The Prohibition On Congratulating Disbelievers On Their Holidays !

Rejecting Democracy with Heart, Speech & Action !

Rejecting democracy isn’t simply believing the judgement of the people besides Allāh is invalid and major shirk, but we must also not participate via our ‘actions’ in this system of selecting deities (PM’s who legislate besides Allāh) or voting ‘yes’ to a man-made constitution, which is a ‘statement’ of Kuffr.

Īmān is belief, speech and action, which means that our Islām is nullified by belief (such as accepting that the people have the right to determine the type of state they want), speech (such as voting “Yes” for the constitution or hailing praises to those Tāghūt deities who gain victory through this means of shirk), and actions (such as selecting PM’s who legislate besides Allāh to represent the people as a judge over them).

SubhānAllāh, it’s as if Imām Ibn Kathīr is speaking about these mushrikīn in his Tafsīr of sūrat al-An’ām, Āyah 114:
‎يقول الله تعالى لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم : قل لهؤلاء المشركين بالله الذين يعبدون غيره : ( أفغير الله أبتغي حكما ) أي : بيني وبينكم
❝Allāh the most High says to His prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم); Tell these mushrikīn in the sight of Allāh who worship other than Him:
{Then is it other than Allāh I should seek as a judge}, i.e. between me and you.❞ [End Quote].
‎أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
[Say], "Then is it other than Allah I should seek as a judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.” [6:114]

Kashf ash-Shubuhat fit-Tawhid, PART-6

The last thing that we talked about last week or two weeks ago, was the issue of the excuse of ignorance when it comes to matters of Shirk, or what they call in Arabi, “al-‘Udhr bil-Jahl”, so we talked a little about that. When the author said, that the person can say something and not know it’s Shirk or not know the severity of what he’s saying, and that he would leave Islam, based upon that statement and he wouldn’t be given the excuse of ignorance. So, that was the last thing we talked about.

We mentioned the hadith from Ibn ‘Abbas in Sahih al-Bukhari, in which he mentioned this when he was talking about the people of Prophet Nuh, and when they worshipped the idols that they set up when Allah mentioned about in the Qur’an, Wadd and Suwa’, and Yaghuth and Ya’uq and Nasr, when Allah mentioned these people, Ibn ‘Abbas explained that they were from the people of Prophet Nuh, they were righteous people from amongst them, and when they passed away, the Shaytan came to them and told them they should set up idols or set up statues to remind them of the worship that these people would perform to try to keep them as an example, and the Ibn ‘Abbas said in the end, “And then when the knowledge was forgotten, they worshipped them.”

So, he mentioned or he clearly states here, when the knowledge was gone, that’s when they performed this action of Shirk. So, obviously when Allah sent Prophet Nuh to these people, obviously He was sending him to a people who had disbelieved, and who had left Islam, and weren’t upon the religion of Prophet Adam anymore. So, the fact that he says that when the knowledge was gone, that’s when they performed the Shirk. This indicates that this idea that no matter what anyone does, there’s always this excuse that, “I didn’t know”, or “they didn’t know”, or “what if they didn’t know”, it’s not absolute how people try to make it, so we talked a bit about that.

The second thing we talked about last time was the issue of judging upon the outward, or judging upon what we see from people, and we’re not required to look into the hearts of people because we can’t do that, because Allah said,
“Allah does not place responsibility upon a soul except in what it can bear” [2:286]

Different Ranks of those who Fear Allah...

The Companions and the righteous Salaf, (predecessors) were extremely fearful of Allah. For instance, Ibn ‘Abbaas had two dark lines under his eyes due to the extent of his crying; ‘Umar once recited some verses which caused him to fall ill out of anxiety. Abu Bakr would say, “I wish I was a tree from which people eat (so that he would not to be held to account)”; ‘Uthmaan would say, “I wish that when I die I will not be resurrected”; and Abu Hurayrah would faint three times whenever he would narrate the Hadeeth in which the Prophet (saws) informed us about the first three people who will be thrown into Hell.

The person who fears Allah, in this life, will be secure tomorrow in the Hereafter. When the believers are admitted into Paradise, fear will depart from them and their love of Allah will increase. Imaam Ibn Rajab said, “Allah has created the creation in order to know Him and worship Him; He has provided them with pieces of evidence of His might and greatness in order for them to fear and glorify Him; He has described for them the severity of His punishment of those who disobey Him in order for them to avoid it by virtue of their good deeds (after the mercy of Allah).” This is the reason why Allah. The Almighty, repeatedly mentions Hell and the punishment He has prepared in it for those who disobey Him; He tells His slaves to fear Him, be conscious of Him, adhere to His commands, rush to fulfil what He has mandated upon them, do all that pleases Him, and refrain from that which He hates.

This is evident in the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) which is a clarification of the Quraan. This is also apparent in the practice of our righteous Salaf. If we ponder upon their condition, we will be amazed by the fear of Allah, and humility that they possessed, and how this caused them to elevate their ranks and exert extra efforts in the obedience of Allah, as well as to easily refrain from minor disliked matters, to say nothing of prohibitions.

Riyaa' (Ostentation) !!!

There is an abundance of proof in the Quraan and Sunnah regarding the impermissibility of ostentation; and those who show off are often dispraised, as when Allah said: "So woe to those who pray. (But) who are heedless of their prayer - those who make show (of their deeds)" [107:4-6]; and, "So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." [18:110]. Allah also says, in a Divine Hadith: "I have absolutely no need of partners; and he who performs a deed wherein he associates others with Me, I will forsake him and his partner." [Hadith Qudsi]

The Prophet (saws) said: “What I fear most for you is minor Shirk (associating partners with Allah).” The Companions asked what that was, so he replied: “Riyaa'.” [al-Silsilah al-Saheehah]

Further, on the Day of Judgment, when Allah will judge people for their deeds, He will tell them to: “(go) to those whom you used to impress, in order to gain their praise; see if you will find your recompense there.”

That is why, when Abu Umamah saw a man weeping in prostration in the mosque, he asked him: “Would you do the same if you were at home?"

Causes of Ostentation

In Arabic, ostentation is Riyaa’, which is derived from the noun Ru’yah, which means vision. Perhaps that is so, because the essence of pretension is seeking praise and high status in the eyes of people, by showing them one’s good characteristics. This is manifest in many, but chiefly five, external aspects, which include every action by which a person tries to be admired by others: in one’s body, clothing, words, deeds and friends. 

Best ways to increase RIZQ !

Allah sends an angel to breathe the soul into it and write down its provision, its lifespan and its deeds, and whether it is doomed or blessed.

Provision is also written down and connected to the means that one adopts to search for it. Among these means are that man should work to seek provision, as Allah says:
"He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it); so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the Resurrection." [67:15]

One of the most important means of increasing one's provision is having Taqwa i.e., being conscious of Allah and fearful of Him. Allah says: “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” [65:2-3]

Allah will reward the one who fears Him and is mindful of what pleases Him in all situations, in this life and the Hereafter. One of the worldly rewards is that Allah will make a way out for him from hardships and adversities and will provide him from means which he never could have expected. Allah says: “And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes." [7:96]

Shaykh As-Sa’di said, "If they truly and sincerely believed with their hearts and proved their belief with actions, and were fearful of Allah inwardly and outwardly, then Allah would have opened for them blessings from the Heavens by sending rain and the earth by causing plants to grow by which they as well as their cattle would benefit; they would have lived the richest life without the least difficulty or effort."

