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Tag: monotheism

[8] Basics – Revisiting and Revising The Most Important Fundamentals: [Al-Ilm (Knowledge) Is The First Condition of The Shahaadah]

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

The first condition of the [Shahaadah – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah] is “Knowledge which necessitates a negation of Ignorance”. This means that one should know its meaning, what it negates and affirms, what it demonstrates in reality regarding the Oneness of Allaah, devotes all acts of worship to Allaah alone, sincerely devote all aspects of the religion to Allaah alone and disbelieve in everything that is worshipped besides Allaah. Therefore, “Knowledge which negates Ignorance” necessitates sound knowledge and an upright understanding of the statement [Laa Ilaaha Illal laah – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah] by way of which one is removed from the path of the ignorant ones, because this statement does not benefit the one who utters it without knowledge. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ‌ۗ – So know that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah, and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. (Surah Muhammad. 19)]. So in this verse, Allaah mentioned knowledge first because it is the foundation. [Ref 1]

The one who makes this testimony requires knowledge and truthfulness, and must act upon what he has testified to. The scholars say that knowledge of this testimony removes a person from the path of those Chrsitians [who strayed after the departure of Prophet Eesaa (peace be upon him)] – those who act but have no knowledge, and from the path of those Jews [who strayed after the departure of Prophet Moosaa (peace be upon him)] – those who have knowledge but do not act, and truthfulness removes a person from the path of the hypocrites- those who claim that they believe but they have no certainty.

A person cannot be from the adherents of Tawheed [pure Islamic Montheism] until he fulfils the two pillars of Laa Ilaaha Illal laah: [لا إلهَ – There is no deity worthy of worship (i.e. Negation)] and [إلاَّ اللَّه – Except Alaah (i.e. Affirmation)]. The negation has to be comprehensive and the affirmation has to be specific – a comprehensive negation of all worship that is devoted to others besides Allaah and specific affirmation that only Allaah has the right to be worshipped. If a person utters the negation without the affirmation, then he is not an adherent of pure Islamic monotheism, and if he affirms without uttering the negation, then he is not an adherent of pure Islamic monotheism. If a person were to negate only by saying [لا إلهَ – There is no deity worthy of worship], then he is an atheist, and if he were to affirm that Allaah has the right to be worshipped without negating by saying that others do not have a right to be worshipped, then he is a polytheist. Therefore, one cannot be an adherent of Tawheed [pure Islamic Monotheism] until he testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.

And due to the mighty affair of this testimony [لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللَّه – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah], it is emphasised through the statement [وحْدهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لهُ – alone, without partner]. The affirmation is emphasised through the statement [وحْدهُ – alone] and the negation is emphasised through the statement [لاَ شَرِيكَ له – without partner]. [Ref 2]

Then Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ – And ask forgiveness for your sin]- Meaning, seek Maghfirah from Allaah [i.e. that Allaah erases your sins, hide them for you and protect you from the evil consequences of sins (Ref 2.1)], employ the means of attaining Maghfirah such as repentance and supplicating for Maghfirah, perform good deeds and abandon sins etc. [وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ‌ۗ – And for believing men and believing women]- Meaning, because indeed due to their Eemaan, every Muslim [male Muslim] and Muslimah [female] owe them rights and one of those rights they are owed is that one supplicates for them and ask Allaah to forgive them (i.e. erase their sins). [Ref 3]

Next topic: The Second Condition of the Shahaadah is “Al-Yaqeen” [Certainty]


[Ref 1: Source: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. pages 46-47. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]

[Ref 2: Source: An Excerpt from Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed. Lesson 2. By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him)]

[Ref 2.1: See Majmoo Al-Fataawaa Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah 14/140]

[Ref 3: Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]

[5] Basics- Revisiting and Revising The Most Important Fundamental: [The Shahaadah And What It Necessitates]

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)]

 

 

[4] Basics- Revisiting and Revising The Most Important Fundamentals: [The Shahaadah is a Clarification of Truth and Rebuttal Against Falsehood]

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

Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari [may Alaah preserve him] said:

