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Pronouncing the Intention Before Commencement of All Acts of Worship – Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Basics, Bid'ah (Innovation), Fatawa-Rulings, Innovations In Islam (Bidah).

Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidahullah) was asked:

In our country, we know that every act of worship must have an intention for it. Due to this, then it’s a must to pronounce the intention before commencing the prayer (or any other act of worship). So, if this is not allowed, or is an innovation, then what is the meaning of the hadeeth: “Verily actions are by intentions…”?

The Shaykh answered:

Yes. Every action requires an intention, due to the hadeeth that you mentioned; that the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said

“Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended.” (1)

However the meaning (of this) is not to pronounce the intention verbally. The meaning is that you believe and intend with your heart, the performance of worship sincerely for Allah (azza wa jal)- and suffice with this.

Therefore the place of intention is the heart and not the tongue. Pronouncing the intention is an innovation, because it is not (authentically) established from the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam); or from his Rightly-Guided Caliphs; or his Companions; or the Virtuous Generations.

It is not established that they would pronounce the intention, for indeed the place of intention is only the heart. Allah says:

قُلۡ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِڪُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ۬ (الحُجرَات:16)

Say: “Will you inform Allâh of your religion While Allâh knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allâh is All-Aware of everything”. (Al-Hujuraat: 16)

So, if you intend with your heart, then Allah knows; and he does not need that you pronounce (your intention) with your tongue.

Slightly paraphrased from Majmoo’ Fataawa of Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidahullah) Vol. 2 Page 675

(1) Al-Bukhaari Hadith Nos: 1, Muslilm: 1907

 

 

Severity of Seeking the Dunya with Righteous Actions – Shaykh Rabee Al-Madkhalee

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Articles, Monotheism - Tawheed, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

‎مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَزِينَتَہَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيۡہِمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ فِيہَا وَهُمۡ فِيہَا لَا يُبۡخَسُونَ (١٥) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيۡسَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارُ‌ۖ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُواْ فِيہَا وَبَـٰطِلٌ۬ مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (١٦)

Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter; to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein.They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do. (Hud: 15-16)

Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadi Al-Madkhalee (Hafidahullah) said:

Some of the Imams said: Indeed, carrying out deeds for the sake of the worldly life is greater [sin] and more dangerous than riyaa [showing off]- because a Muslim can be exposed to riyaa sometimes; as for a person whose habitual [aim] is to [receive] the worldly things and its adornments, then this is grave destruction, and Allaah’s Refuge is sought.

This is a type of shirk [related to the performance of] righteous deeds, which negates ikhlaas [sincerity]. Ibn Abbas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] explained this as: an individual prays, fasts and stands in the night prayer, whilst desiring the worldly [gains] by way of that- desiring status. All of this is [considered to be] worldly goals; If a person intent [is to receive these worldly things] by way of his worship, then indeed he has fallen into a bottomless pit of destruction, and Allaah’s Refuge is sought.

Just as Allaah has threatened nullification of the deeds and [promised] a severe torment for the one who seeks nearness to Allaah outwardly with righteous deeds, whilst desiring the worldly things by way of that.

Therefore, take a severe warning regarding those deeds legislated by Allaah through which nearness to Allaah is sought outwardly, whilst the basis of one’s intent behind those deeds is only [to achieve] those worthless [worldly] goals – because in the Sight of Allaah the worldly life is not even equal to the weight of a mosquitoe’s wing.

Therefore, how can one make the religion a means to an end to receive these goals and lowly objectives.

Likewise, Allah says in other Aayaat -such as in Soorah Ash-Shoora-:

‎مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرۡثَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ نَزِدۡ لَهُ ۥ فِى حَرۡثِهِۦ‌ۖ وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرۡثَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا نُؤۡتِهِۦ مِنۡہَا وَمَا لَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ
‎مِن نَّصِيبٍ (٢٠)

Whosoever desires (by his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (by his deeds), We give him thereof (what is decreed for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter. (Ash-Shoora: 20)

This Aayah applies to the disbelievers first and foremost, and it applies to the hypocrites and the people of riya [i.e. the show offs], those who do not desire from their deeds and [outward adherence to] Islam, except the worldly things and its adornments, and Allaah’s refuge is sought.

The Aayaat regarding this [affair] are many, which clarify what negates sincerity to Allaah in the Religion, [The Blessed and Most High], in Aqeedah and worship.

Slightly Paraphraaed from Al-Wasaaya Al-Manhajiyyah lish Shaykh Rabee 507-508 (Min Usool I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah)

Specifying the Month of Rajab for Worship – Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Fatawa-Rulings, Islamic Jurisprudence - 'Fiqh', Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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 it with reciting of the Quraan, rather it is like the rest of the Sacred Months.

And all the reported narrations regarding the virtue of prayer in it (Rajab), or fasting in it, indeed they are weak, and legislated ruling is not founded on it.

Al-Liqaa’ Ash-Shahri 14/32

A Patient Master and His Harsh Slave  

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul.

