Drying the limbs after doing wudoo'

Question:
Is it permissible to dry oneself with a towel or handkerchief after doing wudoo’?.

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

It is permissible, after doing wudoo’, to dry the parts of the body washed in wudoo’, because the basic principle is that this action is permissible.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (1/195): There is nothing wrong with drying the limbs with a towel after getting them wet during ghusl and wudoo’. This is what was narrated from Imam Ahmad. It was also narrated that ‘Uthmaan, al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali, Anas and many other scholars used a towel after doing wudoo’, and this is the more correct opinion, because the basic principle is that it is permissible. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on drying the parts of the body that are washed in wudoo’

He replied: There is nothing wrong with drying them, because the basic principle is that it is not disallowed. The basic principle concerning anything other than acts of worship, such as contracts and actions, is that it is permissible and allowed, unless there is evidence that it is not allowed.

If someone were to say: How would you respond to the hadeeth of Maymoonah (may Allaah be pleased with her), where she says: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did ghusl, and I brought the towel to him but he refused it and started to wipe the water with his hand?

The answer is that this action on the part of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was a specific case which may be interpreted in several ways: either it was for a reason to do with the towel, or because it was not clean, or he did not want to wet it with the water because doing so was not appropriate. There are several possibilities, but the fact that she brought the towel to him indicates that it was his habit to dry himself, otherwise she would not have brought it to him. End quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/93).

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

[Qn no. 103968.
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=103968&ln=eng]

Sedikit ulasan berkenaan sambutan/amalan Nisfu Sya'ban

As-Salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah.

Walaupun malam Nisfu Sya'ban telah pun berlalu, ana rasa tidak menjadi masalah kalau ana memberi sedikit ulasan mengenainya, untuk dijadikan iktibar dan diambil pengajaran.

Semalam di kuliah Ustaz Abu Farouq di Toh Guan, Ustaz turut mengulas tentang sambutan Nisfu Sya'ban, di mana Ustaz menyatakan terdapat banyak buku yang mengulas tentangnya, namun cukuplah Ustaz membawa satu sahaja buku bagi mewakili buku-buku yang lain, iaitu kitab al-Ibda' fi Madharil-Ibtida' oleh Syeikh 'Ali Mahfuz, salah seorang Kibarul Ulama al-Azhar.

Ustaz Abu Farouq memulakan dengan persoalan kepada mereka yang menyambut Nisfu Sya'ban, khususnya para asatizah dan ulama Singapura yang mengajak kepadanya:

Apakah mereka tidak menghormati Imam al-Syafi'i, Imam an-Nawawi dan ulama-ulama hadith?

Syeikh Ali Mahfuz menyebutkan di dalam kitabnya tersebut bahwa sambutan atau amalan Nisfu Sya'ban adalah bid'ah yang keji.

Ini adalah kerana di kalangan ulama hadith, tiada hadith sahih yang menetapkan fadhilat malam Nisfu Sya'ban.

Hal ini disebabkan hadith-hadith mengenainya adalah dha'if (lemah) ataupun maudhu' (palsu).

Imam an-Nasa'i menyebutkan bahawa hadith-hadithnya (yakni berkenaan fadhilat malam Nisfu Sya'ban) adalah matruk (ditinggalkan).

Al-Hafizh adz-Dzahabi pula menyebutkan bahawa hadith-hadithnya dha'if.

Manakala Imam Abu Syamah (seorang ahli hadith yang bermadzhab Syafi'i) menyebutkan bahwa tiada hadith yang sahih tentangnya (yakni tentang fadhilat malam Nisfu Sya'ban). Malah, beliau menasihatkan agar jangan lihat hadith-hadithnya.

Al-Hafizh al-Iraqi pua berkata bahawa hadith-hadith Nisfu Sya'ban adalah maudhu' dan pembohongan ke atas Nabi.

Manakalah Imam an-Nawawi (tokoh madzhab Syafi'i, malah digelar sebagai asy-Syafi'i kedua) mengharamkan sambutan majlis Nisfu Sya'ban, kerana ianya bid'ah yang munkar. Hal ini disebutkan di dalam kitabnya Al-Majmu'.

[Maka, di sini ana tanyakan, apakah ustaz-ustaz kita ini bersikap amanah dalam menyampaikan da'wah Islam kepada masyarakat? Sedangkan mereka menyampaikan hadith-hadith yang dha'if dan maudhu' berkenaan Nisfu Sya'ban dan menyeru masyarakat kepadanya! Subhanallah..

Apakah benar mereka bermadzhab Syafi'i? Jika benar, mengapakah mereka tinggalkan kenyataan Imam an-Nawawi bahawa sambutan majlis Nisfu Sya'ban adalah bid'ah yang munkar? Mengapakah mereka tidak menghormati Imam an-Nawawi dan ulama-ulama hadith, atau mereka anggap diri mereka lebih baik daripada Imam an-Nawawi dan ulama-ulama hadith?

Apakah mereka lupa bahawa Imam asy-Syafi'i mengatakan, "Jika suatu hadith itu sahih, maka itulah madzhabku"? Sehinggakan beliau mengatakan agar kita meninggalkan pendapatnya jika bertentangan dengan hadith-hadith sahih! Subhanallah.. maka, kesimpulannya, mazhab Syafi'i adalah apa yang didasarkan kepada hadith-hadith sahih!]

Seorang peserta di Paltalk pula bertanya, apakah benar Nisfu Sya'ban termasuk amalan Syi'ah kerana menyambut kedatangan Imam Mahdi?

Ustaz jawab bahawa ya, benar. Lalu, beliau mengingatkan kita bahawa Sufi diasaskan oleh Yahudi yang bernama Abdullah ibn Saba'. Begitu juga Syi'ah diasaskan oleh Abdullah ibn Saba'. Maka memang wujud persamaan antara Sufi dengan Syi'ah.

Ustaz mengakhiri persoalan ini dengan sedikit nasihat daripada Imam al-Lalika'i:
"Sedikit beramal tetapi berdasarkan Sunnah adalah lebih baik daripada banyak beramal tetapi bid'ah."

Begitu juga beliau mengingatkan kita dengan kaedah yang ditegaskan oleh Imam Ibn Kathir (yang juga bermazhab Syafi'i):

"Lau kaana khairan lasabaquuna ilaihi"
[Jika sesuatu amalan itu baik, nescaya mereka (para Sahabat) akan terlebih dahulu mengamalkannya.]

Wallahu a'lam.

PS. Ana menyeru kepada para asatizah dan ulama di Singapura agar bersikap amanah dalam menyampaikan da'wah Islam kepada masyarakat. Dan jika mengaku sebagai bermazhab Syafi'i, maka fahamilah betul-betul mazhab Syafi'i.

Janganlah jadi ulama Suu' sebagaimana yang disebutkan Imam al-Ghazali. Walaupun Imam al-Ghazali banyak menyebutkan hadith-hadith dha'if, maudhu' dan la 'aslalahu (tiada asalnya) di dalam kitabnya Ihya' 'Ulumuddin, beliau tetap akui bahawa ilmunya tentang hadith amat cetek. Sehinggakan pada akhir hayatnya beliau bertaubat dan mula membaca kitab-kitab hadith seperti Sahih Bukhari dan Sahih Muslim. Malah, diriwayatkan bahawa Imam al-Ghazali wafat dalam keadaan memegang kitab Sahih Bukhari ke atas dadanya. Subhanallah..

Wallahu a'lam wal-Musta'an.

Hadits-hadith dha'if tentang baca Surah Yasin

Oleh : Yazid bin Abdul Qadir Jawas

Kebanyakan kaum muslimin membiasakan membaca surat Yasin, baik pada malam Jum'at (hari Jum'at menjelang khatib naik mimbar, tambahan-peny), ketika mengawali atau

menutup majlis ta'lim, ketika ada atau setelah kematian dan pada acara-acara lain yang mereka anggap penting.
Saking seringnya surat Yasin dijadikan bacaan di berbagai pertemuan dan kesempatan, sehingga mengesankan, Al-Qur'an itu hanyalah berisi surat Yasin saja. Dan kebanyakan orang membacanya memang karena tergiur oleh fadhilah atau keutamaan surat Yasin dari hadits-hadits yang banyak mereka dengar, atau menurut keterangan dari guru mereka.
Al-Qur'an yang di wahyukan Allah adalah terdiri dari 30 juz. Semua surat dari Al-Fatihah sampai An-Nas, jelas memiliki keutamaan yang setiap umat Islam wajib mengamalkannya. Oleh karena itu sangat dianjurkan agar umat Islam senantiasa membaca Al-Qur'an. Dan kalau sanggup hendaknya menghatamkan Al-Qur'an setiap pekan sekali, atau sepuluh hari sekali, atau dua puluh hari sekali atau khatam setiap bulan sekali. (Hadist Riwayat Bukhari, Muslim dan lainnya).

