In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Some Allies of Greenlane [at Markaz As-Sunnah, Markaz At-Tawheed (Stoke On Trent)] Seeking to Propagate Doubts in order to Hide Their Corrupt Methodology!
PDF Below:
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Quote: Allaah [The Exalted] said:
[وَٱلضُّحَىٰ وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ – By the forenoon (after sunrise); and by the night when it is still (or darkens)].
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] stated in Madaarij As-Saalikeen Vol 2 page 449: Allaah swore by two of His great creations – the Night and the Day, both of which are an a manifest sign of His Perfect and Absolute Lordship, Perfect Wisdom and Perfect Mercy. Allaah is the one (alone) Who dispels the night by way of the Daylight, and likewise He is the one Who dispels the darkness of ignorance and Shirk by way of the revelation and Prophet-hood.
Likewise due to His Mercy, it necessitates that His slaves are not left in the darkness of night permanently; rather He guides them towards the beneficial affairs of the worldly life and their livelihoods by way of the Daylight; therefore it does not befit His (Majesty) that He leaves them in the darkness of ignorance and deviation; rather He guides them by way of the light of revelation and Prophet-hood in order that they may attain well-being in this life and the next.
Pdf Below:
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] Is The Messenger of Allaah.
What Does “Muhamad is The Messenger of Allaah Necessitate?”
What does “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah” necessitate? It necessitates belief in everything he [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] has stated, obey him in everything he has commanded, keep away from everything he has forbidden and worship Allaah only based on what Allaah and Muhammad have legislated. To testify that Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is the Messenger of Allaah necessitates a testification regarding his Messengership. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ – We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allah’s Permission]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Verse 64]
This is the purpose regarding which Allaah sent the Messengers, to be obeyed. It is not enough to say, “I testify that Muhammad is a Messenger”, but rather this testification necessitates that one follows the one who has been sent, obey his command, keep away from what he has forbidden and believe in everything he has stated. This is the true establishment of the statement “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah”, because the Messenger brought three affairs- commands, prohibitions and news, so whoever testifies to Muhammad’s Messenger ship must believe in everything Muhammad has stated.
The testimony that Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger necessitates that he is followed just as the testimony that “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah” this statement necessitates that one establishes pure Islamic monotheism and sincerely devotes all the religion to Allaah alone.
Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is a Messenger of Allaah and a Messenger’s most important task is to convey the words of Allaah. Allaah said: [وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ – The Messenger’s duty is only to convey (the message)]. [Surah An-Noor. Aayah 54]
Indeed, the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] did convey the message clearly. There is no good except that he has guided the Ummah to it and there is no evil except that he warned the Ummah against it. Therefore, whoever testifies that “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah” must submit to everything Muhammad has conveyed. Allaah said:
[وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا – And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)]. [Surah Al-Hashr. Verse 7]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 65]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ – It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision]. [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Verse 36]
So, the Messenger must be obeyed in what he has commanded and whoever obeys him has obeyed Allaah. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ – He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Verse 80]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ – Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you”]. [Surah Aal Imraan. Verse 31]
The scholars refer to this verse [i.e. Verse 31, Surah Aal Imraan] as the verse that puts a person to trial regarding his (or her) claim, so whoever claims that he loves Allaah, then let him put himself to trial based on what will manifest evidence regarding his truthfulness in this matter. (1)
Question: How Do We Approach Our Customs When Striving to Follow The Sunnah?
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is obligated on every Muslim that he does not depend on custom; rather he presents it to the pure Islamic legislation (to be judged), so whatever the Islamic legislation affirms is permissible and whatever it does not affirm is impermissible. The customs of the people are not proof to determine the lawfulness of anything. All the customs of the people in their countries or tribes must be presented to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] for judgement, so whatever Allaah and His Messenger made permissible is permissible, and whatever they forbid, then it is obligatory to abandon it even if it is the custom of the people”. (2)
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The customs cannot make something that is not legislated (in the divine revelation) as something legislated, because of Allaah’s statement: [وَلَيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرُّ بِأَن تَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا – It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 189], despite the fact that it was something they took as their custom and considered it to be an act of righteousness. Whoever takes something as a custom and believes that it is an act of righteousness, then it should be presented to Allaah’s divine legislation [i.e. to be judged]”. (3)
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said, “Extremism in related to customs is stringent adherence to old customs and not diverting to what is better than them. As for if the customs are equal in benefit [i.e. the ones judged to be permissible by the divine legislation], then a person remaining upon what he is upon would be better than going along with the new (or emerging) customs”. (4)
How Do We Approach The Modern Worldly Sciences When Striving to Follow The Sunnah?
Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] said:
The Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: Verily, the creation of each of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days as a drop [of water, semen], then he is a clot for a similar period, then a morsel for a similar period…. [An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadeeth. Hadeeth 4]
It is well known that during that era the companions of the Prophet did not know these stages (of development of the human being in the womb) through experimental knowledge, vision (i.e. by way of the naked eye) or other than that; rather it was simply (a statememt of the Prophet) which they (believed and affirmed). They were scholars by way of the revelation sent down to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and not by way of experimentation.(5)
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
“We do not say, ‘We do not give consideration to anything stated by the people in the subject matter regarding medicine, astronomy and the celestial bodies’, however, we do not accept everything they say. If what they say opposes the Book and the Sunnah, then indeed we do not accept their statements; (rather) we take (i.e. believe and affirm without any doubt) that which is conveyed in the Book and the Sunnah, and we say, ‘An era will come in which the people will bear witness to the falsity of those statements of theirs – at present – that are in opposition to the Book and Sunnah and (bear witness) to the correctness of that which has been conveyed in the Book and the Sunnah”. (6)
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
Indeed, that which is stated by the astronomers about the celestial bodies, their sizes and the distance between them, and that which is said about the earth (i.e. by the geologists etc) is categorized into three affairs: (a) That which is supported by the sound knowledge-based proofs (i.e. the Qur’aan and Sunnah), therefore it is accepted. (b) That which the knowledge-based proofs (i.e. the Qur’aan and Sunnah) declares to be false, therefore it is rejected. (c) That which there is no proof to either accept or reject it, therefore it is unproven until a person from the people of knowledge [i.e. upright scholars of Ahlus Sunnah] examines it to show whether it should be accepted or rejected. As for accepting it without (sound) investigation and observation, but merely accepting it by blindly following them [i.e. the astronomers, geologists etc], then this is impermissible because of the numerous mistakes that occur as a result of that, and speaking -without knowledge – about Allaah and what He has created. (7)
Also read here by Shaikh Abu Iyaadh Amjad Rafiq [may Allaah preserve him] regarding the two definitions of science: http://www.aboutatheism.net/articles/juvtbpd-understanding-the-two-definitions-of-science-and-scientific-enquiry.cfm
The Statement Muhammad Is The Messenger of Allaah Necessitates a Rejection of Bidah
[i.e. Newly Invented Matters In The Religion]
Worshipping Allaah is not to be carried out except based on what Allaah and the Messenger have legislated. Allaah is neither to be worshipped based on desires nor newly invented matters in the religion, and because of this there are numerous narrations reported from the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] that warns against newly invented matters in the religion and forbidding them. One of those great narrations – which the scholars consider to be one of the fundamental principles of the religion – is the statement of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], “Whoever initiates in this affair of ours [i.e. the religion of Islam] what is not part of it will have it rejected”. [Bukaari 2697 and Muslim 1718]. In another version of this narration, the Prophet said, “Whoever does a deed [i.e. an act of worship] that is not based on this affair of ours [i.e. Islam], it will be rejected”. [Muslim 1718].
