Win the hearts and attack them when they're the least expecting (Part 2/2)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

...Either through direct preaching or through entertainment. 

Part #2 (Entertainment) 

Entertainment in the name of Islaam is another sickness plaguing the Muslim Ummah.

The first Aayah and Command that was revealed was to READ, but many amongst us don't want to read. There are many educated ignorant amongst us; educated in the terms of worldly knowledge, but ignorant when it comes to religious knowledge. As Allaah تعالى says: 

Win the hearts and attack them when they're the least expecting (Part 1/2)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

...Either through direct preaching or through entertainment.

 Part #1 (Direct preaching)

 We have learned from our scholars and the Salaf that if an innovator would come directly with his Bid`ah (religious innovation), people would run away from him. So, they disguise themselves as pious, well-wishers, sincere advisors etc. And the first one to play this role was Iblees himself: 

Feminism and enjoining good & forbidding evil

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

There is this notion that guidance given to a woman by a man is almost inherently misogynistic. Many times I find women offended at the very idea of a man offering guidance and it’s even more so if his guidance relates to a women’s issue or command that is particular to women. We, the majority of people (male and female) have ego problems that make us view advice as intrusive, uncalled for and generally, rude. We need to actively seek to overcome our Nafs in this regard. 

Two dangerous philosophies affecting the Ummah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) Denying the authenticity of the Texts when it goes against them:

Like what Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله said about Yusuf al-Qaradhawi (May Allaah guide us and guide him):

❝He (Qaradhawi) issues Fataawa to the people which opposes the Sharee`ah. He also has a very dangerous philosophy. If something comes to him that is prohibited in the religion, he gets rid of the prohibition with his statement: “There is no conclusive evidence that forbids it.” So therefore he made music Halaal.❞

2) Permitting everything under the umbrella of “Difference of opinion”.

There is no denying that there are genuine issues where the scholars – past and present – have differed and there is valid difference of opinion, each group supported by evidence.

Then there are people like Yasir Qadhi, Suhaib Webb and others, who permit things by going against the Texts and about which the scholars had clearly warned against, like: permitting the Muslims to wish the Christians on Christmas.

Mocking is not Naseehah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

There is Naseehah (sincere advice) and then there is mocking.

Last night a relative of mine was telling me about the sons of an Imaam of his local Masjid. Both his sons were in all sorts of vices and causing problems in the neighborhood. On being asked about the behavior of his sons, the Imaam said that he used to mock the children of other people saying: "the son of so-and-so is bad", "the son of so-and-so is up to no good", and now Allaah تعالى has put him in trials through his children.

• So if you mock someone, soon you will be mocked at. If you belittle someone, soon you will be belittled.

• Don't be proud if you are correct today, for one day you will be from those who erred.

• Naseehah is about correcting mistakes, not about getting personal.

The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝O you who have believed with your tongues but Faith has not entered your hearts! Do not backbite about the Muslims or seek their faults. For whoever seeks their faults, Allaah will seek his faults, and if Allaah seeks a person's faults, He تعالى will disgrace him even if he were inside his house.❞

[Sunan Abu Dawood (4880) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2032) and graded as “Hasan-Saheeh" by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Always remember that not all days are the same - "A DAY FOR YOU AND A DAY AGAINST YOU".

﴿إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ﴾

{If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the (opposing) people. And these days [of varying conditions - the good and not so good] We alternate among the people...}

[Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 140]

Do not respect the Baatil opinions

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Saaleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله said:

❝The statement of those who say: “Have respect for the views and the speech (of others)” - this statement of theirs is falsehood. Nothing is to be respected except the TRUTH. As for the falsehood, then it is never to be respected or honored. Rather, falsehood is to be refuted, and eliminated, and people are to be warned against it, otherwise, it will be the cause of destruction for the Ummah if everyone were upon error.❞

الإجابات الفاصلة ص. 43

Correct the error or remain silent?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

What we are supposed to do:

❝ Take the good and CORRECT the bad❞

- a principle which is based on the Qur’aan AND the Sunnah; a principle for which Allaah تعالى revealed the Books and sent His Messengers عليهم الصلاة والسلام. Rather, it is a principle on which depends our salvation as Allaah تعالى mentioned in Surah al-`Asr.

But what they want us to do:

❝ Take the good and leave* the bad❞

- a principle for which there is no evidence in the Qur’aan OR the Sunnah, unless one twists the Aayaat and Ahaadeeth to support his desires (like how they misquote the Hadeeth of Abu Hurairah and his encounter with the Shaitaan).

* By “leaving”, these people mean: “to remain silent” when one sees an error or an evil.

"Drinking water out of a dirty cup"

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

An example of when the people give importance to the matters of the Dunya over the matters of the `Aakhirah:

When someone says:

“Take what is good and leave the evil” in a person,

It actually means:

“You can drink water out of a dirty cup.”

Oh, so all of a sudden we don’t want to drink water from a cup having some filth in it, but we can take `Aqeedah from a person who is himself confused or not clear in his `Aqeedah and Manhaj?

We are afraid of what will harm the body but not of what will harm the soul!

Moreover, how do we expect our brothers and sisters to differentiate between right and wrong, when they have just started learning their Deen? Even SOME of those who have read major books of `Aqeedah sometimes get confused about an issue, so how about those who have just started, when they have not even read the basic books like Kitaab al-Tawheed, Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and others? Do we want them to have a shaky foundation and confused `Aqeedah?

Note: as for the Hadeeth about Aayat al-Kursi, that whoever recites it before going to sleep, then an Angel will come for his protection; we do not take it because Shaitaan said so. Rather, we only accept it because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed it.

﴿قُلْ هَـٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّـهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾

{Say (O Muhammad): “This is my way; I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allaah i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allaah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikoon.”} [Surah Yusuf (12): 108]

Look at who you accompany

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

A person can never be safe when he accompanies the innovators, or the deviants, or the callers of misguidance. He will – directly or indirectly – be affected by their misguidance. It is like accompanying a blacksmith at his shop. Even if you are safe from the sparks from the furnace, the smoke from the furnace and the unpleasant smell coming thereof and that of the blacksmith will definitely get to you.

Narrated Abu Moosaa رضي الله عنه: Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn you or your clothes, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

Manhaj in Da`wah which many "Celebrity" speakers have deserted

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

All thanks to these "Celebrity" speakers: 
1) the call towards Tawheed is declining; 
2) many people are losing interest in the topics related to `Aqeedah and Tawheed or they are misled into believing that they already know enough and that what they know is sufficient; 
3) and the  scholars are being belittled and their honor are being attacked.

Therefore the following is a summarized reminder on the importance of calling towards Tawheed and warning against Shirk; calling towards Sunnah and warning against Bid`ah; and sticking with the scholars and not the "celebrity" speakers. 

PART 1

Don't be deceived by those who call only towards "good manners" with the creation while ignoring the rights of the Creator:

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُ لَيَحْزُنُكَ الَّذِي يَقُولُونَ ۖ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ يَجْحَدُونَ﴾

{We know indeed the grief which their words cause you (O Muhammad); IT IS NOT YOU THAT THEY DENY, but it is the Verses (the Qur'aan) of Allaah that the Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) deny.} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 33]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was called al-Ameen (the honest one) by the Muskriks even before he received any revelation and they still used to call him al-Ameen even after they had rejected his call. They never had the problem with the personality.

So, the first and foremost thing we have to understand is that the Mushriks never stopped the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم from calling towards good manners, or doing good to the neighbors, or feeding the poor and taking care of the widows and orphans; but it was the `Aqeedah and the call to Tawheed that they were against. 

Importance of Disassociating from Shirk and its people

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Introduction:

Many people, both in the east and the west, have been affected by the deviant methodology of al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimoon, namely: “To cooperate in which they agree and to remain silent in which they disagree or differ.”

This deviant methodology is for the sole purpose of achieving political aims, even if it means to do away with the core principles of Islaam:

1. To enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.

2. To love for the sake of Allaah and to hate for the sake of Allaah.

One such individual who has been heavily affected with this ideology is none other than Yasir Qadhi, who will go any distance and use every opportunity to universally unite the Sunnis with the Raafidhee Shia`s.

Difference between the Righteous and the Reformer

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Contemplate on the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ﴾

{And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were REFORMERS} [Surah Hood (11): 117]

Contemplate on the word that Allaah تعالى said: مصلحون (reformers) and He تعالى did not say: صالحون (righteous).

The difference is that a righteous person works for his own good alone, whereas the reformer works for himself and for the betterment of the society as well - enjoining what is good and prohibiting what is evil.

Zainab bint Jahsh رضي الله عنها said: O Messenger of Allaah! Shall we be destroyed though there will be RIGHTEOUS people amongst us? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Yes! When evil would be predominant.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3346, 3598, 7059, 7135) and Saheeh Muslim (6881, 6883)]

Narrated Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is reputable and forbid what is disreputable, or Allaah will certainly soon send punishment from Himself to you. Then you will make supplication and not receive an answer.” [Tirmidhee (2169) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Narrated Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq رضي الله عنه: You people recite this verse: {You who believe! Care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided.} [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 105] I heard Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “When people see something objectionable and do not change it, Allaah will soon include them all in His punishment.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (4338), and Sunan Ibn Maajah (4005) and Tirmidhee (3057) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Advising in private: Is it a condition?!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

`Adee bin Haatim رضي الله عنه reported that a person delivered a sermon in the presence of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: ‘He who obeys Allaah and His Apostle, he in fact follows the right path, and he who disobeys both of them, he has gone astray.’ Upon this the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “[Get up! or he said: Go away!] What a bad speaker you are! (Rather) say: ‘He who disobeys Allaah and His Apostle’”. [Saheeh Muslim (1890), Sunan Abu Dawood (1099, 4981) and Sunan al-Nasaa`ee (3281). The words within the brackets are from Sunan Abu Dawood.]

۩•۞•۝•۞•۩

“What a bad speaker you are”: The Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم rebuke was because the man mentioned Allaah تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in one pronoun (Ya`sihimaa), “disobeys”, which creates the notion that Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم are equivalent in rank, while there is absolutely no comparison between the Creator and the created.

Emotionally inciting the Ummah without providing the solutions

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

I received the above pic in one of my whatsapp group and would like to address a few points about it.

There are two aspects in regards to this cartoon:

A) Creating awareness:

The pic is trying to create awareness about the situation of the Ummah and the importance of helping each other in the times of need. There are many Ahaadeeth which encourage the people to help their brothers in need. The following are a few examples:

Importance of Criticism to control people from playing with the Deen

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Imaam al-Shawkaanee رحمه الله said:

“If it were not for this Jarh and Ta`deel (criticism and praising of people), the liars would have played with the Sunnah (i.e. they would  have fabricated whatever they wanted in the name of religion without anyone to stop them), and they would have mixed good with evil, and the people would not have been able to distinguish between Truth and Falsehood.”

Source:

[رفع الريبة]

Mixing truth with falsehood?!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

When a person plans to buy a new car, he usually does a survey, looks at other people’s review, before deciding which car to buy. When he pays the price, he makes sure that he receives his money’s worth, he won’t settle for anything less. He wouldn’t accept a new car with scratch marks or some dent on it, nor would he accept a car with damaged upholstery.

Similarly, one wouldn’t want to pay money to buy rotten groceries or meat or other stuffs. Rather, one would not even compromise to have a mixed bag of groceries – the good vegetables mixed with the rotten ones.

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #80

Good manners with Allaah take precedence:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Whenever we read about good manners in the Ahaadeeth, the first thing that comes to mind is about maintaining good behavior with fellow human beings, and maintaining good relation with them. But it hardly comes to mind that by default good manners also include having good manners towards our Creator, and establishing the relationship between the Lord and the slave. If people were to understand this, they would soon stop "fanaticism" towards individuals.

Nawwaas bin Sam`aan رضي الله عنه reported: I asked the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم about Virtue and Sin, so he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Virtue is noble behavior (Akhlaaq), and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know about it.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said: “Good manners have two aspects: 1) good manners in regards to (the rights of) Allaah and His Worship and 2) good manners in regards to the rights of the creation.” [Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen]

And part of good manners towards the Creator is by:

1) Learning Tawheed.

2) Teaching Tawheed.

3) Affirming for Allaah what He تعالى has affirmed for Himself in the Qur’aan and through His Messenger ﷺ.

4) Negating for Allaah what He تعالى has negated for Himself in the Qur’aan and through His Messenger ﷺ.

5) Not speaking about Allaah or His Deen without knowledge.

6) Worshiping Him alone upon the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ.

7) Obeying His commands that are mentioned in the Kitaab and the Sunnah - doing what He has commanded and staying away from what He has prohibited.

8) Enjoining good and forbidding evil.

9) Clarifying the doubts regarding Allaah's Deen.
10) Defending it from being misinterpreted.

Why some people can’t accept the truth?! (some of the reasons):

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) Hero worship:

In the past the people did not accept the truth because it went against the teachings of their forefathers:

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾

{When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following." (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 170]

Unity is not achieved by wishful thinking or flattery

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

So many speakers in the east and the west are trying to “unite” the Ummah by uniting with the deviants, sharing the same platform with them and many have signed the treaty with them to: “cooperate in which they agree and remain silent in which they disagree”. The likes of Nouman Ali Khan cooperating with the Soofees including the deviant Hamza Yusuf and others. Yasir Qadhi and his complete U-turn on the Raafidhah and his aligning them now. And many more like “Mufti” Menk, one would hardly find them touching the subject of Tawheed, `Aqeedah and Shirk. Their reasoning: The topic on Tawheed and Shirk divides the Ummah and these topics do not generate big crowds.

Refutations are good for they serve a purpose

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Tameem al-Daaree رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The Deen (Religion) is al-Naseehah (sincerity).” The people said: To whom? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“1) To Allaah

2) His Book

3) His Messenger

4) To the Imaams (rulers and scholars) of the Muslims

5) And the Muslims in general.”

[Saheeh Muslim]

Refutations are good for they serve a purpose:

1. Prevents the people from violating the rights and the limits set by Allaah: