The Significance and Tafsir of the Last Two Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah

The Last two Ayah of Surat ul Baqarah

The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)." (Al-Baqarah 2:285)

Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." (Al-Baqarah 2:286)

The Virtue of These Ayah

From Ibn 'Abbas " who said:
"While Jibra'eel (Gibrael) " `May Peace be upon him' was sitting with the Prophet !, he heard the opening of a gate above him. So he raised his head and said: `This is a gate from the shies that has opened today, which has never opened before this day.' So an angel descended from it (the gate). So he Jibra'eel " said: "This is an angel that has descended to the earth, which has never descended except today. He gave Salam and said: 'Receive glad tidings [Oh Muhammad ! with two lights which have been given to you, that have never been given to a Prophet before you: The Opening of the Book (i.e. Surat Al- Fatihah) and the end of Surat Al-Baqarah. Never do you read a letter from either of the two (Surahs) except that you are given it.( Which means that you are given its reward (i.e. the reward of recitation)) (Reported by Muslim) (Taken from Mukhtasar Sahih Muslim with Shaykh AI-Albani's editing, p.553, Hadith no. 2094.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah said,

(Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers.'')

Therefore, each of the believers believes that Allah is the One and Only and the Sustainer, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and there is no Lord except Him. The believers also believe in all Allah's Prophets and Messengers, in the Books that were revealed from heaven to the Messengers and Prophets, who are indeed the servants of Allah. Further, the believers do not differentiate between any of the Prophets, such as, believing in some of them and rejecting others. Rather, all of Allah's Prophets and Messengers are, to the believers, truthful, righteous, and they were each guided to the path of righteousness, even when some of them bring what abrogates the Law of some others by Allah's leave. Later on, the Law of Muhammad, the Final Prophet and Messenger from Allah, abrogated all the laws of the Prophets before him. So the Last Hour will commence while Muhammad's Law remains the only valid Law, and all the while a group of his Ummah will always be on the path of truth, apparent and dominant. Allah's statement,

(And they say, "We hear, and we obey'') means, we heard Your statement, O our Lord, comprehended and implemented it, and adhered to its implications.

((We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord) contains a plea and supplication for Allah's forgiveness, mercy and kindness.

Allah's statement,

(Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope) means, Allah does not ask a soul what is beyond its ability. This only demonstrates Allah's kindness, compassion and generosity towards His creation. This Ayah is the Ayah that abrogated the Ayah that worried the Companions, that is, Allah's statement,

(And whether you disclose what is in yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it.)

This indicates that although Allah will question His servants and judge them, He will only punish for what one is able to protect himself from. As for what one cannot protect himself from, such as what one says to himself - or passing thoughts - they will not be punished for that. We should state here that to dislike the evil thoughts that cross one's mind is a part of faith. Allah said next,

(He gets reward for that which he has earned) of good,

(And he is punished for that which he has earned) of evil, that is, concerning the acts that one is responsible for.

Allah then said, [mentioning what the believers said] while directing His servants to supplicate to Him, all the while promising them that He will answer their supplication:

("Our Lord! Push us not if we forget or fall into error,'') meaning, "If we forgot an obligation or fell into a prohibition, or made an error while ignorant of its ruling.'' We mentioned the Hadith by Abu Hurayrah, that Muslim collected, wherein Allah said, "I shall (accept your supplication).'' There is also the Hadith by Ibn `Abbas that Allah said, "I did (accept your supplication).''

(Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians),) means, "Even if we were able to perform them, do not require us to perform the difficult deeds as You required the previous nations before us, such as the burdens that were placed on them. You sent Your Prophet Muhammad , the Prophet of mercy, to abrogate these burdens through the Law that You revealed to him, the Hanifi (Islamic Monotheism), easy religion.'' Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said that Allah said, "I shall (accept your supplication).'' Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said that Allah said, "I did (accept your supplication).'' There is the Hadith recorded through various chains of narration that the Messenger of Allah said,

(I was sent with the easy Hanifiyyah way.)

(Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear) of obligations, hardships and afflictions, do not make us bear what we cannot bear of this.

(Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.)

We mentioned that Allah said, "I shall (accept your supplication)'' in one narration, and, "I did (accept your supplication),'' in another narration.

(Pardon us) meaning, between us and You regarding what You know of our shortcomings and errors.

(And grant us forgiveness) concerning what is between us and Your servants. So do not expose our errors and evil deeds to them.

(Have mercy on us) in what will come thereafter. Therefore, do not allow us to fall into another error. They say that those who commit error need three things: Allah's forgiveness for what is between Him and them, that He conceals these errors from His other servants, and thus does not expose them before the servants, and that He grants them immunity from further error.'' We mentioned before that Allah answered these pleas, "I shall,'' in one narration and, "I did,'' in another narration.

(You are our Mawla) meaning, You are our supporter and helper, our trust is in You, You are sought for each and every type of help and our total reliance is on You. There is no power or strength except from You.

(And give us victory over the disbelieving people) those who rejected Your religion, denied Your Oneness, refused the Message of Your Prophet , worshipped other than You and associated others in Your worship. Give us victory and make us prevail above them in this and the Hereafter. Allah said, "I shall,'' in one narration, and, "I did,'' in the Hadith that Muslim collected from Ibn `Abbas.

Further, Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Ishaq said that whenever Mu`adh would finish reciting this Surah,

(And give us victory over the disbelieving people), he would say "Amin.''

Warning against forgetting the Qur'an

1002. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Read the Qur'an regularly. By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, it escapes from memory faster than a camel does from its tying ropes.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  To safeguard the Qur'an means to recite it regularly, because if one fails to do so, he tends to forget it quickly. In the absence of regular recitation, one is bound to forget it more quickly than a camel breaks loose bound with. The breaking loose by the camel to liberate itself is a simile for the quick process of forgetting.

1003. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: "The parable of one who knows the Qur'an by heart is as the parable of an owner of hobbled camel. If he remains vigilant, he will retain it; and if he neglects it, it will go away.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith repeats the subject mentioned above. The person who memorizes the entire Qur'an or a portion of it, if he recites it regularly, he will retain it; otherwise, it will start slipping from his memory.

The Excellence of Reciting the Qur'an

991. Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, "Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.''
[Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith tells the excellence of reciting the Qur'an and acting upon its injunctions. Intercession (in this Hadath) means that the Qur'an will be endowed with the power of speech by Allah and it will request Allah to forgive the sins of its reciters who acted upon its teachings. Allah will accept the request of the Qur'an, as signified in other Ahadith.

992. An-Nawwas bin Sam`an (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, "The Qur'an and its people who applied it, will be brought on the Day of Resurrection preceded with Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al-`Imran arguing on behalf of those who applied them.''
[Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith means that on the Day of Requital, the Qur'an, with Surat Al-Baqarah and Al-`Imran in the forefront, will intercede before Allah for those who used to recite and act upon them in the life of the world.

993. `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it.''
[Al-Bukhari].

994. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  Proficient here means one who reads the Qur'an in accordance with the rules of "

The Merit of Recitation of the Noble Qur'an in a Pleasant Voice

1004. AbU Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of AllAh (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, "Allah does not listen so attentively to anything as He listens to the recitation of the Qur'an by a Prophet who recites well with a melodious and audible voice.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  "Allah does not listen so attentively'' has two- fold meanings. First, Allah's acceptance and pleasure. Second, His attribute of Hearing. One must have to believe in it although we can neither describe it nor compare it with anything else.

The word "Ghina'' is ordinarily used for singing but here it means the recitation which is done in accordance with the principles of Tajwid and in a beautiful voice.

Thus, this Hadith induces us to recite the Qur'an properly with nice feeling and voice.

1005. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to him, "You have been given a Mizmar (sweet melodious voice) out of the Mazamir of Prophet Dawud (David).''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  Mizmar means  flute but here it stands for tune and sweet voice. In the phrase Al-Dawud (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), translated here `the family of Dawud,' the word Al is superfluous and what is in fact meant is Prophet Dawud. In any case, sweet voice is a gift of Allah Who grants it to whom He likes. Lucky indeed are those who are granted this gift and they go about using it to invite people to the religion of Allah.

1006. Al-Bara' bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) reciting Surat Wat-Teen Waz-Zaitun (Chapter 95) during the `Isha' prayer. I have never heard anyone reciting it in a more beautiful voice than his.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith tells us that, like other virtues and qualities, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was also granted a sweet voice by Allah.

1007. Abu Lubabah Bashir bin `Abdul-Mundhir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "He who does not recite the Qur'an in a pleasant tone is not of us.''
[Abu Dawud].

Commentary: The words "is not of us'' mean that he is not following the way of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with regard to the recitation of the Qur'an. This Hadith also induces us to recite the Qur'an with a sweet and touching voice because the recitation of the Qur'an in this manner enhances its effect.

1008. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, "Recite the Qur'an to me.'' I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Shall I recite it to you when it was revealed to you?'' He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "I like to hear it from others.'' Then I began to recite Surat An-Nisa'. When I reached the Ayah: `How will it be when We shall bring a witness from every people and bring you as a witness against them?' (Having heard it) he said, "Enough! Enough!'' When I looked at him, I found his eyes were overflowing with tears.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith has been mentioned earlier. It is repeated here for the reason that it has an aspect of honour for the people who are blessed with knowledge and grace. Moreover, it stresses the need to hear the recitation of the Qur'an from those who recite it beautifully in order to contemplate over it, as was done by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) himself.

Definition of Emaan(Faith)

اعتقاد باالقلب وقول بااللسان وعمل بالجوارح يزيد باالطاعة وينقص باالمعصية

Belief in your heart, statements by the tongue, actions  by the limbs, increasing by obedience, decreasing by disobedience.

Other names for La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah (Shahadah)

1. Kalimathuth Thawheed - كلمة التوحيد - Word of Oneness of Allah

2. Kalimathuth Thaqwa    - كلمة التقوى  - Word of Taqwa (The commanding of Allah and the Obedience of us)

3. Kalimathul Wusqa       - كلمة الوثقى   - The strongest Handhold

4. Kalimathul Baqi           - كلمة الباقيا    - Everlasting Word

Definition of Islam

Definition
It is to submit to Allah with Tawheed( Islamic Monotheism) and submit to him obediently, and to free and disassociate oneself from shirk and its people.

Barakah - بركة - Blessing

ثبوت الخير الالهي وزيادته

Stableness of the good which came from Allah and the increasement of it.

Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that we obligated to learn four matters.

Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that we obligated to learn four matters.

First - (ILM) Knowledge, which means: Knowledge of Allah, Knowledge of His Prophet, and Knowledge of the Religion of Islam, based on evidences.

Second - (AMAL) Acting on this.

Third - (DAWAH) Calling to it.

Fourth - (SABR) Patience with the harm that befalls due to it.

Evidence for Allahs existence

1. Ayah Qawniyyah - Universal Evidences
Example - Sun, Moon, Planets, Sky
Evidences-
Surah Fussilat verse 37
Surah al-Araf verse 54
Surah al-Baqarah verse 21-22

2.Ayah Shar'iyyah - Evidence from the Quran and Sunnah

2 types of Dua (Supplication)

1. Dua-al-Ibadah   - Physically supplicating to Allah
2. Dua-al-Masalah -Verbally supplicating to Allah

al-Albânî about ‘Abdullâh ‘Azzâm

Scholar: Imâm Muhammad Nâsir-ud-Dîn al-Albânî
Source: Silsilat-ul-Hudâ wan-Nûr (166)
Reference: Darulhadith, Sweden.
http://afatwa.com/al-albani-about-abdullah-azzam/

Question: ’Abdullâh ’Azzâm is disturbing this country a lot (I.e. Afghanistan)…

Shaykh al-Albânî: ’Abdullâh ’Azzâm is sadly, even if he tends to Salafiyyah, overwhelmed by the methodology of Ikhwâniyyah (al-Ikhwân al-Muslimûn). This Hizbiyyah is difficult for the humans to leave.

Are the Sufi Grave-Worshippers who Build Places of Worship over Graves The Worst of Creation in the Sight of Allaah?

Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Chapter: "Building A Mosque Over A Grave"

'Aaisha (radhi Allaahu 'anhaa) said:
When the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wassallam) became ill, some of his wives mentioned a church they had seen in Ethiopia called Maariyah. Both Umm Salamah and Umm Habeebah had been to Ethiopia. They spoke about the beauty of the church and the images inside it. The Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wassallam) raised his head and said:

"When a pious man would die from amongst those people, they would build a place of worship over his grave, then they would make those images in it. They are the worst of creation in the site of Allaah. (No. 1341).

The Sufis are renowned worldwide for building structure, domes, courtyards and mosques over graves. They gather there and carry out acts of worship in and around these structures, just as the Prophet mentioned in the above narration. These are acts of polytheism rejected by Islaam, condemned by Allaah and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wassallam).

Uthaimeen on The Prayer Performed on the First Friday of the Month of Rajab

Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “In some Islamic countries there is a prayer performed between maghrib and ishaa on the night of the first Friday of [the month of] Rajab, they call it, ‘Salaatur-Raghaa‘ib [‘The Prayer for Great Bounties or Wishes’],’ and it is twelve rak’ahs [long]–it has no validity. The hadith concerning it is fabricated and a lie against the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام. The Shaikh of Islaam [Ibn Taymiyyah], may Allaah have mercy on him, said that it is fabricated and a lie according to the agreement of the people of knowledge. So there is no prayer particular to Rajab, not on its first Friday nor on the night half way through the month. Rajab in regards to prayer is just like any of the other months.”

Fataawaa fil-Hajj, 659.

Imran Nazar Hosein, the Sufi by AbdurRahman.org

Bilal Philips lecture program in Malaysia, July 2001:

“Programme for fundraising dinners in July 2001 mentioning both Imran N Hosein from New York and Bilal Philips from UAE for a “Hotel Qur’an Project”:

http://www.saba-islamic-media.com/HQFUNDRD.htm *

This is a Malaysian web site - Saba is the name of one of the Malaysian states/districts. All the locations Johor Bharu, Melaka, Subang Jaya, Selangor are in Malaysia. Click on the names to get a short biography. So for Imran N Hossein, we get:

BIOGRAPHY

SHEIKH IMRAN N. HOSEIN

Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein was a former diplomat of Trinidad and Tobago. He is presently the Imam of Masjid Dar al-Qur’an in Long Island, New York. He studied Islam under the guidance of the outstanding Islamic Scholar and Sufi Sheikh, Maulana Dr. Muhammad Fadlur Rahman Ansari, at the Institute of Islamic Studies in Pakistan. He also studied philosophy at the University of Karachi and International Relations at the University of West Indies and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. His published works include, among others, The Religion of Abraham and the State of Israel, The Prohibition of Riba in the Qur’an and Sunnah, The Caliphate, the Hejaz and the Saudi Wahhabi Nation-State.”

Our noble Salafi brother (reliable in his narrating), Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Fransee, who lives in Malaysia states:

“The Imran N Hosein who came to Malaysia and delivered lectures with Bilal Philips in July 2001 is the Soofee now living in New York, born in Trinidad, author of the books 'One Jama'at One Ameer' and 'The Saudi-Wahabi Nation State'... It is not the first time he came to Malaysia. I am 100% sure that the Imran N Hosein who came is the Soofee guy. How is that ? Coz he also went to Singapore (nearby Malaysia) and a Salafi brother over there mentioned that this Soofee came again to Singapore. I myself went several times to Singapore, a city of Tassawuf and grave-worship, and his books are easily found in the 'Islamic' bookshops. Another Singaporean Salafi brother - who was in Malaysia in July 2001 and has spent 7 months in the camp of Sh. Muqbil - also indicated to me that this guy was the Soofee one. Also on the posters for the Malaysian tour, it was indicated that he was from New York. Finally, his photo on the posters matched the photo on the back cover of his book 'One Jama'at One Ameer' (I have this book at home).”

