Defending the Religion and Uniting the Ranks Upon the Truth

It has been quite some days since I have posted anything. I apologize for that. We hope that everyone is in the best of health and ‘emaan.

I just read a wonderful article and wanted to share it with all the readers. We hope that it is beneficial. Share any comments you have on it.

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Istiqaamah Magazine , Issue No.2 ,1996

DEFENDING THE RELIGION

Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241H)- rahimahullaah – said:

“All praise is for Allaah who, in every age and intervals between the Prophets, raises up a group from the People of Knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bearing ill treatment and harm. With the Book of Allaah they give life to the dead, and by Allaah’s Light they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees (the Devil) have they revived. How many people astray and wandering have they guided. How beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile people have been towards them. They expel from the Book of Allaah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones – those who uphold die banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords; who differ about the Book, oppose the Book, and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allaah and His Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant masses with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allaah from the trials of the misguided ones.” 1

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said:

“When some people asked Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied: “If I were to remain silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?” Those who introduce heretical writings which oppose the Qur’aan and the Sunnah and those who innovate in matters of worship, then it is obligatory that they be exposed and that the Muslims be warned against them – by unanimous agreement of the Muslims Scholars. In fact, when Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked about a person who fasted, preyed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship; if he was dearer to him than a person who spoke out against ahlul-bid’ah (the innovators), he replied: “When he fasts and prays and secludes himself, then he does so for the benefit of his own self. However, when he speaks out against the innovators, he does so for the benefit of the Muslims in general, and this is more virtuous.” So it is clear that openly opposing the innovators is of general benefit to the Muslims and is considered one of the types of jihaad in the path of Allaah. Since purifying the religion of Allaah and defending it from their attacks is a collective obligation – as is agreed upon by the Scholars. For Allaah did not raise up some people to oppose the innovators, then the religion would suffer harm, corruption and deviation. Indeed, this type of corruption is even greater then the corruption resulting from the disbelievers conquering the Muslims. Since when the disbelievers conquer the Muslims, they do not corrupt their hearts, nor their religion, except after some time. Whereas the innovators corrupt the hearts from the very beginning.” 2

UNITING THE RANKS UPON THE TRUTH

Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azeez bin Baaz – hafidhahullaah – said:

“There is no doubt that it is obligatory upon the Muslims to unify their ranks and to unite their word upon the truth and to co-operate in goodness and piety against the enemies of Islaam – as Allaah, the Most Perfect, ordered them with in His saying: “And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allaah and do not become divided.” [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:102]. And likewise, Allaah has warned the Muslims against splitting up, as occurs in His – the Most Perfect’s – saying: “And do not be like those who differed and split-up after the clear evidences came to them.” [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:105]. However, the order to unify the Muslims and unite their word upon the truth and to hold fast to the rope of Allaah, does not necessitate that they should not censure wrong beliefs and practices – whether from the Soofees or other than them. Rather, what the order to hold fast to the rope of Allaah necessitates is: to order the good, forbid the evil and also to clarify the truth – with the clear Sharee’ah proofs – to whomsoever is misguided or has a mistaken opinion, until they unite upon the truth and turn away from that which opposes it. All of this is included in His – the Most Perfect’s – saying: “And help you one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression.” [Sooratul-Maa'idah 5:2]. And His – the Most Perfect’s – saying: “Let there arise from amongst you a group of people calling to all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, they are the ones who shall be successful.” [Soorah Aal'-lmraan 3:110]. And when the people of truth withhold from clarifying the mistakes of those who have erred or are mistaken, then they will not have achieved that which Allaah ordered them with, as regards calling to goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil. So the person in error will remain upon his error, and the one acting in opposition to the truth will remain upon his opposition. And this is contrary to what Allaah – the Most Perfect – prescribed, with regards sincere advice, co-operation upon goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil – and Allaah alone is the One who grants success.

Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azeez bin Baaz was asked about the correctness of the saying: “We should unite upon that which we agree, and excuse each other in that which we disagree.” The Shaykh commented:

“Yes! It is obligatory to co-operate in that which we agree, by aiding the truth, calling to it and warning against that which Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam have prohibited. Its for excusing each other for that in which we differ – then this is not to be taken in an absolute sense, but rather in a general one. Thus, if the difference involves a particular issue of ijtihaad wherein the proofs are deep and detailed – then it is obligatory not to reproach or censure one another. However, if it opposes a clear text of the Book and the Sunnah, then it is obligatory to correct the one who has opposed the clear texts, but with wisdom, beautiful admonition and debating in the best possible manner, acting upon Allaah -the Most High’s – saying: “And help you one another in righteousness and piety, but do not help one another in sin and transgression.” [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:2] And His – the Most Perfect’s – saying: “The Believers – man and woman – are protectors to each other, they order the good and forbid the evil … “ [Soorah at-Towbah 9:71]. And His – the Mighty and Majestic’s – saying: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful admonition, and argue with them in ways that are better.” [Soorah an-Nahl 16:125]. And he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whosoever sees an evil, then let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do this, then with his tongue, and if he is unable to do this, then with his heart. And that is the weakest of eemaan (faith).” And he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whosoever directs a person to do good, will have a reward similar to the one who does that good.” 5 And the aayaat (verses) and ahaadeeth with this meaning are plenty.” 6

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1. Ar-Radd ‘alal-Jahmiyyah waz-Zanaadiqah (p.2) of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
2. Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (28/231-232).
3. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd ‘alaa man Ta’awwalis-Sifaat (pp.31-32).
4. Related by Muslim (2/21), from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree radiallaahu ‘anhu.
5. Related by Muslim (13/38), from Abu Mas’ood al-Ansaaree radiallaahu ‘anhu.
6. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd ‘alaa man Ta’awwalis-Sifaat (pp.14-15)

Source: http://abdurrahman.org/innovation/clarity.html

Some sayings of the Salaf

Tonite, we want to share with our readers, may Allah bless all of you, some beautiful sayings of the Salaf (pious predecessors).

We should not just read them, but rather we should try to implement them in our lives and see if we are living by these statements or acting in contradiction to it.

We ask Allah that He guides all of us to the straight methodology of the Sahaabah (Salafee Methodology) and increases us in beneficial knowledge and makes that knowledge a source for us to increase in taqwa (fear of Allah). Ameen.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

Mâlik ibn Dînâr (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever proposed to the world, then the world would not be satisfied until he gave up his Deen as dowry.”

Bakr ibn ‘Abdullâh al-Muzanî (rahimahullâh) said, “If you see someone older than you then respect him saying, ‘He has beaten me to Islâm and righteous action.’ If you see someone younger than you then respect him saying to yourself, ‘I have beaten him in sins.’ If the people honour you then say, ‘That is from the grace of Allâh, but I do not deserve it.’ If they degrade you then say , ‘This happened as a consequence of a previous sin.

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever’s knowledge makes him weep, then he is a scholar (‘âlim). Allâh the Most High said, ‘Verily those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them they fall down on their faces in humble prostration.’ [Sûrah Banî Isrâ’îl (17):107] He also said, ‘When the verses (âyât) of Ar-Rahmân (The Most Merciful) is recited to them they fall in prostration weeping.’ ”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!”

Once ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) was advised, “O ‘Umar, beware of being the ally of Allâh in open, while being His enemy in secret. If one’s nature in open and secret do not equate then he is a hypocrite, and the hypocrites occupy the lowest level in Hellfire.”

Ahmad ibn Harb (rahimahullâh) said, “There is nothing more beneficial to a Muslim’s heart than to mix with the righteous and to watch their actions, while nothing is more harmful to the heart than mixing with the sinners and watching their actions

One of the Salaf said, “I disobey Allâh to find its effect in the way my animal behaves and my wife.”

Ahmad ibn Harb (rahimahullâh) would say, “If six mannerisms are gathered in a woman, her goodness is perfected: Guarding the five prayers, yielding to her husband, pleasing her Lord, guarding her tongue from backbiting and gossip, forsaking worldly possessions, and being patient following a tragedy.”

Yahyâ ibn Mu‘âdh (rahimahullâh) said, “Renew your hearts with the remembrance of Allâh because it rushes into forgetfulness.”

‘Abdullâh ibn Mubârak (rahimahullâh) would say, “The world is the believer’s prison. The best action in the prison is patience and control of one’s anger. The believer has no country in the world, His land will be there tomorrow in the Afterlife.”

One of the Salaf used to say, “If you want to be close to Allâh then put an iron wall between yourself and your desires.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “If Iblîs conquers the son Âdam with one of the three [things] he says: I will not seek anything else from him – 1) being fond of himself, 2) deeming his deeds to be plentiful, and 3) forgetfulness of his sins.”

Al-Hasan (rahimahullâh) said, “If shaytân saw you consistently obeying Allâh he will seek you time and time again. If he sees your consistency he grows weary of you and rejects you. If you changed, however, each and every time, then he begins to have hope in you.”

Ash-Shâfi‘î (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever spread gossip for you spreads gossip against you. Whoever relates tales to you will tell tales about you. Whoever when you please him says about you what is not in you, when you anger him will say about you what is not in you.”
Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever’s admonition is much, his friends will be few.”

“If you can be unknown, be so; it doesn’t matter if you are not known and it doesn’t matter if you are not praised. It doesn’t matter if you are blameworthy according to people if you are praiseworthy with Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.”

Al Fudayl ibn Ayyadh, Al Bayhaqi, Al Zuhd Al Kabir p100.

Source:

Siyar ‘Alam al Nubala’ of Imaam ad-Dhahabee

The Door of Tawfeeq has been closed on the people..

Ibn ul Qayyim Al Jawziyah (Rahimahullah) mentioned in his monumental book

“Fawaa’id ul Fawaa’id” on the authority of Shaqeeq Ibn Ibrahim (Rahimahullah),

Who said:The door of Tawfeeq (i.e. success) has been closed on the people because of six things:

The First: Because they (i.e. the people) busy themselves with the Ni’mah (i.e. blessing) bestowed upon them and
forget about the gratitude they should express to Allah, the One who bestowed the favor on them.

The Second: Because they have an ardent desire for knowledge however, they abandon acting upon it.

The Third:  Because they hasten to commit sin but delay repentance for the sin.

The Fourth: Because they are deceived by the companionship of the righteous but fail to emulate their actions.

The Fifth: Because the life of this world is behind them but they are insistent on chasing after it.

The Sixth:  Because the hereafter is in front of them but they turn away from it.

Shaykh Ghudayaan will do a Monthly QA session for Muslims in America

Shaykh Abdullah al-Ghudayaan (one of the senior and major scholars alive today) has agreed to do a monthly QA session on Sundays walhamdulillah.

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As salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

We thank all the readers who took out their time to take part in the poll.

Alhamdulillah, after receiving the responses, we have decided to put out for sale the 1st pre-loaded mp3 player. We hope that this project becomes a success bi’idhnillah and we ask Allah for sincerity in all of our actions.

BarakAllahu feekum

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Signs of the Victorious Group

Bismillah,

Signs of the Victorious Group by the Imaam ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Baaz may Allah have mercy upon him.

Female Questioner asks: I would like to know (who are) the Saved Sect until the Day of Resurrection, as it comes in the hadeeth of the Messenger sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. And are they present in one country or spread throughout the lands of the Muslims. What can I do so that I can be from amongst them?

Answer: The Saved Sect are those who fulfill the commandments of Allah, are steadfast upon the religion of Allah. The Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: (My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the fire except one! It was said: Who are they Oh Messenger of Allah? He said: That which I and my companions are upon*).

And in another narration: (It is the Jamaa’ah) meaning those who are united and gathered upon the truth and they are the Companions of the Messenger sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and those who come after them who follow in their path.

These people are indeed the Victorious Group, the Saved Sect, those who single Allah out in His Oneness, remain steadfast upon His religion, carry out His obligations, refrain from His prohibitions, recommend one another with all that is good, forbid one another from all that is evil and recommend (each other) to be patient upon that. These ones are certainly the Victorious Group and the Saved Sect the ones who adhere and follow the Messengers ‘alayhim salaam and remain firm upon their way, the most virtuous amongst them and their (the Prophets) leader being our Prophet Muhammad sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam.

So the Victorious Group from this nation are those who remain solid and sound upon the religion (of Islaam) by way of statements, actions and beliefs. This is the Victorious Group and the Saved Sect not being harmed by those who do not support them nor by those who oppose them.
@
Translators Note: “The only sect that will be safe is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama fah, who adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and hold fast to what he and his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, were holding (fast to)”. Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts   (Fatawa Islamiyah, vol.1, p.20)

Footnote:*At-Tirmithi (2564) and others.
Takeen from: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/10244 (Noor ‘alad Darb)
Translator: Abu Fouzaan Qaasim

The Mahr (Dowry) should be a small amount

Mahr should be a small amount and that people should not compete

[Q]: I and many others have observed that many people are very excessive when it comes to the matter of the mahr (wedding dowry that is paid to the bride), and that they seek great amounts of mahr when it comes to the marriage of their daughters, and they stipulate as a condition the giving of other gifts to them, along with the mahr. This wealth that people demand in such cases, is it halaal (lawful) or haraam (unlawful)?

[A]: What is prescribed in the Sharee’ah is that the mahr should be a small amount and that people should not compete with each other in this regard, acting in accordance with the many ahaadeeth which are related about this. They should also help facilitate marriages and be keen in preserving the modesty and decency of the young Muslim men and women. And it is not permissible for the awliyaa (guardians of the brides-to-be) to demand and stipulate gifts for themselves, since they have no right at all in this matter. Rather the right belongs to the woman, and in some particular cases to the father. He may stipulate a condition as long as it does not harm the daughter, nor lead to the delaying of the marriage. However, if the father forgoes such a right then this is better and more preferable. Allaah – the One free from all defects – says: “And marry those amongst you who are single and also marry the pious of your male and female slaves. If they be poor, Allaah will enrich them out of His Bounty.” [Soorah an-Noor 24:32].

In the hadeeth of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir radiallaahu ‘anhu, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The best dowry is that which is easy.” This was narrated by Abu Daawood and al-Haakim who authenticated it. And once a woman offered herself to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam for marriage. However, one of his Companions desired to marry her, so the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said [regarding the mahr]: “Bring something, even if it be an iron ring.” So when he could not find even this, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married them for the dowry that the man would teach whatever of the Qur’aan he knew to her. 2

And the dowry of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s wives was five-hundred dirhams, which is equivalent to one-hundred and thirty riyaals today. And his daughters were married for the mahr of four-hundred dinaars, which is equivalent to one-hundred riyaals today. Allaah – the Most High – said: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a most beautiful example to follow.” [Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:21].

So whenever the difficulties relating to marriage are lightened, then preserving the modesty and decency of young men and women becomes easier, shameful and evil deeds decrease, and the Ummah – as a result – will increase in number. However if this matter is made difficult, and people continue competing with each other with regards to the mahr (dowry), then the number of marriages will decrease, fornication will become more widespread and more young men and women will remain unmarried – except those whom Allaah saves.

So my sincere advice to all the Muslims, wherever they may be, is to facilitate the marriage process and to cooperate in this and make it easy. They should turn away from demanding excessive mahr and avoid unnecessary hardships and difficulties in the waleemah (wedding-feast) . Rather, they should content themselves with a waleemah that is according to the Sharee’ah, in which the burdens and difficulties for the husband and wife are minimal. May Allaah improve and rectify all the affairs of the Muslims and may He give them the guidance and ability to cling to the Sunnah (Prophetic guidance) in all matters. 3

2. Related by Abu Daawood in his Sunan.
3. Al-Fataawa (1/168-169).

Source : Concerning Everyday Issues published Al-Istiqaamah . Check others by clicking on the below

Brief commentary: Today, marriages are becoming more and more a sign of showing off to the people what the families can afford and to show to the people their status in the community. It maybe that they wish for the people to think or say about them that they have a high status, yet their status with Allah might be from amongst the lowly ones because of their lack of entering into Islaam wholeheartedly.

As Muslims who follow the sunnah in all matters of their lives and who call others to do the same, we should make a sincere effort to bring this change into our lives so that, hopefully, by us acting upon it, others will change their lifestyles as well bi’idhnillah.

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Bismillahir Rahmaan ir Raheem

All praise belongs to Allah, the Most High, Lord of all that exists

May Allah send His salaat and salaam upon Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, his family and companions.

We need some feedback from the readers of this blog for a new project inshaAllah.

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We are thinking of starting a project where we will buy mp3 players and pre-load them with authentic Islamic audio lectures and Qur’aan. This is since it is not the easiest of things to find good lectures online and then to take out the time to put lectures on the mp3 player.

We will remove this hassle from the people and give them pre-loaded mp3 players so all they have to do is receive it and start listening. No need to go on the computer.

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BarakAllahu feekum

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