And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s Pleasure while they in their ownselves are sure and certain that Allah will reward them (for their spending in His Cause), is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer of (knows well) what you do.
This parable is the basis of the spending that is based on sincerity and truthfulness because seeking Allah’s Pleasure is sincerity itself and being certain in oneself is truthfulness. Indeed, the spender is faced with two affairs and if is saved from them, he will be similar to what has been mentioned in this Ayah. Firstly, seeking praise or commendation or one of his worldly ambitions, and this is the situation of most those who spend. The second affair is the weakness, swaying, and doubt in his soul as to whether he should or not. (The first) prevents one from seeking Allah’s Pleasure and the second prevents one from being certain about spending because being certain is that the soul is given the courage, strengthened, and urged to spend, and this is its truthfulness. As for seeking Allah’s Pleasure, this is sincerity.
When it is the case that the basis of spending to seek Allah’s Pleasure and being certain about it is likened to a garden- the garden with numerous trees and is situated on an elevated place, then indeed it is the garden that is more perfect than the garden that is situated at a very low place. That is because when a garden is elevated, (exposed) to the air, the sun when it is rising and after it has risen, as well as at the time of its setting, its fruits become more mature, wholesome, better, and more numerous because fruits increase in their good quality and good health (when more exposed) to the air and sun, as opposed to fruits that are grown under the shade.
When it is the case that nothing is feared for a garden that is situated in an elevated place, except insufficient water, Allah says, [أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ۬ – heavy rain falls on it], thus its fruits are brought forth and it produces blessings. It brings forth its fruit twice as much as that of others, or twice as much due to the heavy rain. This is similar to the situation of those who are foremost in spending.
Then Allah says: [فَإِن لَّمۡ يُصِبۡہَا وَابِلٌ۬ فَطَلٌّ۬ – And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it]. This is inferior to the heavy rain, but it is enough for the garden because of the (suitability and fertility) of its hotbed and the good manner in which it was planted; therefore it is enough to bring forth its benefit by way of the light rain. This is similar to the case of the pious people- those upon the second level of spending and they are of different stations in the Sight of Allah.
The people of a higher station are those who spend their wealth day and night, in secret and openly, and they give precedence to others over themselves, even though they are in need themselves. As for the people whose (spending is likened to the garden that received) the light rain, they are those upon a level in the middle. The likeness of these two groups and their deeds is that of a garden upon an elevated place, and their spending a lot is likened to heavy rain and light rain. Just as one of the two types of rains necessitates that it will make the fruits of the garden (wholesome and healthy), likewise is their spending- whether a lot or small after it is based on seeking Allah’s Pleasure and being certain in oneself regarding that. It (their spending) is pure in the sight of Allah, increases and doubles.
[An Excerpt from “Tareeq Al-Hijratayn” By Imam Ibnul Qayyim. Pages 454-455]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy Mercy.
Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
All praise is due to Allaah, who in every age and interval between the Prophets, raises up a group from the people of knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bear ill-treatment and harm. With the Book of Allaah they give life to the dead and with the Light of Allaah they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees (the Devil) they have revived, how beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile the people have been towards them! They remove from Allaah’s Book the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignoramus- those who uphold the banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords, who oppose the Book and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allaah and his Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book and deceive the ignorant ones with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allaah from the trials of the misguided ones. [Ar-Radd Alal Jahmiyyah Waz-Zanaadiqah. p. 2]
So, let it be known to Muhammad Hijaab and all those who speak ill of the erudite Salafi Scholar Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan or any other upright scholar, that his wrongful actions can be summed up in the following poem:
The fool addresses me with every repugnant (expression etc), but I hate to be a respondent, so he increases in foolishness and I increase in forbearance, just as Oud increases in good smell when burnt.
