

Say (O Muhammad):“(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge]. [Al-A’raf. 33]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, held that the most loathsome and greatest of these unlawful deeds is to speak about Allah without knowledge, since Shirk and Kufr did not occur except from lying. Allah said:

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡـُٔولاً۬

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)].

Allah said:

وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُڪُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ۬ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ۬ لِّتَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ
مَتَـٰعٌ۬ قَلِيلٌ۬ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment. [An-Nahl. 116-117]

Allah forbade lying and mentioned it alongside shirk. Allah said:

فَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلرِّجۡسَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَوۡثَـٰنِ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ قَوۡلَ ٱلزُّورِ
حُنَفَآءَ لِلَّهِ غَيۡرَ مُشۡرِكِينَ بِهِۦ‌ۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَخۡطَفُهُ ٱلطَّيۡرُ أَوۡ تَهۡوِى بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى مَكَانٍ۬ سَحِيقٍ۬

So shun the abomination (worshipping) of idol, and shun lying speech (false statements). Hunafa’ Lillah (i.e. to worship none but Allah), not associating partners (in worship, etc.) unto Him and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place. [Al-Hajj. 30-31]

This dangerous Shirk is established on lies and it is its greatest foundation and principle. Allah considers it as the severest type of wrongdoing. Allah said:

وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطۡفِـُٔواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ

And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah, while he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers) folk. They intend to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it). [As-Saff. 7-8]

Allah clarified their filthy goals and evil intentions, and that through their lies and fabrications, they intend to extinguish Allah’s guidance, His proofs, evidences and mighty signs. This is the same regarding everyone amongst the people of desires who wages war against the truth and its adherents, for they want to extinguish Allah’s guidance, nullify His proofs and evidences in order to give the upper hand to their falsehoods and misguidance. Allah, The Exalted, stated regarding lying and the liars:

فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ڪَذَبَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلصِّدۡقِ إِذۡ جَآءَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أَلَيۡسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثۡوً۬ى لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

Then, who does more wrong than one who utters a lie against Allah, and denies the truth when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers?] [Az-Zumar. 32]

This is the recompense for the liars. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Avoid the seven destructive sins: Shirk, witchcraft, killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden to be killed, except in cases dictated by Islamic law; consuming usury, consuming the orphans’ wealth, fleeing from the battlefield and slandering chaste, innocent women”.

He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, placed slander- and it is one of the most loathsome types of lies – amongst these major sins that Allah commanded us to avoid due to its danger; rather the one who commits this slander is cursed in this life and the hereafter. Allah, The Exalted, said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ ٱلۡمُحۡصَنَـٰتِ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلَـٰتِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ لُعِنُواْ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ۬

Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment]. [Surah an-Noor. Aayah 23]

Allah, The Exalted, stated with hatred towards the one who transmits lies and neither pondered nor had sound knowledge of the affair:

إِذۡ تَلَقَّوۡنَهُ ۥ بِأَلۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفۡوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيۡسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ۬ وَتَحۡسَبُونَهُ ۥ هَيِّنً۬ا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ۬
وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ سَمِعۡتُمُوهُ قُلۡتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَڪَلَّمَ بِہَـٰذَا سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ هَـٰذَا بُہۡتَـٰنٌ عَظِيمٌ۬
يَعِظُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُواْ لِمِثۡلِهِۦۤ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ

When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great. And why did you not, when you heard it, say? “It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah) this is a great lie.” Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers. [An-Nur . 15-17]

Allah said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ ٱلۡفَـٰحِشَةُ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not]. [An-Nur 19]

This severe threat of punishment and dispraise is connected to slandering chaste women, and what is more dangerous than it is slandering those believers who are innocent- those who strive in the path of Allah, the callers to the path of Allah with truth and clear proofs. Indeed, the people of desires – those who wage war against the truth and its adherents – think that this is specific to the act of slandering chaste women!  Depraved is the thinking of the one who has this corrupt understanding! Indeed, this includes the one who violates the honour of the Muslims, especially the honour of the callers to the truth who are innocent, for indeed their honour has a great status that must be protected and not violated. It maybe that the one who violates this honour is more deserving of curse and punishment than the one who slanders chaste women due to a personal or worldly affair. Allaah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Whoever argues based on falsehood knowingly will not cease to be under the wrath of Allah until he stops. And whoever says about a believer that which is not true, he will reside in Radghat Al-Khabaal [pus] until he recants”. The one who knowingly argues based on falsehood as well as the one who says about a believer that which is not true, his recompense as it is stated is that  he will be imprisoned in the pus of the people of the hell fire. This is an authentic hadith that was reported by Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Al-Haakim. Return to As-Sahihah 338 by Al-Albaani, may Allah have mercy upon him.

