Ameerul Mumineen Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radiyallaahu-anhu) stated:
”Indeed, we are a people whom Allaah has given honour by way of Islaam; so when we (begin) to seek honour through other than what Allaah has given us honour, Allaah will degrade us!”
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[Reported by Al-Haakim (rahimahullaah) in Al-Mustadrak (1/61-62]
Al-Allaama Al-Manaawiy (rahimahullaah) said that it was mentioned that when Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar (rahimahullaah) was the leader of the judges, he once went past a market with a great procession and a beautiful appearance; so a Yahoodi who was selling hot oil-whose clothes were stained with oil and he was in an extremely miserable and ugly state-grabbed the bridle of his female mule and said: ”O Shaikhul Islaam! You claim that your Prophet said: ‘The worldly life is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever’, so in what prison are you in, and in what paradise am I? So he [Ibn Hajar (rahimahullaah)] said: In relation to what Allaah has prepared for me of bliss in the afterlife (i.e. for me and other believers In-Shaa-Allaah), then it is as if I am in a prison. And in relation to what Allaah has prepared for you of painful punishment in the afterlife (i.e. for you and other disbelievers), then it is as if you are in paradise (at present). So the Yahoodi accepted Islaam (i.e. he became a Muslim).
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[Source: يض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير جـ3 ص [page: 730]
See link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=148480
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said: ‘Whoever realizes what the innovators have abandoned of the Sunnah and left behind and he clings to it, he is a person of the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah. He should be followed, helped and protected. He is one of those whom the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) bequeathed should be looked after'[1]
Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) commented on this above statement of Imaam Barbahaari, saying: That is [found in the statement of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]: ‘They are those upon that which I and my Companions are upon today’
He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) advised that one should be with them- with this Jamaa’ah; this gathering of people and this group; which is upon that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon. However, this requires two affairs:
The First Affair is Knowledge; We learn that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon. As for the Jaahil, he does not learn whilst thinking that what the one in opposition is upon is what the Messenger was upon, when that is not the case.
The Second Affair is (firmness): To be firm upon that which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his Companions were upon; because the one who traverses upon the (authentic) Sunnah will receive grief, trouble and intimidation from the people; but he must exercise patience and not turn away from the truth. He does not bargain (the truth) nor leaves anything of it; and for that reason it has been reported about the one who holds upon his Religion at the end of time is like one holding onto a burning coal or prickles as a result of what he will receive of hardship, grief and trouble from the people. So he requires patience.[2]
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[1]Source: Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank (rahimahullaah). Explanation of the Creed
[2] Source: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree, Vol2, page68-69
Narrated Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu-anhuma): The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.”[1]
Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: This is the true state of affairs. Many people are deprived of these two blessings. (They) depart from him (i.e. the person) without fruitful gain and that is: They depart from him without (him acquiring) any benefit.[2]
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References:
(1)Saheeh Al-Bukhaari Vol 8. Hadeeth No: 6412. Page: 233. The Book of Ar-Riqaaq (Softening of the Hearts) Publisher: Daarus Salaam
(2)Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Min At-Taliqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Saheeh Al-Bukhaariy; Vol 4; page: 222. Footnote No: 1
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) stated:
The Qur’aan has shown in a number of verses that one will be put to trial through preoccupying himself with what will harm him when he abandons what is of benefit, whilst having ability to reach that. And he will be prevented from reaching the first affair (i.e. the benefit he abandoned in the first place). This is found in a number of verses that when the polytheists shunned the worship of Ar-Rahmaan [The Most Merciful (Allaah)], they were put to trial with the worship of images (idols)
And when they displayed haughtiness (with regards to not obediently submitting to the command of the Messengers) and claimed that the Messengers were (only) humans, they were put to trial through submitting to everything that made (their) intellect and Religion shaky.
And when Eemaan was clearly shown to them at the first instance and they recognized (it), but then abandoned it, Allaah (Glorified Be He) diverted, afflicted and sealed their hearts. So, they did not believe until they perceived the painful punishment.
