“Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, “We believe in some but reject others,” and wish to adopt a way in between.They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment.And those who believe in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of them (Messengers), We shall give them their rewards, and Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an 4:150-152, Muhsin Khan Translation]
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
142. And all of the Believers are ‘Awliyaa’ of (Servants loved by) the Most Merciful; and those having the most honour with Allaah are the ones who are the most obedient, and those who most closely follow the Qur’aan.
“No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).” [Qur’an 10:62-63, Muhsin Khan Translation]
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
140.Eemaan is one entity, and its people regarding it are the same. ** 141.And variation in excellence between them is by fear and dutifulness, and by opposing desires, and by adhering to what has most right.
Quote from Shaykh Fawzan:
“This is a mistake. Because eeman is not one entity and its people are not all the same. Rather eeman varies in levels of excellence and it increases and it decreases, except in the view of the murji’ah”
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
Commentary from Imam Ibn Baz ()
His statement, “Faith is the same for the faithful in terms of its basis” is disputable, even Batil (null and void), for the faithful are not the same in terms of faith. Rather, they vary considerably in faith. The faith of the messengers is not like that of others. Similarly, the faith of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and the rest of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet), may Allah be pleased with them, is like not that of others. Likewise, the faith of Mu’mins (believers) is not like that of Fasiqs (people flagrantly violating Islamic law). Faith varies according to the awareness of Allah, His names, attributes, and Shari`ah (Islamic law), according to Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream), unlike Al-Murji’ah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that Faith is restricted to belief, not deeds) and those who follow them. Allah is the One sought for help.
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
131. And we do not declare anyone from the people of the Qiblah to be Unbelievers because of a sin – as long as the person does not consider the sin to be lawful.
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
127.And we do not dispute concerning the Qur’aan; and we bear witness that it is the Speech of the Lord of the whole of creation. (Listen Here)
128. The ‘Trustworthy Spirit’ (ar-Roohul-Ameen) [i.e. Jibreel] descended with it and he taught it to the chief of the Messengers- may Allaah extol him and grant him peace and security, and his true followers.
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
This is the continuation Point 124 of Aqeedah Tawiyyah
Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 32 : Point [125]
124. And we call those who pray towards our ‘Qiblah’ (direction of Prayer): Muslims and Believers (Mu.minoon) (listen this point Here)
125. As long as they acknowledge that which the Prophet came with, and as long as they believe him in whatever he said and informed of
Pivotal Quotes from Shaykh Fawzan:
But if they reject anything that is related as being said by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and do not acknowledge it, then they would be disbelievers, even if they believed in some of what has been related from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
If someone disbelieves in some of the authentic hadiths, on the other hand, then is also a disbeliever. If someone rejects a hadith in al-Bukahri, and the hadith is authentic. and he says, I do not believe in this hadith because it contradicts the modern science then subhaanallaah! Would you have doubts about what the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said and not have doubts about what people say?
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
Listen to the next related point 125. As long as they acknowledge that which the Prophet came with, and as long as they believe him in whatever he said and informed of. (Listen here)
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah. By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
A commentary by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan on al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah, the most widely acclaimed and accepted work on the creed of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama’ah.
From the Publisher: Before you is the English translation of Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyah by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. This is an explanation of the renowned treatise on the Islamic creed entitled al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyah (The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi). The author of this treatise is Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi (239-321 A.H.), one of the leading authorities on the Hanafī madhab. The period Imam al-Tahawi lived in was the zenith of the dissemination of the Islamic sciences and he was just one of the giants that this era produced. To illustrate this: his teachers included Imām Isma’il ibn Yahya al-Muzani (a major student of Imām al-Shāfi’ī), those he collected hadith from included Imām al-Nasai (author of ‘Sunan al-Nasai’, one of the ‘Sahih Sittah’) and his students included the great muhaddith Imām al-Tabarani. The purpose of his treatise was to state the creed of the early scholars of the Hanafī madhab and to indicate its correlation with the views of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā’ah in general. As Shaykh al-Fawzan states in his explanation: “This entails a refutation against those who associate themselves with the Hanafī school of fiqh in modern or recent times: They associate themselves with the Hanafī school but contradict Imam Abū Hanīfah in creed; rather they only follow his views in jurisprudence. They adopt the creed of those who profess kalām (theological dialectic) and the logicians.”
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank Lessons are based upon Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan’s Explanation, translated by Abu Talhah Dawood Burbank rahimahullaah. The translator presents additional points from Shaykh al-Albaani’s comments on Ibn Abil ‘Izz’s explanation too. The 60 lessons are about an hour long each. This translation is characterized by the precision that Abu Talhah became renowned for in all his translations. 30 PDF Transcripts available for the first 30 audio lessons.
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah
By ShaykhSaalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
[121] And we say that Allaah took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) and that Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa, saying that with eemaan (true faith) and testifying to the truth and with full submission.
From the `aqeedah (creed and belief) of the Muslims, is that the Messengers (Rusul) are the most excellent of the creation and that the Messengers (Rusul) vary in levels of excellence. So they hold as their creed and belief, that Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved one) just as Allaah, the Most High, said,
“..and Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved)” (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 125)
And this word ‘al-khullah’ (الخلة), it means: the highest of the levels of love. So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, has love for His believing servants and for the muttaqeen ( المتقين – the people of taqwaa – those are dutiful to Him) and He has love for the muhsineen (المحسنين – the doers of good) and He loves those who frequently repent (التوابين – at-tawwaabeen) and He loves al-muttatahhireen (المتطهرين – those people who purify themselves). However, al-khullah is a special degree which has not been attained except by two of the creation: Ibraaheem and Muhammad `alayhimas–salaatu was-salaam. Just as he `alayhis–salaatu was-salaam said,
“Allaah took me as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) just as He took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel).” [1]
“And Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa” (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 164)
So, He (Allaah) gave excellence to some of the Prophets over others, even though all of them were upon a very high level. However, Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, gave excellence to some over others.
This follows on from what preceded from the speech about Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree. And it has already preceded that from the levels of having eemaan (true faith) in Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree is having eemaan (true faith) in whatever He wrote in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz (the Inscribed or Preserved Tablet). And that is, that Allaah created the creation and the first thing that He created was the Pen (Qalam) and He said to it, “Write!” So it replied, “What should I write?” So He said, “Write whatever is going to happen until the Day of Resurrection.” So the Pen wrote down, by the command of Allaah for it to write down, whatever was going to happen until the Day of Resurrection, as occurs in the hadeeth.[1]
And no one knows how the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh) is, and how the Pen is, except Allaah. And they are two created things from the things which Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has created; we have eemaan in that. And so, therefore, the author said: “We have eemaan (true faith) in the Preserved Record and in the Pen, and in whatever has been inscribed in it.” Meaning: Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz (The Preserved Tablet) and the writing that is in it.
[84] وَالشَّفاعَةُ الَّتِي ادَّخَرَها لَهُم حَقٌّ، كما رُوِيَ فِي الْأَخْبارِ.
[84] And the intercession (ash–shafaa`ah) which He has stored up for them is true, just as is reported in the narrations.
—
The Explanation – Point [84] (continued from Lesson 22)
(In the previous lesson, we ended with the saying of Shaykh Al-Fawzaan: This is the intercession which is confirmed, with its conditions, and it is of different types.)
From them are: some types which are specific for the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and there are some types which are shared between him and between other prophets, and angels and righteous people and the children who die before reaching puberty. All of these people will intercede with Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.
Ash–shafaa`ah (the intercession) is also from the important matters of `aqeedah (creed and belief)[1] because people have gone astray with regard to affirming it. Some people went beyond the due limits in affirming it and others took a middle way.
So, with regard to the intercession on the Day of Resurrection, then the people have become divided about it, into three categories:
A people who went beyond the limits in affirming it to such an extent that they seek it from the dead and from the graves and from the idols and (from) the trees and (from) the stones.
