The people said to Jundub [radiyallaahu-anhu], “Advise us.” He said: “The first thing of the human body to putrefy is the abdomen, so he who can eat nothing but good food [halaal and earned lawfully] should do so, and he who does as much as he can that nothing intervenes between him and paradise by not shedding even a handful of blood [i.e. unlawful killing], should do so.”
Bukhaari 7152
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:
Indeed, that which is stated by the astronomers about the celestial bodies, their sizes and the distance between them, and that which is said about the earth [i.e. by the geologists etc] is categorized into three affairs:
[1] That which is backed by the sound knowledge based proofs [i.e. the Sharee’ah], therefore it is accepted. [2] That which the knowledge based proofs [i.e. the sharee’ah] declares to be false, therefore it is rejected. [3] That which there is no proof to either accept or reject it, therefore it is unproven until a person from the people of knowledge [i.e. upright scholars of Ahlus Sunnah] examines it [i.e. examines what it indicates based on the Book and Sunnah] to show whether it should be accepted or rejected. As for accepting it without [sound] investigation and observation, but merely accepting it by blindly following them [i.e. the astronomers, geologists etc], then this is impermissible because of the numerous mistakes that occur as a result of that, and speaking -without knowledge – about Allaah and that which He has created [i.e. the entire universe and all that is within it].
Source: Al-Adillah An-Naqliyyah Wal-Hissiyyah Alaa Imkaanis Su’ood Ilal Kawaakib Wa Alaa Jarayaan Ash-Shams Wal-Qamar Wa Sukoon Al-Ard’ page 74. Abridged and slightly paraphrased
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ
Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allāh and cursed by the cursers.
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. (Al-Baqarah 159 -160)
Within these verses is a proof regarding the obligation of manifesting the truth and openly declaring it, and that manifesting the truth is a binding affair, concealing it is from the major sins and from the characteristics of the yahūd. Therefore, the believer strives in making apparent the truth, calling to it, being patient upon that; whilst simultaneously being wary of concealment (of the truth) in all affairs, and if he was to fall into anything from concealing of the truth, he hastens to tawbah (repentance), rectification and open declaration (of the truth).
Rectification (of oneself) and open declaration (of the truth and the falsehood or sin, which is being repented from). Therefore, whoever repents for what has passed from his sins, then it is compulsory upon him to rectify his affairs and it is followed up with repentance, with truthful belief and righteous actions, and openly declaring the truth. He (Mighty and Majestic) said,
وَبَيَّنُوا
“and openly declare.” (Al-Baqarah: 160)
Hence, clarifying the truth and calling to it is a must, and it is also a necessity that repentance is followed up with righteous actions, likewise it is binding to follow it up with open declaration. So, if the repentance was due to concealing the truth, then an open declaration is a requirement so that it is known he has returned from his falsehood and that he is firm upon the truth and is treading its path, in opposition to the yahūd and those who are like them.
For indeed, they regard clarification of the truth and repentance to be a deficiency and belittlement, so they continue in their concealment and rejection of the truth for the purpose of establishing their desires and lowly goals.
It is not suitable for a believer that he resembles the enemies of Allāh in concealing the truth and lack of clarifying it, due to pursuing an object of desire from amongst the various sought-after worldly goals.
Likewise, it is not befitting to shy away from returning to the truth, for returning to it is a virtue and correct, whilst remaining upon falsehood is lowliness, humiliation, vileness and leads to being exposed to the displeasure of Allāh (The Mighty and Majestic). Thus, it is a must to return to the truth and to caution from falsehood, in order to safeguard oneself from the anger and punishment of Allāh, so that you may become successful by way of noble means and attain a praiseworthy ending.
Al-Fawāid al-ilmiyyah min ad-Durūs al-Bāziyyah – Fawāid min at-Tafsīr pgs. 35-36
It is befitting for the People of Īmān to be the most patient of people, the firmest of people upon the truth and its defence, rejecting falsehood and striving against it. And even if others are patient upon falsehood, then the People of Īmān and Taqwa are foremost with patience upon the truth and steadfastness upon it.
Al-Fawāid al-ilmiyyah min ad-Durūs al-Bāziyyah – Fawāid min at-Tafsīr pgs. 33-34
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Question to Shaikh Rabee: Shaikh Albaanee, Shaikh Ibn Baaz and Shaikh Uthaymeen have passed away, so who remains from the scholars?
Answer: Those who remain are numerous and all praise is due to Allaah. The Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] died and his noble companions [radiyallaahu-anhum] remained. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. Ibn Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. And those ones [i.e. Albaanee, Ibn Baaz, Uthaymeen (rahimahumullaah)] died and their students and brothers remain by Allaah’s Will. The truth will not be lost.
