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Tag: softening the hearts

I [i.e. all of us] Know My People, Culture, Language And Lineage, But That Should Not Lead to Arrogance, Suspicion or Antagonism Towards Others Just Because They Are Different

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Calling To Islam - 'Da'wa', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said: Ascription to a tribe is an affair confirmed (or established) by the (Islamic) legislation. [Allaah (The Most High) said]:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ۬

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has the most Taqwah. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. [49:13]

Some Benefits derived from the above Ayah:

[لِتَعَارَفُوا  – that you may know one another]; so that you may know one another and how close you all are to one another in lineage, but not out of boastfulness. Then Allaah informed us that the most elevated amongst them (i.e the children of Aadam) are those who fear Allaah the most.

The Prophet (salla-laahu-alayhi-wasalam) said: “Learn your lineages so that you can maintain ties of kinship…..’’ [Reported by Imaam Tirmidhee (rahimahullaah) Number 1979 & declared authentic by Imaam Albani (rahimahullaah) in Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhee]

Therefore, ascription to a tribe and a nation is affirmed in Islaam. The companions of the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] used to ascribe themselves to their tribes and their people in the presence of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), and he never disapproved of that. [Ref A]

The Messenger [sallal-laahu-aalayhi-wasallam] said, ”Whoever is held back by his deeds, his (nobility) of lineage will not push him forward.” [Ref 1]

Imaam Nawawi [rahimahullaah] said, ”Its meaning is that the one whose deeds are deficient and he does not catch up with the performers of (good) deeds, then it is obligatory upon him not to crown himself with nobility of lineage and the virtues of his forefathers, whilst he is lagging behind in (performing good) deeds.” [Ref 2]

Ubay bin ka’b [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: Two men [mentioned their] lineages during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]; one of them said [to the other]: ‘’I am Fulaan the son of Fulaan [i.e. mentioning his name and that of his parents, grandparents etc.], so who are you [with] no mother? [i.e. rebuking him]. So Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “Two men [mentioned their] lineages during the lifetime of Moosaa [alayhis-salaam]; one of them said [to the other]: “I am Fulaan son of Fulaan, until he counted nine [people from his lineage], so who are you [with] no mother” [i.e. rebuking the other]. He [the other person] said: “I am Fulaan the son of Fulaan, the son of Islaam.” So Allaah revealed to Moosaa [alayhis-salaam]: ‘’Indeed those two who [mentioned their] lineages, as for you ascribed or attributed to nine, [they] are in the hell fire and you are the tenth amongst them. And as for you ascribed or attributed to two, [they] are in paradise and you are the third of them.” [3]

Customs

Imaam Ash-Shaatibee [rahimahullaah] stated in Al-Muwaafaqaat that Customs are many different types- some are sound and others are corrupt. The sound customs are those that neither oppose the Sharee’ah texts nor lead to losing an affair deem to be beneficial by the Sharee’ah, nor lead to an affair which the Sharee’ah deems to be corrupt.

As for the corrupt customs, they are those that oppose the evidences in the Sharee’ah or some of the principles of the Sharee’ah, such as some of the customary dealings in usury, and those deeds deemed to be evil by the Sharee’ah which the people engage in during occasions of happiness (or rejoicing etc) [Ref 4]

NB: Whenever we are unsure whether a certain custom of our nation, tribe or clam is permissible or not, we should seek clarification from the people of knowledge.

[Ref A]Source: Silsilah Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Manhajiyyah Fin-Nus’hi Wal Irshaad Wat-Taw’iyah’ pages 47-49 Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 1] [Saheeh Muslim…part of hadeeth in ‘’The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness]

[Ref 2] [Sharh Saheeh Muslim:  Hadeeth Number 2699; Vol 17, page 18]

[Ref 3] [Reported by Imaam Ahmad 5/128 and declared authentic by Imaam Al Albaani in As-Saheehah 1270]

[Ref 4]: Al-Muwaafaqaat 2/283. Paraphrased & abridged]

 

 

The End Result of Taqwah and Sabr

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Qur'aan, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Allaah [The Most High] informed us of the conversation between Prophet Yusuf [alayhis-salaam] and his brothers:

قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

They said: “Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)? “He said: I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost.”

They knew that the one who addressed them was Yoosuf, so they said: [ أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُف -Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)]?” He said: [أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا – I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us]” [by granting] us Imaan, piety and authority in the worldly life, and that is due to patience and piety.

[ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ -Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient]- Meaning: [He/She] keeps away from what Allaah has forbidden, exercises patience in facing pain and calamities, and [exercises patience] in carrying out the commandments [of Allaah], [فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِين – then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost]”; because this is from Ihsaan and Allaah makes not the reward of the one who perfects his deeds to be lost.

[For further details, see Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan]

Hasten towards good deeds; for there will be trials which would be like a part of a dark night- [Shaikh Rabee Gives Us An Important Reminder]

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him] said:

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “Hasten towards (performance of) good deeds; (for) there will be trials which would be like a part of a dark night, wherein (i.e. during these trials) a man wakes up as a believer and becomes a disbeliever by night; or he begins the night as a believer and wakes up as a disbeliever, and a man would sell his religion for a (portion) of the worldly life (i.e. the worldly goods).”  [Saheeh Muslim Kitaab Al-Imaan number: 118]

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him] said:

The author [i.e. Imaam Al-Aajurree] pointed out that a lot of fitan [trials] have occurred–a people were humiliated during it and also [others] were destroyed, such as the likes of Abu Muslim Al-Khurasaanee and [during] the fitna of Ibnul Raawandee.

 Many fitan have occurred and from them, the fitna of the khawaarij, the Rawaafid and killing. Deviation and misguidance have occured –either fighting and trials [related] to politics or trials [related] to creed, methodology and what is similar to it.  Many people who were to be destroyed were destroyed  and the one whom Allaah protected was saved and made to adhere to the true methodology.

Indeed, all praises and thanks be to Allaah, many [people] were saved due to the clarity and establishment of this methodology [of the Salaf], just as the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam] promised that “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth –neither being harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them until the hour is established.”

So Allaah’s proof has been established against the people from the time the Muhammad [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam] was sent until the establishment of the hour.

A time will not come except that His [i.e. Allaah’s] proofs are established.  [These proofs will be] established by the inheritors of the prophets [i.e. the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah], the people of sound knowledge, the ‘Taa-ifatul Mansoorah [i.e. victorious group] that adheres to the truth and will not depart from it until the establishment of the hour. Allaah’s proof has been established against [the people] and through them [i.e. the inheritors of the prophets, the people of sound knowledge, the victorious group] Allaah saves many people, and all the praises and thanks be to Allaah.

So during every trial, they [i.e. the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah] must openly proclaim the truth and clarify this truth for the people. They should distinguish for them [the difference] between guidance and misguidance; between truth and falsehood; the manner in which the people will be safeguarded from these trials; the path through which they will be saved from entering into fitan and other affairs [by way of which] Allaah [The Blessed and Most High] guides this [victorious] group when [they] face every fitna.

And indeed the author reiterated this hadeeth: ‘’A man will wake up in the morning as a Muslim and by evening he becomes a disbeliever.” He [i.e. the author] said that a people will be humiliated; Yes! A man may be upon truth, and then you do not see him thereafter except that he has become a disbeliever! Or a misguided innovator! This is nothing else but humiliation! He used to claim that he was upon good, a possessor of knowledge and upon the truth, but then he falls into disbelief–either Kufr Akbar or kufr Asghar. This is ignominy and Allaah’s Protection is sought.

How many people have been humiliated and exposed by a trial! [Suddenly] you come to know of them and their false claims are unveiled, and their reality is clarified for you.

Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة للإمام المحدث أبي بكر محمد بن الحسين الآجري

1/200-202. Abridged and slightly paraphrased

Ponder Upon These Words of Shaikh Uthaymeen Before You Place That Cigarette In Your Mouth or Harm Yourself With Drugs

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Qur'aan, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

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

Smoking is forbidden due to the evidences found in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, and based on sound opinion.  Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said:

[وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيماً  – And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you] [Soorah Nisaa: Ayah: 29]

It is well-known that smoking causes harm to the body which may appear sooner or later, and this is an affair agreed upon by the doctors of today after the advancement of medicine. Smoking also disfigures the teeth, the lips etc.

Also, Allaah [the Most High] said: [وَلا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَاماً – And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you]. Therefore, Allaah clarified the wisdom behind wealth and that He made it a means of support through which the Religious and worldly benefits are established. And it is well known that spending wealth on cigarettes neither supports Religious nor worldly benefits, rather it does the opposite.

And from the evidences in the Sunnah concerning the impermissibility of smoking is that the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] forbade the squandering of wealth, and squandering wealth is when it is spent in other than what is beneficial. It is well known that spending wealth on smoking is a spending in which there is no benefit, rather it is spending in that which is harmful.

As for sound opinion, then sound intellect necessitates that a person does not partake in that which harms him and wastes his wealth, whilst he is a believer and that he will be brought to account. Therefore, sound intellect necessitates that a person does what benefits him and leaves what harms him, and from the perfection of [one’s religion and character] is to leave that which is of no benefit.

The affairs are three: [1] Beneficial things [2] Harmful things [3] Things in which there is neither harm nor benefit.  The first affair is sought after, the second affair is blameworthy, and regarding the third affair, a person refrains from it out of seeking perfection in his affairs, but there is no blame on him if he does it.

[Paraphrased and abridged: Source:  links http://www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8074] http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/noor/article_3610.shtml

 

Some Perils of False Argumentation and Obstinacy

Written by Jallow Abdullah on . Posted in Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Qur'aan.

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ

And among mankind is he who disputes concerning Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious [disobedient to Allah] Shaitan [devil] [devoid of each and every kind of good]. [22:3]

There is a party and a group amongst mankind who follow the path of misguidance. They argue based on falsehood and portray it as the truth. They wish to certify falsehood as truth and falsify the truth. The truth regarding them is that they are upon extreme ignorance and do not possess any knowledge, and the most they have is blameworthy blind following of their misguided figureheads among the rebellious devils- rebels against Allaah and His Messengers. Indeed, they oppose Allaah and His Messenger [Muhammad (sallal-laahyu-alayhi-wasallam)] and thus became from those figureheads who call to the hell fire.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلادِ

None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve. So, let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you. [Surah 40:4]

Allaah informed us that [مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا – None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve]

The intended meaning behind the word ‘disputes’ here [i.e. in this aayah] is disputation to reject Allaah’s Aayaat [i.e. proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc] and oppose them with falsehood. This is a deed of the disbelievers, but as for the believers, they humble themselves to Allaah [The Most High], for indeed Allaah  makes a statement of truth to invalidate falsehood.

It is not permissible for a person to be deceived by his worldly [affairs] and thinks that the favours Allaah has bestowed on him in this worldly life proves that Allaah loves him and he is upon the truth. And for this reason, Allaah He [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلاد -So let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you]- Meaning: going back and forth in pursuit of various affairs of trade and earnings; rather what is obligated on a servant [i.e. an obedient slave of Allaah] is that he utters the truth to the people, examines the state of affairs based on the legislated divine [commands and prohibitions ordained by Allaah] and passes judgement on the [affairs, circumstances etc] of the people through them. He does not weigh up the truth [solely based on the desires, views, likes or dislikes of] the people, just as what the one who neither has knowledge nor [sound] intellect is upon.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْجَوَارِ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ

And among His Signs are the ships, in the sea, like mountains.

إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ الرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ

 Or He may destroy them (by drowning) because of that which their (people) have earned. And He pardons much.

وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ

And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat may know that there is no place of refuge for them. [42:35]

وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا – And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat’ –Meaning: In order to (declare) them untrue with their falsehood [i.e. those who seek to declare Allaah’s Aayat to be untrue by way of their false claims and arguments] مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ –there is no place of refuge for them- Meaning: There is no place of escape for them to stop the punishment from [reaching] them.

Allaah [The Most High] stated:

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَ‌سُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ ۖ وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ

وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَ‌بِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ‌

The people of Nuh (Noah) and the confederates after them denied (their Messengers) before these, and every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to seize him, and disputed by means of falsehood to refute therewith the truth. So, I seized them (with punishment), and how (terrible) was My punishment! Thus, has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire. [40:5-6]

Allaah [The Most High] mentioned -in this Aayah- those who argue against His Aayaat to nullify them [i.e. they argued against Allaah’s Aayaat to declare them false], just as the previous nations before them did, such as the people of Nooh, Aad and those confederates who formed an illegal partisanship and gathered against the truth, and to aid falsehood.

Then they reached this [evil, which is]: [وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَ‌سُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ -And every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to kill him]. This is the [most dangerous state] the Messengers can find themselves- the ones [i.e. the Messengers of Allaah] who are the [only perfect] leaders of the righteous people and possessors of pure truth about which there is neither any doubt nor ambiguity; however, they [i.e. their disbelieving peoples] plotted to kill them.

Is there any [act] of rebellion, misguidance and wretchedness that [can be severer] than this, so for this reason [the plotters deserved] a great punishment which they cannot escape. Allaah [The Most High] mentioned the punishment they [received] in this worldly life and what they will [receive] in the afterlife: [فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ -So I seized them]-Meaning: due to their act of wilful denial [i.e. their wilful denial of Allaah’s Aayaat by way of arguing with falsehood and plotting to kill Allaah’s Messengers] and their illegal partisanship. [فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ- And how (terrible) was My punishment!] [وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَ‌بِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ‌ -Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire].

[Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). paraphrased and abridged]