The Humility of Shaykh Al Albaanee

Shaykh ‘Asheesh narrates an incident when the Imaam of Hadeeth, the Shaykh – Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee (rahima-hullaah) was explaining the different scholarly levels of hadeeth, and Shaykh al-Albaanee went on to say: “al-Haafidth is one who has memorised a hundred thousand hadeeth along with their chains of narration and the text (of each hadeeth).”So Shaykh ‘Asheesh responds:
“Is it possible for me to be satisfied in the knowledge that our Shaykh has memorised a hundred thousand hadeeth?”Shaykh al-Albaanee said:
“This does not concern you.”

Shaykh ‘Asheesh said:
“Rather, it is from that which does concern me.”

Shaykh al-Albaanee said:
“…does not concern you.”

Shaykh ‘Asheesh said:
“So is it possible for me to say that our Shaykh is a haafidth?”

So Shaykh al-Albaanee became quiet.

Shaykh ‘Asheesh said:
“So is it possible for me to take your silence as an answer?”

Shaykh al-Albaanee said:
“Have I not told you that this does not concern you?”

Shaykh ‘Asheesh said:
“Yes. This is from that which does concern me. Is it possible for me to interpret (your) lack of response as an answer?”

So the Shaykh became quiet.

And Shaykh ‘Asheesh repeated his question to him a number of times.

Shaykh al-Albaanee recited:
“{And whatever you have of the blessings, then it is from Allaah}.”

And Shaykh ‘Asheesh quickly said:
“Can I interpret this as an answer?”

Shaykh al-Albaanee said:
“It is for you to interpret it as an answer and it is for you to interpret it as whatever you wish.”

Shaykh ‘Asheesh narrates:
“So I happily proclaimed: “Allaahu Akbar”, and jubilantly exclaimed: “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”, and said: “al-Hamdu Lillaah, indeed the Shaykh has memorised a hundred thousand hadeeth.”

So our Shaykh laughed; It was as if he confirmed what I was saying.”

Shaykh ‘Asheesh further narrates:
“From his responses from the beginning to the end there never was a clear answer from the Shaykh, so this does not imply anything except his extreme humility.”

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Ash-Shaakir / Ash-Shakoor

Ash-Shaakir (The Recogniser and Rewarder of Good) 

Ash-Shakoor (The Appreciative)

The one who recognises and rewards the small quantity of actions and the one who forgives the large quantity of sins. He is the one who multiplies the rewards of His sincere servants manifold without any measure. He is the one who recognises and rewards those who give thanks to Him and remembers the one who remembers Him. Whosoever seeks to get close to Him by doing any righteous action, Allah draws closer to him by a greater degree.

Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh. So it is not a sin on him who perform Hajj or ‘Umrah (pilgrimage) of the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawâf) between them (As-Safâ and Al-Marwah). And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allâh is Shaakir, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:158) 

Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur’ân), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-asSalât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade­gain that will never perish.That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily! He is Oft-Forgiving, Shakoor. (Fatir 35:29-30)

An Explanation to the Beautiful & Perfect Names of Allah

Shaykh Nasir As-Sa’di

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Relentless Excuses

Honesty – a prized and most commendable trait. Yet this very trait seems to leave us in the times we need it most. When we are faced with fitaan, it seems our morality is oft times thrown out the window. Instead our hawaa [desires] take over, as we delude ourselves into lessening the haraam act with the excuses, in order to appease our conscience. And this is done time and time again.

In many situations the haraam will not come except that it is accompanied by justifications, reasons, and excuses. For how could one with emaan ever feel secure and sound in falling into that which is prohibited? And let this feeling of guilt and the quick formulation of excuses be a sign, a warning of sorts, inciting ourselves to check our intentions and our actions – will this please Allah ‘azza wa jaal, or rather is it simply hawaa that may earn Allah’s anger? For indeed we fear a punishment, most great.

SubhaanAllah, when will we own up to our actions? When will we look in the mirror and realize our faults? For how does one change if they are blind to the reality, continuously making excuses for themselves? And wallahu ‘alam, it is these excuses that will prove most destructive. For perhaps the Muslim was once at a state where they committed the haraam, and while their desires took the best of them, that voice of reason was relentless, allowing them to feel guilt lowering their head, for the shame they felt. Yet with the consistent excuses, this voice – once strong – became smaller and smaller, and the whispers of Shaytaan began to take effect, such that the voice became nonexistent and the guilt slowly disappeared as the many excuses made the haraam more and more acceptable. While indeed that head, once lowered in shame, begins to rise higher and higher to a point where they feel no shame and now have no problem exposing their sins openly, for all to see.

Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The believer regards his sin as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he fears may fall on him, whereas the sinner regards his sin as if a fly lands on his nose and he swipes it away.”

Tread carefully, lest you become the latter – one whose sins become insignificant such that one thinks them so small, so unrecognizable and ultimately, acceptable.

