What Does Islam Say About Happy New Year?

Celebrating New Year's Eve ?!?

Around this time every year, the audio-visual and print media in many non-Muslim and even Muslim countries actively broadcast and circulate programs on celebrating New Year’s Eve. They invite people to participate in the celebrations that are held in certain places specially assigned for them. Public workplaces, private homes and streets are decorated in many different ways. This state of affairs necessitates that the scholars and students of knowledge explain the ruling of Shari‘ah on this issue. To this end, we have collected many Ayaat from the Quraan, Ahadith of the Prophet (saws) and statements of Scholars.

It is indisputably established that Allah has perfected His religion and completed the message. Allah Says: "This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion." [5:3] There is no true religion other than Islam which Allah sent Muhammad (saws) to convey. Allah Says: "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them -- out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in (taking) account." [3:19]

"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion -- never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." [3:85]

Commenting on this Ayah, Imaam Ibn Jareer At-Tabari said, “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam to believe in, Allah will not accept it from him. "He, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers" means that, by doing so, he will deprive himself of his share of the mercy of Allah. It was mentioned that after the revelation of this Ayah, the followers of other religions claimed that they were Muslims according to what is meant by the Ayah. Hence, Allah commanded them to perform Hajj if they were true in their claims, because Hajj is an Islamic practice, yet they refused to do so. In this way, Allah refuted their claim."

“…This is a plain statement for mankind...”

“Many similar ways were faced by nations (believers and disbelievers) that have passed away before you, so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved. This is a plain statement for mankind, a guidance and instruction to those who are muttaqeen. So do not become weak, nor be sad, and you will be superior if you are indeed believers.” [3:137-139]

“If a wound has touched you, be assured a similar wound has touched the others. And so are the days, that We give to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and that He may take shuhada (martyrs) from among you. And Allah does not like the wrong-doers (those who commit shirk and Kuffr). And that Allah may test the believers and destroy the disbelievers. Or do you think that you will enter Jannah before Allah tests those of you who fought and tests those who are patient? And indeed you used to long for death (shahadah) before you met it. Now you have seen it with your own eyes.”

Allah states to His believing servants who suffered losses in the battle of Uhud, including seventy dead: Many similar ways were faced before you, for the previous nations who followed their prophets before you, they too suffered losses. However, the good end was theirs, and the ultimate defeat was for the disbelievers. This is why Allah said: “…so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved.”

"The Yemeni Abid and Al-Hajjaj !"

Tawus ibn Kaysan, one of the righteous students of Ibn ‘Abbas and a Muhaddith said, ‘I entered the Haram (Makkah) to perform ‘Umrah and when I completed it, I prayed 2 units of prayer behind the Maqam of Ibrahim and then I sat down. I turned to look at the people in the mosque when behold, I saw a group of people with weapons, swords, spears and shields! I looked and it was al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the Amir of blood-shed, about whom Laila al-Akhiliya said:

حجاج أنت الذي ما فوقه أحد 
Hajjaj, you are the one above whom there is none
إلا الخليفة المستغفر الصمد 
Except the True Ruler, the Forgiving and Eternal One (Allah)
قتل مائة نفس وقتل سعيد بن جبير 
He (Hajjaj) killed a hundred souls and he killed Sa’id ibn Jubayr 

Al-Hajjaj once said: ‘I saw in my dream that Allah killed me once for every soul I killed except for Sa’id ibn Jubayr for Allah killed me on the Sirat (path over Hellfire) seventy times because of him.’ 

Tawus continues: ‘I saw the commotion so I kept seated in my place. Whilst in that state, I saw a poor, ascetic worshipper from Yemen. He went to circumambulate around the Ka’bah, then he came to pray 2 units of prayer when suddenly his garment clung to a spear from the spears of the army of Hajjaj, and so the spear fell on al-Hajjaj! He stopped him and said: ‘Who are you?’ He said: ‘Muslim.’ He said: ‘Where are you from?’ He said: ‘From Yemen.’ He said: ‘How is my brother with you people?’ (– He meant his brother Muhammad ibn Yusuf who was also a tyrannical ruler like him). He said: ‘I left him as a fat man with a fat stomach.’ Al-Hajjaj said: ‘I didn’t ask you about his health but I asked you about his justice.’ He said: ‘I left him as a deceiving and oppressive ruler.’

Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough ?!?

Question: In Britain it is not allowed to call the Adhaan loudly except inside the Masjid and Muslimeen can not break the English law. Does this mean they are sinners?

Answer: It is impermissible to live in a country where the Muslimeen are prevented from performing the Islamic symbols. If possible, the person should migrate to another country where Muslimeen are a majority and where they can perform the Islamic rituals overtly and find the means to cooperate with Muslimeen in righteousness and piety. They should be certain that their sustenance is available. Whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way out for him (from every difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he never could have imagined. Moreover, whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed, He has set a measure for all things. On the other hand, if Hijrah is within their ability, but they prefer to stay in such countries where it is not possible to perform the Islamic rituals, they are sinful. Allah says:
“Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): ‘In what (condition) were you?’ They reply: ‘We were weak and oppressed on the earth.’ They (angels) say: ‘Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’ Such men will find their abode in Hell – What an evil destination.” [4:97]

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allāh be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.

 [al-Iftaa signed by ‘Abdullah ibn Qa’ud, ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baaz, ‘Abdur-Razzaq Afifi, and ‘Abdullah ibn Ghunayman]

Mankind’s Greatest Shortcoming...

وَأُتْبِعُواْ فِي هَـذِهِ الدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَلا إِنَّ عَاداً كَفَرُواْ رَبَّهُمْ أَلاَ بُعْداً لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ
 “And they were pursued by a curse in this world and on the Day of Resurrection. No doubt! Verily, ‘Ad disbelieved in their Lord. So away with ‘Ad, the people of Hud.” [11:60] 

Mankind will always perish and die upon what their hearts have known, what their souls have lived and what their words have paid testimony to. This is why Allah says: “…And the good end will be for the righteous.” The destructive end that met the people of Hud is the end that ever mukadhib (belier) and every opponent of the Messengers are bound to meet. When Hud pleaded with his people, begged them to leave idolatry and brought them countless proofs in an attempt to bring them back to the straight path, they mocked and remarked: 

قَالُواْ يَا هُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِي آلِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ آلِهَتِنَا بِسُوَءٍ

 They said: “O Hud! No evidence have You brought us, and we shall not leave Our gods for Your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you. All that we Say is that some of Our gods (false deities) have seized You with evil (madness).” [11:53-54]

 It was then that Hud shot back with his final words that ripped between him and his people – he called out to the testimony of his Lord which marked the end and sent a cursed nation to their final destruction. 
قَالَ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
 مِن دُونِهِ فَكِيدُونِي جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ إِنِّي تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّهِ رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيم

   He said: “I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship with Him (Allah). So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust In Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth).” [11:54-56] 

 

Rohingya survivors: Myanmar’s army slaughtered men, children !!!

UKHIA, Bangladesh (AP) — For six hours he hid in an upstairs room, listening to the crackle of gunfire and the screams of people being slaughtered outside his Myanmar home.

With every footstep that drew near, every cry that pierced the air, 52-year-old Bodru Duza braced for the soldiers to find him, to kill him like all the others who had fled to his compound that morning seeking a safe place to shelter. They were being blindfolded and bound, marched away in small groups, then butchered and shot as they begged for their lives.

What had started out as a quiet Sunday in northwestern Myanmar had spiraled into an incomprehensible hell — one of the bloodiest massacres reported in the Southeast Asian nation since government forces launched a vicious campaign to drive out the country’s Rohingya minority in late August.

By the time it was over, there was so much blood on the ground, it had pooled into long rivulets across the uneven earth, among bits of human flesh and the fragments of shattered skulls.

When Duza finally dared to emerge from his hiding place, he wondered how anyone could have survived.

The compound he grew up in was now consumed by an ethereal silence. His wife, daughter, and five young sons were nowhere to be seen. And as he crept toward a backdoor to escape, he stumbled upon the corpse of an unknown boy sprawled on the floor.

“Oh Allah!” he thought. “What have they done to us? What have they done to my family?”

The Truth about Christmas!

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Ruling on celebrating Christmas !

Ibn Taymiyyah said in his commentary on the verse: "And (they are) those who do not testify to falsehood…"[25:72] : As regards the festivals of the polytheists, they combine confusion, physical desires and falsehood. There is nothing in them that is of any religious benefit, and the instant gratification involved in them only ends up in pain. Thus they are falsehood, and witnessing them means attending them.

