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Hearing and obeying the Rulers in that which Allaah loves & is pleased with – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 24 : Point 26
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And hearing and obeying the rulers in that which Allaah loves and is pleased with. So whoever becomes the khaleefah through the consensus of the people for him and their being pleased with him, then he is the ameerul-mu’mineen (Chief of the Believers). It is not permissible for anyone to spend a night thinking that he has no ruler over him whether he (the ruler) be righteous or sinful.

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Transcribed Audio:

From the usool (fundamental principles) of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah that are established in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is hearing and obeying those in authority of the affairs of the Muslims.

He, the Most High, said:

O you who Believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 59)

From amongst you – Meaning from the Muslims. And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“I council you with taqwaa (dutifulness to Allaah), and with hearing and obeying; even if a slave takes charge of you.” [01]

And in a narration,
“Even if an Abyssinian slave takes charge of you.” [02]

And in a narration,
“Even if it be a slave whose limbs are cut off.” [03]

Meaning with his feet and hands cut off. As long as he is waleeul-amr (the one in authority) it is obligatory to obey him upon good. So this is from the usool (fundamentals) of `aqeedah. And the one who revolts against the Muslim rulers, he is from the daalleen, those people who are astray. Either he will be a khaarijiyy (one of the Khawaarij) or he will be a mu`taziliyy (one of the Mu`tazilah) or a person of some false and futile sectarian way contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

His saying, “And hearing and obeying the rulers with regard to that which Allaah loves and is pleased with.” With this restriction: with regard to that which Allaah loves and is pleased with. As for ma`siyah (sin) then they are not obeyed in that. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“There is to be no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.” [04]

And he `alayhis-salaatu was-salaam said,

“Obedience is only in what is good.” [05]

And this does not mean that if the one in authority orders a sin to be committed that he is to be stripped of his rulership; rather, just that he is not obeyed upon this sin, but he is still to be obeyed in whatever is not a sin and his rulership remains, and he is obeyed in that which is not a sin.

His saying, “And whoever becomes their khaleefah by consensus of the people upon him and their being pleased with him then he is ameerul-mu·mineen (Chief of the Believers.).” This is an explanation of how rulership comes about because imaamah (rulership) it comes about in one of a number of ways:

The first matter: is that which the author mentioned, and it is one whom the Muslims choose. And what is meant by those who choose the ruler is ahlul-halli wal `aqd, the people of authority and influence, with regard to the Scholars (the `ulamaa·) and the `umaraa· (the governors) and the people in charge of political affairs of the state and the army chiefs. And it does not mean that choosing the ruler is for everyone with regard to the children and the women and the town dwellers and the bedouins, because the people follow on from the people of authority and influence. So if the people of authority and influence choose a ruler, it becomes obligatory upon the rest of the people to obey him. And this is just as occurred with the khilaafah of Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq; because the Companions, after the passing away of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, they were agreed upon giving the pledge (bay`ah) to as-Siddeeq. So the rest of the nation, they followed on from those who chose as-Siddeeq, and the affair was not opened up to everyone to have a share in choosing, because this is from the role specific to the people of authority and influence. So the Muslims chose Aboo Bakr radiyAllaahu `anhu, who was the best of them, and this choice they made has evidences in the Sunnah of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam:

Firstly, that Aboo Bakr was the most excellent one of the Companions unrestrictedly; no-one disagreed about this.

And secondly, that the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam gave indications that he would succeed him. From them is that when he fell sick with his final illness he put him forward for the Prayer to lead the Muslims in the place of Prayer of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam; [06] and he stood in the standing place of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. This is an indication that he would be their imaam in the khilaafah also, just as he was their imaam in the Prayer. So therefore, they chose Aboo Bakr radiyAllaahu `anhu; and they said, “Should it be the case that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was pleased with you for our Religion and that we are not pleased with you for our worldly affairs?” And the pledge to him, the bay`ah, was carried out and the Companions were agreed upon that, those who were involved in directly choosing; and those who were not directly involved then he is a follower. And the Muslims are a single united body and a single hand.

The second matter: is that when Aboo Bakr was at the point of death he chose `Umar ibnul-Khattaab and specified him to take his place; so the Muslims heard him and obeyed him. And this is the second way from the ways of establishing rulership, and it is that the person in authority chooses the one who will take charge after his death, just as Aboo Bakr did when he chose `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhu.

The third matter: If one of the Muslims overcomes and gains authority and causes the people to submit to his rulership then he will be their chief and ruler as occurred regarding `Abdul-Malik ibn Marwaan. Because when there was disagreement after the death of Yazeed ibn Mu`aawiyah, then `Abdul Malik ibn Marwaan ibn al-Hakam took control of the affair [07]. And he was a man bold/astute, determined, strong and Allaah brought about benefit through him. And the pledge to him (the bay`ah) was established and the Muslims heard him and obeyed so in that lay good for the Muslims.

So these are the ways in which rulership of the ruler can be established; either by the people of authority and influence choosing, or by the previous ruler specifying the one who will take charge after him or by someone from the Muslims taking control such that he becomes their ruler and the people submit to him and obey and comply with him, then in that case it is not permissible for anyone to split and break the unity.

And his saying, “by consensus of the Muslims,” it should not be understood from this that it is essential for all of the Muslims to make the choice. However, that will be attained by the consensus of the people of authority and influence as happened in the time of Aboo Bakr radiyAllaahu `anhu and as happened with regard to the khilaafah of `Uthmaan radiyAllaahu `anhu; for the ones who chose him were the ahlush-shooraa (People of the Council) and they were the remainder of the ten promised Paradise. They chose him, so his rulership was established and no-one raised any objection to that. Rather, they all agreed in consensus to the rulership of `Uthmaan radiyAllaahu `anhu.

His saying, “It is not permissible for anyone to spend a night thinking that there is no ruler over him whether he be a righteous person or a wicked/sinful person.” This is a very important matter, and it is that it is not permissible for a person to rebel against the United Body of the Muslims and to separate away from obedience. For if he does that “and he spends a single night and he has no ruler” whose rulership he believes (meaning, not believing he has rulership over him), then this person “has thrown off the rope of Islaam from his neck.” [08]

Meaning that he was along with the Muslims and connected to the Muslims but when he rebelled/went out of obedience to the ruler, then he cut his link with the Muslims; just like the small lambs which used to have a long rope which would have loops coming off it, and the heads of the lambs would be put in these loops to safeguard them from being lost; and they were called ar-ribq (nooses). So the Muslims being united upon a ruler is likened to that. So whoever departs from obedience to the ruler, then he has thrown off this noose from his neck and exposed himself to becoming lost and to the wolves and to the winds. It does not mean that he becomes a disbeliever, its meaning is that he has split away from the united body (the Jamaa`ah) and he has exited from obedience, so he has become like an animal that has left his connecting rope and has exposed itself to wild animals and to being snatched away or stolen.

And it should not be said, “I haven’t given any pledge of allegiance and I have no ruler,” for you are just one of the Muslims, so when the people of influence and authority give the pledge then you follow on from them.

Footnotes:

[01] This is part of the hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah radiyAllaahu `anhu and its checking has already preceded.

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth is a hadeeth reported by Aboo Daawood and at-Tirmithiyy and Ibn Maajah and others and declared saheeh (authentic) by Shaykh al-Albaaniyy.

[02] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (no. 693) from Anas radiyAllaahu `anhu and reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 1837) from a hadeeth of Ummul-Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhaa (it says Umm Mihsan and it should say Ummul-Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhaa).

One of the wordings of the hadeeth reported by Muslim,

“Even if it be an Abyssinian slave with his limbs cut off.”

[03] Reported by Muslim (no. 1837) from a hadeeth of Ummul-Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhaa and also reported by Muslim (no. 648) from Aboo Tharr radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[04] This hadeeth is reported by Imaam Ahmad in the Musnad and at-Tabaraaniyy in al-Mu`jamul-Kabeer and al-Qudaa`ee in the Musnad of Shihaab and others. And the wording here is that of at-Tabaraaniyy and of al-Qudaa`ee. And the wording of Ahmad is,

“There is to be no obedience to a created being in disobedience to Allaah.”

[Translator’s side point: And this is from the hadeeth of `Imraan Ibn Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhu. It was declared saheeh, authentic, by Shaykh al-Albaaniyy in As-Saheehah (no. 179)]

The basis of this occurs in the two Saheehs as a hadeeth of `Aliyy radiyAllaahu `anhu and it will follow.

[05] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy in his Saheeh (no. 7145) and Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 1840) as a hadeeth of `Aliyy radiyAllaahu `anhu and the wording of Muslim is, “There is no obedience in disobedience to Allaah. Obedience is only in what is good.”

[06] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy and Muslim (no.418) from a hadeeth of `Aa·ishah radiyAllaahu `anhaa.

[07] Translator’s side point: He took charge in the year 65 and his khilaafah lasted until year 86 or 87; Allaahu A`lam.

[08] Muslim reports in his Saheeh from a hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn `Umar with the wording, “And whoever dies and he does not have pledge to the ruler upon his neck, he will die a death of the days of ignorance.”

And in a narration from Ibn `Umar reported by al-Haakim in (his book) al-Mustadrak upon the Two Saheehs (that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said),

“Whoever departs from the United Body of the Muslims (the Jamaa`ah) by a hand span then he has thrown off the rope of Islaam from his neck until he returns.”

And he said,

“And whoever dies and does not have a ruler of the Jamaa’ah (the United Body of Muslims) upon him then his death will be a death of the days of ignorance.”

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth was mentioned by Shaykh al-Albaaniyy in As-Saheehah affirming it under hadeeth no. 984 and it was declared by Shaykh Muqbil rahimahullaah in his checking of al-Mustadrak that he said this hadeeth is to the standard of Muslim.

Transcribed by Saima Zaher. Download PDF of Lesson 24

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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Refraining from Abusing the Companions – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 23 : Point 25 (Part C)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

(Imaam al-Barbahaaree continued)

Then the best of the people after them are those who accompanied Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam for a day, a month or a year or for less than that or more than that. We supplicate for mercy upon them and we mention their virtues and we withhold from speaking about any slips they made. We do not mention a single one of them except favourably because of the saying of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam,

“When my Companions are mentioned then withhold.”

Sufyaan ibn `Uyaynah said, “Whoever speaks against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam with a single word then he is a person following desires.”

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Transcribed Audio:

As-suhbah (Companionship) varies; so from it there was long Companionship and being constantly with the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam for a long time. Or whoever accompanied him for a short time; however such a person still has the virtue of Companionship even if his Companionship was short in length.

His saying, “We supplicate for mercy for them and we mention their virtues and we withhold from speaking about any slips they made.” Their haqq (right) upon us is that we supplicate for Allaah’s Pleasure upon them, and that we supplicate for Allaah’s Mercy upon them, and that we take them as examples to follow, and that we praise them. And we withhold our tongues from attacking them or a single one of them, or from delving into whatever occurred between them with regard to tribulations and wars; because each one of them was a mujtahid (striving to the best of his ability to attain the Truth). So some of them were a mujtahid (one who strove) and attained what was correct, then he will receive two rewards. And others from them were a mujtahid (one who strove to attain the Truth) but made a mistake, and for him there will be a single reward and the mistake is forgiven. Then also they have tremendous deeds which wipe away whatever occurred from some of them with regard to mistakes.

His saying, “We do not mention anyone of them except favourably…” because they intended the Truth and they strove to attain it; each one of them acted upon his own ijtihaad (striving). So some of them attained what was correct and some of them made a mistake, for which he will be forgiven, and all of them were Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and we do not enter into what occurred between them.

Carefully reflect upon this aayah,

And those who come after them. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 10)

Meaning after the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar.

They say, “O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us upon eemaan and do not place in our hearts any ill-feeling towards those who believed.” (Sooratul-Hashr (59) aayah 10)

And therefore Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah said in that regard, “From the usool (fundamental principles) of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is the sincerity, secureness, the soundness of their hearts and their tongues towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.” [01]

‘The soundness of their hearts’; so they do not hate a single one of them. And ‘the sincerity and soundness of their tongues’ means that they do not speak against a single one of them and they do not belittle him. And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said in the authentic hadeeth, “Do not abuse my Companions for, by the One in whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the like of Mount Uhud in gold in charity, it would not reach the hands full of one of them, nor even a half of it.” [02]

“Do not abuse my Companions,” but then there comes one who is defective in intellect, whose eemaan is shaky, who is following his desires and he speaks against the Companions of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So this person if he is from the deviant sects then we would not speak at length about him. However, the problem is when he ascribes himself to the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah and yet says, “This is from historical verification.” And do you have the duty put upon you of historical verification such that you have to enter into something which you do not know about and which results in dangerous consequences, and such that you cause the people to have doubts about the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and you provoke the hearts of the people against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam? So what is obligatory is to withhold about whatever disputes occurred between them.

His saying “because of the saying of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, “When my Companions are mentioned then withhold.” [03]

And even more explicit than it is his sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam’s saying, “Do not abuse my Companions.”

This is a prohibition of abusing any one of the Companions. So what is obligatory is that we supplicate for mercy for them and that we supplicate for forgiveness for them, acting upon His saying, He the Most High:

And those who come after them, they say, “O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us upon eemaan.” (Sooratul-Hashr (59) aayah10)

And that we withhold our tongues and our pens from speaking against the Companions of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam; and that we defend them and we refute whoever belittles a single one of the Companions, and we nullify his saying because it is contrary to the correct `aqeedah (creed and belief), the `aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah walJamaa`ah.

And Shaykhul-Islaam says in al-Waasitiyyah, “What is related from them is either not authentic, so that is just lies and reports added with an evil intent; and what is authentic from it, then that person is a mujtahid; one striving to attain the truth. And a mujtahid, if he attains what is correct, then he receives two rewards, and if he makes a mistake then he will still get the one reward. And also they have such virtues that will drown out and cover over whatever occurred from some of them with regard to mistakes. [04]

The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said regarding Haatib ibn Abee Balta`ah radiyAllaahu `anhu when he applied his own ijtihaad and he wrote a letter to the people of Makkah, and `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhu said, “Let me strike off the neck of this hypocrite!” So he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam responded, “You do not know O `Umar, perhaps Allaah looked upon the people of Badr and said ‘Do whatever you wish for I have forgiven you.’” [05] This Companion was one of those who was present at Badr.

His saying, “Sufyaan ibn `Uyaynah said, ‘Whoever speaks against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam with a single word then he is a person following desires.’’’ Because no-one speaks against them except a person of desires and one who is trying to render the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam open to attack.

What is obligatory towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is to have love and respect and honour for them, and to recognise their value, and to take them as a role model to follow because they are the best of generations, and because they saw the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and they believed in him, and they accompanied him and they aided him and they fought jihaad along with him, and they carried the knowledge from him. So they are the most excellent ones of this nation. Indeed, they are the most excellent ones of the whole of the creation after the Prophets because Allaah specifically chose them for Companionship of His Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, the last of the Prophets and the most excellent one of the Messengers. So no-one attacks them except one who has in his heart ghill (ill-feeling) and hiqd (hidden hatred) towards Islaam. So he does not attack them because of their persons; rather, he will only attack them because of what they did with regard to aiding this Religion and conveying it faithfully to mankind.

So the one who attacks them is only attacking on that account, because he has hidden hatred towards Islaam and feelings of vengeance towards Islaam, so he seeks to use this means to vent his anger, in order to sever the link of this nation with its Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam; because they (Companions) are the intermediary between us and between the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So, this is the intent of those who attack them And therefore when He mentioned the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar in Sooratul-Hashr, He said;

And those who come after them, they say, “O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us upon eemaan and do not place any ill-feeling in our hearts towards those who believed. (Sooratul-Hashr (59) aayah 10)

So this shows that those who attack them, or a single one of them, then it is just on account of ghill (ill-feeling), which he finds in his heart against them. And therefore Sufyaan ibn `Uyaynah, the great imaam, said, “Whoever speaks against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam with a single word, then he is a person following desires.”

Al-Hawaa (Desires) is what leads him to do this, and the desire is their hatred and their malice towards them. So therefore you’ll find the worst of the people are those who make attacks upon the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, and they have been exposed by their lies and by being made hated amongst the people. So no-one will see one of them except that he will have strong dislike for him because Allaah has placed hatred for them upon the earth. So no-one will see one of those who has hatred towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam except that he will find himself having hatred towards them and loathing of them.

This will not harm the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and it will not harm Islaam. So the Companions, their worth and their reward is fully intact for them; and Islaam will persist and will be victorious, and all praise is for Allaah, and those people they only harm themselves. However, fear is for those people who read their books from those who do not have knowledge, so that something falls into his self against the Companions of Allah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and he is affected by that. So how many of the sons of the Muslims have fallen prey to this on account of reading the books of those people? Because if he reads them, then he will be affected by them and he will find himself having some hatred towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, or at the very least their value with him will be diminished and they will decrease in his estimation.

So this is what is to be feared for the youth of the Muslims and for those who are not firmly established with knowledge, that they will be influenced by these books which attack the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, especially since they are propagated now and they are embellished and they are brought out in the finest form with regard to printing and binding and they are promoted at book fairs. So they find that as an opportunity for them to spread and circulate attacks upon the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam).

And there is no doubt that an attack upon the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is an attack upon the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam; for how could his Companions have been from those people when they describe them with the evil characteristics that they give to them? So this is indeed is an attack upon the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

And also it is a denial of the Book of Allaah, for Allaah praised the Companions in the tremendous Qur·aan in a number of aayahs, from them His Saying, He, the Most High:

And the first and foremost ones from the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar and those who followed them upon good, Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him; and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow; they will dwell therein forever. That is a tremendous success. (Sooratut-Towbah (9) aayah 100)

He, the Most High, said:

Allaah was pleased with those believers when they gave the pledge beneath the tree. So He knew what was in their hearts and therefore He sent down tranquility upon them and He rewarded them with a victory close at hand and with plentiful booty for them to take. (Sooratul-Fat.h (48) aayahs 18-19)

And He, the Most High, said:

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. And those who are with him are stern against the disbelievers, merciful amongst themselves. You will see them bowing and prostrating, seeking Bounty from Allaah and His Pleasure. Their sign is upon their faces from the effect of prostration. That was their example in the Towraat. (Sooratul-Fat.h (48) aayah 29)

Meaning: That was their description in the Towraat. So they are mentioned in the Towraat, just as their Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was mentioned.

