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Author: Masjid Al Furqan

An Evil and Repugnant Trait Inherited By Some of The People of Misguidance In Our Era

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

Allaah [The Most High] stated that the people of Nooh [alayhis-salaam] said about Nooh and the believers:

وَمَا نَرَٮٰكَ ٱتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِىَ ٱلرَّأۡىِ

Nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they (too) followed you without thinking. [11:27]

Imaam Sadi [rahimahullaah] said: In their view, they did not see that anyone followed Nooh [alayhis-salaam] except the meanest and foolish ones. [Ref 1]

Shaikh Saaleh Al Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] stated in his explanation of Masaail Al-Jaahiliyyah: They [i.e. people of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance] reviled the followers of the Messengers- that they possess neither understanding nor are they well versed in the affairs, and that nor are they farsighted. This is what many amongst those who have strayed from the right course and the enemies of Allaah brag about today. They make fun of the Muslims and their scholars- that they neither possess understanding nor are they farsighted. They seek to diminish the scholars with this calumny even though the scholars of the Muslims are people of clear sightedness and cognizance, because they examine [affairs] with the light of Allaah [i.e. the revelation]. They command based on what Allaah what commanded and forbid that which Allaah has forbidden.  There is no doubt that the steadfast and righteous scholars are the best of the people after the Messengers [alayhimus-salaatu-was-salaam].  The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like that of the moon over all the stars.  Therefore, none diminishes the scholars and charges them with short-sightedness and lack of understanding, except one who has similarities with the people of Jaahiliyyah and the people of Nooh, who described the followers of the Messengers with this description- to drive the people away from them.

This [i.e. accusing the scholars of short sightedness and lack of understanding] is uttered from the tongues of some of the people today.  They say: these scholars are ‘ulamaa’u hayd wa nifaas’ [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is limited to rulings related to menstruation and post- natal bleeding]; and that they are ‘ulamaa’u ahkaamul Istijmaar’ [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is limited to rulings related to Istijmaar (i.e. the use of dry objects such as stones, tissue etc, to clean oneself after using the toilet], and that they are ‘ulamaa’u juz-iyyaat’ [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is limited to some affairs] and that they do not possess knowledge of current affairs.  And the knowledge of current affairs [i.e. according to these ones who accuse and revile the scholars] is the affairs of politics and revolt against the Muslim rulers. [Ref 2]

NB: Regarding The Term Al-Jaahiliyyah: Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:

The ‘Jaahiliyyah Aamma’ (The Pre-Islamic ignorance that was widespread in the world and touched every aspect of life) has ceased to exist; but it remains with some people or with some of the tribes, or in some of the lands. This is Jaahiliyyah Juz-i (a portion of Pre-Islamic Ignorance), (but) as for the ‘Jahiliyyah Aamma’, this has ceased to exist with the sending of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), but some characteristics of Pre-islamic ignorance remain with some of the people due to saying of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam): ”Among my people there are four characteristics belonging to pre-Islamic period which they do not abandon: boasting of high rank, reviling other peoples’ genealogies, seeking rain by stars, and wailing (i.e. for the dead)’’ (reported by Muslim).” This remains, but it is a portion, (but) as for the Jaahiliyyah Aamma, it has ceased to exist.

So due to this, it is not permissible to say that the people are in Jaahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic ignorance). Some (people) say: (the people) are in a state of Pre-Islamic ignorance that is more severe than the one before the sending of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)…. The meaning of this (statement of theirs) is a denial of what the Messenger (sallal-laahu-layhi-wasallam) came with; it is a denial of the Qur’aan, the Sunnah of the Prophet and the abundant knowledge within our hands. Its meaning is that we are in Jaahiliyyah (Pre-islamic ignorance). This is a mistake, the people are not in Jaahiliyyah, walil-laahil Hamd, but there remains some of the characteristics of Jaahiliyyah in some individuals, in some nation states and in some tribes; but this is a specific Jaahiliyyah. Therefore, it is incumbent to be acquainted with this affair. [Ref 3]


Ref 1:Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan

Ref 2:Sharh Masaa’ilil Al-Jaahiliyyah Page: 78-79. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Ref3:http://www.salaficentre.com/2013/09/updated-the-people-used-to-ask-about-the-good-hudhaifah-radiyallaahu-anhu/

Be An Admoniser of Your Heart and Soul When You Sit With The People

Abu Hafs  [rahimahullaah] said to Abu Uthmaan Al-Naysaabooriy  [rahimahullaah]:

When you sit with the people, then be an admonisher of your heart and soul, and do not be deceived by their gathering around you, for they [are only] aware of what they can see apparently, whilst Allaah is all aware of your inner self [i.e. your heart, soul]


A Warning to Those Who Deliberately Give False Recommendations and Those Who Give It Without Insight

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

Imaam Barbahaaree [rahimahullaah] said: ‘It is not permitted for a man to say, ‘So and so is a person of the sunnah’ until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah, so it is not said of him, ‘a person of the Sunnah’ until he combines all the Sunnah.'[1]

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] commented on the above statement of Imaam Barbahaaree saying:

Do not give recommended to a person and a praise of him, except based on knowledge, lest the people become deceived by your praise of him, whilst he is not what [you have stated about him].  So when his real affair and path is clear to you, his knowledge and steadfastness; then you can give him recommendation. As for giving out praise and recommendation whilst not knowing of anything about him, then this is a dangerous recommendation through which the people will be deceived by this person.

Had only those who give commendations to the people stopped at that [i.e. put it in its proper place], then they would not give recommendation, except for one who fulfils the conditions of (receiving) recommendation because recommendation is a ‘Witness’; so, if the recommendation is not correct it will be a false witness.

