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Tag: aqeedah

Death – The Destroyer of All Pleasures of The Dunya!

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

Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِكْكُمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُشَيَّدَةٍ

‘’Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!’ 4:78

Allaah (The Most High) said:

نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

‘We have decreed death to you all, and We are not unable. To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.   And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e. the creation of Adam), why then do you not remember or take heed?’56:60-62

Allaah (subhaanah) said:

وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ

‘He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.’ 6:61

Brothers and sisters (may Allaah preserve us upon the Sunnah and grant us a good end…Aameen). Indeed death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives.  No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying person have the ability to prevent it.  It is something which happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak.  They are all the same in that they have no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power-so that the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it.  People die every day, but when someone close to us dies the shortness of this worldly life becomes a more manifest reality and less attention is given to the worldly aspirations. This is the way it should be whether someone dies or not, in order that we may make more effort in preparing for the meeting with our Lord.  Let our gatherings be that of remembrance of Allaah and the aakhirah, ilm and advice towards that which increases the slaves in taqwah.   The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’Make much remembrance of the destroyer of pleasures, it is death.  And let us not be deceived by this worldly life and its glitter.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

وَأَنْفِقُوا مِنْ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُنْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

وَلَنْ يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

”O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allaah.  And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.   And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: “My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e. Zakaat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e. perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)].  And Allaah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.” [63:9-11]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ

حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ

لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ

ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ

ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ

 ‘The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you, until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die).  Nay! You shall come to know!  Again, Nay! You shall come to know!  Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have occupied yourselves in worldly things)  Verily, You shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)!  And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight!  Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (you indulged in, in this world)!’ 102:1-8

Brothers and sisters! There is no cure for death. A cure for cancer exists, a cure for AIDS exists and a cure for every other disease exists, except death. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Allaah has not created a disease except that He has created a cure for it, except for a single disease… old age’

O brothers and sisters- let us do those actions which will be the cause of love and affection to develop between us.  Many people do not truly understand the Religion of Islaam.  Indeed many people think that the Religion of Islaam includes certain bad traits even though Islaam in reality objects to them because some Muslims portray a false image of Islaam.

Death is that harsh reality which is faced by every human who lives. It is the one thing which we will all experience – be we men, women, Muslims, Christians, Blacks, Whites or any other type of person on this earth. It is something which does not discriminate. It is that long journeys end by which the righteous will benefit from, and the unrighteous will suffer from. It is the return to the One who has created this phenomenon so that He, may judge us all for what we have done, as He says in His book:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

‘It is He who has created life and death, so that He may test which of you is best indeed’ (Surah Al- Mulk 67:2).

However, death is no longer remembered amongst mankind, unless a relative or a loved one passes away. And even then, tears are shed for a brief time before we forget again about this reality. How many people has this state of forgetfulness caught unaware? Some of us believe that we will die according to the life expectancy of our nation, which the statisticians give us. We believe that it is something which will only hit us when we are old and frail. We see it as something far off in the horizon, which will not touch us for a long time to come. But whilst we enjoy the pleasures and comforts of life, death comes ever nearer to the soul. It creeps up on us like a shadow in the night, when we least expect it.

It is something which is in the hands of Allaah.  Ever since the advent of time, people have sought to ‘cheat death’. However, this unachievable feat was something which was first inspired by Iblis, the Devil. In the Qur’an we find the story of the father and mother of humanity, Adam and Hawwa (Eve). Allaah informs us how He placed these two beings in the gardens of Paradise when they were created. In these gardens Allaah let them taste of any tree they wished to, except for one tree which He specifically forbade them from. Iblis then came to them and was the first of creation to initiate this quest for immortality:

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِنْ سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ

‘Then shaytan (devil) whispered suggestions to them both … he said; ‘Your Lord only forbade you this tree so that you don’t become Angels or of those who live forever”‘ (Surah Al- A’raaf 7:20)

We can thus see how this quest to cheat the command of Allaah, is truly a devilish deception which has confused humanity. Even after this event which occurred at the dawn of time, many people still believed that they could achieve eternal life on this earth.

The Ancient Egyptians and Chinese are two classical examples of this. Both of these cultures had been blessed by Allaah with many favours, yet they still chose to try and avert His command. The Egyptians, who had their kings and queens wrapped up, believed that this was the way that they could preserve their bodies and one day come back to life.