Sebelum melanjutkan pembahasan, yang perlu dicamkan dan diingat dari tulisan ini, adalah dengan membahas masalah ini bukan berarti penulis melarang atau mengharamkan membaca surat Yasin.
Sebagaimana surat-surat Al-Qur'an yang lain, surat Yasin juga harus kita baca. Akan tetapi di sini penulis hanya ingin menjelaskan kesalahan mereka yang menyandarkan tentang fadhilah dan keutamaan surat Yasin kepada Nabi Shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam.
Selain itu, untuk menegaskan bahwa tidak ada tauladan dari Nabi Shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam membaca surat Yasin setiap malam Jum'at, setiap memulai atau menutup majlis ilmu, ketika dan setelah kematian dan lain-lain.
Mudah-mudahan keterangan berikut ini tidak membuat patah semangat, tetapi malah memotivasi untuk membaca dan menghafalkan seluruh isi Al-Qur'an serta mengamalkannya.

KELEMAHAN HADITS-HADITS TENTANG FADHILAH SURAT YASIN
Kebanyakan umat Islam membaca surat Yasin karena sebagaimana dikemukakan di atas- fadhilah dan ganjaran yang disediakan bagi orang yang membacanya. Tetapi, setelah penulis melakukan kajian dan penelitian tentang hadits-hadits yang menerangkan fadhilah surat Yasin, penulis dapati Semuanya Adalah Lemah.

Perlu ditegaskan di sini, jika telah tegak hujjah dan dalil maka kita tidak boleh berdusta atas nama Nabi Muhammad Shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam sebab ancamannya adalah Neraka. (Hadits Riwayat Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad dan lainnya).

HADITS DHA'IF DAN MAUDHU'
Adapun hadits-hadits yang semuanya dha'if (lemah) dan atau maudhu' (palsu) yang dijadikan dasar tentang fadhilah surat Yasin diantaranya adalah sebagai berikut :
1. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin dalam suatu malam, maka ketika ia bangun pagi hari diampuni dosanya dan siapa yang membaca surat Ad-Dukhan pada malam Jum'at maka ketika ia bangun pagi hari diampuni dosanya".
(Ibnul Jauzi, Al-Maudhu'at, 1/247). Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
Ibnul Jauzi mengatakan, hadits ini dari semua jalannya adalah batil, tidak ada asalnya. Imam Daruquthni berkata : Muhammad bin Zakaria yang ada dalam sanad hadits ini adalah tukang memalsukan hadits. (Periksa : Al-Maudhu'at, Ibnul Jauzi, I/246-247, Mizanul I'tidal III/549, Lisanul Mizan V/168, Al-Fawaidul Majmua'ah hal. 268 No. 944).

2. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin pada malam hari karena mencari keridhaan Allah, niscaya Allah mengampuni dosanya". Keterangan : Hadits ini Lemah.
Diriwayatkan oleh Thabrani dalam kitabnya Mu'jamul Ausath dan As-Shaghir dari Abu Hurairah, tetapi dalam sanadnya ada rawi Aghlab bin Tamim. Kata Imam Bukhari, ia munkarul hadits. Kata Ibnu Ma'in, ia tidak ada apa-apanya (tidak kuat). (Periksa : Mizanul I'tidal I:273-274 dan Lisanul Mizan I : 464-465).

3. "Artinya : Siapa yang terus menerus membaca surat Yasin pada setiap malam, kemudian ia mati maka ia mati syahid". Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
Hadits ini diriwayatkan oleh Thabrani dalam Mu'jam Shaghir dari Anas, tetapi dalam sanadnya ada Sa'id bin Musa Al-Azdy, ia seorang pendusta dan dituduh oleh Ibnu Hibban sering memalsukan hadits. (Periksa : Tuhfatudz Dzakirin, hal. 340, Mizanul I'tidal II : 159-160, Lisanul Mizan III : 44-45).

4. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin pada permulaan siang (pagi hari) maka akan diluluskan semua hajatnya". Keterangan : Hadits ini Lemah.
Ia diriwayatkan oleh Ad-Darimi dari jalur Al-Walid bin Syuja'. Atha' bin Abi Rabah, pembawa hadits ini tidak pernah bertemu Nabi Shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. Sebab ia lahir sekitar tahun 24H dan wafat tahun 114H.
(Periksa : Sunan Ad-Darimi 2:457, Misykatul Mashabih, takhrij No. 2177, Mizanul I'tidal III:70 dan Taqribut Tahdzib II:22).

5. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin satu kali, seolah-olah ia membaca Al-Qur'an dua kali". (Hadits Riwayat Baihaqi dalam Syu'abul Iman). Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
(Lihat Dha'if Jamiush Shaghir, No. 5801 oleh Syaikh Al-Albani).

6. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin satu kali, seolah-olah ia membaca Al-Qur'an sepuluh kali". (Hadits Riwayat Baihaqi dalam Syu'abul Iman). Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
(Lihat Dha'if Jami'ush Shagir, No. 5798 oleh Syaikh Al-Albani).

7. "Artinya : Sesungguhnya tiap-tiap sesuatu mempunyai hati dan hati (inti) Al-Qur'an itu ialah surat Yasin. Siapa yang membacanya maka Allah akan memberikan pahala bagi bacaannya itu seperti pahala membaca Al-Qur'an sepuluh kali". Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
Hadits ini diriwayatkan oleh At-Tirmidzi (No. 3048) dan Ad-Darimi 2:456. Di dalamnya terdapat Muqatil bin Sulaiman. Ayah Ibnu Abi Hatim berkata : Aku mendapati hadits ini di awal kitab yang di susun oleh Muqatil bin Sulaiman. Dan ini adalah hadits batil, tidak ada asalnya. (Periksa : Silsilah Hadits Dha'if No. 169, hal. 202-203) Imam Waqi' berkata : Ia adalah tukang dusta. Kata Imam Nasa'i : Muqatil bin Sulaiman sering dusta.
(Periksa : Mizanul I'tidal IV:173).

8. "Artinya : Siapa yang membaca surat Yasin di pagi hari maka akan dimudahkan (untuknya) urusan hari itu sampai sore. Dan siapa yang membacanya di awal malam (sore hari) maka akan dimudahkan urusannya malam itu sampai pagi". Keterangan : Hadits ini Lemah.
Hadits ini diriwayatkan Ad-Darimi 2:457 dari jalur Amr bin Zararah. Dalam sanad hadits ini terdapat Syahr bin Hausyab. Kata Ibnu Hajar : Ia banyak memursalkan hadits dan banyak keliru. (Periksa : Taqrib I:355, Mizanul I'tidal II:283).

9. "Artinya : Bacakanlah surat Yasin kepada orang yang akan mati di antara kamu". Keterangan : Hadits ini Lemah.
Diantara yang meriwayatkan hadits ini adalah Ibnu Abi Syaibah (4:74 cet. India), Abu Daud No. 3121. Hadits ini lemah karena Abu Utsman, di antara perawi hadits ini adalah seorang yang majhul (tidak diketahui), demikian pula dengan ayahnya. Hadits ini juga mudtharib (goncang sanadnya/tidak jelas).

10. "Artinya : Tidak seorang pun akan mati, lalu dibacakan Yasin di sisinya (maksudnya sedang naza') melainkan Allah akan memudahkan (kematian itu) atasnya". Keterangan : Hadits ini Palsu.
Hadits ini diriwayatkan oleh Abu Nu'aim dalam kitab Akhbaru Ashbahan I :188. Dalam sanad hadits ini terdapat Marwan bin Salim Al Jazari. Imam Ahmad dan Nasa'i berkata, ia tidak bisa dipercaya. Imam Bukhari, Muslim dan Abu Hatim berkata, ia munkarul hadits. Kata Abu 'Arubah Al Harrani, ia sering memalsukan hadits. (Periksa : Mizanul I'tidal IV : 90-91).

