بـسـم الله
والحـمـد لله
والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد
All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, and the peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions and on those who adhere to his Sunnah and follow his guidance till the Day of Judgment. To proceed:
We will convey (to you) one of the many
rights of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم,
and from that which necessitates love for him صلى الله
عليه وسلم and the sign of
genuineness in the Shahaadah that Muhammad is indeed the Messenger of Allaah.
If this reality settles in the heart; its end result is seen in ones Belief,
obedience and reverence (for him صلى الله عليه وسلم) through honoring and giving precedence to his Hadeeth; which
in reality is honoring the One (Allaah) Who is the source of this statement.
Allaah تعالى says:
﴿لِّتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ﴾
{In order that
you (O mankind) may believe in Allaah and His Messenger, and that you assist
and honor him (صلى الله عليه وسلم)} [Surah al-Fath (48):
9]
A true believer approaches the Hadeeth and
whatever the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
has informed with kindness, honor, conformity, love and complete submission.
Every Muslim who strives to be pleased with
the Prophethood and Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله
عليه وسلم cannot
attain that except when he judges with what the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم came with, and be
pleased with it and believes that it is the most perfect and complete
(judgment). Similarly, it is not allowed for a Muslim to oppose the Ahaadeeth
of the Prophet due self explanations nor on interpretations based on personal
desires nor based on philosophical reasoning. Rather one has to honor the
Ahaadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
with the sense that it is the revelation from Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds,
the One who said about His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
﴿وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ * إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ﴾
{Nor does he speak of
(his own) desire * It is only an Inspiration that is inspired} [Surah
al-Najm (53): 3-4]
The level of the servants Imaan and his love for
the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
determines how much he honors him صلى الله عليه وسلم and his words.
Whenever we refer to the biographies of our
Salaf and the Righteous of this Ummah, we see breathtaking examples and radiant
pictures on how much they honored and revered the statements of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
This unique generation (i.e. the generation of the Companions) was the most disciplined
in respecting and honoring the statements of the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم.
They used to eagerly wait for the statements
of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم,
and they had a great and outstanding characteristic; i.e. the speed in which
they would respond to and comply with his صلى الله
عليه وسلم Ahaadeeth.
1. Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delivered a sermon the like of
which I had never heard before. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If you but knew what I know then you would have laughed little and
wept much.” On hearing that, the companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم covered their faces and the
sound of their weeping was heard. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4621) and Saheeh Muslim
(6268)]
These are the hearts of the Companions رضي الله عنهم,
which were filled with honor, obedience and response to the statements of the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم,
and with which they were affected and upon which they were raised. So their news
(and stories) became precedent and example for those coming after them.
2. The news reached Ibn `Umar رضي الله
عنهما from his beloved صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said: “What an excellent man `Abdullaah is if he only observes
the night prayer”, and these concise
words changed the whole life of Ibn `Umar. Since then onwards, Ibn `Umar was
keen and used to perform the night prayers much and he used not to sleep in the
night except very little.
The complete narration is as follows:
Narrated Ibn `Umar رضي الله
عنهما: If a man saw a dream
during the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم he
would narrate it to the Prophet. Once I wished to see a dream and narrate it to
the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. I was young, unmarried,
and used to sleep in the Mosque during the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. I dreamt that two angels took me and went away with me towards
the (Hell) Fire which looked like a well with the inside walls built up, and
had two side-walls like those of a well. There I saw some people in it whom I
knew. I started saying: “I seek Refuge with Allaah from the (Hell) Fire, I seek
Refuge with Allaah from the (Hell) Fire.” Then another angel met the other two
and said to me: “Do not be afraid.” I narrated my dream to Hafsah who, in her
turn, narrated it to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What an excellent man `Abdullaah is if he only observes
the night prayer.” (Saalem, the son of Ibn `Umar said: “`Abdullaah
Ibn `Umar used not to sleep at night but very little thereafter.”) [Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree (1121, 1122, 1156, 1157, 3738, 3739) and Saheeh Muslim (6057)]
3. Naafi`
reported from Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما
that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: “If we left this door for women (it would
have been better).” Naafi` said: Thenceforth Ibn `Umar did not enter
(from that door) until his death. [Sunan
Abu Dawood (462, 571) and graded as “Saheeh”
by Shaikh al-Albaanee]
4. And
this is `Abdullaah Ibn Rawaahah رضي الله عنه, one of those who was martyred in the battle of Mu’tah. While
he was walking towards the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Masjid, he heard the voice of the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم while he was on the
Minbar (pulpit) giving Khutbah to the people inside the Masjid saying: “Sit down”.
