Tag: scholars

All The Sects In The Fire Except One – [A Precise Clarification By Imaam Abdul Azeez In Baaz]

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

Question to Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him]: What is the intent behind the Messenger’s ﷺ statement when he spoke about the Ummah in the hadith: “All of them (the sects) are in the fire except one” and what is that one?. Also, will all the other 72 (deviant) sects be in the fire for eternity? Benefit us.

The answer: The prophet ﷺ said, “The Jews split into 71 sects, meaning all of them are astray and their affair ruined, except one. The Christians split into 72 sects, meaning all of them are astray and their affair ruined, except one. And this Ummah will split into 73 sects- all of them in the fire, except one. This one group is Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’a [those who firmly adhere to the authentic Prophetic Sunnah and are united upon that] – the companions of the Prophet and those who follow them exactly in faith, the adherents to pure Islamic monotheism and sound faith.

As for the other 72 sects that have been threatened with the fire, among them is one who is a disbeliever (ref a), among them is one who is a sinner and among them is one about whom it is established with clear evidence that he is an innovator in religious affairs. So, the one – among them – that dies in a state of disbelief (ref b) will be in the fire for eternity, the one that dies in a state of adherence to religious innovation that is lesser than major disbelief (ref c) or sins is under the will of Allah, while still threatened with the fire. So, based on this it is known that not all of them are disbelievers, but rather among them is a disbeliever and other than him among the sinners and the innovators in religious affairs. [Ref 1]

[Refs a and b]: NB: Takfeer – declaring that a Muslim left the fold of Islaam is a judgement that can only be given by the upright scholars and none else.  https://www.manhaj.com/manhaj/articles/obkwf-takfir-and-the-excuse-of-ignorance-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan.cfm

[Ref c]: NB: All religious innovations are evil, but there are those that will exit a person from the fold of Islaam (Bida’atul Mukaffirah) and those that do not exit a person from the fold of Islaam (Bida’atul Mufassiqah). Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah preserve him] was asked whether there is a difference between Bidah Al-Mukaffirah and Bidah Al-Mufassiqah; so he replied that there is Bidah Mukaffirah, such as rejecting the Ruyah (i.e. denying that the believers will see Allaah in the afterlife); rejecting Allaah’s Uluww [i.e. denying that Allaah is above his creation –Allaah ascended over the Throne in a way that benefits his majesty)]; invoking other than Allaah; offering slaughtered sacrifice (i.e. animals) to other than Allaah etc. These are affairs of Bidah Al-Mukaffirah (the bidah that is tantamount to disbelief). But we do not make Takfeer of the people who commit this type of Bidah until we establish the proofs against them. That is because some of them (i.e. the people who fall into these affairs) carry doubts and are far away from the era of Prophethood and its light (i.e. guidance). So they fall into the likes these innovations. Rejecting the Ruyah is disbelief; rejecting Allaah’s Uluww is disbelief; the saying that the Qur’aan is created is disbelief-major disbelief. But this person, -[who testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allaah, and he prays, observes fasting, wants paradise and believes in that] -received the doubts of the people of falsehood, so he falls into the likes of these affairs (i.e. these innovations that are tantamount to disbelief). So we say to him: You have fallen into disbelief and the evidence is this and this, and we clarify for him. So if Allaah grants him Tawfeeq and he returns to the truth, then all praise is due to Allaah. But if not, we declare him a disbeliever after establishing the proofs against him. As for Bidah Al-Mufassiqah it is other than this (i.e. it is not at the level of that which is tantamount to disbelief)…
[A paraphrased excerpt. see http://www.rabee.net/ar/questions.php?cat=26&id=484 ]

Sins and Repentance:

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Disobedience is the cause of being in shaytaan’s captivity and a prisoner of lowly desires. A disobedient person is always in the captivity of his devil, the prison of his lusts and leadership of his desires. He is a captive and a shackled prisoner. There is neither a captive whose state of affairs is more evil than that of a captive whose captor is his worst enemy, nor is there a prison more restricted than the prison of desires, and shackles that are more restrictive than the shackles of lust; so how can a heart that is a captive and a shackled prisoner follow the path to Allaah and the home of the afterlife? How can he follow a single path when the heart is shackled and stricken with harm from every angle as a result of the [severity] of its shackles? The likeness of the heart is that of a bird; it distances from harm whenever it flies high and surrounded by harm whenever it lands. It is reported in a hadeeth: ‘’Shaytaan is a wolf to a human being.’’ And just as an unprotected sheep in the midst of wolves is quickly destroyed, likewise if there is no protection from Allaah for the slave, it is inevitable that his wolf will prey on him.

He is protected by Allaah through Taqwaah (fear of Allaah). Taqwaah is a shield and shelter from Allaah between the person and his wolf; just as it is a shield against punishment in this life and the afterlife. Whenever the sheep is closer to its shepherd, it is safer from the wolf and whenever it is distanced from the shepherd, it comes closer to being destroyed. So the sheep is more protected when it is closer to the shepherd, for the wolf only takes away the [sheep, cattle] that are distanced and far away from the shepherd.

The basis of this affair is that whenever the heart is distanced from Allaah, then harm upon it is quicker, and whenever it is comes closer to Allaah, it is distanced from harm. Being distanced from Allaah is of various levels and some are more severe than others. Being distanced from [Allaah] through disobedience is greater than being distanced from [Allaah] through thoughtlessness; being distanced from [Allaah] through bidah is greater than being distanced from [Allaah] through disobedience, and being distanced from [Allaah] through hypocrisy and shirk is greater than all of that. [An Excerpt from ‘Ad-Daa’u Wad-Dawaa’u’ page 119-120]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said: Sin and disobedience is something common in all the nations. It is something that has not cease to exist in the world amongst the Children of Aadam regardless of their different social classes- the common people, the ignorant ones, [the zuhhaad – those who choose to abstain from some of the lawful pleasures of the worldly life which one can do without], those desirous of it [i.e. the pleasures], the leaders and those under their rule. This affair of [sin and disobedience] is not something specific to this Ummah of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], such that [the Ummah] and its Prophet are [singled out] with rebuked as a result of that. Sin and disobedience does not negate belief in the Messengers, because it is possible for them to exist alongside belief in the Messengers. And although disobedience diminishes the perfection and completeness of belief in the Messengers, however it does not negate it.

Sins are wiped away through sincere repentance. Allaah forgives the slave when he repents, even if his sins fill the heavens and are of a great number. Allaah said: [قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ – Say: O Ibaadee [My slaves] who have transgressed against themselves [by committing evil deeds and sins]! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [39:53]

This is the right of the one who repents because repentance wipes away the sin after it [was committed]. Therefore, the one who repents from a sin is like one without that sin. Tawheed [pure Islamic montheism] wipes away sins, as [mentioned] in the Hadeeth Al-Qudsiy: ‘’O Son of Adam! If you were to meet Me with enough sins to fill the earth, whilst not associating anything with Me [in worship], I shall meet you with its equivalent in forgiveness.’’ Therefore, strong Tawheed wipes away the sins of the Muslims; but if punished for their sins, they will be removed from the fire as a result of their belief in Tawheed. As for the people of shirk and the disbelievers, their good deeds are nullified as result of the disbelief and shirk they are upon. They will neither meet their Lord with good deeds in order to obtain safety nor will they be forgiven any of their sins. Allaah [Glorified be He] said: [إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ – Verily, Allaah does not forgive (a person) the sin of associating partners with Him in worship (i.e. if one dies in that state without repentance), but He (Allaah) forgives (sins that are) lesser than that (i.e. lesser than shirk) to whom He pleases]. [4:48] [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Hidaayatul Hayaaraa Fee Ajwibatil Yahood Wan-Nasaaraa. Page 123-124. Slightly paraphrased]

Sayyid Al-Istighfaar

With Brief Commentary By Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz and Imaam Ibnul Qayyim

(may Allaah have mercy on both of them)

[1] Sayyid Al-Istighfaar – [With Brief Commentary By Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz]

[2] Sayyid Al-Istighfaar – [With Brief Commentary By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim]


Ref: 1: paraphrased. see link below
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/17308/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%88%D9%84%D9%87-%EF%B7%BA-%D9%83%D9%84%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9

 

Nurture Children Upon Bravery – [Rebuke Against Those Who Follow Forbidden Means From Customs And Thus Lead Children to Transgression and Violence In The Name of Bravery]

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

The reason behind this article: A brother sent us a video clip in which either the parents or guardians filmed two toddlers – biting, pinching cheeks and hitting on the head. This despicable act carried on for 33 seconds. Indeed, this parent or guadian definately deserves to be called a child abuser – unfit to be looking after children and a wicked example for others!

Allaah [Glorified and Exalted be He] said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded. [Soorah Tahreem: Ayah: 6]

Al-Allaamah Abdullaah Bin Muhammad Bin Humaid [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Some of the pious predecessors said that if you hear the statement of Allaah ‘’O you who believe’‘, then listen attentively because it is either something good you are being commanded or something forbidden you are being prohibited from. And regarding the statement “Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell)”, this cannot be achieved except by fulfilling the commandments of Allaah and keeping away from what He has forbidden.