And from which the people of knowledge have affirmed is that this religion is established on two affairs: Clarification of the truth and refuting falsehood and its people. The affirmation of this (affair) becomes manifest to the one who contemplates on the statement of Tawheed [لا إله إلا الله] with clarification and by way of explanation. The saying of the slave (i.e. the Muslim) [ لا إله – there is no deity worthy of worship] is a refutation against falsehood and its people-those who deify others besides Allaah. And the statement [ إلا الله – except Allaah (i.e. Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped)] is an affirmation of truth and a clarification of it. And it (means) that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped and He has no partner. Likewise, the statement [محمد رسول الله – Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah] is an affirmation of the Messengership of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] – 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.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

[Source:المقالات الشرعيّة page 14-15]

[2] Basics- Revisiting and Revising The Most Important Fundamentals- [The Greatest And Loftiest Pillar of Islaam]

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

The greatest and loftiest in status amongst the five pillars of Islaam is the testimony “There is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is the Messenger of Allaah”. This is why the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] mentioned it first in the hadeeth, “Islam is built on five pillars: to testify that there is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah”. So, the testification that Allaah is the only deity that has the right to be worshipped and the testification regarding the Messengership of Allaah’s Prophet is the greatest pillar and foundation of Islaam; rather it is the foundation of the religion.

“Laa Ilaaha Illal laah -None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah” is the greatest, most virtuous and the loftiest statement without exception. It is the best statement by way of which Allaah is remembered. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The best Dkir [remembrance of Allaah] is ‘Laa ilaaha illal laah – There is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah'”. [Reported by Tirmidhee and declared Hasan by Imaam Al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah 1497]

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] also said, “The best supplication on the day of Arafah and the best of that which I and the Prophets before me have ever uttered is: [لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللَّه وحْدهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ، ولَهُ الحمْدُ، وَهُو عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٌ – There is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, He is One and He has no partner; His is the (absolute) Sovereignty and to Him belongs all praise, and He is Able to do all things”. [Musnad Ahmad 6961. Declared authentic by Imaam Al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah 1503]

This is why Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ – And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ) but We inspired him (saying): Laa ilaaha illaa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)]. [Surah Al-Anbiyaa. Aayah 25]

It is the essence of the call of the Messengers. The first thing their people heard from them was: [ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ – Worship Allah! You have no other Ilaah (deity) but Him]. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 59]


[Source: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. pages 42-43. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]

Basics- What is Islaam? [Revisiting and Revising Basics]

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

What is Islaam? It is to submit to Allaah by worshipping Him alone. Therefore, whoever refuses to submit to Allaah is haughty, and whoever submits to Allaah and others [by devoting any act worship to Allaah and others], then he is guilty of being one who ascribes a partner to Allaah. So, through this it is known that Islam opposes two affairs: Haughtiness and Polytheism [or ascribing partners with Allaah in worship].

Islaam is built on five pillars and the noble Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] has clarified them in the hadeeth reported by Ibn Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Islaam is built on five pillars: to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, establish the prayer [i.e. the five obligatory prayers], pay the Zakaat, fast during the month of Ramadaan and perform Hajj”. [Al-Bukhaari 8 and Muslim 16]

[Source: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. pages 41-42. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]

The Importance of Giving Close Attention to People And Nurturing Them Upon Sound knowledge After They Have Accepted Islaam

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]

Brief Commentary On a Tremendous Supplication After Tashahud and Before Tasleem – [By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq al-Badr]

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

A Tremendous Supplication That Gathers Issues of [Aqeedah, Worship and Manners] Said After The Tashahud and Before Tasleem

اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ

 وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if You know that life is good for me, and let me die if You know that death is good for me;

O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public;

And I ask you (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger;

And I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty;

And I ask you for blessings that never ceases;

And I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends;

And I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree;

Aand I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity etc) after death;

I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me);

O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Eemaan, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others).

[Sunan An-Nasaa’ee’ Number 1305 & declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah Number 1301]

 

Beneficial Points From This Supplication By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah]

Regarding the statement:

اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if You know that life is good for me, and let me die if You know that death is good for me.

