Wahb Bin Kaysaan said: Ibn Umar saw a shepherd (with his animals) in a repulsive place and he saw (another) place that was (cleaner); so Ibn Umar said: Woe to you O Shepherd! Relocate them, for indeed I heard the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) saying: ”Every shepherd is responsible for its flock.”
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[Ahmad 5869]
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) stated whilst stating the benefits of sending Salaah and Salaam upon the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wsallam);
2nd benefit:
It is from the rights of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) that you send prayers upon him, because Allaah has saved you from misguidance by way of him (and) guided you to the guidance by his way, and there is no way to attain the Pleasure of Allaah [The Most High] and His paradise except by (following the path of) Muhammad (Sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). If a person was to guide an individual to the way to a city from the cities he was intending to go to, he would see that he owes a great favour to that individual (who showed him the way); so how about the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)- the one who has shown you the way to get to Paradise? Therefore, it is his right that you send prayers upon him (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). [Source: Fataawa Noor Alad Darb. Volume 12 page 210]
Translated by Daawood Habshi [May Allaah preserve him and all his brothers at Markaz Mu’aadh (Slough)…Aameen]
Allaamah Rabee Ibn Haadee Al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him) stated:
Indeed steadfastness upon the Sunnah means steadfastness upon Islaam in its entirety; it’s Usool (Foundations), its Furoo’ (Branches), it’s Aqaa’id (affairs of creed, belief); it’s Manaahij (Methodologies). We (must) remain steadfast upon it and we (must) hold tightly onto it, up until we meet Allaah (The Blessed and Most High).
And indeed the Aayaat concerning the religious obligations of ittibaa’ (following), iltizaam (adhering), i’tisaam (clinging) and istiqaamah (steadfastness) are many. And Ahaadeeth likewise, all of which point towards one goal or aim and this is the steadfastness of the Muslimeen upon Islaam.
And if one were to speak about steadfastness upon the Sunnah, it is not that which is understood by the majority of the people with regards to the word Sunnah, rather its intent here is Aqeedah and Manhaj, meaning Islaam, meaning steadfastness upon Islaam.
This Steadfastness is from the Tawfeeq of Allaah. Tawfeeq is in His Hands and guidance is in His Hands, and misguidance is in His Hands. He guides whomsoever He wishes; misguides whomsoever He wishes; keeps steadfast (the hearts) of whom He wishes and deviates the hearts of whomsoever He wishes. And due to this, Allaah (The Blessed and Most High) informed us to supplicate to Him so that He may not deviate our hearts; [ رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ -(They say): “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower. (3:8)]
And the Sahaabah, radhiyallaahu-Anhum said: “By Allaah! If it were not for Him, we would not have been guided, We would not have given(in charity), nor would we have prayed”.[1] Meaning, they (the companions) knew and understood that Guidance from Allaah (The Most High) was a blessing and a virtue from Him, and a mercy from Him to whomsoever He selects from His Servants.
يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“He selects for His Mercy (Islam and the Quran with Prophethood) whom He wills and Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty”. [3:74]
He (Glorified and Exalted Be He) blesses whom He wishes and gives virtue to whomsoever He wishes with His Guidance. He gives them Good and He grants them Tawfeeq and blesses them with His protection from deviation and misguidance.
The statement ‘He Misguides whom he Wills’: The misguidance here refers to complete misguidance, such as kufr and (one’s) exiting from (the fold of) Islaam – We seek Refuge with Allaah (The Most High) from that. And as for the Partial misguidance: This refers to the misguidance of one who enters into Islaam and he then deviates in his Aqeedah (beliefs) and in his Manhaj (Methodology) – We seek refuge with Allaah from that. [End Of Shaykh Rabee’s Speech.This particular extract is from the risaala, Ath-Thibaat Ala As-Sunnah (Steadfastness upon the Sunnah)].
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[1] Narrated As such by Ahmad (4/46, 47 and 50) and Bukhari, with the number 4169 and 4196 and Muslim, number 1802. It is from the hadeeth of Salamah Ibn Al-Akoo’ radhiyallaahu ‘Anhum.
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This extract was translated and shared by one of our Salafi Shabaab from Birmingham. May Allaah preserve him and make him a source of khayr for the Ummah and his parents. Aameen
Narrated Anas Bin Maalik (radiyallaahu-anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated about this ayah: [هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ – He (Allah) is the One, deserving that mankind should be afraid of, and He is the One Who forgives (sins) (74:56)] that Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) said: ‘’I am worthy of being feared, so whoever fears me and does not associate another Ilaah (i.e. god or anything taken as an object of worship) with Me (in worship), then I am worthy of forgiving him.’’ [Reported by Imaam Tirmidhee; Number: 3328 and declared Hasan Li-Ghayrihee by Imaam Albaani in ‘Dhilaal Al-Jannah Fee Takhreej As-Sunnah (969)]
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (radiyallaahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: Indeed shaytaan said: ”By Your Might O my Lord! I will not cease to misguide your slaves as long as their souls are in their bodies”; The Lord (Allaah) said: ”By My Might and Majesty! I will not cease forgiving them as long as they keep seeking my forgiveness.” [Reported by Imaam Ahmad 3/29 and declared authentic by Imaam Al Albaani in As-Saheehah 104]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said:
This is how some of the people justify their stances towards Bidah and its people. So whenever Bidah occurs from one of those people with fame, he refrains from exposing the bidah of that famous person and refrains from warning against him, [whilst claiming] that to bring down the leading figure heads is a difficult affair.
This is a false justification from different angles. From them:
[1]Men are known by way of the truth and truth is not known by way of men. Know the truth and you will know its people. This [figurehead] opposed the truth, agrees with ahlul bidah and utters their statements, therefore he is not upon truth and it is obligatory to warn against his falsehood.
[2]The obligation [in relation to this affair] is to give advice, enjoin good and forbid evil. His fame is brought to an end due to his bidah- as a warning and sincere advice to the Muslims, so that they do not fall into the falsehood he has fallen into.
[3]Truth is above everyone and from the well-known statements in that regard is [the statement]: ‘’So and so is beloved to me, but the truth is more beloved to my heart than him.’’
Therefore, when you wilfully incline towards such and such a person and keep quiet about his bidah, you have given him precedence over the truth and raised him above it. And what is there after truth except misguidance! So regarding this [stance of yours], you have given precedence to this person -who describe as a leading figure- over the truth and thus you fall into misguidance.
[4]This saying [i.e. it is difficult to bring them down etc] is in opposition to the way of the pious predecessors, [for] they used to speak about the people.
[5]The application of this statement is in opposition to the clear methodology established by the pious predecessors with regards to acquiring knowledge, and that is: ‘Indeed this knowledge [of the sharee’ah] is Religion, so look to the one you take your religion from.’’ Therefore, how about your situation with a man from whom you take Hadeeth, Tafseer, Aqeedah and Fiqh? Do you either keep quiet about the bidah he has [based on your] claim that speaking against the leading figure heads is a difficult affair, or do you speak about him and his innovation- making his affair well known as a warning and advice, so that the people are not deceived by him and his bidah? There is no doubt that what is obligatory is to give clarification, otherwise your silence is a fraud and deception against the Muslims. And perhaps you will be the cause of his bidah and and misguidance being spread amongst the people due this [silence of yours].
[6]The reality of this statement [i.e. it is hard to bring them down] is itself an application of the manhaj of Muwaazanaat [Ref 1]. It [i.e. Muwaazanaat] is a false methodology that ruins and dilutes the Religion, whereas the truth is clear and sublime. And within this [Muwaazanaat] is termination of the truth and disappearance of its people, except that which Allaah wills.
[7]This statement [i.e. it is hard to bring them down] embraces illegal partisanship. It [embraces] love and hate for the sake of the one being described as a leading figure head. He [i.e. this figure head] is made a basis for love and hate in replacement of the truth, and this [attitude] is from the characteristics of those people who follow the satanic paths- those who call their adherents to the hell fire.
[8]This statement [i.e. i.e. it is hard to bring them down] is not from the manhaj of the pious predecessors, for we have not heard the likes of this statement stated about anyone from the Imaams of the Salaf, and all good is found in following the pious predecessors and all evil is found in the bidah of those who came after.
[9]What is a leading figurehead in your view? In your view, how did this man become one of the leading figure heads? Who is it that has either clarified for you or him that he is a leading figure head? O my brother, a person should know his limitations. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth from Iyaad Bin Himaar that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘Allaah revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one is haughty towards another person nor oppressive towards another person.’