When the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to give a khutbah, he used to say, “To proceed, indeed the best of speech is Allaah’s Book and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, the worst of affairs are the newly invented matters in the religion and every newly invented matter in the religion is an innovation in religion”. [Saheeh Muslim 867]
Read more here by Shaikh Abu Iyaad [may Allaah preserve him] regarding the false claim that there is a good bidah- Parts 1-8: http://www.bidah.com/articles/ezaqa-the-notion-of-bidah-hasan-good-innovation-destroyed-part-1.cfm
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] also stated in the hadeeth reported by Irbaad Bin Saariyah [may Allaah be pleased with him], “Verily, the one who lives amongst you will see a lot of differing, so adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Khulafaa Al-Mahdiyyeen Ar-Raashideen. Follow and adhere to it with your molars [ie. Strictly adhere to it], and beware of newly invented matters in the religion, because indeed every newly invented matters in the religion is an innovation in religion and every innovation in the religion is misguidance”. [Reported by Ahmad 17144. Abu Daawud 4608. Ibn Maajah 42]
Allaah [The Exalted] stated about the Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]:
[مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ-Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has erred]- Meaning, that is because the Daal [misguided person] is one whose knowledge is corrupted and the Ghaawiy [astray one] is the one whose intent is corrupted. Also, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] described his four khulafaa [Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan and Ali] with the words “Raashideen and Mahdiyyeen”, because the Raashid [i.e. The one who is steadfast upon the right path and is firmly established upon it] is the opposite of the Ghaawiy [The one who strays from the right path or conduct], and the Mahdee [The one guided to the path of truth and yeilds obediently to it] is the opposite of the Daalun [the misguided one, especially in knowledge and creed]. (8)
Obedience to The Messenger Leads to Unity And Bidah Is The Cause of Splitting And Blameworthy Differing
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute [with one another] lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabireen [the patient ones, etc.]. [Surah Al-Anfaal. Verse 46]
[وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ – And obey Allah and His Messenger]- Meaning, obey Allaah and the Messenger in that which you have been commanded and adhere to this path in all circumstances. [وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ – and do not dispute (with one another)]-Meaning, do not dispute because it will cause your hearts to become disunited; [فَتَفۡشَلُواْ – lest you lose courage]; [وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ – and your strength depart]- Meaning, (If you do not obey Allaah and His Messenger, and you start disputing), your resolve will depart. You will lose your strength and the promise you have been given that you will be aided -due to obedience to Allaah and His Messenger- will be withdrawn.
[[وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ – and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.)]-Meaning, exercise patience in obedience to Allaah (and obedience to His Messenger), because indeed Allaah will aid you and give you victory. Fear your Lord and humble yourselves to Him. (9)
Al-Allaamah Zaid Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah preserve him] said, “The Mubtadi [the innovator] is the cause for the splitting, because splitting is connected to innovation in religion and unity (upon the sound creed and methodology of the pious predecessors) is connected to the Sunnah. The obligation of refuting the Mukhaalif [the one who opposes the truth] is not lifted from the scholar due to anticipation of harm, unless it is harm he is not able to bear. Then (in this case), Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. The earth is not devoid of people of knowledge who will carry out refutation against the Mubtadi and the Mukhaalif”. (10)
Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: The cause of the differences that take place between the callers is the differing in methodologies. And had the callers (may Allaah guide them and grant them success) traversed a singular methodology; and that is the methodology of the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] – that which the Messenger and his companions were upon, then these differences would not have occurred. Therefore, it is obligatory upon all the callers to make their methodology one–upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, and that their call is (carried out) for the sake of Allaah and to make the word of Allaah uppermost. Their call should not be for the sake of desires, raising individuals or parties; rather their call should be sincerely for Allaah’s Face, to make Allaah’s word uppermost, to follow the Messenger of Allaah and to aid his Religion. (So) by way of this the differences will cease.(11)
Read the article in this link: The Splitting and Differing in the Ummah is Due to the Innovations and Innovators: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=GSC01&articleID=GSC010003&articlePages=2
The Severe Consequences of Opposing The Sunnah of the Messenger
And Allaah (The Most High) said:
لَّا تَجۡعَلُواْ دُعَآءَ ٱلرَّسُولِ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ كَدُعَآءِ بَعۡضِكُم بَعۡضً۬اۚ قَدۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمۡ لِوَاذً۬اۚ فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦۤ أَن تُصِيبَہُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Make not the calling of the Messenger [Muhammad] among you as your calling of one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter [of some excuse without taking the permission to leave, from the Messenger]. And let those who oppose the Messenger’s [Muhammad] commandment [i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.] [among the sects] beware, lest some Fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them. [Surah An-Noor. Verse 63]
[فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦۤ -And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah, orders, acts of worship, statements) beware]; [أَن تُصِيبَہُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ – lest some Fitnah befall them]: Meaning: Lest misguidance, calamity in the worldly life or disbelief befall them.
[أَوۡ يُصِيبَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ – or a painful torment be inflicted on them]- Meaning, killed (by enemies) in the worldly life or punished in the hell fire in the afterlife. (12)
Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said about this verse [i.e. Surah An-Noor. Verse 63], “Do you know what Al-Fitnah is? Al-Fitnah is Shirk. Perhaps if he (i.e. the person) rejects some of his (i.e. the Prophet’s) statements, then something of deviation enters his heart, so he is destroyed”. [Reported by Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah Al-Kubraa 97]
Narrated Abu Musa [may Allaah be pleased with him] that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “’My example, and the example of what I have been sent with is that of a man who came to some people and said, O people! I have seen the enemy’s army with my own eyes and I am a plain warner; so protect yourselves!’ Then a group of his people obeyed him and fled at night proceeding stealthily till they were safe, while another group of them disbelieved him and stayed at their places till morning when the army came upon them and killed and ruined them completely. So this is the example of that person who obeys me and follows that truth which I have brought (the Qur’aan and the Sunnah), and the example of the one who disobeys me and disbelieves the Truth I have brought”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Vol 9. Number: 7283]
The Most Disobedient Person to The Messenger
Allaah (The Most High) said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah. Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. [Surah al-Hujuraat. Verse 1]
[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ – O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet…] [Surah Al-Hujuraat. Verse 2]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
When it is the case that Allaah forbade (them) from giving precedence to (themselves) over the Messenger, then which type of giving precedence to oneself over the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) can be more severe than giving precedence to one’s intellect over the revelation he was sent with? Many of the Salaf have stated (that this ayah means): ‘’Do not say anything (about the religion) until the messenger speaks and do not act until he commands you.’’
The most disobedient person amongst the people and the most severe with regards to giving precedence to him (or herself) over the Messenger is that one who gives precedence to his (or her) intellect or the intellect of another person over the revelation the Messenger was sent with. And when it is the case that Allaah has indeed forbidden them from raising their voices above the voice of the Messenger, then how about raising their intellects above the statements of the Messenger and the revelation he came with? (13)
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
In this great Soorah there are lofty benefits and rulings. The Muslims are greatly in need of understanding (it), being conscious of it and take benefit from it. In the first part, there is a warning against putting oneself forward before Allaah and His Messenger. And that which is obligated on the People of Eemaan is that they are to be followers and not innovators, and that they do not put themselves forward before Allaah and His Messenger.
The people of knowledge say (that this verse means), “Do not speak until you are commanded by Allaah and His Messenger, and do not act until the Messenger acts and legislates; do not put (yourselves) forward before him with either speech or action, (but) be followers of that which has been prescribed for you and that which has been made clear for you in the (Islamic) legislation”. This is the way the people of Eemaan are to be -they do not innovate acts of worship and rulings in Allaah’s Sharee’ah.
[وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيم – And fear Allah. Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing]- Meaning, Allaah hears their statements and nothing is hidden from Him with regards to your state of affairs. He hears the statements of the slaves and He knows their state of affairs. He knows the truth you utter and other than it. He knows what you do, the truth you utter and other than it. The meaning of (this is that): Be mindful of Him and be warned about (disobeying Him) because nothing is hidden from Him. He hears and He knows your state of affairs. Therefore, it is obligated on you to be followers, and not innovators in Allaah’s Sharee’ah. (14)
A Refutation Against The Extremists and Those Who Degrade His Status
Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari [may Allaah preserve him] stated:
The statement محمد رسول الله is an affirmation of the Messengership of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and a refutation against the one who gives him a status above that and thus deifies him, or lowers the rank of his Prophethood and Messengership. (15)
Next topic: The Prayer [As-Salaah]
[Ref 1:An Excerpt From: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. page 52. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)pages 53–56]
[Ref 2: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 6/510]
[Ref:3: Tafseer Surah Al-Baqarah 2/299]
[Ref 4: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 7/7]
[Ref 5: Sharh Al-Arba’een. Hadeeth 4]
[Ref 6: An excerpt from the ‘Explanation of Bulooghul Maraam’ Vol 1. page 130]
[Ref 7: An Excerpts from ‘Al-Adillah An-Naqliyyah Wal-Hissiyyah Alaa Imkaanis Su’ood Ilal Kawaakib Wa Alaa Jarayaan Ash-Shams Wal-Qamar Wa Sukoon Al-Ard’ page 74. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 8: An Excerpt from Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed. Lesson 4. By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 9: Tafseer as-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 10: Source: Al Ajwibah Al Mukhtasar Alaa As-ila Al-Ashrati. Pages43-44]
[Ref 11: Al-Ijaabaatul Muhimmah Fil Mashaakil Al-Mulimmah. pages 221-222]
[Ref 12: Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer’ By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [may Allaah have mercy upon him]
[Ref 13: Al-Waabil as-Sayyib’ page: 21. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 14: Al-Fawaa-id al-Ilmiyyah Min ad-durar Al-Baaziyyah: page: 391-392; Vol: 4. Publisher: Daar Ar-Risaalah 1st ed 1430AH (Year 2009)]
[Ref 15: Source:المقالات الشرعيّة pages 14-15]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The sixth condition of the [Shahaadah (Laa ilaaha illal laah- There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah) is Al-Inqiyaad (submission and compliance) which necessitates a negation of At-Tark (abandonment)].
Al-Inqiyaad is complete submission, compliance and fulfilment of Allaah’s commands. Laa ilaaha illal laah necessitates submission to Allaah – submission to Allaah’s divine revelation and obedience to Allaah’s commands. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَمَن يُسْلِمْ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ
And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah [i.e.(follows Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism), worships Allah (Alone) with sincere Faith in the (1) Oneness of His Lordship,(2) Oneness of His worship, and (3) Oneness of His Names and Qualities], while he is a Muhsin (good-doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allah’s sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame etc. and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger Muhammad), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold [Laa ilaha illal-laah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)]. [Surah Luqmaan. Verse 22]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ
And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam). [Surah AZ-Zumar. Verse 54] – Meaning, submit yourselves and fulfil what you have been commanded.
