Skip to main content

Author: Salafi Dawah Manchester

Contemplation: How Did Ustaadh Abu Hakeem As-Salafi [Bilaal Davis (hafidhahullaah)] Accept Islaam?!

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Pearls of Wisdom.

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

Some children asked us – just few minutes ago- to help them with their homework on the topic: “How People Converted to Islaam In The Past and In Our Era”. The first two people who came to our mind were Ustaadh Abu Talhah [rahimahullaah] and Ustaadh Abu Hakeem [hafidhahullaah]. We searched and found this article for the children, but also thought that it can be a reminder for all of us. May Allaah keep us all upon Salafiyyah Aameen.

Question one: When did you become Muslim? Answer: I entered Islam in the summer of 1991.

Question two: How did your family react to it?

I was born into a Jamaican family, and it is well known that most Jamaicans are quite staunch Christians. Though my parents were not strong practising Christians our family was raised on Christian ethics. My father was of a seventh day Adventist background and they are known to be a Puritan Christian denomination. Since I was heavily involved in gang culture anything that could take me away from that was welcomed by my family. I think though, that they initially thought it was a phase I was going through and I would leave gun culture due to it and then probably eventually leave it.

Question three: Has anyone in your family become Muslim since your reversion? If yes then how did you feel?

Yes. My father embraced Islam while I was still a student in the Islamic University of Medina. He suffered from diabetes and became very ill and was admitted into hospital while I was in the second year of my study in the faculty of Hadeeth. I was given leave to return to England so I returned with the mission of giving my father da’wah. I knew that my father was receptive to the da’wah before I even went away to study. That was because when I used to speak to the family about Islam he would be in the room and would silently listen. What I know of him is that if you would disapprove of something then he would let his disapproval be known. Also due to his seventh day Adventist background, I knew that he would be more appreciative of the pure monotheistic message of Islam and the Qur’an. So I returned and began to give him da’wah and call him to Islam, it didn’t take long for him to accept the message though he found difficulty speaking. And so he embraced two weeks before he passed away Al hamdullillah and may Allaah have mercy upon him. When I informed Shaikh Ubaid of the good news he was extremely happy and named him Ahmad. Though it greatly affected that year of study in the faculty (as I had to stay in England much longer than the time that was given to me) this is a drop in the ocean compared to the great good that was achieved because of it. I also have three brothers and two sisters who are all older than me. My brothers have said that after them hearing the da’wah, if they were ever to become religious than they would embrace Islam so I make du’a that Allaah guides them all.

Question four: What made you want to leave the life you once led?

Since the age of 12, I was involved with the largest most notorious gang in Birmingham at the time known as the inch-I crew. Inch-I (who went on to become the now well-known Johnson Crew) controlled the North West corridor of Birmingham, but its members were feared citywide. After years of gang affiliation I was eventually imprisoned due to gang related offenses. Looking back I consider this to be the beginnings of my step towards being guided. Although I didn’t get da’wah in prison, I did get long periods of reflection. I also did a lot of reading and studying in general and thus my frame of mind was altered. After release I decided to look for a close companion of mine who I was imprisoned with, who was also Inch-I and who was one of the few inmates in that prison, who like me, came from Birmingham. Rumour had it that he had gone mad after his release so I took it upon myself to try and find him. When I eventually came across him, I found him wearing a Pakistani salwar khamees and a koofi and then realised why people were saying that he had gone mad. Knowing that he wasn’t un-intelligent, I decided that I would look into exactly what had come over him. I invited him to my home and he brought a number of books with him among them a Qur’an. He began to speak about the ‘truths’ that he had discovered, the errors in the Bible, various prophecies, the call of the prophets and the realities of death. He clarified biblical misconceptions that I had always queried, and established concepts that I had always thought to be correct. Then he left the Qur’an with me and other books which I began to read. From the first things that I did was that I stopped drinking intoxicants. With a clearer head I was able to fully grasp the concepts that were present in Qur’an. I was struck by how powerful the book was, its message and wording, and I used to wash before reading it which increased the feeling of awe that I had for it. It was not long until I began to debate with people as though I was Muslim but I had not yet embraced Islam.