Ibn Rawaahah, when he heard the command from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
to sit down and he had still not entered the Masjid; he sat down immediately
while he was still outside the Masjid till the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم finished his
Khutbah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
was informed of what Ibn Rawaahah did, so he صلى الله
عليه وسلم said: “Allaah increase your keenness upon obedience to Allaah
and His Messenger.” [Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa’ (3/146) and this is
“Dha`eef” (Weak) due to the break in the Chain of Narration]
The more authentic narration is as follows:
Jaabir رضي الله
عنه said: When the Messenger
of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم
seated himself on the pulpit on a Friday he صلى الله
عليه وسلم said: “Sit down.” Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله
عنه heard that and sat down at
the door of Masjid, and when the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله
عليه وسلم saw him, he صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: “Come here, O `Abdullaah bin Mas`ood.”
[Sunan Abu Dawood (1091) and graded as “Saheeh”
by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Al-Haakim also reported from the Jaabir and Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما
(1048, 1056) and said: “It is Saheeh as per the
conditions of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim” and al-Dhahabee agreed with him]
As for the warnings from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
and his prohibitions: then this would have such a tremendous effect on their
hearts that they would obey him صلى الله عليه وسلم even in matters which many people today take it less seriously.
5. Abdullaah
bin `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما reported that Allaah's Messenger صلى الله
عليه وسلم saw a person wearing
a gold signet ring in his hand. He صلى الله عليه وسلم pulled it off and threw it away, saying: “One of you is wishing live coal from Hell and putting it
on his hand.” It was said to the person after Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم
had left: Take your signet ring (of gold) and derive benefit out of it. Whereupon
he said: No, by Allaah, I would never take it when Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم
has thrown it away. [Saheeh Muslim (5209)]
Imaam al-Nawawee commented on this Hadeeth:
“In this is a great example of obedience to the commands of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
and avoidance of what he صلى الله عليه وسلم
has prohibited and not letting it to be permitted with weak arguments; even
though the prohibition was for wearing it, but there was nothing preventing him
from selling it and utilizing its price.” [Sharh of Saheeh Muslim by al-Nawawee
– edited.]
6. Sa`eed
bin Jubair reported `Abdullaah bin Mughaffal رضي الله
عنه was
sitting beside a nephew of his, the nephew hurled a pebble and he (`Abdullaah) told
him not to do that, and he said: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله
عليه وسلم had
forbidden that. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “It cannot be used
for hunting and it cannot harm an enemy, but it may break a tooth or put an eye
out.” He (Sa`eed) said: His nephew hurled another pebble and he (`Abdullaah
bin Mughaffal) said: I tell you that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله
عليه وسلم forbade
that (and you go hurl another pebble)? I will never speak to you again. [Saheeh
Muslim (4808) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (17, 3226) and the wordings are his.]
7. Here
is `Imraan bin Hussain, he narrated in a gathering that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: “al-Hayaa’ (Modesty) is good altogether.”
One of those who was in the gathering said: Verily we find in certain books or
books of (wisdom) that it is God-inspired peace of mind or sobriety for the
sake of Allah and there is also a weakness in it - i.e. not everything in it is
good. `Imraan was so much enraged that his eyes became red and he said: I am
narrating to you the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله
عليه وسلم and you are mentioning
something from your books? [Saheeh Muslim (60) and Sunan Abu Dawood (4796) and
the wordings are his.]
This was the condition of the Companions in
regards to the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم and this is how they
would honor the command of their Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم and his Hadeeth and
his Sunnah. Then after them (the Companions) came the Taabi`een and those who
came after them (the Atbaa at-Taabi`een), and they also tried to maintain the
same standard of love, respect and reverence for it.
8. Here
is the scholar of Madeenah: Ibn Abu Dhi’b رحمه
الله who was narrating a
Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
when a person asked him: Do you follow this Hadeeth? So Ibn Abu Dhi’b hit him on his chest and scolded him saying: “I narrate
to you from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and you say: ‘do you follow this?!’
