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[2] Some Extraordinary Personalities of The First Three Generations

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

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا

Allah will raise for this Ummah at the end of every hundred years the one who will revive its religion for it. [1]

[إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ  – Allah will raise for this Ummah]- meaning the Ummah Al-Ijabah [i.e. the Muslims]. [عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ – At the end of every hundred years]- meaning at the end of every hundred years when there is little knowledge of the Islamic legislation and the authentic Prophetic Tradition, whilst ignorance and religious innovation is rife. 

[مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا   – One who will revive its religion for it]- meaning a scholar who is alive and well known. He will clarify the authentic Prophetic Tradition and distinguish it from the religious innovations. knowledge will be abundant again and its adherents will be aided, and the proponents of religious will be overcome and degraded.

This reviver is non else but a scholar who has sound understanding of the religious sciences that deal with acts of worship, the underlying wisdoms of the religion and the texts that deal with beliefs of the heart. [2]

A group amongst the scholars-  including (Imam) Ahmad Bin Hanbal –  stated that Umar Bin Abdul Azeez was alive at the end of the first hundred years and he is more worthy and entitled to be entered into this category of people due to his leadership and striving to establish truth.

He used to write to the employees of the state to remind them to adhere to the Sunnah, saying, “If the Sunnah does not rectify you, Allah will not rectify you”.

He used to give a 100 Deenaars a year from the state fund to those who travel to the central mosque of their country to study Fiqh , spread knowledge and teach recitation of the Qur’an. 

He used to say, “O Allah! Grant us safety. O Allah! Grant us safety. O Allah! Rectify the one in whose rectification there will be rectification for the Ummah of Muhammad, and destroy the one in whose destruction there will be rectification for the Ummah of Muhammad”.

Every night, he used to gather  his companions amongst the jurists and they would not mention anything else besides death and the Hereafter, then they would weep.

He said to a man, “Teach your child Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar [i.e. the sound Aqeedah, especially Tawhid], contentment and to prevent harm”.

A man recited this Ayah in his presence: [إِذَا أُلْقُوا مِنْهَا مَكَانًا ضَيِّقًا مُقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْا هُنَالِكَ ثُبُورًا -And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction].  [Surah Al-Furqan. 13] He wept a lot, got up and entered his house. The people left him and departed.

It reached him that a man amongst his companions passed away, so he went to the man’s family to offer his condolences. The family cried loudly in his presence, so he said, “Enough, indeed your relative is not the one who gave you provision, rather the one who gives you provision is alive and will never die. This relative of yours cannot prevent anything from you in your grave, but he can only prevent events in his grave by way of his deeds and every person amongst you has a pit. When Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, created the worldly life, He decreed that it will be completely destroyed and its inhabitants will cease to exist. There’s no gathering except that one day they will be separated until Allah takes back the earth and what is on it. So, whoever weeps, then let him weep for himself because what has happened to your relative will happen to you tomorrow”. [3]


[1] Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. 9/303-309. Publisher: Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif and Daar ibn Hazm. 9th Edition. 1414 AH (1994)

[2] Sahih Sunan Abee Daawud. 4291.

[3] Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. Vol 9. Pages 303-309. Publisher: Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif and Daar ibn Hazm. 9th Edition. 1414 AH (1994)

[1] Some Extraordinary Personalities of the First Three Generations

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

Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz, may Allāh have mercy upon him

He once wept when he was a child. When that reached his mother, she asked him, “What made you weep?” He said, “I remembered death”, thus, his mother also wept.

Az-Zubayr Bin Bakkaar said, “The first matter that manifested from Umar’s uprightness was his fervent desire for knowledge and good manners. He was very young when his father was appointed as the governor of Egypt. His father wanted to travel with him from Syria to Egypt, but he said to his father, ‘O my father! Perhaps something else is more beneficial for me and you!’ His father said, ‘What’s that?’ He said, ‘Take me to Madinah to sit with the Fuqaha and learn from their manners’. His father sent him to Madinah together with a servant. He sat with the Mashayikh of Quraish and avoided their youth, and did not cease doing so until he became well known”. .

Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I have not prayed behind an Imam whose prayer resembles that of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, more than this young man. [Umar Bin Abdil Azeez]”.