Source: An Excerpt from As-Sunnah Newsletter 2010. salafitalk.net

One of The Goals of Some of The People of Kufr and The People of Bidah!

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties.

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

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah preserve him] said: Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تُطِيعُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ كَافِرِينَ

O you who believe! If you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture, they would (indeed) render you disbelievers after you have believed! [3:100]

The disbelievers and [a group among] the people of the scripture wish that the Muslims should turn away from their Religion.  [Also] the people of Bidah have a great share of this evil intention and desire against those people upon [uprightness]. And for this reason they are to be warned against severely.  [Al-Mawqif As-Saheeh Min Ahlil Bid’ah pages 9-10]

Two Types of Ignorance – [Al- Jahlul Baseet and Al-Jahlul Murakkab]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Pearls of Wisdom.

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

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: Which one is more repugnant- Al Jahlul Baseet [i.e. the type of ignorance which shows that the person knows nothing about a particular affair] or Al Jahlul Murakkab [i.e. the type of ignorance which shows that a person understands something in a manner contrary to what it is in reality – he neither knows nor knows that he does not know]? [Ref 1]

Answer: Yes, certainly. There is no doubt that Al-Murakkab is indeed more repugnant. It has been mentioned that there was a man called Tawm, who used to think that he was a wise person, but he gave verdicts without knowledge. And from those verdicts of his was that he said, “Give your daughters as charity to those who have not been married”, and he thought that this [statement or verdict] of his is good. And regarding it, a poet said: “The one who acquires [or pursues] knowledge without a Shaikh will deviate from the straight path; the sciences [of the religion] will become mixed up for him, until he becomes more misguided than Tawm – the [so called] wise man, who said that the [people] give their daughters to men as charity and [seek] the gardens of bliss [i.e. paradise] by way of that. [Ref 2]

Ref 1: An Excerpt from Sharh Al-Waraqaat- page 44-45. slightly paraphrased; Ref 2: An Excerpt from Sharh Al-Waraqaat – p 45. slightly paraphrased

 

 

 

 

 

A Brief Admonition to Those Who Take Selfies or Pose For a Photo During Hajj And Umrah

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul.

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

Question to Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah]: Is it allowed for the pilgrims to take photograps – either inside or outside the Masjid?

Answer: There is a severe threat of punishment for taking photographs [i.e. photograps of living things] due to many ahadeeth of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]. That which is obligated on a pilgrim is that he busies himself with obedience to Allaah, seeks to get close to Allaah by way of that which Allaah has legislated and utilises his time – in the blessed land – with acts that will get Him close to Allaah, because maybe he will not be able to return to this place in future.

Taking photographs [i.e. of living things] –  either inside or outside the masjid, or at the places where the rites of hajj are performed – is tantamount to busying oneself in that which is of no benefit; rather it is harmful. Therefore, it is not permissible for the pilgrim to do so.

Some of the pilgrims are seen striving to take photographs in every place where the rites of hajj are performed – in Makkah, in the Masjid Al-Haraam, at Mina, Arafaat and Jamraat. He then gathers these pictures and puts them in a photo album [i.e. when he returns home] and shows them to the people. This [deed] of his is called Riyaa [showoff], because Hajj is an act of worship and Riyaa  [showing off] corrupts deeds.

Hajj is an act of worship that is performed for Allaah and neither should you desire the praise of the people nor so that they keep on mentioning your deeds. However, some of the pilgrims, due to being completely ignorant regarding this affair, we’ve seen some of them – at the places where the rites of hajj are performed – stop and then stand where they can be seen, then he gives his companion a camera to take a photo of him. We have even seen some of them raise their hands in supplication and after the photo is taken, he puts his hands down. Raising the hands in Du’aa is worship, but is this person’s raising his hands an act of seeking closeness to Allaah?! Then he takes these photos back to his country and say to the people, “Here I am making du’aa, here I am at Jamraat!”  It has been reported that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: said: “O Allaah! Make it a Hajj in which there is no showing off nor reputation sought.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah 2890] Therefore, it is obligated on the pilgrim to fear Allaah – neither should he busy himself nor waste his time in the likes of these deeds that will not benefit him, rather they harm him.

Sharh Usool Ath-Thalaatha’ Lesson Number 5 – By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah]. abridged & slightly paraphrased

Refutations Against The Deviants Causes Splitting Between the Muslims!!!

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Shaikh Rabee [may Allaah preserve him] responded to this above doubt, saying:

Indeed, refuting the people of error and bidah and defending the Sunnah is a praiseworthy affair, and it is legislated in the Islamic Sharee’ah. And with regards to this affair, the Imaams of Islaam undertook (the task of) criticising the people of error, the people of desires and the narrators of (hadeeth), and the Islamic books (i.e. the books of the scholars) are filled with that. Books of Jarh Wat-Tadeel (i.e. the science of disparagement and appraisal) were authored in general; specific ones were written regarding the trustworthy narrators and specific ones regarding disparagement, as a fulfilment of the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil by the scholars and sincere advice to the Muslims, and a means of preserving the Islamic Religion. And indeed there a people – from the soofees and other than them- who are fed up with this great methodology- past and at present- so they (falsely) fling a number of shubuhaat  (i.e. statements that resemble some truth but are falsehood in reality) and  it has been spread to many people…[Source: An Excerpt from Juhoodul Allaamah Rabee Al-Madkhali Fee Naqdi Shubuhaatil Hizbiyyeen’ page 73.paraphrsed]

Hadeeth: [Allaah Freed Prophet Moosaa (alayhis alaam) From The False Accusations of The People]- With short Commentary By Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul.

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

[The Prophet] Moosaa [Moses] 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”. Allaah wished to free Moosaa [alayhis salaam] 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. Moosaa [alayhis salaam] 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 Allaah freed him from what they had accused him of. They said, “By Allaah! Nothing is wrong with Moosaa”. The stone stopped there, so Moosaa [alayhi salaam] took his and put on them, and thereafter started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allaah, 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 Allaah].[Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayah 69]

This hadeeth [contains] one of the most amazing stories – a story through which Allaah raised the status of Moosaa [alayhis salaam]. 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 Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] and carried on propagating Allaah’s message. Indeed, the Messenger [Sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] informed us that Moosaa [alayhis salaam] 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. And 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-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. page 135. Slightly paraphrased]

Hadeeth: Neglects Hungry Neighbour Whilst His Stomach Is Full-[With Short Commentary By Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul.

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

The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: He is not a (true) believer whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry”. [Ref 1]

This Hadeeth [clearly shows] that the one whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry is not a believer of complete Eemaan. A person of complete Eemaan is the one who checks on his neighbour if the neighbour is in need of him. It is not possible for a neighbour to be enjoying himself with foods and drinks while his [other] neighbour cannot find anything and he does not give him anything. This [behaviour] does not reflect the manners of a believer with complete Eemaan. And because of this-in this hadeeth- the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] negated the completeness [of the Eemaan of the one who behaves in such a manner]; rather a believer of complete Eemaan is the one who is generous to his neighbour as much as he is able, especially when in need of a necessity such as food and drink. [Ref 2]

[Ref1: Reported by Imaam Al-Bukhaari (rahimahullaah) in Adabul Mufrad Number 112 & declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in his checking of Adabul Mufrad page 50. Publisher Daar As-Siddeeq 2nd ed [1421 AH/ Year 2000]; [Ref 2: An Excerpt from Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharhul Adabul Mufrad’ page137, Vol 1- by Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

Hadeeth: The Example of Guidance And Knowledge With Which Allaah Has Sent Me is Like Abundant Rain Falling On The Earth

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Abu Moosaa [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed the water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. [And] another portion of it was hard and held the water and Allaah benefited the people with it and they utilised it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. [And] a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation [so that land gave no benefits]. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allaah’s religion and benefit [from the knowledge] which Allaah has revealed through me, learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allaah’s guidance revealed through me. [He is like that barren land]”. [Ref 1]

Imaam Muhammad Ibnu Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: In this similitude, the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me with, is like abundant rain falling on the earth”. The earth [upon which the rain fell] is of three types: The First Type of Earth: It is the earth that absorbed the water and produced abundant grass and vegetation, so the people were benefited through that. The Second Type of Earth is a Plain: It retained the water and the people benefited from it.  They utilised it for drinking and as a source of irrigation [for their crops]. The Third Type of Earth: It absorbed the water but does not produce any benefit.  This is the relationship between the people and the knowledge and guidance with which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with.

The First Category of People: Amongst them is one who has understanding of Allaah’s Religion. He learns and teaches- benefits the people and himself. This is similar to the earth that produces grass and vegetation, so that the people and animals eat from it.

The Second Category of People: They are a people who have been entrusted with the guidance, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first category of people]. They transmit knowledge and Hadeeth amongst themselves, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first group]. The similitude of these people is that of the earth that retained the water and the people were provided with water. They used it for drinking, their animals drank from it and they used it as a source of irrigation; but the earth does not produce anything.

The Third Category: The one who is not benefited by the knowledge and guidance given to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). He turns away and does not incline towards it.  He is neither benefited by that which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with nor does he benefit others. His similitude is that of the earth that absorbed the water, but does not produce anything. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1]: Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Hadeeth Number 79. Book of Knowledge; [Ref 2]: Source: Ash-Shar’hul Ma’mool Li-imthaali- Ar-Rasool. pages 7-8

Demonstrations: [A Satanic Innovation and Satanic Methodology of Misguided Karl Marx And Vladimir Lenin]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [rahimahullaah] said:

Protests [or demonstrations] are newly invented matters in the religion. Every newly invented matter in the religion is a bidah; every bidah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire [i.e. is a path leading to the hell fire]. Allaah’s legislation is perfect and complete-based on The Book and The Sunnah-and we do not know of anything by way of the evidences in the Book and the Sunnah that makes it permissible for a handful of people to gather for demonstrations, which causes disturbance for the people and time wasting. And greater than this [disturbance and time wasting] is abandonment of the prayers [during protests] and the loss of life [i.e. murder]. If one was to kill a Muslim in a single protest, the one [or those] who called to such protests will carry his sins-be it an individual, a group or those who participate. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim [i.e. without right].[a] These protests are nothing but bidah and acts of misguidance advocated by shaytaan; [enticed] by the urge of the evil soul and desires. And these enemies [i.e. shaytaan, the urge of the evil soul and desires] do not come together in any affair except that the religion and worldly affairs are destroyed, just as it is the case in these demonstrations [or protests].

The end results of protests [or demonstrations]: Carnage, destruction, wastage of wealth and time and terrorising those living in peace. And how many disadvantages are there in [that]! It is enough to be considered something sinister due to the fact that the Noble Messengers and the Great Prophets who were put to trial and harmed by their people did not hold protests [or demonstrations]. Neither did they engage in plotting to cause explosions nor committing suicide; rather Islaam has forbidden all of that.

Those who call to protests [or demonstrations] and hold that there is success in it, they are mistaken and they have missed the correct path. Rectification of the affairs can only be by way of the Book and The Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of those scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. So whoever calls the people to this chaos, then indeed he has brought about a means to corrupting the land and the slaves, and what has occurred – in the past and at present- is a witness to that.

Therefore, we warn the students of knowledge that they are not persuaded by the speech of those who allow protests [or demonstrations]. They say that peaceful demonstrations are permissible-as they categorise it into this categorisation- without proofs and concrete evidence from the Book and the Sunnah- neither from the actions of the Messenger and the Noble Sahaabah nor from the Notable Imaams; rather the verdict on protests [or demonstrations] is only what has been stated earlier and as well as what has been written by other than myself [i.e. protests (or demonstrations) are not permissible] [Slightly paraphrased. Source: الأفنان وتوحيد ابن خزيمة وحديث عن المظاهرات4-4-1432هـ.]

Question to Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah]: Going out to demonstrations, [initiating] revolutions and nurturing the youth upon it; is this from the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah or not, whether [carried] out within or outside the Muslim countries? Answer: This is the methodology of Marx (i.e. Carl Marx), Lenin (i.e. Vladimir Lenin) and those similar to them. It is not from the Islamic methodology. Revolutions, bloodshed, trials and troubles are Marx’s and Lenin’s school of thought. [Source:An excerpt from كشف الستار  Page: 18]

[a] Hadeeth declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee. Saheeh Al-Jaami 9208]