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Author: Abdullah Jallow

The Arrival of The Unlettered Prophet with This Great Qur’aan That Reveals What They Used to hide amongst themselves is from the Firm Evidences of His Messengership

Allaah (The Most High) said:

يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ قَدۡ جَآءَڪُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّمَّا ڪُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن ڪَثِيرٍ۬‌ۚ قَدۡ جَآءَڪُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٌ۬ وَڪِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

يَهۡدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٲنَهُ ۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much.  Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur’an).  Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism). [Surah Al-Maa-idah Aayaat 15-16]

After Allaah made a mention of the covenant He took from the people of the scripture-the Jews and Christians- [i.e. in Aayaat 12-14 Surah Maa-idah] and that they violated it except a few amongst them, He then commanded all of them to believe in Muhammad (sallal-laahu – alayhi – wasallam).  He established the proof against them through clear signs that shows the soundness of Muhammad’s (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) Prophethood; and that is: He explained to them much of that which they concealed from mankind, even from the common people who follow their religion.

And if they [i.e. the Jews and Christians] were the ones with knowledge and none else possessed knowledge during that era except them, then an eager seeker of knowledge would not have had any access to it, except through them. So the Messenger’s arrival with this Great Qur’aan that clarifies for them that which they used to hide amongst themselves–whilst he was unlettered and could neither read nor write–is from the surest of evidences concerning the unequivocal establishment of his Messenger ship, and likewise his qualities mentioned in their books, the presence of the prophecies about him in their books, the verses concerning the divine legislated laws against adultery and what is similar to it.

[وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن ڪَثِيرٍ] ”And passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much;” That is: He abstained from explaining that which is not in agreement with the perfect and infallible wisdom contained in the divine laws.

[قَدۡ جَآءَڪُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٌ۬ وَڪِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬] ”Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur’an).”   It is the Qur’aan that gives light in the midst of the darkness of ignorance and the foolishness of misguidance.

[وَڪِتَـٰبٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬] ”And a plain Book (this Qur’an)” for everything needed by creation (i.e. Mankind and Jinn) in their worldly and religious affairs–such as knowledge and awareness of Allaah; His Names, Attributes and Actions; knowledge of the rulings of the divine Islamic legislation and His Rulings on recompense.

Then He (The Most High ) mentioned those who are guided by this Qur’aan and the reason behind the slave being guided, so He (The Most High ) said : [يَهۡدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٲنَهُ ۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ] “Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace;’’ That is: It guides the one who strives and is eager to seek Allaah’s Good pleasure with a good aim; (to the) [سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ ] ”Ways of peace” that safeguards a person from punishment when he follows them and leads him to the abode of peace (i.e. paradise), and that is to possess knowledge of the truth and to act upon it- in its general and specific affairs.

[وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ] ”And He brings them out” from the darkness of disbelief,  bidah, disobedience, ignorance and heedlessness, and enters them into the light of Imaan, the Sunnah, obedience, knowledge and remembrance of Allaah.  All these affairs of guidance are reached by the permission of Allaah– The One that whatever He wills has to take place and whatever He does not will cannot take place.

[وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ ] ”And guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism).”

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[Slightly paraphrased..for further details see Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sa’di (rahimahullaah)]

 

Nobility is Obstained In Accordance With One’s Taqwaa and Adherence to The Sharee’ah In Speech, Belief and Deeds

Imaam Ash’Shaatibee (rahimahullaah) stated:

Know that Allaah has established this sharee’ah as a proof against the creation (mankind and jinn) – the old and young alike; the obedient and the disobedient; the righteous and the wicked. He did not specify the proof against anyone in exclusion of another one. Also all the other revealed laws were established as a proof against all the other nations to whom those laws were revealed.

The Sharee’ah is the judge- restrictedly and unrestrictedly. It is (the means of judgement) and the judge on all those who have reached the age of responsibility. It is the path connected to (what Allaah has ordained) and the Greatest Guide. And have you not seen the statement of Allaah (The Most High):

وَكَذَٲلِكَ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ رُوحً۬ا مِّنۡ أَمۡرِنَا‌ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدۡرِى مَا ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ وَلَا ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِن جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ نُورً۬ا نَّہۡدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا‌ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَہۡدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad) Ruhan (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur’an) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism).’’ [Soorah Ash-Shooraa. Ayah: 52]

He (alayhis salaatu wassalaam) was the first to be guided to the Book and Eemaan, and then those who followed him. The Book is the Guide and also the Sunnah which was sent down upon him explains that guidance (i.e. the Sunnah and the Qur’aan explain each other). All the creation (i.e. mankind and Jinn) are guided by it.

