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Tag: aqeedah

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]

Hadeeth: [Allaah Freed Prophet Moosaa (alayhis alaam) From The False Accusations of The People]- With short Commentary By Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah]

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

[The Prophet] Moosaa [Moses] was a very shy man and used to cover his body completely. No part of his skin was seen due to shyness. So, he was hurt by those amongst the children of Israel who said, “He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin- either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect”. Allaah wished to free Moosaa [alayhis salaam] from that which they said about him; so one day whilst he was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes to take them, but the stone fled with his clothes. Moosaa [alayhis salaam] picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, ‘O stone! My clothes’ until he reached a group of the children of Israel who saw him without [clothes], and found him the best of that which Allaah had created, and Allaah freed him from what they had accused him of. They said, “By Allaah! Nothing is wrong with Moosaa”. The stone stopped there, so Moosaa [alayhi salaam] took his and put on them, and thereafter started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allaah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting- three, four or five marks. This was what Allah referred to in His statement:

[ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاذَوۡاْ مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُواْۚ وَكَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَجِيہً۬ا- O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa (Moses), but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honourable in the sight of Allaah].[Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayah 69]

This hadeeth [contains] one of the most amazing stories – a story through which Allaah raised the status of Moosaa [alayhis salaam]. In this hadeeth, there is a clarification regarding the fact that the Messengers and the Prophets were put to trial at the hands of the evil ones in  their nations; so they exercised patience whilst facing harm, received abundant reward from Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] and carried on propagating Allaah’s message. Indeed, the Messenger [Sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] informed us that Moosaa [alayhis salaam] was harmed by Bani Israa’eel but he exercised patience. In this hadeeth, there is proof to show that the miracles of the Messengers and Prophets are affirmed. And with regards to this particular miracle, the stone- an inanimate object – moved and fled with the thobe; then Moosaa [alayhis salaam] was finally able to catch up with it. He hit it several times and left a mark on it. This is the great miracle that has been mentioned in this hadeeth. [At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. page 135. Slightly paraphrased]

What Deviated Many Amongst Humankind From Their Sound Natural Disposition?!

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

The Messenger [sallal-laahu-alahi-wasallam] said that Allaah said:

إِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلَّهُمْ ، وَإِنَّهُمْ أَتَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ ، وَحَرَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَحْلَلْتُ لَهُمْ ، وَأَمَرَتْهُمْ أَنْ يُشْرِكُوا بِي مَا لَمْ أُنْزِلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا

I have created all My slaves Hunafâ’ (with the inclination to worship Allah alone), but the devils come to them and turn them away from their religion (true path). They forbid to them that which I have permitted to them, and they tell them to associate others with Me for which I have not sent down any authority. [Reported by Imaam Muslim (rahimahullaah); Saheeh Muslim Chapter 16. Hadeeth Number: 2865]

Some of The Fruits of Ikhlaas And Tawheed In This Dunyaa and Aakhirah

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

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:

Ikhlaas and Tawheed are a tree in the heart; its branches are the [good] deeds and its fruits is the good life in this world and everlasting bliss in the afterlife. And just as the fruits of Jannah are neither cut off [by change of season] nor are they out of reach, likewise this is the case with the fruits of Tawheed and Ikhlaas. Shirk, lies and Riyaa are a tree in the heart; its fruits – in the worldly life- are fear and anxiety, grief and distress in the soul and oppression against the heart. Its fruits in the afterlife are the tree of Zaqqoom and an everlasting punishment. And Allaah has  mentioned these two trees in Surah Ibraaheem:

 أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ

وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ۬

See you not how Allaah sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high). Giving its fruits at all times, by the Leave of its Lord, and Allaah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability. [Surah Ibraaheem. Aayaat 24-26]

[Source: Al-Fawaa’id. Pages 239-240]

 

Why Do We Seek Allaah’s Refuge Before Reciting The Qur’aan – By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr

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

Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said:

To seek Allaah’s refuge before reciting the Qur’aan is legislated because shaytaan is extremely eager to divert a servant [of Allaah] from this Great Book; [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from achieving success through the guidance of the Qur’aan; [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from understanding its meanings and what that necessitates and  [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from acting upon it. Therefore, it is legislated for the servant to seek Allaah’s Refuge against this shaytaan so that his recitation of the Qur’aan is safe from shaytaan’s whispers, trap [or oppressive deeds], his arrogance and poetry [i.e. false speech]. [An Excerpt from Sharh Ad-Duroos Al-Muhimmah Li-Aammatil Ummah’ page 13.  By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him). Slightly paraphrased]

One of The Many Admonitions Given By The Messenger During The Farewell Hajj – With Short Commentary By Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah]

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

Abu Qutaylah narrated that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stood before the people during the farewell hajj and said, “Neither is there a prophet after me nor an Ummah after you, so worship Allaah your Lord; establish your five daily [prayers], pay your zakaat, fast your month of [Ramadhaan], obey those who have been placed in charge over your affairs and you’ll enter paradise”.

Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said, This hadeeth gathers a number of beneficial Prophetic commandments, and the first and foremost affair is to worship Allaah, which is a general command that includes all types of worship- statements and deeds, apparent [actions of the limbs] and deeds concealed [in the heart]. Then the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] specified some of the types of worship and the most important of them being the obligatory prayers, payment of Zakaat, fasting during the month of Ramadhaan out of Eemaan and hoping for Allaah’s reward, and obedience to the ruler of the Muslims in that which is good. The fulfilment of these affairs are a great means of entry into paradise which Allaah has prepared for His believing servants. [At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1 page 309. Slightly paraphrased]

Severe Warning Against Declaring Things Unlawful or Lawful Based on One’s Own Accord!

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

Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ – And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. [16:116]

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said: Do not declare (this or that) to be unlawful and lawful on your own accord – lying and fabricating things against Allaah, and forging statements against Him (i.e. passing judgements or rulings that such and such is lawful or unlawful based on ignorance, guessing, assumptions, desires etc). [إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ – Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper]; neither (will they proper)  in this worldly life nor in the afterlife. [Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem al-Mannaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan. Publisher Daar Ibn Hazm 1st Edition 1424AH (Year 2003). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]

Allaah Has Commanded Unity In The Religion And He Forbade Splitting – [A Statement of Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdil Wahhaab Explained By Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi]

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

Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] said in Usoolus Sitta. “The Second Principle: Allaah has commanded Unity in the Religion and He forbade splitting in it; so Allah has clarified this with a clear clarification that is understood by the common people”.

Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [rahimahullaah] commented on the above statement: I say’ this is truth stated in the Book of Allah, when Allaah [The Mighty ad Majestic] said: [ وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْ‌ۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَٲنً۬ا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَا‌ۗ – And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allaah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islaamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it]. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 103]

Therefore, Allah commanded that [one] holds onto His Rope- the Firm Religion which the Book of the Lord of the Worlds and the Sunnah of the leader of the first and later Prophets- [Muhammad (Sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]- came with.  And Allaah forbade His Messenger from division in the Religion; because it is the path of the Mushrikoon and the Innovators.  As for those who possess understanding in the Religion -from the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet; they unite upon all affairs the Religion and they do not split- in compliance with the command given to them in the Revelation.

Unity upon the Clear Truth is the path of the Salafus Saaliheen [the pious predecessors]- those who possessed the correct understanding of Allaah’s Magnificent Book and the Sunnah of the trustworthy Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam].  Splitting is the path of the people of Bidah – those who are misguided and misguiding others, because they are the ones who bring about splitting as a result of deviating from the Siraat Al-Mustaqeem.

Indeed, Allaah commanded all the Ummah to follow a single path- the Siraat Al-Mustaqeem, and warned [them] against the crooked paths. Allaah said:

وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ

And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 53]

As for the people of the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and correct understanding,  they embrace this divine commandment in their hearts, tongues and with the actions of their limbs.  They do not turn away from the straight path that leads to Allaah’s  Pleasure. As for the people of Bidah, then indeed they deviate from that straight path to the other paths on the right and the left, as reported by Jaabir Bin Abdillaah [radiyallaahu-anhu] who said: We were sitting with the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), so he drew a straight line in front of him and said, ‘this is Allaah’s path’.  He then drew lines on the right and left sides of this (straight line) and said, ‘these are the path of shaytaan’.  Then he placed his finger on the line in the middle and then recited this ayah: [  وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ – And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path]. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 153]