Penjelasan:
Abdullah bin Mubarak berkata : Aku berat sangka bahwa orang-orang zindiq (yang pura-pura Islam) itulah yang telah membuat riwayat-riwayat itu (hadits-hadits tentang fadhilah surat-surat tertentu).

Dan Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jauziyah berkata : Semua hadits yang mengatakan, barangsiapa membaca surat ini akan diberikan ganjaran begini dan begitu SEMUA HADITS TENTANG ITU ADALAH PALSU. Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang memalsukan hadits-hadits itu telah mengakuinya sendiri. Mereka berkata, tujuan kami membuat hadits-hadits palsu adalah agar manusia sibuk dengan (membaca surat-surat tertentu dari Al-Qur'an) dan menjauhkan mereka dari isi Al-Qur'an yang lain, juga kitab-kitab selain Al-Qur'an. (Periksa : Al-Manarul Munffish Shahih Wadh-Dha'if, hal. 113-115). KHATIMAH

Dengan demikian jelaslah bahwa hadits-hadits tentang fadhilah dan keutamaan surat Yasin, semuanya LEMAH dan PALSU. Oleh karena itu, hadits-hadits tersebut tidak dapat dijadikan hujjah untuk menyatakan keutamaan surat ini dan surat-surat yang lain, dan tidak bisa pula untuk menetapkan ganjaran atau penghapusan dosa bagi mereka yang membaca surat ini. Memang ada hadits-hadits shahih tentang keutamaan surat Al-Qur'an selain surat Yasin, tetapi tidak menyebut soal pahala.

Wallahu A'lam.

[Ditukil dari:
http://almudarris.multiply.com/journal/item/13/Hadis-hadis_dhaif_tentang_baca_surat_yasin]

Six Conditions of Ibaadah

Conditions for the Acceptance of Actions

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (d.1421H) - rahimahullaah - said, “Sincerity (ikhlaas) towards Allaah means that the person desires by his worship closeness to Allaah the Exalted and reaching His Abode of Nobility (i.e. Paradise), such that the servant must be sincere towards Allaah the Exalted in his intended purpose. He must be sincere towards Allaah the Exalted in his love. He must be sincere towards Allaah in his exaltation. He must be sincere to Allaah the Exalted outwardly and inwardly. He does not seek anything with his worship, except for the Face of Allaah the Exalted and reaching His Abode of Nobility.” [1]

Stated al-’Allaamah Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (d.1421H) – rahimahullaah, “And in order that it will be known – O brothers – that al-mutaaba’ah cannot be actualized, except when the action is in agreement with the Sharee’ah in six affairs:

The First: as-Sabab (reason, motive); So when the person worships Allaah with act of worship that is accompanied by a motive that is not legislated by the Sharee’ah, then it is an innovation that is rejected back to its doer. An example of that is when some of the people commemorate the twenty-seventh night of Rajab under the pretence that it was the night in which the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) ascended. So tahajjud (the night Prayer) is worship. However, when it is accompanied with this motive, it becomes an innovation. This is because this action of worship is built upon a motive that has not been confirmed in the Sharee’ah. And this description – the conformity of the worship to the Sharee’ah in motive – is an important affair that clarifies many innovations from amongst those that are thought to be from the Sunnah, yet they are not from the Sunnah.

The Second: al-Jins (type); so it is inevitable that the act of worship be in conformity to the Sharee’ah in its jins (type). So if the person worships with an act of worship whose type is not legislated, then it is not accepted. An example of that is if a man were to slaughter a horse, then this sacrifice would not be correct, because it has opposed the Sharee’ah in the type. So the blood sacrifices cannot be done, except with cattle, grazing livestock, camels, cows and sheep.

The Third: al-Qadr (quantity); so if the person increases in the Prayer that is obligatory, then we say that this is an innovation that is not accepted, because it opposes the Sharee’ah in quantity. With all the more reason, if the person prays the noon Prayer for example as five units, then his Prayer is not correct by agreement.

The Fourth: al-Kayfiyyah (manner, mode); so if a man performs ablution, and he begins with washing the feet, then he wipes his head, then he washes his hands, then his face, then we say that his ablution is null and void, because it opposes the Sharee’ah in manner.

The Fifth: az-Zamaan (time); so if the person slaughters in the first days of Dhul-Hijjah, then his blood sacrifice will not be accepted due it opposing the Sharee’ah in time. And I have heard that some of the people slaughter sheep during the month of Ramadaan in order to draw closer to Allaah with blood sacrifice. So this action in this manner is an innovation, because there is nothing with regards to drawing closer to Allaah with slaughtering, except for blood sacrifice, gifts and the ’aqeeqah. As for slaughtering in Ramadaan along with the belief that one will attain the reward of slaughtering, such as the blood sacrifice in ’Eedul-Adhaa, or slaughtering for the sake of meat, then this is permissible.

The Sixth: al-Makaan (place); so if a man performs i’tikaaf in other than a mosque, then his i’tikaaf is not correct. And that is because the i’tikaaf cannot occur, except in the mosques. And if a woman says, ‘I wish to perform i’tikaaf in the musallaa (place of Prayer) in the house,’ then her i’tikaaf is not correct due to opposition of the Sharee’ah in place. And from the examples of that is if a man desires to perform tawaaf. So he finds that the area of tawaaf has become too confined and he finds that whatever is around it has become too confined. So he starts to perform tawaaf from behind the mosque, then his tawaaf will not be correct, because the place of the tawaaf is the house.

So the act of worship cannot be considered a righteous action, except if two conditions are fulfilled with regards to it, the first is al-ikhlaas (sincerity) and the second is al-mutaaba’ah (following the Prophet). And al-mutaaba’ah cannot be fulfilled, except with the six affairs that have been previously mentioned.” [2]

Footnotes:

[1]: Refer to Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (7/112) of Ibnul-’Uthaymeen.

[2]: Refer to Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (5/253-254) of Ibnul-’Uthaymeen.

Six Conditions of Ibaadah
By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen

[Extracted from: theclearsunnah.wordpress.com]

An Interesting Conversation...

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new Muslim students to stand and…..

Professor: You are a Muslim, aren’t you, son?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So you believe in God?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Professor: Is God good?

Student: Sure.

Professor: Is God all-powerful?

Student: Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good?

Student: No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from?

Student: From…God.. .

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Professor: So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son…Have you ever seen God?

Student: No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student: No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student: Yes.

Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student: You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light….But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as
the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?…..No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. )

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir.. The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Taken from: forpeopleofunderstanding.blogspot.com

[I extracted this from theclearsunnah.wordpress.com]

Interacting With Non-Muslims in Western Countries

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen / Tele-link (28th July 2000, CE, Birmingham UK)

The Noble Shaykh stated, during a tele-link, on the 28th July 2000 CE:

...Likewise I invite you to have respect for those people who have the right that they should be respected, from those between you and whom there is an agreement (of protection) [ i.e. Non-Muslims]. For the land which you are living is such that there is an agreement between you and them. If this were not the case they would have killed you or expelled you. So preserve this agreement, and do not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the hypocrites, and it is not from the way of the Believers.

And know that it is authentically reported from the Prophet sal'lallaahu alaihi wa sallam that he said: "Whoever kills one who is under an agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of Paradise."

Do not be fooled by those sayings of the foolish people; those who say : 'Those people are Non-Muslims, so their wealth is lawful for us [ i.e. to misappropriate or take by way of murder and killing].' For by Allaah - this is a lie. A lie about Allaah's Religion, and a lie in Islamic societies.

So we may not say that it is lawful to be treacherous towards people whom we have an agreement with.

O my brothers. O youth. O Muslims. Be truthful in your buying and selling, and renting, and leasing, and in all mutual transactions. Because truthfulness is from the characteristics of the Believers, and Allaah - the Most High - has commanded truthfulness - in the saying of Allaah - the Most High -

"O you who believe - fear and keep you duty to Allaah and be with the truthful"

And the Prophet sal'lallaahu alaihi wa sallam encouraged truthfulness and said : "Adhere to truthfulness, because truthfulness leads to goodness, and goodness leads to Paradise; and a person will continue to be truthful, and strive to be truthful until he will be written down with Allaah as a truthful person ".

