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Ramadhan is the Month of the Quran – Shaykh Fawzaan

"From the first virtues of this month, is that Allah revealed the Quran within it; meaning revelation of the Quran began in this month; and that occurred on the Night of Decree…" Links 🔗 from Video – salafidawahmanchester.com/Online – Online Quran Lessons: Salafischool.co.uk/online – Online Full Day Classes: TuitionClub.org/Online

 

The Perfect Example, The Most Devout And Generous Person at All Times- During Ramadhaan and Other Than It

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

Narrated Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa], “The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadaan when Jibreel visited him, and Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadaan till the end of the month. The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] used to recite the Noble Qur’aan to Jibreel, and when Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than the fair wind [sent by Allaah with glad tidings (rain) in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds]”. [Saheeh al-Bukhaari 1902]

Few Reminders From This Hadeeth

Zain Ibnul Muneer [rahimahullaah] said, “The intent behind the likeness [or comparison] between the Prophet’s [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] generosity and the fair wind, is that the wind is one of mercy which Allaah [The Exalted] sends and sends down rain that falls everywhere- both on a dead land [i.e. falls on a dry land and revives it] as well as the land that is not dead; [likewise] the Prophet’s [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] good conduct and benevolence benefits everyone – the poor, the wealthy and the one who has enough – more than the rain that falls [after the arrival of that] fair wind”. [An Excerpt from Fat-hul Baari Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Vol 4. Page 150. Hadeeth 1902. Publisher- Daarus Salaam 1421 (Year 2000). 1st Edition). Slightly paraphrased]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:

He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was the most generous amongst the people with regards to wealth and giving to the people, and not that he was (only) generous after being asked.  And in the final year [of his life], Jibreel met him twice and he finished the recitation of the [Qur’aan] twice. And from the benefits of [this hadeeth] is that it is more virtuous to study and recite the Qur’aan at night- studying it with the righteous people, the scholars and the good people. The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] recited [the Qur’aan to Jibreel] to receive Allaah reward. [An Excerpt from Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Min Ta’liqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Saheeh Al-Bukhaariy. 2/121. Footnotes numbers: 1, 2 &3]

 

 

How to Be Patient in These Difficult Times – Shaykh Fawzaan

“The station of patience is tremendous and because of this it has been mentioned in the Quran in more than 70 places.”

REF 1: The Ma’iyyah of Allah explained: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/printthread.cfm?Forum=8&Topic=3712


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Current Trials and Calamities and How to Gain Relief from Them – Shaykh Fawzaan

If a person is put to trial and a calamity befalls him, what is the thing which will remove it from him? And how does a person turn to Allaah – The Mighty and Majestic – for protection, deliverance, help – whilst he is in this situation in which he is put to trial through these illnesses?

Two Obstacles That Prevents Us From Reality When We [Humans] Embark Upon Sin!

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

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] stated:

The servant does not embark upon that which he has been forbidden except through two ways. [Either] due harbouring evil thoughts about his Lord that if he were to obey Allaah and preferred Him, He [Glorified be He] will not grant him that which is better from the lawful [things]; [or] he acknowledges that [Allaah will grant him something better than the forbidden thing he pursues] and that whoever leaves something for Allaah’s sake, He [Glorified be He] will replace it with something better; but lusts overcomes his patience and desires [overcomes] his intellect. The first affair is due to weakness in knowledge and the second a weakness in intellect and insight. [Ref 1]

Al-Allaamah Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Yahyah Al-Mu’allimee [rahimahullaah] stated: The human being does not hate truth as a result of considering it to be falsehood, rather he loves truth by way of his Fitra [sound natural disposition], and loves falsehood due to his desires and lusts. The shift towards success or loss defends on what he gives preference to.

Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] said:

فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ

وَءَاثَرَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ هِىَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ

وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفۡسَ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ

فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ هِىَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ

Then, for him who Tagha (transgressed) and preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts), Verily, his abode will be Hellfire; But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.” [An-Naazi’aat. Ayah:37-41]

And you can say: Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] is on one side and [a person’s evil] desires are on another side [in opposition to what Allaah has commanded and prohibited].  Allaah [The Most High] said:

أَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ ۥ هَوَٮٰهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيۡهِ وَڪِيلاً

أَمۡ تَحۡسَبُ أَنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ يَسۡمَعُونَ أَوۡ يَعۡقِلُونَ‌ۚ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ‌ۖ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً

Have you (O Muhammad) seen him who has taken as his ilah (god) his own desire? Would you then be a Wakil (a disposer of his affairs or a watcher) over him? Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e. even worse than cattle]. [Soorah Al-Furqaan. Aayaat 43-44]

And Allaah [The Most High] said:

أَفَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ ۥ هَوَٮٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ۬ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمۡعِهِۦ وَقَلۡبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةً۬ فَمَن يَہۡدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilah (god), and Allah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember? [Soorah Al-Jaathiyah. Ayah 23] [Ref 2]


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Al’Fawaa-id [page 78]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from [التَّنْكِيل بِماَ فِي تَأْنِيبِ ٱلْكَوْثَري مِنَ الأباَطِيلVol 2. Page.179 with the checking of Imaam Albaanee (rahimahullaah)]

Hadeeth: Fear Allaah and Maintain Your Ties of Kinship

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

Fear Allaah and maintain your ties of kinship.

Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said

The hadeeth is very clear in commanding two virtuous acts of worship: A right Allaah is owed and a right owed to the people. As for the right Allaah is owed, it is that one fears Him. Indeed, Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] commanded -in many places in the Qur’aan- that He should be feared, and from them is His statement:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ

O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 102]

Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said: [يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ – O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 1]

Allaah [Glorified be He said]:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُواْ قَوۡلاً۬ سَدِيدً۬ا

يُصۡلِحۡ لَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَكُمۡ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمًا

O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hellfire and made to enter Paradise). [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayaat 7071]

Allaah connected the good in this life and the next to Taqwa [Fear of Him], just is found in His statement:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ مَخۡرَجً۬ا

وَيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُ‌ۚ

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. [Surah At-Talaaq. Aayaat 2-3]; then Allaah said in Aayah 5: [ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يُكَفِّرۡ عَنۡهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُعۡظِمۡ لَهُ ۥۤ أَجۡرًا – And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his reward].

These are from the [divine] texts in which Allaah commanded [us] to fear Him. And the reality of Taqwah [Fear of Allaah], as some of the Salaf stated: “It is to act in obedience to Allaah with a light from Allaah [i.e. guided to know and enabled to perform the act sincerely], hoping for Allaah’s reward, abandon disobedience to Allaah with a light from Allaah [i.e. guided to know what is wrong and being enabled to keep away from it sincerely] and out of fearing Allaah’s punishment”.

The statement of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] in this  hadeeth: “Fear Allaah”, means, perform acts of obedience to Allaah, abandon disobedience to Allaah, fulfil Allaah’s command, keep away from Allaah’s prohibitions, hasten towards good deeds, and distance yourself from evil manners and repugnant deeds.

As for the right owed to the people, this is referred to in the Prophet’s [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] statement: “Maintain your ties of kinship”. The intent behind this is those related to you through lineage- on the mother’s and father’s side. It is obligated on a person to maintain the ties of kinship with these people as much as one is able- by going to visit them, sending them beneficial advice and through wealth. All these are righteous deeds and a right of relatives. And the aim [or goal] is that one enquires about their circumstances as much as one is able. And if corruption or something harmful enters into a tie of kinship, then one should make an effort to rectify the situation and not cut ties; rather one should make an effort to rectify the evil or mistake, so that Allaah rewards him for  keeping the ties of kinship, and for enjoining good and forbidding evil.

And if a person has a relative who has many female relatives, whilst he is not married and fears for him [i.e.  lest he falls into what is forbidden through direct contact], then keeping the ties of kinship [with this male relative who has many female relatives suffices]. It is not a condition that one speaks [in person] to the one who is not from his Mahaarim (1) in order to keep the ties of kinship; rather if he greats her, it should be behind a Hijaab [something prevents them from seeing one another].