When Umar [radiyallaahu-anhu] was stabbed, it was said to him: ‘’Appoint a successor!’’ He said: ‘’Allaah will not allow His Religion to be lost.’’ So by Allaah this Religion will never be lost. It is upon you to put shoulder to shoulder and embark upon work-raise the flag of the [authentic] Sunnah and the flag of the truth. [The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] said: ”There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest upon the truth-neither will they be harmed by those who betray them nor by those who oppose them till Allaah’s promise come to pass (i.e. the day of Judgement)”.
By Allaah! Neither knowledge nor the committee of senior scholars have died-all praise is due to Allaah-and there is good and blessing with them. Our Salafi brothers are in the different regions of the world. The world is filled with senior students of knowledge who fill this gap-all praise is due to Allaah. Therefore, neither can the people of falsehood rejoice nor become happy.
[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة -1/ 208-209. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said:
An [upright] scholar has precise understanding of the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the various sciences related to the religion. He has knowledge and wisdom related to nurturing and teaching others, and he has experience. He has [good] awareness of the different circumstances of the people, their daily pursuits and general affairs, which is not found in books. And if a person wanted to acquaint himself with all these affairs, he would need a long time [or many years] to do so; but the scholar came across these affairs during his lifetime- from the very beginning of his path in pursuit of knowledge; so how can all of this be merely acquired by [reading] books?!
Source: [في قلب الحدث مقالات متنوعة – pages 48-49 Abridged and slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said:
The scholar possesses knowledge and precise understanding to aid him derive [sound] ruling [from the texts of the Sharee’ah]. So, when a Naazilah [i.e. an affair related to public safety or fear] occurs, he is able to quickly derive a ruling, teach the people, disseminate the ruling and explain the Sharee’ah ruling related to that [particular] Naazilah. The ability [to do this] is not acquired by merely reading books when a Naazilah occurs, without the oral skills, knowledge and prolonged experience possessed by the scholars.
Source: في قلب الحدث مقالات متنوعة – pages 48. Abridged and slightly paraphrased
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
Except him who brings to Allāh a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifāq (hypocrisy)]. Ash-Shu’ara:89
Shaykh Rabī ibn Hādi Al-Madkhalī (hafidahullāh):
Ponder, is your heart sound?
The sound heart is that which fights Shirk and rejects falsehood, it accepts the truth and refutes falsehood with all its might, this is the sound heart. So, if you notice that you accept the truth from whoever brings it to you (you accept the truth; the truth guides you and your goal is the truth) then by Allāh your heart and intellect is sound.
And, if you realise that you reject the truth when it comes to you from a certain direction, and you accept falsehood when it comes from another direction and you behave as if it is the truth; then know that your heart is sick.
Majmu’ Ar- Rā’iq Pgs. 485-486
And the two seas (kinds of water) are not alike, this fresh sweet, and pleasant to drink, and that saltish and bitter. And from them both you eat fresh tender meat (fish), and derive the ornaments that you wear. And you see the ships cleaving (the sea-water as they sail through it), that you may seek of His Bounty, and that you may give thanks.
He merges the night into the day (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night are added to the hours of the day), and He merges the day into the night (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the day are added to the hours of the night). And He has subjected the sun and the moon, each runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the date-stone).
If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of each and everything).
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] stated above that one should firmly cling to the book he is reading or revising, and should firmly cling to the Shuyookh he learns from in person. Do not be a Dhawwaaq [i.e. one who quickly acquires a taste of this or that and moves on to another thing without accomplishing anything properly]- alternating to a new Shaikh every week and every month; rather determine -first and foremost- who to take knowledge from in person, then firmly cling to him after you have decided. However, you can have different Shaikhs from whom you acquire different subject matters, for example you have a Shaikh who teaches you Fiqh and you carry on being consistent in your studies; another Shaikh who teaches you Arabic Grammar and you carry on being consistent in your studies; a Shaikh in Aqeedah and you carry on being consistent in studying Aqeedah and Tawheed. The most important thing is consistency and that you refrain from quickly acquiring a taste of this or that topic without accomplishing anything properly- like that man who is a serial divorcee, for whenever he gets married and stays with the wife for seven days, he divorces her and then moves on to another woman. So, he remains for a prolonged period in his life whilst neither enjoying [a fruitful, close, intimate relationship etc] with a wife nor having children in most cases.
[Paraphrased. Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ page 75]