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If People Desisted and Did Not Enter Into Bidah, Certainly They Would Have Attained Safety- By Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan

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

Imaam Al-Barbahaaree [rahimahullaah] said:

‘’May Allaah have mercy upon you! Know that if the people were to desist from newly introduced matters, not entering into any of them at all and did not say anything for which there was no narration from the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] or from his Companions, there would not be any innovation.” [1]

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] comments on the above statement:

And ‘’if the people were to desist from newly invented matters [in the religion]”-Meaning: If they desisted and did not enter into them; restricted themselves to the Sunnah and did not leave it for innovations, certainly they would have attained safety.  But whoever relinquishes the Sunnah and innovate statements which have no proof in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] will eventually be with the innovators and the deviated sects.  And there is no safety except by way of the Sunnah which the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] left for us. He [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: ‘’Indeed, I have left amongst you two things, if you hold firmly to them, you will never go astray; the book of Allaah and my Sunnah.’’

And in another hadeeth:‘I have left you upon white plain [i.e. clear guidance], its night is like its day, and none deviates from it except he who is destroyed.’’

This is the path to safety- the Sunnah of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and that which his companions were upon…. [2]


[Ref 1: Translated by Abu Talhah Daawud Burbank (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)

[Ref 2: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree’ Page: 82-83. Vol 2. Abridged and slightly paraphrased (Abdullah Jallow )]

Your feedback is welcome to improve the content of this post…

BaaraKAllaahu Feekum

The Salah, Speech and Contentment!

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

A man came to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and said: ‘’Admonish me and be brief’’; so the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said to him:

إِذَا قُمْتَ فِي صَلَاتِكَ فَصَلِّ صَلَاةَ مُوَدِّعٍ

‘’When you stand for your prayer, then pray a farewell prayer (i.e. as if it is your last Salah before death).”

وَلَا تَكَلَّمْ بِكَلَامٍ تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ غَدًا

‘’Do not speak with a statement for which you may have to apologize tomorrow.”

وَأَجْمِعِ اليَأسَ مِمَّا فِي يَدَيِ النَّاسِ

  ‘’And forgo what is in the hands of the people (i.e. do not be desperate for the worldly possessions of the people).”


Reported by:

[Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) Number: 23498)]

[Imaam Ibn Maajah (rahimahulllaah) Number: 4171]

[Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah. Number:401]

 

Everyone Finds Pleasure In the Strength He [Or She] Is Given in an Affair- by Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]

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

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:

Keep away from the one who shows enmity to the people of the Qur’aan and the [authentic] Sunnah lest you are afflicted by his loss [or depravity].

Beware of two enemies through which many people were destroyed: The one who was hindered from the Path of Allaah due to his [i.e. the person’s] Shubuhaat and adorned speech; fascination with his Dunyah [i.e. worldly possessions, achievements etc] and leadership.

Whoever is given strength and facilitated [with the means] to something, then his pleasure will be found in utilising that strength [in that affair].

  1. Whoever is granted the strength to have sexual relations, he will find pleasure in utilising his strength in it.
  2. Whoever is given strength to become angry and overcome [others], he will utilise the strength of his anger to [obtain what he desires].
  3. Whoever is given the strength to eat and drink, his pleasure will be found in utilising his strength in [eating and drinking].
  4. Whoever is given the strength to [obtain] knowledge and understanding, his pleasure will be found in utilising his strength and directing it towards [obtaining] knowledge.
  5. Whoever is given strength in [having] love for Allaah, turning to Allaah in repentance, submission and obedience, being devoted to Allaah [sincerely with one’s] heart, having an ardent desire [to please, obey and meet Allaah] and [desiring to come close to Allaah, be recognised and loved by Allaah etc], he will find his pleasure and bliss in utilising this strength in that.

    All these pleasures [i.e. numbers 1, 2, 3 & 4] will dwindle and disappear, except this one [i.e. number 5]. And the most praiseworthy outcome of [numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5] is that they should be neither for nor against the person.  [Slightly paraphrased]


Your suggestions and comments are welcome to improve the content of this article. Baarakallaahu Feekumn

 

The Students of Hadeeth Must Strive to Be the Best People In Behaviour- by Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi [rahimahullaah]

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

Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi [rahimahullaah] said:

It is incumbent that the seekers of Hadeeth should be the [possessors of the] most perfect [behaviour, traits, manners, etiquettes etc] amongst the people; the most humble amongst the people, the greatest in their impartiality and adherence to the religion; the least in [deviating from good conduct] and [becoming] angry. And that is due to their constant listening to the narrations that combine the excellent manners and etiquettes of Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], the lives of the virtuous pious predecessors, the path of the scholars of Hadeeth and the virtues of the [pious ones and scholars] who have passed away; so they adhere to the most refined and excellent [aspects of those traits, etiquettes, manners etc] and turn away from the most despised and lowly [traits, behaviour, manners, etiquettes etc]


