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Should I Memorise Quraan or Seek Knowledge? Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Articles, Basics, Fatawa-Rulings, Monotheism - Tawheed, Qur'aan, Seeking Knowledge.

Should I Memorise Quraan or Seek Knowledge?

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan was asked a question by a youth who had reached 16 years of age and for the last 18 months had been memorising the Quraan in a hifdh program. He wanted to focus on seeking knowledge, however he was advised against this by the supervisor of the hifdh program; saying that the youth requires tarbiyyah (islamic cultivation) and that if he was to seek knowledge without tarbiyyah, it would be detrimental to him. The young man then asked Shaykh Saalih (hafidahullah) for his advice:

Seeking knowledge is tarbiyyah, there is no difference between tarbiyyah and seeking knowledge. Memorise the Quraan and seek knowledge this IS tarbiyyah.

MUHAADARAT FEE AL-AQEEDAH WA AD-DAWAH; AL-MAJMOO’A ATH-THAANIYA VOL.1 PGS. 180

Path of Allah – Shaykh b. Baaz

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed.

Path of Allah – Shaykh b. Baaz

Shaykh b. Baaz in explanation of the ayah where Allah informs us of Ibraheem’s (alayhis salaam) conversation with his father:

‎فَاتَّبِعْنِي أَهْدِكَ صِرَاطًا سَوِيًّا

“So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path.” [Soorah Maryam: 43]

Meaning, I will direct you to a clear straight path, which has no crookedness, nor secrecy in it. The straight path is the worship of Allah alone, obeying His commands and staying away from His prohibitions, stopping at His legislated divine limits,(1) this is Allaah’s Straight Path in regards to every prophet from the time of Aadam until the end of time.

Allah’s Straight Path:

It is to make your actions sincerely for Allah alone whilst following that which the prophets (alayhimus salaatu was salām) came with in every time and place. And the final of the prophets is our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam).

Allah’s Straight Path After the Sending of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam):

It is believing in that which (the prophet) Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam) came with, following it and being steadfast upon it. This is the Straight Path which is mentioned in Allaah’s statement (The Mighty and Majestic):

‎اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Guide us to the Straight Way

‎صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray. [Al-Faatihah: 5-7] (2)

(1) Refer to explanation of Imaam Nawawee’s 40 Hadeeth, Hadeeth nos. 6

(2) Ayahs were numbered 5-7 based on the opinion that the basmalah is not part of Al-Faatihah, see fatwa of permanent committee and fatwa of Shaykh b. Baaz :
www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?languagename=en&BookID=7&View=Page&PageNo=1&PageID=12005

www.binbaz.org.sa/noor/6257

Does Allah Love You? – Shaykh ‘Abdul Mohsin al-‘Abbaad

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Bid'ah (Innovation), Featured, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq'.

Does Allah Love You?

Shaykh ‘Abdul Mohsin al-‘Abbaad mentioned in explanation of the verse:

‎قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Say (O Muhammad) if you (truly) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aali Imraan: 31)

“Meaning, you have received more than you desired by loving Him, i.e. Allah loves YOU, and this is greater than you loving Him.

Some wise scholars said:

The issue isn’t that you love (Allah), indeed it is only that you are loved (by Allah).

Al-Hasan Al-Basri and other than him from the Salaf said:

A people claimed to love Allah so he tested them with this verse:

‎قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Say (O Muhammad) if you (truly) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aali Imraan: 31)

This is why some of the Salaf named this verse: aayatul imtihaan and ikhtibaar (Verse of Examination).

Min Kunooz al-Quraan al-Kareem, Tafseer Aayaat min al-Kitaab al-Azeez ( Kutub wa Rasaa’il ‘Abdul Mohsin vol.1 pg. 196)

Reflect deeply upon these tremendous words and contemplate upon your inner belief or possibly outward claims to love Allah and His Messenger.

Are you worshipping Allah sincerely?

Are you following the prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa salam) in all possible ways (statements, actions and manners)?

Or are you opposing the commands of Allah and the guidance of His final messenger (alayhis salaatu was salaam)?

‎قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Say (O Muhammad) if you (truly) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aali Imraan: 31)

 

Categories of Creation of Man – Shaykh b. Bāz

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, History of Islam, Qur'aan.

