Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah):
If your heart is distressed and troubled, then (know) there is nothing that will calm it other than the remembrance of Allah.
Madaarij as-Saalikeen v.2 pg.480
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِى كِتَٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ
And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus, grave, etc.) All is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz – the Book of Decrees with Allah). [Surah Hud. Ayah 6]
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنَ ٱلْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ
أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَٰتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
And they said, “Why was this Qur’an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?” Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass. [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Ayaat 31-32]
The French Mulhid said:
The first thing the French Mulhidoon should consider is that they have a Lord who has allotted provision for all living things on the earth until the day of judgement.
Second, the French Mulhid should follow the path established by our Lord in our dealings with the rich and the poor. Imaam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “People’s goals and policies on wealth and poverty differ due to their own interests and are not based on adherence to the truth and consideration of the broader public good. Because they did not follow the teachings of the Islamic religion, they all erred (and missed) the path that would lead to beneficial outcomes- their ideas differed, and they behaved accordingly, resulting in widespread evil and great strife between those claiming to support the poor and workers and those clinging to riches and wealth. They have a lengthy discussion on this subject, and all of it amounts to error and misguidance, and Allah has guided the believers to the right path in all of their affairs, including this one.
All praise is due to Allah; the Islamic Shari’ah came to rectify the rich and poor, and when Allah [The Exalted] decreed that individuals among humans and Jinn would have varied social statuses – among them the rich, the poor, the one with a high social standing, and the one with a lower social status – based on a great judgement and underlying reasons that are too precise to describe, He then established a strong relationship amongst them, with some given authority over others, mutual exchange established, and some in need of others. The All-Wise Law Giver – [The One completely Wise in everything He decrees, and completely Wise in His Sayings, and completely Wise in His Actions, and there is no deficiency in anything He decrees, says, or does] – first ordained that they be brothers and not to take personal advantage of each other; but rather He instructed each of them to fulfil what they owed to the other, so achieving social harmony and the necessities of life.
Islam obligated Zakat from the wealth of the rich based on what is stated regarding its details in the divine revelation. It made spending a means of meeting the needs of the poor and achieving religious well-being, which secures both worldly and religious affairs; encourages kind behaviour at all times and on all occasions, obligated to meet the needs of the needy, feeding the hungry, providing clothing for those without enough clothing, and paying for the necessities of the destitute. It also obligates specific expenditure on family and children, as well as on matters relating to their affairs, as well as the discharge of all obligations related to the mutual interactions that occur between people. Furthermore, Islam commanded them not to rely entirely on their strength and power in pursuing earnings, nor to regard what they possess as a source of (permanent) tranquillity and stability; instead, they should focus on obedience to Allah, acknowledge Allah’s favours, Allah’s facilitation of ease, seeking Allah’s assistance, and thanking Allah for the wealth and prosperity He has bestowed upon them over others.
Allah commanded them to stay within the confines of Halaal and Haraam, and not to overindulge in luxury and excess in a way that affects their morals, riches, and overall state of affairs, rather, they should do what Allah says in Surah Al-Furqan, Ayah 67: [والذين إذا أنفقوا لم يسرفوا ولم يقتروا وكان بين ذلك قواما – And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes)].
Furthermore, Allah commanded them to pursue wealth and worldly things in an honourable and honest manner, so that they are not tainted with evil gains, such as usury, gambling, swindling, fraud, or deception; rather, they should adhere to the divine revelation’s ordainments in their dealings, just as they do in their personal acts of worship. And Allah commanded them to treat the poor with mercy and benevolence, rather than cruelty, harshness, selfishness, boastfulness, insolence, and pride. As a result of these wise instructions, religious well-being becomes the highest level of honour and perfection, and wealth acquires a praiseworthy description, a perfect attribute, sublimity, and loftiness, because the divine revelation refined and purified it, exhorts one to avoid vices, and urges one to acquire virtues (i.e. virtues mentioned in the divine revelation).
Islam commanded the poor and everyone else who fails to achieve their personal wish to be patient, accept Allah’s decree, acknowledge that Allah is All-Wise, possesses perfect judgement, and (All-Wise in) His disposal of all affairs and that there are various benefits in this (for a person). Allah stated:
وعسى أن تكرهوا شيئا وهو خير لكم وعسى أن تحبوا شيئا وهو شر لكم والله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمون
And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 216]
This belief of theirs removes the sadness that would have entered the hearts, leading to helplessness and sloth! Then Allah commanded them that they should not seek to alleviate their poverty and meet their needs by relying on others or asking them unless it is unavoidable and required, and that they use a variety of activities and means that Allah has provided as a means of eradicating poverty- each person preoccupied with the means that are best for oneself and their circumstances. This helps to release a person from total dependency, develops strength, promotes activity, and combats lethargy and apathy, but also not envy the wealthy because of what Allah has bestowed on them. Allah said:
ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن واسألوا الله من فضله إن الله كان بكل شيء عليما
And covet not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah for His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 32]
Allah commanded them to be truthful in their work, dealings, and crafts, and not to rush in pursuing their livelihood by indulging in vile gains, which deprives a person of an upright adherence to the religion as well as corrupting worldly affairs. Allah commanded them to do two things that would help them while enduring the hardship of poverty: economise and be satisfied with what Allah has bestowed on them, (because) little sustenance combined with wise economisation (suffices) a lot. Contentment is an unlimited resource and richness without wealth! Many poor individuals are blessed with contentment and the ability to economise, neither pining for what the wealthy possess nor feeling bitter about their meagre sustenance. When poor people are guided by the guidance of the religion of Islam to exercise patience and attach themselves to Allah, freed from abject dependence, work hard and strive for honourable and beneficial deeds, and be satisfied with Allah’s grace, the burden and difficulty of poverty will be eased for them. Furthermore, they continue to work towards self-sufficiency (and to acquire more provision) while hoping for the bounty of their Lord, awaiting His promise and fearing Him.