[Source: (Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 1/78). Slightly paraphrased]

 

[2] Reminders From [Virtue of the Knowledge of the Salaf over the Knowledge of the Khalaf] -By Imaam Ibn Rajab [rahimahullaah]

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

Indeed, [we] have been told about a people who were given knowledge but their knowledge did not benefit them; for even though this [knowledge] is actually ‘Beneficial Knowledge’, however its possessor was not benefited by it. Allaah [The Most High] said:

[مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَحۡمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡحِمَارِ يَحۡمِلُ أَسۡفَارَۢا‌ۚ  – The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). [Surah Al-Jumu’ah Ayah 5]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

[وَٱتۡلُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنۡهَا فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَاوِينَ  – And recite (O Muhammad ) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), but he threw them away, so Shaitan (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray….up to the statement of Allaah: [وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ‌ۚ   – and followed his own vain desire] [Surah Al-A’raaf Aayaat 175-176] [Ref 1]

And Allaah [The Most High] said:

[فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ۬ وَرِثُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ يَأۡخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡأَدۡنَىٰ  – Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life (evil pleasures of this world)…[up to the statement of Allaah]: وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيهِ‌ۗ And they have studied what is in it (the Book). [Surah Al-Araaf Aayaat 169-170]

[Source: Fadl Ilmis Salaf Alaa Ilmil Khalaf’ page43-44. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

To be continued..InShaaAllaah


Ref 1: See more benefits by Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] here:

https://www.salaficentre.com/2017/03/part-1-one-likened-dog-abandoned-allaahs-aayaat-eager-dunyah/

https://www.salaficentre.com/2017/03/part-2-one-likened-dog-abandoned-allaahs-aayaat-eager-dunyah/

https://www.salaficentre.com/2017/03/part-3-one-likened-dog-abandoned-allaahs-aayaat-eager-dunyah/

A Brief Acquaintance with the Affair of Those Who Deviated Due To Their Erroneous Understanding of the Arabic Language and the Sharee’ah Terms

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

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said:

The one who does not know the language of the Sahaabah- the language they used when speaking to [one another]; the [language] used by the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] when he spoke to them and the manner in which they spoke in general- he will change words from their right places.  For indeed many people are nurtured upon the idioms of their people and their customary usage of words; so he finds those words in Allaah’s Speech, or the speech of Messenger, or that of the Sahaabah and thinks that what Allaah intends or what His Messenger [intend], or what the Sahaabah [intend] is what is intended by the people of his custom and their oral expressions, even though what Allaah and His Messenger intend is the opposite of that.

This occurred from a group of people- the people of philosophical rhetoric, the people who spoke about Fiqh, the people who spoke about the Arabic language, the common people and other than them.  And there are others who deliberately devised other meanings for the words of the Prophets and that of their [true] followers-meanings that are in opposition to their [true] ones.  Then they spoke with those words whilst intending to aid themselves, saying: ‘’Indeed, we are in agreement with the Prophets.’’  This is found in abundance in the speech of the heretical philosophers, the Ismaa’eeliyyah [Rawaafid] and those similar to them amongst the heretical philosophers, rhetoricians and the soofees.  The one who [truly] knows the Prophets and what they intend [by their speech], he will know by necessity that the [speech of those heretics] is not what is intended by the Prophets.


[Majmoo Fataawaa 1/175. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

 

Allaah Reminds The Nations About The Fate of Their Forefathers!

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

Allaah [The Most High] says in Surah Al-A’raaf Ayah 100-102:

[  أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَآ أَن لَّوۡ نَشَآءُ أَصَبۡنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ‌ۚ وَنَطۡبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ- Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its (previous) possessors, that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not?]- Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] informs those who inherit the earth in succession from those who preceded them, that He [The Most High] destroyed their forefathers due to their sins, yet they commit the same sins that were committed by their forefathers! Do they not take heed that had Allaah willed He would punish them due to their sins, for this is the manner in which Allaah deals with mankind – both the previous nations and those who inherited the earth after them. Allaah [The Most High] warned those who inherited the earth from the previous nations, but they did not take heed. Allaah sent them reminders but they did not reflect. Allaah showed them guidance through signs, but they did not follow guidance, so Allaah punished them by sealing their hearts – neither did truth enter their hearts nor did good reach their hearts; nor did they give an attentive ear [to the truth]; rather they only heard that which established the proofs against them.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said:

[ تِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآٮِٕهَا‌ۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا ڪَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِمَا ڪَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ – Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you (O Muhammad). And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe in that which they had rejected before. Thus Allah does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers (from each and every kind of religious guidance)]-Meaning: Messengers came and called them to that which will lead them to happiness [in the life and the next]. Those Messengers were given manifest signs and clear evidences to clarify the truth, but the people did not listen and thus were not benefited. And because they belied those manifest signs and clear proofs after being well aware of them, Allaah [The Most High] prevented them from accepting the sound and infallible creed ordained by Allaah. This was punishment on them because they rejected the truth, just as Allaah [The Most High] said in Surah Al-An’aam Ayah 110:

[وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡـِٔدَتَہُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَنَذَرُهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ – And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly].