Next topic: Al-Qabool [Acceptance is the seventh condition of the Shahaadah]
[An Excerpt From: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. page 51. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The fifth condition of the [Shahaadah: Laa ilaaha illal laah -There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah] is Al-Mahabbah (Love) which necessitates a negation of hatred and displeasure. Therefore, the who says the Shahaadah must love Allaah, love Allah’s Messenger, love the religion of Islaam, love those who establish the commands of Allaah and show his displeaure towards those who oppose Laa ilaaha illal laah- those who nullify it through polytheism, disbelief in Allaah and Allaah’s Messenger. [NB: refer detail clarification regarding this love and hate in this link, so that we neither fall into the extremism of the terrorists nor the negligence of the sinful compromisers: https://salaficentre.com/2021/02/07/al-walaa-wal-baraa-loyalty-and-disavowal-is-a-concept-of-modern-salafi-islam-brief-rebuttal-against-this-absurd-claim-of-some-of-the-bald-faced-liars-amongst-the-demagogues-ideologues-and-rabble/ ] [ https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/ ] [ https://soundcloud.com/salafi-publications/lesson-15-dealing-with-non-muslim-parents-al-adab-al-mufrad-by-abu-khadeejah]
Allaah stated regarding the difference between the love of the disbelievers and the believers:
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا يُحِبُّونَہُمۡ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَشَدُّ حُبًّ۬ا لِّلَّهِ
And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). [Surah Al-Baqarah. Verse 165]
The believers have a pure and sincere love for Allaah; but as for those who ascribe partners with Allaah, they have the same love for others which they have for Allaah, and because of this Allaah informed us that after entering the hell fire on the day of judgement, they will say:
تَٱللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ
إِذۡ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
By Allah, we were truly in a manifest error, when We held you (false deities, objects of worship etc) as equals (in worship) with the Lord of the Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). [Surah Ash-Shu’araa. 97-98]
So, [Laa ilaaha illal laah – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah] benefits a person when it is founded on loving Allaah, having love for this great statement and what it demonstrates, such as singling Allaah out in worship, devoting all the religion sincerely to Allaah, loving those who adhere to this statement and the deeds related to it. And one of the tremendous supplications that have been reported from the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon] is that he used to say:
وأَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُنِي إِلَى حُبِّكَ
I ask you for Your love and the love of those who love you, and love of the deeds that will bring me close to Your love. [As-Saheehah 3169 By Imaam Al-Albaanee (may Allaah have mercy upon him]
Anas Bin Maalik [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: The one to whom Allaah and Messenger becomes dearer than anything else; to love a person and loves him (or her) only for Allaah’s sake, and hates to revert to disbelief as he (or she) hates to be thrown into the fire”. [Al-Bukhaari 16]
So there are three affairs in this hadeeth: A foundation, the deed that emanates manifests from the foundation and a negation of the thing that is in opposition to what is established. Love of Allaah is the foundation, loving what Allaah loves is the thing that manifests from the foundation and hating to revert back to disbelief after being saved from it necessitates a negation of that which opposes the foundation.
Next topic: Al-Inqiyaad [Complete submission and compliance is the sixth condition of the Shahaadah]
[An Excerpt From: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. page 50-51. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
A person cannot be a true monotheist unless he fulfils what [Laa ilaaha illal laah – there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah] establish – negation of servitude to everything besides Allaah and affirmation that Allaah alone is worthy of that. This is why the one who testifies sincerely that there is no deity worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, he will neither invoke except Allaah nor seek deliverance and rescue except from Allaah; only places his trust and reliance upon Allaah and does not seek help and assistance except from Allaah, and neither offers sacrifice nor vows except to Allaah. He does not devote any act of worship except to Allaah alone. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
قُلۡ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحۡيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ۥۖ وَبِذَٲلِكَ أُمِرۡتُ وَأَنَا۟ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ
Say (O Muhammad): “Verily, my Salad (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alumni (mankind, jinn’s and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” [Surah Al-Annam 162-163]
Therefore, due to this it is known that merely uttering Laa ilaaha illal laah is not enough; rather one has to know its meaning, understand what it establishes, fulfil its goals and aims by singling out Allaah as the only true deity and devotes all aspects of the religion to Allaah alone. As for the one who says Laa ilaaha illal laah and then nullifies it with his statement or actions, such as the one who invokes other than Allaah, saying, “O such and such person! Help me”. “O such and such person! Rescue me, I seek refuge with you, I turn to you for help” or he offers sacrifice or vows to other than Allaah, then this nullifies Laa ilaaha illal laah because it only benefits the one who utters it whilst understanding its meaning, fulfils what it establishes- its purpose and goals, singles out Allaah as the only true deity and devotes all aspects of the religion to Him alone without partner. [Ref 1]
Detail Clarifications:
Ad-Du’aa: Invocation: “Your Lord says: O people, invoke Me and supplicate to Me making your worship sincerely for Me alone, and I will answer you, and pardon you and have mercy upon you. Indeed those who disdain to worship Me alone will enter Hell-Fire in disgrace. [Soorah Ghaafir. 60]
So the noble Aayah proves that invocation/supplication (du’aa) is worship, and if that were not the case it would not be said “those who disdain to worship Me alone….” So whoever called upon anyone besides Allaah[The Mighty and Majestic], requesting something which none but Allaah has power over, then he is a mushrik (one who worships others besides Allaah), an unbeliever (kaafir), whether the one he calls upon is living or dead. Whoever requests a living person for something which he is able to do, such as the saying: ‘O so and so give me food’ or ‘O so and so give me a drink,’ then there is no harm in that. But whoever asks a dead person or someone who is absent for that, then he is a mushrik, since the deceased or the absent cannot possibly do that. So in such a case his supplicating to them shows that he believes that they have some control over the creation, and he is therefore a mushrik. It must be noted that du’aa is of two types: (i) Supplication, when a request is made (du ‘aa-u mas’alah) and, (ii) invocation through worship (du’aa-u Ibaadah). So supplication is to request ones needs and is worship when the servant requests that from his Lord.
