Category: Islam

Compiled by Aboo Sufyaan ‘Uthmaan Beecher
http://salafiyyah-kuwait.blogspot.com

بسم الله و الحمد لله، والصلاة والســلام على رسول الله و على آله وصحبه أجمعين. أما بعد

Allaah the Most High said:

{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ }

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islaam and do not follow the footsteps of shaytaan. Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.” [Al-Baqarah (2):208]

{ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ }

“Verily! shaytaan  is to man an open enemy!” [Yoosuf (12):5]

And Allaah (تبارك و تعالى) consistently warns us from our enemy throughout His Book, and likewise His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the authentic Sunnah, warning us from the plots and deception of shaytaan and his followers – from both the jinn and mankind  – like the people of shirk, kufr, and  bid’ah.

And the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ مَجْرَى الدَّمِ »

“Verily shaytaan runs through the human being like the running of blood.”  [1]

And Al-Haafith Ibn Hajr (رحمه الله) said regarding this hadeeth:  “And his saying  ((he penetrates)) or ((he runs)), it is said that it is on its apparent meaning, and that Allaah the Most High gave him the ability to do that, and it is said that it is figurative, referring to the abundance and tremendous amount of his misguidance, enticements, and his whisperings.” [al-Fath (4/1982)]

So there is no doubt that shaytaan is an enemy who does not cease to attack the believer with doubts, confusion, and whisperings, constantly prodding him towards that which will misguide him and lead to his destruction.  But the remedy for these attacks have been prescribed for us by Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).  Allaah says:

{ وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ * إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْصِرُونَ }

“And if an evil whisper comes to you from shaytaan, then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.  Verily, those who have Taqwaa (of Allaah), when an evil thought comes to them from shaytaan, they remember (Allaah), and (indeed) they then see (aright).” [Al-A’raf (7):200-201]

So with the permission of Allaah, we would like to present a series of posts reminding Ahlus-Sunnah of some of those adhkaar and ad’iyyah found in the authentic Sunnah of our Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم that the sunnee, the atharee can use to protect himself from the plots and whisperings of shaytaan and other types of harm.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Protecting Himself from the shayaateen

Ja’far bin Sulaymaan ad–Duba’ee narrated:  Aboo at-Tayyaaj narrated to us, he said:  “I said to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Khanbash at-Tameemee – and he was an old man – ‘did you reach the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم (during his lifetime)?’  He said, ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘So I said:  How did the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم act on the night the shayaateen plotted against him?’  So he said: ‘Indeed the shayaateen descended that night upon the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم from the valleys and mountain paths, and amongst them was a shaytaan, in his hand was a flame of fire, wanting to burn the face of Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم with it.  So Jibreel – عليه السلام – descended to him and said:  ‘O Muhammad! Say:

« أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ الَّتِي لَا يُجَاوِزُهُنَّ بَرٌّ وَلَا فَاجِرٌ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ،  وَذَرَأَ وَبَرَأَ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ ما ذَرَأَ فِي الأَرضِ وَبَرَأَ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ ما يَخرُجُ مِنها، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتَنِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ طَارِقٍ إِلَّا طَارِقًا يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ، يَا رَحْمَنُ  »

(( I seek refuge by the complete, perfect words of Allaah, which no righteous one nor wicked one can exceed, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of what descends from the heavens, and from the evil of what ascends to them, and from the evil of what is sown in the earth and is created, and from the evil of what comes out from it, and from the evil of the fitan of the night and the day, and from the evil of everyone who comes knocking, except for the one who comes knocking with khayr, O Rahmaan! ))

So it (this du’aa) extinguished their fire, and Allaah تبارك و تعالى defeated them.” [2]

Protecting Oneself when entering the bathroom

1) ‘Alee said:  The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said:  “The screen of what is between the jinn and the ‘awrahs of the Children of Aadam when he enters the bathroom, is that he says:

« بِسْمِ اللَّهِ »[3]

2) Anas bin Maalik said:  “The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  used to, when he entered the bathroom, he said:

« اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الخُبُثِ وَالخَبَائِثِ »

(( O Allaah! Verily I seek refuge in You from al-khubuthi wal-khabaa’ith (the male and female shayaateen) ))  [4]    

Shu’bah narrated: “If he comes to the bathroom…”, and Moosaa narrated from Hammaad: “When he enters…”, and Sa’eed bin Zayd said, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez narrated to us: “When he wants to enter…”.

3) In another wording collected by at-Tirmidhee:

« اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ ….»

