Some Tremendous Scholarly Benefits Relayed by student Abu Remlah Adam Lazerus (hafidhahullaah)

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu ‘ala rasulullaah

Amma-ba’d

- Simple yet Tremendous Advice from the Salaf

Abul ‘Aaliyah (d. 93H, rahimahullaah) said:

“Upon you is (to stick to) the First Affair which they used to be upon BEFORE the people split (and deviated).”

Ibn ‘Abbaas  (radiallaahu ‘anhumma) advised Uthman Al-Azdi:

“Upon you is to have Taqwaa of Allaah and uprightness; FOLLOW and do NOT innovate.” شرح السنة للبغوي

- The Importance of Tawheed & Rectification of ‘Aqeedah

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did NOT care about establishing the state (a government), rather he only gave care to establishing at-Tawheed!

- Ahlus-Sunnah Do not Betray the Truth

Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ahmad Subay’ee (hafidhahullaah) said:

A person of Sunnah may fall short and may sin [it's possible], but he doesn’t betray the Truth, like Ahl-Ahwa` (people of desires & bidah) betray it.

- The Importance of Sincerity and a Warning against what opposes it

Shaikh Abu ‘Uthmaan Muhammad Al-Anjaaree (hafidhahullaah) said:

There’s a difference between (one) who wants to spread the Truth & between (one) who wants his status to be raised due to spreading the Truth.

Shaikh Abu ‘Uthmaan Muhammad Al-Anjaaree (hafidhahullaah) said:

Do not use your Religion or your ‘Aqeedah as a bridge to attain your wordly goals. Allaah is the most not in need of Shirk!

- Clarity in The Religion – distinction between truth and falsehood – and closing the door to any confusion

Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ahmad Subay’ee (hafidhahullaah) said:

To say generally “go to the people of knowledge” doesn’t provide guidance to the creation. We must name them as the Salaf did – after the fitnah occurred - as in Sahih Muslim: “Name us your men.” So now, name for us: who are the trustworthy carriers of knowledge whom you guide the youth to? So it is necessary that we name Shaikh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhalee, Shaikh ‘Ubaid al-Jaabiree, Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan, and other than them upon their way, so people won’t be upon ignorance and confusion.

Shaikh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) said:

“Verily, the true Religion of Islaam separates, and that is because the Qur`an separates. It separates between truth and falsehood, and our da’wah separates between truth and falsehood. And due to that, our Da’wah – which is the da’wah of truth – separates between the person of truth and the person of falsehood. And that is what the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did when he came with his da’wah.”

Shaikh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Upon you is to have (تميز) differentiation in your da’wah. Ahl-Sunna MUST clarify Truth which differentiates between them & ahl-bidah.

Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ahmad Subay’ee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Whoever only wants to confront outright falsehood, then most of the time he doesn’t strive to make the Truth clear & apparent.

- Beware of Ahlul-Bid’ah and their deceptions, false claims, tricks, lies…

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Dr. Ibraheem Ruhayli – and those like him – deceive the Salafees and the beginner students of knowledge, so due to that we say:  They are people of doubts; it is not permissible to:

* sit with them
* or listen to them
* or take knowledge from them.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

In this time, they come with a new Manhaj, saying, ‘so and so is Salafee or Sunni, but he has mistakes.’ But when you look into his mistakes, you see he is a Kharijee or Rafidee by speaking bad about the sahaaba, or Jahmee. So this claim of theirs (that he is Salafee) is false. [Sharh Ibaana Sughraa]

Ibn ‘Awn (d.151H, rahimahullaah) said:

“Those who sit with ahl-bidah are MORE SEVERE upon us than ahl-bidah themselves.”

Shaykh ‘Ubaid ibn ‘Abdullaah al-Jaabiree (hafidhahullaah) said:

Nothing has strengthened many of ahl-bidah today as much as the excuses made for them by some who claim to be from Ahl-Sunnah!

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee Al-Madkhali (hafidhahullaah) said:

Theseجمعيات (dawah organizations) STEAL PEOPLE’S ‘AQEEDAH by giving them money!

- From Jihaad in the way of Allaah

Shaykh Ahmad ibn Yahya An-Najmee (rahimahullaah) said:

Seeking knowledge of the Qur`an, Sunnah & way of Salaf FROM SALAFI SCHOLARS is from striving in the Path of Allaah.

Shaykh Ahmad ibn Yahya An-Najmee (rahimahullaah) said:

Striving against ahl-bidah, and clarifying their danger and corruption is from striving in the Path of Allaah.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Ibn Battah (rahimahullaah) listed names of imams of misguidance, even though they were dead and gone, so that all who live after can beware of their books.

- A Warning against Refusing to Aid the Truth

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said:

As for the mukathilah (those who don’t aid the truth and its people) today, they are treacherously attacking Ahlus-Sunnah. By Allaah, they are more harmful than those who are originally people of Bid’ah, whose bid’ah is apparent (those who don’t hide their bid’ah). The Salaf used to warn against those who sit with Ahlul-Bid’ah, so what about someone who takes Ahlul-Bid’ah as companions and defends them. There is no doubt he is from Ahlul-Bid’ah; he openly defends them.

Shaikh Abu ‘Uthmaan Muhammad Al-Anjaaree (hafidhahullaah) said:

From the enemies of Ahlus-Sunnah are al-mukhaithilah (those who don’t aid the truth and its people), and from al-mukhaithilah are those sick with a hidden desire: the disease of loving fame, leadership, and finding status for oneself. 

[For an amazing read, click here: A Beautiful Prohibition to the Person of Sunnah by Shaykh Ahmad as-Subay'ee ]

- No one is above the truth!