And after the straight path was clarified for them and they deviated from it by choice- approving the path of deviation in opposition to the path of guidance, they were punished. Allaah deviated their hearts and caused them to be confounded in their path.
And when they belittled the signs of Allaah and His Messengers, Allaah belittled them with a humiliating punishment.
And when they displayed haughtiness (with regards to not submitting to the truth), Allaah humiliated them in this life and the next.
And when they forbade that Allaah’s Name be glorified and mentioned in the Mosques of Allaah and strive for their ruin, then it was not fitting after that they should enter it except in fear.
وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِن فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
فَلَمَّا آتَاهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ بَخِلُوا بِهِ وَتَوَلَّوا وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُ بِمَا أَخْلَفُوا اللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ
”And of them are some who made a covenant with Allaah (saying): ”If He bestowed on us of His Bounty, we will verily give Sadaqah (Zakat and voluntary charity in Allaah’s cause) and will be certainly among those who are righteous. ”Then when He gave them of His Bounty, they became niggardly [refused to pay the Sadaqah (Zakat or voluntary charity)], and turned away, averse. So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet him, because they broke that (covenant with Allaah) which they had promised to Him and because they used to tell lies’’ (9:75-77)
The verses (conveying) this meaning are numerous. And in such (verses) is that the slave was close to being guided and made to traverse the straight path, but then he abandoned it after knowing it, and renounced it after having traversed upon it, so he is punished and has no right to guidance. This is a recompense for his actions, as Allaah said about the Yahood:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ
”And when there came to them a Messenger from Allaah (i.e. Muhammad) confirming what was with them, a party of those who were given the Scripture threw away the Book of Allaah behind their backs as if they did not know! They followed what the (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaymaan”. 2:101-102
They abandoned the most sublime, the most beneficial and the most truthful of the Books (i.e. the Qur’aan), so Allaah put them to test with following that which is the most debased, most untruthful, and most harmful.
Those who wage war against Allaah and His Messenger abandon spending their wealth in obedience to Allaah, and (instead) spend it in obedience to shaytaan.
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[Source: ”Al Qawaa-idul Hisaan Li-tafseer Al Qur’aan” of Imaam Abdur Rahmaan As-Sadi. Page: 96-97. Slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
When you sit with the people, then [sincerely] make humility the sign by way of which you are recognised; fear of Allaah as your shield and giving advice to the servants of Allaah as your abiding way.
Be eager to bring about good in every gathering – either [through] research in affairs of knowledge or advice on religious matters; either directing [others] towards a general or a specific useful affair; either making a mention of the blessings of Allaah or mentioning the superior status of praiseworthy manners and good etiquettes, or warning against that which is detrimental to the well-being of one’s religious or worldly (affairs). The least of that [i.e. the good you should bring in every sitting] is to advise the people to seek the income from their occupations by way of the permissible [means] and through what is forbidden. You should behave well towards the young, the elders and your peers. Deal with each of them in a way they deserve and have respect for the one that deserves to be respected and honoured.
Be eager to make your sitting easy by way of speech that is appropriate and good, even if that was in relation to the worldly (affairs). That is because when [permissible speech] and [permissible gathering] becomes fruitful, sitting together will be easy, conversation is made easy and the heart feels tranquil, and all of that is attributed to praiseworthiness.
The sensible person achieves abundant good from the gatherings of the people and he becomes more beloved to them than [others]; because he approaches them with [matters] they approve and statements they desire. And the foundation of all of that is success in taking over control of all the affairs placed before them.
These affairs become more emphasised during a journey [i.e. when people accompany one another on a journey]; because during a journey sitting together is prolonged and the travellers are in need of having someone who revives their hearts with good statements, the news of events, sense of humour-if all of that is truth and not too much. Good etiquettes makes [its possessor] more pleasurable to the people than the pleasure derived from a cold drink, and its influence bears heavier upon their souls than hard stones. And Allaah (Alone) is the One Who grants success.