Whilst it is true that the wrapping up of these people has preserved their bodies, who can say that their souls have also been preserved after Allaah had taken them out? And how did these people eventually turn out? After their ‘sacred’ tombs had been raided from the 19th century onwards, they are now stuck in different museums all over the world, being viewed by thousands of people each day as common entertainment on a day out.

With the ancient Chinese, they too had themselves, their riches and hundreds of clay soldiers buried with them so that they could return once again to rule the Earth. When the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, was unearthed and opened, such dreams of immortality went flying out of the window.

Such ancient dreams of living forever have been continued into the modern age. People believe that modern technology can find for them a cure for death. Death is ridiculed as being a mere fantasy, with the character of the grim reaper being something used only to scare the children with.

Thus millions are spent on preserving people’s bodies after they die (by freezing them) and they hope that a cure will one day be found which will bring them back to life. The famous cartoonist Walt Disney is one such example of this. Others like the singer Michael Jackson have been known to do ridiculous things such as sleep in an oxygen chamber (with his pet chimp Bubbles!) so that he can enhance his life and live forever. Such dreams are spurned by the wealth which these people have amassed. But it is as Allaah (The Most High) said:

يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ

كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنْبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ

‘He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No! But indeed he will be thrown into the crushing Fire'(Surah Al-Humaza 104:3-4).

This is the reality of what will happen to all those who think that they can buy their way out of death.    Allaah (The Most High) said:

قُلْ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِي تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَاقِيكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

‘Say (O’ Muhammed); ‘Indeed the death from which you flee will surely meet you. Then you will be sent back to (Allaah), the All-knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do’ (Surah Al-Jum’ah 62:8)

This life and all its desires and pleasures will indeed be cut off by death.  And which desire can be greater, than the false desire which all these people have of living forever on this earth.   So how does Islam view this reality? As Muslims we have been told by our Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) that this world is a transitionary period. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: ”Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveller”.’ This life is not meant to be an abode of settlement by which we gather all the pleasures possible and make plans for a permanent residence. Rather, it should be like a long journey on which we gather all that we need to get to our destination. This destination being the Hereafter and death the journeys end.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

‘But truly the home of the hereafter is the actual life, if only they knew'(Surah Al-Ankabut [29:64] [Ref 1]

A Tremendous Supplication in which we ask Allaah for life as long as it is good for us, as well as many other affairs of wellbeing in this Dunyaa and Aakhirah

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 واجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if You know that life is good for me, and let me die if You know that 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 (i.e. neither miserly nor extravagant) 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 (i.e. finding pleasure in obedience to You, love of You etc) that never ends. 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 the joy of meeting You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me). O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Eemaan, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). [Ref 2] https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2020/01/beneficial-reminders-from-a-supplication-ask-allaah-to-let-you-live-or-depart-from-this-world-as-long-as-that-is-good-for-you/


[Ref 1]: [An Excerpt from an article in the following

link:  http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=6557

[Ref 2]:[Sunan An-Nasaa’ee’ Number 1305 & declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah Number 1301]

 

O Two Companions of The Prison! Are Many Different Lords Better or Allah, The One, The Irresistible?

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

 Allaah (The Most High) informed us that Yusuf (alayhis-salaam) said to his companions in the prison:

يَـٰصَٮٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ ءَأَرۡبَابٌ۬ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيۡرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَٲحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ

مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءً۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُڪُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ‌ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible? You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not. [12:39-40]

[يَـٰصَٮٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ ءَأَرۡبَابٌ۬ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيۡرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَٲحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّار- O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible?] Meaning: Lords that are deprived of the ability to act and are weak-neither able to benefit nor harm; neither able to give nor withhold. And they are various types, (such as) trees, stones, angels, dead people and other than them from those various objects of worship that are taken as objects of worship by the polytheists. Are those objects of worship better or Allaah? [Allaah]–The only One Who has Attributes of absolute perfection; ٱلۡوَٲحِدُ The one singled out in His Essence, His Attributes and Actions, and He  has no partner in any of that.

