Begin with Yourself

A man went to Ibn ‘Abbas radiAllaahu ‘anhu and said, “O Ibn ‘Abbas, I want to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from doing evil.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “And have you reached that level?” He said, “I hope that that is so.” He said, “If you do not fear to be exposed by three verses of Allah’s Book, then do so.” The man asked, “And what are they?” He mentioned this verse:

Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves.” (Baqarah 2:44)

And then asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas then mentioned the second verse:

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. (As-Saff 61:2-3)

After that he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” He then mentioned the third verse regarding Shu’aib alayhi salaam:

“I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.” (Hud 11:88)

And then he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse? He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Then begin with yourself.”

• Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid | DarusSalam

The Dislike of the Salaf in Giving Fatawa (Religious Verdicts)

Al-Baraa’ said, “I met a hundred and twenty of the Ansaar from the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and when one of them was asked about a matter there was not a single man amongst them except that he wished that his brother would suffice him (by answering).” (1) In a narration there occurs the addition, “…so this one would refer it to another, and he would refer it to someone else until it would eventually return to the first one.” From Ibn Mas`ood, radiyallaahu `anhu, who said, “The one who gives a religious verdict to the people about everything that he is asked is indeed insane.” (2)

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Azeez was asked about a question and replied, “I am not one who is bold about giving religious verdicts.” He also wrote to one of his governors, “By Allaah I am not one who craves after giving religious verdicts, as long as I can find a way to avoid it.”

Ibn Yameenah said, “This affair is not for those who love that the people should have need of them, rather this affair is only for those who love that someone can be found to take their place.” It is also reported from him that he said, “The most knowledgeable of people concerning religious verdicts is the one who is most often silent, and the most ignorant of people about them is the one who speaks the most with regard to them.” (3)

Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, “We reached the scholars and they used to hate answering questions and giving religious verdicts until they could find no way out except to give a verdict, but if they were relieved of having to do so then that was more beloved to them.”

Balancing Fear & Hope

It is befitting for the believer that his fear and his hope (in Allaah) be one (i.e. equal). Since whichever of the two is allowed to overwhelm; then its companion is destroyed, Imaam Ahmad has given textual proof concerning this.

This is because whosever’s fear overwhelms (the other) then he falls into a form of despair, and whosever’s hope overwhelms (the other) then he falls into a form of feeling immunity from the plan of Allaah.

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

• Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah min Fataawaa Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah page: 85 | Translated by: Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq | Source: Fatwaislam.com

For the Students of Knowledge

The following are quotes by Shaikh Hammaad concerning the students of knowledge as well as advice for them:

• Knowledge without effort/endeavour does not come.

• It is binding upon the student of knowledge that he studies upon the people of specification in every field.

• It is obligatory upon the student of knowledge that he knows the biographies of the Salaf, as well as follows them, for this time of ours has been put to trial due to the lack of studying the biographies of the Salaf.

• Indeed the people today seek knowledge to acquire earnings; yet those that seek knowledge in truth are such few.

• The student of knowledge that does not carry a pen with him at all times does not benefit.

• I have noticed that most of the students of knowledge today do not seek consultation. (Meaning; they do not consult the Scholars in that which benefits them)

• Indeed the people of knowledge do not waste their time in that which does not benefit.

• How vast is that which has been written (authored), yet how little is that which has been read?

• Learn O youth before you become aged; for indeed at that time you will not be able to learn.

• He would advise the students of knowledge much with his saying:

I advise you with fearing Allaah The Most High in secret and in open, and aspiring upon knowledge, for indeed knowledge is a means of nobility for its companion, The Lord The Might and Majestic said:

Indeed those that truly fear Allaah from His servants are the Scholars. (Soorah Al-Faatir: 28)

• Shaykh Hammaad al-Ansaaree Majmoo’ fee tarjumah Hamaad Al-Ansaaree | Volume 2 | Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq | Retrieved from: fatwaislam.com

Gratitude: One of the Greatest Blessings

As regards one whose deeds are great and many, he must busy himself with showing gratitude for them, for the accord to show gratitude is one of the greatest blessings Allah bestows upon His servant. It is obligatory upon him to meet these deeds with gratitude and realize his deficiency in displaying due gratitude.