He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The worst form of usury is the violation of someone’s honour” – meaning the honour of those who are innocent. He said: “Verily, the worst act of usury is a man’s attack against the honour of his brother”. [As-Sahihah 1433 by Al-Albani and the other hadeeth that support this hadith] [Footnote a]

Allah, The Exalted, stated about those who lend an ear to lies and those affected by it amongst the Yahud, the Munaafiqoon and those who follow their way:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحۡزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡكُفۡرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ وَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِن قُلُوبُهُمۡ‌ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ‌ۛ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلۡڪَذِبِ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوۡمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمۡ يَأۡتُوكَ‌ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ‌ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنۡ أُوتِيتُمۡ هَـٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمۡ تُؤۡتَوۡهُ فَٱحۡذَرُواْ‌ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتۡنَتَهُ ۥ فَلَن تَمۡلِكَ لَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمۡ‌ۚ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا خِزۡىٌ۬‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ۬

O Messenger (Muhammad)! Let not those who hurry to fall into disbelief grieve you, of such who say: “We believe” with their mouths but their hearts have no faith. And of the Yahood are men who listen much and eagerly to lies – listen to others who have not come to you. They change the words from their places; they say, “If you are given this, take it, but if you are not given this, then beware!” And whomsoever Allah wants to put in Al-Fitnah [error, because of his rejecting the Faith], you can do nothing for him against Allah. Those are the ones whose hearts Allah does not want to purify (from disbelief and hypocrisy); for them there is a disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a great torment. [Al-Ma’idah. 41]

Look at what is these verses regarding dispraise and severe disparagement for those who lend an ear to lies, those who transmit it in the world – and Allah’s refuge is sought- whilst not pondering and ascertaining, and not looking into the reality.

Indeed, the opponents of Ahlus Sunnah – amongst ahlul ahwaa (the followers of vain desires)- receive  pleasure from a share of these characteristics. Hypocrisy is feared for some of them lest these blameworthy characteristics applies to them, as well as the dispraise and punishment as a result. One of the punishments for liars is that which he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Beware of lying, for indeed lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to the fire. And a man does not cease telling lies and endeavour to tell lies until he is written [i.e. judged] by Allah as a liar”. Rather lying can lead to major hypocrisy, Allah, The Exalted, said:

وَمِنۡہُم مَّنۡ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَٮِٕنۡ ءَاتَٮٰنَا مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَٮٰهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦ بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ
فَأَعۡقَبَہُمۡ نِفَاقً۬ا فِى قُلُوبِہِمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يَلۡقَوۡنَهُ ۥ بِمَآ أَخۡلَفُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ

And of them are some who made a covenant with Allah (saying): “If He bestowed on us of His Bounty, we will verily, give Sadaqah (Zakat and voluntary charity in Allah’s Cause) and will be certainly among those who are righteous.” Then when He gave them of His Bounty, they became niggardly [refused to pay the Sadaqah (Zakat or voluntary charity)], and turned away, averse. So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant with Allah) which they had promised Him and because they used to tell lies. [at-Tawbah. 75-77]

Lying and breaking covenants plunged them into the sludge of hypocrisy – and Allah’s Refuge is sought, and the Messenger stated that lying is one of the signs of hypocrisy. He said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise), and when trusted, he proves to be treacherous”.

Among the punishments for lying is that which the noble Messenger- the possessor of the highest moral character – has related  in a long hadith: “I saw two men who came to me and said, ‘The one you saw his jaw being torn apart is a liar. He used to tell a lie until it reaches the furthest regions and it was transmitted from him until the Day of Resurrection’”. He saw that man in whose mouth was placed an iron hook and torn off until it reached his ear; then the angel turned to the other jaw and tore it apart until it reached the man’s other ear, and then it returns as it was. And he will carry on with that until the day of Resurrection, just as the Messenger related. This is from the recompense for the liars. Numerous are liars today against the callers and carriers of the Salafi Dawah. They are able to disseminate cruel rumours till they reach the world using various means made available to them in this era. They divert people from Allah’s path and seek to make it crooked in order to further their falsehoods, twaddle, and dangerous innovations in religion that destroy sound belief, sound Islamic approaches to various subjects, and virtuous manners.

Indeed, Iblees – the cursed one and may Allah curse him- is the leader of the liars. He is the first of the liars and their leader, the first deceiver and betrayer. Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَيَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسۡكُنۡ أَنتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنۡ حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
فَوَسۡوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ لِيُبۡدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُ ۥرِىَ عَنۡہُمَا مِن سَوۡءَٲتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَہَٮٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنۡ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيۡنِ أَوۡ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰلِدِينَ
وَقَاسَمَهُمَآ إِنِّى لَكُمَا لَمِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ
فَدَلَّٮٰهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ۬‌ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا ٱلشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡءَٲتُہُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡہِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۖ وَنَادَٮٰهُمَا رَبُّہُمَآ أَلَمۡ أَنۡہَكُمَا عَن تِلۡكُمَا ٱلشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَآ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the Zalimun (unjust and wrong-doers).” Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” And he [Shaitan (Satan)] swore by Allah to them both (saying): “Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.” So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying): “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Shaitan (Satan) is an open enemy unto you?” [Al-A’raf. 19-22]

Look at the wicked one! He said to them, “Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree save you should become angels – out of fear that you might become angles or immortals”. He swore by Allah to them and Adam did not perceive that anyone would swear by Allah out of lying, thus he believed him and was deceived. He misled them. Allah, The Exalted, said:

وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ
فَقُلۡنَا يَـٰٓـٴَـادَمُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا عَدُوٌّ۬ لَّكَ وَلِزَوۡجِكَ فَلَا يُخۡرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ فَتَشۡقَىٰٓ
إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيہَا وَلَا تَعۡرَىٰ
وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظۡمَؤُاْ فِيہَا وَلَا تَضۡحَىٰ
فَوَسۡوَسَ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ وَمُلۡكٍ۬ لَّا يَبۡلَىٰ
فَأَڪَلَا مِنۡہَا فَبَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡءَٲتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡہِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۚ وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُ ۥ فَغَوَىٰ
ثُمَّ ٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُ ۥ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ وَهَدَىٰ