So when this is the case, the Sharee’ah is worthy of being a decisive proof against them and a beacon by way of which they are guided to the truth. Their nobility is established in accordance with how far they embrace its rulings- through acting upon them in speech, belief and deeds– and not merely due to the level of their intellects or their nobility amongst their people. That is because Allaah (The Most High) has determined nobility through Taqwa and not other than it. Allaah (The Most High) said:

[إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ- Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa] [49:13]

The one who is the firmest in adherence to the Sharee’ah is more worthy of honour and nobility, but it is not possible for the one below this (i.e. the one whose adherence to the Sharee’ah is below that of the one who is firmest in adhering to it) to reach the highest level of honour based on his adherence to the Sharee’ah. Therefore, honour is (measured) in accordance with one’s (level of adherence) to the Sharee’ah.

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[Source: Al-Itisaam 3/434..few paraphrased phrases]

Why The Salaf Named The People of Innovation ‘Ahlul Ahwaa’ (People of Desires?)

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

It is well known that the mere (act) of shunning by those who (show) aversion or the love of those who (show) agreement are neither an indication of the correctness nor corruption of a statement, except when it is based on guidance from Allaah. Rather merely (using) a statement as proof (without guidance from Allaah) is tantamount to following desires based on other than guidance from Allaah. Indeed a person following what he desires is tantamount to following a statement and action he loves, and rejecting a statement and action he hates without guidance from Allaah.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَإِنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهۡوَآٮِٕهِم بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ‌ۗ

And surely many do lead (mankind) astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. [6:119]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

فَإِن لَّمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لَكَ فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ بِغَيۡرِ هُدً۬ى مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ

But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? [28:50]

And Allaah (The Most High) said to Dawud (alayhis-salaam)

وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ

And follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of Allah. [38:26]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

فَإِن شَهِدُواْ فَلاَ تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاء الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ وَهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ

Then if they testify, testify not you (O Muhammad) with them. And you should not follow the vain desires of such as treat OurAyat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) as falsehoods, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others as equal (in worship) with their Lord. [6:150]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغۡلُواْ فِى دِينِڪُمۡ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَ قَوۡمٍ۬ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبۡلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ ڪَثِيرً۬ا وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ

Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path. [5:77]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَلَن تَرۡضَىٰ عَنكَ ٱلۡيَہُودُ وَلَا ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَہُمۡ‌ۗ قُلۡ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ‌ۗ وَلَٮِٕنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَ أَهۡوَآءَهُم بَعۡدَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۙ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ۬ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ

Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their religion. Say: “Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur’an), then you would have against Allah neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper. [2:120]

So whoever follows the desires of the people after the knowledge Allaah has sent with His Messenger, and after Allaah’s guidance which He clarified for His slaves, then he (i.e. such a person) is of this likeness. And because of this, the Salaf named the people of innovation and splitting-those who oppose the Book and the Sunnah (with their innovations)-ahlul ahwaa (the people of desires) due to the fact that they accept what they love and reject what they hate based on their desires without guidance from Allaah.

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[Source: Al-Fataawaa 4/189-190]

 

From Those Lofty Aims Is That One Speaks Against a Deviant Based on knowledge and Justice

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:

The aim is not to transgress against anyone- neither the opponent nor other than him; neither neglecting his rights nor describing him specifically with what he not to be specifically described with, which is shared by both him and others. Rather the aim is (to utter) speech that is based on the merits of (sound) knowledge, justice and religion, just as Allaah (The Most high) stated:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety. [5:8]

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[Source: Ar-Radd Alal Ikhnaa’ee..page 110]

 

Ahlul Bidah- They Speak in affairs of the religion without Knowledge

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah ( rahimahullah ) said:

When it is the case that the (true) followers of the Prophets are people of knowledge and justice, then the speech of the people of Islaam and the Sunnah about the disbelievers and people of bidah is (carried out) with knowledge and justice and not with conjecture and the soul’s desire. And due to this, the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi wasallam) said: Judges are of three types, one of whom will go to Paradise and two to Hell. A man who knows the truth and judges with it will enter paradise; a man who knows the truth but judges with the opposite of it will enter the fire, and a man who judges for the people based on ignorance will enter the fire.’’ [Reported by Imaam Abu Dawud and others]

And when it is the case that the one who judges between the people in (affairs) of wealth, blood (i.e. murder cases, injury etc.) and honour will enter the hell fire if he is not a just scholar, then what about the one who passes judgements without knowledge-such being the case with ahlul bidah-on religions, the Usool of Imaan, affairs of knowledge related to Allaah, His Names, Attributes and Actions, and the lofty affairs of knowledge.’’

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[Al-Jawaabus Saheeh 1/107-108]

An Approach that led the Khawaarij and the Rawaafid to misguidance

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

The basis of the misguidance of these ones is their belief about the Imaams of guidance and the main body of Muslims that they have exited the (confines) of justice and that they are misguided. This is the approach of those who have abandoned the Sunnah, such as the raafidah and those similar to them. So what they view to be oppression, they consider it to be disbelief and then innovate rulings for it. These are the three positions of those who exit the Sunnah in every situation, such as the Harooriyyah, the raafidah and those similar to them. They abandon some of the fundamental principles of the Islamic Religion until they come out of it, just like an arrow goes through a hunted game’.