Allah said:
ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسب
And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
Allah said:
ومن يتوكل على الله فهو حسبه
And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. [Surah At-Talaaq. Ayaat 2-3] (1)
Third, we remind the French Mulhid what Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him] stated as follows: “According to biased and indoctrinated scientists, who are educated in Western universities and institutions funded by their governments and huge multi-national companies, another cause of poverty is population growth in countries that cannot afford to feed the extra mouths. This however is a false notion, since the world has enough farmland, resources, water, cattle, fish, and wild game to support entire nations and continents. The European colonialist powers spent many centuries (400 to 500 years) conquering Asia, Africa, the Far East, the Americas, and elsewhere, and they stripped the natural resources of those conquered lands – then they took the natural resources, wealth, and humans (as slaves), and built their industrial revolution on that plundered wealth on the back of wealth and human resource they pillaged unjustly from others. Today, when those nations wish to build their economies, strengthen their independence, increase their populations, and build their defenses in order to make their nations strong, they are prevented through international treaties related to health and social engineering, goods embargos, tariffs, climate-control measures, etc. Then they are told that they are poor because their nations have too many mouths to feed! The reality, however, is that the African continent and other regions across Allah’s world have enough land, fertile pastures, animals, mineral wealth, oil, gas, iron ore, copper, gold and silver, etc., to be able to feed employ and their nations”. https://abukhadeejah.com/the-causes-of-poverty-in-light-of-climate-change-population-growth-and-other-factors-part-ii-ethics-2-4/
Finally, we remind the French Mulhid that we should not make this worldly existence our primary preoccupation. Allah said:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدۡخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوً۬ى لَّهُمۡ
Certainly! Allah will admit those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their abode. [Surah Muhammad. Ayah 12]
Meaning, they eat and are heedless of the consequences of their final affair (2); enjoy their worldly life and eat therein like animals, munching and gnawing (with overindulgence), whilst having no concern other than that (3); animals eat and drink, and they are not aware of tomorrow; likewise the disbeliever does not give thought to the Hereafter (4); their utmost concern is to enjoy themselves with the pleasures of this worldly life and its desires, so you find that both their apparent and hidden pursuits revolve around this. (5)
https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2022/03/20/three-traits-of-some-of-the-globalists-those-afflicted-with-an-intense-desire-for-control/
We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ
O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if life is good for me, and let me die if death is good for me; O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public, and I ask You (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger, and I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty, and I ask you for blessings that never ceases, and I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends, and I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree; Aand I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity etc) after death; I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me); O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Eemaan, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). (6)
To be continued InShaaAllah
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Ad-Deenus Saheeh Yahillu Jamee al-Mashaakil (The right religion is the answer to every problem)-Pages 9-10. slightly paraphrased]
Ref 2: An Excerpt from Roohul Ma’aanee By Imaam Al-Aloosee.
Ref 3: An Excerpt from Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer ibn Katheer
Ref 4: An Excerpt from Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi
Ref 5: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
Ref 6: https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
False contextualisation of an Ayah in Surah Hud in reference to Shaikh Abu Khadeejah’s critique of Muhammad Abdur Razzaaq
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth while you know (the truth).
[Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 42]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said:
Allah forbade (us) from mixing truth with falsehood and thus leading to the concealment of the truth. Mixing truth with false is by mixing the two until one of them is confused with the other. This is forgery and deceit by way of which what is made apparent is the opposite of what it is in reality. Likewise, when the truth is confounded with falsehood, the culprit manifests falsehood in the image of truth and speaks with a statement that carries two meanings- a correct meaning and a false meaning, so the listener is under the illusion that the speaker intends the correct meaning, whilst he intends the corrupt meaning. (1)
While attempting to twist reality, mix truth with untruth, and conceal the truth, Abu Makkah [may Allah guide him] employed another false analogy -under the cover of knowledge, proof, and sound extrapolation – to portray Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him] as an extreme oppressor!
Abu Makkah stated:
Where is Waheed from the manners of the Noble Prophet Nuh alayhis Salaam:
وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزۡدَرِىٓ أَعۡيُنُكُمۡ لَن يُؤۡتِيَہُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيۡرًاۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡۖ
“nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is within their souls”.
When extracting benefits from the story of Nuh alayhis Salaam Shaykh as-Sadi states that: Vilifying the hearts of the believers is a trait inherited from the enemies of the Messengers.
Ibn Abdil-Barr mentions in his at-Tamheed, “They have an Ijmaa (consensus) that the rulings of this Dunya is based on the apparent and the hidden affairs is left for Allah”.
Waheed Alam should have shame on himself, pity his own heart, and repent to Allah from such a vile statement”. [End of quote]
Response:
In the above quote, Abu Makkah vehemently disputed Shaikh Abu Khadeejah’s assertion that Muhammad Abdur Razzaaq [may Allah guide him] is afflicted with a disease in the heart as a result of his false alliances with the Musaafiqah extremists and ahlul bidah. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “The diseases of the heart are two types: (I) Shubhah (a false affair that is considered or disguised as truth or reality) and Shak (doubt). (II) Shahwah (vain or unbridled desires) and Ghay (i.e. deviation from the straight path)”. (2)
Indeed, we agree with Abu Makkah that only Allah knows the secrets of the heart; however, he attempted to use this sound belief – in this particular discussion – to confound truth with falsehood, and turned a blind eye to the fact that his companion was judged based on his false alliances with Musaafiqah extremists and ahlul bidah – a classic illustration of what many of us have witnessed over the years from some of those who would affirm a mighty affair related to Aqeedah while – from what is witnessed – manifesting ulterior motives due to co-operating with ahlul bidah or defending oppressors, and thus they deliberately apply what they affirm in the wrong context. Is there any other reason Abu Makkah and Muhammad would have supported Musaafiqah extremists and collaborate with ahlul bidah besides the fact that they are either afflicted with the disease of Shubhah or Shahwa?! The only other reason would be insanity, and if that were the case, we would not have responded to Abu Makkah because the pen has been lifted from the insane. However, neither Abu Makkah nor Muhammad is insane.
According to Abu Makkah, Imaam As-Sadi stated that one of the attributes inherited from the opponents of the Messengers is that they vilify the hearts of the believers! We could not determine whether his quote from Imaam As-Sadi was in reference to the aforementioned Ayah, or if he was quoting the Imaam from elsewhere in his Tafseer, or from another book of the Imaam, or if he was citing from someone else’s annotation of the Imaam’s Tafseer, or whether he was quoting from a different print of the Imaam’s Tafseer. That because we could not find this statement of the Imaam in the explanation of this Ayah (i.e. Ayah 31, Surah Hud). Therefore, we transmit here what is found in the copy that is in our possession as follows:
وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ وَلَا أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَن يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا ۖ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ إِنِّي إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ أي: غايتي أني رسول الله إليكم، أبشركم، وأنذركم، وأما ما عدا ذلك، فليس بيدي من الأمر شيء، فليست خزائن الله عندي، أدبرها أنا، وأعطي من أشاء، وأحرم من أشاء، ( وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ ) فأخبركم بسرائركم وبواطنكم ( وَلا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ ) والمعنى: أني لا أدعي رتبة فوق رتبتي، ولا منزلة سوى المنزلة، التي أنزلني الله بها، ولا أحكم على الناس، بظني.
وَلا أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ أي: ضعفاء المؤمنين، الذين يحتقرهم الملأ الذين كفروا لَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ فإن كانوا صادقين في إيمانهم، فلهم الخير الكثير، وإن كانوا غير ذلك، فحسابهم على الله.
إِنِّي إِذًا أي: إن قلت لكم شيئا مما تقدم لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ وهذا تأييس منه، عليه الصلاة والسلام لقومه، أن ينبذ فقراء المؤمنين, أو يمقتهم، وتقنيع لقومه، بالطرق المقنعة للمنصف
And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allah, nor that I know the Ghaib (unseen); “nor do I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allah will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows what is in their inner selves (as regards belief etc). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, oppressors, etc.).
[وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزۡدَرِىٓ أَعۡيُنُكُمۡ – nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down upon]- Meaning, those believers with a lower status in society about whom the chiefs – who disbelieved – look down upon; [لَن يُؤۡتِيَہُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيۡرًاۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡۖ – that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is within their souls]- Meaning, if they are sincere in their faith, they will receive abundant good, but if not, then their reckoning is with Allah. [إِنِّىٓ إِذً۬ا – In that case]- Meaning, if I were to say to you any of the things mentioned (i.e. that with me are Allah’s Treasures, I know the unseen, I am an angel, or that those believers you look down upon will not be bestowed any good), [لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ – I should, indeed be one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, oppressors, etc.)]. [end of quote]
Observation a: We could not find the statement transmitted by Abu Makkah from Imaam As-Sadi regarding opponents of the Messengers vilifying the hearts of the believers, but maybe it is found elsewhere, and Allah knows best.
Observation b: This Ayah does not support the point Abu Makkah was desperately attempting to make about Shaikh Abu Khadeejah’s criticism of Muhammad Abdur Razzaaq, whether or not he mentioned any references. Imaam Ibn Al-Qaayim [may Allah have mercy upon him] quoted Az-Zujaaj [may Allah have mercy upon him] as follows: [وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزۡدَرِىٓ أَعۡيُنُكُمۡ لَن يُؤۡتِيَہُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيۡرًاۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡۖ – nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down upon that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is within their souls]- Meaning, “If you claim that they simply follow me without thinking, then I don’t need to observe what’s going on in their hearts. If I observe someone singling out Allah in worship, I will deal with them based on what I see and delegate knowledge of what is in their souls to Allah”. (3)
Indeed, what is absolutely clear from this Ayah is that the poor believers were scorned and their Imaan was vilified when they performed good deeds and obeyed Prophet Nuh [peace be upon him]. As a result, this circumstance cannot be comparable to that of a person who purposefully opposes the Sunnah by collaborating with ahlul bidah and supporting Musaafiqah extremists, implying that such a person is either afflicted with Shubhah or Shahwah- the two diseases of the heart!
Amazing is Abu Makkah’s situation, for he defends someone who does something terribly wrong, but when that person is rebuked and warned of the consequences, he argues that people are vilifying his heart! Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab [may Allah be pleased with him] and will quote it again as follows: “People were (sometimes) judged by the revealing of a Divine revelation during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger but now there is no longer any more (new revelation). Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly, so we will trust and favour the one who does good deeds in front of us, and we will not call him to account about what he is really doing in secret, because Allah will judge him for that; but we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good”. [Saheeh Bukhaari. Number 2641]
Indeed, Abu Makkah [may Allah rectify his affair and distance him from deception] uses the Ayah (Hud 31) out of context in reference to Shaikh Abu Khadeejah’s critique of Muhammad Abdur Razzaaq, whose blameworthy and false affiliations are as visible as the midday sun.
To be continued…InShaaAllah
Ref 1: An Excerpt from “Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim. 1/124
Ref 2: An Excerpt from “At-Tib An-Nabawiy” page 3 with comments by Al-Allaamah Muhammad Haamid Al-Faqee (may Allah have mercy upon him)
Ref 3: An Excerpt from “Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim. 2/54
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيڪُمُ ٱلۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
وَيُسَبِّحُ ٱلرَّعۡدُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ مِنۡ خِيفَتِهِۦ وَيُرۡسِلُ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِہَا مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُمۡ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡمِحَا
It is He who shows you the lightning, as a fear and as a hope. And it is He Who brings up (or originates) the clouds, heavy (with water). And Ar-Ra’d (thunder) glorifies and praises Him, and so do the angels because of His Awe, He sends the thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills, yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah. And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment. [Surah Ar-Ra’d. Ayaat 12-13]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “When Abdullah Ibn Az-Zubayr [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] used to hear thunder, he would stop speaking and then say:
سُبْحانَ الَّذِي يُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ، وَالمَلائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيْفَتِهِ
Glorified be One and free is He from all imperfection, Whom the thunder glorifies and praises Him, and so do the angels because of His Awe. [Declared authentic by Imaam Al-Albaanee in Al-Kalim At-Tayyib 157]
Imam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated:
“It is He who shows you the lightning, as fear and as a hope”- Meaning, fear of the thunderbolts, destruction, and various types of harm to the crops and what is similar to them. And hoping for its good and benefits. “And it is He Who brings up (or originates) the clouds”– Meaning, heavy rain that benefits the people and the land. “And Ar-Ra’d (thunder) glorifies and praises Him”- Meaning, the sound that is heard from the clouds which makes the people terrified is under the absolute control of its Lord and glorifies and praises Him. “And so do the angels because of His Awe”- Meaning, they glorify and praise their Lord with a fear that is founded upon knowledge of the greatness of the One whom they fear (i.e. Allaah), and the complete and perfect Sovereignty and Dominion that is His.
And when it is the fact that He alone is the One Who gives rain to the servants and the clouds which is a source of their provision and that He alone is the One in absolute control of everything, and all the mighty creations – which people fear and leaves them in a state of uneasiness – are under His control, and He is the One Mighty in Power, then He alone is the One who has the right to be worshipped without partner. This is why He said in the following verse:
لَهُ ۥ دَعۡوَةُ ٱلۡحَقِّۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬
For Him (Alone) is the Word of Truth (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He). And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke, answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not, and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use). [Surah Ar-Ra’d. Verse 14]
Allah [The Most High] alone has the right to be worshipped. One’s acts of worship have to be carried out sincerely for the sake of Allah [The Exalted] and likewise, Allah alone has the right to be invoked when one seeks the fulfillment of a specific need. Allah alone has the right to be loved [i.e. the love that necessitates that a person devotes all acts of worship to Allah alone].
Allah alone has the right to be worshipped with Al-Kawf [Fear (1)]; Ar-Rajaa [Hope and longing (2)]; Ar-Raghbah [Fervent Desire (3)]; Ar-Rahbah [Dread (4)] and Al-Inaabah [turning to Allah in repentance (5)]. That is because Allaah alone is the possessor of all the Names and Attributes of perfection – [and free is He from all imperfections, deficiencies, weaknesses, similarities, co-equals, faults, shortcomings etc] – which makes Him the only deity worthy of worship. Any other thing taken as a deity besides Him is false.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ
And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke cannot respond to them with a thing]- Meaning: The idols and false deities that are associate as partners with Allah in worship cannot respond with a thing to those who invoke and worship them- neither can they respond to their requests in this life nor in the afterlife;
إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ
No more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not.
This is an excellent similitude regarding the invocation of the one who invokes other than Allah, for he is like one who stretches his hand at the edge of a deep well [to get some] water, even though it is impossible to reach it by doing so. This is the case regarding the one who invokes false deities besides Allah because he will not reach his goal. Allaah said in another Ayah:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ عَنۡہَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمۡ أَبۡوَٲبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلۡجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلۡخِيَاطِۚ وَڪَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
Verily, those who belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.). [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verse 40]
وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬
And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use)]: Meaning: They invoke false deities; therefore their invocation is tantamount to misguidance. As for Allaah, He is the True King of the entire creation and the only deity worthy of worship, therefore, to worship Him alone is the truth and it is what will definitely benefit a person in this life and the next. [Source: An Excerpt from Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahman Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]
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Footnotes:
Ref 1: Al-Kawf [Fear]: Fear is to be frightened and is a result of expecting something which will bring about destruction, harm or injury, and Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, forbade having fear of the allies of the Satan, and He commanded fear of Himself alone. Fear is of three types: (i) Natural fear, such as a person’s fear of predatory animals, fire, or drowning. This is something for which a person is not to be blamed. Allaah, the Most High, said about Moosaa, “So he entered in the morning in Pharaoh’s city in a state of fear, awaiting events.” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 18] However if this fear is, as mentioned by the author, a cause of his leaving an obligation or doing something forbidden, then it is forbidden. Since whatever causes an obligation to be abandoned, or causes something forbidden to be done is itself forbidden (haraam). The evidence here is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are truly Believers.” [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):175] Furthermore fear of Allaah, the Most High, is sometimes something praiseworthy, and is sometimes something that is not praiseworthy. It is praiseworthy when it prevents you from being disobedient to Allaah, and causes you to fulfil the obligatory duties and to avoid what is forbidden. So if this goal is reached, then the heart settles and is at peace, and is dominated by joy at the blessings of Allaah and hope for His reward. It is something that is not praiseworthy when it causes a person to despair of Allaah’s Mercy and to give up hope altogether. In such a case the person will give up and may continue in sin due to the fact that he totally gives up hope. (ii) Reverential fear, that he fears something and takes that as his religion. This is to be for Allaah, the Most High, alone. Directing such reverential fear to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is major shirk. (iii) Secret supernatural fear, such as fearing someone buried in a grave, or a person thought to be pious, who is far away and cannot affect him, yet still he has secret fear for him. This is also mentioned by the scholars as being a case of shirk. The evidence for hope and longing (ar-rajaa) is the Saying of Allaah the Most High: “So whoever hopes to see His Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him” [71] [Soorah al-Kahf (18):110]. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]
Ref 2: Ar- Rajaa [Hope and longing] is that a person wishes for something that may be attained and is close, and it may be something that is far off but treated as being something close. This earnest hope which comprises humility and submission may not be directed except to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and directing it to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is shirk. This shirk will either be lesser shirk or major shirk depending upon the state of the heart of the person in this case. The author uses as evidence the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So whoever hopes to see His Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him.” [Soorah al-Kahf (18):11O] ‘Hope’ which is praiseworthy is only that which is found in a person who acts in obedience to Allaah and hopes for reward from Him, or a person who repents from sin and hopes that his repentance is accepted. As for a person who hopes despite the fact that he does not act, then this is delusion and false hopes, and is something blameworthy. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]
Ref 3: Ar-Raghbah [Fervent Desire] and Ref 4: Ar-Rahbah [Dread]: Ar-Raghbah is the love and desire to reach that which is beloved. Ar-Rahbah is fear which causes one to flee away from the cause of fear. So it is a fear that is accompanied by action. Allaah [The Most High] said: [إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبً۬ا وَرَهَبً۬اۖ وَڪَانُواْ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ – They used to hasten to acts of devotion and obedience to Allaah, and they used to worship Allaah upon love and desire, and upon fear, and were reverent and humble before Allaah] [21:90]
In this noble Ayah, Allaah, the Most High, describes the most loyal and sincere of His servants as worshipping Allaah, the Most High, upon raghbah and rahbah, whist being humble and submissive to Him. The du’aa (invocation) here covers both invoking Allaah through acts of worship, and supplication. So they call upon Allaah out of earnest desire for what is with Him, and hoping for His reward, whilst also fearing His punishment as a result of their sins. So the Believer should hasten to Allaah, the Most High, upon fear and earnest desire; with regard to actions of obedience his hope and earnest desire should predominate, so that he is keen to perform them and hopes that they will be accepted; and with regard to whenever he thinks of committing a sin, then fear should predominate so that he will flee away from doing it and be saved from its consequent punishment. Some scholars say that the aspect of hope should pre-dominate when a person is ill, and the aspect of fear when he is well. They say this since a person who is ill feels subdued and weakened and it may be that his appointed time is near, so that he may die, and he should do so whilst thinking good of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. But when healthy he is energetic and has hope of remaining for a long time, and this may lead him to be exuberant and carefree, so fear should predominate in order to be safe from that. It is also said that the earnest hope and fear should be equal so that his hope does not lead him to feel safe from Allaah, and his fear does not cause him to despair of Allaah’s mercy, since both of these are evil and cause a person’s destruction. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]
Ref 4: Ar-Rahbah: [وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ – And have dread of Me]. And it is a type of Khawf (fear). Ar-Rahbah and Al-Khawf have one and the same meaning.
Ref 5: Al-Inaabah [turning to Allaah in repentance]: Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ – So turn, O you people, repentantly and obediently to your Lord, and submit obediently to Him] [39:54]
Al-Inaabah is to turn to Allaah, the Most High, in obedience, and avoiding disobedience to Him, and its meaning is close to that of repentance (tawbah), except that it is more subtle in meaning, and conveys the sense of dependence upon Allaah and fleeing for refuge to Him, and it cannot be except for Allaah. What is meant by the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “…submit obediently to Him” is: Islaam as prescribed and required of us in the Sharee’ah and that is to submit to the laws and commandments of Allaah. This is because submission to Allaah, the Most High, is of two types: (i) Submission of all the creation, which is to submit to whatever He has decreed should exist and occur in the creation about which the creation has no choice. So this is general and covers everyone in the heavens and the earth, the Believers and the unbelievers, the righteous and the wicked. No one can possibly disdain and depart from this. The evidence for it is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “And to Him everyone in the heavens and the earth submit, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him you will all be returned.” [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):83] (ii) Submission to the laws and prescriptions of Islaam, and this is to submit in obedience. This is particular to those who are obedient to Allaah, the Messengers and those who follow them upon good. The evidences for this in the Qur’aan are many, and from them is the Aayah mentioned by the author [Soorah az-Zumar (39): 5] [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Shaikh Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
A Reminder to Those Who Rely On The Protection of Militant Secularists Who Deceive and Shelter Them to Disrespect The Qur’an In The Name of Free Speech
Allah [The Exalted] said:
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡعَنڪَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتۡ بَيۡتً۬اۖ وَإِنَّ أَوۡهَنَ ٱلۡبُيُوتِ لَبَيۡتُ ٱلۡعَنڪَبُوتِۖ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ –
The likeness of those who take Awliya’ (protectors and helpers) other than Allah is as the likeness of a spider, who builds (for itself) a house, but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house, if they but knew]. [Surah Al-Ankabut. Verse 41]
Allah stated that they are weak and that those whom they regard as protectors and helpers are weaker than they are. In light of their frailty and their goal behind taking others as protectors and helpers other than Allah, they are similar to a spider who builds a house that is the frailest and weakest of houses. According to this parable, the polytheists become considerably weaker when they accept others as protectors and helpers besides Allah, and they do not gain (anything) from those they take as protectors and helpers besides Allah, just as Allah (stated in another verse):
وَٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً۬ لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمۡ عِزًّ۬ا
كَلَّاۚ سَيَكۡفُرُونَ بِعِبَادَتِہِمۡ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ضِدًّا
And they have taken (for worship) Aaliha (gods) besides Allah, that they might give them honour, power and glory (and also protect them from Allah’s Punishment etc.). Nay, but they (the so-called gods) will deny their worship of them, and become opponents to them (on the Day of Resurrection).
And Allah [The Most High] said:
وَٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً۬ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ
لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ نَصۡرَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُمۡ جُندٌ۬ مُّحۡضَرُونَ
And they have taken besides Allah Aaliha (gods), hoping that they might be helped (by those so-called gods). They cannot help them, but they will be brought forward as a troop against those who worshipped them (at the time of Reckoning). [Surah Yaa Seen. Verses 74-75]
And after mentioning the destruction of the nations of the Mushrikoon, Allah said:
وَمَا ظَلَمۡنَـٰهُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَہُمۡۖ فَمَآ أَغۡنَتۡ عَنۡہُمۡ ءَالِهَتُہُمُ ٱلَّتِى يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬ لَّمَّا جَآءَ أَمۡرُ رَبِّكَۖ وَمَا زَادُوهُمۡ غَيۡرَ تَتۡبِيبٍ۬
We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. So their Aaliha (gods), other than Allah, whom they invoked, profited them naught when there came the Command of your Lord, nor did they add aught (to their lot) but destruction. [Surah Hud. Verse 101]
These four verses in the Qur’an demonstrate that the one who seeks protectors and helpers other than Allah–through whom he wants to empower himself, act arrogantly, and prevail–will achieve nothing but the contrary, and there is much more regarding this matter throughout the Qur’an. This is one of the finest parables and clearest evidence of the falsity of Shirk and the deprivation of the one who commits Shirk, and that he will achieve the reverse of what he seeks. (1)
Allah gave this similitude about those who worship others besides Him, seeking honour, strength, and benefit by way of that, however, Allah says that the affair is the polar opposite of the goal they desire since they are similar to a spider that constructs a house to shelter itself from the heat, cold, and injury; but the spider’s house is the frailest and weakest of all dwellings. The spider is one of those weak animals, and its house is one of the weakest of homes, and building its house does little to improve its strength beyond that. The same is true for those who take protectors and helpers other than Allah; they are in need and powerless to do anything when they take protectors and helpers other than Allah to seek honour and assistance through them; as a result, they exacerbate their weakness and feebleness by relying on them in many of their affairs related to their well-being and entrusting it to them, however, the (so-called protectors and helpers) desert them, so they do not obtain anything, not even the tiniest benefit. They would not have taken them (as protectors and helps besides Allah) if they had been aware of the reality of knowledge, their situation, and that of those whom they consider to be protectors and helpers besides Allah. Rather, they would have freed themselves from them and taken Allah as their Protector and Helper- the Lord Who is able to do all things, the One Who Bestows His Special Mercy on the Believers; Who – when a servant takes Him as his Protector and an Ally, He suffices him, looks after both his religious and worldly affairs, increases him in strength upon strength in his heart [i.e. Iman], his body [i.e. grant him the ability to seek after what is beneficial] (2)
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-tafseer Al-Jaami Lima Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim. Vol 2. Page299-300. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Most High] said:
قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ وَيَقُولُ أَيۡنَ شُرَڪَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمۡ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيہِمۡۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ إِنَّ ٱلۡخِزۡىَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ
Those before them indeed plotted, but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and will say: “Where are My (so-called) ‘partners’ concerning whom you used to disagree and dispute (with the believers, by defying and disobeying Allah)?” Those who have been given the knowledge (about the Torment of Allah for the disbelievers) will say: “Verily! Disgrace this Day and misery are upon the disbelievers. [Surah An-Nahl. Ayaat 26-27]
[قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ – Those before them indeed plotted]: Meaning, conspired against their Messengers, used various techniques to reject what the messengers conveyed, and initiated robust safeguards (by way of arguments, and opinions) around their plots.
[فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ – but Allah struck at the foundation of their building]– Meaning, an affair came to them from its basis and foundation; [فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ – and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them] – Meaning, as a result, what they constructed became a form of punishment for them. [وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive]: Meaning, that is because they thought that such a structure would benefit and protect them from punishment, yet their punishment came as a result of what they built and established.
This is one of the best parables about how Allah foils His enemies’ plots, because they pondered and reflected on what the Messengers brought when they belied them, made up principles and rules for it based on falsehood, and referred back to them to reject what the Messengers brought, utilised tricks to cause discomfort to the Messengers and harm to those who followed them, but their plot became a source of evil against them, so their plan became their destruction, since their plot was evil, as Allah stated: [ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. [Surah Faatir: Ayah: 43]
This is in this life, and the punishment in the afterlife would be even more shameful, therefore Allah said: [ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ – Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them]. (1)
Allah [The Exalted] said: [وَقَدۡ مَكَرُواْ مَڪۡرَهُمۡ – Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allah]- Meaning, the nations of old and their schemes that were tantamount to Shirk, or those who plotted to murder the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). [وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ – and their plot was with Allah]– Meaning, their plot has been recorded in order for Allah to punish them. [وَإِن كَانَ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ لِتَزُولَ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ – though their plot was a great (one, still) it would never be able to remove the mountains]. Az-Zujaaj said, “Even if their plot was so severe that it could move a mountain, they would still be unable to put an end to Islam”. (2) “Even if their plot becomes powerful enough to move a mountain, Allah will nonetheless support the religion He has established”. (3)
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer. By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi]
[Ref 3: Fat-hul Qadeer. 3/160]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
And thus do We explain the signs (to you O Muḥammad) in detail, and so that the way of the criminals may become evident (to you)] [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 55] (1)
Imam Ibn Katheer [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated regarding this Ayah: “Allah [The Exalted] stated that just as He explained what was previously explained of the arguments and evidence on the path of guidance and sound judgement, and censured argumentation and stubbornness; likewise He explains the signs (proofs, evidences, lessons), which those being addressed are in need of; [ولتستبين سبيل المجرمين – and so that the way of the criminals may become evident (to you)]. Meaning, so that the path of the criminals – those who oppose the Messengers – may become evident”. (2)
Imam At-Tabari [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated regarding the statement of Allah: [وكذلك نفصل الآيات – And thus do We explain the signs (to you O Muḥammad) in detail]- Meaning, O Muhammad! Just as We have detailed for you in this Surah – from its beginning and introduction up to this point – our proofs and evidences against the idolaters and worshippers of images, and distinguished and clarified it for you; likewise, We explain to you our signs and evidences for every truth denied by the people of falsehood, the sects and other than them, until its truth is distinguished from its falsehood, and its right is distinguished from its wrong. (3)
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَا يَأۡتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِيرًا
And they bring no (argument or objection by way of a) similitude (to criticise this Qur’ān and oppose your message) except that We bring you the truth and the better explanation thereof (through a similitude that is superior to theirs, provides detail and invalidates their objection). (4)
[وَلَا يَأۡتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ – And they bring no (argument or objection by way of a) similitude]- Meaning, by which they (attempt) to oppose and repel the truth as well as your message; [إِلَّا جِئۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِيرًا – except that We bring you the truth and the better explanation thereof (through a similitude that is superior to theirs, provides detail and invalidates their objection)]- Meaning, We sent down to you the Qur’an, which has all truth in its meaning, as well as clear and flawless elucidation of its wordings, because all of its meanings are truth and credibility, not tainted by falsehood or doubt from any angle. (5)
[Ref 1: Translation by Shaikh Abu Iyaad: https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/6_55%5D
[Ref 2: Tafseer ibn Katheer]
[Ref 3: Tafseer at-Tabari]
[Ref 4: https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/25_33 By Shaikh Abu Iyaad (may Allah preserve him)]
[Ref 5: An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
ذَرۡنِى وَمَنۡ خَلَقۡتُ وَحِيدً۬ا
وَجَعَلۡتُ لَهُ ۥ مَالاً۬ مَّمۡدُودً۬ا
وَبَنِينَ شُہُودً۬ا
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ ۥ تَمۡهِيدً۬ا
ثُمَّ يَطۡمَعُ أَنۡ أَزِيدَ
كَلَّآۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ لِأَيَـٰتِنَا عَنِيدً۬ا
سَأُرۡهِقُهُ ۥ صَعُودًا
إِنَّهُ ۥ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ
فَقُتِلَ كَيۡفَ قَدَّرَ
ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيۡفَ قَدَّرَ
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ
فَقَالَ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٌ۬ يُؤۡثَرُ
إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا قَوۡلُ ٱلۡبَشَرِ
سَأُصۡلِيهِ سَقَرَ
وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا سَقَرُ
لَا تُبۡقِى وَلَا تَذَرُ
لَوَّاحَةٌ۬ لِّلۡبَشَرِ
Surah Al-Mud-dath-thir. Ayaat 11-29
[ذَرْنِى وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيدًا – Leave Me with the one I created alone] – Meaning, I created him alone without wealth and family, and without anything else, and I did not cease taking care of him and nurturing him; [وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُۥ مَالًا مَّمْدُودًا – And then granted him resources in abundance]; [وَبَنِينَ شُهُودًا – And children present (with him)]; [وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُۥ تَمْهِيدًا – And made life smooth and comfortable for him!]- Meaning, I gave him ability in this world and bestowed on him the means of attaining the worldly things, and thus he was able to obtain all that he desired and wanted. [ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ – then after all that he desires that I should give more]- Meaning, he desires enjoyment in the Afterlife as he acquired it in the worldly life; [كَلَّآ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِءَايَٰتِنَا عَنِيدًا – Nay! Verily, he has been stubborn and opposing Our Signs]- Meaning, the affair will not be as he desires, rather, it is the opposite of his goal and pursuit because he is a wilful opponent who is well acquainted (with his rejection of the truth) – called to the truth, but he did not submit with obedience. And he did not suffice with turning away, rather, he waged war against the truth and strove to nullify it. And because of this Allah said (about him): [إِنَّهُۥ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ – Verily, he thought and plotted]- Meaning, he thought to himself regarding what to say to nullify the Qur’an. (1)
Then Allah said about him:
فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
So let him be cursed! How he plotted! And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted!
Then Allah said:
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
Then he thought (again); then he frowned and he looked in a bad-tempered way;
[ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ – Then he turned back and was arrogant]- Meaning, turned away and became arrogant due to the efforts he made with regards to his thoughts, statements, and deeds, and then said:
إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ
إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا قَوْلُ ٱلْبَشَرِ
“This is nothing but magic from that of old. This is nothing but the word of a human being!” Meaning, “this is not Allah’s Speech, rather, it is the speech of a human. Also, it is not the statement of good (or righteous) people, rather, it is the speech of evil-doers and evil people, such as liars and magicians”. So, Allah said about him:
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا سَقَرُ
لَا تُبْقِى وَلَا تَذَرُ
لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ
I will cast him into Hellfire; and what will make you know exactly what Hellfire is? It does not spare (any sinner), nor does it leave (anything unburnt)! Burning the skins!
[1] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Those Who Burn The Qur’an to Anger Believers Are Trapped By Their Own Fear That Islam Cannot Be Stopped From Spreading
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
When the polytheists denied the Qur’an and made every effort to invalidate it, along with the fact that they were challenged to present something comparable, ten chapters, or even one chapter, this demonstrated to the people of sound understanding that they were powerless to oppose it despite their arduous efforts and the powerful means they employed (to oppose it); but if they had adhered to it as opposed to resisting and trying to invalidate it, their incapacity to resist it would not have become apparent.
When the magicians opposed Musa (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Allah nullified what they presented, and it was through this that Allah manifested the truth of what Musa conveyed. This is one of the differences between the signs of the Prophets and their proofs, which are known as “True Miracles”, and that which is made to resemble them from the paranormal acts of the magicians and devilish activities. This is due to the fact that these two affairs differ in a number of ways. Allah said:
هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ۬
“Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayatin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying (one who tells lies), sinful person”.
And among these distinguishing signs is that which Allah has made clear in the verses that challenge the opponents and the signs given to the Prophets, which cannot be challenged by anything, much less greater than them; nor is it possible for anybody to nullify them, as opposed to the paranormal deeds of magicians and devils, because it is possible to challenge them with something similar and stronger, and it is possible to nullify them.
Similarly, when all the enemies of the Prophets among the criminals – the devils among men and Jinn, who inspire one another with embellished speech through deception – reveal their proofs to support the legitimacy of their religions, which are opposed to the religion of the Messengers; utilised deceit through the fabrication of narratives and the presentation of what is presented as fact to be believed, then through explanation, manifest evidence, and thereafter through the sword, the hand, and weaponry (see footnote a), this serves as a means for demonstrating the sound beliefs that Allah has promised to give the upper hand over all other religions.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬
Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty]. [Surah Al-Hadeed. Aayah 25]
As a result of what Allah establishes through clear signs and proofs, the wholesome truth is given superiority over falsehood, what is beneficial is given superiority over frivolity, guidance is given superiority over misguidance, truthfulness is given the upper hand over that which cannot be proven to be true, the path to good conduct and behaviour is given the upper hand over deviation, uprightness is given the upper hand over corruption, and accuracy is given superiority over error. This is a test for humankind in which the evil people are differentiated from the good people. Allah [The Exalted] said:
مَّا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنتُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ ٱلۡخَبِيثَ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ
“Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good”. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 179]
Allah [The Exalted] said:
الٓمٓ
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ
وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ
أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ
Alif-Laam-Meem. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. 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). Or do those who do evil deeds think that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our Punishment)? Evil is that which they judge! ]
Fitna is a test, just as Allaah stated that Musa [peace be upon him] said:
إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِہَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَہۡدِى مَن تَشَآءُ
“It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will”.
In other words, it is your trial and test that causes those who oppose the Messengers to be misguided and those who follow them to be guided. For a human being, a trial is like exposing gold to the bellows, which separates the good parts from the impurities; similarly, truth is like pure gold, and anytime it is exposed to heat, its quality improves. Falsehood, on the other hand, is like something tainted and veiled in mist, and when investigated, its corruption manifests. So, whenever an observer observes the religion of truth (Islam), and whenever an arguer argues on its behalf, its proof manifests, assurance is enhanced, the faith of believers is increased, and its light glows in the hearts of humankind, and Jinn. As for when a person makes an argument in favour of false religion and tries to establish its crooked structure, Allah establishes those who throw the truth against the falsehood, destroying it, and it becomes obvious that the person making the argument is an idiot, a liar, lost, dim-witted, and unstable; contradictions, heresies, disbelief, misguidance, ignorance, and absurdity are manifested from such a religion, along with the fact that it makes clear to all men that adherents of false religions are the most misguided, and to the extent that corruption is manifested from such a religion of that which was unknown to the majority of men. [An Excerpt from Al-Jawaab As-Saheeh Liman Baddala Deen Al-Maseeh. Vol 1/121-122. Slightly paraphrased]
Footnote a: Jihaad: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬
Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. [Surah Al-Hadeed. Verse 25]
Imaam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Allah informs us that He sent the Messengers to guide the creation (humankind and Jinn) and that He supported them with clear evidence that manifests the realities, demonstrates the truthfulness of the Messengers and the reality of what they brought. He revealed to them the Scripture, which contains guidance and mercy, as well as the Balance, which is justice, through which justice, its foundation, and subsidiary branches are known, and so that humankind may maintain justice when they act on it in their beliefs, manners, deeds, behaviour, and all their affairs. As a result, when they act on what Allah revealed in the Scripture and the Balance, all their dealings and circumstances will be founded on righteousness and steadfastness.
And Allah informs us that He sent down iron, which has great power in matters of war as well as many advantages for humanity. He stated its advantages explicitly in terms of benefits in matters of war and then generally in terms of all other matters. Allah sent down iron for these helpful, necessary matters and affairs that bring about perfection, both specifically and in general. Except for a few things, everything needs iron. Allah mentioned it in the context of the favours He has bestowed upon the servants, which makes it necessary for these favours to be extracted in every way, necessitating further the necessity of education in military expertise and war affairs, the manufacture of weapons and their accessories, maritime transport, land transportation, aircraft, and other things that aid the servants in their religious and worldly affairs.
Allah said:
وَأ عدوا لهم ما استطعتم من قوة ومن رباط الخيل ترهبون به عدو هللا وعدوكم
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, etc.) to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy]. [Surah Al-Anfaal. Ayah 60]
Allah said:
خُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ
Take every precaution for yourselves.
[Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 102]
This addresses the issue of preparing for as much power as is feasible, including doing so mentally, politically, monetarily, and religiously, as well as taking all necessary precautions against the enemy. This generality includes all types of crafts—small and large—as well as innovations and fortifications for defence. As a result, this Islamic faith encourages healthy advancement and strength in all respects, in contrast to the false claims made by its foes that it is weak, careless, and worn out. (1) [End of quote]
Finally, the preparation of weapons is the task of Muslim governments, not insurgent organisations. The Khawaarij (ISIS and their ilk) have no authority; instead, they are bandits, innovators in religious affairs, and terrorists. Upright Muslims obey their rulers in good, fulfil the agreements their rulers have established between their nations and other nations, and uphold upright conduct whether in their home countries or abroad. Must-read articles by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah and Shaikh Abu Iyaad [may Allah protect them].
The Protection of the Blood, Wealth, and Honour of Non-Muslim Citizens in the Islamic Shariah
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/xzxcfnc-the-great-value-in-the-islamic-shariah-for-the-protection.cfm
Al-Allaamah Salih Aal Ash-Shaikh: Shariah Calls for Protection of Life and Property
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/csuslgk-shaikh-salih-aal-ash-shaikh-shariah-calls-for-protection-of-life-and-property.cfm
Al-Allaamah Salih Al-Fawzan: The Islamic Shariah Provides Security for Muslims and Non-Muslims and Those Who Violate It Are Kharijites Who Are to Be Fought and Severely Punished
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/duviqgl-shaykh-salih-al-fawzan-the-islamic-shariah-provides-security–for-muslims-and-non-muslims-and-those-who-violate-it-are-kh257rijites-who-are-to-be-fought-and-severely-punished.cfm
The Islamic Shariah on the Foundation of Muslim Relations With Non-Muslims Who Do Not Show Aggression and Hostility
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/szsumlh-the-foundation-of-muslim-relations-with-non-muslims-who-do-not-show-aggression-and-hostility.cfm
Islam and the Muslims Are Free and Innocent of the Kharijite Extremists and the Islamic Shariah Has Come With a Command to Fight Them
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/nmsdfkp-islam-and-the-muslims-are-free-and-innocent-of-the-kharijite-extremists.cfm
Al-Allaamah Saleh Fawzaan on Jihaad in our times and the guidelines of Jihaad according to Islam – Abu Khadeejah : أبو خديجة
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
The Prophet of Islam would not kill diplomats, ambassadors, emissaries or foreign delegations even if they were sent by the worst of his enemies
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-prophet-of-islam-would-not-kill-diplomats-ambassadors-emissaries-or-foreign-delegations-even-if-they-were-sent-by-the-worst-of-his-enemies/
Ref 1: Ad-Dalaa’il Al-Qur’aaniyyah Fee Annal Uloom Wal-A’maal An-Naafi’ah Al-Asriyyah Daakhilatun Fid-Deen Al-Islaamiy. pages 9-10