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In times of calamity, people divide into four levels – Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen

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Bismillaah

Q: What is the ruling on one who becomes discontented when he is afflicted by calamity?

A: In times of calamity, people divide into four different levels:

The First Level: Discontent and there are different types of discontent:

1. In the heart, as if he is angry with his Lord, and so he rails against what Allāh has ordained for him, and this is forbidden and could even lead to disbelief. Allāh, the Most High, says:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ

“And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter.” (Al-Hajj 22:11)

2. That it is spoken, such as invoking woe, destruction and the like and this is forbidden.

Read More “In times of calamity, people divide into four levels – Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen”

Women Wearing Hijab And Make-up In Public: Two Conflicting Contradictions In Islam – Shaykh Albanee

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Women Wearing Hijab And Make-up In Public: Two Conflicting Contradictions In Islam – Shaykh Albanee 

source: silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor – the series of guidance and light – tape no. 697

maa shaa Allaah this is truly a much needed clarification of the ruling on makeup, about which many are unaware. shaykh al-albaani (rahimahullaah) advises both women and men in this regard.

~

Question #3: “Is it allowed for the woman to put on make-up if she leaves her house wearing the hijaab?”

Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) answers:

“It is not permissible for the woman who does not wear hijaab, let alone who wears hijaab, to use the makeup of the disbeliever, the make-up of the rebellious and disobedient (to Allaah). When were you aware of some women’s adornment called by a name for which Allaah did not send down an authority: ‘make-up’? This is a word that we don’t know, not us nor your forefathers from before. Rather, it is a foreign word expressing an adornment for the rebellious and disobedient women of Europe; and our women – except those of them whom Allaah protects – unfortunately imitate decorating themselves with this adornment which the Islamic society is being affected by, namely make-up. So it is not permissible for the woman. And this reality is one of the strange ironies: in the road we see a woman wearing a decent hijaab (but) I don’t say the Islamically legislated hijaab; she ties what they call the ‘ishaarb’ – or khimaar which is the (correct) Arabic word – covering her hair, her neck and so on, but she has face powder and lipstick on. This (wearing the hijaab) is against this (wearing make-up): two contradictory, conflicting matters that do not go together. What is the reason (for this type of occurrence)? It is one of two things: either ignorance and heedlessness of the Islamically legislated ruling or it is due to the women’s following of the temptations of shaytaan.

Therefore, we firstly remind the women who suffer from this make-up. Then secondly, we remind the guardians of women such as a father or a husband or a brother, due to the fact that (the Prophet) (‘alayhi ssalaat wa ssalaam) said: ‘Everyone of you is a shepherd and everyone of you is responsible for his flock. So the man is a shepherd and he is responsible for his flock-’[1] to the end of the hadeeth. Thus, the Arabic or general proverb states: ‘The horse is from the horseman.’ So you, the husband of the woman, it is not permissible for you to allow her to go out in this manner which puts to trial the middle-aged men, let alone the young men! And you, O man, O father, O brother, are supposed to be very jealous. Why? Because the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) used to say: ‘A duyyooth will not enter Paradise.’[2] Why? Who is a duyyooth? He is the one who does not guard his womenfolk jealously.”

[1] Saheeh al-Bukhaari # 893 [2] Saheeh at-Targheeb # 2071
~

Source : A Series of Benefits from Shaykh al-Albaani

The do’s and don’ts of shaking hands – Shaykh Albanee

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Source: silsilat ul-ahaadeeth is-saheeha – the series of authentic narrations –hadeeth no. 16

~

On the authority of Abu Huraira: “when the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say farewell to someone, he [sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] would say:

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ
(I entrust your religion, your family and belongings (that you are leaving behind), and the last of your deeds to Allaah).”

Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) comments:

“A number of benefits are gained from this authentic hadeeth. First: the permissibility of saying farewell with the mentioned saying in it:

‘أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ,’ and the traveler responds to him and says:‘أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللهَ الَّذِي لاَ تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ’ (I entrust you to Allaah, whose trusts are not lost).[1]Refer to ‘Al-Kalim At-Tayyib.’[2]

Read More “The do’s and don’ts of shaking hands – Shaykh Albanee”

Ruling on Reading the Bible (Tawrah and Injeel) – Various Scholars

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Q: What is the ruling on reading the Bible?

A: The Divine Books revealed before the Qur’an now include many distortions, alterations, and omissions, as Allah says in the Qur’an.

Therefore, it is not permissible for Muslims to read any of these Books, unless they have deep-rooted knowledge of the Din (religion) and want to explain the distortions and inconsistencies in these books.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz ,`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify , `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan , `Abdullah ibn Qa`ud

Q: What is the ruling on a Muslim who reads the Bible or swears by it?

A: It is not permissible for a Muslim to read the Bible as it has almost entirely undergone interpolation. Even the parts of the Bible that have undergone no interpolation are needless as the Qur’an replaces them. This ruling is not applicable to scholars who need to read it in order to refute the claims of the People of the Book.

Read More “Ruling on Reading the Bible (Tawrah and Injeel) – Various Scholars”

Hardship and prosperity, obedience and sin – Sayings of the Salaf

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It is reported that Wuhayb b. Al-Ward – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Verily, when Allâh the Exalted wants to honor a servant of His (for his righteousness), He afflicts him with a reduced means of living, illness in his body and a fearful life (all of which expiate his sins). Until death comes upon him, and he still has some sins, death is made hard upon him because of them, causing him to meet Allâh with no sins against him.

And when a person is of little value to Allâh (because of his disobedience), He makes his body healthy, broadens his means of living and makes him feel safe (the rewards for any good deeds he did are exhausted). Until death comes upon him, and he still has some good deeds, the experience of death is lightened for him because of them, and he meets Allâh with nothing.

Abu Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 2865.

https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/hardship-and-prosperity-obedience-and-sin/

Allaah’s dealing with His servants – Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah)

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Source: alkhawf wa rrajaa – fear and hope (of Allaah) – tape no. 1, asaheeha translations

shaykh al-albaani (rahimahullaah) begins with the khutbat ul-haajah maa shaa Allaah, and the first part of his talk revolves around the meaning of the hadeeth below:

Allaah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“Allaah says [to the angels], ‘If My slave intends to do a bad deed then do not write it against him until he does it; if he does it, then write it as it is, but if he leaves it for My sake, then write it as a good deed for him. And if he intends to go a good deed, but does not do it, then write it as a good deed for him; and if he does it, then write it for him as ten good deeds up to seven-hundred times as much up to many more times” – [Saheeh al-Bukhaari]

The shaykh comments and speaks on the many favors of Allaah upon His believing slave:

“…First, if he does a good deed it [the count of the deeds] is multiplied – as for a bad deed, then it [the count of the deeds] is not multiplied.

Second, if he did not do a bad deed, and had intended to do it, nothing is written against him, as opposed to [gaining a] good deed: 

if he intended to do (a bad deed), then did not do it, a good deed is written for him. Why? – because he left it fearing Allaah ‘azza wa jal. And the [understanding of] this is that if he intends to do a bad deed, then leaves it and does not act upon it for some reason, and it is not (because of) his fear of Allaah, the Blessed and Most High, then nothing is written upon him, neither a bad deed nor a good deed.

As for if his motive for leaving this bad deed was his fear of Allaah ‘azza wa jal, then this bad deed, because of his leaving it, turns into a good deed. Hence, fearing Allaah ‘azza wa jal pushes its possessor (the possessor of the quality of fearing Allaah) to have many good deeds. Every time he intends to do a bad deed and he leaves it fearing Allaah, the bad intention turns into a good deed.”