 

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Ibn Taymiyyah’s Letters from Prison

He was a man of great piety and immense knowledge, humble in his accomplishments and strong in his reliance upon Allah. He is Shaykh ul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah ta’ala have mercy upon him and grant him Jannah-tul-Firdaus. This is an excerpt of “Ibn Taymiyyah’s Letters from Prison”, this one specifically is addressed to his mother. SubhaanAllah, look at the status he grants his mother, the respectful way he addresses her, the many du’aas within, his fervent desire to be with her, the tawakul [reliance upon Allah] he exudes in a time of great difficulty, his sabr and kind words – wallahu ta’ala ‘alim, an example for us all. His eloquence is profound, mashaaAllah. May we pay heed to these words, ultimately realizing the rights of our beloved mothers, and in turn our parents, may we treat them with kindness and gentleness. Afterall, Allah ta’ala instructs us in Surah Luqman: “And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.” (Luqman 31:14)

Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah’s Letter to his Mother

In the name of Allaah, Most Merciful, Dispenser of Mercy  

 From Ahmad bin Taymiyyah to my dear and honourable mother, may Allaah bless her amply and grant her peace and comfort, and make her amongst the best of His servants, assalaamu 3alaykum wa rahmatuAllaahi wa barakaatuh We praise Allaah, the most worthy of praise. There is no deity worthy of worship but He, and He has Power over all things. We ask Him to bless the Seal of the Prophets and Imaam of the pious, Muhammad His servant and Messenger salAllaahu 3alayhi wasalaam. Indeed the bounties of Allaah come abundantly and His aid is never ending. We praise Him for it, and ask Him to increase His favour. It will not escape you, my contented mother, the fact that our stay in Egypt is for an important issue. The abandonment of such a task leads to the corruption of our deen and of our life. Yet, it was not our choice to be far from you. Had birds been able to carry us, we would have come to you. But the absent one has his reason; and had you been able to look deeply into the affairs of the Muslims, you would not choose for me another place to the one I am in now. Nevertheless, I had never intended to reside here permanently. Instead, I pray to Allaah to guide you and I to the right choice and I pray for your well-being. I ask Allaah to bless us and the rest of the Muslims, with His goodness and what that goodness encompasses of safety and benefit. Allaah had opened for me His gates of blessings, mercy and guidance in a way I had never conceived of before. Yet I am always considering travel towards you, making the prayers of istikhaarah. It is inconceivable for me, if given the choice, to favour any of this life’s mundane issues or of the lesser obligations of the deen, to being close to you. Yet there are great issues which I cannot abandon for fear of their general and personal dangers –and the witness sees what the absent does not.

I beseech you to supplicate to Allaah profusely. Ask Him to guide us to choose our best paths, for He Knows and we do not, and He is Able and we are weak. The Messenger of Allaah salAllaahu 3alayhi wasalaam said:

“It is from the happiness of the son of Aadam to practice istikhaarah and be pleased with what Allaah had ordained for him. And it is from the misery of the son of Aadam to drop the istikhaarah of Allaah and be displeased at Allaah’s Decrees.

[related by at-Tirmidhee, Ahmad, Aboo Ya3alaa and al-Haakim who said of it: saheeh al-isnaad {al-3uqood ud-Durreeyah, p.257}]

Indeed the traveling trader might fear the loss of his money, so he resides at a place until he is able to travel once again. The matter that we are in the middle of is too great to describe, but there is no power or ability but through Allaah.

Finally convey my salaam to the entire household, young and old, and the rest of the neighbours, friends and relatives one by one.

Wasalaamu 3alaykum wa rahmatuAllaahi wa barakaatuh

Praise be to Allaah, and may His Blessings and Peace be upon Muhammad, his family and Companions.

From: Ibn Taymiyyah’s Letters from Prison

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A Spider’s House

“The likeness of those who take (false deities as) Auliya (protectors, helpers) other than Allaah is as the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house- if they but knew” (29:41)

Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan As-Sa’dee said:This is a parable given by Allaah for those who worship others along with Him, desiring by that to elevate, strengthen and benefit themselves. So it is made clear that the matter is contrary to their desires. Rather the example of such a person is like that of the spider which takes a house to protect it from heat and cold and harm.

“but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses….”

The weakest and feeblest of them.

“…is the spider’s house..“

So the spider is a weak animal and its house is from the weakest of houses. So adopting it only increases it in weakness. Likewise those who seek to take others besides Allaah as protectors are needy and weak from every aspect, and when they take others besides Allaah to strengthen them and aid them then this only adds to their weakness and incapacity. So they place reliance upon them for attainment of many of their requirements. They submit their needs to them and consign them totally to them, expecting them to fulfill them, however they leave them in the lurch. So they gain nothing at all from them, and they do not aid them in the slightest.

So if they truly knew their own condition and the condition of those whom they take as protectors besides Allaah, then they would not take them as protectors. Rather they would free themselves from them and they would take as their Protector ,the Lord, the Fully-Capable One, the Bestower of Mercy; the One who is such that if the servant takes Him as his Protector, and places reliance upon Him, then He suffices all his needs pertaining to his religion and worldly life. So he is increased in strength: in his heart, his body, his condition and his actions”

• Parables of the Qu’raan || by: Ash-Shaykhul ‘Allaamah ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir As-Sa’dee

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You Know Allaah, Yet You Do Not Obey Him

Ibraheem ibn Adham, may Allaah have Mercy upon him, was a third century scholar, a teacher and a companion of Sufyaan ath-Thawree, and he was asked about the saying of Allaah – The Most High:

“And your Lord says: ‘Call on Me, I will answer your prayer.. “ [Soorah Ghaafir, 40:60]

“We supplicate and we are not answered.”  So he said to them:

  

“You know Allaah, Yet you do not obey Him,
You recite the Qur’aan, Yet you do not act according to it,
You know Shaitaan, Yet you have agreed with him,
You proclaim that you love the Messenger of Allaah, Yet you abandon his Sunnah,
You proclaim your love for Paradise, Yet you do not act to gain it,
You proclaim your fear for the Fire, Yet you do not prevent yourselves from sins,
You say: “Indeed death is true”, Yet you have not prepared for it,
You busy yourselves with finding faults with others, Yet you do not look at your own faults,
You eat that which Allaah has provided for you, Yet you do not thank Him,
You bury your dead, Yet you do not take a lesson from it.” 

Khushoo fis-Salaat (p.62) of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali – rahimahullaah

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Knowledge Enlivens the Heart

Acquire knowledge because doing so is good. Seeking it is worship. Reviewing it is glorifying Allah. Researching it is jihad. Teaching it to the ignorant is charity. Serving the scholars is a way of drawing near to Allah because knowledge is the path of ascension to the stations of Paradise. It is a companion in isolation and a comrade in distant lands. It speaks to you in solitude. It is a guide to prosperity and a shield against adversity. It beautifies one among friends and is a weapon against enemies. With it Allah elevates people and makes them guides and bellwethers of good. The scholars are people whose words are sought and whose actions are imitated. The angels long for the scholar’s company and comfort them with their wings. Everything, the fish of the sea, the beasts of the earth, the predators of the land and sea, and the cattle pray that blessings come upon him. 

This is because knowledge enlivens the heart against ignorance, illuminates the eyes against darkness, and strengthens the body. It transports the servants to the mansions of the select and the righteous and to the highest ranks in the world and in the Hereafter. Contemplating it is equivalent to fasting, and reviewing it is equivalent to the Night Prayer vigil. With it, kinship is united and the lawful is distinguished from the unlawful. Knowledge is an imam which leads to righteous actions. It is craved by the people destined for Paradise and shunned by people destined for Hell. 

Warathatu’l-Anbiya’;  Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

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The Deception of Shaytaan

Barsisa || the Worshipper

Ibn Jarir said that Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud interpreted the Qur’anic Verse that reads:

(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitân (Satan), when he says to man: “Disbelieve in Allâh.” But when (man) disbelieves in Allâh, Shaitân (Satan) says: “I am free of you, I fear Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!” So the end of both will be that they will be in the Fire, abiding therein. Such is the recompense of the Zâlimûn (i.e. polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in Allâh and in His Oneness, etc.). (Al-Hashr 59:16-17)

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Once upon a time there was a woman grazing sheep and goats. She had four brothers. She (for some reason) used to spend the night at a monk’s cell. The monk committed adultery with her and she got pregnant. Satan came to him and said: Kill the woman and then bury her for you are a reputable and highly respected man (i.e. don’t risk your own reputation for such a simple woman).The monk killed her and then buried her. Thereupon, Satan visited her four brothers in a dream while they were asleep and said to them: the monk committed adultery with your sister, and because she got pregnant, he killed her and buried her in such-and-such location. In the morning, one of them said: “By Allah! Last night I dreamt of something and I do not know whether to relate it to you or just keep it to myself?” They said: Relate it to us. He did so and one of them said: By Allah! I saw the same dream. Another said the same. And the fourth one said the same thing. They agreed on that there must be something serious about that dream. They went to the king and appealed for his help against the monk. The king’s troops came to arrest him and he was taken away. On the way, Satan came to the monk (and whispered in his ears): I set you up. No one else can save you from this. Prostrate yourself before me just for once and in return, I will save you from this. Thereupon, the monk prostrated himself before Satan. When they presented themselves before the king, Satan said to him: I am free of you! Finally, the monk was killed.

From: Stories of the Qur’an, By Ibn Katheer

Such is the deception of Shaytaan. Praise be to Allah, who Gives the Muslimeen safe haven from fitaan, with the different alternatives we have been given. And when Allah ta’ala has granted us the ability to leave off this fitnah, let us not willingly plunge ourselves into potentially harmful situations. For ultimately, we put our own emaan to the test. And shall we have yaqeen [certainty] with our level of emaan, knowing that it fluctuates, increasing at times and decreasing at others? No, for Allah Knows Best that which shall come to pass.

The example is brought before us, of a pious man, who fell into sin and was deceived by Shaytaan. And indeed the ma’asiyah [sin] shall touch those who are pious if they lower their shield of taqwa. So inshaaAllah, when the fitaan is present, let us remember Allah ta’ala, fear Him with the fear that He is deserving of us and distance ourselves from it.

O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh. (Luqman 31:33)

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