When Does a Slave Know that a Trial is a Test or a Punishment?

When Does a Slave Know that a Trial is

a Test or a Punishment?

Taken From the Fatawaa of our Shaykh, Allaama Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdul Azeez bin Abdullaah Bin Baz

Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya [Taken from : binbaz.org.sa via Sahab.net]

Question: If a person is put to trial with a sickness or an evil affliction physically or with his wealth, how does he know that this trial is a test or Anger from Allaah?

Answer:

Allaah Azza Wa Jal tests His slaves in prosperity and adversity, in hardship and ease. He sometimes tests them with these things to raise their grade and to enhance the status of those people and to double their good deeds. Like what Allaah did for the Prophets and Messengers - alayhim as-Salat wa Sallam, as well as the righteous people from the worshippers of Allaah.

Like the Prophet - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said: the most severely of the people to be trialed are the Prophets, then those who are next in grade, then the next.

Sometimes Allaah does this due to the sins and transgression of the people, so that the punishment can be hurried.


Like Allaah Subhanahu said:

{And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. }

So, what is general for humans is that they are deficient, and they do not observe all the obligatory duties. Therefore, what afflicts them is due to their sins and shortcomings with regard to Allaah's commands.

For this reason, if someone from the righteous slaves of Allaah is afflicted with some disease or something similar, then this is from the type of trials for the Prophets and Messengers, raising of their grades and increase of reward, to be an example for others, in having patience and contentment.

So briefly, it could be a test to raise grades and to make the reward greater, like Allaah does for some of the righteous people. It could be expiation for evil deeds, as is mentioned in the saying of Allaah Ta'ala:

{whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof }


Also the saying of the Prophet - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam –: A Muslim is not afflicted with distress, nor sorrow, nor disease nor hardship, nor sadness nor any harm except that Allaah expiates from his sins even by a thorn that pricks him.

The saying of the Prophet - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – whom so ever Allaah intends good for, Allaah compels him with a trial. It could be that this is a punishment which has been hastened due to transgression by the slave and him not having hastened in repenting as is mentioned in the hadeeth of the Messenger - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – that he said: 'If Allaah intends good for His slave then He hastens his punishment in this world, and if Allaah prescribes evil for His slave, then Allaah holds back his sins until He recompenses them for him on the Day of Judgment.' [ Narrated by Tirmidhi & he declared it hasan]

All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and all those who follow his guidance.

Al-Hamdulillaahi ‘alal Islam wa Sunnah

Al-Hamdulillaahi ‘alal Islam wa Sunnah

Shaikh Khalid Ar-Raddadee (hafidhahumullaah) remind us to reflect upon Allaah guiding us to Sunnah while many are astray

Shaikh Khalid Ar-Raddadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Qala ba’du Salaf: La adri ayu ni’mataini ‘alaya a’dhaam, ni’matu an hadani Allaahu ‘azza wa jall min bain al-adyaan jami’ah li din il Islam aw ni’amtu an hadani Allaahu ‘azza wa jall min bayni al-madhaahib wal firaq ila Sunnah. Fahumma ni’matan ‘Adhimataan – ni’matu il Islam wa Sunnah

(Some of the Salaf said: I don’t know which of the two blessings upon me is greater, the blessing that Allaah ‘azza wa jall guided me to Islam from amongst all the religions, or the blessing that Allaah ‘azza wa jall guided me to the Sunnah from amongst all the groups, sects. They are two great blessings: the blessing of Islam and the Sunnah.

Shaikh Ar-Raddadee added that a man came to Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) and said: Al-Hamdulillaahi ‘alal Islam (All Praise is for Allaah, for Islam). Imam Ahmad said: Bal Qul Al-Hamdulillaahi ‘alal Islam wa Sunnah (Rather say, All Praise is for Allaah, for Islam and the Sunnah.)


Taken from: http://abdurrahmanorg.wordpress.com

Correcting the two strengths of knowledge and action

Correcting the two strengths of knowledge and action

Shaykh ul –Islaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Taken from
‘Miftah dar as-Sa’ada’
(key to the land of happiness)

Translated by
Abbas Abu Yahya

The saying of Allaah Ta’ala :

((By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.))


Ash-Shafiee – may Allaah be pleased with him – said: ‘If all the people
reflected over this Soorah it would be sufficient for them.’


The explanation of this is that this Soorah has four levels, and by completing
these, a person can achieve the highest goal in being complete.


The first is: Knowing the truth.


The second: his acting upon the truth.


The third: Him teaching the one who is deficient in the truth.


The fourth: Being patient in learning the truth, and acting upon it, and
teaching it.


Allaah Ta’ala mentioned these four levels in this Soorah, and Allaah
Subhanahu testified in this Soorah by al-Asr (the time) that everyone is in loss,
except those who believe and do righteous, good deeds and they are those
who knew the truth, and they testified to the truth.

So the above is a level.


They did righteous, good deeds and they are those who performed worship
with what they knew about the truth.

So this is a level.


They advise with the truth; they advise one another, teaching and guiding
each other.


So this is the third level.


They advise with patience; they were patient with the truth, and they advised
each other with patience upon the truth, and to be steadfast.


And this is the fourth level.



This is the end of completeness; indeed completeness is that a person is
complete in himself, and completes others. His completeness is by
correcting his two strengths, the strength of knowledge and the strength of
actions. Correction of the strength of knowledge is with Emaan, and
correction of the strength of actions is by doing righteous deeds, and by
completing people other than himself, and by learning this knowledge, and
being patient upon it, and his recommending with patience upon knowledge
and action.


So this Soorah, even though it is brief, is one of the most collective soorahs
of the Qur’aan for goodness from all its different angles.

Praise be to Allaah Who has made the Qur’aan sufficient for everything, a cure from every disease, a guidance to all that is good.



All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow his guidance.


‘Miftah dar as-Sa’ada’ vol.1 p.238
(key to the land of happiness)

Sparkles from the Pearls Of knowledge

Sparkles from the Pearls Of knowledge

Taken from ‘Miftah dar as-Sa’ada’
(Key to the land of happiness)

By Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya

Knowledge & Ignorance are not equal

Regarding the excellence of knowledge and the people of knowledge, Allaah – Subhana wa Ta'aala – negated equality between the people of knowledge and other than them.

Just like He negated equality between, the companions of Paradise and the companions of the Hell-fire.