[ٱلۡقَهَّارُ] The Irresistible- the one to whom everything has submitted due to His absolute subjugation of everything and His absolute dominion over everything–whatever He wills takes place and whatever He does not will cannot take place; (and)  مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذُۢ بِنَاصِيَتِہَآ‌ۚ– There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock.

It is known that the one whose affair and description is as such is superior to (those) different gods, which are mere names–neither do they possess perfection nor actions [I.e. they have not created anything nor are they in control of anything]. So because of this [Allaah (The Most High) said that Yusuf (alayhis-salaam) said to them]:

[مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءً۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُڪُم— You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers]; Meaning: You gave them names and called them gods, whilst they are nothing. They have no attribute of Uloohiyyah (i.e. attributes of absolute perfection-free from all deficiencies, weakness etc) and [مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌] – for which Allah has sent down no authority; rather Allaah has sent down clear proofs to prohibit them and clarified its falsity.

And if Allaah did not send down any authority for it, then neither can it be a (sound) path nor a means (of worship), nor does it have any proof. That is because to Allaah (alone) belongs the judgement and He is the one who gives commands and prohibitions. And He (alone) is the One Who legislate the divine laws and rulings, and He is the one that commanded you أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ– That you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion]; Meaning: The straight religion that leads to every good and the other religions besides it are not upright; rather they are crooked and will lead to every evil.

[وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ –But most men know not] – Meaning: They do not know the reality of affairs, even though the distinction between worshipping Allaah alone and associating partners with Him in worship is a clear and manifest affair (i.e. there is no doubt about the falsity of worshipping others and the absolute proof that Allaah alone has the right to be worship). However due to many people not possessing knowledge of this affair, they fall into shirk.

[An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. slightly parapherased]

Indeed Allaah is Pure and He does Not Accept, Except That Which is Pure

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

The Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “Indeed Allaah is Pure and He does not accept, except that which is pure”.

In this hadith, he [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] described Allaah [جل وعلا] that He [سبحانه] is Pure.  He [سبحانه] is Pure, meaning free from all imperfections and deficiencies.  He is Pure in His Essence, in His Names and Attributes, and in His Commandments and Prohibitions.  He [سبحانه] is Pure in every aspect and imperfection cannot reach Him; and for that reason He does not accept actions, statements and intentions except that which is pure.  He does not accept filthy statements, actions and intentions. He does not accept except the pure, as He [The Exalted] said: [إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ – ‘To Him ascend (all) the goodly words][Surah Faatir Ayah:10]

He [سبحانه] does not accept, except good speech and good actions; as for filthy speech, then indeed Allaah rejects and hates it, such as lies, backbiting, tale carrying, abuse, false speech and false testimony; and all filthy statements; [such as] shirk and kufr.  All of this is filthy speech and does not ascend to Allaah, and is not accepted.

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al Minhatu Ar-Rabbaaniyyah Fee Sharh Arba-een Nawawiyyah’ page:133-134: by Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

Taking Others As Intercessors Besides Allaah!

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

Have they taken others as intercessors besides Allah? Say: “Even if they have power over nothing whatever and have no intelligence?” Say: “To Allah belongs all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you shall be brought back.” [Soorah Zumar: Ayah:43-44]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said: Allaah informed (us) that intercession belongs to the One who owns the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and that is Allaah (alone)…[for futher details see Ighaathatul Luhfaan 1/220-222]

And the saying of  (The Most High): And warn therewith (the Qur’an) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained). [Soorah Al-An’aam: Ayah:51]

Shaikh Saaleh Aala Shaikh (hafidha-hullaah) said: So when it is the case that intercession belongs to Allaah (alone), and that it not for anyone to seek intercession from other than Allaah– from one who has passed away and whose actions have ceased to exist- then it becomes established that seeking intercession and asking the dead people besides Allaah is shirk.  And the happiest people who will receive the intercession of Al-Mustapha [the Chosen One (i.e. the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] are the people who single out Allaah in worship and are free from all types of shirk, and they are those who are sincere to their (utterance) of the statement Laa-ilaaha-Ilal-laah (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah). [Source: al-Mindhaar Fee Bayaani katheer Minal Akhtaa Ash-shaa-i-a by Shaikh Saaleh Aala Shaikh: page:10]

The Believers Are Only Those Who, When Allaah is Mentioned, Feel a Fear In Their Hearts!

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

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah] said:

[We] must ponder upon the Qur’aan, [approach] it with [sound] discernment, pay close attention to it, being acquainted with what it is about and its [lofty] status.  [We] must know [the greatness] of the one who revealed it – The Lord of the heavens and the earth, The Great Lord [i.e. Allaah] – and the status of the great Messenger to whom the Qur’aan was revealed. Therefore, we must acquaint ourselves with the Qur’aan. We must act upon it after pondering upon it; after approaching it with a [sound] discernment, understanding and paying close attention to it, so that its goals [aims] are fulfilled, especially the subject matter related to Allaah’s Essence, Names and Attributes(ref 1); the right Allaah has to be worshipped alone, exalted, glorified, venerated, feared and loved; complete submission to Him and being shy in His presence, as well as other acts of worship, which we know from the great Qur’aan and the [authentic] Sunnah of the noble Prophet [alayhis salaatu wassalaam]. [Ref 1]

Indeed, the Qur’aan has commended – a lot – the affair of knowledge and the scholars. Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] said: [إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَـٰٓؤُاْۗ – It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah]. [Surah Faatir’ Aayah 28]

The scholars who act upon knowledge – those who benefit from the knowledge of [the Sharee’ah]- know Allaah by His [Perfect] Names and Attributes. They know Allaah and exalt Him due to their knowledge of Allaah’s [Perfect] Names and Attributes; therefore, whenever one reads and comes across an Aayah of the Qur’aan that [mentions] some of the [Perfect] Names and Attributes of Allaah, it should increase him [or her] in Eemaan; especially the Aayaat regarding Tawheed, and the [Perfect] Names and Attributes of Allaah. Allaah said:

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتۡ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ زَادَتۡہُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses [this Qur’an] are recited unto them, they [i.e. the Verses] increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord [Alone]. They perform the prayer and spend out of that We have provided them. [Surah Al-Anfaal’ Aayaat 2-3]

Whenever the Aayaat are recited to those believers – those who achieve this great status which Allaah [mentioned and attributed] to those scholars who truly act upon knowledge; the learned people of sound understanding, who possess a firm and sound understanding of the Qur’aan – they increase in Eemaan until their Eemaan becomes like mountains.

These scholars – the ones whom Allaah [mentioned with praise] – possess a firm and sound understanding of the Qur’aan and they increase in Eemaan through recitation of its Aayaat. They ponder upon the  Aayaat that [mention] Tawheed, the Aayaat that [mention] the [Perfect] Names and Attributes of Allaah, the Aayaat that [mention] Tawheed Al-Ibaadah, the Aayaat regarding  Allaah’s promise, the Aayaat regarding Allaah’s threat-which are many in the Great Qur’aan-, the description of Paradise and its bliss- its castles, Hoor [fair females with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for the pious)], and its gardens and rivers; and [they ponder upon the description] of the hell fire – its  Agh’laal [iron chains, iron collars], hardship and severe punishment- we seek Allaah’s Refuge from it. So, he [or she] believes in this Jannah and thus increases in desire for it; and believes in the fire and thus increases in fear of it, because he [or she] is a believer- one who knows and acts. [Ref 2]

Read the Names and Attributes of Allaah: http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=AQD03&articleID=AQD030001&pfriend=


[Ref 1: Majmoo Kutub Wa Ra’saa’il 1/23]

[Ref 2: Source: Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ pages 76-78. slightly paraphrased]

Skin Without Flesh and Body Without Soul!

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

Allaah [The Most High] said: [ لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ – It is neither their meat nor their blood [i.e. the animals we sacrifice] that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to the Muhsinun (doers of good)]. [Surah Al-Hajj. Ayah 37]

[لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا – It is neither their meat nor their blood] – meaning: The aim [or goal] behind them [i.e. the animals slaughtered as sacrifice] is not just to merely slaughter them, for neither does their meat nor blood reach Allaah because Allaah is [الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ -The Independent One Who is Free of all Needs and The One Who is Deservedly Praised]; rather what reaches Allaah is the sincerity [in your hearts in relation to the performance of the deed]; hope for Allaah’s reward and having a righteous intention; [وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ – But it is piety from you that reaches Him].