It is well known that children are the most important part of the family, therefore you must take up a shield of protection against the fire to protect your children and those under your care. And what is this protection? It is the advice and guidance you give them about that which will benefit them- teaching them what is beneficial and correct by way of which Eemaan is nurtured in the hearts and by way of which they will come to know the rights of their Creator and the rights of their parents. [Ref 1]

Nurture Children Upon Praiseworthy Customs

Ut-bah Bin Abee Sufyaan [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said to his children’s teacher, “Indeed, I have come to you to teach my children; first, rectify yourself and adhere to your religion because their eyes are fixed on you. They will not see you beautifying or doing something, except that they will blindly follow you. Teach them the Hadeeth and the Qur’aan, the poetry and etiquettes of the Arabs that develops bravery in the souls, heroism, nobility and adherence to good customs”. [Ref 2]

Indeed, there is not a society, nation, tribe or clan except that they have a path – through customs – by way of which they seek to nurture children upon bravery, whether that path is sound or corrupt. Nurturing children upon bravery cannot involve Haraam – biting, hitting or punching in the face; rather this is the path of the oppressors and wicked ones. Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is obligated on every Muslim that he does not depend on custom; rather he presents it to the pure Islamic legislation (to be judged), so whatever the Islamic legislation affirms is permissible and whatever it does not affirm is impermissible. The customs of the people are not proof to determine the lawfulness of anything. All the customs of the people in their countries or tribes must be presented to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] for judgement, so whatever Allaah and His Messenger made permissible is permissible, and whatever they forbid, then it is obligatory to abandon it even if it is the custom of the people”. [Ref 3]

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The customs cannot make something that is not legislated (in the divine revelation) as something legislated, because of Allaah’s statement: [وَلَيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرُّ بِأَن تَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا – It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 189], despite the fact that it was something they took as their custom and considered it to be an act of righteousness. Whoever takes something as a custom and believes that it is an act of righteousness, then it should be presented to Allaah’s divine legislation [i.e. to be judged]”. [Ref 4]

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said, “Extremism in related to customs is stringent adherence to old customs and not diverting to what is better than them. As for if the customs are equal in benefit [i.e. the ones judged to be permissible by the divine legislation], then a person remaining upon what he is upon would be better than going along with the new (or emerging) customs”. [Ref 5]

Eemaan and Physical Strength:

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَڪُمۡ طَالُوتَ مَلِكً۬ا‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ عَلَيۡنَا وَنَحۡنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلۡمُلۡكِ مِنۡهُ وَلَمۡ يُؤۡتَ سَعَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَالِ‌ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَٮٰهُ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ وَزَادَهُ ۥ بَسۡطَةً۬ فِى ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَٱلۡجِسۡمِ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤۡتِى مُلۡڪَهُ ۥ مَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬

And their prophet said to them, ‘Indeed, Allah has sent to you Saul as a king.’ They said, ‘How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?’ He said, ‘Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing’”. [Surah Al-Baqarah 247]

So, Allaah chose Saul [peace be upon him] over them due to the strength in knowledge and his physical strength- both of which are a means to bravery, an assistance to fulfil tasks and look after affairs properly. [Ref 6]

This is what good parents and guardians would wish to nurture children upon, knowledge first and foremost and physical strength to carry out tasks, instead of violent behavior- biting and hitting people. There are narrations in the authentic Sunnah that teaches Muslims to be active and strong. The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Everything in which there is no remembrance of Allah is idle play, except four things: a man playing with his wife; a man training his horse; a man running between two lines (as in a race); and a man learning how to swim”. [Ref 7]

Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa [may Allah be pleased with him] said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] passed by a group of Aslam who were competing in shooting arrows. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Shoot, O sons of Ismaa‘eel, because your father was an archer. Shoot, and I am with the tribe of So-and-so’. One of the two groups stopped shooting, so the Messenger of Allah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, ‘What is the matter with you, why are you not shooting?’ They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! How could we shoot when you are with them?’ He said, ‘Shoot, because I am with all of you'”. [Ref 8]

Rukaanah [who was a very strong and undefeated wrestler] wrestled with Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and the Prophet threw him to the ground. [Ref 9] However, despite the strength of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], he also said, “The strong are not the best wrestlers. Verily, the strong are only those who control themselves when they are angry”. [Ref 10]

Corrupt Deeds of Adults Who Corrupt Their Offspring

Demonstrations: Nowadays one sometimes sees some parents – in videos – accompanied by their teenage children during demonstrations and protests. They witness confrontation between police and demonstrators, as well as when some demonstrators are arrested. Indeed, demonstrations are evil enough, then what about exposing young men and women to this evil?! Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Protests [or demonstrations] are newly invented matters in the religion. Every newly invented matter in the religion is a bidah; every bidah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire [i.e. is a path leading to the hell fire]. Allaah’s legislation is perfect and complete-based on The Book and The Sunnah-and we do not know of anything by way of the evidences in the Book and the Sunnah that makes it permissible for a handful of people to gather for demonstrations, which causes disturbance for the people and time wasting. And greater than this [disturbance and time wasting] is abandonment of the prayers [during protests] and the loss of life [i.e. murder]. If one was to kill a Muslim in a single protest, the one [or those] who called to such protests will carry his sins-be it an individual, a group or those who participate. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim [i.e. without right].[Saheeh Al-Jaami 9208]

These protests are nothing but bidah and acts of misguidance advocated by shaytaan; [enticed] by the urge of the evil soul and desires. And these enemies [i.e. shaytaan, the urge of the evil soul and desires] do not come together in any affair except that the religion and worldly affairs are destroyed, just as it is the case in these demonstrations [or protests]. The end results of protests [or demonstrations]: Carnage, destruction, wastage of wealth and time and terrorizing those living in peace. And how many disadvantages are there in [that]! It is enough to be considered something sinister due to the fact that the Noble Messengers and the Great Prophets who were put to trial and harmed by their people did not hold protests [or demonstrations]. Neither did they engage in plotting to cause explosions nor committing suicide; rather Islaam has forbidden all of that.

Those who call to protests [or demonstrations] and hold that there is success in it, they are mistaken and they have missed the correct path. Rectification of the affairs can only be by way of the Book and The Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of those scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. So whoever calls the people to this chaos, then indeed he has brought about a means to corrupting the land and the slaves, and what has occurred – in the past and at present- is a witness to that. Therefore, we warn the students of knowledge that they are not persuaded by the speech of those who allow protests [or demonstrations]. They say that peaceful demonstrations are permissible-as they categorize it into this categorization- without proofs and concrete evidence from the Book and the Sunnah- neither from the actions of the Messenger and the Noble Companions nor from the Notable Imaams; rather the verdict on protests [or demonstrations] is only what has been stated earlier and as well as what has been written by other than myself [i.e. protests (or demonstrations) are not permissible]. [Ref 11]

Question to Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him]: Going out to demonstrations, [initiating] revolutions and nurturing the youth upon it; is this from the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah or not, whether [carried] out within or outside the Muslim countries? Answer: This is the methodology of Marx (i.e. Carl Marx), Lenin (i.e. Vladimir Lenin) and those similar to them. It is not from the Islamic methodology. Revolutions, bloodshed, trials and troubles are Marx’s and Lenin’s school of thought. [Ref 12]

If this is the corruption teenagers are exposed to during demonstrations, then what about the corruption child soldiers are exposed to in Africa, Yemen and elsewhere?! May Allaah protect all children from this evil Aameen.

Exposing kids to Games That Corrupt Manners of Children

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Any man whom Allaah has given authority to look after the affairs of a people and he dies whilst not looking after them [in the manner obligated by Allaah and His Messenger], he will not smell the scent of paradise”. [Ref 13]
Regarding the statement of the Messenger [peace and blessings o

f Allaah be upon him], “Any man whom Allaah has given authority to look after the affairs of a people”, Imaam Muhammad bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “This does not (only) mean the Muslim ruler, his assistant or a minister, or the elders of a people; rather it applies even to a man in his house. If he dies and did not look after his family [in the manner obligated by Allaah and His Messenger], then indeed Allaah will prevent him from smelling the scent of paradise. And those who give their families games [or means of amusement] that corrupt manners and destroy (sound) Islamic belief, then there is no doubt that they have not looked after their families [i.e. in the manner obligated by Allaah and His Messenger in this affair]. And if they die whilst being upon this state, it is feared that Allaah will prevent them from smelling the scent of paradise. We ask Allaah for well-being and safety”. [Ref 14]

Regarding the statement of the Messenger, “He will not smell the scent of paradise”, Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The sinners [i.e. those who die whilst committing sins lesser than shirk] are under the will of Allaah- if Allaah wishes, He will either punish them or forgive them straight away, or He enters them into hell for some time and paradise thereafter, just as Allaah said: [إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌-Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases. [Surah An-Nisaa’ Aayah 48][Ref 15]

Finally: The Middle Path Regarding Moral Character –

By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him]

Akhlaaq [i.e. moral character] have limits. Transgression occurs when one goes beyond its limits and deficiency and humiliation occurs when one falls short.

The limits of Anger are: Praiseworthy bravery and having a dislike for despicable and deficient [behaviour etc.]. This is its perfection; but when one goes beyond its limits, the person transgresses and oppresses; and if his anger is deficient, he’ll behave in a cowardly manner and will not detest despicable [behaviour etc.].

The limits of Eagerness are: To obtain what suffices one’s [needs] in the worldly affairs and employ the [means] to reach them. Humiliation and a waste of [valuable time or opportunity] occurs when a person lacks eagerness; but when he goes beyond its limits, it leads to vehement greed and unpraiseworthy desire.

The limits of Envy are: [Praiseworthy] competition in seeking after perfection and not wanting the other competitor to excel you; [but] if a person goes beyond its limits, it leads to jealous animosity and oppression by way of which a person wishes that the one he envies is deprived of blessings and is eager to harm him. And if a person lacks [what is required of it], it leads to disesteem and a weakness in one’s ambition. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “There should be no envy except in two (people): a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom [i.e. religious knowledge] and he judges by way of it and teaches it to the others”. This type of envy [necessitates praiseworthy] competition between one another and the Haasid [i.e. the one who is envious of his or her competitor] seeks -by way of it- to be similar to the one he envies, whilst not [harbouring that] despised envy which [necessitates that he] wishes that the blessings bestowed upon the envied one should cease to exist.

The limits of Desires are: [Desires are a means] of relaxation for the heart and intellect after exerting oneself in acts of obedience and seeking to accomplish virtuous deeds. However, when a person goes beyond its limits, it leads to a strong and barely uncontrollable emotion and lewdness, and thus the person descends to the level of animals. However, when a person is lacking in desire and does not [utilized it as a means] of seeking after perfection and virtue, it leads to weakness, impotence and humiliation.

The limits of Relaxation are: It gives renewed strength to the self and strengthens one’s mental ability, in order to facilitate [him with the ability] to carry out acts of obedience and accomplish virtuous deeds, and so that one is not weakened by toil and tiredness. However, when a person goes beyond its limits, it leads to un-enthusiasm, laziness, waste [of time and opportunity] and many beneficial affairs of a person are missed due to that. And when a person lacks sufficient relaxation, it harms his strength and may even become enfeebled [by way of it].

The limits of Generosity are between two extremes; when one goes beyond its limits, it leads to extravagance and squander. And when a person is lacking in generosity, it leads to miserliness and tight-fistedness.

The limits of Bravery: When a person goes beyond its limits, it leads to recklessness; and when a person lacks bravery, it leads to cowardice and weakness. Its limit is to take action during occasions in which such action is required and to refrain when not required.

The limits of Jealousy: When one goes beyond its limits, it leads to false accusation and [unjustified] evil suspicion against one who is free from blame. And when one lacks jealousy, it leads to heedlessness and a lack of giving importance to one’s honour.

The limits of Humility: When one goes beyond its limits, it leads to indignity and humiliation. And when one lacks humility, it leads to pride and boasting.

Honour has limits. When a person goes beyond its limits, it leads to pride. And when a person lacks honour, it leads to humiliation and indignity.

