Patient believer

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight
again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties). And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks)
it down when He wishes."

Bukhari Vol. 7 : No. 547

tests from Allah are a sign of His pleasure on His slave

 

إذا ابتلى الله عبده بشيء من أنواع البلايا والمحن؛ فإن رده ذلك الابتلاء والمحن إلى ربه، وجمعه عليه، وطرحه ببابه؛ فهو علامة سعادته، وإرادة الخير به {فأخذناهم بالبأساء والضراء لعلهم يتضرعون}. [ابن القيم

If Allah tests his slave with something from the different types of tests and ordeals, then he returned the test and the ordeal to his Lord, and he calls upon Him, and he surrendered at His door, then he has the indication of his Lord’s happiness and his Lord’s intention of good upon him.  {And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health with calamities so that they might believe with humility.} (Surah al-An’aam:42)

By Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)

The Intelligent Person Does Not Cling To This Material World

 

 Ibn Al-Qayyim (raheemahuallaah) said:

People cling to this worldly life because of the corruption in their hearts.The hearts of such people are completely centered round this life and they have no real desire for the  Hereafter.It is not possible in such hearts to implant deeds that will lead to the Hereafter,they remain firm in this material world,while they are cut off from the Hereafter.This is a kind of torment for them according to the degree to which they cling to this material world.Therefore,their desires remain stuck to it,and a barrier is set between them and that which they desire,to the extent that they lose hope to enjoy their pleasure.

Therefore,the intelligent person will remove the means of this pain and regret,and will cease to hold onto this worldly life,just as he takes the initiative to put an end to the causes of corruption.Inspite of this,he will still receive his share of the world,while his heart is attached to the highest aim (the Hereafter).It is only Allah whose help should be sought.

“Woe to you!”

‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“O, you perpetrator of sin! Do not feel safe from the end result of it, when what follows the sin is greater than the sin which you committed, for to feel little or no embarrassment towards those on the right and the left of you when you committed the sin is greater than the sin which you committed. Your laughter, when you know not what Allah will do to you is greater than the sin. Your happiness with the sin if you succeeded in doing it is greater than the sin, and your unhappiness at being unable to commit the sin is greater than the sin if you had succeeded in committing it. Your fear of the wind if it moved the curtain covering your door while you were committing the sin and your heart is not disturbed by Allah seeing you is greater than the sin which you committed.Woe to you!

Do you know what was the sin of Ayyub (peace be upon him) and why Allah, the Most High tested him in his body and by the loss of his wealth? The sin of Ayyub was only that a poor man sought his help in alleviating injustice that had befallen him, but he did not help him and he did not enjoin the good or forbid the oppressor from commiting injustice against this poor man and so Allah, the all Mighty, the all Powerful put him to trial.”

Everyone of you is a guardian

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):
The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, 

 "Everyone of you is a guardian and everyone of you is responsible (for his wards). 

A ruler is aguardian and is responsible (for his subjects); 

A man is a guardian of his family and responsible (for them);

A wife is a guardian of her husband's house and she is responsible (for it),

A slave is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible (for that).

Beware! All of you are guardians and are responsible (for your wards)."
 
Bukhari Vol. 7 : No. 116

'The Religion of the Muslims is built upon...'‏‏

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

"The Religion of the Muslims is built upon following the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and that which the Ummah has agreed upon. So these are the three infallible usool (fundamentals).

So whatever the Ummah differs in, then it is referred back... to Allaah and His Messenger. Thus, it is not for anyone to set up a person for the Ummah, and to call to his way and form walaa’ (love, loyalty and allegiance) and ‘adaa (enmity and hatred) based upon that, except for the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nor is any speech set up for them based upon which they form walaa’ and ‘adaa except for the Speech of Allaah, and that of His Messenger, and that which the Ummah has agreed upon. Rather, this is that practice of the people of innovation, who set up a person or a saying, with which they cause splits in the Ummah; ..."

Majmoo‘ul Fataawaa (20/164)

Shame on You"

Oh slaves of Allah — Oh Ummah of Muhammad (SallallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam): The Qur’aan is your life! The Qur’aan is your flesh! The Qur’aan is your blood! The Quran is your nerves! The Qur’aan is your honor and prestige! The Qur’aan is your dunya (world)! The Qur’aan is your aakhira (afterlife)! The Glorious Qur’aan is the reason for your pride! The Glorious Qur’aan is the reason for your elevation! Oh slaves of Allah: if you put The Glorious Qur’aan behind you, you would be in a state of humiliation and poverty! …Because surely, it’s the rope of Allah!

“..And hold on to the rope of Allah, and do not separate… ” (Aali ‘Imraan: 102)

The rope of Allah is His religion, and His Qur’aan, as in the most apparent sayings of the interpreters of The Qur’aan!

Shame (on you) and how can the English language enter (upon you) so blatantly, as you have learned it from its people and those who have been born and bred upon its letters and its grammar!

Shame on you! …you learn a language or two languages from the languages of the obfuscates, and you don’t even put the effort into learning your own Arabic language, not even able to construct a single sentence so that someone who seeks to understand you can understand you, and so that the eloquent can understand your speech!

Shame on you! …shame on you for turning your back upon the reason for your pride while holding onto the reason for your misguidance!

Shame on you! …this can only be a testament to the laziness of the onlooker, and a testament to his narrow-sightedness.

Shame on you! …in that you have the book of Allah in your house, between your hands, and (in most cases) even dust has overstepped it!

Shame on you! …in that you only return to The Book of Allah in times that travesty has befallen you; only when your arm is twisted behind your back!

Shame on you! …in that you only return to The Book of Allah when your become ill and incapacitated!

Shame on you! …in that you don’t reflect upon the blessing that Allah has bestowed upon you!

Shame on you! …in that you leave The Qur’aan so blatantly behind you as if you’re really mesmerized by it, and you don’t even look in it, in the day or in the night.

Shame on you! …in that your heart isn’t even effected by a short chapter from The Book of Allah!

Shame on you! …in that your tongue doesn’t pronounce the words of your Lord, (Jalla wa ‘Alaa)!


Oh Slaves of Allah: it’s obligatory upon us to obey Allah; and it’s obligatory upon us to use our intellects and to be mindful of our duties! It’s obligatory upon us to safeguard that which benefits us, for our enemy surely won’t safeguard it for us. …and if we don’t wake up to safeguarding our honor (our deen), then it’s not safe from our enemies! …and if we don’t protect our deen, ourselves, then indeed Allah will send upon us rain of destruction from the sky, and he will replace all of us, and dispel all of us, hidden and apparent!

“And if you turn away (from Islam and the obedience of Allah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes.” (Muhammad: 38)

How long will you remain lost!

How long will you remain isolated!

How long will you remain astray!

How long will you remain reclined!

How long will you remain lying down!

How long will this coma last, oh slaves of Allah! …and while the Glorious Qur’aan calls the adhaan of the hearts, day comes and night comes, and no one answers! And the Prophet (SallallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) complained about you to his Lord! When the Messenger (SallallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) said,

“Yaa Rubb (oh my Lord), my people have indeed abandoned this Qur’aan!” (Furqaan: 30)

Learn The Book of Allah, and don’t let a day pass without looking into The Glorious Qur’aan!

Author: Shaikh Muhammad Sa’eed Raslaan (hafithahuAllah)
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-rKgU9R0s

Where do you stand?

"Oh you of little resolve! Where do you stand upon this path? Aadam found it difficult and Nuh lamented because of it, while Allaah’s Khaleel Ibraaheem was thrown into a pit of fire due to it. Isma’eel was laid upon his side ready to be sacrificed for its sake, and while upon it Yusuf was sold for a cheap price and then falsely cast into prison for many years. Zakariyah was sawed in half, and Yahya was slaughtered due to it. Ayyub suffered great distress, while Dawood cried copiously, and ‘Isaa cured the wretched poor of their diseases and walked with wild beasts due to it. And how many, how many forms of difficulty and hardship did the Messenger Muhammad face while proceeding upon it – yet you live through amusements and distractions!"

Shaykh al Islaam Ibn Qayyim in his work al-Fawaaid, page 41

Encouragement to Have Children

Children have a lofty status in Islam, and a high rank. Allah has encouraged us to seek after them: "...so now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring)..." [Noble Quran 2:187] ] The scholars of Tafsir (explanation of the Quran) explain that what is meant be seeking that which Allah has ordained for you is seeking reward and good - from which is pious offspring. This encouragement is further clarified and manifested by the order of the Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) in his saying: "Marry the loving and the fertile because through you, I will compete with the nations for superiority in numbers." [Abu Dawud and others] From this we can clearly see the error of those who waste away their family lives using various forms of contraception and therefore preventing themselves and their society from this divine blessing and the beautiful adornment with which Allah has ordained this world. Allah says: "Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world..." [Noble Quran 18:46] So children are a great blessing and something good, and this blessing and good becomes complete when the children are righteous and good - which will not be achieved unless the fathers and mothers train and educate them properly upon Islam and its manners from the first moments of their lives as part of the growing family. Then and only then will they be a pleasure to the eyes and bring happiness to their hearts. Allah says, "And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun [i.e. pious and righteous persons who fear Allah mush (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah mush (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]." [Noble Quran 25:74] And besides encouraging us to seek children, Islam has also made them a great source of good, and also a means of receiving great reward for the parents both in their lives and after their deaths - so pious children are an extension to the lives of their parents after their deaths and a continuing means of acquiring good and reward for them. Concerning this Allah's Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "A servant will have his rank raised and will say: 'O my Lord how has this come about for me?' He says: 'Through your sons after you seeking forgiveness for you." [Sahih by Ahmad and Ibn Majah] And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) also said, "When the son of Adam dies his actions are cut off except for three: A continuing charity, or some knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who makes supplication for him." [Muslim and Ahmad] From the bounteous favors of Allah with regards to one's offspring, He has made the child a source of good for its parents in all conditions, since if he lives longer than them he benefits them by supplicating for them and asking them for forgiveness for them - as occurs in the above Hadith. On the other hand, if the child dies before them, then he will intercede for them and be a precursor for them in Paradise, and this can be seen clearly in the following Hadiths: The Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said to the women: "There is not amongst you a woman of whose children three die except that they will be a shield for her from the Fire. A woman said: "And two?" So he said, "And them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] A woman came with a child of hers and said, "O Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) supplicate for him, for I have already buried three." So he said, 'You have buried three!' She said, "Yes." He said, 'You have indeed protected yourself with a strong shield from the Fire." [Muslim] And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) said to a man whose son had died, "Do you not love that you will not come to any gate from the gates of Paradise except that you will find him awaiting you?" So a man said, 'Is that for him in particular O Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him), or for all of us?' He said, "Rather for all or you." [Sahih by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i] The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Your small children will roam freely in Paradise when one of them meets his father - or he said; his parents - he will take hold of the edge of his garment or his hand, as I now take hold of the edge of your garment, and not let go until Allah admits him and his father into Paradise." [Muslim] And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "By Him in whose Hand is my soul the miscarried fetus will bring his mother by his umbilical cord into paradise if she patiently awaits reward." [Hasan by Ibn Majah]

Khadejah Jones Share Islam Team ShareIslam.com

Warning Against Abu Khadeejah, SP(salafi publications) and Their Followers

The Reason Why Sheikh Waseeallah Abbas Warned Against Abu Khadeejah, SP and Their Followers

Sheikh Waseeallah Abbas Said:

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the most virtuous of His creation, Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

In relation to what was said regarding my comment about Abu Khadeejah- that he has made it his sole objective to criticize the Jamee’yah and other salafis and his (i.e. Abu Khadeejah) comment that I am in a most worried state because now it is binding upon me to correct what I said...

My reply to this is; No, it is not. And I reiterate to this individual (i.e. Abu Khadeejah) and anyone with him. I reiterate it on this day, the 17th of Jammada Akhira in the year 1432H. That these individuals have no important objective other than to disparage salafis due to some mistakes they have made.

The Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) said: كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ ، وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ. “All of the children of Adam make mistakes and the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent.” {collected Sunan At Tirmithi}

There are some issues that I sat with them personally about and not as Abu Khadeejah presumed that they were narrated to me! And Abu Khadeejah called me an oppressor and a liar!

I say that Abu Khadeejah has actually lied upon me by saying that some forged lies were narrated to me about them. I sat with Abu Khadeejah for many hours, and the whole conversation is recorded.

I asked him about the reasons for which he warns against the salafis in Britain and other individuals who have made some mistakes. I discussed all these things with him and I never once found a legitimate justification from him.

I have never ceased, since then, and I will reiterate here and now, these individuals (i.e. Abu Khadeejah and his followers) are not true students of knowledge and it is not known that they have studied any adequate amount of knowledge!

What they actually do is sit in a few gatherings of the scholars and deem themselves, because of it, deserving to spread the statements of our scholars, may Allah preserve them and have mercy on those from amongst them who have since deceased.

The fact of the matter is that it is not permissible for them to give religious verdicts (i.e. fatawa) from themselves, as I emphasized this to them. These individuals (i.e. Abu Khadeejah and his followers) are ignorant and there is absolutely no doubt about it. Their sole objective is to vilify salafis.

They blindly follow the statements of some scholars whom they narrate the mistakes of others to, statements of scholars that imply the misguidance of an individual, his ignorance or innovation.

If these individuals made a mistake, then say it is a mistake; however it is not permissible for us to abandon an individual because of one mistake he has made. The reality of it is that if you are in the habit of pointing out the mistakes of others, then, in turn, others will point out your mistakes.

This is what I have to say while Abu Khadeejah says that it is incumbent upon me to correct my statement. But I emphasize it and have never ceased saying it, even up to right now I say it with complete certainty in addition to other things related to this issue, indeed these individuals used to publish salafi books. They used to translate the works of scholars such as Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen and others.

I advised them during that time and told them that this was a noble deed they were doing and that they should stick to publishing books only and not to look to the left or the right. But to no avail, they have never ceased, since they began to give da’wah, to spread their evil, even in countries other than Britain.

So now, I’m in a worried state (as Abu Khadeejah so disrespectfully put it), when I personally advised them, on more than one occasion, and asked Allah to guide them and that if they found a mistake with one of their salafi brothers, that they would come to a mutual understanding between themselves and not that they would resort to warning against them or warning against praying with them or attending their Masjid.

This is a major crime from them against the pristine religion of salafiyah.”

To Be Continued...

Original warning

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of everything that exists and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His slave and final Messenger, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, and upon his family and... companions.

As to what proceeds.

On Friday May 20, 2011 Some of the Students of Knowledge went to visit Sheikh Waseeallah Abbas at his house in the Holy City of Makkah and asked him the following question:

“Noble Sheikh, the brothers from SP have been invited to speak at an educational seminar (e.g. In Defense of the Salafi Minhaj Conference 2011) in America. Do you advise the Salafis to attend their lectures and benefit from them?”

The Sheikh (Hafithahullah) Replied:

“I do not advise the brothers to attend this seminar, especially if Abu Khadeejah and Bilal Davis and others are going to be from amongst the speakers there.

However, if there are others who are recognized {for their knowledge and good character} that will be speaking, they should attend.

You will see that if they {Abu Khadeejah, Bilal Davis and others} are given the opportunity to address the people, they will divert them from the understanding of Salafiyah. Don’t listen to them and this is something that I have always advised against.”

 source: http://rawdah.org/

Ruling on the one who mocks a Muslim woman wearing the proper Islamic Hijab (veil)

Q : What is the ruling on someone who mocks a Muslim woman wearing the proper Islamic Hijab (veil)  or describes her as being a ghost or a moving tent and other such insulting words?

A: Anyone who mocks a Muslim man or woman for adhering to the Shari‘ah (Islamic law) is a Kafir (disbeliever). 

This is regardless of whether they are making fun of a Muslim woman wearing the proper Islamic Hijab or any other matter of the Shari‘ah. 

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated: 

During the campaign of Tabuk a man said in an assembly, ‘I have never seen anyone like these Qur’an readers of ours. They have the biggest bellies, the most lying tongues and they are the most cowardly when encountering the enemy.’

Another man said, ‘You are lying, and you are a hypocrite. I will most certainly tell the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) [what you have said].’ The news was reported to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), then the Qur’an was revealed (concerning this incident).

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said, ‘I saw him (that man) hanging onto the saddle of the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him), stumbling over the stones while saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we were just jesting and playing.’

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was reciting the Qur’anic Ayah (verse): Was it at Allâh (Exalted and Sublime), and His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you because they were Mujrimûn (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals.) 

Thus, ridiculing the believers is equated with ridiculing Allah, His Signs and His Messenger.

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

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

Fatwas > Miscellaneous Fatwas (Safar) > Mocking Hijab / The second question of Fatwa no. 4127

Ruling on using the words 'if' or 'if only'.

Question: A man said, “If only you had done such and such, none of this would have happened to you.”
Another man who heard him said, “This word (if only) was forbidden by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), it is a word that leads the one who says it to kufr.”
A third man said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, concerning the story of Moosa with al-Khidr, ‘May Allaah have mercy upon Moosa. If only he had had patience, so that Allaah would have told us more of what happened between them.’”
Another man referred to the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “ The strong believer is more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer…‘If only” opens the door to the Shaytaan.” Does this abrogate that, or not? 