Ismaa’eel Bin Ayyash said that Amr Bin Muhaajir said, “When Umar Bin Abdil Azeez  became the Khalifah, he stood in front of the people, praised Allah and said, ‘O people! Verily, there is no Book after the Qur’an and no Prophet after Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him. Indeed, I am not a judge, rather I am one upon whom it is obligated to comply with commands and prohibitions. Indeed, I am not an innovator in religious matters, but rather I am one who adheres to the Sunnah. Verily a man who flees from an oppressive leader cannot be a wrong doer, but that oppressive leader is the disobedient one. Indeed, there is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator, The Mighty and Majestic’”.

Az-Zubayr Bin Bakkaar said, “Muhammad Bin Sallam informed me that Sallam Bin Salim said, ‘When Umar Bin Abdil Azeez became the Khalifah, he climbed the Minbar – and that was the first Khutbah he delivered; he praised and exalted Allah, then said, ‘O people! Whoever accompanies us, let him accompany us with five matters otherwise let him disassociate from us: Let him inform us of the needs of those who are not able to inform us, help us to do good by his guidance, direct us to good by way of that which he guides himself, refrain from backbiting anyone in our presence and not engage in that which does not concern him’. After this speech of his, the poets and sermonisers disassociated from him, but the Zuhhad and the jurists kept close company with him and said, ‘We cannot disassociate from this man until he opposes what he has stated’”..

Sufyan  Ibn Uyaynah said, “When Umar Bin Abdil Azeez became the Khalifah, he contacted Muhammad Bin Kab, Rajaa Bin Haywah and Salim Bin Abdillah and said to them, ‘You have seen that which I have been put to trial and indeed it has fallen upon me, so what advice do you have?’ Muhammad Bin kab said, ‘Consider the old man a father, the young person a brother and the little one as your child. Therefore, be good to your father, keep ties with your brother and be kind to your child’. Rajaa said to him, ‘Wish for the people what you wish for yourself, hate for them what you hate for yourself and do not approach them except in manner you would like them to approach you’. Salim said, ‘Concentrate on one affair by degrading the lusts of the worldly life and let your innate disposition be directed towards reflecting upon death’. Umar said, ‘Laa Hawla Walaa Quwwata illaa Billah’”.

Whenever he faced a difficult matter, he would gather the jurists of Madinah, particularly ten of them and would not firmly decide on a matter without them or some of them. They were Urwah, Ubaydullah Bin Abdillah Ibn Utbah, AbuBakr Bin Abdir Rahman Ibn Al-Harith Ibn Hisham, AbuBakr Bin Sulayman Ibn Khaythama, Salayman Bin Yassaar, Al-Qaasim Bin Muhammad Ibn Hazm, Salim Bin Abdillah, Abdullah Bin Aamir Ibn Rabee’ah and Kharijah Bin Zayd Ibn Thabit. He never used to hold a view that was different from that of Sa’eed Ibn Al-Musayyib, and Sa’eed did not visit any of the caliphs besides Umar Ibn Abdil Azeez in Madinah.

Maymun Bin Mihran said, “The scholars were students in the presence of Umar Bin Abdil Azeez”.

One day, he was sitting in his place of prayer with his hand on his cheek and tears flowing. His wife – Fatimah- entered and said, “What is the matter with you?” He replied, “Woe to you O Fatimah! I have taken the responsibility of looking after the affairs of this Ummah, thus, I pondered upon the affair of the poor and hungry person, the sick and destitute, the one without appropriate clothing and is making strenuous efforts, the helpless orphan, the lonely widow, the subjugated – oppressed person- the stranger, the war captive, the old man, the one who has numerous dependants and little wealth and those similar to them in the various regions of the earth and the different countries. So, I knew that my Lord, The Mighty and Majestic, will question me about them on the day of judgement, the one who will argue on their behalf against me will be Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and I fear that I will not have strong proof in the presence of his arguments, thus, I felt sorry for myself and wept”.

Every day, he used to announce, “Where are those in debt? Where are the married people and where are the orphans so that I can  give them sufficient provision”.

He said, “It is obligated to you to fear Allah, because indeed fear of Allah does not accept anything else to interfere with it. None shows mercy except the people who fear Allah and no reward is given except for it. Those who admonish people about it are many, but those who act upon it are few”.

