Hadeeth: Where the laws of physics don’t apply

Where the laws of physics don’t apply: The lower you go, the higher you get:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Thaubaan رضي الله عنه, the freed slave of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Make frequent prostrations before Allaah, for you will not perform one prostration to Allaah, except Allaah will raise you one degree in status thereby, and remove one sin from you, because of it.” [Saheeh Muslim (488), Sunan Ibn Maajah (1423) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1139)]

Abu Faatimah رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O Abu Faatimah! Make lot of prostrations, for no Muslim prostrates to Allaah تعالى but He تعالى will raise him in status one degree thereby.” [Musnad Ahmad (15527, 15528) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (1519)]

Abu Faatimah رضي الله عنه reported: I said: O Messenger of Allaah! Tell me of a deed that I can adhere to and act upon. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Upon you is prostration, for you will not prostrate to Allaah but He تعالى will raise you in status one degree thereby and erase from you one sin.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (1422) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee] 

`Ubaadah bin Saamit رضي الله عنه said that he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: “No one prostrates to Allaah تعالى except that Allaah تعالى will record for him one good deed and thereby will erase one bad deed and raise him in status one degree. So prostrate a great deal.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (1424) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Some of the narrations on al-Khushoo`:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Some of the Companions رضي الله عنهم, namely, Hudhaifah used to say: “Beware of Khushoo` al-Nifaaq (hypocritical humility). It was said to him: And what is hypocritical humility? He said: When you notice the body to be humble and whereas the heart is not.”

`Umar Ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه saw a man bowing his neck in the prayer, so he said to him: “O companion of the (bend) neck! Raise your neck. Khushoo` is not in (bending) the neck, rather al-Khushoo` is in the heart.”

`Aaishah رضي الله عنها saw some youths passing by and they were swaying in their walk. She asked her companions: Who are they? They replied: These are the ascetics. She رضي الله عنها said: “`Umar Ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه, when he walked, he was quick; when he spoke, he was heard; if he hit (someone), it would hurt; if he ate, he would eat till satisfaction; and indeed he was a true devout person.”

Al-Fudhail bin `Iyaadh said: “They (the Salaf) used to detest that a man is seen with devotion that is more than what is in his heart.”

[Madaarij al-Saalikeen (1/517)]

Shaikh `Abdul Mohsin al-`Abbaad: I do not know

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

  

All praise is for Allaah alone. Yesterday, Friday, November 22, 2013, Shaikh `Abdul Mohsin al`Abbaad حفظه الله began his Dars (study circle) on the great book: “Saheeh Muslim”. The first day was an introduction to this great book and this great Imaam, Muslim Ibn al-Hajjaaj رحمه الله.

The Shaikh حفظه الله mentioned a lot of things, all from his memory: Imaam Muslim’s birth, his death, the total number of Ahaadeeth in his Saheeh, and the number of Ahaadeeth without repetition. The Shaikh, Allaah reward him with good, mentioned so many things, all from memory. Anyone who had listened to him yesterday would be amazed at the level of knowledge, memorization and understanding of the Shaikh حفظه الله.

But when the Q&A session came, in the very first question he was asked:

“Was the death of Imaam Muslim caused due to overeating of dates? How much true is this?”

This mountain of knowledge, in front of 100s of students of knowledge, in Masjid al-Nabawee, had only two words in reply: لا أدري (I do not know).

He did not shy away to say that he doesn’t know about it. It did not matter to him his age or his status in the society. He did not beat around the bush by saying: “oh it is said…” or “I heard…”. It was a straightforward two words reply: لا أدري.

This is the simplicity of the scholars. They speak when they have knowledge and they remain silent when they don’t know.

Then there are those arrogant people, who might have just climbed the first step of the ladder of seeking knowledge; when they come in the public, over the stage, in front of the mic, they would rush to answer each and every question, whether they know the answer or not. For them, it is against their honor to say: I don’t know.

Allaah save us from such arrogance and keep us away from such arrogant people.

Ibn Taymiyyah: "Let not these criteria pass you by"

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah, رحمه الله said:

“Let not these criteria pass you by: Whenever a slave’s love for his Lord gets stronger, the number of (worldly) things he loves gets reduced and (his attachment) to the things he loves will also diminish. And whenever his (love for his Lord) weakens, the number of (worldly) things he loves will increase (and his attachment towards them will get stronger) and will be widespread.

Meaning of al-Ihsaan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

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

Then (Jibreel عليه السلام) said: “Tell me about al-Ihsaan.” Al-Ihsaan is a derivative of Ahsan (better) Yuhsan (improve), and it is (exerting efforts in) doing good.

Doing al-Ihsaan in the rights of the Creator (means): The foundation of one’s worship is based on: a) sincerity to Allaah تعالى and b) in accordance with the (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. So whenever a person is (more) sincere and (more precise) in following (the Sunnah), the better he gets. 

Tafseer: {The way Shaitaan plots}

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In continuation of the previous post: “The eight facts about Shaitaan’s plot”, the following is further explanation of the points mentioned in that post from the following Books of Tafseer:

1. Tafseer al-Muyassar - King Fahad Qur'aan Printing Press.

2. Tafseer Ibn Katheer.

3. Tafseer al-Tabaree.

4. Tafseer al-Sa`dee.

**********

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ﴾

{(Iblees) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).”} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 16-17]

A few facts about Shaitaan’s plot:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The eight facts about Shaitaan’s plot:

1.       Shaitaan has ways of deceiving people.

2.       These ways are limited and they never change.

3.       For centuries he has been misleading the people with the same tactics.

4.       He approaches different people from different angles.

5.       We have been informed by Allaah تعالى in the Qur’aan and through His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about all his many different tactics and how to protect ourselves from them.

6.       His plots are weak.

7.       The strength of Shaitaan is inversely proportional to our Imaan; meaning, the one with weak Imaan will easily fall prey to his plots and whispers. But the ones with strong Imaan will have little or no effects from his plots and whispers.

8.       All this is possible only by Allaah’s Will.

The Characteristics of a Da`ee (caller to Islaam):

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“No doubt (the Da`ee) should have these three (qualities):

1. Knowledge.

2. Gentleness.

3. Sabr.

Knowledge before enjoining (good) and forbidding (evil), gentleness while doing that, and Sabr after doing that.”

[al-Istiqaamah (2/233)]

From the statements of the Salaf regarding Du`aa

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. Being guided towards making Du`aa is itself a big success:

`Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “I am not concerned about the response, but what concerns me is the Du`aa (itself). If the Du`aa is inspired*, then the answer (surely) follows it.” [Iqtidhaa al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (2/706)]

* Meaning: Allaah تعالى guides a person to make Du`aa, then teaches him how to make it, then assists him in making it, and then grants him what he has requested. Like how Allaah تعالى taught Aadam عليه السلام the words of repentance and thereafter forgave him:

Clothe Imaan with Taqwa:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Wahb bin Munabbih رحمه الله said:

“Imaan (Faith) is naked, its clothes are al-Taqwa (Piety / God-consciousness), its beauty is al-Hayaa (Modesty) and its wealth is in its Fiqh (Understanding).”

[Sifatu al-Safwah (2/291)]

When you are feeling helpless:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Remember that Surah Yusuf was revealed in “the Year of Sorrow” (`aam al-Huzn) when the uncle and wife of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم passed away.^[1]

Therein, Allaah تعالى says: {And Allaah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.} [Surah Yusuf (12):21]

A 100 years after that Surah was revealed, Islaam reached Spain! Allaah kept His promise then - Allaah will surely keep it with us. Do you have any doubt?

Ibn `Ataa said: "No one who is afflicted by distress hears this Surah, except that he will find solace in it." [Tafseer al-Baghawee (2/474)]

*******

[1] There is no authentic narration to confirm the exact reason and time for the revelation of this Surah, but this is what is most famous regarding it among the historians and that it was revealed 2-3 years before the Hijrah. And Allaah knows best.