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[1] Sayyid Al-Istighfaar – [With Brief Commentary By Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz]

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

Shaddaad Bin Anas [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: The best way to seek the forgiveness of Allaah is to say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

O Allaah, You are my Lord! There is no one who has the right to be worshipped except you. You created me and I am your slave, and I am [upon obedience and agreement] to my covenant and promise (to You) as much as I am able. I seek refuge with You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge in your presence all the blessings You have granted me, and I confess to You my sins. So forgive me, for indeed none is able to forgive (a slave his) sins, except You]. [Ref 1]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said regarding the Messenger’s statement: ‘’I acknowledge in your presence all the blessings You have granted me, and I confess to you my sins’’; he [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] combined – in this statement – a testification to [Allaah’s] blessings and a notification of the flaws in one’s self and actions. He [rahimahullaah] also said: The domain of servitude to Allaah is based on two principles and they are its foundation: Complete and perfect love of Allaah and Complete humility in Allaah’s Presence. The origin of these two principles emanates from two other principles and they are: Attesting to [Allaah’s] blessings and this brings about love of Allaah, and being aware of the flaws in one’s self and actions which brings about one’s complete humility [in Allaah’s presence].  If the slave establishes his path to Allaah based on these two principles, his enemy [i.e. shaytaan] will not defeat him through them, except as a result of unawareness and inattentiveness, and how quickly Allaah makes him recover, notifies him and reaches out to him with His Mercy [i.e. when he falls into error or forgets]. [Ref 2]

The Three Main Conditions of Repentance, and a Fourth One Related To Rights Owed To the People

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: Know that Allaah’s Mercy is extensive and His Kindness is tremendous, and that He is [الجواد – (The Munificent, Bountiful); الكريم (The Bountiful, The Generous One Abundant in Good)]. He is the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy and the best of all those who forgive [Glorified and Exalted be He]. And know that also to have (the audacity to commit acts of) disobedience is a great evil, a great corruption and a cause of (incurring) the anger of Allaah; but when a servant repents to his Lord –a truthful repentance-Allaah accepts his repentance. Indeed, the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) was asked many times about a man who (committed) a lot of such and such faults, (acts) of disobedience and various types of kufr, and then he repents; so Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’Repentance wipes away what was (committed) before it (i.e. sins)’’ and ‘’Islaam (i.e. when a person abandons kufr and becomes a Muslim) wipes away what was (committed) before it (i.e. sins).’’ Therefore, you should know -with certainty- that by way of truthful sincere repentance, Allaah wipes away sins and evil deeds, even kufr. And because of this Allaah [Glorified Be He] said: [وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ – And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. [24:31] So He (Allaah) connected success to repentance.

Allaah (Glorified be He) said: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ – ”O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) [66:8]

Therefore, O brother! Truthful repentance is (incumbent) upon you- cling to it; be firm upon it and be sincere to Allaah in that. And (receive) glad tidings that it wipes away your sins, even if they are like a mountain.

The conditions (to be fulfilled in order for repentance to be accepted are) three: [1] To be regretful and remorseful regarding the past (acts of disobedience you committed); [2] To renounce and abandon the sins – the big and small (of them); [3] To have a firm resolve (or determination) not to return to it (i.e. not to commit them again). If you owe the people their rights- wealth or (you committed offences related to blood-shed, murder or causing injury etc) or violating their honour, then their rights must be given back to them. This is a fourth affair related to a complete repentance. It is incumbent upon you to give the people the rights they are owed. If the affair is related to retribution, then retribution is established (i.e. by the state), unless they (i.e. the people) permit that you give blood money; if related to wealth, you give them back their wealth, unless they forgive; if related to their honour and you did backbite them, you should seek their forgiveness; but if seeking their forgiveness will lead to evil, then there is no hindrance in refraining from (informing them that you did backbite them and that you seek their forgiveness); rather you should supplicate for them and seek Allaah’s forgiveness for them, and mention the good you know about them in the same place you did mention them with evil. This will be expiation for (that sin of backbiting). And it is incumbent upon you to proceed –without delay- towards repentance before death, and then exercise patience and be truthful. Allaah (Glorified and Exalted Be He) said: [وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُواْ اللّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَى مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ – And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse etc.) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; – and none can forgive sins but Allah – And do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know. [3:135]

(So) understand the meaning of the (statement): وَلَمْ يُصِرُّواْ  – And do not persist in what (wrong)]- this means that they do not persist in sin, rather they repent, show regret and abandon the (sin) they committed; and they know [i.e. that persistence in sin is harmful, or that Allaah forgives the one who repents.

