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Author: Amjad Khan

[1] One of the beneficial methods of imparting knowledge- Tips for Teachers

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

In his introduction to the explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam, Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) spoke about a very beneficial method of imparting knowledge found in ‘Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldoon’, which is as follows:

The First Stage:

Know that teaching the sciences to the students only becomes beneficial when carried out gradually and bit by bit. In the beginning the teacher imparts (knowledge) to him (beginning) with the fundamental principles in each chapter. He familiarizes him with (those fundamental principles) by explaining them in a general manner and examines the strength of the (student’s) intellectual ability and his readiness to comprehend what he is about to come across up to the end of his studies. The student is then (enabled) to settle in that knowledge (he pursues), even though it may be partial and weak. And the most this does is that it enables him to comprehend the science he is studying and to be acquainted with its issues.

The Second Stage:

The teacher then returns him to the subject a second time and (teaches) him at a level higher than the first level. He now gives him a full explanation and clarification and not the general (explanation and clarification employed in the beginning). He informs him of the differences of opinion and the direction (of their arguments) up to the end of the subject—so the student realises his potential (in what he is studying).

The Third Stage:

Thereafter the teacher returns him again after he has acquired a solid foundation, and (this time) he does not abandon making clear anything that is obscure, important or complicated. The teacher opens up all the locks in the subject for him to be well established upon it.

This is the direction of beneficial teaching–and as it can be seen, it is reached in repeating (the process) three times. And indeed, some (students) can reach (their potential) in lesser than these (three stages) in accordance with what they (possess) of natural ability and what is made easy for them.

[For further details, see Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldoon: page: 604]

To be continued…In-Shaa-Allaah

 

Those Who Seek Knowledge Due to Its nobility and The Perfection Reached by Way of it! – By Shaikh Siddeeq Hasan Khan (rahimahullaah)

Shaikh Siddeeq Hasan Khan (rahimahullaah) stated:

The aim behind the religious sciences is not to earn (wealth); rather it is for (the purpose of) acquainting oneself with the realities of the (Islamic legislation) and to rectify one’s behaviour (towards his Lord and the people). The one who learns knowledge (of the religion) for the purpose of trade cannot be a scholar; rather he only resembles the scholars. The scholars unveiled what the drive behind this was and they spoke about it when the building of schools reached them at Baghdaad, so they held gatherings of knowledge and said: “The possessors of lofty ambitions and the pure souls used to pre-occupy themselves with it (i.e. knowledge) –those whose intention behind (seeking) knowledge was due to its nobility and the perfection (that is reached by way of it), so they came to the scholars to benefit from them and their knowledge. However, when (monetary gain) is placed on it, the vilest people and the lazy ones will approach it and thus leading to its disappearance. So at this point, the (Islamic) sciences of wisdom (found in the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the understanding of the Salaf) will be abandoned even though they are self-evident in their nobility.  [أبجد العلوم pages 77-78… Vol: 1]

Acquaintance with the truth–By Shaikh Siddeeq Hasan Khan (rahimahullaah)

Al-Allaamah Siddeeq Hasan Khan (rahimahullaah) said:

Indeed, the one who combines five characteristics will be acquainted with the truth and the greatest of them is (1) Sincerity, (2) (sound) understanding and (3) justice.  (4)Fourthly-the scarcest to be found and (people) are mostly deprived of it–is eagerness in acquainting (oneself) with the truth and being keen in calling to it.

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[Source: Qatf Ath-Thamar Fee Bayaani Aqeedati Ahlil Athar: page 175]

A Very Important Affair Related to The Affair of Making a Distinction between Truth and Falsehood’- by Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah)

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 through 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 a testimony to 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 declares it to be 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)]

One of the causes of being in shaytaan’s captivity and a prisoner of lowly desires

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

Disobedience is the cause being in shaytaan’s captivity and a prisoner of lowly desires. Among its afflictions is that a disobedient person is always in the captivity of his devil, the prison of his lusts and leadership of his desires; so he is a captive and a shackled prisoner. There is neither a captive whose state of affairs is more evil than a captive whose captor is his worst enemy, nor is there a prison more restricted than the prison of desires and shackles that are more restrictive than the shackles of lust; so how can a heart that is a captive and a shackled prisoner follow the path to Allaah and the home of the afterlife? How can he proceed upon a singular track when the heart is shackled and stricken with harm from every angle as result of the (severity) of its shackles? The likeness of the heart is that of a bird; it distances from harm whenever it flies high and surrounded by harm whenever it lands. It is reported in a hadeeth: ‘’Shaytaan is a wolf to a human being.’’ And just as an unprotected sheep in the midst of wolves is quickly destroyed, likewise if there is no protection from Allaah for the slave, it is a must that his wolf will prey on him.

