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

Introduction: The Importance of This Book

Reading this book is very beneficial in order that people become acquainted with the excellence of the religion of Islaam and its accomplishment of all the obligatory affairs (or necessities) that are sought after; and that it is a perfect religion that explains all affairs and solves all the problems of the people- a means to attaining all beneficial (useful) things, repels all evils, a means to success and safety, and a means to attaining the Pleasure of their Lord. This book is a means of increasing and strengthening Eemaan, because that which will increase the Eemaan of a Muslim and strength in this religion is through acquaintance with the excellence of this religion and its mighty station.

Imaam As-Saddi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “All praise be to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and all his family and companions. To proceed: These are statements related to the subject of the Islamic religion, and that it guides to that which is the most just and upright- guides the servants of Allaah through its creed, manners, dealings and directives, and establishes the basis of that which will benefit them in their worldly life and the Hereafter. And a clarification that there is no way to upright rectification of any of the affairs of the creation – completely – without it. And a clarification that all systems that are contrary to the religion of Islam cannot establish uprightness in religious and worldly affairs unless they are based on the teachings of the religion”.

Commentary: The author clarified the religion of Islam – its creed, which is the most sound, the most perfect and the greatest; and its manners, which are the best and purest; and its dealings, which are the finest and the best; and its directives, which are the most upright, and its structures upon which is founded every good and virtue- upon a lofty basis that is built on a robust foundation. The Islamic creed, its manners, dealings, directives and its structures guides the servants of Allaah in their worldly life and Afterlife. And it is not possible to rectify – completely (or perfectly) – anything from the affairs of the creation, except through Islam. Sometimes there are conferences (or conventions) to solve some problems, but neither a single verse from Allaah’s Book is mentioned nor a hadeeth of Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], whilst seeking an upright solution to problems. All systems that are contrary to the religion of Islam cannot establish uprightness in religious and worldly affairs unless they are based on the teachings of the religion. The details of this affair will proceed…. (1)

Allaah [The Most High] said:

أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَانْهَارَ بِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Is it then he, who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His Good Pleasure, better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbled to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell. And Allah guides not the people who are the Zaalimoon [polytheists and wrong doers]. [Soorah At-Tawbah: Ayah: 109]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Whoever wants his building to be elevated, then it is incumbent upon him to strengthen and fortify its foundation, because the elevation of the building is based on the firmness and fortification of its foundation. Deeds are a building and Eemaan is their foundation. If the foundation is strong, it carries and elevates the building, and if a part of the building is damaged, it is easy for it to bear the [damage]; but if the foundation is not firm, then neither will the building be elevated nor will it be firm. And if something from the foundation is damaged, the building will either collapse or close to that. Therefore, the duty of a knowledgeable person is that he makes the foundation sound and fortified. As for the ignorant person, he elevates [the building] whilst building upon other than a [strong] foundation, so his building does not remain.

The foundation of deeds is like the physical strength of a person- if the strength is vigorous, the body will be able to withstand burden and repel many harmful things; but if it is weak, the body’s ability to withstand burden is weakened and harm quickly overcomes the person. Therefore, support your building [i.e. your actions and deeds] with the foundation of Eemaan; for if something from the top of your building decays and falls down, then it would be much easier for the [building] to bear [the damage], rather than the destruction of the foundation. This foundation [i.e. Eemaan] is based on two affairs:

Firstly: Sound knowledge and awareness of Allaah, His Commandments, Names and Attributes. Secondly: Complete submission to Allaah alone [i.e. by worshipping Him alone] and [unconditional obedience to] His Messenger alone. This is the firmest foundation upon which the slave establishes his building [i.e. his actions and deeds]. Therefore, one solidifies the foundation, preserves its strength and carries on being enthusiastic, and thus what is desired [i.e. success in this life and the next] will be reached [InShaaAllaah].(2)

Dr. Shaikh Abu Iyaadh [may Allaah preserve him] stated:  The wisdom of the Islamic Shariah: Cut off evils and harms to society from their very roots and enjoy the resulting freedom, ease and wholesome life. In contrast: the barbarity and backwardness of commercialising corrosive evils– usurious banking, alcohol, gambling–in order to profit from the masses through affairs in which their ruin and impoverishment lies–and then managing this commercialisation through legislation, policies, guidelines and so on to “limit the harms”. The result? Inescapable enslavement, bondage, disease and ruin of the masses for the enrichment of the few who peddle these vices. Where is the intellect?! (3)

[Ref1: Listen to audio here: https://www.al-badr.net/detail/UY7sjBcaQE. Stopped at 12mins 34secs. Paraphrased Excerpt]

[Ref2:An Excerpt From Al-Fawaa’id. page 154. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref3:http://www.shariah.ws/articles/suokooj-there-is-no-safe-limit-in-the-consumption-of-alcohol-and-the-prohibition-of-alcohol-in-the-quran.cfm ]