Therefore, whoever holds onto the middle line will be safe and happy; and whoever turns away from the middle line will follow the deviated lines, fall into destruction in this worldly life, in the Barsakh and in the hereafter. [Allaah said]: [ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُ ۥ نُورً۬ا فَمَا لَهُ ۥ مِن نُّورٍ – And he for whom Allaah has not appointed light, for him there is no light]. [Surah An-Noor. Aayah 40]

The author [Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah)] clarified that Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] forbade splitting and differing.  And regarding the first thing related to this subject matter, Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] forbade splitting in the Aqeedah, in the  Manhaj of Jihaad, in Dawah and in the Obligation of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil.  He clarified that splitting and differing in the Religion is a characteristic of the people of Bida’atul Mukaffirah [i.e. the bidah that nullifies one’s Islaam] and the people of Bida’atul Mufassiqah [i.e. the bidah that does not exit a person from Islaam] because all innovation in the Religion is evil, and the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] called it ‘Misguidance’. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] dispraised splitting and its people with an intense dispraise in His statement:[  إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَہُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا لَّسۡتَ مِنۡہُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ‌ۚ – Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) have no concern in them in the least. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 159]

Allaah [The Might ad Majestic] said: [  وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَٱخۡتَلَفُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ‌ۚ – And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 105]

Therefore, Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] cautioned us- in order that we do not fall into the splitting, differing, discord an sectarianism which those before us fell into- as a mercy upon us and a clear proof, so that no one may come on the day of judgment saying, “Neither did a giver of glad tidings came to us, nor a Warner, nor did we hear a Messenger [conveying] the command of Allaah [Al-Aliyyul Kabeer], even though Allaah did command His Messenger to give glad tidings and warning.

Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] gave an excuse [to the creation] by sending the Messengers and by way of what He assigned to [the Messengers] to convey. [Allaah said]: [ رُّسُلاً۬ مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةُۢ بَعۡدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ‌ۚ – Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allaah after the Messengers]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 65]

The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind Dinars nor Dirhams, but they leave behind knowledge”.

Therefore, splitting in the fundamental principles and foundations of the Religion- rather in all affairs of the Religion- is blameworthy. It (splitting) is not from the characteristics of the people of Eemaan and Certainty; rather it is from the characteristics of the deviants and the innovators. As for differing in those issues of the Sharee’ah in which differing is permissible, such as differing that occurs regarding [the ruling] on some acts of worship [i.e. as to whether it is obligatory, recommended etc] or [the rulings] related some of the issues of Mutual dealing and their what is similar to them – in which differing is allowed amongst the scholars of Ijtihaad; then indeed there is no basis for splitting, hatred, turning away from one another and boycotting [in this]; rather if this occurs amongst the  scholars of Ijtihaad, then each one examines the proof, its support and basis. And when the truth is made clear even in these issues, then it becomes obligatory to embrace it and leave that which is the opposite of it.

And the important thing we should be aware of, (is that): differing in the subsidiary issues, of that which differing is allowed through Ijtihaad, [from that which is (designated) to the people of scholarly research and examination]; then there is neither a basis for cutting off one another and turning away from one another (in this affair), nor should it bring about splitting between the people.   Indeed, the Salaf used to differ in some of the [subsidiary issues of the Religion], and each had his own view; because firstly they were scholars of Ijtihaad, and secondly their differing did not enter into the blameworthy differing.  And when the truth is made clear in a matter in which differing (occurs), then it is obligatory to settle with it. And in any case, the one who is right in this differing is rewarded twice, and the one who is mistaken is rewarded once and his mistake is forgiven. [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Sullamul Wusool Ilaa Bayaan As-Sitta Al-Usool, pages 17-21. Slightly paraphrased]

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

Part 1: Earthquakes– By Shaikh Muqbil [rahimahullaah]

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

The People differ (in their views) concerning earthquakes-some say that it is a natural phenomenon and it has nothing to do with religion; others say that it (occurs) by Allaah’s decision and pre-decree and it has nothing to do with the sins (of the people); and others say that it is warning for (the slaves to fear Allaah’s punishment) and it has nothing to do with (their sins); and others say that it (occurs) as a result of the sins (of the people)?