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[Majmoo 28/496]

 

The Messengers Are The Most Judicious Amongst The Creation, So Whoever Is Closest to Them by Following Their Way Will Receive a Greater Share of This Judiciouness

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) stated:

The Messengers (of Allaah) are the most judicious amongst the creation without exception and after them their followers are the most judicious group. The people of the scriptures and the great legislated laws are the most judicious amongst them (i.e. amongst the followers of the Messengers) and the Muslims are the most judicious amongst them (i.e. the followers of the scriptures and great legislated laws). The Sahaabah are the most judicious amongst the Muslims and then those who followed them exactly in faith. Ahlus Sunnah Wal Hadeeth (i.e. the people who follow the authentic Sunnah, the authentic ahaadeeth and understanding of the comapnions in creed, methodology, dealings etc) are the most judicious amongst the Muslim Ummah without exception after them (i.e. after the Sahaabah, the Taabi’een and the At’baa At’taabi’een).

The clear evidence showing that (the Messengers are the most judicious amongst the entire creation) is that the beneficial knowledge they have brought- the righteous actions, beneficial affairs of true well-being in this worldly life and the afterlife- has not emanated (from others), or something even close it. There is nothing- from any perspective- that emanated from other judicious (personalities) that can be compared to (what the Messengers brought with regards to beneficial knowledge, righteous action and the beneficial affairs of true well-being in this worldly life and the afterlife).

Whoever ponders upon their personal life stories in specific and in general- their patience and perseverance; their abstinence from the lawful but unnecessary worldly things; their fervent desire for Allaah and the reward He has kept in the afterlife; their purified manners and being characterized with the most pleasant of them; and the fact that they are the most truthful amongst the creation; (possessors) of the most righteous hearts; (possessors) of the most purified souls; trustees of the greatest trust; the noblest of those whom a person can accompany; the purest in their innermost conscience; the purest with regards to their private affairs- will not doubt the fact that they are the most judicious amongst Allaah’s creation without exception. There is no doubt that whoever is closer to them (i.e. follows them properly), then his (or her) share of judiciousness will be more than (that of others). [Source: As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 4/1514. abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Oppression Against Oneself- [Rejecting Truth, Affirming falsehood and Giving Precedence to The Intellect Over Texts of The Qur’aan and Sunnah]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said:

When a person does not act on truth he is in needs of-neither affirming nor loving it, he is an oppressor against himself. When he affirms falsehood or loves it, and follows his desires, he is an oppressor against himself. Oppression against oneself returns back to following conjecture and what the soul desires, and this can be by way of following one’s views and desires. Bidah is the basis of evil and that is to give precedence to one’s intellect over the revealed text and choosing one’s desires over the fulfilment of a command. Following the guidance is the basis of good, as Allaah (The Most High) said:

فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّڪُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشۡقَىٰ

وَمَنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَن ذِڪۡرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ ۥ مَعِيشَةً۬ ضَنكً۬ا وَنَحۡشُرُهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعۡمَىٰ

”Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” [Taha Aayat 123-124]


[Source: شرحُ حديث ٱللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah. Page: 66]

Uplifting Words and a Tremendous Exhortation’ by Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi (may Allaah preserve him)

Question to Shaikh Rabee:

Shaikh Albaanee, Shaikh Ibn Baaz and Shaikh Uthaymeen have passed away, so who remains from the scholars?

Answer:

Those who remain are numerous and all praise is due to Allaah.  The Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) died and his noble companions (radiyallaahu-anhum) remained; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) died and his companions (rahimahumullaah) remained; Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) died and his companions (rahimahumullaah) remained; Ibn Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) died and his companions (rahimahumullaah) remained; and those ones [i.e. Albaanee, Ibn Baaz, Uthaymeen(rahimahumullaah)] died and their students and brothers remain by Allaah’s Will.  The truth will not be lost.

When Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) was stabbed, it was said to him: ‘’Appoint a successor!’’ He said: ‘’Allaah will not allow His Religion to be lost.’’  So by Allaah this Religion will never be lost. It is upon you to put shoulder to shoulder and embark upon work-raise the flag of the (authentic) Sunnah and the flag of the truth.  [The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] said: ”There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest upon the truth-neither will they be harmed by those who betray them nor by those who oppose them till Allaah’s promise come to pass (i.e. the day of Judgement)”.

By Allaah neither knowledge nor the committee of senior scholars have died-all praise is due to Allaah-and there is good and blessing with them. Our Salafi brothers are in the different regions of the world; the world is filled with senior students of knowledge who fill this gap-all praise is due to Allaah–; so neither can the people of falsehood rejoice nor become happy.

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[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة ]-[Pages: 208-209…Vol 1]