What gives an upright balance to all these affairs? Justice provides a precise and upright balance for [all the above-mentioned qualities] and this necessitates that a person adheres to the balanced path ordained by the Islamic legislation-the path that is free from exaggeration and negligence. All beneficial affairs of the worldly life and the afterlife are based on this; rather physical well-being cannot be achieved except by way of it, because when some of the elements of the human body are distanced from its appropriate balance -either due to exceeding its limits or falls short – it loses its well-being and strength in accordance with the degree of [this imbalance]. Likewise, when those natural acts, such as sleep, staying up late at night, eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, movement, recreation, seclusion, keeping company with the people and other than that are performed with moderation – neither being excessive nor lacking in what is required – it is regarded to be [upright, appropriate, balanced]; but when a person deviates to one of the two extremes, it is regarded to be a deficiency and will have deficient end results.

And one of the most noble and beneficial sciences is the knowledge regarding the hudood [the appropriate limits], especially the divine limits-the commands and prohibitions [ordained by Allaah (The Most High) and His Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. The most knowledgeable people are those who have the most knowledge regarding those divine limits, hence they neither include- within those limits- that which is not from them nor remove that which is included in them. Allaah [The Most High] said:

[ٱلۡأَعۡرَابُ أَشَدُّ ڪُفۡرً۬ا وَنِفَاقً۬ا وَأَجۡدَرُ أَلَّا يَعۡلَمُواْ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ – The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be in ignorance of the limits (Allah’s Commandments and His Legal Laws, etc.) which Allah has revealed to His Messenger]. [Soorah At-Tawbah’ Aayah 97]

Therefore, the most just, balanced and upright people are those who stay within the limits of moral character,  actions and the deeds legislated in the Islamic legislation- in knowledge and practice. [Ref 16]


[Refs 1 and 2: Al-Fataawaa Wad-Duroos Fil Masjid Al-Haraam. pages 938-944]

[Ref 3: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 6/510]

[Ref: 4: Tafseer Surah Al-Baqarah 2/299]

[Ref 5: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 7/7]

[Ref 6: Tafseer Sadi. 109. Daar Ibn Jawzi 1431]

[Ref 7: As-Saheehah 315]

[Ref 8: Al-Bukhaari 3373]

[Ref 9: Al-Irwaa wal-Ghaleel 5/329]

[Ref 10: Bukhari 5763 and Muslim 2609]

[Ref 11: : الأفنان وتوحيد ابن خزيمة وحديث عن المظاهرات4-4-1432هـ.]

[Ref 12: An excerpt from كشف الستار Page: 18]

[Ref 13: Saheeh Al-Bukhaari’ Number 7150]

[Ref 14: At-taleeq Alas Siyaasatish Shar’iyyah. page 35]

[Ref 15: https://www.binbaz.org.sa/noor/2527 ]

[Ref 16: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’id page 207- 209]

Reminder to Muslims Who Have Recently Been Wishing “A Happy Birthday to a Muslim Ruler” On Twitter

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

Indeed, it is pleasing to the hearts when one sees Muslims supplicating for their rulers and ignoring the provocations of the internal reckless instigators and the external opportunistic western ideologues- those who want to sow the seeds of animosity and hatred between the Muslim rulers and their subjects; however love for the Muslim rulers and the Muslim nations should not lead us to oppose the authentic Prophetic Tradition. This is a reminder to those Muslims who have recently been wishing a “Happy Birthday to a Muslim ruler”.

[A] Birthday Celebrations:

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Everything that is taken as a day of day of celebration [Festival and Annual Celebrations], repeated every week and every year and is not legislated in Islaam, then it is a Bidah [i.e. religious innovation]. The evidence is because the One Who [i.e. Allaah] legislates everything [i.e. either in the Qur’aan and the authentic Prophetic Tradition] has legislated the “Aqeeqah” for the newly born baby and did not legislate anything after that. So, taking these celebrations [festivals] that are repeated every week or every year means that they [i.e. the people who do so] have likened them to Islamic festivals [days of celebrations, days set aside for religious observance] and this is forbidden- not permissible. There is nothing in Islam related to festivals [celebrations or days set aside for religious observance] except for the three: Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, and Eidul Usboo, which is Friday. [Ref 1]

[B] Celebrations for such and such person:

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

All of this is Munkar [i.e. considered evil in the Islamic legislation], whether for the person, his mother, his daughter or son. All this that has been newly invented – nowadays – is an imitation of the Christians or the Jews [i.e. those amongst them who changed the religion after the departure of their Prophets]. It has no basis nor a foundation [i.e. in the Islamic legislation]. Mother’s day, Father’s Day, Uncle’s Day, the day for a particular person (as celebration or congratulation), or the day for his daughter or son, then all of this is Munkaraat [considered evil in the Islamic legislation]. All of it is an innovation in religious affairs, an imitation of Allaah’s enemies and nothing from it is permissible. [Ref 2]

[C] National Day Celebrations:

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

National day Celebration is an innovation in religious affairs [i.e. because only the two Eeds have been legislated for that purpose]. As for “Week of the Scholars”, it is not a religious innovation. During this week, their books are presented and it is not a religious innovation. It is a week in which books are presented, so it is said, “The week for the book of such and such person, the week thereafter the book of such and such, and the week after it, the book of such and such”. This is not a religious innovation. This is a presentation of books, a clarification of what such and such person has authored and the those books of his that have been printed. If it is said, “This is Muhammad’s week, this is Shaikhul Islaam’s week, this is the week of Izz Bin Abdis Salaam and Al-Qurtubee’s week, in which their books are presented, then this is not a newly invented matter into the religion, (rather) it is to present their books openly, sell and distribute them amongst the people. As for National Day and celebrating National Day on any day or celebrating the night of Raghaa’ib, then all of this is an innovation in religion and an imitation of Allaah’s enemies. [Ref 3]

The Imaam [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said:

This National Day (celebration is tantamount to) an imitation of Allaah’s enemies. The National Days of celebration are an imitation. It may have occurred due a good intention and based on a judgement made by some after striving to reach the correct verdict in an affair; but what is apparent to us is that it is not legislated and it is not from that which is befitting; rather imitation of Allaah’s enemies is found within it, even if worship is not intended by way of it. As for if worship was intended by way of it, then it would be an innovation in religion, but worship is not intended by way of it; rather what is intended is to congratulate, manifest what the country has established and done, therefore, this is considered to be similar to the other days initiated by the Jews and Christians [i.e. those amongst them who changed the religion after the departure of their Prophets] for remembrance or for other reasons. So, it is not befitting [or not permissible] to imitate them- neither in this affair nor in other than it [i.e. those affairs which the Islamic legislation has neither allowed nor legislated]. [Ref 4]

What is Aqeeqah For The Newly Born?

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: One of the rights of the child upon his father is that he should slaughter a sacrifice for him. He should slaughter for the Aqeeqah on his behalf as an act worship and thanks-giving to Allaah (The Most High). There is seeking nearness to Allaah and being thankful to Him in this (sacrifice) and there is good in it for the newly born because goodness is found in acts of worship. Therefore, he slaughters two sheep for the boy and one for the girl. This is an established Sunnah and there is goodness in it for the newly born. He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’Every newly born is in pledge for his/her aqeeqah’’ (Reported by Abu Daawood. No:2831) The sacrificial slaughter, shaving of the head and naming the child are to be done on the seventh day, and these are from the means of bringing about goodness for the new born. The expense for this is to be undertaken by the father. [Ref 5]

Therefore, it is pleasing to hearts when one knows that Muslims love their leaders and wish them good, but the authentic Sunnah must be followed. The birthday of none is to be celebrated – not even the birthday of the most noble person amongst humankind [The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)], because it is not legislated in the divine legislation. Rather we supplicate for our rulers, obey them in good and never rebel against them.

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked about the one who refrains from supplicating for the ruler, so he replied: ”This is from the ignorance and lack of foresight of this person, because indeed supplicating for the ruler is one of the greatest acts of worship and righteous deeds. It is one of the acts of sincerity to the Allaah and sincerely wanting good for Allaah’s servants. When Tufayl Ibn Amr Ad-Dawsi [may Allaah be pleased with him] came to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and said to him, ”Daws (a well-known tribe of disbelievers) are doomed, they have disobeyed and been stubborn. Pray to Allah against them”. He said, ”O Allaah! Guide Daws and bring them here”. [Bukhaari and Muslim] So, Allaah guided Daws and they became Muslims. Therefore, a believer supplicates for the people to be blessed with good and the ruler is more entitled to it, because his rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation. Supplicating for him is one of the most important supplications – one of the most important acts of sincerity to Allaah and sincerely wanting good for the Muslims, so one supplicates for him to be guided to the truth and helped upon that path, that Allaah grants him righteous companions, keeps him away from the evils of his soul and the evils of the people he sits with. Therefore, supplicating for him to be guided, blessed with the ability to do good, blessed with a righteous heart, blessed with good deeds and righteous companions, is one of the most important things to ask for and one of the most virtuous acts of worship. It has been reported from Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] that he said, ‘If I knew that I have one supplication that would be accepted, I would make it for the ruler’, and he reported this from Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyaadh [may Allaah have mercy upon him]”’. [Ref 6]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If you see something from the ruler that is in opposition to (the Qur’an and Sunnah), then supplicate to Allaah for him because their rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation; but when we say, ‘O Allaah! Rectify the rulers and guide them’, we hear some of the foolish people saying, ‘O Allaah! Do not rectify them’. Glorified be Allaah, The Most Great! If Allaah does not rectify them, then that would be more evil for you, so supplicate for them to be guided and become righteous, and Allaah is able to do everything’”. [Ref 7]

Imaam Al-Bayhaqqi [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Uthmaan (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said, ‘Advise the ruler and supplicate for him a lot to be upright, guided in speech and action, and in his judgments, because indeed if they are righteous, the people will be righteous due to their righteousness. And beware of supplicating against them to be cursed and they increase in evil, so calamity increases on the Muslims; rather supplicate for them to be granted the ability to repent so that they abandon evil and calamity is removed from the believers’”. [Ref 8]

Imaam Ibn Salaah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The leaders of the Muslims deserve to be advised, aided upon truth and obeyed in that. They should be notified and reminded with gentle and kind speech, avoid rebelling against them and supplicate for them to be blessed with guidance and good deeds. [Ref 9]

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The scholars hold a consensus that it is recommended to supplicate for the rulers and leaders of the Muslims during the Jumu’ah khutbah, that Allaah rectifies them, helps them to establish truth and justice, and what is similar to it, as well as supplicate for Muslim armies”. [Ref 10]