Source for the above : http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=562

Imran Hosein states: “The Sufi methodology recognizes insight, recognizes the capacity to see with nur (light) and therefore provide a new explanation. That’s a Sufi methodology, and I got that from my teacher who was a Sufi sheikh.” (video: 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Time)

He also states, “..that is tasawwuf, and that is the highest stage of religion. Personally I wish the word Sufism had never been invented by life would have been easier.”   (video: 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Time)

Imran states: “The Sufi methodology recognizes insight, recognizes the capacity to see with nur (light) and therefore provide a new explanation. That’s a Sufi methodology, and I got that from my teacher who was a Sufi sheikh.” (video: 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Time)

He said: “We say to the Salafi, and we’ve been saying it for all this time, all these months in our lectures that no brother you’re wrong. There are verses from the Quran that could not be understood. Not by the Aslaaf. An Nabi Muhammad alaihe salaam did not provide the explanation, and today we are the ones that have to use knowledge and insight to recognize what Allah is saying. And when we provide that interpretation of the Quran notice my brother salafi that the overwhelming majority of people are accepting our interpretation as correct.” (video: 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Time)

He said: “Al-Ihsan is to worship Allah, and to serve Allah as though you’re seeing Him with the eye of your heart. (Quotes the sentence in Arabic) if you have not reached that stage as of yet were you can see with the internal eye and worship Him, then at least this, you should recognize that He is seeing you. And so the heart can see, but the heart can only see when there is faith, and the heart can see only when there is nur in the heart. (video: 2012 Imran Hosein - Sufi, Salafi and the End of Time)

Do you advise us to listen to the tapes of so and so? Shaykh 'Abdul-Laah bin 'Abdir-Raheem al-Bukhaaree

This is a question, "Do you advise us to listen to the tapes of fulaan (so and so) and fulaan?" He named some individuals here, and there is no need to mention them. I will give you a shorter answer:

Do you want to listen to tapes? Listen to the pure people of the Sunnah and the pure scholars of the Sunnah. For verily, in them there is contentment and sufficiency! There are many of scholars from the scholars of the Sunnah, so why do you ask about those about whom there are correct and clear statements [of the scholars] and who are far away from the Sunnah from every aspect? And you leave those who are from Ahl-us-Sunnah from every aspect? This is from the lack of fiqh (understanding).

I.e. for example: ash-Shaykh al-Imaam 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, he has tapes with shuruhaat (explanations) and his tapes are many, correct? And our Shaykh, ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin 'Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy upon all of them, his tapes are many. And ash-Shaykh al-Imaam al-Albaanee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, [his tapes] are also many. And ash-Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee [his tapes] are many. And Shaykh al-Fawzaan [his tapes] are also many, and other than them from the scholars of the Sunnah. Correct? How many are these? How many tapes? I.e. if we say: ash-Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez, ash-Shaykh bin 'Uthaymeen and al-Albaanee, may Allaah have mercy upon all of them... I say: al-Albaanee has around 5000 recorded tapes. And Shaykh Muhammad (bin 'Uthaymeen) and Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez, if we say that they both have 5000 tapes; how many tapes are these? 10,000 tapes. If you listen every day to one tape, then you have 10,000 days left. If you listen every day to two tapes, you have 5000 days left. Correct?

Then there also remain, as we said, many collections [of tapes] which you need thousands and thousands of days for. Believe me, if you listen - and I don't say 5000 or 2000 - if you listen to them only 360 days in a year... Are there 360 or 365 days [in a year]? (Audience replies with different answers) 60 or 65? Anyway, one full year. In one full year, you are not able to listen to other than them! If you listen to the scholars of the Sunnah, then you are - by Allaah - not able to listen to other than them!

Source: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=135671

Translated by: Yâsîn Abu Ibrâhîm

The Elite of the Elite from the People of Knowledge are The Ones who can Deal Justly Between Two Disputants Those Students of Knowledge or Common Muslims Less Than Them Should Stay Out of It

Questioner: What do you advise us with Shaikh, what do you advise concerning this issue, i.e., [that] some of the brothers abroad regard books like these … they do not examine them closely, books will come out and they’ll start looking at the title only, and [then] they’ll try to judge some of their brothers from the title alone, without close examination. So what is your advice in terms of [explaining the correct] da’wah and in terms of help and so on, may Allaah bless you.

Al-Albaani: I think that along with the answer for the previous question, it is possible for us to get an answer for this one.

Questioner: Yes.

Al-Albaani: Now, without doubt, we are living through a very big problem. Where, in recent times, disunity between the groups that affiliate themselves to the Book and the Sunnah has surfaced. So, from one angle, we advise the students of knowledge and especially the general masses of Muslims not to raise their heads towards such differences as these and from the other that they not be with one group against another.

Because firstly, it is not easy, ever, to distinguish what is correct from an error or the truth from falsehood. And secondly, and this is very important, not every person can judge with justice and fairness and stand by His Saying, the Most High, “… and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just–that is nearer to righteousness.”[Maa’idah 5:8]

Carrying out justice between two disputants, especially when a person’s desire is with one of the two, is very, very difficult. And from the authentic Sunnah we know that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم sent Ali as a judge to Yemen he said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! You’re sending me to a people and I do not know how to judge?’ So he عليه السلام struck his chest and said to him, ‘Do not judge between two people until you have heard from both of them.’

Actualising this text in such differences which you referred to [in your question] and a part of which I have [already] explained, achieving justice, in fact, actualising the truth before justice–none except the most elite of the elite from the people of knowledge are capable of it.

Because they are the ones who have the capability to familiarise themselves with what these [disputants] say and what those others say and then compare the statement of this [group of people] with that, and then extract the correct [answer] from the two statements.

And sometimes there may be no [actual] difference between the two parties or statements except for, as the scholars say concerning some matters of dispute, that it is a, ‘Difference in wording.’

No one can do this except for a few individuals from the elite.

And [yet] there are people from the elite who cannot judge with justice–he knows where the truth is concerning the two parties, [he knows] whether there is a difference between them or not, [but still even] if there is a difference between them, the truth may be with the side which he does not feel affection for–and so he swerves away from justice, and for this reason He, the Most High, said, “… and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just–that is nearer to righteousness.”

For this reason, we advise the students of knowledge, let alone those less than them, not to delve into [such matters] in this way, and that they not take a stance except for the truth that they know before this problem occurs or before these differences appear.

Questioner: May Allaah bless you.

Al-Albaani: And you.

Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, 674.

Uthaimeen On the Greater Type of Punishment

Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Many people think that being punished [for one’s sins] is only in those things that are external, like the body, wealth and children, but the reality is that the punishment of the sickness of the heart and its corruption is more severe and greater than the punishment through those things.” Ahkaam minal-Qur’aanil-Karim, vol. 1, p. 87.

Accept Sincere Advice When It is Given

In the Name of Allah, the Extremely Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy It was said to the Imām ‘Abdullāh b. Mubārak: “Has there remained anyone who still offers advice?” He responded: “Do you know anyone who accepts it?!” ________________________ (1) Tārīkh Baghdād (7/191), Hilyatul-Awliyā. (106)

An Advice to Readers – Shaykh al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) by AbdurRahman.org

Taken from : http://rahmaniyyahpublishing.wordpress.com

Imaam Maalik (d.179) : Don't Take Knowledge from Those Who Didn't Sit With Scholars

Imaam Maalik bin Anas (d.179H), rahimahullaah, was asked:

"Is knowledge taken from one who has no studies, and has not sit with the 'Ulamah?"

He (rahimahullaah) replied:

"No."

See: Hilyatul-Awliyaa 6/323.

--

So if that is the case with one who has not sat with the scholars, not taken from them, not known to them - then how much more severe is it for one to take knowledge from one who has been warned against by the scholars?!

The Condition of the Salaf in Ramadhaan Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan

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Question:

I have some questions; the first question: what was the state of the Salaf As-Saalih, may Allaah have mercy upon them and be pleased with them, in anticipation of this great month? How was their guidance? How was their character and their conduct? The second matter, O eminent Shaykh, how does the Muslim prepare to take advantage of these nights and days which he is now living in; preparation by way of knowledge, by knowing the rulings of fasting and knowing the nullifiers of the fast and its rulings? Some of the people are heedless of these things so they do not understand the affair of fasting and they also do not have the obligatory understanding of the affair of the fast, has the Shaykh noticed this matter? May Allaah reward you.