The Importance of Reference – Shaykh Albaani

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Shaykh Albaani, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:

The Scholars have said:

“From the signs that one is blessed in his knowledge is him referring points of benefits to the founder of it”

(such as the author or a reference to where one got the benefit from)

Because in doing that one frees himself from plagiarism as it has been brought to attention by the Prophet, alaihi as salaatu wa salaam, in his statement:

“The one being satisfied with that which he has not been given is as a person wearing two garments of deception”.

Agreed upon by al Bukaari and Muslim.

The Reference:

The Preface of Shaykh Albaani for the Book: Kalimut Tayyib for Shaykul Islaam ibn Taymiyah

[Must Read] Why we should seek Laylatul-Qadr on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan – Ibn Taymiyyah

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Ibn Taymiyah on Seeking Laylatul-Qadr
A fatwa from Ibn Taymiyah on Why we should seek Laylatul-Qadr on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Translated by Owais al Hashimi hafidhahullaah

Read the PDf @ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4RZz-y21qm_WkhZU3BscF93THc/view?usp=sharing

—

When To Seek Out Laylatul-Qadr (The Night Of Decree)
Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah -rahimahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood ibn Ronald Burbank rahimahullaah

Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah -rahimahullaah- was asked about LaylatulQadr, whilst imprisoned in the mountain citadel (in Cairo) in the year 706 H. So he responded:

“All praise is for Allaah. Laylatul-Qadr is in the last ten (nights) of the month of Ramadaan. This is what is authentic from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) , that he said: <<It is within the last ten of Ramadaan>>, and it is within the odd nights from them [1]

However the odd nights may be counted with reference to what has already passed by, such that it should be sought on the night of the twenty first, the night of the twenty third, the night of the twenty fifth, the night of the twenty seventh, and the night of the twenty ninth; and they may otherwise be counted with reference to what remains, just as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: <<On the night when nine remain, on the night when seven remain, on the night when five remain, on the night when three remain.>> [2]

So based upon this, if the month is of thirty days, then that will be one of the even nights. So the twenty second will be (the night) when nine remain, the twenty fourth will be when seven remain; and this is how Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree explained it in the authentic hadeeth; and this is how the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) established it in the month. If, however, the month is of twenty nine days, then counting in accordance with what remains will then be just the same as counting in accordance with what has passed.

Read More “[Must Read] Why we should seek Laylatul-Qadr on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan – Ibn Taymiyyah”

Must a Khatmah be finished during Tarawih Prayers? – Permanent Committee

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Fatwas > Ramadan Fatwas >

Q 2: I am a senior student in one of the Egyptian universities. Usually students are overburdened with studies during Ramadan, since the final exams are immediately after that month.

We have lots of studying to do during Ramadan and this deprives us from doing as much good deeds as we can, as we are commanded to. We wish to always recite the Qur’an and finish a Khatmah (one complete reading of the whole Qur’an) during the Tarawih (special supererogatory night Prayer in Ramadan). However, we pray in a nearby Masjid (mosque) where the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) recites short Ayahs (Qur’anic verses) and finishes prayer early. Deep inside, I wish the Imam could complete the recitation of the whole Qur’an during the Tarawih like in other Masjids, yet, again, there is not much time to study. Please answer me and may Allah benefit you! Will I bear a sin for that? Note that I offer the Five Obligatory Daily Prayers at their due times and fast perfectly.

A: Tarawih Prayer is a stressed Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) and it is necessary to feel calm and tranquil while performing its recitation, standing, bowing, prostration and the rest of its Rukn (integral parts). It is not Wajib (obligatory) to complete one reading of the whole Qur’an during Tarawih.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Fifteen-year-old youth breaks Sawm during the daytime in Ramadan – Permanent Commitee

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The first question of Fatwa no.  6355

Q 1: What is the ruling on a 15-year-old youth who breaks his Sawm (Fast) during Ramadan, under the excuse that he is very tired and cannot complete his Sawm on that day? If he is required to make up for that day, can he make up for it after yet another Ramadan passes?

A: It is prohibited for a Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) – someone who is a sane, adult, healthy, resident (non-traveling) Muslim – to break their Sawm during the daytime in Ramadan.