And he warned against falsehood, and said : " Beware of falsehood, because falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. And a person will continue lying, and striving to lie until he is written down with Allaah as a great liar."

O my brother Muslims. O youth. Be true in your sayings with your brothers, and with those Non-Muslims whom you live along with - so that you will be inviters to the Religion of Islaam, by your actions and in reality. So how many people there are who first entered into Islaam because of the behaviour and manners of the Muslims, and their truthfulness, and their being true in their dealings.

A Look At Anasheeds

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I begin to write:

In pre-Islamic and early Islamic history, anasheeds involved wholesome poems (about battle victories, wisdoms, courage, etc) chanted in an un-orchestrated fashion without the accompaniment of musical instruments, except for the duff (similar to tambourine but without bells or cymbals) which was legally permitted for women on special occasions. During the 2nd century after Hijrah, chanting of du'aa, remembrances, crept into the ummah by the innovations of the mystic Sufis who, in turn, took it from the Christians. It was then called at-Taghbeer. All of these forms were denounced by the early scholars of Islam, including Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, Ibn Taymmeyah, Ibnul Qayyim, Ibn Katheer, Ibn Rajab, and many others.[1] The Sufis centered most of their methodology of worship on congregational Taraaneem (singing by way of trilling, or quavering and prolonging the voice with a musical sound), resembling the Christians in their churches. Then the Sufis began to introduce physical movements during remembrances and du’aa close to those practiced by the Jews. Rarely do you witness a Sufi "Hadrah[2]" without these innovated practices.

Nowadays, the matter is not limited to the Sufi adepts. Many Muslim parties (groups) have innovated special bands for the emotional arousing of their followers and for the "ummah" at large! Much of what is being practiced with these anasheed does not escape, at least, one of the following observations:

1. Involving more and more people, especially children, keeping them busy with what could be, least to say, of a lesser benefit.

2. Anasheed are accompanied with musical toning and chanting (Eastern and Western beats) in the name of "culture" and "tradition." This is becoming more and more apparent, with bands competing in their selection of words and beats.

3. Remembrances of Allah are introduced in these anasheed in ways clearly resembling the intoning and chanting of the Christians in their churches.

4. The congregational chanting and singing that takes place resembles to a great extent that which goes on in the circles of the mystic Sufis in their singing circles. Former "stars" are being more involved with the mystic Sufi ways through so-called "Islamic anasheed." Some bands sing the infamous Shirk poem known as "Burdah," which involves shirk levels of exaggeration in the status of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

5. Luring the children to sing, especially the young girls, imitating the base of the infamous Muslim and Non-Muslim singers.

6. Replacing the Qur‘aan with the so-called anasheed in the Da’wah to the young, claiming that they don’t respond to the Qur‘anic texts, therefore, legitimizing their use. The same is done with the Sunnah, eventually turning people away from what constitutes the true life for the believers.

7. In many of these singing circles, musical instruments and intoning are gradually taking hold, something known to be forbidden in Islam, except for the duff for women.

8. The emergence of so-called professional singing groups performing at weddings, parties, schools and the like.

9. Development of so called more advanced ways of video singing as a modern way of contemplating and reflecting on the creation of Allah.

10. Allowing taking pictures of young girls during different presentations of songs in itself is a fitnah (affliction and trial) and an opposition to the Sharee’ah. Some make movies and records of these young girls singing on special occasions.

11. Many things that are untrue are presented in these songs through acting, or through exaggeration in praise.

12. If you examine many of these songs, you will find a lot of them focusing on the Tawheed of Lordship only, something even the Mushriks confess to (i.e. matters pertaining to the signs of Allah in the creation, His running of the affairs, Him being in full authority and the like).

13. Transgression against the Sharee’ah in the form of acting roles. You see a child taking the role of Salah, saying, "I am the Salah, and these are my merits!" Another takes the role of Fasting and so on. Worst of all those who claim to represent the Qur’aan. Yet we know that the Qur‘aan is the uncreated Speech of Allah.

14. Assuming in some cases the movements and walks of some of the losers from the known male and female singers. Imagine when this is done while chanting the remembrances of Allah!

15. Calling these anasheed Islamic itself is a transgression, especially when they call it an "art" and a means of education and nourishment for the Da'wah! "This is an innovation in Deen, and this from the deen of the innovators of the Sufis."[3] The companions chanted poetry of wisdom, courage, generosity and of maroo'ah (describing good character), and not in congregations. They chanted poetry sometimes while working or during night travel. None of them claimed this "Islamic." Rather, everything takes its own particular ruling, whether it is innovated, allowable, recommended, obligated, disliked or forbidden. Therefore, that which may be allowable of it we don’t call "Islamic" because if it is called so, people would think it to be from the Deen. And to label any matter as Islamic, requires textual proofs.[4] In fact, Sh. Al-Albani (rahimahullaah) referred to them as "Sufi singing", and a similar conclusion was reached by Sh. 'Abdul 'Aziz Aal Ash-Shaikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, as well as by Sh. Bakr Abu Zayeed and Sh. 'Abdul 'Aziz Ar-Raajhi and other scholars (may Allah preserve them all).[5]


The following question was raised to our Skaykh Muhammed Ibn Saaleh al-‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah):

“What is the ruling concerning the anasheeds? Is it permissible for the Caller to Allah to listen to "Islamic anasheed"?”

The Shaykh responded, “In the past, I listened in the past to these Islamic anasheed and there was nothing therein which shuns away. After listening to them recently, I found them to be rhythmic with delectation and entertaining, like the songs accompanied with musical instruments. Accordingly, I don’t see that it is permissible for people to listen to them. However, if they come natural without musical accompaniment and without delectation or entertainment, then there is no harm in listening to them. Still, however, it is conditional that:

(i) the person does not make this a habit listening to them all the time, and
(ii) make not that which benefits and admonishes the heart restricted to them.

Because if he makes of this a habit, he will abandon that which is more important. Moreover, in doing so he will relinquish the greatest admonition and it is that which came in the Book of Allah and in the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger. But if he listens to them sometimes, or if takes them as a means of help on his journey while driving his care in the wilderness, then there is no harm in that."[6]

Then he was asked, “Is it permissible for the man to chant the Islamic anasheed and is it permissible that the duff, which is the tambourine without any of these bells attached to it, is it permissible to use the duff with the chanting and is the chanting or the anasheed permissible in other than the Eed and other than the festivals?”

The answer: “Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem, In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful”, then he returned the greeting to the person who asked the Question, and said:

“The Islamic anasheed is an innovated chanting innovated by the Sufis. Therefore, one should turn away from it and resort to the admonitions from the Qur‘aan and Sunnah, unless it is used in the battlefields to help as a motivation for Jihaad in the cause of Allah, the Most High, then this is good, however, if it accompanied with the duff, then it would be far away from the truth.”[7]

Moreover, on several occasions, he (rahimahullaah) directed the people to give the best of attention to the Qur'aan and Sunnah, since they are the greatest admonitions.

A special warning concerning the infamous Burdah poem of Al-Busiri: It is plain shirk because it exaggerates the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) giving him attributes of divinity, as if he knows the unseen and what is written in the preserved tablet. So much of this, unfortunately, is spread throughout the Muslim world and particularly in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia. Think about it. Moreover, they have musical groups in these countries only specialized to sing these poems, especially the "Burdah". In some recent forms, it is "recited by Khalid Belrhouzi featuring Yusuf Islam (yes!) This is an ad on the net carrying the title:

Burdah (audio tape) Khalid Belrhouzi and Yusuf Islam (Arabic + English)[8]

It is stated in this poem, among other things, that ‘And of your knowledge is the knowledge of the pen and the preserved tablet’! The "pen” refers to the pen which Allah [subhaanahu wa ta'aala] commanded it saying: "Write! It said, 'What should I write, my Rabb (Lord)? Allah said: Write the record of all preordained matter until the commencement of the Hour."[9] According to this poet, the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) knows what the pen already wrote and what is written in the preserved tablet. We seek refuge in Allah from these fabrications.

I ask Allah [subhaanahu wa ta'aala] to guide us all to the truth and to make us accept and yield to it.

The slave of Allah,
Saleh As-Saleh.