And their description in the Injeel
(Sooratul-Fat.h (48) aayah 29)

that which came down to `Eesaa,

(Their description in the Injeel) is that of a plant which puts forth a side shoot so that it strengthens it and it grows strong and stands straight upon its stalk. It delights the sowers; so that Allaah, through them, enrages the disbelievers. (Sooratul-Fat.h (48) aayah 29)

So this shows that no one feels rage towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger and no-one hates them except for a disbeliever, because of His Saying, He, the Most High:

So that Allaah causes the disbelievers to be enraged at them. (Sooratul-Fat.h (48) aayah 29)

So this is a sign of kufr (disbelief). So having hatred towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is disbelief and nifaaq (hypocrisy), and Allaah’s refuge is sought.

His saying, “(Whoever speaks against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) with a single word then he is a follower of desires.” Meaning if he speaks in belittlement of the Companions with a single word then he is a person of desires.

So if this is the case on account of a single word then how about a person who writes whole books in abuse of them and in maligning/speaking ill of them, and seeks out places where they could have erred and seeks to inflate their seriousness? How about this; if that is the case when a person who speaks a single word against the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam), that he is a person who is a follower of desires, meaning he follows his desires? Because he does not speak except for some desire which he has in his soul and because of his having hatred towards the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam).

Footnotes:

[01] Al-`Aqeedatul-Waasitiyyah p.40

[02] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (no. 3673) and reported by Muslim (no. 2541) from a hadeeth of Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudriyy radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[03] Reported by at-Tabaraaniyy in al-Mu`jamul-Kabeer and Aboo Nu`aym in Hilyatul-Owliyaa· as a hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood radiyAllaahu `anhu and al-Haafiz al-`Iraaqiyy said in his Takhreejul-Ihyaa·, “Reported by at-Tabaraaniyy as a hadeeth of Ibn Mas`ood with a hasan (good) chain of narration.”

Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaaniyy declared it saheeh (authentic) due to its supports in AsSaheehah (no. 34).

[04] Al-`Aqeedatul-Waasitiyyah p.40

[05] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (no. 3007) and reported by Muslim as (no. 2494) as a hadeeth of `Aliyy radiyAllaahu `anhu.

Transcribed by Saima Zaher. Download PDF of Lesson 23

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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The Best of the Companions after the Khulafaa – Sharhu Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 22 : Point 25 (Part B)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

(Imaam al-Barbahaaree continued)

Then the most excellent of the people after them were: `Aliyy and Talhah and AzZubayr and Sa`d ibn Abee Waqqaas and Sa`eed ibn Zayd and `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn `Owf and Aboo `Ubaydah `Aamir ibnul-Jarraah. And all of them were suitable to be the khaleefah.

Then the most excellent of the people after them were the rest of the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, the first generation amongst whom he was sent, the first Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar; and they are those who prayed towards the two qiblahs (directions of Prayer).

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Transcribed Audio:

Meaning the most excellent of the Companions after the three khulafaa are the rest of those ten who were given the glad tidings of Paradise, and they are those whom the author mentioned.

His saying, “All of them were suitable to be the khaleefah” – meaning the people of the shoorah (council) whom `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhu entrusted with choosing the next khaleefah after him. Because `Umar, when he was dying, appointed a council to choose the caliph so that the matter would rest with those who remained. Because each one of them was fitting to be a khaleefah, so he referred the affair to them, and they chose `Uthmaan radiyAllaahu `anhu.

His saying, “The first generation,” from the most excellent generations, and they were the generation in which the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was sent and they believed in him.

And the word al-as.haab (Companions) is the plural of sahaabiyyun; and a sahaabiyy (a Companion) is whoever met the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam as a believer in him and he died upon that.

• So a person who believed in the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam but he did not meet him, then he is not a Companion such as an-Najjaashiyy [07] (the King of Abyssinia). He is counted as being from the taabi`een, the Successors.

• As for one who met him but did not believe in him then he is not a Companion because the mushrikeen (people of shirk) and the disbelievers met the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam but they did not believe in him.

• And a person who met him and believed in him but then left Islaam then his Companionship is annulled/rendered null and void if he dies upon apostasy. As for if he repented, then Allaah accepted his repentance and his Companionship is restored.

And therefore al-Haafiz ibn Hajar rahimahullaah, in his book an-Nukhbah [08], said, in definition of a Companion, “(He is) whoever met the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam whilst believing in him and he died upon that, even if apostasy occurred in between (his meeting the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his dying), in the correct saying.” [09] Meaning in the most correct of the two sayings of the scholars. The second saying is that it abolishes his Companionship even if he repents because apostasy renders deeds which are before it null and void.

His saying “The first generation, those amongst whom he was sent amongst the first Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar and they are those who prayed towards the two qiblahs.” The Muhaajiroon (those who emigrated from Makkah) have precedence in mention over the Ansaar, so this shows that the Muhaajiroon have greater excellence through the excellence of performing hijrah (migration) in the cause of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, because they left their homelands and their wealth. And Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, mentions the Muhaajiroon before the Ansaar in many aayahs just as He, the Most High, said:

And the first and foremost ones from the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar. (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah100)

For the poor and needy ones from the Muhaajireen, those who were forced out from their homes and their wealth; they left seeking the bounty from Allaah and His pleasure and they aid the Religion of Allaah and His Messenger. They are the true ones. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 8)

Up until His saying:

And also those who resided before them in al-Madeenah and believed. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 9)

Meaning the Ansaar. So He gives precedence to a mention of the Muhaajireen over the Ansaar.

Allaah certainly guided the Prophet and the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar to turn to Him. (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah117)

This shows that the Muhaajiroon have greater excellence than the Ansaar. And Ansaar is the plural of Ansaariyy, and they are believers from (the tribes of) Ows and Khazraj, the people of Madeenah, those who gave the pledge to the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam at al-`Aqabah. He (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) migrated to them and they aided him and supported him and sheltered him and sheltered the Companions radiyAllaahu `anhum along with him. He, the Most High, said with regard to them, the Ansaar:

And those who resided in al-Madeenah before them and believed, they love those who emigrate to them and they do not find in their chests any resentment on account of what they had been given and they give precedence to them over themselves even though they themselves were in need. And whoever is saved from the avarice of his self then they are the successful ones. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 9)

To begin with they were called al-Ows wal-Khazraj (the tribes of Ows and Khazraj). Then when they gave the pledge to the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam to aid him (nusrah), he called them al-Ansaar (the aiders or the helpers), meaning the aiders of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Footnotes:

[07] Translator’s side point: He lived in the time of the Prophet but he was in a separate land. He heard about the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and he believed in him but he was not able to get to him and meet him.

[08] Translator’s side point: a book regarding sciences of hadeeth

[09] Nukhbatul-Fikr with the explanation Mullaa `Aliyy al-Qaaree

Transcribed by Saima Zaher. Download PDF of Lesson 22

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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The Best of this Ummah and all Umam after the Prophets is Aboo Bakr then `Umar then `Uthmaan – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 22 : Point 25 (Part A)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And the most excellent one of this nation and of all nations after the Prophets [01] salawaatullaahi `alayhim ajma`een is Aboo Bakr then `Umar then `Uthmaan. This is what is reported to us from Ibn `Umar that he said, “We used to say whilst Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was amongst us that the best of the people after Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is Aboo Bakr and `Umar and `Uthmaan and the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam would hear that and he would not criticise it.” [02]

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Transcribed Audio:

The most excellent generation is the generation in which Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was raised, then those who followed them, then those who followed them. And they are al-quroon al-mufaddalah (the most excellent generations).

And the most excellent ones from the most excellent generations were: the sahaabah (Companions) radiyAllaahu `anhum. Then the Companions themselves, they vary in degree of excellence. And the most excellent of them was Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq, the one who believed in him when he first came (as a Messenger). He supported him and defended him and he spent from his money to help him, and he would accompany him until his death. Then he became the khaleefah (caliph) after him and he fulfilled this role in the best way, and Allaah established the Religion through him after the feet of the people had been shaken by the death of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So Allaah made him as firm as the mountains so that the nation became firm on account of him, and He rebutted the apostates through him and the disbelievers, and he consolidated Islaam after the passing away of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Then he passed away and he was buried along with the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So he was his Companion in life and in death and he was his companion in the cave.

He the Most High said:

When the two of them were in the cave, when he said to his companion, do not grieve, Allaah is with us. (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 40)

So he is the most excellent one of the nation. Then he is followed by `Umar ibn alKhattaab radiyAllaahu `anhu, the second of the khulafaa·; then he is followed by `Uthmaan radiyAllaahu `anhu; then he is followed by `Aliyy radiyAllaahu `anhu. They are the four Rightly Guided Khulafaa·, may Allaah be pleased with them and cause them to be pleased.

Then the rest of the ten most excellent ones about whom it was testified that they will be in Paradise. And they are the four Rightly Guided Khulafaa· and Sa`d ibn Abee Waqqaas, Sa`eed ibn Zayd ibn `Amr ibn Nufayl and Talhah ibn `Ubaydillaah and AzZubayr ibn `Awwaam and Aboo `Ubaydah `Aamir ibnul-Jarraah and `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn `Owf. So they are the ten who are promised Paradise. The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam bore witness for them of Paradise, so they are the most excellent ones from the Companions.

The Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Aboo Bakr will be in Paradise and `Umar will be in Paradise and `Aliyy will be in Paradise and `Uthmaan will be in Paradise and Talhah will be in Paradise and AzZubayr will be in Paradise and `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn `Owf will be in Paradise and Sa`d ibn Abee Waqqaas will be in Paradise and Sa`eed ibn Zayd ibn `Amr ibn Nufayl will be in Paradise and Aboo `Ubaydah ibnul-Jarraah will be in Paradise.’’ [03]

Then after them: those who were the people of the Battle of Badr, then those who were present at the Bay`atur-Ridwaan (the ‘pledge of those who earned Allaah’s pleasure’) from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar [04], then those who accepted Islaam and performed the hijrah before the Conquest, they are more excellent than those who accepted Islaam and migrated after the Conquest. So they vary in degree of excellence radiyAllaahu `anhum in accordance with their precedence in accepting Islaam and with their position in Islaam. And they (all of the Companions) have the general virtue which cannot be reached by anyone else, and it is as-suhbah (Companionship) to Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and al-hijrah (to perform the emigration). And the Muhaajiroon (those who were in Makkah and then they emigrated to al-Madeenah) they are more excellent than the Ansaar (the Muslims of al-Madeenah). This is a virtue which is general to all of them (Companionship); no-one who came after them can reach it. So they are the most excellent of the generations and the best of the generations, may Allaah be pleased with them and may He cause them to be pleased.

So whoever attacks them or hates them then he is a disbeliever in Allaah, because Allaah has extolled them, Allaah has praised them and chose them for Companionship of His Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So the person who makes an attack upon the Companions or declares them to be disbelievers or belittles them is a disbeliever in Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, denying the truth of Allaah and His Messenger; because Allaah, the Most High, said:

And the first and foremost [in believing in Allaah and His Messenger] from the Muhaajiroon (emigrants) and Ansaar (helpers) and those who followed them exactly [in faith and in emigrating, seeking His Pleasure], Allaah is pleased with all of them, and they are pleased with Him. (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 100)

Indeed, Allaah was pleased with the believers when they gave their bay’ah (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) under the tree. (Sooratul-Fat.h (48), aayah 18)

His saying, “This is what is reported to us from Ibn `Umar that he said, ‘We used to say whilst Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was amongst us that the best of the people after Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is Aboo Bakr and `Umar and then `Uthmaan.’” [05]

As for Aboo Bakr and `Umar then this is ijmaa` (consensus) about that. As for the level of excellence between `Uthmaan and `Aliyy then that is a point of disagreement. Some of them preferred `Uthmaan and some of them preferred `Aliyy radiyAllaahu ta`aalaa `anhumaa wa ardaahumaa (may Allaah be pleased with both of them and cause them to be pleased). But as for Aboo Bakr and `Umar then these two are the most excellent of this nation by consensus, ijmaa` of the Muslims; this is with regard to virtue. As for with regard to the khilaafah (Caliphate) then there has to be this (correct) order: Aboo Bakr and then `Umar and then `Uthmaan and then `Aliyy. So whoever accuses the khilaafah (Caliphate) of one of them then he is astray (daal).

Shaykhul-Islaam (Ibn Taymiyyah) said in al-Waasitiyyah: “Whoever attacks the khilaafah of one of those then he is more astray than a domesticated donkey,” because he has gone against the ijmaa’ (consensus) of the Muslims. Because the Muslims agreed in consensus upon giving precedence to Aboo Bakr for the khilaafah, then upon giving precedence to `Umar after him, then to `Uthmaan and then to `Aliyy. So a person who gives precedence to `Aliyy and says he had more right to the khilaafah even than Aboo Bakr, and who says that khilaafah after the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam should have gone to `Aliyy because he was the appointed successor of the Messenger and he was the real khaleefah but Aboo Bakr and the Companions, they wronged him and seized the khilaafah from him, this is to declare the whole nation astray – and Allaah’s refuge is sought – and it is contrary to the texts which occur with regard to the order of those khulafaa·.

So the order with regard to the khilaafah is a point of ijmaa` (consensus), but as for the order with regard to superiority between `Aliyy and `Uthmaan, that is a point of disagreement. And what is correct is that `Uthmaan was more excellent because the Companions, and amongst them was `Aliyy radiyAllaahu `anhu, they chose him as a khaleefah; they chose `Uthmaan as a khaleefah to succeed Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And `Aliyy was present and the Companions chose `Uthmaan. The fact that the Companions chose `Uthmaan is a proof that he was more excellent. `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn `Owf said “I saw that the people do not take anyone else as being the equal of ‘Uthmaan (after passing away of Umar radiyAllaahu `anhu) .” [06] So this shows he was more excellent.

Footnotes:

[01] Translator’s side point: There is a slightly different wording in some of the editions. Some versions have: “The best of this nation after the passing away of its Prophet.”

[02] Translator’s side point: This statement is reported by al-Bukhaariyy (no. 3,655 and 3,698) reported from Ibn `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhumaa.

[03] This is reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad and At-Tirmithiyy in his Sunan and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and by others.

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth was declared Saheeh (authentic) by Shaykh al-Albaaniyy in his checking of al-Mishkaat (no. 6109 and 6110).

[04] Translator’s side point: The Bay`atur-Ridwaan happened in the 11th month Thul-Qa`dah of the 6th year

[05] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (no. 3698) as a narration of Ibn `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhumaa.

[06] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy in his Saheeh (no. 7207) from al-Miswar ibn Makhrama radiyAllaahu `anhu

Transcribed by Saima Zaher. Download PDF of Lesson 22

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eeman is belief of the heart, expression upon the tongue & action upon the limbs. It increases & decreases – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 21 : Point 24
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And to have faith that eemaan is speech and action and intention and acting correctly. It increases and decreases. It increases as Allaah wishes and it can decrease until nothing remains of it.

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Transcribed Audio:

Al-eemaan in the language means at-tasdeequl- jaazim (definite affirmation) which is accompanied by faith and not affected by doubt. So it is said aamana lahu – meaning, ‘he believed him’.

You will not believe us
(Soorah Yoosuf (12), aayah 17)

Meaning: you will not believe us.

And Loot believed in him
(Sooratul-`Ankaboot (29), aayah 26)

He believed his paternal uncle Ibraaheem `alayhis-salaatu was-salaam.

As for eemaan (true faith) in the legislation then it is: belief of the heart and expression upon the tongue and action upon the limbs. It increases with obedience and it decreases with disobedience. It will not be eemaan except with these things combined.

So whoever believes with his heart, but does not believe with his tongue, then he will not be a believer. Because Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, said with regard to the disbelievers:

We know that what they say grieves you, however they do not hold you to be a liar, but rather the wrongdoers just outwardly reject Allaah’s signs. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 33)

And He said with regard to Fir`own:

And you know that no one sent down these signs except for the Lord of the heavens and the earth. (Sooratul-Israa· (17), aayah 102)

And He, the Majestic and Most High, said about the disbelievers who denied His signs:

And they denied them outwardly but they were certain of them in themselves, doing so as a result of their wrongdoing and haughtiness. (Sooratun-Naml (27), aayah 14)

So believing in the heart will not suffice, as is said by the Murji·ah; and it is not eemaan. And likewise eemaan upon the tongue also will not suffice, because this is the eemaan of the hypocrites, the munaafiqeen.

They (the hypocrites) say upon their tongues that which is not in their hearts (Sooratul-Fat.h (48), aayah 11)

And having belief in the heart and speech upon the tongue, these two will not suffice also, as is said by some of the Murji·ah. This is not sufficient. There must be action upon the limbs. So the person who believes in his heart and upon his tongue, however he does not pray ever, and nor does he fast, nor does he perform the obligatory Hajj, nor does he do any action from the actions at all, this is a disbeliever. Even if he believes upon his tongue and speaks (upon his tongue) and has belief in his heart and bears witness to that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. But however his leaving off action without any excuse, this will not make him a believer. Unless it is the case that he has left off action due to an excuse, such as a person who has been forced, or a person who forgets, or a person who is ignorant; and likewise the person who enters into Islaam and is not able to act, such that he accepts Islaam and then he dies in that condition. Then this person, his lack of action is not counted against him, because he was not able to act. And likewise the mentally handicapped; this person is not able to act. But as for the person who is able to act but he abandons it altogether, then he is not a Mu·min (not a believer).

Some of them add to the definition of eemaan, just as the author mentioned, a fourth matter: ‘following the Sunnah’. And they say eemaan is speech and belief and action and Sunnah, meaning, following the Sunnah, excluding by that the innovators, those who do not act upon the Sunnah, rather they only act upon newly introduced affairs. And this was mentioned by the author here in his saying, “and intention and acting correctly,” meaning acting upon the Sunnah. As for the person who does actions wrongly, acting upon innovations and false superstitions and newly introduced affairs, then he will not be a believer. [05]

‘And it increases through obedience.’ This is from the completion of the definition, that eemaan increases through obedience. And this is clear in the Qur·aan.

And Allaah increases those who are guided in guidance
(Sooratul-Maryam (19), aayah 76)

And when His ayaahs are recited to them, it increases them in eemaan
(Sooratul-Anfaal (8), aayah 2)

And so that those who believe can increase in eemaan
(Sooratul-Muddaththir (74), aayah 31)

This clearly shows that eemaan increases through obedience.