This is because it involves showing one’s poverty before Allaah [The Most High], and one’s need to turn to Him, and one’s certain faith that He is the one having full power, the Most Generous, the one who gives bounteously and is Most Merciful. Seeking one’s needs from someone else from the creation is permissible if the one to whom the request is made is able to hear and understand it, and has the power to respond to it, like the saying: ‘O so and so give me food.’ As for invocation through worship, then it is that the person does an act of worship seeking reward and fearing punishment, and this is not correct unless directed to Allaah alone. To direct this to anyone else besides Allaah is major shirk which takes a person out of the Religion, and he falls under the threat in the Saying of Allaah[The Most High], “Your Lord says: O people, invoke Me and supplicate to Me making your worship sincerely for Me alone, and I will answer you, and pardon you and have mercy upon you. Indeed those who disdain to worship Me alone will enter Hell-Fire in disgrace.” [Soorah Ghaafir. 60]
Al- Isti’aanah-Appealing for aid and assistance: The evidence for this act of worship is the verse of the Qur’aan: “O Allaah You alone we worship, and to You alone we appeal for aid” [Soorah al-Faatihah. 5] and in the hadeeth there occurs: “If you seek help, then seek the help of Allaah.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and declared Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaat (no.5302)]
Al-isti’aanah is to appeal for assistance, and it is of various types:
(i) Appealing for aid and assistance from Allaah – this is an appeal for aid and assistance that comprises complete humility of the servant before his Lord, and to submit and entrust the affair to Him, and to be certain that He is fully sufficient for him. This is not to be except for Allaah, the Most High, alone, and the evidence is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “O Allaah You alone we worship, and to You alone we appeal for aid.” [Soorah al-Faatihah] The fact that this is to be for Allaah, the Most High, alone is shown by the fact that He mentions the word upon which the verb acts before the verb itself, and according to the principles of grammar of the Arabic language, in which the Qur’aan came down, bringing forward that which usually comes afterwards indicates restriction and particularisation. So directing this type to other than Allaah, the Most High, is shirk which takes a person out of the Religion.
(ii) Seeking the help of a person from the creation, in something which he is capable of helping in. Then this will be in accordance with the action in which help is sought. If it is a good action then it is permissible for the person to seek help upon it, and prescribed for a person to help in that, as Allaah [The Most High] says, “And assist one another upon righteous actions and avoidance of sins.” [Soorah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 2]
If it is a sinful thing, then it is forbidden for the person doing it and for the one who assists, as Allaah, [The Most High] says, “And do not assist one another in abandoning what Allaah has commanded and upon transgressing the limits laid down in the Religion.” [Soorah al-Maa’idah] Aayah 2]
If it is something permissible, then it is allowed for the person to seek help and to be assisted, and the one who is helping may be rewarded for kind treatment and thus it becomes something prescribed for him as Allaah [The Most High] says, “And do good, indeed Allaah loves those who do good.” [Soorah al-Baqarah] Aayah 195]
(iii) Seeking the help of a person from the creation who is alive and present, except that it is something which he is incapable of, then this is futile and useless. For example that he seeks the help of a weak person in order to carry something very heavy.
(iv) Seeking the aid of any deceased person, or the aid of the living in a matter of the hidden and unseen, which they cannot reach. Then this is shirk since it will only be done by a person who believes that those whose help he seeks have some hidden control over the creation.
(v) Seeking help by performing deeds that are beloved to Allaah, the Most High. This is something that is prescribed due to the Saying of Allaah [The Most High], “And seek assistance through patience and Prayer.” [Soorah al-Baqarah. Aayah 45]
The author uses as evidence for the first type the Saying of Allaah [The Most High], “O Allaah You alone we worship, and to You alone we appeal for aid” [Soorah al-Faatihah Aayah 5], and the saying of the Prophet saying: “If you seek help then seek the help of Allaah”.
The evidence for seeking refuge (al-isti’aadhah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High: “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn” [Soorah al-Falaq. Aayah 1] and “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind”.[Soorah an-Naas Aayah 1]
Al-Isti’aadhah-To seek refuge; which is to seek protection against that which one hates and involves seeking refuge and shelter and protection from someone, and is of various types:
(i) Seeking the refuge of Allaah, the Most High, and this involves ones complete need of Him, attachment to Him, and one’s certain faith in His being sufficient and His perfect protection from everything, whether in the present or the future, small or large, human or not, and the proof is the Sayings of Allaah, the Most High, “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of that which He created…” [Soorahal-Falaq. l-2] “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind; the king of mankind; the one who is worshipped rightfully by mankind; from the evil of Satan who whispers into the hearts of mankind and then withdraws when they remember Allaah…” [Soorah an-Naas. 1-4]
(ii) Seeking refuge in one of Allaah’s attributes, such as His Speech, His Greatness, His Might, and so on. The evidence for this are his sayings: The Prophet said, “I seek refuge in the perfect Words of Allaah from the evil of that which He created” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 4/ 142l/no.654l)]. He said, “I seek refuge in Your Might that I should not be assailed from below” [Reported by Aboo Daawood (Eng. transl. 3/1408/no. 5056) and declared Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Abee Dawood (no. 4239)]. Also his saying in the supplication recited when suffering from pain, “I seek refuge in the Might and Power of Allaah from the evil of what I feel and am wary of.” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/1198/no. 5462) and Ibn Maajah (no. 3522)]. The Prophet said, “I seek refuge in Your Pleasure from Your Wrath” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. l/255/no.986)]. His saying, when Allaah, the Most High, sent down His Saying: “Say He is the One fully able to send punishment upon you from above.” [Soorah al-Annam (6):65] He said: “I seek refuge in Your Face.” [Collected by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 9/370/503)].
(iii) Seeking refuge either with the dead, or with living people who are not present and able to grant refuge, then this is shirk. In this regard Allaah, the Most High, says, “And there were men from mankind who used to seek refuge with men of the jinn, and so that only increased them in transgression.” [Soorah al-Jinn. Aayah 6]
Seeking shelter with some person or in some place, or the like, as long as it is something which can serve the purpose of providing shelter. Then this is permissible and the evidence is his saying, speaking about tribulations, “Whoever exposes himself to them will be destroyed by them, and whoever finds a place of shelter or refuge from them, then let him take shelter in it” [Reported by alBukhaaree (Eng. transl. vol. 9/p. 158/no.203) and Muslim (Eng. transl. 4/1495/no.6893)]. He also explained this place of shelter or refuge in his saying, “So whoever has camels should stick to his camels…“ [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 4/1495-1496/no.6896)]. There also occurs in Saheeh Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/91 I/no.4190) from Jaabir that a woman from the tribe of Banoo Makhzoom stole something, so then she was brought to the Prophet and she sought refuge with Umm Salamah. He also reports in his Saheeh (Eng. transl. 4/ 1494/no.6996) from Umm Salamah, from the Prophet that he said: “A man will seek refuge in the House and an army detachment will be sent against him…” However if it is the case that someone is seeking refuge from the evil of an oppressor, then it is obligatory to shelter him and grant him refuge as far as is possible. But if he seeks refuge in order to help him to commit something forbidden, or to flee away from an obligation, then it is forbidden to shelter him.