So with regards to this, there is an urge towards sincerity in [the act] of sacrifice and that one’s intention is to seek the Face of Allaah [alone], and not out of boasting, show off and to be heard; nor merely following a custom. Likewise, this is [the goal behind] all acts of worship, for if they are not connected to sincerity and piety, then they are similar to skins that have no flesh and a body that has no soul.


[Source: An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased. Publisher Daar Ibn Hazm 1st ed. 1424 (Year 2003)]

Allaah Says the Truth, And He Guides to the Right Way – [By Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

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

Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِي السَّبِيلَ  – Allaah Says the Truth, And He Guides to the Right Way (33: 4)]

This noble ayah makes it absolutely clear that Allaah speaks the truth -truthfulness and certainty in His narratives; justice and wisdom in that which He has commanded and prohibited. Everything Allaah has stated is truth, absolute credibility and beneficial for the slaves. It is a source of wellbeing in their creed and manners, and in their religious and worldly affairs. Everything Allaah has commanded is an act of righteousness, a quality of perfection, a benefit and a blessing; and everything Allaah has forbidden is evil, harmful and corruption, whether in the affairs of the worldly life or the religion. The entire Islamic legislation is an explanation of this great principle, which Allaah has mentioned in this Ayah and other than it.

Then Allaah says [وَهُوَ يَهْدِي السَّبِيلَ  – And He (Allaah), guides to the right way]; It is the path leading to the truth which Allaah has mentioned, and by way of which Allaah establishes judgements. Allaah suffices (us) and clarifies this truth for (us) through clear perceptible evidences (i.e. sound evidences that agree with the upright innate human fitrah and the uncorrupted intellect) and divine evidences, as Allaah stated in another Ayah:

[سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ  – We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that (this Qur’aan) is the truth (41:53)]


[Source: Ad-Dalaa-il Al-Qur’aaniyyah Fee Annal Uloom Wal-A’maal An-Naafi-a Al-Asriyyah Daakhilatun Fid Deenil Islaamiy’ page 6′ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

Whoever Dies Upon The Sunnah and Not Opposing It, He Is Indeed a Truthful Witness

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

Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said that Abul Aaliyah (rahimahullaah) said: “Whoever dies upon the Sunnah and not opposing it, he is indeed a truthful witness. It is said clinging to the Sunnah is salvation”.

Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan commented on the above saying: The Siddeeq (the truthful one) is the one given to much truthfulness, and his status is at a level after that of the Prophets; so the station of Truthfulness is a lofty station, and what is intended by it is adherence to Truthfulness in speech and action. The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) made known who the Truthful One is; so he said: “A man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a Truthful Person”.

He is truthful himself and is eager for truthfulness with regards to what the people relate to him. He does not go along with everything he hears or whatever is said, rather he verifies and is eager for truthfulness; because he is a truthful person. He neither narrates nor utter except the truth. This is the Siddeeq (The Truthful One).

And concerning the statement: ‘Whoever dies upon the Sunnah:’  Sheikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan comments saying: That is to cling to Islaam. And what is intended by As-Sunnah is ‘Islaam.  Islaam is the Sunnah, and whoever dies upon it and there appeared nothing from him in opposition to (that), then indeed he dies as a truthful person.

And concerning his statement: ‘Clinging to the Sunnah is Salvation’, that is: clinging to the Sunnah is safety from Fitan and Punishment; and for this reason he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “Whosoever lives amongst you will see lots of differences, so stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khulafaa”.

Allaah said: [   وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُوا – And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah, and be not divided among yourselves] [3:103]

And Allaah said: [وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ 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]. [6:153]

This is the advice of Allah and that of His Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], and that is to stick and cling to sunnah.


Source: An Excerpt from It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah), Vol:2, page:313-314

Our Lord is of Vast Mercy!

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

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

Verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness [53:32]

Had it not been for His forgiveness, the lands and the servants [i.e. its inhabitants] would have been destroyed. Had it not been for His forgiveness, the heavens would have collapsed on the earth and no living creature would have remained on it. [ref 1]

Neither Is The Believer Allowed to Lose Hope In The Mercy of Allaah Nor Be Complacent Regarding The Evil Consequences of Sins

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ ۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ

وَٱتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَحۡسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّڪُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَڪُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ بَغۡتَةً۬ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ

أَن تَقُولَ نَفۡسٌ۬ يَـٰحَسۡرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِى جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ

أَوۡ تَقُولَ لَوۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هَدَٮٰنِى لَڪُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ

أَوۡ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلۡعَذَابَ لَوۡ أَنَّ لِى ڪَرَّةً۬ فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكَ ءَايَـٰتِى فَكَذَّبۡتَ بِہَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped. And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur’an, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers, etc.] Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons); Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the Muhsinun (good-doers). Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers.

Repentance:

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2019/08/the-obligation-of-repentance-especially-during-calamities-and-afflictions-by-imaam-abdul-azeez-bin-baaz-rahimahullaah/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2019/09/brief-commentary-on-a-tremendous-supplication-related-to-repentance-by-imaam-abdul-azeez-bin-baaz-rahimahullaah/

http://www.salaficentre.com/2015/07/allaah-afflicts-mankind-with-different-types-of-afflictions-because-of-their-disobedience-and-wicked-deeds/


[Ref 1: An excerpt from Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm 1st Ed 1424AH (2003). Translation slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Surah Az-Zumar Aayaat 53-59

Why Are The Gatherings Where Allaah Is Remembered Considered to Be The Purest, Noblest, Most Beneficial And Loftiest Gatherings

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

The purest, noblest, most beneficial and loftiest gatherings are the gatherings  where Allaah is remembered. They are the loftiest in the sight of Allaah. Many texts have been reported regarding the virtues of the gatherings of Dhikr- that they give life to heart [i.e. obedience to Allaah and the Messenger], increase Eemaan, rectification and purification for a person, unlike the gatherings of heedlessness because a person does not retire from them except [being afflicted by] a decrease in Eemaan and weakness in the heart, and that will be a cause of loss and regret [on the day of judgement].

The Salaf [pious predecessors] used to give great importance to the gatherings of Dhikr. Abdullaah Bin Rawaahah [radiyallaahu anhu] used to hold a group of his companions by the hand and say: ‘’Come let us [re-revitalise, strengthen etc] our Eemaan; come let us remember Allaah and increase in Eemaan by obeying Allaah, so that perhaps He will remember us by way of His forgiveness.’’

Umayr Al-Khatamiy [radiyallaahu anhu] used to say, “Eemaan increases and decreases”, so he was asked, ‘’What increases and decreases it?’’ He said, ‘’When we remember Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic], praise and glorify Him, that is [a cause] of its increase; and when we are heedless, negligent and  forgetful, that is [a cause] of its decrease.’’

Indeed, the gatherings of Dhikr are the gardens of paradise in this worldly life. Imaam Ahmad, Imaam Tirmidhee and others have reported from Anas Bin Maalik [radiyallaahu anhu] that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, ‘’When you go past the gatherings of Paradise, then graze as you like.” They said, “What are the gardens of Paradise?” He said, “The Circles of Dhikr.”

Ibn Abee Dunyaa, Al-Haakim and others reported the Hadeeth of Jaabir Bin Abdillaah who said, ‘’Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] came to us and said, ‘O people! Graze in the gardens of paradise’; we said, ‘O Allaah’s Messenger! What are the gardens of paradise?’ He said, ‘The gatherings of Dhikr.’’’

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said, “Whoever wants a to live in the gardens of paradise in this worldly life, then let him stay in the gatherings of Dhikr, for indeed they are gardens of paradise.’’ [Al-Waabilus Sayyib. page 145]