And they worship besides Allaah that which cannot harm them and cannot benefit them; and they say, “These are our intercessors with Allaah.” (Soorah Yoonus (10), aayah 18)
(The people of shirk, they say,) “We do not worship them except so that they should draw us closer in nearness to Allaah.” (Sooratuz-Zumar (39), aayah 3)
And a group who go beyond bounds in denying intercession, such as the Mu`tazilah and the Khawaarij. So they denied that there would be any intercession regarding the people who commit major sins (ahlul-kabaa·ir). And they contradict the proofs from the Book and the Sunnah which are mutawaatir (reported by huge number of narrators at each level of narration) affirming the intercession (ash–shafaa`ah).
And from that which the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah hold as creed and belief, is what is mentioned in authentic reports from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, from the affairs of the Resurrection and whatever will occur on the Day of Resurrection, from affairs. So, from that is: Al-Hawd (الحوض – the great Lake or body of water), since the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed us that there will be for him a Hawd (Lake)[1] on the Day of Resurrection at the gathering place (al-Mahshar – المحشر), to which his followers will come – those who had eemaan (truly believed) in him and who followed him. So, they will drink from it and when they have taken a single drink from it, they will never again become thirsty afterwards. And this is because the Day of Resurrection is a day which is severe and difficult and a day of severe heat; so it will result in severe thirst.
[86] وقد عَلِمَ اللهُ تعالى فيما لم يزلْ عَدَدَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الجنَّةَ، وعَدَدَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ النارَ جملةً واحدةً، فلا يزدادُ في ذلك العددُ، ولا ينقصُ مِنْهُ.
[86] And Allaah, the Most High, has always known the number of those who will enter into Paradise, and the number of those who will enter the Fire, altogether. So, that number will not be increased, nor will it be decreased.
This speech and that which follows it from the speech of the Shaykh, rahimahullaah, all of it refers to the topic of Al-Qadaa· wal-Qadr (القضاء والقدر – Ordainment and Pre-decree).
And having eemaan (true faith) in Ordainment and Pre-decree is one of the six pillars of eemaan, just as he, `alayhis–salaatu was-salaam, said,
“Eemaan (true faith) is that you truly believe in Allaah and in His angels and in His Books and in His Messengers and in the Last Day, and that you truly believe in the Pre-decree – the good of it and the bad of it.” [2]
And in the Qur·aan there occurs the saying of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High,
We have created everything with a pre-decreed measure
(Sooratul-Qamar (54), aayah 49)
And His saying,
He (Allaah) created everything and gave it a pre-decreed measure
(Sooratul-Furqaan (25), aayah 2)
So, there is nothing without a pre-decreed measure, or nothing which randomly occurs, or nothing that just happens unexpectedly; rather, everything which happens, does so in accordance with a pre-decreed measure and having been written.
And having eemaan (true faith) in Al-Qadaa· wal-Qadr (Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree) includes four (4) levels and we will abridge them as follows:
The First Level: To have eemaan (true faith) in Allaah’s comprehensive Knowledge (Al-`Ilm – العلم) which covers everything, and that Allaah has known all things, always. He knew whatever happened and whatever was going to happen and whatever was not going to happen and if it had happened, how it would have been. Nothing whatsoever is hidden from His Knowledge, He, the One free of all imperfections and the Most High.
The Second Level: (Al-Kitaabah) That Allaah the Majestic and the Most High, He wrote in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz (The Preserved Tablet) the pre-decreed measures of every created thing, after having known them, He the Perfect.
And this is the Universal and all-inclusive Writing which covers everything. And there occurs in a hadeeth(that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said),
“The first thing that Allaah created was the Pen. He said, ‘Write!’ It said, ‘What shall I write?’ He said, ‘Write down whatever will occur until the Day of Resurrection.’” [3]
So, the Pen wrote down whatever was going to happen until the Day of Resurrection.
