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Al-Allaamah al-Faqeeh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) in explanation of aayatul imtihaan:
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 verse is named the aayatul mihna, meaning the verse of examination, because a people claimed that they loved Allah, so Allah said to the Messenger,
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ
Say (O Muhammad) if you (truly) love Allah
This is the sign of a persons love for his Lord, that they follow the Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) and everyone who is more ardent in following the Messenger then he is more beloved to Allah, however lets ponder and look at the result of loving Allah; Allah did not command the Messenger to say “If you love Allah, follow me and be truthful in that” rather He said
يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
Allah will love you
and this is the tremendous fruit and result which every person seeks. Hence the reality is that you loving Allah is not the same as you being loved by Allah. Due to this He said,
فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
then follow me, Allah will love you
Therefore if you were to seek after the Love of Allah and you love Him, then it is upon you to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah upon him).
Is it possible to understand from this verse that the actions of the people of innovation belies their claim of loving the messenger (peace and blessings upon him)?
The answer to this, is yes, because we say, if you truly loved the messenger, you would indeed follow him, and if you truly loved Allah, you would definitely follow the Messenger, and if you truly took him (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) as a leader you would not precede him (i.e. utter statements or perform actions which he did not legislate), and how can he be your leader in reality whilst you oppose him, so where is the following of this leadership?
And due to this blatant opposition, how easy it is to destroy their claims; those who say, you don’t celebrate the birthday of the Prophet, and you don’t perform long extended poetic salaat and salaam and praise upon him, therefore you don’t love him. So we say in reply to them, Glory be to Allah! Which of us has more right to loving the Messenger?! Those who follow his Sunnah and do not leave it, or those who perform that which he (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) warned against of innovations?! There is no doubt that those who truly love Allah is the first type, and destroying their claims does not require a strong axe, rather it is very easy to destroy.
Paraphrased from Sharh Iqtida as-Siratul Mustaqeem pg 723-724
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him) said:
Indeed, the companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), such as the likes of Abdullaah Ibn Umar freed themselves from the people of bigoted partisanship and desires, as it was narrated by Imaam Muslim (regarding) the time when news reached (Ibn Umar) about those who innovated a doctrine to negate Allaah’s pre-decree; so he (Ibn Umar) said, ”If you meet those ones inform them that I am free from them and they are free from me”; then Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhumaa) said, ”If one of them were to spend in charity gold equal to mount Uhud, it will not be accepted until they believe in the pre-decree of Allaah.”
[Source: Silsilah Ar-Rasaa-il Al-Ilmiyyah Li-Fadeetis Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee’ page 370. slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) stated:
The cause of the differing that take place between the callers is the differing in methodologies. And had the callers (may Allaah guide them and grant them success) traversed a singular methodology; and that is the methodology of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)– that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-sallam) and his companions were upon, then these differences would not have occurred.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon all the callers to make their methodology one–upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam); and that their call is (carried out) for the sake of Allaah and to make the word of Allaah uppermost. Their call should not be for the sake of desires, raising individuals or parties; rather their call should be sincerely for Allaah’s Face-making Allaah’s word uppermost; following the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and to aid His Religion. (So) by way of this the differing will cease. [Source: Al-Ijaabaatul Muhimmah Fil Mashaakil Al-Mulimmah (page:221-222)]
Shaikh Zaid Ibn Hadee al Madkhalee (rahimahullaah) said:
The Mubtadi (innovator) is the cause for the splitting (in the Ummah). That is because splitting is connected to innovation and unity (upon the sound creed and methodology of the Salaf) is connected to the Sunnah. The obligation of refuting the Mukhaalif (the opposer of the truth) is not lifted from the scholar due to anticipation of harm, unless it is harm he is not able to bear. Then (in this case), Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. The earth is not devoid of people of knowledge who will carry out refutation against the Mubtadi and the Mukhaalif. [Source: Al Ajwibah Al Mukhtasar Alaa As-ila Al-Ashrati(Page43-44)]
The Questioner asks:
“How do we combine between the spread of knowledge and the spread of Islam everywhere and the saying of the prophet, peace be upon him, that every time will be worse than the one preceding it.”
