Hishaam ad-Dastuwaa’i said, ‘By Allaah, I am not able to say that I ever …’
December 6, 2015 § Leave a comment
Imaam adh-Dhahabi said, “Hishaam ad-Dastuwaa’i said, ‘By Allaah, I am not able to say: ‘That there was ever a single day where I went to seek hadith seeking Allaah’s Face thereby [i.e., sincerely for Allaah].’’ Imaam ad-Dhahabi said, ‘And, by Allaah, me neither.’”
As-Siyar, its summary, 2/687.
Ibn Taymiyyah on, “Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help.”
December 5, 2015 § Leave a comment
The Shaikh of Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Because worship and tawakkul encompass the religion in its entirety, and that is why one of the Salaf said, ‘Indeed Allaah brought [all] the revealed Books together in the Quraan, and He combined the knowledge of the Quraan in the mufassal Surahs, and He gathered the knowledge of the mufassal Surahs in al-Faatihah, and He combined the knowledge of al-Faatihah in His Saying, ‘Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help.’’”
At-Tuhfah al-’Iraaqiyyah, p. 315.
The Verses of Tranquillity—Ibn Taymiyyah Asking for Them to be Recited When He was Sick and Attacked by Devils
December 4, 2015 § 1 Comment
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “And Allaah has mentioned tranquility in six places in His Book:
وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلۡكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَبَقِيَّةٞ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحۡمِلُهُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ
1) “And their Prophet said to them, ‘Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance [sakinah] from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.’” [2:248]
ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودٗا لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَعَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
2) “Then Allaah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down hosts whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers.” [9:26]
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ إِذۡ هُمَا فِي ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيۡهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٖ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلسُّفۡلَىٰۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِيَ ٱلۡعُلۡيَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
3) “If you do not aid the Prophet—Allaah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve, indeed Allaah is with us.’ And Allaah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allaah—that is the highest. And Allaah is Mighty, Wise.” [9:40]
هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ لِيَزۡدَادُوٓاْ إِيمَٰنٗا مَّعَ إِيمَٰنِهِمۡۗ وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا
4) “It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allaah belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise.” [48:4]
لَّقَدۡ رَضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحۡتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَأَثَٰبَهُمۡ فَتۡحٗا قَرِيبٗا
5) “Certainly was Allaah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with a near victory.” [48:18]
إِذۡ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَأَلۡزَمَهُمۡ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓاْ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهۡلَهَاۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا
6) “When those who disbelieved had put into their hearts chauvinism, the chauvinism of the time of ignorance. But Allaah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving of it and worthy of it. And ever is Allaah, of all things, Knowing.” [48:26]
And when things would become severe against the Shaikh of Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, he would recite the Verses of Tranquillity [listed above].
And during a formidable calamity which he faced when he was sick and which [was so severe that both] intellects and [a person’s] strength are unable to bear it—and which saw him battling Satanic spirits which appeared before him at that time of being in a state of weakened strength—he said, ‘And so when the situation become most severe against me I said to my relatives and those around me, ‘Recite the Verses of Tranquillity,’ and thus did that state cease and I sat up having no ailment.’
And I [i.e., Ibn al-Qayyim] too have tried reciting these verses during times when the heart is uneasy/disturbed/agitated due to what it faces, and I saw them to have a tremendous effect in bringing it tranquillity and repose.”
Madaarijus-Saalikeen, vol. 3, pp. 391-392, verses quoted in part in the book, quoted in full here in the article.
Uthaimeen: “The More Merciful Someone is Towards People, the More Merciful Allaah will Be to Him.”
November 29, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The more merciful someone is towards people, the more merciful Allaah will be to him—because you reap what you sow—so if a person finds that he is hardhearted towards Allaah’s believing servants then he must cure that disease. One of the ways for a person’s heart to become soft towards Allaah’s servants is for him to be gentle with children and loving towards orphans, for that will place some tenderness and mercy in it, and this is something that has been seen to occur.”
At-Ta’leeq ’alaa al-Muntaqaa, vol. 4, p. 121.
A Sister Asking Ibn Baaz for Advice Concerning Finding the Quraan Difficult to Memorise
November 27, 2015 § 1 Comment
Host: Her last question which we put to you, she says, “I want to memorise the noble Quraan but I find it difficult, what advice and guidance do you have for me about this?”
