Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #100

The Companions set forth the example of the highest level of submission and obedience to the commandments of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

`Abdullaah Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما reported that Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a person wearing a gold ring in his hand. He صلى الله عليه وسلم pulled it off and threw it away, saying:

❝One of you is wishing live coal from Hell and putting it on his hand.❞

It was said to the person after Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم had left: “Take your ring (of gold) and derive benefit out of it.” Whereupon he said: “No! By Allaah! I would never take it when Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has thrown it away.”

[Saheeh Muslim (5209)]

The following is the summary of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen’s commentary on this Hadeeth from his Sharh of Riyaadh al-Saaliheeh (2/444 - 449).

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 3

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

You can read part 1 from here:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-1.html

And Part 2 from here:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-2.html

The second Du`aa al-Istiftaah and its meaning:

When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم started to pray he would say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرَكَ

“Subhaanakallaahumma, wa bihamdika tabaarakasmuka wa ta`aala jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghairuk”

(Glory and praise be to You, O Allaah. Blessed be Your Name and Exalted be Your Majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You)

The meaning of "Subhaan-Allaah"

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله:

Those who recite this Du`aa are many, but no one understands its meaning except for a very few.

“Subhaanakallaahumma”, meaning: I Glorify you O Allaah! The Glorification means Tanzeeh: to declare Allaah to be free of all imperfections and everything that is falsely attributed to Him and that does not suit His Majesty (such as attributing to Him a son, or trinity etc.).

There are two things which does not befit Allaah:

1) Equating Allaah with the creation.

2) Denying Allaah’s Attributes.

So when you say “Subhaanakallaahumma”, it is like saying: O Allaah! I declare you free from having any likeness with the creation or having any deficiencies in Your Attributes.

صفة الصلاة

Sh Rabee`: Don't read the Qur'aan just for seeking blessings only

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

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

❝ Whenever you recite the Qur’aan, don't just recite it for seeking blessings only; rather, recite it, O my brother, so that you believe (in its Message) and act (on its commandments)!

Recite the Qur’aan so that you believe and act upon it, because this is what the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ used to do. The Qur’aan used to be revealed amongst them in stages (or portions) and the Prophet ﷺ used to teach them 10 Aayaat at a time. They used to memorize them, act upon it teachings, and believe in it (before they moved on to the other Aayaat).*

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #99

How the Love of Dunya will ruin the Aakhirah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

﴿أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ * حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ﴾

{The competition for piling up of worldly things diverts you * Until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die).} [Surah al-Takaathur (102): 1-2]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝By Allaah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be opened up with its wealth for you as it was opened to those before you; and you vie with one another over it as they did and eventually it will ruin you as it ruined them.❞

[Saheeh Muslim]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

This is why we say: Whenever the doors of richness are opened for the people and they stare at it (and yearn for it), they will be losing their share of the Aakhirah to the level of their gain of the Dunya.

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 2

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

You can read part 1 from here:
http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2016/06/duaa-al-istiftaah-part-1.html

The first Du`aa al-Istiftaah and its meaning:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to keep silent between the Takbeer and the recitation of Qur’an (Surah al-Faatihah) and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbeer and recitation? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“I say:

اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ، كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ المَشْرِقِ وَالمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَايَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالبَرَدِ

Du`aa al-Istiftaah - Part 1

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ruling pertaining to Du`aa al-Istiftaah*:

* Du`aa al-Istiftaah: the opening supplication which is recited after the first Takbeer and before reciting Surah al-Faatihah. Example:

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك، وتبارك اسمك، وتعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك

How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You. Blessed be Your name, and lofty is Your position and none has the right to be worshiped except You.

[See “Hisnul Muslim” for other such Du`aa which are mentioned in the Sunnah]

Question: If a person joins the congregation and the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatihah, should he recite the Du`aa al-Istiftaah?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen: If a person joins the congregation while the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatiḥah, then he should say the Takbeer and silently listen to it. Then, after the Imaam completes his recitation of Surah al-Faatiḥah, the person should then say the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ and recite Surah al-Faatiḥah. But if he joins the congregation after the Imaam has already recited Surah al-Faatiḥah and is now reciting some other Surah after it, then in this case, he should only recite Surah al-Faatiḥah and he should not say the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ because there is no place for saying the Du`aa al-Istiftaaḥ in this situation. When the Imaam is reciting, one should not recite (anything behind him) except for Surah al-Faatiḥah.

So upon this, this is how it is to be done:

1) If a person joins the congregation while the Imaam is reciting Surah al-Faatihah, he should remain silent. Then when the Imaam completes his recitation of Surah al-Faatihah, he should say the Du`aa al-Istiftaah and recite Surah al-Faatihah.

2) If he joins the congregation after the Imaam has already recited Surah al-Faatihah and he is reciting some other Surah, then he would say the Takbeer and only recite Surah al-Faatihah without saying the Du`aa al-Istiftaah, as this is not the place to say the Du`aa al-Istiftaah.

[Liqaa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh (5/42)]

3 reasons why we get sidetracked in our prayers and their remedy

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) The first reason is the Waswas (whisper) of the Shaitaan called Khanzab:

Narrated `Uthmaan ibn Abul `Aas: `Uthman came to Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: Allaah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’aan and he confounds me. Thereupon Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That is (the doing of the Satan) who is known as Khanzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allaah from it and spit three times to your left.” I did that and Allaah dispelled that from me.

Tafseer: The means are useless without Allaah’s Will

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

﴿وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ﴾

{and (it is Allaah who) sent down water (rain) from the sky and (it is He who) brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 22]

While mentioning some of the points of benefit of this Aayah, Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Ibn al-Qayyim: Sins reduces the reward and corrupts the fruits of fasting

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

“The (true) fasting individual is the one whose limbs abstain from sins; and whose tongue abstains from lying, profanity, and forged statements; and whose stomach abstains from food and drink; and whose private parts abstain from obscenities.

When he speaks, he does not say things which may harm his fasting; when he does something, he doesn’t do anything which may nullify his fasting. He only says things which are beneficial and good. Similarly, his actions are like the fragrance which a person sitting next to the owner (or seller) of Musk can smell. Likewise, the one sitting with a fasting person benefits from his companionship, and the gathering is safe from falsehood, lies, immorality, and oppression.

Fasting, False Speech and Bad Actions

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Fasting is one of the greatest forms of `Ibaadah (worship). Allaah تعالى specifically attributed this action that it is done for Him and that He تعالى has taken upon Himself to reward them for it personally. Allaah will reward them without measure:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah تعالى said: {All the deeds of Aadam’s sons are for them, except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’...}”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1904, 5927, 7492, 7538) and Saheeh Muslim (2564, 2566, 2568)]

And in another narration in Muslim it is reported:

“All the deeds of Aadam’s sons are rewarded ten times to seven hundred times. Allaah تعالى said: {Except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it, for he has avoided his desires and food for my sake.}”

[Saheeh Muslim (2567)] 

Allaah تعالى singled out Fasting from among all the other deeds, and that is because of its high status with Him, and His love for it, and the apparent sincerity there is in it for Him, because it is hidden between the slave and his Lord and nobody knows about it except Allaah. A person may be between a group of people and none will know that he is Fasting. He might be alone, where there is no one to see him, yet he will not eat or drink, knowing that Allaah is watching Him. This is the highest level of Ikhlaas (sincerity).

But yet, the magnificent reward for this great action may be lost because of a person not taking control of his tongue or his actions; for fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink, but from everything which Allaah تعالى hates and has made it prohibited.

A few narrations on the importance of controlling the tongue and actions while Fasting:

#1 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), evil deeds, and speaking bad words (i.e. indulging in obscene language) to others, then Allaah is not in need of his (Fasting) leaving his food and drink.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1903, 6057)]

#2 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Fasting is a Shield. If one of you is Fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and avoid quarreling (and behaving foolishly), and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am Fasting.’”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1894, 1904) and Saheeh Muslim (2566)]

#3 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There may be a Fasting person who gets nothing more from his Fast except hunger and thirst, and there may be a person who prays Qiyaam (night prayers) and all he gets from his Qiyaam is a sleepless night.”

[Sunan Ibn Maajah (1690) and Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (8856) and graded as “Hasan-Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

#4 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink, rather Fasting also means giving up idle and obscene talk.”

[Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah (1996), and Mustadrak of al-Haakim (1570) and graded as “Saheeh” by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1082) and Saheeh al-Jaami` (5376)]

#5 It was narrated that Taleeq ibn Qays said: Abu Dharr said: “When you Fast then be careful as much as you can.” When Taleeq was Fasting he would enter his house and only come out to pray.

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8878)]

#6 Jaabir ibn `Abdallaah al-Ansaaree رضي الله عنه said: “When you Fast, then let your hearing, your sight and your tongue also Fast from lying and sin, and stop abusing the servants, and be tranquil and dignified on the day when you Fast. Do not let the day when you do not Fast and the day when you Fast be the same.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8880)]

#7 Al-Mutawakkil رحمه الله said: “When Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه and his companions Fasted, they would stay in the Masjid and say: “We are keeping our Fast pure.”

[Hilyatul Awliyaa’ (1/382) and Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8881)]

#8 `Umar ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “Fasting does not mean that one abstains from food and drink only; it also means abstaining from lying, falsehood, idle talk and (false) oaths.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8882)]

  

#9 Maimoon Ibn Mihraan رحمه الله used to say: “The easiest part of Fasting is abstaining from food and drink.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8883)]

  

#10 `Alee ibn Abi Taalib رضي الله عنه said: “Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink; it also means giving up lies, falsehood and idle talk.”

 [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8884)]

#11 Mujaahid رحمه الله said: “Whoever protects himself from these two characteristics, his Fasting will be correct: Gheebah (backbiting) and telling lies.” 
[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8887)]

#12 Ibraaheem al-Nakha`ee رحمه الله said: “They used to say that telling lies breaks the Fast.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8888)]

#13 Abu al-`Aaliyah رحمه الله said: “A Fasting person is in (a state of) `Ibaadah as long as he does not backbite anyone.”

[Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (8889)]

Be prompt in giving out your Zakaah and Sadaqa

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Have you ever contemplated why the dead would prefer “Sadaqah” as his choice of good deed over the other things if he were ever allowed to return to this world?! As Allaah تعالى mentioned:

﴿فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ﴾

{…and he would say: "My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (charity of my wealth)…}

[Surah al-Munaafiqoon (63): 10]

It is not mentioned that he would say: “so that I could fast”, or “I could pray”…

Perhaps the reason for mentioning the Sadaqah here is because of its great virtues and its lasting effects which the dead will see after his death, as the believers will be under the shade of their Sadaqah…

`Uqbah bin `Aamir رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝Every person will be under the shade of his Sadaqah (charity) till the Judgment has been settled among the people.❞

[Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (17333), Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (3310) and al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (1517) and Saheeh Ibn Khuzaimah (2431) and Shaikh al-Albaanee commented on Ibn Khuzaimah saying: “It is Saheeh as per the condition of Imaam Muslim” See also Takhreej Mushkilah al-Faqr (118) and Saheeh al-Jaami` (4510) and Saheeh al-Targheeb (872) of Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Also the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Seven people will be shaded by Allaah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. ❝They are: …a person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity)…❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (660, 1423, 6479, 6806) and Saheeh Muslim (2248)]

Good intentions do not justify the means

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ﴾

{And those who take Auliyaa' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allaah.”}

[Surah al-Zumar (39): 3]

Shaikh Saaleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله said:

“They did not intend Shirk, nor was it their aim. They only thought that by this they are fulfilling acts of worship and as a means of getting closer to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى. See how Shaitaan approaches the children of Aadam (to mislead them), and how the Shayaateen from amongst the men approach the children of Aadam and beautify for them this matter. 

THAT BOOK = THIS QUR’AAN

A short treatise in refuting a few misunderstandings and misinterpretations about the Qur’aan:

1. Personal interpretation VS. The statements of the Salaf and Mufassireen

2. The Linguistic meaning VS. The Shar`ee meaning

3. Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah – the decisive evidence

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

***THAT BOOK = THIS QUR’AAN***

* For those who play with the words that ❝THIS QUR’AAN❝ is not ❝THAT BOOK❞.

* For those who rely on their own deficient understanding of the language instead of relying on the statements of the SALAF.

The first line of defense against evil

When someone does wrong to you, the first thing to do is to remind him of Allaah.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

#1

Allaah تعالى said regarding Maryam عليها السلام:

﴿قَالَتْ إِنِّى أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَـنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيّاً﴾

{She (Maryam) said: “Verily, I seek refuge with al-Rahmaan (the Most Gracious) from you, if you do fear Allaah.”} [Surah Maryam (19): 18]

Imaam Ibn Katheer رحمه الله said:

This means that when the angel (Jibreel) appeared to her in the form of a man, while she was in a place secluded by herself with a partition between her and her people, she was afraid of him and thought that he wanted to rape her. Therefore, she said:

To attain Zuhd (asceticism) first shun the sins:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Yahya Ibn Mu`aadh used to say:

❝I am not instructing you to (completely) forsake the Dunya (worldly pleasures); but I only instruct you to abandon the sins.

Forsaking the Dunya is Fadheelah (graciousness or doing more than what is obligatory), while abandoning the sins is Fareedhah (an obligation).

For you are in a greater need of fulfilling the obligations (as they have precedence over) fulfilling that which is optional.❞

[Sifatul-Safwah (2/297)]

Between Extremism and Negligence in religion

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Imaam al-Awzaa`ee رحمه الله said:

❝ There is no matter which Allaah تعالى has commanded, except that Shaitaan opposes it (and misleads many people towards) two characteristics regarding it - and it doesn't matter to which one of them he leads - either Ghuloo (extremism, exaggeration, excessiveness) or Taqseer (failure to comply, falling short, negligence, abandonment).❞

 [Kashf al-Khafaa' (1/470), and Majoo` al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah (3/381 & 14/483)]

Superiority of knowledge

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا﴾

{and say (O Muhammad): “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”} [Surah TaaHaa (20): 115]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝It is enough an honor for `Ilm that Allaah تعالى instructed His Prophet to beseech Him for more of it.❞

[Miftaah Daar al-Sa`aadah (1/50)]

Walking a fine line between getting angry and being harsh

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Getting angry when something wrong is done is from a natural disposition, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to get angry when the rights of Allaah were violated. As `Aaishah رضي الله عنها said:

مَا انْتَقَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِنَفْسِهِ فِي شَيْءٍ يُؤْتَى إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُنْتَهَكَ مِنْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ، فَيَنْتَقِمَ لِلَّهِ

❝The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم never took revenge for his own self in the matters presented to him except when the Hurumaat (limits set by) Allaah are violated, in which case he would take revenge.❞ [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3560, 6126, 6786, 6853) and Saheeh Muslim (5752)]

From the signs of Ahl al-Bid`ah wal-Furqah

From the signs of Ahl al-Bid`ah wal-Furqah (the people who have fallen to Bid`ah and division in the religion):

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Allaah is pleased with you about three things and He is angry with you about three things:

1) He is pleased that you worship Him alone, not associating anything or anyone with Him in worship,

2) that you all take hold of the Rope of Allaah altogether [and do not divide],

3) that you give good advice to those that Allaah has put in authority over you.

The three that displease Him are

1) that you say: `It was said,' and, `So-and-so said’ (i.e. wasting time in unbeneficial talks),

2) asking many unnecessary questions

3) and squandering wealth.”

Be a follower in good instead of a leader in evil

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said:

❝There will be Hannaat (hardship, calamities, corruption) and issues that are dubious. So you must be patient and refrain from hastiness. It is better that you are a follower in good than a leader in evil.❞

[Musannaf of Ibn Abee Shaibah (37188) al-Ibaanah of Ibn Battah (176)]

In another narration it is… ❝It is better that a man is a follower in good than a leader in misguidance.❞

[al-Ibaanah of Ibn Battah (177)]