And concerning the statement of Imaam Barbahaaree: ‘until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah’ Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on the above statement saying: The characteristics of the Sunnah are to be in Aqeedah, Knowledge and adherence to the Salafus Saaleh.  But if there is not in him except a single characteristic of the (sunnah), then he is not judged to be from Ahlus Sunnah on the basis of a single characteristic or one thing, so what about the one who does not have anything from that? [End of quote][Ref 1]

The Correct stance towards the differing of the scholars concerning

Jarh and Tadeel-by Shaikh Ubaid [may Allaah preserve him]

http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/1-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-al-allaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/

http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/2-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-alallaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/


Ref 1: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree

Vol: 2, page:275-276

 

Stop Lying, Slandering and Twisting Just to Defend The Indefensible!

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

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

And whoever earns a fault or a sin and then throws it on to someone innocent, he has indeed burdened himself with falsehood and a manifest sin.” [4:112]

The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: And whoever knowingly argues for falsehood, then he will never be free of Allah’s Anger until he leaves it; and whoever accuses a believer of something that is not true, Allah will make him dwell in flowing pus on the day of judgement. [Saheeh Al-Jaami 6196]

Some of The Perils of Lying Mentioned by Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah)

The Imaam (rahimahullaah) stated that one should beware of kadhib (lying), for indeed it corrupts one’s ability to illustrate information based on what it should be in reality. It corrupts one’s ability to illustrate information and his ability to teach the people.

The liar portrays what is non-existent as something present and what is present as something non-existent. He portrays truth as something false and falsehood as something true; he portrays good as evil and evil as good, so this corrupts his conception and knowledge, which then becomes a punishment upon him. Then he portrays what is not true to the one deceived by him – the one who is inclined towards him- so he corrupts his conception and knowledge. The soul of the liar turns away from the existing reality -inclined towards what is non-existent and gives preference to falsehood. And when his conception and knowledge is corrupted, which is the basis of every wilful chosen deed, his deeds become corrupt and marked by lies, so those deeds would emanate from him just as lies emanate from the tongue- he neither benefits from his tongue nor his deeds. This is why lying is the basis (or foundation) of immorality, just as the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said, “Indeed lies lead to immorality (or wickedness) and indeed immorality (or wickedness) leads to the fire. [Bukhaari 2606/2607]

Firstly lies emerges from the heart and then on the tongue, so it corrupts it; then it transfers to the limbs and corrupts its actions, just as it corrupts the statements of the tongue. Therefore, lying prevails over his statements, deeds and state of affairs; corruption becomes deeply rooted in him and its disease leads to destruction if Allaah does not grant him cure him with the medication of truthfulness, which uproots its (i.e. lying) from its original source. This is why the basis (or foundation) of all the deeds of the hearts is based on truthfulness; and the basis of their opposites – such as showing off, self-amazement, pride, being glad (with ungratefulness to Allaah’s Favours), conceitedness, boastfulness, insolence, weakness, laziness, cowardice,  disgrace and other than them- is lies. The origin of every righteous deed- whether carried out in private or public- is based on truthfulness. And the origin of every corrupt deed – whether carried out in private or public- is lies.

Allaah punishes the liar by preventing him from those affairs that will bring him well-being and benefit, and He rewards the truthful one by granting him the ability to attain the beneficial affairs related to the worldly life and afterlife. There is nothing similar to truthfulness with regards to the manner in which it bring about the affairs of wellbeing in this life and the next, and there is nothing similar to lying with regards to the manner in which it corrupts and harms one’s worldly affairs and the afterlife.

[Allaah (The Most High) said]:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds) [9:119]

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنْفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ۚ

This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth. [5:119]

فَإِذَا عَزَمَ الْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ

And when the matter (preparation for Jihad) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. [47:21]

وَجَاءَ الْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

And those who made excuses from the bedouins came (to you, O Prophet) asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve. [9:90]  [End of quote from Al-Fawaa-id (Ref 1)]


[Ref 1: Paraphrased. Source: Al-Fawaa’id’ pages 202-203]

 

Reflect! A Characteristic of Those Who Truly Possess Sound Understanding

Say (O Muhammad ): “Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship;

12. “And I am commanded (this) in order that I may be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (in Islam) as Muslims.”

13. Say (O Muhammad ): “Verily, if I disobey my Lord, I am afraid of the torment of a great Day.”

14. Say (O Muhammad ) “Allah Alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship.”

15. So worship what you like besides Him. Say (O Muhammad ): “The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!”

16. They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and covering (of Fire) beneath them; with this Allah does frighten His slaves: “O My slaves, therefore fear Me!”

17. Those who avoid AtTaghut (false deities) by not worshipping them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves,

18. Those who listen to the Word [good advice La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) and Islamic Monotheism, etc.] and follow the best thereof (i.e. worship Allah Alone, repent to Him and avoid Taghut, etc.) those are (the ones) whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding (like Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufail, Salman Al-Farisi and Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari). [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 12, P. 244]

Reflect!

He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. He created you (all) from a single person (Adam); then made from him his wife [Hawwa’ (Eve)]. And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs (of the sheep, two, male and female; of the goats, two, male and female; of the oxen, two, male and female; and of the camels, two, male and female). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness, such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away. If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, so He will inform you what you used to do. Verily, He is the All-Knower of that which is in (men’s) breasts.

Reflect!

Say (O Muhammad): “Tell me or inform me (what) do you think about your (so-called) partner-gods to whom you call upon besides Allah, show me, what they have created of the earth? Or have they any share in the heavens? Or have We given them a Book, so that they act on clear proof therefrom? Nay, the Zalimun promise one another nothing but delusions.”