Allaah Ta'aala said:

{ Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?"} [ Zumar :9 ]

He also said:

{Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise} [ Hashr :20 ]

This indicates the elevated excellence of the people of knowledge and their distinguished nobility. Vol 1 /11/221

Wisdom is knowledge

Allaah Ta'aala testifies for the one who, has been given knowledge, that He has given him lots of good.

Allaah Ta'aala said:

{ He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good} [ Baqarah :269 ]


Ibn Qootayba and the majority of the scholars said: Wisdom is to be on the truth and to act upon it, and that is beneficial knowledge and good actions. Vol 1/26/227

Knowledge is the Greatest Blessing

Allaah Ta'aala has given numerous blessings to His Messenger, and has given him excellence. Allaah Ta'aala has made the greatest blessing that He gave to him the Book and Hikmah (wisdom).

Allaah taught him that which he did not know. Allaah Ta'aala said:

{ Allaah has sent down to you the Book and Al-Hikmah and taught you that which you did not know. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allaah unto you } [Nisa: 113]

Vol 1 / 27 / 227

The Blessing of knowledge obligates thankfulness to Allaah

Allaah Ta'aala reminded His believing slaves with this blessing, and He commanded them to be thankful for it, and that they should remember Him, for the blessings He bestowed to them.

Allaah Ta'aala said:

{ Similarly, We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, reciting to you Our Verses and sanctifying you, and teaching you the Book and the Hikmah and teaching you that which you did not used to know. Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me. } [ Baqarah : 151-152 ]

Vol 1 / 28 / 227

Knowledge is Goodness in this World

Al-Hasan said regarding "the saying of Allaah Ta'aala { “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good!" } [ Baqarah: 201] It is knowledge and worship. And regard Allaah's saying {and in the Hereafter that which is good} [ Baqarah : 201 ] It is Paradise."


This is from the best explanations of this Ayaah indeed the greatest of the goodness of this world, is beneficial knowledge and good actions.


Vol 1/102/397


All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and all those who follow his guidance.

The Believer Striking a Balance Between Excessive Socialising and Total Isolation

The Believer Striking a Balance Between Excessive

Socialising and Total Isolation

Question: Which of the two are better for a person; being secluded or mixing with the people?


Answer:

Then this is an issue in which the people have disagreed concerning, disagreement being either in its entirety or disagreement of its present state. The reality of the matter is that: mixing is at times obligatory or recommended. The individual may be commanded with mixing with the people on occasions yet on other occasions (commanded) with seclusion. What comprises this is that; in the issue of mixing, if there is found in it co-operation upon righteousness and Taqwaa then it is something that he has been commanded with. And if there is found in it the co-operation of sinfulness and transgression then it is something that he has been prohibited from.

So the mixing with the Muslims in the types of worship such as the five daily prayers and the Friday prayer and the two ‘Eids and the eclipse prayer and the prayer for rain and the like, then that is from that which Allaah and His Messenger have commanded.

Likewise mixing with them during the Hajj and when making military expeditions against the disbelievers and the renegade Khawaarij, even if the leaders be evil-doers, and even if there are in those groups evil-doers.

Likewise in the gatherings in which the servant increases through them in Eemaan, whether it is for his own taking benefit from them or his giving benefit with regards to them and its like.

Yet there are times in which the servant must retire and be secluded, at times of his supplication and his remembrance and his prayer and his contemplation and his reckoning of his self and rectification of his heart. As well as the affairs which are particular to him in which no one else partakes in other than him. So these require for him to be alone – by himself, either: In his home as was mentioned by Tawoos:

‘What an excellent cell/hermitage is the home of a man; he restrains in it his sight and his tongue.’

Or in other than his home.

Thus the choice of absolute mixing/socialising is an error; and the choice of absolute isolation/seclusion is also an error.

As for the degree of what each individual requires from this and that, as well as that which is more beneficial for him in every circumstance;* then this requires its own particular review – as has preceded.

______________________

* Wahb bin Munabbih (rahimahullaah) said: 'The believer socialises - in order to know; and is silent - in order to be safeguarded; and speaks - in order to understand; and secludes away - in order to become enriched.'

[See siyar A'laam an-nubalaa vol.4 page 551] (Translators note)

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

Majmoo' al-fataawaa Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah vol 10 pages 425-426

Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq

Taken from: http://www.fatwaislam.com/fis/index.cfm?scn=fd&ID=813

Ahlul Hadeeth vs Ahlul Ahwaa

Ahlul Hadeeth vs Ahlul Ahwaa

It was narrated to us on the authority of Mu-mal that he said: “A Shaykh narrated a Hadeeth to me on the virtues of the Qur-aan, chapter by chapter.”

So I asked him: “Who narrated this Hadeeth to you?”

He said: “A man in Madaa-in narrated it to me, he is alive.”

I traveled to him and asked him: “Who narrated this Hadeeth to you?”

He said: “A Shaykh in Waasit narrated it to me, he is alive.”

So I travelled to him, he said: “A Shaykh in Basrah narrated it to me.”

So I travelled to him, he said: “A Shaykh in Ba’badaan narrated it to me.”

So I travelled to him, he took me by the hand into a house, a group of Sufees were in it, with them was a Shaykh, he [the person who took my hand] said: “It is this Shaykh that narrated it to me.” I said: “O Shaykh, who narrated this Hadeeth to you?”

He responded: “Nobody narrated it to me, but I saw that the people were not interested in the Qur-aan, so I fabricated these Ahaadeeth for them so that it may turn their hearts to the Qur-aan.” [Al ‘Iraaqee in ‘The Explanation of Muqadimat ibn as Salaah’]

[Al ‘Allaamah ‘Abdur Rahmaan al Mu’alimee comments:] This man [i.e. the traveler] must have travelled for about three months in order to verify this one Hadeeth. [‘The knowledge of the Narrators and its Importance.]

Al Bukhaaree narrated in 'At Taareekh al Awsat' on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Subh ibn ‘Imraan at Tameemee who said: “I fabricated a Hadeeth on the Khutbah of the Prophet - صلى الله عليه وسلم.”

Just as Maysarah ibn ‘Abd Rabihi al Faarisee admitted that he fabricated some Ahaadeeth on the virtues of the Qur-aan, and that he fabricated seventy Ahadeeth on the virtues of ‘Alee.