‘And it decreases through sin/disobedience to Allaah’. Because something which can increase, then it can also decrease. And also there occurs in the hadeeth that the person who does not refuse an evil with his heart, then there is no eemaan even to the level of a mustard seed beyond that.6 So this shows that eemaan can become so weak that it becomes like a mustard seed. And there occurs in the authentic hadeeth that there will come out from the Fire whoever has in his heart the slightest slightest mustard seed of eemaan. [07] So this proves that eemaan can become weak, until it is just like a mustard seed. And He the Most High said:

On that day they were closer to disbelief than they were to eemaan (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 167)

With them their eemaan was weak, and it was closer to disbelief. So this shows that the eemaan can be so weak to the extent that a person can become closer to disbelief. And Allaah’s refuge is sought.

This is the meaning of his saying, “and it can decrease until nothing remains of it.” It can decrease until nothing remains from it. There may remain from it the amount of a mustard seed. And this will benefit the person on the Day of Resurrection. He will exit the Fire with it. And if there does not remain even a mustard seed, then he will be from the people of the Fire, those who will remain forever in it.

Footnotes:

[05] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said about this point (where Imaam al-Barbahaaree said that eemaan is: speech and action and niyyah [intention]), “ ‘Speech and action and belief’ and that is what the author rahimahullaah meant by his saying “and niyyah”, intention. So what is intended by niyyah is belief and attestation.”

[06] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh as a hadeeth of `Abdullaahj

[07] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (no. 6565) and Muslim (no. 193) as a hadeeth of Anas radiyAllaahu `anhu

Transcribed by Fawad ibn `Abdul Fataah
Download PDF of Lesson 21

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
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Eemaan in the descent of Eesaa ibn Maryam – Sharhu Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 21 : Point 23
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And to have eemaan in the descent of `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhis-salaam. He will descend and he will kill the Dajjaal. He will marry and he will pray behind the one who will be in authority from the family of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And he will die and the Muslims will bury him.

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Transcribed Audio:

His saying, “And to have eemaan in the descent of `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhissalaatu was-salaam (may Allaah extol him and grant him peace and security).”

And he will be from the major signs of the hour.

His ‘descent’, meaning from heaven, because Allaah raised him up when the Jews wanted to kill him. And they came to him to kill him and to crucify him, and they entered upon him. Allaah raised him up from amongst them, whilst they were not aware, and he caused another man to look like him. So they killed that man thinking that it was the Messiah, and it was not him. He the Most High said:

And they did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to appear so to them (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 157)

So Allaah caused this man to resemble him. It is said that this man was the one who guided them to him, so therefore Allaah punished him. Or it is said that he was from the followers of `Eesaa from the disciples, that `Eesaa `alayhis-salaam said to him, “You shall be given my appearance and Paradise shall be for you.” So the man had patience and he accepted this resemblance and being killed and being crucified, because he wanted Paradise through that.

His saying that, “He will descend and he will kill the Dajjaal.” He will kill the Dajjaal at the gate of Ludd. And it, Ludd, is a well-known place. `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhissalaam will chase the Dajjaal. When he (the Dajjaal) sees him, he will dissolve away, just as salt dissolves in water. Then he will draw close to him and strike him with his spear and kill him.

His saying, “And he will marry and he will pray behind the one in authority from the family of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam”.

His saying, “And he will marry,” this occurs in some reports, however it is not established. [01]

As for the fact that he will pray behind the Mahdee then this is established. The Mahdee will ask him to lead the Muslims in Prayer because he will descend at the time of the Fajr prayer. And the Muslims will be gathered for the prayer. So the Mahdee will request from him that he should lead the Muslims in prayer. So the Messiah will say, “No some of you are Imaams for the rest.” [02] So he will pray behind the Mahdee.

And the one in charge he is the Mahdee. (His name will be) Muhammad ibn ` Abdillaah (Muhammad the son of `Abdullaah). His name will be the same as the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and the name of his father will be the like the name of the father of the Messenger. And he will be of the family (descendants) of al-Hassan ibn `Alee radiyAllaahu `anhumaa. They (the People of Knowledge) said, the wisdom, and Allaah knows best, is that al-Hasan radiyAllaahu `anhu, when he stepped down from the Khilaafah in favour of Mu`aawiyah in order to preserve the blood of the Muslims, then because of this, Allaah honoured him and made the Mahdee from his descendants.

His saying, “And he will die and the Muslims will bury him.” This is in the Qur’aan. He, the Most High, said:

There is not anyone from the people of the Book except that he will believe in him before his (`Eesaa’s [03] ) death. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 159)

So he will die, just as the rest of mankind die.

And We did not grant everlasting life to any human before you. So if you die, will they then live forever? (Sooratul-Anbiyaa· (21), aayah 34)

So he will die `alayhis-salaatu was-salaam at the end of the life which Allaah has written for him. And the Muslims will bury him, just as they bury their dead. [04]

Footnotes:

[01] This is related from Ibn `Abbaas. Refer to Fat.hul-Baari and `Umdatul-Qaari (Translator’s Note: two of the explanations of al-Bukhaaree).

Translator’s side point: Ibnul-Jowzee mentions such a report in al-`Ilal al-Mutanaahiyah, he mentions as a narration of `Abdullaah ibn `Amr as a hadeeth with regard to `Eesaa coming down and getting married. And Ibnul-Jowzee said, “This hadeeth is not authentic.” And Shaykh al-Albaanee said the same about this report in ad-Da`eefah (no. 6562) that this report is munkar, meaning weak/contradictory to what is authentic.

The wording of that report is, that “Eesaa ibn Maryam will descend to the earth and he will marry and he will have offspring and he will remain for forty-five years. Then he will die and he will be buried along with me in my grave. So I and `Eesaa ibn Maryam will get up from one grave in between Aboo Bakr and `Umar.”

[02] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh from the hadeeth of Jaabir with the wording: So `Eesaa will descend and their leader will say, “Come and lead us in prayer.” So he will say, “No, some of you (or one of you) will lead the others in Prayer as an honour from Allaah upon this nation.”

[03] Translator’s side point: As is authentic from Ibn `Abbaas radiyAllaahu `anhumaa, meaning before the death of `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhis-salaam.

[04] Translator’s side point: A hadeeth which mentions that is reported by Aboo Daawood (no. 4324), a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu that the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “There is not between me and him (`Eesaa ibn Maryam) a Prophet; and he will descend…” the hadeeth. At the end of the hadeeth there occurs: “And he will destroy the Maseehud-Dajjaal. And he will remain upon the earth for forty years. Then he will die and the Muslims will pray over him.” (pray funeral prayer over him)” Shaykh al-Albaanee said about this hadeeth, “Saheeh.”

Transcribed by Fawad ibn `Abdul Fataah
Download PDF of Lesson 21

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eemaan in al-Maseehud-Dajjaal (the False Messiah) – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 21 : Point 22
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And to have eemaan in al-Maseehud-Dajjaal (the False Messiah).

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Transcribed Audio:

From the fundamentals of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is to have eemaan in al-Maseehud-Dajjaal. And he is a man from the descendants of Aadam who will emerge amongst the Jews, and the Jews will follow him. And he is the Mahdee who the Jews are awaiting, because everyone lays claim to the Mahdee (this awaited Messiah). The Jews lay claim to him, and their Messiah is the al-Maseehud-Dajjaal. The Shee`ah are awaiting for the Mahdee who is hidden in the cave, as they say, who is from the descendants of al-Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhu. Whereas the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah, they are waiting for the Mahdee whom the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam foretold about in the authentic ahaadeeth which are mutawaatir (reported in huge numbers) in meaning. And he will be a man from the family of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam from the family of al-Hasan ibn `Alee. He will emerge at the end of time and the Muslims will give him pledge (bay `ah). And he will fight jihaad in Allaah’s cause. And he will fill the earth with justice. And he will lead the Muslims in Prayer. And whilst they are in that condition, al-Maseehud-Dajjaal will emerge. So the Muslims will continue to suffer from him until `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhis-salaam descends. So there are two Messiahs:

  • The Messiah of misguidance and he is the Dajjaal, and
  • The Messiah of right guidance, and he is `Eesaa ibn Maryam `alayhissalaatu was-salaam.

And al-Maseehud-Dajjaal, he is called al-Maseeh because of how quickly he can travel across the earth, because Allaah will make for him means that enable him to proceed quickly upon the earth to cause harm and to bring about evil and tribulations. And he is called ad-Dajjaal which is from the word ad-dajal which means falsehood, because the Dajjaal is the one who is extreme in ad-dajal, falsehood, because he is a great liar to the extent that he will claim that he is Allaah. And the people will be put to trial on account of him except for whomever Allaah makes firm. And there will be with him a garden and a fire. And he will work ‘miracles’, but they are supernatural events of devils; they are not karaamaat (miracles granted for righteous people), they are just supernatural events of the devils. Allaah will cause them to occur at his hand as a trial and as a test for the servants. So his danger is great; and therefore the Prophets warned against him.

And the one who warned most against him is our Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And he commanded that we should seek refuge from his trial in our prayers in the last tashahhud when we seek refuge with Allaah from four: from the punishment of Hellfire and from the punishment of the grave and from the trials of life and death and from the trial of al-Maseehud-Dajjaal.

And his trial will be the greatest trial to occur upon the face of the earth, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. This is al-Maseehud-Dajjaal. And whilst he is like that, and he will have caused hardship to the Muslims and harmed them and put them to trial, then the Messiah `Eesaa ibn Maryam will descend from heaven. And he will chase the Dajjaal and he will kill him and relieve the Muslims from him. And he will take charge of the affair, and he will bring about justice upon the earth. And he will break the cross and kill the pigs and no religion will remain except for the religion of Islaam. Judaism, Christianity and the religions of the disbelievers will be abolished and nothing will remain except for Islaam. And he will judge with the sharee `ah, revealed law, given to Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And he will be a follower of him, because there is no Prophet after Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So the Messiah will descend as a follower of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and as one who judges by his revealed law, the sharee `ah of Islaam. This is what will occur with regard to the emergence of the Dajjaal and the descent of the Messiah.

And `Eesaa is called Maseeh (Messiah), it is said, because he would wipe upon a person suffering an ailment and he would be cured by the permission of Allaah. And this was from his miracles `alayhis-salaatu was-salaam, that he would wipe with his hand upon the blind and the leper and a person born blind and his illness would pass away by his wiping upon him `alayhis-salaatu was-salaam. So therefore he was called al-Maseeh with the meaning of one who wipes.

Transcribed by Fawad ibn `Abdul Fataah
Download PDF of Lesson 21

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Paradise and Hellfire are true and are already Created. They will never pass away – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 20 : Point 21
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

And to have eemaan that Paradise, al-Jannah, is true and the Fire, an-Naar, is true and that they are already created. The Paradise is in the seventh heaven and its ceiling is the Throne, al-`Arsh, and the Fire is beneath the seventh earth, the lowest one; and they are both already created. Allaah, the Most High, knew the number of the people of Paradise and who will enter it and the number of the people of the Fire and who will enter it. They will never pass away. They will both last along with Allaah always, for ever and ever. And Aadam `alayhis-salaam was in the everlasting created Paradise, and he was removed from it after he disobeyed Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

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Transcribed Audio:

From the pillars of eemaan is to have eemaan in the Last Day with everything within it. And from that which will be within the Last Day is Paradise and the Fire, and they are the abode of recompense. So the true believers will be in Paradise which was prepared for the people of taqwaa, people who were fearful of Allaah and were dutiful to Him.And the disbelievers will be in the Fire which was prepared for the disbelievers. So these two are the abode of recompense; and this world is the abode of action with no recompense in it. So the Hereafter is the abode of recompense, and there is no action in that.

So whoever does not believe in Paradise and the Fire then he is a kaafir, a disbeliever, since it is essential that eemaan includes everything that is authentic with regard to the Last Day, and from that is the Paradise and the Fire. This is mentioned in the Qur’aan in different places. So the person who disbelieves in them or who explains them away, such as the Qaraamitah and the Baatiniyyah who explain them away, then they are disbelievers in Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

So there must be eemaan in the Paradise and the Fire and that they are two real abodes; an abode for the people who were dutiful to Allaah and an abode for the disbelievers.

And these two will remain and they are present now, they are already created now, and they will remain and not pass away. He, the Most High, said with regard to the Paradise:

It is already prepared for those who are dutiful to Allaah.
(Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 133)

And He said with regard to the Fire:

Already prepared for the disbelievers
(Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 131)

The word ‘prepared‘, is a proof that it is already present and prepared, and it does not mean that it will be created later on, with the evidence that the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam mentions some things which prove that Paradise and the Fire are already present. From them is his saying sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam,

“The severity of the summertime heat is from the breathing out of the Hellfire.” [01]

And he said with regard to the severity of cold in the winter,

“Allaah has given two breaths to the Hellfire: a breath in the summertime and that is the hottest that you experience, and a breath in the wintertime and that is the severity of the cold. So that is from the coldness of the Hellfire.” [02]

So this proves that they are both already present. And Paradise, likewise, is present. Allaah has already prepared it for the people of taqwaa (the dutiful ones). And He has appointed angels over both of them. And there occurs in a hadeeth of `Ubaadah ibn asSaamit radiyAllaahu `anhu that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Whoever bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and that `Eesaa is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, and a soul created by means of His word which He sent to Maryam, and a soul created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and the Fire is true, then Allaah will enter him into Paradise whatever his deeds were.” [03]

The witness for the topic here is in his saying,

“…and that Paradise is true and the Fire is true…”

And in the initial supplication of the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam that he made in the night prayer, that he would say,

“The meeting with you is true, and your promise is true, and Paradise is true, and the Fire is true.” [04]

His saying, “and they are both already created”. Meaning, they are already created now. [05]

His saying, “Paradise, al-Jannah (literally the garden), is in the seventh heaven and its ceiling is the `Arsh, the Throne,” This is authentic in the hadeeth,

“In Paradise there are a hundred levels Allaah has prepared for those who fight Jihaad in Allaah’s cause. Between each of the two levels is the like of what is between the heaven and the earth. So if you ask of Allaah, then ask Him of al-Firdows, for it is the centre of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise. And above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful. And from it flow the rivers of Paradise”. [06]

This proves that Paradise is in heaven, in the highest of the heavens, `illeeyeen. He, the Most High, said:

But no, the book of the righteous is certainly in `illeeyeen (the highest [seventh] heaven) (Sooratul-Mutaffifeen (83), aayah 18)

The highest thing. And the Fire is in the lowest of the low places. He Most High said,

But no, the book of the wicked ones is certainly in sijjeen (the lowest of the seven earths). And what will explain to you what sijjeen is. (Sooratul-Mutaffifeen (83), aayahs 7-8)

His saying, “Allaah always knew the number of the people of Paradise and who will enter it.” Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, knew everything with His Eternal Knowledge. And from that is that He knew the people of Paradise and who will enter it. And He knew the people of the Fire and who will enter it. Nothing escapes His Knowledge, He the Perfect and Most High. He knew everything and He wrote it down in the Preserved Tablet.

His saying, “These two will never pass away.” Paradise and the Fire are two abodes that will remain and will never pass away. And this contains a refutation of those who think that the Paradise and the Fire will pass away, and who say, “So that nothing will share along with Allaah in remaining always.” And they are those who deny there having being continuous existence in the past and continuous existence in the future out of ignorance from them. And we say, there is indeed a difference between Allaah’s Remaining Forever and the remaining forever of Paradise and the Fire. The Remaining Forever of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, is as befits Him. It is an Attribute from His Attributes, He, the Majestic and Most High. But as for the remaining of the Paradise and of the Fire then it is that Allaah will cause them to remain, and that Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, creates. So it is a remaining forever that is earned (given to them). Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, He is the One Who gives it ‘remaining forever’. But as for Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, then His Eternity and His Remaining Forever is an Attribute from His Attributes, sifatun thaateeyah, an Attribute of His Self.

His saying, “They will remain along with Allaah always,” The remaining of these two will be along with Allaah Remaining. And Allaah’s Remaining, there is no end to it. So likewise the remaining of the Paradise and the Fire, there is no end to them. And there is no resemblance between the two remainings and these two remaining forever/eternally, just like the rest of the attributes.

His saying, “for all time, forever.” ‘For all time, forever’ – this is for emphasis.

His saying, “and Aadam `alayhis-salaam, he was in the Paradise that will remain, the created one.” When Allaah created Aadam, and when He honoured him as He did, and when He manifested his virtue over the angels, then Iblees envied him for that and he refused to prostate to him. So he disobeyed Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, on account of envy and pride. So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, said to Aadam:

Dwell you and your wife in Paradise and eat from it freely wherever you wish. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 35)

So Allaah caused them to dwell in Paradise as an honour to both of them. And this Paradise is in heaven. Then when Iblees beguiled Aadam, and Aadam ate from the tree which he had been forbidden from, then Allaah send Aadam down and He sent Iblees down to the earth.

We said get down from it all of you
(Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 38)

So they went down to the earth. And Allaah forgave Aadam because he repented to Allaah, he and his wife.

O our Lord we have wronged ourselves and if You do not forgive us and have Mercy upon us we will certainly be amongst the losers. (Sooratul- A`raaf (7), aayah 23)

And Aadam disobeyed his Lord and he erred. Then his Lord chose him and guided him to repent (Soorah TaaHaa (20), aayahs 121 – 122)

So Aadam and Howwaa· `alayhimas-salaam, they both turned to Allaah in repentance, so Allaah accepted their repentance. As for Iblees, then he persisted upon his error and he did not repent. And therefore Allaah banished him away from His Mercy and He cursed Him, and He made him a leader for every evil.

His saying, “So he was expelled from it after he disobeyed Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.” His being removed from Paradise was as a punishment for his sin. However he repented to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, as Allaah mentioned in the Qur’aan. [07]

Footnotes:

[01] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (no. 535 and no. 536) and Muslim (no. 615) from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anh. The narration of al-Bukhaaree is from Aboo Hurayrah and Ibn `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhum.

[02] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (no. 537) and Muslim (no. 617) as a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu

[03] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (no. 3435) and Muslim (no. 28)

[04] Reported by al-Bukhaaree as a hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas radiyAllaahu `anhumaa (no. 6317) and Muslim (no. 769)

[05] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said,

“There are two matters of belief here, two matters which the people of the Sunnah affirm here. And these are two points which are denied by the Mu`tazilah and the Jahmeeyah and some sects from the people of innovation. And these points are: Firstly, that Paradise and the Fire are already present, already created. And secondly, that Allaah has written for both of them that they will remain forever.”

[06] This is reported by al-Bukhaaree (no. 2790) as a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[07] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said in his taped explanation,

“The texts which prove that Paradise and the Fire will remain without any end, that is proven in authentic texts:

They will remain therein forever (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 57)

And there occurs in a hadeeth that death will be brought in the form of a ram, and it will be slaughtered between Paradise and the Fire. Then it will be said, “O people of Paradise, everlasting life with no death. And O people of the Fire, everlasting life with no death.” (Reported by al-Bukhaaree [no.4730] as a hadeeth of Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree radiyAllaahu `anhu)

And there occurs with regard to Paradise:

They will have therein everlasting bliss (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 21)

And there occurs with regard to the Fire:

And they will have everlasting punishment (Sooratul-Maa·idah (5), aayah 37)

Meaning forever/eternal. It will not come to an end. So this is the position of the Ahlus-Sunnah.”

Somebody asked Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee: “Is it correct that Ibnul-Qayyim used to say that the Fire will come to an end?”

The Shaykh made it clear that this is not correct from Ibnul-Qayyim that he said that the Fire will come to an end, as some people quote from him. But rather they have made a misunderstanding here of something that occurs in his book, Haadiyul-`Arwaah ilaa Bilaadil-`Afraah. In that book he mentions the different saying of the people with regard to whether the Fire will come to an end or not. He quotes six or seven different sayings from the people (what they say). Shaykh as-Suhaymee said, “What makes his position very clear is another of his books, al-Waabilus-Sayyib. In that book he makes his position very clear, that indeed the Hellfire will never come to an end. The Hellfire the abode of the disbelievers, the Paradise the abode of the believers and will never end.”

Transcribed by Fawad ibn `Abdul Fataah
Download PDF of Lesson 20

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eemaan in the Prophets and in the Angels – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 19 : Point 20
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the Prophets and in the Angels.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

From that fundamentals of eemaan and the pillars of eemaan is to have eemaan in the malaa·ikah (Angels) and in the anbiyaa (Prophets). And this is as occurs in the hadeeth of Jibreel `alayhis-salaam, when he said to the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, “Inform me about eemaan (true faith). So he said,

“(It) is that you truly believe in Allaah and His Angels and in His Books and in His Messengers and in the Last Day and that you truly believe in pre decree, the good of it and the bad of it.” [01]

And there occurs in the Qur’aan,

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces either to the east or to the west. But rather righteousness is the righteousness of the one who truly believes in Allaah and in the Last Day and in the Angels and in the Book and in the Prophets. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 177)

And in His saying, He the Most High:

The Messenger believes in that which was sent down to him from his Lord and also the believers. All of them believe truly in Allaah and in His Angels and in His Books and in His Messengers. They say, we do not make any distinction in believing between any of His Messengers. And they say we hear and we obey. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 285)

Say, we truly believe in Allaah and in what was send down to us and in what was send down to Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel and Is’haaq and Ya`qoob and to the Tribes and what Moosaa and `Eesaa were given and what the Prophets were given from their Lord. We do not make any distinction (with regard to believing) between any of them. And we submit as Muslims to Him. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 136)

So it is obligatory to have eemaan in the Angels, all of them. Those whom Allaah has named from them and those whom He has not named. And the malaa’ikah (the Angels) is the plural of malak. And they are species of being from the world of the hidden and the unseen. Allaah created them from light. Then as for the Jinn, then Allaah created them from fire. And as for mankind then Allaah created them from teen (clay) and then from a feeble fluid, just as Allaah the Perfect and Most High mentioned. So a person must have eemaan in the Angels all of them, those whom Allaah has named from them and those He has not named. We believe in all of them. As for one who believes in some of them and disbelieves in others, then he is a disbeliever in all of them (a kaafir). He the Most High said:

Say, whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, then he (Jibreel) brought it (the Qur’aan) down to your heart by the permission of Allaah, confirming that which came before it and a guidance and glad tidings for the believers. Whoever is an enemy to Allaah and to his Angels and to His Messengers and to Jibreel and to Meekaal then Allaah is an enemy to the disbelievers. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayahs 97 – 98)

So the person who disbelieves in a single Angel from the Angels, he is a disbeliever in all of the Angels. Such as the Jews, those who say, “Jibreel is an enemy to us. If the one who came down to Muhammad had been other than Jibreel, we would have obeyed him. However Jibreel came down to him and he is our enemy. So we will not believe in him.” [02] So therefore Allaah sent down this aayah. [03]

Say, whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, then he brought it down to your heart by the permission of Allaah (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 97)

So it (the Revelation) is not from Jibreel. Rather it is from Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. And Jibreel was only a messenger from Allaah entrusted with bringing the Revelation.

And amongst the deviant sects who ascribe themselves to Islaam are those who say that Jibreel betrayed his trust, because Messengership should have gone to `Alee. However, (they say) Jibreel betrayed his trust and gave it instead to Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Their poet said, “The trustworthy one was treacherous (Jibreel) and he withheld it from Haydar,” meaning from `Alee.

The author said, “That we have eemaan in the Messengers (rusul) and in the Prophets (anbiyaa·).”

A Prophet (nabeey) is one who had a Revealed Way sent to him, but he was not commanded to convey it to others. Whereas a Messenger (rasool) was one who had a Revealed Way sent to him by Revelation and he was commanded to convey it.[04]

Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, then he brought it down to your heart by the permission of Allaah (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 97)

So the difference between an-nabeey (Prophet) and ar-rasool (Messenger) is that a Messenger (rasool) is sent with a Revealed Way, sent down to him. Contrary to a Prophet (nabeey), for he is sent with a Revealed Way sent down to Messengers who came before him, like the Prophets of the Banoo Israa·eel (Children of Israa’eel); because they were sent with the message of Moosaa `alayhis-salaam, with the Towraat.

We sent down the Towraat which contained Guidance and Light by which the Prophets, those who submitted to Allaah, judged for the Jews and the rabbis and also the priests (Sooratul-Maa·ida (5), aayah 44)

So they judged by the Towraat which had been sent down to Moosaa `alayhis-salaam and they did not come with an independent Legislation. Contrary to a Messenger (rasool), for he comes with an independent Legislation and he is commanded to convey it. But as for a Prophet (nabeey), he is commanded to convey the Message from someone before him, and Revelation might be sent to him with regard to a specific matter. This is the difference.

Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaami` rahimahullaah said in his explanation of the Three Principles, “They disagree with regard to the difference between a Prophet (nabeey) and a Messenger (rasool). So some of them define it and say: a Prophet is one who is sent with a Message to act upon it, but he was not given the duty of calling to it. However the second definition is that a Prophet (nabeey) is one who was sent with a Message of someone who was before him and he does not have his own independent Message, as was the case with many Prophets from the Banoo Israa·eel. And the second definition is more befitting whereas the first one is what is famous.” (He goes on to mention that it is not befitting to say a nabeey is one who has Revelation but he does not have to convey it to anyone).

And whoever disbelieves in a single Prophet, then he is a disbeliever in all of them. He is a disbeliever even in the Prophet who he claims that he believes in, because the Prophets were all brothers. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

The Prophets were brothers with different mothers. [05]

They were a single chain. Their way was one. So whoever denies a single one of them, then he is denying all of them, because what this one had, the other one had. All of them were Messengers from Allaah. So the person who claims that he believes in Moosaa, such as the Jews, but then disbelieves in `Eesaa and in Muhammad `alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam then those people are disbelievers (kaafiroon) in all of the Prophets, even in the Prophet who they claim they are believing in. And he was Moosaa `alayhis-salaam. Because the book which Moosaa came with contained a mention of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. He, the Most High said:

The one (the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) whom they find written down with them in the Towraat and in the Injeel. He commands them with the good and he forbids them from the evil. And he declares lawful for them the good and pure things. And he forbids the filthy and evil things for them. And he releases them from the burdens and the fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him and honour him and aid him and who follow the Light which came down with him, then they will be the successful ones. (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 157)

Those to whom we gave the Scripture they know him (the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) just as they recognize their own sons. (Sooratul- Baqarah (2), aayah 146)

However envy (hasad) led them to disbelieve in Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam because they wanted that Prophethood should not depart from the Banoo Israa’eel. So therefore they sought to monopolize the bounty of Allaah.

Or do they envy the people for that which Allaah gave to them from His bounty. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 54)

So what led them do this was al-hasad (envy) and transgression. Otherwise they knew that he was indeed the Messenger of Allaah because they found him written in the Towraat and in the Injeel. Likewise `Eesaa `alayhis-salaam he foretold of the good news of the coming of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. He, the Most High said:

And remember when `Eesaa ibn Maryam said, O Children of Israa·eel, I am Allaah’s Messenger to you, confirming what came before me from the Towraat and giving news of the coming of a Messenger who will come after me whose name will be Ahmad. (Sooratus-Saff (61), aayah 6)

And who is this Messenger who came after `Eesaa? No Messenger came after `Eesaa, except for Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his name was Ahmad and his name was Muhammad. He had many names. So the person who disbelieves in `Eesaa he is a disbeliever in all of them. And the one who disbelieves in Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is a disbeliever in all of them. And therefore He, the Majestic and Most High, said:

The people of Nooh denied the Messengers
(Sooratush-Shu`araa· (26), aayah 105)

Even though the first of the Messengers was Nooh and they denied Nooh. However He said that they denied the Messengers, meaning those who came after him, because whoever denies one Messenger then he has denied all of the Messengers.

The people of `Aad denied the Messengers
(Sooratush-Shu`araa· (26), aayah 123)

Thamood denied the Messengers
(Sooratush-Shu`araa· (26), aayah 141)

The people of al-Aykah (people of Madyan) denied the Messengers (Sooratush-Shu`araa· (26), aayah 176)

So a person who disbelieves in one, he is a disbeliever in all of them.

Those who disbelieve in Allaah and in His Messengers and they wish to make a difference between believing in Allaah and in His Messengers and they say, we will believe in some and disbelieve in others. They want to take a way in between. They are the disbelievers in truth. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayahs 150 – 151)

Even though they believed in some of them, however believing in some is not sufficient. There must be eemaan in all of them, because they are all Messengers from Allaah. All of them came from Allaah the Perfect and Most High. The earlier ones of them foretold the later ones. And the later ones of them believed in the first ones `alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam. This is the position of the Muslims and of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah.

Footnotes:

[01] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 8) as hadeeth of Umar ibnul-Khattaab radiyAllaahu`anh.

[02] The like of this story was reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad, volume 1 page 274.

[03] Reported by al-Bukhaaree as a hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn Salaam that he said about Jibreel, “That is the enemy to the Jews from the Angels.” So therefore he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam recited this aayah.

[04] Translator’s side point: Some of the other scholars mention a slightly different definition, amongst them Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymeeyah in his book an-Nuboowaat, where he said:

“A Prophet (nabeey) is one whom Allaah the Most High has sent with a Revealed Way (Legislation) which Allaah commands him to convey to his own followers, but not to the opponents. Whereas a Messenger is one whom Allaah the Most High sent with Revelation (a Revealed Way) to call all of the people in his time to, whether they are opponents or those who agree with him, whether it is a new Revealed Way or one from before.”

[05] Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (no. 3443) and reported by Muslim (no. 2365) as a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu`anh. And the wording of al-Bukhaaree is: “The Prophets are [lit. paternal] brothers, their mothers are different, but their Religion is one.”

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 19

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eemaan in the Siraat (the Bridge) over the Hellfire – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 19 : Point 19
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the siraat (the Bridge) over the Hellfire. The Bridge will seize whomever Allaah wishes. And whoever Allaah wishes will cross over. And whoever Allaah wishes will fall into the Hellfire. And they will have lights in accordance with the level of their eemaan.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

From that which will occur on the Day of Resurrection is the passing over the siraat (Bridge) as has already been mentioned. And the siraat, in the language means at-tareeq (a path). And what is meant here is the Bridge laid down over the top of the Hellfire. And it will be very thin, thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword and hotter than burning coals.

The creation will pass over it in accordance with the level of their deeds. Their deeds will cause them to proceed. So whoever is saved then he has succeeded and whoever is not saved is destroyed. And the people crossing over it will be in accordance with the level of their deeds. So some of them will cross over like the blinking of the eye. And some of them will cross over like the flash of lightening. And some of them will cross over like the wind. And some of them will cross over like fast horses. And some of them will cross over like riders upon camels. And some of them will run, running upon feet. And some of them will walk. And some of them will crawl. And some of them will be seized and thrown down into the Hellfire. And this is mentioned in the Honourable Qur’aan and in the Prophetic Sunnah.

He, the Most High, said:

So by your Lord We shall certainly gather them and the devils. Then We shall bring them around the Hellfire upon their knees.

Up until His Saying:

There is not one of you except that he will have to cross over it. It is a binding decree from your Lord. (Soorah Maryam (19), aayahs 68-71)

(‘Cross over it’) meaning the Hellfire. And this crossing, it is the crossing over the siraat, the Bridge. This is the crossing which is mentioned in the Qur’aan. And the address here is to the believers and to other than them.

There is not one of you except that he will have to cross over it. The believers and the disbelievers and the hypocrites will cross over it. All of the creation will cross over this Bridge. So whoever is saved from it (crosses it successfully) then he will enter Paradise. And whoever falls down is destroyed.

Then We will save those who had taqwaa (those who were fearful of Allaah and dutiful to Him) (Soorah Maryam (19), aayah 72)

Nothing will bring about salvation except for taqwaa (dutifulness to Allaah). Strength of body will not save nor will having plentiful wealth nor will status. Nothing will bring about salvation except taqwaa (being dutiful) to Allaah the Perfect and Most High. This is the textual statement in the Honourable Qur’aan.

And ahaadeeth occur in the Sunnah regarding the terrors of the Resurrection. And from them is the crossing over the siraat, the Bridge. So it is essential to have eemaan in the Bridge and in the crossing over it. And it is not sufficient to just believe in that; rather there must be action. So therefore a person should prepare for the crossing over it by having taqwaa (by being dutiful to Allaah); and that is righteous deeds.

His saying, “The Bridge will seize whomever Allaah wishes and whoever Allaah wishes will cross over.”

Just as He, the Most High, said:

Then We shall save those who were dutiful to Allaah and We will leave the disbelieving wrongdoers in the Hellfire upon their knees (Soorah Maryam (19), aayah 72)

Because the siraat will have hooks upon it that will seize whomever they are commanded to seize.

His saying, “he will cross”. Meaning he will pass over it.

His saying, “And they (the people) will have light in accordance with the level of their eemaan.” On the Day of Resurrection, the people of eemaan (true believers), they will have light. And they will walk within it. Just as He the Most High said:

Their light will run before them. And their books will be in their right hands. They will say O our Lord, complete our light for us and forgive us. Indeed you have full ability over everything (Sooratut-Tahreem (66), aayah 8)

And He, the Most High, said:

The Day when you shall see the believing men and the believing women with their light running before them and their books will be in their right hands. It will be said to them, glad tidings to you this day of gardens beneath which rivers flow. You will remain therein forever. That is the tremendous success. (Sooratul-Hadeed (57), aayah 12)

The munafiqoon (hypocrites) will be given light initially, because of the fact that they entered into Islaam and they outwardly displayed Islaam (in the world). So therefore they will be treated in accordance with what they outwardly showed. They will be given light, but it will be as a trick, just as they sought to trick with their Islaam. So therefore they will be given light as a trick upon them and then their light will be extinguished and they will remain in darkness.

On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: “Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!” It will be said: “Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!” So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.”

(The hypocrites) will call the believers: “Were we not with you?” The believers will reply: “Yes! But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith); and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah.”

So this Day no ransom shall be taken from you (hypocrites), nor of those who disbelieved, (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism). Your abode is the Fire, that is the proper place for you, and worst indeed is that destination. (Sooratul-Hadeed (57), aayahs 13 – 15)

So eemaan will have light on the Day of Resurrection within which the person will proceed. Whereas the disbelievers and the hypocrites will be in darkness, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. They will not know where they are going.

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 19

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eemaan in the Intercession of Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ on the Day of Resurrection – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 18 : Point 18
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the Intercession (the Shafaa`ah) of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam on the Day of Resurrection for those guilty of sins; and upon the Bridge (as-Siraat), and to cause them to come out from within the Hell Fire. There is no Prophet except that he will have Intercession. And likewise will be the case with the eminently truthful and sincere followers of the Prophets, and the martyrs and the righteous people. And after that Allaah will bestow favour abundantly upon whomever He wishes; and people will come out of the Fire after they have been burnt and reduced to charcoal.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

From the fundamentals of the (creed and belief of) Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is eemaan in ash-Shafaa`ah (the Intercession) with the preconditions which are mentioned by Allaah the Majestic and Most High. That it has to be with His Permission, and that the one being interceded for is from the people of eemaan. As for the one who is interceded for being from the people who are disbelievers, then Intercession will not be accepted for him. He the Most High said:

So the Intercession of those who intercede will not benefit them (the disbelievers). (Sooratul-Muddaththir (74), aayah 48)

The disbelieving wrongdoers will have no close friend nor any intercessor who will be given heed to. (Soorah Ghaafir (40), aayah 18)

So the disbeliever, there will never be any Intercession for him ever. As for the believer, then Intercession is established for him if Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, grants permission. And the greatest of the intercessors and the Noble Chief of those who intercede will be our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So he will have Intercessions which will be specific to him and also Intercessions which he shares along with others.

His saying, “And to have eemaan in the Intercession of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam for those guilty of sins on the Day of Resurrection; and upon the Bridge (Siraat)”. The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is the greatest one of those who will intercede on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed he will intercede for all of the people upon the standing place, so that Allaah relieves them from the standing and brings them to account; because the standing will be prolonged for them. Along with severe distress and severe heat and severe thirst and extreme fear, the standing will be prolonged for them, the standing of the Hashr, the Gathering. So therefore they will go to Oolil-`Azm, those Messengers who are firmest in resolve, and request from them that they should supplicate to Allaah to relieve them of the standing, so that they go either to Paradise or to the Fire. So they will go to Aadam and he will excuse himself. And they will go to Nooh and he will excuse himself. And they will go to Ibraaheem and he will excuse himself. And they will go to Moosaa and he will excuse himself. And they will go to `Eesaa and he will excuse himself. And they will go to Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and he will say, “I am the one for it.” Then he will go and he will fall down in prostration beneath the `Arsh, the Throne because there will be no intercession for anyone except with the permission of Allaah. Therefore he will fall down in prostration and make supplication to his Lord until it is said to him, “O Muhammad raise your head. Ask and you will be given. Intercede and your intercession will be accepted.” [03] So Allaah will grant permission for him to intercede and he will intercede on behalf of the people of the gathering place for them to move on from the gathering place to the Hisaab, Reckoning. This is ash-Shafaa`atul-Uzmaa, the Major Intercession which Allaah will favour him with over the creation. He, the Most High said:

And during the night pray tahajjud as an extra Prayer for you. Your Lord shall certainly raise you to a praiseworthy standing place. (Sooratul-Israa· (17), aayah 79)

This praiseworthy standing place (al-maqaamul-mahmood) is ash-Shafaa`atul-Uzmaa, the Major Intercession. And there occurs in the supplication which is said after the athaan,

Grant Muhammad al-waseelah (the place of honour in Paradise) and al-fadeelah (the position of superior virtue) and raise him to maqaamam-mahmoodaa (the praiseworthy standing place) which you have promised him. [04]

This is ash-Shafaa`atul-Uzmaa.