Shaikh Abdullaah Abaa Batayn [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The good supplication for the ruler during the khutbah is that one supplicates that Allaah rectifies and guides him, rectifies the affairs through him, aid him against the kuffaar and the corrupt people, as opposed to what is found in some of the khutbahs of praise and lies; rather the ruler is to supplicated for and not praised, especially when praised with something he does not possess”. [Ref 11]

Read more here:

Ibn Taymiyyah on Participating in the Festivals and Annual Celebrations of the Unbelievers

Ibn Taymiyyah on Participating in the Festivals and Annual Celebrations of the Unbelievers

Living With Non-Muslims In The West: With Fine Conduct
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/

Lesson 15 Dealing with Non Muslim Parents Al Adab Al Mufrad by Abu Khadeejah
https://soundcloud.com/salafi-publications/lesson-15-dealing-with-non-muslim-parents-al-adab-al-mufrad-by-abu-khadeejah


[Ref 1: Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed 1/382]

[Ref 2: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/26374/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF paraphrased]

[Ref 3: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/2365/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9 paraphrased]

[Ref 4: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/2592/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 .paraphrased]

[Ref 5: Tawjeehaat Muhimmah Li-Shabaabil Ummah page 3]

[Ref 6: Majmoo Fataawaa 8/209]

[Ref 7: At-Ta’leeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah page 452]

[Ref 8: Shu’ab Al-Eemaan 6/26]

[Ref 9: Siyaanatu Saheeh Muslim 244]

[Ref 10: Al-Majmoo 4/391]

[Ref 11: Durar As-Saniyyah 5/41]

Chumocracy, Autocracy, Dictatorship etc [Muslim’s Relationship With Muslim Rulers In The Sharee’ah Is Not Influenced By Public Opinion, Ideas of Demagogues, Ideologues, Political Commentators, University Professor, So-called Human Rights Groups, Think Tanks etc]

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

Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّواْ ٱلۡأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُواْ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۤ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡ‌ۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً

Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer. O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayaat 58-59]

The scholars say that the first verse was revealed regarding the rulers – that it is obligated on them to render back the trusts to those whom they are due and that when they judge between the people they do so with justice. And the second verse was revealed regarding those under the ruler’s authority, the armies and other than them- that it is obligated on them to obey the rulers who establish justice in their distributions, rulings, military expeditions and other affairs, except when they command one to commit an act of disobedience to Allaah, because there cannot be obedience to the creation in disobedience to Allaah. And if they differ in any matter, they should return to the book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. If the rulers do not do this, then they are only obeyed in that which is in agreement with obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, their rights are fulfilled just as Allaah and His Messenger commanded and they are aided in righteousness and piety, but not in sin and transgression. [Ref 1]

Indeed, we find some of the demagogues and ideologues using different terms to describe Muslim rulers- descriptions by way of which they seek to cause enmity between Muslim rulers and their subjects, entice ignorant Muslims to deal with the rulers in a manner that is in opposition to the infallible authentic Prophetic tradition and thus trial occurs in the land. So, sometimes you hear them saying that the Muslim rulers are guilty of Chumocracy and at other times Muslim rulers are referred to as autocrats!

What is Chumocracy according to some of these instigators who use this term to openly criticize Muslim rulers? It is ruling elite that is made up of people from the same background who went to the same schools and universities and know each other socially or a government characterized by the appointment to office of friends, or those of similar social background, of those in power”.

And what is an autocrat according to some of these instigators who use this term to openly criticize Muslim rulers? ”It is a ruler with unlimited power, or someone who demands that people completely obey them”.

First, with regards to the term Chumocracy, a Muslim ruler is commanded in the Sharee’aah that he strives to appoint the best people for the job. Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated regarding the ruler and appointing people for jobs: ”It maybe that a person is suitable for this specific job and not suitable for that another job, so it is obligatory to appoint- in every job – the one who is more suitable. Likewise with regards to specific appointments, such as the position of headteacher and other than it, rather we can even say – if we wished – this in relation to a person’s responsibility in looking after the affairs of his family, that if he wants to give responsibility to his young children, then indeed he chooses the one who is more suitable. He does not choose – for example – the older one just because he is older; rather he chooses the one who is more suitable, because it may be that the young one amongst his children is more suitable than those older than him”. [Ref 2]

The Shaikh [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also stated: ”It is obligated on the ruler to appoint both the young and the older – appoint for a job the one who is more suitable and the one who will fulfil the requirements of this job. This necessitates fulfillment of trusts. As for the one who appoints someone who is close to him or his relatives or a noble person due to his nobility or because he has a high qualification, such as a doctorate and what is similar to that, and he is either not trustworthy or not suitable for the job, then this is not permissible”. [Ref 3]

The Shaikh [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also stated: ”If he were to say, ‘I am not able to know them by their characteristics. Are these certificates not closer way of  (judging) the competence of a person?’ We say, ‘Yes, but if we found that this man is untrustworthy or not suitable in the job, then it is obligatory to remove him and replace him with someone who is more suitable because this is necessary in the affair rulership, just as Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab and other than him amongst the Khulafaa [may Allaah be pleased with them] removed those who were not suitable. Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him] applied this principle in the khilaafah. He feared dishonor after his death, so he did not appoint a specific person, except that he said, ‘If Abu Ubaydah [may Allaah be pleased with him] was alive, I would have given him the affair, because the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘The trustworthy man of this Muslim nation is Abu Ubaydah [may Allaah be pleased with him]”’. [Ref 4]

Regarding the statement of the Messenger: “The trustworthy man of this Muslim nation”, this is a testimony from the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. [Ref 5]

How Does The Believer Behave When a Ruler Gives Precedence to Others – Whether They Are Worthy of It or Not? Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: Indeed, you will see Atharatan [i.e. some people will give precedence to themselves] after me and affairs you’ll disapprove; they [i.e. the people] said, ‘What do you command us O Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasaallam]?’ He said, ‘Fulfil their rights [i.e. the rulers] and ask Allaah for your rights’”.

Al-Allaamah Zaid Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

This authentic hadeeth is related to the affair of the rulers- during the end of time – when they will give precedence to themselves through enjoyment of the worldly things and those under their authority will face harm, something of oppression and tyranny; so the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] guided and directed the people to fulfil the rights of the rulers; obey and listen to them in that which is good- whether it is during a time in which one is enthusiastic [to listen and obey them in what is good] or feeling laxadaisical- perform Jihaad behind their banner against the enemies of the religion, establish the prayer and behave in a manner obligated by the Islamic legislation. They should not rebel against the ruler just because he is a sinner or an oppressor, nor refrain from giving him the rights obligated on them to give him; rather they should fulfil his rights just as the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] commanded them, saying, “Fulfil their rights”.

Therefore, the ruler has rights that should be fulfilled by his subjects and the subjects also have rights to be fulfilled by the ruler. It is obligated on the ruler to fulfil their rights and it is obligated on them to fulfil his rights. However, if he [i.e. the ruler] falls short in something related to their rights, it is not permissible for them to [deliberately] fall short in fulfilling his rights. And due to the great importance of rulership and the rulers, indeed the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] commanded them to fulfil the obligation of As-sam’i Wat-taa’ah [i.e. to listen and obey the ruler in good], refrain from disobedience[when commanded to do something good], supplicate to Allaah to make their affairs easy and change their state of affairs to that which is good, aid them to fulfil their needs and those affairs they cannot do without.

This hadeeth contains a miracle of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and that is the fact that he clearly stated that during the end of time, the rulers will give precedence to themselves with something of wealth and worldly enjoyment, and others will be deprived of it. Also, there will be affairs which the people of sound judgement will reject. [So], when this era comes, it is obligated on them – those under the rulership of a Muslim ruler – to listen and obey in that which is good, fulfil the rights that have been obligated on them to fulfil and seek their rights from Allaah – meaning: they supplicate to Allaah to aid them in fulfilling their needs and facilitate them with ease in their affairs. And Allaah knows best. [Ref 6]

Seeking After Leadership is Not Allowed

Imaam Al-Bukhaari [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, ‘’Chapter: If somebody does not seek authority of ruling, then Allaah will surely help him [if he is given such authority].’’ Narrated Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Samura: The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘’O Abdur-Rahmaan! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking [for it], then you will be helped [by Allaah] in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.’’ [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, Number 7146]

Few Reminders From Fat-hul Baari: The one who seeks authority and receives it will not be helped. It is well known that to be in authority is accompanied by difficulties, so the one who does not receive help from Allaah will be trapped within it and thus loses both his Dunyah and Aakhirah. Therefore, the sensible person does not ask for authority, but if he is suitable and it is given to him without him asking for it, then indeed the truthful and trustworthy one [i.e. The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wsallam)] has promised him that Allaah will help him. [Ref .7]

As for referring to some of the Muslim rulers as autocrats, the demagogues, ideologues and rabble-rousers should know that obedience to the Muslim rulers is what the infallible Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] has commanded and the believer is pleased when the rulers implement the judgement of Allaah in any affair. Yes, indeed the ruler has absolute authority based on that which Allaah has allowed him and he must be obeyed in everything commanded by Allaah and His Messenger. Al-Allaamah Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaamee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, ”All praise is due to Allaah, our rulers [i.e. Saudi Arabia] handle our affairs based on Siyaasah Shar’iyyah [i.e. the system of Islamic governance founded upon the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah]. It is not strange that some people might laugh at you and say, ‘You [people] live under one permanent rulerhip – ruled by a single person permanently’. And they might even call this a dictatorship! In this country, neither are we living under a rulership based on parliamentary elections through political parties nor are we living under a dictatorship- ruled by the sword. And neither are we ruled by an individual nor a group; therefore what (type of) rulership are we living under? [We are ruled] by Allaah’s Sharee’ah. The rulers of this land are only considered as those who apply Allaah’s Sharee’ah and not the legislators of laws. Neither do we have legislative authority nor it is permissible for that to exist; rather it is not permissible for the Muslims [in their countries] to have legislative authority in order to pass laws besides Allaah’s laws. In this land, we are judged by Allaah’s Sharee’ah and this is something known, even to the market workers. [Ref 8]

NB: Regarding the statement of Al-Allaamah Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaamee, ”In this country, neither are we living under a rulership based on parliamentary elections through political parties nor are we living under a dictatorship- ruled by the sword”, then even if a Muslim ruler ruled by the sword we still obey him in good and keep away from evil, but we do not rebel. See here: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

As for the statement of Al-Allaamah Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaamee, ”Neither do we have legislative authority nor it is permissible for that to exist; rather it is not permissible for the Muslims [in their countries] to have legislative authority in order to pass laws besides Allaah’s laws”, then indeed even if the Muslim rulers fall short in this affair, one does not follow the path of the Khawaarij (terrorists). See here: http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/ See this link regarding the judgement on ruling by other than Allaah’s Sharee’ah http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ05&articleID=MNJ050003&articlePages=1
http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tears-of-ibn-baaz-when-ibn-jibreen-and-salmaan-al-awdah-debated-ibn-baaz/

The Believer Understands That The Ruler Is Human And Will Fall Short Just As Others Fall Short

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Allaah never sends a Prophet or gives the Caliphate to a Caliph, except that he (the prophet or the Caliph) has two groups of advisors: A group advising him to do good and exhorts him to do it, and the other group advising him to do evil and exhorts him to do it. But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah”. [Ref 9]

Few Reminders From The Above Hadeeth

a: With regards to a prophet, there maybe those who seek to divert him from what is good, but it can never be the case that he will listen to them, because the Prophets are protected by Allaah and at the end of the hadeeth it is stated, “But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah”. Therefore, the presence of one who seeks to direct a prophet to evil does not necessitate that the prophet will accept what he says.

