CLASS NOTES: The 7th Condition..Al Qubool, the acceptance

Our brother Abu Yusuf Khaleefah presented to us the seventh condition of La Illaha IllAllaah mentioned by the Scholars of Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama’ah, which is Al Qubool, the acceptance, which negates the rejection and arrogance.

The acceptance meaning the acceptance of the requirements of La Illaha IllAllaah, with one’s heart, tongue and by way of one’s actions.

When one accepts La Illaha IllAllaah and that which it necessitates, this will negate the rejection and also negate pride.

From the proofs mentioned by the Ulema for this condition is Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala mentioning in Surah (43:23-25):

(43:23)

“And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad SalAllaahu alaihe wa Sallam) to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps."

Where Allaah says “..We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam)..”, here, Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala is informing the Prophet Muhammad SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam that he is not the only one whose message was rejected or turn down. And in Allaah Subhanahu wa taa ala mentioning to the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam that which took place with the previous Messengers was a means of strengthening him. That is by when an individual knows that he is not the only one going through a hardship and that there are others who have experienced the same type of difficulties, if not more, this lightens the burden of one dealing with their trials and tribulations. It also establishes that the Prophet is not being rejected because he is calling to falsehood, rather he is being rejected because the people prefer falsehood over the truth.
The Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam was commanded by Allaah to clarify his position and that which he was upon. And in this is a guideline for us to follow.

Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala mentions in Surah (12:108):

Say (O Muhammad SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)."

Here, the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam is clarifying his methodology and that is :

1. (In him saying) “This is my path, this is my way, I call to Allaah.”

2. His call to Allaah is upon Basheera (insight), knowledge and wisdom.

3. He was commanded to praise Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala and glorifying Him by saying “SubhaanAllaah! (Glory be to Allaah, the Most High, Who is far removed from imperfection). And that he was not from amongst the polytheists.

This is an indication that his call was to Allaah, upon insight and done sincerely for Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala.

So those in the field of giving dawah are to:

1. Call to Allaah and not to oneself

2. Call upon knowledge and wisdom , not ignorance and oppression.

3. Be sincere in one’s call, not doing it to be seen or for worldly purpose.

Also from the verse (43:23), from the elite of these people “the luxurious ones”, they would oppose the warners. And in a lot of cases you will find the rich being in opposition to the haqq (truth) because of what Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala has given them from the dunya as a test, they take it as a sign that they are upon guidance.

The Ulema have mentioned that whoever is an evil person but has a lot of riches and because of those riches the individual sees him or herself upon guidance, they have the misconception of Fir’awn, one of the greatest tyrants known in the history of mankind, considered himself as being upon what was correct because of which Allaah has decreed for him to have from the riches of this dunya. But in reality, it was Musa (Alayhis Salaam) and Haroon and their followers who did not have the riches that Fir’awn possessed but believed in Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala and His message and they were the ones upon the truth.

So money is not the measuring stick to decide who is upon which is correct and who is not upon what is correct. As the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam mentions that had this dunya (world) been equal to the wing of a mosquito with Allaah, then Allaah would not have given a kafir (disbeliever) a drink of water from this dunya. The dunya is something that is given to the believers and disbelievers alike, but the deen is only given to the believers. So be aware of judging who is upon the truth (starting with ourselves) by how much of the worldly possessions an individual has.

(43:24)

"(The warner) said: "Even if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?" They said: "Verily, We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."

(43:25)

"So We took revenge of them, then see what was the end of those who denied (Islâmic Monotheism)."

These verses entail a great amount of benefit. It shows that the acceptance of La Illaha IllAllaah and that which it entails is a must. Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala mentions how He dealt with those who would deny or not accept (reject) the message. And they did this from following the ways of their forefathers.

Also from the proofs are verses (37:35-36):

(37:35)

"Truly, when it was said to them: Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh "(none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)," they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it)."

(37:36)

"And (they) said: "Are we going to abandon our âliha (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?"

This means that when they were called to La Illaha IllAllaah, they responded in an arrogant manner (though they were not called in that manner).

Arrogance is a dangerous affair that will prevent a person from entering into the Paradise.

Pride is from the characteristics of the disbelievers, it is from the characteristics of the hypocrites and it is from the characteristics of Iblees (satan).

Also in these verses, Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala describes to us another evil characteristic from the characteristics of the disbelievers when rejecting the truth. And that is that when they are called to the truth, they attack the integrity of the caller (attack the caller’s character) and describe them with that which is not befitting (as in “mad poet“). They try to justify this as an excuse to reject the truth and to arrogantly turn away.

The statement of La Illaha IllAllaah is easy to say upon the tongue, to believe in the heart and for one to live by. The proof of this is in Surah (7:42):

"But those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and worked righteousness - We tax not any person beyond his scope, such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein."

So when calling the people to Islaam, we inform them that entering into the fold of Al-Islaam is something that is not a burden or something that cannot be attained or practiced in all places and at all times.

From the narrations as a proof is from Sahih Al Bukhari, hadeeth #79:

Narrated Abu Musa (RadiAllaahu anhu): The Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam said, “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain-water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain-water and Allaah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and to irrigate the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then the land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allaah’s religion (Islaam) and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allaah Subhanahu wa at ala has revealed through me (The Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa Sallam) and learns and then teaches it to others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allaah’s guidance revealed through me (he is like the barren land).”

In this hadeeth, the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam describes three (3) types of land:

1. The land that has taken in water and brought forth vegetation, a good fertile land.

2. The land which did not take in the water, however it contained the water and the water was used for agriculture, to drink, for animals to use and the likes.

3. A Barren land, a hard land. This land did not take in the water nor did it hold and contain the water for people to benefit from it.

The Ulema mentioned the example of the first land, that took in the rain-water, that brought forth vegetation and benefit from the water, this is an example of those who have understood that which the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam came with, they eternalized it , they benefited from it and then they taught others (benefiting the  people with the knowledge). This individual is one who has understanding of the deen. The second land, that does not take the water in for itself but holds the water to benefit the people by way of drinking and the likes, this refers to those who have memorized that which The Messenger SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam brought and the people benefit from their memorization. However the ones who memorized, they do not have understanding of that which they memorize. The third land, that does not take in the rain-water nor contain the water for people to benefit from it, this is an example of the one who has no concern for that which the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam came with. The person does not accept the knowledge and the guidance from the Prophet, rather they turn away from it and reject it. Just like this barren land, they do not benefit from it nor do they benefit others.

Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala mentions in Surah (6:122):

"Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fair­seeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do."

This revelation of Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala is a light and guidance from Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala and He gives it to who-so-ever He  Subhanahu wa ta ala pleases. As not everyone will be from the first group mentioned by the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam. It is possible that we may not be from the second group. As many of the people (people in general) on this earth are from the third group. The majority of the people on the earth have no concern for what the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam has brought from the knowledge and the guidance. The people are distracted by the delights and the temporary pleasures of this world from which the shaitan makes fairseeming (such as money, power, fame, glory and other than that). The shaitan does this to distract from what is most important and distracts from fulfilling the purpose of one’s creation.
So it is upon us to always want the best and to ask Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala to make us of those from the first group, as the first group is the best from the other three. Those examples paint a picture for us to know what to strive for and to ask Allaah Subhanahu wa ta ala for.

The Scholars have mentioned that from this narration we see the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam described that which he has come with (knowledge and guidance) as the rain-water and indeed there is a benefit in it. As the rain-water gives life to the earth, likewise the knowledge and the guidance gives life to the dead hearts and the dead souls.
And the benefit is that the knowledge and the guidance has an affect upon an individual. In order for us to be from the best of the people, the knowledge and the guidance that we learn from the Prophet SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam has to have a positive affect upon us. Meaning that once we learn, something changes inside and then after that change inside the results of that change is seen outwardly and that is when others begin to benefit.

Please refer to the class recordings for extended benefit:

http://sites.google.com/site/whatisislamlearningseries/home/multimedia

If there are any mistakes that I have made in relaying this class in text form please forgive me.

These classes by our brother Abu Yusuf Khaleefa are on Paltalk (religion>Islam>What is Islam1) on Wednesdays and Sundays @ 9pm est
For previous class recordings please visit : http://whatisislam1.multiply.com

Barak Allaahu feekum