And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves to Adam.” They prostrated (all) except Iblis (Satan), who refused. Then We said: “O Adam! Verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you (will) suffer not from thirst therein nor from the sun’s heat. Then Shaitan (Satan) whispered to him, saying : “O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?” Then they both ate of the tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering. 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. [Taa Haa. 116-122]

Look at how he deceived them, fabricated and lied to them, and said to them through the path of the sincere advisers:  [هَلۡ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ وَمُلۡكٍ۬ لَّا يَبۡلَىٰ  – O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?] He deceived them with this, so they ate from the tree and the outcome was that which Allah related that their private parts became apparent to them. So, out of shyness, [وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡہِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۚ   – they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering]. 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. Thus is Allah’s Mercy for His friends; but Allah’s wrath, anger and curse has been ascertained against Iblees until the Day of Judgment, and he will be in Hell as the leader of those who will dwell in there forever.

Indeed, the followers of shaytan are the enemies of the truth in every era and place, and the enemies of the Messengers. Lying and slander is one of their greatest means (utilised) in their opposition to the Messengers and the mighty truth they brought, together with mighty and amazing signs. This is the path of every innovator in religious matters and a falsifier- he opposes the truth and its adherents through lies and slander; slandering the people of truth together with beautification of falsehood and adorning it for his followers, nullify their intellects and personalities. This adorned speech is through which falsehood is adopted from their leader Iblees – the cursed one, and from the followers of Fir’awn and the senior followers of Iblees, such as Fir’awn- the cursed one and may Allah deprived him of every good. He has many peers in this affair. Allah made known the lying and wickedness of this cursed one:

هَلۡ أَتَٮٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ
إِذۡ نَادَٮٰهُ رَبُّهُ ۥ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُ ۥ طَغَىٰ
فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ
وَأَهۡدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ
فَأَرَٮٰهُ ٱلۡأَيَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ
فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ
ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ يَسۡعَىٰ
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ
فَقَالَ أَنَا۟ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ
فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَعِبۡرَةً۬ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰٓ

Has there come to you the story of Musa? When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa; go to Fir’aun (Pharaoh), verily, he has transgressed all bounds (in crimes, sins, polytheism, disbelief, etc.). And say to him: “Would you purify yourself (from the sin of disbelief by becoming a believer)”; and that I guide you to your Lord, so you should fear Him? Then [Moosaa] showed him the great sign (miracles). But [Fir’aun (Pharaoh)] belied and disobeyed. Then he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah). Then he gathered his people and cried aloud, saying: “I am your lord, most high”, So Allah, seized him with punishment for his last [i.e. his saying: “I am your lord, most high”)] and first [(i.e. his saying, “O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than I” (see Verse 28:38)] transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.

The enemy of Allah lied and said, “I am your Lord, most high”. Which lied can be more ugly than this wicked lie?! So Allah seized him for his lie, denial and disbelief, and made that an instructive admonition for those who fear Allah – those who give thought.

Among his lies was his statement to the magicians – when they believed after being defeated and subjugated through Allah’s amazing signs:

قَالَ ءَامَنتُمۡ لَهُ ۥ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحۡرَ‌ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَكُم مِّنۡ خِلَـٰفٍ۬ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمۡ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخۡلِ وَلَتَعۡلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابً۬ا وَأَبۡقَىٰ
قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنَا‌ۖ فَٱقۡضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍ‌ۖ إِنَّمَا تَقۡضِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ
إِنَّآ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغۡفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـٰيَـٰنَا وَمَآ أَكۡرَهۡتَنَا عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلسِّحۡرِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ

[Fir’aun (Pharaoh)] said: “Believe you in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily! He is your chief who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir’aun – Pharaoh) or the Lord of Musa (Moses) (Allah)] can give the severe and more lasting torment.” They said: “We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allah) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world. “Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh)] reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment).” [Taa Haa. 71-73]

Look at this wicked slanderer! He said to them when they believed and submitted: [ءَامَنتُمۡ لَهُ ۥ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمۡ -Believe you in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission?]; then he invented this mighty slander:  [إِنَّهُ ۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحۡرَ‌ۖ  – Verily! He is your chief who taught you magic]- meaning, Musa, peace be upon him, when he brought those amazing signs.

The enemies of the Messengers did not confront them except with lies, falsely accused them of insanity, sorcery and what is similar to that. All this was from their lies and falsehoods, may Allah deprive them of every good. Many of Ahlul Ahwaa (the followers of vain desires) and Ahl Ad-Dalal (the people of misguidance) follow them in this manner by slandering the people of truth. Amongst the liars whom Allaah humiliated and made known their lies in the Qur’an are the Yahud, the Nasaaraa and the Mushrikoon in every religion and era, and amongst them were the pagan Arabs and their lies in matters of creed. Allah exposed them in various verses. Allah [تبارك وتعالى ] said: [وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدً۬ا – And to warn those who say, “Allah has begotten a son (or offspring or children)]. [Al-Kahf. 4]

This includes the Yahud, the Nasaaraa, the Hindus, the Buddhists and the pagan Arabs. Allah said:

وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدً۬ا
مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ۬ وَلَا لِأَبَآٮِٕهِمۡ‌ۚ كَبُرَتۡ ڪَلِمَةً۬ تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ‌ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبً۬ا

And to warn those (Jews, Christians, and pagans) who say, “Allah has begotten a son (or offspring or children).” No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. Mighty is the word that comes out of their mouths [i.e. He begot (took) sons and daughters]. They utter nothing but a lie. [Al-Kahf. 4-5] – Meaning, attributing a son to Allah, which is nothing else but a mighty lie against. Thus, Allah humiliated them and made known their lie and slander. Allah said:

وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وَلَدً۬ا
لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِدًّ۬ا

[And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Iesa (Christ)], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)].” Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing]. Meaning, a horrible thing [i.e. to attribute a son to Allah].

تَڪَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلۡجِبَالُ هَدًّا
أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ وَلَدً۬ا
وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا
إِن ڪُلُّ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّآ ءَاتِى ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ عَبۡدً۬ا
لَّقَدۡ أَحۡصَٮٰهُمۡ وَعَدَّهُمۡ عَدًّ۬ا
وَكُلُّهُمۡ ءَاتِيهِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فَرۡدًا

Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins; that they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). here is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender). [Maryam. 90-95]

Allah made clear the danger of this lie and that the universe almost split asunder and cease to exist, and that the mountains almost fall in ruins due to this mighty slander which they fabricated about Allah. Allah freed himself from all imperfections, deficiencies, co-equals and partners with regards to this slander by way of which He was slandered by the Yahud, the Nasaaraa, the pagan Arabs and other than them amongst those who attributed a child to Him, whether Isa, peace be upon him, Uzayr, peace be upon him, the angels and others whom they attributed to Allah as His offspring based on lies and false testimony.

Allah said:
وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عُزَيۡرٌ ٱبۡنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ ذَٲلِكَ قَوۡلُهُم بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ

And the Jews (a sect among them) say: “Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah”, and the Christians say: “Messiah is the son of Allah”. That is a saying from their mouths. – meaning, lies. [يُضَـٰهِـُٔونَ قَوۡلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَڪُونَ – They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allah’s Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!] [at-Tawbah. 30]

They took this belief – and Allah knows best – from the Hindus who preceded them in this horrendous disbelief and lies about Allah. All these people carry mighty lies – which cannot be enumerated here – related to matters of the Shariah and in declaring what is lawful and unlawful, such as what Allah has stated regarding the pagan Arabs, who made judgements about the Bahirah [a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and that nobody was allowed to milk it] or a Sa’ibah [a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods and that nothing was allowed to be carried on it], or a Wasilah [a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery].

Allah stated when declaring this a lie:
مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ۬ وَلَا سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ۬ وَلَا حَامٍ۬‌ۙ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۖ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ

Allah has not instituted things like Bahirah (a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it) or a Sa’ibah (a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it), or a Wasilah (a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery) or a Ham (a stallion-camel freed from work for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it, all these animals were liberated in honour of idols as practised by pagan Arabs in the pre-Islamic period). But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them have no understanding]. [Al-Ma’idah. 103]

By Allah, they are liars and foolish people who are deprived of sound intellect. Allah said:

فَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلاً۬ طَيِّبً۬ا وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ إِيَّاهُ تَعۡبُدُونَ
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ‌ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٍ۬ وَلَا عَادٍ۬ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬
وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُڪُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ۬ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ۬ لِّتَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ
مَتَـٰعٌ۬ قَلِيلٌ۬ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you worship. He has forbidden you only Al-Maytatah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols etc. or on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, and not transgressing, then, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment. [An-Nahl. 114-117]

This was an address to the Arabs who instituted things like Bahirah or a Sa’ibah, and due to this Allah declared this matter of theirs a lie. Allah made it known that what they declared unlawful or lawful is tantamount to lies invented about Allah, that the liars will not be successful, their enjoyment through lies and slanders is a brief enjoyment and an eternal punishment awaits them – a painful punishment.

Allah stated about the Yahud and Nasaaraa:

فَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكۡتُبُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِأَيۡدِيہِمۡ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَشۡتَرُواْ بِهِۦ ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً۬‌ۖ فَوَيۡلٌ۬ لَّهُم مِّمَّا ڪَتَبَتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَوَيۡلٌ۬ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكۡسِبُونَ

Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” to purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that they earn thereby]. [Al-Baqarah. 79]

Among the categories of liars are the Munaafiqoon and they are more dangerous for the society, especially the Islamic society. Due to this Allah spoke about them a lot, warned against them a lot and made known their characteristics in chapters of the Qur’an; rather there is an independent chapter of the Qur’an called Surah Al-Munaafiqoon. Allah exposed them, unveil their shame, hypocrisy and lies. And from that which Allah stated about them is: [وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ – And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: “We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they believe not] – Meaning, they are liars.

يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُونَ

They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!  In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies. And when it is said to them: “Make not mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.”

Look at this big claim! Rather [أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدُونَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ- Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not]. Every liar and corrupt person in the earth does not tell the people that he is a corrupt person; rather he says, “I am one who rectifies the affairs” and claims that he leads the Ummah to righteousness. In summary, indeed Allaah made known their lies and deception, and that this lie increases them in sickness – and Allah’s Refuge is sought, they are from the people of hypocrisy and they are increased in hypocrisy.