It is also said that the intent behind the two advisers (mentioned in this hadeeth with regards to their relationship) to a prophet are the angles and shaytaan, (as the Prophet said in a hadeeth), “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, “Even me, but Allaah helped me with him and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.” [Ref 10]

In another narration, it is stated that the person is assigned a companion among the jinn and a companion among the angels. [Ref 11]

b: “But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah” – Meaning Allaah is the one who protects whoever He wishes. So, in reality you cannot find anyone who can protect himself except if Allaah protects him.

c: It is incumbent upon a ruler to have a person who unveils to him the circumstances of the people in private, and this person should be trustworthy, reliable, smart and sensible, because calamity befalls a reliable ruler due to accepting speech of one who is not trustworthy.

Also, the one who is given responsible over the affairs of the people may always accept the speech of good advisers and not that of evil advisers. This is what is suitable to attribute to a Prophet and it is established by the word [ عصمة – protection] at the end of the hadeeth.

It may be that a ruler accepts the speech of evil advisers, especially someone who is a disbeliever. So, he may accept the speech of these people at times (evil people) and the speech of those at other times (i.e. good people). [Ref 12]

The Manner In Which The Rulers Are to Be Advised

Iyaadh Ibn Ghanam [may Allaah be pleased with him] said that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], said, ”Whoever wants to advise the one in authority, then he should not do so openly; rather he should take him by the hand and advise him in private. If he accepts the advice, then that is good. If he does not accept it, then he has fulfilled his obligation. [Ref 13]

Supplication For The Rulers

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked about the one who refrains from supplicating for the ruler, so he replied: ”This is from the ignorance and lack of foresight of this person, because indeed supplicating for the ruler is one of the greatest acts of worship and righteous deeds. It is one of the acts of sincerity to the Allaah and sincerely wanting good for Allaah’s servants. When Tufayl Ibn Amr Ad-Dawsi [may Allaah be pleased with him] came to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and said to him, ”Daws (a well-known tribe of disbelievers) are doomed, they have disobeyed and been stubborn. Pray to Allah against them”. He said, ”O Allaah! Guide Daws and bring them here”. [Bukhaari and Muslim] So, Allaah guided Daws and they became Muslims. Therefore, a believer supplicates for the people to be blessed with good and the ruler is more entitled to it, because his rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation. Supplicating for him is one of the most important supplications – one of the most important acts of sincerity to Allaah and sincerely wanting good for the Muslims, so one supplicates for him to be guided to the truth and helped upon that path, that Allaah grants him righteous companions, keeps him away from the evils of his soul and the evils of the people he sits with. Therefore, supplicating for him to be guided, blessed with the ability to do good, blessed with a righteous heart, blessed with good deeds and righteous companions, is one of the most important things to ask for and one of the most virtuous acts of worship. It has been reported from Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] that he said, ‘If I knew that I have one supplication that would be accepted, I would make it for the ruler’, and he reported this from Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyaadh [may Allaah have mercy upon him]”’. [Ref 14]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If you see something from the ruler that is in opposition to (the Qur’an and Sunnah), then supplicate to Allaah for him because their rectification is a means of rectification for the Muslim nation; but when we say, ‘O Allaah! Rectify the rulers and guide them’, we hear some of the foolish people saying, ‘O Allaah! Do not rectify them’. Glorified be Allaah, The Most Great! If Allaah does not rectify them, then that would be more evil for you, so supplicate for them to be guided and become righteous, and Allaah is able to do everything’”. [Ref 15]

Imaam Al-Bayhaqqi [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Uthmaan (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said, ‘Advise the ruler and supplicate for him a lot to be upright, guided in speech and action, and in his judgments, because indeed if they are righteous, the people will be righteous due to their righteousness. And beware of supplicating against them to be cursed and they increase in evil, so calamity increases on the Muslims; rather supplicate for them to be granted the ability to repent so that they abandon evil and calamity is removed from the believers’”. [Ref 16]

Imaam Ibn Salaah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The leaders of the Muslims deserve to be advised, aided upon truth and obeyed in that. They should be notified and reminded with gentle and kind speech, avoid rebelling against them and supplicate for them to be blessed with guidance and good deeds. [Ref17]

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The scholars hold a consensus that it is recommended to supplicate for the rulers and leaders of the Muslims during the Jumu’ah khutbah, that Allaah rectifies them, helps them to establish truth and justice, and what is similar to it, as well as supplicate for Muslim armies”. [Ref 18]

Shaikh Abdullaah Abaa Batayn [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The good supplication for the ruler during the khutbah is that one supplicates that Allaah rectifies and guides him, rectifies the affairs through him, aid him against the kuffaar and the corrupt people, as opposed to what is found in some of the khutbahs of praise and lies; rather the ruler is to supplicated for and not praised, especially when praised with something he does not possess”. [Ref 19]

No Rebellion: Awf Bin Maalik [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, ”Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘The best of your rulers are those whom you love and they love you, who supplicate for you and you supplicate for them. The worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and they hate you, whom you curse and they curse you’. It was said, ‘Shall we confront them with swords?’ He said, ‘No, as long as they establish prayer among you. If you find something hateful from them, you should hate their actions but not withold your hand from obedience”’. [Ref 20]

Umm Salamah [may Allaah be pleased with her] said that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ”There will be rulers from whom you will see both goodness and corruption. One who recognizes their evil and hates it will maintain his innocence, but one who is pleased with it and follows them will be sinful. It was said, ‘Shall we not fight them?’ He said, ”No, as long as they pray”’. [Ref21]

Beware of The Double Standards of The Social Media Networks

Some social media give access to those who seek destabilise Muslim countries, national sovereignty and the law of the land in the name of promoting so-called free speech and liberty, which prepares the basis for “digital mob rule” and chaos, then unrest and blockshed. This is exactly what happened during the so-called Arab spring. Hate speech only becomes hate speech in when it undrrminds peace and security in thier countries, but becomes freedom of expression and liberty when it harms and destabilises other countries and their institutions. Blatant double standards!
Indeed, there are demagogues and ideologues of some nations who encourage the so-called freedom lovers of other nations to rebel against their rulers and claim that they have a right to so-called peaceful protest, however when these demagogues and ideologues are rebelled against by a group amongst their people, they call them terrorists and do not accept the claim of anyone who calls them freedom lovers! These demagogues, ideologues and many journalists in their nations arouse the criminals and the rabble in other nations and aid them verbally to cause corruption in the land, and if anyone amongst the authorities of those countries seeks to stop them, he is labelled a freedom hater and an oppressor. However, when the rabble and rabble-rousers of their countries are guilty of the same crime, they do not expect anyone else to describe them with a description other than criminals. When property in other countries is destroyed and lives endangered in the name of so-called peaceful protest, they openly aid the perpetrators, but they never accept the same behaviour from the rabble and criminals of their nations. They would give shelter to some of those people who cause havoc in their native countries- claiming that they are defending an individual’s right to so-called peaceful protest and refuse to hand them over to face justice unless if doing so is in their interest, but they do not accept the same stance of some other nations when they refuse to hand over those who have harmed them. Alongside this blatant hypocrisy and double standards, these demagogues, ideologues and many amongst their journalists have continued to make every effort to brainwash millions of people in the world that they are the flag bearers of decency, freedom and progress, and the upholders of the rule of law, even though they have one rule for themselves and another for others. Indeed, so-called peaceful protest – whether in the west or east – is a means to corruption, chaos and insecurity.

The Evil of Protests

Question to Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him]: Going out to demonstrations, [initiating] revolutions and nurturing the youth upon it; is this from the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah or not, whether [carried] out within or outside the Muslim countries? Answer: This is the methodology of Marx (i.e. Carl Marx), Lenin (i.e. Vladimir Lenin) and those similar to them. It is not from the Islamic methodology. Revolutions, bloodshed, trials and troubles are Marx’s and Lenin’s school of thought. [Ref 22]

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Protests [or demonstrations] are newly invented matters in the religion. Every newly invented matter in the religion is a bidah; every bidah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hell fire [i.e. is a path leading to the hell fire]. Allaah’s legislation is perfect and complete-based on The Book and The Sunnah-and we do not know of anything by way of the evidences in the Book and the Sunnah that makes it permissible for a handful of people to gather for demonstrations, which causes disturbance for the people and time wasting. And greater than this [disturbance and time wasting] is abandonment of the prayers [during protests] and the loss of life [i.e. murder]. If one was to kill a Muslim in a single protest, the one [or those] who called to such protests will carry his sins-be it an individual, a group or those who participate. It has been reported in an authentic hadeeth: The termination of the world means less to Allah than the killing of a Muslim [i.e. without right].[a] These protests are nothing but bidah and acts of misguidance advocated by shaytaan; [enticed] by the urge of the evil soul and desires. And these enemies [i.e. shaytaan, the urge of the evil soul and desires] do not come together in any affair except that the religion and worldly affairs are destroyed, just as it is the case in these demonstrations [or protests].

The end result of protests [or demonstrations]: Carnage, destruction, wastage of wealth and time and terrorizing those living in peace. And how many disadvantages are there in [that]! It is enough to be considered something sinister due to the fact that the Noble Messengers and the Great Prophets who were put to trial and harmed by their people did not hold protests [or demonstrations]. Neither did they engage in plotting to cause explosions nor committing suicide; rather Islaam has forbidden all of that.

Those who call to protests [or demonstrations] and hold that there is success in it, they are mistaken and they have missed the correct path. Rectification of the affairs can only be by way of the Book and The Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of those scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. So whoever calls the people to this chaos, then indeed he has brought about a means to corrupting the land and the slaves, and what has occurred – in the past and at present- is a witness to that.