Yes, I follow it and it is Fardh (binding) upon me and upon everyone who hears it
(to follow the Prophet's teachings).Verily! Amongst all the people, Allaah تعالى chose Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and guided them through him and by
him. So upon the creation is to follow him, willingly or unwillingly. There is
no escape for a Muslim from that.” [Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa’
(6/563)]
9. And
in one of the gatherings of the Khaleefah Haroon al-Rasheed رحمه
الله, Abu Mu`aawiyah
al-Dhareer رحمهه الله
narrated the following Hadeeth: “Aadam and
Moosaa debated with each other…” till the end of the Hadeeth.* One of those present in the gathering said: How
is that possible knowing that between Aadam and Moosaa (is a long gap)? So the
Khaleefah al-Rasheed got angry and said: “He is narrating to you the Hadeeth of
the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم
and you oppose it by saying: ‘How?’” And he kept on rebuking that person till
those in the gathering calmed him down. [`Aqeedah al-Salaf wa As-haab
al-Hadeeth of al-Saaboonee (1/40)]
*The
complete Hadeeth:
Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله
عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: “Aadam and Moosaa debated with each other
and Moosaa said: ‘You are Aadam the one who turned out your offspring from
Paradise.’ Aadam said: “You are Moosaa whom Allaah chose for His Message and
for His direct talk, yet you blame me for a matter which had been ordained for
me even before my creation?’ Thus Aadam overcame Moosaa.” [Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree (3409, 6614, 7515) and Saheeh Muslim (6409, 6410, 6411, 6412)]
10. And
here is the Faqeeh, the genius, the Imaam, Muhammad Ibn Idrees al-Shaafi`ee رحمه الله. One of
his students asked him about an issue. So he replied back saying: “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said…” (and he quoted a
Hadeeth). The questioner said to him: And you O Abu `Abdullaah! What do you say
(i.e. what is your opinion)? These words were hard upon al-Shaafi`ee and
shocked him severely. He became furious
and said to him: “Do you see me wearing a belt
around my waist (one of the dress codes of the Christians bishops)? Or do
you see me wearing a Cross around my neck? Or do you see me being anointed by
the Jews and the Christians? I narrate
to you the Hadeeth from the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم but you say: ‘What do you say O Abu
`Abdullaah?!’”
The actual wording of this narration is as
follows:
Imaam al-Bukhaaree said: I heard al-Humaidee
saying: We were sitting with al-Shaafi`ee when a person entered upon him and
asked him about an issue. Al-Shaafi`ee said: “The
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said such and such.” The
man said to al-Shaafi`ee: What do you have to say (about this)? Al-Shaafi`ee
said: “Subhaan-Allaah! Do you see me sitting in
a Church? Do you see me giving a pledge of alliance (to the Church)? Do you
see a belt (or a rope) around my waist? I said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded such and such and you say
to me: ‘What do you say?!’” [Mukhtasar al-Sawaa`iq al-Mursalah of
Ibn al-Qayyim (1/544)]
These are but only a few glimpses from the
biography of our Righteous Salaf in regards to their respect and honor for the
Prophetical narrations. They took the Ahaadeeth of their Prophet with comfort
and complete submission; without any resistance in their selves. They would get
angry if anyone would dare to go against it or not accept it. This is due to
the saying of Allaah تعالى:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ
إِذَا قَضَى اللَّـهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ
أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ
ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا﴾
{It is not for
a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter
that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah
and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.} [Surah
al-Ahzaab (33): 36]
This was the attitude of our Righteous Salaf
with the Prophetical narrations, but how is our state?
Thereafter we say: Is it possible to honor
the Prophetical narrations while joking in His (Allaah’s) Deen and belittling
the Sunnah of His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم?
And is it from honoring the Prophetical narrations that one gives precedence to
his reasoning or his preferences or his desires over the statements of the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم?
No by Allaah!
﴿فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ
أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾
{And let those
who oppose the Messenger's commandment (i.e. his Sunnah) (among the sects)
beware, lest some Fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.}
[Surah al-Noor (24): 63]
Honoring the Text and respecting it (by
implementing it), is the strongest fence for protecting the Islaamic identity
in the gatherings, and for increasing the religiosity in the self, and for
strengthening ones relation with the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله
عليه وسلم.
It is essential that the Prophetical
narrations be revived and revered so that it is firmly established in this
generation of ours in which deviation has massively increased and the deviants
have found followers who listen to them through social media and satellite
channels.
Therefore it is Waajib upon the Muslim
leaders and their scholars and other than them to stand in one row, opposing
every deviant, whose heart is filled with doubts and confusion and who opposes
the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Finally, the two stances:
The First: One
should know that the Texts of the two Revelations – the Qur’aan and the Sunnah
– can never oppose and go against the sound intellect. But if one imagines that
there is a contradiction between the Text and the intellect, then there is no
doubt that the defect is with the intellect. A Muslim gives precedence to the
clear, Saheeh Text over the intellect. The fault is with the intellect and it
cannot be with the Shar`ee Text from the Book and the Sunnah.
The Second: Taking
advantage of the contemporary studies is a good thing, which may increase trust
and Imaan in a person which would help him in understanding some of the rulings
and the miraculous aspects mentioned in the Shar`ee Texts. (This is possible)
as long as one is made to understand that if the Hadeeth is authentic then
there should be no hindrance in accepting it and one should reject these
contemporary research and studies (if they oppose the Texts). This is because
the Ahaadeeth of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم have been affirmed by the statement of
Allaah تعالى:
﴿وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ﴾
{Nor does he speak of
(his own) desire} [Surah al-Najm (53):3]
Whereas these contemporary research and
studies are only according to the understanding of the Humans, so the latter is
prone to have errors.
O Allaah! Show us the Truth as truth and help
us to follow it; and show us Falsehood as falsehood and help us in avoiding it.
O Allaah! Help us in honoring the Hadeeth of Your Messenger – with our
Belief, Speech and Actions.
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