The answer to this is: It may occur as a warning, a decision and pre-decree of Allaah and as a result of the sins (of the people). Earthquakes can occur as a warning for those who are witness it and are alive. He (The Most High) said:

وَإِنْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَسْطُورًا
وَمَا مَنَعَنَا أَنْ نُرْسِلَ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا أَنْ كَذَّبَ بِهَا الْأَوَّلُونَ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا ۚ وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا

And there is not a town (population) but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written in the Book (of our Decrees); And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).[Soorah Al-Israa: Aayaat:58-59]

As for it being the decision and pre-decree of Allaah, He (The Most High) said:

مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah”. [Soorah Al-Hadeed: Ayah:22].

And He (The Most High) also said:

مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], and Allah is the All-Knower of everything.” [Soorah At-Taghaabun: Ayah:11]

As for it being a result of the sins (of the people), Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) said in His Noble Book:

وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ

And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. [Soorah Ash-Shoorah: Ayah:30]

He (The Most High) said:

ذَٰلِكَ أَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ

This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrong-doing (i.e. associating others in worship along with Allah) while their people were unaware (so the Messengers were sent).” [Soorah An-An’aam: Ayah: 131]

And He (The Most High) said:

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ

And your Lord would never destroy the towns wrongfully, while their people were right-doers.” [Soorah Hud: Ayah: 117]

And He (The Most High) said:

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ بَطِرَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا ۖ فَتِلْكَ مَسَاكِنُهُمْ لَمْ تُسْكَنْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ۖ وَكُنَّا نَحْنُ الْوَارِثِينَ
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِي الْقُرَىٰ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَالِمُونَ

And how many a town (population) have We destroyed, which were thankless for its means of livelihood (disobeyed Allah, and His Messengers, by doing evil deeds and crimes) ! And those are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them except a little. And verily! We have been the inheritors. And never will your Lord destroy the towns (populations) until He sends to their mother town a Messenger reciting to them Our Verses. And never would We destroy the towns unless the people thereof are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, oppressors and tyrants). [Soorah Qasas: Ayah:58-59]

He (The Most High) said:

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well content; its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste the extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad ) which they (its people) used to do.” [Soorah An-Nahl: Ayah:112]

He (The Most High) said:

لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِي مَسْكَنِهِمْ آيَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَنْ يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ
فَأَعْرَضُوا فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ الْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَاهُمْ بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَيْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍ وَأَثْلٍ وَشَيْءٍ مِنْ سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍ
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَفَرُوا ۖ وَهَلْ نُجَازِي إِلَّا الْكَفُورَ

Indeed there was for Saba’ (Sheba) a sign in their dwelling place, – two gardens on the right hand and on the left (and it was said to them) “Eat of the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him, a fair land and an Oft-Forgiving Lord. But they turned away (from the obedience of Allah), so We sent against them Sail Al-‘Arim (flood released from the dam), and We converted their two gardens into gardens producing bitter bad fruit, and tamarisks, and some few lote-trees. Like this We requited them because they were ungrateful disbelievers. And never do We requit in such a way except those who are ungrateful, (disbelievers).” [Soorah Saba Aayaat: 15-17]

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa’s (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: “Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours).

َابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِنْ كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِنْدِي ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَنْ ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).

فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ ۖ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ

So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ

But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).”

فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِنْ فِئَةٍ يَنْصُرُونَهُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنْتَصِرِينَ

So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.

َأَصْبَحَ الَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا مَكَانَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَا أَنْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ

And those who had desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say: “Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful. [Soorah Qasas: Aayaat: 76-82]

And He (The Most High) said:

فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنْبِهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَغْرَقْنَا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment – awful cry, etc. (as Thamud or Shu’aib’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qarun (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves. [Soorah Al-Ankaboot: Ayah: 40]


[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Makhraj Minal Fitan’. page:161]