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Dharr [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “My Ummah will continue in goodness so long as they hasten to break their fast and delay the pre-fasting meal”. [1]
Abu Hurayrah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “The religion will not cease to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians (i.e. those amongst them who deviated from the path of their Prophets) delay it”. [2]
“The religion will not cease to prevail”- Meaning, triumphant and lofty or manifest and clear, “as long as the people hasten to break the fast”- Meaning, they earnestly hasten to break the fast, “because the Jews and the Christians delay it” [i.e. those amongst them who deviated from the path of their Prophets]. At-Teebiy [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “In this is proof that upright establishment of the religion of pure Islamic monotheism is by opposing the enemies amongst the people of the scripture, and agreeing with them ruins the religion”. [i.e. what they have innovated in the religion of the Prophets] [3]
Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “This is a text regarding (the fact that) triumph of the religion is attained through hastening to break the fast, and it is to oppose the Jews and Christians [i.e. those amongst them who deviated, innovated in religion and opposed their prophets]. And when it is the case that opposing them is a reason behind the triumph of the religion, then the purpose of sending the Messengers is so that the religion ordained by Allah prevails over all others. Therefore, being in opposition to (the deviated people) is one of the greatest goals behind the advent of the Messengers”. [4]
Sahl Ibn Sad [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast”. [5]
Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “In this is an urge to hasten (to break the fast) after the setting of the sun is ascertained. What this means is that the affair of the Ummah will not cease being consistent and that they will (remain) good if they preserve this Prophetic tradition. If they delay breaking the fast, then this is a sign of corruption”. [6]
They will not cease to be upon good if they do this by acting upon the Sunnah and limiting themselves to its prescribed legislated boundaries, not being over-stringent (through what their) intellects (suggest to them), and changing its principles. The people of the scripture [i.e. those amongst them who deviated] delayed breaking the fast until the stars appeared. [7]
Is The One Who Provides Suhoor For Needy People The Same As The One Who Provides Iftaar?
Imam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon him] was asked: In Ramadhaan, one notices the concern people give to providing Iftaar for those needy people who observe the fast – whether it is in the Masaajid or the houses – in order to receive reward just as the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Whoever provides Iftaar for a fasting person, he has reward similar to his” [i.e. reward similar to that of the fasting person]. However, we find big tables [i.e. with food and drink] at the time of Iftaar -in the Masaajid- but few people sit to eat, whereas it is very rare to find one who provides Suhoor for a needy fasting person. Therefore, is the reward received by the one who provides Suhoor for the people similar to the one who provides Iftaar?
Answer: I do not know of a (specific) exhortation -as an act of Sunnah- to provide Suhoor for the fasting people, and it is not possible to compare it to providing Iftaar. That is because the fasting person’s need for eating and drinking during Iftaar is much greater than his need for eating and drinking during Suhoor; therefore, we do not go beyond what has been reported in the Sunnah. However, whoever knows someone- from the poor people around him- who needs food for Suhoor, then the door is open in this affair [i.e. he can provide that person with food for Suhoor]. [8]
Al-Allaamah Abdullaah Bin Humaid [may Allah have mercy upon him] was asked: Is attendance at the Haram (in Makkah) and breaking the fast over there something desired in the Sunnah or not, for some people obligate that on themselves?
Answer: It is not Sunnah; rather some people break their fast at the Masjid Al-Haraam to be present for Maghrib Salaah. That is because they will miss the Maghrib Salaah if they were to break their fast at home. And it is not the case that breaking the fast at a Masjid has a distinguished virtue; rather it is to attend the congregational prayer. So they (i.e. the people) break their fast over there to attend the congregational prayer and not miss it. As for merely breaking the fast, it contains the same reward whether the person does so in his house or at another place. They (i.e. the people) only choose it (i.e. the Masjid) because the Salaah is established over there so that they can perform it at the Kabah and together with the Muslims as a group. This is the aim. [9]
[1] Saheeh Al-Jaami 7224]
[2] Abu Dawud Number 2353. Hadeeth graded ‘Hasan’ by Imaam Al- Albaanee in Saheeh Abu Dawud. Publisher: Maktabah Al-M’aarif. 1st Edition]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Umar Ibn Abdul Azeez [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Whoever advises his brother to rectify affairs related to his religion and gives him insight into a worldly affair of his, then indeed he has perfected their relationship and fulfilled his obligation towards him. [Taareekh At-Tabari 6/572]
Imaam Al-Barbahaaree [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: It is not permissible to hide sincere advice from any of the Muslims, whether pious or impious, in matters of religion. Whoever hides that has acted deceitfully towards the Muslims. Whoever acts deceitfully towards the Muslims has done so towards the religion. Whoever acts deceitfully towards the religion has behaved treacherously towards Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers.
