Neither does it become lax in the remembrance of its Lord nor does it get tired of serving Him (i.e. carrying out acts of obedience and keeping away from disobedience). It does not become habituated with other than Him, except the one who directs it to its Lord; mentions Him to it and reminds it of this affair.
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[Slightly paraphrased. Source: Ighaatha Al-Lahfaan page: 68]
Allaah (The Most High) said:
لَيۡسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ شَىۡءٌ أَوۡ يَتُوبَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ أَوۡ يُعَذِّبَهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
”Not for you (O Muhammad), but for Allah) is the decision; whether He turns in mercy to (pardons) them or punishes them; verily, they are the Zalimun (polytheists, disobedients, and wrong-doers, etc.) [3:128]
Narrated Sahl (radiyallaahu-anhu) that he was asked about the wound of the Prophet on the day (of the battle) of Ubud. He said, “The face of the Prophet was wounded and one of his front teeth was broken and the helmet over his head was smashed. Fatima washed off the blood while ‘All held water. When she saw that bleeding was increasing, she burnt a mat (of date-palm leaves) till it turned into ashes and she filled the wound with those ashes and thus the bleeding ceased. [Saahih Bukhaari. Vol 4. Number: 2911]
It is reported in the Saheeh that one of the Prophet’s teeth was broken and his head was injured (during the battle of Uhud), so he began to wipe the blood away from it, saying: How can a people be successful who cut the face of their Prophet and break his teeth, whilst supplicating to Allaah. So Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) revealed the Ayah: [لَيۡسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ شَىۡءٌ-Not for you (O Muhammad), but for Allah) is the decision] [Source: Zaad Al-Ma-aad 3/205-206]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) saying: Indeed, the first of the people who will be judged on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died a martyr (in battle). He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I fought for your (sake) until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied; rather you fought so that it might be said (about you): He is brave and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire. (The second person) will be a man who studied (religious) knowledge and taught it, and he used to recite the Qur’an. He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with (such favours)? He will say: I studied (religious) knowledge and taught it and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you studied (religious) knowledge so that it might be said (about you): He is learned; and you recited the Qur’an so that it might be said (about you): He is a reciter. And it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. (The third person) will be man whom Allah enriched and to whom He gave all kinds of wealth. He will be brought forth and Allah will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I left no way in which You like that (wealth) should be spent, except that I spent for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you did so that it might be said (about you): He is generous, and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire.” [1]
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) said, ”There is none who loves leadership, except that he will envy (others), transgress and seek after the faults of the people, and hates that anyone should be mentioned with good.” [2]
Al-Khateeb (rahimahullaah) said: It used to be said, ”Whoever seeks leadership will fall into humiliation.”[3] ——————————————
[1] Muslim. Number 1905]
[2] [Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 2/571]
[3] [Al-Jaami 1/321]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:
So when a person wishes to associate with a Believer, or a Believer wishes to associate with anyone, and fujoor (wickedness) is mentioned about him, and it has been said that he has repented from it, or that that (the claim of him having wickedness) was stated about him, regardless of whether that saying was true or false, then he can test him (fa innahu yamtahinahu) by what he displays, his goodness (bir) or his evil (fujoor), his truthfulness or his lying. And likewise, when he desires to give someone a position of authority, he tests him (imtahanahu), just as Umar bin Abdul Azeez commanded his servant to test Ibn Abee Moosaa (yamtahinahu) when his mannerism amazed him (somewhat), so he said to him, “You know my position with the Ameer ul-Mu’mineen, so how much will you give me if I indicate (the appropriateness) of your (being given) authority to him?’’ So he gave him a great amount of wealth. And from this Umar knew that he was not fit for authority.[End of quote: Source: www.salafipublications.com Article ID : BDH050015]
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We ask Allaah for Insight. Aameen. Therefore, we should not be oblivious of these affairs because not everyone is suited for a particular role despite the fact that people may possess other praiseworthy traits suitable for other roles. As for the one who blatantly announces his desire for leadership; rather he grieves when prevented from it, then indeed we ask Allaah to grant him Tawfeeq to overcome this weakness. Aameen. To be continued In-Shaa-Allaah
Abu Mu-aawiyyah (Abdullaah Al-Gambi)
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
The one seeking the (pleasure) of Allaah and the home of the afterlife cannot be steadfast in his path except by way of two restraints:
[1] To restrict his heart to seeking after (Allaah’s Pleasure and the home of the afterlife) and restraining it from turning to anything else besides that. Restraining his tongue from what is of no benefit; restricting it to the remembrance of Allaah and that which will increase his Imaan and knowledge. [2] Restraining his limbs from disobedience and lowly desires; and restricting them in the performance of obligatory and recommended duties. He should not depart from these two restraints until he meets his Lord; so that He (i.e. Allaah) frees him from those two restraints to (enter) into the widest and best of places.