Allah said: [أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوۡاْ قَوۡمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِم مَّا هُم مِّنكُمۡ وَلَا مِنۡہُمۡ وَيَحۡلِفُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡكَذِبِ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ  – Have you (O Muhammad) not seen those (hypocrites) who take for friends a people upon whom is the Wrath of Allah (i.e. Jews)? They are neither of you (Muslims) nor of them (Jews), and they swear to a lie while they know. [Al-Mujaadilah. 14]

They made an oath to the believers that they are indeed believers, whilst they are Munaafiqoon, liars and allies of the Yahud. [ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدًا‌ۖ إِنَّهُمۡ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ – Allah has prepared for them a severe torment. Evil indeed is that which they used to do]. [ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَيۡمَـٰنَہُمۡ جُنَّةً۬  – They have made their oaths a screen] – Meaning, for their lies.

فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ مُّهِينٌ۬
لَّن تُغۡنِىَ عَنۡہُمۡ أَمۡوَٲلُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
يَوۡمَ يَبۡعَثُہُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعً۬ا فَيَحۡلِفُونَ لَهُ ۥ كَمَا يَحۡلِفُونَ لَكُمۡ‌ۖ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّہُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ‌ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّہُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبُونَ
ٱسۡتَحۡوَذَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ فَأَنسَٮٰهُمۡ ذِكۡرَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ حِزۡبُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥۤ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ٱلۡأَذَلِّينَ
ڪَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغۡلِبَنَّ أَنَا۟ وَرُسُلِىٓ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬

Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, so they shall have a humiliating torment. Their children and their wealth will avail them nothing against Allah. They will be (the) dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together (for their account), then they will swear to Him as they swear to you (O Muslims). And they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars! Shaitan (Satan) has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, it is the party of Shaitan (Satan) that will be the losers! Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), they will be among the lowest (most humiliated). Allah has decreed: “Verily! It is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious.” Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty. [al-Mujaadilah. 15-21]

Allah made known the state of affairs of these people, exposed them, made it known that they are liars and described their actions to be evil. And due to their state of loss, they took these oaths and swearing by Allaah as a screen.. ..Allah said:

إذا جاءك المنافقون قالوا نشهد إنك لرسول الله والله يعلم إنك لرسوله والله يشهد إن المنافقين لكاذبون ـ اتخذوا أيمانهم جُنة فصدوا عن سبيل الله إنهم ساء ما كانوا يعملون ـ ذلك بأنهم ءامنوا ثم كفروا فطُبع على قلوبهم فهم لا يفقهون ـ وإذا رأيتهم تعجبك أجسامهم وإن يقولوا تسمع لقولهم كأنهم خشب مسنّدة يحسبون كل صيحة عليهم هم العدو فاحذرهم قاتلهم الله أنى يؤفكون ـ وإذا قيل لهم تعالوا يستغفر لكم رسول الله لووا رءوسهم ورأيتهم يصدون وهم مستكبرون ـ سواء عليهم أستغفرت لهم أم لم تستغفر لهم لن يغفر الله لهم إن الله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين

When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: “We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.” Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed. They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not. And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path. And when it is said to them: “Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness from Allah for you”, they turn aside their heads, and you would see them turning away their faces in pride. It is equal to them whether you (Muhammad) ask forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them. Verily, Allah guides not the people who are the Fasiqin (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [Al-Munaafiqoon. 1-6]

Allah testified that they are liars; even if they testified to the Messengership of Muhammad and that Allah alone has the right to be worshipped, they are still liars and do not believe in that. Allah exposed them, because He knows their reality- the disbelief and hypocrisy they hide in their hearts. Allah made it known that they disbelieved and believed thereafter, then they disbelieved finally; and Allah made it known that they do not understand and that even if Allah’s Messenger – the most virtuous amongst the creation – sought forgiveness for them, they will not be forgiven and Allah will not guide them to Iman and the truth due to their [willful] wickedness and evil. And there maybe hypocrites in the Ummah who have these characteristics and thus receive this recompense from Allah. Unfortunately, some people think that hypocrisy has ended, whilst in reality it is something that will continue. Hudhaifah said, “The hypocrites at present are more evil than the hypocrites during the era of Allah’s Messenger”, so he was asked about this, then he said, “Indeed, the hypocrites used to hide their hypocrisy and these people at present make it manifest”. Whenever time elapses, they become many amongst the groups of ahlul bidah, and burden Islam and the Muslims with their evil, plots and hypocrisy; and all of that is done under the guise of Islam and in the name of Islam. Many of ahlul bidah or many innovations – in the past and thereafter – related to belief and affairs of shirk are from their plots and cunning ways. So, let the Muslims be careful of these hypocrites and infiltrators within the innovated groups.

Among the liars – whose affair has been unveiled by Islam in the Qur’an and the Sunnah – are the soothsayers, fortune tellers and magicians. They are from the most evil liars. Allah said:

 هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ۬
يُلۡقُونَ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَأَڪۡثَرُهُمۡ كَـٰذِبُونَ
وَٱلشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ ٱلۡغَاوُ ۥنَ
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّهُمۡ فِى ڪُلِّ وَادٍ۬ يَهِيمُونَ
وَأَنَّہُمۡ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفۡعَلُونَ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَذَكَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا وَٱنتَصَرُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا ظُلِمُواْ‌ۗ وَسَيَعۡلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ۬ يَنقَلِبُونَ

Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayatin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying (one who tells lies), sinful person. Who gives ear (to the devils and they pour what they may have heard of the unseen from the angels), and most of them are liars. As for the poets, the erring follow them; see you not that they speak about every subject (praising others right or wrong) in their poetry? And that they say what they do not do. Except those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, and remember Allah much, and reply back (in poetry) to the unjust poetry (which the pagan poets utter against the Muslims). And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned. [Ash-Shu’araa. 221-227]

Allah made it known that the devils descend on these types of liars, even the poets amongst them; except those who believe, perform righteous deeds and reply back (in poetry) to the unjust poetry (which the pagan poets utter against the Muslims).

