In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Awn [rahimahullah] said: When the people of Khayr [i.e. the pious, upright] used to meet, they would advise one another with three [affairs] and when they were absent [from each other], some of them used to write to others, [saying], “Whoever acts for the sake of the afterlife, Allaah will suffice him with his worldly affairs”. “Whoever rectifies what is between him and Allaah [i.e. obedience to Allaah and fear of Him etc], Allaah will suffice him with the people [i.e. Allaah will protect him]”. “And whoever rectifies his secret affairs, Allaah will rectify his outward affairs”. [Al-Musannaf 7/165]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: He is not a (true) believer whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry”. [Ref 1]
This Hadeeth [clearly shows] that the one whose stomach is full while his neighbour is hungry is not a believer of complete Eemaan. A person of complete Eemaan is the one who checks on his neighbour if the neighbour is in need of him. It is not possible for a neighbour to be enjoying himself with foods and drinks while his [other] neighbour cannot find anything and he does not give him anything. This [behaviour] does not reflect the manners of a believer with complete Eemaan. And because of this-in this hadeeth- the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] negated the completeness [of the Eemaan of the one who behaves in such a manner]; rather a believer of complete Eemaan is the one who is generous to his neighbour as much as he is able, especially when in need of a necessity such as food and drink. [Ref 2]
[Ref1: Reported by Imaam Al-Bukhaari (rahimahullaah) in Adabul Mufrad Number 112 & declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in his checking of Adabul Mufrad page 50. Publisher Daar As-Siddeeq 2nd ed [1421 AH/ Year 2000]; [Ref 2: An Excerpt from Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharhul Adabul Mufrad’ page137, Vol 1- by Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [rahimahullaah] said:
Protests [or demonstrations] are newly invented matters in the religion. Every newly invented matter in the religion is a bidah; every bidah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire [i.e. is a path leading to the hell fire]. Allaah’s legislation is perfect and complete-based on The Book and The Sunnah-and we do not know of anything by way of the evidences in the Book and the Sunnah that makes it permissible for a handful of people to gather for demonstrations, which causes disturbance for the people and time wasting. And greater than this [disturbance and time wasting] is abandonment of the prayers [during protests] and the loss of life [i.e. murder]. If one was to kill a Muslim in a single protest, the one [or those] who called to such protests will carry his sins-be it an individual, a group or those who participate. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim [i.e. without right].[a] These protests are nothing but bidah and acts of misguidance advocated by shaytaan; [enticed] by the urge of the evil soul and desires. And these enemies [i.e. shaytaan, the urge of the evil soul and desires] do not come together in any affair except that the religion and worldly affairs are destroyed, just as it is the case in these demonstrations [or protests].
The end results of protests [or demonstrations]: Carnage, destruction, wastage of wealth and time and terrorising those living in peace. And how many disadvantages are there in [that]! It is enough to be considered something sinister due to the fact that the Noble Messengers and the Great Prophets who were put to trial and harmed by their people did not hold protests [or demonstrations]. Neither did they engage in plotting to cause explosions nor committing suicide; rather Islaam has forbidden all of that.
Those who call to protests [or demonstrations] and hold that there is success in it, they are mistaken and they have missed the correct path. Rectification of the affairs can only be by way of the Book and The Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of those scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. So whoever calls the people to this chaos, then indeed he has brought about a means to corrupting the land and the slaves, and what has occurred – in the past and at present- is a witness to that.
Therefore, we warn the students of knowledge that they are not persuaded by the speech of those who allow protests [or demonstrations]. They say that peaceful demonstrations are permissible-as they categorise it into this categorisation- without proofs and concrete evidence from the Book and the Sunnah- neither from the actions of the Messenger and the Noble Sahaabah nor from the Notable Imaams; rather the verdict on protests [or demonstrations] is only what has been stated earlier and as well as what has been written by other than myself [i.e. protests (or demonstrations) are not permissible] [Slightly paraphrased. Source: الأفنان وتوحيد ابن خزيمة وحديث عن المظاهرات4-4-1432هـ.]
Question to Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah]: Going out to demonstrations, [initiating] revolutions and nurturing the youth upon it; is this from the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah or not, whether [carried] out within or outside the Muslim countries? Answer: This is the methodology of Marx (i.e. Carl Marx), Lenin (i.e. Vladimir Lenin) and those similar to them. It is not from the Islamic methodology. Revolutions, bloodshed, trials and troubles are Marx’s and Lenin’s school of thought. [Source:An excerpt from كشف الستار Page: 18]
[a] Hadeeth declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee. Saheeh Al-Jaami 9208]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Aa’isha [radiyallaahu anhaa] narrated that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said to her, “O Aa’isha! Be gentle, for indeed when Allaah wishes good for a household, He guides them to gentleness”.
Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said: This hadeeth contains proof regarding the fact that it is obligatory to give sincere advice and the first people one should give sincere advice is the members of the household- the wives, sons, daughters and others. Also this hadeeth contains proof regarding the virtue of gentleness in all affairs, for indeed gentleness is not found in any affair except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it damages it. On the other hand, the opposite of gentleness is warn against and it is the harshness that is applied in other than its rightful place, because its end result will be alienation and disharmony. [At-ta’leeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1 page 277. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Ibn Umar [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said:
“The Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] forbade [two affairs related to eating and drinking]: sitting at a table where alcohol is consumed and a man who eats whilst lying on his stomach”.
Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah] said: In this hadeeth there is an indication regarding the manners of eating food, because indeed these two deeds are not part of good manners. Firstly, sitting at a table where alcohol is consumed: It is not permissible for a Muslim to sit at a table where alcohol is consumed, because alcohol is the mother of all evil and a person is not safe [in such a situation]. The least sin regarding this affair is that one has shown approval to the one who consumes alcohol at a table. Secondly, it is [the deed of] a man who eats whilst lying down on his stomach; and it has been reported in a narration that the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said about lying on one’s stomach whilst sleeping, “Indeed, it is a way of lying down that Allaah hates”. [Saheeh Al-Jaami 2271] It is not permissible for a man to lie on his stomach, rather he should lie down on his back, or on his right side and that is noblest manner of lying down, or on his left side and there is no harm in that.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
“The most virtuous Hijrah [migration] is to abandon that which Allaah hates”.
This hadeeth contains a clarification regarding one of the meanings of Hijrah [migration] and its virtue in relation to this meaning. Indeed, it [Hijrah – migration] has been explained [in the hadeeth] by the statement of the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi Wasallam] that “The most virtuous migration is to abandon that which Allaah hates”. The Lord [i.e. Allaah – The Lord of all that exits] hates all types sins – be it related to statements and deeds, manifest and hidden, small and big. Allaah hates all of them and [threatens to] punish [the one commits them], because they are forbidden, just as Allaah hates deficiencies [i.e. in that which a person has been commanded] in the absence of a legislated excuse. Therefore, it is obligatory to hate what the Lord [Allaah] hates and to love that which He loves for His slaves, for indeed in that there is abundant good in this life, in the grave and in the hereafter. [An Excerpt from At-taleeqaatul Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. page 471. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imaam Ibn Hibbaan [rahimahullaah] said: It is obligated on a sensible person that he adheres to humility and avoids pride. Humility is of two types- the first one is praiseworthy and the other is blameworthy. Praiseworthy humility [necessitates] abandoning insolence and mockery. Blameworthy humility [occurs] when a person humbles himself in the presence of one who possesses the things of the worldly life and desiring what such a person possesses. Therefore, a sensible person maintains his abandonment of blameworthy humility in all circumstances and he does not depart from praiseworthy humility. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa page 58. slightly paraphrased]
Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah) said: It is obligated on a sensible person to cling to humility and avoid being haughty. And if humility did not contain any [good] trait, except that whenever a person has a lot of humility he is increased in status, then it would have been obligatory upon him not to adorn [himself or herself] with other than it. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa. Page: 58]
Imaam Ibn Hibbaan [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed, none is haughty towards another (person) until he becomes amazed with himself and sees himself as having virtue over others. [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa: page: 61]
Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah) said: The Poet said: Do not walk on the earth except with humility, for how many a people beneath it were of a higher status than you! And if you are in a state of honour, good and strength, then how many people have passed away who were more powerful than you! [An Excerpt from Rawdatul Uqalaa page 61]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah] saaid: When one sits with the Ulamaa, he will learn – first and foremost – manners and etiquettes. The people used to travel to [Imaam] Maalik [rahimahullaah] from different regions of the earth, and one of those [people] who travelled to him was Yahyah Ibn Yahyah Al-Naysaabooriy [rahimahullaah] – the great Imaam, about whom Imaam Ahmad said, “I have not seen someone like him. He [i.e. Yahyah] read Al-Muwatta to Maalik, then he remained with him; so Maalik noticed that and [wondered] why Yahyah was still with him! So, he patiently waited and after a long time he asked Yahyah, “Why are you [still] sitting here [i. studying with me]?” He said, “To learn from your manners.”
Sadly, you see that many people refrain from coming to the scholars to acquire knowledge from them. This – and Allaah knows best – is the cause of self-deception and evil manners. And due to this, you will find that they are upon a more [severe state of] self-deception, ignorance, insolence and bad manners than others. When a person relies on himself and he is not taught by a teacher [i.e. by an upright teacher who has a recommendation to teach], but rather he teaches himself, then this is a sign of sickness. The [best and most appropriate] path is to acquire knowledge from the scholars, for they will direct you to the book that is suitable for your intellectual capacity [or level of understanding] and ability. The scholar knows and has definitely acquired experience before you. [Source: An Excerpt from Majmoo Kutub Wa Rasaa’il Wa Fataawaa Fadheelatish Shaikh Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Umayr Al-Madkhali. Vol 1. page 37. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Sincere Advice to The Muslims: It is to guide them towards the beneficial things related to the affairs of their Aakhirah and the Dunyaa, and to aid them in that; guide them towards rectification in affairs related to their Dunyah and Aakhirah; love them for the sake of Allaah, aid them in truth, co-operate with them in good and guidance and not in sin and transgression; clarify the truth for them and advise them with it, and disapprove evil if they violate Allaah’s Right etc [Ref 1]
Teach them what they are ignorant of in their religion and aid them upon that through speech and action; repel harm from them and seek what is beneficial for them; command them with good and forbid them from evil with softness and sincerity and be compassionate towards them; respect their elder ones and have mercy on their young ones; speak to them with beautiful admonition and abandon deceiving and envying them; love for them what you love for yourself and hate for them what you hate for yourself; defend their wealth, honour and other than that through speech and action [Ref 2]
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Sharh Arba’een An-Nawawi by Shaikh Saaleh Aala Shaikh (hafidhahullaah)] page: 81]; [Ref 2: An Excerpt from Sharh Saheeh Muslim: 2/39]
We are greatly in need of the Qur’aan, especially this era in which many people have become preoccupied with mobile phones. Many hearts have become infatuated with mobile phones and many eyes have been turned towards them – looking at them in a manner that has no benefit; rather it is harmful to one’s religion, manners, health and well-being. This reality [i.e. preoccupying oneself with mobile phones] grieves many of those who have great zeal for the religion – the sincere advisers – because it has become the case with many people; but on the contrary, the Qur’aan is given very little attention in their lives; rather late at night, different times of the day and most of their time is spent looking at them [i.e. mobile phones] – one gaze after the other; contemplation after another contemplation! And how many a person has been plotted against by shaytaan through these mobile phones.
The good uses of mobile phones is not in need of discussion [i.e. because its benefits are well known]; rather what needs to be addressed is the great calamity that has afflicted many people by way of them- to such an extent that being busied by the mobile phone leads some people to neglect the prayer. They hear the Adhaan – Hayyaa Alas Salaah; Hayyaa Alas Salaah; Hayyaa Alal Falaah…but carry on looking into the mobile phone until the prayer finishes. The time for an obligation ordained by Allaah [i.e. Salaah] to be fulfilled arrives, but one carries on looking into his mobile phone and does not pay attention to the prayer. If it is the case that the obligatory duties are being neglected, then more so other affairs will be neglected.
Therefore, we need to acquaint ourselves with the Qur’aan, especially because mobile phones have preoccupied many people in this era. Our lives would have been far better through attainment of piety and guidance if this preoccupation with mobile phones is substituted with looking into the Qur’aan, contemplating and pondering upon it; however, we have exchanged that which is the best for something lower. [End of quote] [Ref 1]
Using a Phone Or a Sat Nav When Driving
Brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that our mobile phones can be of great use; but from what we have witnessed so far is that it has become a great source of distraction for some of us. Amazing indeed is the affair when you see a person sending text messages and constantly checking his WhatsApp messages whilst driving. One has to remember that we place ourselves and others in great danger when engaged in such a reckless deed. On the other hand, this is what the law says regarding such a deed: https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Sharh Dhakheerah Al-Ikhwaan Fee Ikhtisaaril Is’tigh’naa Bil-Qur’aan Fee Tahseelil Ilm Wal-Eemaan. Lesson 2. Slightly paraphrased]