Commentary: This necessitates surrendering and submitting all of one’s affairs to the Lord-  seeking from Allaah whatever is best for you in all circumstances and seeking that through His All-Encompassing Knowledge; for indeed Allaah knows all hidden and apparent affairs and He [alone] possess All-Encompassing Power over everything; neither can anyone amend his Judgement nor repel His Decree.  And what is well known is that the servant does not know the end result of affairs and their final abode; and in addition to this, he is unable to obtain good and repel harm, except through that which Allaah grants him assistance and makes easy for him, so the servant remains completely [and always] in need of Allaah wherever he may be. And this why one says in this supplication: [ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي – Let me live if You know that life is good for me, and let me die if You know that death is good for me].

This is why the [authentic] Sunnah forbids one from desiring death due to harm that befalls him, because he is ignorant of the consequences which [death might bring upon him in the afterlife]. The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, “Let none of you wish for death. If he is righteous, he might increase his good deeds. If he is sinful, he might repent”. [Bukhaari]

Regarding the statement:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ

O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public.

Commentary: That I fear you O Allaah in private and public; when I am with the people and when they are absent, for indeed there are people who fear Allaah in public and when seen, but the main and most important affair is to fear Allaah when not seen by the people. Indeed, Allaah praised those who fear him in the Ghayb. Allaah [The Most High] said: [ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ وَهُمْ مِنْ السَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ – Those who fear their Lord without seeing Him, while they are afraid of the Hour]. [Surah Al-Anbiyaa. Aayah 49]

Allaah [The Most High] said: [ مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ – Who feared the Most Beneficent (Allah) in the Ghaib (unseen): (i.e. in this worldly life before seeing and meeting Him), and brought a heart turned in repentance (to Him – and absolutely free from each and every kind of polytheism)]. [Surah Qaaf. Aayah 33]

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ

And I ask you (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger.

Meaning: Enable me to speak the truth in times of contentment and anger. Speaking truth in times of anger is a noble and mighty affair, for indeed anger leads a person to say that which is opposite of truth and something other than justice. Indeed, Allaah praised his servants – those who pardon when angered and their anger does not lead them to transgression and aggression. Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ – And when they are angry, they forgive]. [Soorah Ash-Shooraa. Aayah 37]

The one who does not utter- in times of anger- except the truth, then indeed this is proof regarding his strong Eemaan and that he has control over his soul’s [desires]. In a hadeeth the Prophet said, “The strong one [i.e. the one who is more worthy to be described as a strong person] is not the one who [overcomes the people in] wrestling, rather the strong person is the one who restrains his himself when angry”.

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ

And I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty

Commentary: That I am balanced both when I am in a state of poverty and when I have wealth- upon the middle path ordained by the Islamic legislation, neither miserly when I am poor and fearing that what I have will run out nor being wasteful by placing upon myself that which I cannot bear, just as Allaah [The Most High] said:

[ وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ وَلاَ تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَحْسُورًا – And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty]- [Surah Al-Israa. Aayah 29]. And that if one is wealthy, his wealth does not lead him to extravagance and he exceeds the limits. Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَامًا

And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). [Surah Al-Furqaan. Aayah 67]

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ

And I ask you for blessings that never ceases.

Commentary: Blessing that never ceases is the blessing of the Aakhirah,  just as Allaah [The most high] said: [مَا عِنْدَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ – Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah will remain]. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 96] And Allaah [The Most High] said: [ إِنَّ هَذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُ مِنْ نَفَادٍ – (It will be said to them)! Verily, this is Our Provision which will never finish]. [Surah Saad. Aayah 54]

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ

And I ask You for the coolness of my eye that will never end.

Commentary: There are blessings that cease and those that do not cease. The coolness of one’s eye in the Dunyah is a portion of something and the happiness related to it will come to an end. In addition to this, [this coolness of the eye in the Dunyah] is blemished with fear as a result of events that cause distress and suffering, as well as pain; therefore the eyes of the believer do not find a greater pleasure in anything of the Dunya, except love of Allaah, remembrance of Allaah and obedience to Allaah, just as the Messenger said, “The coolness [pleasure or delight] of my eyes is in prayer”. Therefore, whoever acquires the pleasure of his eyes in this [i.e. love of Allaah and obedience to Him], then he has that which will not come to an end in the Dunyah, the Barsakh and the Aakhirah.

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ

And I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree.

Commentary: Asking Allaah to make you pleased after His decree has come to pass, because that would truly manifest the reality of being pleased with Allaah’s decree.