Al-Allaamah Ahmad Bin Yahyah An-Najmi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: I say: The meaning of An-Naseehah is ‘Purity’ and ‘Clearness.’ It is said: [ نصح اللبن – the milk is pure] when it is clear. This is the linguistic meaning of An-Naseehah. In the Shariah, (it means) to inform a Muslim regarding what is obligated on him in relation to the (rights of Allah or his relationship with Allah) and His creation without slyness and false courtesy. An-Naseehah is obligatory, even though its obligation varies, and its opposite is Al-Ghish [deception].
Indeed, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said in the authentic Hadeeth, “The religion is Naseehah, the religion is Naseehah, the religion is Naseehah; so, the Sahaabah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! To who?’ He said, ‘To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.’”
Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated that the Messenger of Allah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] passed by a pile of foodstuff, he put his hand in it and found that it was wet. He said, ”What is this, O seller of the foodstuff?” He said, ”It became wet due to the rain O Messenger of Allah!” He said, ”Why do you not put it on top of the food so that people can see it? Whoever deceives [people] is not from me.” [Muslim 102]
Deception in trade is when one hides a defect [found in the commodity]. And with regards to consultation, it is when one recommends something to a person that is harmful to his religious or worldly affairs.
As for Naseehah Lil-Laah – [sincerity to Allah]: It is to believe in Allah [The Most High], single Him out in [His Lordship, Names and Attributes and to single Him out in worship], give precedence to obeying Him over obedience to the creation, fearing the standing in His presence [on the Day of judgement] and to be mindful of Him in private and public.
As for An-Naseehah Li-kitaabihee-[Sincerity to His Book]: It is to recite it, ponder upon its meanings, act upon it and believe in the information it contains. As for Naseehah Li-Rasoolihee – [Sincerity to His Messenger]: It is to testify to that which he has informed [us], fulfil what he commanded, keep away from what he has forbidden, exalt and honour him [salawaatu wasalaamuhu alayhi].
An-Naseehah Li-A’immatil Muslimeen- [Sincerity to the leaders of the Muslims]: It is to obey them in that which does not necessitate disobedience to Allah, to refrain from betraying them, send them advice through those who are able to advise them in private, because that is the manner that will be more suitable for advice to be accepted. An-Naseehah Li-Aammatil Muslimeen- [sincerity to the common Muslims]: It is to call them to the path of Allah, teach them what is beneficial and warn them against that which will harm them.
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance)”. [(1)]
The anonymous writers at Wikipedia stated: “In 1966, when Ibn Baz was vice-president of the Islamic University of Medina, he wrote an article denouncing Riyadh University for teaching the “falsehood” that the earth rotates and orbits the sun. In his article, Ibn Baz claimed that the sun orbited the earth, and that “the earth is fixed and stable, spread out by God for mankind and made a bed and cradle for them, fixed down by mountains lest it shakes”. As a result of the publication of his first article, Ibn Baz was ridiculed by Egyptian journalists as an example of Saudi primitiveness, and King Faisal was reportedly so angered by the first article that he ordered the destruction of every unsold copy of the two papers that had published it. In 1982 Ibn Baz published a book, Al-adilla al-naqliyya wa al-ḥissiyya ʿala imkān al-ṣuʾūd ila al-kawākib wa ʾala jarayān al-shams wa al-qamar wa sukūn al-arḍ (“Treatise on the textual and rational proofs of the rotation of the sun and the motionlessness of the earth and the possibility of ascension to other planets”). In it, he republished the 1966 article, together with a second article on the same subject written later in 1966, and repeated his belief that the sun orbited the earth. In 1985, he changed his mind concerning the rotation of the earth (and, according to Lacey, ceased to assert its flatness), when Prince Sultan bin Salman returned home after a week aboard the space shuttle Discovery to tell him that he had seen the earth rotate”. [End of quote]
Response:
First of all, if the Imam did reprimand someone at Riyadh University for claiming that the earth rotates, then that was undoubtedly a justifiable rebuke against those who oppose what has been established based on divine texts.