Answer:

In the name of Allaah the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Wa Alaykum As-Salaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh; may Allaah bless you. Regarding that which you have drawn attention to, from these two great matters; the first question is regarding the condition of the Salaf in the month of Ramadhaan. The condition of the Salaf, as it is recorded in the narrated books with chains of narrations from the trustworthy people (narrating) from them is that they would ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic to make them reach Ramadhaan before it entered; they would ask Allaah to make them reach the month of Ramadhaan due to what they knew that it contained from abundant good and general benefit. Then, when Ramadhaan entered, they would ask Allaah to aid them upon righteous actions therein. The when Ramadhaan ended they would ask Allaah to accept it from them. As Allaah the Mighty and Majestic says:

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ ٦٠ أُولَئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ ٦١

“And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory Salât (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on].”(Al-Mu'minun 23:60-61)

They would strive hard in doing actions, then worry would afflict them, after the action, as to whether their action was accepted or not. That was due to their knowledge of the greatness of Allaah and their knowledge that Allaah does not accept except that (action) which is done purely for His face and correctly in accordance with the Sunnah of His Messenger from actions. So they would not purify themselves, and they would fear that their actions would be rendered null. So (worry) that they (the action) will be accepted was weightier with them than (even) the performance of them. This is because Allaah the Mighty and Majestic says:

إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ

"Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)."               (Al-Ma'idah 5:27)

So they would devote their time within this month, as we have previously mentioned, to worship and would minimize actions of the Dunyaa. They would spend their time sitting in the houses of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and they would say: We are safeguarding our fast and we will not backbite anyone. They would read the Mus-hafs and study the Book of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. They would safeguard its time from squandering. They were not heedless or negligent as many of the people are today. Rather, they would preserve its time; the night, by standing (in prayer) and the day by fasting, recitation of the Qur’aan, the remembrance of Allaah, and righteous actions. They were not negligent therein of (even) a minute or a second, except that they would put forth therein righteous actions. This is the first question.

Translated by Raha ibn Donald Batts

A Sin that Leads to Jannah

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:

“Sin may be more beneficial for a person, if it leads him to repent, than doing a lot of acts of worship. This is what is meant by the words of one of the salaf:

‘A person may commit a sin and enter Paradise because of it, or he may do an act of worship and enter Hell because of it.’

They said: ‘How is that?’

He said: ‘He may commit a sin and continues to think about it, and when he stands or sits or walks he remembers his sin, so he feels ashamed and repents and seeks forgiveness and regrets it, so that will be the means of his salvation.
And he may do a good deed and continue to think about it, and when he stands or sits or walks he remembers it and it fills him with self-admiration and pride, so it is the cause of his doom.

So the sin may be the factor that leads him to do acts of worship and good deeds and to change his attitude so that he fears Allah and feels shy before Him and feels humiliated before Him, hanging his head in shame and weeping with regret, seeking he forgiveness of his Lord. Each of these effects is better for a person than an act of worship that makes him feel proud and show off and look down on people. Undoubtedly this sin is better before Allah and is more likely to bring salvation than one who admires himself and looks down on others, and who thinks that he is doing Allah a favour. Even if he says words that indicate something other than that, Allah is the Witness over what is in his heart. Such a person may feel hatred towards people if they do not hold him in high esteem and humiliate themselves before him. If he were to examine himself honestly, he would see that clearly.”

-Madarij as-Salikeen, 1/299

The Importance of Being Truthful

Shaikh Falaah Isma’eel recently relayed a heart-melting story that may interest you.

When the Shaikh visited Holland, he was of course met by Muslims from Holland and they told him, “If you had come two weeks earlier you would have seen it yourself. We prayed over this man.” Then they told him the following story.

[What follows is not verbatim, but a summary, with some explanations so as to clarify some terms that may be new to non-Muslims.]

He was a 26-year-old Christian from Holland. One day, he changed his dress tothobes, a burnoose, grew a beard, and the people started calling him “the one who looks like Jesus.”One day, he met some Muslims, and he said to them, “I love Jesus.” And the Muslims told him, “We also love Jesus, and it is even a condition of Islam. We love Jesus and Moses.”

So this man tried imitating Jesus, helping others when he could, cutting their lawns and the like. After two years, he entered the mosque [the Muslims' place of worship] for the first time, and he was greeted with “ahlan” [which means welcome, and thus was not greeted with the greeting reserved for Muslims "as-salaamu 'alaykum" (which means: may peace and safety be upon you on the Day of Judgement)].

He said, “no; I want to be a Muslim.”

Then, the Muslims witnessed his testimony (pronounced “shahada”) – there is none deserving of worship except Allaah, and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and Jesus is His servant and Messenger – taught him the basics, and taught him how to pray. He began praying in congregation with them, not missing a single congregation. Then one day, he noticed that the other Muslims were arriving at the mosque after him, so he asked for a key to the mosque. And he was given one.

The Muslims then observed that not only was he opening the mosque, but additionally he was routinely found in optional prayer whenever they entered the mosque for the dawn prayer. [They would enter and find him already engaged in the worship of Allaah.]

Then one day, he told the Muslims how he decided to become Muslim. He said he had a dream about Jesus (the son of Mary), and Jesus said to him, “Be Muslim. Be Muslim. Be Muslim.” He said, “I woke up, and a few days later, I had the same dream. This happened three times.”

[The shaikh interjected and said, this is success from Allaah.]

So after having prayed for 20 days with the other Muslims, he died.

May Allaah have mercy on him.

This is the mercy of Allaah, and Allaah saved him [from dying upon other than Islam].

This is Sidq (truthfulness); he truthfully loved Jesus, so he became Muslim. Allaah guided him to become Muslim, because he was truthful in his love for Jesus.

If one is truthful in his love for Jesus and his following Jesus, then this should lead him to the true religion of Jesus (Islam) and should lead him to following whom Jesus commanded to be followed after him – Muhammad, the seal of all Prophets.

After all, the religion of all the Prophets was Islam, and their creed was the same, and their message was the same, and they confirmed each other. It is only the deviant who have distorted the message of the previous Prophets, and thus Allaah promised to preserve His last revelation (the Qur`an) from corruption.

The means to a righteous heart Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Question:

What is the way to the righteousness of the heart and to purify it from hatred and envy? And what are the most helpful means to make the heart righteous in this life?

Answer:

Righteousness of the heart is achieved by a few things.

The first: having a sincere intention for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, in the righteous deeds. And remembering the Greatness of Allaah, the Majestic and Exalted, remembering that you stand in need of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and increasing in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah. Allaah, the Most High, has said:

{Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.}

[Soorah ar-Ra'd (13): 28]

So from that which brings the heart to life, is increasing in the remembrance of Allaah. And verily, he (the Prophet) – sallal-Laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – has said:

“The example of the one who remembers Allaah and the one who doesn’t remember Allaah, is like the example of the living and the dead.”

Also from the means of bringing the heart to life, is eating from halaal (legal, permissible food) and staying away from eating haraam (forbidden food). For verily, eating from haraam hardens the heart, corrupts the heart or makes the heart sick. Because bad food influences the heart and the body.

Also from the means of bringing the heart to life… Allaah, the Most High, has said:

{O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibaat (all kinds of Halaal foods which Allaah has made legal), and do righteous deeds.}

[Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23):51]

And Allaah has ordered the believers with that which He ordered the Messengers with. He said:

{O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah – Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the Tayyibaat that We have provided you with.}

[Soorah al-Baqarah (2):172]

He should eat from the Tayyibaat, meaning: the permissible things. Because Allaah makes the Tayyibaat permissible for us and makes the Khabaa’ith (all evil and bad things) forbidden for us. So eating from the Tayyibaat, which are the permissible things, feeds the hearts a good meal. And eating from the Khabaa’ith feeds the hearts a bad meal.

That which makes the hearts sick as well, is listening to songs and musical instruments, which has increased alot in this time! And that which makes the hearts sick as well or makes it die, is being devoted to satellite TV, the internet and what is broadcasted in these media from wickedness, evil thoughts, forbidden desires and disgusting scenes. This is from that which makes the hearts sick.

Also, accompanying bad people and sitting with them corrupts the hearts. Similarly, accompanying the best people, the scholars and the people of khayr (good), is from that which brings the hearts to life.

Translated by: Yâsîn Abu Ibrâhîm

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The Descripitions of the Prophets Prayer from Pure Sunnah With illustrations – Shaykh Muhammad Bazmool

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Publisher’s Information:

MTWS Publishing / Markaz Tawheed was-Sunnah
Translator: Raha ibn Donald Batts
Translation Verified By: Aboo Qaylah Rasheed Barbee