Two Paths to Destruction Due to Craving For Leadership and Status
Two Paths to Destruction Due to Desiring Leadership and Status
Author: Abdullah Jallow
Evil Deeds and Their Evil Outcomes
Evil Deeds and Their Evil Outcomes
An Evil Outcome of Self-Exaltation
An Evil Outcome of Self-Exaltation
Ponder Upon These Words of Shaikh Uthaymeen Before You Place That Cigarette In Your Mouth or Harm Yourself With Drugs
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Smoking is forbidden due to the evidences found in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, and based on sound opinion. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said:
[وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيماً – And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you] [Soorah Nisaa: Ayah: 29]
It is well-known that smoking causes harm to the body which may appear sooner or later, and this is an affair agreed upon by the doctors of today after the advancement of medicine. Smoking also disfigures the teeth, the lips etc.
Also, Allaah [the Most High] said: [وَلا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَاماً – And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you]. Therefore, Allaah clarified the wisdom behind wealth and that He made it a means of support through which the Religious and worldly benefits are established. And it is well known that spending wealth on cigarettes neither supports Religious nor worldly benefits, rather it does the opposite.
And from the evidences in the Sunnah concerning the impermissibility of smoking is that the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] forbade the squandering of wealth, and squandering wealth is when it is spent in other than what is beneficial. It is well known that spending wealth on smoking is a spending in which there is no benefit, rather it is spending in that which is harmful.
As for sound opinion, then sound intellect necessitates that a person does not partake in that which harms him and wastes his wealth, whilst he is a believer and that he will be brought to account. Therefore, sound intellect necessitates that a person does what benefits him and leaves what harms him, and from the perfection of [one’s religion and character] is to leave that which is of no benefit.
The affairs are three: [1] Beneficial things [2] Harmful things [3] Things in which there is neither harm nor benefit. The first affair is sought after, the second affair is blameworthy, and regarding the third affair, a person refrains from it out of seeking perfection in his affairs, but there is no blame on him if he does it.
[Paraphrased and abridged: Source: links http://www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8074] http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/noor/article_3610.shtml
Some Perils of False Argumentation and Obstinacy
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ
And among mankind is he who disputes concerning Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious [disobedient to Allah] Shaitan [devil] [devoid of each and every kind of good]. [22:3]
There is a party and a group amongst mankind who follow the path of misguidance. They argue based on falsehood and portray it as the truth. They wish to certify falsehood as truth and falsify the truth. The truth regarding them is that they are upon extreme ignorance and do not possess any knowledge, and the most they have is blameworthy blind following of their misguided figureheads among the rebellious devils- rebels against Allaah and His Messengers. Indeed, they oppose Allaah and His Messenger [Muhammad (sallal-laahyu-alayhi-wasallam)] and thus became from those figureheads who call to the hell fire.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلادِ
None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve. So, let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you. [Surah 40:4]
Allaah informed us that [مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا – None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve]
The intended meaning behind the word ‘disputes’ here [i.e. in this aayah] is disputation to reject Allaah’s Aayaat [i.e. proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc] and oppose them with falsehood. This is a deed of the disbelievers, but as for the believers, they humble themselves to Allaah [The Most High], for indeed Allaah makes a statement of truth to invalidate falsehood.
It is not permissible for a person to be deceived by his worldly [affairs] and thinks that the favours Allaah has bestowed on him in this worldly life proves that Allaah loves him and he is upon the truth. And for this reason, Allaah He [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلاد -So let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you]- Meaning: going back and forth in pursuit of various affairs of trade and earnings; rather what is obligated on a servant [i.e. an obedient slave of Allaah] is that he utters the truth to the people, examines the state of affairs based on the legislated divine [commands and prohibitions ordained by Allaah] and passes judgement on the [affairs, circumstances etc] of the people through them. He does not weigh up the truth [solely based on the desires, views, likes or dislikes of] the people, just as what the one who neither has knowledge nor [sound] intellect is upon.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْجَوَارِ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ
And among His Signs are the ships, in the sea, like mountains.
إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ الرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ
If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ
Or He may destroy them (by drowning) because of that which their (people) have earned. And He pardons much.
وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ
And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat may know that there is no place of refuge for them. [42:35]
وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا – And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat’ –Meaning: In order to (declare) them untrue with their falsehood [i.e. those who seek to declare Allaah’s Aayat to be untrue by way of their false claims and arguments] مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ –there is no place of refuge for them- Meaning: There is no place of escape for them to stop the punishment from [reaching] them.