Kashf ash-Shubuhat fit-Tawhid, PART-5

 

The next part of the book that we’re going to talk about is that the author he says, and again we’re going over “Kashf ash-Shubuhat” by Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhab, he says:

“So, if you know this, or if you know that the person can disbelieve can leave Islam, with a word that comes off of his tongue, and he might say it, and he’s ignorant about it, but he would not be given the excuse of ignorance, or he would not be excused due to his ignorance on this topic, or he may say something or he believes it’s actually bringing him closer to Allah, just as the Mushrikin, or the polytheists, or the people of Shirk do, then you should know, or that you’ll have a good understanding of what Allah mentioned about the people of Musa, despite their righteousness, and despite their knowledge, they came to him and they said [in the Qur’an], “We bought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols, they said “O Musa, make for us an Ilah (God), as they have Aliha (Gods).” He said, “Verily, you are a people who are ignorant.” [7:138]

So, then the author continues, he says:
“– then after all of this your eagerness for and your great fear of what will deliver you from all of this and what is similar to it will greatly increase.”

If you understand this, meaning if you understand the fact that someone can disbelieve or leave Islam just by a statement they say on their tongue without knowing the greatness or severity of what they’re saying, then at that point your fear and your zeal for Islam or for knowledge would increase and your zeal to have knowledge about that, which would keep you safe from this matter and the likes of it would increase and would be great.

So, this section here, there’s a number of points that we can talk about, the first one, and it’s the one I’ll probably focus on a bit more is when the author said that the person can disbelieve by a statement that he says. So, there’s two points here that I’ll talk about in this topic. The first is, the fact that someone can disbelieve with a statement and the second one is that he can disbelieve with a statement, while not knowing exactly what it means or not actually being completely aware of the severity of what he’s saying. So, there’s two points to this section.

Jihad legislated or not?

It has reached us that some people are confused as to waging Jihād against those who claim to be Muslim – Is this Jihād legislated or not?

A treatise written by some students of Shaykhul-Islām Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb (rahimahumullāh), Al-Hamdulillāh, and we praise and thank Him… It has reached us that some people are confused as to waging Jihād against those who claim to be Muslim – Is this Jihād legislated or not?

So we respond, and success is from Allāh: This Jihād is legislated (Mashrū’) for a number of reasons:

١) One of them is “rebelling against the (Muslim, Muwahhid) ruler of the Muslimin”. So whosoever rebels against the (Muslim, Muwahhid) ruler, then it is obligatory upon the entire Ummah to wage Jihād against them…

٢) The second matter which requires Jihād against whosoever perpetrates it, is not performing Takfīr of the mushrikīn, or doubting their Takfīr; because this is from the nullifications of Islām, and it invalidates it. And the proof for this is the statement of the Prophet (saws), “Whosoever says: ‘None is worthy of being worshipped, except Allāh,’ and disbelieves in whatsoever is worshipped other than Allāh, then his wealth and blood are protected, and his reckoning is with Allāh.” So he has attached the safety of one’s life and property with two affairs:
1) The statement “Lā ilāh illā Allāh”, and 2) disbelief in whatsoever is worshipped other than Allāh. Thus, the blood and wealth of a person is not protected unless he fulfills both stipulations. Firstly, the statement “Lā ilāh illā Allāh,” and the goal is its meaning, not merely its recitation; and its meaning is the singling out of Allāh with every type of ‘Ibādah. And the second stipulation is “disbelieving in that which is worshipped other than Allāh”, and this implies making Takfīr of the mushrikīn, and declaring Barā’ah from them and whatsoever they worship along with Allāh.

Secularism & it's Dangers !!!

Allah sent down The Book, Quraan to clarify all things and to give Guidance and Mercy to people who believe.

He sent His Messenger, Muhammad (saws) with guidance and the true religion with which He opened blinded eyes, deaf ears, and sealed hearts. With it, He eliminated the darkness of ignorance and stupidity and released the chains of polytheism such that misguidance became a legend of the past and worshipping idols became an old myth.