[10]The lowering of a man or being raised is something in the hands of Allaah, and He [The Most High] alternates it how He pleases and it is not in our control.
Fulfil the obligation you have been commanded and that is to clarify the truth; disapprove evil and warn against the bidah of this figure head. If he accepts the [truth], humbles himself, returns to the [truth] and repents to Allaah, then Allaah will raise his status if He [The Most High] wills because Allaah raises one who humbles himself in His presence. But if he oppresses and transgresses, then this man is from Ahlul Bidah; [so] how can you shed tears for him and that he has been degraded?! Glorified Be Allaah and Free is He from all imperfections, weaknesses and faults! [Source: Ibaaraat Moohimah’ pages 53-55’ abridged and slightly paraphrased]
Ref A: See articles about the bidah of Muwaazanaat: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ12&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm
Ubaidullaah Ibn Mihsan Al-Khatmiy narrated from his father that the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “Whoever among you wakes up (in the morning) safe in his property, healthy in his body and has his daily nourishment, it is as if he has been granted the entire world.
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Reported by Imaam Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adabul Mufrad Number 300 and declared Hasan by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Silsilah As-Saheehah Number: 2318
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:
Regarding distinction between truth and falsehood, guidance and misguidance, the path leading to guidance and the path leading to misguidance, the path of happiness (in this life and the next) and the path of wretchedness and destruction; then everything that Allaah revealed to His Messengers and in His Books is obligatory to be followed -[i.e. as it is well known from the statements of the scholars that all the Prophets and Messengers have the same creed (i.e. issues of Imaan, Tawheed etc) and everyone is obligated to follow them, but after the advent of Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) all the issues related to the ahkaam (i.e. rulings on different affairs of worship, dealings etc) from the other Prophets and Messengers have been abrogated, and only Muhammad’s Sharee’ah is to be followed. Likewise, all the previous books have been abrogated after the revelation of the Qur’aan). See Tafseer Surah Al-Maa’idah regarding this affair Aayaat 48-50]- and by way of it one acquires distinction between right and wrong, guidance, knowledge and Eemaan.
Allaah (The Most High) testified that it (i.e. His Revelation) is the truth and what is in opposition to it from the statements of the people are displayed before it for inspection- if (a statement) is in agreement with it, then it is truth, and if in opposition, it is falsehood.
(But), if it is unknown whether (a statement) is in opposition or in agreement due to its general nature, or the meaning intended by the utterer is known or unknown, but it is unknown whether the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) has brought something that testifies to (its correctness) or declaring false, then one abstains and does not speak except with knowledge, for knowledge is that which is established with evidence and what is beneficial of it is that which the Messenger came with.
The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) is the most knowledgeable amongst the creation and he has the greatest desire in acquainting the creation with it. He is the most capable in giving a clarification and definition of it. He is above everyone in knowledge, ability and intent, and through these three affairs the goal is accomplished. (However), those besides the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) are either deficient or corrupted in their knowledge.
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[Source: Majmoo Ar-Rasaa-il Al-Kubraa (1/102)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
[لبيك اللهم لبيك – Here I am O Allaah, here I am!]
(The) meaning of it (i.e. the above statement) is that indeed you have made a (profound) covenant with Allah to establish obedience to Him (Glorified be He, The Most high), fulfil His commandments and stay away from His prohibitions. This is the meaning of [لبيك -I am here]- obedience to You after obedience, answering to you after answering, in other words I am always answering to You (Allaah) and always fulfilling obedience (to Allah). This is the meaning of [لبيك اللهم لبيك -I am here O Allah, I am here!]
[لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك -I am here, You have no partner, I am here!]:
(A proclamation of) Allaah’s oneness, that You (Allaah) have no partner in worship. You (Allaah) have no partner in your kingdom ship. You (Allaah) have no partner in Your Lordship. You neither have a partner in divinity nor in Your Names and Attributes. We declare Allah [The Blessed and Most High] free from all similitudes and partners in worship and other than it, and (we declare Him free from all similitudes and partners in His) Attributes.
[إن الحمد و النعمة لك -Verily all praises and blessings are Yours!]
All praises belong to You-you have no partner in (this).- you have no partner in providing and bestowing (blessings) to Your Creation (i.e. Mankind, Jinn etc). You are the only one worthy of all praise in an absolute sense because you are the one Who bestows bounties and the one Who blesses the slaves (i.e. the creation). You created them so that they may worship You and You created this universe to help them fulfil this worship.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ
Allah is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day to be of service to you. And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you try to count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer, ungrateful. [Surah Ibrahim Ayaat: 32-33)
These are Allaah’s blessings (bestowed) upon His slaves, which He enumerates to His slaves, for He made the heavens and the earth to be of service to them. He subjected the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses. Pay attention to the sun and the moon- how night and day constantly alternate by Allaah’s (absolute) control. Had Allaah not subjugated them, the people would have been destroyed. They would not have been able to live on the surface of the earth. This (i.e. subjugation of the sun and the moon) are among Allaah’s Greatest blessings, which He (Glorified and Exalted be He) bestowed upon His slaves.
Hence, blessings (come) from Allah alone (Glorified and Exalted be He) and He alone is worthy of praise (Glorified and Exalted be He). All praise belongs to Him (as He said): [الحمد لله رب العالمين- All praise belongs to Allah the Lord of the universe” (Fatiha Ayah 2)]
All praises are for Him (Glorified be He, The Most High). The one who does not praise Allah and thank the people will not thank Allah (The Mighty and Majestic). The people are thanked for all good (they do), but praise belongs absolutely to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He)- blessings comes from Him entirely and He is worthy of all praise in all affairs (big and small), Glorified be He, The Most High.
[لا شريك لك إن الحمد و النعمة لك و الملك – Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty]
Sovereignty belongs to Him (Glorified be He, The Most High)- The Owner of the heavens and the earth. All the creation are His slaves- the Angels, the Prophets, the Messengers, the pious and the Kings are His slaves and their forelocks are Bi Yadihee (in His hand). He gives life to whom he wills and gives death to whom He wills. He honours whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills. He acts in His kingdom ship with His (absolute and perfect) Greatness, Loftiness, Overwhelming Subjugation of all things and His Exalted and All-Mighty Irresistible Power, glorified be He, The Most High. All the creation are subjugated (to Him) and all things glorify Him with praise, glorified be He, The Most High. From this, we understand the Greatness of Allah (Glorified be He, The Most High) and His Magnificence. We sanctify Him, praise Him, worship Him and thank Him (Glorified be He, The Most High).
This is how it is obligated on the believer to fill his (or her) heart with the love of Allaah and His Greatness- thanking Allaah; paying gratitude to Allaah; testifying to the truthfulness of Allaah’s Akhbaar (i.e. everything He has told us); testifying to the truthfulness of His (revealed) books; belief in what Allah has obligated on us to believe; obey Allaah and fulfil His commandments. All this results from exalting Allaah, proclaiming Allaah’s Greatness and thanking Him (Glorified be He, The Most High) due to the blessings He has provided and bestowed upon us.
This is how it is obligated on a believer to fill his heart with Allaah’s symbols (i.e. the acts of worship Allaah has ordained)- proclaiming Allaah’s Greatness, Exalting Him, Exalting His commandments (i.e. by fulfilling them), Exalting His Prohibitions (i.e. by keeping away from them), loving Him, relying upon Him and depending on Him in every situation. A human being cannot survive at any moment without Allaah’s Mercy (Glorified be He, The Most High). Allaah (Glorified be He, The Most High) protects him (or her), otherwise he (or her) will not be able to accomplish anything, and due to this we say: [إياك نعبد و إياك نستعين- You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)]. We are neither able to fulfil acts of worship nor any work in this worldly life, except by way of Allaah’s (Glorified be He, The Most High) Aid.
This is the meaning of the Talbiyah or some of its meaning, which a Muslim must call to attention when he (or she) utters it. That is because many people utter this statement (i.e. the Talbiyah) without understanding its meaning, nor adhering to what it necessitates. So understand the meaning of these symbols of Tawheed which are repeated (i.e. by way of speech) by many (people). Adhere to its meanings and act upon what they necessitate. May Allaah bless you. [Source: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=105178 slightly paraphrased and abridged]
Shared by our brother Risaalaat (may Allaah preserve him) @Masjid al-Furqan Stoke-On-Trent
Allaah (The Most High) said:
الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of understanding! [2:197]
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Abu Mu’aawiyah (Abdullah al-Gambi)