What have you learned?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

It has been reported from Shaqeeq al-Balkhee رحمه الله that he asked Haatim (al-Asam): You accompanied me for some time (now), so what have you learned?

Haatim said: (I have learned) Eight things:

1. As for the first: I looked at the creation (the humans), and everyone has something which is beloved to him, but when he reaches the grave, his beloved abandons him. So I made my good deeds as my beloved so that it accompanies me in the grave.

The path for seeking knowledge is long

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Saaleh Aal al-Shaikh حفظه الله said:

“The path for seeking knowledge is long, and it cannot be attained except by leaving off (wasting time in) amusement and desires, while approaching it with all seriousness and determination. Because Allaah عز وجل described what He تعالى would reveal upon Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم would be a “Weighty Word””

﴿إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا﴾

{Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, legal laws, etc.)} [Surah al-Muzzammil (73): 5]

[المنهجية في قراءة كتب أهل العلم لفضيلة الشيخ صالح آل الشيخ]

Imaam Maalik bin Anas, the Imaam of Daar al-Hijrah, رحمه الله was asked about an issue, so he said: “I don’t know.” The questioner said: It is a small and an easy issue and I wanted to inform the Ameer (the governor) about it. The questioner was a person in authority. Imaam Maalik got angry and said: “A small and an easy issue? There is nothing regarding knowledge which is something small. Did you not hear the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا﴾

{Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, legal laws, etc.)} [Surah al-Muzzammil (73): 5]

The knowledge, all of it is weighty, especially that about which it would be asked on the Day of Judgment.” [al-Muwaafaqaat of al-Shaatibee (5/329) and `Ilaam al-Muwaqqi`een (4/167)]

The Time When Bid`ah Will Be Considered As Sunnah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

On the authority of Hudhaifah bin al-Yamaan رضي الله عنه:

He once took two stones and placed one on top of the other and asked his companions: “Do you see any light (passing) between these two stones?”

They said: “O Abu `Abdullaah! We don’t see any light (passing) between these two stones except for very little.”

He said: “By the One (Allaah) in whose Hand is my soul! Verily, Bid`ah (religious innovation) will (soon) appear till nothing of the truth is seen except for the amount of light which you see (passing) between these two stones. By Allaah! Bid`ah will circulate (so much) so that if something of it is left out, the people will say: The Sunnah had been abandoned.”

[al-Bid`a of Ibn al-Wadhdhaah (151); al-I`tesaam of al-Shaatibee (1/106)]

The Muslim's attitude

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

* When the Muslim hears a Command from Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, then he should carry it out without hesitation to the best of his ability.

* When the Muslim hears about a prohibition, then he should shun it without having any second thoughts.

* Don’t wait asking if it is Waajib or Mustahab or if it is Makrooh or Haraam.

Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaimeen رحمه الله said:

“Second point: Obeying his صلى الله عليه وسلم command and not hesitating in carrying it out due to the saying of Allaah تعالى:

{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]

Disobedience: a cause for the destruction of the Ummah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

“Do you see any destruction more severe than the destruction of the Ummah nowadays? They are Billion in numbers, they are nearly one-fourth of the world population, but they have no value in the global community in spite of having moral force, material power and manpower. But when they neglected the Deen of Allaah, Allaah عز وجل forsook them, so that a person trusts* the oppressors among the Kuffar more than he trusts* his own brothers among the Muslims – and this is an ordeal and a calamity.”

[التعليق على السياسة الشرعية ص. 197]

* The word يركن can alternatively be translated as: relies upon, supports.

A Sound Heart

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿إِلاَّ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ﴾

{Except him who brings to Allaah a sound heart} [Surah al-Shu`araa’ (26): 89]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

The heart cannot attain absolute safety till it is protected from five things:

1. From Shirk which negates Tawheed.

2. From Bid`ah which opposes the Sunnah.

3. From Desire which opposes the Command.

4. From Negligence which negates Remembrance.

5. From Whim which negates Sincerity.

[al-Jawaab al-Kaafee (1/122)]

The Belief of a Muslim in regards to the Qur’aan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The Qur’aan is the Word of Allaah, not created, from Him it originated and to Him it will return.

The Qur’aan is the Word of Allaah عز وجل and His revelation, which He sent down and which is heard from a reciter when he is reciting the words of Allaah عز وجل.

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّـهِ﴾

{And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allaah.} [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 6]

Allaah تعالى also said:

﴿قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا﴾

{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind). “If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid.”} [Surah al-Kahf (18): 109]

Allaah تعالى also said:

﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّـهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

{And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allaah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surah Luqmaan (37): 27]

Allaah تعالى also said:

﴿يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُوا كَلَامَ اللَّـهِ﴾

{They want to change Allaah’s Words} [Surah al-Fath (48): 15]

And it is preserved (memorized) in the breasts as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿بَلْ هُوَ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ﴾

{Rather, the Qur’aan is distinct verses, [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge.} [Surah al-`Ankaboot (29): 49]

Imaam Maalik bin Anas رحمه الله said: “The Qur’aan is the Word of Allaah, the Word of Allaah is from Allaah, and nothing from Allaah is created.” [Sharh Usool `Iteqaad Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah (2/275)]