Have you read the Quran lately?

Categories of Sincerity

The People Divide into Four Categories with respect to Sincerity and Adherence to the Guidance of the Prophet (pbuh).

This was taken from lessons conducted on the book 'al-Qawl-ul- Mufid Fee Adillatit-Tawhid' [Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawhid] written by one of the major scholars of the Sunnah in Yemen, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab al-Wasabi.

Al-Qisam al-Awwal (The First Category):
Those who have gathered between Ikhlas (sincerity) and Mutaba'ah (following the guidance of the Prophet).

So their actions, all of them, are for Allah, and all of their statements are for Allah and their giving and their forgiving is for Allah, and their love is for Allah and their hatred is for Allah, and their actions, both in the apparent and the hidden, are for the face of Allah alone.

They do not want by this from the people a recompense or thankfulness, and nor do they seek a high position with them, and they do not seek praise and position in their heart, and they are not fleeing from their rebuke. Verily, they see the people [who are alive] in the position of the people of the grave, those who do not control for them harm or benefit, or life or death, or resurrection. So actions for the people, and seeking a position with them, and hoping in harm or benefit from them [i.e. the general people], is not from them [i.e. these category of people]. Verily, it is from those who are ignorant of the situation and ignorant of their Lord. And whoever knows the people and puts them in their proper places, and knows Allah, is sincere in his actions and his statements and his giving and his forgiving and his love and his hatred. So no one does actions and deeds for the creation other than Allah except that he is ignorant of Allah and ignorant of the creation. For verily, the one who knows Allah and knows the people prefers actions and deeds for Allah over actions and deeds for the people.

Characteristics of a Da’ee

Characteristics of a Da’ee - (The inviter to Allah’s path, one who gives Dawah) 

It is essential for a Daa’ee to correct his intention so that he sees all the affairs in their true perspectives so that they are not disguised (dressed) by false adornments (decoration), keeping in mind the saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws). 
“The actions are Innama (only, certainty) tied to the intentions and every person will earn that which he intended.” [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim] 
When his heart is settled with good and sincere intention, then it will be easy for him to realize the true state of the Ummah today, and the humiliation, which the Muslims are suffering.

A Daa’ee should strive towards beneficial knowledge and righteous actions and bear in mind to set a good example with fine character, for actions speak louder than words. Everybody’s eyes are on him, so he should act in accordance with the responsibility he is given, in knowledge; actions and Dawah, having patience upon any harm people may cause. As this was the attitude of our beloved Prophet (saws) through his whole life.

The Daa’ee should take great care about being lazy about what Allah has made obligatory and from falling into that which He has forbidden – for others will follow him in it. It is important that he takes care in reviving the Sunnah, in order to encourage the people to follow it. It is an obligation and responsibility of the people of knowledge over and above everyone else.

The headscarf (al-Khimaar) & the wide dress (al-Jilbaab)

There are three main areas regarding the Muslim woman's dress code in Islam:

1. Concealing the parts of the body that the Islamic law has determined (al-'Awrah)
2. What to wear in public
3. The dazzling display (at-Tabarruj)

The judgement of al-'Awrah (the private parts):
 In Islam, the Sharee'ah has defined the 'Awrah (private part) of a woman to be her whole body except from her face and her hands. Therefore, her neck, arms, hair, feet, and legs are all part of her 'Awrah and must be covered in public, from foreign men (Muslim or non-Muslim) and non-Maharim (plural for Mahram i.e. a male guardian by Sharee'ah). Allah says in the Qur'aan: "They should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof." (an-Noor, 24: 31)

What 'must ordinarily appear' is the face and the hands, as this used to be the case with Muslim women whether during prayer or Hajj or in front of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who kept silent about this matter which proves that he did not object. Another evidence comes from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who said to Asmaa: 'O Asmaa, when a woman reaches puberty, no part of her body should be revealed except for this and this (pointing to the face and hands).'

Function of the Heart...

Does man think with his brain or the heart? This is a discussion that was a matter of controversy between Ahl al Sunnah wal jama’ah and the philosophers. The philosophers insisted as many Muslims do today that we think with our brain.

Allah created our organs for particular functions, he created ears for us to hear, he created eyes for us to see, and it is their right over us that we see and hear and smell only what Allah permits us and ordered us.

Allah created the heart in order to understand and comprehend things. He says that the heart is the king of all organs.

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“There is an organ in the body, if it is good, the whole body will be good, and if it is bad the whole body will become bad, verily it is the heart.”

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Islam is explicit, and imaan is in the heart, (and then he pointed his hand to his chest and said) taqwa is here, …, …”

The Heart
The heart has a role to understand, learn and to gain ‘Ilm, and it is upon us to transfer it to our tongue and body, and implement that ‘Ilm.

Reasons WHY Prophet's (saws) Birthday SHOULD NOT be celebrated!!!

Celebrating the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet (saws) is forbidden and is to be rejected for a number of reasons:

1 – It is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger (saws) or of the khalîfahs who succeeded him. Since this is the case, then it is a forbidden innovation, because the Prophet (saws) said: "I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khalîfahs after me; adhere to it and cling to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly-invented thing is an innovation (bid'ah) and every innovation is a going-astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; at-Tirmidhî no. 2676).

Celebrating the Mawlid is an innovation introduced after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. If a person does anything in order to draw closer to Allâh which was not done by the Messenger (saws) or enjoined by him, and was not done by the khalîfahs who succeeded him, this action implies that he is accusing the Messenger of not explaining the religion to the people, and that he disbelieves in the words of Allâh:
"This day, I have perfected your religion for you." [al-Mâ'idah 5:3]

Because he is adding something extra and claiming that it is a part of the religion, but the Messenger (saws) did not bring this.

It's NOT Masha'Allah or TabarakAllah for EVIL EYE!!!

(DUE TO YOUTUBE'S UNJUST RULE ON RESTRICTING SHAYKH'S LECTURES FOR POSTING ELSEWHERE, CLICK BELOW LINK TO WATCH THE ABOVE VIDEO DIRECTLY ON YOUTUBE INSHA'ALLAH:
Warding Off The Evil Eye And Envy (hasad))

By our honored Shk Ahmad Musa Jibril (HafidhUllah)

There is a misconception amongst many Muslims today, and it is to do with the phrase "Masha'Allah, TabarakAllah" and the phrase "Masha'Allah la hawla wala quwata illah billah" in order to repel the evil eye, but this is all baseless...
Now most people think that by saying these du'aas it will repel the 'ayn (evil eye) but what they fail to understand is that this phrasing is not the correct form of the du'aa instructed by our beloved Prophet (saws). Instead when we see a beautiful child, nice car, nice house, we MUST make du'aa for Allah to bless it Insha'Allah... Its WRONG TO SAY:
Masha'Allah (means What Allah willed),
TabarakAllah (means Allah is Blessed)
La ilaha Illah (there is not God but Allah)
Allahumma Salli alah (may Allah send blessing on Prophet-saws)
However all these above can and should be Insha'Allah used for regular Dhikr within talks BUT they do not ward off Evil Eye.

And as for those who use the verse in Surah al-Kahf:
وَلَولا إِذ دَخَلتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللَّه -
"It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allāh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allāh '. If you see me less than you in wealth, and children." [Al-Kahf 18:39]

Terror in Burma: Violence against Muslims continues!!!

Press TV

December 28, 2013 

Hundreds of Rohingya people have been killed; tens of thousands were forced from their homes and live as suffering refugees in Internal Displacement Camps (IDP's) where disease is rampant and food and shelter are scarce. 

"Terrorist" groups are frequently the banter of network news anchors and analysts; yet few in America devote time to the terrorists of Burma who have behaved treacherously toward the Muslim population for a year and a half now, due to old simmering hatreds and a desire among the majority population to live in a Buddhist only country. The Buddhist answer toward their frustration with having to live with Muslims, is most vividly expressed in the "969" movement led by a Buddhist monk named U Wirathu (top right picture); which propagates false information that in turn damages the fragile existence of Muslims in this country that was locked down under a military junta for so many years. While all Muslims are threatened, the Rohingya Muslim people are at the center of the Buddhist's gun sites. 

Wirathu is now an abbot in Mandalay's Masoeyein Monastery, an expansive complex where he leads about 60 monks and has influence over more than 2,500 residing there. Free from a prison sentence and back in a place of influential power, he is again preaching hatred and intolerance. "Many monks are highly influenced by his hateful messages, and are directly involved in genocidal campaigns against the minority Muslim population in Myanmar. They are also supported by government agencies at all levels - from local to central," noted Rohingya Muslim political leader, Dr. Habib Siddiqui. 

The nightmare for Burmese Muslims started a year ago last July, when Buddhists claimed that one of their women was raped and murdered by Muslim men. Her ravaged and damaged body was posted online and in Buddhist press and only a day after this was reported, ten Muslim men in a completely different part of the country were pulled from a bus and murdered in broad daylight by a Buddhist mob. 

Excellence and Virtues of Scholars and Du'aat.

Virtues of Scholars – People of Knowledge

The people of knowledge are the leaders of this earth, they are the lights and lamps, and they have been preferred above everyone else. They direct the people to the way of happiness, they guide them to the means of salvation, they lead them to that which pleases Allah, the Majestic and Sublime, and His Mercy, and keep them far from that which evokes His Anger and punishment. They are the heirs of Prophets, as Prophet Muhammad (saws) informed us emphasizing the excellence of the people of knowledge.

He (saws) said: “…The superiority of the knowledgeable man over the worshipper in Islam, is like the superiority of the full moon over the rest of the planets. And the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, but the Prophets did not leave behind wealth but they left behind knowledge. And whoever takes firm hold of this is a very fortunate man." [Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi] 

The message of this Hadith is truly profound. As we all know, worship is a praiseworthy act in Islam. However, it dulls in comparison to practicing with knowledge, as is obvious from the above-mentioned Hadith.

Allah has honored and extolled those who posses knowledge, and raised their status high, He made them bear witness to His Oneness with sincerity and devotion. He reminds us of the exalted status that is bestowed upon them saying: “Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge.” [Mujadilah 58:11] 

Regarding their virtues Allah says: “Allah (Himself) bears witness that La ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) and the Angels and those having knowledge (also give this witness).” [Aal-Imran 3:18]

The Framework of Apostasy - Takfeer!!!

By Brother Abu Waleed (HafidhUllah)

Introduction 
Understanding the Islamic Aqeedah is essential for every Muslim. To be aware about all its topics, from the beginning to the end according to al Salaf al Saalih is very important. Not to have a short or partial understanding of a particular topic of Aqeedah e.g. the topic of Imaan or Asmaa’ wal Sifaat. It is not good just to study a little bit here and there; you need to study it deeply. It is unreasonable that you never study anything Islamic from childhood and then you suddenly think that you can understand all about Aqeedah later.

You must study from the childhood, especially those who decide to study Aqaa'id from books without proper foundations, without scholarly understanding and foundations or without to consult the Ulemaa’.

What is known from Islam by necessity is that the Deen of Islam is based on Wahi; it is not a matter that people can just say they found the Wahi because the Wahi is only the Qur'an and the Sunnah. It is not only about what was revealed in 23 years in the Qur'an and the sayings, actions and consent of the Messenger (saw). You must know the circumstances that it was revealed in. Moreover the prophet (saw) said that his Sunnah is not enough, you must also follow the Sunnah of the companions.

It has become well known among Ahl al ilm that lying and distortion and interpretation are the attribute of the deviant sects, the philosophers and of the rationalists. That is because they are ahl al Bid’ah, their job is to spread their Bid’ah and because they have to defend their stance. They end up having to lie or fabricate Ahadith, or to interpret falsely anything they can to justify their Bid’ah.

Meaning of As-Sunnah

As-Sunnah has become known over time to mean many things:

Al Tariqah [Method, path, habit (tradition)]
Al Hikmah [Sayings, actions and consent of Muhammad (pbuh)]
Al Qadha [The divine fate]
Al Shari'ah [Way of Life]
Al Aqeedah [The Belief]
Ahl ul Haq [People of truth]
Ahl ul Islam [People of Islam]
Ahl Tawheed [People of Tawheed]
Nafilah [Recommended]

Ibn Taymiyyah said:
"It becomes a duty upon a Muslim if someone asks (what should I call myself), to say: I am not shukayli, nor kurfandi, I am a Muslim and I follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah. [At that time there was a man called Shukayl that people followed and called themselves Shukayli], we will never divert from the names that Allah (swt) gave us, to a name innovated by people and their parents, which Allah never permitted them." (He quoted an ayah from Baqarah.) [Majmou Al Fattawa ibn Taymiyyah vol.3 p.415] 

Among Ahl Al hadith, Sunnah means:
"What has been attributed to the Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) sayings, actions or consent, or description of the way he looks or his character, or his biography whether before missionhood or after missionhood."

So they make Ta'assie (resemble him) in everything, even his movements (e.g. the way he moved, walked etc)

Beautiful Azad (ra) - a Muslimah who assisted the elimination of the false Prophet!!!

From the book "The Sword of Allah - Khalid ibn Walid (ra)" 

"The desert Arabs say, 'We believe.' Say, 'You have not believed, but say: 'We have submitted,' for Faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle anything of your deeds: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: such are the sincere ones."[Quran 49:14-15] 

Apostasy had actually begun in the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh), and the first major action of the apostasy was fought and satisfactorily concluded while the Prophet (pbuh) still lived. But the real and most serious danger of apostasy arose after the Prophet's (pbuh) death, when a wild wave of disbelief-after-belief moved across the length and breadth of Arabia and had to be tackled by Abu Bakr. Hence the Campaign of the Apostasy is here taken up as a whole, although chronologically the first of these events belongs to Part I of this history.

The first major event of the apostasy occurred in the Yemen and is known as the Incident of Aswad Al Ansi. Aswad was a chief of the Ans-a large tribe inhabiting the western part of the Yemen. His actual name was Abhala bin Kab, but because of his very dark colour he was called Aswad, i.e. the Black One. A man of many qualities, few of them enviable, he was, before the apostasy, known mainly as a tribal chieftain and a soothsayer. During the tenth year of the Hijra, the people of the southern and south-eastern regions of the Arabian peninsula had been converted to Islam. The Prophet (pbuh) had sent envoys, teachers and missions to various places to accomplish this task and the task had been duly completed. But the majority of the inhabitants of these regions had not become true Muslims, their conversion being more a matter of form than a sincere change of heart.