Categories of Creation of Man – Shaykh b. Bāz

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Verily, the likeness of Easa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Aadam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was. (Aali Imraan: 59)

Aadam (alayhis salaam) was created from earth, and Allah revealed (revelation) to him and gave him a legislation to tread upon. Easa (alayhis salaam) was created from a woman without a man, therefore just as it’s not possible to deny (in reality) that Aadam (alayhis salaam) was created from earth, likewise the fact that Easa (alayhis salaam) came from a woman and not a man is not rejected, because in actuality this is easier and simpler than the creation of Aadam (alayhis salaam) from soil – without a father or a mother.

The creation of man is split into four categories:

1. Created from soil without a father or a mother.
2. Created from a man without a woman, and this was Hawwa (Eve), Allah created her from Aadam.

وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا
And from him (Aadam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)]. (An-Nisaa: 1)

3. Created from a woman without a man in opposite to the creation of Hawwa, who was created from a man without a woman and Easa was created from a woman without a man, by Allah’s power and ability he created them both with his statement; Be! And then they were created.
4. The rest of mankind (were created) from a man and a woman, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female. (Al-Hujuraat: 13)

These are the four categories of creation of mankind, and these are from Allah’s signs indicating His great and vast power and ability, that all He has to say is Be! and it occurs.

Al-Fawāid al-ilmiyyah min ad-Durūs al-Bāziyyah – Fawāid min at-Tafsīr pgs. 174-175

Sharing a Benefit With Fellow Muslim Teachers: [Three Important Affairs We Must Not Forget When Either Teaching The Physical Sciences Or When Engaged In Discussions About Them]

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Basics, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:

Indeed, that which is stated by the astronomers about the celestial bodies, their sizes and the distance between them, and that which is said about the earth [i.e. by the geologists etc] is categorized into three affairs:

[1] That which is backed by the sound knowledge based proofs [i.e. the Sharee’ah], therefore it is accepted. [2] That which the knowledge based proofs [i.e. the sharee’ah] declares to be false, therefore it is rejected. [3] That which there is no proof to either accept or reject it, therefore it is unproven until a person from the people of knowledge [i.e. upright scholars of Ahlus Sunnah] examines it [i.e. examines what it indicates based on the Book and Sunnah] to show whether it should be accepted or rejected. As for accepting it without [sound] investigation and observation, but merely accepting it by blindly following them [i.e. the astronomers, geologists etc], then this is impermissible because of the numerous mistakes that occur as a result of that, and speaking -without knowledge – about Allaah and that which He has created [i.e. the entire universe and all that is within it].

Source: Al-Adillah An-Naqliyyah Wal-Hissiyyah Alaa Imkaanis Su’ood Ilal Kawaakib Wa Alaa Jarayaan Ash-Shams Wal-Qamar Wa Sukoon Al-Ard’ page 74. Abridged and slightly paraphrased

Guidelines Surrounding Repentance & Open Clarifications – Shaykh b. Bāz

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Bid'ah (Innovation), Deviated Callers & Individuals, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Must Read, Purification of The Soul, Refutations, Tamyee'.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ

Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allāh and cursed by the cursers.

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. (Al-Baqarah 159 -160)

Shaykh ’Abdul Azīz b. Bāz in explanation of the verses above:

Within these verses is a proof regarding the obligation of manifesting the truth and openly declaring it, and that manifesting the truth is a binding affair, concealing it is from the major sins and from the characteristics of the yahūd. Therefore, the believer strives in making apparent the truth, calling to it, being patient upon that; whilst simultaneously being wary of concealment (of the truth) in all affairs, and if he was to fall into anything from concealing of the truth, he hastens to tawbah (repentance), rectification and open declaration (of the truth).

Allāh, Ar-Rabb explained that from the completeness and conditions of tawbah (repentance) is:

Rectification (of oneself) and open declaration (of the truth and the falsehood or sin, which is being repented from). Therefore, whoever repents for what has passed from his sins, then it is compulsory upon him to rectify his affairs and it is followed up with repentance, with truthful belief and righteous actions, and openly declaring the truth. He (Mighty and Majestic) said,

وَبَيَّنُوا

“and openly declare.” (Al-Baqarah: 160)

Hence, clarifying the truth and calling to it is a must, and it is also a necessity that repentance is followed up with righteous actions, likewise it is binding to follow it up with open declaration. So, if the repentance was due to concealing the truth, then an open declaration is a requirement so that it is known he has returned from his falsehood and that he is firm upon the truth and is treading its path, in opposition to the yahūd and those who are like them.