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ

And I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity etc) after death.

Commentary: This shows that life, its [perfect] goodness and comfort only occurs after death, for indeed life before death is blemished with pain. And if there was no pain in this life other than death, then that would have been sufficient as pain, so how about the fact that life has numerous pains, grief, sicknesses, infirm old age, separation from beloved ones and other than that!

And regarding the statement:

وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ

And I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me).

Commentary: This section of the du’aa gathers the best of affairs in the Dunya and the Aakhirah – yearning to meet Allaah [in the Aakhirah whilst still living in this world] and seeing His Noble Face in the Afterlife [Free is He from all imperfections, co-equals, resemblance and partners]. And when it is the case that the complete accomplishment of this affair is based on safety from being harmed in this Dunya or being put to trial in one’s religious affairs, so one says: [فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ  – without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me)].

The believer seeing his lord on the day of judgement is an affair that has been narrated in numerous texts in the Qur’aan and [authentic] Sunnah, and none denies it except one who has strayed from the straight path; rather it is the loftiest bliss for the people of Jannah and the greatest joy. The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said:  When the people of Paradise would enter Paradise, Allaah [The Blessed and the Exalted] would ask: Do you wish Me to give you anything more? They would say: Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not made us enter Paradise and saved us from Fire? He [Allaah] would lift the veil, and of things given to them nothing would be dearer to them than looking at their Lord. [Saheeh Muslim 181]

We ask Allaah for his bounty.

And finally, regarding the statement:

اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ وِاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Eemaan, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others).

Commentary: Beautification with Eemaan includes beautification of the heart with sound creed and noble deeds of the heart; beautification of the tongue with dhikr and recitation of the Qur’aan, enjoining good and forbidding evil and so forth; beautification of the limbs with righteous deeds and deeds that draws a person close to Allaah. [ وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ  – And make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others)]- Meaning: That we ourselves become guided and guiding others. This is the greatest status when a person knows the truth and follows it, teaches others and guides them. We ask Allaah to guide us to this and include us amongst those who are guided and guiding others.


[Source: Fiqhul Adiyah Wal Adkaar. Vol 3. Pages 165-169. by Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (hafidhahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

Dawah, Teaching, Lectures, Khutab, Co-operating Upon Piety And Righteousness, And Looking After Masaajid – [Goals And Aims]

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

Shaikh Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:

Allaah [The Most High] stated:

قُلۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۟ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى‌ۖ وَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ

Say (O Muhammad): “This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah; those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or partners to Allah).”

[أَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ –  I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism)]. This part of the Ayah contains a notification regarding sincerity; for indeed some people call to themselves. It may be that a person propagates, delivers lectures and sermons, but his aim [or aspiration] is to become apparent to the people – to receive some status; praised by the people and that people gather around him and become numerous around him. If this is his aim [or aspiration], then he is not one who calls to Allaah; rather he is a caller to himself.

The person who abandons Dawah has indeed abandoned a great obligation and the person who is not sincere in Dawah has indeed fallen into a great danger; for Dawah has to be carried out sincerely for the Sake of Allaah and the aim should be to establish the sharee’ah of Allaah; to guide and benefit the people, whether you are praised or rebuked. As for some people, when they are not praised and promoted, they abandon Dawah. This is a proof that such a caller is not a caller to Allaah, rather he only calls to himself. So the Muslim should be warned and that his aim (or aspiration) -in relation to dawah- should be sincerity; to benefit the people; free them from Shirk and bidah; free them from those affairs that are in opposition to the sharee’ah, and fulfil what is obligated on him.

A great number of people around a person is a not proof that such a person is virtuous, for some of the Prophets were only followed by few people. ‘’A Prophet will come on the day of judgement with a few followers and a Prophet will come with no followers.’’ [Bukhaari 5705]. So does this mean that such a Prophet is not virtuous? No, definitely not! A person does not look at the large number of people who are present, for the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said to Ali: “If Allaah gives guidance to a single man through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels.” [Bukhaari 3009] [Ref 1][End of quote]

The Shaikh (may Allaah preserve him) also stated: Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah are not harmed by those who oppose them. If you are with them– all praise is due to Allaah- they are pleased with this because indeed they want good for the people. If you oppose them, you cannot harm them and due to this the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’There will not cease to be a group of my Ummah who will be manifest upon the truth- not harmed by those who betray (or forsake) them until the command of Allaah comes to pass (i.e. the day of judgement) whilst they are (still) upon that (truth).”  The one in opposition does not harm except himself.

What is given consideration is not the great numbers (of people upon something), rather what is given consideration is to be in agreement with the truth, even if a small number of people were upon it. And even if in some eras there is only one person (upon truth), then he is the one upon truth and he is the Jamaa’ah. The Jamaa’ah does not necessitate great numbers; rather the Jamaa’ah is what is in agreement with the truth – in agreement with the Book and the Sunnah, even if those upon it are few. However, if many come together and (upon) truth, then – all praise is due to Allaah- this is strength. But if the majority oppose it (i.e. the truth), then we side with the truth even if only a few are upon it”. [Ref 2][End of quote]

Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ – Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa [virtue, righteousness and piety]; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. [5:2]

Few Reminders From Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]

This Ayah contains all the Masaalih [beneficial affairs] for the slaves in their worldly affairs and affairs related to the Hereafter- be it between themselves or between them and their Lord; for indeed every servant [of Allaah] finds himself within two circumstances and obligations – either [required] to fulfil the obligations owed to Allaah or the obligations owed to Allaah’s creation. As for the obligations owed to the creation, they include [righteous] association, companionship, aiding one another upon what Allaah loves and obedience to Allaah, and that is the goal behind one’s search for happiness and success in the afterlife. There can be no happiness in the afterlife except through Bir [virtue] and Taqwaa [piety], for it is basis of all affairs of the religion.

As for Taqwa, its reality is to act in obedience to Allaah based on Eemaan in Allaah and hoping for Allaah’s Reward; fulfil what Allaah has commanded based on having Eemaan in that which Allaah has commanded and affirming the reward Allaah has promised; abandoning what Allaah has forbidden based on one’s belief that what Allaah has forbidden is forbidden and fearing Allaah’s punishment, just as Talq Bin Habeeb [rahimahullaah] said: ”When Fitna occurs, extinguish it with Taqwa”. So the people said: ”What is Taqwa?” He said: You act in obedience to Allaah upon a light from Allaah [i.e. Eemaan, sincerity etc] and hoping for reward from Allah. And you abandon disobedience to Allaah upon a light from Allah and fearing the punishment of Allah.”

This is the best of that which has been stated regarding Taqwa, for indeed there has to be an aim and a goal behind every deed. A deed cannot be considered an act of obedience to Allaah and an act that gets one close to Allaah until it is based on Eemaan, so that which leads to the performance of that deed is solely due to Eemaan – neither [Un-Islamic] customs nor [evil] desires, neither seeking praise nor status and other than it; rather it should be solely based on Eemaan and the aim behind it should be to attain Allaah’s reward and seeking after Allaah’s Pleasure. [Ref 3]

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘I’aanah Al-Mustafeed Bi-Sharhi Kitaab At-Tawheed’ pages 97-98’ Publisher: Ar-Risaalah Publishers 1st edition 1428AH (Year 2007). Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from ( لمحة عن الفرق الضالة )– pages 14 -15. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 3: An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah’ Vol 1 pages 307-311. Publisher: Daar Ibn Al-Jawziyyah 2nd Ed, 1431AH- Slightly paraphrased]

[5] Source of Tranquillity, Firmness And Self-restraint Whilst They Adhered to Tawheed And Faced The Haughty Quraish Disbelievers!