And just as Abu ‘Ismah Nooh ibn Abee Maryam who is known as ‘Nooh al Jaami’’ admitted that he fabricated some Ahaadeeth on the virtues of the Qur-aan, chapter by chapter, on the authority of ibn ‘Abbaas. [The Causes for Fabrication and the Categories of Fabricators]

[As Suyootee in ‘Tadreeb ar Rawee’ comments on a fabricated Hadeeth stating:] “This Hadeeth cannot be fabricated by a Muslim, the person accused of fabricating it is Muhammad ibn Shajjaa’, he was deviant in his religion…”

Shu’bah said concerning him: “I saw him, if he was given a Dirham he would fabricate fifty Ahaadeeth.”

‘Abdullaah ibn Yazeed al Muqree said: “A man from the people of innovations repented from his innovation, he then started saying; ‘Look at who you take Hadeeth from, for indeed if we had an opinion, we would turn it into a Hadeeth.’”

Abu al ‘Abbaas al Qurtubee, the author of ‘al Mufhim Sharh Saheeh Muslim’ stated: “Some of the Fuqahaa of the people of desires permitted that if a ruling is derived from a clear analogy, then it is permissible to attribute it to the Messenger - صلى الله عليه وسلم - verbally saying; the Messenger of Allaah said …!!”

Al Haafidh Abu Ya’laa al Khaleelee stated in ‘Al Irshaad’; “The Raafidah fabricated Ahaadeeth on the virtues of ‘Alee and Ahlul Bayt, about three hundred thousand Ahaadeeth.”

Ibn al Qayyim comments in ‘Al Manaar al Muneef’: “Do not think this is farfetched, for if you research what they have from fabricated Ahaadeeth you would find that it is as he stated.”

Continued…

[Translators note:] Look, may Allaah preserve you, at the efforts extended by Ahlul Hadeeth in preserving the Sunnah for the Ummah of Muhammad – صلى الله عليه و سلم – in what state would we be in were it not for such efforts. Compare this to the efforts of Ahlut Tasawuf, the Shee’ah and the rest of the people of innovations in fabricating Ahaadeeth into the Sunnah and what state we would be in had the affair been entrusted or left to them.

Translator: Abu Abdul-Waahid, Nadir Ahmad

الحديث - بين أهل الحديث وأهل الأهواء

قال العراقي في شرح مقدمة ابن صلاح

روينا عن مؤمل أنه قال : حدثني شيخ بهذا الحديث - يعني حديث فضائل القرآن سورة سورة - فقلت للشيخ : من حدثك ؟ فقال حدثني رجل بالمدائن وهو حي ، فصرت إليه ، فقلت : من حدثك ؟ فقال : حدثني شيخ بواسط ، وهو حي؛ فصرت إليه ، فقال : حدثني شيخ بالبصرة ، فصرت إليه ، فقال :حدثني شيخ بعبادان ، فصرت إليه، فأخذ بيدي ، فأدخلني بيتا ، فإذا فيه قوم من المتصوفة / و معهم شيخ ، فقال : هذا الشيخ حدثني ، فقلت يا شيخ من حدثك ؟ فقال لم يحدثني أحد ، و لكننا رأينا الناس قد رغبوا عن القرآن ، فوضعنا لهم هذا الحديث ليصرفوا قلوبهم إلى القرآن. لعل هذا الرجل قطع نحو ثلاثة أشهر مسافرا لتحقيق رواية هذا الحديث الواحد.

من كتاب علم الرجال للعلامة المعلمي اليماني ص:5

كما روى البخارى فى التاريخ الأوسط عن عمر بن صبح بن عمران التميمى أنه قال : أنا وضعت خطبة النبى –صلى الله عليه وسلم –

وكما أقر ميسرة بن عبد ربه الفارسى أنه وضع أحاديث فى فضائل القرآن , وأنه وضع فى فضل علىّ سبعين حديثا

وكما أقر أبو عصمة نوح بن أبى مريم الملقب " بنوح الجامع " أنه وضع على ابن عباس أحاديث فى فضائل القرآن سورة سورة .

قال السيوطى فى التدريب

" هذا لايضعه مسلم والمتهم به محمد بن شجاع كان زائغا فى دينه , وفى أبى المهزم

قال شعبة : رأيته لو أُعطى درهما وضع خمسين حديثا " !!

قال عبد الله بن يزيد المقرىء

" إن رجلا من أهل البدع رجع عن بدعته فجعل يقول :انظروا هذا الحديث عمن تأخذونه !! فإنا كنا إذا رأينا رأياً جعلنا له حديثا !!" .

وقال أبو عباس القرطبى صاحب كتاب " المفهم شرح صحيح مسلم

" : " استجاز بعض فقهاء أهل الرأى نسبة الحكم الذى دل عليه القياس الجلى إلى رسول الله- صلى الله عليه وسلم- نسبة قولية فيقولون فى ذلك قال رسول الله –صلى الله عليه وسلم - كذا !! ؛



قال ابن القيم في "المنار المنيف": «ولا تستبعد هذا. فإنك لو تتبعت ما عندهم من ذلك لوجدت الأمر كما قال».‏

المترجم :أبو عبد الواحد نادر أحمد
‎‏قال الحافظ أبو يعلى الخليلي في كتاب "الإرشاد": «وضعت الرافضة في فضائل علي ‏‎ وأهل ‏البيت، نحو ثلاث مئة ألف حديث»

Taken from: http://www.subulassalaam.com/articles/article.cfm?article_id=88

The 20 Most Commonly asked Questions about Islaam

The 20 Most Commonly asked Questions about Islaam

IN THE NAME OF Allaah, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

The word "Islam" means peace and submission to the Will of the only God worthy of being worshipped. This peace is contentment with yourself and your surroundings that could only be achieved by willfully submitting to God, obeying what He commands and abstaining from what He forbids.



WHO IS ALLAAH?

Allaah is the name in Arabic for the "One God". Allaah is the Creator, Sustainer, Planner and Organizer. He is the only deity that has the right to be worshipped (i.e. praying, supplicating, fasting, etc.). In Islam, the belief in the One God cannot be separated from the acts of worshipping the One God. In other words, it is not enough to simply think you believe in the Oneness of the Creator but that belief must be affirmed by your statement and actions. Example, it would negate ones belief in the Oneness of the Creator if he directs his worship to a man (or any of the other created things).

