| Regarding innovations in the religion |
| Question: His eminence, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) was asked concerning bid’ah (innovations). |
| Answer: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said regarding innovations: “Be careful about the invented matters for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire.” And if this is so, then one has to be warned from following any innovation, whether it is initial or continual, for it is, as the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “in the fire”, meaning that misguidance is the cause of the punishment in the fire and the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned his nation from the innovations necessitating that that they are a sheer corruption because the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said generally concerning this: “every innovation is misguidance”. Therefore, the innovations, in reality are indirect criticisms of the Shari’ah; because they necessicate the implication that the Shar’iah is incomplete and that the innovation is a more perfect form of worship to seek nearness to Allaah as the innovator claims. Then to the innovator we say: “Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire". And it is a duty to warn about all the innovations and that mankind not worship Allaah except by what Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) have legislated. In this way, one’s Imaam will truly be the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), for whomsoever follows the path of innovation then he has made the innovator his Imaam in that innovation, instead of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). |
| Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen |
| Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il - Volume Two, Number 345 |
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Regarding Innovations in the Religion
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Using Abbreviations in Islamic Terminology
Question:
Is it permissible to write the letter (S) [Saad] instead of (writing) ((sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)), and why?
Response:
The Sunnah is to write the entire phrase ((sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)) - since it is a supplication; And the supplication is a (form of) worship, such as verbally saying it (the phrase), and the abbreviation for it using the letter (S) [Saad] or (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) [Saad 'Ayn Waaw] (or (SAAW) or the like) is not (constitute) a supplication, and nor a (form of) worship, whether it be by speech or writing. And because of this, this abbreviation was not used by those of the first three generations about whom the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) bore witness to their excellence.And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz; ((Raheemahullaah))
Member: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'oodFataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 12, Page 208, Question 3 of Fatwa No.5069
Kibr: A Barrier to Paradise
*As Salaamu alaikum. This article has a huge break in the middle of it. InshaAllaah scroll down for it's entirety. BarakAllaahu feekum.*
By Imaam ’Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Naasir as-Sa’dee (d.1376H)
Learn about the prohibited type of Pride (kibr) so that you may free yourself of it!
As regards outer beauty, then it includes cleanliness of the body, clothes and place. As regards to inner beauty, then it is beautifying the character.
| From ’Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood who related that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘‘Whoever has an atoms worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise." So a man asked: 'What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: ‘‘Indeed Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr (pride) is to reject the truth, and to despise the people.’’ [2] |
So Allaah - the Most High - informs us that the Hellfire is the abode of those who have kibr (pride and arrogance). And we learn from the (above) hadeeth that: ‘‘Whoever has an atoms worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise.’’ So this is a proof that kibr (pride) necessitates entry to Hellfire and prevents entry into Paradise. And this comprehensive explanation that the Prophet mentioned has clarified the meaning of kibr (pride) in the clearest possible manner. So he divided kibr into two types:
[1] PRIDE AGAINST THE TRUTH:
This is to reject the truth and not to accept it. So anyone who rejects the truth is proud and arrogant – in accordance with what he rejects of the truth. So it is obligatory upon everyone to humble themselves to the truth which Allaah sent His Messenger with, and which He sent down in His Book. As for those whose pride and arrogance prevents them from totally complying with the Messengers (i.e. having eemaan or faith in them and their message) - then they are kuffaar (unbelievers) who will dwell in the Hellfire for eternity. Since when the Truth comes to them via the Messengers, who explain to them the signs and clear proofs, they reject it and are prevented from accepting it, due to the kibr that they harbour in their hearts. Allaah - the Most High - said:
‘‘Indeed those who argue about the Signs of Allaah without any authority having come to them, there is nothing in their hearts except kibr (pride). They will never accept the Prophet Muhammad as a Prophet.’’ [Sooratul-Ghaafir 40:56]
As for those whose arrogance and pride prevent them from complying with parts of the truth - because it opposes their personal opinions of their whims and desires – then such people are not kuffaar (unbelievers), but such an action necessitates them being punished in accordance with what they have of kibr. This is why the Scholars have agreed that whenever the Sunnah (guidance and way) of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has been explained to anyone, then it is not lawful for him to turn away from it to the saying of someone else, whoever and whatever status he may have.
So it is obligatory upon the seeker of knowledge to give complete and absolute precedence to the saying of Allaah and the saying of His Messenger over and above the saying of anyone else, and that he should make the basis to which he returns, and the foundation upon which he builds: following the guidance of the Prophet, striving hard to understand what is intended from it, and following this both inwardly and outwardly. When a person conforms
to this great principal, then he has indeed reached goodness and excellence and all his errors will be forgiven to him; since his overall objective is to follow that which has been prescribed upon him. So his errors are excused due to his striving his best to recognize and comply with the truth - and this is humbling oneself to the truth.
[2] PRIDE TOWARDS PEOPLE:
This type is to despite the people and to look down upon them. This attitude arises when a person is amazed with his own self, thinks highly of himself, and thinks he is better than others. So this causes him to have kibr towards the creation despise them, mock them, and to degrade them through both speech and action. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘‘It is enough evil for a person to despise his Muslim brother.’’ [3]
This is why the man asked: "What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing good clothes and shoes?" Because he feared that this was the kibr which would be under the treat of punishment. So the Prophet explained to him that this was not from kibr, since this person was one who complied with the truth, and was humble towards people, and that this was from the truth, and from the beauty that Allaah loves, for indeed Allaah – the Most High - is beautiful in His Dhaat (Self), Sifaat (Attributes) and Af’aal (Actions), and He loves both outer and inner beauty.
As regards outer beauty, then it includes cleanliness of the body, clothes and place. As regards to inner beauty, then it is beautifying the character. This is why the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate: ‘‘O Allaah! Guide me to having beautiful manners and characteristics, no one can guide me to beautifying them except You. And turn away from me all evil actions and characteristics, no one can turn them away from me except You.’’ [4]
Footnotes:
[1] Bahjatul-Quloobul- Abraar (pp. 156-158)
[2] Related by Muslim in his Saheeh (1/65)
[3] Related by Muslim (no. 2564)
[4] Saheeh: Related by an-Nisaa‘ee (no. 861). It was authenticated by Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee in his Sifatus-Salaah (p. 93)
Monday, August 3, 2009
"But if he intends to do an evil act........"
Abdullah bin Abbas (RadiAllaahu anhu) reported: Messenger of Allaah (SalAllaahu alaihe wa sallam) said;
that Allaah(Subhaana wa ta ala) has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then he explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allaah records it for him as a full good deed, but he who carries out his intention, then Allaah (Subhaana wa ta ala) writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allaah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allaah writes it down as one bad deed."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Saying "Shukran"
| The ruling on saying ''shukran'' to the one who rendered goodness to a person |
| Question: What is the ruling on saying "shukran" to the one who rendered goodness to a person? |
| Answer: Whoever did that has abandoned that which is more superior, which is the saying, "JazaakAllaahu khayran" (may Allaah reward you with good). And in Allaah lies success. |
| Shaykh Ahmad bin Yahyaa an-Najmee |
| Fath Rabbil-Wadood Fil-Fataawaa war-Rasaa'il war-Rudood 1/68, no. 30 |
| Translated by Abu `Iyaad Amjad Rafiq |