Source: Noorul Basaair Wal al-baab fee ahkaam al -Ibaadaat Wal Mu’aamalaat Wal Huqooq Wal Aadaab- Imaam Abdur Rahmaan As Sa’dee (rahimahullaah) Page 64-65
The callers to misguidance are of many types. They have means of spreading their call which were not present in the past and many people have been deceived by them. Therefore, what is obligated upon us is to clarify and warn against them. Refute the shubuhaat (i.e. those affairs that are made to resemble the truth but are falsehood in reality); so that the people are saved from their evil or the one who wishes to be saved is saved.
[لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَيَّ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ- So that those who were to be destroyed might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live might live after a clear evidence. (8:42)]
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Download lecture on this link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=148203
Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullaah.
This is a reminder to all my brothers and sisters regarding the correct stance related to criticism and praise. These two articles were posted at www.salaficentre.com at a time in which some of the hizbiyyoon sought to utilize Shubuhaat—seeking to justify unexplained, vague and invalid criticisms, whilst rejecting the detailed, explained and clear criticisms that were directed at the corrupt statements, actions and affiliations of deviated individuals and groups. Indeed, just as there are hizbiyyoon in the three main cities [London, Birmingham and Manchester]; likewise, they have their associates in Stoke-On-Trent and other places–hizbiyyoon allied to Greenlane, Abu Usaamah and others etc. Therefore, I remind my brothers and sisters to acquaint themselves with the knowledge based clarification regarding this affair.
Here are the responses of Shaikh Ubaid (may Allaah preserve him)
Question 1:
If I heard the statement of a scholar in a cassette or read it in a book concerning some person that he is indeed an innovator, but I did not see the evidence, is it then binding upon me to be cautious of this person and be satisfied that he is indeed an innovator, or do I wait until I find evidence for that?
Shaikh Ubaid (may Allaah preserve him) answered:
All praise is due to Allaah the Lord of the Aalameen and may Allaah send His Salutations of peace and blessings upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. To proceed: I say: Indeed Ahlus Sunnah do not pass judgement of Bidah (i.e. declare one to be from ahlul bidah) against anyone unless they are fully acquainted with him and completely examine what he is upon and know his methodology perfectly, in general and in detail. And from this point (in our discussion), this affair leads us to two standpoints:
The first standpoint: It is about the one against whom a scholar or scholars have passed a judgement that he is an innovator, whilst other scholars from Ahlus Sunnah like them do not differ (about this judgement). Beware, I say: Others from Ahlus Sunnah do not differ with them; so we accept their criticism against him (i.e. the one declared a man of bidah). We accept their speech and are cautious about him. So as long as a Sunni Scholar passed judgement against him and he was criticised by a Sunni scholar, whilst the rest of Ahlus Sunnah amongst the contemporaries of this scholar–his brothers and sons amongst the scholars–did not raise (an opposition), then his speech must be accepted. That is because this Sunni Scholar who criticised a man did not do so except based on an affair that is clear to him and established upon proof. This is something related to the religion of Allaah–the one who criticises or commends knows that he is responsible for what he says and for the ruling or judgement he gives. He knows that he is held accountable by Allaah (The Most High) even before the people question him.
The Second Standpoint: If this person who has been criticized by a scholar or scholars and they passed a judgement against him with what drops his status, and it became obligatory to be cautious of him; but then they are opposed by others who judged him to be trustworthy and that he is upon the Sunnah, or gave other judgements in opposition to the judgements of those other (scholars) who criticized him; then in this case, as long as these (scholars) and those (scholars) are upon the Sunnah and all of them are trustworthy and people of integrity in our view, we should look to the evidence. This is why they (i.e. the scholars) say: “The one who knows is a proof against the one who does not know.”
