How one gradually abandons prayer:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

“And it is known that abandoning the prayer with congregation is among the major factors for abandoning the prayer in its entirety – Allaah’s refuge is sought – because this disease of the heart which made him abandon the congregation will eventually pull him towards desertion and carelessness (of prayer). So sometimes he is praying and sometimes he is not. And this is based on Riyaa’ (showing off); so if he is with the people he prays – to avoid embarrassment, but when he is alone, he forsakes it. And this is the state of the hypocrites.” [al-Ikhtiyaraat al-Fiqhiyyah (1/107)]

Is monarchy/kingship wrong?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. If monarchy/kingship is wrong, then why did Allaah تعالى appoint Taaloot as a king?

{And their Prophet said to them, "Indeed Allaah has appointed Taaloot as a king over you."} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 247]

2. If kingship is wrong then why were Prophets Dawood and Sulaimaan عليهم السلام ruling as kings?

It is due upon us that we supplicate for the rulers:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. If our Muslim brothers deserve our supplications, then the Muslim rulers have precedence over all the others.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Religion is sincerity (Al-Naseehah), religion is sincerity, religion is sincerity.” They said: ‘To whom, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said: “To Allaah, to His Book, to His Messenger, TO THE IMAAMS OF THE MUSLIMS and to their common folk.” [Saheeh Muslim (661)]

Why we need to warn against innovation:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Rabee` bin Haadee al-Madkhalee حفظه الله said:

“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to give the sermon while no Mubtadi` (innovator) was in front of him. But he صلى الله عليه وسلم would always or most of the times would say: “To proceed, the best speech is the Speech of Allaah, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the worst affairs are the newly invented (i.e. innovations in religion)…”

He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to repeat this a lot while there were no innovators in front of him; Why?! Because of the dangers of Bid`ah (innovation in religion)…”

كتاب: مرحباً يا طالب العلم ص 35

Ibn `Umar: By Allaah! I will not give my pledge…

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

On the authority of Abu al-`Aaliyah al-Baraa’ that `Abdullaah Ibn al-Zubair and `Abdullaah bin Safwaan were sitting in al-Hijr (al-Hijr Isma`eel as it is more commonly known – the semicircle next to the Ka`bah) and Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما, who was making Tawaaf around the Ka`bah, passed by them. One of them said to the other: Of those who are alive, do you see anyone better than him? A man was instructed to call Ibn `Umar to them once he finishes his Tawaaf. So when Ibn `Umar finished his Tawaaf and prayed two Rak`aat, the man approached him and said: `Abdullaah Ibn al-Zubair and `Abdullaah bin Safwaan are calling you, so Ibn `Umar went to them.

`Abdullaah bin Safwaan said: O Abu `Abdul Rahmaan! What prevents you from giving your Bai`a (pledge) to Ameer al-Mu’mineen, meaning `Abdullaah Ibn al-Zubair, whereas the Ahl al-`Uroodh (people of Makkah), and people of al-`Iraaq and the common people of al-Shaam have given Bai`a to him?

Ibn `Umar said: “BY ALLAAH! I WILL NOT GIVE MY PLEDGE TO YOU WHILE THE SWORDS ARE STILL HANGING ON YOUR SHOULDERS, AND YOUR HANDS HAVE CAUSED THE BLOODSHED OF THE MUSLIMS.”

[Sunan al-Kubraa of al-Baihaqee (16808) and its chain is Jayyid]

Note: This is clear evidence that Bai`a is not to be given to anyone while the Fitnah still looms among them – till the matters are decided in the favor of one of them and the Ummah agrees upon it (unlike some people agree and others disagree) and that there is no more Fitnah.

How to know when the deeds are being accepted?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Rajab رحمه الله said:

“Whoever does an act of obedience – out of the many acts of obedience – and completes it.

The sign of it being accepted is that he follows it with another act of obedience.

And the sign of it being rejected is that he follows it with an act of disobedience.”

[Lataaif al-Ma`aarif (1/224)]

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #74

The Salaah - the Garden of Worship

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

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

“The Salaah is a Garden from among the Gardens of Worship. The Garden in which there is beautiful combination (of a lot of good actions) - (recitation of the) Qur’aan, Remembrance (of Allaah), Du`aa (Supplication), Tasbeeh (Glorification of Allaah), Takbeer (exalting Allaah’s Greatness) and Seeking Refuge (from evil and mischief).”

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (5/210)]

Fitnah of a wicked scholar and an ignorant worshiper:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

If the Fitnah caused by a wicked scholar is severe, then how much more worse is the Fitnah caused by those who pretend to be scholars, misguided and misguiding others, giving Fatwa based on their whims:

Sufyaan al-Tahwree رحمه الله said:

“Seek Allaah’s refuge from the Fitnah of an ignorant worshiper (al-`Aabid al-Jaahil), and from the Fitnah of a wicked scholar (al-`Aalim al-Faajir), for indeed their trial is a (great) affliction upon those who will be tested (through them).”

[Akhlaaq al-`Ulamaa’ (1/87) of al-Aajurree]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله commented on the above statement of Sufyaan al-Thawree, saying:

“For indeed the people imitate their scholars and the worshipers among them. So if the scholars are wicked and the worshipers are ignorant, then calamities will spread because of them and great trials will be afflicted upon specific (individuals) and the general (mass) (i.e. everyone will be caught in their trial).”

[Miftaah Daar al-Sa`aadah (1/160))]

Love of Hadeeth and innovation cannot be gathered in a person’s heart:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ahmad bin Sinaan رحمه الله said:

“There is no Mubtadi` (innovator) in this world except that he hates the As-haab al-Hadeeth (the Muhadditheen). If a person introduces an innovation (in religion), the sweetness of Hadeeth is taken away from his heart.”

[Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa’ (9/569)]