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The Perils of False Representation: [An Admonition to All Manipulative Instigators Who Discretely And Secretly Betray Trust, Conceal Facts, Dupe Unsuspecting Admirers, Threaten Speakers of Truth And Hide Their Affair From Those Who Are Able to Reprimand Them]

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

The Imaam [rahimahullaah] stated that one should beware of kadhib [lying], for indeed it corrupts one’s ability to illustrate information based on what it should be in reality. It corrupts one’s ability to illustrate information and his ability to teach the people. The liar portrays what is non-existent as something present and what is present as something non-existent. He portrays truth as something false and falsehood as something true; he portrays good as evil and evil as good, so this corrupts his conception and knowledge, which then becomes a punishment upon him. Then he portrays what is not true to the one deceived by him – the one who is inclined towards him- so he corrupts his conception and knowledge. The soul of the liar turns away from the existing reality -inclined towards what is non-existent and gives preference to falsehood.

And when his conception and knowledge is corrupted, which is the basis of every wilful chosen deed, his deeds become corrupt and marked by lies, so those deeds would emanate from him just as lies emanate from the tongue- he neither benefits from his tongue nor his deeds. This is why lying is the basis [or foundation] of immorality, just as the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “Indeed lies lead to immorality [or wickedness] and indeed immorality [or wickedness] leads to the fire. [Bukhaari 2606/2607]

Firstly lies emerges from the heart and then on the tongue, so it corrupts it; then it transfers to the limbs and corrupts its actions, just as it corrupts the statements of the tongue. Therefore, lying prevails over his statements, deeds and state of affairs; corruption becomes deeply rooted in him and its disease leads to destruction if Allaah does not grant him cure him with the medication of truthfulness, which uproots its (i.e. lying) from its original source.

This is why the basis [or foundation] of all the deeds of the hearts is based on truthfulness; and the basis of their opposites – such as showing off, self-amazement, pride, being glad [with ungratefulness to Allaah’s Favours], conceitedness, boastfulness, insolence, weakness, laziness, cowardice,  disgrace and other than them- is lies. The origin of every righteous deed- whether carried out in private or public- is based on truthfulness. And the origin of every corrupt deed – whether carried out in private or public- is lies.

Allaah punishes the liar by preventing him from those affairs that will bring him well-being and benefit, and He rewards the truthful one by granting him the ability to attain the beneficial affairs related to the worldly life and afterlife. There is nothing similar to truthfulness with regards to the manner in which it bring about the affairs of wellbeing in this life and the next, and there is nothing similar to lying with regards to the manner in which it corrupts and harms one’s worldly affairs and the afterlife. [Allaah (The Most High) said]: [ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ – O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds) [9:119] [هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنْفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ۚ- This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth. [5:119] [ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ الْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ – And when the matter (preparation for Jihad) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. [47:21]

 وَجَاءَ الْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

And those who made excuses from the Bedouins came (to you, O Prophet) asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve. [9:90]

[Source: Al-Fawaa’id’ pages 202-203. Paraphrased. Refer to Arabic text]

The Idle Person; Two Destructive Affairs; Acquire Knowledge Before It Is Taken Away: [Admonition By Abdullah Bin Mas’ood]

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

Ibn Mas’ood said:

“I dislike to see a man being idle- neither (occupied) with beneficial affairs of the dunya, nor deeds of the Aakhira”. [Ref 1]

He [radiyallaahu-anhu] said:

“[There] are two affairs that are destructive- Self-amazement and despairing of Allaah’s Mercy”. [Ref 2]

He [radiyallaahu-anhu] said:

“Acquire knowledge before it is taken away and it being taken away is the departure of its people (i.e. the death of the scholars). Indeed, beware of [التنَطُّع  (i.e. going beyond what Allaah has legislated with regards to one’s practice of the religion); التعمُّق (i.e. looking too deeply into affairs in a manner that leads a person to overstep the boundaries of the legislation) and  بدع  (innovation in religion). And upon you is (to hold onto the) ancient affair (i.e. the way of the Salaf)”. [Ref 3]


Ref 1: Al- Fawaaid page 213; Ref 2: Hilyatul Awliyaa 7/298; Ref 3: Reported by Bayhaqiy (rahimahullaah) in Al-Madkhal Ilaa As-Sunan Al-Kubraa Number: 387; Ad-Daarimiy (rahimahullaah) in As-Sunan 1/54; Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) in Jaami Bayaan al-Ilm 1/152; Al-Khateeb (rahimahullaah) in Al-Faqeeh Wal-Mutafaqqih 1/43

Haunted By Three Things If You Perpetrated Them!

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

It used to be said that whoever perpetrates these three acts  will be haunted by them:

[1] Rebellion against Allaah’s commandments. 

Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِكُمْ

O mankind! Your rebellion (disobedience to Allah) is only against your ownselves.

[Soorah Yoonus: Ayah: 23]

[2] Evil plotting. 

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ

But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.

[Soorah Faatir: Ayah: 43]

[3] Breaking pledges. 

Allaah [The Most High] said:

فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ

Then whosoever breaks his pledge only breaks it to his own harm.