If they experience hardship and are forced by to break their Sawm, exactly as someone who is forced by necessity to eat dead meat, they may only eat as much as is needed to remove the hardship.

Then they have to abstain from all that breaks Sawm (Fast) for the rest of the day, and make up for that day after Ramadan. If they delay making up for it until the following Ramadan with no legitimate excuse, then they have to make up for that day and also feed a needy person for every day not fasted.

Anyone who has fully attained fifteen years of age is an adult person. The same is true for a boy who discharges Maniy (sperm) out of desire in wet dreams or the like or has coarse hair around his pubic region. A girl has an additional fourth sign of puberty, which is menstruation.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Chairman – Iman Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Fatwas > Ramadan Fatwas > Fifteen-year-old youth breaks Sawm during the daytime in Ramadan

Period-delaying pills to fast the whole month of Ramadan – Permanent Committee

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Q 2: I have taken contraceptive pills in Ramadan. Should I make up for the days during which I did not have my period through the contraceptive effect of the pills and so I observed Sawm (Fasting) and offered Salah (Prayer) on them with the people? Is there any sin on me for taking these pills?

A: It is permissible for a woman to take a medicine to delay her menstrual period, so that she can perform Hajj or ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), or observe Sawm in Ramadan, provided that it will result in no harmful effect on her.

You do not have to make up for these days in which menstrual bleeding was stopped by the effect of the pills and you observed Sawm with the people.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Chairman – Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz

Source : Fatwas > Ramadan Fatwas >

Intention to fast Ramadhan must be formed before Fajr – Permanent Committee

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The first question of Fatwa no. 4352

Q 1: Should the intention to fast Ramadan be formed at night or during the day? If someone is informed at forenoon that today is Ramadan, should one make up for it or not?

A: It is obligatory to form the intention to fast in the month of Ramadan at night, before Fajr (Dawn).

Starting the Sawm in the daytime does not suffice without prior intention.

So, if someone knows at forenoon that today is a day of Ramadan and then makes the intention to fast, it becomes obligatory on them to abstain from all that nullifies the Sawm until sunset. But they have to make up for that day, due to the Hadith related from Ibn ‘Umar, on the authority of Hafsah, (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

Anyone who has not formed the intention to fast before Fajr no Sawm counts for them.

(Related by Imam Ahmad, the Compilers of the Sunan [Imams Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa’y and Ibn Majah], Ibn Khuzaymah, and Ibn Hibban, who classified it as Sahih [a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish]and Marfu‘ [a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration]) This ruling applies to the obligatory Sawm.

As for the supererogatory Sawm, it is permissible to form the intention to fast at daytime, if the person has not eaten, drunk, or had conjugal intercourse since Fajr.

This is because it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), on the authority of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that

He (peace be upon him) came to her one day at forenoon and said: ‘Do you have anything (any food)?’ She said, ‘No.’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘Then I am fasting.’

(Related by Muslim in his Sahih [Book of Authentic Hadith])

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta
Chairman – Shaykh Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Ruling on medical insurance made by institutions and companies on the employees and their families – alifta

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– Issued by the Permanent Committee

Q: Some private companies and businesses offer medical insurance to their employees and their families. To provide this service, they make an agreement with some private hospitals. This agreement is as follows:

1- The company pays the hospital a fixed monthly amount of 100 Riyals for each employee, regardless of the number of times they visit the hospital to have treatment.

2- The hospital is responsible to treat the employees, giving them the necessary medications and performing surgery for them when necessary. It is important to mention that the hospital spends more than 100 Riyals some months on treating an employee, especially when the person has an operation.

At other times, an employee may not visit the hospital at all and thus, does not benefit from the 100 Riyals or he may benefit only from a small amount. The question now is: First, is this type of medical insurance permissible or does it involve uncertainty and deception?