Concluded on the 14th of Thul Hijjah 1425,
Corresponding to January 24, 2005.
Acknowledgment: May Allah reward sis Umm Maahir al-Amreekiyyah for voluntarily transcribing this material which was originally a response to a question about anasheed in the room "Understanding Islam."

____________________
Footnotes:
[1] See Al-Qawlul Mufeed fee Hukmil-anasheed (including the fatwa of the reliable contemporary scholars of Islam). Authored by 'Isaam Ibn 'Abdul Mun'im al-Mir-ree (1423/2002), Maktabatu al-Furqaan, Ujmaan, UAE.

[2] Hadrah: Presence. Used by the Sufis in its general meaning, “Being in the presence of Allah.” In the school of mystic Ibn ‘Arabi, however, there are “Five Divine Presences,” a metaphysical doctrine of the degrees of reality of which there are different versions. This concept is influenced by the Neo-Platonist chain of “Stages or Orders of Being.” [See Mu’jam Al-Mustalahaat As-Sufiyyah by Al-Hafnee, p. 237 and Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam, p. 125, edited by H.A.R. Gibb and J.H. Kramers, 4th impression, 1995. Published by E.J. Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands.] The Mureed is informed that the Hadrah is the start, then the Mukaashafah (Mystic spiritual revelation regarding the Truth [Allah] and the Ghayb (unseen). Through this stage, things will be manifested as if he sees them by his eyes). The next state is the Mushaahadah (Witnessing of the Truth). Sufi singing, clapping, and swaying accompanied by drum beats is part of the "ritual"! Some of the mystics also claim the actual attendance of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in their circles!

[3] See Fatwa of Sh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan, may Allah Preserve him, in al-Khutab al-Manbariyyah 3: 184-185.

[4] See Sh. Al-Fawzaan, Ibid, p. 56.

[5] Ibid. pages, 32, 49, 62-68.

[6] See As-Sahwah Al-Islamiyyah Dhawaabit wa Tawjeehaat, a collection of fatwa and statements by our Sh. Ibn 'Uthaimeen compiled by Abu Anas, 'Ali Ibn Hasan Abu Lawz (1414/1993), p. 123, no. 40.

[7] Fatwa al-'Aqeedah, no. 369m p. 651, Maktabatu As-Sunnah,

[8]Source: http://onlineislamicstore.com/a3683.html. This is for verification only, and not an endorsement of the site. Rather, I caution not to posses this poem, due to the warnings cited above. May Allah guide them both to the truth and save all Muslims from all forms of mysticism and innovations. Aameen.

[9] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, V.4, P.9, Hadeeth 13.

Laylat al-Nufs min Sha'baan (the middle of Sha'baan) should not be singled out for worship

Question:
I read in a book that fasting on the middle of Sha’baan is a kind of bid’ah, but in another book I read that one of the days on which it is mustahabb to fast is the middle of Sha’baan… what is the definitive ruling on this?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no saheeh marfoo’ report that speaks of the virtue of the middle of Sha’baan that may be followed, not even in the chapters on al-Fadaa’il (chapters on virtues in books of hadeeth etc.). Some maqtoo’ reports (reports whose isnaads do not go back further than the Taabi’een) have been narrated from some of the Taabi’een, and there are some ahaadeeth, the best of which are mawdoo’ (fabricated) or da’eef jiddan (very weak). These reports became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed by ignorance; these reports suggest that people’s lifespans are written on that day or that it is decided on that day who is to die in the coming year. On this basis, it is not prescribed to spend this night in prayer or to fast on this day, or to single it out for certain acts of worship. One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant people who do these things. And Allaah knows best.

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen.

If a person wants to pray qiyaam on this night as he does on other nights – without doing anything extra or singling this night out for anything – then that is OK. The same applies if he fasts the day of the fifteenth of Sha’baan because it happens to be one of the ayyaam al-beed, along with the fourteenth and thirteenth of the month, or because it happens to be a Monday or Thursday. If the fifteenth (of Sha’baan) coincides with a Monday or Thursday, there is nothing wrong with that (fasting on that day), so long as he is not seeking extra reward that has not been proven (in the saheeh texts). And Allaah knows best.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=8907&ln=eng

Relying on Allaah and Abiding by the Means

AUTHOR:	Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
SOURCE:	Haqeeqat-ut-Tawakkul (pg. 15-25)
PRODUCED BY:	Al-Ibaanah.com

Furthermore, relying upon Allaah does not mean that you abandon the means and entrust all of your affairs to Allaah. So (for example) you should not abandon seeking (your daily) sustenance, saying: “If Allaah wanted us to have sustenance, it would come to us even if we are sitting.” We should also not abandon seeking knowledge, saying: “If Allaah wanted us to have knowledge, it would come to us even if we are sitting in our homes.” This also applies to abandoning all of the other necessary things that we must have, saying: “If Allaah had decreed it for us, it would come to us without us embarking on the means for it.” This is extremely wrong.

So there must be a combination of the two:

(1) Putting one’s trust in Allaah and

(2) Abiding by the necessary means.

So a person must embark on the means when seeking after sustenance, whilst at the same time putting his trust in Allaah to achieve his objective.

A person plants crops while putting his trust in Allaah that his crops will grow and produce fruit. At the same time, he protects his crops from threats. In order for you to reap the benefits of the crops and for them to be useful to you, you must plant the crops, sow the seeds, water them and care for them. At the same time, you should put your trust in Allaah that He will protect them, make them grow, allow them produce fruit, enable you to reap their benefits and use them.

Similar to this is when a person forsakes marriage, saying: “This is part of putting one’s trust in Allaah since if Allaah intended children for me, they would come to me without me getting married.”

We say: This is wrong. No one with any common sense, let alone a believer, says such a thing. Allaah has placed means for all things. Marriage is a means for procreating and producing offspring. Allaah has ordered us to abide by the means, so you must implement the means. Marriage is a means and it comes from your actions. You are the one who does it and who seeks after it. As for the actual achievement of children, that comes from Allaah. And that is the fruit of marriage. So the result is in the Hand of Allaah, but as for the means, it comes from you.

So there must be a combination of the two: (1) Embarking on the means while (2) Relying on Allaah. As for one who relies solely on the means without putting his trust in Allaah or who relies solely on putting his trust in Allaah without implementing the means, both of them are wrong and in error.

This is why the scholars, may Allaah have mercy on them, said: “Relying solely upon the means is shirk (polytheism), while abandoning the means is a defamation of the Religion.” This is since the Religion commands us to abide by the means. So denying and abandoning the means is a defamation of the Religion and a failure to enact what Allaah has ordered.

Allaah says: “So seek provision from Allaah and worship Him (alone).” [Al-‘Ankaboot: 17]

His statement: “So seek provision from Allaah and worship Him (alone)” means: “Look for sustenance and do not sit around in the masaajid claiming that you are putting your trust in Allaah. Do not sit in your homes and claim that your daily sustenance will come to you.” This is wrong and a true believer doesn’t say such things.

When ‘Umar (radyAllaahu 'anhu) once saw a group of people that claimed they were putting their trust in Allaah while at the same time they were abandoning the means, he said to them: “Who are you people?” They replied: “We are the Mutawakkiloon (those who put their trust in Allaah).” So he said: “No, rather you are Muta’akkiloon (those who look to be fed)” – meaning: You want to be dependent upon the people.

Allaah says: “So when the (Friday) prayer is completed, spread throughout the land and seek after Allaah’s Bounty.” [Surah Al-Jumu’ah: 10]

This means: Buy and sell and seek your sustenance by implementing the practical means. Allaah orders them (in this ayah) to perform worship and to pray at the proper time and designated location, which is the masjid. Then He orders them to seek sustenance in its designated location, which is outside of the masjid: “So when the (Friday) prayer is completed, spread throughout the land.”

This is since remembering Allaah is a means for obtaining sustenance as well. In fact, it is the greatest means for attaining sustenance and facilitating matters. Allaah says: “And whoever is dutiful to Allaah, He makes a way out for him (from every difficulty). And He will provide for him from places he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allaah, He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allaah has set a measure for all things.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 2-3]

‘Umar (radyAllaahu 'anhu) went on to say: “You know for sure that the sky does not send down silver and gold.” He reprimanded this group that had sat down to worship and become dependent upon others. He presented them with this gem of advice, saying to them: “You know for sure that the sky does not send down silver and gold.”

