‘Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymeen!…’

Concerning the Imaam, the Shaykh – Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (rahima-hullaah), it has been narrated:

“A member of the Daâ’wah and Guidance Centre in Jeddah narrates that during the hajj of 1416A.H, he was in the company of the Shaykh at King ‘Abdul-al ‘Azeez Airport in Jeddah surrounded by the pilgrims who were arriving for hajj.

Here, the Shaykh undertook that which was obligatory upon him by giving daâ’wah to the arriving pilgrims. A large group of Russian pilgrims arrived and the Shaykh wanted to offer some words (of daâ’wah) to them. So he asked if there was a translator amongst them. Then, the (Russian) guide for the group came forward not knowing this was Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen.

After completing the translation, the guide asked who the Shaykh was. He was told that it was Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen. At this, he turned to embrace the Shaykh kissing him (on his forehead) whilst crying. He then grabbed hold of the microphone and addressed all the members of his group that this was Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen. At this, tears began falling from the eyes of each and every member of the group, whilst the guide was repeatedly loudly calling out on the microphone ‘Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen! Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen! Shaykh Ibn âl-‘Uthaymeen!…’

The members of the group then came (forward) and conveyed their greetings to the Shaykh and kissed him (on his forehead).

The guide for the group then turned to the Shaykh and said:

These are your students. They used to read your books in shelters under the ground during the Communist rule.

• ‘al-Jaamiâ’ li-Hayaat al-‘Allaamah Muhammed ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen’ Page 38

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Locks Upon Their Hearts

“Do they not reflect upon the Qu`raan?

Or are there locks on their hearts?”

… 47:24

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Unrestrained Glances

Poisons of the Heart : Unrestrained Glances

Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyya

 

 

The unrestrained glance results in the one who looks becoming attracted to what he sees, and in the imprinting of an image of what he sees in his heart. This can result in several kinds of corruption in the heart of the servant. The following are a number a them:

 

It has been related that the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) once said words to the effect:

 

The glance is a poisoned arrow of shaytaan. Whoever lowers his gaze for Allah, He will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness, which he will find in his heart on the day he meets Him.

 

Shaytan enters with the glance, for he travels with it, faster than the wind blowing through an empty place. He makes what is seen appear more beautiful then it really is, and transforms it in to an idol for the heart to worship. Then he promises it false rewards, lights the fire of desires within it, and fuels it with the wood of forbidden actions, which the servant would not have committed had it not been for this distorted image.

 

This distracts the heart and makes it forget its more important concerns. It stands between it and them; and so the heart loses it’s straight path and falls into the pit of desire and ignorance. Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, says:

 

And do not obey anyone whose heart We have made forgetful in remembering Us – who follows his own desires, and whose affair has exceeded all bounds. [Surah al-Kahf: Ayah 28]

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The Journey to Allah

Requirements of the Journey

Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

 

One of the best ways of mutual support (in righteousness and piety) is to help one another on the journey of migration to Allah and to ar-Rasool (peace be on him) with hands, tongues and hearts, and by teaching, educating and caring. A person having the attitude toward al-`Ibaad (the worshippers) of Allah will see prosperity rush to him from all directions. Allah will move toward him the hearts of His `Ibaad, will open for his heart the gates of knowledge, and will make smooth for him the path bliss. Conversely, one with an opposite attitude will receive opposite consequences.

If one then asks, “You have described a very great journey and a very important matter; but what provisions should be taken along? What’s the way to follow? And what are the means to be used for transportation?” The answer would be as follows.

The Provisions

The provisions for this journey are the knowledge inherited from the Seal of the Prophets, peace be on him. There are no other provisions. Let anyone not prepared with these provisions stay in his home and sit with those who lag behind. He will find a multitude of others who lag behind to accompany him. Let him follow their example, but let him know that this company will not avail him anything on the Day of Distress. Allah Ta`ala said:

“When you have done wrong, it will avail you nothing on that Day; then you shall be partners in punishment.” [Az-Zukhruf:39]

Thus Allah Ta`ala assures us that the association of the wrongdoers in punishment will not help them. It is true that people feel comforted when they share disasters in this life. Al-Khansaa`, an Arab poetess who lived in the early days of Islaam, said,

“If it were not for the large numbers of people wailing around me because of the loss of their brethren, I would have killed myself. And even though none of those for whom they are wailing resembles my brother, yet, I comfort myself in that we all share similar disasters.”

However – this kind of consolation will not exist among those sharing the punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

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Advice to the Youth

By: Shaykh Rabee’ Ibn Haadee ‘Umayr al-Madkhalee
Translated by: Maaz Qureshi [1]

We advise the Muslims, their general masses, and their youth especially with:

A. That they hold fast to the Book of their Lord, and the Sunnah of their Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in their creed, and their worship, and the current affairs of their lives.

B. That they exert their seriousness at establishing the oneness of Allaah among the ranks of the Muslims, upon Tawheed, and the Sunnah, and truth, and trustworthiness.

C. That they single out Allaah in their worship, and their Jihaad (struggle against their own souls), and their actions, and their sciences, and in their matters of conduct.

D. To spread between themselves that which is a reason for love and brotherhood, and friendship, and to distance themselves from everything that is a reason for differing and division, which is also the most dangerous weapon against the Islaamic Ummah, and which is assassinating it and it’s unity. And it is strengthening the one who works for the destruction of it’s fragrance.

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Giving Pleasing Names to Forbidden Things

From Shaytan’s Deceptions:

Giving Pleasing Names to Forbidden Things

Among the deceptions of Satan is that he names the evil actions with names that are very pleasing to the human to entice him to take part in them. In this way, he dupes the human and makes a forgery of the reality of the situation. For example, Satan called the tree that was forbidden to Adam, “the tree of everlasting life” in order to make it appealing to Adam:

“[But Satan whispered to him saying] ‘Oh Adam, shall I show you the tree of immortality and power that wastes not away?'” [Taha 120]

Ibn al-Qayyim stated, “From Satan, his followers inherited this trait of using names that are loved by the soul for forbidden objects. For example, wine is called ‘the mother of glee’, interest is called a ‘business transaction’, and taxes and tolls are called ‘the right of the government.

Today interest is referred to as profit; dancing, music and plays are called art.

 

 

1 These words form part of the verse but al-Ashqar excluded them from the original work – Translator

 

• The World of Jinns & Devils | Dr. ‘Umar Al-Ashqar

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Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]

 

FAST YOUR MISSED FASTS FIRST

Question:

“Is it permissible to fast the six days of Shawwaal before making up the missed fasts of Ramadhan? And is it permissible to fast on Monday in the month of Shawwaal with the intention of making up the missed fasts of Ramadhan, and with the intention of attaining the reward of fasting on the Monday? 

 Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen – may Allaah have Mercy on him– answered:“The reward of fasting the six days of Shawwaal is not attained except if a person has completed the month’s fasts of Ramadhan, so whoever has some missed fasts from Ramadhan then let him not fast the six days of Shawwaal until he has completed the missed fasts of Ramadhan, because the Prophet sal`Allaahu ‘alayhi wa-salaam said: ” Whoever fasts Ramadhan then follows that with six from Shawwaal, it would be as if he fasted perpetually”

[related by Muslim, no. 2614].

So based upon this, we say to anyone who has missed fasts, upon him is that he must fast those first, then fast the six days of Shawwaal. And if it happens that these six days fall upon a Monday or Thursday then indeed he will attain the reward of them both [the six days and the fasting upon the Monday or Thursday], with the reward of the intention of fasting the six days and with the reward of the intention for fasting Monday or Thursday, due to his sal`Allaahu ‘alayhi wa-salaam’s saying:

“Actions are judged by their intentions and for every person is that what he intended …. “

[Related by al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

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Seek a Balance

 

Being balanced in the religion means that a person does not have Ghuloo (exaggeration/extremism) in the religion, whereby he goes beyond the bounds set by Allaah-the Mighty and Majestic. It also means that a person does not neglect the religion, whereby he falls short of the limits set by Allaah-the Most Perfect and Most High.

Shaykh Uthaymeen (rahimuhullah)

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Remaining Steadfast After Ramadhaan

Sufyaan Ibn ‘Abdillaah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: “O Messenger of Allaah, tell me something about Islaam of which I will not ask anyone else besides you (after that).” He said: “Say: ‘I believe in Allaah’ and then be steadfast (on that).” [1]

This hadeeth is proof that the servant is obligated, after having Eemaan in Allaah, to persevere and be steadfast upon obeying Him by performing the obligatory acts and avoiding the prohibited ones. This is achieved by following the Straight Path, which is the firm Religion, without drifting away from it to the right or to the left.

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.” [2]

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