[Soorah Al-Fath: Ayah: 10]

[Source: Kitaab Uyoonul Akhbaar of Ibn Qutaybah (rahimahullaah) Vol 1: page: 149]

Thieves – [Four Types]

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

 The difference between

السارق المنتهب المختلس الغاصب

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:

[1] As-Saariq: He does not make himself apparent–neither in the beginning of the affair [i.e. the theft] nor in the end.

[2] Al-Muntahibu: He makes himself apparent in the beginning and at the end [of the theft] but he does not take anything by overpowering [the victim]; rather he snatches.

[3] Al-Mukhtalis: He is like the Al-Muntahibu, except that he hides himself in the beginning of the affair [i.e.the theft].

[4] Al-Ghaasib: He is like the Al-Muntahibu, except that he takes away something by overpowering [the victim].

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Muntaqaa Min Fawaa-idil Fawaa-id’. page:132]

 

An Incident Between AbuBakr As-Siddeeq And Rabee’ah Al-Aslami –[A Lesson On Maturity, Fair play, True Brotherhood, Being Eager to Give People Their Rights And Supplicating For One Another When Disagreement Related to a Worldly Affair Occurs]   

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

Rabee’ah Al-Aslami [radiyallaahu-anhu] narrated, “I used to serve the Messenger of Allaah [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], so he gave me a piece of land and gave Abu Bakr 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!’ Then 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. So, he said to me, ‘O Rabee’ah! Say in return to me what I said to you so that it becomes a retribution’. I said, ‘I will not do so!’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Say it, or I will call the Messenger of Allaah on you!’ I said, ‘I will not do so’. So Abu Bakr abandoned the piece of land and went to the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and I followed him.  The people from [the tribe of] Aslam came and said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on Abu Bakr! Why would he call the Messenger of Allaah on you when he has said to you what he has said?’ So 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 [sallal laahu-alayhi wasallam], and he is the elder of the Muslims! So beware that he turns around and see you helping me against him and it makes him angry, then the Messenger of Allaah [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] comes along and become angry because of Abu Bakr’s anger, and then Allaah 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.’ So Abu Bakr went to the Messenger of Allah and I followed him by myself and continued until he got to the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] 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?’ So I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! 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 be would be a retribution’. So the Messenger of Allaah said, ‘Do not return his comment to him, rather say ‘May Allaah forgive you O Abu Bakr! May Allaah forgive you O Abu Bakr!’ So Abu Bakr turned his face and began to cry’”.

Beneficial Reminders From This Hadeeth By Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah]

This hadeeth contains an amazing story from which we can take an exhortation and a lesson. Firstly, it is a proof regarding the purity of the hearts of the Sahaabah towards one another, and that when disagreement occurred between them regarding a worldly affair, they did not boycott one another – neither harboured resentment nor hatred; rather one gave sincere advice to the other.

This story shows 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 wished that such punishment is received in this worldly life and not the afterlife.

This story shows the virtue of AbuBakr [radiyallaahu-anhu] – his status in the eyes of the Sahaabah,  in the eyes of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and also in the sight of Allaah, for indeed the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] use to hold him in high esteem and raised him to his rightful status, just as Allaah stated in the Qur’aan: [إِذۡ هُمَا فِى ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا‌ۖ – The second of two, when they were in the cave, and he [Muhammad (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)] said to his companion [Abu Bakr (radiyallaahu-anhu)], “Be not sad [or afraid], surely Allaah is with us”. [Surah At-tawbah. Aayah 40]

AbuBakr [radiyallaahu-anhu] was the Prophet’s [sallal-laahu-alayhi- wasallam] companion in the cave. He is the most virtuous person in the Ummah after the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] based on the consensus of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah – past and present. Indeed, the Prophet [sallal laahu- alayhi wasallam] said to some of his companions regarding AbuBakr’s [radiyallaahu-anhu] affair, “Would you not leave my companion for me” – meaning AbuBakr [i.e. refrain from annoying or harming AbuBakr (radiyallaahu-anhu)] [Bukhari 3661]

This story shows the virtue of being forgiving and pardoning the one who wrongs you when you are able to do so and based on [a lawful and overriding] benefit, for indeed being forgiving and pardoning others will not increase you in anything except honour and a higher status in the sight of Allaah.

This story also shows that the companions of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] were not infallible. Mistakes did occur from them unintentionally, but they were a people whom Allaah favoured with the companionship of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], and they did not persist upon mistakes as it is seen in this story. Indeed, disagreement did occur between them [ref 1], but they humbled themselves to the truth- neither repelled the truth with falsehood nor indulged in oppression; rather they hastened to Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] to resolve the [disagreements] that occurred between them. The Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] resolved those issues and all of them were pleased with the judgement and submitted with full submission.

This story shows the virtue of supplicating for others, especially for the one who wronged you. So, you supplicate for him that [Allaah] rectifies his affairs and forgives him, for indeed you have an angel who says, “Aameen and may Allaah grant you the same”. Therefore, one should be eager for this!

This story shows that to fulfil the rights of the people in this worldly life is better than leaving the affair until the day of judgement when none will  pardon another person, even if such person is the closest relative to him.