Second, the Imam’s position that the sun rotates is a fact rather than a claim since everything stated in the divine revelation—the Qur’an and Sunnah—is an unquestionable fact and reality, not a statement of opinion. Read on the links:
Third, if it is true that Egyptian media made fun of the Imam, then it is not at all unusual for learned Salafi scholars to face scorn from ignorant people when they present real evidence. Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “All praise is due to Allah, who in every age and interval between the Prophets, raises up a group from the people of knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bear ill-treatment and harm. With the Book of Allah they give life to the dead and with the Light of Allah they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees (the Devil) they have revived, how beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile the people have been towards them! They remove from Allah’s Book the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars, and the false interpretations of the ignoramus- those who uphold the banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords, who oppose the Book and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allah and his Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant ones with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allah from the trials of the misguided ones”. [(2)]
Fourthly, if the cretins at Wikipedia are correct in their claim that King Faisal [may Allah have mercy upon him and enter him into Jannatul Firdaws] was angered by the Imam’s position, then indeed the upright Scholars are an example of how the rulers are treated in that they are not obeyed in anything that is contrary to the Shariah, but rather they are advised in private and have supplications made for them. No one is to be obeyed in disobedience to Allah, as Imam Al-Barbahaaree [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated, “From the Sunnah is that you do not help anyone in disobedience to Allah, whether they be parents or any of the creation. There is no obedience to a human in disobedience to Allah and no one is to be loved for that; rather all of that is to be hated for [the sake of Allah], the Blessed and Most High”. Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] stated: This is a fundamental principle from the fundamental principles of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah that has been derived from the statement of the (Prophet) that, “There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator”. And he [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Obedience is only in that which is good”. So, whoever commands disobedience to Allah is not to be obeyed. He is not to be obeyed in disobedience, whether your father, mother, or from the closest of the people to you, or a Ruler or a King. He is not to be followed in disobedience. [(3)]
Regarding the statement that the Imam reaffirmed his position in 1982 that the sun rotates and the earth is stationary, it is true that the upright Scholars do not forsake any evidence in order to appease others or follow the crowd. As for the claim by the unknown writers and cretins at Wikipedia that “In 1985 the Imam changed his mind concerning the rotation of the earth (and, according to Lacey, ceased to assert its flatness) when Prince Sultan bin Salman returned home after a week aboard the space shuttle Discovery to tell him that he had seen the earth rotate”, then indeed, the burden of proof is on the claimant, and the cretins at Wikipedia must present a statement from the Imam for what they attribute to him because the only position known from the Imam till his death was that the earth does not move and that it is the sun and moon that rotate.
As for the statement of the Imam regarding the flatness of the earth, he himself stated as follows: “According to the scholars, the Earth is spherical. Ibn Hazm and a group of other (scholars) have transmitted that the scholars hold a consensus that it is spherical. Meaning: Some of it is joined together with some and rolled up like a ball. However, Allah spread out the top of it for us and placed on it firm mountains, animals, and seas out of mercy for us. This is why Allah says: [وَإِلَى الأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ – And at the earth, how it has been spread out (to facilitate habitation and travel)?] It is flat and visible to us (i.e. the top) so that people can live on it and be calm (without worry). The fact that it is spherical does not exclude that its surface is not flat because if a large, great thing is flat, it will have a wide back”. [(4)]
May Allah enter the Imam into Jannatul Firdaws! His remark is quite obvious for everyone to see. Them read Shaikh Abu Iyaad’s (may Allah preserve him) article on the link for more information about the statements of other Scholars regarding the shape of the earth. “Ibn Taymiyyah on the Shape of the Heaven and Earth and the Concept of Time and Related Issues:
If after reading Shaikh Abu Iyaad’s post in the aforementioned link you believe that the explanation offered by the other scholars is more persuasive or that the Imam’s position is incorrect, then you should know that every upright Mujtahid is rewarded for striving to reach the correct position, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If a Mujtahid gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct, he will receive a double reward, and if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong, even then he will get a reward”. [Bukhari Number 7352]
Finally, as for the debate that people have been able to reach the moon, listen here:
To be continued…InShaaAllah
[(1)]: Sunan At-Tirmidhee 2682
[(2)]: Ar-Radd Alal Jahmiyyah Waz-Zanaadiqah. page 2
[(3)]: An Excerpt from It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/297-299
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance)”. [(1)]
The anonymous writers at Wikipedia stated, “Ibn Bāz was among the Muslim scholars who opposed regime change using violence. He called for obedience to the people in power unless they ordered something that went against God. During his career as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, he attempted to both legitimise the rule of the ruling family and to support calls for the reform of Islam in line with Salafi ideals. Many criticised him for supporting the Saudi government when, after the Persian Gulf War, it muzzled or imprisoned those regarded as too critical of the government, such as Safar al-Hawali and Salman al-Ouda. His influence on the Salafi movement was large, and most of the current prominent judges and religious scholars in Saudi Arabia are his former students”. [End of quote]
First, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] forbade rebellion against Muslim rulers, whether they be pious or sinful, so Imam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz’s [may Allah have mercy upon him] position on regime change is based on the sound Prophetic narrations. Therefore, there is no discussion of whether their rule is valid or not; rather, Muslims are instructed to consider all Muslim rule as legitimate, regardless of how such a Muslim ruler behaves, and rebellion is prohibited. Read articles by Shaikh Abu Iyaad and Shaikh abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him].
Second, regarding Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz’s revival efforts, his call was for the Ummah to return to Tawheed and that which the pious ancestors were on. During his lifetime, he was also supported in this endeavour by Imaam Al-Albaani, Imaam Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen, and other scholars. Read below.
As for those who criticised the Imaam for supporting the Saudi government to restrain the Qutubies, such as Safar al-Hawali and Salman al-Ouda, these critics are either ignorant of the destructive methodology of these two callers to bidah or they are upon the same methodology as them. Read below.
As for the statement that “His (Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz) influence on the Salafi movement was large, and most of the current prominent judges and religious scholars in Saudi Arabia are his former students”, then indeed we remind these ignorant people that Salafiyyah is not a movement, rather, it is the methodology of the Salafus Saalih [the pious predecessors]. Read below.
http://www.salafis.com/authors/Abu.Iyaad.cfm
Finally, there is no doubt that Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz alongside Imaam Al-Albaani and Imaam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon them] had a great impact on the Ummah during their lifetime due to their piety and knowledge. Indeed, the positive outcomes of their knowledge and piety in the Ummah is well-known.