Then Allaah [Glorified Be He] stated thereafter: [أُوْلَئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ – For such, the reward is Forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath (Paradise), wherein they shall abide forever. How excellent is this reward for the doers (who do righteous deeds according to Allah’s Orders). [3:136].  This is the reward for those who repent and do not persist in (sin)- for them the reward is paradise. [An Excerpt from this link: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/fatawa/4251 slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 1: Bukhaari Hadeeth Number 6306]; [Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Al-Waabil As-Sayyib’ page 8′. Slightly paraphrased]

Those Who Desire Neither Haughtiness Nor Corruption In The Earth!

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness in the earth or corruption. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon (pious ones) [28:83]

[تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ- That home of the hereafter]: Meaning Paradise. [ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ –We shall assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth]. Saeed Ibn Jubair said, “It is [those who do not desire] transgression.’’ Ad-Dahhaak said, “It is [those who do not desire] oppression”. Yahyah Ibn Sallaam said, “It is [those who do not desire] shirk” and Muqaatil said, “It is [those who do not desire to be] haughty by rejecting Eemaan”. [وَلَا فَسَادًا – or corruption]: Ikrimah said, “It is [those who do not desire] disobedience [to Allaah and His Messenger]”. Ibn Saa’ib said, “It is [those who do not] call to the worship of other than Allaah”. [وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِين-And the good end is for the Muttaqoon (pious ones)]- Meaning: They will have a praiseworthy end.


[Source: An Excerpt from Zaadul Maseer ‘ by Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah)’ abridged and slightly paraphrased. Page 1074. Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm’ 1st Edition 1423AH (2002)]

Treat Your Sick By Giving Sadaqah

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

Allaah [The Most High] stated that Ibraaheem [alayhis salaam] said: [وَإِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِينِ – And when I am ill, it is He [Allaah] Who cures me. [Surah Ash-Shu’araa. Aayah 80] – Meaning: When I become sick, none is able to heal me, except Him through the means that may lead to recovery [i.e. by His Will]. [R 1]

The Messenger [sallal laahu aalayhi wasallam] said, “Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah”. [R 2] AbuBakr Al-Khubaaziy [rahimahullaah] said, “I had a very dangerous illness, so a neighbour of mine saw me and said, ‘Act upon the statement of Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], ‘Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah’. It was summertime, so I bought many watermelons and gathered a group of poor people and children. They ate and then supplicated for me to be cured. By Allaah! I did not reached the next morning except that Allaah granted me wellbeing’”. [R 3]

As for the diseases of the body, Allaah [The Most High] said:  [لَّيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ حَرَجٌ۬ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَجِ حَرَجٌ۬ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ۬ – There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick….. [24:61]

[Also] Allaah mentioned the diseases of the body when He [The Most High] spoke about Hajj, Fasting and Ablution due to a marvellous underlying reason – a reason that will reveal to you the Greatness of the Qur’aan and suffices the one who understands it. The principles of physical medicine are three: preservation of health, protecting [the body] from what might cause harm and removal of harmful substances [from the body]; and Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] mentioned these three principles in those three places [i.e. when He (The Most High) spoke about Hajj, Fasting and Ablution)] [Ref 4]

Read More Detailed Articles On These Links

What Are The Principles of Medicine With The Scholars of Islam

http://www.abukhadeejah.com/what-are-the-principles-of-medicine-with-the-scholars-of-islam/

Sickness and Ill-Health – Its Wisdom and Its Remedies and Other Important Issues Related to it

https://www.wrightstreetmosque.com/sickness-and-ill-health-its-wisdom-and-its-remedies-and-other-important-issues-related-to-it/


R 1: Tafseer Ibn Katheer

[R 2: Hadeeth declared Hasan by Imaam Albaani [rahimahullaah] in Saheeh Al-Jaami As-Sagheer Wa Ziyaadah 3358

R 3: Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa 18/44

R 4: An Excerpt from At-Tib An-Nabawiy of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) with comments by Al-Allaamah Muhammad Haamid Al-Faqee (rahimahullaah): page: 3]

 

