The Islamic year of 1434 Hijriyya has now begun, it is well known the traditions of the world in celebrating and congratulating upon the arrival of the new year [AD], however what is the Islamic ruling on congratulations for the new Hijry year?
Shaikh al-Fawzaan, “This is an innovation, congratulating for the new year, it is an innovation; or commanding of fasting or charity [for the purpose of the new year] all of this is innovation, Allah has not revealed evidence upon it”
[Al-Muntaqa min Akhbaar Sayyid al-Mursaleen – 39: via Sahab]
Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen, “If someone congratulates you then reply [i.e. make dua that Allah makes it a good and blessed year], but do not do it yourself [i.e. do not begin it yourself by congratulating someone initially]….I do not know that the Salaf used to congratulate each other for the arrival of the new year of Hijra…”
”A man who used to speak to the Jinn informed us that they (i.e. the Jinn) said: ”There is none more severe upon us than the one who follows the Sunnah. As for the people of desires (i.e. the innovators), we play about with them.”
[Source: Talbees Iblees of Imaam Ibnul Jawzee (rahimahullaah) with the checking of Al-Allaamah Zaid Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him) Page: 43]
The following article is regarding an event that occurred relating to an individual upon Sufism who was charitable to the people, Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen رحمه الله was asked:
Questioner: “There is a man upon one of the paths of Sufism and he carries out some innovations, [the issue however is] that this man aids in the establishment of charitable work, so if someone like him is refuted for his innovation and it [the refutation of him] becomes widespread between the people, he will cease to aid the people of righteousness and goodness [in charity], so what is your opinion oh Shaikh?”
Shaikh: “Is this man influential in his da’wa?”
Questioner: “Yes Shaikh, he calls to his innovation.”
Shaikh: “In that case, which is more severe; poverty or misguidance?”
Questioner: “Misguidance.”
Shaikh: “Misguidance is more severe, so it is obligatory if this man is a caller and influential [in his innovation] that he is warned against, even if he stops his charitable work – for indeed that is depriving himself of reward if he does – as for leaving him to misguide the servants of Allah in order to obtain via that [i.e. silence upon him] a dirham or two…this is not possible.”
”We do not have time to defend ourselves; but we (defend) the Sunnah. And even if we are tormented with fierce battle we will not leave anyone who speaks against the Sunnah of the Messenger (Sallal-laahu-alayhi- wa-alaa-aalihi-wasallam) — be he a Shia, or a Soofee or from Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen (i.e. the deviated and destructive innovated Muslim brotherhood of Egypt and else- where); because we are to sacrifice (ourselves) for the Sunnah and our objective is the Sunnah.”
Indeed Nad’dhaam, Abu Hudhayl and other than them amongst the enemies of the Sunnah have passed and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu alayhi-wasallam) has remained white and pure, and their mockery of it has not harmed it (i.e. the Sunnah). And the contemporary enemies of the Sunnah will die and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi- wa-alaa aalihee wasallam,) will remain; because Allaah has guaranteed its preservation. So He (The Most High) said:إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ— Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)’’ [15:9]
The following is paraphrased from the speech of Shaikh Mohammad Amaan al-Jaamy رحمه الله تعالى regarding the issue of Mount Rahma and the common belief that the mountain must be climbed on the day of ‘Arafah.
“So it is upon the Pilgrims to avoid climbing the mountain and crowding around it so their precious time is not wasted in that which does not benefit them, rather in it is harm [i.e. wasted time in attempting to get to it and climb it as well as the crowding etc when that time should be used in supplication], instead it is correct for the Pilgrims to spread out across ‘Arafah as they please without specifying a particular location”.
The Shaikh then goes on to mention the names of Mount Rahma:
“They have mentioned several names for this mountain:
1- “Mount Rahma” [Mount Mercy] and this is the most famous of the names and possibly the most recent one.
2- “Mount Supplication” [Mount Du’a]
3- “Al-Qurain” as some of the commoners refer to it as.
4- “Ilaal” and that is from one of the oldest names of it.
I have attempted to discover the reasoning behind it being called “Mount Rahma” and I checked various resources and asked various People of Knowledge, however I did not find a sufficiently satisfying answer, and so I leave the issue as a matter of research. However, I do feel some discomfort with this name, since mercy is not restricted to the mountain and the one who claims that must bring forth his evidence. Similarly, supplication on that day is not specific to the mountain, rather Mount Rahma is like any other part of ‘Arafah in that regard. The mercy of Allah and His freeing of slaves from the Fire is general to all individuals wherever they stand within ‘Arafah on that day.
The reason why I researched this issue is because of what we have witnessed ourselves from some Pilgrims in terms of actions that are resembling the acts of Jaahiliyyah [ignorance]…in fact for many Pilgrims the idea amongst them has become that the point of ‘Arafah is actually to have to climb the mountain. That is since many have mistakenly understood that the name “Mount Rahma” must indicate that the mercy of Allah only descends upon the Mount on that day.”
Translator’s note: A fine example of why success lies within the Sunnah and not in opposing it, consider how many hours of the blessed day of ‘Arafah are put to waste pushing through crowds and making an attempt to climb the mountain, as well as the fatigue that arises from such activity possibly impacting upon the remainder of the Hajj rites, all of which diverts the servant from supplication and indeed vastly reduces the available time on that Day before sunset, Allahul Musta’an.
All praise is due to Allaah and may His salaah and salaam be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. To proceed:
I [Abu Mu-aawiyyah (Abdullaah al-Gambi) asked Ustaadh Abdul Waahid Abu Khadeejah (may Allaah preserve him) about the state of affairs of Abdur-Raheem McCarthy Al-Amreekee after coming across his mixing haqq with Baatil, his exaggerations and defence of the people of hizbiyyah such as the likes of Abu Muslimah and the people to be treated the same as Ahlul Bidah such as Abu Usaamah; so he (Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah) said to me: ‘’Narrate from me that I heard Shaikh Muhammad Bin Haadee (may Allaah preserve him) saying: ‘’I warn against Abdur-Raheem.’’
Next topic Inshaa-Allaah:
The false claim of Abdur Raheem that the Salafis hide the commendation (Tadeel) given to certain scholars who were imprisoned and promote the Jarh against them. Indeed, we do not know whether to cry or laugh at this nonsense. Abdur-Raheem–the deceiver– neither mentioned the names of those so called scholars nor did he give details of the Tadeel for them and the Jarh against them. Indeed, we do not expect the likes of Abdur-Raheem to be brave enough to argue his position with Ilm, proofs and evidences; rather he utilised the methods of the Hizbiyyoon (i.e. general statements that can be utilised for both haqq and baatil, and then he chose to utilise them for baatil). Inshaa-Allaah, we will discuss this in the next post and also the affair of Saeed Rageah another deceiver who exaggerates and mixes haqq with baatil.