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّوڪُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ وَٱلۡهَدۡىَ مَعۡكُوفًا أَن يَبۡلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَلَوۡلَا رِجَالٌ۬ مُّؤۡمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَـٰتٌ۬ لَّمۡ تَعۡلَمُوهُمۡ أَن تَطَـُٔوهُمۡ فَتُصِيبَكُم مِّنۡهُم مَّعَرَّةُۢ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ۬‌ۖ لِّيُدۡخِلَ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحۡمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ لَوۡ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

إِذۡ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَڪِينَتَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَأَلۡزَمَهُمۡ ڪَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓاْ أَحَقَّ بِہَا وَأَهۡلَهَا‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمً۬ا

They are the ones who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and hindered you from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the sacred mosque of Makkah) and the sacrificial animals, detained from reaching their place of sacrifice. Had there not been believing men and believing women whom you did not know, that you may kill them, and on whose account a sin would have been committed by you without (your) knowledge, that Allah might bring into His Mercy whom He will, if they (the believers and the disbelievers) should have been apart, We verily had punished those of them who disbelieved, with painful torment. When those who disbelieve had put in their hearts pride and haughtiness – the pride and haughtiness of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, then Allah sent down His [blessing] of Sakeenaah upon His Messenger and the believers, and made them adhere to the word of piety, and they were well entitled to it and worthy of it. And Allah is the All-Knower of everything. [Surah Al-Fath. Aayah 26]

[إِذۡ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ  – When those who disbelieve had put in their hearts pride and haughtiness – the pride and haughtiness of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance] – Meaning, when they refused to write [in the treaty document], “In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy, these are the terms agreed on by Muhammad, Allaah’s Messenger”,  denied the Messenger and the believers entry into Makkah in that year lest the people say, “They [i.e. Muslims] entered Makkah by overcoming the Quraish”. These traits and what is similar to them are  traits of pre-Islamic ignorance which were still not removed from their hearts until it led them to many acts of disobedience.

[فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَڪِينَتَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ  – then Allah sent down His [blessing] of Sakeenaah – calmness, tranquillity, adherence to truth, bravery during trial (Ref 1) upon His Messenger and upon the believers]- Meaning, anger did not lead them to confront the polytheists, but rather they exercised patience whilst adhering to Allaah’s judgement, adhered to the conditions which contained the [command] to exalt Allaah’s divine injunctions regardless what they were, and they were neither bothered by what the people said nor the blame of the blamers. [وَأَلۡزَمَهُمۡ ڪَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ    – and made them adhere to the word of piety], Meaning the statement ‘None has the right to be worshipped, except Allaah’ and the duties connected to it; so they adhered to it and established it. [وَكَانُوٓاْ أَحَقَّ بِہَا وَأَهۡلَهَا‌ۚ   – and they were well entitled to it and worthy of it], Meaning, they were more deserving of it than others because Allaah knew the good they had in their hearts, and this is why Allaah stated: [وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمً۬ا   – And Allah is the All-Knower of everything].

[An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]

Ref 1: Tafseer Al-Qur’aan Min Adwaa Al-Bayaan. Page 1382. Daar Hadyi An-Nabawiyyah. 2nd Edition  1431AH [2010]

[2] Source of Tranquillity And Removal of Fear- [Neither a Loss In One’s Good Deeds Nor An Increase In Punishment]

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

Allaah [The Exalted] informed us that the Jinn said:

وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعۡنَا ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ‌ۖ فَمَن يُؤۡمِنۢ بِرَبِّهِۦ فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخۡسً۬ا وَلَا رَهَقً۬ا

And indeed when we heard the Guidance, we believed therein (Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in punishment for his sins. [Surah Al-Jinn. Aayah 13]

[وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعۡنَا ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ   – And indeed when we heard the Guidance]- meaning, the noble Qur’aan, the guide to the straight path. We knew its Hidaayah [ guidance to sound knowledge and steadfastness upon it], its Irshaad [guidance towards upright deeds and steadfastness upon that] and it had an effect on our hearts, so we believed in it. [Ref 1] We affirmed that the Qur’aan is from Allaah and did not deny it like the disbelievers amongst the human beings [Ref 2]. We believed in it without hesitation or doubt [Ref 3]. Then they stated that which a believer desires: [فَمَن يُؤۡمِنۢ بِرَبِّهِۦ – And whosoever believes in his Lord] – meaning, truthfully; [فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخۡسً۬ا وَلَا رَهَقً۬ا – shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in punishment for his sins].

Ref 1: Tafseer As-Sadi by Imaam As-Sa’dee (rahimahullaah)]

[Ref 2: Fat-hul Qadeer by Imaam ash-Shawkaanee. 5/406]

[Ref 3: Roohul Ma’aanee by Imaam Al-Aloosee (rahimahullaah) 16/153