Trials – A Means of Increasing The Imaan of The Believer

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

Allaah [The Most High] said: [أَوَلَا يَرَوۡنَ أَنَّهُمۡ يُفۡتَنُونَ فِى ڪُلِّ عَامٍ۬ مَّرَّةً أَوۡ مَرَّتَيۡنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمۡ يَذَّڪَّرُونَ – See they not that they are tried once or twice every year? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it)]. [9:126] – Meaning: By way of calamities, diseases and the divine laws; but they neither turn in repentance nor [abandon] the evil they are upon, nor do they learn a lesson regarding what will benefit, so that they may act upon it; nor regarding what is harmful to them, so that they may abandon it. Allaah [The Most High] put them to the test-and this is Allaah’s way with all the nations-through poverty [or loss in wealth]; loss of health, calamities and through commands and prohibitions, so that they might turn to Allaah, but they neither repent nor learn a lesson. In this Ayah is proof that Imaan increases and decreases and that it is obligated on the believer to examine his Imaan- pay close attention to it, improve and increase it [i.e. by way of the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah], so that it constantly rises. [An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

The Messenger Used to Ask Allaah For These Four Things- [Guidance, Piety, Modesty and Self-sufficiency (or Contentment)]

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

Abdullah Bin Mas’ood [radiyallaahu anhu] said that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] used to supplicate, saying: [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِي أَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى، وَالتُّقَى، وَالعفَافَ، والغنَى – O Allaah! I ask You for guidance, piety, modesty and self-sufficiency].

This is a comprehensive supplication that gathers four great affairs that are to be sought after and they are: Guidance, Piety, Modesty and Self-sufficiency [or contentment]. At-Teebiy [rahimahullaah] said, “Guidance and Piety brings about everything that will [rightly] guide a person to the worldly affairs, affairs of the afterlife and noble manners, and keeps a person away from everything that is obligated on him to refrain from, such as Shirk, disobedience and evil manners…”

Imaam An-Nawawi [rahimahullaah] said, “As for modesty, it is to be free from what is not permissible and to refrain from it. And self-sufficiency in this statement means contentment of the soul – to suffice oneself and not covet what the people possess.”

Shaikh Abdur Rahmaan Bin Sadi [rahimahullaah] said, “This supplication is one of the most comprehensive and beneficial, and it necessitates asking for the good of this world and the afterlife; for indeed guidance necessitates beneficial knowledge, piety necessitates righteous deeds and to abandon that which Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden, and by way of this one’s religion will become upright; for indeed the religion is based on beneficial sciences and sound knowledge based issues, and that necessitates guidance; and piety necessitates obedience to Allaah and His Messenger. Modesty and self-sufficiency necessitate not being in need of the people [i.e. being covetous] and attaching one’s heart to them, sufficing oneself with Allaah and His provision, being contented and seeking after that which brings tranquillity to the heart through self-sufficiency; and by way of this, complete happiness in the worldly life and a relaxed heart is attained. This is what a good life is. Therefore, whoever is bestowed with guidance, piety, modesty and self-sufficiency, then he will obtain the two types of happiness, achieved everything that is sought after and has been saved from every fear”.

[An Excerpt from Fiqhul Ad’iyah Wal-Adkaar. Vol 1. Pages 479-480. Slightly paraphrased]

Disease And Plague In The Year 478 AH, And Response of The Khaleefah!

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

Imaam Ibn Katheer [rahimahullaah] said: “In the year 478AH, diseases were many – fever and plague in Iraq, the Hijaaz and Shaam. The wild animals died and thereafter the livestock. There was fiece black wind and the trees fell. The Khaleefah Al-Muqtadee Bin Amril laah commanded that enjoining good and forbidding evil be revived [i.e. by the authorities (1)] and that the musical instruments be smashed, and thus the plague ceased”. [Ref 1.1]

Question to Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah]: Is enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil by the hand an obligation on all Muslims, or is it limited to those in authority and their deputies?

Answer: To stop wrongdoing is obligated on all Muslims according to their ability, because the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] “Anyone of you who sees evil [i.e. that which is declared an evil deed by Islaam], then let them stop it with their hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of Imaan’’. [Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi & others]

However, stopping evil by the hand must be based on ability and should not result in greater corruption or evil. A man has the right to rectify matters with his hand in his home [i.e. based on what the law of the land allows him]; a manager has the authority to make changes with the hand within the organization they are responsible for, in accordance with the instructions that is given to them [i.e. the authority given to them by the state authorities]; otherwise, people should not change with their hand anything they are not authorised to change.  If they do make changes in matters that they have no authority, then this will result in more evil and great corruption between them and the people, and between the people and the state.