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

When we mention Abu Hanifa’s opposition to the hadeeth, it doesn’t mean we disgrace him, but the hadeeth are greater to our hearts.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

The one who speaks without knowledge should be advised; if he doesn’t accept, he should be boycotted & abandoned إبانةصغرى

- The importance of Following the Sunnah, and the Deviance of those who prevent it!

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) relayed that Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) said:

“Whoever prohibits people from raising their hands during the prayer (at the start of the prayer, before ruku’, and after ruku’) is an Innovator!

‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu ‘ahumma) would gather pebbles to throw at whoever he saw not raising his hands during the prayer – to show his rejection of them – because they opposed the Sunnah of Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” [Sharh Ibaana Sughraa]

Ibn Abi Dawood (d. 316 H, rahimahullaah) said:

The people of opinion are people of bid’ah. —-> Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said: Verily, bid’ah is the result of opinion.

- How Evil are Ahlul-Bid’ah! They Hate Hadeeth!

Baqiyyah said: “[Imam] Al-Awza’ee said to me:

‘Oh Abu Muhammad. What do you say about a people who hate the hadeeth of their Prophet?’ So I said: ‘They are an evil people.’

Then Al-Awza’ee said:

There’s not a person of bid’ah that you tell him a hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (salaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that opposes his bid’ah except that he hates the hadeeth!”

[Sharf AsHabul-Hadeeth al-Khateeb]  [So instead of repenting and freeing himelf from his bid'ah and hating his bid'ah, he chooses instead to hate revelation! How evil are Ahlul-Bid'ah!!]

Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ahmad Subay’ee (hafidhahullaah) said:

From the virtues and tremendous Mercy and Generosity of Allaah is that all the Imams of the Arabic language were likewise Imams from Ahlus-Sunnah until the 3rd Generation. So the correct understanding of the meanings of the Qur`an and Sunnah were preserved how the Sahaaba understood them. Then Ahlul-Bid’ah saw how they can use the language to mis-interpret the meanings of the text to lead the people astray. They also translated the bid’ah of the disbelievers and clothed it in Arabic.

Shaykh ‘Ubaid ibn ‘Abdullaah al-Jaabiree (hafidhahullaah) said:

And all the new da’wah groups are opponents to Salafiyyah, and they are all enemies to the Sunnah. This is because they are astray and lead others astray. And what is sufficient as a proof of their misguidance is that they have all been established upon the statements of mankind and the foundations laid by mankind… But as for Salafiyyah, it has no founder from amongst mankind, rather it is from Allaah! It was [conveyed] by the Prophets and Messengers.

- Loving for Allaah’s Sake

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said:

1- Love & Hate for Allaah’s sake is a tremendous foundation of Eeman in the books of ‘Aqeedah; it is WAJIB on the Muslim to pay CLOSE attention!

2- Must Love for Allaah’s sake (the one) who is upright on obedience to Allaah & His Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) - EVEN IF no relation (to you), far away & against you in worldly matters!

3- Must Hate for Allaah (the one) who opposes Allaah & His Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), or befriends opposers EVEN IF (he is) close relative (of yours) or aids you in worldly matters إبانةصغرى

- Tazkiya is upon knowledge

Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said:

Don’t recommend & praise someone EXCEPT UPON KNOWLEDGE…If only those who recommend people would stop doing that. شرح السنة#

- Reasons for Deviance!

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Everyone who has left the path of Ahl-Sunnah has [left] due to his sitting with the people of desires & innovations. إبانةصغرى

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

If you sit with a person of bidah, it’s your first step to becoming from ahl-bidah & leaving Ahl-Sunnah; your Deen has weakened.

Abu Qulaabah (d.107 H, rahimahullaah) said:

Verily the people of desires(bid’ah) are people of misguidance, and I only see that their path leads to the Hellfire.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

Da’wah to ahl-bidah does NOT necessitate any friendship or keeping company with them or prolonged sitting with them.

- Cheating and Deceiving the Ummah

Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) said:

If you’re asked about one you know has been refuted, but you remain silent, then you have CHEATED the ummah of Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).  إبانة

 Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said:

Remaining silent about ahlul-bid’a is the greatest ghish (deception) of the Muslims, and is not permissible!

- Harming the perception of Islaam, making themselves obstacles in the spread of Islaam

Shaykh ‘Ubaid ibn ‘Abdullaah al-Jaabiree (hafidhahullaah) said:

During the first three virtuous generations, thousands – if not Millions – had entered Islaam out of love for it and love for its people. And they saw how Islaam preserved their rights, wealth and lives. They saw in it justice and that the Muslims ruled with justice, and a Muslim couldn’t oppress a disbeliever. If a disbeliever had a right taken by a Muslim, he could take him to a judge and get his right. So are the Khawaarij who (falsely) claim to be “Ahlus-Sunnah” upon this? Never!!

Shaykh Rabee’ on Hijrah to Britain Question about Escaping to the West answered by Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee may Allaah preserve him.

On more than one occasion, Shaykh Rabee’ has made the points translated below. In fact, he says these things every time he is asked about migrating to the West and living there.

Question

May Allaah be benevolent to you; here is a question from the Salafi youth in Britain. They are asking about the ruling on residing in the lands of the unbelievers in order to escape the injustice of rulers in some Muslim countries. [They also ask about] the ruling on taking a British nationality.

Answer

Allaah knows best, 90% of those who go to Europe and America go there not because any government is chasing them, not because of anything [like this]. Even if a government is trying to pursue [a Muslim], he should be patient and endure. When Ahmad b. Hanbal was tortured, did he go off to the lands of unbelief? I ask you: Ahmad b. Hanbal and others, then Ibn Taymiyah, when [the rulers] harmed them incessantly and imprisoned them, did they flee to the lands of unbelief? Allaah bless you, he should be patient, he should live in his own country, even in prison, it is better for him than going to Europe and America, especially since these [countries] have measures and policies to recruit Muslims into their societies, to Christianize them and convert them to atheists and heretics (zanaadiqah). These are old strategies which they are applying now and many corrupt preachers and corrupt scholars are striving to recruit Muslims into European societies now.

