Seeking Allaah’s refuge from the `ilm which does not benefit:

By Shaikh `Abdul-`Azeez bin `Abdullaah al-Raajhi

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abu Khaaled al-Ahmar narrated to us on the authority of Ibn `Ajlaan, on the authority of Sa`eed bin Abu Sa`eed, on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that from the Du`aa of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was:

اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الأربع من علم لا ينفع، ومن دعاء لا يسمع، ومن قلب لا يخشع، ومن نفس لا تشبع

“O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from four things: From knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (250)]

Yes, this Hadeeth is weak due to the break in the chain of narration. Sa`eed bin Abu Sa`eed did not hear from Abu Hurairah and (scholars have) spoken about Ibn `Ajlaan and al-Ahmar is weak. But the basis of this Hadeeth is in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا

“O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment of the grave. O Allaah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier thereof. You are the Protecting Friend thereof and Guardian thereof. O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allaah), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded” [Saheeh Muslim (6568)]

The Du`aa – it meaning is affirmed even though the sanad (chain of narration) of the (first) Hadeeth is weak<sup>[1]</sup>. Irrespective of the sanad, the Du`aa in the Hadeeth is great.

What is the benefit of the `Ilm if the person does not act upon it?

Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said about the Jews:

﴿لَمَّا جَاءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا كَفَرُوا بِهِ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ اللَّـهِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ﴾

{…then when there came to them that which they had recognised, they disbelieved in it. So let the Curse of Allah be on the disbelievers.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 89]

You seek Allaah’s refuge from the `Ilm which is unbeneficial (by saying):

“O Allaah! I seek refuge in You from the `Ilm which does not benefit and from the heart which does not fear (You)”, i.e. the heart in which there is no Khushoo`.

“And from the soul that is never satisfied”, i.e. it keeps on asking and asking and asking. Whoever has been provided with contentment (in this world) has been provided with a lot of goodness. Contentment (being satisfied with a limited amount) is a treasure which will never perish. As for the soul that is never satisfied, the greed never ends, chasing the Dunya and seeking it (by every means possible). The soul never gets satisfied and the greed never quenches, like a glutton who never gets satisfied.

“And the Du`aa that is not responded”. This is a great Du`aa.

The unbeneficial `Ilm is that which bears no fruits, and that which is not acted upon – the basis of all (beneficial `Ilm) is Imaan (Faith) in Allaah عز وجل. The Jews knew that Muhammad صلى الله ليه وسلم was the Messenger of Allaah, but even then they did not believe. They did not act on the `Ilm which they had in regards to the Imaan – the basis of which has been defined in the religion and the Sunnah as: “Imaan in Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم” - the Shahaadah (bearing witness) that Allaah alone is worthy of being worshiped; and bearing witness of the Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. They did not bear witness (i.e. did not affirm) the Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم even though they professed that they were believers in Allaah. Their Imaan was corrupt even if they claimed to have believed in Allaah. Their Imaan in Allaah will never be correct till they believe in the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم.

In regards to the two Shahaadahs, neither one is accepted without the other. Each one is the condition for the other (to be accepted). Whoever bears witness that “None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah”, but does not believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; it will not be accepted from him. Similarly, if anyone believes that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, but does not bear witness that “None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah”; it will not be accepted from him.

That is why Allaah تعالى negated the Imaan of the people of the Book when they refused to believe in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Allaah تعالى negated their Imaan, even though they claimed to be believers in Allaah.

Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said:

﴿قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ﴾

{Fight against those who believe not in Allaah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allaah and His Messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islaam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.} [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 29]

Their believe in Allaah and the Last Day did not benefit them. Since they rejected the Prophethood and Messengership of our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم –Allaah negated their believe in Allaah and the Last Day even though the claimed that they are believers.

Similarly, the one who does not do the obligatory acts and does not shun the forbidden, (his `ilm is unbeneficial for him). This causes deficiency. This is deficiency (in ones Imaan) but for the one who fulfills the obligations.

Whoever believes in Allaah and His Messenger, fulfills the obligations, shuns the forbidden things and limits himself on that, then he is among those who are the Muqtasidoon (on the right course), the people of the right hand, those who will enter the Jannah and will be its people. But above and better than them are the Saabiqoon (the foremost in religion), the Muqarraboon (the nearest to Allaah). Those who fulfill the obligations and are active in offering the optional and the Mustahab (recommended) deeds as well, and they leave of the forbidden and that which is Makrooh (disliked), they also leave off the Mubaah (those actions which have no clear rulings – no reward for doing it and no sin for leaving it) fearing that they might fall into the things which are disliked. These are the foremost (in religion) and the nearest (to Allaah). As for the Muqtasidoon, then they limit themselves to doing only the obligatory acts, and they are not active in doing the optional and recommended deeds. They leave off the forbidden things and do not engage in anything forbidden, but they do not take care of leaving off the Makroohaat (disliked things) and they engage themselves in doing the Mubaah. Anyways, both the groups – the Saabiqoons and the Muqtasidoon – will enter the Jannah from the beginning and will be its people.