Second, does this kind of insurance fall under the permissible Ji’alah (payment for a permanent job, not a fief) as some researchers have said (i.e., Majallat Al-Buhuth Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Mu`asirah, “Contemporary Jurisprudence Research Journal”, issue no. 31)? Third, what are the characteristics of a lawful cooperative medical insurance?

A: The transaction mentioned in the question falls under the category of prohibited commercial insurance, which involves uncertainty, deception and devouring people’s money falsely. The permissible cooperative medical insurance is to establish a charity fund that is paid to help the needy and sick people without the donor expecting any financial benefit from it. Giving the money to the fund should only aim at helping the needy, and hoping for the Reward of Allah (Exalted be He). May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
[Issued by the Permanent Committee, Fatwa no. 19399]

Over Socializing – Having too many acquaintances – Sufyaan ath-Thawri

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Keep Only a Few Friends

Sufyaan ath-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that one foolishly compromised one’s religion when one kept too many friends. Having too many acquaintances diverts one from one’s duty towards one’s Lord, for a person who has many friends is always busy socializing with them and fulfilling their rights over him; so he becomes preoccupied with people when he really should be preoccupied with his religious duties. The ill-effects of being too gregarious can last well beyond a social gathering. Sufyaan said, “I might meet a brother and as a result, remain heedless (of what I should be doing) for an entire month.”

A friend, Sufyaan insisted, should be someone who helps one to improve as a Muslim; otherwise he is not worth keeping as a friend. Sufyaan expressed this sentiment when he sad, “If someone is not with you, then he is against you.”

And Yousuf ibn Asbaat reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri say, “Whenever I spoke contrary to the desires of any man, he, regardless of who he was, would inevitably become furious with me. The people of knowledge and piety have departed.”

Sufyaan once advised someone to test the character of the person he wanted to befriend. Sufyaan said, “Choose whoever you want as your companion. But when you have made your choice, make him angry, and then order someone to go and ask him what he thinks about you-without him knowing that you sent that person.”

Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-‘Aabid related that Sufyaan ath-Thawri once said to him, “Direct me to a man with whom I can keep company.” Sufyaan said, “You are searching for something that cannot be found.”

Khalf ibn Ismaa’eel Al-Barzaanee reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri said, “Acquaint yourself with fewer people, and as a result, you will backbite less (frequently).”

Source: ‘Biography of Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri ‘. this book is sold by dar-us-salaam and the author is “Salaahud-Deen ibn Ali ibn Abdul-Maujood”. Sufyaan Ath-Thawri: A True Mountain of Knowledge & the Leader of Believers in Hadeeth

The Reward of Being Busy in the Service of Allah – Imam Ibn al Qayyim

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A Precious Gem: The Reward of Being Busy in the Service of Allah

If the servant of Allah begins the day and the evening, without having any other concern except Allah, the Almighty, He will fulfill all his needs and relieve all his worries. He will empty the servant’s heart for the sake of His Love, his tongue will constantly remember Him and he will have the strength to perform religious duties for His sake.

And if he begins the day and the evening, without having any other concern except the life of this world, Allah, the Almighty will cast worry and grief into his heart. He, the Almighty will leave him to himself, and keep his heart busy with things other than His Love. His tongue will not remember Allah but will only be concerned with the creation. He will use all his strength in things other than the sake of Allah, and he will remain busy in the service of creation. He will work very hard in the service of others. Just like a bellows that pumps itself up and then squeezes itself to the utmost in the service of others. Therefore, whoever refuses to submit to Allah, to obey and love Him, will be afflicted with the servitude, love and service of creation.

Allah, the Almighty says in the Qur’an which means,

“And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur’an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him”

(Az-Zukhruf, 43:36)

Abu Sufyan bin ‘Uyaynah said, “You will never bring forward any famous proverb but I will bring the likeness of it from the Qur’an,” Thereupon someone said to him, “So where is in the Qur’an “Give your fellow brother a date, and if he does not accept it then give him a firebrand.” He then recited the previous Qur’anic verse.