Therefore, we warn the students of knowledge that they are not persuaded by the speech of those who allow protests [or demonstrations]. They say that peaceful demonstrations are permissible-as they categorize it into this categorization- without proofs and concrete evidence from the Book and the Sunnah- neither from the actions of the Messenger and the Noble Sahaabah nor from the Notable Imaams; rather the verdict on protests [or demonstrations] is only what has been stated earlier and as well as what has been written by other than myself [i.e. protests (or demonstrations) are not permissible] [Ref 23]

The Importance of Safety And Security In a Country: Security is a great blessing without which a person is not able to live a productive, fruitful and happy life. And due to this, Allaah bestowed [His Blessings] upon Makkah by making it and the Masjid Al-Haraam a safe and sacred place. Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And [remember] when We made the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrahim (Abraham) stood while he was building the Ka’bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak’at after the Tawaf of the Ka’bah at Makkah), and We commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma’il (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I’tikaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer). [2:125]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

 فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj(pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns)]. [3:97]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَقَالُوا إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَا ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَىٰ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And they say: “If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.” Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not. [28:57]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

 أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ

Have they not seen that We have made (Makkah) a sanctuary secure, and that men are being snatched away from all around them? Then do they believe in Batil (falsehood – polytheism, idols and all deities other than Allah), and deny (become ingrate for) the Graces of Allah?] [29:67]

Allaah [ The Most High] said:

لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ
إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالصَّيْفِ
فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ
الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍ

(It is a great Grace and Protection from Allah), for the taming of the Quraish; (And with all those Allah’s Grace and Protections for their taming, We cause) the (Quraish) caravans to set forth safe in winter (to the south), and in summer (to the north without any fear). So let them worship (Allah) the Lord of this House (the Ka’bah in Makkah). (He) Who has fed them against hunger, and has made them safe from fear. [106:1-4]

Whoever has physical well-being and security in the lands, then [indeed] he has obtained all the [beneficial] worldly endowments. Salamah Bin Ubaidullaah Ibn Mihsan Al-Khatmiy narrated from his father that the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “Whoever among you wakes up [in the morning] safe in his property, healthy in his body and has his daily nourishment, it is as if he has been granted the entire world”. [Reported by Tirmidhee in Kitaab Az-Zuhud; Chapter: At-Tawakkul Alal-laah, Hadeeth Number 3346 and declared Hasan by Imaam Albaani in As-Saheehah, number 2318]

When our upright leader Ibraaheem [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] settled some of his offspring at this valley [i.e. Makkah], the first of his supplications was that which Allaah stated:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” He (Allah) answered: “As for him who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst indeed is that destination!].[2:126]

Prophet Ibraaheem [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] supplicated to his Lord that this valley [i.e. Makkah] should be a land of safety. Then after this valley became a land that yields – and he had [already] asked Allaah to make it safe- [Allaah said that Ibraaheem] said:

[وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ – And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols]. [14:35]

This emphasizes [the fact] that safety is an important affair needed by a person, otherwise Prophet Ibraaheem [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] would not have been eager to repeat his request to Allaah to make it a reality in this land. Look at the lands where a system that [guarantees] safety has been lost; you will find that the people are unable to pursue [affairs] of their daily lives- their schools and markets are shut and everyone stays in the houses. Those among them who have the ability would hasten to leave this land to go somewhere else; and if you ask one of them, you will find him saying that he is unable to live with his people and family in that place in which safety has been lost.

Security cannot be [established] properly except by way of two affairs: Implementation of Allaah’s Laws and obedience to the rulers. Indeed, the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] clarified this (affair) which is needed by a Muslim in his life. Irbaad Saariyah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [peace abd blessings of Allaah be upon him] gave us an admonition after the morning prayer –an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. So, a man said, ‘Indeed, is this a farewell sermon, so what do you advise us?’ He said, ‘I enjoin you to fear Allah and that you listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave [is made a ruler over you]; for indeed he among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So, beware of newly invented matters [in the religion] because indeed it is misguidance. And whoever among you witnesses that, then it is obligated on him to adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs [i.e. AbuBakr, Umar, Uthmaan and Ali], adhere to it with your molar teeth’”. [Reported by Ahmad 3/126]

Indeed, this hadeeth establishes the foundations of security in Islaam and they are: Firstly: Taqwallaah [Fear of Allaah (The Most High)] based on its complete and comprehensive meaning. Secondly: Obedience to the rulers [in what is good]. Fear of Allaah rectifies a Muslim’s relationship with Allaah, his neighbors and everything around him; and in the absence of Allaah’s Sharee’ah, destruction and depravity will occur. Indeed, Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] warned the one who abandons His Sharee’ah and is disobedient to His Messenger. [Allaah said]:

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well content; its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste the extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad) which they (its people) used to do. [16:112]

By listening to the rulers and obeying them [in good], all the affairs of the person’s life in his society will be a state of normality. Listening to the rulers and obeying them [in good] is included in the subject matter of Taqwa [fear of Allaah]. Al-Hasan Al-Basri [rahimahullaah] used to say, “Indeed, Al-Hajjaaj is the punishment of Allaah; so do not repel the punishment of Allaah with your own hands. Rather you must submit and show humility because Allaah] The Most High] said:

[وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْعَذَابِ فَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ – And Indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allaah) with submission to Him]”. [23:76]

Talq Bin Habeeb (rahimahullaah) used to say: Guard against fitna through Taqwa; so, it was said to him, “Summarize (the meaning) of Taqwa for us.’’ He said, ‘’It is act in obedience to Allah, with a light from Allah (i.e. Eemaan) and hoping for Allaah’s Mercy. And that you abandon disobedience to Allah with a light from Allah and fearing the punishment of Allah. [Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah 11/33 and Ibnul Mubaarak in Az-Zuhd 473]

So, you find a person who knows what security is and his understanding regarding it increases due to fear of Allaah, and he is eager to obey the rulers [in good]; but when he falls short [in Taqwa], his perception of security becomes deficient. When Taqwa is actualised, he will receive the promise Allaah has mentioned [in Surah An-Noor]. Allaah said:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [24:55]

Indeed, it is known that the religion cannot [be established] without a main body of Muslims and there cannot be a main body of Muslims without a leader, and there cannot be a leader except through listening to him and obeying [him in what is good]. An absence of obedience to the ruler and putting oneself before him is one of the greatest causes of corrupting the land and the people, and turning away from the path of guidance and uprightness. Al Hasan Al Basri [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: By Allaah! The religion cannot be established except by way of rulers even if they commit tyranny and oppression- due to the many affairs that Allaah rectifies through them more than what they corrupt.’’ http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

Ibn Rajab [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’There is [good and great advantage] in the worldly life when rulers are obeyed. And by way of it [i.e. obedience to the rulers], the beneficial affairs related to the livelihood of the people are established and they utilise them as an aid through which they manifest their religion and obey their Lord.’’ http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

Disobedience to the rulers and putting oneself before them through fighting or other than that [is tantamount] to disobeying Allaah and His Messenger, and an opposition to that which Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah were upon – the pious predecessors. Preservation of security [in the land] leads to brotherhood and mutual alliance between the Muslims. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said: [إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ – The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So, make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy]. [49:10]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf, and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar; they perform As-Salat and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [9:71]

Eemaan is neither wishful thinking nor mere claims, rather it is what settles in the heart and actions testify to it. A person cannot be a true believer until he loves for his Muslim brother what he loves for himself and until he deals with the people in a manner he loves to be dealt with! It is well known that security is something sought after by everyone; therefore it is the responsibility of a Muslim that he is eager for the security of others in order that he can receive security and safety for himself.

[Also, preserving security in the land] necessitates the fulfilment of trusts, whereas bringing about a state of insecurity is tantamount to treachery. Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amaanaat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you). And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward. O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty. [8: 27-29] [Ref 24]


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah 16-18. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: At-Taleeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah. Page 24-25. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 3: At-Taleeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah. Page 24-25. slightly paraphrased25-26. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 4: Al-Bukhaari 3744]

[Ref 5: At-Taleeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah. Page 24-25. slightly paraphrased25-26. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 6: At-taleeqaatul Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 142. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 7: An Excerpt: Chapter: (باب من لم يسأل الإمارة أعانه الله عليها )in ‘kitaab al Ahkaam’ Saheeh Al-Bukhaari with Fat-hul Baari]

[Ref 8: Qurratu Uyoonis Salafiyyah Bil-Ajwibah Al-Jaamiyah’ pages 389-390. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 9: Saheeh al-Bukhaari 7198]

[Ref 10: Fat’hul Baaree 14/234-236. Publisher: Daarus Salaam. 1st edition 1421AH (2000)]

[Ref 11: Saheeh Muslim 2814]

[Ref 12: Fat’hul Baaree 14/234-236. Publisher: Daarus Salaam. 1st edition 1421AH (2000)]

[Ref 13 Musnad Aḥmad 14909]

[Ref 14: Majmoo Fataawaa 8/209]

[Ref 15: At-Ta’leeq Alaa As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah page 452]

[Ref 16: Shu’ab Al-Eemaan 6/26]

[Ref 17: Siyaanatu Saheeh Muslim 244]

[Ref 18: Al-Majmoo 4/391]

[Ref 19: Durar As-Saniyyah 5/41]

[Ref 20: Muslim 1855]

[Ref 21: Muslim 1854]

[Ref 22: An excerpt from كشف الستار Page: 18]

[Ref 23: الأفنان وتوحيد ابن خزيمة وحديث عن المظاهرات4-4-1432هـ.]

[Ref 24: An Excerpt from ‘Silsilah Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Manhajiyyah Fin-Nus’hi Wal-Irshaad Wat-Taw’iyah’. Pages 7 – 27. slightly paraphrased]

Tawaaf Around Graves, Stroking Them With One’s Hands And Seeking Blessings From Them- By Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh

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

Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] said:

Tawaaf [Circumambulation] around a grave, stroking them (with one’s hands) and seeking blessings from them are acts of shirk. Circumambulation is an act of worship and it has not been legislated in any (other place) besides the Ka’bah and likewise walking between Safaa and Marwa is (only legislated at Safaa and Marwa).

Stroking (graves), seeking blessings from them and hoping to be benefited – in this life and the next – by way of such acts is (tantamount to) deification. It is similar to what the pre-Islamic idolaters used to do with their gods. Whoever hopes (for reward, blessings etc) through (these acts of worship at the) graves, then indeed he has exalted that which Allaah has not legislated to be exalted.