He (i.e. the slave) is protected by Allaah through Taqwaah (fear of Allaah). It (Taqwaah) is a shield and shelter from Allaah between the person and his wolf; just as it is shield against punishment in this life and the afterlife. Whenever the sheep is closer to its shepherd, it is safer from the wolf and whenever it is distanced from the shepherd, it comes closer to being destroyed. So the sheep is more protected when it is closer to the shepherd, for the wolf only takes away the (sheep, cattle etc.) that are distanced and far away from the shepherd.

The basis of this affair is that whenever the heart is distanced from Allaah, then harm upon it is quicker, and whenever it is comes closer to Allaah, it is distanced from harm. Being distanced from Allaah is of various levels and some are more severe than others. Being distanced from (Allaah) through disobedience is greater than being distanced from (Allaah) through thoughtlessness; being distanced from (Allaah) through bidah is greater than being distanced from (Allaah) through disobedience, and being distanced from (Allaah) through hypocrisy and shirk is greater than all of that. [Source: Ad-Daa’u Wad-Dawaa’u’ page 119-120]

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Reminder: Unbefitting or Bad Words In Our Conversations and Discussions Will Enable shaytaan to sow enmity among Us, So Let Us Not Be From Those who help him in anyway

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

And say to My slaves that they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because) Shaitan (Satan) verily, sows disagreements among them. Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy.

Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) stated:

Allaah [The Blessed and Most High] command His slave and Messenger [i.e. Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] to command Allaah’s believing slaves that they speak to one another in their conversations and discussions with what is better and good, for if they do not do that, shaytaan will sow a state of conflict between them and speech will lead to actions, and thus evil, (blameworthy) argumentation and fighting will arise; for indeed shaytaan is an enemy of Aadam and his children since (the time) he refused to prostrate to Aadam. His enmity is clear and manifest, so because of this, it prohibited for a man to point at his Muslim brother with an iron (instrument), for indeed shaytaan (can entice an evil action) in his hand and he may cause him to strike him (i.e. his Muslim brother) with it.

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[Source: Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheb Tafseer Ibn katheer’ Surah Al-Israa 17: 53]

Three most hated persons to Allaah!

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallaahu-anhumaa):

The Prophet said, “The most hated persons to Allah are three: (1) A person who deviates from the right conduct, i.e., an evil doer, in the Haram (sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina); (2) a person who seeks that the traditions of the Pre-lslamic Period of Ignorance, should remain in Islam (3) and a person who seeks to shed somebody’s blood without any right.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, Hadeeth Number 21, Vol 9]

[1] Negligence towards Performance of the Congregational Prayer (in the Masjid) – by Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz

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

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:

It has reached me that many people have indeed become negligent towards performance of the Salaah in congregation (in the Masjid), and they utilise the ease facilitated by some of the Scholars in this regard.  Therefore it is obligatory upon me to clarify the greatness of this affair and its dangerous (consequences). There is no doubt that this (negligence) is a great evil and grave danger, therefore it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge to draw attention to this (affair) and warn (the people) because it is a manifest evil and it is not permissible to keep quiet about it.

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[Source: Al-Muntaaz Min Rasaa’il imaam Ibn Baaz. page: 497]

O Muslim Ummah! Call yourselves to account, repent to your Lord, ask for His Forgiveness, rush towards obedience to Him and guard yourselves against disobedience to Him….

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) stated:

O Muslim Ummah! Call yourselves to account, repent to your Lord, ask for His Forgiveness, rush towards obedience to Him and guard yourselves against disobedience to Him.   Co-operate upon righteousness and piety, and do good, truly Allaah loves the good-doers.  Be just, truly Allaah loves those who are just. Perform numerous righteous deeds before death approaches.

Be merciful to your weak ones and be charitable to your poor ones.  Increase in the Remembrance of Allaah and in seeking His Forgiveness.  Enjoin good and forbid evil in order that you may be shown mercy. Take a lesson from the calamities that have afflicted others due to sins and disobedience.  Indeed, Allaah accepts the repentance of those who repent and shows Mercy to the good-doers.  Allaah (Glorified be He) will give the good end results to the pious ones, as He (Glorified be He) stated:

فَاصْبِرْ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for the Muttaqûn. 11:49

Allaah (The Most High) said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ

Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers) 16:128

Allah responds to supplication when asked through His Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes, so we ask Him to show mercy to His Muslim slaves.  And that He gives them understanding of their religion and aids them against His enemies and their enemies. And that He sends down suffering on them (i.e. the enemies of Allaah and the Muslim) – a type of suffering that is not averted from a rebellious people.  Indeed, Allaah has authority and power over that. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and those who follow them in goodness till the Day of Judgment.

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[Source: from a small risaalah of Imaam Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) titled: ‘Obligation of repenting to Allaah’ Pages 7-8’ Abridged and slightly araphrased]