The Messenger said, “Whoever goes to a fortune teller or soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammad”. [Sahih al-Jami. Number 5015]

It has been reported in an authentic narrations that the devils eavesdrop in the [first] heavens and then inform the magician or the soothsayer, then they add a hundred lies to it; so the ignorant wrong doer believes them whilst being aware of the recompense for the one who believes them. If this is the ruling against the one who believes them, then how about the one who is immersed in the sludge of soothsaying, magic and fortune telling? Therefore, the Muslims should also be cautious of these evil category of people and from their most distinct characteristics is lying. Allah and Messenger testified that indeed they are liars and made known their attachment to the devils. [Footnote b]

Among the different types of liars are the Dajaajilah (those whose lies are accompanied with deception, beatification of the lies and tricks to convince the people), whom the Prophet spoke about, and reality testifies to the truthfulness of that which this noble Messenger stated, because he never speaks out of his own desire. He said: “The hour will not be established until two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, and until about thirty Dajjaals and liars appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah’s Messenger, and until sound religious knowledge is taken away [i.e. due to death of rightly guided scholars], earthquakes will increase in number and time will pass quickly”. [Sahih Al-Bukhari]  The testimony in this hadith is the statement of the Messenger, “Until about thirty Dajjaals and liars appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah’s Messenger”. The Messenger said, “During the close approach of the hour there will be liars, so beware of them”.

Unfortunately, many people do not take this Prophetic advice in order to be cautious of the liars. There is a long hadith narrated by Thawbaan from Allah’s Messenger, who said, “What I fear for you the most is the leaders of misguidance” until he said, “Indeed, there will be thirty liars in my Ummah and each of them will claim that he is a Prophet, but I am the seal of the Prophets and there no Prophet after me”.

The greatest trial will be that of the greatest Dajjaaj whom all the Prophets warned against, and the one who warned against him the most was our Prophet. The narrations regarding this are Mutawaatir and its affair is well-known amongst the Muslims, but despite this, Allah’s Messenger stated that there is one more dangerous for the Ummah than Dajjaaj. Sam’aan said, “Allah’s Messenger mentioned Dajjal one morning as something despised, but also alarming, until we thought that he was in the stand of date-palm trees. When we came to Allah’s Messenger in the evening, he saw that (fear) in us, and said, ‘What is the matter with you?’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! You mentioned Dajjaal this morning, and you spoke of him as something despised but also alarming, until we thought that he was in the stand of date-palm trees’. He said, ‘There are things that I fear more for you than the Dajjaal. If he appears while I am among you, I will contend with him on your behalf, and if he appears when I am not among you, then each man must fend for himself, and Allah will take care of every Muslim on my behalf’”. [Sahih Muslim 2933]

Among these Dajjaals – liars – whom Allah’s Messenger warned against was Musaylimah, the Liar at Yamaamah and Al-Aswad Al-Unsee who claimed prophethood, and as a result many Arabs exited Islam. Allah destroyed them and others were destroyed, and their trial was ended by way of the swords of the companions of Allah’s Messenger. Among the liars who claimed prophethood was Mukhtar Bin Abee Ubayd Ath-Thaqafee, the liar about whom the Messenger stated, “A liar will appear from Thaqeef a blood shedder”. [Sahih Muslim 2545] The liar was Al-Mukhtaar and the blood shedder was al-Hajjaaj. And from those who claimed prophethood was Al-Haarith the liar, and Ghulaam Ahmad Al-Qadiyaanee Al-Hindee who had followers dispersed in the world and they claim that Prophethood is still ongoing. Every liar has other wicked liars connected to him – those similar to their Shaikh. And from these liars in general was the Yahudi, the wicked Abdullah Ibn Saba, who falsely claimed to be Muslim and incited many of the rabble against the Rightly Guided Khaleefah Uthmaan Bin Affaan until he was martyred in that trial. He is the founder of the doctrine of the Rafida Shiites and its filthy principles, and exaggeration the status of the Prophet’s family until they deified them. Many of them declare Ali an object of worship and many of them say that Ali is the one whom the Prophet gave the authority of rulership after him, and that Ali will return to do such and such, meaning, he will kill AbuBakr, Umar and five-hundred Khulafaa of Banee Umayyyah and Banee Abbaas. This wicked one [i.e. Ibn Saba] initiated the act of revilement against the companions of the Prophet and other matters related to the trial he initiated which the heretics promote and are firmly established upon, as well as the figureheads of the Rafida- the liars. Thus, they fill the world with lies and slanders. Their religion is established on lies and misguidance.