And likewise he will intercede with regard to the people guilty of major sins from the nation. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will intercede for them that, either they do not enter the Fire, or otherwise that they be brought out from it if they do enter it.

So he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will intercede for them, and this is not specific to him. So he will intercede, and all of the Prophets will intercede. And the owliyaa· (beloved and obedient servants of Allaah) will intercede and the afraat, they are those who die young, they will intercede for those Muslims who are guilty of major sins. This point is contrary to the Jahmiyyah and the Mu`tazilah and the Khawaarij.

The Khawaarij, they are those who rebel against the rulers, the rulers of the Muslims, by using the sword, and they break the due obedience. And they are also those who declare a Muslim to be a disbeliever on account of major sins which are less than shirk. They are the Khawaarij. They were called Khawaarij (literally those who depart or exit or revolt) because they depart from what is legislated and they revolt against the person in authority and they break the due obedience. Those people deny the Intercession and they say, “Whoever enters the Fire will never come out from it.” And they use as evidence His saying, He, the Most High:

They will not come out from the Hell Fire (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 167)

So we say: This is with regard to the kuffaar (disbelievers). So the disbelievers will never come out from the Fire. But as for the Intercession which is meant here, then it is with regard to the people of eemaan, those who are believers who are guilty of major sins; and it is established. And Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

Who (none) can intercede with Him (Allaah) except with His permission (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 255)

It indicates that only if He grants permission can anyone intercede. And likewise His saying, He the Most High:

And how many angels there are in the heavens whose Intercession will not benefit at all except after Allaah grants permission for whomever He wishes and is pleased with. (Sooratun-Najm (53), aayah 26)

This contains the two conditions for the Shafaa`ah

  1. That Allaah grants permission; this is the first condition and
  2. That He is pleased, this is the second condition, He is pleased with the one who is being interceded for. And He is not pleased except with a believer. As for the disbeliever, He will not be pleased with him.

So those who contradict the people of the Sunnah with regard to the Intercession take two opposite positions. From them are those who deny the Intercession. And they are the Khawaarij and the Mu`tazilah, those who declare people to be disbelievers on account of major sins which are less than shirk.

And the second group are those who go beyond the limits in affirming Intercession. And they are the Soofees and the grave worshippers, those who depend totally upon Intercession and who turn to the graves and who seek aid from the dead. They seek intercession from them, (from the dead). Just as He the Most High said:

And they worship besides Allaah others who cannot harm them nor benefit them and they say, “Those are our intercessors with Allaah.” (Soorah Yoonus (10), aayah 18)

They worship them in order that they should intercede for them with Allaah. As for those who take the middle position, and they are the Ahlus-Sunnah walJamaa`ah, they do not deny Intercession totally and they do not affirm it unrestrictedly. Rather they affirm it with the two conditions which occur in the Book and the Sunnah. This is the conclusion on the topic of the Intercession.

And his saying, “And Intercession is established for those who are sinful, guilty of sins.” Meaning Intercession will be for the believers who are guilty of sins. Those who do not reach the level of kufr, disbelief.

His saying, “And it will occur upon the Siraat (Bridge) over the Fire.” Meaning:

And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will intercede for the believers whilst they are crossing the Bridge. And he will intercede for those who have entered the Fire that they should be brought out from it, if they are from the people of towheed.

So he will intercede upon the Bridge when the people are passing over it, and it is the Bridge which will be laid across the upper part of the Hell Fire. The people will cross over it in accordance with their deeds. So some of them will cross over it in the blinking of an eye. And some of them will cross over it like lightening. And some of them will cross over it like the passing of the wind. And some will cross over it like fast horses. And some will cross over it like the riders of camels. And some will be running over it. And some will be walking. And some will be crawling. And some will be snatched from it and thrown down into the Fire. All of the creation will have to pass over this Bridge, the believers and the disbelievers. And nothing will render them safe except for their deeds. He, the Most High, said:

There is not one of you except that he will have to cross over it (Soorah Maryam (19), aayah 71)

Meaning over the Bridge.

It is a binding decree from your Lord. Then We will rescue those who were dutiful to Allaah and We will leave the wrongdoing disbelievers upon their knees in the Hell Fire. (Soorah Maryam (19), aayahs 71-72)

So no one will be saved except for the people of taqwaa, dutifulness to Allaah. As for the disbelievers then they will be destroyed in the Fire, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. This is the Siraat.

His saying, “And after that Allaah will bestow Favour abundantly upon whomever He wishes.” And Allaah will bring out from the Fire some of the believers without the Intercession of those who intercede. Rather by His Favour (fadl), He, the Perfect and Most High. He will bring out some people from the Fire by His fadl, by His Favour, He the Perfect, without the Intercession of anyone, rather just by His fadl, His Favour, He the Majestic and Most High.

His saying, “And people will come out from the Fire after they have been burnt and turned to charcoal.” Allaah the Majestic and Most High informed that the people of the Fire who are to remain forever in it will not die in it nor will they live.

He the Most High said:

So remind if the reminding will benefit. Those who fear Allaah will take heed of the reminder. But the wretched will avoid it. The one who will enter the Great Fire, then he will not die in it nor will he live. (Sooratul-A`laa (87), aayah 9-13)

So the person who does not accept the reminder and does not accept the admonition and continues upon his misguidance, this one will enter Hell Fire; and he will remain in it. And he will not live a life which allows him to rest, and he will not die a death which gives him relief, rather he will remain in torment. But as for the person who enters it from the disobedient people of towheed, then he will be burnt and turned to charcoal. And then he will come out from the Hell Fire and he will be placed in a river, the River of Life, and their bodies will grow. And when their bodies are completed, then permission will be granted for them to enter Paradise.

Footnotes:

[03] Reported by al-Bukhaaree as (no. 4206) and reported by Muslim (no. 193) from a hadeeth of Anas radiyAllaahu`anh

[04] Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (no. 614) from a hadeeth of Jaabir radiyAllaahu`anh

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 18

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Link: https://abdurrahman.org/finaljourney/

Eemaan in the Hawd (Reservoir/Lake) of Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 18 : Point 17
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the howd (Reservoir/great body of water/lake) of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And every Prophet will have a Reservoir except for Saalih `alayhis-salaam, for his Reservoir will be the udder of his she-camel.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

Likewise from the usool, fundamentals, of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is to have eemaan in the howd (Reservoir). So the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will have a howd, a Reservoir, and every Prophet from the Prophets will have a howd, a reservoir of water, which his nation will come to drink from. Because the people will suffer severe thirst (on the Day of Resurrection after the standing). They will need water. And the Reservoir of our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will be the greatest of the reservoirs. Its length is a month (the length of a month’s journey) and its width is that of a month. Its water will be whiter than milk and sweeter than honey and its drinking vessels will be the number of the stars in the sky. Whoever drinks a single drink from it, will never become thirsty after it. [01] And the apostates, who apostasized (left Islaam) after the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam will be pushed away from it. And whoever denied it, and Allaah knows best, will also be pushed away from it from the people of innovations.

And his saying, “And every Prophet will have a Reservoir except for Saalih `alayhis-salaam, for his Reservoir will be the udder of his she-camel.” This exception is not established as far as I know. And what is actually correct is that every Prophet will have a howd as occurs in the hadeeth. [02]

Footnotes:

[01] There is reported with regard to this (howd) ahaadeeth which are mutawaatir (reported by huge numbers of people at every level of transmission; such a huge number that they could not have got together and made it up). So from them is that which Imaam Muslim reports in his Saheeh (no. 2292) from `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas radiyAllaahu`anhumaa who said, “Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

‘My howd (Reservoir) will have the distance of a month and its sides will be equal. Its water will be whiter than silver and its fragrance will be better than musk, and its drinking cups will be like the stars of the sky. So whoever drinks from it then he will never ever become thirsty after it.’”

(Another hadeeth) reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 247) from Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu`anhu that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“My howd (Reservoir) is larger than the distance from Aylah to `Adn. It is indeed whiter than snow and sweeter than honey in milk, and its drinking vessels will be more than the number of the stars. And I will repel people away from it just as a man repels the camels of other people away from his reservoir.”

They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, will you recognize us on that day? He said, “Yes. You will have a mark which no one from the other nations has. You will come to me with white marks upon your foreheads and limbs from the traces of wudoo·. And a group from you will be repelled away from me so that you do not reach. So I will say, ‘O my Lord, those are companions of mine. So an angel will respond to me and say, ‘Do you know what they did after you departed?’”

[02] This occurs from a hadeeth of Samarah ibn Jundub radiyAllaahu`anhu who said, “Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Every Prophet shall have a howd, and they will boast about which of them has the most people who come to drink. And I hope that I will be the one having the most people who come to drink from it.”

Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his book at-Taareekhul-Kabeer and by at-Tirmithee and Ibn Abee `Aasim and at-Tabaraanee; and declared authentic by al-Haafiz al-Mizzee due to its different chains of narration, as was mentioned by Ibn Katheer in his Tafseer.

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth was declared saheeh authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee rahimahullaah.

Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as Suhaymee hafizahullaah said in his explanation,

“The saying of the author that Saalih, his Reservoir will be the udder of his she camel, this is a point requiring to be looked at because there is no authentic proof for it.”

Shaykh al-Albaanee rahimahullaah in his book Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth ad-Da`eefah brings a couple of narrations in that regard (no. 771 and 772) which are not authentic about that. And he judged that these two ahaadeeth are mowdoo` (fabricated). The same was said by Ibnul-Jawzee in his book al Mowdoo`aat and Imaam ath-Thahabee in his book Meezaanul-I`tidaal.

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 18

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Eemaan in the punishment of the grave & in Munkar and Nakeer – Sharhu Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 17 : Point 16
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the punishment of the grave and in Munkar and Nakeer.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

Likewise from the `aqeedah (creed and belief) of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah (the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah) is to have eemaan in the punishment of the grave (`athaabul-qabr) and in the bliss of the grave (na`eemul-qabr). So the deceased will either be punished in his grave or he will experience bliss until he is raised up on the Day of Resurrection.

And the grave is a station between this world and the Hereafter; and therefore it is called al-Barzakh, ‘the barrier’ or ‘the interval’. Because barzakh means a barrier between two things. He, the Most High, said:

He (Allaah) has released the two seas (salt water and the fresh water) which meet side by side. Between them there is a barzakh (barrier) which neither of them transgress. (Sooratur-Rahmaan (55), aayahs 19-20)

The salt water does not transgress upon the fresh water and the fresh water does not transgress upon the salty, because Allaah has placed a separation between them. So this does not mix with this. So therefore al-barzakh means a separation between two things. Because the abodes where the people will live are three:

• daarud-dunyaa, the abode/of this world
• daarul-barzakh, the abode of the interval period
• daarul-qaraar, the abode of remaining (the Hereafter)

These are the abodes which the servants will pass through: daarud-dunyaa, the abode of this world, which is a place of action; and daarul-barzakh, the interval period, which is a place for waiting; and daarul-qaraar, the place of remaining forever, which will be the place of recompense. Because Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

Until you enter and visit the graves (Sooratut-Takaathur (102), aayah 2)

So this shows that the graves are not a place of permanent residence. [05] Rather a person who is in them is just like a visitor. He visits and then he travels on. So he made the time spent in the graves a visit, because he remains in them and then he travels on.

However, during the time when he is within the grave, when he is first placed in the grave and the soil is levelled over him and the people depart from him, “he will certainly hear the striking of their shoes.” [06] Then two angels will come to him in the grave and they will make him sit up, and his soul will be restored to his body. And he will be given life, a life of this interval period; and it is not like the life which is in this world. So they will ask him, “Who is your Lord?” and “What is your Religion?” and “Who is your Prophet?” So if he gives a correct answer to these questions, then he is saved and he will be blissful, and he will suffer no wretchedness after it. And his grave will be extended for as far as the eye can see for him and a door will be opened for him to Paradise. So its beautiful breeze and its fragrance will come to him and command will be given for him to be given bedding from Paradise. [07] So he will continue to be experiencing delight in his grave. And this is a matter of the ghayb (the hidden and the unseen). We do not know about it. So if we were to open up a grave, we would not find anything from that since it occurs in one world, and we are in a different world.

As for the hypocrite and the doubter then he will say if it is said to him “Who is your Lord?”

He will say “I do not know.”

“Who is you Prophet?”

He will say, “I do not know.”

“What is your Religion?”

He will say “I do not know.” Even if, in this world, he was a learned person and he memorised texts and explanations and he memorised the language and he was a most eloquent speaker and a fine talker. But if he did not have eemaan (true faith), then he will stammer in the grave and he will be unable to answer. When he is asked about these matters he will stutter and say, “Hah, Hah, I do not know, I heard the people saying something, so therefore I said it.” So a door will be opened to the Fire for him and his grave will be made tight upon him until his ribs intertwine (cross over). And its fierce wind and heat come upon him and bedding from the Fire will be laid out for him. [08]

So the punishment of the grave or its bliss is established in the Book and in the Sunnah. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Seek refuge with Allaah from four things: from the punishment of Hell Fire and from the punishment of the grave and from the trials of life and death and from the trial of al-Maseehud-Dajjaal (the false Messiah). [09]

So he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam used to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.[10] And there are indications in the Qur’aan of the punishment of the grave. He, the Most High, said:

And We will make them taste of the lesser punishment before the greater punishment (Sooratus-Sajdah (32), aayah 21)

They (the people of tafseer) said: This is the punishment of the grave. Or it is said: It is the punishment of this world. And in His saying, He the Most High, with regard to the Pharaoh and his people:

They (the people of Fir`own) are exposed to the Fire morning and evening. And on the day when the Hour is established, it will be said, “Enter the people of Fir`own into the severest torment. (Soorah Ghaafir (40), aayah 46)

They are exposed to it morning and evening – this is in the grave. After they died they began being exposed to the Fire morning and evening. And when the Hour (the Resurrection) is established it will be said, “Enter the people of Fir`own into the severest torment.” And He, the Most High, said:

And whoever turns away from remembrance of Me, then he will have a tight and restricted life. And We will raise him up on the Day of Resurrection blind. (Soorah Taa Haa (20), aayah 124)

They (the people of explanation of the Qur’aan) said: A tight and restricted life refers to in the grave. And Allaah’s refuge is sought. [11] [12]

So the evidences proving the punishment of the grave are mutawaatirah (established by huge numbers of people at every level of transmission).

So whoever disbelieves in the punishment of the grave from the Mu`tazilah and those who adopt their way, then he is contradicting mutawaatir evidences, and he will have his belief damaged; and Allaah’s refuge is sought. And he will be missing out on one of the fundamentals from the fundamentals of `aqeedah (creed and belief); and it is belief in the punishment of the grave. So if he is doing so wilfully/knowingly, knowing of the texts, that he just does so out of pride and haughtiness and he denies, then he is a kaafir ( a disbeliever). But as for if he is doing it using a wrong interpretation or doing it blind following someone or is ignorant, then this person is not declared to be a disbeliever. Rather he is declared to astray, but not to be a disbeliever. [13]

His saying, “and Munkar and Nakeer.” Munkar and Nakeer are two names of angels who will come to him in a terrifying form. One of them is called al-Munkar and the other one is called an-Nakeer, as occurs in the ahaadeeth. [14]

Footnotes:

[05] Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaanee used to criticize people when they said about someone who died, “He has gone on to his final resting place.” And he used to say that this is a wrong statement and a wrong belief. After the grave there is either the Paradise or the Hell Fire, and that is the final place, not the grave.

[06] This hadeeth occurs in al-Bukhaaree (no.1273) and reported by Muslim (no.2870) as a hadeeth of Anas radiyAllaahu `anh.

[07] All this occurs in the hadeeth of al-Baraa· ibn `Aazib radiyAllaahu `anhumaa reported by at-Tayaalisee and Imaam Ahmad and Aboo Daawood and al-Haakim and others.

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth was declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in his checking of Aboo Daawood and al-Haakim and others in the long hadeeth.

[08] Part of the same hadeeth of al-Baraa· ibn `Aazib radiyAllaahu `anhumaa

[09] This hadeeth occurs in the Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree (no. 1311) and in Saheeh Muslim (no. 588) from a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anh.

[10] This hadeeth occurs in the Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree (no. 1002) and in Saheeh Muslim (no.584) as a hadeeth of `Aa·ishah radiyAllaahu `anhaa.

[11] Ibn Katheer said in his Tafseer that it is established that “a tight and restricted life” is explained to mean the punishment of the grave. This is established from Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree and Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhumaa.

Translator’s side point: Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (no. 3109) brings a hadeeth from Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu from the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam that he himself explained this aayah, that, “there will be a tight and restricted life for him,” the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “(it means) the punishment of the grave.” Shaykh al-Albaanee said with regard to this report ‘hasan’ (good).

[13] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said in his explanation,

“The punishment of the grave is something which the people of the Sunnah are agreed upon, with consensus (ijmaa`). It is proven in the texts which are authentic, from the Book and the Sunnah. And the Mu`tazilah disagree about it. So they deny the punishment of the grave because they have a belief which is that Paradise and the Fire are not yet created.”

Later on he said, “And it is something which no one from the people of the Sunnah denied.”

[14] It is reported by at-Tirmithee in his Sunan, and Ibn Abee `Aasim in as-Sunnah and Ibn Hibaan and others, from a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu that, “When the deceased person is buried in his grave two angels come to him who are black and blue. One is called al-Munkar and the other is called an-Nakeer.”

Translator’s side point: This hadeeth was declared hasan (good) by Shaykh al-Albaanee.

