Tag Archives: Advice

Mar 7 2010

Attending A Christian Wedding

Question: My mother, who is a Christian, is getting married soon inshaa’ Allaah and the marriage will take place in a church. She wants me and my wife to attend, what is your advice to me?

Answer: With regards to this question Shaykh Wasiullaah al-Abbas Says: In reality even though there are times when you have to look at the benefit that issues like this may bring, there is no doubt that there is much shirk in the church where the marriage is going to take place as the priest may mention matters of shirk etc. Therefore, it is not permissible to be there or to attend churches, as Allaah says {then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong doers).} [al-An`aam 6:68] We advise the brother with giving his mother her rights regarding kindness, and as such he should excuse himself in a good manner, from attending. Perhaps he may give her an appropriate gift so that she will Maintain good relations with him. However, it is not permissible to Attend the church due to the shirk that occurs within.

WAL-HAMDU LILLAAH.
FIKS Research Department www.TheFiks.org

Jan 16 2010

Manners of the Callers to Islam – Shaikh ’Abdul-’Azeez ibn Baaz (rahimahullah)

The etiquettes, manners and characteristics necessary for the du’aat (callers to Islaam) has been duly explained by Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – in many aayaat  and in many different places in the Noble Qur’an. And from those necessary etiquettes are:

FIRSTLY: SINCERITY
So it is obligatory upon the daa’ee (caller) to have ikhlaas (sincerity and purity of intentions and actions) for Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – neither desiring to show-off, nor desiring reputation, nor desiring the praises and the accolades of the people. Rather, the daa’ee should only call to Allah seeking the Face of Allah, as He – the One free from all imperfections – says:
“Say: This is my path, I do call to upon knowledge.” [Surah Yusuf (12):108]

And Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – said:
“And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah.” [Surah Fussilat (41):33]

Thus it is a must to have ikhlaas and to call only to Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – and this is the most important ettiquette and the greatest quality; that you seek from your da’wah (call) the Face of Allah and the Home of the Hereafter.

SECONDLY: KNOWLEDGE
To call the people to upon ’ilm (knowledge), and not ignorance: “Say: This is my path, I do call to Allah upon knowledge.” [Surah Yusuf (12):108]

So knowledge is an essential obligation in calling to Allah. So beware of calling to Allah based upon ignorance, and beware of speaking without due knowledge. Indeed, ignorance destroys, it does not build; and it causes corruption, not reformation and correction. So – O worshipper of Allah – fear Allah and beware of speaking about Allah without due knowledge, and do not call to anything except after knowledge of it and having insight into what Allah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) have said.
So it is upon the student of knowledge and the daa’ee to have knowledge of, and insight into that which they call to, knowing its proofs and evidences.

THIRDLY: MILDNESS AND GENTLENESS
From the akhlaaq that it is necessary to have – O daa’ee – is to be mild and forbearing in your da’wah, and being gentle and patient in it, as were all the Messengers alayhimussalaatu was-salaam. Beware of being hasty, harsh and strict in your da’wah, rather be patient, mild and gentle. In this regard, some of the proofs have already preceeded, such as the saying of Allah – the Mighty and Majestic: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful admonition, and argue with them in ways that are best.” [Surah Nahl (16):125]

And His – the Most Perfect’s – saying: “And by the Mercy of Allah you were able to deal gently with them. If you had been severe and harsh-hearted they would have broken away from about you.”

Nov 22 2009

Advice to the seeker of knowledge by Ibn Uthaymeen

Shaykh Al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimullah) says,

“It is obligatory upon the students of knowledge that he should have a complete concern for ‘ilm by taking from its principals in which there is no success for the student of knowledge if he does not begin with it. And they are:

a.) The Noble Qur’aan: It is obligatory upon the student of knowledge to have the desire to read, memorize, understand and act upon it (i.e. the Qur’aan). Because the Qur’aan is the rope of Allah which is everlasting. It is the foundation of knowledge. And the Salaf use to desire [the Qur’aan] with the utmost desire. There are some amazing incidents that are mentioned that relate their concerns for the Qur’aan. You find one of them who memorized the Qur’aan while he was only seven years of age; while some others memorized it is less than a month. And this proofs the concerns that the salaf used to have for the Qur’aan May Allah be pleased with them all. So it is necessary that the students of knowledge should have desire for memorizing it in the hands of the one of the teachers, because the Qur’aan is obtained by a way of meeting [with the teachers].