And among those Dajjaals – liars – are the figureheads of bidah and misguidance, such as Jahm Bin Safwaan, the figureheads of the Khawaarij, the Mutazilah, the Huloolee Soofees and grave worshippers, such as Nidhaam Al-Mutazilee, Hallaaj the heretic, Ibn Arabi the heretic, Ibn Sab’een, At-Tilimsaanee and other than them amongst the heretics – liars who hid within Islam, infiltrators within the ranks of the people of Tasawwuf, because the people of Tasawwuf  were a fertile ground for these types of people amongst the heretics, just as the Raafida are a spacious room for the heretics. [Footnote c]

Among the liars in this era are the figureheads of the political groups, such as the secularists and Baathists (Arab Nationalists), and many of the people who carry alluring slogans in the name of Islam, such as Islamic socialism, Islamic democracy, the call to unity of religions and many other misguided claims made in the name of Islam. [Footnote d]

This takes place amongst groups who claim that they are seeking to raise Islam very high and that they are established to return the Islamic Ummah to its past glory; however they increase the people in misguidance and darkness, and Allah’s Refuge is sought. This poses a more severe danger to the people and the youth, therefore it is obligated on the Muslims and the students of knowledge to be extremely cautious of all these types of people, warn the Muslims against their plots and plans, and unveil their secrets. And the Muslims should adhere firmly to the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet; follow the pious predecessors in their creed, methodology, loyalty and disassociation, and to deal with this dangerous category of people about whom the Messenger feared for his Ummah – warn them against these groups and make it known that he feared for them regarding these people more than he feared for them regarding Dajjaal, so that they deal with them in the manner that the pious predecessors dealt with them-  by being cautious, warning against them, unveiling their hidden affairs (i.e. misguidance) and making known the defects within them in order to protect the religion and as a means of sincere advice to the Muslims.

With regards to the conflict between the adherents to truth and the adherents to falsehood in every era and place, the truth must reach its goal which Allah has promised -that the religion He has ordained will supersede, the adherents to truth will be given the upper hand over the adherents to falsehood and it is a must that falsehood and its adherents will be defeated and end in failure. Therefore, it is obligated to the adherents to truth – pure Ahlus Sunnah – to be upon steadfastness and resilience, embark upon hard work with everything by way of which they are able to aid the religion ordained by Allah in creed, commands, prohibitions, rulings and methodology; and that they give it the upper hand against falsehood in all its forms and images, whether it is disbelief or hypocrisy coated with Islam, a manifest bidah or a bidah coated with Islam. Allah said:

[ هو الذي أرسل رسوله بالهدى ودين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون – It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it)]. [at-Tawbah. 33]

Ahlul Ahwaa share this hatred with them, therefore, there’s nothing else except that the adherents to truth employ the legislated means to actualise this promise and matter that is incumbent upon the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah. Wherever the adherents to the Salafi methodology and its students are or wherever they go, it is obligated to them to step up and aid one another to raise the word of truth, Tawheed and Sunnah, and to subdue innovation in religious matters, misguidance and doubts; establish Allah’s proofs against all the various misguided people, make known the reality of the liars and the fakers. They have to know that the opponents against the truth have reached the highest level of plotting and planning, and from this is their preoccupation with the task of silencing many amongst Ahlus Sunnah and the adherents to truth, and restraining them from confronting the falsehood that is covered in the garb of truth. This category of people amongst the adherents to falsehood are more intense in employing lies, duplicity and pretending to possess that which they do not possess; so they are just as the Messenger stated, “The one who pretends that he has been given what he has not been given, is just like the (false) one who wears two garments of falsehood”.

We find them as ones who praise the people of falsehood the most and making their affair to appear pleasing, whilst they are the most severe in speaking ill against the adherents to the truth and its callers. Indeed, they have set up corrupt principles to aid falsehood and the adherents to misguided methodologies; waging war against the adherents to truth by devising plots and repugnant affairs, manifesting their hatred and enmity against the adherents to truth and hastening-  without boredom and tiredness – to instruct the youth to oppose the people of truth, striving hard to aid falsehood and topple the adherents to truth. We ask Allah  to raise His Word and guide these people or relieve the Ummah of their Indeed, our Lord is One who hears invocation. And may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Sayyid Muhammad, his family and companions until the day of judgement.

والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
خطورة الكذب وآثاره السيئة وموقف الإسلام منه – موقع الشيخ أ.د ربيع بن هادي عمير المدخلي
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Footnote a: “Verily, the worst act of usury is to attack the reputation of a Muslim”. Meaning, the greater in evil and the more severely prohibited is to unleash the tongue against the honour of a Muslim by belittling him, behaving arrogantly towards him and speaking ill against him by way of slander or verbal abuse. This becomes more severe in prohibition because honour is more noble than one’s self and wealth.

“Without a just cause”. Meaning, this shows that there are cases where one is allowed to speak about someone, saying, such and such is an oppressor or transgressor, or making a mention of an innovator and an open sinner with the intention to issue warning. At-Teebee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Honour enters into the types of wealth from the angle of emphasis. Usury is categorised into the two types: customary and it is what is taken as an addition from debtors, and the one that is not customary, such as a person attacking the honour of someone with his tongue. [An Excerpt from ‘Awnul Mabood Sharh Sunan Abee Daawud’ 13/152]

This (i.e. violating the honour of a Muslim) has been referred to as usury because the transgressor safeguards his honour and then goes beyond it, thus it is as if he has added an increase that encroaches the boundaries in connection with the honour of a Muslim which is more valuable than his wealth. Al-Qadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “Attacking a Muslim’s honour is to deal with him more than what he deserves of that which is to be said about him, or more than what is allowed to say about him. This is why it is likened to usury and considered one of its types”. [An Excerpt from ‘Mirqaatul Mafaateeh Sharh Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh’ 8/3157]

Footnote b: https://www.dajjaal.com/liar/

Footnote c: https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2019/04/a-brief-acquaintance-with-some-of-the-early-heretics-who-sought-to-corrupt-the-deen-and-failed-abdullah-bin-sabah-al-faraabee-ibn-sinaa-naseer-attoosee-and-others/