Gold and silver can only be achieved through hard effort, seeking after sustenance and implementing the means. As for the one who claims that he is putting his trust in Allaah but yet denies the means, it should be said to him that he is debilitated – meaning that he is lazy. This comes from the word debility, which refers here to laziness and inactivity. The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would seek refuge in Allaah from debility and laziness. [1]

A person may have no recourse in being debilitated due to the lack of the functionality of one of his body parts or one of his senses. Such a person is excused. He is debilitated and deserves assistance. As for debility that comes about due to laziness, inactivity and failing to abide by the means, whilst one believes that he is relying upon Allaah, such debility is condemnable. The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) sought refuge from this as well as from cowardice, miserliness, overwhelming debt and the subjugation of people.

Some people would go on the pilgrimage (Hajj) with Muslims and not bring any provisions or supplies with them. They would do this claiming that they were putting their trust in Allaah and that they would be provided for without them having to bring provisions along with them. So Allaah said: “And take provision with you for the journey, but indeed the best provision is Taqwaa (righteousness)” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 197], ordering them to take provisions.

Provisions are of two types: The Provision of this world and the provision of the Hereafter.

The provision of the worldly life comes in the form of food, drink, clothes, and all of the other things that a person needs when he travels.

As for the provision for the journey in the Hereafter, then it is Taqwaa. Allaah says: “But indeed the best provision is Taqwaa.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 197]

So take provisions for your worldly life and take provisions for your Hereafter. Take provisions for your worldly life with food, drink and the necessary supplies for traveling so that you will not need to depend on others. And take provisions for your Hereafter with Taqwaa, which can be defined as implementing Allaah’s commandments while abandoning His prohibitions.

So what is meant by Taqwaa is taking a wiqaayah, or a defense that protects you from Allaah’s punishment and anger, and protects you from the Fire. Such a defense can only be achieved by performing righteous actions. And with the Taqwaa of Allaah you will be able to save yourself from the Hellfire, as Allaah says: “Then We shall save those who used to fear Allaah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the wrongdoers therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell).” [Surah Maryam: 72]

So therefore, nothing grants salvation except for righteous deeds. Faith in Allaah and righteous deeds are the provisions of the Hereafter, and they are a protection from His anger, His fire and His punishment. The servant is commanded to seek after the requirements of his religious and worldly affairs. He is obligated to seek after the requirements of his affairs of this life and the next. He is obligated to put his trust in Allaah and to implement the means. So there must be a combination of this and that.

No one should understand the meaning of relying upon Allaah to be: Abandoning the require means. This is wrong. Nor should anyone understand that implementing the means suffices over putting one’s trust in Allaah. Rather, both – (1) relying upon Allaah and (2) implementing the required means – must be present.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “If you were to put your trust in Allaah as He deserves, He would surely provide for you just as He provides for the birds: They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return at the end of the day full.” [Reported by Ahmad and At-Tirmidhee, who declared it sound] [2]

His (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement: “If you were to put your trust in Allaah” means: If you were to rely on Him, cling your hopes to Him, and trust in His promise, “He would surely provide for you just as He provides for the birds: They set out in the morning with empty stomachs.” The birds go out at the beginning of the day seeking sustenance. They set out from their nests with their stomachs empty, i.e. hungry, and return at the end of the day full, i.e. with their stomachs filled with sustenance.

Notice how a bird does not sit back and remain in its nest. Rather, it seeks after the means by leaving its nest and going to the places where it can find its daily sustenance.

So the birds – due to their natures which Allaah created them upon – are aware that they must abide by the means, and as a result they go out to seek sustenance. As a result, Allaah provides for these birds and they return home with stomachs full of Allaah’s sustenance.

Therefore, O son of Aadam, if you were to act in the same way as these birds do, Allaah would provide for you just as He provides for them. On the other hand, if a person fails to do this, he will encounter discrepancies and deficiencies. So if he relies upon only the means, Allaah will entrust him to that as is stated in a hadeeth: “Whoever is dependent upon something will be entrusted to it.” [3]

It may also be that a person relies on the means but yet these means are unproductive and produce no benefit. On the other hand, if he disregards the means, yet puts his trust in Allaah, or so he thinks, he has made a mistake and not acted in accordance with what Allaah has commanded. This is since Allaah has ordered us to implement the means. He says: “And prepare against them all you can of power including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allaah and your enemy.” [Surah Al-Anfaal: 60]

Allaah has the ability to aid the Muslims and destroy the disbelievers, as He says: “Thus (you are commanded). But if it had been Allaah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you).” [Surah Muhammad: 4]

Footnotes:

[1] Refer to the Saheeh of Imaam Al-Bukhaaree 7/158) from the narration of Anas bin Maalik.

[2] Reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad (1/30), At-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (7/92), Ibn Maajah in his Sunan (2/1394), and Al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (4/318), all of them from the narration of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab

[3] Reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad (4/310), At-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (6/262), Ibn Maajah in his Sunan (2/1394), and Al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (4/216), all of them from the narration of ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Ukaim

Published on: August 10, 2007

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• "Pembuktian Kesesatan Da'wah Ikhwanul Muslimin"

Both lectures are in Malay. Those who would like to view it on Youtube can simple search for "ibnshamsuddeen".

Multiply users, hope to see you in Multiply.

Wa as-Salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah.

The Fruits of Putting One's Trust in Allaah

The Fruits of Putting one’s Trust in Allaah

AUTHOR:	Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
SOURCE:	Haqeeqat-ut-Tawakkul (pg. 35-42)
PRODUCED BY:	Al-Ibaanah.com

As for the fruits of putting one’s trust in Allaah (i.e. tawakkul), then they are many. The greatest of them is that Allaah will suffice him in whatever he seeks after. “And whoever puts his trust in Allaah, He will suffice him.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 3]

So whoever relegates his affairs to Allaah, relies on Him alone, and believes that no one can give him good or repel harm from him except Allaah, “He will suffice him.”

This means that Allaah will protect him from all harms since the recompense is based on the action a person does. So when someone puts his trust in Allaah in the correct manner, He rewards him by sufficing him and taking charge of his affairs. Allaah Himself takes charge of this individual’s affairs and does not relegate it to anyone else. This is the greatest fruit of tawakkul (reliance upon Allaah).

Allaah says: “O Prophet, Allaah is sufficient for you.” [Surah Al-Anfaal: 64]

And He says: “And if they intend to deceive you, then verily Allaah is sufficient for you. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers.” [Surah Al-Anfaal: 62]

So in summary: The greatest fruit of putting one’s trust in Allaah is that Allaah will suffice and take care of whoever relies in Him. This is why Allaah informs us of His Prophet Nooh when he told his people: “If my staying with you and my reminding you of the verses of Allaah are hard on you, then I put my trust in Allaah. So devise your plot – you and your partners – and let not your plot be in doubt for you. Then pass your sentence on me and give me no respite.” [Surah Yoonus: 71]

And He quotes His Prophet Hood as saying: “I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship apart from Him. So plot against me – all of you – and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allaah, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a creature that moves (i.e. lives) except that He has a grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on a Straight Path.” [Surah Hood: 54-56]

He quotes His Prophet Shu’aib as saying: “And my guidance is only due to Allaah. In Him I trust and to Him I repent.” [Surah Hood: 88]

And He said to His Prophet Muhammad: “Call your associates and then plot against me and give me no respite. Verily, my Protector is Allaah who has revealed the Book. He is the One who protects the righteous. And those whom you call upon besides Him cannot help you nor can they help themselves.” [Surah Al-A’raaf: 195-197]

Allaah informs us through the statements of these noble messengers that they challenged their people and their false deities to bring harm to them in some way. They did this because they had complete reliance on Allaah. And whoever puts his trust in Allaah, He will be sufficient for him.

Another fruit of relying upon Allaah is that it brings about loves from Allaah, as He says: “Verily, Allaah loves those who put their trust in Him.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 159]

So if someone truthfully puts his trust in Allaah, Allaah will love him. And if Allaah loves this person, he will find success and happiness in this life and the next since he will be from among Allaah’s friends and allies.

Also from the fruits of putting one’s trust in Allaah is that a person will proceed in doing beneficial things and not fear or dread anyone except Allaah. So for example, those who are engaged in Jihaad by way of fighting battles against disbelievers – they only do so because they put their trust in Allaah. So in turn, this reliance on Allaah instills courage and strength into them and as a result, all of the hardships and difficulties that face them become lessened. And they take delight in dying in the Way of Allaah and attaining martyrdom in His Cause. All of this is due to their reliance and trust in Allaah.