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated:
The statement of many materialists (atheists) and those who blindly follow them is that “There should be freedom of thought, everyone should be free to hold the opinion he sees fit and the proposal he makes”. This has also manifested its great harm. Indeed, freedom of thought – giving everyone his freedom (i.e. based on desires) – has shown to be the very reason behind anarchy; rather that is its basis. Animals become better than them (i.e. humankind and Jinn) when they are given freedom in that which corrupts their morals and (sound) beliefs, thus their deeds become chaotic. This is the reality in every country where freedom has been let loose and not restricted by the divine legislated restrictions that conform with (sound) intellect because the souls command evil, incline towards arrogance and insolence, and approach every desire whether it harms individuals and groups or not. Just as giving one the freedom to do as he pleases unrestrictedly cannot remain because if everyone was left with his freedom that he can murder, injure or hit, or take the wealth of the people or violate their honour, the state of affairs would have been corrupted, the world would be in anarchy, chaos, disturbance and great harm will occur; likewise, the freedom of thought has brought evil, and from its filthy fruits is dispensing with religion and the Messengers [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them], rejecting what they brought and that which sound intellect indicates, such as the obligation of restraining and guarding oneself against the harmful affairs related to creed, morals and deeds. Among the outcomes of freedom of thought are the statements heard from the atheistic and vile newspapers that shake the hearts of the people of sound intellect, and indeed they have done great harm to the beliefs and morals; rather it has harmed governments, groups and individuals. As for the Islamic legislation, then indeed it – and praise be to Allāh – came to alert the intellects and urge towards (sound) reflection on those affairs that are useful for one to reflect on, such as the signs Allah has created in the creation and the signs conveyed in the divine revelation; pursues the sound paths of reflection and examining them, and thus it affirms the beneficial sciences and truthful understandings- urges towards every beautiful character, warns against every evil character and places a sound restriction on ideas, which if encroached will result in destructive things and various types of misguidance. If ideas are not restricted by sound intellects and religion – which Allāh has provided for the servants in which is the rectification of their affairs and perfection of their circumstances, then indeed they give birth to chaos and error, misguidance, misery, folly and insanity.
[An Excerpt from “Ad-Dalaa’il Al-Qur’aaniyyah”. page 22]
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance)”. [(1)]
The anonymous writers at Wikipedia stated, “In 1927 when he was sixteen, he started losing his eyesight after a serious infection in his eyes. By the time he was twenty, he had totally lost his sight and had become blind. At that time, Saudi Arabia lacked a modern university system. Ibn Baz received a traditional education in Islamic literature with Islamic scholars”. [End of quote]
First of all, the Salafus Saalih (pious predecessors), the best generations of this Ummah, did not receive their Islamic education from contemporary educational systems, despite the fact that they and their successors were the ones who established solid foundations of Islamic knowledge in numerous regions of the world before contemporary universities were established in the Ummah. The Masjid of the Messenger in Madeenah and many other Masaajid in the Islamic Ummah produced scholars far greater than Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz even though there were no modern universities in the Ummah at the time. Likewise, the Imaam himself – an Imam of knowledge and piety – is a manifest proof of the blessed traditional system of Shariah knowledge.
As a result, the lack of contemporary universities had no detrimental effects on the results of knowledge and scholarship; rather, the traditional system produced the greatest Erudite Scholars, whose knowledge has never been equalled. Imam Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated, “There is not to be found in the statements of those who came after the Salaf (any) truth, except that it is found in their statements with a more concise wording and a shorter expression. There is not to be found in the statements of those who came after them (any) falsehood, except that there is in their statements that which clarifies its falsity, for the one who understands and contemplates [i.e. the one who understands the statements of the Salaf]. There are wonderful meanings found in their statements and precise observations, which those who came after them were neither guided to nor knew about. The one who does not take knowledge from their statements will miss all that goodness, alongside the numerous (affairs) of falsehood he will fall into due to following those who came after them [i.e. those who came after the Salaf]”. [(2)]
Likewise, it was the traditional systems that produced the likes of the great Mujaddideen, such as Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim, Imaam Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhaab, and others [may Allah have mercy upon them].
Second, when institutions of Shariah knowledge other than Masaajid were initially formed, the upright Scholars reminded seekers of knowledge that the purpose of learning is the purification of the soul, not simply the establishment of institutions, as Al-Allaamah Siddeeq Hasan Khan [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated, “The scholars unveiled what the drive behind this was and they spoke about it when the building of schools reached them at Baghdad, so they held gatherings of knowledge and said, ‘The possessors of lofty ambitions and the pure souls used to pre-occupy themselves with it (i.e. knowledge) – those whose intention behind knowledge was due to its nobility and the perfection (reached by way of it), therefore, they came to the scholars to benefit from them and their knowledge'”. [(3)]
Third, there is no doubt that modern university systems are beneficial and in some cases, they make learning easier for those who are blind or affected by severe visual impairment. All the beneficial methods that facilitate learning for the disabled enters into the Masaalih Mursalah. Read here: https://abukhadeejah.com/issues-which-arise-after-the-time-of-revelation-for-which-there-is-no-specific-text-al-masalih-al-mursalah-and-how-islam-is-applicable-in-every-age/
Finally, it should also be noted that University Shariah Certificates do not inevitably imply that a person has outperformed other students of knowledge who have sat in the company of scholars for many years. Click this link:
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance)”. [(1)]
The anonymous writers at Wikipedia stated that many of ibn Baz’s views and rulings are considered controversial (both inside and outside Saudi Arabia), including Saudi Arabia’s support for the Oslo Accords!
First, Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] stated regarding interaction with non-Muslims:
[a] Invite them to Islam – the religion Allah has ordained for all of humankind. Allah says:
“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better”.
Therefore, we invite them (to Islam) for their rectification and happiness in this life and the next.
[b] Make peace with them if they seek it. Allah says:
But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower].
Make peace with them if the Muslims are in need of making peace, and when there is an overriding benefit for the Muslims in making peace, just as the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] made peace with the unbelievers at Hudaibiyyah. And by virtue of peace, diplomacy is (established) between them and the Muslims.
[c] Refrain from hostility against them without due right. Allah says:
Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity].
[d] Have permissible beneficial dealings with them- in trade, exchange of beneficial information and utilisation of the worldly sciences, and things that are of benefit in our lives.
[e] Fulfil contacts made with them, and honour the blood, wealth and rights of the Mu’aahideen (i.e. those non-Muslims who have a treaty with the Muslims) because it is binding upon them to (fulfil their covenants with the Muslims) and the Muslims are to (fulfil their covenants with them). Allah says:
So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them].
And the ones forbidden to be killed are the Muslims and the Mu’aahid [i.e. the non-Muslims who have a treaty with the Muslims]. And indeed the Prophet said about the killing of a Mu’aahid, “Whoever kills a Mu’aahid will not even smell the fragrance of paradise and its fragrance can be smelled from the distance of forty years away”. [Bukhaari: No: 3166]
And whoever kills a Mu’aahid by mistake, it is as if he has killed a Muslim by mistake. He must pay blood money as expiation. Allah said:
And if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood money – Diya) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed]. [(2)]
Finally, read Shaikh Abu Khadeejah’s (may Allah protect him) articles on peace treaties with the Jews in particular titled “Are Treaties With The Jews, the State of ‘Israel’ and other Non-Muslims Permitted? Is it Allegiance? Is it Apostasy?”
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance)”. [Sunan At-Tirmidhee 2682]
The anonymous writers at Wikipedia stated that among the controversial views and rulings of Imam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allah have mercy upon him] is the subject matter of women’s rights!
Response: Militant Secularists, modernists, and proponents of immorality continue to argue that segregating the two biological sexes in the arena of work is unprogressive. The Salafi Scholars, in particular Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allah have mercy upon him], have responded to this viewpoint of theirs, which is solely motivated by a desire to either reject the infallible divine revelation or pursue so-called equality and progress at the expense of sound morality. When asked if a woman is considered to be pursuing her whims and desires if she works without a need for money, the Imaam responded: “Her engagement in work is not tantamount to following desires if it is a noble and safe occupation, and carried out amongst women, without free mixing with men, and she only works amongst women without any injustice and hostility, with the permission of her husband. There are different types of work, and if the work includes disobedience to Allah, then it is obligatory for her to abandon it. If it includes free mixing between men and women and showing her beauty, then this is also evil. But if it is work that is allowed or legislated by Islamic law amongst her Muslim sisters, such as teaching girls, or working as a nurse, or working as a doctor for women, then there is no harm in this and all praise is due to Allah. Even if she is not in need of money, it is still allowed because she may want more money, or need it to give away in charity and so on. http://www.binbaz.org.sa/audio/noor/033907.mp3