This story shows the virtue of Rabee’ah Al-Aslami [radiyallaahu-anhu] who advised his companions that neither should they be his supporters nor argue on his behalf against AbuBakr [radiyallaahu-anhu], because he knew the status of AbuBakr [radiyallaahu-anhu] in the sight of Allaah and the Messenger.

What do we derive as benefit from this story:

We should pardon and maintain love for one another when disagreement occurs between us regarding an affair of the Dunyaa. A person should be eager to give people their rights and also seek the forgiveness of the one he disputed with. [An Excerpt from ‘At-taleeqaat Al-maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah. Pages 42-44. Slightly paraphrased]

Ref: Differing Amongst The Sahaabah:

https://safeshare.tv/x/ss5d4fde1296604#

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/tolerated-differing-and-impermissible-differing-in-islaam/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2014/02/part-3-a-reply-to-asim-al-hakeems-nonsense-the-sahaabah-differed-in-aqeedah/

How Did The True Believers Amongst Bani Israa’eel Obtain Upright Leadership?!

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).” [Sajdah: Ayah:24]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said: Allaah informed us that upright leadership in the religion is obtained through patience and certainty. Patience repels lowly desires and corrupt wishes, and certainty repels doubts and those [views, beliefs, desires, opinions etc] that resemble the truth but are falsehood in reality. [An Excerpt from Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah: page:323 Vol:2. slightly paraphrased]

The Students of Hadeeth Should Strive to Be The Best In Behaviour!

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

It is necessary (or crucial) that the seekers of Hadeeth should have the most perfect [behaviour, manners, etiquettes etc] amongst the people, be the most humble amongst the people, the greatest in their impartiality and adherence to the religion, the least in (deviating from good conduct) and (being overcome with) anger, because they constantly listen to the narrations that gathers the excellent manners and etiquettes of Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], the lives of the virtuous pious predecessors, the path of the scholars of Hadeeth and the virtues of the (pious ones and scholars) who have passed away; so they adhere to the purest and excellent (aspects of those traits, etiquettes, manners etc) and turn away from the most despised and lowly [(raits, behaviour, manners, etiquettes etc). [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 1/78. By Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

Judges Are Three Types – [One Promised Paradise and Two Threatened With Hell]

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

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullah] said:

When it is the case that the [true] followers of the Prophets are people of knowledge and justice, then the speech of the people of Islaam and the Sunnah about the disbelievers and people of bidah is to be [carried out] with knowledge and justice, and not [based on] conjecture and the soul’s desire. And due to this, the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi wasallam] said, “Judges are three types; one will go to Paradise and two to Hell. A man who knows the truth and judges with it will enter paradise; a man who knows the truth but judges with the opposite of it will enter the fire, and a man who judges for the people based on ignorance will enter the fire’’. [Reported by Imaam Abu Dawud and others]

And when it is the case that the one who judges between the people in [affairs] of wealth, blood [i.e. murder cases etc] and honour will enter the hell fire if he is not a just scholar, then what about the one who passes judgements without knowledge-such being the case with ahlul bidah- on religions, the fundamental principles of Imaan, affairs of knowledge related to Allaah, His Names, Attributes and Actions, and the lofty affairs of knowledge?!’’

[Al-Jawaabus Saheeh 1/107-108]

 

 

Relationship Between Grandparents And Grandchildren

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

The questioner asks: A relative of mine has children and those children neither sit with their grandmother nor do they visit her except occasionally, and the excuse they give is that she is harsh towards them. Her son is the only one who sits with her, so is this [i.e. behaviour of her grandchildren] permissible?

Answer: It is obligated on them to sit with her and make her happy because she is their grandmother. She is like their mother, so it is obligated on them to treat her with kindness and this is part of maintaining the ties of kinship. It is obligated on her son to nurture his children upon this [i.e. to keep the ties of kinship], deal kindly and softly with their grandmother. Likewise it is obligated on the grandmother to be gentle towards these children and not to be harsh towards them if what the children say is true. Abdullaah Ibn Amr [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “He (or she) is not one of us, who does not respect our elders and is not merciful to our youngsters”. [Reported by Imam Ahmad]

[Source: Fadaa’il Al- A’maal page 19’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

Ahlus Sunnah Refute a Mukhaalif Solely Due to His Deviations And They Refrain From Personal Attacks!

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

Al-Allaamah Ubaid Al-Jaabiri [may Allaah preserve him] said: When they [i.e. Ahlus Sunnah] speak against anyone amongst the people, it is not due to his lineage, tallness, shortness or specific traits etc. This does not hold any value in their view. They speak against a Mukhaalif [i.e. the one in opposition to the truth] due to the corruptness of his methodology. They speak against the [deviated] groups and individuals who are in opposition- not because of their personalities; rather due to their deviation from guidance, the true religion, the path of the believers [i.e. the Sahaabah] and the [authentic] Sunnah of the leader of the Messengers [i.e. Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]


[Source: An Excerpt from ‘It-haaf Ulul Basar Bit-Taleeqaat Alaa Risaalah Al-Amr Bil Ma’roof Wan-Nahyi Anil Munkar’ page 17-18. Slightly paraphrased]