He said, “The one who knows that his speech is part of his deeds, his speech will not be related to anything except that which concerns and benefits him”.

He said, “The one who does not consider his speech to be part of his deeds, his mistakes will be numerous,  and whoever worships Allah without Knowledge will corrupt more than he rectifies”.

Malik Bin Deenaar said: “The people say that Malik is a Zahid, but what type of Zahid am I; rather Umar Bin Abdil Azeez is the Zahid because the worldly wealth came to him and he abandoned all of it”.


An Excerpt from Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. 9/193-202. Publisher: Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif and Daar ibn Hazm. 9th Edition. 1414 AH (1994)

Truth Prevails Over Closest Family Ties: The Unflinching Honesty and Relentless Integrity of the Imams of Hadith

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

Imam Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

There is no one among the people of hadith who showed favoritism (or behaved in a biased manner) in hadith — neither toward his father, his brother, nor his son. Ali ibn Abdillah Al-Madini, may Allah have mercy upon him, was an Imam of hadith in his era, however, not a letter is reported from him with regards to strengthening (the reliability of) his father; rather, the opposite of that is what has been narrated from him. [1]

Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Ali Ibn Al-Madini, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked about his father, so he said: ‘Ask someone else’. They said: ‘We ask you (in particular)’. He lowered his head (in silence for a while), then he raised his head and said: “This is the religion, my father is weak (in hadith)”. [2]


[1] Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith p. 41
[2] Al-Majruhin 2/15

[8] Determinants of Wholesome Relationships

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

The Exemplary Behaviour of Our Salaf As-Salih [Pious Predecessors] During Disagreement

Rabee’ah Al-Aslami [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated: I used to serve Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], so he gave me a piece of land and gave Abu Bakr [may Allah be pleased with him] a piece of land. Then, the worldly life came and we argued over a bunch of palm trees, so Abu Bakr said, ‘It is in my piece of land’ and I said, ‘It is in my piece of land’. There was an exchange of words between Abu Bakr and myself, so Abu Bakr said something to me that I disliked, and he regretted that. He said to me, ‘O Rabee’ah! Say in return to me what I said to you so that it becomes retribution’. I said, ‘I will not do so!’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Say it, or I will call Allah’s Messenger on you!’ I said, ‘I will not do so’. So Abu Bakr abandoned the piece of land and went to the Prophet and I followed him. The people from (the tribe of) Aslam came and said, ‘May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr! Why would he call Allah’s Messenger on you when he has said to you what he has said?’ I said, ‘Do you know who that is? That is Abu Bakr -the Truthful (as-Siddeeq). He is the one who was in the Cave with the Prophet, and he is the elder of the Muslims! So beware that he turns around and sees you helping me against him and it makes him angry, then Allah’s Messenger comes along and becomes angry because of Abu Bakr’s anger, and then Allah becomes angry due to their anger, and thus Rabee’ah is destroyed!’ So, they said, ‘So what do you want us to do?’ I said, ‘Go back to where you came from’. Abu Bakr went to Allah’s Messenger and I followed him by myself and continued until he reached and informed him of our conversation as it happened. So he (the Prophet) raised his head to me and said, ‘O Rabee’ah! What is going on between you and as-Siddeeq?’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! This happened and that happened, so he said something to me that I disliked, and he told me to say the same thing back to him so that it would be a retribution’. Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Do not return his comment to him, rather say, may Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr! May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr!’ Then Abu Bakr turned his face and began to cry”.

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah have mercy upon him] commented:

The hadith contains a remarkable story that provides us with an exhortation and a lesson. It demonstrates the pure hearts of the companions towards each other, showing that even in times of disagreement over worldly matters, they did not boycott one another, nor harboured grudges or hatred, instead, they offered sincere advice. This narrative highlights that the Sahaabah were people of fair play and justice, and they feared falling into disobedience and evil deeds. And if punishment was legislated for an evil deed, they preferred that it is received in this life rather than in the hereafter. This story illustrates the excellence of AbuBakr, his esteemed position among the Sahaabah, in the view of the Prophet, and also in the sight of Allah, as the Prophet held him in great regard and elevated him to his deserved status, just as Allah says in the Qur’an:

إِذۡ هُمَا فِى ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا‌ۖ

The second of two, when they were in the cave, he [Muhammad] said to his companion [Abu Bakr], “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us”. [Surah At-Tawbah. Ayah 40]

Abu Bakr was the Prophet’s fellow in the cave. He holds the highest level of virtue among the Ummah after the Prophet, as agreed upon by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah past and present. Indeed, the Prophet said to some of his other companions regarding Abu Bakr: “Would you not leave my companion for me” – meaning AbuBakr [i.e. don’t bother him, etc][Bukhari 3661]

This narrative highlights the importance of forgiveness and pardoning those who have wronged you, when you can do so and due to a (lawful or overriding) benefit because being forgiving and pardoning others will only bring you honour and a loftier status in the sight of Allah.

This narrative also demonstrates that the companions of the Prophet were not infallible. They made unintentional mistakes, but they were people whom Allah favoured with the privilege of being in the company of the Prophet. They did not persist in their mistakes, as can be seen in this story. Disagreements did arise among them, but they humbled themselves to the truth. They did not reject the truth with falsehood or engage in oppression. Instead, they promptly sought the guidance of Allah’s Messenger to resolve (the disagreements). The Messenger resolved those issues, and all of them were content with the judgment and submitted wholeheartedly.

This narrative highlights the importance of making supplications for others, especially those who have wronged you. Therefore, you supplicate for them that (Allah) rectifies their affairs and forgives them because you have an angel who responds, saying, “Ameen, and may Allah grant you the same”. One should be eager about this practice! The story shows that fulfilling the rights of others in this life is better than delaying it until the Day of Judgment, where no one will forgive another, even if they are close relatives. Additionally, it showcases the wisdom of Rabee’ah Al-Aslami, who advised his companions not to support or argue against Abu Bakr, recognising his esteemed status in the sight of Allah and the Messenger.

What do we derive as a benefit from this story: We must forgive and maintain love for each other when we have disagreements about worldly matters. A person should be eager to give others their rights and also seek forgiveness from those they have argued with.

An Excerpt from “at-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah”. Pages 1/42-44

 

Insights From a Famous Hadith of Hudaifah – By Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan

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

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, said:

All praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.  To proceed: Indeed, the hadith that will be addressed – in this lecture – is the hadith of Hudhaifah Bin Al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him. He said: 

People used to ask Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about the good times, but I used to ask him about bad times fearing lest they overtake me.  I said, “O Messenger of Allah! We were in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance and evil, and then Allah brought us this good (time through Islam), is there any evil time after this good one?” He said, “Yes” I asked, “Will there be a good time again after that evil?” He said, “Yes, but therein will be a hidden evil”. I asked, “What will be the evil hidden therein?” He said, “People who will follow ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know (their) good points as well as (their) bad points”. I asked, “Will there be an evil time after this good one?” He said, “Yes, when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whosoever responds to their call they will throw them into the fire”. I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Describe them for us”. He said, “They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language”. I said, “O Messenger of Allah! What would you suggest if I happened to live in that time?” He said, “You should stick to the main body of the Muslims and their leader”. I said, “If they have no main body and no leader?” He said, “Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle) until death comes to you and you are in this state”. [Bukhari and Muslim…. The wording of the above is that of Imam Muslim]

PDF Link

Lesson_From_a_Famous_Hadith of Hudaifah_By Mufti_Al_Allamah_Salih Al_Fawzan

 

A profound admonition by Ali Ibn Abi Talib

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

Kumayl ibn Ziyad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Kumayl! These hearts are vessels, and the best of them are those that gather the most good. People are of three types: an erudite scholar, a learner upon the path of safety, and the rabble — followers of every haranguer. They have not been granted light through the light of (sound) knowledge, nor have they sought refuge in a strong support”. Then he said: “Fie upon the one who carries the truth without insight! Doubt is kindled in his heart at the first instance when a doubtful matter is presented. He does not know where the truth lies. When he speaks, he errs and does not know that he has erred. He is fascinated with something whose reality he does not know, thus, he is a trial for whoever is put to trial through him”.