WHO IS A PROPHET?

A Prophet is a person who is appointed by God to call the people to the worship and believe in the One God. All Prophets were given miracles by Allaah to prove that they were Prophets. For example, Moses was given the miracles to free the Children of Israel, Jesus was given the ability to heal the sick and raise the dead by Allaah's’ leave and Muhammad was given the Qur’an which is the everlasting and literal speech of Allaah. May Allaah send His peace and blessings on all the Prophets. Ameen!

WHAT IS THE QUR’AN?

The Qur’an is the Last Revelation from your Lord. It was revealed in the pure Arabic language to the Prophet Muhammad and has been kept preserved and unchanged, in its original form. The English interpretation of the Qur’an will be used as reference in this brochure. It is not Allaah's' Word rather, it is a general interpretation of the meaning of the Qur’an. The Qur’an confirms the truth in the Torah, Psalms and the Gospel.

WHO WAS MUHAMMAD?

Muhammad is the Final Prophet and Messenger. He was born into the tribe of Quarish in the year 570 AD. His ancestry goes back to the Prophet Ishmael, the son of Prophet Abraham. His father died before his birth and his mother died before he was six. As a young man he was known as Al-Ameen (the trustworthy). He would retreat to a cave outside of Mecca where, he would ponder and reflect about the immoral practices and customs of the Pagan Arabs. He received revelation from the Creator at the age of 40 through the Angel Gabriel. Subsequently, the Revelations came over the period of 23 years and are collectively in the Qur’an.

WHAT ARE THE PILLARS OF ISLAM?

Islam has 5 Pillars.

1. (Iman) Belief that no deity is worthy of worship except Allaah and Muhammad is His Last Prophet and Messenger.
2. (Salat) Prayers, which are performed 5 times a day.
3. (Siyam) Fasting in the month of Ramadaan. Abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations with spouses from sunrise to sunset.
4. (Zakat) Charity is the requirement of 2.5% of a Muslims' saved earnings given to the poor once a year as purification of his wealth.
5. (Hajj) Pilgrimage is a journey to the Kab'ah in the sacred city of Mecca. Muslims are required to do this at least once in a lifetime if they are physically and financially able.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FAITH?

Belief in Allaah, His Oneness and ascribing no partners to Him.

Belief in the Angels (Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, etc.).

Belief in the revealed scriptures (Torah, Psalms, Gospel) in their original form, not as they exist today.

Belief in Allaah’s Messengers (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad etc.)

Belief in the Day of Resurrection.

Belief in Pre-Ordainment. The good or bad of it.

WHO IS A MUSLIM?

One who practices the 5 pillars of Islam and believes in the fundamentals of faith. One can become a Muslim by saying; "Ashadhu An Laa ilaha illa Allaah, wa ashadhu anna Muhammad ar-rasulullah." This means, " I bear witness that no deity has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Final Messenger." All Prophets preceding Muhammad were Muslims. This includes Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Jesus. Is there a doubt that these Prophets did not submit their will to the Creator? Allaah says in the Qur’an: " Abraham was neither a Jew or a Christian, but he was a true Muslim and he was not of the idolaters." (Qur’an 3:67) It is important to note that other religions are derived from the name of a place or a person. Examples of this are: Judaism is derived from the tribe of Judah, Hinduism is from the Indus River, Buddhism is from Goutam Buddha and Christianity is from Jesus Christ. Islam is the only revealed religion and way of life that directly attaches its worshippers to the servitude of the Creator.

IS ISLAM THE ONLY RELIGION ACCEPTABLE TO THE CREATOR?

Yes! As explained in the introduction, Islam means peace through the submission to the Will of Allaah. One who does this is called a Muslim. Therefore, the only thing acceptable to the Creator is submission to Him. Allaah says: "Do they seek other than the Religion of Allaah (Islam)? While to Him submit all other creatures in the heavens and the Earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him they shall all be returned. Say, ‘We believe in Allaah and what was sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, and what was revealed to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between them, and to Him (Allaah) we have submitted (in Islam).’ And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be of the losers (in the hellfire). (Qur’an 3:83-85)

WILL THE ACTIONS OF NON-BELIEVERS BE WASTED?

Yes! Allaah says: "Say, 'Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of their deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. They are those who deny the revelation of their Lord and the meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall not give them any weight. That shall be their recompense, Hell; because disbelieved and took My revelations and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery. Verily, those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah-Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds shall have the Garden of Paradise for their entertainment." (Qur’an 18:103-107)

WHAT IS THE HEREAFTER?

The "Hereafter" is the final destiny of all worldly existence starting at the time of death. The day mankind will be resurrected from their graves then they shall be brought to account for their deeds whether good or evil. Allaah says: "I (Allaah) swear by the Day of Resurrection, and I (Allaah) swear by self-reproaching person. Does Man think that We shall not assemble his bones? Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers. Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing sins. He asks, ‘When will be this Day of Resurrection?’ So, when the sight shall be dazed, and the moon will eclipsed, and the sun and the moon will be joined together. On that day man will say, ‘ Where is the place that I can flee to?' No! There is no refuge! Unto that your Lord (Alone) will be the place of rest that day. On that day men will be informed of what he sent forward ( of evil or good deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil practices). Nay! Man will be a witness against himself." (Qur’an 35:1-4)

DO MUSLIMS WORSHIP MUHAMMAD?

No! Muslims do not worship Muhammad nor do they worship any other Prophets, Saints, or created things. It is not permissible for a Muslim to pray, supplicate, or direct any type of worship to any created thing in rivalry to the Lord of all that exists. Allaah says: " Say (to them Muhammad), ‘I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God. So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the Worship of his Lord.' " (Qur’an 18:110)

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR CREATION?

As we examine Allaah’s creation, we will inevitably conclude that all things have a purpose. If we look at the delicate balance of our universe, as vast as it is, orchestrated in perfect synchronization. The human body and its various different processes like thought, movement, vision and its ability to heal itself. The earth and its countless number of life forms, various plants, vegetables and animals. The weather system, the seasons and the water cycle. Surely, these things have some purpose, more so for human beings. Allaah says: " And We (Allaah) created not the spirits and men, except that they should worship Me (alone)." 51:56 As the verse states in question #8, all things are in a state of submission to the Creator by following the natural laws that they have been created for. We were born in a state of submission, not in a state of sin as we had no choice in the matter and we will die in submission. Between these two time spans, man has been given the rational ability to choose to submit to his Creator. Know for surety that we will all die and none of us knows when we’re going to die. Isn’t it time you submitted to your Lord?

WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS?

Jesus, the son of Mary is a servant and Messenger of Allaah. Allaah says in the Qur’an that Jesus was born of a miraculous birth; "Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allaah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said unto him: ‘Be’ and he was." (Qur’an 3:59). He performed many miracles as a Prophet by Allaah’s permission such as resurrecting the dead, healing the blind and sick, making a living bird out of clay and speaking as new born infant. Jesus brought the same message as the other Prophets. He is not to be worshipped as the "Son of God!" Jesus was raised alive up to Allaah from where he will return to re-establish the Law of Allaah on earth.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE "SON OF GOD", "TRINITY" AND MARY?

Your Creator says: "Surely, they have disbelieved who say:

‘Allaah is the Messiah (Jesus).’; But the Messiah said, ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the polytheists there are no helpers. Surely, the disbelievers are those who said, ‘Allaah is a third of the three (in a trinity).’ But there is no god but the One God. And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. Will they not repent to Allaah and ask for His Forgiveness? For Allaah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah, son of Mary is no more than a Messenger. Many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food (As other human beings, while Allaah does not eat). Look how Allaah makes the revelations clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth)." (Qur’an 5:72-75)

DOES ISLAM OPPRESS WOMEN?

No. On the contrary, 1400 years ago Islam liberated women. At that time in Europe, Christian scholars were debating whether women had souls, if yes, did they have animal souls or human souls? Until recently women were stripped of their last names to illustrate that they were the property of their husbands. As for Islam, women are equal to men in all acts of piety, they keep their last names, they are allowed to keep their own money, choose who they want to marry, have the right to seek a divorce, have the right to inheritance and have the right to be protected and maintained by their husbands. They have been dignified and exonerated by the Hijab (Islamic covering). In the West, women are portrayed as sex objects to be used and discarded. We see them being used to sell cars, alcohol and even bubble gum. In Islam, women have been elevated to a stature that surpasses the roles placed upon them by any religion or culture. Women are not to be abused or oppressed but they are to be respected and cared for. As a result, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world amongst women.

IS POLYGYNY PERMISSIBLE?

Yes! Islam regulated matrimony in that men are permitted to marry up to four wives provided they treat them fairly and equally. The man must first be financially capable to take another wife, provide different residences and be able to divide his time equally amongst them. In the western society many men who are married to only one wife usually have extramarital affairs. Thus a survey was published in the USA Today (April 4, 1988; Section D) which asked 4700 mistresses, what would they like their status to be (mistress or second wife). They said, "I prefer being a second wife rather than the other woman". The reasons for this are that they didn’t have any legal rights, nor did they have the financial equality of the legally married wives and it appeared that these men were using them. Islam is clearly against extra or premarital affairs (fornication) as this leads to corruption in the society and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Don’t people feel bad when they have children out of wedlock? These children have the right to grow up knowing that they have parents who are responsible enough to have planned to bring them into the world. No one would like to be told that they were an accident. As for those against polygyny, statistics show that because of wars there are more women in the world than there are men. Other reasons are, most married men engage in extramarital affairs and there is an increase in homosexuality amongst men, thus causing an excess amount of women to men. The Islamic solution of polygyny is the best solution to the seemingly difficult problems that plague our society in our man to woman relationships.

DOES ISLAM PROMOTE TERRORISM?

Absolutely Not. Islam condemns all acts of oppression. Necessary force is permissible only when one is defending oneself, family, and right to practice his/her religion or fighting tyranny and oppression. Muslims who blow up buildings and kill innocent people are not acting in accordance with what Islam teaches.

IS THERE RACISM IN ISLAM?

No. Muslims are found in every country, whether they are European, African, Asian or American. 1 in every 5 people on the earth is a Muslim, Which means there are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. Islam promotes racial harmony and tolerance. Allaah says: " O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you in the Sight of Allaah is the believer who has the most piety. Verily, Allaah is All Knowing, All Aware." (Qur’an 49:13) This is in opposition to Louis Farrakhan’s disbelieving lies against Islam, in saying that, ‘Allaah appeared in the person of Master W. Fard Muhammad’, or ‘We the original (black) nation of the earth’. The Believers seek refuge with Allaah from such lies against Allaah. Ameen!



HAS THE QUR’AN PREDICTED THE NEW DISCOVERIES OF MODERN SCIENCE?

Yes! Since the Qur’an came from the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, it is only befitting that science would later confirm what is in the Qur’an. Examples of this are, the expansion of the universe as stated in the Qur’an: "With power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We expand the vastness of space." (Qur’an 51:47) Every living thing is created from water: "Do not those who disbelieve know that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they then not believe?" (Qur’an 21:30) The trimester: "…He (Allaah) created you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness, such is Allaah your Lord. How then are you turned away (from the truth)?" (Qur’an 39:7) There are several other examples proving that the Qur’an is from your Lord. Allaah says: "Do they not consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been from other than Allaah, they would have found therein much contradictions." (Qur’an 4: 82)

SHOULD YOU BECOME A MUSLIM RIGHT NOW?

Absolutely! If you believe in what you have read in this brochure, we strongly suggest that you don’t delay. You are now accountable for what you know about Islam. For many people Islam has balanced their lives, created a form of discipline, given them respect and dignity and given them peace and tranquility in a society that has been ravaged by mental illnesses, excessive materialism, substance abuse, increase in crime and an all time decline in human morality. Allaah warns us in the Qur’an: " O you who believe! Fear Allaah as He should be feared. And die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims)."(Qur’an 3:102) If you wish to become a Muslim, refer to question #7 and call us anytime.

We invite you to become a Muslim.

Source: http://www.troid.org/articles/islaamicinfo/Islaamingeneral/whatisislaam/the20questions.htm

Who are Ahlul Hadeeth?

Who are Ahlul Hadeeth?

So Who Are Ahl ul-Hadith?

