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Author: Salafi Dawah Manchester

There Is No Deity Worthy of Worship Except Allaah, Alone, Without Partner: [Negation, Affirmation And Emphasis]

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

[لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللَّه وحْدهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لهُ – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah, alone, without partner].

The one who makes this testimony requires knowledge, truthfulness and must act upon what he has testified to. The scholars say that knowledge of this testimony removes a person from the path of the Nasaaraa- those who act but have no knowledge; acting upon it removes a person from the path of the Yahood- those who have knowledge but do not act; and truthfulness removes a person from the path of the hypocrites- those who claim that they believe but have no certainty.

This testimony [لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللَّه وحْدهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لهُ – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah, alone, without partner] has two pillars- Nafi [Negation] and Ithbaat [Affirmation]. A person cannot be from the people of Tawheed [pure Islamic Montheism] until he fulfils these two pillars. [لا إلهَ  – There is no deity worthy of worship (i.e. Negation)] and [إلاَّ اللَّه – Except Alaah (i.e. Affirmation)]. The negation has to be comprehensive and the affirmation has to be specific – comprehensive negation of the worship that is devoted to all other objects of worship, and specific affirmation that only Allaah has the right to be worshipped.

If a person utters the negation without the affirmation, he is not a person of Tawheed [pure Islamic monotheism]; and if he affirms without uttering the negation, he is not a person of Tawheed [pure Islamic monotheism]. If a person were to negate only by saying [لا إلهَ  – There is no deity worthy of worship], he is an atheist; and if he were to affirm that Allaah has the right to be worshipped without negating that other objects of worship do not have the same right, he is a Mushrik [polytheist]. Therefore, one cannot be a person upon Tawheed [pure Islamic Monotheism] until he testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.

And due to the mighty affair of this testimony [لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللَّه  – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah], it is emphasised through the statement [وحْدهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لهُ  – alone, without partner]. The affirmation is emphasised through the statement [وحْدهُ – alone]; and the negation is emphasised through the statement [لاَ شَرِيكَ له – without partner].


Source: An Excerpt from Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed. Lesson 2. Slightly paraphrased

Be Warned Against Commending The People Who Hold Deviated Views!

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

Imaam Al-Barbahaaree [rahimahullaah] said: ”If you see a man speaking well of Ibn Abee Du’aad, Al-Mareesee, Thumaamah, Abul Hudhail or Hishaam Al-Footee or any of their adherents, beware of him because he is an innovator.  These people were upon apostasy, so leave this man who spoke well of them and whomever he mentioned of them.”

‘If you see a man speaking well of Ibn Abee Du’aad, Al-Mareesee, Thumaamah, Abul Hudhail or Hishaam Al-Footee….’  Shaikh Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] commented on this statement of Imaam Al-Barbahaaree [rahimahullaah] as follows:

If you see a man commending the people of evil and the scholars of misguidance, such as these off shoots of the Jahmiyyah, then know that he is a sinful one, a corrupter and a misguided one. [That is] because he does not praise them except that he loves them and approves of their path. And if you see a man commending Ahlus Sunnah, such as the likes of Imaam Ahmad and Ibnul Mubaarak, and likewise commending the Scholars of the Taabi’een and those who came after them, then know that he is a person of goodness. [That is] because he commends not Ahlus Sunnah except that he loves the Sunnah and adheres to it.

This teaches us a lesson in [view of the fact that] some of the brothers or some of the students of knowledge commend some of the innovators or the people of desires and deviated views, whilst not examining their views and orientations.  They attack and find fault with the people of khayr [i.e. those known to be upon upright path] because they lend an ear to those who find fault with them and believe them.  This is a severe danger. If you find fault with the people of khayr – the people of knowledge and Ahlus Sunnah- and commend the people of deviated views and orientations, then this is a severe danger even if you do not sit with them.  Therefore, this is from that which we should be mindful of, which many people have fallen into at present.