Ḥilya al-Awliya 1/79. Tārikh Dimashq 50/255

 

A Brief Reminder Regarding Tale-Carrying — At Home and Abroad

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

Atā ibn al-Sā’ib, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: I travelled from Makkah, so ash-Shaʿbi, may Allah have mercy upon him, met me and said: “O Abu Zayd! Present to us from that which you have heard in Makkah”. I said: “I have heard Abd al-Rahman ibn Sābiṭin saying: ‘Neither one who sheds blood resides in Makkah nor one who consumes Riba, nor one who carries tales” . I was boggled when he mentioned tale-carrying alongside bloodshed and usury. So, ash-Shabi said: “What boggles you regarding this? Is it not the case that bloodshed and heinous crimes are committed except due to tale-carrying”. [1]

Yahyah Ibn Abi kathir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Sulayman Ibn Dawud, peace be upon him and his father, said to his son: ‘O my son! Beware of tale-carrying, for indeed it is more severe (in causing harm) than a sword”. [2]

One of the companions of Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “I entered the presence of Ja’far and Musa was in his presence, while he was advising him. And from that which I committed to memory was his statement: ‘O my son! Accept my advice and memorise my speech: beware of tale-carrying because it sows enmity in the hearts of men, and beware of seeking after the faults of the people, because seeking after the faults of the people is tantamount to making oneself a target'”. [3]

Yahyah Ibn Abi Kathir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Indeed, the tale-carrier corrupts the relationships of the people in a single day more than what a magician cannot do in a month”. [4]

Tahir ibn Al-Husayn, may Allah have mercy upon him, wrote a letter to his son Abdullah after he was appointed by Al-Ma’mun Ibn Harun Al-Rashid as the governor of Raqqa, Egypt, and the lands between them: “Restrain your tongue from lies and false speech, and hate its perpetrators; cut off the tale-carriers, for indeed the first corruption of your affairs, both at the beginning and the end, would be due to closeness to a compulsive liar and boldness in uttering lies. This is because lying is the main source of all sins, and false speech and tale-carrying are its final outcomes, for indeed neither can a tale-carrier find safety nor can the utterer find a genuine friend, nor will the affairs of the one who pursues it remain upright. [5]

We ask Allah: [اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي – O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well]. [6]


[1] Az-Zuhd’ (446) by Al-Wakee

[2] Az-Zuhd 467 by Imam Ahmad

[3] Hilyah al-Awliya 3/195

[4] Shu’ab al-Iman 13/448 by Imam Al-Bayhaqi

[5] Tārīkh ar-Rusul wa al-Mulūk 8/585 by Imam at-Tasbari

[6] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2021/07/31/o-allah-just-as-you-made-my-external-form-beautiful-make-my-character-beautiful-as-well/

[6] Gentleness of our pious predecessors

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

It has been transmitted from Habeeb ibn Hujr al-Qaysi, may Allah have mercy upon him, who said: “It used to be said: “How excellent Iman is when adorned with knowledge! How excellent knowledge is when adorned with action! How excellent a deed is when adorned with gentleness!”

Reported Ibn Al-Mubaarak, may Allah have mercy upon him, in Az-Zuhd 1336

[5] Gentleness of our pious predecessors

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

Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, distributed (wealth), so I said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Other people are more entitled to it than these”. He said, “They gave me no option; either they would have asked me in a very harsh manner or they would have considered me miserly, and I am not miserly”.

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

In this hadith, there is proof to show that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was gentle towards his companions because he did not scold Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, when he made this suggestion that the ones who did not receive wealth were more worthy of receiving it than those who received it, but the Prophet did not scold him; rather he informed him of the reason behind what he did. This is proof that the Prophet had the highest level of gentleness, good manners, good dealing and beautiful patience. How can this not be when it is the fact that he is Allah’s Messenger and the most virtuous human to be taken as an example in his good manners, gentleness, good dealings with the young, the old, male and female. This is the first matter. Second, the insignificance of the worldly things in the sight of the Prophet because he was not asked anything of worldly wealth, except that he gave it. He never refused to give the one who asked because Allah commanded him, saying: [وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلاَ تَنْهَرْ – And repulse not the beggar], especially the one who behaved harshly towards him when asking because the worldly things were insignificant to him. He said, “If the world was worth the wing of a fly in the sight of Allah, a disbeliever would not have been given a sip of water from it”.

[at-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahadith As-Saheehah 1/152]