Then there is the third group among the Believers, those who have oppressed themselves. They are lax in fulfilling some of the obligatory acts or they do some of the forbidden things, while they are Believers in Allaah and His Messenger. They are upon Tawheed and they do not do Shirk, but they fall short in fulfilling some of the obligations or they engage in doing the some of the forbidden things. These people are in danger, oppressing themselves. Some of them might be forgiven – and they will be under the Will of Allaah, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يشاء﴾

{Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 48, 116]

Some among them will be punished in their graves as has been mentioned in the Hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما about the one who did not protect himself from urine and the other who used to gossip. These two (types) will be punished in their graves. Then there are those who will face the horrors on the Day of Judgment. Then there are those who would deserve to go to the Hellfire but will receive the intercession (and will be saved). Then there are those who will enter the Hellfire. They will be punished according to the nature of their crime and sin, but in the end will be taken out of it by the Mercy of the Most Merciful or due to the intercession of those who will be allowed to intercede.

It has been reported in Mutawaatir Ahaadeeth (Ahaadeeth which have been reported by many narrators at every level in the Chain and there is no doubt about its authenticity) from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that some of those who did the Major sins will enter the Fire – even though they were Believers and used to pray. They entered the Fire due to their major sins upon which they died without repenting. It is confirmed from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he will intercede 4 times and every time Allaah تعالى will assign a certain limit (to be released from the Fire). Then the remaining Prophets will intercede, and then the Angels will intercede, then the Martyrs, then the Righteous, then the Pious. Then there will remain those whom no one will intercede for. Allaah تعالى will remove them from the Fire out of His Mercy. Allaah تعالى will say: {The Angels have interceded, the Prophets have interceded and the Believers have interceded, and no one remains (to grant pardon) but the Most Merciful of the mercifuls.}, then He تعالى will bring out from the Fire, people who never did any good^[2], apart from having Tawheed and Imaan. These are the people who have been unjust to themselves.

All the three categories: the Saabiqoon, the Muqtasidoon, and the Unjust to themselves are from Muslims.

The fourth category: they are the Kuffaar – and Allaah’s refuge is sought – all the different groups - from the pagans, the Shi`aas, the Christians, the Jews, the atheists, the heretics, and the hypocrites - will be gathered in the lowest depths of the Fire.

The evidence for the first three categories has been mentioned by Allaah تعالى in His Book:

﴿ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ﴾

{Then We gave the Book (the Qur’aan) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allaah’s Leave, foremost in good deeds.} [Surah al-Faatir (35): 32]

These are the three categories, all of them inherited the Book, and all of them are chosen ones: the unjust to himself is also a chosen one because he is upon Tawheed. Allaah has chosen him and made him a Believer but he has some deficiencies.

﴿ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ ذلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ * جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا﴾

{Then We gave the Book (the Qur’aan) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allaah’s Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur’aan), that is indeed a great grace. `Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) will they enter…} [Surah al-Faatir (35): 32-33]

As for the fourth category: the Kuffaar – and Allaah’s refuge is sought - Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ﴾

{But those who disbelieve, (in the Oneness of Allaah) for them will be the Fire of Hell. Neither it will have a complete killing effect on them so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!} [Surah al-Faatir (35): 36]

We ask Allaah for our wellbeing and safety from these people.

Khushoo` (Fear of Allaah) should be in the limbs (in the form of actions) and in the heart. The Khushoo` of the heart is the basis (and the most important thing). If there is Khushoo` in the heart, there will be Khushoo` in the limbs. The person will not get the reward in the prayer except for the part in which he had concentration; as has been mentioned in the Hadeeth that after saying their prayers some will get only two-third of the reward of praying, some only half the reward, some a third and some only a fourth and some only a tenth^[3] – all depending upon the amount of concentration in the prayer – the Khushoo` of the heart is Waajib (compulsory) – but the prayer is correct (even if it is lacking Khushoo`). If there is a lot of whisper, the prayer is still correct according to the most correct opinion of the scholars who are a majority in this regards.

Some of the scholars were of the opinion that if there is too much whispering, then the prayer is void and it should be repeated. But this is rejected opinion. The correct opinion is that one does not has to repeat it. But he will get the reward according to the level of concentration he has in prayer.

Adopted from: http://shrajhi.com/Media/ID/8213

And Allaah is the Granter of success.

Notes:

[1] The Hadeeth of Sunan Ibn Maajah from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه (250) has been graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee due to supporting chains. It’s also mentioned in Sunan Ibn Maajah (3837), al-Nasaa’ee (5467, 5536, 5537) from Abu Hurairah and graded as “Hasan-Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee and also from Jaabir bin `Abdullaah رضي الله عنه (3843) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

Abu Dawood from his chain to Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه in his Sunan (1548) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. The Shaikh رحمه الله said in Saheeh Abu Dawood (5/272): “The Hadeeth is Saheeh and similar is reported by Muslim in his Saheeh through Zaid bin Arqam. The men in the chain of this Hadeeth (of Sunan Abu Dawood) are all reliable, they are from the men of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, except for `Abbaad ibn Abu Sa`eed who is Majhool (unknown). But this Hadeeth has supporting chains which make it stronger and takes it to the level of Saheeh.”

On the authority of `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr رضي الله عنهما in Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3482), al-Nasaa’ee (5442) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

On the authority of Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه in Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5470) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

On the authority of Zaid bin Arqam رضي الله عنه in Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5538) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

[2] As per the long Hadeeth mentioned in Saheeh Muslim (361)

[3] The Hadeeth is as follows:

`Ammaar bin Yaasir رضي الله عنهما said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “A man returns after saying his prayer while a tenth part of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (796) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]