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 17

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Link: https://abdurrahman.org/finaljourney/

Eemaan in the Balance (Meezaan) on the Day of Resurrection – Sharhu Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 17 : Point 15
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have eemaan in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection. Upon it good and evil will be weighed. It has two scales/balance plates, and a pointer.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

From the issues of `aqeedah (creed and belief) is having eemaan in the Balance (the meezaan) with which the deeds of the servants will be weighed on the Day of Resurrection. He the Most High said:

And the weighing on that Day (on the Day of Resurrection) will be true. So whoever’s scale of good deeds is heavier, then they will be the successful ones. And whoever’s scale of good deeds is lighter, then they are the ones who will have lost their own selves on account of their rejecting our signs. (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayahs 8-9)

And in the other aayah:

They will lose their own selves remaining forever in the Hellfire. (Sooratul-Mu·minoon (23), aayah 103)

If the scale of good deeds is heavier, then the servant will be blissful and successful. But if the opposite is the case and the evil deeds are heavier, the servant will be destroyed.

So whoever’s scale of good deeds is heavy, then he will live a pleasant life in Paradise. And whoever’s scale of good deeds is lighter, then he will have his abode in the pit of Hell. And what will explain to you what is the pit of Hell. It is a blazing hot fire. (Sooratul-Qaari`ah (101), aayahs 6-11)

And this is from the justice of Allaah the Majestic and Most High, that He will weigh the good deeds and the bad deeds with a balance which they will see, a physical balance which has two balance plates; and it has a pointer. The good deeds will be placed on one balance plate and the evil deeds will be placed on one balance plate, as is indicated in the Book and the Sunnah, contrary to the Mu`tazilah, those who say, “What is meant by scales (al-mawaazeen) and the balance (al-meezaan) is the establishment of justice, but there is actually no physical balance there.” This is based upon their false and futile position because they rely upon their intellect and they do not place reliance upon the texts. So the balance is something real. It will have two balance plates as occurs in the authentic ahaadeeth. [01]

“Good and evil will be weighed upon it.” Meaning good deeds and evil deeds. His saying, “It will have two scales and a pointer”. It will have two balance plates as occurs in the ahaadeeth. The good deeds will be placed on one scale and the evil deeds on one scale, as occurs in the hadeeth of bitaaqah (hadeeth of the parchment) with regard to the story of the person who will have ninety-nine scrolls. Every scroll from them will stretch as far as the eye can see and will be filled with evil deeds. So it will be said to him, “Do you have any good deed?” So he will say, “No O my Lord.” So he will see the tremendous size of these large scrolls and he will say, “No O my Lord.” So it will be said, “Rather you will not be wronged; you have one good deed with Us.” So a parchment will be brought containing the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. And it will be placed on one scale and the scrolls will be placed on the other scale. And the parchment will outweigh and the scrolls will be lighter. So he will enter into Paradise.[02] [03] This is a proof that there will be two balance plates for this Balance upon which the deeds will be placed on the Day of Resurrection.

“And it has a pointer” Lisaanul-meezaan (the pointer of the balance) is well known to the people. They call it the heart of the balance, that which leans to the right or to the left. And if the two balance plates are equal, then the heart of the balance will be levelled. And if one scale outweighs, then the pointer will point towards it. [04]

Footnotes:

[01] Abul-Hasan al-Ash`aree mentioned in (his book) Maqaalaat al-Islaamiyyeen, “The people of the Truth said (speaking about the Balance), ‘It has a pointer and two balance plates. On one of the scales good deeds will be weighed, and on the other the evil deeds’…Whereas the people of innovation they negate the Balance and they say, ‘Scales does not mean scales and pointers but rather it is metaphorical, just meaning that Allaah will recompense them for their deeds, measure for measure.’ And they denied the balance.”

[02] This hadeeth is the hadeeth of `Abdullaah ibn `Amr who said, “Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu ` alayhi wa sallam said,

‘A man from my nation will be called out in front of the whole of the creation on the Day of Resurrection. So ninety-nine scrolls will be laid out for him. Each of the scrolls will be as far as the eye can see. Then it will be said, “Do you deny anything from this?” So he will say, “No, O my Lord.” So it will be said, “Do you have any excuse or any good deed?” So the man will fear and he will say, “No.” So it will be said: “Yes indeed, you have good deeds with Us. You will not be wronged with regard to them.” So a parchment will be brought out for him containing, ‘I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. So he will say, “O my Lord, what is this parchment in comparison to those scrolls?” So it will be said, “You will not be wronged.” So the scrolls will be placed on one scale and that parchment will be placed on one scale. So the scrolls will be lighter and the parchment will outweigh.’”

Reported by Ibnul-Mubaarak in his book az-Zuhd and in his Musnad and by Imaam Ahmad and by at-Tirmithee and Ibn Maajah and others besides.

Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaanee declared this hadeeth saheeh, authentic.

[03] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah mentioned some points of benefit with regard to this hadeeth. He said, “The hadeeth contains a number of points of benefit.

“The first benefit is that the people of sins will be beneath al-mashee·ah (Allaah’s Will and Wish). If Allaah wishes He will forgive them by His favour. And if He wishes He will punish them by His justice.

“The second point of benefit is that whoever is such that his eemaan (true belief) and his towheed is strong, and his attachment to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, this fact may be a means for wiping away all of his evil deeds. And there is no clearer proof for this than the fact that this small parchment will outweigh and overcome all of the rest of the scrolls.

“The third point of benefit is that the person who is guilty of major sin, he does not become a disbeliever, as the Khawaarij and the Mu`tazilah claimed. Rather he is beneath mashee·atullaah (the Wish and Will of Allaah). So even if he is punished, then still he will not remain forever in the Fire. “The fourth point of benefit is the tremendous virtue of Laa ilaaha illAllaah, none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah over the rest of deeds. So when a Muslim says it, knowing its meaning and acting in accordance with it, then that is the case, tremendous.

“The fifth point of benefit is establishment of al-meezaan (Balance of deeds) with which the deeds will be weighed on the Day of Resurrection, and that it is a balance which is true and real. It will be erected on the Open Plane of the Resurrection before the passing over the Siraat (Bridge). This is the most correct of the sayings which the People of Knowledge mention.”

[04] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee rahimahullaah said in explanation of this point, “As for the lisaan (the pointer) then it is a point (spike) through which it is known which way the balance inclines.”

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 17

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

The true believers will see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection openly with their eyes – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 16 : Point 14
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And to have Eemaan in seeing Allaah on the Day of Resurrection. They will see Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, with the eyes of their heads. And He will bring them to account without any mediator [01] or any interpreter.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Transcribed Audio:

From the tremendous and important matters of `aqeedah is: Affirmation of the fact that the true believers will see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection openly with their eyes, just as they see the Moon on the night of the full Moon and just as they see the Sun clearly, not obscured by any clouds, as occurs in the authentic ahaadith which are mutawaatir (reported by huge numbers of people at every level of transmission, so many that it is impossible to could have got together upon lie) affirming the believers seeing their Lord.

And Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim brought in Haadiyul-Arwah (ilaa Bilaadil-Afraah) the hadeeth occurring about this. And he did so at great length, quoting their chains of narration; and they are mutawaatir (reported by huge numbers of people at every level of transmission) affirming that the believers will indeed see their Lord openly with their eyes.

And the people of misguidance from the deviant sects, such as the Mu`tazilah and those who took their position, they opposed this and they denied ar-ru’yah (the Seeing, that the believers will indeed see Allaah on the Day of Resurrection). And it is something mentioned in the Qur’aan. He, the Most High, said:

For those who did well in the world, will be al-husnaa (the finest reward of Paradise) and ziyaadah (an increase) [02] (Soorah Yoonus (10), aayah 26)

There occurs in Saheeh Muslim that the ziyaadah, the increase, is looking at the Face of Allaah the Perfect and Most High. [03]

And He the Most High said:

They shall have whatever they (the believers in Paradise) wish therein and with Us there is something extra.(Soorah Qaaf (50), aayah 35)

And al-mazeed, that which is extra, is looking at the Face of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. And there occurs in Sooratul-Qiyaamah:

Some faces on that day (Day of Resurrection) will be radiant, looking at their Lord (Sooratul-Qiyamah(75), aayahs 22-23)

Naadirah with a daad from an-nudrah, radiance, which means that which is shining and beautiful.

You will recognise upon their faces nadrah (the radiance) of bliss (Sooratul-Mutaffifeen (83), aayah 24)

…looking at their Lord

With a zaa· (naazirah) meaning with their eyes. They will be looking at Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, feeling more joy at that than the joy which they experience on account of the bliss in Paradise. This occurs in the Honourable Qur’aan. In Sooratul-Mutaffifeen He said with regard to the disbelievers:

But no, on that Day, the disbelievers will be screened away and prevented from seeing their Lord (Sooratul-Mutaffifeen (83), aayah 15)

Meaning screened and blocked from seeing Allaah. So if the disbelievers are blocked from seeing Allaah, then this is a proof that the believers will see their Lord the Mighty and Majestic. [04] And that is because the believers believed in Him in this world, yet they did not see Him. Rather they relied upon the evidences and therefore believed in Him. And they believed in His Messengers. So they believed in Him even though they did not see Him in this world. So therefore Allaah will honour them in Paradise that He will show Himself to them, so that they will see Him openly because they believed in Him in this world and did not see Him. But as for the disbelievers, because of the fact that they disbelieved in Him in this world, therefore Allaah will block them from seeing Him on the Day of Resurrection as a recompense (punishment) for them.

as a fully appropriate recompense. (Sooratun-Naba· (78), aayah 26)

And from the false doubts which the Mu`tazilah rely upon, and those who held their saying, is that Allaah said to Moosaa: You shall not see Me.

In His saying:

And when Moosaa came to Our appointed place and His Lord spoke to Him, he (Moosaa) said O My Lord show Yourself to Me, so that I may look upon You. So He (Allaah the Most High) said You will not see Me. However look at the mountain. So if it remains settled in its place, then You will see Me (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 143)

They said, “And this is a proof that Allaah cannot be seen.” We say: Yes this is with regard to this world, because the event occurred in this world. We agree that Allaah cannot be seen in this world. So Moosaa asked to see Him in this world, so Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, said: He said You will not see Me – Meaning in this life.

And an-nafee, negation, with Lan (in Arabic it is negation of something that is occurring in the future) does not necessitate ta’beed (its being something forever). Rather it is a negation for a certain time. So (His saying) : He said You will not see Me – Meaning, ‘You will not see Me in this world.’ And there occurs in the Arabic language that negating something with Lan does not necessitate its being forever (a negation forever). And therefore Ibnu Maalik [05] said in al-Kaafiyatush-Shaafiyah in nahw (Arabic grammar):

Whoever holds the opinion that negating something with Lan means forever, Then reject his saying and support other than it.

Meaning that Lan does not necessitate a negation that is forever. And the proof is also that Allaah said with regard to the Jews:

Then wish for death if you are truthful. But they will never wish for it (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayahs 94-95)

Yet it occurs that in the Hereafter they will indeed wish for death in order to be relieved from the torment. He, the Most High, said:

They will call out ‘O Maalik! Let Your Lord put an end to us’ (Sooratuz-Zukhruf (43), aayah 77)

So they will request death. So this proves that Lan does not mean negation without end. This is what is necessitated by the Arabic language and it is what is necessitated by what is indicated in the Qur’aan.

They say also that what proves that Allaah cannot be seen is His saying:

Sight cannot encompass Him (Allaah) but He encompasses Sight (Sooratul- An`aam (6), aayah 103)

We say to them: this does not contain a negation of Seeing (ru·yah), rather it only negates totally encompassing (idraak). He did not say, “Sight will not see Him.” He said, “it will not encompass Him.”

And denying encompassing is something different to denying seeing. So sight will see Him, however it will not encompass Him. So idraak means encompassing Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. So Even though they will see Him in Paradise, they will not fully encompass Him, He the Perfect and Most High. So what is negated here is encompassing him. [06] So they will see Him but they will not fully encompass Him. They will see Him as is proven by the evidences. And harmonizing the texts is what is obligatory. If there are differences between texts, then as far as it is possible to harmonize between them, this must be done. And this is clear; and all Praise is for Allaah. And the Speech of Allaah can never contradict itself. Rather some parts of it explain other parts. As for the person who takes one aayah and abandons a different ayaah, then this is from the people of deviation. He the Most High said:

So as for those people in whose hearts is deviation, then they follow that which is unclear, seeking discord and seeking to falsely interpret it (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 7)

So evidence is taken from the Qur’aan in totality.

All of it is from our Lord (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 7)

Just as the raasikhoon (those firmly grounded in knowledge) say. So the Qur’aan, some parts of it explain the rest. And there can never be any contradiction in it because Allaah has negated from it any contradiction. He, the Most High, said:

Will they not ponder/reflect upon the Qur’aan. If it had been from other than Allaah, they would certainly would have found in it many contradictions (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 82)

So if you have a problem in understanding an aayah, then you look into the Qur’aan for that which will explain it. And if you do not find that, then you go to the Sunnah to find that which will explain it in the Sunnah. And if you do not find its explanation in the Sunnah, then you go to the sayings of the Companions, those who narrated from the Messenger sallAllaahu ` alayhi wa sallam, to find in their sayings that which will explain the aayah which you have a problem in understanding. The Qur’aan, and all Praise is for Allaah, is preserved in its wording and in its meaning. It neither opposes nor contradicts itself, rather contradictions only occur in the understandings of mankind.

And likewise those false claimants to knowledge, those who did not truly study knowledge and did not take the principles of deriving evidence and of how to reach conclusions, they derive proof without understanding (fiqh). And they affirm things which no-one before them affirmed from the people of knowledge because of jahl, ignorance, and because of ta`aalum, pseudo-knowledge/false knowledge. So these are tremendous matters which require learning and require precision and require careful consideration and require verification, because the `aqeedah (creed and belief) is the foundation. And if there are deficiencies in it, this will be a deficiency in the foundation (of your religion). So in summary, this is the disagreement of the people with regard to seeing Allaah the Mighty and Majestic on the Day of Resurrection. So Allaah cannot be seen in this world. He will only be seen by the believers in the Hereafter. And He will be screened away from the disbelievers.

His saying, “And having Eemaan in ar-ru’yah (seeing Him) on the Day of Resurrection.” Why did he say on the Day of Resurrection? Because He, the Majestic and Most High, cannot be seen in this world.

And his saying, “They will see Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, with the eyes of their heads.” He said with the eyes of their heads to negate ta’weel, false interpretation/ misinterpretation, of those who say the meaning of ‘they will see their Lord’ means: with their hearts, not with their sight.

His saying, “And He will bring them to account without any mediator and without any interpreter.” Meaning, on the Day of Resurrection at the hisaab, Reckoning, the servant will be in private with his Lord. And Allaah will call him to account for his deeds in his language which the servant will understand. There will be no interpreter between him and Him. The interpreter is one who conveys the meaning from one language to another language, like the one who conveys the meaning from the English language to the Arabic language or vice versa because the languages are many.

Footnotes:

[01] Translator’s side point: ‘without any screen’ in some editions

[02] Translator’s side point: Muhammad ibn Jareer At-Tabaree, the famous mufassir of the Qur’aan, explained this part of the aayah by saying, “For those from His creation who performed the worship of Allaah well in this world, such that they obeyed Him with regard to what He commanded them and forbade them.”

[03] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 181) (in the Book of Eemaan) (Hadeeth of) Suhayb radiAllaahu `anh, from the Prophet sallAllaahu ` alayhi wa sallam that he said,

“When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allaah, the Exalted and Most High, will say, ‘Do you wish for Me to give you any increase?’ So they will say, ‘Have You not made our faces white? Have You not entered us into Paradise and saved us from the Fire.’ He said: So then He will uncover the screen and they will not have been given anything which is more beloved to them than looking at their Lord the Mighty and Majestic.

And then he recited this aayah:

For those who did well in the world, there will be the best reward (of Paradise) and an increase (looking upon their Lord). (Soorah Yoonus (10), aayah 26)

[04] Translator’s side point: As Imaam ash-Shaafi`ee also said, that this is mentioned as being a punishment for the disbelievers that they will blocked, not able to see their Lord. So therefore the believers who will not be punished, this is affirmation that they will indeed see their Lord.

[06] Translator’s side point: Some of the people of knowledge mention a point that a person for example from a distance may see the walls of a town, but not see what is beyond the walls, he may see the town but he doesn’t see what is beyond the town, what is inside the town and all the details, all around the town from every aspect. He does not encompass the town he can just see the town. So there is a clear difference between idraak, totally encompassing something, and between seeing it.

[05] Translator’s note: the great scholar of the language

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 16

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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The Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah and It is NOT Created – Sharhu Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 15 : Point 13
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah, His Revelation and His Light. It is not created, because the Qur’aan is from Allaah and that which is from Allaah is not created. This is what was stated by Maalik ibn Anas and by Ahmad ibn Hanbal rahimahumAllaah and by the jurists who came before them and after them. And disputation concerning it is disbelief.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Explanation:

His saying, “And the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah, and His Revelation sent down and His Light. And it is not created”. From the creed and belief of AhlusSunnah wal-Jamaa`ah, the People of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah is that the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah. He spoke with it in reality and Jibreel heard it from Him and he descended with it to Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. No one disagreed about this creed and belief, (no-one) from the people of knowledge who proceeded upon the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. The only ones who disagreed about it were the people of misguidance from the Jahmiyyah, the followers of Al-Jahm ibn Safwaan, and the offspring of the Jahmiyyah who are the Mu`tazilah and the Zaydiyyah and the Shee`ah. All of those people took up this matter from the Jahmiyyah. And likewise the Ibaadiyyah; all of them proceeded upon the methodology which contradicts the methodology of the Ahlus-Sunnah walJamaa`ah. And they held that the Qur’aan is something created because, in their view, Allaah is not to be described as speaking, just as He is not described with the Attribute of Hearing or Seeing or Knowing or Willing and other than that, in their view. Nor is he described as having a Face or having two Hands to other than that. And their intent in this is to corrupt the `aqeedah (creed and belief). Even if they try to make it seem that their intent is actually to declare Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, free from any resemblance to the created beings. And this is a false claim, because the Attributes of the Lord, the Perfect, do not resemble the attributes of the created beings. So the Lord, the Majestic and Most High, has Names (asmaa·) and Attributes (sifaat) which befit Him and His Greatness. And the created beings have names and attributes/characteristics which are appropriate for them and for their human nature. So there is no resemblance between the two types from the aspect of true reality, haqeeqah and of the ‘how’, kayfiyyah, even though they share in the meaning and the wording. And this is called al-mutawaati·, different things which are covered by a common word. However, they do not share in the reality and in how they are (kayfiyyah). This is the position of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah, and their proof for this is from the Book of Allaah.

And if anyone from the people of shirk seeks that you grant him protection then grant him protection so that he can hear the Speech of Allaah (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 6)

So He ascribed Speech to Himself, He the Perfect and Most High, and said with regard to the hypocrites:

They wish to alter the Speech of Allaah (Sooratul-Fat.h (48), aayah 15)

So He ascribed it to Himself. And the proofs from the Sunnah and the ijmaa` (consensus of this nation) are many for this matter. So it is a matter of certainty without there being any doubt. And the disagreement of the people of misguidance does not affect the fact that the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah. And it is one instance of His Speech, He the Perfect. So Allaah speaks and He continues to speak whenever He wishes, if He wishes, with whatever He wishes. He has the Attribute of Kalaam (Speech) and this Qur’aan is one of the instances of the Speech of Allaah. So He spoke with the Tawraah and (He spoke) with the Injeel and with the Zaboor. He speaks with commands and with prohibitions. He says to something kun, be, and it is.

His (Allaah’s) command, when He wills something, is just that He says to it be, and it is. (Soorah Yaaseen (36), aayah 82)

So He affirmed for Himself qawl (Saying).

When Allaah said O `Eesaa (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 55)

And He spoke to Moosaa, with Speech which Moosaa heard when He sent him to Fir’awn (the Pharaoh). So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, has the Attribute of Speech and from His Speech is the honourable Qur’aan.

As for the saying of the people of misguidance, that its being ascribed to Allaah is ascribing a created thing to its Creator, like the she-camel of Allaah or the House of Allaah; so we say this is a lie, and it is a deception. That which is ascribed to Allaah is of two categories:

The first category is ascription of abstract things or Attributes (ma`aanin) –  i.e non-material objects

The second category is ascribing material objects.

Abstract things or Attributes which are ascribed to Allaah: then this is to ascribe an Attribute to the One who has the Attribute. And it is a true and real ascription. So this will be from His Attributes, such as Speech and Hearing and Seeing.

Ascribing objects, such as the she-camel and the House of Allaah (the Ka`bah) this is ascription of a created thing to the One who created it. And it is an ascription to show honour.

But those people (those who say the Speech of Allaah means the speech created by Allaah) they have mixed up these two matters and they do not make a distinction between this and this. And therefore the People of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah state this matter in the Books of creed and beliefs to refute the people of misguidance. And if Allaah did not have Speech, as those people claim, then how does He command and prohibit? And the meaning of this would be that the Islamic rulings are nullified. And it undermines the main foundation and it is the Qur’aan. So if this fundamental is undermined, then Islaam would collapse. However they take cover under the claim of tanzeeh (declaring Allaah free from resemblance to the creation). But this is not tanzeeh, rather it is ta`teel (purely striping Him of Attributes). And there is a difference between ta`teel denying Attributes and between tanzeeh (declaring Him free from resemblance). At-tanzeeh is that which Allaah mentioned in His Saying:

There is nothing like Him (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 11)

Do you know of anyone similar to Him? (Soorah Maryam (19), aayah 65)

This is tanzeeh, declaring the Creator free of resemblance to the creation, which is mentioned by Allaah. And it is to deny any resemblance between the creation and the Creator or that the creation is equal to the Creator. That is what Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, is declared free of. But as for denying the Attributes, then that is just ta`teel, pure denial and negation, which comes about as a result of tashbeeh [01] . So they imagine resemblance initially and then they deny the Attributes secondly. And this is not tanzeeh, declaring the Creator free of resemblance. So there is a difference between tanzeeh, declaring the Creator free of resemblance and between ta`teel, denying the Attributes.

The Ash`arees came with something astonishing, even more astonishing than the saying of the Jahmiyyah. So they said,

“The Speech of Allaah is divided into two categories: the meanings and the words. The meanings, this is the Speech of Allaah. And Allaah has the Attribute that He has Speech, and it is the meaning which has existed eternally in Himself. But as for Allaah speaking with letters and with a voice, then this is to be denied for Allaah in their view. And they say it (His Speech) is just a meaning existing in Himself, He the Most Perfect and Most High. As for the words, then it is the speech of a created being meaning it is from the speech of Jibreel or from the speech of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.”

So they made the Qur’aan to be composed of two things, from something created and from something not created. So they did not come to be with the People of the Sunnah and say that the Qur’aan is not created. And they were not with the Jahmiyyah and said that the Qur’aan all of it is created. Rather they were waverers (neither here nor there). Just like the saying of the Christians with regard to the Messiah, that he was composed of two things, of the divine and the human. And they say that the human and divine became as one. [02]

So in summary this matter is very great. And do not be intimidated by the traitors, those who claim that they are from the People of the Sunnah, and those who say, “This matter does not warrant all of this arguing. And Imam Ahmad went beyond the limit when he refused to say that the Qur’aan is created. And this matter does not warrant all of this.” This is present in the writings of some of those who ascribe themselves to knowledge, and some who say, “What happened between Imam Ahmad and his opponents was just a political disagreement.” But if you carefully reflect, you will find that this matter is not something slight. Because if it is denied that the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah, then what remains with us? If the Lord has the Attribute of Speech removed from Him, then this will be a deficiency in the Lord, the Perfect. Because the one who does not speak is not an ilaah (is not one who is deserving of worship). And Allaah, the Perfect, He rebuked the Jews when they worshipped the calf and said:

Do they not see that it (the calf) does not speak to them. (Sooratul- A`raaf (7), aayah 148)

So it must be the case that the Lord speaks. And He controls and He commands and He forbids. So therefore if Speech is negated for Allaah, then it would be the case that He is not deserving of divinity and the right to worship. High and Exalted is Allaah above what they say. So this is a tremendous matter. Therefore Imaam Ahmad rahimahullaah took the stance that he took, the stance of the unshakable mountains, and he would not give in, and he did not make any exceptions for himself. And he had patience upon the trial and he had patience upon imprisonment and upon being lashed and upon being demeaned by three khaleefahs (Caliphs), al-Ma·moon, al-Mu`tasim and al-Waathiq. Each one of them followed on in succession upon torturing him. They wanted him to give in, but he refused rahimahullaah and he remained firm. At the end of the time of al-Waathiq (the last of the three), it is said that he turned back from this, when there was a debate between a scholar from the People of the Sunnah and between Bishr al-Mareesee and (Bishr) al-Mareesee was defeated, and at that point al-Waathiq turned back. [03]

So in summary, this is a tremendous matter and it is very important and must not be treated lightly. And it may not be said, as some of the ignorant people and some of the writers and the intellectuals say, or the Ash`arees or those who follow their way, they say, “This is a matter which does not warrant all of this importance and all of these refutations.”

And Imam Ahmad used as a proof against them His Saying:

So that he may hear the Speech of Allaah. (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 6)

Thus did Allaah say before. (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 15)

“Allaah said,” so He affirmed for Himself Speech and Sayings.

His saying, “and His Revelation sent down,” meaning the Qur’aan. He sent it down to His Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam through the intermediary Jibreel, `alayhis-salaam. He the Most High said:

The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel, `alayhis-salaam) descended with it (the Qur’aan) to your heart (heart of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) so that you should be from the warners in a clear Arabic tongue (language). (Sooratush-Shu`araa· (26), aayaat 193-195)

So this is clear and very apparent. Yet despite this there are some who come and say, “The Qur’aan is a created thing, not something sent down, and Allaah did not speak with it and Allaah is not described with Speech.” High and Exalted is Allaah above what they say.

His saying, “and it is His Light.” The Qur’aan is described as being Light. He, the Most High said:

But rather We made it a Light, by which We guide whomever We wish from our servants (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 52)

And it is called Rooh, life or spirit.

And We revealed to you a Rooh (Spirit/Life/Soul) from our Command. (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 52)

Rooh, a Spirit or Life, because the hearts come to life through it (the Qur’aan), just as the bodies come to life through a spirit/soul. So it is a Spirit/Soul for the hearts. And the well-known soul is a soul for the bodies. So therefore it (the Qur’aan) is Light, and it is a Spirit and it is Guidance, and it is a Reminder and it is Admonitions, and it has many names, which shows its greatness.

His saying, “because the Qur’aan is from Allaah and that which is from Allaah is not created.” Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, along with His Names and His Attributes, is not created. So He is the Creator and everything besides Him is something created. And it cannot be said that the Names and Attributes are created, because they are from Allaah, and that which is from Allaah is not created, meaning Allaah has them as His Attributes. So Allaah with His Names and His Attributes is the Creator and whatever is besides Him is created.

His saying, “And likewise Maalik ibn Anas and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allaah have mercy upon them, said,” This is the saying of the Imaams. And from them was Maalik, the Imaam of the abode of Hijrah (al-Madeenah), and Imaam Ahmad, the one who was tortured for that and who was harmed, may Allaah have mercy upon him, and he had patience; and others besides them from the Imaams of AhlusSunnah. This was their saying. [04]

His saying, “and whoever came before them from the jurists (the scholars of fiqh) and whoever came after them.” Meaning, Imaam Maalik and Imaam Ahmad were not alone in this saying. Rather it was said by those who came before them from the Companions and the taabi`een and the successors of the taabi`een. And whoever came after them from the Imaams.

His saying, “And disputation about it is disbelief.” [05] Disputing about the Qur’aan, whether it is something created or whether it is something not created or a person having doubts and saying, “I don’t know, there is disagreement about this matter,” as people say now. So a manifestation has now appeared where they say, “The matter is khilaafiyyah/there is disagreement about this matter”. So we say: When there is disagreement, then what is to be followed is the daleel, the proof. We were not given the duty in the Religion of having to follow the disagreements of the people and sayings of the people. We have being given the duty in the Religion of following the proof. So when there is disagreement we test the disagreement against the proof. And whatever that is found to be supported by the proof, then it is the Truth. And whatever is contrary to the proof, then it is false. And Allaah did not abandon us to opinions and sayings and disagreements. Rather He said:

So if you disagree in anything, then refer it back to Allaah and to the Messenger. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 59)

Imam Ahmad said in his book, Usoolus-Sunnah,

“And the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah and it is not created. And a person should not be too weak to say, ‘It is not created.’ Because the Speech of Allaah is not something separate from Him. And there is nothing from Him that is created.”

And whatever you disagree about, then its judgement is to be referred back to Allaah. That is Allaah my Lord. Upon Him I place my reliance and to Him I turn constantly. (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 10)

So it is obligatory to refer back to the Book of Allaah and to the Sunnah of His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And whatever is supported by proof is to be taken, and whatever is contrary to the proof is to be left. And as for the person who takes a saying which conforms to his desires or his whims, even if it goes against the proof, then he is one who is astray; and this one is worshipping his own desires. As for the person who is worshipping Allaah, then he takes that which is supported by the proof from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

Footnotes:

[01] Transcriber’s note: meaning resemblance

[02] Translator’s side point: Imaam ath-Thahabee, in his book Siyar A`laamin-Nubalaa· in volume 11, in the biography of Ibn Kullaab (the founder of what is called the Ash`aree creed), said, “Abul-`Abbaas al-Baghawee said, “Thaythoon the Christian said to me, ‘May Allaah have mercy upon `Abdullaah (Ibn Kullaab). He used to come to me in the church and he used to take things from me and if he had lived, we would have turned the Muslims into Christians.’ So it was said to this Christian man Thaythoon, ‘What do you say about the Messiah (`Eesaa)?’ He said, ‘What the people of your way said about the Qur’aan.’”

[03] Translator’s side point: That story is mentioned in a footnote from Siyar A`laamin-Nubalaa· by Imaam ath-Thahabee

[04] Translator’s side point: Al-Laalikaa·ee reports in his book, Usool I`tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah, from Aboo Uways who said, “I heard my maternal uncle, Maalik ibn Anas, and a group of the scholars mention the Qur’aan and they said, ‘It is the Speech of Allaah, and it is from Him and there is nothing from Him which is created.’”

[05] Translator’s side point: There is a hadeeth which directly states it reported by Aboo Daawood as hadeeth 4603 declared hasan saheeh, good authentic, by Shaykh al-Albaanee from Aboo Hurayrah, from the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, that he said: “Disputation about the Qur’aan is disbelief.”

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani.
Download PDF of Lesson 15

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Links : 
https://abdurrahman.org/quran/
https://abdurrahman.org/asma-wa-sifaat-com

No one says regarding the Attributes of the Lord, the Most High, “How?” and “Why?” except for one who doubts about Allaah – Dawud Burbank [Short Clip|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 14 : Point 12
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And no one says regarding the Attributes of the Lord, the Most High, “How?” and “Why?” except for one who doubts about Allaah, the Exalted and Most High.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Explanation:

The kayfiyya (how) is not to be asked about. And the reason why He said such and such, is not to be asked about. Rather one should submit to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, because no one knows the how except for Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. [03]

Footnotes:

[03] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said regarding this point, “No one will say, ‘Why (is that)?’ with regard to Allaah’s Attributes except one who doubts about the Attributes of Allaah, the Most High. A person who is always afflicted with ‘Why (is this)?’ and ‘How (is that)?’ and this saying comes out upon the slips of his tongue, this person is in danger. Indeed he is at the limit of danger. And for this reason the Companions, when revelation came down to them, they believed in it with certainty and they attested to it. And they did not ask ‘Why is this?’ and ‘How (is that)?’ Rather they submitted to everything which Allaah informed of open heartedly and accepting it fully. So therefore they did not ask ‘Why?’ and ‘How?’”

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani. Download PDF of Lesson 14

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Links : https://abdurrahman.org/asma-wa-sifaat-com

Our Lord is the First without any beginning, and the Last without any end – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 14 : Point 11 (Part B)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And know, may Allaah have mercy upon you, that speculative speech, kalaam, about the Lord, the Most High, is a newly introduced matter and it is an innovation and misguidance. Nothing is to be said about the Lord except what He, the Mighty and Majestic, described Himself with in the Qur·aan and what the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam explained to his Companions. So He, the Majestic in Renown, is One.

There is nothing like Him; and He is The All Hearing The All Seeing. (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 11)

Our Lord is the First without any beginning, and the Last without any end. He knows whatever is secret and whatever is most hidden. He has ascended over His Throne, and His Knowledge is in every place. And no place is free of His Knowledge.

[In this Part B audio, the last paragraph in the above point is covered. You can Listen to Point 11 (Part A)]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

His saying, “Our Lord is The First, without any ‘when’. And He is The Last, without any end.” Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, is The First without any beginning and The Last without any end. He, the Most High, said

He (Allaah) is The First and The Last and The Uppermost and The One who is Closest (Sooratul-Hadeed (57), aayah 3)

These are names which are opposites. ‘The First’ (Al-Owwal) is opposite to ‘The Last’ (Al-Aakhir). ‘The Uppermost’ (Az-Zaahir) is opposite to ‘The Closest’ (AlBaatin). And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam explained this aayah in his saying: You are The First, and there is nothing before You. And You are The Last, so there is nothing after You. And You are The Uppermost One, so there is nothing above You. And You are The Closest One, so there is nothing closer than You. [01]

This was the explanation of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. But then there came those people who explained it with other than the explanation of the Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) who say, “Az-Zaahir means ‘one who became apparent to the intellects’ and ‘who became apparent through clear proofs’, and it does not mean that He is above the created beings or that He is above the Throne!” So this is false and futile, contrary to the explanation of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. The one from the people who knows best about Allaah is Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And he has explained this aayah with a clear explanation, that ‘The First One’ means the One whom there is nothing before Him: “The First with no beginning.” And ‘The Last one’ He is the One whom there is nothing after Him: “The Last with no end.” And “The Uppermost” is the One whom there is nothing above Him. He is above all created beings.

And He is The Invincible Subduer above His servants. And He is The All Wise, The All Aware. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 18)

And (Allaah) He is the Invincible Subduer above His servants. And He sends down guardians over you. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 61)

He has exaltedness (being above and exalted) with regard to His Self (Thaat). And He has exaltedness of Status (Qadr). And He has exaltedness in Supremacy (Qahr). “And You are The One who is Closest so there is nothing closer than you…” meaning that He knows everything. Nothing at all is hidden from Him. So He, along with the fact that He is above His created beings, then along with this, nothing is hidden from Him, from the innermost secrets and what their chests conceal.

Nothing whatever is hidden from Allaah, in the earth nor in the heavens (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 5)

And then people come who say, “Allaah the Majestic and Most High is not above and He is not beneath, and He is not to the right and He is not to the left, and He is not inside the Universe and He is not outside the Universe.” The meaning of this would be that He does not exist as occurs in the books of the people of kalaam (people of theological rhetoric).

His saying, “He knows what is secret and what is most hidden. And He is ascended upon His Throne.” So His knowing whatever is upon the earth and whatever is beneath the earth and whatever is under the soil, this does not contradict His being above His Throne. Because Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, encompasses everything and nothing encompasses Him, He the Perfect and Most High. And the whole of the creation in comparison to Him is just tiny, like nothing at all. And He is Al-`Azeem, The Tremendously Great One; Al-Kabeer, The Incomparably Great One; Al-Muta`aal, The Supreme and Exalted One; Al-Jaleel, The Majestic and Supreme – He the Perfect and Most High. So we do not make analogy between Him and ourselves.

They have not given Allaah the respect and honour which is due to Him, and the whole earth will be grasped by Him on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Perfect and Exalted is He and far removed from that which they associate with Him. (Sooratuz-Zumar (39), aayah 67)

All the created things are, in relation to Him, like nothing. Even if they are very great in the eyes of the people, but with respect to Him they are like nothing. (They are nothing) before His Tremendousness, He the Perfect and Most High. People, they do not give the honour and respect to Allaah that is His due when they deny His Ability and His Greatness.

O mankind, a similitude has been struck for you so listen to it. Those whom you call upon besides Allaah could never create even a fly, even if they gathered together to do it. And if the fly were to take something from them (those idols) they cannot rescue it from it. Weak is the seeker and the one sought.2 They do not give Allaah His due honour and respect. (Sooratul-Hajj (22), aayahs 73-74)

They do not recognise the Tremendousness of Allaah and His Ability and His Supremeness and His Knowledge. So therefore they draw analogy between Him and themselves. Therefore they belittle Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. If you people, all of you together, from the first of you to the last of you, all the jinn and all mankind, were to gather together to create a fly, the smallest thing, they would not be able to do so. Particularly whom they call upon besides Allaah, from those objects of worship and those false lords.

They could never create a fly even if they all gathered together to do it. If the most proficient doctors gathered, and the cleverest people in the world and the craftsmen and the inventors, and you were to say to them, “Produce a fly for us,” they would not be able to do it – even though they are able to build huge ocean liners which contain airstrips and carry aeroplanes, and they can build huge aeroplanes. They are able to build these things. As for creating a fly and putting life into it, then they are not able to do it. They can draw a picture of a fly and of a person and of wild animals and the like, but they are not able to make any such thing walk and talk. They can just draw it with its details only. As for breathing life into it, then this is from the command of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. So therefore how can analogy be made between the Creator, the Majestic and Most High, and the creation. He is not reached by the intellects and people’s thoughts, and He cannot be imagined by their thinking, He the Perfect and Most High.

His saying, “He knows whatever is secret and whatever is most hidden. And He is ascended over His throne.” His being ascended over His Throne does not contradict His knowing whatever is hidden and whatever is most secret. So it may not be said that because He has ascended over His throne He is therefore distant from the people and He does not hear and does not see therefore, for this is claiming tashbeeh, that there is likeness between the Lord and the creation.

So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, all things are the same to Him. Nothing is hidden from Him, He the Perfect and Most High; something close or something far, the first of the creation and the last of them, this world or the Hereafter. All of it is within the Knowledge of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. And therefore this gigantic creation is caused to proceed by Him, He the Perfect, and by His Ability and His Will and His Creating.

Allaah holds the heavens and the earth, so that they do not move away. And if they were to move away, then no one besides Him, could hold them. Indeed He is Forbearing and He forgives extensively (Soorah Faatir(35), aayah 41)

The orbit of the stars, the Sun and the Moon in its precise calculated manner which does not alter and does not err and does not slip, who is the One who ordered it with this arrangement? He is Allaah the Majestic and Most High.

The Moon and the stars proceed in an orderly manner until Allaah wishes the end of this world and moving on to the Hereafter. The One who ordered it is All Wise and All Knowing, the Perfect and Most High.

So if you were to reflect upon this creation, then you would realise the greatness of Allaah the Perfect and Most High. So when the people see a precise machine they marvel at this skill, and at its maker, but it is a small thing; then how about this whole creation which does not fail. Who causes it to persist and who preserves it? Who is the One who preserves this creation, all of it, so that it does not alter and does not fail and does not miss out on anything? He is Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

So these created things, the small ones and the large ones, who brings provision to them? Huge created things, who is the One who produced provision for them, for each one in accordance with its own condition? He is Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

So what is obligatory is that we should submit to that which came from Allaah, because He knows best about Himself, and that we submit to what came from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam because the Messenger is the one from the creation who knows best about his Lord, He the Perfect and Most High; and that we do not raise objections and we do not interfere with our intellects and our own thinking. So there is no contradiction between the fact that “He knows whatever is secret and whatever is most hidden” and “He is ascended over His throne.”

And His Saying, “And His knowledge is in every place. And no place is free of His knowledge.” His knowledge is in every place.

Nothing whatever is hidden from Allaah, in the earth nor in the heavens. (Soorah Aali `Imraan (3), aayah 5)

And He (Allaah) knows whatever is in the land and in the sea. And no leaf falls except that He knows it. And there is no grain in the darkest depths of the earth, nor anything fresh, nor anything dry, except that it is written in a clear book. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 59)

And He (Allaah) is the One who takes your souls by night. Meaning in sleep.

And He knows whatever you do…
Meaning ‘whatever (deeds) you earn’.

…in the day. Then He raises you up in it. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 60)

Meaning you get up from sleep. Who caused you to sleep in the first place? And who is it that causes you to wake up? He is Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. So if you were to think about this creation, then this would lead you to realize the Greatness of Allaah and you would submit to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic; if you were to reflect upon the speech of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and what he informed about with regard to events of the past and of the future, things which have occurred just as he informed sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Who guided him to know that? It was Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. He is the One who revealed it to him. It was not from himself; rather it was just from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. If you were to compare the ahaadeeth (sayings of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to the events that have occurred, you would be amazed. The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam mentioned to us about the lives of the Prophets and the previous nations (he mentioned) a great deal (of that), even though his time was much later. Who made him aware of this? It was Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. So this is indeed a proof that he is a Messenger from Allaah. This tremendous Qur·aan, it is not possible that it could have come from other than Allaah.

Say, if the whole of mankind and jinn were to gather together to bring the like of this Qur·aan, they could not bring its like, even if they all tried to help each other. (Sooratul-Israa· (17), aayah 88)

It is from the speech of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. And the Messenger was just one who conveyed the Message from Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

And this Qur’aan has been sent by Revelation to me to warn you with it and to warn whomever it reaches. (Sooratul-An`aam (6), aayah 19)

So he was one who conveyed the Message from Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

Footnotes:

[01] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (4/2084 no. 2713) from a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anh.

[02 Translator’s side point: At-Tabaree explains that to mean, “Weak is the idol and weak is the fly.”

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani. Download PDF of Lesson 14

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Speculative speech (kalaam) about Allaah, the Most High, is an innovation and misguidance (Part A) – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 13 : Point 11 (Part A)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And know, may Allaah have mercy upon you, that speculative speech, kalaam, about the Lord, the Most High, is a newly introduced matter and it is an innovation and misguidance. Nothing is to be said about the Lord except what He, the Mighty and Majestic, described Himself with in the Qur·aan and what the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam explained to his Companions. So He, the Majestic in Renown, is One.

There is nothing like Him; and He is The All Hearing The All Seeing. (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 11)

Our Lord is the First without any beginning, and the Last without any end. He knows whatever is secret and whatever is most hidden. He has ascended over His Throne, and His Knowledge is in every place. And no place is free of His Knowledge.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

His saying, “Kalaam, speech/rhetorical theology/theological rhetoric, with regard to the Lord, the Most High, is something new and it is an innovation and misguidance.” Meaning, theological rhetoric, kalaam, with regard to the Self of the Lord, the Perfect and Most High, and with regard to His Names and His Attributes, is a newly introduced affair. It was introduced by the people of misguidance, those who do not submit to the texts and who do not have fear of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So therefore they speak about the Self of the Lord, and they speak about His Names and His Attributes, and they deny and they negate that which Allaah affirmed for Himself or that which His Messenger affirmed for Him. And they bring opinions from themselves. (And they say) “This is what is correct.” They speak in explanation of the texts with other than their correct explanation, or they say, “We don’t understand them.” They say, “We leave and entrust them to Allaah.” And the Speech of Allaah and the speech of His Messenger becomes just like foreign/non-Arabic speech which the Arabs do not understand.

So what is obligatory upon the Muslims is that they continue upon the correct path, upon the way of the Salaf and that they do not give any attention to those people who mislead others, those who argue about Allaah without any proof which He has given them. They dispute about the Qur·aan and they dispute about the Sunnah. Their affair is just argumentation. So it is obligatory to beware of those people. Those people are not people who are followers (of the Truth); rather they are innovators who are just following their desires. [02]

His saying, “And nothing is to be said about the Lord except that which He described Himself with, He the Mighty and Majestic, in the Qur’aan.” Having forbidden argumentation about Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and arguments/debates about the Names of Allaah and His Attributes, he now explains what is obligatory. And it is that we affirm the Qur·aan and the Sunnah just as they came upon their meaning, the meaning taken from the Arabic language with which the Qur·aan and the Sunnah came down. So al `ilm, knowledge, its meaning is well known in the language. Likewise al-wajh, the face, is well known. And al-`ayn, eyes, and al-yad, hands, and al-istiwaa·, ascending, and al-`uloow, being high above, all of these and their like, their meaning is well known in the Arabic language in which the Qur·aan came down. Whereas the people of misguidance, they say “This speech is not in accordance with what is apparent from it.”

And then they divide into two categories:

• A category who say, “We stop and withhold. And we say what is apparent is not what is meant; but then we do not understand what is actually meant by it.” And they are the Mufowwidah the people of tafweed.

• And the second category are the Mu’owwillah, the people of ta’weel, who give false interpretations. And they are more in number; they are the majority out of these two groups. They interpret with other than their correct meaning.

So they went astray and they lead others astray and they preoccupy the people. And they fill up books with these debates, with arguments and disputations which lead to nothing.

So what is obligatory is to submit to what occurs in the Book and in the Sunnah with regard to the Names of Allaah and His Attributes as was meant by Allaah and His Messenger, because Allaah knows best about Himself, He the Perfect and Most High, and He knows best about other than Himself. And the most knowledgeable one from the creation about Allaah is the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. As for us, then our knowledge falls short. There are many things that we do not know related to our own selves with regard to the details of our bodies and the veins and the senses. There are things which we do not know. Do you know the rooh, about the soul? What exactly is it? The intellect, what is it? If you do not know something from your own body, nor something about your own self, then how can you speak about the Self of Allaah the Perfect and Most High, which is not known, except to Him, He, the Perfect.

He (Allaah) knows whatever is in front of them and whatever is behind them and they do not encompass Him with knowledge (Soorah TaaHaa (20), aayah 110)

This is outside what they know and outside what they can imagine. And no analogy can be made between Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, and His creation. This would be a belittlement of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. So He knows best about His Self and about other than Himself. And He is the One who is truest in saying and better in speech than His creation, as Shaykhul-Islaam rahimahullaah said in al-Waasitiyyah [03].

His saying, “and what Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam explained to his Companions.” The issue of the Names and Attributes hinges upon the Book and the Sunnah. And their explanation is also in the Book and the Sunnah, and the language of the Arabs in which the Legislation came down. And we do not go to the logic of Aristotle and Plato, or so and so, or such and such. This is a crime against the Legislation of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, and it is a case of replacing the Revelation with logic and `ilmul-kalaam, theological rhetoric. And what fruit did theological rhetoric and argumentation produce for those people with regard to misguidance and ruin and loss. And they did not reach any result. And this is by their own admission.

They expended their whole lives in debating and disputations, and in the end they acknowledged that they did not reached any result. And if only they had submitted to Allaah and to His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, they would have found relaxation.

And therefore one of them said:

“The result of using the intellects is just that the mind is tied in knots
And most of the striving of the people is just misguidance
And our spirits are forlorn strangers within our bodies
And all the results that come about in this world for us are just harm and an evil climate

And we did not benefit from our studies through our whole lives except that we just gathered they said and such and such said (idle speech).” [04]

So they came to a state of doubt and uncertainty. And as for those who submitted to Allaah and to His Messenger, then they were saved and at peace from this.

And the people of misguidance say also:

“Upon my life, I have gone around all of the institutions of learning
And I have looked upon all those places
And I did not see except one who is putting his palm
upon his chin in confusion or one who is striking his teeth in regret.” [05]

He went around all the institutes of learning, institutes of theological rhetoric and logic and debating and he examined them and did not find in them that which could remedy the need to know. And he said [06]:

“I have carefully considered the different paths of theological rhetoric and the ways of the philosophers. And I did not see them remedying the sick [07] nor quenching the thirst of the person with extreme thirst. And I saw that the closest path was the way of the Qur’aan.

Read with regard to affirmation.

The good word ascends to Him. (Soorah Faatir (35), aayah 10)

The Most Merciful ascended upon the Throne. (Soorah TaaHaa (20), aayah 5)

And read with regard to negation:

There is nothing like Him (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 11)

And they do not encompass Him with knowledge. (Soorah Taahaa (20), aayah 110) ”

(End of quote)

His saying, “So He, the Majestic in Renown, is One. There is nothing like Him; and He is The All Hearing, The All Seeing.” He is, He the Perfect, One. No one shares with Him with regard to His Self nor with regard to His Names and His Attributes nor with regard to His Creating and His Actions nor with regard to His worship. There is no sharer and no partner for Him. So why therefore tire yourself out? You are a created being and He is the Creator. How can the created being encompass knowledge of the Creator, the Majestic and Most High? So you, your role is just to submit to Allaah and to His Messenger and not to dispute and not to argue and not to tire yourself out and to tire other people out. This is what is obligatory and binding. And therefore the Companions, they did not engage themselves in these unnecessary matters. And they did not withhold with regard to an aayah or with regard to a hadeeth. Rather they affirmed it and submitted to it and held what it contained as their creed and belief, and they never had any problems arise, ever. So the matter is a matter requiring submission and compliance. And that we do not delve into matters of creed and belief in the way which the people of disputation and the people of kalaam, theological rhetoric, and people of logic delved into it. Such that the result was, as they themselves admitted regarding themselves, that they ended up in a state of bewilderment and confusion and not reaching any result, as one of them said,

“We didn’t benefit anything from our studies, throughout our whole lives Except in the end we just gathered idle speech.”

(Meaning), so and so said and so and so said. And if he says such and such then the response is such and such. [08]

Footnotes:

[02] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said regarding this point, “Meaning by that, speech which was introduced by the Jahmiyyah with regard to delving into speaking about Attributes of Allaah without knowledge. But as for describing (giving as an Attribute) that which Allaah described Himself with or which His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam described Him with, then this is something required.

[03] This occurs in al-`Aqeedah Al-Waasitiyyah.

[04] These lines of poetry are by al-Fakhrur-Raazee. You can refer back to Dar· Ta`aarud al-Aql wan-Naql and Minhaajus-Sunnah (of Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymeeyah).

[05] These lines of poetry are by ash-Shahristaanee, the author of the book al-Milal wan-Nahl. You can refer back to Dar· Ta`aarud al-Aql wan-Naql and Minhaajus-Sunnah (of Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymeeyah).

[06] This is a quote from ar-Raazee quoted from him in the book an-Nuboowaat of Shaykhul-Islaam (ibn Taymeeyah)

[07] Translator’s note: curing the one who has a need for knowledge

[08] Shaykh as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said, “Then he made clear that it is obligatory to describe Allaah with that which He described Himself with, and that which His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam described Him with, without tahreef, distorting the meaning, without ta`teel, denying/depriving it of meaning, without takyeef, saying how, and without tamtheel, likening the Creator to the creation, in accordance with His Saying, He, the Most High:

There is nothing like Him (Allaah); and He is The All Hearing, The All Seeing (Sooratush-Shooraa (42), aayah 11)

So, “There is nothing like Him;” this is negation. And, “and He is The All Hearing, The All Seeing;” this is affirmation. And it contains a proof for detailed affirmation and for general and concise negation. Because His Saying, “There is nothing like Him,” this is a general and concise and negation. It negates everything that can be imagined or can cross the mind. And “and He is The Hearing, The Seeing,” this is affirmation in detail. And this aayah is a tremendous principle with regard to affirming the Attributes along with declaring Allaah, the Exalted and Most High, free of whatever does not befit Him.

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani. Download PDF of Lesson 13

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

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Al-kalaam (theological rhetoric), arguing, debating and disputing are newly introduced affairs – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 13 : Point 10
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

Al-kalaam (theological rhetoric), arguing, debating and disputing are newly introduced affairs. They cast doubt into the heart, even if the person happens to attain the Truth and the Sunnah.

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

These matters, al-kalaam (theological rhetoric), debating and disputing which occurred between all of the sects, these are newly introduced matters. And the reason for them is the following of desires. And whoever is such that his desires follow that which the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam came with, then he will not have doubt.; and he will not be a person of disputing nor arguing nor quarrelling, because he is one who submits and complies. He, the Most High, said:

So if Guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance, then there will be no fear upon them and they will not grieve. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 38)

So whoever follows My Guidance, then he will not go astray and he will not be wretched. (Soorah Taa Haa (20), aayah 123)

So the matter is a question of following, ittibaa`, and complying, inqiyaad, and submitting, tasleem, to the command of Allaah and His Messenger without debating and without argumentation. And the people of misguidance did not fall into argumentation and debates except on account of the fact that they did not submit to Allaah and to His Messenger in the way that the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah submitted. And therefore you will find the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah, and all Praise is for Allaah, united with no difference between them in the matter of `aqeedah, creed and belief; rather disagreement is found with the misguided sects. He, the Most High, said:

So if they turn away then they are the ones who will have split away and opposed. So Allaah will suffice you against them. And He is the all Hearing the all Knowing. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 137)

And the confirmation of this occurs in another aayah:

And do not follow the other paths for they will cause you to split away and separate from His path. This He has commanded you with so that you may be dutiful to Him. (Sooratul-An `aam (6), aayah 153)

His saying, “(Theological rhetoric, arguing, debating, disputing are all newly introduced affairs. They cast doubt into the heart) even if the person involved in them happens to attain the Truth and the Sunnah.” Meaning, he will still be in error, because he has attained these two (the Truth and Sunnah) through other than the correct path.

Because the correct path is submission and not delving and debating and arguing which just causes the hearts to become bitter and produces grudges. And it also brings about something worse than that which is at-takfeer, people declaring others to be disbelievers, because the misguided sects they declare each other to be disbelievers and they declare each other to be misguided.

Every sect rejoicing at what they themselves are upon. (Sooratur-Room (30), aayah 32)

Everyone thinking that what he is upon is what is correct. As for the Ahlus-Sunnah walJamaa`ah, the people of Sunnah and the United Body upon the Truth, who submitted to the command and complied, then disagreements did not occur between them, and all Praise is for Allaah. And they do not declare each other to be disbelievers, and they do not declare each other to be misguided; rather they praise each other. And some of them follow others, because they are upon a correct path. Indeed hatred and grudges and declarations of others being disbelievers and being misguided only comes about on account of contradicting the Truth and taking hold of opinions and ideas.

And there is no doubt that everyone wants to defend his own opinion. So he will not accept that it will be said to him, “You are wrong,” for this will mean that you are accusing his intellect of being deficient and he will not be pleased with this. However, if you say to a person of Truth when he has made a mistake, “You have erred with regard to the evidence in this matter, you have missed out on the Sunnah,” then he will accept it, because his intent is the Truth and his intent is not just to support his own opinion. So if you say, “O so and so, you have missed out on the Sunnah, you have missed out on the correct evidence,” then he will accept and return. But if you say to a person who is a follower of desires, “You are in error,” then he will become angry and become worse. And this is the sign of the people of desires, that everyone just wants to aid and support that which he desires. But as for the person of the Truth, then what he wants is that the Truth should be aided, and he seeks after the Truth. And the wise word is the lost property of the believer; wherever he finds it, he takes hold of it. [01]

Footnotes:

[01] Translator’s side point: (Refer to pages 58-59 of Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee’s Explanation of SharhusSunnah [Irshaadus-Saaree fee Sharhis-Sunnati lil-Barbahaaree])

Transcribed by Fawad Abu Zaid Al Afghaani. Download PDF of Lesson 13

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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