Another fruit of putting one’s trust in Allaah is that it encourages one to go out and seek sustenance or to acquire knowledge or to do any of the other beneficial things. The one who puts his trust in Allaah perseveres and puts his heart into seeking after the useful and necessary means of life because he knows that Allaah is with those who rely on Him and that He will aid them. So he perseveres in seeking after all of the beneficial things of this life and the Hereafter and he is not from those who are lazy and weak.

It is for this reason that the Companions were the bravest of people. They genuinely put their trust and reliance in Allaah to the point that they were able to conquer lands in the east and the west. They conquered lands through victory in battle and conquered hearts through calling them to Allaah. All of this was because they put their trust in Allaah and because they relied on Him. Allaah says: “O you who believe, whoever amongst you apostates from his religion, Allaah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him, humble towards the believers and stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Cause of Allaah and never fearing the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows upon whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 54]

So they didn’t fear for the sake of Allaah the blame of the blamers since they relied on Him to the utmost degree and entrusted their affairs in Him absolutely. They did not turn to anyone else regardless if the people were content or discontent with it, so long as they continued to do what was pleasing to Allaah. It is stated in the hadeeth: “Whoever seeks to please Allaah by (doing something that is) displeasing (to) the people, Allaah becomes pleased with him and makes the people pleased with him. And whoever seeks to please the people by (doing something that is) displeasing (to) Allaah, Allaah becomes displeased with him and makes the people displeased with him.” [1]

So relying upon Allaah, putting one’s trust in Him, and entrusting one’s affairs to Him is the foundation of Tawheed. It is the foundation of actions. And it is the foundation of goodness. This is why Allaah made it a condition of Faith, where He says: “So in Allaah put your trust if you are truly believers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 23]

There still remains one issue related to this topic, which we would like to discuss, and it is the issue of tawkeel, or delegating authority to someone else. If you entrust someone to obtain something for you, such as buying a product for you or renting something for you or litigating on your behalf, does this mean that you have put your trust in someone other than Allaah? No, this does not mean that. Choosing someone to represent you and act on your behalf is not tawakkul.

Tawakkul means complete reliance and relegation of one’s affairs, which cannot be done except on Allaah.

As for tawkeel, it is when you appoint someone else to obtain something permissible that you are looking for, which he has the ability to obtain. This is one of the allowable means. So hire a representative from the perspective of implementing the means and put your trust in Allaah when obtaining your objective from the perspective of worship. But do not put your trust (tawakkul) in this representative. Instead put your trust in Allaah.

So therefore, commissioning someone else to handle some of your affairs does not violate your creed nor does it mean that you are putting your trust in someone other than Allaah. It is merely working hand in hand with someone towards achieving an objective. Allaah says: “Assist one another in (matters of) piety and righteousness and do not assist one another in sin and transgression.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 2]

So a wakeel (representative) is only there to assist an individual by taking his place and serving as a means to get what he wants. In the same way that him doing something on his own constitutes a means, then likewise, his commissioning a representative to handle his affairs is also a means. And it does not fall under the realm of putting one’s trust in other than Allaah.

In conclusion, I ask Allaah to make us and you from those who put their trust in Allaah in truth – those who implement the required means and rely upon their Lord, those who do not rely on anyone else nor entrust their affairs to anyone else. May Allaah send the peace and praises on our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his Companions.

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (1/435) and At-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (7/133) in a similar narration, both on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah; Others reported it as well.

Published on: August 5, 2007

http://www.al-ibaanah.com/articles.php?ArtID=169

The Attestation of Imaam Juwaynee for the Aqeedah of the Salaf

Deviated Sects

MULTIPLE PAGES

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The Ash`arees

The Attestation of Imaam Juwaynee for the Aqeedah of the Salaf

Source: Al-Ibanah Magazine

Article ID : AQD060006

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Imaam al-Juwaynee [1] (d. 438H) said: "Know, that for a brief period of time, I was confused about three matters:

[a] the issue of as-Sifaat (Allaah’s Attributes)
[b] the issue of al-Fawqiyyah (Allaah being above His creation)
[c] the issue of al-Harf (the Word) and as-Sawt (the Voice) about the Glorious Qur’aan.

I used to be confused about the different sayings - which are found in the contemporary books with respect to these matters - whether ta’weel (manipulative distortion) and tahreef should be made of the Attributes. Whether to take them as they are and halt at their meanings, or whether to affirm them without ta’weel, ta’teel, tashbeeh or tamtheel. But I found in the texts of the Book of Allaah - Most Hight - and the Sunnah of His Messenger , a great clarity about the reality of these Attributes, and likewise with respect to affirming al-uluww (the highness of Allaah) al-Fawqiyyah, al-Harf and as-Sawt.

Then I found in the books of the later Scholars - from the mutakallimoon (the People of theological rhetoric and innovated speech) their making of ta’weel (of Allaah’s Attribute) of al-Istiwaa (Allaah ascending above the creation) by saying that it meant qahr (His dominance) and isteelaa (His conquering); ta’weel of (Allaah’s Attribute) of an-Nuzool by saying that it meant His command descends; ta’weel of (the Attribute of) al-Yadain (the Hands of Allaah) to mean His Power or His Favour; and ta’weel of al-Qadam (the Foot of Allaah) to mean the fine reward with their Lord; and the likes of this. Along with this, I found that they claimed that the Speech of Allaah - the Most High - meant a speech existent in His Self (qaa’im bidh-dhaat) with word, but not with Voice. They claimed that these words are a mode of expression from the meaning existing with Himself!

From those who held to these sayings were a group of people, who had high status in my heart, such as a group of Ash’aree Shaafi’ee Scholars - and I am upon the madhhab of ash-Shaafi’ee - may Allaah be pleased with him - knowing the obligation of my Religion and its rulings. So I found the likes of these great Shaikhs adhering to the likes of such statements - and they were my teachers - and I had complete faith in them, their nobility and their knowledge. However, despite all this, I found my heart having a hatred for such ta’weel such that I could not find any tranquility and peace with it. It caused my chest to feel constricted, rather than causing it to expand…

And I used to fear affirming the Attributes of al-uluww, al-Istiwaa and an-Nuzool, fearing that it would imply hasr (limiting and encompassing Allaah by His creation) and tashbeeh (resembling Allaah to His creation i.e. anthropomorphism). However, despite this, when I studied the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger , I fond in them texts pointing to the reality of these meanings. I found that the Messenger clarified that which came from his Lord, as well as describing Him with them. And know - without any doubt at all - that he used to have present in his noble gatherings the Scholar and the ignorant person, the one with sharp intelligence and the not so sharply intelligent, the Arab and the non-Arab. However, I did not find anything by which he followed up such texts with which he used to describe his Lord - neither with another text, nor with anything that would cause the meanings to removed from their haqeeqah (real meaning) or cause ta’weel to be made of them; such as the ta’weel of my Shaikhs and Scholars from the mutakallimeen (the People of theological rhetoric and innovated speech) - such as their ta’weel of al-Istiwaa to isteelaa, and their ta’weel of an-Nuzool (Allaah’s descending) to mean that His Command descends; and other such things. And I did not find that he used to warn the people from having faith in what was apparent in his speech describing His Lord, whether it was concerning al-Fawqiyyah (Allaah being above His creation), or al-Yadain (the Hands of Allaah), or other than them. And there is nothing recorded from him which proves that these Attributes have another inner meaning, other than what is apparent from their meaning…"

Then Imaam al-Juwaynee - may Allaah have mercy upon him - mentions some aayaat and ahaadeeth concerning al-Fawqiyyah and al-Istiwaa, then he continues:

"So when we came to know this, and came to hold this as our aqeedah (belief), we were then preserved from the doubts of ta’weel, the blindness of ta’teel (divesting Allaah totally or partially of His Attributes) and the foolishness of tashbeeh and tamtheel (likening Allaah to His creation). We then affirmed for Allaah the Uluww (highness) of our Lord - the Most Perfect - and His Fawqiyyah and that He ascended (istawaa) over His Arsh (Throne) in a manner that befits His Majesty and Greatness. So the truth is very clear in this and the chest will readily accept this, for indeed tahreef (distortion of the text) is rejected by the correct and sound intellect, such as tahreef of Istiwaa to Isteelaa (conquering) and other than this. Likewise wuqoof (affirming the wording of the Attributes, but halting at their meanings) is also blindness and ignorance, since we know that our Lord described Himself with these Attributes that we may come to know Him by them. So - in our knowing Him - we do not halt at affirming the wordings of the Attributes, whilst negating what is intended from their meanings. Since He did not describe Himself to us by these Attributes, except that we may affirm what He has described Himself with, not that we halt at them. Likewise tashbeeh and tamtheel are also foolishness and ignorance. . Thus, the one whom Allaah - Most High - causes to agree upon the affirmation (of His Attributes) - without tahreef, takyeef and wuqoof - then he has indeed agreed upon what is intended for them, if He - the Most High - wishes."