For indeed, they regard clarification of the truth and repentance to be a deficiency and belittlement, so they continue in their concealment and rejection of the truth for the purpose of establishing their desires and lowly goals.

It is not suitable for a believer that he resembles the enemies of Allāh in concealing the truth and lack of clarifying it, due to pursuing an object of desire from amongst the various sought-after worldly goals.

Likewise, it is not befitting to shy away from returning to the truth, for returning to it is a virtue and correct, whilst remaining upon falsehood is lowliness, humiliation, vileness and leads to being exposed to the displeasure of Allāh (The Mighty and Majestic). Thus, it is a must to return to the truth and to caution from falsehood, in order to safeguard oneself from the anger and punishment of Allāh, so that you may become successful by way of noble means and attain a praiseworthy ending.

Al-Fawāid al-ilmiyyah min ad-Durūs al-Bāziyyah – Fawāid min at-Tafsīr pgs. 35-36

Attempting to Safeguard Oneself from Showing Off (Ar-Riyaa) – Al-Uthaymīn

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Monotheism - Tawheed, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Attempting to Safeguard Oneself from Showing Off (Ar-Riyaa) – Al-Uthaymīn

There are those who abandon acts of obedience [due to] fear of riyaa [i.e. showing off in acts of worship].

This [occurs] because Shaytān plays about with a person and beautifies for him [or her] the abandonment of acts of obedience out of fearing riyaa; rather you should perform acts of obedience, but there should not be -in your heart- [a desire] to show off.

Al-Qawl al-Mufīd fī Sharh Kitāb at-Tawhīd by Shaykh Uthaymīn, Vol.1 Pg.92

Can You Take Benefit from Those who Oppose the Salafi Methodology – Shaykh Rabī

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Articles, Basics, Bid'ah (Innovation), Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Fatawa-Rulings, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Must Read, Refutations, Tamyee'.

Shaykh Rabī ibn Hādi ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī [ḥafidahullāh] was asked: Is it permissible for us to listen to the audio [lectures of the] Hizbees?

He [ḥafidahullāh] answered: No, do not listen to the audio [lectures] of the hizbees, because their harm is much greater than their benefit. Seek benefit from the Book of Allāh, the Sunnah of Allāh’s Messenger [alayhis ṣalātu was salām], the books and audio [lectures] of the scholars of the Sunnah.

[That is] because the people of desires insert and conceal their poison in such a way that it is not noticed, except by the intelligent ones [i.e. the scholars and experienced students]. As for the Masākīn [i.e. those whose knowledge is very limited] amongst the smaller students of knowledge and the general folk, then verily this hidden poison has an effect on their intellects and against them, in ways they do not perceive.

Therefore, let there be great caution against listening to the people of bidah and the people [who are ascribed] to those groups that have deviated from Allah’s True Methodology; and they [ḥizbīs, the people of bidah etc] warn against the books that[propagate the sound creed, methodology etc] and the books that [propagate the authentic] Sunnah, so how can we call to their books and the lectures [in their audio tapes]?!

Source: Majmūʿ Kutub wa Rasā’il wa Fatāwa Faḍīlati as-Shaykh al-ʿAllāmah Rabī ibn Hādi ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī 15/52. slightly paraphrased

What does Ḥizbiyyah Mean and Who are Ḥizbīs – Shaykh Rabī

Varying Levels of The Students of Knowledge

Ask by Allah’s Face for the Ultimate Goal

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Fatawa-Rulings, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān was asked:

What is the intent of the Messenger’s statement (sallallāhu alaihi wa sallam), Do not ask for anything by Allāh’s Face except Paradise?

He (ḥafidahullāh) answered:

“Yes (that is correct), glorify Allāh’s Face (azza wa jal), and do not ask for anything by it from the coveted objects of the worldly life, only ask by it for Paradise – as a glorification of Allāh’s Face (subhānahu wa ta’āla) – which is the ultimate goal.”

http://alfawzan.af.org.sa/ar/node/16651