Uthaimeen: A Person Will Be According to What He Becomes Accustomed To
March 24, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “It is fitting that a person be serious and resolute when he performs an action, carrying it out with strength and without slackness or laziness, in opposition to the actions of some people, where you will find that they face the actions [that they have to carry out] with weakness, negligence and laziness. And a person will be according to that which he becomes accustomed to, if he becomes accustomed to being firm-willed and having strength and not abandoning an action in the future then he will become resolute in his actions and will reach what he hopes for.”
Tafseer Surah as-Saafaat, p. 212.
Giving Precedence to Others Over Yourself in Those Things Which Are Obligatory
March 20, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory is not allowed. For example, if a person only has enough water for himself with which to perform ablution and there is another person with him who needs water, he is not to give the water to the other person, the other person should do tayammum. Because this is giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory, and giving such precedence to others over yourself is haraam.’
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti’, vol. 15, p. 40.
Can Someone Reach the Limits of Knowledge?
March 10, 2012 § Leave a comment
Sa’d ad-Duwaad said, “One of Ibn Baaz’s students asked him whether a person can reach the limits of knowledge. So he said, ‘No, by Allaah, if the Companions were alive they would have carried on seeking knowledge until death and if the Shaikh of Islaam [Ibn Taymiyyah] was alive he would have continued to seek knowledge. And he [i.e., Ibn Baaz], may Allaah have mercy on him, used to find pleasure in his books, [i.e.,] when they were read to him [him being blind].'”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 175.
Ibn Baaz and the Man who Said He Saw the Prophet In a Dream
March 6, 2012 § Leave a comment
Dr. Muhammad ibn Sa’d ash-Shuwai’ir said, “A man came who wanted to meet his eminence the Shaikh during one of his regular open sittings after maghrib, so we said to him, ‘You want to speak to him in the sitting?’ He said, ‘No, in private.’ When we told the Shaikh, he said, ‘Let him come.’ He did so and said to the Shaikh, ‘I saw a dream.’ So Shaikh Ibn Baaz said, ‘And what was it?’
He said, ‘I saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and so said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! I have a problem!’ So he said, ‘Ask Shaikh Ibn Baaz and he will solve it for you!”
So Shaikh Ibn Baaz said, ‘Write this problem down for us, and what is it [anyway]?’ So the man said, ‘My problem is that I don’t have a residency permit [iqaamah] and I want one and I want you to find work for me!’
So the Shaikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, started laughing and said, ‘Bring a reference from someone, we fear that you did not really see the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.’
So the Shaikh did not reject him despite his lie and deception, and that man never did come back because he never found anyone who would attest to his lie.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 171.
Update: Hans Wehr and Lane’s Lexicon Dictionary Search Can Be Downloaded So You Can Work Offline
February 29, 2012 § 7 Comments
Those of you who may need to use the dictionary search facility mentioned in the previous post whilst offline will be pleased to know that you can download the whole thing and do precisely that. The file is about 600MB, once you’ve downloaded it, unzip it, and then from your browser, click: Open File, and locate the file called: “index” in the directory that you downloaded. It should then open up and you can work offline, walhamdulillaah.
Here is the link to download the whole thing: http://ejtaal.net/aa/readme.html#download-for-offline-use.
Very Useful Resource: Search Hans-Wehr and Lane’s Lexicon at the Same Time
February 29, 2012 § 5 Comments
Here’s a truly remarkable resource for those who regularly need to use Arabic-English dictionaries. On this page you can search both Hans-Wehr’s dictionary and Lane’s Lexicon at the same time. What is most useful is the fact that you can type in the base root of the word you’re looking for in Arabic and it will show you the word in Hans-Wehr first and if you scroll down it will then show you where the same word occurs in Lane’s Lexicon.
Check it out:
King Faisal, Ibn Baaz and the Mansion
February 27, 2012 § Leave a comment
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir az-Zahrani said, “One of these well-known, captivating stories about his eminence [Ibn Baaz] occurred in Medinah al-Munawwarah when he was the President of the Islamic University. King Faisal, may Allaah have mercy on him, visited him and ordered that a mansion/villa be built for his eminence which would be commensurate with his scholarly, religious and social standing. After it was built they came to the Shaikh to transfer the deeds to his name, but he refused and [instead] said that, ‘The villa will stay registered in the name of the President of the Islamic University, whoever becomes the head of the university, the villa will be his residence.’”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 143.
Uthaimeen: Guard strictly [the practice] of always inspecting/investigating your heart …
February 22, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Guard strictly [the practice] of always inspecting/investigating your heart. For it may have the sickness of doubts or the sickness of desires, and everything–and all praise is for Allaah–has a cure. So the Noble Quraan is a cure for doubts and desires.”
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti, vol. 4, p. 22.
Uthaimeen Asked: Do I Have to Tell My First Wife I’m Getting Married Again?
February 20, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “I want to get married to a second wife, is it permissible for me to marry again secretly without telling my first?”
So he said, “It is permissible for you to marry again and not tell your wife about it but the nikaah must be in the open and something announced [i.e., not secret], because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered that saying, “Announce the nikaah.” And when you do what Allaah and His Messenger have ordered by announcing the nikaah, then Allaah the Most High will make your wife pleased with you when she finds out.”
Fataawaa Nurun-ala-Darb.
Ibn Baaz Joking
February 20, 2012 § Leave a comment
Fahd al-Bakraan said, “A funny situation which showed his humbleness and joviality, may Allaah have mercy on him, was when we were with his eminence [i.e., Ibn Baaz], may Allaah have mercy on him, and another one of the major scholars.
We were coming out of the Office for Religious Verdicts in [the city of] Taif, so his eminence, may Allaah have mercy on him, was joking with that other Shaikh, saying, ‘O Shaikh so and so, are you still only with one?’ i.e., only one wife? That Shaikh replied saying, ‘Yes.’ So Shaikh Ibn Baaz said, ‘Why haven’t you taken more than one … you scared of her?’ and the Shaikh started laughing and so did we.
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 132.
Ibn Baaz Calming an Angry Visitor Down
February 20, 2012 § Leave a comment
Abdullaah ibn Muhammad al-Mu’taaz said, “A man who was angry came to Shaikh Ibn Baaz, trembling and foaming [at the mouth out of anger], so the Shaikh calmed him down, rubbing his head saying to him, ‘Say, ‘Subhaanallaah,’ say, ‘Subhaanallaah,’ remember Allaah, seek refuge with Allaah from the Devil,’ until he calmed him down and gave him what he needed.
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 225.
Uthaimeen: How to Handle a Blessing or a Calamity That May Come Your Way
February 19, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “If you are given a blessing then do not [just] take it as a blessing, becoming merry and happy. It is a blessing, there is no doubt about that, but know that you are being tested by it, [tested] to see whether you will give due thanks for it or not.
If some harm comes your way, then be patient, for that too is a trial and test from Allaah the Mighty and Majestic to test whether you will be patient or not. And if you are patient and hope for the reward from Allaah, then Allaah said, “Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.”” [Zumar 39:10]
Tafsir Juzz Amma, p. 128.
So Ibn Baaz Touched the Youth’s Chin and Supplicated for Him …
February 17, 2012 § 4 Comments
Saalih ibn Rashid al-Huwaymil said, “The person who the following story is about told me himself that one time he left the mosque which Shaikh Ibn Baaz used to pray in and went to him to give him salaam and ask him a question. This individual had some things which were incorrect like shaving and so on.
The point is that when he went to ask him, the Shaikh was in a hurry and postponed the meeting with him till another time. [But then] when the car moved off, the Shaikh said to his driver, ‘Go back.’ So the driver took the car back to where the questioner was, and the Shaikh then listened to his question and answered him.
Then the Shaikh [who was blind] touched the questioner’s chin and advised him to let his beard grow and supplicated for the youth. So that youth said that he never shaved it after that day and that he, by Allaah’s Grace and then through the Shaikh stuck to the path of guidance after that.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 175.
They Recited, Ibn Baaz Explained and Then They Ate
February 16, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Khaalid ibn Abdur-Rahmaan ash-Shaayi’ said, “And I witnessed a Walimah the Shaikh had been invited to after ishaa. After he had taken his place he asked those present how they were and was introduced to them, he then said, ‘Who will read something from the Quraan to us?’ So it was as though everyone relied on the next person to read, and thus they gave no answer. So the Shaikh said, ‘Subhaanallaah! Why aren’t you desirous of the reward?’ So one of those there read something and after he finished reciting the Shaikh started to explain the excellence of reciting and then he explained the very verses that were recited. He then listened to some questions and answered them. After which he requested a second person to read, then a third, and he kept explaining the aayahs that were recited until the food was brought.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 142.
Understand It
February 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The Quraan was revealed for three things. The first: to worship Allaah by reciting it. Secondly, to ponder over its meanings. And thirdly, to take heed through it. Allaah, the Blessed and Most High, said, “[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” [Saad 38:29]
And it is not possible for anyone to ponder over the Quraan except by knowing its meaning, because the one who does not know the meaning is like the one who does not read.”
Tafsir Juzz Amma, p. 4.
Please Reference Posts
February 13, 2012 § Leave a comment
Salaamun alaikum
Alhamdulillaah, I’ve noticed that a number of the posts from this blog are being posted elsewhere which is absolutely brilliant and most welcome. If you do copy and paste a post could you please put the link to the article on your site. You don’t have to put my name, in fact, I’d rather you didn’t put my name there, there’s no need for my name at all, just the link is fine, and I only say that so that people who have not been to this blog can be referred back here and have the chance to read other articles.
Jazaakumullaah khaira
Was-Salaam
Ibn Baaz’s Memory
February 12, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdullaah az-Zain said, “One time I was with Shaikh Saalih an-Nujaidi in Shaikh Ibn Baaz’s office and a discussion took place and I differed with Shaikh Saalih in the issue. So Shaikh Ibn Baaz said, ‘The answer is such and such,’ and he said to me, ‘Shaikh Muhammad, bring such and such a book, and it is in such a place, [bring] the second volume, page such and such [and the answer will be there].’
And it was just as the Shaikh mentioned, which shows his intelligence and the strength of his memory.” [Shaikh Ibn Baaz was blind]
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 145.
Uthaimeen: Orphans, the Poor and Your Heart
February 8, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Know that being kind to the weak, the orphans and the young places mercy in the heart, and softness, and tenderness and [a feeling of] turning to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic which none except those who have tried this can grasp. So that which is fitting for you is that you have mercy on the young, that you have mercy on the orphans and that you have mercy on the poor so that there will be compassion and affection and mercy in your heart.”
Sharh Riyaadus-Saaliheen, vol. 3, p. 89.
Ibn Baaz and his Walking Stick
February 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
Umar ibn Muhammad Sa’eed said, “Fifteen years ago we used to wake up for Fajr prayer at the sound of his walking stick before [we would hear] the sound of the call to prayer. He, may Allaah have mercy on him, used to be eager to knock the doors of his neighbours who were on his way to the mosque.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 230.
Ibn Baaz: Have a Set Amount You Read From the Quraan Daily
February 6, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud said, “I was going with his eminence, may Allaah have mercy on him, from the Imaam Turki ibn Abdullaah mosque to his house when he asked me about reading the Quraan. I told him I read it from time to time but that I did not have a set portion that I read daily. So he said that I should take up an amount to read from the Quraan daily even if it was only a little, explaining that the person who has a set portion which he reads daily from the Quraan will finish it, but he who does not may finish reading it quickly one time but then months may pass and he will not have finished it, and he mentioned the example of a person who reads a juzz a day finishing it in a month and he who reaads two finishing it in fifteen days.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 25.
Ibn Baaz, the Outsider, and the VIP
February 4, 2012 § 2 Comments
Khaalid ibn Hamad as-Sulaimani said, “I remember a gracious stance the Shaikh took towards me one day when I visited him in his office in Riyadh to ask for his opinion about an issue. When I entered his office he started to ask me his usual questions about my name and where I came from, while praising me and my family in a gentle, kind, and plentiful manner, even though he’d never met me personally before that.
While we were talking, one of his aids came and informed him that an important guest from abroad was on his way to give salaam to the Shaikh. So the Shaikh answered him calmly, saying, ‘Okay, when he comes, we are here,’ meaning, ‘I’m not going anywhere [and will be here for the guest inshaa Allaah],’ and what he intended by saying that was to put us questioners [generally and in this instance me] at ease.
After a short while, through the windows of the Shaikh’s office I saw the gates to the outside building opening and the convoy of that important guest arrive.
At that time I had in fact received the complete answer [I needed] from the Shaikh regarding my issue, and I wanted to bid him farewell and thank him and give his eminence the opportunity to prepare to receive his important guest.
But I was surprised when he took hold of my hand and started to ask me, insisting greatly and repeatedly, ‘Have you finished asking about everything concerning your issue?’ Have you got any other questions?’
He wanted to show his concern for me, the questioner who was an outsider, without the arrival of his important guest swaying him–rather the only thing that concerned him was fulfilling the obligation upon him for the Face of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, Who looks at all of mankind as equals with nothing but actions distinguishing between them.
So the important guest entered the office and the Shaikh was still holding my hand and would not let go fearful that I may have wanted to leave without having asked him everything about my issue because of that guest … and it was there that I kissed his forehead, bid him farewell and asked Allaah to make this stance from amongst his righteous deeds.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, pp. 134-135.
Ibn Baaz and Revenge
February 3, 2012 § 1 Comment
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir al-Zahraani said, “Some students of knowledge came [to Shaikh Ibn Baaz] and complained about someone to him. They explained his mistakes [to the Shaikh] and some of the issues in which that person had opposed the Sunnah. So the Shaikh started to dictate a treatise criticising, advising and directing him; while he was doing so someone said, ‘And he speaks ill of you, O Shaikh, and slanders you.’ So the Shaikh said to the scribe, ‘Stop and leave what you are writing for fear that the people will say that the Shaikh is taking revenge for himself.'”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 204.
So Uthaimeen started laughing …
February 1, 2012 § Leave a comment
Abdul-Kareem ibn Saalih al-Muqrin said, “After each recording of the programme, ‘Questions Over the Phone,’ while we were in the studio, brother Sa’d Khamees would say to Shaikh Uthaimeen, ‘May Allaah reward you with good, O Shaikh. And may He have mercy on your parents.’ So the Shaikh said, ‘Aameen, O Sa’d. And me?’ So Sa’d said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on your parents.’ So the Shaikh said, ‘Aameen, O Sa’d. And me?’ So Sa’d realised what he meant and said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on you, and on your parents, and may He reward you with the best of rewards on our behalf.’
So the Shaikh smiled and laughed and we all laughed too.”
14 Aaman Ma’a Samaahatil-Allaamah, ash-Shaikh, Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Uthaimeen, p. 63.
Ibn Baaz and the Weak
January 31, 2012 § Leave a comment
Wafaa Muhammad al-Baaz said, “I asked that woman from Kosovo who called up to give condolences after Shaikh Ibn Baaz passed away, ‘How do you know Shaikh Ibn Baaz?’ So she said, ‘How can I not know him when my expenditure used to come from him.'”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 183.
A Day in the Life of a Scholar: Imaam Ibn Baaz
January 29, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Muhammad al-Musaa said, “Once when we were in Makkah, the Shaikh was called to participate in a da’wah gathering in Jeddah by someone dear to him, and he insisted that his eminence be present immediately after maghrib prayer, so the Shaikh said, ‘Good, inshaa Allaah.’
When the Shaikh prayed maghrib he felt it difficult upon himself to leave his established sitting with the people from maghrib to Ishaa, so he said, ‘We won’t go now and leave the people. I have to sit with them up until Ishaa and tend to their needs and their demands,’ so he remained with them [in his house].
Then the mu’adhhin pronounced the call to prayer for ishaa and he went to the mosque, and delivered his regular [short] lesson before ishaa [i.e., between the iqaamah and the adhaan] and answered some questions. Then he prayed ishaa and headed to Jeddah, and he was overjoyed and pleased at having sat with the people and not having left them behind.
[When he got to Jeddah] he listened to a detailed explanation of the da’wah project and its activities and then entered the lecture hall which was teeming with people and listened to all of the speeches and poetry that was read. He then gave a lecture and after that had dinner and returned to Makkah.
On our way to Jeddah and back to Makkah, I, Dr. ash-Shuwai’ir, and the brother Saalih took turns to read to him, with not a single minute wasted.
When we got to his house in Makkah it was midnight and it was from the Shaikh’s habits to stand to pray the night prayer at about three in the morning. He would always wake me and Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Naasir, wake us for the night prayer so that we could have our share of [prayer during] the night. So this time [it having been a long day] we were sure that he would not wake up and would leave us to sleep. Yet the set time for him to stand to pray hadn’t come except that he was there waking us up to stand for the night prayer.
He continued to pray, and supplicate and recite until the call to prayer for fajr and then went to the mosque, the al-Qattaan mosque which was next to us, and this was before the Shaikh’s own mosque was built.
The Imaam was late and so Shaikh Ibn Baaz led us in prayer with a voice more beautiful and more humble than which you will not have heard. When he gave salaam he turned to face the people and thanked Allaah and extolled Him and then gave them a talk. Upon finishing he went home and we said, ‘The Shaikh is exhausted and has been up all night, maybe he will not sit after fajr.’
He went to his sitting room, put his scarf and hat to the side, sat down and said, ‘Bismillaah. What do you have?’ So I started to read the requests/matters he had to deal with to him, and I could see comfort, energy and joy in him that would cause one to wonder in amazement. I carried on reading to him until 7:20 a.m. approximately, and thought that he would thereafter have a long sleep, when instead he said, ‘Set the alarm clock for 8:20.’
So we woke him up at 8:20 a.m. and took him to Raabita al-Aalam al-Islaamiyyah to attend some lengthy symposiums and meetings. He got home at his regular time of 2:30 pm.
We were all about to fall on our faces out of exhaustion and fatigue but we didn’t notice any of that on him. May Allaah, the Most High, have mercy on him.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 149.
Here is a recording of the Shaikh reciting:
Ibn Baaz and His Driver
January 29, 2012 § Leave a comment
The Shaikh’s driver, Shaaheen, said, “There were about three occasions when I was late in getting to the car to take the Shaikh for the morning prayer. Each time he would smile and not say a single word about my lateness even though he would be standing there waiting by the car before me. This was how he was with all of his workers, may Allaah have mercy on him, he would never complain about anyone.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 199.
Ibn Baaz and the Poor
January 28, 2012 § Leave a comment
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir al-Zahraani said, ‘Two years ago in 1417ah [1996ce], when the Shaikh travelled to Taif from Makkah, he opened his house [to receive guests] as usual, but no guests, or poor or needy people came during the first few days and this pained the Shaikh.
The reason many of them didn’t come was because they didn’t know he had arrived.
So he said to those working with him, ‘What is wrong with the people, why aren’t they coming? Are you preventing them from coming or closing the doors in their faces? What is the reason?’
They replied, ‘O Shaikh, many of them don’t know that you have arrived, and some of them like that you rest during your first few days.’
So he said, ‘Go and tell the people, and inform the neighbours—tell them the Shaikh invites you to come, and that his house is open for you!’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 172.
A Scholar’s Open Heartedness: Ibn Baaz and the Bottle of Aloeswood Oil [Oud]
January 27, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Hamad said, ‘He was once given a bottle of premium aloeswood oil [Oud] as a gift and then someone asked him for it and the Shaikh happily gave it to him—for he would take pleasure in giving more then he would in receiving.’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 218.
Ibn al-Qayyim on Repentance and Arrogance
January 26, 2012 § Leave a comment
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Indeed when Allaah intends good for a servant, He strips away sight of his good deeds from his heart, and their mention from his tongue, and causes him to become preoccupied with his sins, and they continue to be before his eyes until he enters Paradise. For indeed, those actions which have been accepted–the sight of them is removed from the heart and their remembrance from the tongue.
And one of the Salaf said, ‘Indeed the servant commits a mistake by which he enters Paradise. And he performs a good deed by which he enters the Fire.’
They said, ‘How so?’
He said, ‘He commits a mistake and so it remains before his eyes. When he recalls it he regrets it, resigns [himself to] and earnestly implores Allaah, and hastens to erase it, and he becomes broken and humble before his Lord, and his self-amazement and arrogance disappears. And he will perform a good deed and it will remain before his eyes, he sees it and uses it as a favour, and becomes self-conceited because of it, becomes arrogant because of it, until he enters the Fire.’”
Ar-Risaalah at-Tabukiyyah, vol. 1, p. 74.
Ibn al-Qayyim on An Easy, Beneficial Gift
January 26, 2012 § Leave a comment
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “The beneficial gift is a statement a man gifts to his Muslim brother.”
Ar-Risaalah at-Tabukiyyah, vol. 1, p. 74.
Gifts of Knowledge 