[An Excerpt from ‘At-taleeqaat al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Pages 36-37. Slightly paraphrased]


 

Ref 1: Mahaarim: Mind map illustration showing the mahrams (male chaperones) of a woman for travel and sittings:

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/mind-map-illustration-showing-the-mahrams-male-chaperones-of-a-woman-for-travel-and-sittings/

The Bondage of Sins In This Dunyaa And Aakhirah, And The Virtue of Tawheed and Repentance

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

Disobedience is the cause of being in shaytaan’s captivity and a prisoner of lowly desires. A disobedient person is always in the captivity of his devil, the prison of his lusts and leadership of his desires. He is a captive and a shackled prisoner. There is neither a captive whose state of affairs is more evil than that of a captive whose captor is his worst enemy, nor is there a prison more restricted than the prison of desires, and shackles that are more restrictive than the shackles of lust; so how can a heart that is a captive and a shackled prisoner follow the path to Allaah and the home of the afterlife? How can he follow a single path when the heart is shackled and stricken with harm from every angle as a result of the [severity] of its shackles? The likeness of the heart is that of a bird; it distances from harm whenever it flies high and surrounded by harm whenever it lands. It is reported in a hadeeth: ‘’Shaytaan is a wolf to a human being.’’

And just as an unprotected sheep in the midst of wolves is quickly destroyed, likewise if there is no protection from Allaah for the slave, it is inevitable that his wolf will prey on him. He is protected by Allaah through Taqwaah. Taqwaah is a shield and shelter from Allaah between the person and his wolf; just as it is a shield against punishment in this life and the afterlife. Whenever the sheep is closer to its shepherd, it is safer from the wolf and whenever it is distanced from the shepherd, it comes closer to being destroyed. So the sheep is more protected when it is closer to the shepherd, for the wolf only takes away the [sheep, cattle]  that are distanced and far away from the shepherd.

The basis of this affair is that whenever the heart is distanced from Allaah, then harm upon it is quicker, and whenever it is comes closer to Allaah, it is distanced from harm. Being distanced from Allaah is of various levels and some are more severe than others. Being distanced from [Allaah] through disobedience is greater than being distanced from [Allaah] through thoughtlessness; being distanced from [Allaah] through bidah is greater than being distanced from [Allaah] through disobedience, and being distanced from [Allaah] through hypocrisy and shirk is greater than all of that. [Ref 1]

Sin and disobedience is something common in all the nations. It is something that has not cease to exist in the world amongst the Children of Aadam regardless of their different social classes- the common people, the ignorant ones, [the zuhhaad – those who choose to abstain from some of the lawful pleasures of the worldly life which one can do without], those desirous of it [i.e. the pleasures], the leaders and those under their rule.  This affair of [sin and disobedience] is not something specific to this Ummah of Muhammad [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], such that [the Ummah] and its Prophet are [singled out] with rebuked as a result of that. Sin and disobedience does not negate belief in the Messengers, because it is possible for them to exist alongside belief in the Messengers. And although disobedience diminishes the perfection and completeness of belief in the Messengers, however it does not negate it.

Sins are wiped away through sincere repentance.  Allaah forgives the slave when he repents, even if his sins fill the heavens and are of a great number.  Allaah said: [قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ  – Say: O Ibaadee [My slaves] who have transgressed against themselves [by committing evil deeds and sins]! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [39:53]

This is the right of the one who repents because repentance wipes away the sin after it [was committed]. Therefore, the one who repents from a sin is like one without that sin.  Tawheed wipes away sins, as [mentioned] in the Hadeeth Al-Qudsiy: ‘’O Son of Adam! If you were to meet Me with enough sins to fill the earth, whilst not associating anything with Me [in worship], I shall meet you with its equivalent in forgiveness.’’  Therefore, strong Tawheed wipes away the sins of the Muslims; but if punished for their sins, they will be removed from the fire as a result of their belief in Tawheed. As for the people of shirk and the disbelievers, their good deeds are nullified as result of the disbelief and shirk they are upon.  They will neither meet their Lord with good deeds in order to obtain safety nor will they be forgiven any of their sins. Allaah [Glorified be He] said: [إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ  – Verily, Allaah does not forgive (a person) the sin of associating partners with Him in worship (i.e. if one dies in that state without repentance),  but He (Allaah) forgives (sins that are) lesser than that (i.e. lesser than shirk) to whom He pleases]. [4:48]

Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَقَدِمۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُواْ مِنۡ عَمَلٍ۬ فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ هَبَآءً۬ مَّنثُورًا – And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust]. [25:23] [Ref 2]


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Ad-Daa’u Wad-Dawaa’u. page 119-120. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Hidaayatul Hayaaraa Fee Ajwibatil Yahood Wan-Nasaaraa. Page 123-124. Slightly paraphrased]

The Cure for Sorrow and Grief – Shaykh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan

Some people if they are afflicted with grief they go to the entertainers and musicians, to remove it from himself he says. And this increases him (in grief), and Allah’s Aid is sought. It increases him in grief and sadness.