Ibn Baaz: I advise you to seek Allaah’s Aid, and to humbly beseech Him by asking Him in sajdah and at the end of the tahayyaat [in the prayer], or at night, or at the end of the night, during the middle of the night, you ask Him سبحانه وتعالى to help you memorise it—being truthful and humble—[saying], “O Lord! Help me to memorise your Mighty Book! O Allaah! Help me to memorise it! O Allaah! Make it easy for me to memorise it!” And along with that honest du’aa you strive to do [the necessary] actions, you strive to memorise at the appropriate times which you are free in during the day and night.
You start with al-Baqarah or the mufassal surahs, and you read what you are able to every day, even if it is only a little—you read every day even if it is only a little—and you strive to study it, you repeat it until it becomes firmly established, carrying on like that until you finish it, inshaa Allaah.
Aspire to seek out the appropriate times during the night or day when your heart is not preoccupied, organising it bit by bit, a half, an eighth, an eighth, a page every day, two pages, whatever you are able with honesty and a with desire for what Allaah has, and while asking Allaah to grant you success and help you, [if you do that then] rejoice at the good [that will come your way], Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says, “And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty),” [Talaaq 2], “And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty). And He will provide for him from (sources) he never could imagine,” [Talaaq 2-3], so He سبحانه وتعالى is with His Allies by making things easy for them, making them correct, granting them success and helping them.
May Allaah make your situation easy for you, and may He help you and make both me and you and all the Muslims firm upon the truth and guidance.
A Sister Asking Ibn Baaz About Playing the Quran While Sleeping Due to Being Scared or Frightened
November 27, 2015 § Leave a comment
Host: A sister who has a question, she says that I feel scared and frightened sometimes when I sleep alone in my room and so I’m forced to play the Quraan in order to sleep while listening to its verses, is this allowed?
Ibn Baaz: I do not see any harm in that, because the Quraan is what the believer feels at ease with and it is the remembrance of Allaah عز وجل and thus listening to it is worship, so if a person needs to listen to it in order not to feel lonely and so that his heart can be at ease, then there is no harm in that and all praise is due to Allaah.
Uthaimeen On What to do When One’s Eemaan Deteriorates
November 25, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “If you see yourself relapse/deteriorate, pick yourself up by repenting and seeking Allaah’s Forgiveness and by asking Him to keep you firm, and don’t become careless, and neither say, “Inshaa Allaah, my eemaan will become stronger,” [without doing anything about it], instead from right now—from the moment you feel that you are ill—you must implement the cure.”
Tafseer Surah an-Nisaa, vol. 2, p. 53.
He Memorised the Quraan in Six Months and then Helped Produce the Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah
November 24, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad bin Qaasim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said that when, at a young age, he wanted to help his father, Shaikh ’Abdur-Rahmaan bin Qaasim رحمه الله collect and arrange the fatwaas and writings of Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah, his father made it a condition that in order for him to be allowed to help he must firstly memorise the Quraan, he said, “So I finished memorising the entire Quraan in six months and then began helping him produce this formidable collection.” [In the end it came to 37 volumes].
Warathatul-Anbiyaa, p. 14.
On Not Having to Pray Tahayyatul-Masjid if You Intentionally Return to the Mosque After Having Left it Briefly
November 21, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Whoever leaves the mosque with the intention of going back to it shortly does not have to pray the two rak’ahs performed upon entering the mosque (tahayyatul-masjid) because he falls under the ruling of someone who is still in it. As for someone who left the mosque with the intention of departing and then it so occurred that he goes back to it then he must pray two rak’ahs when he does, that is why the Prophet ﷺ said, “… he has more right to his seat …,” about a person who gets up from his place and then goes back to it, and this is a proof that he is still regarded as being in the mosque in terms of the ruling that applies to him, even if he has left it physically.”
At-Ta’liq alaa al-Muntaqaa, vol. 4, p. 92.
On Shaikh Hammaad al-Ansaari’s Reading Habits
October 22, 2015 § Leave a comment
“[Shaikh Hammaad al-Ansaari] would spend many a long hour going through books or checking manuscripts, when he came across a new book or a rare manuscript he wouldn’t sleep until he had read it all, until [sometimes] it would be fajr time and he still wouldn’t have finished his reading, then it would be the time of duhaa and he would still be engrossed in reading and researching, his addiction to reading, especially manuscripts, was one of the reasons that he had a problem with his eyes, may Allaah have mercy on him.