Author: Shaikh Rabee' bin Haadee al-Madkhalee
Source: Makaanat Ahl ul-Hadith (trans. by Bilal Davies, forthcoming SP release)


They are those who proceed upon the way of the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness, in clinging to the Book and the Sunnah, biting onto that with their molar teeth, and letting them (i.e., the Qur'aan and the Sunnah) take precedence over any statement or code and conduct - whether in belief, or acts of worship such as dealings and transactions, mannerisms, politics or social life.

They are those who are firm in regards to the fundamentals of the religion and its subsections, upon that which Allaah sent down and revealed upon his servant and Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). They are those establishing the call to that with all effort, sincerity and firm will. They are those carrying the knowledge of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), expelling from it the distortions of those who have exaggerated (in its regard) and the undue claims of the people of falsehood and the interpretations of the ignorant ones.

They are those who are observant and lie in wait for every group that has deviated from the way of Islaam, like the Jahmees and the Mu'tazilees and the Khawaarij and the Rawaafidh and the Murji'ah and the Qadriyyah and all of those who have deviated from the way of Allaah and have followed their desires in every time and place - they not affected by the reproach of the blamers, in the cause of Allaah

They are the group that the Messenger of Allaah has praised and commended in his saying, "There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose them until the hour is established." [1]

They are the Saved Sect firm upon that which the Messenger and his Companions were upon, those who have been distinguished and defined by the Messenger of Allaah when he mentioned that this Ummah shall divide into seventy three sects all going to the Hell-fire except one and it was said, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?" He said, "They are those who are upon that which I and my Comapnions are upon."

And this is not something we say in exageration or a mere claim, but verily we speak a reality that the text of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah bears witness to, which history bears witness to, and to which their (i.e., the Ahlul-Hadeeth's) statements, their state of affairs, their writings and works also bear witness to. They are those who put before their eyes the statement of Allaah: And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allaah. [2] And His statement: And let those who oppose the Messengers commandment beware lest some fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them. [3]

They are the most staunch in distancing themselves from opposing the command of the Messenger and the most distant from fitnah. They are those who make their constitution: But no, by your Lord! They can have no faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with full submission. [4]

They are those who give to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah their true worth and give it the honour and veneration it deserves, giving priority to them over all the statements of mankind, and give precedence to their guidance over the guidance of all the people, and they judge by them in all affairs with complete pleasure, with chests which are expanded and free of restraint or constriction, and they submit to Allaah and His Messenger (with) a complete submission in their 'aqeedah and their worship and their dealings. They are those concerning whom the statement of Allaah holds true: The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) to judge between them, is that they say, "We hear and we obey," and such are the prosperous ones.[5]

They after all of the Comapanions - and at the head of them the rightly guided Caliphs - are the leaders of the taabi'een and at the head of them: Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyib (d. 90H), 'Urwah ibn Zubair (d. 94H), 'Alee ibn al-Hussain Zain al-'Aabideen (d. 93H), Muhammad ibn Hanafiya (d. 80H), 'Ubaydullaah ibn 'Abdillaah ibn 'Utbah ibn Mas'ood (d. 94H or later), Saleem ibn 'Abdillaah ibn 'Umar (d. 106H), Qaasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abee Bakr as-Sadeeq (d. 106H), al-Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H), Muhammad ibn Sireen (d. 110H), 'Umar ibn 'Abdul-'Azeez (d. 101H) and Muhammad ibn Shihaab az-Zuhree (d. 125H).

Then the Atbaa'at-Taabi'een and at the head of them: Imaam Maalik (d. 179H), al-Awzaa'ee (d. 157H), Sufiyaan ibn Sa'eed ath-Thawree (d. 161H), Sufyaan ibn Uyayna (d. 198H), Ismaa'eel ibn Ubyana (d. 193H), Layth ibn Sa'd (d. 175H) and Aboo Haneefah an-Nu'maan (d. 150H).

Then those who followed them and at the head of them: 'Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak (d. 181H), Wakee' ibn al-Jarraah (d. 197H), the Imaam Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi'ee (d. 204H), 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee (d. 198H), Yahya ibn Sa'eed al-Qataan (d. 198H) and Afaan ibn Muslim (d. 219H).

Then their students who followed them in this methodology, and at the head of them: the Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H), Yahya ibn Ma'een (d. 233H) and 'Alee ibn al-Madeenee (d. 234H).

Then their students like al-Bukhaaree (d. 256H), Muslim (d. 261H), Abee Haatim (d. 277H), Abee Zara' (Aboo Zur'ah?) (d. 264H), Aboo Daawood (d. 275H), at-Tirmidhee (d. 279H) and an-Nasaa'ee (d. 303H).

Then those who proceeded in their way in the generations that preceded them, like Ibn Jareer (at-Tabaree?) (d. 310H), Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311H), ad-Daaraqutnee (d. 385H) in his time, al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) and Ibn 'Abdul-Barr an-Niwaaree (d. 463H).

And 'Abdul-Ghanee al-Maqdasee (d. 620H), Ibn Salaah (d. 643H), Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H), al-Mizzee (d. 743H), adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H), Ibn Katheer (d. 774H) and their contemporaries who lived in their time and those who came after them, and followed their footsteps in holding on to the Book and the Sunnah up until the present day.
These are who I mean by Ahlul-Hadeeth.

NOTES
[1] Hadeeth saheeh, collected by Muslim (3/1523), Ahmad (5/278-279), Aboo Dawood (3/4), Tirmidhee (4/420), Ibn Maajah (1/4-5), Haakim (4/449-450), at-Tabaraanee in Mu'jam al-Kabeer (7643) and Aboo Daawood at-Tayaalisi (p. 94, no. 689). Authenticated by al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah (270-1955).

Taken from : http://aa.trinimuslims.com/archive/index.php?t-2521.html

A Forgotten Sunnah: Walking Barefooted

A Forgotten Sunnah: Walking Barefooted

Al-Hasan bin ‘Alee narrated to us, Yazeed bin Haarun narrated to us, Al- Jurayri informed us on Abdillah bin Buraydah: that a man from the Companions of the Prophet -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- traveled to Fadaalah bin ‘Ubayd -may Allah be pleased with him- while he was in Egypt. So he arrived at him and said: I have not come to you to visit you. But you and I have heard a hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- and I hope that you have some knowledge from Him (the Prophet -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam-) about it. He said: And what is it? He said: Such and such. (Then) he said: Why do I see you dishoveled while you are the Leader of the land? He said: The Messenger of Allah -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- has forbidden us from indulging too much in the comforts of life. He said: Why don’t I see any shoes on you? He said: The Prophet -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- used to command us to go barefooted sometimes.