This verse itself praises and commends (those who do not witness falsehood), which has the meaning of urging people to avoid taking part in their festivals and other kinds of falsehood. We understand that it is bad to attend their festivals because they are called 'falsehood'.
It indicates that it is Haraam to do this for many reasons, because Allah has called it 'falsehood'. Allah condemns the one who speaks falsehood even if no one else is harmed by it, as in the verse forbidding Thihaar (form of divorce in which the man says to his wife "You are to me like the back of my mother"), where He Says: "…And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood…" [58:2]

Allah also Says: "…So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement…" [22:30] So the one who says or practices falsehood is condemned in this fashion.
Anas Ibn Maalik said: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) came (to Madinah) and they (inhabitants of Madinah) had two days in which they would (relax and) play. He (saws) said: "What are these two days?" They said, "We used to play (on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period)." The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Allah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm Al-Adh-ha ('Eid Al-Adh-ha) and Yawm Al-Fitr ('Eied Al-Fitr)." [Abu Dawood]

Istiqaamah...

True strength often does not lie in one’s physique or muscle-power, but is almost always an issue going much deeper. Many are those who seem strong-willed and distinguished amongst people until there occurs at hand something which exposes their true reality, showing a weak and brittle state. Then there are those few individuals who may remain unknown to society, but who hold a high rank with their Lord. They may be seen to be weak and insignificant, but their reality is such that when Mankind is wandering in darkness and heedlessness, they never lose their path. Were the people to be enveloped in fear and hardship, these individuals would not flinch. Such is the power of having Istiqaamah.

So what is Istiqaamah?
Istiqaamah is often translated to mean ‘uprightness, correctness, integrity, soundness and so forth. It comes from the root word قام (qaama) meaning ‘to rise’ or ‘to stand upright’ and it’s from this that we derive words like مستقيم (mustaqeem) as in ‘Siraat al-Mustaqeem’ (Straight Path).
For the believer, Istiqaamah is a virtue and a caliber that cannot be done without. It’s a quality that we continually strive to attain although we may fail at times.In this age where fitan have become widespread and open sin is the norm, many people have lost the Istiqaamah they once had in them – the strength to stay upon the straight path with firmness has escaped through their fingers.
Allah mentions in Surah Fussilat:
“Verily, those who say ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then they istaqaamu (remain firm and straight), on them the angels will descend (at time of death) saying: ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!” [41:30]

He also says:
“So stand you firm and straight as you are commanded – and those who turn in repentance with you, and transgress not. Verily, He is All-Seer of what you do.” [11:112]

Debate between Al-Hajjaaj & Sa`eed bin Jubayr !

Al Hajjaaj kept pursuing the noble scholar Sa`eed bin Jubayr for eight years or more until he eventually found him.

Sa`eed bin Jubayr was a Scholar known for his scrupulous piety and a man of great knowledge and action who was waging jihaad to raise the flag of La ilaha ill Allah the uppermost.

When he was arrested - as in the story mentioned by the author of Tuhfatul Ahwadhi:

Sa`eed bin Jubayr entered upon al Hajjaaj, so al Hajjaaj told him: "What is your name (and he knew his name well)?"

He answered: "Sa`eed bin Jubayr."

So Al Hajjaaj responded to him saying: "Nay, you are Shaqiy bin Kusayr." (Al-Hajjaaj is playing with words here: Sa`eed means happy and Shaqiy means unhappy, wretched. Jubayr means one who splints broken bones, and Kusayr one who breaks them.)

Sa`eed told him: "My mother knew better when she named me."

So Al Hajjaaj told him: "You are wretched (shaqayta) and your mother is wretched." (shaqiyat - Al Hajjaaj is again playing with words, referring to Shaqiyy - "unhappy/wretched"). Then he told him: "By Allah, I will replace your dunya with a blazing Fire."

The Flood took them by Surprise !

Lacking foresight, they used to mock him as he worked on his unfinished ship. But because he knew what was coming, he'd simply look up and reply: "If you mock me, I likewise mock you." [11:38] 

In the end, "only a few believed with him." [11:40] Even his wife turned on him, destined to drown with everyone else. Humanity survives today descended entirely from him. 

Prophet Nuh was a one-man ummah. 

But there were others, as "indeed, Ibrahim was an ummah..." [16:120] Ibrahim symbolized the dawn of a new era in the history of Tawhid. He propagated it with an aggression unmatched by any before him: "And that was My hujjah which I gave Ibrahim. I elevate the ranks of whom I wish..." [6:83] A hujjah is "that by which one rebuts an adversary in a litigation, dispute, or altercation; an argument; a proof; an evidence." Each time he confronted someone with a hujjah, they hated him for it. In fact, besides his wife and nephew, Ibrahim for years remained the sole Muslim on the planet. He further shocked and offended Babylonian society by physically smashing their idols to bits - knowing full well that they'd try to kill him for it. 

What Ibrahim did was bigger than himself. Tawhid survives today descended entirely from him.

Thousands of years later, with again nearly no Muslims left on the planet, a man leaned against the Ka'bah Ibrahim had built and evoked the memory of Ibrahim's stand while making his own: "O Quraysh! I swear by Allah that none of you follows the din of Ibrahim except me." Zayd bin 'Amr bin Nufayl continued: "O Allah, if I knew how You want to be worshipped, I'd worship You that way. But I don't," and he then prostrated on his hands. They expelled him from Makkah. He decided to travel to Mawsil, where he'd dreamed of meeting others who rejected the tawaghit of the times and chose to follow Ibrahim. Instead, he was advised to return to Makkah to await the appearance of the final Prophet (saws). Zayd complied, only to be subsequently attacked and killed upon his return. Just as Ibrahim was an ummah, the Prophet likewise said that Zayd, "will be resurrected as an ummah unto himself.

How to face Good and Bad times?

The more one ponders over the apparent and hidden favours from Allah the more he will realize that his Lord has granted him abundant blessings and protected him from a number of evils; this will certainly remove grief and anxiety and bring happiness and contentment. Thus, take heed of the advice of the Prophet (saws) when he said: “Look to those who are lower than you (i.e., those who possess less than you) and do not look to those higher than you; this will make you appreciate the bounties of Allah upon you.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Such people get the support and assistance of Allah which makes fear vanish, as Allah says: “Be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are the patient.” [8:46]

The virtuous and the sinful, and the believer and the disbeliever are the same when it comes to conditioning oneself to becoming brave, which is the natural ability to calm oneself during moments of terror. Due to the believer's strong faith, perseverance and reliance on Allah, he emerges stronger than others in difficult situations and this reduces his fear and anxiety and ultimately makes matters easy for him. As Allah says: “And don't be weak in the pursuit of the enemy; if you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not.” [4:104]

However, the one who is devoid of strong faith will be the opposite; he becomes anxious, nervous, confused and full of fear; indeed his anxiety and paranoia team up against him. If this type of person does not possess the worldly means to tackle his fear and affliction, then he will collapse because he does not possess the faith which would enable him to persevere during tough times.

Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi - the Man behind the Armour !

He defied the odds in an era of darkness. He set aside the criticism of those who called him crazy for wanting to do the seemingly impossible: uniting the Ummah, standing up to the Crusaders, and returning honor where it belonged. He was respected by both his friends and foes, and is perhaps one of the few men whose name evokes feelings of honor and pride in the minds of so many people in every era and place. Even the generally anti-Muslim film industry in America could not help but portray the honor and righteousness that Salah ad-Din was known for.
We all know of how he laid waste to the Crusaders and had them chasing their tails in the battles of Alexandria, Hittin, Acre, Tyre, Beirut, Nablus, Haifa, Tiberius, Gaza, ‘Asqalan, Jerusalem, and dozens of other cities and towns across Sham and North Africa. We know of Salah ad-Din the warrior. But, who was the man behind the armor? What was he like as a person? What was he like as a Muslim? What personality does it take to carry out such heroic feats and achieve such a status?
 
In ‘al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah’ (13/5-6), Ibn Kathir said that at the time of his death, Salah ad-Din hardly had any money in his possession, and this is because:

    “…of the immense amount of gifts and charity and kindness that he used to show the leaders and ministers under his command, and even to his enemies! I’ve already described this previously. And he was very simple in his clothing, food, drink, and transportation. He would only wear cotton, linen, and wool. It is not known that he ever approached anything forbidden or discouraged, especially after Allah blessed him with his kingdom. Rather, his greatest concern and goal was to aid Islam.”

Ibn Kathir continued:

‘A Word of Truth to a Tyrant Ruler’ !!!

“… But Allah is the Best of Protectors and He is the Most Merciful of those who show Mercy.” [Surah Yusuf:64]

When ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ali al-’Abbasi invaded Damascus, he killed 30,000 Muslims in just one moment. Then he entered his mules and horses into the central Umayyid mosque, seated the people and said to his ministers, ‘Is there anyone who still opposes me?’ They said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you think there’ll be anyone who will soon oppose me?’ They said, ‘If there’ll ever be such a person, then it’s likely to be al-Awza’i’ – Imam al-Awza’i was a Muhaddith (scholar of hadith) nicknamed Abu ‘Amr, he was a pious worshipper and from those whom al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from.