Allaah [The Most High] stated:
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ ۖ وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ
The people of Nuh (Noah) and the confederates after them denied (their Messengers) before these, and every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to seize him, and disputed by means of falsehood to refute therewith the truth. So, I seized them (with punishment), and how (terrible) was My punishment! Thus, has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire. [40:5-6]
Allaah [The Most High] mentioned -in this Aayah- those who argue against His Aayaat to nullify them [i.e. they argued against Allaah’s Aayaat to declare them false], just as the previous nations before them did, such as the people of Nooh, Aad and those confederates who formed an illegal partisanship and gathered against the truth, and to aid falsehood.
Then they reached this [evil, which is]: [وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ -And every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to kill him]. This is the [most dangerous state] the Messengers can find themselves- the ones [i.e. the Messengers of Allaah] who are the [only perfect] leaders of the righteous people and possessors of pure truth about which there is neither any doubt nor ambiguity; however, they [i.e. their disbelieving peoples] plotted to kill them.
Is there any [act] of rebellion, misguidance and wretchedness that [can be severer] than this, so for this reason [the plotters deserved] a great punishment which they cannot escape. Allaah [The Most High] mentioned the punishment they [received] in this worldly life and what they will [receive] in the afterlife: [فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ -So I seized them]-Meaning: due to their act of wilful denial [i.e. their wilful denial of Allaah’s Aayaat by way of arguing with falsehood and plotting to kill Allaah’s Messengers] and their illegal partisanship. [فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ- And how (terrible) was My punishment!] [وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ -Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire].
[Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). paraphrased and abridged]
An Encouragement: Remember That Ant and Al-Kisaa’ee Whenever We Find Something Difficult During Arabic Lessons
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Muhammad ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed, our Shaikh -The Diligent One- Abdur Rahmaan As’Sadi [rahimahullaah] related to me that it has been stated about Al-Kisaa’ee -an Imaam of the people of koofa- that he sought after the knowledge of Arabic grammar but could not [grasp it or was unable to progress]. One day, he found an ant carrying its food whilst ascending a wall. Whenever it ascended, it fell off; but it persevered until it overcame this obstacle and ascended the wall. Al-Kisaa’ee said, ‘’This ant persevered until it reached its goal.’’ So, he persevered until he became an Imaam in Arabic grammar. [ref 1]
Reminder:
A Short Faa’idah From Shaikh Bin Baaz:[The Hizbiyyoon of Stoke Cannot Spread Doubts or Ambiguities Regarding The Responsibility of Our Salafi Teachers – In The UK, America and Elsewhere-When They Clarify The Haqq
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Abdul Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said: The student of knowledge is very eager not to hide anything he knows. He is eager to clarify the truth and refute the opponents of the Religion of Islaam. He is neither lackadaisical nor does he seek to escape.
When the opponents of Islaam appear with that which obscures and defames Islaam, he brings forth refutation against them by writing, by word of mouth and other than that.
He does not seek to escape, rather he comes forward at the appropriate time to aid the truth and refutes the opponents of Islaam by writing and other than it- by means of the radio, the newspapers or TV, or through any means he can.
He does not hide what he has of knowledge, rather he writes, gives khutbah and refutes the people of innovation and other than them from the opponents of Islaam based on what Allaah has bestowed upon him of strength – in accordance with his knowledge and that which Allaah has made easy for him. Allaah [The Most High] said:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِۙ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَبَيَّنُواْ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيۡہِمۡۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allaah and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful” [2:159-160]
[Source: An excerpt from a Booklet of the Shaikh titled:
Responsibilities of the Student of Knowledge (page: 15-16)]
Consultation: Consulting The Right People In Our Religious and Worldly Affairs Guides Us to The Best Outcomes By The Will of Allaah
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Al-Hasan al-Basree [rahimahullaah] said: “By Allaah! Never have a people sought advice except that they were guided to the best of what was available to them.” Then he recited [the statement of Allaah]: [وَأَمۡرُهُمۡ شُورَىٰ بَيۡنَہُمۡ – And (the Believers) who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation] [42:38] [Ref 1]
Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] commanded His Messenger Muhammad [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] to consult his companions in some affairs. Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] said: [وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ – and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah] [3:159]
He [i.e. the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] is the example to be followed by the Ummah, therefore when it is the case that Allaah commanded him [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] to consult his companions, then there is even a greater reason that the Muslims are in need of consultation amongst themselves. When a difficulty that is related to a Muslim’s religious and worldly affairs occurs, then indeed it is fitting that he consults someone whom he considers reliable, wise, truthful and sincere. He examines [the advice] given by that person, then he makes a choice – either to take that advice or decides not to take it based on what he is satisfied with, in relation to his personal affairs.