[An Excerpt from ‘It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) Vol 2. page:237-238. slightly paraphrased]

Closing The Doors of The Masjid Due to Benefit And Removing The Fitna Makers From It- Those Who Bring About Trial For The People In Their Religious Affairs

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

Allah [The Most High] said:

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَا أُولَٰئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلَّا خَائِفِينَ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

And who is more unjust than those who forbid that Allâh’s Name be glorified and mentioned much (i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) in Allâh’s Mosques and strive for their ruin? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them (Allâh’s Mosques) except in fear. For them there is disgrace in this world, and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 114]

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:

And from the benefits of this verse is that it is permissible to remove a person from the mosque if there is a benefit, due to His statement: “that Allâh’s Name be glorified and mentioned much”;

Preventing someone from entering the mosques of Allah has requirements: sometimes the mosques are prevented [from being entered] so that its carpets, grounds, books or copies of the Qur’an are not degraded. Sometimes the doors are locked for fear of tribulation, such as in the case of a group of men congregating to stoke up trouble or [intending to] cause chaos, so they [i.e. the doors] may be closed to prevent them from congregating. Sometimes, they are closed for restoration or repairs. Sometimes, they may be closed for fear of theft. In all these cases, the closure [of a mosque] is permissible or desirable. [End of quote] [Ref 1]

Also in his explanation of Al-Arba’een An-Nawawiyyah, the Shaikh [rahimahullaah] narrated the incident regarding Imaam Maalik [rahimahullaah] and the man who asked him about the statement of Allaah -the Most High: [الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ  – The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawaa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne] [20: 5]; then the man said, ‘’How did Allaah rise [over the Throne]?’’ So he [Imaam Maalik] bowed his head [Rahimahullaah] – and began to sweat profusely due to the gravity of what had been put to him [i.e. the question] and the veneration [he had] for his Lord [The Mighty and Majestic]. Then he raised his head and said: “The Istawaa is not unknown”- Meaning: It is known in the Arabic language, [for example] one rose above something, meaning that he ascended over it. Everything that has been transmitted in the Qur’an and Sunnah and from the words of the [ancient] Arabs [indicates] that when [the word] Istawaa is followed by [the word] ‘alaa, it means ascension. And his [i.e. Imaam Maalik] statement: “And the how is not known”- Meaning, that we cannot comprehend how Allah ascended over the [Mighty] Throne with our [deficient] intellects, rather indeed it is only [known] by way of the [authentic] texts of the Sharee’ah. And his [i.e. Imaam Maalik] statement: “And to believe in it [i.e. Istawaa] is obligatory”; meaning that believing in the ascension of Allah over the [Mighty] Throne in a way that befits [His Majesty] is obligatory. “And asking about it is an innovation”, meaning that asking about the howness of the ascension is an innovation, because the companions – may Allah be pleased with them – did not ask the Prophet – [Sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] questions such as this and they are the most eager in knowing [about] Allah. The Prophet if asked knows Allah better than we do, yet the questions never occurred to them. So should not what sufficed them suffice us?

The answer: Of course, so it is obligated on a Muslim that he suffices with what the Salaf as-Saalih [pious predecessors] sufficed with and should not ask [about this].

Then Imam Malik [Rahimahullaah] said, “I do not see you” meaning, I do not think [you are] “except an innovator”, you wish to corrupt the people’s religion, then he ordered that he [i.e. the person who asked this question about the howness of the Istawaa] be removed from the mosque- the Prophets mosque [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]. And he [i.e. Imaam Maalik] did not say, “By Allah, I cannot remove him, I fear that I may enter into Allaah’s statement: [وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ  – And who is more unjust than those who forbid that Allâh’s Name be glorified and mentioned much (i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) in Allâh’s Mosques] because I am preventing him from entering the mosque”. That is because he [i.e. that man] did not enter to glorify the name of Allah, rather he entered to corrupt the servants of Allah, and such a person should be prevented [from entering].

And when it is the case that the one who eats garlic and onions is prevented from entering the mosque, then how about the one who corrupts the religion of the people? Is he not more deserving to be prevented? Certainly, by Allah; but many of the people are heedless. [Ref 2]


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Tafseer Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 114’. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2]: [An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Al-Arba’een An-Nawawiyyah pages 37- 38.’ Slightly paraphrased]

 

 

 

 

 

The People of Truth Will Not Pay Attention to The Insults of The Musaafiqah Whilst Refuting Their Falsehood

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

In Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm pages 253-254, Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] spoke about the six distinguishing signs of beneficial knowledge, then he stated that the third of them is that a person increases in humility whenever his knowledge increases, so he does not become arrogant towards the people. Then the Shaikh [rahimahullaah] said:

If there is a clash between humbling oneself to the truth and humbling oneself to the people, then one should give precedence to humbling himself to the truth.  For example, if there is a person who curses [or abuses, reviles etc] the truth and rejoices due to his enmity against the one who acts upon the truth, then in this case one should not be humble in the presence of this person; rather one should humble himself to the truth and debates this man [i.e. the one who abuses the truth]; even if he belittles or speaks against you, do not give concern to what he says [or to him], because the truth must be aided. [paraphrased]

Our Noble Messenger Informed Us That Our Creator Commanded Us to Be Humble

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

Iyaad Bin Himaar [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: The Messenger [sallal-laahi-alayhi-wasallam] stood amongst us one day and addressed (us), so he said: Indeed Allaah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one boasts over another and no one oppresses another. [Saheeh Muslim: Hadeeth Number: 2865]

[Indeed Allaah has revealed to me that you must be humble]- Meaning: Everyone should be humble towards the other and not elevate himself above another [person]; rather he [a person] should place him [i.e. the other person] in the same rank as himself or honours him more. And it was from the customary behaviour of the Salaf [may Allaah have mercy upon them] for one amongst them to treat someone younger than him like his own son and someone older than him like his own father, and someone similar to him like his own brother. So he looks at the one older than him with honour and reverence, the one younger than him with compassion and mercy and the one similar to him with equality-none transgresses against the other. This is from the affairs that are obligatory upon a person to characterise himself with- humble in the presence of Allaah and towards his Muslim brothers.

[An Excerpt from Sharh Riyaadus-Saaliheen- by Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah): Number: 602 slightly paraphrased]

A Brief Faa’idah Related to Aayaat 151-153 [Surah Al-An’aam]

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّڪُمۡ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ‌ۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَـٰدَڪُم مِّنۡ إِمۡلَـٰقٍ۬‌ۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُڪُمۡ وَإِيَّاهُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty – We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand”. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 151]

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلۡيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡڪَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا‌ۖ وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُواْ وَلَوۡ ڪَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰ‌ۖ وَبِعَهۡدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡفُواْ‌ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

“And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allah, this He commands you, that you may remember”. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 152]

وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

“And verily, this [i.e. Allah’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152] is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not [other] paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon [the pious]”. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 153]

Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said: All these Aayaat end with the command [ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِ – This He (i.e. Allaah) has commanded (or ordained) for you]. At the end of the first Aayah [.e. Al-An’aam Aayah 151] Allaah said: [ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُون- This He has commanded you that you may understand]; at the end of the second Aayah [i.e. Al-An’aamin Aayah 152] Allaah said: [ذَٲلِڪُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُون- This He commands you, that you may remember]; and at the end of the third Aayah [i.e. Al-An’aam Aayah 153] Allaah said: [ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ – This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)]. Some of the scholars say that because the first thing is that one should understand what is intended by the command; secondly is that he remembers and finally he fears Allaah [by doing what he has been commanded] and keep away from what will anger Allaah.


[Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed. Lesson 1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Qualities

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

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال

أربع إذا كن فيك فلا عليك ما فاتك من الدنيا حفظ أمانة وصدق حديث وحسن خليقة وعفة في طعمة

Abdullah Bin Amr [radiyallaahu-anhu] narrated that the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “[There] are four [i.e. four qualities] if you possess them, you will not be [bothered] about what you miss in the Dunyah: fulfilling trusts, truthful speech, good manners [or character] and modesty with food [i.e. not to be wasteful, extravagant etc] [As-Saheehah: 733]

Dressing Up Smartly And Wearing What Suits Your Personality – [Brief Reminder By Shaikh Uthaymeen]

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

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: If two men went past you – a mechanic who is wearing trousers and a very senior scholar [also] wearing trousers in a country  where the scholars do not wear that type of clothing, then indeed you would look down on the second person [i.e. the scholar] and not the first person [i.e. the mechanic].

The Shaikh [rahimahullaah] also said: It is not befitting that dressing up smart  becomes the greatest concern of a person. Dressing up smartly and wearing a Ghut’rah is based on [a person’s] desire [for it], therefore it should not be given [much] importance; but on the other hand, the affair should not be the opposite [such that you refrain] from giving importance to your [appearance] and your clothing. It has been mentioned earlier [i.e. in this Book – Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm] that wearing fine clothing is something beloved to Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic]. Umar [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: “It is more beloved to me that I see a reciter wearing white clothing.” Indeed because it is elegance. [Source: Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ page 65. slightly paraphrased]

Invoke Your Lord With Humility And In Secret – [A Command to Strive For Sincerity When Supplicating And Limiting Oneself to Legislated Acts of Worship]

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. [Soorah al-A’raaf Ayah 55]

Imaam As’Sadi (rahimahullaah) said: Ad-Du’aa [Invocation or Supplication] includes Du’aa Al-Mas’alah and Du’aa Al-Ibaadah. [Ref 1]

Du’aa Al-Mas’alah [Supplication, when a request is made]: So supplication is to request one’s needs, and is worship when the servant requests that from his Lord. This is because it involves showing one’s poverty before Allaah, the Most High, and ones need to turn to Him, and one’s certain faith that He is the one having full power, the Most Generous, the one who gives bounteously and is Most Merciful. Seeking ones need from someone else from the creation is permissible if the one to whom the request is made is able to hear and understand it, and has the power to respond to it, like saying, ‘O so and so give me food.’

Du’aa Al-Ibaadah [Invocation through worship]: As for invocation through worship, then it is that the person does an act of worship seeking reward and fearing punishment, and this is not correct unless directed to Allaah alone. To direct this to anyone else besides Allaah is major shirk which takes a person out of the Religion [Ref A], and he falls under the threat in the saying of Allaah, the Most High:

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” [40:60] [Ref 2]

Therefore, Allaah commanded (us) to supplicate to Him with humility- being earnest in [our supplication of] request and devotedly in worship. [خُفْيَةً – secretly]- neither loudly nor overtly due to out of fear of [falling] into Riyaa [show off]; rather [it should be done] secretly [i.e. in a low tone] and out of sincerity to Allaah [The Most High].

[إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ – He likes not the aggressors]: Meaning: Those who transgress the limits in every affair. And from transgression is when the servant requests from Allaah [things that are not a source of well-being or righteousness] for him, or he goes into extremes whilst asking [Ref 3] [i.e. going beyond what the sharee’ah legislates in acts of worship, either adding acts or words to the act which are not allowed in the Sharee’ah etc [Ref 4], or he raises his voice [i.e. raises his voice where it is not legislated to raise ones voice – for example in the Qunoot it is allowed to raise ones voice but not in other instances unless there is evidence to do so [Ref 5]. All this is considered to be transgression. [Ref 6]


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. Publisher. Daar Ibn Hazm. 1st Ed 1424AH (Year 2003). slightly paraphrased]

[Ref A: See article for further clarification regarding shirk and excuse of ignorance: http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/uncnb-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-abd-al-muhsin-al-abbaad.cfm

[Ref 2: English Translation of Usool Ath-Thalaatha page 96’ by Abu Talhah Daawud Burbank (may Allaah have mercy on him and his wife]

[Ref 3: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. Publisher. Daar Ibn Hazm. 1st Ed 1424AH (Year 2003). slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 4: For further details regarding this affair- those who are over-stringent or go beyond bounds in acts of worship-, refer to the statements of the scholars in Sharh Saheeh Muslim 16/220 by Imaam An-Nawawi (rahimahullaah); Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen 1/416-418’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 10/620 by Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) regarding the innovations of the monks and the innovators]

[Ref 5: Shaikh Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah sheds light on this affair, see link: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/noor/635 ]

[Ref 6: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. Publisher. Daar Ibn Hazm. 1st Ed 1424AH (Year 2003). slightly paraphrased]