And when he does not exercise patience in these two restraints (i.e. restricting the heart to seeking only Allaah’s pleasure and refraining from disobedience) and flees from them to (enter) into the wilderness of lowly desires, he is punished with that horrible imprisonment (of lowly desires) at the time of departure from this dunyah. Therefore, everyone departing from this dunyah is either freed from imprisonment (to the lowly desires in the world) or is going to be imprisoned (in the afterlife). And Allaah is the one who grants success. [End of Quote. Source: Al-Fawaa-id. page: 88]
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Indeed, it is a great blessing that many Masaajid and Maraakiz of Salafiyyah are opening in the West and America. Indeed, we pray that many people in these Masaajid and Maraakiz will travel to seek knowledge; attend the regular lessons, lectures and conferences; strive to improve their understanding of the Arabic language; serve the communities or look after various projects; and more Salafi schools will open In-shaa-Allaah. We ask Allaah for all this khayr. Aameen.
However, we should be on guard against shaytaan; we should be on guard against love of leadership; we should be on guard against self-amazement; love of praise and recognition. Despite all the khayr we have seen already and the Ta-aawun, one should not be oblivious of the fact that only the Mukhlisoon will be successful in the Aakhirah.
فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ أَحَدَۢا
So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord. [18:110]
We ask Allaah for Ikhlaas, Thabaat and Husnul Khaatimah
Abu Mu-aawiyyah Abdullaah Al-Gambi
A person has to (direct) his intention to Allaah in seeking knowledge-being sincere to Allaah and neither desiring (سمعة i.e. his intention should not be the desire to be heard) nor (رياء i.e. his intention should not be the desire to be seen); neither seeking fame nor a worldly goal from the worldly goals. Whoever directs his intention (sincerely) to Allaah, then Allaah will grant him success and reward him based on that. That is because (seeking) knowledge is worship; rather it is from the greatest (affairs of worship).
Deeds do not (receive) reward, except when carried out for the Sake of Allaah (The Most High) and in accordance with the way of the Messenger of Allaah (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam). Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) stated:
[إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحۡسِنُونَ– Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinun(good-doers)] 16:128
The greatest affair of Taqwah (fear of Allaah) is to sincerely direct one’s intention to Allaah. And besides (the fact that) the one who shows off in seeking knowledge is a loser in the worldly life, he is (also threatened with) punishment in the afterlife, just as it has been (narrated about) those three people who will be thrown in the hell fire on their faces, and amongst them will be a man who sought knowledge so that he is called a scholar and it was said. [1]
[Source: Ar-Rakaa’iz Al-Ashar Lit-Tahseel Al-Ilm pages: 11-12. Some parts slightly paraphrased]
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[1] Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) saying: Indeed, the first of the people who will be judged on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died a martyr (in battle). He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I fought for your (sake) until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied; rather you fought so that it might be said (about you): He is brave and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire. (The second person) will be a man who studied (religious) knowledge and taught it, and he used to recite the Qur’an. He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with (such favours)? He will say: I studied (religious) knowledge and taught it and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you studied (religious) knowledge so that it might be said (about you): He is learned; and you recited the Qur’an so that it might be said (about you): He is a reciter. And it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. (The third person) will be man whom Allah enriched and to whom He gave all kinds of wealth. He will be brought forth and Allah will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I left no way in which You like that (wealth) should be spent, except that I spent for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you did so that it might be said (about you): He is generous, and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire.”[Muslim. Number 1905]
Read more about ‘Riyaa and Sum’ah’ in this link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/?showtopic=25251
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
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[Source: Ar-Rakaa-iz Al-Ashar Lit-Tahseel Al-Ilm’ (pages 9-10) by Shaikh Abdullaah Ibn Salfeeq Adh-Dhufayri (may Allaah preserve him) with the introduction of Al-Allaamah Ahmad An-Najmi (rahimahullaah)] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————
A person is weak and there is no might nor power except with Allaah [لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله]. If he (i.e. the person) is entrusted to himself, he will be destroyed and ruined. And if he entrusts his affair to Allaah (The Most High) and seeks His Aid in seeking knowledge, then indeed Allaah will aid him. Indeed Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) – in His Book- has exhorted (one) towards this. He (The Most High) stated: [إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ –You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)]
And He (The Most High) stated:
وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُ
”And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.” (65:3)]; meaning: Allaah is his Guardian.
Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ
”And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.” (5:23)]
The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:
”If you were to put your trust in Allah the way He deserves, He will provide for you as he provides for the birds. They leave in the morning with an empty stomach and return in the afternoon with a full one.” [1]
Knowledge is the Greatest Provision.
Our Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) used to rely on Allaah and sought His Help in all his affairs. The supplication of leaving the home is proof of that as he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) used to say:
[بِسم اللَّهِ ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ، لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِاللَّهِ
”In the name of Allaah, I place my trust in Allaah, and there is no might nor power except with Allaah.” [2]
To be continued In-Shaa-Allaah
Abu Mu-aawiyyah [Abdullaah Jallow (Al-Gambi)]
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[1] Reported by Imaam Tirmidhee2344. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani in Sunan Tirmidhee]
[2] Reported by Imaam Tirmidhee 3426. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani]
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Ibnul Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) was asked a question about an affair of the religion in the presence of Sufyaan Bin Uyaynah (rahimahullaah); so he said:”We have been forbidden from speaking in the presence of our elders”
[Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa 8/402]
كان هشام بن عروة يقول: لا تسألوا الناس اليوم عما أحدثوه فإنهم قد أعدوا له جوابا، ولكن سلوهم عن السنة فإنهم لا يعرفونها
Hishaam Bin Urwah (rahimahullaah) used to say:
”Do not question the people about what they have newly invented today (i.e. bidah), for indeed they have prepared answers for it. But question them about the Sunnah for indeed they do not know it.”
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[Source: غياة الأماني في الرد على النبهاني of Imaam Al-Aloosee. Vol 1. Page 367]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Ustaadh Uwais At-Taweel (may Allaah preserve him) delivered an excellent rebutted against Shadeed Muhammad for his devilish insinuations against the ulama; so we remind Shadeed and his misguided party as follows…..The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”The Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets.”
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
This is from the greatest virtues of the people of knowledge; for indeed the Prophets are the best amongst Allaah’s creation, therefore their inheritors are the best amongst the creation. And when it is the case that every giver of inheritance is to pass inheritance to his inheritor, then the scholars are the ones who take up the responsibility of the Prophets after their departure. There is none to take up the responsibility of the Prophets in propagating that which the Prophets were sent with except the scholars. They are the most worthy amongst the people to receive this inheritance from the Prophets.
In this is a notification that the scholars are the closest to the Prophets amongst the people, for indeed inheritance is received by the person who is closest to the one who gives it. And just as this is established in worldly inheritance and inheritance of Daraahim (i.e. money), likewise it is the case with regards to inheritance of the (knowledge and responsibility left behind by the) Prophets. And Allaah chooses for His Mercy whom He wills….[1]
Imam Sadi (rahimahullaa) stated:
They [i.e. (the upright) scholars and teachers] are the mediators between the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Ummah with regards to propagation of his religion and clarification of his sharee-ah. Had it not been for these ones, the people would have been like cattle. Their rights are greater than the rights of the fathers and the mothers; for indeed they nurture the souls and hearts of the slaves upon the beneficial sciences and sound knowledge. They are the ones who guide the Ummah in the fundamental and subsidiary affairs of their Religion. They return them to the rulings pertaining to the rights and dealings that are incumbent upon a person to fulfil, just as they return them to the affairs pertaining to affairs of worship. Through them the Book and the Sunnah are established; truth is made clear truth from falsehood, guidance as opposed to misguidance, the lawful as opposed to the unlawful, good as opposed to evil, and rectification as opposed to corruption. They are of varying ranks, in accordance with what they establish of knowledge, teaching and benefit- great or small. They have great rights (to be fulfilled) by the Ummah and are in possession of a sublime status.
Therefore, the people must have love and respect for them. They must recognize their excellence and virtue, and thank them greatly. They are to supplicate for them in private and public, and seek nearness to Allaah by having love for them and praising them. They are to proclaim their excellence, and guard the hearts and the tongues against insulting them, which when present would tarnish their excellence. [2] [End of quote]
So may Allaah guide Shadeed Muhammad or humiliate him. Aameen
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[1] Abridged and slightly paraphrased…Mih-taah Daarus Sa’aadah 1/63-68
[2]For further details, see: Noorul Basaa-ir Wal Albaab Fee Ahkaamil Ibaadaat Wal-Mu-aamalaat Wal Huqooq Wal Aadaab, page: 57-58)]