Category: Tawheed

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu ‘ala rasulullaah
Amma-ba’d

Tremendous Advice from Shaikh Rabee’ On The Importance of Reviewing Correct ‘Aqeedah & Tawheed, Renewing one’s Eeman, and fearing Shirk and Hypocrisy!

Shaikh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah Ta’aala) said:

“Look at the Muslim world today; go to Egypt, or go to Sudan, or go to Pakistan, and you will see incredibly dangerous false practices. In this land of Sa’udia Arabia, we have eradicated these elevated and venerated graves connected with false worship – all praise is due to Allaah. However, today many callers make it easy for the people to go to these locations or places of disobedience of Allaah in other countries, while at the same time it is likely that they denounce the emphasis given by others to calling to the worship of Allaah alone.

Oh brother, the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would from time to time repeatedly call his companions to reaffirm their oath of allegiance to him that they would not associate anything with Allaah in their worship. He had Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, Ibn Mas’ood, ‘Ubaidah Ibn as-Saamit (radiallaahu ‘anhum) and others again make the oath of allegiance to him that they would not associate or join anything else along with the worship of Allaah, as well as that they would establish the prayer, and so forth.

Why would he reaffirm this oath of allegiance with the likes of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar?

Because our correct belief always requires being refreshed, rekindled, and renewed. As this correct belief, it is necessary that we plant it firmly within us as individuals, and among us collectively, and that we be reminded of its place and importance.” …

Shaikh Rabee’ also said:

“And if there is a caller today who correctly warns the people from this false practice of associating others with Allaah (in worship), the people will say, ‘Do you think we are idol worshippers?’ But why would the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself reaffirm this oath of allegiance with the likes of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, that they not associate anything with Allaah in their worship, yet you ‘callers’ do not warn from this practice of joining others with Allaah in worship?!

Ibraheem (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said [in his du’aa to Allaah]:

وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ
“…and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” (Ibraaheem, ayah 35)

Yes, Ibraaheem – the father of the Prophets – and Khaleel-ur-Rahmaan said:

وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرا ً مِنَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّه ُُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُور ٌ رَحِيم

“…and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. Oh my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me – still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Ibraaheem, ayat 35-36)

He was aware that from among his descendants there would be many Prophets, yet despite this he still feared for them. So how can we consider ourselves safe and secure from this danger?!

Ya Muqqallib al-Qulloob Thabit Qulubuna ‘ala Deenik
(Oh Turner of the hearts, make our hearts steadfast upon Your Religion).

The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) often made this supplication and taught his companions to say this supplication. Yet many of us today, we possess undeserved confidence that we will not fall into associating others with Allaah, nor fall into hypocrisy.

But the companions feared for themselves hypocrisy. Ibn Abee Malaikah (rahimahullaah) said:

“I encountered 30 of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and all of them feared for themselves being hypocrites.”

“As such, it is necessary that each of us fears falling into hypocrisy, and fears falling into matters of associating others with Allaah in worship, and fears for our hearts swerving away from the truth.

Allaah said:

رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَة ً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
(They say): “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.” (Aali Imran, ayah 8) and the verse:

فَلاَ يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
…None feels secure from the Plan of Allaah except the people who are the losers. (Al-A’raf, ayah 99)

Shaikh Rabee’ also said:

“As for the danger of lying and hypocrisy, we will offer you some thoughts regarding that. Indeed many of the leading personalities of falsehood and misguidance wore the ‘garments’ of Islaam, and made an outward show of worship and of striving to rectify affairs, as it is not possible for them to attempt to deceive the people except through adorning themselves in these ‘garments’ of Islaam in which they present themselves giving the appearance of righteous Muslims.

So in any case, if he reveals the characteristic of lying – even if he stands the night in prayer and fasts during the day – then that lying is a sign from the signs of hypocrisy. Moreover if he possesses – in addition to this – the characteristics of going against his word and excessiveness in his disputes, then clearly he stands as a pure hypocrite, and from this we seek refuge in Allaah.

Just as the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

The Signs of the hypocrites are three, when he speaks, he lies, when he promises, he breaks his word – or it is said when he gives a trust he is disloyal to it – and when he disputes, he goes to extremes.

So these four characteristics, if he possesses these four, then he is a pure hypocrite. And I say that the first three characteristics are those which are mentioned in the narration of Abu Hurrairah. However, the narration of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar mentions four characteristics. In any case, if he possesses all of these mentioned characteristics, then he is a pure hypocrite upon pure hypocrisy. And it may be that in regard to specific individuals, it would be restricted to the hypocrisy of deeds or actions, or it may be the full reality of hypocrisy in one’s inward belief which then takes him outside of the boundaries of Islaam.

Previously it has been explained to you that some of the people today consider that the matter of hypocrisy as a reality has ‘ended.’ They suppose that hypocrisy was ‘only’ in the time of the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), but as for the latter ages, then they are ‘free’ from hypocrisy occurring within them. This is clearly from their obvious ignorance and foolishness, and we seek refuge in Allaah from that.

As indeed, the most knowledgeable of people regarding the hypocrites was the companion Hudhaifa ibn al-Yamaan (radiallaahu ‘anhu), and this companion who was the most knowledgeable of the hypocrites said: The hypocrisy today is worse and more evil than the hypocrisy in the time of the Messenger. They said, ‘Why is that?’ He said: Because at that time, the hypocrites strove to conceal their hypocrisy, but as for the people today, they manifest it openly.

So these individuals openly showed their hypocrisy, and spoke about their shameful affair, in their opposition to the Muslims. Specifically in the matter of calling to Allaah, the Blessed and the Most High, the one who fights against the call to the truth, engages in deceptions and fabricates things, then it is not something to be considered unlikely that many from among them are true complete hypocrites. And we ask Allaah for health and well being.”

Source: From the Book – “A LightHouse of Knowledge From a Guardian of the Sunnah”, pgs. 222-223, and 240-241.