The hadeeth places emphasis on the fact that consultation guides to the best outcomes, and due to this it is said: ”The one who consults [others] does not regret [thereafter InShaaAllaah] and the one who performs Istikhaarah will not fail [to achieve good]”. Both Istikhaarah and consultation are legislated and a lot of good is achieved by way of them, as opposed to when affairs are pursued in a rigid and haphazard manner, for indeed this might lead to regret and harm. [Ref 2]
Your feedback is welcomed to improve the content of this article BaarakAllaahu Feekum
[Ref 1: Adab Al-Mufrad no.258, declared saheeh by Imaam Albaanee]
[Ref 2: Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad’ 1/285’ (abridged and slightly paraphrased]
Beware of Allaah’s Severe Punishment if You Are Utilising Wealth to Cause Corruption In The Earth and Oppressing Mankind
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah (The Most high) said:
إِنَّ قَـٰرُونَ ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ ۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلۡعُصۡبَةِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡقُوَّةِ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡمُهُ ۥ لَا تَفۡرَحۡۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَرِحِينَ (٧٦) وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٧٧) قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِىٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةً۬ وَأَڪۡثَرُ جَمۡعً۬اۚ وَلَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ (٧٨) فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِى زِينَتِهِۦۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَـٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـٰرُونُ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٧٩) وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَڪُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ۬ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُلَقَّٮٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ (٨٠) فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا ڪَانَ لَهُ ۥ مِن فِئَةٍ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ (٨١)وَأَصۡبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوۡاْ مَكَانَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيۡكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقۡدِرُۖ لَوۡلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَاۖ وَيۡكَأَنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (٨٢) تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬اۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa’s (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: “Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours).
But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, [وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ – and seek not mischief in the land]– Meaning: through pride, disobedience (to Allaah), preoccupying yourself with the blessings (bestowed upon you by Allaah) at the expense of (obedience to Allaah, being thankful etc) [Ref 1];
[إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ -. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).
He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the Mujrimun will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).
So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.”
But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).”
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.
And those who had desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say: “Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.
That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun [28:76-83]
[Ref 1: Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
Sharing a Benefit With Those Who Asked For Some of The Details of The Jumu’ah Khutbah On 01/01/17 -at Masjid Al-Furqaan- Titled: The Three Pillars of Servitude In Soorah Al-Faatihah
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Indeed, remembrance of Allaah and drawing close to Him through righteous deeds and statements cannot be accepted by Allaah unless the worshipper fulfils them based on three Pillars, and they are: Love, fear and hope.These three pillars are the pillars of servitude of the heart and no act of worship is accepted except through them. Allaah [جلّ وعلا] is to be worshipped out of love of Him, hoping for His reward and fearing His punishment. Allaah [The Blessed and Most High] mentioned these pillars of worship in Surah Al-Faatihah which is the best Surah of the Qur’aan.
Love as a pillar of worship is found in statement [الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ – All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)]. That is because Allaah is the Bestower of all favours (or blessings) and the Bestower of blessings (or favours) is loved in accordance with the favours (or blessings) He bestows, and [الْحَمْدُ] is to praise alongside having love for the one who is praised. Hope as a pillar of worship is found in the statement [الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ -The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful]. That is because the believer hopes for Allaah’s Mercy and desires its attainment. Fear as a pillar of worship is found in the statement [مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين -The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)]. [يَوْمِ الدِّين – The Day of Recompense] is the day of reckoning.
Then the statement [إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ – You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)] follows thereafter, which means: O our Lord! We worship You based on those aforementioned pillars- love, hope and fear. These are the three pillars upon which[إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ is established. They have also been mentioned in Surah Al-Israa Ayah 57:
[أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ يَبۡتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّہُمۡ أَقۡرَبُ وَيَرۡجُونَ رَحۡمَتَهُ ۥ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ ۥۤۚ إِنَّ عَذَابَ -Those whom they call upon [like ‘Iesa (Jesus) – son of Maryam (Mary), ‘Uzair (Ezra), angel, etc.] desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah), as to which of them should be the nearest and they [‘Iesa (Jesus), ‘Uzair (Ezra), angels, etc.] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment].