And indeed it is with regret that you will find some students of knowledge that do not memorize the Qur’aan rather some of them cannot even recite it properly. And this is a big deficiency in the manhaj (methodology) of the students of knowledge. For this reason, I reiterate that it is necessary that the students of knowledge have concerns/desire to memorize the Qur’aan, to act upon it, to call to it, while having the understanding of the salaf-us-Saalih.

b.) The Authentic Sunnah: It is the second source in the Islamic Sharee’ah [besides the Qur’aan]. It is to the Noble Qur’aan a clarifier/explainer. So, it is mandatory on the students of knowledge to combine both of them (i.e. the Qur’aan and the Sûnnah) and to have desire for them as well. And it is upon the students of knowledge to memorize the Sûnnah, [it is done] by memorizing actual texts of the hadith or by studying its chains of narrators, its text and by differentiating the strong [hadith] from the weak [hadith]. Likewise, memorizing the Sûnnah is a way of defending as well as refuting the doubts of the people of innovation. Therefore, it is mandatory upon the students of knowledge that they must comply with the Qur’aan and the authentic Sûnnah…and they are/become for him, meaning the students of knowledge, like the two wings of an airplane. If one of them breaks he is not able to fly. For this reason, don’t maintain the Sûnnah while neglecting the Qur’aan or that you maintain the Qur’aan while neglecting the Sûnnah…Most of the students of knowledge devote their attention to the Sûnnah and it’s explanation, its men, its terminologies with complete devotion. However, if you were to ask [one of them] a verse from the Book of Allah, you will observe that he is ignorant concerning it. And this is a big mistake. It is necessary that the Qur’aan and the Sûnnah should be two wings for you O students of knowledge….” [end of qoute]

I hope everyone benefits from the statements of Shayk Al-‘Uthaymeen (Rahimullah). Indeed, memorizing the Qur’aan has great virtues both in this dunyaa and akhirah. Also, I advice all the students of knowledge to obtian this book which has a lot of beneficial statements from the Shayk concerning students of knowlledge.
*Source:
Kitaabul-‘ilm (Pg. 43-45)
by Shayk Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimullahi ta’alaa)

Translator: Abu Zayd

Mar 30 2009

Advice to the Students of Knowledge

Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saleh Ibn Uthaymeen

Finally, I sincerely advise, myself first, and my Muslim brothers, especially the students of knowledge not to make haste and be quick when a new issue befalls a person until he verifies the situation, gains knowledge and then speaks, so that he does not speak about Allah without knowledge.

As, the person who gives judgment is an emissary between the people and Allah; he conveys the Shari’ah of Allah as has been reported from the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam):

“The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets” (Ahmad (5/196).  Aboo Dawood, at-Tirmidhi and others);

and the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) has also said:

“The judges are three: (only) one of the judges being in paradise and he is the one who knew the truth and judged according to it.”

Related by Abu Dawood with the following wording:

“The judges are three; one of the judges is in Paradise and two are in the Fire. With regards to the one in Paradise then he is the man who knew the truth and judged according to it. The man who knew the truth and was unjust in his ruling is in the Fire, and the man who judged between the people out of ignorance is in the Fire.”

Also of importance, when a new issue befalls you, draw your heart towards Allah and feel in need of Him so that he causes you to understand and imparts knowledge to you; especially in grave and important matters, where many people remain in ignorance.

Some of my teachers mentioned to me that it is befitting for the person who has been questioned on an issue, to seek forgiveness from Allah even more; deducing that from Allah’s statement,

“Surely, we have revealed to you the Book in truth that you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you; so do not be a pleader for the treacherous. And seek the forgiveness of Allah, certainly, Allah is ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Surah an-Nisa 4, 105-106)

An increase in seeking forgiveness necessitates the wiping away of the repercussions of sins, which is one of the causes of forgetting knowledge and becoming ignorant, as Allah says,

“So, because of their breach of their covenant. We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their proper places and forgot a good part of the message that was sent to them” (Surah al-Maa’idah 5:13)

Imam ash-Shaafi`ee once said: I complained to Wakee` (*) about my poor memory. So he advised me to abandon disobedience. and he said, ‘know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.

So it is certainly possible that seeking forgiveness causes Allah to give a person enlightenment.

I ask Allah to grant me success, make me upright that He keeps us firm with the Firm Word (Shahaadah) in this life and the Hereafter; and that He does not cause our hearts to deviate after having guided us and to grant us from His self, mercy: Indeed, He is the Benevolent. All praise is for Allah alone, and may He praise, send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his Companions.

* Wakee’ Ibn al-Jarraah was a famous scholar from the Salaf and one of the teachers of Imam ash-Shaafi`ee. He died in the year 196H.