A criticizer who stated about such and such person that he is an innovator and a deviant, whilst producing evidence from the books of the criticized person or from his cassette tapes, or from the transmissions of the reliable narrators about him, then this obligates on us to accept his speech and abandon the (speech) of those who gave commendations in opposition to the one who criticized. That is because those who criticized him presented evidences that are hidden from the others due some reasons, or due to the fact that the one who commended did not read or hear (anything or something negative) about the criticized; rather he based his commendation upon what he knew about him previously and that he was upon the Sunnah. Therefore, this criticized person against whom evidence is established is truly declared unreliable and the proof is with the one who established the evidence. And it is incumbent upon the one who seeks the truth to follow the evidence and he does not seek to take a path to the right or the left, or saying: “I abstain of my own accord.” That is because we have not been obligated with this from the Salaf. Indeed, it is a prescribed obligation to accept the speech of the one who established the evidence. And the Sunni Scholar who opposed those who criticized (based on clear proofs) is excused and his status and honour are maintained in our eyes. We recognize what –by the will of Allaah–he possesses of virtue and exalted status.
A scholar from Ahlus Sunnah is only a human. He can be distracted and forgetful, and he can be deceived by evil people; or he used to consider a man to be trustworthy–who has now been declared untrustworthy–and he deceives him. The witnesses to this affair are many because many of those whose status has been dropped– due to being declared unreliable based on evidence–are in reality people who wage war against the Sunnah and its people. So they come along with copies of their books and read it to the distinguished scholars–those considered to be people of leadership and virtue in the religion- whilst the affair of this trickster and plotter is hidden from that noble scholar, which had he known of it the status of this person would have dropped in his eyes. So this scholar gives praise based on what he heard. And if the book (of this trickster) is printed, it is disseminated and transmitted by his supporters and they spread a good reputation about him. Thus there are those who argue saying, “such and such praised him-Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah), or Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah), or Ibn Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) praised this book. However these scholars are excused; rather this trickster was hidden from that scholar.
So, what remains? We establish the evidence against this ‘deceiver, trickster, intrigant and plotter’ from his books. We establish the manifest clarifications against him from his books and we say to the one who argues with us, “Take it, this is his speech.” Therefore, it is obligatory on you to be fair and to be free from that wild and zealous attachment, and the desires that blinds a person. It is obligatory upon you that your search should be for the truth.
Question 2:
This questioner says: What is the obligation upon the common Salafis concerning those du’aat (callers) about whom the scholars differ in their commendations and criticisms, regardless whether they (i.e. the common Salafis) are aware or unaware of their mistakes (i.e. the mistakes of those callers)?
Answer:
I say: I advise you; neither accept cassettes nor books except those of a person whom you know to be upon the Sunnah and a witness of that is established for him—the one well-known to be upon the Sunnah and an opposition to it is not manifested from him. This is an (abiding) general principle applied to him whilst he is alive and after his death. The one who passed away and we regarded him to be upon the Sunnah, then in our view he is upon the Sunnah and we ask Allaah to keep him firm upon it in the afterlife [i.e. Allaah grants him firmness to answer the questions in the grave due to adherence to the Sunnah (Tawheed and following the Messenger) and resurrects him in the afterlife as a person of Sunnah] just as he was kept firm upon it whilst he was alive…aameen. This is the first affair.
Secondly: If the affair of a person is hidden from you–the one whose books and cassettes are famous and his fame is widespread–then ask those who are well acquainted with him and those who know about his state of affairs. That is because neither is the Sunnah hidden nor are its people. A man’s Tazkiyah (i.e. the clear witness that he is upright upon the Sunnah) are his own actions. His Tazkiyah are his own actions that he is upon the Sunnah. It is the witness and the people mention him with it during his life and after his death.