Then Allaah [The Most High] says in Ayah 102 Surah Al-A’raaf:

[وَمَا وَجَدۡنَا لِأَڪۡثَرِهِم مِّنۡ عَهۡدٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن وَجَدۡنَآ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَفَـٰسِقِينَ  –  And most of them We found not (true) to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)]-Meaning: The majority of the nations -to whom Allaah [The Most High] sent Messengers – were not true to their covenant. Neither were they steadfast nor did they adhere to the commands of Allaah, nor did they submit obediently to the commands of Allaah which the Messengers ordered them to obey; rather they followed their desires, except a very few of them. The majority of them turned away from guidance out of arrogance, so Allaah sent them various types of punishment.


[Source: Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah). Paraphrased and abridged]

 

Some Evil Consequences of Pride and False Analogy – By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]

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

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

[Allah] said: “What prevented you [O Iblis] that you did not prostrate, when I commanded you?” Iblis said: “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.”

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: It has been stated that the reason behind Iblees being distanced [from the Mercy of Allaah] is because of false interpretation, for indeed he made an analogy and gave precedence to the analogy over the text. He made a false representation about himself and gave precedence to that rational analogy over the command [that was given to him] to prostrate [to Aadam]. Allaah [informed us that Iblees] said: [أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ  – I am better than him (Adam)]- Meaning: A more virtuous individual cannot humble himself to the one who has been given precedence over him; then Iblees immediately stated [as Allaah informed us that Iblees] said:

[خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ -You created me from fire, and him You created from clay].  He thought that this rational analogy that resembles the truth- even though it is false- will benefit him in his false interpretation. So that which happened to him happened and he became the leader of everyone- until the day of judgement – who makes a false interpretation of the divine texts. How many a people in this world are followers of this cursed leader! And if you contemplate on the majority of those doubts that are made to resemble the truth by the false interpreters of the texts- whilst seeking to nullify them- you will find that it is similar to the doubts of Iblees which they seek to portray as truth.

So a person says: If the intellect and the text oppose each other, then give precedence to the intellect; this is where this principle [i.e. false analogy] is derived from and he [i.e. this person] utilises it as fundamental principle by way of which he rejects those texts of the revelation which he claims are  in opposition to the intellect, just as his leader Iblees claimed that a [so called] rational evidence opposed the command to make Sujood. This doubt came to him due to pride and it prevented him from submitting to the clear text of the revelation.  Likewise, you find that every false disputer against the texts of the revelation does so due to pride. Allaah [The Most High] said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ ۙ إِن
فِي صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ ۚ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

Verily, those who dispute about the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, without any authority having come to them, there is nothing else in their breasts except pride [to accept you (Muhammad) as a Messenger of Allah and to obey you]. They will never have it (i.e. Prophethood which Allah has bestowed upon you). So seek refuge in Allah (O Muhammad from the arrogants). Verily, it is He Who is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. [40:56]


[Source: Badaa’i At-Tafseer al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim’ Vol 1. Page 377. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Being Forgiving and Tolerant, Whilst Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil – by Imaam Ibnul Qayyim

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

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:

There is no doubt that the one who is obeyed by the people [finds himself in] three situations: Firstly, he gives them orders and prohibits them [from certain actions] for their own welfare. Secondly, he obligates on them that which they must do in order to obey him. Thirdly, the people with him are of divided two categories: The loyal one who agrees with him and the obstinate one who opposes him, and they have rights he must fulfil. His obligation with regards to giving them orders and restraining them [from evil] is that he commands them with good in order to bring about rectification for them in their personal affairs and forbids them from what is in opposition that.

His Obligations towards the Obedient Ones:

His obligation towards those who obey him is that he enjoins on them that which is easy. He should be generous to those who are submissive and are not hesitant to obey him. He should not burden them with hardship and difficulties, and thus corrupts their affair.

His Obligations towards the Foolish Ones:

His obligation towards the foolish ones – those who act foolishness towards him- is that he turns away from them, neither responding to them in like manner nor taking revenge against them for himself. Indeed, Allaah [The Most High] said to His Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]:

خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِينَ

Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.

And what is intended [in this ayah] is not that [one] turns away from the one who has no knowledge and not to teach and guide him, rather what is intended is that [one] turns away from the foolishness of the one who behaves foolishly towards him, and he does not respond to him in like manner. This Ayah contains the affair of excellent social relationship with the people – fulfilling their rights and safeguarding oneself from their evil. And had all the people adhered to this ayah, it would have sufficed them and brought them close to one another, for indeed being forgiving [in reality] is to overlook the [bad] manners of the people and being tolerant towards their characters.


[Source: For further details, see Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jawzee: Vol: 1: page: 434-436. (abridged & slightly paraphrased)]