The Answer in the video by Shaykh Fawzaan
“Knowledge will spread in all ages and reach the East and the West. Today, you see that knowledge used to spread through Jihad in the path of Allah and the call to Allah. Now, we have the media, so the Qur’an is recited with loud and clear. It is recited in the loudest voice in the East and West. The Athaan (call to prayer) is heard in the East and West. This is from the mercy of Allah and from the establishment of proof against the servants so they can not say, Islam did not reach us or nothing reached us.”
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ
And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience?
[Soorah Al-Furqaan Aayah 20]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: This is universal among all the creation- they are put to trial by way of one another. Those whom the Messengers are sent to are a trial for the Messengers, when calling to them to the truth, exercising patience in facing their harm and bearing the difficulties faced when conveying Allaah’s Message. And the Messengers are a trial for those whom they have been sent to, with regards to whether those people will obey and aid the Messengers, testify to the truth of that which the Messengers have been sent with, or whether they will disbelieve, reject and fight the Messengers.
The ignorant people are a trial for the scholars with regards to whether they will teach and advise them, whilst exercising patience in teaching, advising, guiding them and been constant in that. And the scholars are a trial for the ignorant people with regards to whether they will obey them and follow their example.
The subjects are a trial for the kings and the kings are a trial for the subjects. The poor people are a trial for the rich people and the rich people are a trial for the poor people. The weak people are a trial for the strong people and the strong people are a trial for the weak people. The leaders are put to trial by those who follow them and those who follow are put to trial by way of the leaders. The slave master is put to trial by way of his slaves and the slaves are put to trial by way of the slave master. A man is put to trial by way of his wife and his wife is put to trial by way of him. The men are put to trial by way of women and women are put to trial by way of men. The believers are put to trial by way of the disbelievers and the disbelievers are put to trial by way of the believers. Those who enjoin good and forbid evil are put to trial by way of those whom they command good and forbid from evil, and those commanded with good and forbidden from evil are put to trial by way of those who command them with good and forbid them from evil.
And due to this, the poor and weak Muslims amongst the followers of the Messengers were a trial for the wealthy people and leaders. They [i.e. these wealthy ones and leaders] were prevented from accepting Eemaan after knowing the truthfulness of the Messengers. [Allaah informed us that they said]:
لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِ
“Had it (i.e. the Message of the Messenger) been a good thing, they (weak and poor) would not have preceded us thereto!” [Soorah Al-Ahqaaf: Ayah: 11]
And (Allaah said that) they (i.e. disbelievers in the time of Nooh) said to Nooh:
أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ
“Shall we believe in you, when the lowest of the people follow you? (i.e. those without wealth or status in society)”
[Soorah Ash-Shu’araa: Ayah: 111]
Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِيَقُولُوا أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا
‘’Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: “Is it these (poor believers) that Allah has favoured from amongst us?” [Soorah Al-An’aam: Ayah: 53]
So when a leader of high status saw that a poor person of lowly status had preceded him in belief and in following the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], he become furious and scornful about accepting Islaam [due to not wanting] to be similar to [that poor person of lowly status]. And he says: I enter into Islaam so that I may be at the same level with this lowly one?
Az-Zujaaj [rahimahullaah] said: Perhaps a person of high status wanted to accept Islaam, but he was prevented from it so that it would not be said: ‘’someone lower than him preceded him (in Islaam);’’ therefore he remained upon disbelief and not [wanting] a Muslim to precede him in virtue.
And the reason behind [the fact that] some people are a trial for others is that the poor person may say, ‘’Why am I not like the rich person?’’ and the weak person may say, ‘’Why am I not like the strong one?’’ and the one afflicted may say, ‘’Why am I not like the one upon well-being.’’
[Allaah (The Most High) said] that the disbelievers said:
لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ حَتَّىٰ نُؤْتَىٰ مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللَّهِ
“We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah had received”
[Soorah Al-An’aam: Ayah: 124]
This ayah was revealed concerning the trial encountered by the idol worshippers due to the poor immigrants, such as Bilaal, khabbaab, Suhaib, Abu Dar, Ibn Mas’ood and Ammaar [radiyallaahu-anhum], for they [idol worshippers] used to say: ‘’Look at these ones that follow Muhammad and they are from our lowly ones and those under our service.”