The proof to show that these practices are acts of Shirk is the hadeeth of Abee Waaqid Al-Laythee [may Allaah be pleased with him] who said, ”We went out with the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] to the (military) campaign to Hunayn, while we were new converts from disbelief to (Islaam). The idol worshippers had a lote tree in (whose vicinity) they used to stay and hang their weapons, and it (i.e. this lote-tree) was called Dhaat Anwaat. So when we went pass a tree, we said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Set up a Dhaat Anwat for us just as they have a Dhaat Anwaat’. So the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Allaahu Akbar! This is a path that has proceeded (from the people of the past). By Allaah in whose Hand my soul is! You have stated just as the children of Israa’eel stated to Moosaa [peace be upon him], ‘O Moosaa! Make for us Ilaahan (a god) as they have aalihah (gods)’. He (Moosaa) said: ‘Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)’”. [Reported by Ahmad and Tirmidhee and it is a sound hadeeth.]

Those (new Muslims) wanted to perform that act of worship in that particular place and to seek blessings; so the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] referred to what they sought after as worship of another deity besides Allaah. That (act they sought after) is a means to Shirk, but after the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] clarified the affair for them, they turned in repentance and obedience to (Allaah and His Messenger). Seeking blessings from graves, circumambulation round them and stroking them are more severe (acts of shirk and sin) than what those (new Muslims) sought after.

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Min’dhaar Fee Bayaani Katheer Minal Akhtaa Ash-Shaa’i’ah page: 11]

[Introduction: ‘Are There Three Monotheistic Religions In The World At Present And Are All Religions Valid In The Sight of Allaah?’ [Unveiling Deception And Ignorance of Callers to Unity of Religions]

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

PDF: Are_There_Three_Monotheistic_Religions_In-The_World_At_Present_(Section1)

Allaah [The Exalted] said: [ما كانَ إِبراهيمُ يَهودِيًّا وَلا نَصرانِيًّا وَلٰكِن كانَ حَنيفًا مُسلِمًا وَما كانَ مِنَ المُشرِكينَ – Ibrahim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism – to worship none but Allah Alone) and he was not of polytheists]. [Aal Imran. Aayah 67]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 64]

Meaning: say to the people of the scripture – the Jews and Christians, [تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ – Come to a word that is just between us and you]- Meaning: Come let us unite upon the statement which all the Prophets and Messengers agreed upon and none opposes it, except the obstinate and misguided. This statement is not specific to anyone of us, rather it is something that you and us should establish between us, so this is justice and fairness in debate. Then Allaah explains this and said: [أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا  –  that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him]- Meaning: We should single out Allaah in worship, devoting all love, fear and hope to Him alone, and we should not associate anyone as partner with Allaah in worship- neither a Prophet, an Angel, a Righteous Person, an Idol, a Deified image, a living or non-living thing, [وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ  – and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allaah]; rather all obedience is to be devoted to Allah and His Messengers. [فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ – Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims]. [An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]

Are_There_Three_Monotheistic_Religions_In-The_World_At_Present_(Section1)

Living With non-Muslims peacefully and with fine conduct

Living With Non-Muslims In The West: With Fine Conduct

http://www.shariah.ws/articles/duviqgl-shaykh-salih-al-fawzan-the-islamic-shariah-provides-security–for-muslims-and-non-muslims-and-those-who-violate-it-are-kh257rijites-who-are-to-be-fought-and-severely-punished.cfm

http://www.shariah.ws/articles/szsumlh-the-foundation-of-muslim-relations-with-non-muslims-who-do-not-show-aggression-and-hostility.cfm

Words Cannot Change True Reality In The Eyes of Rightly Guided Observers – [Shirk at The Graves, Tombs, Shrines and Mausoleums Can Never Be Called Something Else]: By Shaikh Abdullaah Bin Abdir Rahmaan Abaa Batayn

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

Shaikh Abdullaah Bin Abdur Rahmaan Abaa Batayn [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
The entire religion enters into worship, so when a person knows, is certain regarding what ‘Al Ilaah’ means – that it means something worshipped and he knows the reality of what worship is, then it will become clear to him that the one who devotes an act to worship to other than Allaah has indeed worshipped that thing and taken it as a god, even if he runs away from naming it an object of worship or a god, and then calls it Tawassul, intercession or what is similar. [Listen here regarding At-Tawassul: https://soundcloud.com/salafi-publications/tawassul-seeking-a-means-of ]

A polytheist is a polytheist, whether he accepts or denies it, just as a usurer is a usurer whether he accepts or denies it, even if he does not call what he does usury. The drinker of alcohol is a drinker of alcohol, even if he calls it other than its name. It has been reported in a hadeeth that the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ”Indeed, a people from my Ummah will drink alcohol giving it other than its (real) name”. [Ref 1]

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, ”This hadeeth contains a Prophetic miracle in relation to the information given by the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] about an affair of the unseen and that this will definitely occur. What the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] stated that alcohol will be given a name other than its real name will definitely occur. Indeed – in our era – alcohol has been given another name to deceive the people and urge them towards it, such as the name Mashroob Roohee [i.e. (The sprightly drink or the drink that makes you lively)], instead of giving its real name Khamr (i.e. alcohol) as it is said, ‘Al-Khamru Takh’murul Aql – Alcohol veils (or obscures) the intellect’. And they have given it other names as well, but it does not isolate it from the fact that it is khamr (alcohol) and it is forbidden”. [Ref 2]

Changing names cannot change the reality of the person (or something) nor does the ruling that apply ceases. When Adee Bin Haatim [may Allaah be pleased with him] heard the statement of Allaah: [ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَـٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ – They have taken their priests and monks as lords besides Allah] [Surah At-tawbah. Aayah 31], he said to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], ”We did not worship them”, so the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said to him, ”Do they not forbid what Allaah has made lawful and you make it forbidden, and they make lawful what Allaah has forbidden and you make it lawful?” He said, ”Certainly”, so the Messenger said, ”That is your worship of them”. Therefore, Adee [may Allaah be pleased with him] did not think that being in agreement with them in such an affair was tantamount to worshipping them, so the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] informed him that it was tantamount to worshipping them, even though they did not believe that it was an act of worship devoted to them. Must read the detail explanation of this subject matter on this link: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm/sad/…/images/frm/downloads/pdf/frm/nbq/nbq/sad/downloads/pdf/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ05&articleID=MNJ050004&articlePages=1

Likewise, that which the grave worshippers do, such as invoking the inhabitants of the graves [i.e. the dead], asking them to fulfil their needs, to remove their suffering, seeking closeness to them by offering sacrifices to them and vowing to them, then this is tantamount to worshipping the inhabitants of the graves, even if those who commit such acts do not name it as such or do not believe that it is worship.

Likewise, those who said to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], “Set up a Dhaat Anwaat (i.e. a lote-tree in whose vicinity the idolaters used to stay and hang their weapons to seek blessings) for us” did not think that their statement was similar to the statement of the Children of Israel, ”Make for us a god”. They [i.e. those new Muslims who were with the Prophet at the Battle of Husnayn] did not think that such statement was tantamount to deifying other than Allaah which negates the statement, ”There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah”, for indeed they did testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and knew its meaning because they were Arabs, however this affair [i.e. the real implication of the statement ”Set up for us a Dhaat Anwaat”] was hidden from them because they were new in Islaam until the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said to them, ”Allaahu Akbar! This is a path that has proceeded (from the people of the past). By Allaah in whose Hand my soul is! You have stated just as the children of Israel said to Moosaa [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], ”O Moosaa! Make for us Ilaahan (a deity) as they have Aalihah (deities)!” He (Moosaa) said, ”Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)”. You will follow the way of those who came before you”.

If it is said, ”Indeed, the prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] did not make declare those new Muslims to exited the fold of Islam”, so we say, ”This shows that the one who utters a statement that is tantamount to disbelief or out of being ignorant of its meaning, he is to be notified and he becomes aware and has not disbelieved; but there is no doubt that if they took the Dhaat Anwaat as [an object of worship besides Allaah] after the disapproval of the Prophet, then they would have disbelieved”. [Ref 3] Must read refer to further details on this subject matter- Principles of Takfeer [Rules Applied By Scholars Before Declaring a Muslim to Be Outside The Fold of Islaam http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ09&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm


[Ref 1: Al-Intisaar Li-Hizbil Allaahi Al-Muwahhideen 13-14. Maktabah Ibn al-Jawzee 1305AH]
[Ref 2: At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 338. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 3: Al-Intisaar Li-Hizbil Allaahi Al-Muwahhideen 13-14. Maktabah Ibn al-Jawzee 1305AH]

Muslims Around The World Observe Holy Night of Laylat Al-Raghaib – [A Brief Reminder to Muslim Journalists at Daily Sabah (Turkish Newspaper)]

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

The following statement was posted by the Turkish Newspaper Daily Sabah [may Allaah direct its Muslim journalists to every good, repel every evil from them and guide them to the authentic Sunnah, and also guide its Non-Muslim journalists to Islaam and the Sunnah] Aameen. Title: Muslims around the world observe holy night of Laylat al-Raghaib:

 

First, we remind our Turkish Muslim brothers at Daily Sabah about some few principles related to worship in Islaam.

Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad [may Allaah preserve him] said:

Al-Ibaadah [Worship]: It is a comprehensive term for everything that Allaah loves and is pleased with, including statements and deeds, apparent [i.e. physical actions of the limbs] and unapparent [beliefs concealed in the heart]. This is the best of what has been stated regarding the definition of worship.

Worship has great importance because Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] created the Khalq [Mankind and Jinn], sent the Messengers and revealed the Books in order to command them to worship Him and forbid them from worshipping others besides Him. Allaah [Glorified Be He] said: [وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ – And I (Allah) created not the Jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” Meaning: Allaah created them in order to command them to worship Him (alone) and forbid them from disobeying Him. Allaah [Glorified be He] said:

[وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ۖ – And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah). [16:36]

Allaah [Glorified Be He] said: [وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ – And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): La ilaaha illaa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah), so worship Me (Alone and none else)]. [21:25]

Two conditions must be fulfilled in order for an act of worship to be accepted; the first of the two conditions is that the act of worship must be done sincerely for Allaah, and secondly the act of worship must be in agreement with the Sunnah of the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. The act of worship has to be done sincerely for the sake of Allaah (alone) and none else is to be associated as a partner with Allaah in worship. [Likewise] the act of worship must be done in conformity with what the Messenger came with [i.e. the Qur’aan and the Sunnah].

This is what the Shahaadah (لا إله إلا الله محمدا رسول الله) necessitates; because (لا إله إلا الله) necessitates that acts of worship must be carried out sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone. And (محمدا رسول الله) necessitates that acts of worship must be carried out in conformity with what was revealed to the noble Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]. Therefore, Allaah is not to be worshipped with bidah, newly invented matters in Religion and evil acts, for which Allaah [The Most High] has sent down no authority; rather acts of worship must be in conformity with the Sunnah of the noble Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam].

