In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:
The aim is not to transgress against anyone- neither the opponent nor other than him; neither neglecting his rights nor describing him specifically with what he is not to be specifically described with, which is shared by both him and others. Rather the aim is (to utter) speech that is based on the merits of (sound) knowledge, justice and religion, just as Allaah (The Most high) stated:
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety. [5:8]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Staying within the boundaries of Halaal and Haraam, and not coming close to the doubtful matters depends on the righteousness or corruption of a person’s heart. If the heart has [ الورع – apprehensive fear (Ref1)] and Taqwah (piety), it will distance itself from haraam and that which will lead to Haraam. However, if the heart is corrupt, it will not be bothered about falling into (error).
If the sickness in the heart is not severe, the heart gets involved in the doubtful matters; and if the sickness increases, the heart gets involved in Haraam.
If the corruption is very severe, the heart will not be safeguarded against what is forbidden, and if the corruption is not severe, the heart will not be safeguarded against the doubtful matters. This shows the importance of rectification of the heart. [Ref 2]
Ref 1: The word [ الورع – translated as ‘Apprehensive Fear’ was taken from one of Ustaadh Amjad Rafiq’s (may Allaah preserve him) articles]
You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you and from those who ascribe partners to Allah, but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters, [which you must hold on with all your efforts]. [3:186]
[وَإِن تَصۡبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ – but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters, [which you must hold on with all your efforts]- Meaning: This is among those determining factors in all affairs and that which the believers compete [to excel] one another. And none is granted this except those people with a strong [upright] determination and lofty ambition, just as Allaah [The Most High] said in another Ayah:
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character). [41:34]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz –rahimahullaah- said: So let every Muslim be careful of being deceived by the great numbers [of people upon such and such idea, view, belief, way of life etc], whilst saying: ‘’Indeed, the people have become such and such and have become accustomed to such and such, so I am with them’’. This is a great calamity, for indeed many people of the past were destroyed due to this [i.e. blindly following the majority]. Therefore, O sensible one! It is obligated on you to examine yourself; take account of yourself and adhere to the truth, even if the people abandon it. Beware of what Allaah has forbidden, even if the people do it, for indeed the truth is more worthy of being followed, just as Allaah [The Most High] says: [وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّه ِ -And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s Path. [Surah Al An-aam Ayah 116]
And Allaah [The Most High] says: [ وَمَآ أَڪۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ-And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly] [Surah Yusuf Ayah 103]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
The First Group: They are those whose company is like nourishment which one cannot do without in the morning and evening. One leaves it after fulfilling his need and returns to it when he is in need [again]. The people (intended in this similitude) are those who know Allaah, His commandments, the plots of His enemies, the diseases of the hearts and their remedies [i.e. the scholars]. They are sincere to Allaah, His Messenger and His creation, and there are comprehensive benefits in their company.
The Second Group: They are those whose company is similar to medication that is needed during illness. So, as long as you are healthy, you are not in need of intermingling with them. They are those you cannot do without in the beneficial things of livelihood and fulfilment of various dealings, partnerships, consultation, medication and the likes.
The Third Group: They are those whose company is similar to the different types of diseases and the differences in their severity and mildness. Amongst them is one whose company is similar to chronic illness – this one does not benefit you; neither in the religious nor worldly affairs together with the fact that you either might incur a loss in both your religious and worldly affairs or in one of them. So, if intermingling with him is made possible, it would be like the disease that will lead to death. And amongst them is the one whose company is similar to a tooth ache whose pain becomes severe, but when it leaves you the pain abates.
The Forth Group: They are those whose company is absolute destruction and intermingling with them is similar to eating poison. How common is this similitude within the people! May Allaah not make them numerous, and they are Ahlul Bidah Wad Dalaalah [The people of innovation and misguidance]. They are those who hinder [people] from the path of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and call to that which is in opposition to it. They are those who hinder [people] from the path of Allaah and seek to make it cooked; so they present innovation as Sunnah and Sunnah as innovation, and they present virtue as evil and evil as virtue. And when you established Tawheed amongst them, they say: You have degraded the Awliyaa [friends of Allaah] and the righteous people. And when you establish ittibaa [correct adherence to the path of the messenger with evidence] they say: You have invalidated [the affair] of the followed Imaams. And when you command that which Allaah and His Messenger command and forbid that which Allaah and His Messenger forbid, they say: You are from those who put people to trial.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Al-Allaamah Siddeeq Hasan Khan
[rahimahullaah] said:
This includes affairs before and after death;
[1] There are those affairs whose enjoyment is restricted in this worldly life, such as disobedience and the permissible things.
[2] There are those affairs whose benefit is continuous in this life and the next, such as knowledge and obedience to Allaah etc.
3] There are affairs between the above two categories–and that is every enjoyable thing utilised to aid a person in fulfilling the obligations that will enable him to attain a good afterlife, such as the strength obtained from food, clothing to cover the awrah and to protect oneself from heat and cold etc.
However, after death a person is left with nothing else except if he purified his heart by keeping away from evil desires, being mindful of Allaah due to constant remembrance of Him and love of Him [The Most High]. This cannot be attained expect through knowledge and awareness of Allaah, and this knowledge and awareness comes about as a result of reflecting. Therefore, it is obligatory to be wary of everything that busies a person away from pondering upon the [short lived enjoyment] of the worldly affairs, and everything that aids a person to ponder upon the [short lived enjoyment] of the worldly affairs is indeed an affair of the afterlife.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Abu Hurairah [radiyallaahu-anhu] narrated: The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’Love your beloved one modestly, for it may be that he will become hated to you someday. And hate the one whom you hate modestly, for it may be that he will become your beloved one someday.” [ref 1]
Ibnul Atheer [rahimahullaah] stated in An-Nihaayah 5/284 that this means: You should love your beloved one with moderation and do not go beyond bounds. Do not go into extremes in your love and hate, for it may be that one day you’ll hate the one you used to love and love the one you used to hate. Therefore, neither exaggerate in your love and become regretful [in future], nor exaggerate in your hatred and thus become shy in the presence of the one you used to hate after you stop hating him.
Ref 1: Sunan Tirmidhee 1997. Declared saheeh by Imaam Albaani in his checking of Tirmidhee]
Indeed, the bankrupt one of my Ummah will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and Zakah (in his account), but he comes along having abused this one, slandered that one, unlawfully took the wealth of this one and shed the blood of that one, and beaten that one. So this one will be given from his good deeds, and that one will be given from his good deeds. And if his good deeds finishes before the judgment is made on him, some of their sins(i.e. the ones he wronged) will be taken and cast onto him, then he will be thrown into the Fire.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:
Jaabir [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: The Messenger of Allaah [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, when one of you finishes his prayer in his masjid, then let him give his house a share of his prayer [i.e. pray the optional prayers at home], for indeed Allaah will place something good in his house due to his prayer.” [Muslim 778]
The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: ‘’Do not make your houses [similar] to graveyards [i.e. because it is prohibited to perform salah in graveyards], for indeed shaytaan flees from a house in which Soorah al-Baqarah is recited.” [Muslim 780]
This shows that recitation of the Quraan and performing [optional] prayers in the houses is a means of getting close to Allaah, and it is something that Allaah loves. It is a means of receiving blessings in the houses and it prevents shaytaan from being present a lot. That is because shaytaan flees when he hears remembrance of Allaah. He hates to hear good and loves to hear evil. Therefore, whenever the people of a household recite the Qur’aan a lot, mention the Ahaadeeth a lot, perform a lot of dhikr by uttering Subhaanallaah and Laa ilaaha illal laah, they are more safeguarded from Shayaateen and distanced from him. And whenever the household is preoccupied with heedlessness, music, idle pursuits and gossiping, they are brought closer to the presence of the shayaateen who urges them towards falsehood.
And of mankind are some who take [for worship] others besides Allah as rivals [to Allah]. They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more [than anything else]
[Surah Al-Baqarah’ Aayah 165]
This Aayah clarifies that love is an act of worship. It is a specific type of love that is different from natural love, which people have for their children, relatives, food and drink. The love [mentioned in this Aayah] necessitates servitude to Allaah, complete humility in Allaah’s presence, complete submission to Allaah, fulfilling Allaah’s commands and keeping away from what Allaah has forbidden. It is a specific type of love that is due to Allaah alone and Allaah alone is the one worthy to be loved in this manner – a pure love that necessitates complete humility and submission; fulfilling Allaah’s commands and keeping away from what Allaah has prohibited – neither violating nor transgressing against what Allaah has legislated [based on this love]. If a person gives this type of love [i.e. this love that necessitates servitude to Allaah alone] to an idol, a dead person or any other thing, and believes that the commands [associated with that idol, dead person or thing] are to be fulfilled, and that it is permissible to declare something lawful or unlawful in their name, contrary to what [Allaah and His Messenger legislated], then indeed he has committed shirk. That is because this is the shirk committed by the Mushrikoon in the name of their idols, their so called protectors and the objects they worship besides Allaah. They love them in a manner that leads to worship – seeking blessings from them, victory against enemies etc
