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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ : The Night Journey and the Ascent through the Heavens – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 42 (Part B)
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

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The Night Journey and the Ascent through the Heavens

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

وبعد العشر عرج به إلى السماء ، وفرضت عليه الصلوات الخمس ، وصلى في مكة ثلاث سنين

After the ten years, he was taken up through the heavens and the five daily prayers were made obligatory upon him and he prayed in Makkah for three years. [61]

[61] : Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying «After the ten years, he was taken up through the heavens» He sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam remained for ten years upon this – forbidding shirk and calling to tawheed, laying down this foundation. Then, in the eleventh year, he was taken by night from Masjid al-Haraam (the Sacred Mosque) to Masjid al-Aqsaa (the farthest mosque, i.e. the mosque in Jerusalem).

He, the Most High, said:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى

«Perfect and Exalted is He who took His slave on a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest mosque.» [17:1]

Whilst he sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam was sleeping in the house of Umm Haani, Jibreel `alaihissalaatu wassalaam came to him and had with him an animal called al-Buraaq, which was smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey. Its steps were as far apart as the distance which it could see. So, he `alaihissalaatu wassalaam was caused to ride upon it and he was taken to Jerusalem at night.

(أسرى) is from (السرى) which means: ‘to travel by night.’ This was something special to him sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam and from the miracles given to him `alaihissalaatu wassalaam. So there, he met the prophets in Jerusalem, then he sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam was taken up through the Heavens. Meaning: he was raised up from Jerusalem to the heavens in the company of Jibreel – and the meaning of (العروج) is ‘to ascend.’

So, he was taken on a night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and he was taken up from Jerusalem to the heavens – meaning: Jibreel `alaihissalaam took him up and he passed by the inhabitants of the heavens. At each level, Jibreel requested that it should be opened for him until he came to the seventh heaven.

Then, he ascended over the heavens to the farthest lote tree and there Allaah spoke to him with whatever He wished from His revelation and He made obligatory upon him the five daily prayers. So, He obligated for each day and night fifty prayers. However, Moosaa `alaihissalaam advised our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam to ask his Lord for a reduction, for his nation would not be able to bear fifty prayers in each day and night. So, Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam kept going back to his Lord asking for a reduction until they came to be five.

Then, Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said, as occurs in the hadeeth of the Israa. and the Mi`raaj:

»أمضيت فريضتي ، وخففت عن عبادي ، وأجزي الحسنة عشرا«

«I have established My obligatory duty and I have made it easy upon My servants, and I will reward a good deed ten times over.»[1]

In the narration of Anas from Aboo Dharr, He said:

»هي خمس وهي خمسون«

«They are five and they are fifty.»[2]

Meaning: They are five with regards to the action and fifty in the balance (of good deeds).

Five prayers in each day and night are equal to fifty prayers upon the balance, because a good deed is rewarded with ten times its like. So a single prayer takes the place of ten prayers.

The Night Journey is mentioned at the beginning of Soorah Subhaan (the 17th soorah) [also known as] Soorah Banee Israa.eel; and the Mi`raaj is mentioned at the beginning of Sooratu-Najm:

وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ – عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ – عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ – إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ – مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ – لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ

«And he saw Jibreel on another occasion. By the farthest lote tree. Near it is the Garden of Refuge. When the lote tree was covered by that which covered it! His (sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) sight did not deviate to the right or left nor did it go beyond that with which he was commanded. He certainly saw tremendous signs of his Lord.» [53:13-18]

This was with regard to the Mi`raaj.

He descended from the heaven to Jerusalem, then he returned to Makkah in the same night. So, in the morning he informed the people about that. The believers increased in eemaan, but as for the disbelievers, then their evil increased and they became happy at this and went about broadcasting it: “How can your companion claim that he went to Jerusalem and came back in a single night when we have to exert ourselves upon camels to reach it, taking a whole month to go there and a month to come back?!”

So, they made analogy between the ability of the Creator and the ability of the creation, for the Israa. and the Mi`raaj were a test from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, for the people. The people of shirk increased in mockery and their evil and their belittlement of the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam whereas the believers increased in eemaan.

Therefore when the people of shirk said to Aboo Bakr as–Siddeeq radiyallaahu`anhu: “Look at your companion – what he is saying!” He said: “What is he saying?” They said: “He is claiming that he went to Jerusalem (and that he was taken up through the heavens) and that he came back in a single night!” Aboo Bakr as–Siddeeq said: “If he said it, then it is just as he said. He has spoken the truth.” They said: “How can that be?” He said: “I attest to the truth of what he says with regard to something greater than that. I attest to the truth with regard to the news coming down from the heavens upon him. So, how should I not attest to the truth of what he says with regard to his being taken at night to Jerusalem?”[3]

This [night journey and ascension] came about through the ability of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, not through the ability of the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam. It was only through the ability of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. This was one of the miracles given to the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam and is a case of Allaah showing his honorable status with his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic.

It must be held as a person’s creed and belief that he sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam was taken on the Night Journey and taken up through the Heavens with his soul and his body together whilst awake and not as a dream;, because some people say: “He was taken on the Night Journey with his soul, and as for his body, then it did not go outside Makkah. And he was only taken on the Night Journey and taken up through the heavens with his soul.” This is false and futile speech. Rather he was taken on the Night Journey with his soul and his body `alaihissalaatu wassalaam and he was carried upon al-Buraaq. And this was in a state of being awake, not asleep, since if it had happened with his soul only or if it had been a dream, then what would have been the difference between it and (other) dreams?.

Whereas Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ

«Perfect and Exalted is He who took His `abd on a journey by night.» [17:1]

The `abd is used to apply to the soul and the body together. It is not used for just the soul alone that it be described as `abd, nor is it applied to the body alone that is an `abd. It is not used except to apply to the soul and the body combined, for He did not say: “Perfect and Exalted is He who took the soul of His `abd.” Rather He said: «…took His `abd on a journey by night.» The `abd is the combination of the soul and the body. And Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, is not rendered incapable by anything and He is the One who has full power over everything.

He (rahimahullaah) said: «And the five daily prayers were made obligatory upon him and he prayed in Makkah for three years» He used to pray them as two rak`ahs. When the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam migrated, the four rak`ah prayers were completed and became four rak`ahs – except for Fajr prayer, for in that he lengthened the recitation so it remained as two rak`ahs just as it was, and except for the maghrib prayer, for indeed it is three from the first period when it was made obligatory, because it is the witr (prayer with the odd number of rak`ahs) of the daytime. As for the Dhuhr, `Asr and the `Ishaa prayers, then in Makkah they were two rak`ahs each but when the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam made Hijrah, they were made complete as four rak`ahs.

As occurs in the hadeeth:

»أول ما فرضت الصلاة ركعتين فلما هاجر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم   أتمت صلاة الحضر وبقيت صلاة السفر«

«The prayer was first made obligatory as two rak`ahs, then when the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam made Hijrah, the prayer for the resident was completed and the prayer of the traveler remained as it was.»[4]

This is by consensus of the people of knowledge, that the prayer was obligatory in Makkah and that the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam prayed it in Makkah. However, they differ about whether it was made obligatory three years before the Hijrah.

This is what is more correct, just as the Shaykh mentioned here. Or it is otherwise said that it was made obligatory five years before the Hijrah, or it is said one year before the Hijrah, or it is said a year and a half. However the most correct saying is what the Shaykh mentioned is that it was three years before the Hijrah.

And was anything else from the pillars of Islaam made obligatory along with the prayer? This is an area of disagreement amongst the scholars; some of them held that the Zakaat was also made obligatory in Makkah, and that only its applicable limits, its amounts and those eligible to receive it were made clear in al-Madeenah. But as for the origin of its being made obligatory, then that was in Makkah.

And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ

«And give the right due from the crops on the day when it is harvested.» [6:141]

The meaning of the «due» here is the Zakaat. And the whole soorah came down in Makkah.

And likewise in His statement:

وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ – لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ

«And those whose wealth has a known portion for the beggar who asks and for the deprived.» [70:24-25]

This soorah also came down in Makkah. And what is meant by the «known portion» is the Zakaat. So, it was in origin made obligatory in Makkah, however, its details were made clear in al-Madeenah. This is one saying.

The second saying: what is apparent from the speech of the Shaykh here, is that the Zakaat was only made obligatory in al-Madeenah and nothing was made obligatory in Makkah, except for the first pillar which is tawheed and the second pillar which is the prayer. This is what is apparent from the speech of the Shaykh.

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by al-Bukhaaree no. 3208 and no. 3887 as a hadeeth of Maalik ibn Sa`sa`ah and it is a long hadeeth containing the story of the Mi`raaj (the Ascent through the Heavens).

[2] Reported by al-Bukhaaree no. 349 as a hadeeth of Anas from Aboo Dharr, radiyallaahu `anhumaa.

[3] [Reported by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak 3/65 no. 4407 as a hadeeth of `Aa.ishah radiyallaahu`anhaa. [Declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as–Saheehah no. 306].

[4] Reported by al-Bukhaaree no. 350 and Muslim no. 685 as a hadeeth of `Aa.ishah radiyallaahu `anhaa.

—

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

—

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

https://abdurrahman.org/muhammad

https://abdurrahman.org/category/islam/israa-wa-miraaj

Israa wa Mi’raaj – Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah – Shaykh Al-Fawzaan | Dawud Burbank

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Lesson 20 – Explained by Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

[78] And the Mi`raaj (the ascent through the Heavens) is true; and the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa `alaa aalihi wa sallam, was taken on a Night-Journey

[79] And he was taken bodily, whilst awake, up to the Heavens.

[80] Then, to whatever higher places Allaah wished. And Allaah bestowed honour upon him with whatever He wished.

[81] And He revealed to him what He revealed to him, {And the heart did not lie about what it saw.} (Sooratun-Najm (53) aayah 11)

[82] So may Allaah extol him and grant him peace and security in the Hereafter and in this life.

Listen or download the Audio

Israa wa Mi’raaj – Aqeedat-ut-Tahaawiyyah – 20 – Abu Talhah Dawood Burbank [Mp3]

—

Click the Link below to read or Download PDF

Israa wa Miraaj – Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah – Shaykh Al-Fawzaan -Dawud Burbank [PDF]

Points discussed in this excerpt include:

  1. Definition and description of the Israa and the Mi`raaj
  2. The Israa and the Mi`raaj are true and whoever denies it is a kaafir
  3. The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was taken bodily, whilst awake, to the heavens
  4. He, sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam did not see Allaah with his eyes when Allaah spoke to him
  5. When the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is mentioned, it is his right that we send salaah and salaam upon him
  6. Hadeeth of the Israa— and the Mi`raaj
  7. Some clarifications from Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah, regarding difference in some narrations concerning the Israa and the Mi`raaj and that which is correct

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah & Transcripts:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allah سبحانه و تعالى said : “This day, I have completed your religion for you” – Explained by Shaykh Salih Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

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Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah by Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Explained by Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
Below are the Excerpts from Transcribed Audio

Allaah completed the religion through him and the proof is His saying, He the Most High: «This day, I have completed your religion for you, perfected My blessings upon you, and am pleased with Islaam as your Religion.» [5:3][68]

[68] He sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam did not pass away until after Allaah had completed the religion and the favour through him and had sent down to him His saying, He the Most High:

«This day, I have completed your religion for you, perfected My blessings upon you, and am pleased with Islaam as your Religion.» [5:3] 

This aayah came down to the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam whilst he was performing the standing in `Arafah during the Farewell Hajj on the Day of Jumu`ah. And he sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam lived after it for a short time and then moved on to the highest company (of angels).

And he left his nation upon al-mahajjah al-baydaa (the clear white path) whose night is the same as its day; no one deviates from it except that he is destroyed.

This aayah contains a testimony from Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, that this religion is complete and that it covers everything of benefit to the servants and that it contains a solution for all of their issues and problems until the Establishment of the Hour. And that is suitable for every time and place; they do not need any other legislation after it or any other book to come down or any other messenger to be sent after the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam.           

So, there is no matter to be found and there is no event that will occur until the Day of Resurrection except that in the Legislation revealed to Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam there is a solution for it and the ruling concerning it. However, the matter relates back to who is competent to extract evidence and to derive proof, rulings and issues. If there are to be found ahlul-`ilm (people of knowledge) and people qualified to make ijtihaad (personal deductions in rulings) who fulfill the conditions of ijtihaad, then indeed, this legislation is complete and contains a solution for all problems. Deficiency only comes about from us from the aspect of deficiency in (our) knowledge and inability to fully understand what Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, has sent down – or from the aspect of desires, that there occurs a case of following of desires which diverts a person away from the Truth. Otherwise this religion is fully suitable and comprehensive and complete. Allaah has sufficed the Islaamic nation with it until the establishment of the hour if it acts upon it (the religion) correctly and refers back to it in its affairs.

He, the Most High, said:

«So if you disagree about anything then refer it back to Allaah and the Messenger.» [4:59]

Referring back to Allaah is to refer back to the Book of Allaah, and referring back to the Messenger after his passing away is to refer back to his Sunnah.

He, the Most High, said:

« And whatever you disagree about then its judgment is to be referred to Allaah.» [42:10]

This aayah (from Soorah al-Maa.idah) contains a refutation of those who make accusations against the Islaamic Legislation of its having shortcomings or of its being deficient, (these accusations coming) from the atheists and the evil heretics, or from the “semi students” whose understanding falls short in being able to understand the hidden wisdoms of the Islaamic Legislation. Therefore, these (foolish people) ascribe deficiency to the Islaamic Legislation and they do not know that the deficiency is with themselves alone.

So it (this aayah) contains a refutation against those who accuse the Islaamic Legislation of deficiency and that it does not cover all needs of the servants and all matters of welfare of the servants until the Establishment of the Hour.

Or those who say: “It was specific to a certain olden times,” – because there are many ignorant people who, when it is said to them, “This is the Islaamic ruling,” they say, “That was in the time of the Messenger and the initial time. As for now, conditions have changed and the matters have altered; and the legislated rulings were for people who have now passed away and for problems that have come to an end.”

They say this, and this is disbelief in Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and it is a denial of His Saying, He the Most High:

«This day, I have completed your religion for you.» [5:3]

Allaah completed the religion for this nation until the Hour is established for every time and place and for every generation of mankind.

It also contains a refutation of the innovators, those who introduce worship from themselves and ascribe it to the religion, when it has no proof from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu`alaihi wa sallam. Rather they just introduce it in accordance with what they deem to be good or based upon blindly following others whom they have good thoughts about from the people of false ideas and people with their own goals and desires. So therefore, they introduce worship into the religion, which Allaah has sent down no proof for. He sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam said:

«Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it, then it is rejected.»[1]

And he `alaihissalaatuwasallaam said:

«And beware of newly introduced matters, for every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.»[2]

Whoever introduces acts of worship which have no proof from the Book of Allaah nor from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, then he is accusing this religion of not being complete and he wishes to complete the religion himself. He is not actually acknowledging the fact that Allaah has completed it.

Whatever was not religion in the time of the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam will never be religion after him. So this contains a refutation of these groups: The group who say that Islaam is not suitable for every time, or those who innovate newly invented innovations which have no proof from the Book of Allaah nor the Sunnah of His Messenger, and who ascribe them to the religion.

This aayah (from Soorah al-Maa.idah) contains a refutation of them because the religion was completed by Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. So there is no scope for addition in it nor for reduction from it. And there is no scope for raising doubts nor seeking to obscure the issue by saying that it is not suitable for the people in these later times.

«This day, I have completed your religion for you.» [5:3]

This is the Speech of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. He is the Most Truthful One of those who speak.

And He, the Most High, said:

«And I perfected My blessings upon you, and am pleased with Islaam as your Religion.» [5:3]

This was the last of that which came down to the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam and it is a testimony from the Lord of the whole of the Creation for this religion that it is complete, comprehensive, and fully suitable for every time and place.

So His saying (in this aayah) is an address to this nation, from the first of it to the last of it, and it is not just an address to the first generation alone. Rather it is an address to the whole of the nation until the Hour is established.

As for ijmaa` (consensus), the whole nation are agreed in consensus that he sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam passed away. No one disagrees about this except the people of false beliefs, those say that the Messenger did not die. They negate death from the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam. This is baseless speech and speech which is clearly rejected. It is refuted by what has been experienced and what is clearly the case, for the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam indeed passed away amongst his Companions. He was bathed, shrouded, had the funeral prayer prayed over him and he was buried. Can these actions be carried out on a person who is still alive?  He sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam was treated as one who had died. He was washed and shrouded and prayed over and then he sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam was buried in his grave.

This is the way of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, with regards to His Creation. And then where are the Messengers who came before him? What occurred to him occurred to the Messengers before him. They died. And he is one of them, so he died. This is by consensus of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah. No one disagrees about this except the people of false beliefs, those who seek to attach themselves to the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam and seek deliverance through him besides Allaah, and say: “He is still alive.”

[1] Reported by al-Bukhaaree no. 2697 and Muslim no. 1718 from a hadeeth of `Aa.ishah, radiyallaahu `anhaa.

[2] Reported by Aboo Daawood, Ahmad, at-Tirmithee, and Ibn Maajah from the famous hadeeth of `Irbaad ibn Saariyyah, radiyallaahu `anhu. [al-Albaanee declared it saheeh].

Visit the below link for other transcripts :
Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah by Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Deceptively selling a product without informing the known defects of that product to the Buyer – Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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And also from the business transactions that are forbidden is:

The Deceptive Sale, which is when you deceive your Muslim brother by selling him a product that has defects and you know about these defects yet you do not inform him about them.

So this kind of sale is not permissible and it is from deception, swindling and fraud. It is obligatory on the seller to make these defects clear to the seller and to let him know about them. But if he fails to inform him about them, then this is from deception and swindling, which Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) forbade in his saying:

“The two persons conducting a business transaction are in a state of goodness for as long as they do not separate from one another. So if they are both honest and open with one another, they are blessed in their transaction. But if they lie and conceal (the truth) from one another, the blessing of their transaction is wiped out.”

So it is obligatory upon us, O servants of Allaah, to be sincere.

Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Religion is sincerity, the religion is sincerity, the religion is sincerity.” They (the Companions) said: “To who O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “To Allaah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the Muslim leaders and the Muslim general masses.”

So the Muslim must be sincere. What is meant when one is sincere towards something is that he is free or absolved from certain things. So being sincere means being free from cheating (for example).

One time the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed by a person selling some food in the marketplace who had his food in a pile. So the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) put his noble hand inside the pile of food and found some wet portions in the bottom of the pile. So he said: “What is this O owner of the food?” He said: “The sky has affected it” – meaning the rain has damaged some of it. So Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Then won’t you make it visible so that the people can see it? Whoever cheats us (i.e. swindles Muslims) is not from us.”

This hadeeth is considered one of the fundamental principles in conducting business transactions between the Muslims. So it is not permissible for a Muslim to conceal the defects. If his merchandise has a defect then he must make it visible so that the buyer sees it and is aware of it, and so that he could acquire the item for a price that is appropriate for this defect. He must not acquire the item for the price it would be if it were flawless, for then the seller would be deceiving, cheating, fooling and swindling, based on the saying of Allaah’s Messenger: “Then won’t you make it visible so that the people can see it? Whoever cheats us is not from us.”

So O servants of Allaah! How much of swindling do you see in these days? How many times do you see people placing the defective items in the bottom of the containers and cases while placing the good items on the top – whether vegetables or food items? They purposely put the defective item in the bottom while putting the flawless item on the top. This is trickery, which is done intentionally. We ask Allaah to pardon and forgive us and you, and that He make our rizq (sustenance) Halaal and that He make our earnings Halaal. And we ask Him to provide us from His vast Bounty.

O Allaah suffice us with what You have made Halaal over that which You made Haraam, and (suffice us) with Your Bounty over that of others besides You. And forgive us, have mercy on us and accept our repentance. Verily, You are the One who accepts Repentance, the Bestower of Mercy. And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be on Allaah’s Messenger.

This is Posted from eBook
Forbidden Business Transactions :  Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
http://salaf-us-saalih.com/2014/01/27/forbiddenbusiness

Alliance and Dissociation (Al-Walaa wal-Baraa) – Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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 Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah by Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Translated by Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

الثَّالِثَةُ: أَنَّ مَنْ أَطَاعَ الرَّسُوْلَ وَوَحَّدَ اللهَ لاَ يَجُوزُ لَهُ مُوَالاَةُ مَنْ حَادَّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانَ أَقْرَبَ قَرِيبٍ

The third: that whoever obeys the Messenger and singles out Allaah, then it is not permissible for him to love and ally himself with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they be those most closely related to him.10

[10]:

It is not permissible for those who do that to have love and alliance to those who oppose Allaah and his Messenger, even if they be those most closely related to him. This is the matter of Al-Walaa’ wal-Baraa’ (Alliance and Dissociation), and it follows on from tawheed, from the rights of tawheed is to have love and alliance for the beloved servants of Allaah and to have dissociation from the enemies of Allaah. And the words, “Al-Muwaalaat”, and, “Al-Walaa’”, have one and the same meaning, and, “Al-Walaa’”, means having love in the heart, and it means aiding and assisting, and it means, in the matter of inheriting and payment of blood-monies.

So the Muslim he loves and has alliance for the beloved servants of Allaah, meaning that he restricts his love to those who are beloved and obedient servants of Allaah, and he aids them, so the Muslim is with the Muslims, they are allies to each other. Just as He the Most High said:

And blood-relations are more entitled to inheritance from each other as decreed by Allaah. [8:75]

So payment of blood-monies for accidental killing occurs between the Muslims, and it is what is called mutual responsibility. All of this enters into alliance, so there is no alliance between a Muslim and an unbeliever, and love and aiding and inheriting and payment of blood-money and guardianship in marriage and guardianship in legal matters and so on, this does not occur between a Muslim and a disbeliver, rather this is between the Muslims, because of his saying, He the Most High:

And Allaah will never give a way to the unbelievers over the believers. [4:141]

So it is obligatory that the believers are distinguished from the disbelievers, so it is not permissible for one who singles out Allaah and obeys the Messenger sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam to have love and alliance with those who oppose Allaah.

And, “Al-Muhaaddah”, (opposing), means that the person is upon one side, and Allaah and His Messenger and the believers are on the other side, and those who oppose are upon the side of the unbelievers in this opposition.

His saying, “Even if that person is the most closely related to him”: meaning in lineage. So if your close relative is one who opposes Allaah and His Messenger, then it is obligatory upon you to oppose him and to cut off from him, and whoever is an obedient servant of Allaah and an ally to His Messenger, then it is obligatory upon you that you should love him and have alliance with him, even if he be far removed from you in lineage, even if he be a non-arab, or a black person, or a white person, or a red person, it is obligatory upon you to have love and alliance for him and that you love him, whether he is from your land, or whether he is from the farthest place in the East, or the farthest place in the West. He the Most High said:

And the believing men and the believing women are friends and allies to each other. [9:71]

Meaning: between them there is love and mutual help and mutual aid, and between them there is to be affection, this is between the believers.

And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

You will not find a people who truly believe in Allaah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger even if they are their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kinsfolk. Rather Allaah has ordained true faith for their hearts and has strengthened them with strength from Him and He will enter them into gardens which have rivers flowing beneath their trees they shall remain forever therein. Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. They are the party of Allaah. Indeed the party of Allaah are the ones who will be successful. [58:22]11

[11]:

His saying, He the Most High, “You will not find”: this is an address to the Prophet sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam meaning: this will not happen and will never exist, that one who is a true believer in Allaah and His Messenger will love the disbelievers, so if a person does love them, then he is not a true believer, even if he claims to be.

Ibn-ul-Qayyim rahimahullaah said in Al-Kaafiyat-ush-Shaafiyah:

Do you love the enemies of the beloved One and still claim,
 That you love Him? That is not possible
And likewise you strive hard to oppose those He loves,
Where is the love O brother of Satan? 

So this is not possible ever, that he loves the disbelievers, whilst he says, “I love Allaah and His Messenger”, because of His saying, He the Most High:

O you who believe do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends and allies, for whom you have affection [60:1]

Up until His saying:

There is for you a fine example in Ibraaheem and those with him, when they said to their people, “We are free of you and whatever you worship besides Allaah, we have rejected you, and there has appeared between us and you enmity and hatred forever until you truly believe in Allaah and single Him out with all worship. [60:4]

And His saying:

And Ibraaheem’s seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise which he had made to him. So when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allaah, then he dissociated himself from him. Indeed Ibraaheem is one who frequently supplicated to His Lord and who was forbearing. [9:114] 

This is the religious way of Ibraaheem. He dissociated himself from his father, the closest of the people to him, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allaah.

And the aayah shows that having love for an unbeliever negates true faith in Allaah and in the Last Day, either in its very origin, or with regards to its completion. However, if love of them has with it supporting what they are upon and their unbelief, then this is to exit from the fold of Islaam, but if it is just having love without aiding them, then this is counted as something which casues a person’s eemaan (belief) to be deficient and is fisq (open sin) and something which weakens eemaan.

It is said that this aayah came down with regard to Aboo ‘Ubaidah ibn al-Jarraah radiyallaahu‘anhu, when he killed his father on the day of Badr, because his father was upon unbelief, and he wanted to kill his son Aboo ‘Ubaidah, but Aboo ‘Ubaidah radiyallaahu‘anhu killed him, because he was an enemy to Allaah and he was not prevented by that fact that it was his father, that did not prevent him from killing him out of anger for the sake of Allaah the Perfect and Most High.

His saying, “Those ones”: meaning those who keep away from loving and having affection for those oppose Allaah and His Messenger.

His saying, He the Most High:

He (Allaah) ordained eemaan for their hearts [58:22]

Meaning Allaah confirmed and firmly planted eemaan in their hearts.

His saying, He the Most High:

And He strengthened them with a Rooh from Him, and He willl enter them into gardens beneath which rivers flow.[58:22]

At-Ta’yeed means strengthening, He strengthened them with a Rooh from Him. And the word Ar-Rooh has a number of different usages in the Qur’aan, from them is Ar-Rooh which is the spirit through which there is life, and from them is revelation as occurs in His saying, He the Most High:

And likewise We sent down by revelation to you a Rooh (revelation) by Our command. [42:52]

And from them is Jibreel ‘alaihissalaam, that he is Rooh-ul-Qudus (the Pure Spirit), and Ar-Rooh-ul-’Ameen (the Trustworthy Spirit).

He the Most High said:

Say: the Pure Spirit (Jibreel ‘alaihissalaam) brought it (the Qur’aan) down from your Lord in truth, to make those who believe firm and as guidance and as good news for the Muslims (those who submit to Allaah’s commands) [16:102] 

And He the Most High said:

The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel ‘alaihissalaam) descended with it (the Qur’aan). [26:193]

And from them is what occurs in this aayah and it is strength.

So, “Ayyadahum bi roohimminh”, meaning with strength from Him, He the Perfect and Most High, strength of true faith in the world, and in the hereafter:

And He will enter them into gardens [58:22]

The plural of jannaah, and the jannah in the language, it means a garden. It is called a jannaah because it is mujtannun bil-ashjaar (hidden or concealed by trees), meaning hidden and covered by intertwined trees, because paradise contains shade and trees and rivers and palaces, and its highest part and its ceiling is the Throne of the Most Merciful, the Perfect and Most High.

His saying, He the Most High:

With rivers flowing beneath it they will remain therein forever [58:22] 

Meaning, they will remain in it and will not move away from it. He the Most High said:

They will not want to move away from it [18:108]

They will not fear death and they will not have to fear anyone forcing them out or evicting them, as occurs in this world. A person in this world may live in palaces, however he is not secure from death so that he has to depart from them, nor is he secure from enemies overcoming him and expelling him. A person in this world is always fearful.

And His saying, He the Most High:

Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him [58:22]

Since they angered their close relatives who were unbelievers and had enmity towards them, so they will receive in replacement the pleasure of Allaah the Perfect and Most  High, Allaah will be pleased with them and they are pleased with him.

His saying, He the Most High:

They are the party of Allaah [58:22]

Meaning: the group of people for Allaah, and as for the disbelievers, then they are the party of Satan, just as Allaah the Most High said about them:

They are the party of Satan [58:19]

Meaning the group of people for Satan and the helpers of Satan. As for those people (i.e. the believers) then they are the supporters of the Lord.

So this matter relates to having enmity towards the disbelievers and not having love and alliance for them. And it does not necessitate that we cut off from the disbelievers in social matters and matters of wordly benefit. Rather a number of affairs are an exception to that:

The first one is: that along with our hatred of them and our enmity to them, then it is obligatory that we call them to Allaah the Perfect and Most High. It is obligatory that we call them to Allaah and we do not leave them and just say, “They are enemies of Allaah and our enemies.” It is obligatory upon us that we call them to Allaah so perhaps Allaah may guide them. And if they do not respond, then we fight them along with the ability.[1] So either then they will enter into Islaam, or they will pay the jizyah (an amount of money that is given over to the Muslims), if they are from the Jews and Christians or the Magians, whilst they are humbled and submitting to the rule of Islaam, and they are then left upon what they are upon. However, with the condition that they jizyah is handed over and that they submit to the rule of Islaam. However, if they are not people of the Two Books and they are not Magians, then there is disagreement between the scholars about taking jizyah from them.

Secondly: there is nothing to prevent having a truce with the unbelievers when there is a need, if the Muslims have need of it, because of the fact that the Muslims are not able to fight against them, and there is fear for the Muslims from their evil, then there is no harm in having a truce until the Muslms become strong enough to fight them, or if they request a truce:

And if they incline towards peace, then you incline to it [8:61]

Then a truce is made with them. However it will not be a perpetual truce, rather a temporary peace with a time-limit in accordance with the view of the ruler of the Muslims regarding what is beneficial.

Thirdly: there is nothing to prevent returning their fine treatment, if they treat the Muslims well, there is nothing to prevent returning their fine treatment. Allaah the Most High said:

Allaah does not forbid you from those who do not fight against you with regard to the religion and who do not expel you from your homes from treating them well and treating them with justice. Allaah loves those who treat the people justly. [60:8] 

Fourthly: the father who is a disbeliever, it is obligatory upon his son who is Muslim to treat him well. However he should not obey him with regard to unbelief, because of His saying, He the Most High:

And We commanded man to treat his parents well, his mother bore him upon a state of weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning was in two years. We enjoin him to give thanks to Me and to your parents, to Me is your return. And if they strive to make you associate something along with Me, that which you have no knowledge of, then do not obey them, but live along with them in this world in a good manner and follow the path of those who turn to Me. [31:14-15] 

The parent has a right, even if he is an unbeliever. However, you should not love him with love of the heart, rather you recompense him for having brought you up and for the fact that he is a father and he has a right,so you recompense him for that.

Fifthly: having mutual business dealings with them, and buying needs from them, and importing goods and weapons from them by paying their price, there is no harm in that. And the Prophet sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam used to have dealings with the disbelievers. Likewise he sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam dealt with the people of Khaibar and they were Jews upon the basis that they would farm the land in exchange for a part of its produce. This is not from alliance and love, rather it is affairs of mutual benefit. It is obligatory that we are aware of these matters, and that they do not enter into love and alliance and are not something prohibited.

And likewise taking a loan from them, the Prophet sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam took some food from a Jew as a debt and he left his coat of armour as a surety with him and he sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam died and his coat of armour was left as a surety with the Jew, for some food which he bought for his family. There is nothing to prevent this because these are wordly matters and matters of welfare and it does not indicate love and affection in the hearts. So we must differentiate between this and this, because there are some people, who when he hears the texts of enmity towards the unbelievers and not loving them, then he may understand that he cannot have any dealings with them and cannot have any connection with them whatsoever, and that there is to be a total cut-off from them. No, this is something limited by rulings and limits and conditions which are well known with the people of knowledge, which are taken from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam.

Sixthly: Allaah has permitted marriage to the women of the people of the Book with the condition that they are chaste with regard to their honour and dignity. And Allaah has made permissible for us to eat the meat slaughtered by them.

Seventhly: that there is no harm in responding to their invitations and eating their food which is permissible, just as the Prophet sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam did.

Eighthly: is treating neighbours who are disbelievers well, because they have the right of being neighbours.

Ninthly: it is not permissible to wrong or oppress them. He the Most High said:

And let not hatred of a people prevent you from treating them justly. Do justice, it is closer to taqwaa (dutifulness to Allaah). [5:8]

[1] [Meaning the Muslims united under a Muslim ruler, i.e. the army of Muslims, with the ability to do so.]

To listen to the lectures of Ahl-ul-Bid’ah and to read their books is as sitting with them – Shaykh Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Date: 1427-11-19/2006-12-10
Reference: Darulhadith.com
Translation & video: aFatwa.com (site not exists now)

Question: Does the one that listens to the cassette tapes of Ahl-ul-Bid’ah or reads their books in order to know what they believe fall into sitting with innovators?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: It is as sitting with them or maybe even worse. But if he is learned and armed with knowledge and listens to them or reads their books to refute them and warn against them, it is okay.

However, were he not to have knowledge and insight and wants to read them or listen to them, it is not allowed. It will get stuck into his head and he has nothing to repel it with. It is not allowed for him to listen to them if he cannot defend himself against these poisons and evilnesses.

More : http://salaf-us-saalih.com/category/islam/ahlul-bidah/

Children below 6 having their pants below the ankles: The ruling? – Shaykh Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: http://sahab.net/forums/showthread.ph…
Reference: Darulhadith.com
Translation & video: aFatwa.com

Question: Is a boy who has not reached the age of six allowed to wear the pants below the ankles?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: No, it is not allowed with Isbâl. A child should be raised in accordance with the Sunnah. One should not let it practice Isbâl.

—

Check Others @ http://salaf-us-saalih.com/category/islam/isbaal/

We love Jihad and wish for it, but this is not Jihad! This is destruction! – Shaykh Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source & reference: Darulhadith.com
Translation & video: aFatwa com (site no more exists)

Shaykh al-Fawzân: We love Jihâd and wish for it, but this is not Jihâd! We have said that this is not Jihâd. This is destruction! Is it Jihâd to kill people without due right? He even kills himself without due right. Is this Jihâd? This is not Jihâd. Jihâd has rulings, conditions and rules. It is the Muslim ruler who leads and calls to it.

Even the israelites said to their prophet:

“Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah” (2:246)

They didn’t go armed to fight on their own:

“Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah” (2:246)

I.e. a leader. Who did they ask it from? One of their prophets, the ruler.

Jihâd, which is one of the disposals of the ruler, is referred to the ruler. He is the one who orders it and takes on it. He is the one who recruits armies and prepares weapons. Allâh said:

“… by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (8:60)

He did not say you should terrify the Muslims and those one has a treaty with. He said:

“… by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (8:60)

“Our Brothers Die Everywhere, don’t Obey the Rulers in this” – Answered by Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Reference: Darulhadith, Sweden
Translation & Video by aFatwa.com (site is down)

Question: There are those who incite the youths and say that our brothers are dying everywhere. They call in the name of Jihâd and that one shouldn’t obey the ruler in this (I.e. in Jihâd). Can you say something regarding this matter?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: Shall we then also kill our own children, tear our homes apart and kill the Muslims if our brothers die everywhere? They rejoice in this. They rejoice in getting our brothers into these countries. They rejoice over these homicide-attacks in our countries. Is this Jihâd? Does this affect our enemies? It only affects us. It only affects the Muslims.

Jokingly divorcing one’s wife: The ruling – Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13728
Reference: Darulhadith.com
Translation: aFatwa.com (site not exist now)

Question: What is the ruling regarding me saying to my wife that she is divorced jokingly with laughter?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: There is no joking or laughing when it comes to the divorce. Its joking is seriousness, as the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said. If you jokingly tell her that she is divorced, she is divorced.

Shaykh al Fawzân about Facebook Twitter and WhatsApp

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: alfawzan. ws/sites/default/files/lsm–14330124.MP3 ( site no more exists)
Date: 1433-01-24/2011-12-20
Reference: Darulhadith.com
Translation & video: aFatwa.com ( site no more exists)

Question: What is the ruling on internet softwares and methods of communication such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and other that basically consist of all sorts of things and how should we raise our children in relation to these things?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: One should stay away from them as good as one can. One should stay away from them and avoid them. They affect ways of thinking. They affect vigilant people who see how these matters criticize the religion and the scholars. They will affect and trouble them. One should stay away from them as good as one can.

As for the person who has capacity, knowledge and insight and is able to differentiate between good and evil and intends to adopt the good and spread it and warn against the evil and refute it, then it is Okay and a good deed.

However, it is risky and difficult to escape from unscathedly. It is in any case safer and sounder to avoid them and stay away from them.

—

Check out the Dangers of TV, Internet & Smart Mobile
http://salaf-us-saalih.com/category/islam/tv-internet-mobile/

The purpose of the lectures is reached without picture-making – Shaykh al-Fawzan

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Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: alfawzan.ws/sites/default/file…(site doesn’t exist now)
Date: 1431-05-27/2010-05-10
Reference: Darulhadith.com
aFatwa.com (site doesn’t exist now)

Question: Does the person who takes pictures during lectures and lessons fall under the Hadîth [about picture-making]…

Shaykh al-Fawzân: Yes, yes he does. There is no benefit in picture-making. Lectures are recorded, heard and written down. The purpose is reached without picture-making.

Read or Listen More at the Link below

https://abdurrahman.org/category/islam/picture-making/

Ruling Regarding Funny Lectures So That The Youths Can Like Islam And Its Call – Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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Scholar: Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: alfawzan.ws/node/12894
Date: 1431-08-21/2010-08-01
Reference: Maktabah Darulhadith.com
aFatwa.com (site is down)

Question: Is it a correct method to call towards Islâm through funny lectures so that the youths can assimilate and like the call (Da’wah) and the straight path?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: Religious matters should not be mixed with these factors. The religious matters are serious, determined, and elucidative. They should not be mixed with comedies and entertainment. This has been introduced by some people who wrongfully deem themselves to be callers.

The messenger (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not call the people by way of these matters. He recited the Qur’ân unto them. He called them, ordered them and forbade them. He did not offer them comedies and similar tasteless matters that are used these days by those who subscribe to the Da’wah.

Ruling on Peaceful Demonstrations – Shaykh Saalih al Fawzan

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Demonstrations only became known through the West | Shaykh al Fawzan
Translation and Video Courtesy : aFatwa.com (site is down)

 

Depending On Books And The Internet For Knowledge – Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan [Video|Ar-En Subtitles]

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Depending On Books And The Internet For Knowledge – Shaykh Ṣāliḥ b. Fawzān Al-Fawzān حفظه الله
https://owaisalhashimi.info/al-fawzan…
Translated by Abu Abdillah Owais Al-Hashimi حفظه الله

Video Courtesy: Bilal Nahim

The Third Level is al-ihsaan – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

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The Third Level is al-Ihsaan

The Definition of Ihsaan

المرتبة الثالثة : الإحسان ، ركن واحد ، وهو ” أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه ، فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك”

The third level is al-ihsaan. It is a single pillar and it is: «That you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him, and even though you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.»46

[46] Al-Ihsaan in the language means to perfect something and complete it. It is derived from al-husun which means al-jamaal (beauty), the opposite of ugliness. It is divided into categories:

Firstly: Perfection of what lies between the servant and his Lord. This is what is meant.

Secondly: Perfection of what is between the servant and the rest of the people.

Thirdly: Doing well and perfecting what you do. When a person makes something or does an action, then it is obligatory upon him that he perfects it and does it completely.

The first type is ihsaan (perfection) of what lies between the servant his Lord. The Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam explained it when Jibreel asked him in the presence of the companions as will follow. He said: «Ihsaan is that you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him, and even though you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.»

So ihsaan between the servant and his Lord is his perfecting the action which Allaah has made a duty upon him, that he does it correctly, purely and sincerely for the Face of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So, an action in which there is ihsaan between the servant and his Lord is that which is done sincerely for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and done with the following of the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam. The Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam made clear that ihsaan is of two levels, one of them being higher than the other:

The first level is that you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him such that your certainty and eemaan in Allaah reaches such a level that it is as if you are actually seeing Allaah with your eyes. You have no hesitancy or doubt, rather it is as if Allaah is in front of you, He the Perfect and Most High, and you are seeing Him openly. Whoever reaches this level has reached the limit of ihsaan. You worship Allaah as if you are seeing Him on account of the completeness of certainty and sincerity, which is as if you are seeing Allaah with your eyes. Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, will not be seen in this world, rather He will only be seen in the Hereafter. However, you see Him with your heart to the extent that it is as if you are seeing Him with your eyes. Therefore, He will reward the people of ihsaan in the Hereafter that they will see Him, He the Perfect and Most High. This is since they used to worship Him as if they were seeing Him in this world. So, Allaah rewards them by giving them the opportunity to see Him with their eyes in the abode of bliss. He, the Most High, said:

«For the people of ihsaan there will be the best reward of Paradise and something extra.» [10:26]

Something extra is looking upon the Face of Allaah. The reason is that they perfected their deeds in this world, so Allaah gave them the best reward which is Paradise. And He will give them an increase which is seeing Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So therefore, you worship Allaah as if you are actually witnessing Him, upon love and longing to meet Him, He the Perfect and Most High. You feel delight in obedience to Him and you feel calm and obedience to Him, He the Perfect and Most High. You eagerly desire obedience to Him. This is the path of the people of ihsaan.

The second level: If you do not reach this tremendous level, then you worship Him upon the path of al-muraqabah (watchfulness) such that you know that Allaah sees you, knows your condition, and knows what lies within yourself. Therefore, it is not befitting that you should disobey Him and contradict His command when He sees and observes you. This is a good state, however, it is less than the first one. So, as long as you know that He sees you, then you therefore perfect your worship of Him and you do it well, because you know that Allaah is seeing you. And for Allaah is the Highest example. If you were in front of a created being who had status and he commanded you with a command, and you were carrying this matter out in front of him and he was looking at you, would it be befitting that you be negligent in the performance of this action?

So in summary, ihsaan is of two levels:

The level of witnessing with the heart: It is that you worship Allaah as if you are seeing Him from the strength of certainty and eemaan. It is as you are seeing Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, with your eyes.

The second level: It is that you worship Allaah knowing that He sees you and observes you, therefore, you do not disobey Him and contradict His command, He the Perfect and Most High.

This is the level of al-ihsaan and it is highest of the levels of the religion. Whoever reaches it has reached the highest of the levels of the religion. Before it is the level of eemaan, and before that is the level of al-Islaam.

The deen has a number of domains:

The first domain: al-Islaam. It is wide to such an extent that the hypocrite enters within it and is called a Muslim and is treated like the Muslims, because he has submitted to Islaam outwardly. So therefore, he enters within the domain of Islaam. And the person who is weak in eemaan [enters the domain of Islaam], but he has nothing from eemaan except a mustard seed of it.

The second domain: It is more restricted and more specific – the domain of al-eemaan. The hypocrite in belief does not enter into it whatsoever. Rather, only the people of eemaan enter into it, and they are two categories: those who are complete in eemaan and those who are deficient in eemaan. So, the sinful believer and dutiful believer both enter into it.

The third domain: It is more restricted than the second one – the domain of al-ihsaan. It just as the Prophet sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam made clear. No one will enter into it except the people of complete eemaan.

The Evidence for al-Ihsaan

والدليل قوله تعالى:

And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

«Allaah is with those who fear Him and are dutiful to Him; and He is with those who are people of ihsaan.» [16:128]

وقوله تعالى:

And His saying, He the Most High:

«And place your reliance upon the All-Mighty, the Bestower of Mercy. He who sees you when you stand to pray. And who sees your movements along with those who pray along with you. Indeed! He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.» [26:217-220]

وقوله تعالى:

And His saying, He the Most High:

«And you are not (O Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) engaged in any matter nor do you recite the Book of Allaah, – nor do you do any action (O people), except that We are witness in your deeds when you do them. And not even that which is of the weight of the tiniest ant is hidden from your Lord on the earth or in the heavens. Nor is there anything smaller than that or greater than it except that it is written in a Clear Book.» [10:61][47]

[47] This is the proof for the first level of al-ihsaan:

«Allaah is with those who fear Him and are dutiful to Him, and He is with those who are people of ihsaan.» [16:128]

The aayah proves that Allaah is with the people of ihsaan. They are those who worship Allaah as if they were seeing Him, so Allaah is with them in a specific sense of Ma`iyyah – the Ma`iyyah with regard to aiding, helping, and tawfeeq (guiding them to and granting them attainment of correctness).

And His saying, He the Most High:

«And place your reliance upon the All-Mighty, the Bestower of Mercy. He who sees you when you stand to pray. And who sees your movements along with those who pray along with you.» [26:217-219]

This is a proof for the second level. This is a proof for his saying [sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam]: «Then, He certainly sees you.»

«And place your reliance» Meaning: trust your affairs «to the All-Mighty, the Bestower of Mercy» He is Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.

«When you stand to pray» You stand for worship and the prayer.

«And who sees your movements along with those who pray along with you» He sees you whilst you are performing your rukoo` (bowing) and whilst you are performing your sajdah (prostration). He sees you in all the states of worship; standing, bowing, and prostrating. He, the Perfect and Most High, sees you.

«Indeed! He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing» The One who hears your sayings. The One who knows your sayings, He the Perfect and Most High.

And His saying, He the Most High:

«And you are not (O Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) engaged in any matter nor do you recite the Book of Allaah, – nor do you do any action (O people), except that We are witness in your deeds when you do them.» [10:61]

This is a proof for the second level.

«And you are not (O Muhammad sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) engaged in any matter» This is an address to the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam. In any affair from your affairs, from the affairs of worship or other than it – all of your actions and your movements – you will not be engaged in any affair at all.

«Nor do you recite from it (i.e. Book of Allaah)» Meaning: from Allaah, because the Qur`aan is from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. Or the pronoun could refer back to the affair, so the meaning would be: From the affairs which you are engaged in is recitation of the Qur`aan.

«Nor do you do (O people)» This is [an address] for all of the nation, for the Messenger sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam and other than him.

«Any action» Meaning: Any action from the actions, whether good or bad.

«Except that We are witness [in your deeds]» We are seeing you, observing you, and witnessing you. This is a proof for his saying sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam: «Then indeed, He sees you.»

«When you do them» You are carrying it out and you are doing it. So, this gives a proof for the second level from the levels of ihsaan, in that He, the Majestic and Most High, witnesses the action of every doer of an action. He, the Perfect and Most High, sees him, knows him, and observes him. Nothing is hidden from him.

«Nothing whatsoever in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allaah.» [3:5]

As for ihsaan between the servant and in the creation, then its meaning is: doing good to them and withholding from harming them. Such that you feed the hungry person, cloth the person without clothing, assist the needy person with your position, and that you intercede for the one who needs to be interceded for. You do that which is good with all the different aspects of good. You are hospitable to the guest and you are generous towards the neighbor. Nothing but good emanates from you towards the neighbor, and you withhold harming him. So, no harm comes from you towards him or towards anyone else. For from the people, there are who are such that nothing but harm comes from them, and from the people, there are those whom harm and good comes. And from the people, there are those whom nothing but good comes from them. This is the highest of the levels.

Doing good towards the people and withholding harm from them is ihsaan (good and fine treatment) towards the people:

«Do good. Allaah loves al-Muhsineen (the doers of good).» [2:195]

Even towards the animals, it is obligatory that you treat them well and make available for them whatever they need and that you withhold harming them and that you are gentle with them. This is from ihsaan towards the animals. Even a person who is going to be rightfully executed, you should not torture him, rather, you should execute him in a fine and tranquil manner. A person who is obligatory to execute, and someone it is obligatory to carry a hadd (prescribed punishment) upon, then it is carried out upon him with gentleness. There is to be no mutilation, no torture, and no beating to death.

He sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam said:

»إن الله كتب الإحسان على كل شيء ، فإذا قتلتم فأحسنوا القتلة ، وإذا ذبحتم فأحسنوا الذبح«

«Allaah has obligated ihsaan with regard to everything. So, when you kill, then kill in a fine manner. And when you slaughter an animal, then slaughter in a good manner.»[1]

So, [the principle of ihsaan applies] to execution or other than it from that which necessitates prescribed punishment.

«When you slaughter» Meaning: when you slaughter animals which are to be eaten, then slaughter in a fine manner:

»وليحد  أحدكم شفرته ، وليرح ذبيحته«

«Let one of you sharpen his knife and give relief to the animal which he is slaughtering.»

Therefore, you are to treat with ihsaan even the animals. Allaah forgave the prostitute woman from the People of Israaeel on account that she gave a drink of water to a dog which had its tongue hanging out from thirst. So, she gave it water to drink and Allaah thanked her for that and forgave her, her sin.[2] This is a tremendous sin and it is prostitution, meaning: zinaa (fornication). But Allaah forgave her on account of that – because she treated the thirsty animal in a fine manner.

So how about something other than a dog? If you were to treat a hungry person from the Muslims with ihsaan, or from the descendents of Aadam, even if he is a disbeliever – if you were to treat him well, then Allaah, the Majestic and Most High will thank you for that fine treatment. He, the Most High, said:

«Do good. Allaah loves al-Muhsineen (the doers of good).» [2:195]

The third type: It is perfection of the action. Whatever action you do, it is obligatory that you perfect it and not so that it should be said: “So-and-so has done such-and-such very well.” There occurs in the hadeeth:

»إن الله يحب إذا عمل أحدكم عملا أن يتقنه«

«Allaah loves that one when one of you does an action that he perfects it.»[3]

[1] Reported by Muslim no. 1955 as a hadeeth of Shaddaad bin Aws, radiyallaahu `anhu.

[2] Refer to al-Bukhaaree no. 3467, Muslim no. 2245 as a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah, radiyallaahu `anhu.

[3] Reported by al-Bayhaqee in Shu`ab al-Eemaan 4/334 no. 5313 and no. 5314 from a hadeeth of `Aa.ishah, radiyallaahu `anha. [Declared hasan (good) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami`. He spoke about it in Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth as–Saheehah no. 1113].

Source : Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah by Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan | Translated by Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah.

Sharh Usool ath-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

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Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles
of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab [1115-1206 H]
Explained by Shaikh Saalih ibn Saalih al-Fawzaan haafidhahullaah

Audio Lessons (MP3)

01 – 02. – 03 –  04 – 05 – 06 – 07 – 08 – 09 – 10
11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 – 18 – 19 – 20
21 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 25 – 26 – 27 – 28 – 29 – 30
31 – 32 – 33 – 34 – 35 – 36 – 37 – 38 – 39 – 40
41 – 42 – 43 – 44 – 45 – 46 – 47 – 48 – 49 – 50

Transcribed Audio Lessons (PDF)

01 – 02 – 03 – 04 – 05 – 06 – 07 – 08 – 09 – 10
11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 – 18 – 19 – 20
21 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 25 – 26 – 27 – 28 – 29 – 30
31 – 32 – 33 – 34 – 35 – 36 – 37 – 38 – 39 – 40
41 – 42 – 43 – 44 – 45 – 46 – 47 – 48 – 49 – 50

Posted with Permission from late Abu Talha Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
Audio and Transcripts Courtesy: ittibaa.com

The following clips are extracted from these series:

Learning the Creed (Aqeedah) – Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

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[Q]: There are some people here, who keep away from [attending] lessons on ‘aqeedah (creed/beliefs), and they say: ‘We are Muslims, we are not unbelievers or idol-worshippers such that we have to learn ‘aqeedah or attend lectures about it’ So, O noble Shaykh, what is your view regarding this!

[A]: Teaching the Muslims [the correct] ‘aqeedah does not mean that we have judged them to be unbelievers. Rather, we teach the Muslims about ‘aqeedah in order for them to know about it thoroughly, and know what matters nullify it and what matters are contrary to it. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan, one of the distinguished Companions – radiallaahu ‘anhu – said: “People used to ask the Messenger about the good, but I used to ask him about the evil, for fear of falling into it.” [2]

Likewise ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab radiallaahu ‘anhu said: “Soon the bonds of Islaam will be loosened bit by bit, because people will enter into Islaam but will be unaware of Jaahiliyyah (ignorant practices that Islaam opposes).” [3] Thus, when we teach ‘aqeedoh, this does not imply that we have judged those whom we are teaching to be non-Muslims. Rather, what it means is that we desire that they should be thoroughly aware of the correct Islaamic ‘aqeedah; so as to cling to it, and to be aware of what opposes it; so as to keep far away from it. Allaah – the Most High – said, whilst addressing His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “So have knowledge about Laa ilaaha illallaah (i.e, have knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah), and seek forgiveness for your sins, and for the believing men and women.” [Soorah Muhammad 47:19].

So it is essential that a person learns and that he does not content himself with merely saying: ‘I am a Muslim.’ Yes indeed, you are a Muslim – and ail praise is for Allaah! However, if one of you were asked as to what Islaam means, or you were asked to explain what Islaam is, then many of you would not be able to correctly explain this. If one of you were to be asked to explain what are those factors which nullify Islaam, then many of you would not be able to explain this. Thus, if a person is ignorant [of such fundamentals], it is possible that he may fall into falsehood without realising it. If one of you were asked to explain the pillars of Islaam or eemaan (faith) that the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam explained and taught, we would find that most people would be unable to do so. So how is it that a person [suffices with] saying: ‘l am a Muslim,’ yet does not know these [basic] matters!

Unfortunately, many of the daa’ees (callers to Islaam) are themselves unaware of [basic matters such as] what are the conditions for Prayer, or unaware of the rules and regulations concerning wudhoo (ablution) and those matters which

invalidate wudhoo. Some of them do not even know what matters form the arkaan (pillars) of the Prayer, or form its waajibaat (obligations), or those matters which invalidate the Prayer. So what Islaam are they calling to! Islaam is not merely a call, rather it is a reality to be learnt and practiced. So it is essential to acquire sound knowledge and understanding of the Religion. This is because a person who does not have sound knowledge, may fall into dangers without even realizing it; just like a person who walks down a path, but is ignorant of the fact that along this path there is a ditch, or a hole, or even an ambush. Yet [due to his ignorance] he ends up falling into the hole, or the ambush, without even realizing it.

Thus it is essential to learn about tawheed, since it is tawheed that is the basic foundation [of both the Religion and the correct Islaamic ‘aqeedah]. Indeed, no one abstains from learning about tawheed [and those matters it necessitates, as well as its limits, conditions, fundamentals, clear proofs, fruits and consequences, and those matters which increase and strengthen it, and those that decrease and weaken it, etc.] except one of two people: [i] an ignorant person – and the ignorant person’s [view] is not to be given any weight; or [ii] a bigoted deviant – one who desires to avert people from the ‘aqeedah of pure tawheed, and who wishes to conceal from the people his own false beliefs, and those other deviant beliefs that are [falsely] ascribed to Islaam. And this is possibly the Ease of many of those who abstain from learning about tawheed.

Allaah – the Most High – said:

“And it is not proper for all the Believers to go out together and fight. From every troop of them only a party of them should go forth, so that those who remain behind may gain understanding of the Religion so that they may [instruct and] warn their people when they return to them, in order that they may beware.” [Soorah at-Tawbaa 9:122].

Also, the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever Allaah desires to show goodness to, He gives him the understanding of the Religion.” [4]

The meaning of this hadeeth is that whenever Allaah does not want to show goodness to a person, He does not give him the understanding of the Religion. So the one who says: ‘l do not need to learn ‘aqeedah.’ It is as if he is saying: ‘l do not need to gain understanding of the Religion!’ And this is said by either an ignorant person, or one who is misguided!

Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa (1/303-306).

[2]. Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.3606) and Muslim (no.1847).
[3]. Related by Ibn Taymiyyah in his Majmoo’ Fataawaa (10/301).
[4]. Related by al-Bukhaaree (1/25), from Mu’aawiyah radiallaahu ‘anhu.

Source:  Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.8 – Shawwal 1418H / February 1998

The Effects of Laa ilaaha illallaah – Shaykh Salih Fawzan

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The kalimah (word) La ilahah ilallah (that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah), if it said with truthfulness and sincerity from the heart, and acted upon in that which it necessitates – outwardly and inwardly – then its effect will indeed be praiseworthy upon both the individual and the society.

From the most important of its effects are:

[1] Uniting the word of the Muslims: This will result in strengthening the Muslims and assisting them in defeating their enemies – as long as they continue to follow and practice the same single religion, and as long as they adhere to the same single ‘aqidah(belief). Allah – the Most High – said:

“And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.” [Al-Qur’an 3:103]

“It is He Who has strengthened you with His help and with the Believers, and moreover, He has put love and affection between their hearts. If you were to spend all that is in the earth, then never could you have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Indeed He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Al-Qur’an 8:62-63]

And differing in matters of ‘aqidah (beliefs) is the cause for splitting, disunity and hostility, as Allah – the Most High – said:

“Indeed those who split-up their religion and become sects, you have no part with them in the least.” [Al-Qur’an 6:159]

“But people have cut-off their affair of unity between them and have become sects, each party rejoicing in that which is with itself.”  [Al-Qur’an 23:53]

So people cannot truly be united except upon the correct concept of ‘iman (faith) and the correct ‘aqidah of Tawhid, which are both direct implications of La ilahah ilallah. One need only consider the condition of the Arabs before and after Islam.

[2] Prevalence of safety and peace in a unified society, which believes in and abides by La ilahah ilallah. Since the individuals in such a society will take care in doing only that which Allah has made halal (lawful) and abandoning that which Allah has madeharam (unlawful) – acting in accordance with what the ‘aqidah necessitates upon them. So this will prevent people from enmity, oppression and injustice, whilst directing them towards co-operation, love and deep brotherhood for the sake of Allah, acting upon His – the Most High’s – saying:

“Indeed the Believers are but brothers.” [Al-Qur’an 49:10]

This is clearly reflected in the life of the Arabs before and after believing in La ilahah ilallah. Before Islam, they lived in hostility and insecurity, constantly fighting and killing each other. However, when they embraced Islam this all changed, and the same people lived with each other in peace and an atmosphere of love and brotherhood prevailed, as Allah – the Most High – said:

“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are strong and mighty against the unbelievers and merciful and kind amongst each other.” [Al-Qur’an 48:29]

“And remember the favour of Allah upon you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became brothers.” [Al-Qur’an 3:103]

[3] Achievement of happiness, attainment of the khilafah (succession of power and authority) in the earth, maintaining purity of the religion and being steadfastness against the onslaught of false beliefs and foreign ideologies. Allah said:

“Allah has promised to those amongst you who truly have ‘iman (true faith and belief) and act in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, that He will grant them rulership upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will establish their Religion for them and grant them the authority to practice their Religion which He chose and ordered them with. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security, after their fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me, not associating anything else in worship with Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by disobedience to their Lord – then they are the rebellious transgressors.” [Al-Qur’an 24:55]

So Allah – the Most Perfect – has made achievement of these lofty goals conditional upon worshipping and obeying Him and not associating any partners with Him. And this is the true meaning of La ilahah ilallah.

Source; From La ilahah ilallah, Ma’naha, Makanatuha wa Fadluha (pp. 36-39), abridged.

This translation was published in Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No. 1, Dhul-Hijjah 1416H / May 1996CE.

Reciting the Qur’aan (from Memory or from the Mus-haf) whilst not having wudoo – Shaykh Fawzaan

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[8] Question: Noble Shaikh, what is the ruling on one who recites the Qur’aan whilst not having wudoo, regardless of whether he recites from memory or from the mus-haf?

[8] Answer: It is permissible for a person to recite the Qur’aan without having wudoo if he recites from his memory. This is since nothing prevented the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from reciting the Qur’aan except for Janaabah (sexual impurity). He (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would recite the Qur’aan whilst in a state of wudoo and without it.

As for the mus-haf, it is not permissible for someone who has broken his wudoo to touch it, regardless of whether it is the minor form of impurity or the major form. Allaah says: “No one touches it except for the pure.” [Surah Al-Waaqi’ah: 79] This means: “Those who are pure and free from impurities, uncleanness and Shirk.” Also in the hadeeth, the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wrote a letter to his vice-regent ‘Amr bin Hazm in which he instructed him: “No one should touch the mus-haf except for the purified.” 

This is also the view that has been unanimously agreed upon by the four Imaams – that it is not permissible for one in the state of impurity – whether major or minor state – to touch the mus-haf except from behind a covering, such as when the mus-haf is in a box or a bag or if one touches it using one’s garment or sleeve as a barrier.

Source: Questions & Answers on the Qur’aan – Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan, al-ibaanah.com

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