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[7] The Character Trait Most Hated By The Messenger

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Basics, Contemporary Issues, Fitnah, History of Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Sahaabah, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Sin, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah', Zuhd (Abstinence).

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

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her said:

There was no behaviour more hateful to Allāh’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, than lying. A man would tell a lie when speaking in the presence of the Prophet, and he would not be satisfied until he knew that he had repented from it. [at-Tirmidhi‌ 1973]

Allah said:

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ
إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ۬
مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ۬

And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it). [50:16-18]

Allah informed us that He alone created humans -males and females- and He knows all their state of affairs. He knows everything that is hidden about them and what their souls whisper to them. Allah is nearer to them than their jugular veins by His knowledge, even though the jugular vein is the closest thing to the human. Therefore, this should make the human being mindful of Allah -the One Who knows all the hidden affairs in the soul and heart of the human being in all circumstances. This should also make the human being shy in the presence of Allah so that he (she) is not seen committing what Allah has forbidden or abandoning what Allah has commanded. [An Excerpt from ‘Tafsir As-Sadi]

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say, ‘Fear Allah for our sake, (for) we are with you; if you are upright, we will be upright; and if you are crooked, we will become crooked'”. [1]

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his mouth, his tongue, and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him”. [2]

Imam Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Neither hajj nor taking up positions during battle, nor Jihad is more difficult than restraining the tongue”. [3]

Abdullah Ibn Tawus, may Allah have mercy upon him,  said:

Tawus, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to find it difficult to speak for a very long time, and he would say: “I examined my tongue and found it to be malicious”. [4]

Imam Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Some of our companions used to guard their speech from one Jumu’ah to another Jumu’ah.” [5]

It was said to one of the scholars may Allah have mercy upon him,  “Indeed, you do keep quiet for a long time!” He said: “Indeed, I consider my tongue as a wild voracious animal. I fear that if I let it loose, it will hurt me.” [6]

It is said that a man argued with Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays- may Allah have mercy upon both of them- and said: “If you say one, you will hear ten.” Al-Ahnaf replied: “But if you say ten, you will not hear one!” [7]

Ziyad Ibn Yunus, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“By Allah, Malik, may Allah have mercy upon him, was the greatest of people in terms of honourabe behaviour, and the one who kept silent the most. When he sat down, he would not get up until he had to, and I saw him as someone who was often silent, spoke little, and guarded his tongue”. Ibn Al-Mubarak said: “Malik was the most patient in dealing with people, and he would leave what did not concern him”. [8]

Al-Hasan Bin Salih, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“I scrutinised Al-Wara (the fear of Allah that makes one refrain from doubtful matters in order not to fall into haram) and did not find it more lacking in anything than the tongue”. [9]

Yunus Ibn Ubayd, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Indeed, you see a man fasting a lot, abstaining from the forbidden deeds and praying the night prayer, whilst he testifies to falsehood in the morning.”  [10]

Ibnul Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked about the statement of Luqman, peace be upon him, to his son: “If speech is from silver, then silence is from gold”. He said: “It means that if speech in obedience to Allah is from silver, then silence (to refrain from) disobedience to Allah is gold”. [11]

None can be slandered or his affair misrepresented, whether a Muslim or non-Muslim, not even an animal. Read below:

 https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2022/05/08/the-freed-slave-girl-the-precious-stones-and-the-kite/

 https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2025/03/27/qaswa-received-deserved-praise/

 

 

[1] Sahih at-Tirmidhee 2407
[2] Al-Bukhari 6474
[3] Jami’ul Uloom Wal-Hikam 145
[4] As-Samt page 86
[5] As-Samt page 223
[6] As-Samt page 299
[7] Siyar A’lam An-Nubula 4/93
[80] Tarteeb Al-Madaarik Wa Taqreeb Al-Masaalik 1/127-128
[9] Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa  7/368
[10] Hilyatul Awliyaa 3/20]
[11] Jami-ul Uloom Wal-Hikam 155]

The Summit of Human Potential: Four Defining Qualities

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Brotherhood, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Featured, Mental Health, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Sahaabah, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah', Zuhd (Abstinence).

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

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ

By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allah manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss. Except those who believe (in Allāh, His Angels, Books, Prophets, the Last Day and the Divine Decree) and work righteous deeds (which are sincere and correct) and mutually advise each other (in calling to and abiding by) the truth and mutually advise each other with patience (in facing the inevitable harms brought by calling to the truth).

https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/103/1

Imam Ibn Al- Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Imam Ash-Shaafi’ee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said that if all the people pondered on this Surah, it would have sufficed them”.

The clarification of this is that the fulfillment of four matters (mentioned) in this Surah will lead a person to attain the highest level of human perfection. The first is acquaintance with the truth, the second is to act upon the truth, the third is to teach the truth to the one who is unaware of it and the fourth is to exercise patience while learning the truth, acting on it, and teaching. Allah mentioned these four matters in this Surah and made an oath by “(the phenomenon of) time” that everyone is in a state of loss besides those who believe and perform righteous deeds, and they are those who act upon the truth, enjoin one another to the truth while exercising patience in the path and being steadfast. This is the pinnacle of human perfection because perfection necessitates that a person attain perfection himself and enable others to do so.

And this is attained through rectification of the strength of one’s knowledge and action- rectification of the strength of one’s knowledge is attained through Iman and rectification of the strength of one’s actions is attained through righteous deeds; then enabling others to attain this perfection through teaching, exercising patience upon this path and enjoining one another to exercise patience in the path of knowledge and righteous action.

This Surah, despite its shortness, is one of the most comprehensive Suras of the Qur’an that gathers good in its entirety, and all praise and thanks is due to Allah Who revealed and assured that His Book is sufficient besides everything else – a cure for every disease and a guide to every good. [1]

It is not enough that one knows the truth and exercises patience, but (also) one has to command, guide, and urge others towards it. When it is the fact that others besides these people are losers, it is well known that disobedience and sins blind the sound discernment of the hearts and prevent them from understanding the truth as it should be understood, thus their strength of determination is weakened, the heart is exposed to random thoughts until its understanding and conduct goes the opposite way, so he perceives falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood, good as evil and evil as good, turns away from his journey towards attaining Allah’s Pleasure and the home of the afterlife (i.e paradise), and proceeds towards the residence of the futile souls that are pleased with the worldly life, satisfied with it, heedless of Allah and His signs (revelation, lessons etc), and abandons preparation to meet Allah (i.e. by way of upright believe and righteous deeds). Had there not been any other punishment due to one’s sins other than this, it would have been (enough as a) demand that one abandon this path and distance from it. [2]

Indeed, Allah placed humans in two categories – the losers and the gainers. The gainers are those who sincerely exhort themselves with Iman and righteous deeds; exhort others by enjoining truth, which includes teaching and guiding, and enjoining patience, which necessitates that one exercises patience. So, the two sincere exhortations are the person’s sincere exhortation of himself and his brother in Islam by enjoining truth and exercising patience upon the path, and the two characteristics of human perfection are the person’s self-perfection and enabling others to attain self-perfection (by the help of Allah).

As for the perfection of the two strengths of the soul, they are the strength of knowledge and sound observation, and these two are perfected through Iman; the strength of sound intent, love (for everything praiseworthy, especially love for Allah) and knowledge, and they are perfected through righteous deeds (i.e. deeds carried out sincerely for the sake of Allah and in conformity with the authentic Sunnah), which cannot be accomplished except through patience.

Allah made an oath by “(the phenomenon of) time” because it is the period in which moral lessons and signs occur, and because the alternation of night and day under the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing are organised to serve the welfare of the universe based on the most perfect order and organisation – alternating with one another, sometimes not much difference between them and at other times one takes from the hours of the other, the difference between the light, the darkness, the heat, and the cold, and the different periods divided into generations, years, months, days, hours and what is lesser than that! These are all signs (creations) of the Lord, The Most High- a Burhaan [proof that clarifies and distinguishes between truth and falsehood in everything] and proofs regarding Allah’s All-Encompassing Perfect Ability and Wisdom, free is Allah from all imperfections, faults, deficiencies, shortcomings.

Allah made an oath by “(the phenomenon of) time” within which human beings perform deeds for which one either receives punishment or a good recompense. He gave a notification about (the phenomenon of) time, which is the Mab’da [i.e. the beginning] and notified the performers of deeds about the Ma’aad [the Hereafter], and that just as He was not unable to initiate the beginning, likewise He is not unable to establish the Hereafter; and that His Wisdom, which necessitated the creation of (the phenomenon of) time, the performers of deeds and their deeds, and their categorisation into good and bad deeds, (i.e. deeds chosen by the person after being given free will and shown guidance through the Messengers) establishes the fact that the people are not equal, and it cannot be that the good doer will not receive a good recompense and that the evil doer will not be recompensed for his evil, and it cannot be that there will not be two groups- the gainers and the losers; but rather the human being, in essence, is a loser, except the one whom Allah shows mercy, guides, blesses with Eemaan, the ability to perform righteous deeds and command others. Besides this person is the one who is reduced to the lowest of the low. [3]

وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ

And do righteous good deeds, enjoin one another to the truth and enjoin one another to patience.

This leads to the station of upright leadership and strength in the religion, just as Allah 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.)]. [As-Sajdah. 24]

Therefore, upright leadership in the religion is attained through patience and certainty. Patience is two types- patience when facing what has been decreed, such as calamities, and patience when fulfilling the divine legislated acts of worship – the commands and prohibitions. The fulfillment of commands is related to patience in intent and action and the second is related to patience in keeping away from what one intends and wants to do (i.e. persevere whilst keeping away from evil). The first type of patience (patience when facing the calamities decreed by Allah) is shared by both a believer and a disbeliever, a righteous person, and a wicked sinner, and one is not rewarded if it is not connected to Iman and Ikhtiyaar [i.e. the person willingly chooses to exercise patience as an act of worship devoted to Allah]. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said about his daughter (whose son was on his death bed), “She should be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.” [Al-Bukhari 1284]

Allah, The Most High, said:

 إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬

Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise). [Hud. 11]

Patience without sound belief and piety is like a bodily strength that is devoid of sound belief and piety.

Allah, The Most High, said:

فَٱصۡبِرۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬‌ۖ وَلَا يَسۡتَخِفَّنَّكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ

So be patient (O Muhammad). Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, and let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage you from conveying Allah’s Message (which you are obliged to convey)]. [Ar-Rum. 60]

Allah commanded the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to exercise patience and not to be similar to those who do not have certainty due to lack of patience, since their lack of certainty is due to their lack of patience, this, they fear and frighten others. Had they attained certainty and acquaintance with the truth, they would have exercised patience – neither fear nor frighten others. The one whose certainty is little, his patience will be little, and the whose patience is little will fear and frighten others. The person who has certainty and patience is self-possessed because he has intelligence and common sense, and the one who neither has certainty nor patience is lightheaded, thus, desires and lust fling him here and there just as the wind does with something light. [4]

Sa’eed Bin Jubayr, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Patience is the person’s acknowledgment that what has afflicted him is from Allah, seeking for reward from Allaah and hoping for Allaah’s good recompense. Indeed, a man may be in a state of distress whilst he is being whipped, but you see nothing from him except patience”. [5]

Regarding the statement “Patience is the person’s acknowledgment that what has afflicted him is from Allah”, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

It is as if this statement is an explanation of the statement “Innaa lil laah – to Allah we belong”. So, the person acknowledges that he belongs to Allah and his owner does whatever He wants with him.

Regarding the statement “Seeking for reward from Allah”, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

It is as if this statement is an explanation of the statement “Wa Innaa Ilayhi Raaji’oon – and to Him (i.e. Allaah) we shall return”, meaning we shall return to You so that you reward us due to our patience and the reward for being patient during calamity will not be lost.

Regarding the statement “Indeed, a man may be in a state of distress whilst he is being whipped, but you do not see from him except patience”, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

Patience is not that one bears the whip, rather it is to restrain the heart from getting angry with Allah’s decree and to restrain the tongue from complaining about Allah. Whoever is whipped and his heart is displeased with Allah, he is not a patient person”. [6]

The person who has no certainty in faith (or lacks certainty) does not remain steadfast, rather he acts carelessly, whereas certainty is that firm Iman in the heart based on (sound) knowledge and action. It may be that a person has sound knowledge but does not exercise patience during calamities; rather he is swayed by emotion. Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

If you wish to see someone with insight but has no patience, you will see him; and if you wish to see someone who has patience but not insight, you will see him; but if you see a person who had insight as well as patience, then he is the one mentioned by Allah in the Ayah:

وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَہۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْ‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا 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.)]. [As-Sajdah. 24] [7]

 

A Practice of The Companions – By Imam Al-Albaanee, may Allah have mercy upon him

Whenever two men among the Prophet’s companions met, they would not depart from one another, except after one of them recited to the other:

“By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allah manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss”.

In these narrations is that one gives Salaam when departing [i.e. one of them gives Salams to the other when departing after meeting].

The other benefit we derive (from this report) is that the companions adhered to this deed and that is the recitation of Surah Al-Asr [i.e. before departing after meeting, one recites Surah Al-Asr to the other and then gives Salaam], because we (firmly) believe that they were far removed from initiating – in the religion – a newly invented act of worship as a means of getting close to Allah, thus, the only reason they did this was due to something established by Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, either based on a statement of his, deed or tacit approval. [8]

We ask Allah:

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي

وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي

وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي

وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ

وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ

O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return; and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [Saheeh Muslim Number: 2720]

[1] An Excerpt from Miftaah Daarus Sa’aadah page 61. slightly paraphrased

[2] An Excerpt from Al-Jawaab Al-Kaafi 135-136. slightly paraphrased

[3] An Excerpt from At-Tibyaan Fee Aqsaam Al-Qur’aan 83-88. slightly paraphrased

[4] At-Tibyaan Fee Aqsaamil Qur’aan 83-88. Slightly paraphrased

[5] As-Sabr Wath-Thawaab Alayhi. By Ibn Abee Dunya page 113

[6] Iddat As-Saabireen pages 183-184

[7] Al-Fawaa’id’ pages 293-300

[8] Silsilah Al-Hadeeth As-Saheehah. Number 2648. Vol 6. pages 307-309

A grief and regret of Abu Salama during the latter years of his life

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors.

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

Ash-Shabee – may Allah have mercy on him – said:

Abu Salama, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to argue with Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, and as result he was deprived of a lot of knowledge (1) and deprived of benefiting from him. Indeed, Abu Salama acknowledged this, expressed grief over his behaviour and regretted what emanated from it. In the latter (years) of his life, he said:

“If I had been gentle with Ibn Abbas, I would have acquired a lot of knowledge from him”. (2)

[1] Jami Bayan Al-Ilm 1/521
[2] Sunan Ad-Darimi 1/394

Two matters related to “loving for Allah’s Sake” – By Al-Allamah Zayd and Imam Al-Albani

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Basics, Brotherhood, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Sahaabah, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Anas Bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “A man went past the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, whilst there were people with him; then man who was with the Prophet said, ‘Indeed, I love this one [i.e. the one who went past] for the sake of Allah’. The Prophet said, ‘Have you made that known to him?’ He said, ‘No’. The Prophet said, ‘Get up and make that known to him’. He went to him and made that known’, so he said, ‘May the one for whose sake you love me also love you’. Then he returned to the Prophet and informed him regarding what the man said, the Prophet said, ‘You will be with the one you love and will receive what you hope for [i.e. reward]’”.

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

In this this hadith, there is a that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to sit with his companions to speak to them and make known to them what they were in need of.

In this hadith, it is obligated to the believers to love one another and establish what is necessary to establish this love. The love legislated in the Shariah is an act of worship of the heart, and there are deeds that would necessitate its existence, such as being good to the person you love, visiting the sick, following the Janazah, giving sincere advice, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and helping him in that which is good. All these deeds and others are from that which necessitates the presence of that love that is legislated in the Shariah, whose meaning is that a believing man loves another believing brother for the sake of Allah, because he is steadfast upon Allah’s Shariah.

In this hadith, it is legislated to inform someone you love for the sake of Allah about it, saying: “Indeed, I love you for the sake of Allah”, so that a bond is created between you and him, and he knows that he has brothers in Iman who love him and wish good for him just as they love good for themselves.

In this hadith, (there is proof to established the fact that) reward is given based on the deed, because whoever loves another person for the sake of Allah, Allah will also love him. And whoever Allah loves, Allah will honour him due to being pleased with him and enter him into Jannah- a Jannah whose width is that of the heavens and the earth.

In this hadith, there is evidence to show that those who love one another for the sake of Allah- truthful about it and visiting one another- have a lofty status in the sight of Allah, just as it has been established in a sound hadith reported by Imam Muslim from Abu Hurairah who said, “The Messenger of Allah said that Allah said, ‘Indeed Allah will say on the day of Judgement, ‘Where are those who loved one another for my sake; I will provide them with a shade on this day in which there will be no shade except my shade [a] [i.e. Allah will provide them with a shade from His Throne]. [at-Taleeqaatul Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah 1/139-140]

Questioner asked Imam Al-Albani: Is it obligated to a person who loves another person to say to him, “I love you for the sake of Allah?”

Imam Al-Albani replied: Yes, but love for the sake of Allah has a high value and those who give [what it necessitates] are very few!! Do you know its value? Is there anyone who knows its value? Whoever knows, then let him give us an answer?

A person in the gathering replied to the Shaikh: The Messenger said: There are seven people whom Allah will shade with His shade [i.e. the shade of Allah’s Throne] …and amongst them are two men who love each other for the sake of Allah – they meet each other and depart on that basis.

The Imam replied: This statement is sound within [its context], but it is not an answer to the question. It is a close definition of ‘love for the sake of Allah’ but not a comprehensive definition. I do not mean the reward in the Aakhirah, [rather] my question is, ‘’What is the valuable thing that must be given by a person who loves another person for the sake of Allaah? The intent behind my question is what is the deed that would show -as a proof- that love for the sake of Allaah [exist] between two people who [claim] love for each other for the sake of Allaah; because it maybe be that two people love each other, but their love is based on [admiration of each other’s characteristics or traits]. Therefore, what is the proof of real love [for the sake of Allaah]?’’

A second person replied to the Shaikh: ‘’To love for a person what you love for yourself.’’ The Imam said, ‘’This is one of the qualities of loving for the sake of Allah.’’

A third person said to the Shaikh: The answer might be found in the hadeeth: There are three things that when found in a person, he will taste the sweetness of Iman ….and one of those things is that one loves a person for nothing else other than for the sake of Allah. The Imam said: This is not the answer, rather this is [one of the] effects of loving for the sake of Allah – the sweetness found in one’s heart.

A fourth person said to the Shaikh: Allah, The Most High,  said:

وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ

 إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ

 إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ

By Al-‘Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss; Except those who believe [in Islamic Monotheism] and do righteous good deeds and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds which Allaah has ordained and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience [for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah’s Cause].

The Shaikh replied: Well done! This is the answer. If I really love you for the sake of Allah, I will give you advice and likewise you’ll do the same for me. This act of giving advice is very rare amongst those who claim that they love each other for the sake of Allah. It may be that there is some sincerity in their love, but it is not complete. Therefore, every one of us should safeguard the other, and -in this case- the valuable thing to be given due to loving one another for the sake of Allah is that everyone sincerely advises one another, by enjoining good and forbidding evil – always and forever. [1] And it has been reported that it was from the practice of the Sahabah-amongst themselves- that when parting company from each other after meeting, one of them would recite Surah Asr to the other [2]. [الحاوي من فتاوي الألباني – page 165]

Ref 1: Read more here: http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-great-virtue-and-principles-of-enjoining-the-good-and-forbidding-evil-by-imam-al-barbahari-d-329h-and-al-fawzan/

Ref 2:

English here: When two men among the Sahaabah of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, met, they would not depart until one of them recited to the other: “By al‑‘Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss”[Surah al-‘Asr], and thereafter, one would give salaam to the other. Imam Al-Albani said in As-Saheehah Number 2648, page 308: The chain of this narration is authentic.

English text here: Then on page 309, the Imam said: Finally, we take and benefit from this that the Sahabah used hold onto this practice- the recitation of Surah Al-Asr [i.e. when two of them were about to depart from each other after meeting], because we believe that they are far removed from innovating an act of worship into the religion through which a person seeks to get close to Allaah, so they must have adhered to this practice due to what they were acquainted with from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, – either based on a statement of his, action or tacit approval. [Excerpt: paraphrased]

[a] see Shaikh Rabee’s risaalah tiltled: القول الواضح المبين في المراد بظل الله الذي وعد به المؤمنين العاملين ]

[17] Notification to Ahlul Bidah and The Mumayyi’ah: These Clarifications Are Coming Back!

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Bid'ah (Innovation), Contemporary Issues, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Refutations, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Al-Marwadhee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, I said to Abu Abdillah (i.e. Imam Ahmad- may Allah have mercy upon him), “What do you think- a man preoccupies himself with fasting, prayers (i.e. optional fasting and prayers) and refrains from speaking against Ahlul Bidah?” He frowned and said: “If he fasts, prays and secludes himself from the people (i.e. he performs optional fasts, prayers and stays away from the people, except when he has to mix with them), he only benefits himself; but if he speaks (i.e. against ahlul bidah), he (benefits) himself and others, and that is better.[1]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah:

Exposing the faults of these ones (i.e. the misguided beliefs and actions of Ahlul Bidah), clarifying their disgraceful acts and their principles is from the best of Jihad in the path of Allah. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Hassan Ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, “The Ruh Al-Qudus (i.e. Jibreel) will continue to support you, so long as you are defending Allah and His Messenger”. He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, (also said to Hasan): “Lampoon them (i.e. Quraish) and Jibril (Gabriel) is with you”. “O Allah! Aid him (i.e. Hasan) with the Ruh Al-Qudus as long as he is defending Your Messenger”. He stated about Hasan’s rebuke against Quraish: “By Allah! It will hurt them more than arrows”.

Thus, how can this not be from Jihad in the path of Allah when it is the case that many of these interpretations (i.e. those uttered by the deviants) are in opposition to the path of the pious predecessors – the Sahabah, the Taab’ieen, Ahlul Hadith and the Imams of Islam – whom Allah granted honour and are mentioned with good praise by the Ummah- and are tantamount to jesting with the texts and harbouring evil suspicion towards them (i.e. the texts), which is a type of the evil speech that was uttred by those who slandered the Messenger and his religion. This is because these false interpretations contain false claims and what is apparent from the speech of its utterer is slander; something that is impossible to ascertain, disbelief, misguidance, Tashbeeh, Tamtheel or deception; then he (i.e. the deviant utterer of such statements) changes them into meanings whose intended aim behind such words is known to be a type of intentional usage of words to cause ingenuity in ascertaining their sound meanings and to cause beguilement, which does not occur from one who intends to give sincere advice and sound clarification. Therefore, defending the speech of Allah and that of His Messenger is from the best of deeds, the most beloved to Allah and the most beneficial for the servant. [2]

Shaikh Al-Islam clarified the misguidance and bidah of some of the extreme Soofees, saying:

It harmful (effects) on the Muslims is greater than the harm of poison they eat, while being unaware of it. The harmful effects of their bidah and misguidance on the Muslims is greater than the harm (perpetrated by the) thieves and deceivers whom they are not aware of being thieves and deceivers. This is because the severest the harm of the thieves and deceivers can be is that it causes the death of a person or loss of his wealth, which is a worldly affliction and may be a means of receiving Allah’s mercy in the afterlife. As for these ones (i.e. the extreme Soofiyyah), they inculcate the (beliefs and acts) of disbelief and hearsay through the sound path of Prophets and the friends of Allah (i.e. they make the people believe that their beliefs, acts of disbelief and hearsay are based on the path of the Prophets and the close friends of Allah). They portray themselves as strivers in the path of Allah, but inwardly they are from those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger. They manifest the statements of the disbelievers and the hypocrites through the statements of the true friends of Allah (by way of forgery and manipulation), thus, a man joins them, while thinking that he will be from the believers and the friends of Allah, but ends up being a hypocrite and an enemy of Allah. [3]

[1] Tabaqaat Al-Hanaabilah 2/216

[2] As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 1/301-302

[3] Majmu 2/360

[2] Uncomfortable Truths and Realities Delivered by Al-Allamah Rabee to Some of Those Who Spoke Without Restraint

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Basics, Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Fitnah, Hadaadis, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Refutations, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Allah, The Most High, said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah; even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. [An-Nisaa. 135]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him] said:

Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, commanded His servants to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone – be it an enemy or an ally, and the affair that is most worthy of being established with justice are the statements and methodology related to the commands of Allah as well as everything that Allah has (revealed in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah). Therefore, to establish these affairs based on desires and disobedience is contrary to Allah’s command and a negation (i.e. either intentionally or unintentionally) of that which Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] was sent with. The establishment of justice is the responsibility of those entrusted with the task of conveying Islam after the death of the Messenger, and this task cannot become a reality unless one establishes it based on pure justice and sincerity to Allah- (sincerity) based on Allah’s Book, to Allah’s Messenger (by adhering to his guidance), and sincere dealings and advice when dealing with Allah’s servants. These people are the true inheritors (i.e. inheritors of the knowledge left behind by the Prophets), but not that one who merely makes his companions, sect, and path the determinant of truth and the distinction between (truth and falsehood) by showing enmity to the one who opposes him and allies with the one who agrees with him, merely based on being opposed or agreed with, because where is that command to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone, even though standing out firmly for justice is the greatest command and obligation! [1]

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi, Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, stated:

The seeker of truth is not swayed by admiration or reverence for prominent figures when it comes to following truth, fairness and justice; for indeed, the truth is most deserving to be followed, and it is not permissible to drop the proofs for this or that great  man. The principle of a just person, the seeker of truth, is always:

قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Say, “Bring forth your proof, if you are indeed truthful.” [Al-Baqarah 111] [Majmu 8/81]

 

Falih Al-Harbi, may Allah rectify him

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may have mercy upon him, stated:

When affairs escalated, and during this escalation that led to the splitting, I received some papers from a book that had been transcribed from his tapes titled ‘Al-Musaara’ah’. I read those papers and came across – in them – terrible insults, ignorance, destructive judgments and a corrupt premise. I discussed some of what is in those papers with the utmost kindness and care, asked him to return to the truth in the hope that Allah might benefit him through it, so that the Salafi youth would be relieved of the causes of disunity and splitting. I sent the first advice to him in private, but he did not respond to this gentle request aimed at stopping the trial and uniting the Salafi youth.

Then, after about a month and a half, I sent him and some of his friends the second advice- in private and not openly, despite the fact that he and those who supported him rebuked those who exercised patience and gave advice, and considered that (patience and advice) to be tantamount to negligence and an act of weakening the (sound principles, stances).

He and his clandestine group entered the dark tunnels, presented their arguments in a particular way, weakening the (sound principles), defending (themselves) with lies, obscuring (matters) and insulting – through gestures and open declaration – at everyone who spoke the truth; rather the insult by some of them extended to belittling Imams of Jarh Wat-Tadeel and their fundamental principles. Therefore, now it is necessary to clarify some of what I discussed in the two advices, which I had previously overlooked.

Falih had been rushing into (unjustified) elimination and declaring people Mubtadi’ah, thus, some youth asked him for proofs, but the proofs sought from him were not found with him. Then he resorted to the invention of a principle by removing Tabdee (the ruling related to declaring a person a Mubtadi) from the principles of the Imams of Al-Jarh Wat- Tadeel (the carriers of the science of criticism and commendation), and differentiated (in the science of criticism) between the narrators of hadith and (when) declaring a person a Mubtadi; so, he held that it is right to ask about the reasons for criticising the narrators, (but) as for those about whom he holds that that they are innovators in the religion, it is not right to ask about the reasons behind disparaging them and declaring them innovators hop, even if they are from the best of the Salafis; rather the one who asks regarding the reasons why they are declared innovators is declared an innovator (as well). This premise led him to say that the scholars must be blindly followed and not asked for proof. Who did he ask to blindly follow the scholars? Indeed, they are the intelligent students of knowledge – the teachers, and among them are some who have reached the level of doctorate, and are not common people; and that the one who does not blindly follow the scholars has indeed undermined the message of the Messengers and the books, or has belied the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Islam.

He and his followers thought that he was the only Imam, and protector of the religion. He pushed (incited) them and they pushed (incited) him, thus he inflicted the heads of Ahlus Sunnah – the strong and the weak amongst them – with false Tabdee and unjust rulings. Whoever does not blindly follow him, even if he holds a doctorate degree in Islamic Shariah, is considered a denier of the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Islam. The one who does not blindly follow him in his false opinion, even if he was a teacher, is judged to be one of the callers at the gates of Hell, and that he has destroyed the messages of the Messengers and the books that were revealed to them. This – in addition to insulting, attacks and warning – are matters that are neither approved by Shariah nor (sound) reasoning. These – despite the fact that my advice to him was accompanied with kindness and contained only some of his mistakes – are matters that should motivate a sane and just person to return to the truth. We did not see anything from Falih except false denunciations, false interpretations, war, mobilisation, and seeking help through supporters amongst those whose identities were unknown – those hiding behind the curtains. At first, he found nothing from the scholars except advice, then denunciation of these matters. [2]

 

Fawzi Al-Bahrayni, may Allah rectify his affair

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, said:

Indeed, the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah – such as Abdullah Ibn Ahmad, Al-Khallaal, Al-Aajuree, Al-Laalikaa’ee, Ibn Battah and other than them – have clarified the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah regarding Iman with a profound clarification. And that according to Ahlus Sunnah, it (i.e.

Imaan) is “Speech, action and belief- increases with obedience to Allah and decreases with disobedience”.

We worship Allah with what they say (i.e. this definition), we say it, believed in it from our early age (in pursuit) of knowledge, affirmed in our authorships, lessons and gatherings, and establish loyalty and disavowal based on that.

Then the sinful liars, the spiteful ones and plotters against Ahlus Sunnah came to fight on behalf of the people of desires, and they attacked us with various immoral attacks. One of those attacks is that they (falsely) accuse us of being Murji’ah, and they laid down false and unjust principles for that, with which they fight us. Whenever we destroyed them, they repeated them without shame or shyness.

Their statement: “Iman is speech and action, increases and decreases, and it decreases until nothing remains of it”, in their view is that whoever does not mention the addition “until nothing remains of it” is a Murji. They made it incumbent upon the people, wage war against Ahlus Sunnah and declare them innovators due to it, while these Aghmaar (inexperienced ones, ignoramuses, devoid of sound judgement etc) do not know that this Tabdee would apply to the righteous predecessors who did not constantly mention this addition, even if some of them did so. They declared me a Mubtadi, passed the judgement of Irjaa against me and hurled it against me a lot in a number of their statements, especially in the statements of Fawzi Al-Bahraini, even though I have mentioned this (additional) statement and repeated it before the birth of the old and new Haddadi, but I do not always adhere to its mention, because the Sahabah and the Taabi’een did not say it, and because there is no evidence to obligate that it should be said. The majority of the (pious) predecessors did not say it, neither did those who say it always said it, nor made it incumbent upon others, despite the fact that I do say it sometimes. The following are my statements regarding that….Then the Shaik,  may Allah have mercy upon him,  gave references from pages 61-63 regarding where he has stated this addition in his authorships and lessons.

The Shaikh quoted a hadith explained in 1406AH under the title “Striving Against Those Who Deviate From The Right Path”

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet said, “Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah to his nation, except that he had – among his people – disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who said whatever they did not practice, and practiced whatever they were not commanded to do. He who strove against them with his hand was a believer, he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed”. [Sahih Muslim 50]

Then the Shaikh said, “I explained this hadith and stated in page 44 [i.e. in Mudhakkirah Al-Hadith An-Nabawiyyah]: And there remained – in every nation – sincere scholars who fulfilled the requirements of their religion, striving and defending the teachings of their Prophets, everyone according to his strength and level of Iman. The one who strove by way of the tongue (i.e. speech), the one who strove by way of his hand, and the one who strove by way of his heart and that is the weakest of Imaan. And there is nothing from Iman besides that”. [3]

The Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him, also said:

It is important to note that some overexcited youth may study the books of the predecessors, but not proficient in applying what is sound from the narrations, thus, they apply them in other than their appropriate place. Therefore, it is essential to consult scholars on how to implement them because if one embarks upon applying some things incorrectly, he may harm himself, harm Islam and the Muslims.

This issue occurred in the past, as some overexcited youth among the new and old Haddadiyyah focused on narrations (of the predecessors), while not memorising (and understanding) the Quran. They focused on the narrations of the predecessors, while among the narrations of predecessors, there are those that are authentic and those that are unauthentic.

When they (predecessors) hold a consensus on a matter, it is obligatory to accept it; however, in cases of disagreement, their statements must be referred back to the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet. If a particular statement is not reliably attributed to so and so, it should not be accepted, and if it is reliably attributed to him, (but) contradicts (what is sound), it should be rejected. This is how these matters should be. They require Fiqh (sound understanding). The Haddadiyyah used to memorise the narrations of the predecessors, and Ahlus Sunnah were the first people they wage a war against, attacking them through their hysterical reading (of those narrations), turned against the scholars and sought to topple them one after the other until targeting (Shaikh Al-Islam) Ibn Taymiyyah. This trend has resurfaced through attacks against scholars and attempting to topple them while clinging to various narrations, some of which are authentic and others not, without grasping their intended meanings (or goals). [3.1]

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; and 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 Iman, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). [4]

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي
وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ
وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ

O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return; and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [Saheeh Muslim Number: 2720] [5]

 

We ask Allah:

اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا

O Allah! I seek refuge in Your from knowledge that does not benefit, from the heart that is not fearful, from the soul that is not contented and the supplication that is not answered. [6]

[1] An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim. 1/300-303

[2]An Excerpt from Al-Majmu Al-Wadih Fee Radd Manhaj Wa Usul Falih. page 123-125

[3] An Excerpt from Kashf Akaadheeb Wa Tahreefaat Wa Khayaanaat Fawzi Al-Bahrayni. pages 59-60

[3.1] Marhaban Yaa Talib Al-Ilm 459-460

[4]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/

[5]https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2020/12/29/o-allaah-rectify-my-religion-for-me-which-the-safeguard-of-my-affairs-a-tremendous-supplication/

[6] Sahih Abi Dawud 1548

[15] Notification to Ahlul Bidah and The Mumayyi’ah: These Clarifications Are Coming Back!

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Bid'ah (Innovation), Categories, Contemporary Issues, History of Islam, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Shirk, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

Verily he lives long among you will see a lot of differing, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafaa ar-Rashideen [the rightly guided caliphs]. Adhere to it with your molar teeth (i.e. adhere to it firmly). And beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for every newly invented matter [in the religion] is a bidah [innovation in the religion], and every bidah is misguidance. [1]

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

The Jews divided into seventy-one sects, the Christians divided into seventy-two sects and this Ummah will divide into 73 sect. All of them are in the fire except one. [Footnote a] So he was asked, “Who are they [i.e. the saved sect] O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Those upon that which I and my companions are upon”. [2]

Hafs Bin Humaid, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: I said to Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him: “How many sects have this Ummah spilt into?’ He said, “The foundation of the sects are four: the Shia, the Harooriyyah (i.e. khawarij), the Qadariyyah, and the Murji’ah. The Shia split into twenty-two sects, Harooriyyah split into twenty-one sects, the Qadariyyah split into sixteen sects, and the Murji’ah split into thirteen sects”. [3]

Imam Barbahaaree [329AH], may Allah have mercy upon him said:

It is not permitted for a man to say, “So and so is a person of the sunnah” until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah, so it is not said of him, “a person of the Sunnah” until he combines all the Sunnah.

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, commented on the above statement as follows:

Do not give recommended to a person and a praise of him, except based on knowledge, lest the people become deceived by your praise of him, while he is not what (you have stated about him).  So, when his real affair and path is clear to you, his knowledge and steadfastness, you can give him recommendation. As for giving out praise and recommendation whilst not knowing of anything about him, this is a dangerous recommendation through which the people will be deceived by this person. Had only those who give commendations to the people stopped at that (i.e. put it in its proper place), they would not give recommendation, except for one who fulfils the conditions of (receiving) recommendation because recommendation is a witness, thus, if the recommendation is not correct it will be a false witness. And regarding the statement of Imam Al-Barbahaaree: “until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah”. The characteristics of the Sunnah are to be in creed, knowledge and adherence to the (path) of the pious predecessors. But if there is not in him except a single characteristic of the (sunnah), he is not judged to be from Ahlus Sunnah on the basis of a single characteristic or one thing, then what about the one who does not have anything from that? [4]

Al-Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Madkhali, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked:

The questioner says: We request a comment from you on this statement: “Indeed both Sunnah and Bidah may be gathered in a man, thus, if the Sunnah is predominant in him, he is a Sunni Salafi. And if bidah is predominant in him, he is an innovator, a misguided one”. Benefit us (i.e. with a comment) and may Allah reward you”.

Response: This (statement) is from the [مغالطات-i.e. those misleading statements or affairs that are brought forth for the purpose of deception or sophistry]. There is no doubt that the one in whom Bidah is predominant is an innovator in religious matters, but it is not a condition, for example, that he has thirty (matters) of bidah with him and twenty (matters) of Sunnah, because he may have one bidah with him and thus declared an innovator in religious matters. Rather the verdict of disbelief may be passed against him. [Footnote c] Because if he adheres to all the Sunnah, but then he says, “Indeed the Qur’an is created”, do we say that the Sunnah is predominant in this (person)? The Salaf (pious predecessors) declared (people) disbelievers due this because the Qur’an is the Speech of Allah and not created. The Salaf held a consensus regarding this. If he says, “I am a Sunni and the Qur’an is created”, we say: ”You are an innovator in religion, a misguided one, rather this innovation of yours is tantamount to disbelief.  Either you recant or else you are a disbeliever.”  We clarify the truth for him and unless he recants, otherwise he is a disbeliever. He rejects the Ruyah (i.e. he rejects the fact that the believers will see Allah on the day of judgement) and says: “I am a Sunni in everything except in this, for I do not believe that Allah will be seen in the Afterlife.” This one (i.e. the person who says this) has belied the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

This principle (i.e. that a person is a Sunni Salafi or an innovator depending whether the Sunnah or Bidah is predominant in him) is false; and how many with a single bidah – among the major bidah- were declared innovators by the Salaf?! Jad Ibn Dirham had two innovations- negation of the attributes of Allah and the statement (i.e. the belief) that the Qur’an is created, whilst he used to pray, observe fasting and worshipped Allah. And how many of Ahlul bidah and the Ubbaad (those dedicated to worship) have numerous (practices) of Sunnah, but alongside this he is an innovator!

Therefore, it is obligated to the Sunni to be solely dedicated to the truth and that his religion (Creed, Methodology and acts of worship) are pure and not stained by anything from the (matters) of bidah. However, if he falls into a Bidah khafiyyah (i.e. an innovation that is obscure or hard to detect), whilst he is desirous of the truth and seeking after it, then if the people were to inform him about it he would recant. So we do not pass the judgement of Tabdee against this person. If he had passed away we ask Allaah to forgive him and we do not pass the verdict of Tabdee against him. If he is alive, we advice him, and unless he accepts (the truth), we pass the verdict of Tabdee against him. [5]

Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, may Allah preserve him, quotes Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, who said:

As for the one who falls into an innovation, then he is of categories. he first category: Ahlul-Bid’ah such as the Rawāfid, the Khawārij, the Jahmiyyah, the Qadariyyah, the Mu’tazilah, the Grave-worshipping Sūfīs, the Murji’ah, and whoever is connected to them [in our times] such as al-Ikhwān, at-Tablīgh and those similar to them. For these innovations the Salaf did not make it a condition that the proof be established due to the fact that the ruling upon them is [in accordance to] the innovation. So regarding the Rāfidī, it is said about him, “Innovator (mubtadi’)”. As for the Khārijī, it is said about him, “Innovator”, and so on, regardless of whether the proof is established upon him or not. [6]

————————————————-

Footnote a: Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked: “What is the intent behind the statement of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, statement when he spoke about the Ummah in the hadith: “All of them (the sects) are in the fire except one” and what is that one?. Also, will all the other 72 (deviant) sects be in the fire for eternity? Benefit us”.

Response: The prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The Jews split into 71 sects, meaning all of them are astray and their affair ruined, except one. The Christians split into 72 sects, meaning all of them are astray and their affair ruined, except one. And this Ummah will split into 73 sects- all of them in the fire, except one. This one group is Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah [those who firmly adhere to the authentic Prophetic Sunnah and are united upon that] – the companions of the Prophet and those who follow them exactly in faith, the adherents to pure Islamic monotheism and sound faith.
As for the other 72 sects that have been threatened with the fire, among them is one who is a disbeliever (b), among them is one who is a sinner and among them is one about whom it is established with clear evidence that he is an innovator in religious affairs. So, the one – among them – that dies in a state of disbelief (c) will be in the fire for eternity, the one that dies in a state of adherence to religious innovation that is lesser than major disbelief (d) or sins is under the will of Allah, while still threatened with the fire. So, based on this it is known that not all of them are disbelievers, but rather among them is a disbeliever and other than him among the sinners and the innovators in religious affairs. [7]
[b and c]: NB: Takfeer – declaring that a Muslim left the fold of Islaam is a judgement that can only be given by the upright scholars and none else.  https://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/obkwf-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan.cfm
[d]: NB: All innovations in the religion are evil, but there are those that exit a person from the fold of Islam (Bida’atul Mukaffirah) and those that do not exit a person from the fold of Islam (Bida’atul Mufassiqah). Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khalee [may Allah preserve him] was asked whether there is a difference between Bidah Al-Mukaffirah and Bidah Al-Mufassiqah; so he replied that there is Bidah Mukaffirah, such as rejecting the Ruyah (i.e. denying that the believers will see Allah in the afterlife); rejecting Allah’s Uluww [i.e. denying that Allaah is above his creation –Allah ascended over the Throne in a way that benefits his majesty)]; invoking other than Allaah; offering slaughtered sacrifice (i.e. animals) to other than Allah etc. These are affairs of Bidah Al-Mukaffirah (the bidah that is tantamount to disbelief). But we do not make Takfeer of the people who commit this type of Bidah until we establish the proofs against them. That is because some of them (i.e. the people who fall into these affairs) carry doubts and are far away from the era of Prophethood and its light (i.e. guidance). So they fall into the likes these innovations. Rejecting the Ruyah is disbelief; rejecting Allah’s Uluww is disbelief; the saying that the Qur’an is created is disbelief-major disbelief. But this person, -[who testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and he prays, observes fasting, wants paradise and believes in that] -received the doubts of the people of falsehood, so he falls into the likes of these affairs (i.e. these innovations that are tantamount to disbelief). So we say to him: You have fallen into disbelief and the evidence is this and this, and we clarify for him. So if Allaah grants him Tawfeeq and he returns to the truth, then all praise is due to Allaah. But if not, we declare him a disbeliever after establishing the proofs against him. As for Bidah Al-Mufassiqah it is other than this (i.e. it is not at the level of that which is tantamount to disbelief)…[8]
——————————————————————
[1] Sunan Ibn Majah 43
[2] Sahih Abi Dawud 4607

[3] Al-Ibaanah by Imam Ibn Battah 1/379-380

[4] It’haf Al-Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/275-276]

[5] Source:   بهجة القاري بفوائد منهجية ودروس تربوية من كتاب الإعتصام بالكتاب والسنة من صحيح البخاريPages 92-93 Question number 13.

[5] https://abukhadeejah.com/shaikh-rabee-establishment-of-proof-in-declaring-a-person-to-be-an-innovator/

[7] Paraphrased. see link below
[8] [A paraphrased excerpt. see www.rabee.net/ar/questions.php?cat=26&id=484 ]

[13] Notification to Ahlul Bidah and The Mumayyi’ah: These Clarifications Are Coming Back!

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Bid'ah (Innovation), Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Fitnah, History of Islam, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Refutations, Sahaabah, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Seeking Knowledge, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

  • In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Al-Barbahaaree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Whoever realises what the innovators have abandoned of the Sunnah and left behind and he clings to it, he is a person of the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah. He should be followed, helped and protected.  He is one of those whom the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, bequeathed that he should be looked after.

Al-Allamah Salih al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, commented saying:

That is “They are those upon that which I (the Prophet) and my Companions are upon today”.  He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advised (by way of command) that one should be with them – this Jamaa’ah, these people, this group- upon that which the Messenger and his Companions were upon. However, this requires two matters:

The First Matter: Knowledge, we learn what the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his Companions were upon. As for the ignorant one, he does not learn, while thinking that what the one in opposition is upon is what the Messenger was upon.

The Second Matter: To be firm upon what the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his Companions were upon because the one who follows the Sunnah will receive grief, trouble and intimidation from the people, but he must exercise patience and not turn away from the truth. He does not bargain [the truth] nor abandon anything of it. And due to this, it has been reported (in a hadith) regarding the one who adheres to upon his religion at the end of time is like one holding a burning coal or prickles due to what he will receive of hardship, grief and trouble from the people. So he requires patience.[1]

Imam Al-Barbahaaree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

May Allah have mercy upon you! Know that if the people were to desist from newly introduced matters, not entering into any of them at all and did not say anything for which there was no narration from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or from his Companions, there would not be any innovation.

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, commented:

If they desisted and did not enter into them, restricted themselves to the Sunnah and did not abandon it for Bidah, certainly they would have received safety.  But whoever relinquishes the Sunnah and innovate statements that have no proof in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, he will eventually be with the innovators and the deviated sects.  And there is no safety except through the Sunnah which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, left for us. He said: “Indeed, I have left amongst you two things, if you hold firmly to them, you will never go astray; the book of Allah and my Sunnah”.

And in another hadith: “I have left you upon white plain (i.e. clear guidance), its night is like its day, and none deviates from it except he who is destroyed”.

This is the path to safety: the Sunnah of the Messenger and that which his companions were upon…. [2]

[1]: An Excerpt from It’haf Al-Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Sunnah Lil Imam Al-Barbahaaree Barbahaaree, 2/68-69. Slightly paraphrased

[2]: An Excerpt from It’haf Al-Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imam Al-Barbahaaree Barbahaaree, 2/82-83. Slightly paraphrased

[12] Notification to Ahlul Bidah and The Mumayyi’ah: These Clarifications Are Coming Back!

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Aqeedah, Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Bid'ah (Innovation), Brotherhood, Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Fitnah, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Refutations, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Imam Al-Barbahaaree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Know that leaving the correct path occurs in two ways. Firstly, a man strays from the correct path intending nothing but good, so his error is not to be followed since it leads to destruction. Secondly, a man who deliberately opposes the truth and acts contrary to the Pious ones who came before him, is astray, leading others astray, a rebellious devil within the Ummah. It is a duty upon those who know of him to warn the people against him and to explain his condition to them so that no one falls into his innovation and is destroyed.

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him], commented:

The first man leaves the (correct path) without the intending (to do so), rather he intended good, but followed other than the path of good. Striving (alone) is not sufficient, and even if the person has a righteous intention and a good aim, that has be (based) upon the correct path. Thus, this (person) is considered mistaken and whoever agrees with him and follows his error will be destroyed, because this is a path of destruction – even though the (person) did not intend to leave (the correct path); rather his quest was (to reach something) good. This is the state of many who initiate newly invented matters in the knowledge of creed. This is not permissible, and they should not adhere to it. The person is not upon correctness. Allah,  The Mighty and Majestic, said:

 وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ

And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path]. [Al-An’am. 153]

Therefore, we reject any path that exits us from the Straight Path even if the one who (calls) to it aims for good and has a good intention. We do not follow him in that while he continues upon his error, eventually leading to destruction, because whoever abandons the correct path in his journey and takes a path of ruin will be destroyed.

As for the second person, it is the one who intends to leave (the correct path). He knows the truth and that what he embarks upon is falsehood, but he intends to leave the truth with the intention of misguiding the people. So, the intention of the first (person) is to bring about benefit for the people, but he did not follow the correct path. The second (person) intended to misguide the people and turn them away from the correct path. Therefore, this one is a devil because the devils take the people away from the Straight Path. (Allah informs us that) Iblees said:

لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Surely, I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path]. [7:16]

He intends to turn them away from it towards the deviated paths. The Prophet,  peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave us an example when he drew a straight line and drew other lines on its sides, he then said about the straight line, “This is the path of Allah” and he said about the other lines, “These are the other paths, and on each path is a devil calling to it”. This is a clear example that agrees with what the Shaikh (i.e. Imam Al-Barbahaaree) has stated here. Therefore, the one who takes the people away from the Straight Path (and directs them) to the innovated paths of the innovators (in religious matters) is not one who intends good for them; rather he intends destruction for them. He is a devil – a devil amongst the Jinn or the people. It is obligated to us to be more careful of this (second person) than the first one because this one (i.e. the second) intends to misguide the people.

“He is astray, leading others astray, a rebellious devil”.

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzaan stated:

He is misguided and misguiding others- a rebellious devil, a rebel intending to turn the people away from the Straight Path.

“It is a duty upon those who know of him to warn the people against him and to explain his condition to them so that no one falls into his innovation and is destroyed”.

Al-Allamah Saalih Al-Fawzan commented:

It is not permissible to keep quiet about this one who abandons the truth intentionally; rather it is obligatory to unveil his affair and uncover his vileness until the people are warned about him. It is not to be said that the people are free to hold views, freedom of speech and respecting the views of others, as said at present with regards to respecting the views of others. The matter is not about views, (rather), the matter is about Ittibaa. Allah has outlined a clear path for us, and He told us to adhere to it, when He stated:

وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوه

And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it’ [6:153]

If any person comes to us and wants us to leave this straight path, firstly we reject his statement. Secondly, we clarify and warn the people against him and we do not keep quiet about him; because if we keep quiet about him, the people will be deceived by him, especially if he is an eloquent person with (skillful) writing and education, because the people will be deceived by him and will say, “This one is competent, this one is from the thinkers” as is taking place today. Therefore, the matter is very dangerous. And with regards to this, is a (justification) to refute the one in opposition, as opposed to what those who say, “Abandon the refutations, leave the people, everyone has his views and have respect for him”. Through this (so-called) respect for the views and freedom of speech, the Ummah will be destroyed. The Salaf did not keep quiet about the likes of these people; rather they exposed and refuted them due to their knowledge of the danger upon Ummah. We do not keep quiet about their evil; rather what Allah has revealed must be clarified, otherwise, we will be from those who conceal the truth- those about whom Allah said:

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

Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers] [2:159]

The matter is not limited to the innovator, rather it is extended to the one who keeps quiet about him (i.e. the one who deliberately keeps quiet while being aware about him). Rebuke and punishment (i.e. warning) are extended to him because it is obligatory to clarify.

An Excerpt from It’haf Al-Qaaree Bit-taleeqaat Alaa Sharh As- Sunnah Lil-Imam Al-Barbahaaree 1/110-115. Slightly paraphrased

[11] Notification to Ahlul Bidah and The Mumayyi’ah: These Clarifications Are Coming Back!

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Bid'ah (Innovation), Contemporary Issues, Fitnah, History of Islam, Innovations In Islam (Bidah), Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Refutations, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, Sin, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَلَا تَرۡكَنُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you]. [Hud: 113]

The word [ظلم –wrong] in can (mean) disbelief,  bidah, and [فسوق  i.e. sinful, immoral behaviour]. (It) can apply to all [i.e. in different contexts]. Therefore, we refrain from inclining towards the evil doers, the people of bidah, the unbelievers, the Ilmaaniyyoon and other than them. We protect ourselves, our creed, the Iman and the sound religion Allah has bestowed on us.

It is enough for us to remember that the Salaf fled from Fitan – not mixing, sitting and debating with the people of Fitan. Even among them, such as the likes of Ayyoub As-Sakhtiyaanee and Ibn Seereen did not listen to the speech of those (people of bidah). When Ibn Seereen was asked,  “Why do you not speak, why do you not listen to them?” He said, “Indeed, my heart is not in my hands! I am not in control of my heart; I fear for myself that I may be misguided”. So, the likes of these Imams feared fitna and deviation for themselves, but you the Miskeen possess that bravery to enable you to challenge ahlul bidah….!!! Many people say, “We sit with ahlul ahwaa and we take (from them), we distinguish between truth and falsehood, we take what is truth and abandon falsehood”, while he (i.e. the utterer of this speech) is a Miskeen who can neither distinguish between truth and falsehood nor is he in control of his heart. How many young peeople have been put to trial through this satanic view,  thus degraded, reverts back on his heels (into misguidanc) and depraved, and Allah’s Aid is sought. He falls prey in the arena of the people of fitan! Therefore, it is obligated to a student of knowledge not to (regard) himself safe from ahlul bidah, for indeed he is not more knowledgeable than Ayyoub and Ibn Seereen, nor can he reach their station and those who followed them.

[Slightly paraphrased excerpt from “Adh-Dhari’ah Ilaa Bayan Maqasid Kitab Ash-Shariah 1/192-193” by Al Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khal, may Allah have mercy upon him]