The Third Level: The level of Al-Mashee·ah (Allaah’s Wish and Will). So nothing occurs in this creation except by the Will and Wish of Allaah from that which is in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz) and what is within His Knowledge, He the Perfect and Most High. Nothing happens without His Will and nothing occurs within His Sovereignty unless He wills it (if He doesn’t will it, it doesn’t occur), He the Perfect.
Allaah does whatever He wills.
(Sooratul-Hajj (22), aayah 14)
Likewise, Allaah does whatever He wishes.
(Soorah Aal-`Imraan (3), aayah 40)
So, everything which occurs in this creation, whether life or death, whether someone being rich or someone being poor, whether someone having eemaan (true faith) or being an unbeliever; all of that was in accordance with Allaah’s Wish and Will. He wished the good and He wished the evil. He wished true faith (eemaan) and He wished unbelief (kufr). So, everything enters into His Al-Mashee·ah (His Universal Wish); whatever He wished to occur, occurred; and whatever He did not wish, did not occur.
The Fourth Level: The level of creating and bringing into existence (al-khalq wal-eejaad – الخلق والإيجاد). So whatever things He wished and willed, then He brought it into existence and created it.
Allaah is the Creator of everything and He is a Guardian and Disposer of Affairs over everything.
(Sooratuz-Zumar (39), aayah 62)
The Creating and the Command are His
(Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 54)
No calamity strikes upon the earth nor in your selves, except that it is written down in a Book before We created it. (Sooratul-Hadeed (57), aayah 22)
And the proofs of (Allaah’s) Knowledge are very many.
So from that which Allaah has described Himself with, is Al-`Ilm (العلم – Knowledge). So He, the One free of all imperfections and the Most High, He knows the number of people who will enter into Paradise and those who will enter into the Fire, and that is in His Eternal Knowledge (He has always known that).
And that whatever Allaah, the Most High had decreed, that will not be added to nor will it be decreased. And from that, is that He knows the inhabitants of Paradise and the inhabitants of the Fire, and He knows what they were going to do. We have eemaan (true faith) in that and we apply ourselves to action. We do not debate concerning Ordainment and Pre-decree, saying “how?” and “why?” and “how can a person be taken to account for something which Allaah pre-decreed?” to the rest of the foolish talk and wastage of time, and raising objections against Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.
What is obligatory upon you, is rather, to perform the acts of obedience and to avoid the sins. It is not the business of a slave to try and investigate the Secret of Allaah, the Mighty and the Majestic, and to dispute with the Lord, the Majestic and Most High. Rather, his business is to act. So therefore, when the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed his Companions that there is no one from them except that his place is written down – whether it be in Paradise or it be in the Fire, they said, “O Messenger of Allaah, shall we not then depend upon what is written down for us and leave off actions?” So he said,
“No, act, for everyone will have that which he was created for, made easy for him.” [4]
He, the Most High said,
Your deeds are diverse. So whoever spends in Allaah’s cause and fears and is dutiful to Him, and believes in Allaah’s reward, then We will make easy for him, acts which are pleasing to Allaah. (Sooratul-Layl (92), aayaat 4-7)
So the reason here, is from the servant himself (why Allaah will make good deeds easy for the person) – either he is a person who is fortunate or a person who is wretched.
And whoever is miserly, withholding from spending in Allaah’s cause, and thinks himself self-sufficient and does not act in obedience to Allaah, and denies Allaah’s reward, then We will make actions which Allaah hates, easy for him. (Sooratul-Layl (92), aayaat 8-10)
So what is required from us, is performing righteous and correct actions and leaving off evil actions.
And as for using Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree as an argument, then it is not an excuse because Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has made the good clear to us, and the evil; so therefore there is no excuse. And the people fall into problems because of their entering into affairs which they are not qualified for. So he says, “If Allaah has written for me that I will enter into Paradise, then I will enter it and if He has written for me that I will enter the Fire then I am going to enter it,” and he doesn’t perform any actions.
Then it is to be said to him: You, yourself don’t apply this saying upon yourself. Do you just sit in your house and leave off seeking provision? And do you say, “If Allaah has written down provision for me, He will make it easy for me.” Or is it that you go out and you strive and you seek for your provision? Even the animals and the birds don’t just sit in their homes; rather, they go out and they seek for their provision. And there occurs in the hadeeth, the saying of the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam:
“If you truly had reliance upon Allaah, then He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds. They go out hungry and they return with full bellies.” [5]
So Allaah created them (the birds and animals) upon the inborn nature of seeking for provision and of using the necessary means; and they are animals and you are a man will intellect!
And also, if someone stole something from you, would you say, “This was just something pre-decreed and ordained,” or would you make a complaint against him? Rather, indeed you would make a complaint against him and you would seek it and you would argue your case; you would not use as an argument Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree!
End of explanation of point [86][6]
[87] وكذلك أَفْعَالُهُم فِيما عَلِمَ مِنْهُم أَن يفْعَلُوه. [87] And the same applies to their deeds; He knew whatever they were going to do.
The Explanation – Point [87]
Meaning: He knew their deeds, always.
End of explanation of point [87]
[88] وكلٌّ مُيَسرٌ لما خُلِقَ لَه. [88] Everyone will have what he was created for, made easy for him.
The Explanation – Point [88]
He, the Most High said,
So whoever gives in Allaah’s cause and spends in obedience to Allaah, and fears Him and is dutiful to Him and believes in His reward, then We will make easy for him actions which are pleasing to Allaah. And whoever is miserly, and withholds from giving in Allaah’s cause, and thinks of himself as being self-sufficient and does not act in obedience to Allaah, and who denies His reward, then We will make actions which Allaah hates and is not pleased with, easy for him. (Sooratul-Layl (92), aayaat 5-10)
End of explanation of point [88]
At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At-Tahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Pages 105-110 (Point 86-88)
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali
Footnotes:
[1] Translator’s Side Point: The author, rahimahullaah, moves on to a few points connected to Qadr (Pre-decree) and we already had something with regard to Pre-decree in the book, that being points number 28-37 where the author, rahimahullaah said:
“He created the creation whilst having full Knowledge (of them). And He decreed fixed limits for them. And He laid down fixed time-spans for them. And nothing was hidden from Him before He created them. And He knew whatever they were going to do, before He created them. And He commanded them to obey Him and He forbade them from disobeying Him. And everything occurs in accordance with His Pre-decree. And His Will is enacted, not the will of the servants except what He wills for them. So whatever He willed for them occurs, and whatever He did not will for them does not occur. He guides whomever He wishes, and protects and keeps safe as a favor upon them; and He misguides whomever He wishes and humiliates and puts to trial from (His) Justice. All of them vary within His Will, between His Favor and His Justice.”
[2] Hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no. 50) and by Muslim in his Book of Eemaan (no. 10) as the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anh.
[3] This hadeeth is reported by Aboo Ya`laa from the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and it was declared Saheeh (Authentic) by Shaykh Al-Albaanee in As–Saheehah (no. 133). Also reported by Al-Bayhaqee in his book As-Sunan Al-Kubraa as being mawqoof from (the statement of the Companion) Ibn `Abbaas radiyAllaahu `anhumaa. Also reported by Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmidhee from the hadeeth of `Ubaadah ibn As–Saamit radiyAllaahu `anh and declared Saheeh (Authentic) by Shaykh Al-Albaanee.
[4] Hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no. 6605) and likewise by Muslim. It is from a hadeeth of `Alee radiyAllaahu `anh.
[5] Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad, and by `Abd ibn Humayd, and by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah, and At-Tirmidhee said it is Hasan-Saheeh. And it was declared authentic by Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir in his checking of the Musnad. Likewise, it was declared Saheeh by Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah. It is from a hadeeth of `Umar radiyAllaahu `anh.