Source : AL-FA WAID: A Collection of Wise Sayings – Imam Ibn al Qayyim
Al Bayaan Translation

A Precious Gem: The Reward of Being Busy in the Service of Allah

Visits made during Sha‘ban to the grave of Prophet Hud – Fatwas of Nur Ala Al-Darb

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Fatwas > Sha`ban Fatwas > Visits made during Sha‘ban to the grave of Prophet Hud

Source : alifta.com

Q: A brother from Hadramawt asks: During the month of Sha‘ban, people come to out town Hadramawt to visit the grave of Prophet Hud (Peace be upon him), whose grave is thought to be located in Al-Ahqaf, near Hadramawt. The journey there takes five hours by car. With this false belief, from our viewpoint, a great number of people, i.e. thousands of people, drive to this place, where they ascend a mountain to a room at the top of it that contains two or three graves. They lean against these graves, touch them, weep over them, call upon them and seek their blessings. When they have finished doing this they descend. They do this for about four days. They liken this practice to Sa‘y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj). They appointed certain places incarnating the body of Prophet Hud (peace be upon him): There is a pebble they call the nose of Prophet Hud; there is another smooth one that has the trace of his foot, which is called Al-Dahqah and its length is about three cubits; and a third one is claimed to be his feet wherein women hoping for husbands put some pebbles in the hope that they will find what they aspire to and similarly this is practiced by wives hoping to have babies. They claim that it is advised that one should pay this visit and that the predecessors among the Awliya’ (pious people) established this visit and called people to make it, like for example, the Faqih (Jurisprudent) immigrating to Allah, Ahmad ibn ‘Isa, and so on. They continue in this way describing this practice. O Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz finally, we seek your instruction and advice. What should they do?

Read More “Visits made during Sha‘ban to the grave of Prophet Hud – Fatwas of Nur Ala Al-Darb”

Advice: How to Set Your State Aright – Imam Ibn al Qayyim

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Let’s strive to be close to Allah.

Let’s long for the dwelling of peace wherein there is no toil, stress or weariness.

The easiest way is to consider the fact that you are passing a period that lies between two other periods, namely your current life, which is the present one and it is between your past and your future.

The past can be set aright through repentance, regret and asking the forgiveness of Allah, and this is a way, which affords you no toil, weariness or hard work, as it is concerned with the heart.

The future can be set aright by abstaining from misdeeds, and this is a means of comfort and relief for you, for it is not a difficult act, but it is an intention that relieves your body, heart, and your mind.

In brief, your past is set aright through repentance; your future is set aright through abstention, determination and intention, which have nothing to do with overburdening the body.

However, our concern here is with the present time as it stands between the two other periods. If you waste it, then you are wasting your happiness and salvation. On the contrary, if you maintain it through setting your past and present aright, indeed you will attain success, salvation, relief, and pleasure.

Improving your present state is much more difficult than setting your past and your future aright, because it means that you should abide by the most deserving and beneficial deeds to achieve happiness. There are great differences between people in this regard. This is your chance to take the provision for your Hereafter, either Paradise or Hellfire. So, if you take this path to your Lord, you will attain glorious happiness and great success during this short period of time which has no value compared with eternity. However, if you prefer vain desires, idleness, play and amusement, the period would pass quickly, followed by a permanent and great pain, the suffering of which is much more severe than the suffering of patience, the patience required to obey Allah.

Source: AL-FA WA’ID: A Collection of Wise Syaings – Imam Ibn al Qayyim
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“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you” – Imam Ibn al Qayyim

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Source: AL-FAWAID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

Allah, the Almighty says,which means,
“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” (AI-Baqarah, 2:216)

In this Qur’anic Verse, there are several judgments, meanings and benefits for the servant.    If the    servant knows    that misfortune can produce a desirable thing, and that the desirable thing can produce a misfortune, he would not feel secure against the harm that can come from delight, and he would not lose hope of delight to come from harm, for he does not know the outcomes of things. Verily, it is Allah Who knows about that which the servant does not know, and in this context the following issues must be noted:

Nothing is more beneficial for him than abiding by the judgments of Allah, even if it is difficult for him at the beginning, because all its outcomes are good, delightful, and pleasurable. In the same way, nothing is more harmful for him than committing what is forbidden, even if he loves it. All its outcomes are pain, grief, evil and misfortune.

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A Precious Gem: Forbidden pleasure is combined with ugliness and it will cause pain after the moment has passed – Imam Ibn al Qayyim

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AL-FAWA’ID: A Collection of Wise Syaings

Forbidden pleasure is combined with ugliness and it will cause pain after the moment has passed. If you feel strongly inclined toward it, you should think about the pain it will leave behind. It is necessary to compare the two matters and discover the difference between them.

Suffering pain while worshiping Allah is combined with a good soul that will bear the fruit of pleasure and relief. When the soul finds it heavy and thinks to stop the pain and then compares the end results of the two  matters, he will surely prefer the way of hardship.

If you feel pain because of deeds, you should think about the happiness, joy, and pleasure you will gain, then the pain will seem easy to bear. If you get hurt because of abandoning some kind of forbidden pleasure, you should think about the pain that follows it and compare the two kinds.

To make the correct choice, you must know the reasons and consequences of each act and then choose that which is more deserving and useful. Whoever succeeds at doing this, would choose the better and prefer it. Whoever thinks about this Worldly life and the Hereafter, would know that he will never gain either of them except by hardship. He should bear this hardship in order to gain the best and more lasting of them.

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Shaykh al-Albaanee on Differentiating Between Aqidah and Manhaj

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Shaykh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) was asked:

Some of the youth differentiate between the aqidah of the Salaf and the manhaj of the Salaf so you see some of them upon the aqidah of the Salaf yet they allow themselves to work with some of the methodologies that exist today, even though there maybe what opposes the manhaj of the Salaf within them in terms of practice. So is there a binding link between the aqidah and manhaj of the Salaf in the practical implementation of the Salafi manhaj.

He replied:

That which I believe and worship Allaah with is that there are both generalities (in similarity) and specific (aspects) between the Salafi manhaj and aqidah. Aqidah is more specific than manhaj as all of you know. Aqidah has a link with what is called – in the view of many of the Jurists – the “knowledge of tawhid“, and this is the chief and fundamental aspect of Islaam. However, manhaj is more vast than aqidah or tawhid. As for those who claim that the differentiation that has come in this question (between aqidah and manhaj), then they desire by this to make it permissible for themselves to adopt ways and means in their daw’ah to Islaam which the Salaf us-Salih were not upon. To say this in a different way, they consider that they have the liberty to adopt whatever ways and means they think will help them to convey (and actualise) Islaam, and you are aware of the examples of this type or these types of means.For example, open demonstrations and rallies in order to force the rulers to turn their attention to what the society complains about and similar matters. So we say that what has come in the Book and the Sunnah and what the Salaf us-Salih were upon with respect to objectives, goals and ways and means are sufficient for the Ummah. However, the reason which leads some of the people to permit themselves to adopt these ways and means, in fact it is correct for me to say that they permit themselves to blindly-follow the disbelievers in the ways that they have adopted in order to actualise what they call either democracy or social justice and other such words which have no reality to them. So they – I mean these Muslims – permit themselves to blindly follow the disbelievers in these ways and means.

We say, our Lord, the Mighty and Majestic has made removed us from having any need, by our Shari’ah, of this separation which has been explained (i.e. between aqidah and manhaj) and that we should be needy of the disbelievers and that we should take from their ways and means, which might be good for them, (but) only because they have no Shari’ah by which they guide themselves. It is for this reason that we say that manhaj is more vast than aqidah and tawhid, hence it is necessary to adhere to what the Salaf us-Salih were upon with respect to both these affairs; the one that is vast (manhaj) first and foremost and the one that is more narrow (tawhid), meaning aqidah.

Source: al-Asaalah Magazine, Volume 22.

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