Collected in Abu Daawud (3629) and Sheikh Al-Albaani has authenticated it in As-Silsilah As-Saheehah (502).

Fawaa’id: Sheikh Al-Albaani -may Allah have mercy upon him- says in As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: ….This (hadeeth) is a reminder about an unknown sunnah in the minds of many of the people and it is the sunnah of Walking without shoes -sometimes-. It is a sunnah that many people are ignorant of save a few. And if some would try and implement this the people would see this as a strange affair. Perhaps they would even criticize them for this act of theirs. [Until he said]… So imitate your loved one and your Prophet -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- and walk barefooted sometimes and shoed at others….. As this has been authenticated on the Prophet -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- that He walked barefooted occasionally! Except that majority of the time He -sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- was shoed.

Taken from:http://www.aloloom.net/vb/showthread.php?t=900]

Translator: Abu Fouzaan Qaasim

http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=10611

Ibn Hazm on Knowledge Part 2

Ibn Hazm on Knowledge Part 2

11. The mysterious branches of knowledge are like a strong drug which benefits a strong body but damages a weak one. In the same way, the esoteric branches of knowledge enrich a strong mind and refine it, purifying it of its flaws, but destroy a weak mind.

12. If a madman threw himself as deeply into good sense as he throws himself into madness, he would surely be wiser than al-Hasan al Basri,Plato of Athens and Vuzurgmihr the Persian.

13. Intelligence has its limits; it is useless unless it is based on the guidance of religion or on good fortune in this world.

14. Do not harm your soul by experimenting with corrupt views in order to demonstrate their corruption to someone who has consulted you, otherwise you will lose your soul. If you shield yourself from acting in a detestable way, any criticism that can be thrown at you by a man of corrupt beliefs because you disagree with him is better than his respect and better than the bad effect on both of you if you committed these detestable acts.

15. Guard against taking pleasure in any way that will harm your soul and is not required of you by the religious law nor by virtue.

16. Knowledge no longer exists if one has ignored the attributes of the Almighty Great Creator.

17. There is no worse calamity for knowledge and for scholars than when outsiders intrude. They are ignorant and think that they are knowledgeable; they ruin everything and believe that they are helping.

18. Anyone who is seeking happiness in the Hereafter, wisdom in this world, the best way to behave, the sum of all moral qualities, the practice of all the virtues, should take as his model Muhammad, the Prophet of God - God grant him blessings and peace - and emulate as far as possible the Prophet's morals and behavior. May God help us to take him as an example, by His grace, amen [amen]!

19. The ignorant have annoyed me on two occasions in my lifetime. First, when they spoke of things they did not know, at a time when I was equally ignorant; the second time when they kept silent in my presence [in the days when I had learned something). In the same way they were always silent about matters which would have benefited them to speak about, and spoke about matters which brought them no benefit.

20. Scholars have brought me pleasure on two occasions in my lifetime: first, they taught me when I was ignorant; the second time was when they conversed with me after I had been taught.

21. One of the merits of religious knowledge and asceticism in this world is that Almighty God does not put it with-in reach of anyone except those who are worthy of it and deserve it. One of the disadvantages of the great things of this world, wealth and fame, is that they mostly fall to the lot of people who are unworthy of them and do not deserve them.

22. Anyone who is seeking after virtue should keep company with the virtuous and should take no companion with him on his way except the noblest friend, one of those people who is sympathetic, charitable, truthful, sociable, patient, trustworthy, loyal, magnanimous, pure in conscience and a true friend.

23. Anyone who is seeking fame, fortune and pleasure will keep company only with people who resemble mad dogs and sly foxes: they will take for their traveling companions only people [inimical to his belief] who are cunning and depraved in nature.

24. The usefulness of the knowledge [of good) in the practice of virtue is considerable: anyone who knows the beauty of virtue will practice it, though it may be rarely. Knowing the ugliness of vice, he will avoid it, though it may be rarely. The man with knowledge of the good will listen to soundly-based praise and desire it for himself. He will listen to talk of evil and desire to avoid it. From this premise it necessarily follows that knowledge has a part in every virtue, and ignorance has a part in every vice. A man who has had no instruction in the knowledge [of good) will not practice virtue unless he has an extremely pure nature, a virtuous constitution. It is the particular state of the Prophets (peace and the blessings of God be upon them!) for God has taught them virtue in its entirety, without them having learned it from men.

25. It is true that I have seen among the common people some who, by their excellent behavior and morals, were not surpassed by any wise man, any scholarly, self-controlled man. But this is very rare. And I have seen men who have studied the different branches of knowledge, who have a good knowledge of the messages of the Prophets - peace be upon them - and the advice of the philosophers and who nevertheless surpass the most wicked in their bad behavior, their depravity, both internal and external. These are the worst of all creatures. This is very common and I therefore perceive that these two [moral attitudes] are a favor which is granted or withheld by Allah the Almighty.

--------------
Reference:
Ibn Hazm on Knowledge
Author: Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi
Source: Al-Akhlaq was-Siyar (trans. M Abu Laylah)

Ibn Hazm on Knowledge part 1

Ibn Hazm on Knowledge part 1

1.If knowledge had no other merit than to make the ignorant fear and respect you, and scholars love and honor you, this would be good enough reason to seek after it. Let alone all its other merits in this world and the next!

2. If ignorance had no other fault than to make the ignorant man jealous of knowledgeable men and jubilant at seeing more people like himself, this by itself would be reason enough to oblige us to flee it. Let alone the other bad results of this evil in this world and the next!

3.If knowledge and the action of devoting oneself to it had no purpose except to free the man who seeks it from the exhausting anxieties and many worries which afflict the mind, that alone would certainly be enough to drive us to seek knowledge. But what should we say of the other benefits too numerous to list, the least of which are the above-mentioned, and all of which accrue to the knowledgeable man. In search of benefits as small as these the petty kings have worn themselves out in seeking distraction from their anxieties in games of chess, dicing, wine, song, hunting expeditions and other pastimes which bring nothing but harm in this world and the next and absolutely no benefit.

4. If the scholar who has spent long peaceful hours [at his studies) stopped to think how his knowledge has protected him against humiliation at the hands of the ignorant, and against anxiety about unknown truths, and what joy it has brought him by enabling him to solve problems which others find insoluble, he would certainly increase his expressions of gratitude to Allah and rejoice more in the knowledge that he has and desire even more to add to it.