There is none who hides behind the Sunnah– the people beguiled by him, gathered around him to learn, adhered to him, became dependent on him and accepted everything he said–except that Allaah will reveal his affair, uncover and expose his concealed state of affairs to specific individuals and to the general public, regarding what was hidden and apparent of his deception, his mixing truth with falsehood, his plots and deceitful practices. Allaah facilitates men of virtue, intelligence, wisdom, strength and exceptional natural ability–possessors of knowledge, skill and sound understanding of the religion–through whom He (Allaah) unveils the affair of that trickster, dubious and deceitful person.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon you that when the state of that person is made clear–the one whose fame is widespread etc.–then you should be cautious of him as long as he was warned against by those people of knowledge and Imaan who are upon the Sunnah; for indeed they will unveil his affair with evidences. And there is no hindrance in unveiling the state of that person who has been warned against by a scholar or scholars with the appropriate etiquettes and in a good manner because that scholar will say to you: “I saw this and that in him, and I saw this and that in the book of such and such, or I heard this or that in the cassette of such and such.” Therefore, you have clear evidence that will unveil what was hidden from you, and that the one whose fame is widespread and his speech is pleasant is one who hides something of innovation and plotting, which cannot be compared to what he manifests from the Sunnah.
Secondly: The one who knows of a mistake and it is clear to him, then it is not permissible for him to blindly follow a scholar to whom an affair is hidden. And indeed you already heard yesterday that the scholars are not infallible in their Ijtihaadaat. Therefore, it is not permissible to adopt them (i.e. the mistakes of the scholars) as a methodology (to follow).
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[Source: Slightly Paraphrased and Abridged] See Link: www.sahab.net/home/?p=329
Also see links:
http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/1-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-al-allaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/
http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/2-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-alallaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/
Umm Salamah [رضي الله عنها] said:
The Prophet [ﷺ] never left my house except that he raised his eyes towards the sky, (and) then said:
اللهم أعوذ بك أن أضل أو أضل ، أو أزل أو أزل ، أو أظلم أو أظلم ، أو أجهل أو يجهل علي
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[Sunan Abu Daawud. Declared authentic by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah)]
Sharh Sunan Abee Daawud 363..by Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad (may Allaah preserve him)
See details and audio on this link: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=148121
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) stated:
The Shahaadah ‘None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah’ (uttered) at the time of death has a great effect in wiping away evil deeds and nullifying them. That is because it is a testimony from a slave who is certain of it and has knowledge of its meaning. All his desires come to an end; his rebellious soul (becomes) mild and submissive after being in (a state of) refusal and disobedience; approving after turning away, and humbled after being held in high esteem. Its (i.e. the heart and the soul) eagerness for the worldly life and its merits departs-cut off (from everything) in the presence of its Lord, Originator and true Protector. Humble to Him, hopeful of His Pardon Forgiveness and Mercy. The Oneness of Allaah frees and cuts it off from the means to Shirk and the reality of its falsity is established; so those wishes which it busied itself with ceases and all its concern is (directed towards) The One it is certain to meet (i.e. Allaah).
The slave entirely focuses on Allaah- turning towards Allaah with his heart, soul and desire; submitting to Him alone inwardly and outwardly. His inward affair (i.e. the heart and soul) and outward affair (i.e. what he proclaims) become the same, and he sincerely says: “None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah.” Indeed, his heart is freed from attachment to other than Allaah and departs from inclining towards other than Him. All the worldly life departs from his heart and thus he is about to stand in the presence of his Lord. The intensity of his desires is extinguished and his heart is filled with the (affair) of the afterlife, so it becomes the attention of his eyes and the worldly life is (placed) behind him.
This sincere testimony becomes his last deed–purifying him of his sins and thus he is entered (into a noble position) by his Lord because he meets his Lord with a truthful and pure testimony, whose outward manifestation is in agreement with (what is hidden in the heart and soul). If he stated this (type) of testimony during the time of well-being, he would have deserted the world and its people-fleeing to Allaah from the people and leaving everything else other than Him. However, he made this testimony (in the world) with a heart filled with desires, love of life and its means of subsistence….
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[Source: Al-Fawaa-id. Page: 91-92. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]