He mentioned to me that he read Fathul-Baari twenty times.”
Al-Majmoo’ fi Tarjuma al-’Allaamah, al-Muhaddith, ash-Shaikh Hammaad ibn Muhammad al-Ansaari, vol.1, p. 213.
On Your Devil
October 20, 2015 § Leave a comment
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “So whoever does not punish his devil in this abode through the remembrance of Allaah تعالى and tawheed, and seeking forgiveness from Him and obeying Him, then his devil will punish him in the Hereafter with the torment of the Fire—so everyone must punish his devil or else his devil will punish him.”
Badaa’i’ut-Tafseer, vol. 5, p. 450.
Al-’Abbaad on al-Jarh and at-Ta’deel
October 19, 2015 § Leave a comment
Questioner: There is a statement concerning the issue of al-Jarh and at-Ta’deel which the questioner wants to put to you: when respected scholars differ in their criticism [jarh] or praise [ta’deel] of someone, this variance [in opinion] remains present among Ahlus-Sunnah, thus whoever follows one of these scholars is not to be declared an innovator nor boycotted, and we hope that he receives a reward for the purity of his intention?
Al-’Abbaad: Firstly, the scholars used to use al-Jarh and at-Ta’deel to determine whether or not hadiths were valid, for this reason the books of narrators are replete with biographies that contain what the scholars said about people, “So and so said this … and so and so said that … and so and so said this … and so and so said that,’ some of them would praise and others would criticise.
But some of the scholars who praise [a certain individual] may not have come across anything [in terms of jarh] regarding a person who has been criticised [by others], and as a result they praise a person based upon what is apparent to them.
Others may criticise a person about something which does not stand up as a criticism. Some scholars are harsh in their jarh such that they perform jarh over an issue which does not stand up as a point of jarh.
[Anyway,] the important thing here is that they used to busy themselves with al-Jarh and at-Ta’deel in order to become acquainted with which hadiths were authentic and which weren’t, which were valid and which weren’t, this was the way they used to use it.
Preoccupying oneself with al-Jarh and at-Ta’deel in this day and age, speaking about people, abandoning them, tracking what is said about them, collecting what is said about them the result of which is that they are warned against—these are all unbecoming actions, what is proper for a Muslim is that he knows the truth and acts on it.
Whoever is known to be from the people of an innovation which is open and plain to see and concerning which there is no ambiguity, and who has a way and manhaj which is in accordance with the people of innovation, then such a person deserves [the jarh].
As for a person who erred in a statement, who made a mistake in a statement after which an all out onslaught is made against him and he is warned against, then this is not just and nor is it fair.”
On the Haughty and Arrogant Khawaarij and Takfiris
October 12, 2015 § Leave a comment
Al-Mu’allimi said, “And the khawaarij were well-spoken, eloquent Arabs, in their tongue was the Quraan revealed, the only reason they fell into their deviancy was out of their ignorance of the Prophetic guidance and their doing away with the need to seek guidance from the scholars of the Companions.
So what do you think the case in this time of ours is, where you find foreigners who can’t even produce a sound Arabic sentence and who aren’t acquainted in the least with the Sunnah and the tafseers of the Salaf, [one of them will go and] delve into Allaah’s verses like someone self-conceited—such that he will look at an aayah and then track the meanings of its words from books on linguistics, based upon which he conjures up a meaning that agrees with his desires, alleging that it is what Allaah meant, and then he will base a new religion and a contrived shari’ah upon that, declaring the Salaf to be misguided and belying the Sunnah, along with other [calamitous] things.”
Aathaar al-Mu’allimi, vol. 19, p. 64.
Ibn al-Qayyim’s Astounding Humility: Calling Himself Bankrupt Instead of a Shaikh
September 22, 2015 § 1 Comment
Ibn al-Qayyim wrote a priceless book on patience called Uddatus-Saabirin wa Dhakhiratush-Shakirin, out of his humility, he said the following about it and himself:
“Despite that, this book is the effort of someone who lacks the means [i.e., lacks knowledge], the output of someone bankrupt, in which he warns others against the disease even though he is among the ranks of those who suffer from it, in which he has outlined the remedy even though, due to his injustice and ignorance, he didn’t have the forbearance to use it himself, but he hopes that, through this advice which he is imparting to His believing slaves, the Most Kind and the Most Merciful will forgive the way he has cheated himself.
And so whatever in this book is correct is from Allaah, Alone, for it is He who is the Commendable, the One who helps, and whatever mistakes are found in it are from its author and the devil …”
Uddatus-Saabirin, p. 11.
When the Act of Supplicating Becomes More Precious than the Actual Need You Were Supplicating For
September 13, 2015 § Leave a comment
The Shaikh of Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah grant him a place in Firdous, said, “… and its equivalent in this world is like someone who is facing a most severe calamity, or acute poverty or disquieting fear and so starts to supplicate to Allaah and implore Him humbly until Allaah then bestows upon him such pleasure in conversing with Him that it becomes more beloved to him than the original need he had been supplicating for—but he could not have known that initially so as to seek and yearn for it.”
Al-Fataawaa, vol. 1, p. 28.
Al-Fawzaan’s Humility
September 7, 2015 § Leave a comment
Host: The questioner says, ‘Ahsanallaahu ilaikum. How can we attain the knowledge of Shaikh Ibn Baaz and knowledge like yours?’
Al-Fawzaan: I don’t have knowledge—Shaikh Ibn Baaz yes, he had knowledge, may Allaah forgive and have mercy on him—as for me, then I’m a miskeen like you.
But what is obligatory on us is to learn.
’Uthaimeen on the Du’aa for Finishing the Recitation of the Quraan During the Night Prayer
July 15, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “What is the ruling concerning the du’aa for finishing the recitation of the Quraan in the night prayer in Ramadaan?”
He replied, “I don’t know of any Sunnah from the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions either connected to finishing the recitation of the Quraan during the qiyaam al-lail in Ramadaan. The most that has been narrated about that is that Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, would gather his family and supplicate when he would finish reciting the whole Quraan, and that was not in the prayer.”
Fataawaa Arkaan al-Islaam, p. 354.
Also see Shaikh al-Albaani’s answer on the same topic here.
’Uthaimeen on Opening One’s Fast with an Odd Number of Dates
June 29, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen was asked, “I’ve heard that when opening his fast, a person must do so with an odd number of dates, i.e., five or seven and so on, so is that obligatory?”
He replied, “It is not obligatory, in fact it is not even Sunnah for a person to break his fast with an odd number of dates like three or five or seven or nine except for the day of Eed al-Fitr, for it has been established that the Prophet ﷺ would not go to the prayer on the day of Eed al-Fitr until he had eaten an odd number of dates. The Prophet ﷺ would not purposefully intend to eat an odd number of dates in other situations.”
Nurun ’alad-Darb, 354.
Al-Fawzaan on Loaded Questions
June 2, 2015 § Leave a comment
Al-Fawzaan: Some brothers, may Allaah forgive them, develop a grudge against someone, or hatred towards a student of knowledge or a scholar, so they will ask you a question which you [accordingly] answer—an answer which they then go and apply to that person, they go and apply it to that person and that you meant him [when you answered], so they will say, ‘So and so [i.e., the scholar] said such and such about so and so!’
[But when you [i.e., the scholar] were answering that question] neither ‘so and so’ nor ‘so and so’ or ‘so and so’ [even] came to your mind, you only answered a question.
They apply it like that and say, ‘He meant so and so! He meant such and such a group!’ And they dub the sound and write books [based on that], saying that, ‘Such and such [a scholar] said this and that about so and so and answered the question about such and such.’
Their intention behind that is to cause trouble between people and sow dissent among the students of knowledge and cause enmity between them.
So we warn them and ask Allaah to grant you refuge from this trait … that you are not deceived or fooled by it!
Be on your utmost guard against it.
Seeking Allaah’s Intercession by Mentioning One’s State of Affairs
April 4, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Seeking Allaah’s Intercession by [mentioning] one’s condition is allowed, an example of which is where Musa عليه الصلاة والسلام said, “My Lord! Indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.” [Qasas 28:24] So when a person seeks Allaah’s Intercession through the condition he is in then that state [of his] is a cause for Allaah to show compassion towards him and [to also provide him with divine] providence.”
Sharh al-Kaafiyah ash-Shaafiyah, vol. 4, p. 533.
“Every Day He Has a Matter to Bring Forth.”
April 3, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him said, “The Most High’s Saying, ‘Every day He has a matter to bring forth,’ [Rahmaan 55:29] He enriches the poor, and reduces to poverty the rich, He causes the healthy to become sick and the ailing to become healthy, gives sanctuary to the afraid and makes fearful those who were safe, and so on.
Allaah, the Most High, does that every day, such matters, without doubt, changing due to His Wisdom.
He, The Most High, said, ‘Thinketh man that he is to be left neglected?’ [Qiyaamah 75:36] So we believe that Allaah does not decree a matter but out of wisdom, only that sometimes we may know what it is and at others we don’t.”
Tafseer Surah Rahmaan, p. 314.
Al-Fawzaan on ‘Beware of So and So! Don’t Sit with So and So! Don’t Read to So and So!’
February 22, 2015 § 1 Comment
Questioner: Ahsanallaahu ilaikum, do you have any blessed advice which you can direct to your sons and brothers from the students of knowledge throughout the Islamic ummah?
Al-Fawzaan: Yes, I advise you to fear Allaah, and to continue pursuing knowledge, doing so eagerly, and to act according to what Allaah has taught you, and to call to Allaah عز وجل, and to teach the people what you’ve learnt—and to leave squabbling, that which has taken place amongst the students of knowledge, hating [one another], cursing, setting people against each other, until they split the ummah and split the students of knowledge, [saying]: ‘Beware of so and so! Don’t sit with so and so! Don’t read to so and so!’—this is not allowed.
If so and so has a mistake, advise him one on one, as for you spreading it amongst the people and warning against him whilst he is a scholar or a student of knowledge or a righteous person who has made a mistake [then no], such a mistake does not necessitate that it be spread, “Lo! Those who love that slander be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. Allaah knoweth and ye know not.” [Nur 24:19]
What is obligatory is to sincerely advise one another, what is obligatory is to love one another, especially the students of knowledge, especially the scholars, to respect the scholars, and not to recommend against some of them, and warn against them. This is the cause of many evils, the cause of fighting and hatred, the cause of fitnah—steer clear of these things.
May Allaah reward you all with good.
Be as Allaah wanted you to be: “And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.” [Mu’minun 23:52] “And be not like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. For such there is an awful doom.” [Aali-Imran 3:105]
Aspire to bring about harmony. Seek to sincerely advise one another. Desire to co-operate in righteousness and piety.
Be on your guard against those things which split the Muslims—especially in this day and age. The Muslims are in need of unity, in need of eliminating discord amongst themselves, in need of cooperating in righteousness and piety. Don’t become a source of support for the enemy in breaking up the Muslims and disuniting them.
If disunity occurs between the scholars and the students of knowledge, who’s left for the Ummah?
The evil/damage [of such a predicament] isn’t on the masses, it comes back on the students of knowledge, those who reconcile between people, those who teach the people.
Leave these things, this wrangling, these altercations, these blameworthy characteristics.
“And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead?” [Hujuraat 49:12] “And obey not every worthless habitual oath-monger. Hinderer of good, transgressing, sinful.” [Al-Qalam 68:10-12]
Don’t obey these people, such that you will end up being an aid to the Devil in splitting the Ummah and weakening it.
Sincerely advise the one you find a flaw in—if [indeed] it is established [that he really did make it in the first place!]
Don’t believe rumours.
“O you who have believed! If there comes to you a disobedient one with information, verify it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and afterwards become regretful over what you have done.” [Hujuraat 49:6]
“O you who have believed! When you go forth in the cause of Allaah, investigate and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace, ‘You are not a believer.’” [Nisaa 4:94]
Allaah جل وعلا encouraged the Muslims to unite, and for them to be united in their word, and to cooperate and sincerely advise one another.
We’re not saying leave the mistake, no. Correct the mistake, we say correct the mistake, don’t leave the mistake, but correct it with legislated means.
May Allaah give all the success to do that which He loves and is pleased with.
وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Imaam Si’dee and the Camel-Driver’s Pack of Cigarettes
January 21, 2015 § Leave a comment
“When the people of ’Unaizah bought firewood, the camel-driver would bring it inside the house and after he’d finished the household he brought it to would leave some water and dates for him. Upon eating and drinking, the camel-driver would close the house’s door firmly intending thereby to let them know that he had left. One time the Shaikh رحمه الله [i.e., Imaam Si’dee, who was ’Uthaimeen’s teacher] bought some firewood and when the camel-driver left, our father [Imaam Si’dee] came out intending to close the door behind him.
On his way to the door, the Shaikh found a pack of cigarettes in the courtyard which the camel-driver had dropped, so he took the pack, opened the door and called him, saying, ‘Is this yours?’
After some hesitation the camel-driver replied, ‘Yes, it’s mine. But, O Shaikh, do you know what’s inside it?’
The Shaikh said, “Yes, cigarettes.’
‘And you’re giving them to me, O Shaikh?’ said the camel-driver.
‘Yes, because if you don’t find this pack you’ll go and buy another one with the money you made by selling that firewood and you will then cause your children to go hungry and prevent them from getting some sustenance—and Allaah سبحانه is the One who guides.’
So the camel-driver said, ‘Bismillaah …,’ took the pack and threw out the cigarettes that were inside, saying ‘O Allaah! I turn in repentance to You and I will never smoke again.’”
Mawaaqif Ijtimaa’iyah min Hayaatish-Shaikh, al-’Allaamah ’Abdir-Rahmaan bin Naasir as-Si’dee, pp. 68-69.
The Prince, The Priest, The Dog and the Mongolians.
January 15, 2015 § Leave a comment
Ibn Hajar said, “A Mongol prince converted to Christianity and so a group of notable Christians and Mongols went to visit him when one of them started to belittle the Prophet ﷺ. There was a hunting dog on a leash and when that person started to go on for a while abusing the Prophet, the dog jumped on him and scratched him but they were able to get it off him. Some of those present said, ‘The dog did that because of what you said about Muhammad ﷺ.’ But he replied, ‘No, it’s a proud dog and when it saw me motioning with my hand it thought I was going to hit it,’ and then he went back to saying what he was saying, at length. And so the dog leapt at him a second time and bit on to his throat pulling it out and causing him to die on the spot, upon seeing that about forty thousand Mongolians embraced Islaam.”
Ad-Durur al-Kaaminah, 4/153.
“Indeed, We Are Sufficient for You Against the Mockers.”
January 15, 2015 § Leave a comment
“Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers.
Who set up along with Allaah another deity, soon will they come to know.
And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say.
So exalt [Allaah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him].
And worship your Lord until the Inevitable comes to you.”
[The Quraan 15:95-99].
Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus—Peace be Upon Them All—They Will All Look to Muhammad ﷺ on That Day
January 14, 2015 § Leave a comment
Ma’bad ibn Hilaal al-’Anazi narrated, “We, some people from Basra, gathered and went to Anas bin Malik, and we went in company with Thaabit Al-Bunaani so that he might ask him about the Hadith of The Intercession on our behalf. Behold, Anas was in his palace, and our arrival coincided with his Duha prayer. We asked for permission to enter and he admitted us while he was sitting on his bed.
We said to Thaabit, ‘Do not ask him about anything else first but The Hadith of The Intercession.’ He said, ‘O Abu Hamza! These are your brethren from Basra coming to ask you about The Hadith of The Intercession.’
Anas then said, ‘Muhammad ﷺ talked to us, saying:
‘On the Day of Resurrection the people will surge like waves on one another. And then they will come to Adam and say, ‘Please intercede for us with your Lord.’ He will say, ‘I am not fit for that but you’d better go to Abraham as he is the Khalil of the Most Gracious [i.e., Allaah].’
They will go to Abraham and he will say, ‘I am not fit for that, but you’d better go to Moses as he is the one to whom Allaah spoke directly.’
So they will go to Moses and he will say, ‘I am not fit for that, but you’d better go to Jesus as he is a soul created by Allaah and His Word.’ (i.e., Allaah said, ‘Be!’ And Jesus was.)
They will go to Jesus and he will say, ‘I am not fit for that—but you’d better go to Muhammad.’
They will come to me and I will say, ‘I am [the one] for that.’
Then I will ask for my Lord’s permission, and it will be given. Then He will inspire me to praise Him with such praises as I do not know now. So I will praise Him with those praises and will fall down, prostrate before Him. Then it will be said:
‘O Muhammad! Raise your head and speak—for you will be listened to. And ask—for you will be granted [your request]. And intercede—for your intercession will be accepted.’
I will say, ‘O Lord! My followers! My followers!’
And then it will be said, ‘Go and take out of Hell (Fire) all those who have faith in their hearts equal to the weight of a barley grain.’ I will go and do so and return to praise Him with the same praises, and fall down (prostrate) before Him.
Then it will be said, ‘O Muhammad! Raise your head and speak—for you will be listened to. Ask—for you will be granted (your request). Intercede—for your intercession will be accepted.’
I will say, ‘O Lord! My followers! My followers!’
It will be said, ‘Go and take out of it all those who have faith in their hearts equal to the weight of a small ant or a mustard seed.’ I will go and do so and return to praise Him with the same praises, and fall down in prostration before Him.
It will be said, ‘O Muhammad! Raise your head and speak—for you will be listened to. Ask—for you will be granted (your request). Intercede—for your intercession will be accepted.’
I will say, ‘O Lord! My followers! My followers!’
Then He will say, ‘Go and take out (all those) in whose hearts there is faith even to the lightest, lightest mustard seed. (Take them) out of the Fire.’ I will go and do so.’
When we left Anas, I said to some of my companions, ‘Let’s pass by Al-Hasan who is hiding himself in the house of Abi Khalifa and request that he tell us what Anas bin Malik has told us.’
So we went to him and we greeted him and he admitted us. We said to him, ‘O Abu Sa’eed! We came to you from your brother Anas Bin Malik and he related to us a hadith about the intercession the like of which I have never heard.’
He said, ‘What is that?’ Then we told him of the hadith and said, ‘He stopped at this point (of the hadith).’ He said, ‘What then?’ We said, ‘He did not add anything to that.’ He said, ‘Anas related the hadith to me twenty years ago when he was a young fellow. I don’t know whether he forgot or if he did not like to let you depend on what he might have said.’
We said, ‘O Abu Sa’eed! Let us know!’
He smiled and said, ‘Man was created hasty. I did not mention that except that I wanted to inform you of it. Anas told me the same as he told you and said that the Prophet ﷺ added:
‘I will then return for a fourth time and praise Him similarly and prostrate before Him and it will be said, ‘O Muhammad! Raise your head and speak—for you will be listened to. And ask—for you will be granted (your request). And intercede—for your intercession will be accepted.’
I will say, ‘O Lord! Allow me to intercede for whoever said, ‘None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah.’
Then Allah will say, ‘By my Power, and my Majesty, and by My Supremacy, and by My Greatness! I will take out of Hell (Fire) whoever said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.’”
[Bukhaari.]
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Ibn Qutaibah on the Students of Knowledge of Old
December 21, 2014 § Leave a comment
Ibn Qutaibah رحمه الله said, “In the past, a student of knowledge would listen to learn, and learn to act, and gain understanding of the religion in order to benefit himself and others. But now it has become such that they listen in order to [merely] accumulate, and they accumulate in order to be mentioned, and they memorise in order to overcome [others] and boast.”
Ibn Qutaibah said this over one thousand years ago, he passed away in 276 Hijri.
Al-Madkhal al-Mufassal li-Madhhab al-Imaam Ahmad wa Takhrijaat al-Ashaab, vol. 1, p. 13.
Advice Given to Shaikh ’Uthaimeen by His Shaikhs
December 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Some of my Shaikhs mentioned to me that it befits a person who asks about an issue to seek Allaah’s Forgiveness in abundance, deriving that from The Most High’s Statement, ‘Surely, We have sent down to you the Book in truth that you might judge between men by that which Allaah has shown you, so be not a pleader for the treacherous. And seek the Forgiveness of Allaah, certainly, Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,’ [Nisaa 4: 105-106] because seeking Allaah’s Forgiveness in abundance necessitates the disappearance of the effects of sins which are a cause for forgetting knowledge and [a cause of] ignorance.”
Al-Khilaaf bainal-’Ulemaa, pp. 37-38.
Gifts of Knowledge 