A Muslim wonders at the stupidity of the polytheists. Allah says: "He whom Allah guides is rightly guided but he whom He leads astray never will you find for him a protective guide." [18:17]
We must always remember though, that trials are continuous and the substance of evil remains till today. Devils among humankind and Jinns continue to spread misguidance, and to make it seem attractive and spread it by means of all tongues. Allah says: "And thus we have made for every Prophet an enemy, devils from mankind and Jinn, inspiring to one another decorated speech and delusion." [6:112]

It is mandatory upon us to know the ways of misguidance, warn people of it, expose it, expose its objectives and block the way for those who call to it. By doing this, Muslims can be aware of what their Lord wants of them and have proper insight so as not to be harmed by the plotting and planning of the misguided ones.

Today, in the Muslim world, many different philosophies and ideologies are propagated…ones that deceive numerous people with its superficial sparkle and glory. Many slogans and terms have captured the minds of people and control their way of thinking.

These false beliefs are like a disease and are of the fire. If it has been decreed for these false beliefs to be disseminated, they will not overcome anyone but will turn him into disintegrated ruins.
 

Ibn Taymiyyah: Idol & fire worshipers “entered into Islam” ?

Why did Imām Ibn Taymiyyah say idol and fire worshippers “entered into Islām”, isn’t that clear kufr?! This is also another interesting topic which has rarely been spoken about.

My dear brothers and sisters, knowing the terminology of the scholars is extremely important, otherwise we would be attributing false statements to them, and infact possibly even following them in these incorrect statements which may lead us to Kufr! So we must protect ourselves at all times.

Previously, I mentioned that Ibn Taymiyyah used the terminology of “Kufr” and “Kāfir” to refer to someone who opposes the truth after the Hujjah has been established upon him, and the scholars have explained his terminology on this issue, that this is not referring to “The label of Kufr”, but rather “The rulings of Kufr” which relate to the dunyā and Ākhirah.

Likewise, it’s also important to highlight Ibn Taymiyyah’s terminology when it comes to the word “Islām”, and that entering into Islām has two meanings according to the noble Imām, which is actually derived from the Qur’ān, sayings of the Salaf, including Imām ash-Shāfi’ī.

Imām ash-Shāfi’ī mentions in his “Tafsīr” (3/1281) upon the 14th Āyah of Sūrat al-Hujurāt:
“Allāh has informed us about a group among the bedouins:
“The bedouins said, we have attained Īmān, but say (O Muhammad) that you haven’t attained Īmān, but say that you’ve entered into Islām (for Īmān has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful).” [49:14]

So He notified us that Īmān hasn’t entered their hearts, and that they simply displayed it, and their blood was protected due to it.

Self-examination !

In the Quraan, Allah says: "We will set up the scales of justice for the day of resurrection, and no soul shall be treated unjustly at all. And if there is (even) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountants." [21:47] Allah also says: "Let every soul see what it sends on before it for the day of account." [59:18] Caliph ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said, "Call yourselves to account before you are called to account."

The righteous men and women are always fully aware that they have come into this world to carry on a spiritual undertaking the resulting gain or loss of which is Paradise or Hellfire. He, therefore, is a wise man who strife in worship and says to his soul, "O my soul, you have only one life; no single moment that has passed can be recovered, for in the counsel of Allah the number of breaths allotted to you is fixed, and cannot be increased. When life is over, no further spiritual work is possible for you; therefore what you do, do now; treat this day as if your life had been already spent and this were an extra day granted to you by the special favor of the Almighty. What can be greater folly than to lose it?"

At the resurrection, a man will find all the hours of his life arranged like a long series of treasure-chests. The lid of one will be opened, and it will be seen to be full of light: it represents an hour which he spent in doing good. His heart will be filled with such joy that even a fraction of it would make the inhabitants of Hellfire forget the fire. The lid of a second will be opened; it is pitch-dark within, and from it issues such an evil odor as will cause every one to hold his nose: it represents an hour which he spent in ill-doing, and he will suffer such terror that a fraction of it would embitter Paradise for the blessed. The lid of a third treasure-chest will be opened; it will be seen to be empty and neither light nor dark within: this represents the hour in which he did neither good nor evil. Then he will feel remorse and confusion like that of a man who has been the possessor of a great treasure and wasted it or let it slip from his grasp.
 