Allaah [The Most High] said:
إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْ عِبَادِي يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
فَاتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰ أَنْسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِي وَكُنْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ
إِنِّي جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
‘’Verily! There was a party of My slaves, who used to say: “Our Lord! We believe, so forgive us, and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of all who show mercy!” But you took them for a laughingstock, so much so that they made you forget My Remembrance while you used to laugh at them! Verily! I have rewarded them this Day for their patience, they are indeed the ones that are successful.’’ [Soorah Al-Muminoon: Aayaat: 109-111]
So Allaah informed (us) that He rewarded them for their patience, just as He (The Most High) said:
وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ
‘’And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience?’’
Az-Zujaaj (rahimahullaah) said: This means: Will you not exercise patience when afflicted and indeed you know what the patient ones will receive. I [Ibnul Qayyim] say: Allaah [The Glorified One free from all imperfections] bounded affliction with patience in this ayah and also in His saying: [ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا ثُمَّ جَاهَدُوا وَصَبَرُوا -Then, verily! Your Lord for those who emigrated after they had been put to trials and thereafter strove hard and fought (for the Cause of Allah) and were patient” [Soorah An-Nahl: Ayah: 110]
There is no remedy like patience for the one put to trial! If he exercises patience, then that trial becomes a (source) of purification and rescue from sins, just as the bellows purifies gold and silver. Trials are the bellows of the hearts and the test for one’s Eemaan, and by way of it the truthful one is distinguished from the liar. Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ
‘’And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).’’ [Soorah Al-Ankabut: Ayah: 3]
Trials categorise the people into truthful ones and liars, believers and hypocrites, good and wicked. So whoever exercises patience in facing trials, then this is a mercy for him and a safety from a greater trial due to his patience. And whoever does not exercise patience in facing a trial will fall into a trial more severe than it.
[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Ighaathatul Lahfaan: 2/170-172.’ slightly paraphrased]
ًQuestion: Eminent Shaykh, this questioners asks: “What are the distinguishing signs of Ahlu Sunnah wal jamaa’ah?”
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds and peace and salutation be up on our prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
The distinguishing signs of the People of Sunnah are many – and all praises and thanks be to Allah.
The most distinguishing being: Acting upon the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the soundness of their creed from ideological deviations and the deviations that some sects have been exposed to.
Ahlu Sunnah wal jamaa’ah are upright, upon the Book and the Sunnah. They act upon what the preferred generations were upon; the companions, tabi’een and those who followed them in righteousness. In accordance with the statement of the Prophet’s saying: “Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, cling to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth, and be aware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a misguidance”
They act upon the Book and Sunnah and what the Salaf of this ummah were upon. They avoid Innovation and newly invented matters, they avoid false misinterpretations of the names and attributes [of Allah]. They affirm the names and attributes [of Allah], in accordance to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him, they do not distort, make resemblance or negate [the names and attributes of Allah] as Allah says: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Ash-Shura 42:11)
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Listen carefully to this affair! By Allaah! Sometimes it is very easy for those who have not experienced the difficulties of guiding teenagers to offer haphazard solutions without much contemplation. One must take into consideration – as the Shaikh stated in this short audio- that the youth of today face greater trials, so they are in need of advice and rifq. And most important of all, they are in need of supplication. May Allaah guide our children and make them the coolness of our eyes in this Dunyaa and Aakhirah Aameen.
Abu Umaamah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: A young man came to the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, give me permission to commit fornication’’. The people turned to him to rebuke him, saying, “Shh, shh.” [The Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)] said, “Come here’’, so he came close to him and he told him to sit down. He said, “Would you like that for your mother?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their mothers’’. He said, “Would you like it for your daughter?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their daughters’’. He said, “Would you like it for your sister?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their sisters’’. He said, “Would you like it for your paternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you’’. He said, “Nor do people like it for their paternal aunts.” He said, “Would you like it for your maternal aunt?” He said, “No, by Allaah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He said, “Nor do people like it for their maternal aunts’’. Then he placed his hand on him and said, “O Allaah, forgive him his sin, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” And after that, this young man never did anything. [Reported by Ahmad 21708]
Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said:
The trustworthy adviser, the one sent as a mercy to the Aalameen – may Allaah mention him with praise and sends salutations of peace upon him- placed his hand on the chest of that young man and said, ‘’O Allaah! Forgive him his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity’’.
Three supplications; write them down, memorise them and give them importance: ‘’O Allaah! Forgive him his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity’’.
I say: Write them down and memorise them, for indeed the youth at present are in an era of Fitan [trials and tribulations]. I don’t think that youth who was [present] during the era of the Prophet [sallal laahu-alayhi wasallam] encountered Fitan [i.e. trials and tribulations] similar to that which is encountered by the youth at present in this era; therefore -in this era- the youth [i.e. male and female] is in need- [Shaikh pauses and cries]- of being shown mercy by the people of virtue, compassionate towards him, show him love and supplicate for him sincerely from the [bottom] of their hearts. The supplication of a father for his child is answered and the supplication of a mother for her child is answered.
A father should not say about his son, ‘’May Allaah humiliate him’’ or ‘’May Allaah prevent him from receiving good or despised him’’ or ‘’May Allaah curse him’’. He [i.e. the father] should not be a helper of shaytaan against him [i.e. the child]. The youth are in need of mercy- the father’s mercy, the mother’s mercy, the mercy of relatives, the mercy of colleagues [and] friends. The youth are in need of these sincere supplications from the truthful [or sincere] hearts- out of hoping for Allaah’s [Glorified and Exalted be He] reward.
Due to the effect of this sincere advice, mercy and supplication of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], this youth who was present in that era of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] departed from the presence of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and nothing [i.e. that sin] remained in his heart; the desire left his heart. He got up, whilst the slightest desire for this affair [i.e. fornication] – which the hearts are inclined towards and are greatly put to trial by way of it – did not remain in his heart. He got up, whilst there was nothing in his heart. Three affairs [i.e. regarding the manner in which the Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam) dealt with him]: Mercy, fine advice [or admonition] and truthful [or sincere] supplication, and the effect [or fruitful outcome] is great indeed; the effect [or fruitful outcome] is great indeed.
By Allaah! The youth nowadays are in need of those who show them gentleness; those who truthfully [or sincerely] supplicate for them; those who give fine advice [or admonition] and clarification to them, and those who are not helpers of shaytaan against them.
In relation to the likes of this advice, the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi- wasallam] said: ‘’Do not be helpers to shaytaan against your brother’’ when they – [i.e. some of the companions said about a man who was brought to the Prophet several times due to consumption of alcohol] – said: ‘’May Allaah humiliate him’’, ‘’May Allaah curse him’’, (so) the Prophet said, ‘’Do not be a helper to Shaytaan against your brother’’, so he guided one towards saying, ‘’May Allaah forgive you’’, supplicate for him [i.e. the sinner].
In a nutshell, the [intended meanings of these admonitions] – which the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] detailed – awakens the hearts when they have a heartfelt effect; it awakens the heart; ‘’Do you love that for your mother; do you love that for your daughter; do you love that for your sister etc….’’ This awakens the heart – a great and blessed awakening; so he leaves with this detailed and fine advice [or admonition], truthful [or sincere] supplication to Allaah [Glorified and Exalted be He]; it brings about a tremendous and blessed outcome, for indeed Tawfeeq [i.e. being granted guidance and the ability to act upon it], rectification of the hearts and purity of the souls is in the hands of Allaah, who guides whomsoever He pleases to the straight path. [Paraphrased. Listen to audio]
Honourable Shaykh – May Allāh give you success – this questioner says, What is the ruling on those called Qurāniyūn, those who reject the noble hadīth, and they say we suffice ourselves with the Qurān only?
This is disbelief, this is disbelief in Allāh The Mighty & Majestic because the Hadīth is revelation from Allāh The Mighty & Majestic, it is the second revelation after the Qurān. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired. The speech of the prophet is revelation from Allāh the Mighty & Majestic, the pronouncement is the Messenger’s, however the meaning is from Allāh.
Allah the Mighty and Majestic said [in the Qur’an]: “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” 59:7
And this one says, I only take from the Qur’an. “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it” He says, No, I won’t take. What sort of speech is this?!