Then he - may Allaah have mercy upon him - explains the reason why Ahl ul-Kalaam (the People of Theological Rhetoric and Innovated Speech) felt that they were forced to make ta’weel of Istiwaa to Isteelaa, so he said:

"And Allaah expanded my chest about the state of those Shaikhs who made ta’weel of al-Istiwaa to isteelaa … and it is my belief that they do not understand the Attributes of the Lord - the Most High - except with what befits the creation. Thus they do not understand al-Istiwaa of Allaah as it truly befits Him … so this is why they distort the words from its proper context and deny what Allaah has described Himself with. And we shall mention the explanation of that if Allaah wills.

And there is no doubt that us and them (i.e. Ash’ariyyah) agree upon affirming the Attributes of al-Hayaat (Life), as-Sam’a (Hearing), al-Basr (Seeing), al-Ilm (Knowledge), al-Qudrah (Power), al-Iraadah (Will) and al-Kalaam (Speech) of Allaah. And we certainly do not understand the Attribute of Life of Allaah to mean with the likes of such organs that are established in our bodies. Likewise, we do not understand the Hearing and the Seeing of Allaah to imply that there are limbs. So, just as they say: His Life is not like ours, nor is His Knowledge and Seeing, rather they are Attributes in a way that is befitting to Him, not befitting us. Then we - likewise - say: His Attribute of Life is known but its kaifiyyah (the nature of how it is) is unknown. His Knowledge is known but its kaifiyyah is not. Likewise, His Seeing and Hearing are known and there is no implication of there being organs and bodily-parts in any of this - rather all these Attributes are in a way that befit Him.

Likewise is the case for His ‘Ayn (Eye), Fawqiyyah, Istiwaa and Nuzool. His Fawqiyyah is known - it is established just like the reality of His Hearing and the reality of His Seeing are also established. They are known but their kaifiyyah is not. Then, similarly, His Fawqiyyah is known and established in a way that befits Him, but the kaifiyyah is not. Likewise, His Istiwaa (Ascending) over the Arsh (Throne) is known, but the kaifiyyah is not explained by implying movements or transmission which befit the creation - rather His Istiwaa is in a manner that befits His Greatness. Thus His Attributes are known from the direction of sentence and affirmation, but are unknown from the perspective of how they are and setting limits. So the Believer is clear about the Attributes from one perspective and blind from the other. The Believer is clear from the perspective of affirmation and existence [of the Attributes] but blind from the perspective of their kaifiyyah and limits. And this is the way by affirming what Allaah - the Most High - has described Himself with, and by negating tahreef, tashbeeh and wuqoof. This is what the Lord - Most High - intends for us concerning His Attributes… that we recognise them, have eemaan in them being haqeeqah (real) and negate any tashbeeh to them, nor to deny for Allaah His real Attributes by tahreef and ta’weel. Indeed, there is no difference between Allaah’s Attribute of al-Istiwaa and as-Sama’ and between His Attribute of an-Nuzool and al-Basr - since each occurs by a text.

So if they say to us about al-Istiwaa: You have made tashbeeh! Then we reply to them about as-Sam’: You have made tashbeeh and have described your Lord with organs! So if they say: No organs and bodily parts, rather it is in a manner that befits Him. Then we reply about al-Istiwaa and al-Fawqiyyah: There is no confinement nor limitation, rather it is in a manner that befits Him. So whatever is necessary concerning the Attributes of Life, Hearing, Seeing and Knowledge and not making any tashbeeh to them, then such is also necessitated regarding Allaah’s Attributes of Ascending, Descending, al-Yad (Hand), al-Wajh (Face), al-Qadm (Foot), ad-Dahak (Laughing) and Ta’ajjub (Amazament). So just as they do not imply for Him any organs we do not imply for Him any limbs nor anything that befits the creation. And it is not from justice and fairness that they understand the Attributes of Ascending, Descending, Face and Hand to imply resemblance to the creation, and therefore they think that they must resort to ta’weel and tahreef - (yet they do not do so for the other Attributes such as Life, Hearing and Seeing.)

So those possessing justice and fairness will understand what we have said, have aqeedah in it, accept our sincere advice and will take as the Deen of Allaah the affirmation of all His Attributes, negating from them any tashbeeh, ta’teel, ta’weel or wuqoof. This is what Allaah intended from us concerning this. Since all these Attributes (that they affirm), all the others (that they make ta’weel of) come from a single place - and that is the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. Thus, when we affirm one set of Attributes without ta’weel, but make ta’weel and tahreef for the others, then we are like those who believed in on part of the Book, but disbelieved in another part. And this is sufficient and clear - if Allaah - the Most High - wills." [2]

Notes

1. He is Abu Muhammad al-Juwaynee father of the famous Imaam ul-Haramayn Abu Ma’aalee al-Juwaynee. Abu Muhammad was a Shaafi’ee faqeeh and initially followed the Asha’riyy madhhab in aqeedah. However he retracted from this and returned to the madhhab of the Salaf - as is attested to by his book Risaalah Ithbaatul-Istiwaa wal-Fawqiyyah.

2. Taken from: Risaalah Ithbaatul-Istiwaa wal-Fawqiyyah (p.176-183), abridged - which is part of Majmoo’atur-Rasaa’il il-Muneeriyyah.

Taking pictures with video/digital camera..

102262

Taking pictures of student activities with a video camera and digital camera

Question:
What is the ruling on recording by video cameras and digital cameras in schools, in order to document the activity and submit it to the administration, as per their request?.

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

It is permissible to take pictures of student activities with the video camera and digital camera mentioned, for the purpose of documenting the activity so that the administrators may study it, so long as these images are not produced in any fixed format such as on paper.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

With regard to pictures made in the modern fashion, they fall into two categories:

The first category is those which have no tangible substance (and can only be seen by running them through a machine), as I was told is the case with pictures on video tapes. There is no ruling at all concerning these, and they do not come under the prohibition at all. Hence the scholars who forbid making pictures with cameras on paper (photographs) permitted this (video pictures), and said that there is nothing wrong with this. Then it was asked, is it permissible to film lectures which are given in the mosques? The (scholarly) view was that it is better not to do that, because it may disturb the worshippers and because they may film things that may not be appropriate, and so on.

The second category is fixed or still pictures on paper (photographs) …

But the matter needs further discussion if one wants to make these kind of permissible pictures. For they are subject to five rulings which depend on the intention. If the intention is something forbidden, then it is haraam. If he intends something waajib (obligatory), then it is waajib. Sometimes pictures may be essential, especially moving pictures. For example, if we see someone in the act of committing a crime against a person’s rights, such as an attempt to kill and so on, and we cannot prove it in any way but by taking pictures, then in this case taking pictures becomes waajib, especially in cases where pictures may decide the case. The means are subject to the rulings on the ends. If we make these pictures in order to prove the identity of a person for fear that someone else may be accused of the crime, this is also acceptable, indeed it is essential.

But if we take these pictures just to enjoy looking at them, this is undoubtedly haraam... And Allaah knows best.” (See Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/197-199)

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the ruling on videotaping celebrations, conferences and seminars?

He replied: If there is the hope that people may benefit from the videotaping of the party, seminar or Islamic meeting in which there is the call to Allaah, and it is believed that this is most likely to serve a good purpose and that this videotaping will be good and will benefit the people, then there is nothing wrong with that in sha Allaah. End quote from Fataawa Islamiyyah (4/367).

May Allaah help us all to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=102262&ln=eng