In the above Ayah, the statement ”desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah)” means seeking to get close to Allaah through love and doing what He loves. Then Allaah stated, ”(They) hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment”. Therefore in this Ayah, love, fear and hope are mentioned, and likewise stated in Surah Al-Anbiyaa:
إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبً۬ا وَرَهَبً۬اۖ وَڪَانُواْ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.
Therefore, a slave (i.e. the one who worships Allaah alone) must combine these three pillars [love, fear and hope] in his (or her) acts of worship and remembrance of Allaah. It is not permissible to worship Allaah with only one of them without the others, such as worshipping Allaah with love alone without fear and hope, or worshipping Allaah with hope alone, or worshipping Allaah with fear alone. And due to this, some of the scholars said, ”Whoever worships Allaah with love alone is a Zindeeq (i.e. such as the extreme soofees etc); and whoever worships Allaah with fear alone is a Harooree (i.e. from the Khaarij), and whoever worships Allaah with hope alone is a Murji, and whoever worships Allaah with love, fear and hope is a believer and person of Tawheed. [End-Ref 1]
We should know that fear of Allah should be combined with love and hope, so that fear does not become a cause of giving up hope in Allaah’s Mercy. A believer should have both fear of Allaah and hope in Allaah’s Mercy, so that fear alone does not lead him to give up hope in Allaah’s mercy, nor will hope alone make feel secure from Allaah’s plan. That is because giving up hope in Allaah’s Mercy and feeling secure from Allaah’s plan are two affairs that negate perfect Tawheed. Allaah [The Most High] said:
فَلَا يَأۡمَنُ مَڪۡرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ
None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers. [7:99]
And Allaah [The Most High] said:
إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يَاْيۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ
Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” [12:87]
And Allaah said:
وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ
“And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray. [15:56]
Ismaa’eel Ibn Raafi (rahimahullaah) said, ”Feeling secure from Allaah’s plan is when the slave is persistent in committing sin, whilst hoping for Allaah’s forgiveness’’.
The Scholars (rahimahumullaah) say, ”Despair is to distance oneself from having hope for relief and losing hope in that, and it is the opposite of feeling secure from Allaah’s plan. Both these two affairs are a great sin. It is neither permissible for a believer to adhere to fear alone, and thus despairs of Allaah’s Mercy, nor should he adhere to hope alone, and thus feels secure from Allaah’s punishment; rather he should have fear and hope – fearful due to his sins, performs acts of obedience to Allaah and hopes for Allaah’s Mercy, just as Allaah [The Most High] stated:
إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبً۬ا وَرَهَبً۬اۖ وَڪَانُواْ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us. [21:90]
And Allaah said:
أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ يَبۡتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّہُمۡ أَقۡرَبُ وَيَرۡجُونَ رَحۡمَتَهُ ۥ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ ۥۤۚ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحۡذُورً۬ا
Those whom they call upon [like ‘Iesa (Jesus) – son of Maryam (Mary), ‘Uzair (Ezra), angel, etc.] desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah), as to which of them should be the nearest and they [‘Iesa (Jesus), ‘Uzair (Ezra), angels, etc.] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment. Verily, the Torment of your Lord is something to be afraid of! [17:57]
When fear of Allaah and hope in Allaah are combined, it urges a slave (i.e. a worshipper of Allaah) to perform deeds and utilise the beneficial means to that; for indeed alongside having hope in Allaah’s Mercy, he performs acts of obedience and hopes for reward; and by way of fear, he abandons disobedience due to being fearful of Allaah’s punishment. But if he despairs of Allaah’s Mercy, he may stop performing righteous deeds, and if he feels secure from Allaah’s punishment, he is pushed towards acts of disobedience. [Ref 2]
[Ref 1: Abridged & paraphrased. Source: Fiqhul Ad’iyah Wal-Adkaar’ page 99-100′ parts 1&2′ by Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him)
[Ref 2: Abridged & paraphrased. Source: ‘Al-Irshaad Ilaa Saheeh Al-I’tiqaad War-Raddu Alaa Ahlish-Shirki Wal-Ilhaad’ pages 85 onwards’ by Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him). Publisher: Daarul Aa’simah’ 1st ed (Year 1423AH- year 2002]