((O Allaah! Verily I seek refuge in You…))

Shu’bah said: and indeed he said another time:

« أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْخُبْثِ وَالْخَبِيثِ – أَوِ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ »

 (( I seek refuge in Allaah from al-khubthi wal-khabeeth )) – or – (( al-khubuthi wal-khabaa’ith ))  [5]

[1] Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim,  Aboo Daawood (2470 & 4994), an-Nasaa’ee (3356 &3358), Ibn Maajah (1779),  Ahmad (26863), ad-Daarimee (1780),  Ibn Khuzaymah (2233, 2234), Ibn Hibbaan (3671), at–Tabaraanee  in al-Kabeer (24/189, 190-193), Aboo Nu’aym in al-Hilyah (3/145), al-Bayhaqee in Shu’ab (6800), and others.  Shaykh al-Albaanee declared it saheeh.

[2]  Traced to as-Suyootee in al-Jaami’ al-Kabeer (1/11/2) to Ahmad, and at–Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer, and Ibnus-Sunnee in ‘Amalul-Yawmi wal-Laylah from ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Khanbash, and from Ahmad (3/319), and Ibnus-Sunnee (631) from Ja’far bin Sulaymaan ad–Duba’ee from Aboo at-Tayyaaj.  Al-Albaanee said: “And the isnaad is saheeh, its men up to Ibn Khanbash are on the condition of Muslim…”  See As–Saheehah (#840).

[3] Ibn Maajah (#297).  Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee
[4]  al-Bukhaaree,  at-Tirmidhee (#6), Ibn Maajah (#298)
[5]  at-Tirmidhee (#5), Ibn Maajah (#298).  Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee.  The wording of Ibn Maajah is: (( I seek refuge in Allaah from al-khubuthi wal-khabaa’ith ))

Protection when stopping in a different home or place, and when reaching morning and evening

1) Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas said: I heard Khawlah bint Hakeem as-Sulamiyyah say:  The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say:  “Whoever stops (and stays) at a home, then says:

« أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ »

(( I seek refuge by the complete, perfect words of Allaah from the evil of what He has created )) 

Nothing will harm him until he leaves from that home.” [1]

2) Aboo Hurayrah said: A man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: “O Messenger of Allaah!  I was stung by a scorpion last night.” He said: “If you had said when you reached the evening (just before Maghrib):

« أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ »

(( I seek refuge by the complete, perfect words of Allaah from the evil of what He has created )) 

it would not have harmed you.” [2]

3) “Whoever says 3 times at the time he reaches the evening:

« أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ »

(( I seek refuge by the complete, perfect words of Allaah from the evil of what He has created )) 

he will not be harmed by a snakes bite during that night.” [3]

Suhayl said: “So our people used to learn it (this du’aa), so they used to say it every night, then a slave-girl from amongst them was stung, so she didn’t suffer any pain.”   [4]

4) Abaan bin ‘Uthmaan said: I heard ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan saying: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “There is no slave who says in the morning of every day (before sunrise) and the evening of every night (before sunset):

« بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ »

 (( In the Name of Allaah, with Whose name nothing in the earth and nothing in the heavens can cause harm, and He is As-Samee (The all-Hearing), al-‘Aleem (The All-Knowing)  ))  -three times – except that nothing will harm him.” [5]

[1]  Muslim, at-Tirmidhee (#3437), Ibn Maajah (#3547). See As–Saheehah (#3980)
[2]  Muslim,  Aboo Daawood (#3898, 3899)
[3]  Saheehul-Jaami’ (#6427)
[4] Declared Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee. See Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (#652)
[5] At-Tirmidhee (#3388), Aboo Daawood (#5088), Ibn Maajah (#3869). Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee

Seeking Protection from shaytaan when entering the Masjid

‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amru bin al-‘Aas reported from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that when he would enter the masjid he said:

« أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ، وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ، وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ، مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ »

(( I seek refuge in Allaah al-‘Atheem, and by His Noble Face, and His Eternal Sovereignty, from the accursed shaytaan ))

He صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “If he said that, shaytaan says: ‘He is protected from me for the rest of the day.’ [1]

The Prohibition of sitting half in the sun and half in the shade

1) Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله عنه   said:  Abool-Qaasim صلى الله عليه وسلم  said:  “If one of you was sitting in the sunlight”, and Makhlad said: “in the shadow, so the shade that is over him moves away from him, and part of him is in the sun and part (of him) is in the shade, then let him get up (and move).”   [2]

2) And in another narration: He prohibited that one sit between the sunlight and the shade, and he said:  “It is the sitting of shaytaan.” [3]

3) Qays bin Abee Haazim narrated from his father that he said: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw me and I was sitting in the sun, so he said:  “Move to the shade.”

In the wording of Aboo Daawood (#4822), Qays reported that his father narrated that he came and the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم was giving a khutbah, so he stood in the sun, so he ordered him to move to the shade. [4]

Protecting the Utensils and Home before going to bed

Jaabirرضى الله عنه  reported Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying:

“Cover the vessel, tighten the waterskins, close the doors and extinguish the lamps, for shaytaan does not loosen the waterskin, does not open the door, and does not uncover the vessels. And if one of you doesn’t find (something) to cover it with except placing over his vessel (a piece of) wood (to cover it) and to mention the name of Allaah, then let him do so, for indeed the pests (mice) may set the house on fire over its inhabitants.”  [5]

Yawning is from shaytaan

Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله تعالى عنه  narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said:  “at-Tathaa’ub (yawning) is from shaytaan, so when one of you yawns then let him suppress it as much as possible.” [6]

Suhayl bin Abee Saalih said:  I heard a son of Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree narrate to my father from his father [i.e. from Aboo Sa’eed]: the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “When one of you yawns, then let him cover his mouth with his hand, for indeed shaytaan enters.” [7]

And in another wording:  “If one of you yawns in the Salaah, then let him suppress it as much as he is able, for indeed shaytaan enters.”

Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said  “If one of you yawns, then let him repel it as much as possible, for indeed, one of you, if he says “haa” (makes sounds when he yawns), shaytaan laughs at him.”  [8]

In another wording with al-Bukhaaree:  “Verily Allaah loves sneezing and hates yawning, so if one of you sneezes and he praises Allaah, it is a right upon every muslim who hears him to say:

يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ 

(( May Allaah have mercy upon you )).   

As for yawning, then indeed it is only from shaytaan, so if one of you yawns let him repel it as much as possible, for indeed when he yawns, shaytaan laughs at him.”

Al-Haafith Ibn Hajr رحمه الله said:

“And in regards to the meaning of placing the hand over the mouth is placing the garment and the like of it from what achieves that intent (over ones mouth), but the hand is only specified if yawning is not repelled without it.  And there is no difference in this issue between the one praying and other than him.  Rather it is stressed in the situation of the salaah as has preceded, and that it is excluded from the prohibition of the one praying placing his hand on his mouth.  And from what the one who is yawning is commanded with if he was in the salaah, is that he withhold from recitation until it leaves him lest his recitation change.  And Ibn Abee Shaybah traced the like of that back from Mujaahid and ‘Ikrimah and the Taabi’een.”

[1]  Aboo Daawood (#466).  Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee
[2]  Aboo Daawood (#4821), al-Humaydee in al-Musnad (1138), Ahmad (2/383).  Shaykh al-Albaanee declared it saheeh. See As–Saheehah (#837)
[3]  Collected by Ahmad (3/413).  Shaykh al-Albaanee said:  “And this isnaad is saheeh, it’s men are thiqaat (trustworthy narrators), men of the Shaykhayn (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim), with the exception of Katheer, and he is Ibn Abee Katheer al-Basree as al-‘Ajalee and Ibn Hibbaan have said, and a group from the thiqaat narrated from him.  See As–Saheehah (#838)
[4]  Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee.  See As–Saheehah (#833)
[5] Muslim, Ahmad (3/355).  See Silsilah (#37) and Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (#38)
[6] Muslim
[7] Muslim
[8] Al-Bukhaaree, Aboo Daawood

Seeking refuge in Allaah when angry

1) Sulaymaan bin Surad said: Two men insulted one another in front of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, so one of them began to get angry and his face became red.  So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم looked at him, then said:  “Indeed I know a statement that if he said it, what afflicted him would go away:

« أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ »

(( I seek refuge in Allaah from the accursed shaytaan )) [1]

2) Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله تعالى عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said:  “The strong man is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while angry.”  [2]

3) ‘Imraan bin Husayn رضى الله تعالى عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “If you become angry, then sit down.” [3]

4) Ibn ‘Abbaas رضى الله تعالى عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “If one of you becomes angry, then let him remain silent.” [4]

5) And the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “If one of you becomes angry, and he is standing, then he should sit down until the anger leaves him, and if not, then he should lie down.” [5]

6) And the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “If a man becomes angry, then he says:

« أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ »

 (( I seek refuge in Allaah ))

his anger while subside.”[6]

The Du’aa when a person feels pain in their body

‘Uthmaan bin Abeel-‘Aas ath-Thaqafee said that he complained to the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم of a pain he felt in his body since the time he accepted Islaam.  So the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said to him: “Place your hand on the place on your body where the pain is, and say ((Bismillaah )) 3 times, and then say 7 times:

« أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ »

((I seek refuge in Allaah and His complete power and ability from the evil of what I feel and am wary of  )) [7]

Our shaykh, Shaykh Taariq as-Subay’ee said:  this is a tremendous du’aa.

[1]  Muslim
[2]  Al-Bukhaaree
[3] Saheeh: al-Mishkaat (#1514), Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#696)
[4] As–Saheehah (#1375) – declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee.
[5] Narrated by Aboo Dharr and declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee. See Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#694) and al-Mishkaat (#5114)
[6]  Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as–Saheehah (#1376).  See Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#695)
[7]  Muslim

The Virtue – & Protection – awarded to the one who says Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdahu laa shareeka lahu….

Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:”Whoever said:

« لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ »

((There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allaah, He is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things)) after he prays the morning prayer (al-ghadaah) ten times, Allaah عزوجل writes for him 10 hasanaat and removes from him 10 sayyiaat, and raises him 10 darajaat, and he gets the equivalent of freeing 2 slaves from the offspring of Ismaa’eel, and if he says it when he reaches evening, he gets the like of thatو and for him is a hijaab (barrier) from shaytaan until he reaches morning.”  [1]

And in another wording, he –  صلى الله عليه وسلم  – said:

”Whoever said:

« لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ »

((There is nothing that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allaah, He is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things)) 100 times in a day, he will get a reward equal to freeing ten slaves, and one-hundred good deeds will be written for him, and one-hundred bad deeds will be removed from him, and he will be protected from shaytaan on that day until he reaches the evening, and nobody will come with something superior to what he came with, except one who has done more than that.”  [2]

[1] As–Saheehah (#113)
[2]  Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, A.D (#5077), at-Tirmidhee (#3468), Ibn Maajah (#3798)

Protecting the Home by Recitation of the Qur’aan

Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not make your homes like graveyards, indeed shaytaan avoids the home in which Sooratul-Baqarah is read.”  [1]

Ibn Mas’ood رضى الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Verily everything has a high point, and the highest point of the Qur’aan is Sooratul-Baqarah, and verily shaytaan, if he hears Sooratul-Baqarah recited, he leaves the house in which Sooratul-Baqarah is recited.” [2]

And the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Recite Sooratul-Baqarah in your homes, for indeed shaytaan does not enter a house in which Sooratul-Baqarah is recited in.”  [3]

Aboo Mas’ood narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever recites the two verses from the end of Sooratul-Baqarah in a night, they will suffice him.” [4]

‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Recite these two aayaat that are at the end of Sooratul-Baqarah, for indeed my Lord gave them to me from under the ‘Arsh.” [5]

And the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “(( Qul Huwal-llaahu Ahad )) and the Mu’awwidhatayn [Sooratul-Falaq and Sooratun-Naas]  when you reach evening and when you reach the morning 3 times suffice you from everything.”  [6]

Hafs bin Ghayaath al-Hanafee narrated that Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله عنه  said:

“Indeed the home becomes spacious for its inhabitants, and the Angels visit it and the shayaateen abandon it, and its goodness is increased if the Qur’aan is recited in it.  And indeed the home becomes narrow and restricted upon its inhabitants, and the Angels abandon it and the shayaateen visit it, and its goodness is decreased if the Qur’aan is not recited in it.”  [7]

Aayatul-Kursee

And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: “Whoever reads Aayatul-Kursee at the end of every obligatory salaah, nothing prevents him from entering Jannah except that he dies.”  [8]

Aboo Hurayrah رضى الله عنه said:  “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  ordered me to guard the Zakaah of Ramadaan, then somebody came to me and started stealing from the foodstuff. So I caught him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم!’” Then he described the whole narration and said:  “He (that person) said (to me), ‘When you go to your bed, recite Aayatul-Kursee [9],  for then there will be a guard from Allaah who will protect you all night long, and shaytaan will not be able to come near you until you reach the morning.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said (to me), “He told the truth, and he is a liar. That was shaytaan.”  [10]

[1] Muslim, at-Tirmidhee(#2877), Ahkaamul-Janaa’iz (p.212) of Shaykh al-Albaanee
[2]  Declared hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee.  See As–Saheehah (#588)
[3] Declared hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee.  As–Saheehah (# 1521) * Note:  What is intended, and Allaah knows best, is the actual recitation of the Qur’aan by the occupants themselves, not playing audio files (or cds, cassettes) in the home. {A.S.}
[4] Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Aboo Daawood (#1397), at-Tirmidhee (#2881), Ibn Maajah (#1368 and 1369)
[5] as–Saheehah (#1482)
[6] Saheeh. Refer to Saheehul-Jaami’ (#4406) and al-Mishkaat (#2163)
[7]  Ad-Daarimee (4/3310) – mawqoof on Aboo Hurayrah .
[8] Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee.  Refer to as–Saheehah (#972), al-Mishkaat (#974)
[9] Al-Bukhaaree
[10] Al-Bukhaaree, Aboo Daawood (#2880)

Beware of Ghuloo (going to extremes and crossing the limits) in the Deen of Allaah

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

« وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْغُلُوَّ فِي الدِّينِ، فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمُ الْغُلُوُّ فِي الدِّينِ »

“Beware of ghuloo in the Deen, for indeed those who came before you were only destroyed by ghuloo in the Deen.” [1]

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibnu Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said regarding this hadeeth: “ –

(This) is general in regards to every type and category of Ghuloo, in I’tiqaad (the matters of ‘Aqeedah) and in actions. And Ghuloo (is): going beyond and exceeding the limits by increasing something in its praise, or dispraise, beyond what it rightfully deserves, and the like of that.” [2]

Al-Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said:

“Allaah did not order with a command except that shaytaan has an avenue to incite evil in it, either towards negligence and wastefulness, or towards excessiveness and extremism (ghuloo). And the Deen of Allaah is in the middle between abandonment and neglect, and excessiveness and extremism, like the valley between two mountains. And al-Hudaa (guidance) is between two ways of misguidance, and the middle ground between two sides that are dispraised. So just like abandoning the command is squandering it and throwing it away, so then excessiveness and extremism in it is to corrupt and ruin it. This one is by falling short of the limits, and this one is by going beyond the limits.” [3]

And Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“And whoever seeks to get close to Allaah by what is not from the hasanaat that have been commanded, (not) by a command of obligation nor (a command) of recommendation, then he is astray, following the shaytaan, and his path is from the paths of shaytaan…” [4]

And this is what leads to bid’ah and deviation.

Allaah said in His Book:

وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and do not follow (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you so that you may have Taqwaa.” [5]

‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood said [6]: The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) drew a line for us (on the ground), then he said:

« هَذَا سَبِيلُ اللَّهِ »

“This is the Path of Allaah.”

Then he drew lines on it’s right and on it’s left, then he said:

« هَذِهِ سُبُلٌ مُتَفَرِّقَةٌ – عَلَى كُلِّ سَبِيلٍ مِنْهَا شَيْطَانٌ يَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ »

“These are the other paths – on every one of them is a shaytaan calling to it.”

Then he recited this aayah.

And Allaah said in His Book:

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ أَهْوَاء قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيراً وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O Ahlul-Kitaab! Do not go to extremes and exceed the limits in your deen (by believing in something) other than the Haqq, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path.’” [7]

Ibnul-Mundhir, Ibn Abee Haatim, and Aboosh-Shaykh reported from Qataadah regarding the meaning of Allaah’s statement ﭓ ﭔ ﭕ ﭖ “Do not go to extremes and exceed the limits in your deen”: Qataadah said that it means: “do not innovate.”

So this aayah, even though it is addressed to Ahlul-Kitaab specifically, the Salaf have explained that it is general for all those who go to ghuloo from this Ummah, from the people of Bid’ah, and those who go beyond the boundaries of the Sharee’ah in their worship of Allaah.

[1] Iqtidaa’ as-Siraatil-Mustaqeem

[2] An-Nasaa’ee (#3057), Ibn Maajah (#3029), and by an-Nasaa’ee in al-Kubraa (#4049), al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa (#9534) and others. Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee

[3] Madaarijus-Saalikeen

[4] Iqitidaa

[5] Al-An’aam (6):153

[6] Ibn Maajah (#11), Ahmad (#4142), an-Nasaa’ee in al-Kubraa (11109), and also ad-Daarimee, al-Haakim , and al-Bazzaar. Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee

[7] Al-Maa’idah (5):77

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