A slave dealt harshly with his master, so he [i.e. the master] said: “Indeed as you can see I exercise patience with this boy in order to train my soul- because if I exercise patience with the slave [whilst bearing] that which is hated, I will exercise more patience with other than him [i.e. when dealing with others]”.

[Source: Kitaab Uyoounul Akhbaar’ of Ibn Qutaybah (rahimahullaah): Vol: 1-page: 332]

The Ulama Are Agreed Upon the Fact that the khawaarij Are An Evil People…..By Imaam Al-Aajurree

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Khawaarij, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah preserve him] said:

By Allaah the Ummah will not exit from its problems, the humiliation and degradation they are living in, except by way of returning to the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam] and the understanding of the Salafus Saalih in [dealing with] the affairs of the khawaarij and others. Imaam Al-Aajurree [rahimahullaah] said: “The scholars do not differ–past and present–that the khawaarij are an evil people, disobedient to Allaah and His Messenger, even if they [perform] the prayer, fast and strive in [carrying out] acts of worship.

[Source: ( الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة للإمام المحدث أبي بكر محمد بن الحسين الآجري   page: 97-98. Vol 1). slightly paraphrased]

 

A Statement of Imaam Abu Haatim to Reflect Upon- [Food For Thought for Hizbiyyoon- the Obstinate Followers of Mubtadi’ah- and the Mumayyi’oon]

Written by Abdullah Jallow on . Posted in Methodology - 'Manhaj', Pearls of Wisdom, Refutations, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Narrated Sa’id bin Al-Musaiyab: ‘Umar came to the mosque while Hassaan was reciting a poem. (‘Umar disapproved of that). On that Hassaan said, “I used to recite poetry in this very mosque in the presence of one (i.e. the Prophet ) who was better than you.” Then he turned towards Abu Hurairah and said (to him), “I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah’s Messenger saying (to me), ‘Retort on my behalf. O Allah! Support him (i.e., Hassaan) with the Ruh Al-Qudus [i.e. Jibril (Gabrael)]?” Abu Hurairah said, “Yes.” [Bukhaari 4/3212]

Imaam Abu Haatim [rahimahullaah] said: There is evidence in this narration similar to the command to disparage the du’afaa [weak narrators]. That is because the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said to Hassaan [radiyallaahu-anhu], ‘’Retort on my behalf.’’ He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] commanded [Hassaan (radiyallaahu-anhu)] to defend him against the lies that the idol worshippers uttered about him. And when it is the case that the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] commanded [Hassaan] to defend him against the lies of the idol worshippers, even though neither did their lies harm the Muslims nor make what is Haraam to be Halaal and vice versa; then it is more appropriate that he [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] is defended against those Muslims who lie about him [sallal-laahu-alahu-wasallam] through their [weak, fabricated] narrations and thus declare Haraam as Halaal and vice versa. [1]

[Source: Muqaddimah Kitaab Al-Majrooheem Minal Muhadditheen of Imaam Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah). Page: 67-68. Slightly paraphrased]

Ref 1: Notes: Must Read: Regarding the Affair of Declaring Something Halaal that is Haraam and vice versa: http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=GSC05&articleID=GSC050006&pfriend=

Also see article about Takfeer on these links:

http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ09&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm

http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/xwouo-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-ibn-uthaymeen.cfm

 

An Upright Behaviour Expected From a Wise Caller to Islam When He Is Opposed or When Someone Differs With Him

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Brotherhood, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:

The heart of the caller [i.e. the caller to Islaam upon sound knowledge, clear-sightedness, wisdom, etc] should be relaxed towards the one who opposes him, especially if he knows that the one who opposes him has a good intention and has not opposed him except to establish the evidence he possesses; therefore, it is obligated on a person to be flexible in these affairs. He should not make this differing a cause for enmity and hatred, except against a man who opposes the [truth] obstinately after the truth has been made clear to him, but he carries on upon his falsehood; then indeed it is obligatory to deal with him [in a manner] he deserves-by alienating him and warning the people about him- because his enmity manifested after the truth has been made manifest to him and [refuses] to follow it. [1]

[1] [Source: (Zaad Ad-Daa’iyah Ilal laah’ page 27). Slightly paraphrased]

Articles to detail the above affair:

 

http://www.salaficentre.com/2015/05/a-misunderstanding-regarding-the-statement-laa-inkaar-fee-masaail-al-khilaaf-there-should-be-no-repudiation-in-the-affairs-of-khilaaf-i-e-differing/

http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=9&Topic=12294

http://www.abukhadeejah.com/ahlus-sunnah-do-not-divide-that-is-the-methodolology-of-the-salaf/

 

Sweetness of Worship – Al-Imaam Ahmad Harb

Written by Amjad Khan on . Posted in Articles, Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, The Salaf - Pious Predecessors.

Al-Imaam Ahmad Harb (rahimahullah) said:

“I worshipped Allah for 50 years and I did not experience the sweetness of worship until I abandoned three things:

  • I abandoned pleasing the people in order to be able to speak the truth.
  • I abandoned the companionship of sinners until I found companionship of the righteous,
  • and I left the sweetness of the dunya until i found the sweetness of (seeking after) the hereafter.”

Siyaar A’laam an Nubaalaa Vol 11 pg 34