In this case they should stop evil with their tongue (by speaking out). They may say: “O Fulaan! Fear Allaah! This is not permissible; this is Haraam, or This is obligated on you,’’ and clarify it with evidence from Sharee’ah. [NB: Reader: In the UK, objecting to certain behaviour can be viewed as harassment or verbal abuse, therefore a Muslim should be aware of what the law allows him before he says or does anything whilst living in the West].

As for changing matters with the hand, this should be done where one has authority, such as one’s home [i.e. based on what the law of the land allows], or those authorized by the ruler such as organizations given permission and authority to enjoin good. They should make changes in accordance with the authority they have been given- in the way prescribed by the Sharee’ah, without exceeding their jurisdiction. The same applies to the governor of a city; he should make changes with his hand, in accordance with the instructions he has [been given by the government]. [Ref 2]


[Ref 1: Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah 16/93]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from Fataawa Ibn Baaz 8/208. Slightly paraphrased]

A Trait That Illuminates And Glitters In The Character of Upright Scholars!

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

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:

“Whoever has knowledge, then let him guide us to it. Whoever sees deviation, [something] incomplete [deficient] or wrong in our statement, then let him guide us to what is correct; we’ll thank him for his deed, accept what he says, comply, obey and submit”.

[Madaarij As-Saalikeen 3/1798-1799]

Specifying The Month of Rajab for Worship by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen

What is the ruling on specifying the Month of Rajab for Umrah, or Fasting or any other righteous actions? And does it have a distinction over the rest of the Sacred Months?

There is no distinction for the Month of Rajab over the rest of the Sacred Months, and it is not to be specified: Not for umrah, nor fasting , nor prayer and nor with reciting of the Quraan, rather it is like the rest of the Sacred Months.

And all the reported narrations regarding the virtue of it, praying in it (Rajab), or fasting in it, indeed they are weak, a legislated ruling can not be established upon them (weak narrations).

Al-Liqaa’ Ash-Shahri 14/32

 

Daily Goal and Pursuit of The Sensible One

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

The sensible person is in a position to have the Baaqiyaat As-Saalihaat as provision [i.e. the good righteous deeds that last and are better in the sight of Allah for reward and better in respect of hope in the Hereafter] together with his share from the worldly life with ease- by seeking aid in going out in the morning, midday and something of the night time. This is the foundation upon which he places his worldly affairs and the means to (accomplishing them). Even when such (affairs) come to him late at night, he would pray and seek aid from his Lord and ask for that which brings about good in his religious and Worldly affairs.

He begins his day with good – recitation of the Qur’aan and acts of worship to which one devotes himself in the morning; performs the five daily prayers in their earliest times and that which Allah makes easy for him to perform of good deeds, such as (optional) prayer, recitation of the Qur’aan, remembrance of Allah, seeking knowledge and other than that. He engages his tongue in the Remembrance of Allah and seeking forgiveness.

He pursues the means by way of which one seeks his livelihood, such as trade, production of goods, farming and what is similar to them, whilst seeking the aid of his Lord in that. He suffices himself with the permissible means and turns away from that which Allaah has made unlawful. The intent behind this is to fulfil the individual obligations, to be (upon) self-sufficiency and having little or no need of the creation. If he does this or something closer to it, the result will be goodness and he will gain abundant reward (for the afterlife). Also he does not forget his (lawful) share in the worldly life and it may be that Allah will bless him with contentment, which is true richness by way of which a good life is attained.


[Source: An Excerpt from Noorul Basaa-ir Wal Albaab Fee Ahkaam Al Ibaadaat, Wal Mu-aamalaat, Wal Huqooq, Wal Aadaab of Imam Abdur Rahmaan As-Sadi. Page: 65. slightly paraphrased]

A Special Reward For The One Who Exercise Patience After The Death of a Beloved One

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

Narrated Abu Hurairah [radiyallaahu-anhu]: Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “Allaah says, ‘I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my slave- a true believer  of Islamic Monotheism, who, if I cause his dear friend amongst the people of the earth to die, remains patience and hopes for Allaah’s reward’”. [1]

Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said: “Dear friend”; this means his beloved one, brother, father or wife. If he remains patient and hopes for Allaah’s reward, he will receive Paradise. [2]


[1]Saheeh Al-Bukhaari : hadeeth Number 6423]

[2] [Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Vol 4. Page: 226. Footnote 4]