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

Beware of the disease of the despots; (1) for indeed pride, avarice and [blameworthy] envy were the first (sins) Allaah was disobeyed with.(2) Raising yourself above your teacher is pride (3); being arrogant towards the one who benefits you from amongst those who are below you is pride; (4) and your falling short in acting upon knowledge is a sludge of pride and an indication of being deprived.(5)

Footnotes – By Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him]

[1] The Prophet said: Pride is to reject the truth and mock at the people.

[2] This refers to shaytaan’s behaviour when he was commanded to prostrate to Aadam, but pride prevented him from doing so. He refused and was haughty.

[3] Raising oneself can either be by way of the tongue and it can also be by way of sentiments [feelings, attitude, behaviour etc]. He [i.e. the student] might be walking with his teacher, whilst swaggering and saying, “I did this and I did this”.

[4] Likewise, being arrogant towards the one who is below you in knowledge is pride. This also occurs from some of the students, and if someone below him in knowledge informs him of something, you find him arrogant and does not accept.

[5] We ask Allaah for well-being because from the types of pride is to not act upon the knowledge one knows. [An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 38-40. slightly paraphrased]

Whoever utters the bold statement that he “ESTABLISHED THE DAWAH IN MANCHESTER” has indeed exposed himself to two affairs: (a) We’ll prove to him – with solid unambiguous proofs – that either he was nowhere to be seen when the Dawah first started or (b) he has now joined the Hajaawirah, Musaafiqah, Jamiat Ahle Hadeeth etc. No specific individual in Manchester – regardless his efforts within or outside the Masjid- would dare make this claim in the presence of those who have been present since 1995 and those who were present prior to that when Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him] was a student at Manchester University.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

لَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَواْ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحۡمَدُواْ بِمَا لَمۡ يَفۡعَلُواْ فَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّہُم بِمَفَازَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ‌ۖ
وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised for what they have not done,- think not you that they are rescued from the torment, and for them is a painful torment. [Surah Aal Imran. Aayah 188]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [my Allaah have mercy upon him] said: From the benefits of the Noble Aayah: (a) A warning against the rejoicing (that one) is doing a favour to Allaah and His Messenger, or the rejoicing (accompanied with) deception and betrayal such as (what the) hypocrites (do). (b) A warning to the person against loving to be praised for what one has not done. This happens a lot, sometimes a person clearly states that he has, whilst he is lying, and sometimes he pretends (or play with words) so the listener thinks that he is the doer, whilst he is not. (1)

The Behaviour of The Pious Predecessors

Abdullah Ibnul Mubaarak [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked about self-amazement, so he said, “To consider yourself as having something which none else besides you posssess”. (2)

Bishr Ibn Al-Haarith [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Self-amazement is that you overstate (or increase) your deeds, consider the deeds of the people or someone other than yourself to be lesser”. (3)

Imaam Fudayl Bin Iyaad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The highest level of (good) manners in our view is that a person knows his rightful place”. (4)

Narrated Husayn bin Abdir Rahmaan, “I was with Sa’eed Bin Jubair when he said, ‘Who amongst you saw a shooting star last night?’ I said, ‘I did’. Then I said, ‘I was not in prayer, but was stung by a scorpion’ [i.e. the reason why I was awake and saw the shooting star was because I got stung by a scorpion]. He said, ‘Then what did you do?’ I said, ‘I performed Ruqyah’”… to the end of the hadeeth (5)

Question: Why did Husayn Bin Abdir Rahmaan [may Allaah have mercy upon him] mention – in addition – that he was not in prayer after informing Sa’eed Bin Jubayr that he saw the shooting star last night?!

Answer: Imaam Sa’di [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “That is because Salaf [the pious predecessors] were far removed from praising a person for something he does not possess”. (6)

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “He (i.e. Husayn) said this lest the people think that he was standing in prayer and thus he is praised for that which he did not do. This is opposite of what some people do, for they rejoice that people assume that they were standing in prayer. This is tantamount to a deficiency in one’s Tawheed. Husayn’s statement is not viewed from the angle of show off, rather it is a good deed, and it is not like that one who abandons acts of obedience to Allaah out of fear of Riyaa, for indeed shaytaan plays about with a person (in this affair) and beautifies for him to abandon deeds out of fear of Riyaa; rather one should perform acts of obedience to Allaah, but nothing should be in your heart that you want to be seen by people”. (7)

Al-Allamah Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaykh [may Allaah preserve him] said, “He (i.e. Husayn) made this statement out of fearing that those who were present would think that he saw the shooting star whilst he was in prayer (i.e. Tahajjud), so he negated that from himself. This shows the virtue of the Salaf, their eagerness for sincerity, being distant from showing off and adorning oneself with something one does not possess”. (8)

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked: “May Allaah have mercy upon a person who knows his limitations and worth” Does this (saying) have an (established) source and has it been transmitted in a hadeeth?

Answer: I do not know of an (established) source for it, however its meaning is correct; because when a person knows his (limitations and worth), he will be humble in the presence of his Lord. He will worship Allaah and know that he is not free from being in need of Allaah in the twinkling of an eye. If he knows himself, he will know his status amongst the people and this knowledge will (prevent) him from being haughty towards them- because haughtiness is one of the major sins and looking down on the people is one of the forbidden deeds. This is why when the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] warned against haughtiness (or pride), they (i.e. the people) said: “Everyone of us loves that his clothes and shoes are nice’’,  so he said: “Indeed, Allaah is beautiful and He loves beauty; haughtiness (or pride) is to reject the truth and look down on the people.” Therefore, when a person knows his (limitations and worth), he will know his rank amongst the people, place himself in his (rightful) place, humble himself in the presence of his lord and in the presence of Allaah’s creation. And whoever humbles himself to Allaah, Allaah will raise him. (9)

Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “One of the reasons that leads to the abandonment of fairness and thus distances one from the truth -leads to concealment of truth and not clarifying that which Allaah has obligated – is love of high status and wealth. Both these affairs are a greater enemy to a person than two hunting wolves just as Allaah’s Messenger described (see footnote a), because indeed that was the reason that led the people of the scripture to distort Allaah’s Books and conceal that which came to them of clear proofs and guidance, such as what happened to the Jewish Rabis, and indeed Allaah informed us of this in His Mighty Book and the Messenger in the authentic narrations”. (10)

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah protect him] said: Knowledge is not merely about studying and obtaining certificates, rather the goal is to acquire sound and precise understanding – sound understanding in affairs of Aqeedah, worship, good manners, good etiquettes and everything related to the life of a believer. It is obligated on the believers to fulfil everything related to their lives based on the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger. The believer performs acts of worship sincerely for the Sake of Allaah because Allaah commanded him to be sincere. [وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ – And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat: and that is the right religion]. [Surah Al-Bayyinah’ Aayah 5] (11)

The Shaikh also said, “We have been commanded to learn, therefore, it is obligated on us to learn, act and call to the (religion ordained) by Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] based upon the path which Allaah has ordained and clarified for us- the path which the Messenger clarified for us and applied, and was applied by his companions after him. They spread Islam in the entire world – in different nations. This knowledge and goodness was spread mostly through (excellent, praiseworthy etc) manners – through patience, forbearance, firm fulfilment of obligations and responsibilities, truthfulness, honourable behaviour, nobility, noble mindedness, fulfilling promises and what is similar to that. These manners became manifest to the people, so the hearts, ears and eyes of the nations accepted this guidance, which the companions of Muhammad carried. (12)

The Shaikh also said: Good manners is a necessity in the path of seeking knowledge, and (when dealing with) scholars and elders. It was said to king Abdul Azeez: “How do you view the people?” He said, “The people in my view are three types: a man who is older than me, so he is placed in my father’s position; a man who is in my age group, so he is placed in my brother’s position, and a man who is younger than me, so he is like my son”. Therefore, a Muslim behaves towards his brothers in this manner. He places the people in these different categories. The student of knowledge should respect the elders, honour his contemporaries and shows mercy to those below his age. The one who is old in age is like his father, the one in his age group is like his brother and the one below him in age is like his son. (13)

Footnote a: Imaam Muhamad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Two hungry wolves let loose on a flock! Then what will remain from the flock?! Even when a single wolf stops eating because its stomach is full, it still kills the rest of the flock; then what about two hungry wolves let loose on a flock!! Not a single will remain. Likewise, a person who craves for wealth or status will corrupt the religion. And because of this it is obligated on a person that his intention is far removed from this- far removed from craving for wealth and status in the religion. We ask Allaah to aid us to accomplish this. There are many people who do not give concern except to wealth or status, so that they are pointed at (i.e. recognized). This destroys the religion because one’s soul inclines towards wealth and status and as a result of this a person forgets what is more important – the affair of the religion (i.e. sincerity etc). (14)

We ask Allaah for humility and good manners saying: [اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي – O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well]. https://salaficentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Admonitions-of-The-Scholars-Regarding-Good-Manners.pdf

Finally, we remind everyone as follows: https://salaficentre.com/2022/08/09/usual-annual-reminder-to-al-markazus-salafi-and-masjid-al-furqan-stoke-imaams-khutabaa-elders-usaateedh-admin-trustees-accountants-fundraisers-cleaners-maintenance-people-regular-attende/

May Allaah protect us from Ujub Aameen.