If any of these two conditions or both of them are not fulfilled, then indeed the act of worship will be rejected by Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic]. Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَقَدِمۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُواْ مِنۡ عَمَلٍ۬ فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ هَبَآءً۬ مَّنثُورً

And We shall turn to whatever deeds they disbelievers, polytheists] did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust] [Soorah Al-Furqaan. Ayah 23]

And the noble Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said:

مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌ

He who innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not of it will have it rejected [by Allah].”[Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Number 2697] [Saheeh Muslim. Number 1718]

And in another wording of this hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim the Prophet said:

مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد

He who does an act (of worship) which we have not commanded (i.e. not commanded by the Prophet), will have it rejected.

And he [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said:

فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا، فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ؛ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ

Verily he lives long among you will see a lot of differing, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafaa ar-Rashideen [the rightly guided caliphs]. Adhere to it with your molar teeth (i.e. adhere to it firmly). And beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for every newly invented matter [in the religion] is a bidah [innovation in the religion], and every bidah is misguidance. [Abu Dawood. Number 4607] [Tirmidhee. Number 2676]

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] clarified – in the hadeeth about the seventy three sects amongst whom seventy-two sects will enter the hell fire and one sect will be saved-that the saved sect are those who adhere to the path him and his noble companions adhered to.

Imaam Maalik [rahimahullaah] said: “The latter part of this Ummah [i.e. those who will come after the Salaf] will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified it’s earlier part [i.e. the Salaf].’’ And he [rahimahullaah) said: ‘’Whoever innovates a bidah in Islaam and considers it to be something good, then indeed he has claimed that Muhammad betrayed the Risaalah (i.e. the message he was entrusted with); because Allaah said: ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ – This day, I have perfected your religion for you]. Therefore, what was not part of the religion at that time [i.e. during the time of the Messenger] cannot be part of the religion today (i.e. after his departure from this world).” [Al-Itisaam of Imaam Shaatibee 1/28]

It is not enough for a person to say: “I am going to do this act of worship even though it was not (performed by) the Prophet because my intention is pure and good.” The evidence (against this statement) is that when it reached the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] that a man amongst his noble companions slaughtered the Eed sacrifice before the Eed Salaah, he [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said to him: شَاتُكَ شَاةُ لَحْمٍ– “Your (slaughtered sheep was just mutton (not a sacrifice).”[Saheeh Bukhaari. Number: 5556]; meaning: It is not considered Eed sacrifice because it was not carried out in conformity with my Sunnah. Therefore, what is in conformity with the Sunnah is that the Eed sacrifice is done after the Eed Salaah; but as for sacrificing before the Salaah, then indeed it is outside its specified time and will not be regarded as (Eed sacrifice).

Al-Haafidh said in Fat-hul Baaree (10/17): “Shaikh Abu Muhammad Bin Abu Hamzah said: This hadeeth (establishes the fact that) if an action (i.e. an act of worship) is done with a sincere intention, it is still not (considered) righteous unless it is in conformity with the legislated divine revelation. [An Excerpt from أثر العبادات في حياة المسلم pages: 1-2]

Second, what do the scholars of Islam say about this so-called Laylatul Raghaa’ib?

Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The well-known Salaah (prayer) that is known as Salaatul Raghaa’ib [the Raghaa’ib prayer] – which consists of twelve Rak’ats and is performed between Maghrib and Isha on the night before the first Friday in the month of Rajab and the hundred Rak’ats performed on the night of the 15th of Shabaan – are two religious innovations. They are repugnant and evil [i.e. becauae they are not from the acts of worship legislated in the Islamic legislation] and one should neither be deceived due to their mention in the book Quwwatul Quloob and Ihyaa Uloom Ad-Deen nor due to their mention in narrations, because all of that Iis false. And do not be deceived by some of those people to whom the ruling regarding these prayers is ambiguous (or doubtful), so he judged them to be recommended, because indeed they are mistaken. Shaikhul Islaam Abu Muhammad Abdur Rahmaan Bin Ismaa’eel Al-Maqdisee has written a precious book showing the falsity of these prayers and he did well. [Al-Majmoo 3/548]

Ibn Al-Haaj Al-Maalikee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “One of the religious innovations that has been initiated in this noble month of Rajab is the prayer of Raghaa’ib on the night before the first day of Jumu’ah in the central mosques and the other mosques, so the people gather in some of the central mosques and the other mosques in the various regions to perform this religious innovation. They openly perform it in congregation and behind an Imaam in the mosques were the five daily prayers are performed as if it is a prayer that has been legislated in Islaam. But this prayer – according to the judgement in Imaam Maalik’s school of jurisprudence- is forbidden, because indeed those who came before us (i.e. the Prophet’s companions) never did so and all good is found in following them [may Allaah be pleased with them]”. [Al-Madkhal 1/294]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Neither Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] performed this prayer nor anyone amongst the Sahaabah (i.e. the companions of Allaah’s Messenger), neither the Taabi’een (i.e. the second generaation who adhered to the path of the Sahaabah) nor the Imaams of the Muslims. Neither did Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] show a desire for it nor did any of the pious predecessors, nor the Imaams of Islaam and nor did they mention specific virtues for this night. The narrations that have been transmitted and attributed to Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] are a lie and fabrication based on the consensus of those who are specialists in this field [of hadeeth science]. This is why the Muhaqqi’qeen scholars [i.e. those scholars who are firmly grounded in a subject matter of the religion, who study the difference of opinion or differing in a subject matter, gather the proofs, examine the proofs in depth and compare them. Then they mention the affair that is established based on sound proof, clarify why those proofs are the strong ones, its different types and why that which opposes is weak or fabricated] have stated that this affair [i.e. these innovated acts during Rajab and Shaban] are forbidden and not recommended”. [Al-Fataawa Al-kubraa 2/262]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] also said, “As for establishing prayer – in congregation – with a specific number of Rak’ats and a determined type of recitation in a specific time, such as these prayers that are being enquired about – the Salaatul Raghaa’ib during the night before the first Jumu’ah of Rajab, the Al-Fiyah (1) in the beginning of Rajab and the middle of Shabaan, the 27th night in the month of Rajab and other than them, this is not legislated based on the consensus of the Imaams of Islaam, as it has been established from the Imaams of the religion who are considered to be reliable in religious affairs and are people of sound and precise understanding. The likes of this prayer is not initiated except by an ignoranus – an innovator in religious affairs and opening the door to it necessitates an alteration of the sound and legislated acts of worship and rites, and thus one receives a share of (deeds of those) who legislate that which Allaah has not legislated. [Al-Fataawaa Al-Kubraa 2/239]

NB: The Al-Fiyah: This innovated prayer and what is similar to it is well-known to some of us who were upon the innovated Soofi paths. It is performed by some people on Shabaan 15th. They either perform 100 Rak’ats and in every Rak’ah Surah Al-Ikhaas is recited 10 times or they perform 10 Rak’ats and Surah Al-Ikhlaas is recited a 100 times in every Rak’ah.

Finally, we conclude with a statement of Imaam Maalik and Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have upon them and all the scholars of Islaam] which have already been quoted earlier. Imaam Maalik [rahimahullaah] said: “The latter part of this Ummah [i.e. those who will come after the Salaf] will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified it’s earlier part [i.e. the Salaf].’’ And he [rahimahullaah) said: ‘’Whoever innovates a bidah in Islaam and considers it to be something good, then indeed he has claimed that Muhammad betrayed the Risaalah (i.e. the message he was entrusted with); because Allaah said: ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ – This day, I have perfected your religion for you]. Therefore, what was not part of the religion at that time [i.e. during the time of the Messenger] cannot be part of the religion today (i.e. after his departure from this world).” [Al-Itisaam of Imaam Shaatibee 1/28]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: The likes of this prayer is not initiated except by an ignoramus – an innovator in religious affairs, and opening the door to it necessitates an alteration of the sound and legislated acts of worship and rites, and thus one receives a share of (the deeds of those) who legislate that which Allaah has not legislated. [Al-Fataawaa Al-Kubraa 2/239]

May Allaah open our hearts to that which is correct, grant us the desire to seek knowledge from its sound sources, even that is little, bless us with sincerity and the ability to act Aameen. And Allaah knows best.

Not a ”Spring” For Us, Rather It’s ”Spring For The Unbelievers” [i.e. Those Unbelievers Who Were Pleased With The Trial And Chaos In Muslim Lands] – By Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan

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

Question to Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him]: What do you think about what is now called the Arab Spring?”

Answer: By Allaah, the spring has not brought us any remedy (or brought us any cure, restored anything good etc). It has not brought us any remedy except killing. It has not brought us any remedy except trial. The unbelievers call it this [i.e. Arab spring]. The Muslims do not call this spring, rather they call it trial and evils. It is true that it is a spring for the unbelievers because they harm Muslims by way of it and they are pleased with what harms Muslims. This pleases them and it is their spring. [Paraphrased and abridged. listen here: https://youtu.be/1zHFpGCXGCI ]

Security or Sustenance- By Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him]

Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنً۬ا وَٱرۡزُقۡ أَهۡلَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ مِنۡہُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۖ

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” [2:126]

Indeed, he (Ibraaheem- peace and blessings be upon him) gave priority to security (in his supplication) over seeking sustenance, because security is a necessity. Security is a necessity and the people cannot enjoy sustenance alongside fear; rather sustenance cannot be reached in the presence of fear. This is what the enemies’ desire–those who try to destabilize the Muslim societies. They wish to disassociate the Muslims from their unity behind their Muslim rulers. This is what they desire and they do not desire good advice for the Muslims.

(They wish to disassociate the Muslims from their unity behind their rulers) in name of actualizing beneficial affairs, rectification, removal of oppression and the likes. All of this is lies and false pretenses, because if ruler ship slips away chaos will be at large, corruption will spread and the beneficial affairs which they say will be actualized will be non-existent. Corruption will be at large and there will not be rectification.

Therefore, for this reason there has to be ruler ship upon which the Muslims unite. And even if (such ruler ship) has shortcomings and (affairs pertaining to) negligence, the (people) should exercise patience, because there is a prevention of that which is more severe and harmful in exercising patience. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: ‘’It is not known of a group that rose against their Muslim Ruler, except that their state of affairs after his removal was more evil than their state of affairs whilst he was present.’’

And this is something experienced at present. The rulers and heads of state who have been removed, what is the state of affairs of their countries after they were (removed)? There has not ceased to be fear, anxiety, chaos, bloodshed etc. [Listen here: (https://safeshare.tv/x/GTWtXddirt)  (https://video.link/w/tr4U?src=syt)]