As for if he went to the Qur’an and listened to the Qur’an and remembrance, what he found (of sadness and grief) would have stopped by the Permission of Allah.

Some people when the grief intensifies he kills himself, he commits suicide, and Allah’s Aid is sought. He kills himself expecting this to be the removal (of his difficulty). And this increases him (in grief) because if he kills himself he goes to the Fire.

From where has he freed himself (of his grief)? He has not freed himself.

There is no cure except with patience, and the remembrance of Allah and listening to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This is the cure. The cure is with you right in front of you. However some of the people, or in fact many of the people are prevented (from being guided) to this cure.

So they flee to its opposite, they go to singers, the musicians, the entertainment theatres. Believing that this will remove (the grief) from himself, this increases his affliction, increases his deterioration.


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Dhaat Anwaat – [A Brief Warning Against Grave Worship In The Ummah]- By Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh

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

Tawaaf [Circumambulation] around a grave, stroking them [with one’s hands] and seeking blessings from them are acts of shirk. Circumambulation is an act of worship and it has not been legislated in any [other place] besides the Ka’bah and likewise walking between Safaa and Marwa is [only legislated at Safaa and Marwa].

Stroking [graves], seeking blessings from them and hoping to be benefited –in this life and the next- by way of such acts is [tantamount to] deification. It is similar to what the pre-Islamic idolaters used to do with their gods. Whoever hopes [for reward, blessings etc] through [these acts of worship at the] graves, then indeed he has exalted that which Allaah has not legislated to be exalted.

The proof to show that these practices are acts of Shirk is the hadeeth of Abee Waaqid Al-Laythee [radiyallaahu-anhu] who said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] to the [military] campaign to Hunayn, while we were new converts from disbelief to [Islaam]. The idol worshippers had a lote tree in [whose vicinity] they used to stay and hang their weapons, and it [i.e. this lote-tree] was called Dhaat Anwaat. So when we went pass a tree, we said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Set up a Dhat Anwat for us just as they have a Dhaat Anwaat’. So the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alahi-wasallam] said, ‘Allaah is the Greatest! This is a path that has proceeded [from the people of the past]. By Allaah in whose Hand my soul is! You have stated just as the children of Israa’eel stated to Moosaa [alayhis-salaam], ‘O Moosaa! Make for us an ilaahan (a god) as they have aalihah (gods)’. He (Moosaa) said: ‘Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)’”. [Reported by Ahmad and Tirmidhee and it is a sound hadeeth.]

Those [new Muslims] wanted to perform that act of worship in that particular place and (also) to seek blessings; so the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] referred to what they sought after as worship of another deity besides Allaah. That [act they sought after] is a means to Shirk, but after the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] clarified the affair for them, they turned in repentance and obedience to [Allaah and His Messenger]. Seeking blessings from graves, circumambulation round them and stroking them is more severe [acts of shirk and sin] than what those [new Muslims] sought after.

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Min’dhaar Fee Bayaani Katheer Minal Akhtaa Ash-Shaa’i’ah page: 11’. slightly paraphrased]

 

Reward For a Person Who Is Genuinely Prevented From An Act of Worship – Due to a Legislated Sharee’ah Excuse – He or She Used to Perform

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

Question: Does a person become sinful due to failing to fulfil deeds of obedience [to Allaah]? And what is obligated on a person if he misses an act of worship which he is determined to perform, even though he was prevented from performing it due to illness or a legislated shariah excuse?

Answer: If a Muslim always performs a deed of obedience to Allaah when he is at home, but then he is prevented from performing it due to a legislated excuse, he will be rewarded even if he did not perform it. Abu Moosaa [radiyallaahu-anhu] reported that the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, “If a slave of [Allah] becomes sick or travels, he is rewarded for the good deeds he used to perform when he was healthy or at home.

As for the deeds he abandons whilst having the ability to perform them, he will be deprived of their reward. And this may lead to sin [i.e. if obligations are abandoned]. Therefore, it is incumbent upon a person that he repents to Allaah, seeks Allaah’s forgiveness often and be eager to perform deeds of obedience to Allaah, so that Allaah may aid him. [Source: Fadaa’il Al’A’maal page 8’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]