Translator’s Side Point: This is a hadeeth that sometimes the Sufis beggars try and use to say that they are not begging but they are depending and relying upon Allaah. But as the scholars say, they are just begging from the people and they try to use this hadeeth as it mentions, “If only you had reliance upon Allaah, then He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds.” The scholars and explainers say that the last part of this hadeeth is a refutation of them because it mentions that the birds “go out hungry and they return with full bellies.” So, they go out and look for food and when they’ve found it, they come back with their bellies full.
[6] Translator’s Side Point: Shaykh Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) said regarding this point: “The author rahimahullaah is indicating the hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn `Amr radiyAllaahu `anhumaa who said,
‘Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam came out to us and in his hand he had two books and he said, “Do you know what these two books are?” So we said, “No, O Messenger of Allaah, not unless you inform us.” So he said about the book in his right hand, “This is a book from the Lord of the whole of the creation. It contains the names of the inhabitants of Paradise and the names of their fathers and their tribes, and then their total number is mentioned; it will not be added to and it will not be taken away from, ever.” Then he said about the book in his left hand, “This is a book from the Lord of the whole of the creation, containing the names of the inhabitants of the Fire and the names of their fathers and their tribes, and then He mentioned their total number; so it will not be added to, nor will it be decreased, ever.” So his Companions said, “Then on what basis is there to be any action if the affair has been finished?” So he said, “Strive to act correctly and to be justly balanced because the person of Paradise will have his actions sealed for him with the actions of the people of Paradise, no matter what he may have done; and the person of the Fire will have his actions sealed for him with the actions of the people of the Fire, no matter what he may have done.” Then Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said motioning with his hands and he threw them (the two books) away. Then he said, “Your Lord has finished with regards to the servants,
A group in Paradise and another group in the Fire.
(Sooratush–Shooraa (42), aayah 7)”’
This hadeeth was reported by At-Tirmidhee and he declared it authentic, and others as well. And I have researched it in my book As–Saheehah as hadeeth no. 848.”
Likewise, in his checking of At-Tirmidhee, Shaykh Al-Albaanee declared it Hasan (good).
Points discussed in this excerpt include:
Having eemaan (true faith) in Ordainment and Pre-decree (القضاء والقدر) is one of the six pillars of eemaan
There is nothing without a pre-decreed measure, or which randomly occurs, or that just happens unexpectedly
The four (4) levels of eemaan in Al-Qadaa wal-Qadr: Al-`Ilm, Al-Kitaabah, Al-Mashee·ah and Al-Khalq
Obligation upon a person to perform acts of obedience and avoid sins
Pre-ordainment and Pre-decree is not to be used as an argument/excuse
Allaah knows those who will enter the Paradise and the Fire, their total number and their deeds
Everyone will have what he was created for, made easy for him
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
[Point 117] And the Throne (Al-`Arsh) and the Footstool (Al-Kursee) are true.
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The Explanation – Point [117]
Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, created the heavens and He created the earth, and He created the Footstool (Kursee) and He created the `Arsh (Throne), all of these are things created by Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. The heavens are above the earth, and above the heavens is al-bahr (البحر – the ocean) and above the ocean is the Footstool, and above the Footstool is the `Arsh (Throne). So that is the highest of all of the created things; and that is as occurs in the hadeeth,
That the seven heavens compared to the Kursee (Footstool) are just like seven dirhams (small silver coins) thrown in a shield. [1]
Meaning: the seven heavens and their greatness, and whatever is within them, compared to the Kursee (Footstool) are just like seven dirhams (small silver coins) thrown in the like of a large circle of metal which the fighter uses as a shield. So what are seven dirhams compared to the large circular shield? In comparison, they are very little. In that regard, there is His saying, He the Most High,
His (Allaah’s) Kursee (Footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 255)
And the `Arsh (Throne) is even greater than the Kursee (Footstool). So the Kursee (Footstool) compared to the `Arsh (Throne) is just like a ring thrown in a desert, as occurs in the hadeeth. So if you were to throw a little ring into a broad, expansive piece of land, what would the size of the ring be compared to the size of that whole desert? Nothing!
These created things are tremendous and extremely vast, (so vast) as is known to none except Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.
Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 32 : Point [124] 
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