5.Anyone who spends his time studying something inferior, abandoning higher studies of which he is capable, is like someone who sows corn in a field capable of growing wheat, or who plants bushes in a soil which could support palm trees and olives.

6. To spread knowledge among those incapable of understanding it would be as harmful as giving honey and sugary confections to someone with a fever, or giving musk and amber to someone with a migraine caused by an excess of bile.

7.A man who is a miser with his knowledge is worse than a man who is a miser with his money, for the money-miser is afraid of using up what he possesses but the knowledge-miser is being mean with something which does not get used up and is not lost when it is given away.

8. Anyone who has a natural inclination towards a branch of knowledge, even if it is inferior to other branches, should not abandon it, or he would be like someone who plants coconuts in al-Andalus or olive trees in India where neither would produce fruit.

9. The most noble branches of knowledge are those which bring you close to the Creator and help you to be pleasing to Him.

10.When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favored than yourself. When you compare yourself with others in matters of religion, knowledge and virtue, look at people who are better than yourself.

--------------
Reference:
Ibn Hazm on Knowledge
Author: Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi
Source: Al-Akhlaq was-Siyar (trans. M Abu Laylah)

I know my religion...

I know my religion...

A man came to al-Hasan (al-Basree) and said:

"I wish to debate with you about the Religion."

al-Hasan replied:

"I know my Religion. If you have lost your Religion go out and look for it."

-------------
Reference:
Reported by al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah (p. 57), al-Laalikaa'ee in as-Sunnah (no. 215) and Ibn Battah (no. 586) and it is saheeh

The Faces of Nifâq

The Faces of Nifâq

It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – that he said:

It used to be said: it is part of al-nifâq (hypocrisy) to be inwardly different from what you are on the outside, to say one thing and do another and to be different in how you enter and how you leave. And the root of al-nifâq is lying.

Abû Bakr Al-Kharâ`itî, Masâwî Al-Akhlâq wa Madhmûmihâ p62.

Taken from: http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net

Which life to Pursue?

Which life to Pursue?

It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî often used to say,

“O youth! Seek the hereafter, for we often see people pursuing the hereafter and finding it as well as the dunyâ (worldly wellbeing), but we have never seen anyone pursue the dunyâ and gain the hereafter as well as the dunyâ.”

Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr, article 12.


Taken from : http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/

Dead Hearts and Empty Supplications

Dead Hearts and Empty Supplications

It is reported that Ibrâhîm b. Adham (d162H) – Allâh have mercy on him – once passed through the market of Basrah. People gathered around him and asked:

O Abû Ishâq, Allâh the Exalted says in his Book. ‘Call on me, I will answer your prayers’, but we have been calling on Him for a long time and He does not answer our prayers. [Ibrâhîm] replied, “O people of Basrah, your hearts have died in respect to ten things: First, you know Allâh but you do not give Him His rights; second, you have read Allâh’s Book but you do not act by it; third, you claim to love Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – yet you abandon his Sunnah; fourth, you claim to be enemies to Shaytân but you conform to [his ways]; fifth, you say you love Paradise yet you do not work for it; sixth, you say you fear The Fire yet you put yourselves closer to it [by sinning]; seventh, you say death is true but you do not prepare for it; eighth, you busy yourselves with the faults of others and disregard your own; ninth, you consume the favors of your Lord but are not grateful for them; and tenth, you bury your dead but take no lesson from them.”

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ’ 8: 15, 16.

Taken from: http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/index.php/category/the-fire/

They do it the opposite way

They do it the opposite way

al-Albaanee:

"These youth are misguided, they want to establish an Islaamic land without even being able to establish an Islaamic land in their own homes."

(Silsilat-ul-Hudaa wan-Noor 337)

THE DOOR OF TAWFEEQ - 6 THINGS by Ibn Qayim al Jawziya

THE DOOR OF TAWFEEQ

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.

The source of all of this stems from a lack of Raja'a (i.e. hope in Allah's mercy) and Khowf (i.e. fear of Allah's punishment and the fact that He may not accept any of your deeds). And the origin of this stems from a weakness in Yaqeen (i.e. certainty). And the origin of this stems from a weakness in Baseerah (i.e. sound legislative knowledge). And the origin of this stems from humiliation and ignobility and exchanging that which is superior for that which is mediocre.

If the individual was noble and ambitious he would not settle for mediocre. The source of every good is by the Tawfeeq (i.e. success) of Allah as well as by His will, the nobility of the soul, its magnanimity and exaltedness. Subsequently, the source of every evil is the villainousness of the soul, its ignobility and lowliness, as Allah says:

قد أفلح من زكاها وقد خاب من دساها...

“Indeed he will be successful who purifies his soul and he who corrupts his own soul will fail…”

Meaning, the one who exalts his soul, multiplies it's good and nurtures it upon obedience to Allah, will be successful. However, the one who disgraces his soul and humiliates it by exposing it to sin and disobedience to Allah will utterly lose. Thus the noble souls are not satisfied except with the finer things in life, those things that reap the most praiseworthy outcome. On the other hand, the ignoble souls loiter around the lowliest affairs just as the fly that only lands on feces.

Hence the noble and superior soul is not satisfied with oppression, fornication/adultery, stealing or betrayal due to the fact that he considers himself more dignified to commit such acts. However, the ignoble soul is the total opposite. And every soul will incline towards what is in conformity with it’s desire(s) and what it deems suitable. This is consistent with the statement of Allah:

قل كل يعمل على شاكلته

“Every soul shall act according to what it inclines towards…”

Meaning, every soul will act upon what is in conformity with it's desires. The soul will act upon what it deems suitable and appropriate for it. Thus, every soul will proceed upon the path that is natural for it. So the Fajir (i.e. criminal) soul will act according to what is natural for it, of welcoming the blessing(s) of Allah with sin while turning away from Al Mun'im (i.e. The Giver of all bounty and blessing). Yet the believer acts according to what is natural for him, of gratitude
to Allah, the One who grants His bounty to whomsoever He wills. Also loving Him, praising Him, showing affection to Him and being modest before Him, while the slave is conscious of the fact that Allah is evaluating his every movement, coupled with magnification and glorification of Him