He (Ibn ‘Ali) said, ‘Bring him.’ So the army went to al-Awza’i but he did not move from his place. They said, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ali wants you.’ He said, ‘Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakil (Sufficient is Allah for us and He is the Best of Protectors). Wait for me a short while.’ He went to perform ghusl (ceremonial bathing) and put on his Akfan (shrouds) under his clothes, because he knew the matter meant clear death for him, killing and blood-shed. Then he said to himself, ‘O Awza’i, now the time has come for you to say the word of Truth. Do not fear the blame of the blamers in the Way of God.’ Then he entered to see the oppressive Ruler.

 

Imam al-Awza’i himself narrates the rest of what happened:

 

Rule/Judge by what Allah revealed..?

It is narrated from Hasan ibn Abi ar-Rabi`a al-Jurjaani saying, “We heard it from `Abdur-Razzaaq from Mu`ammar from Ibn Tawus from his father who said, ‘Ibn `Abbas (ra) was asked regarding the statement of Allah, “Whoever does not rule by what Allah has sent down, then they are Kaafiroon.” Surat al-Maa’idah, ayah 44 .

He (Ibn `Abbas) said‚ “This is sufficient for his Kufr.” - Akhbaar Al-Qudhaa Vol. 1/41 

Abdur-Razzaq said, "Ma`mar narrated to us that Tawus said that Ibn `Abbas was asked about Allah's statement, (And whosoever does not judge...) He said, `It is an act of Kufr.'… (Abdur-Razzaq 1:191) 

And this is clear based upon the following report: “Someone said to Huthayfah Ibn Al- Yamaan, that the Aayaat “And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn–Zalimoon and–Fasiqoon” applied to the Children of Israel only, that is, if one of the Jews ‘Ruled by Other Than What Allah Revelaed’ he would be a Kaafir, Thaalim and Faasiq but that this would not apply to a Muslim. Huthayfah (sarcastically) replied, “What good brethren the Children of Israel are to you. All of what is bitter is for them and all that is sweet is for you. By Allaah, you shall follow their way step by step and shall be dealt with like them!”- 

Al-Haakim narrated it in Al-Mustadrak , Vol. 2/342 who said, “It is Saheeh according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (i.e. Bukhaaree and Muslim) but they did not narrate it.” And Adh-Dhahabee said in Al-Taalkhees, “It is upon the conditions of Bukhaaree and Muslim”. And Shaykh Suylamaan Al-Ulwaan agreed with that. 

The Saying of the eminent taabi’ee, Hasan Al-Basree:

Who said in his tafseer of the Aayah {and whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are kaafiroon (disbelievers.): “(This aayah) was revealed regarding the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), but it is also obligatory upon us (i.e. the ruling is the same for anyone who legislates other than the Legislation of Allaah.)” Tafseer Ibn Katheer Vol. 2/12

Rejoice, O' Imaam of Sunnah!

It’s known that Allah chooses from amongst Mankind those whom He wishes in order that they may carry out certain tasks. He chooses people and then He strengthens them, prepares them and builds their character, inner power and faculty of mind so they can fulfill the Qadr. Sometimes, in order to best prepare them, Allah sends them glad tidings ahead of their trial.

Below are some incidents from Imaam al-Maqdisi’s book ‘Kitab Mihnat al-Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’ where he has gathered many narrations that speak of the glad tidings given by Allah to Imaam Ahmad before the great trial and after. 

It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hajjaj al-Marwadhi that he said:
‘I was sitting one day on an arched bridge (al-Tabanain) when I was approached by two men who were escorting a bedouin man on a camel of his. They stopped by me and said, ‘This is him, here he is sitting.’ The bedouin said to me, ‘Are you Ahmad ibn Hanbal?’ I said, ‘No, I am his friend, what do you need?’ He said to me, ‘I want him.’ So I said, ‘Shall I take you to him?’ He said, ‘Yes, by Allah.’

So I led the way in front of him until I reached the door of Abu ‘Abdillah (Ahmad ibn Hanbal) whereupon I knocked the door and they said, ‘Who is it?’ I said, ‘I am al-Marwadhi.’ They said, ‘Come in’ so I said, ‘I and the one with me?’ They said, ‘(Yes) You and the one with you.’ When he saw Abu ‘Abdillah, the bedouin said, ‘Yes, by Allah’ – three times – and he greeted him. He (Ahmad) said, ‘What do you need?’ He said, ‘I am the messenger of the Messenger of Allah (saws).’ He said, ‘Woe to you, what are you saying?’ He said, ‘I am a bedouin man, between my village and al-Madinah is 40 miles and my family sent me to al-Madinah to purchase some wheat and dates for them. Night fell over me so I prayed ‘Isha in the Mosque of the Prophet (saws) then I lied down. As I was sleeping, a person came to me and shook me saying, ‘Will you carry out a task for the Messenger of Allah (saws)?’ I said, ‘Yes, by Allah!’ So he seized my left arm by his right hand and took me to the wall of the grave of the Prophet (saws). He stood me at the head (of the grave) and I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah…’ Then I heard a caller from behind the wall saying, ‘Will you carry out a task for us?’ I said, ‘Yes, by Allah. Yes, by Allah.’ So he said, ‘Go forth until you reach Baghdad (or al-Zawraa’ – al-Marwadhi was unsure which), and when you reach Baghdad ask for the house of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. When you meet him, say ‘The Prophet (saws) sends you his salaam and he says to you: Indeed Allah will test you with a great test, and surely he shall place you in a trial, but I have asked Him to make you patient therein, so do not worry.’

Characteristics of a Wali of Allah !

Adapted from the Book "Criterion between the Allies of Allah and the allies of the Devil" by Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 

The word 'Awliya' singular 'wali' comes from the root word of wilaya. Wilaya is the opposite of enmity (adawaa). The Wali is therefore the one who is close.
Allah has explained in His Book, and in the Sunnah of His Messenger (saws) that He has awliya among the people and that shaitaan also has his awliya. The Qur'aan mentions the allies of Allah.

"Indeed there is no fear upon the awliya of Allah, nor shall they grieve; those who believe and used to fear Allah much. For them are glad tidings in this life and the Hereafter…" [10:62]

 "Allah is the protector (ally) of those who believe, He takes them out of darkness into light." [2:257]

 The allies of devil have also been mentioned in the Qur'aan: "…As for those who disbelieve, their allies are the taaghoot who take them out of the light and into the darkness. Those are the people of fire, and they will be in it forever." [2:257]

 "We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe; those who commit outrages and then say: "We found our predecessors on this (tradition)" Surely they have taken the devils as allies instead of Allah, and they think that they are on guidance" [7:27-28] 

After knowing that there are among people allies of the Merciful and the allies of the devil, it becomes very important to differentiate between these groups by means of the criterion, as described by Allah and His Prophet (saws) as follows:
 

Don’t be sad, Salem...

This is a true story about a man named Rashed, transcribed from Sheikh Abu Adnan's (hafidhUllah) lecture. He tells his story as follows… 

I was not more than thirty years old when my wife gave birth to my first child. I still remember that night.

I had stayed out all night long with my friends, as was my habit. It was a night filled with useless talk, and worse, with backbiting, gossiping, and making fun of people. I was mostly the one who made people laugh; I would mock others and my friends would laugh and laugh. I remember on that night that I’d made them laugh a lot. I had an amazing ability to imitate others – I could change the sound of my voice until I sounded exactly like the person I was mocking. No one was safe from my biting mockery, even my friends; some people started avoiding me just to be safe from my tongue. I remember on that night, I had made fun of a blind man who I’d seen begging in the market. What was worse, I had put my foot out in front him – he tripped and fell, and started turning his head around, not knowing what to say.

I went back to my house, late as usual, and I found my wife waiting for me. She was in a terrible state, and said in a quivering voice, “Rashed… where were you?”

“Where would I be, on Mars?” I said sarcastically, “With my friends of course.”

She was visibly exhausted, and holding back tears, she said, “Rashed, I’m so tired. It seems the baby is going to come soon.” A silent tear fell on her cheek.

I felt that I had neglected my wife. I should have taken care of her and not stayed out so much all those nights… especially since she was in her ninth month. I quickly took her to the hospital; she went into the delivery room, and suffered through long hours of pain.

I waited patiently for her to give birth… but her delivery was difficult, and I waited a long time until I got tired. So I went home and left my phone number with the hospital so they could call with the good news. An hour later, they called me to congratulate me on the birth of Salem. I went to the hospital immediately. As soon as they saw me, they asked me to go see the doctor who had overlooked my wife’s delivery.