Footnote d: Read article on these links by Shaikh Abu Iyaad – may Allah preserve him.
https://abuiyaad.com/a/rabi-marxism-revolution-social-justice
https://www.themadkhalis.com/md/tags/communism.cfm
https://abuiyaad.com/a/muslims-democracy-socialism

[17] The Ascent and Decline of The Ottoman Empire

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Battle of Lepanto

The Battle of Lepanto marked a significant moment as Christian nations trembled in the face of the formidable Islamic threat posed by the advancing Ottoman forces, both on land and at sea. In response, Pope Pius V (1566-1572) sought to unite the disparate European countries, rallying their military might under the papal banner. He expressed concern over the growing power of the Turkish authority, attributing it to the failures of the Christian states. In early 979 AH (May 1571), Pope Pius V, along with King Philip II of Spain and the Republic of Venice, forged an alliance to launch a naval assault against the Ottomans. This coalition also included several Italian cities, inspired by Pius V’s call for unity, leading to the participation of Tuscany, Genoa, Savoy, and other Italian entities in the Holy League.

The Pope reached out to the King of France seeking assistance, but Charles IX declined, citing his commitments to treaties with the Ottomans. The Pope then urged him to be released from these agreements. Shortly after, the Emperor broke his own treaties with the Ottomans and turned to Ivan, the King of the Russians, to rally for war. He encountered delays from the King of Poland, and Don John of Austria was appointed as the campaign leader. One of the clauses in the Christian treaty stated that Pope Pius V, King Philip of Spain, and the Republic of Venice declared both offensive and defensive war against the Turks to reclaim all territories taken from Christians, including Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli.

Sardar Don John sailed to the Adriatic Sea, reaching the narrow part of the Gulf of Corinth near Patras, not far from Lepanto, which was named after the battle. Observers noted that the leaders of the Islamic fleet could benefit from fortifying the gulf and avoiding engagement with the Crusader fleet. However, the commander Ali Pasha insisted on going into battle, relying on his superior number of ships. He organised his forces in a single line from north to south, with the left flank anchored at the port of Lepanto and the main body positioned in open water. Ali Pasha divided his fleet into two wings and a center, taking command himself in the center, there was Sirocco leading the right wing, while the left wing was commanded by Qilij Ali. In response, Don John organized his forces, positioning his troops to counter the Islamic formation. He placed Doria in charge of his right wing opposite Qilij Ali and assigned Barbarigo to lead his left wing against Sirocco. Don John himself took command of the center and left a reserve fleet under the leadership of Santa Cruz.

The battle intensified on the 17th of Jumada al-Awwal in the year 979 AH, corresponding to October 17, 1571, when the Islamic fleet surrounded the Christian fleet. The Ottomans penetrated deep into the enemy’s ships, leading to a fierce confrontation where both sides displayed remarkable bravery and valor. However, fate led to a defeat for the Muslims, who lost around thirty thousand fighters, with some estimates suggesting twenty thousand. They also suffered the loss of 200 warships, 93 of which sank, while the remaining vessels were captured by the united Christian fleets, which also took ten thousand men as prisoners. Despite the defeat, Admiral Kılıç Ali managed to save some of his ships, including one bearing the Pope’s flag, which he brought back to Istanbul, where he was welcomed like a conqueror, despite the prevailing sense of loss. In response, Sultan Selim II promptly promoted Kılıç Ali to the rank of commander of the Ottoman navy while retaining his position as Beylerbey of Algeria.

The Battle had a significant impact on Europe and the Ottoman Empire. For the first time since the early 15th century, the Ottomans faced defeat, leading to widespread celebration across Europe. People rejoiced and decorated their surroundings in honor of Don Juan of Austria, the commander who achieved this victory. The Pope even proclaimed a celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica, declaring that the Gospel had triumphed through Don Juan, who was heralded as a man sent by God. This naval victory was celebrated by the Christian world and its historians, to the extent that modern school dictionaries often mention Lepanto alongside Don Juan, recognizing him as the savior of Christianity from imminent danger.

The pope was greatly pleased despite his unease, as his formidable enemy remained a significant threat. He sought to exploit the suspicions of the Twelver Shia against the Ottomans by leveraging existing grievances, issues, and doctrinal differences. He sent a letter to Shah Tahmasp, the Persian king, stating that he would never find a better opportunity to attack the Ottomans, who were vulnerable to assaults from all sides. He sent for the King of Abyssinia and the Imam of Yemen to rally against the Ottoman Empire, but death caught up with him. The outcome of the Battle of Lepanto was disappointing for the Ottomans, as it diminished their dominance in the Mediterranean. With the loss of this threat, the intense fear that had once prevailed also faded, leading to a renewed vigor among Christian states to maintain a lasting holy alliance and restore their boundaries.

The significance of Lepanto was immense, marking the end of the Ottoman Empire’s invincibility, particularly at sea, which alleviated the fears of Italian and Spanish rulers and weakened the Ottoman influence on Western power dynamics. It signified a turning point, as the Ottoman forces were formidable both on land and at sea. The Christian victory at Lepanto in 1571 was crucial in shifting the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, effectively concluding an era of ambitious naval operations that had incurred substantial costs. The Ottomans no longer contemplated adding another chapter to their maritime glory following that defeat; this setback marked the beginning of the decline of the state’s naval power.

[An Excerpt from “Ad-Dawla Al-Uthmaniyyah Awamil An-Nuhood Wa Asbaab As-Sukqoot 6/309-313]