Al-istighaathah -To seek rescue and deliverance from severe difficulty and destruction, and is of various types:
(i) Seeking deliverance and rescue from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is one of the most excellent and most perfect deeds, and it was the continual practice of the messengers and their followers. The evidence for it is what the Shaykh, rahimahullaah, mentioned, “When you sought aid and deliverance of your Lord and He responded to you that He was sending you a thousand angels in succession to assist you.” [Soorah al-Anfaal. Aayah 9]
This occurred at the battle of Badr when the Prophet saw the polytheists numbering a thousand men, whist his companions were a few more than three hundred and ten. So he entered the palm grove calling earnestly upon his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, raising up his hands and facing the qiblah, and saying: “O Allaah fulfil that which You have promised me. O Allaah if this small group who are the people of lslaam are destroyed you will not be worshipped upon the earth.” Then he continued calling upon his Lord earnestly, with his hands raised such that his cloak fell from his shoulders. So Aboo Bakr, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, took up his cloak and cast it back upon his shoulders and embraced him from behind and said: “O Prophet of Allaah, your earnest supplication to your Lord will be sufficient for you since he will fulfil what He has promised you,” so this Aayah was sent down. [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/960/no.4360)]
(ii) Seeking rescue and deliverance, either from the dead or from those who are living but are not present and able to give aid and rescue, then this is shirk. This is so because it will not be done except by one who believes that those people have some unseen control over the creation, and they have therefore attributed to them a share of the Lordship that is for Allaah, the Most High, alone. Allaah, the Most High, says, “Or is that which you falsely worship along with Allaah better than He Who responds to the one in distress when he calls Him; who removes the harm; and who makes you to succeed those who came before you?! Is there anything that is worshipped besides Allaah that can do these things for you?! Little do you consider the greatness of Allaah and His favours upon you, and the clear proofs He has given you, so you therefore associate others in worship with Him.” [Soorah an-Naml (27):62]
(iii) Seeking aid and rescue from those who are alive, aware of the situation and capable of assistance and rescue. It is permissible to seek aid and rescue from them: Allaah, the Most High, says in the story of Moosaa: “So the man who was upon the same Religion as Moosaa sought the aid of Moosaa against his enemy the copt, so Moosaa struck him forcefully and killed him.” [Soorah al-Qasas. Aayah 15]
(iv) Seeking rescue and aid from a living person who is not capable of assisting him, without believing that he has some hidden power. For example that a drowning person calls for rescue from a person who is paralysed. This is futility and is a mockery of the one whom he seeks rescue from, and is therefore prohibited for this reason. A further reason for its prohibition is that anyone who saw him seeking rescue from the paralysed man may be deceived into thinking that the paralysed man must have some hidden power enabling him to rescue people.
Adh-dhabh- Sacrifice: The evidence is the ayah of the Qur’aan: “Say, O Muhammad, indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all purely and solely for Allaah, Lord of all creation. There is no share of any of that for other than him.” [Soorah al-Annam. 162-163]. Also the Prophet said: “Allaah has cursed anyone who sacrifices for other than Allaah” [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/ 1093- 1094/no.4876)]
Sacrifice is to kill by spilling the blood of the animal in a particular manner, and is done for a number of reasons:
That it is done as an act of worship, such that he intends by it veneration of the one for whom he sacrifices, and intends it as an act of submission to him and a means of nearness to him. So this may not be done except for Allaah, the Most High, and has to be done in the manner which Allaah, the Most High, has prescribed. Directing it to other than Allaah is major shirk and the evidence (as mentioned by the author) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “Say, O Muhammad, indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all purely and solely for Allaah, Lord of all creation. There is no share of any of that for other than Him’ [Soorah al-Annam (6):162-3]
(ii) That it is done out of hospitality for the guest, or for as wedding feast (waleemah) or the like, then this is something commanded, either as an obligation or a recommendation, as he said “Whoever truly believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him treat the guest honourably” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 8/99/no. 156) and Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/935/no. 4286)]. He said to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Auf, “Give a wedding, feast (waleemah) even if it is only with a single sheep” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 7/72/no.96)]. (iii) That it is done to provide food charitably, or to sell the meat and so on, then this falls under that which is permissible and is in principle according to the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “Do those mushriks who worship others along with Allaah not see that We have created for them, from what our Hands have created, cattle which they are in charge of, and We have made the cattle subservient to them: so from them are those which they eat the meat of.” [Soorah Yaa Seen. 71-72] Furthermore, it may be something desirable or prohibited depending upon what it leads to.
An-nadhr- Vows: The evidence is the ayah: “They fulfil their vows and they fear a day whose evil is widespread”. [Soorah al-Insaan. 76-:77]
The Aayah is a proof since Allaah praises them for fulfilling their vows, which shows that Allaah loves that and every action that is beloved to Allaah is worship. This is further supported by the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “…they fear a day whose evil is widespread.” [Soorah al-Insaan. 7]
The fulfilling of vows which Allaah, the Most High, has praised are all acts of worship which Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has obligated. This is because when a person starts any of the obligatory acts of worship, then he has become duty bound to fulfil and complete them. The proof for this is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “Then let them complete the duties of their hajj, and fulfil their vows (e.g. the sacrifice), and let them perform the tawaaf of ifaadah around the ancient House.” [Soorah al-Hajj 29]
Vows by which a person makes a pledge and thus obligates himself to do something or other, or makes some act of obedience to Allaah, that is not obligatory, binding upon himself, then this is disliked, and some of the scholars declared it to be forbidden. This is because the Prophet forbade making vows and said, “It does not bring good, it merely causes the miserly person to spend” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 8/448/no.684) and Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/871/no.4019)]. Yet even so, if a person does go ahead and vow that he will do some act of obedience to Allaah, then it becomes obligatory upon him to perform it as the Prophet said, “Whoever vows to act in obedience to Allaah, then let him obey Him” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 8/449/no.687)].
So in summary vows (an-nadhr) applies to the obligatory acts of worship in general, and to making vows in specific, which is that a person obliges himself to do something for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. The scholars divide the vow into various categories and these are laid out in the books of fiqh (details of Islamic law and regulations). [Ref 2]
NB: Whoever directs the above acts of worship to others besides Allaah, then indeed he or she has committed major shirk [major polytheism] which expels a person from the fold of Islam but this is a general ruling. However, in order to declare a specific Muslim individual as one who has left the fold of Islaam due to him or her committing acts of major polytheism, this ruling cannot be given, except by a scholar. Regarding this affair, see the following links:
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/wwqny-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-muhammad-bin-abd-al-wahhaab.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/wvnjp-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-abd-al-aziz-bin-baz.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/obkwf-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/dkhtd-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan-2.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/gzrsz-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan-3—takfir-of-the-raafidah.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/illhh-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan-4—takfir-of-the-raafidah.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/uufmf-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan-5.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/uncnb-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-abd-al-muhsin-al-abbaad.cfm
http://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/ecksy-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-rabee-bin-haadee.cfm
[Ref 1: [Source: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. pages 44. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]
[Ref 2: Explanation of the Three fundamental principles. (Translated by Shaikh Abu Talhah Dawud Burbank (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife. Aameen)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Moosaa [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed the water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. [And] another portion of it was hard and held the water and Allaah benefited the people with it and they utilised it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation.
[And] a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation [so that land gave no benefits]. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allaah’s religion and benefit [from the knowledge] which Allaah has revealed through me, learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allaah’s guidance revealed through me. [He is like that barren land]”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Hadeeth Number 79. Book of Knowledge]
Imaam Muhammad Ibnu Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:
In this similitude, the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me with, is like abundant rain falling on the earth”. The earth [upon which the rain fell] is of three types: The First Type of Earth: It is the earth that absorbed the water and produced abundant grass and vegetation, so the people were benefited through that. The Second Type of Earth is a Plain: It retained the water and the people benefited from it. They utilised it for drinking and as a source of irrigation [for their crops]. The Third Type of Earth: It absorbed the water but does not produce any benefit. This is the relationship between the people and the knowledge and guidance with which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with.
The First Category of People: Amongst them is one who has understanding of Allaah’s Religion. He learns and teaches- benefits the people and himself. This is similar to the earth that produces grass and vegetation, so that the people and animals eat from it.
The Second Category of People: They are a people who have been entrusted with the guidance, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first category of people]. They transmit knowledge and Hadeeth amongst themselves, but they do not possess Fiqh [like the first group]. The similitude of these people is that of the earth that retained the water and the people were provided with water. They used it for drinking, their animals drank from it and they used it as a source of irrigation; but the earth does not produce anything.
The Third Category: The one who is not benefited by the knowledge and guidance given to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). He turns away and does not incline towards it. He is neither benefited by that which the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with nor does he benefit others. His similitude is that of the earth that absorbed the water, but does not produce anything.
Source: Ash-Shar’hul Ma’mool Li-imthaal- Ar-Rasool. pages 7-8
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [hafidhahullaah] said:
Abu Waaqid Al-Laythee [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, “We went out with the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] to the [military] campaign to Hunayn, while we were new converts from disbelief to [Islaam]. The idol worshippers had a lote tree in [whose vicinity] they used to stay and hang their weapons, and it was called Dhaat Anwaat. So when we went pass a tree, we said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Set up a Dhat Anwat for us just as they have a Dhaat Anwaat’. So the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alahi-wasallam] said, ‘Allaah is the Greatest! This is a path that has proceeded [from the people of the past]. By Allaah in whose Hand my soul is! You have stated just as the children of Israa’eel stated to Moosaa [alayhis-salaam], ‘O Moosaa! Make for us a god as they have’. He (Moosaa) said, ‘Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)’”. [Reported by Ahmad and Tirmidhee and it is a sound hadeeth.]
Those new Muslims wanted to perform that act of worship in that particular place and (also) to seek blessings, so the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] referred to what they sought after as worship of another deity besides Allaah. The act they sought after is a means to Shirk, but after the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] clarified the affair for them, they turned in repentance and obedience. [Ref 1]
Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said,
“This shows the importance of giving concern to teaching new Muslims the religion because they are more vulnerable to Shubhah [i.e. matters that resemble the truth but are false in reality]”. [Ref 2]
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Min’dhaar Fee Bayaani Katheer Minal Akhtaa Ash-Shaa’i’ah page: 11’. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Sharh Fadl Al-Islaam. Lesson 3]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
We have witnessed – in the past – when some Trustees of Masaajid and Centres strayed from the right path – either became engrossed in Admin Issues and their Dunya Affairs at the expense of Ilm and sound understanding, emotionally captured by the mention of their Early Achievements, or they stagnated and became obstacles for some time whilst The Upright Scholars and Students dealt with a new category of people who attempted to defile the Salafi Manhaj with Ghuluww, such as the likes of Al-Hajooree, and the proponents of Tamyee, such as the likes of Al-Maribi.
If Maintainers of Maraakiz are not from The Asaateedh – Those Who Prepare and Deliver Lessons, then what excuse can we give for being constantly absent from those lessons we arrange for our communities?! Rather, we should be the first to attend those lessons and being consistent. Likewise, the recognised Tullaabul Ilm have a great responsibility to teach the people, because when there is a prolonged absence of Ilm and fitna suddenly occurs, many people fall into error; but when the local Tullaabul Ilm are active in nurturing the community upon sound Aqeedah and Manhaj, connecting with the other Maraakiz and elder teachers, then indeed – after the Tawfeeq of Allaah, we find the people being well-informed and alert, ready to listen and understand the Tawjeehaat of the scholars and the elder students. Let not any Taalibul Ilm be complacent regarding the respect he receives from the people, because we have witnessed – many times – that when people carry shubuhaat and are convinced by the deviants, then indeed that respect they have for you disappears, and thus you find yourself in greater difficulty whilst seeking to give clarifications; therefore nurture the people regularly by way of constant duroos and sittings, so that they are well informed and alert. Let us not be complacent as Shaikh Rabee [may Allaah preserve him] stated, “It is obligated on the people of truth to exercise patience and increase in adhering to this religion of truth. Whenever the desires become abundant, it becomes necessary to increase in acquainting (oneself) with the truth and adhering to it, as the Messenger (alayhis salaatu was-salaam) said: ‘The one who lives long amongst you will see a lot of differences, so upon you is that you follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khulafaa. Bite onto it with your molar teeth (i.e. hold onto it firmly) and beware of newly invented matters (in the religion), for every newly invented matter (in the religion) is a bidah and every bidah is misguidance'”.
[Majmoo 14/294 (3rd paragraph)]
Likewise, we are well aware of the statement of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] regarding the virtue of those who know the religion in detail. Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [reahimahullaah] said:
Allaah [The Most High] said:[ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ وَلِتَسۡتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ – And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, so that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners) become manifest. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 55]
Those who know Allaah, His Book and His Religion are acquainted with the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail- the two paths are clearly visible to them, just as a path leading to its destination and the path leading to destruction are made clearly visible. They are the most knowledgeable amongst the creation- the ones who benefit [the people] the most, the ones with the most useful advice and they are an evidence of right guidance. This is why the Sahaabah have excelled all those to come after them until the Day of Judgment, for indeed they were brought up upon the path of misguidance, shirk and paths leading to destruction, and they knew them in detail; then the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] came to them and took them out from darkness [an entered them] into complete light- from shirk into Tawheed; from ignorance into knowledge; from misguidance into guidance; from injustice into justice; from confusion and blindness into guidance and clear-sightedness. They knew the worth of that which they received and were triumphant by way of it. [They knew the worth] of that which was contained in what they [received], since what is in opposition to the [truth and right guidance] reveals the goodness of what it opposes, because [upright] affairs are made clear by way of their opposites. So they increased in desire and love of that which they embraced, disliked and hated that which they had turned away from. And of all the people, they had the most love for Tawheed, Imaan and Islaam, and had the most hatred for that which was in opposition to it. They were the most knowledgeable of the path in detail.
As for those who came after the Sahaabah, amongst them is that one who was brought up in Islaam but knows not what is in opposition to it. Therefore, some of the details of the path of the believers and that of the criminals became confusing to him, for indeed confusion occurs due to the weakness of one’s knowledge regarding both paths or one of them, as Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: “The bonds of Islaam will be undone one after the other when a people who grew up in Islaam know not what Jaahiliyyah [Pre-Islamic Ignorance] is.’’ This [statement shows an aspect of] Umar’s perfect knowledge [of Islaam].
And there is that one who is neither acquainted with the path of the criminals nor has it been made clear to him, or he has doubts and thus thinks that some of their ways are from the ways of the believers. This has occurred in this Ummah in many affairs of Aqeedah, Knowledge and Action regarding the path of the criminals, the disbelievers and the enemies of the Messengers, [which] was brought into the path of the believers by the one who does not know the [detailed distinction between] the path of believers and the path of the criminals, so he called to [this path], excommunicate the one in opposition and declares lawful that which Allaah and His Messenger made unlawful, just as what has occurred with many of the people of bidah, such as the Jahmiyyah, the Qadariyyah, the Khawaarij, the Rawaafid and their ilk- among those who initiated an innovation, called to it and excommunicated those who opposed it.
The people are four categories in this subject matter [i.e. the obligation of having knowledge of the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail].
The First Group: They are those who know the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail-in both knowledge and action. They are the most knowledgeable amongst the creation.
The Second Group: They are those who are blind to both paths- those resembling animals. The path of the criminals comes [to them] and they follow it.
The Third Group: It is that one who concerns himself with (seeking) knowledge of the path of the believers and not its opposite. He only knows (the path of the criminals) by way of its opposition to the (path of the believers) and in a general way, and [holds] that all that is in opposition to the path of the believers is falsehood, even though that is not illustrated to him in detail. Rather, when he hears some of that which contradicts the path of the believers, he turns away and does not preoccupy himself in understanding and knowing its falsity. This person is in a state (similar) to one who is safeguarded from following desires- whose heart is neither put at risk nor is he called to (such desires), as opposed to those who are aware of (such desires) and their souls are inclined towards them, but they strive against it for the Sake of Allaah. A letter was written to Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radiyallaahu-anhu) and he was asked about this affair, as to which of the two men is the better- a man who is not put at risk by way of desires and does not go through its difficulties, or a man who is pushed towards it but abandons it for the Sake of Allaah? Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) wrote back saying: The one who is desirous of sin but abandons it for the Sake of Allaah is from ‘those whose hearts Allaah has tested for piety. For them there is forgiveness and a great reward.’ [Surah Hujuraat. Ayah: 3]
The Fourth Group: This group knows the path of evil, bidah and kufr in detail and the path of the believers in general. This is the situation of many of those who concern themselves with the beliefs of the previous nations and that of the people of bidah. They are acquainted with (these affairs) in detail, but not with what the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) came with; rather they are acquainted with it in general even though they may know some of its affairs in detail. Whoever examines their books will see that. Likewise, those who know the paths of evil, oppression and corruption in detail and are followers of it; if they repent, abandon these (affairs) and return to the path of the pious believers, then their knowledge of it will only be general. They will not be acquainted with it in that detailed manner known to those who spend their lives (studying) its regulations and ways.
The Objective: Indeed, Allaah (Glorified be He) loves that one should know the path of His enemies in order to avoid and hate it, just as the path of the His awliyaa (close friends) is known and followed. [An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’d pages 167-180’. slightly paraphrased]
Finally, we ask Allaah to make us sincere and upright, act upon what we learn and overlook our shortcomings Aameen. And we remind the local Tullaabul Ilm regarding the following admonition by Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [hafidhahullaah]. [This Is Not An Era of Relaxation, Sleep And Amusement!
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Ibn Abee Shaybah [rahimahullaah] reported in Al-Musannaf and Abu Nu’aym [rahimahullaah] in Al-Hilya [5/12] with an authentic chain from Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani [rahimahullaah], who said, “The scholars are three types: a man who lives with his knowledge and the people live with it alongside him, and a man who lives with his knowledge and none else lives with it alongside him. As for the third man, the people live with his knowledge and it destroys him”.
Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari [hafidhahullaah] said,
“The intent behind this speech: Indeed the first [man] knows, acts and teaches. As for the second, he knows and acts, but does not teach. As for the third, he knows and teaches, but does not act! We ask Allaah for steadfastness and well-being”.
[المقالات الشرعية– pages: 23-24]