How people slip from the path of the Salaf

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Imaam al-Shaatibee said:

“Due to their turning away from the (clear) evidence and their reliance on men, some people slipped and went out of the way of the Sahaabah and Taabi`een and followed their desires without knowledge; so they went astray from the Right Path.”

[al-I`tisaam of Imaam al-Shaatibee (2/863)]

Some examples:

1. Following the ways of the forefathers.

2. Following the ways of the elders.

3. Ta`assub (fanaticism) towards a single Madhhab (school of thought) or individuals.

4. Having bad companionship.

5. Leaving the scholars and being impressed by eloquent speakers.

Advice during the times of Fitan:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Saaleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله

Question: What do you advise us to do in this age in which the Fitan (trials and afflictions) have increased and the innovators have spread out and the death of the scholars?

Answer: The first thing I advise you is the Taqwa of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, and do much supplication that Allaah تعالى keeps us and you firm upon the Deen and that He تعالى protects us and you from the evils of these Fitan.

Thereafter, I advise you to seek knowledge - seeking knowledge from the people of knowledge (the scholars) and being diligent towards seeking it. Verily, there is no protection from the Fitan except through correct knowledge, by the Will of Allaah. So, if you do not have correct knowledge, perhaps you may fall in the Fitan while you are unaware and you do not know that it is a trial. So upon you is seeking knowledge from the people of knowledge. Do not be lazy in seeking knowledge when you have the chance (and the means) of seeking it.

http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/14958

From the advice of Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Al-Laith bin Sa`d and others have said: A man wrote to Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما saying: Write down (gather) for me all the knowledge. So Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما wrote back to him: “Verily! `Ilm is vast. But if you are capable of: 
1. Meeting Allaah تعالى with a light load on your back by (not spilling) the blood of people (unjustly) [1], 
2. Having a slender belly by avoiding people’s wealth [2],
3. Restraining the tongue from (playing with) people’s honor,
4. Sticking to their Jamaa`ah (and avoid splitting),
then do so.”

[Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa (3/222)]

[1] During the turmoil of Hajjaaj bin Yusuf there was a lot of bloodshed and confusion.
[2] From usurping their wealth unjustly.

What’s in a name?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Changing the name of an evil does not render it permissible, but this is how Shaitaan wants to beautify things for us.

Ibn Muhairiz narrated from a man among the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “People among my Ummah will drink Khamr (intoxicant), calling it by another name.” [Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5658) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See also Sunan Abu Dawood (3688, 3689) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (3384, 3385, and 4020)]

What an age are we living in...

1. Where Khamr is called drink (booze, beer, spirit etc.)!

2. Where GAMBLING is called (a game of) CHANCE (luck, fortune)!

3. Where SINGING is called ART!

4. Where a BRIBE is called a GIFT!

5. Where FREE-MIXING is called CIVILIZING!

6. Where TABARRUJ (wanton display) is called ELEGANCE!

7. Where NUDITY is called LIBERTY!

8. Where ADULTERY is called transient relationship!

9. Where a DAYYOOTH (a man with no protective jealousy for his wife) is called MODERNITY!

10. Where HYPOCRISY is called POLITICS!

11. Where enjoining good is called backwardness!

12. Where forbidding evil is called rigidity!

13. Where lying is called bluffing!

14. Where Usury (interest) is called PROFIT!

We seek Allaah’s refuge from this evil and repent to Him for our sins.

Relatives have more rights in the Decree of Allaah over others!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Blood relations have more rights that good should be done to them over others!

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَأُوْلُو الاٌّرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَى بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـبِ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُهَـجِرِينَ﴾

{And blood relations among each other have closer personal ties in the decree of Allaah than the Believers and the Muhaajiroon} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 6]

Allaah تعالى also said:

﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ﴾

{They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred (relatives) and orphans and Al-Masaakeen (the poor) and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allaah knows it well. } [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 215]

Everyone will receive their share of the Dunya:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى gives the share of the Dunya to all - those who love it and those who hate it, but He تعالى does not give the Aakhirah except to those who love it.

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ﴾

{That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon} [Surah al-Qasas (28): 83]

Narrated `Ubada bin As-Saamit: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Who-ever loves to meet Allaah, Allaah (too) loves to meet him and whoever hates to meet Allaah, Allaah (too) hates to meet him.” `Aaishah رضي الله عنها said: “But we dislike death.” He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “It is not like this, but it is meant that when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of Allaah’s pleasure with him and His blessings upon him, and so at that time nothing is dearer to him than what is in front of him. He therefore loves the meeting with Allaah, and Allaah (too) loves the meeting with him. But when the time of the death of a disbeliever approaches, he receives the evil news of Allaah’s torment and His Requital, whereupon nothing is more hateful to him than what is before him. Therefore, he hates the meeting with Allaah, and Allaah too, hates the meeting with him.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6507) and Saheeh Muslim (6488)]