Wahd ibn al-Ward, when asked about the reward of a particular deed said, “Ask not about its reward, but ask about the gratitude due upon one who was guided to it.”1

Abu Sulayman would say, “How can an intelligent person be amazed with his deeds? Deeds are one of Allah’s blessings, as such it is upon him to show gratitude and to show humility. It is only the Qadariyyah who are amazed at their deeds!”2  ie. those who do not believe that the actions of the servant are created by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent.

Suspicion and Spying

Allaah, Exalted is He, says: “O you who believe, avoid much suspicion for indeed much suspicion is sin. Do not spy on each other …”

This noble verse contains the command to steer clear of much suspicion and highlights that much suspicion is sin. It also prohibits spying: searching and hunting for the mistakes and defects of people. This only comes about as a result of evil suspicion.

Bukhari and Muslim record that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of suspicion for suspicion is the most false of speech. Do not hunt for faults in others, do not spy, do not be envious of each other, do not hate each other, and do not turn your backs on each other, but be servants of Allaah as brothers.”

The Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, “Think only well of a word that leaves your believing brother so long as you find a way of understanding it in a good way.” This was quoted by ibn Kathir in his commentary to the above verse.

Bakr bin ‘Abdullah al-Muzani said, as quoted of him in his biography in Tadhib at-Tadhib , “Beware of a type of speech which you are correct in, you would not be rewarded, and if you are wrong, you would be sinful: evil suspicion of your brother.”

Abu Qilabah ‘Abdullah bin Zayd bin al-Jurmi said, as quoted in Abu Nu’aym, al-Hilyah, “If something of your brother is conveyed to you that you dislike, expend all your efforts in finding an excuse for him’ even then, if you cannot find an excuse say to yourself: perhaps he has an excuse that I am not aware of.”

Making the Most of Shawwaal

“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime”

(Reported by Muslim, no. 1984)

Related Posts:

• Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]
• Fasting Shawwaal While Still Having to Make Up Fasts?

Combatting Pride

Hasan Al-Basree advised some of his students admonishing them about avoiding the state of being proud. He said:

1) Do not deceive yourself into becoming too proud because you are in a good or righteous environment, for there is no place that is better than Paradise, and our father, Adam ‘alayhi salaam, experienced there what is known to all.

2) Do not become proud merely because you worship often, for consider what happened to Iblees after he spent a great deal of time worshipping.

3) Do not think yourself great because you have met with righteous people, for there is no man more righteous than the Prophet salAllaahu ‘alahi wasallam, yet the disbelievers and hypocrites did not benefit by simply knowing him.

• Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid | DarusSalam

Studying the Qur’aan and Teaching It

Firstly, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to learn this Qur’aan and to study it, and they should teach it to their children and their brothers. And they should be concerned with memorizing it, and they should be concerned with being proficient in reading it. Based upon the statement of the Messenger of Allaah salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam:

“The best of you are those who study the Qur’aan and teach it.” [1]

Meaning, first he studies the Qur’aan himself and perfects his studies, and then he teaches it to others from amongst his Muslim brothers. He is not limited to himself only, but rather he should spread his good and spread his benefit to his brothers and to the Muslim children. So, what is requested from the Muslim is that he shows concern with studying this Qur’aan. It is not sufficient for the person that he continues to stammer or sputter out the verses of the Qur’aan while he is able to learn it and perfect his reading so that he can pronounce it in the correct manner. Then it would not be sufficient for him to continue to stammer while reading. But if there occurred some stammering or spelling out of the words while making an effort to read the Qur’aan then there is a lot of good in this as the Prophet Muhammad salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

Continue Striving

If a Muslim lived through Ramadaaan and spent its days in fasting and its nights in prayer, and in that month he accustomed himself to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allaah at all times (after that). This is the true state of the servant (‘abd), for indeed, the Lord of the months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing His servants at all times.

Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadaan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadaan and that he struggled in obedience. They are tokens of acceptance and signs of success.

Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with the end of a month and the beginning of another. Rather they continue and extend until one reaches death, for Allaah says: “And worship your Lord until the certainty (i.e., death) comes to you.”

Complete Article