Answer: Praise be to Allaah. 

Everything that Allaah and His Messenger said is truth. The word ‘if’ or ‘if only’ is used in two ways: 

1. To express grief for the past and distress what has been decreed. This is what isnot allowed, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Be not like those who disbelieve (hypocrites) and who say to their brethren when they travel through the earth or go out to fight: ‘If they had stayed with us, they would not have died or been killed,’ so that Allaah may make it a cause of regret in their hearts” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:156]

This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade when he said, “If anything happens to you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such, then such and such would have happened.’ Say instead, ‘Qaddar Allaah wa maa sha’a kaan(Allah decreed and what He wills happens), for ‘If only’ opens the door to the Shaytaan”, i.e., it makes you vulnerable to grief and fear, which is harmful to you and is of no benefit. Know that whatever befalls you, you could not have avoided, and whatever does not happen to you, you could not have made it happen to you, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“No calamity befalls, but by the Leave [i.e. Decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allaah, and whosoever believes in Allaah, He guides his heart” [al-Taghaabun 64:11]

They said, this is a man to whom calamity happens, but he knows that it is from Allaah, so he accepts it and submits. 

2.  When the word ‘if’ is used to convey beneficial knowledge, such as the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) aalihah (gods) besides Allaah, then verily, both would have been ruined” [al-Anbiyaa’ 21:22]

The second type is used to express love for goodness, such as saying, “If only I had what so and so has, I would do what he does.” Saying things like this is permissible.

The hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “If only he [Moosa] had had patience, so that Allaah would have told us more of what happened between them” is of this nature, as is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them, so they (too) would compromise with you” [al-Qalam 68:9]

Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wished that Allah has told us more of their [Moosa and al-Khidr] story, and he mentioned that in order to point out his love for patience and the results that come from it, and the benefits that it can bring. There was no element of fear, grief or neglect of the duty of patience in the face of what has been decreed.

And Allaah knows best.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa al-Kabeer by Ibn Taymiyah, 1023-9 

They Ask, I Say…

They ask: How will you progress in life with yourself covered from head to toe?
I ask: How will I progress to the Other Life if I do not do so?

They ask: What is the use of all your education if you do not care to make a career?
I ask: What is the use of reading His Book if I am void of His fear?

They ask: Why do you insist on being backward in these enlightened times?
I ask: Why do you insist on being modern while being oblivious to all the avoidable crimes?

They ask: What happiness do you find in hiding your face?
I ask: What happiness do you find caught up in this rat race?

They ask: Why do you want to complicate your life further?
I ask: Why do you wish to humiliate yourself in the Life Hereafter?

They ask: How will you face everyone from behind a veil?
I ask: How will I face my Lord when I am judged and I fail?

They ask: What will you gain by this action?
I ask: What if I gain His Mercy, even if it’s a fraction?

Greatest Women of All Time!

Anâs Radhi-Allâhu 'anhu reports that Nabî Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam has said:
 

"From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of following are (the following four): Miryam the daughter of Imrân; Khadija daughter of Khuwailid; Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah wife of Fir'aun" (Tirmidhi)

There are 4 women who are the BEST OF ALL WOMEN, then why do you take others as your role models?

'Whosoever loves that Allâh should open-up his heart for him...'

Imâm Ash Shafi'i rahimahullâh - said: “Whosoever loves that Allâh should open-up his heart for him and grant light to him, then let him abandon speech about that which does not concern him, and abandon sins and turn away from acts of disobedience. Then there will be between him and Allâh a hidden treasure of good actions. So if this is done, then Allâh will open up such knowledge for him, that will preoccupy him. And indeed in death is the greatest pre-occupation."

[Related by al Bayhaqî in Manâqiush-Shâfi’î (2/171)]

So Seek The Hereafter!

Yahyaa Ibn Mu'aadh Al-Raazee said:

"Son of Aadam; you seek the world as if your very life depended on it and you seek the Hereafter as if you have no need of it!

You will acquire what you need from this world even if you do not run after it, but you will only attain the Hereafter if you run after it. So be aware of your true condition!"

Yahyaa Ibn Aadam said:

"Paradise was surrounded by difficulties, and you dislike it, and Hellfire was surrounded by desires, and you run after it.

You are like one who is afflicted with serious illness, if you are able to patiently endure the pain of the cure, you will be healed, if not, the illness will only increase in severity."

["The Journey Of The Strangers", By Al-Aajurree, p. 67]

naming with, 'Salafiyyah' or so-and-so as-Salafi and other such titles: Shaikh Al-Fawzaan

Question: What is your opinion about naming with, 'Salafiyyah' or so-and-so as-Salafi or al-Atharee and other such titles?

فضيلة الشيخ ما رأي سماحتكم في التسمي بالسلفية أو بفلان السلفي أو الأثري أو نحو ذلك من الألقاب ؟

Reply by Shaikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan (hafidhahullah):
 "This is a Tazkiyah (praise) for oneself."
One should adhere to Ittiba (following) of the Salaf, and its Iqtida (requirements) and not name himself, 'Salafi' because in this is Tazkiyah for oneself.
And also in this is accusing others of not being Salafi.
Such an act should be abandoned, an act which causes misunderstanding amongst the brothers, 'Is there no salafi except you.'
These issues must be abandoned

We follow the Manhaj of the Salaf and study it, and call towards it without describing ourselves that we are Salafi, because this is known without we saying it.
Whosoever follows the manhaj of the salaf, he is known (to be salafi) even if he does not say I am salafi. [End]

Translated by Shawana A Aziz (www.qsep.com)

Ref: http://www.alfawzan.ws/node/8404

Reasons Eemaan Increases and Decreases by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen

Q:We wish to know what things enable Eemaan to increase and what things make it decrease?

A: As far as the things that make Eemaan increase, then from them:

The first reason: To know Allaah Ta’aala with His names and attributes. Indeed whenever a person’s knowledge of Allaah and His names and attributes increases, then his Eemaan increases without a doubt as a result. This is why you will find that the people of knowledge, those who know about the names and attributes of Allaah what others do not, you will find that they have stronger Eemaan than other than them from this perspective.

The second reason: To Ponder over the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, Both the universal and legislated signs. Indeed whenever a person ponders over the universal Ayaat, which is the creation; the heavens, the earth, humans, animals and other than that, will increase in Eemaan. Allaah Ta’aala says:

{And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty. And also in your own selves, Will you not then see?}

There are many verses that prove this. What I mean is, the verses that prove that if a person was to ponder and contemplate upon the universe, his Eemaan as a result will increase.

The third reason: To practice a lot of good deeds, for whenever a person increases in practicing good deeds, his Eemaan will increase, whether these deeds are from the deeds of the tongue or actions of the body parts. For indeed Dhikr, (remembrance of Allaah) increases Eemaan in its amount (i.e. the number of times one makes Dhikr) as well as in the way it is practiced. Salaat and Sawm (fasting) as well, and Hajj increases Eemaan as in regards to the number of times it is practiced, as well as in regards to the way in which it is practiced.

As for the reasons why Eemaan decreases then it is the complete opposite of what has been mentioned. So ignorance of the names and attributes of Allaah will make Eemaan decrease. Because if a person does not know the names and attributes of Allaah, then he lacks knowledge of them that [if he had] would in turn enable him to increase in Eemaan.

The second reason: That one does not ponder over the universal and legislated Ayaat of Allaah. Indeed this causes Eemaan to decrease, or in the least will stop its growth .

Thirdly: Falling into sins, for indeed the sin has a tremendous effect on the heart and on Eemaan!. This is why the messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“The zaanee (adulterer) does not commit zinaa (adultery) while he is a believer at the time of the act.”

Fourthly: Leaving off obedience (to Allaah and his Messenger), for indeed leaving off obedience is from the reasons that decrease one’s Eemaan. However, if this certain action of obedience was Waajib (compulsory), and one leaves it without a reason, then this is a decrease in Eemaan that one is blameworthy as well as punished for. But if it isn’t Waajib, or it is Waajib and one leaves it with an excuse, then it is a decrease of Eemaan that one is not punished for. This is why the Messenger of Allaah declared that women are deficient in ‘Aql (mentality) and Deen (Religion), and the reason he said that they had a deficiency in their Deen is because they do not pray or fast during their menses, rather they are ordered not to pray or fast, but because they are unable to practice these actions (during menses) that a man is able to practice , they decrease (in Deen) compared to a man from this perspective.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen

Fiqhul ‘Ibaadaat: P.59