So why go to these countries? Why not be patient even if the government [of the Muslim country] pursues you, be patient, it is better for you. Many people go [to other counties] without being pursued. They go to eat and drink and serve the Jews and Christians in their countries, degrading themselves and Islam. Allaah bless you, He has promised he will provide your sustenance, whoever fears Allaah and obeys Him, He will make a way out for him and sustain him from where he would not imagine (Quran 65: 3). All you have to do is fear Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and obey Him (practice taqwaa) and your provision will come from places you would not imagine. A person never dies until he has fulfilled everything that was written for him. But Shaytan beautifies for him the idea of going to the West, so he can live there the life of cattle, first in derision and meekness, and then in tribulation and danger surrounding him and his family. When your child is six years old, where will he study? He will study in the schools of the Jews, atheists, secularists and Christians, and they will teach him their way of life, and they will not distinguish [between Muslims and non-Muslims] in this regard, may Allaah bless you.

Adopting an unbelieving foreign nationality instead of an Islamic one has been declared an act of Kufr by some scholars. A person does not take this nationality except after becoming prepared by submitting to the laws of these countries and aligning his loyalty to them and his enmity for those who go against them. He might also be prepared by fighting [for them]. If the Islamic army approached the unbelievers land, he [would have to] face the Islamic army because he has become a soldier for the enemies of Allaah and is prepared. They might enlist and prepare him to fight the Muslims in their own lands, as has occurred in Afghanistan. They recruited Muslims to fight the Afghans and a fatwa (religious edict) was issued by some corrupt scholars stating it is allowed for [a Muslim] to fight the Muslims to confirm his nationality and his allegiance to America. This is the fatwaa of Al-Qardawi, who occupies a great status amongst Muslims due to this fatw?. All?h bless you, how many evil corrupt edicts there are! We ask All?h for protection and wellbeing!

Right now, measures are being taken in the West to achieve these goals: to recruit Muslims into Western societies. How can you go there in these circumstances? It is obligatory upon Muslims to migrate [back] to their lands when they hear of these actions and attempts to integrate and merge them into the Western societies.

From a recording entitled Means for the Rise of the Ummah by the Noble Shaykh Rabee’ b. Haadee al-Madkhalee may Allaah preserve him, attended also by Shaykh Abdul-Azeez al-Bur’ee (may Allaah preserve him) Part of the Ramad?n Sittings series, 20/09/1426H.

Do not give up in repenting to Allah

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say:

“A person committed a sin and said: ‘My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave.’

Then as much time passed as Allaah willed, then he committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them?  I have forgiven My slave.’

Then as much time passed as Allaah willed, then he committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave,’ – three times.”  [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7507; Muslim, 2758. ]

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) included this hadeeth under the heading:

“Acceptance of repentance from sins even if the sins and repentance happen repeatedly.”

He said in his Sharh:
We have already discussed this issue at the beginning of the Book of Repentance. These ahaadeeth clearly point to that, and even if the sin is repeated a hundred times or a thousand times or more, and he repents each time, his repentance will be accepted and his sin will be erased. And if he repents once from them all, his repentance will be valid.
Sharh Muslim, 17.75. s

Whistling and Clapping Hands is from Jaahiliyyah

They performed worship by whistling and clapping their hands.

- the explanation -

From the aspects of the Days of Ignorance that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) opposed them in was their performance of worship to Allaah by means of whistling and clapping. Allaah says:

وَمَا كَانَ صَلاَتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلاَّ مُكَاء وَتَصْدِيَةً فَذُوقُواْ الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

“And their prayer at the House (Ka’bah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. So taste the torment because of what you used to disbelieve.” [Surah Al-Anfaal:25]

This means: The worship that the polytheists performed to Allaah at the sacred Ka’bah was nothing more than whistling and clapping.

The word mukaa means whistling, while tasdeeyah means clapping with the hands and palms. They would do this while at the House of Allaah and call it prayer, seeking nearness to Allaah through it. This is one of the things the devils among mankind and the jinn beautified to them, in order to deceive them.

Worship is not to be done except according to what Allaah has legislated – so it is dependent upon revelation. A person must not introduce something from his own self or take it from someone else when it is not according to what Allaah has legislated, thus worshipping Allaah by it even though it has no source in the religion.

Here, we can derive the prohibition of these two matters, which are: whistling and clapping. They are forbidden even though one may not intend to be performing worship by them, since there can be found imitation of the polytheists in it.

As for clapping, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) only allowed it specifically¹ for women at the time of a necessity, such as to notify the Imaam if he has omitted or added something to the prayer. This was due to the fitnah that could occur from their voice if there are men present. And it is not permissible for a man to imitate the disbelievers or to imitate a women by clapping.

وَمَا كَانَ صَلاَتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلاَّ مُكَاء وَتَصْدِيَةً فَذُوقُواْ الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ1 Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه‏) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Saying Subhaanallaaah is for men and clapping is for women.” [Transmitted by Al-Bukhaaree (no. 1203) and Muslim (no. 422/106)] And in the hadeeth of Sahl bin Sa’ad, he reported that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Why is it that I see you clapping so much. Whoever is doubtful about something is the prayer, let him SubhanAllaah for if one says it, it will attract attention. Clapping is only for women.” Transmitted by Al-Bukhaaree (no. 684) and Muslim (no. 421)]

From the book Masaa’il-ul-Jaahiliyyah (Aspects of the Days of Ignorance) by Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (d.1206h) explained by Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan.

Ikhlaas in the statement of al-Ikhlaas

Ibn Hazm رحمه الله تعالى mentioned a tremendous benefit in his book ‘Takhlis li wujuh At Takhalis’ while mentioning actions which are easy to perform but carry much reward.

The person should pronounce the statement La-illaaha ilAllaah (Nothing has the right to be worshipped except for Allah) many times; because verily these are words which can be pronounced completely with the movement of the tongue without moving the lips, thus those sitting with you will not be aware that you are saying it…

Two Beautiful Transmissions From Shaikh Falaah and Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy

Sheikh Falaah Ismaa-eel (may Allaah preserve him) says that his Sheikh, Sheikh Muhammad Amaan al Jaami (Rahimahullaah) said: ”The one who is not able to exercise patience in the path of knowledge will not be able to exercise patience in worship; and the one who is not able to exercise patience in worship will not be able to exercise patience in the path of calling to Allaah.” [1]

Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) said that their shaikh Al-Allaamah Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaami (rahimahullaah) said: ‘’Rectification is more cumbersome than enactment.’’ [2]

Footnotes:

[1][Source: (Explanation of Usoolus Sitta by Sheikh Falaah Ismaa-eel at Salafipublications 2004)]May Allaah grant all of us Tawfeeq
[2][Sharh Umdatul Ahkaam: Lesson: 23:www.elbukhari.net]

The Meaning Of ‘Actions Are Only Judged By Intentions’ sources: silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor, 340/8 & nudhum al-fawaaid, 21 asaheeha translations

~ Explanation of the hadeeth: ‘Actions are only judged by intentions’ [Saheeh al-Bukhaari #1] ~

Shaikh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah):

“This hadeeth means that righteous actions are only (sound/accepted/rewarded) by sincere intentions, not that actions opposing the Legislation turn into righteous legislated actions due to coupling them with righteous intentions. No one will say that except someone ignorant or pursuing his own interests!

Many people know this hadeeth in wording but don’t understand its meaning. Why? Because oftentimes we turn (to some people) and say: ‘Yaa akhi, this action that you are doing, or this statement that you are uttering, is not a righteous action.’ What is the answer? ‘Yaa akhi, the Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Actions are only judged by intentions’ and my intention is good! My intention is righteous!’

So what is the meaning of the hadeeth? Does the hadeeth mean that evil actions are only (sound/accepted/rewarded) by righteous intentions? Or does it mean that righteous actions are only (sound/accepted/rewarded) by righteous intentions? This latter statement is the meaning. As for if one’s actions are not righteous but intention is righteous – this is not enough. Likewise it is also not enough if it is vice versa: i.e. if one’s actions are righteous but intention is not righteous. So the hadeeth gives us two opposites: just like it is a condition for righteous action that there be righteous intention, it is likewise a condition for righteous intention that there be righteous action. So either one is not enough without the other.

You hear many people nowadays swearing by their fathers for example, saying: ‘.’ Sometimes you may find a person coming to a grave and praying there – a grave of a prophet or righteous person or the like – then when they are prohibited from that, he tells you: ‘My intention is not to worship him, my intention is to seek nearness to Allaah (tawassul) through him.’ Ok, your coming to this grave – granted that the intention is righteous – is an action, so is this a righteous action? The answer is no, because the Messenger (‘alayhi ssalaam) used to say: ‘Don’t sit on the graves nor pray toward them.’ And du’aa is part of prayer, in fact du’aa is worship as he (‘alayhi ssalaam) said. Hence turning to the grave with du’aa is like turning to it with prayer: it is an action that is not righteous, and this unrighteous action is not justified by the intention being righteous, if we grant that the intention is righteous.

Thus, for our actions to be righteous, they must be in agreement with the Legislation. This is what our Lord (‘azza wa jal) pointed to with His Statement in the Noble Qur’aan: {whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate any partner in the worship of his Lord}.”

Following are the Excerpts of a speech given by Dawud Adib about seven years ago but edited for www.salafitalk.net

Before coming here today, I thought of how I would get through this talk with my voice being affected by hoarseness due to the dry heat in my apartment.

And then I began to ponder upon those who could not speak at all.

My car on the way here seems to always have some problems; tires, alternator, engine, transmission but then I quickly remembered those who do not have a car.

Growing up as a young man in the ghetto, sometimes you are teased and taunted for a variety of reasons.

I can still remember the children laughing at me, taunting and teasing me because of the size of my shoes. I used to run home and my mother would comfort me, drying the tears from my face and remind me of the old man down the street who had no feet!

Allaah has informed us in many, many places in the Qur’aan what He has done for us and of the favors He has bestowed upon us.

“He has created the Heavens and the Earth with truth (and He is) high above all those things they have associated with Him”

“And He gave you all of that which you asked for and if you were to count the Blessings of Allaah you would not be able to count them, surely the human being is an extreme ingrate, a disbeliever” Soorah Ibraaheem 14:34

The Prophet Muhammad, alaihes salaam has given us a du’aa that is the Master of ad’iyah (pl. du’aa) for seeking forgiveness. A line from that du’aa is:

“…I recognize Your ni’mah (blessings or favors) that you have bestowed upon me…”

Brother’s and sisters reflect upon Allaah’s statement:

“Has there not been over man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned?”

The Prophet, alaihes Salaatu was Salaam one day spit into the palm of his hand, and then wiped his (noble index) finger across the spittle and said:

“Surely Allaah Azza wal Jalla has said:

“O Son of Aadam! How is it that you (try) to render Me powerless,  when I have created you from something like this (i.e. the spittle)? I have created you and fashioned you perfectly, and given you due proportion….

In other words brothers and sisters, He could have created us with our mouths on the bottom of our feet, or our eyes between our legs or our ears near our navels, but he perfected us, giving us a beautiful form!

He Azza wa Jalla continues: “But you are walking in your clothes [the clothes that He gave us], walking proudly, stomping your feet, shaking the Earth. You accumulate and accumulate, then you hold back (giving of the wealth that I have bestowed upon you). UNTIL…your souls reach your throats, then you say:  “I’ll give charity now!”

“NOW IS THIS THE TIME FOR SADAQAH?”

Collected by al-Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad,  al-Imaam ibnu Maajah in his Sunan, Ibnu Sa’d in his Tabaqaat from Hareez ibn Uthmaan from Abdur Rahmaan ibn Maysarh, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr from Busr ibn Jahhaash al-Qurashee,  with a saheeh chain, inshaa Allaah.

Let us remember, my beloved brothers and sisters in Deen, that we used to be something unmentioned. Allaah reminds us of this:

“Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned?

“Indeed, We have created man from a nutfah (drops of mixed semen) in order to try him, so We made him hearer, seer”.

“Verily We showed him the way whether he be grateful or ungrateful.”

Sooratul Insaan [76:1-3]

We will never, ever be able to enumerate the ni’am  (pl.ni’mah ) He has granted us.

Let us look at some of them.

The Human Ear:

It is so sensitive – may Allaah allow you to hear His call – that it can perceive sound waves with an energy of only one ten thousand trillionth of a watt, and the pressure of the barest audible sound is ten billion times less than the atmospheric pressure at sea level. The threshold valley is so low that it is close to the energy of thermo motion.

In other words – may Allaah direct you to correct worship – if our ears were just a little more sensitive, we would always hear a background noise, like the molecules colliding in the air!

When a paper clip hits a wooden floor and a rocket ship takes off, they both cause vibrations or sound waves in the air. If Allaah had not created them for us out of His infinite mercy and bounty, we would be able hear the squeaking of our bones, the flowing of our blood, the beating of our hearts!

However, Allaah has created for you and I something as simple as sound waves. So now, you can hear my voice speaking to you, your baby crying, your husband or wife say: “ I love you!”

In spite of this (and that was not mentioned associated to the human ear), we still use our ears to listen to backbiting, slander gossip, music etc. instead of using them to listen to the Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah, the myriad of adhkaar (pl. dhikr) and the words of the Ulamaa.

The Human Eye:

Just the small muscles around the lens of our eyes are used more than 100, 000 times each day. If our leg muscles tried to do that much work, they would have to go on a 50-mile hike!

Eighty (80%) percent of the raw sensory information that is a basis for our knowledge is provided by our eyes.

Eighty percent of that is received into our brains.

Many of you brothers and sisters are old enough to remember the outer space expedition of Vikings I and  II that occurred between 1976 and 1980.  During that trip, more than 50,000 images of the Planet Mars were captured.  In addition, Voyages I and II transmitted about 70,000 images of Saturn and Jupiter back to Earth.

All of this took approximately two years. Combined they gathered 387 billion bits of information.  Not million brothers and sisters but billions!

But that creature – the Human Eye – that Allaah, the Best of Creators gifted us with can do more than that in 6.75 minutes!

Yet, we use this gift, the gift of sight, to stare at women (and men),  look at shows on television, movies, read magazines that we should not look at!

Allaah’s Prophet, alaihes Salaatu was Salaam has given us a du’aa, to be said in rukoo’ which reminds of us of this ni’mah, the ni’mah of (hearing) and sight:

“O Allaah, to You I have bowed, and in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted My hearing, sight, mind, bones, tendons, and what my feet carry are humbled before You!”

The Human Adult Heart:

It pushes every minute one and one half (1/12) gallons of blood, eighty seven (87) gallons every hour, 2,100 gallons every day, 766,600 gallons per year, and more than 56,000,000 gallons in a average life span of someone 74 years old.

The Human heart uses enough energy each day to lift 2,000 lbs, to a height of forty one (41) feet. By the time you are fifty years olds, your heart has done enough work equal to lifting 10,000 tons to an altitude of 142 miles!

But dear Muslims – may Allaah make your hearts firm on His Deen and His obedience  - why do we use those hearts to love that which Allaah and His Messenger, sallaahu alaihi wa sallam hate and hate what Allaah and His Messenger, sallalaahu alaihi wa sallam love ?

We spend more time cleaning our homes, clothes, cars and the like than cleaning and polishing our hearts!

The Human Skin:

We completely change it every 27 days, it keeps in body fluids, it keeps out the foreign agents, and it shields us from dangerous rays, it cools us off when the rays increase. It conserves heat in the body, and without it, you and I would not be able to feel the touch of your husband’s or wife’s hand.

The skin – may Allaah protect yours from the Fire – takes its own shape and repairs itself when damaged.

But that same skin, you do not  pay enough attention to it when perform wudoo making sure that you don’t leave any parts of it unwashed. Some of you (women) do not cover it properly with the clothing you were commanded to utilize. Some of us pay more attention to the type of lotions and creams we desire to apply upon it to please the creation, than the One who created it!

We could go on and on dear respected Muslims. We could talk about the brain, and the blood cells, the human eyelashes and eyelids, and the fact that Allaah designed them to blink when something is hurled at them, to protect our eyes.

Imagine not being able to blink!

Dear Muslims, reflect more upon what you have instead of what you do not. Look at those who are beneath you instead above you  and be grateful for what you have, for if you were to attempt to enumerate the blessings of Allaah you would not be able to calculate them.

Fa tabaarakallaahu ahsanul Khaaliqeen  (So blessed be Allaah, the Best of Creators)!

How should the woman wipe her head for Wudu? Explained by Shaykh Uthaymeen

Question:

Is the wiping of the head for the woman similar to the man? And what should she do if she has long hair? Does she wipe to the end (of her hair) and then return, or is it sufficient to wipe within the boundaries of the head of the man? 

Shaykh Uthaymeen:

It is obligatory for us to know that the legal rulings are consistent between the women and the men, and the men and the women, except where proof is established that differentiates between the two; based upon this: It is prescribed for the woman to wipe the head just as it is prescribed for the man. Thus she places her hands at the front of the head then she wipes to the back of the head, then she returns them to the place she began; just as the man does. And it is not incumbent upon her to wipe down to the bottom of her hair rather she wipes to the bottom of her hair-line. Likewise if the man has long hair down to the shoulders, then it is not incumbent upon him except to wipe down to the hair-line only.

Sneezing then Praising Allah while being led in Prayer Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aali ash-Shaykh

Question:

One of the people being led in prayer next to me sneezed and then said, “all praise is for Allah (al-Hamdullilah)” while in prayer. Is this permissible to do in prayer, and how should one respond?

Answer:

When one being led in prayer sneezes, then it is prescribed for that person to praise Allah. This is based on the narration of Mu’aadh bin Rifaa’ah bin Raafi’ from his father, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said,

“I prayed behind the Prophet, peace be upon him, when I sneezed and said al-Hamdullilah, Hamdan Katheeran, Tayeeban Mubaarakan feeh, Mubaarkan ‘alayhi Kamaa Yuhibu Rabbanaa wa Yardhaa (All praise is for Allah, many pure blessings, blessings upon him as our Lord loves and is pleased with).” So when the Prophet finished praying, peace be upon him, he asked who had spoken during prayer but no one answered. Then he asked a second time who had spoken so Rifaa’ah said, “I did Messenger of Allah.” Then he asked him what he had said and Rifaa’ah told him. The Prophet, peace be upon him said: (By the One who my soul is in His hand, I saw thirty or so angels scrambling to see which one would take it up to heaven.)

This narration is related by at-Tirmidhee who said it was a good narration as well as an-Nisaa’ee. Therefore this companion praised Allah after sneezing while he was in prayer and the Prophet, peace be upon him, approved this action, so this proves its permissibility.

From the Legal Rulings of His Eminence ash-Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abdullah Aali ash-Shaykh from the magazine Majallat-ul-Buhooth al-Islaamiyyah pages 42-43.

Translated by Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee – may Allah guide him

[Transcript] Important Principles Regarding Slaughtered Meat – Al-’Allaamah Saalih As-Suhaymee

The following is the transcription of the Speech of the Shaykh
You can watch the video with english subtitles @ my audio blog –  http://wp.me/p2sNCV-1tQ

Questioner (Shaykh Ramzaan al-Haajiree):

Shakaral-Laahu lakum. There are many questions about the asl (origin) with regards to the meat slaughtered by the Muslims.

Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee:

This topic demands some stances and the applying of some principles, so that the muslims may be aware of their affair in such issues.

Firstly: the asl (origin) in the meat slaughtered by muslims is that it is lawful. This is a principle about which no person disputes, while overlooking the possible mukhaalafaat(contradictions) that he might have.

So what is the origin in this? It is lawful. And the detailed explanation of this is that the people or countries are divided into three categories:

1. Muslim countries
2. Countries of the people of the Scripture (Jews & Christians)
3. Countries of idolworshippers

And the ruling revolves around these (three) descriptions.

So the origin of meat slaughtered by the Muslims, is that it is lawful. And even if some of them have contradictions or Shirk (polytheïsm) with them, especially in these times with regards to the worshipping of the graves, slaughtering and taking of oaths for the sake of it and the seeking of help with the dead and the likes. There is no doubt that this is Shirk!

But if you are present in Muslim countries, like: The Kingdom of Morocco, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey or Nigeria, because most of its people are Muslims. I say: if you are in a Muslim country, and the Muslims give you food, whether it is meat or something else, then mention the Name of Allaah and eat, while you are reassured!

And it is not permissible to be extreme in this issue and to leave the meat of the Muslims with the claim that they are polytheists; refuge is sought with Allaah!

Are all the Muslims connected to this issue and do all of them worship the graves?! Allaah forbid!

And if food is presented to you while you are in a Muslim country, then you should not ask! You should not ask about who slaughtered or ask about the man who came with this slaughtered meat; is he from those who connect themselves to the graves and go to them and supplicate to its people or not? Because, like I said, the origin of the slaughtered meat of the Muslims is what? It is lawful, without dispute! The meat slaughtered by the Muslims is lawful. And you concern yourself with the apparent (i.e. the outer), and Allaah takes care of the secrets (i.e. the inner).

This reminds me of some people, when a funeral from the funerals of the Muslims is brought, he then goes asking: “He used to pray or not? Did he have this and that?” You should not ask! You should not ask! The origin of a Muslim is as-salaamah (soundness). When the funeral of a Muslim is brought, then pray upon him. And you are not responsible for what is beyond that.

Also with regards to the slaughtered meat: the meat slaughtered by Muslims is lawful. So when it is presented to you, then eat from it without asking! Without any questioning or asking for details. Except in one situation; if you saw him with your own eyes doing this, and you are certain that he is from those who slaughter for the graves or worship them besides Allaah by asking them for help. In this situation it is better to stay away [from eating it], even if it is said to return back to the issue of “is he excused or not?”, but this another issue. Rather, if you are sure and you saw him doing this, then stay away [from eating it]. As for the general meat slaughtered by the Muslims and their restaurants, food and drinks… And while you are going around the earth and each time you enter a restaurant you want to ask: “Who slaughtered? Who skinned? Who did this and that?” In reality, I don’t know anyone from the people of knowledge who has said this, never!

As for the people of the Scripture, then it’s also lawful, as long as we didn’t see them electrocute it or that it was killed by a voilent blow and the likes. So if we have seen this, then we don’t eat. But if the meat comes to us and we don’t know [how they slaughtered it], then we just eat from it. Because Allaah – ‘azza wa jalla – says:

“The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.” [Surah al-Maa'idah (5): verse 5]

So if the people of the Scripture come to you with food, that doesn’t have pork or alcohol in it, then you eat from it. Except in one situation where you yourself saw that the food was slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allaah, then stay away from [eating] it. But if they initially came with this food to you, then you just eat it.

The Prophet – salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – was asked:

“We recieve food but we don’t know if the Name of Allaah has been mentioned on it or not?” [This was asked] before Islaam was fully established and while there were polytheists in the Arabian Peninsula. So what did the Prophet – salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – say? “Mention the Name of Allaah on it and eat it.”

Thirdly: when I am in a country of the idolworshippers, like China, Vietnam, Laos and some parts of India, with worshippers of Buddha and the likes; here you don’t eat [their meat]! Except if one of the Muslims or people of the Scripture comes to you with food. But with them [idolworshippers], it is obligatory to ask for details! If it is with those idolworshippers, then you must ask for details in this situation.

So the Muslims have to fear Allaah in the issue of fataawaa (verdicts) with regards to this topic and others. And they must return back to the scholars who are grounded in knowledge, so that they may clarify the truth to them with its proof. And instead of ingaging in an issue where the person is not fit to give fataawaa or speak about it… And it is from the calamities that the small students of knowledge like us do not return back to the scholars who are grounded in knowledge and who research their fataawaa. And he comes and engages in giving fataawaa; this is from the great [sins].

May Allaah grant all of us succes to what He loves and what He is pleased with. And may Allaah raise the rank of our Prophet Mohammed and grant him peace.

Prophet’s (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Amazing Advice to Abu Dharr (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu)

After delivering the Friday sermon this last week (1/6/2012) and the previous week (25/5/2012) in the discussion of the beautiful and lengthy hadeeth of Abi Dharr Al Ghifaari Radhiyallaahu Anhu who was advised by the Messenger – Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi wa salam – after asking him numerous questions, some of my beloved brothers (May Allaah reward them) requested that I send the hadeeth out for benefit.As I mentioned in the sermon, some parts of the hadeeth are saheeh, some parts hasan and some Da’eef (weak). For benefit I will mention firstly the authentic (whether saheeh or hasan) parts of the hadeeth as one text so that the reader benefits from the flow of the text, then I will follow that up by mentioning which parts are Saheeh and hasan and I will also add the da’eef sections of the hadeeth (inred) as they occur in the original text, that the reader may be aquainted with it, quoting in that regard, the rulings of Shaikh Al Albaani upon it.Thus here is the text of the Hadeeth, and I ask Allaah that He benefits my brothers and sisters with it.

–

Upon the authority of Abi Dharr – Radhiyallaahu ‘Anhu – who said: “I entered the masjid (on an occassion) and found the Messenger of Allaah – Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Was Sallam – sitting alone. He said (to me): ‘Oh Abaa Dharr! Indeed the masjid has a greeting and its greeting is to pray two rak’ah, so stand and pray them.’ So I stood and I performed them.

Then I returned and sat with him and said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah!, Indeed you have commanded me with Salaah, so what is Salaah?’

He said: ‘The best (act of worship) sent down! So perform much of it or little!(meaning the choice is yours, but the more of its ‘legislated’ forms you perform the better).’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Which action is best?’

He said: ‘To have belief in Allaah and to make Jihaad in his way.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Which of the believers is most complete in Faith?’

He said: ‘The one that has the best character.’

So I said: ‘Which of the believers has the best Islam?’

He said: ‘The one who the people are safe from his tongue and his hand.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah which Salaah is best?’

He said: ‘The one that has the longest standing (I.e for recitation).‘

So I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which migration is best?’

He said: ‘The one that migrates from evil deeds.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah then what is fasting?’

He said: ‘A compulsory action that one is rewarded for, and with Allaah the reward is many times multiplied.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which Jihaad is best?’

He said: ‘The one in which one’s riding beast is injured and his (i.e. the warriors) blood is spilt.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which charity is best?’

He said: ‘The (Charitable) effort of the one who has little, given secretly to the poor.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then what is the greatest of that which Allaah has sent down to you?’

He said: ‘Aayatul Kursi.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! How many were the Messengers?’

He said: ‘Three hundred and thirteen, a large amount.’

He said: I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! who was the first of them?’

He said: ‘Aadam – ‘Alaihi-salaam.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! was he a Prophet that was sent?’
He said: ‘Yes! Allah created him with his hand, then blew his spirit into him, and spoke to him directly! 
The intelligent person, as long as his mind has not been overcome (i.e. by mental illness) should have (a number of) periods. A period wherein he calls upon his lord, a period wherein he takes account of himself, a period wherein he reflects upon the creation of Allaah and a period that he spends seeking his needs from food and drink. 
Likewise the intelligent person should avoid travel except for three reasons, (to gain) provisions for the hereafter, seeking his livelihood or taking enjoyment in that which is not prohibited. 
It is likewise upon the intelligent person to have insight into his era, to proceed towards his affair (i.e. to head diligently towards the affairs that benefit him) and to guard his tongue. And whosoever evaluates his speech in comparison to his actions, will speak little except in that which concerns him.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! What were the scrolls of Musaa?’

He said: ‘They were all lessons (and admonitions).
I am amazed at the one who is certain of death, then he is happy. And I am amazed at the one who is certain of the (presence) of the fire then he laughs, and I am amazed at the one who is certain of pre-decree (concerning that which has been allotted to him) then he wears himself out. And I am amazed at the one who sees this world, and how affairs change for its people, then he is tranquil within it. And I am amazed at the one who has certainty that the reckoning is tomorrow yet he doesnt act.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! advise me!’

He said: ‘I advise you with the fear of Allaah, for indeed it is the pinnacle of all affairs.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Cling to reciting the Qur`aan and the remembrance of Allaah, for indeed it is light for you in the life of this world and it is preserved for you in the heavens.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Be aware of laughing excessively, for indeed it kills the heart and removes light from the face.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Make Jihaad, since it is the monasticism of my Ummah’ (meaning that when monasticism revolves around abstention from the world and selflessness there is no greater form of this than that a person participates in battle).

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Love the poor, and sit with them.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Look to those who are lesser than you (i.e. are less well to do) and don’t look to those who are above you (i.e. have more than you) as it is better in preventing one from looking down with disdain at Allaah’ blessings upon you.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Speak the truth even if it is bitter!’

Ruling on wiping over the Ka’bah (to seek blessings) – Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Question:

Ahsanal-Laahu ilaykum. Another questioner says: “Is the du’aa (supplication) in front of the Ka’bah from the places where du’aa is accepted? And what is the ruling on holding and wiping over the covering of the Ka’bah?”

Answer:

Holding and wiping over the covering or the stones of the Ka’bah has no basis [in the religion]. Nothing from the Ka’bah is touched except ar-Rukn al-Yamaanee (the Yemeni Corner) and al-Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone); this is touched and the Yemeni Corner is only touched. And the Black Stone is touched and is kissed if possible, or [only] touched or pointed to from far away if he faces it. As for the rest of the Ka’bah, then he should not wipe over or attach himself to anything of it, nor to its door. This is from the khuraafaat (myths or superstitions). Rather, the Ka’bah serves to make Tawaaf around it, to pray towards it and to supplicate near it, without attaching oneself to it or to its covering. He supplicates near it, especially in al-Multazam; what is between the Corner and the door or between the Black Stone and the door. He stands there and supplicates. This is a place where the du’aa is accepted, if Allaah — subhaanahu wa ta’aala — wills and if the supplicating person has a sincere intention. Na’am.

Issue of Mocking the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon him) by Shaykh Saalim At-Taweel

The Eemaan of Aboo Bakr radiyallahu ‘anhu

Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem al-Handhalee (ar-Raawhawaih) said:
Ibn al-Mubaarak came to ar-Rayy and one of the worshippers stood up, it was thought he followed the way of the Khawaarij. He said to Ibn al-Mubaarak: ‘O Aboo ‘Abdur-Rahmaan! What do you say about someone who commits adultery, steals, and ddrinks alcohol? He said:

“I do not say he has left Eemaan. “ The worshipper said:

‘O Aboo ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, upon old ago you have become a Murjee? He replied:

“Do not call us Murj’ia. The Murjiah say, all of our good deeds are accepted and all of our sins are forgiven. If I knew that my deeds were accepted, I would have testified that I am going to Paradise. “

The he related from the Ibn Shawdhan, from the Muhammad ibn Juhaadah, from Salamah ibn Khaleel, from Hazeel ibn Sharkeel, who said: Umar ibn al-Khattaab, radiyallahu ‘anhu, said:

“If the Eemaan of Aboo Bakr was to be weighed, it would be greater than the Eemaan of all the people of the Earth.”

[Also related by ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad in as-Sunnah[821]]

Source: The Creed of Pious Predecessors – The People of Hadeeth by The Great Imaam Aboo ‘Uthmaan Isma’eel ibn ‘Abudrrahmaan As- Saaboonee, Page 66

Is it permissible to offer two Witr prayers in one night?

Question:Is it permissible to offer two Witr prayers in one night?

Answer:No one should offer two Witr prayers in one night because the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There cannot be two Witr prayers in one night. [1] And he (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: Make the end of your prayer at night Witr. [2] And he (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever feared that he will not get up at the end of the night should perform Witr at the beginning of it. And whoever desired to stand at the end of it should pray Witr at the end of the night. [3] If it is easy for the Muslim to perform the night prayer at the end of the night, he should seal his prayer with one Rakah of Witr. Whoever found difficulty in this should perform his Witr at the start of the night. And if Allaah makes it easy for him (after that) to stand in prayer, he should offer what he can in units of two Rakahs, and he need not repeat the Witr, for the first Witr is sufficient for him, according to the aforementioned Hadith which is: There cannot be two Witr prayers in one night. [4]

[1] Abu Dawud no. 1439 and At-Tirmithi no. 470

[2] Al-Bukhari no. 990 and Muslim nos. 151, 751

[3] Muslim no. 755

[4] Abu Dawud no. 1439 and At-Tirmithi no. 470

Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz

Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 298

DO PICTURES ON CURRENCIES PREVENT ANGELS ENTERING HOMES?

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, mentioned, “…As for taking pictures and entering them into the homes, this is also haram. The reason being that the angles don’t enter the home that has pictures or dogs therein. What do you think of a house where the angels do not enter? It is an evil house. So if there is a picture in the house or a dog, then the malaa’ikah, angels, do not enter, but however, what is made an exception for the pictures is that which is a daroorah, necessity, i.e., pictures on the dinaar and dirham (that which is found these days on our currencies) …Therefore, this affair is a daroorah, in which the people are not able to free themselves from, because it’s not possible for them to leave the money in the streets… So this is a daroorah, and also from this is the identification card (all of that is which is considered a daroorah, or an urgent need). Allah does not bear a soul over its capacity.”

Refer back to the book” Sharhul kabaa’ir” page 295
Another benefit in regards to pictures:

The Shaykh, may Allah have mercy on him, also mentioned, “As for newspapers that contain pictures in them; if your intention were to buy them for the purpose of the pictures than this would be considered to be haram. As for the written text found inside then laa baas, no there is nothing wrong with this.

Refer back to book “Sharhul kabaa’ir” page 295