The gatherings of Dhikr are the gatherings of the angels, because they do not have gatherings in the worldly life except gatherings in which Allaah [The Exalted] is mentioned. Abu Hurairah [radiyallaahu anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said:  Allaah’s Messenger said, ‘’Allaah has some angels who look for those who remember (glorify the Praises of) Allaah on the roads and paths. And when they find some people remembering (glorifying the Praises of) Allah, they call each other, saying, ‘Come to the object of your pursuit.’’ He added, ‘’Then the angels encircle them with their wings up to the nearest heaven to us.’’ He added, ‘’[After those people remembered (glorified the Praises of) Allah, and the angels go back to Allah], their Lord asks them (those angels) – though He knows better than them –‘What do My slaves say?’ The angels reply, ‘They say: Subhãn Allah, Allahu-Akbar, and Al-Hamdu-lillãh’. Allah then says, ‘Did they see Me?’ The angels reply, ‘No! By Allaah, they didn’t see You.’ Allah says, ‘How it would have been if they saw me?’ The angels reply, ‘If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and remember You (glorify Your Praises) more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often.’ Allah says (to the angels), ‘What do they ask Me for?’ The angels reply, ‘They ask You for Paradise.’ Allah says (to the angels), ‘Did they see it?’ The angels say, ‘No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.’ Allah says, ‘How it would have been if they saw it?’ The angels say, ‘If they saw it, they would have greater yearning for it and would seek it with greater zeal and would have greater desire for it.’ Allah says, ‘From what do they seek refuge?’ The angels reply, ‘They seek refuge from the (Hell) Fire.’ Allah says, ‘Did they see it?’ The angels say, ‘No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.’ Allah says, ‘How it would have been if they saw it?’ The angels say, ‘If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it.’ Then Allah says, ‘I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.’’’ (Allah’s Messenger ; added:) ‘’One of the angels would say, ‘There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.’ Allah would say, ‘These are those people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.’’’ [Bukhaari 6408]

The gatherings of Dhikr are gatherings of the angels and gatherings of heedlessness are gatherings of the devils. The gatherings of Dhikr protect a person from loss and regret on the day of judgement, unlike the gatherings of heedlessness, for ìndeed they will be a cause of loss and regret on the day of judgement. Abu Daawud reported -with a ‘Hasan chain’ of transmission- from Abu Hurairah [radiyallaahu anhu] who said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: ‘’The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: If anyone sits at a place where he does not remember Allah, deprivation [i.e. he’ll be deprived of reward] will descend on him from Allah; and if he lies at a place where he does not remember Allah, deprivation will descend on him from Allah.’’ [Abu Daawud. Number 4856]

Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Mu’awiya went to a circle in the mosque and said: ‘’What makes you sit here? They said: ‘We are sitting here in order to remember Allah.’ He said: ‘I adjure you by Allah (to tell me whether you are sitting here for this very purpose)?’ They said: ‘By Allah, we are sitting here for this very purpose’. Thereupon, he said: ‘I have not demanded you to take an oath, because of any allegation against you and there is none of my rank -in the eyes of Allah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]- a narrator of so few ahadith as I am. The fact is that Allah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] went out to the circle of his Companions and said: ‘What makes you sit?’ They said: ‘We are sitting here in order to remember Allah and to praise Him for He guided us to the path of Islam and He conferred favours upon us.’ Thereupon he adjured by Allah and asked if that only was the purpose of their sitting there. They said: ‘By Allah, we are not sitting here but for this very purpose’, whereupon he (the Messenger) said: ‘I am not asking you to take an oath because of any allegation against you but for the fact that Gabriel came to me and he informed me that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, was talking to the angels about your magnificence.”  This is [one of the proofs] regarding the nobility of Dhikr in the sight of Allaah. Allaah loves it and it has status that distinguishes it from other acts of worship.

The gatherings of Dhikr bring about tranquillity, mercy and the angel encircle with their wings around those who remember Allaah. Agharr Abi Muslim reported: ‘’I bear witness to the fact that both Abu Huraira and Abu Sa’id Khudri were present when Allah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: ‘The people do not sit but they are surrounded by angels and covered by Mercy, and there descends upon them tranquillity as they remember Allah, and Allah makes a mention of them to those who are near Him.’’’ [Muslim Number: 2700]

The gatherings of Dhikr are a great means of restraining one’s tongue,  protecting it from backbiting, tale carrying, lies, lewd speech and falsehood, for indeed it is inevitable that a person will speak, so if he does not speak through remembrance of Allaah- by mentioning Allaah’s commandments and about something good and beneficial, then it is inevitable that he will speak about forbidden things or some of them. Therefore, whoever makes it a habit for his tongue to remember Allaah, he will protect his tongue from falsehood and idle speech. And whoever deprive his tongue of remembrance of Allaah, he will utter falsehood, idle speech and lewdness. [Source: Excerpt from ‘Fiqhul Ad-iyah Wal-Ad-kaar.’ Pages 27-31. Slightly paraphrased]