"We hate disbelief, but not the disbelievers" ?!?!

 

Misconception of murj'ah: "We hate disbelief, but not the disbelievers!"

Shaykh Haytham Sayfaddīn absolutely destroyed this false lie by saying:
❝Allāh said, “So they said to their people, we distance ourselves from you and from that which you worship other than Allāh”.

So this idea now that we say or some people, and even in this city, people try to spread this idea, that any beliefs we have about something being bad, it’s only to the action, and it’s not to the person themself, so if someone comes and throws the Qur’ān in the toilet, we (i.e. those people) say well that’s a very bad action, and it’s disbelief, but the person who did it, we can’t judge him, or we don’t have nothing to say about the person himself, even though children would know, what would make someone a bad person, what makes someone a bad person?

Student: Bad actions.

Shaykh: Bad actions, bad beliefs, bad statements, you know someone kills someone, we don’t say killing is bad, but he’s the best guy in the world.

Or some guy is a rapist and we say, we hate rape, rapists we don’t have a problem with, we’re okay, it’s okay do whatever you need to do, we don’t like what you’re doing, but you as a person, you’re the best.

If someone did that, you’d look at them as like they have something wrong with them, but then when it comes to Allah, what’s worse, swearing at Allāh or stealing?

Ofcourse, someone will steal and even now they will say he’s a bad guy, he steals all the time, and everyone will be okay with that.

But then when someone swears at Allāh or they fight against the Muslimīn, or they do this and this and this, we can’t say anything about him, it’s a bad action, you shouldn’t do it, but him as a person we can’t make a judgement.

Whispering of the Shayateen...

There is no doubt that the enmity between man and the devil is ancient. It started when Allah ordered the angels to prostrate to Adam and Shaytaan refused this in arrogance and declared war against the sons of Adam. Allah says about this: "(Iblees) said, “By Your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.”" [38:82-83] The devil is keen on seducing and misleading the sons of Adam and is also keen on pouring his poison into the Muslims’ hearts in order to rock the foundations of their belief in Allah in Might, the Praiseworthy. Moreover, the devil tries to throw doubt in our hearts regarding what Allah has told us about the Unseen. In a Hadith on the authority of Sabrah ibn Abu Faakih the Prophet (saws) said: The devil sat on all man’s paths. He waited for him on the path of Islam and said to him, “Will you revert and abandon the religion of your fathers and forefathers?” But the son of Adam disobeyed him and embraced Islam. Then, the devil sat for him on the path of Hijrah and said to him, “Will you emigrate and leave your homeland when a person in the lands to where he immigrates becomes like a tied horse?” But the son of Adam disobeyed him and emigrated. After that the devil waited for him on the path of Jihaad and said to him, “Will you fight in the cause of Allah and sacrifice yourself and your money? You would be killed and your wife would marry another man and your wealth would be distributed.” But the son of Adam disobeyed him and went for Jihaad. (The Prophet (saws) continued:) Allah will certainly let the one who does this enter Paradise, and He will certainly let the one who is killed, the one who is drowned and the one whose camel kills him by breaking his neck, enter Paradise.” [An-Nasaa’i - Hasan]

Out of His mercy for His slaves, Allah did not enable the devil to have authority over these slaves of His, as He says: "Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators." [15:42] Moreover, Allah describes the devil’s plot as being weak when He says: "Indeed, the plot of Shaytaan has ever been weak." [4:76] Hence, the devil resorts to whispering when he cannot find any other way to seduce the believers.

The Meaning of Whispering: