Beautiful Sermons by Abu Bakr (ra)

‘Abdullah ibn Hakeem reported that Abu Bakr delivered the following sermon: 
“To proceed, I indeed advice both myself and you to fear Allah, to praise Him as he deserves to be praised, to combine hope and fear, and to unite persistency with supplication (and prayer). For indeed, Allah praised Zakariyyah and the members of his household by saying:

“Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.” [21:90]

And know, O slaves of Allah... that Allah has taken covenants from you, and that He has purchased (from you) that which is little and fleeting for that which is plentiful and everlasting. Here among you is the Book of Allah, whose wonders never run out, and whose light never extinguishes. Believe in Allah’s speech, be sincere to His Book, and seek light from it for the Day of Darkness. Indeed, you have been created only to worship (Allah). And Allah has entrusted you to noble scribes [the blessed angels who record our deeds] who know what you do. Also know, O slaves of Allah, you come and go (on this earth) for an appointed time, and when it is that your time will come you do not know. If your are able to coincide your appointed time with a deed that you are performing for the sake of Allah, then do so. But you will not be able to do so except with Allah’s help…There are people who spent their lives for others, all the while forgetting themselves (i.e. their duties towards their Lord); I forbid you from becoming like them. So hasten, hasten (to perform good deeds), and then there will be salvation, salvation! Verily, you are being pursued from behind by that which travels with greet speed (ie, the time of your life).”

Poem from a Prisoner to his Wife...

It was our Lord who caused the magicians to fall in prostration,
And it is He we must approach to release our frustration.
Through Salaat, Dua, Sabr, and Thabat,
But Insha'Allah you will be capable of that.

From Pharaoh, to Aad and Thamud as well,
They’ll all come together on a day to tell.
How their evil plots and plans to divert the track,
Of a believing people had in it an enormous CRACK!

It was Allah who caused their wickedness a loss,
Because by His Most Perfect qualities He is the BOSS!!!
So strong and Mighty but little do conceive,
But Wallahi their souls He will retrieve.

It is they who willingly chose to transgress,
Diverting from Tawheed to Shirk which is much less.
Gathered on their faces towards the burning fire,
A recompense for one who could not control his desire.

Accompanying Iblis, zaqqum and eternal torture,
What plans would that draw for a humiliating future.
By Allah it is but a just Reward,
For someone who from true guidance is deterred.

The Hadith of Najd...

The Messenger of Allaah (saws) said,
"O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam. O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Messenger of Allaah, and our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet (saws) said, "There (in Najd) will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations, and from their appears the Horn of Satan."

Reported in al-Bukhaaree [Book of Trials, Chpt. 'The afflictions will come from the East' 9/166 no. 214 Eng. Trans]

A hadeeth which has some controversy surrounding it due to obvious sectarian reasons. A hadeeth which has been (deliberately) misunderstood by certain groups of people in order that they may spread their misguidance and deceive ignorant Muslims.

This because upon research and investigation and looking to the words of our early scholars we find that this hadeeth does not refer to the Najd that is famously known in Saudi today, but rather it refers to Iraaq.

About two years ago I read a book entirely devoted to this hadeeth entitled, "an-Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan". I will quote in general from what I remember from this book, and refrain from mentioning precise quotes except from those references that I have on me.

Amongst the scholars that are mentioned who referred this hadeeth to Iraaq were: al-Khattaabee, al-Kirmaanee, al-Aynee, an-Nawawee, ibn Hajr and others. The reasons behind this are numerous and clear:

Polishing the Hearts !

By Imaam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Allaah - the Most High - said:

"O you who believe! Remember Allaah and remember Him a lot." [33:41]

"Those men and women who remember Allaah a lot." [33:35]

"So when you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage, then remember Allaah as you remember your fore-father, or with more intense remembrance." [2:200]

These verses contain a command to remember Allaah intensely and abundantly, since the worshipper is in dire need of [remembering Allaah] and cannot do without it even for a twinkling of an eye. This is because every moment that a person does not spend in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah will not be of any benefit to him. Rather, the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allaah is far greater than any benefits that can be gained. One of the 'aarifeen (those who are knowledgeable about Allaah) said:"If a person were to spend such and such number of years engaged [in the dhikr of Allaah], then he turns away from it for just a moment, what he will lose is far greater than whatever he has already gained."

Al-Bayhaqee relates from 'Aaishah (ra) that the Prophet (saws) said: "There is no time in which the son of Aadam does not remember Allaah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement" [Bayhaqi; reported by abu Nu'aym in al-Hiliyatul-Awliyna 5:361-362]

Story of a Sister... Rely on Allah Alone!

One day when I felt so lost, betrayed and humiliated, I met a Sister in Islam. On that day, I felt that there would never be any end to the pain I was experiencing. This sister taught me and explained to me about a special word, which I would never forget—tawakkul.

This is what happened that day:

“What’s wrong? You look miserable,”she asked.

“I feel so humiliated by what certain people did to me,” I answered, wondering if I should say more. I continued,” Every time I think at last there is someone who understands me and who I can rely on, they seem to turn the other way around, breaking their promise to me.”

She never asked me why I felt humiliated or anything more about my story. She immediately told me, “Oh sister, this is no doubt a test. Seek forgiveness and put your trust only in Allah.”

I protested, “But I did.”

She said, “You depended on Allah’s creation to do something which none would be able to do except for Allah… You feel betrayed because you trusted people... Allah loves us so much that He would never let us down when we have complete trust in Him.”

We spent nearly two hours talking about tawakkul in Allah.

After the conversation I came home and pondered over the sister’s words. I made salaah. I cried. Eventually, I realized the meaning of the beautiful word tawakkul.

Commentary: "Verily, many people amongst the Tatar..."

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in “ar-Radd ‘ala al-Akhna’i” page 95:

“Verily, many people amongst the Tatar and others entered into Islam, while they have idols made from felted wool and they seek nearness to it and exalt it, and they do not know that this is Haraam in the Deen of Islam, and they seek nearness to the fire as well, while they do not know that this is Haraam, so many forms of shirk might be unclear to some of those who’ve entered into Islam, and they do not know it is shirk, so this person is misguided and the action in which he performed shirk by it is baatil (invalid), however he doesn’t deserve punishment until the Hujjah is established upon him.”

Commentary: “Verily, many people amongst the Tatar and others entered into Islam.” This statement is regarding the Tatar who recently entered into Islam, and the Hujjah has not been established upon them. So they “entered into Islam”, he did not say “Muslimeen”, one must pay attention, because he repeated it twice, he said: “Verily, many people amongst the Tatar and others entered into Islam.” And “entering” here means that they said “Laa ilaha ila Allah”, so it does not mean that they became Muslimīn and their entering is a correct entry, because he said: “they have idols made from felted wool.” He called them “Mutaqarribeen” (seeking nearness – to those idols), they seek nearness to it and exalt it, they are mushrikeen without a doubt, and Islam and shirk are two opposites which cannot be joined together. They cannot be Muslimīn while they seek nearness and exalt (these idols besides Allah), however, they did not know that this is Haraam in the Deen of Islam, and they seek nearness to the fire as well, while they do not know that this is Haraam.

Struggle is an Interpretation of the Words

The establishment of Islamic Shari'ah is not like the teachings of the Sufis, doing dhikr thousands of times and then imagine all happens by itself. The establishment of Islamic Shari'ah needs sacrifices, drops of blood and sweat. The Islamic Shari'ah is also established not by those who still indulge in bid'ah (heresy) and the corruptness of the aqeedah. It was hatched out of the crystallization of tawheed in one's soul, and then that person fights and sacrifices with his soul to prove his words.

“The words, they could die,” Sayyid Qutb wrote, “The words will also be frozen, although written with beautiful or enthusiastic lyrics. The words will be like that when they do not come from the hearts of those who believe in what they say. And someone is unlikely to have a strong belief in what he says, unless he construes in himself what he says, and then becomes a real visualization of what he said.” Sayyid Qutb continued in his monumental literary work, the Fii Zilaalil Qur’aan. 

This is the sunatullah of the struggle from the various kinds ideologies and beliefs. Let alone in struggling for Islam which has been made as the common enemy of the entire mankind, from those claiming to be Muslim, to the kafir and zindiq. This is the path of the Apostles which is travelled again by the proponents of tawheed, i.e. the path when major corruption comes, so Allah wants to perfect His Deen by testing those of His slaves, that they are absolutely confident with what are embedded in their hearts. 

In a narration, Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas said: 
"When we were with him (saws) and he said ‘toobaa lil-Ghurabaa' (glad tidings for the Strangers)', we asked: 'who are they?' He (saws) replied: ‘They are the righteous people and are very few in number compared to the majority.’" [Can be found in Saheeh Muslim, Ibn Maajah, Musnad Imaam Ahmad, al-Bukhaari and at-Tirmidhi]

"Black Magic" by Tariq Mehanna

As I listened to NPR the other day, a routine statement triggered a memory.

The guest on the show was a novelist from a Muslim country. For one of the questions, the host began by stating: "Many concerned Americans are saying that Trump's rhetoric is radicalizing Muslims who would otherwise be pro-America" - the implication being that either you're pro-America (the proper term for this is 'Americanism') or something is wrong with you. The guest seemed intelligent and was well-spoken. But his response was the standard reassurance that non-pro-America radicals constitute "only a fringe minority" of Muslims, everyone else is a moderate, and so forth.

While routine, this particular exchange triggered in me the memory of a young man I once lived with in another prison. I'd watch as he robotically paced the unit - back & forth, all day & everyday. He'd go weeks without showering or changing his clothes. Each day, he'd recklessly consume massive amounts of sugar despite being predisposed to diabetes. Anytime I'd try to intervene & advise him to snap out of it, he'd stare back at me as if I was the crazy one. What made it all the more bizarre was that I also knew him to be very intelligent & well-educated. He had studied to become an engineer. In fact, he once spent five minutes reciting to me from memory a very eloquent poem that he'd heard just one time in one of his dreams. After a few conversations & attempts at reciting the Qur'an over him, I came to understand that he was suffering from the effects of black magic that he'd been afflicted with since childhood. 

Difference between a Mushrik and a Kaafir !

Question: “Is every mushrik (one who assocites partners with Allaah) a kaafir (disbeliever), but not every kaafir is a mushrik? Or are they the same?” 

Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) answers: 
“This is the established understanding in people’s minds, except few of them. I will explain that with an example: a man bears witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allaah and that Muhammad (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah, and he prays, fasts and so on, but he rejects an aayah from the Qur’aan. This (man) has disbelieved or not disbelieved? He has disbelieved. Has he associated partners with Allaah? That which is correct is that he has associated partners with Allaah. Every kaafir is a mushrik and every mushrik is a kaafir; there is absolutely no difference between the two words… 

Whoever disbelieves has associated partners with Allaah, and whoever associates partners with Allaah has disbelieved; there is no confusion about that. The evidence for this is if we remember the conversation of the believer and the disbeliever in Surat ul-Kahf: {And put forward to them the example of two men: unto one of them We had given two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms; and had put between them green crops (cultivated fields) / Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of them / And he had property (or fruit) and he said to his companion, in the course of mutual talk: ‘I am more than you in wealth and stronger in respect of men’} [Surat ul-Kahf, 18:32-34] – pay attention now – {And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief) unjust to himself. He said: ‘I think not that this will ever perish / And I think not the Hour will ever come-} [Surat ul-Kahf, 18:35-36]. According to your wrong understanding, this (man) has disbelieved but not associated partners with Allaah and he (only) denied the Resurrection. He (then) said: {-and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him’ / His companion said to him during the talk with him-} [Surat ul-Kahf, 18:36-37] {-‘If you see me less than you in wealth, and children, / It may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and will send on it Husbaan (torment, bolt) from the sky, then it will be a barren slippery earth / Or the water thereof (of the gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to seek it’ / So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands (with sorrow) over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, and he could only say: ‘Would that I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!’} [Surat ul-Kahf, 18:39-42]

La ilaha illAllah revolves around negation & affirmation!

Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that the meaning of La ilaha illAllah revolves around negation and affirmation. Four things are negated and four things are affirmed.

Deities (aliha), false objects of worship (Tawagheet), rivals or partners (andaad), and lords (arbaab) are all negated. What is meant by a deity (ilah) is something that is turned to in the hope that it will promote some benefit or curb some harm. Anyone who does this with something has taken it as an ilah. The term ‘Tawagheet’ refers to someone who is worshipped and is pleased to be worshipped, or is prepared to be worshipped such as Samman, Taaj, or Abu Hadidah. Rivals or partners (andaad) are those things which contend with a person’s profession of Islām and drag him away from it. Be it family, home, relatives or property. Allah says:

"And from man are those who set up rivals to Allah, they them as they love Allah."

"They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and also (they have taken) the Messiah, son of Maryam. Yet they were only commanded to worship one Ilah. There is nothing worthy of worship except Him. Far above is He everything they associate with Him."

Things to be affirmed are:

The Backbiting of the Heart !

Below, a beautiful chapter from Imaam an-Nawawi’s al-Adhkaar... perhaps it will benefit all of us, seeing how easily at times Shaytaan casts negativity between Muslimeen.

Know that having evil thoughts about someone is forbidden just as evil speech (is). So just as it is forbidden for you to speak to others about the faults of someone, it is also forbidden for you to speak to yourself about that and to hold negative thoughts of him. Allah says:
“O you who believe, avoid much (types) of suspicion. Verily some (forms) of suspicion is a sin.” [49:12]

And Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “Beware of suspicion, for indeed suspicion is the most untruthful form of speech.”

And the Ahadeeth with the meaning of what I have mentioned are many. And the meaning of this (the backbiting of the heart) is the heart concluding and judging someone with negative thoughts. But as for passing thoughts and one’s talking to himself, if these thoughts do not remain established and continuous, then he is excused, according to the consensus of the scholars, because he has no choice in this happening, and he has no means of disassociation from them. This is the understanding of what has been established in the authentic texts, as the Prophet (saws) said, “Indeed, Allah has permitted for my Ummah that which their souls whisper to them, so long as they do not speak it out (audibly) or act upon it.”

The scholars said, “This refers to the thoughts that do not establish themselves.” And they said, “This is regardless of whether this thought consists of backbiting or kufr or otherwise. So if kufr crosses someone’s mind, but it is only a thought, without the intent of acting upon it, and he then dismisses this thought immediately, he is not a kaafir, and there is no sin on him.”
 

Doubts regarding Ahlul-Hali wal-‘Aqd?

For Educational purpose only and to raise Intellectual and Political awareness!

The Scholars have differed regarding the criterion of the ahlul-Hali wal-‘Aqd and the views regarding the ahlul-Hal wa al-‘Aqd conflict, however we will limit them to four views, thereafter we would clarify which is the preponderant opinion among them: 

1. The Consensus of the ahlul-Hali wa al-‘Aqd 
2. A specific number of them, with difference on the number among them 
3. The majority of the ahlul-Hali wa al-‘Aqd 
4. The people of strength and power 

The first view: The Khilāfah is not valid except with the consensus of the ahlul-Hali wal-‘Aqd. 
This view is invalid by Ijmā’ (consensus) for three reasons: 
As for Ijmā’, al-‘Allāmah ash-Shawkānī has said: “And it is not from the conditions of the validity of al-Imāmah that everyone who is suitable to give the Bay’ah to give it… For this is rejected by theconsensus of the Muslimīn – the first among them and their last, their predecessors and the ones to come.” [as-Sail al-Jarrār (p941)] 

As for the reasons, they are three reasons: 
١. Because it is a burden that cannot be borne 
٢. Because it necessitates losing the purpose of the Khilāfah for which the Bay’ah is a route to. Stipulating Ijmā’ (consensus) leads to something forbidden which is “not establishing the purpose of al-Imāmah”. So this view is a route to what is forbidden. Imām Ibn Juzay (rahimahullāh) said: “The path to what is forbidden is forbidden.” [Taqrīb al-Wusūl f Ilm al-Usūl (p174-175)] 
٣. Because no text has reached us that implies it. 

Imām Ibn Hazm has clarified these reasons and said: “As for those who said: Indeed, al-Imāmah is not valid except with the pledge of the virtuous of the Ummah in all parts of the lands, this is falsehood. Because it is a burden that cannot be borne and something that is not in the capability – and how great it is as a hardship! And Allāh, the Most High, does not burden a soul except to its capability. And He, the Most High says: 
"He has not placed upon you in the Deen any hardship."

Victory only comes after Succeeding in the Trials !

Allah says:

"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise, before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you?"

This is why Allah says:

"…without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments…"

Meaning: illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships. Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn ‘Abbas, Abul-Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa’id Ibn Jubayr, Murrah al-Hamdani, al-Hasan, Qatadah, ad-Dahhak, ar-Rabi’, as-Suddi and Muqatil Ibn Hayyan said that, “al-Ba’sa” means poverty. Ibn Abbas said that, “ad-Darra” means ailments.

"and were so shaken, for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial."

It was reported on the authority of Khabbab (ra) who said, “We complained to the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he was reclining on a cloak of his in the shade of the Ka’bah. We said, “Will you not seek help for us? Will you not supplicate for us?” He said, “Indeed, from those who came before you, a man would be taken and a hole would be dug for him in the ground and he would be placed inside. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head and he would be sawed in half. And he would be raked with iron combs beneath his flesh and bones, but that would not turn him back from his Deen. By Allah, this matter will be completed, to the point that a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadramawt not fearing anyone other than Allah and a wolf after his sheep, but you are being hasty.” [al-Bukhari]

Allah also says:

"Alif-Laam-Meem. Do the people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars." [29:1-3]

NEWS : Over 900 Children Killed in Afghanistan in 2016 !

The nearly 25 percent increase in child deaths from the previous year was largely caused by mines and munitions left over from decades of conflict !

More than 900 children were killed in Afghanistan’s conflict last year, the United Nations said Monday, calling it the most violent year for children since it started keeping records.

The U.N. mission said the nearly 25 percent increase in child deaths from the previous year was largely caused by mines and munitions left over from decades of conflict. It documented a 66 percent increase in such deaths in 2016.

“Conflict-related violence exacted a heavy toll on Afghanistan in 2016, with an overall deterioration in civilian protection and the highest-total civilian casualties recorded since 2009, when UNAMA began systematic documentation of civilian casualties,” the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in its annual report.

It said 3,498 people were killed in 2016, including 923 children, and that another 7,920 people were wounded. The overall casualty toll was slightly higher than the previous year.

EXPLANATION: “No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach…”

On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying:
“No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Aadam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” [Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’ie, Ibn Maajah – Hadith Saheeh]

Ibn Masaweh, a Muslim doctor, said after reading this Hadith:
“If the people only used these words, they would avoid all diseases and maladies and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle.”

Another doctor, Al-Harith ibn Kalada said:
“That which has killed mankind is the introduction of food on top of food before it has been digested.”

As for spiritual benefits: humbleness of heart, strength of understanding, lessening of lower desires, lessening of personal opinions and anger, while overeating induces the opposites of all of those. Al-Hasan Al-Basri said:
“O, son of Adam, eat with one third of your stomach and drink with one third and leave one third of your stomach to breathe so that you may think.”

Ibn Umar: A man said to Ibn Umar:
“Shouldn’t I bring you some jawarish?” Ibn Umar said: “What is that?” He said: “Something which aids in digesting your food after you eat.” Ibn Umar said: “I have not eaten to being full for four months. That is not because I am not able to do so, but I was with a group of people who were hungry more than they were full.”