Home Ibaadah Advice Scholarly Admonitions The Concise Legacy | The Concise Legacy |
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| Wednesday, 04 July 2007 | |
 By Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’UthaymeenA transcript of a short phone lecture held by the Shaykh for the brothers in England. It consists of six concise pieces of advice that all of the Muslims can benefit from.
Indeed all praise is for Allaah. We praise Him, we seek His help and we seek forgiveness from Him. And we seek refugee in Allaah from the evils within our own souls and our evil actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides, then none can misguide him; and whomsoever Allaah leaves to stray, then none can guide him aright. Indeed it is Allaah who sent His Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth, and he conveyed this Message, fulfilled his trust, fought Jihaad as it should be fought, and he did not die except that he left his Ummah (nation) upon a clear path, its night is like its day, and no one deviates from it except that he is destroyed. And may Allaah extol and send blessings of peace upon His Messenger Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions, and those who follow them in goodness. Then to proceed: On this night, Sunday the 27th of Rabee’ul-Awwal 1417H – which corresponds to the 10th of August 1996CE – I am pleased to have this opportunity to say a few words to you. I hope that Allaah would bless them and that He would also bless our brothers in England; who have traveled from various places in order to hear these few words on the telephone, for which they will receive – with the help of Allaah – that promise which has been mentioned by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he said: “Whosoever treads a path to seek knowledge, then Allaah would make easy for him a path to Paradise.” [1] So I ask from my brothers to accept these wasaayah (legacies) which I hope would be of benefit to them:
THE FIRST LEGACY:
So I advised you to have the taqwaa of Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic – both in private and public. And taqwaa means that a person should stand firm upon the obedience of Allaah, doing what Allaah ordered him to do, and abandoning what He prohibited him from, starting with establishing the Salaat (Prayer) in their fixed and stated times, and in congregation, for those who are obliged to do so. Along with the five daily Prayers, you should also pray the rawaatib (stressed and recommended Prayers) which are connected to the five daily Prayers – and they are four rak’ahs before the Dhuhr Prayer and two after it. Two rak’ahs after the Maghrib Prayer. Two rak’ahs after the ’Ishaa‘ Prayer. And two rak’ahs before the Fajr Prayer. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is no Muslim who prays the twelve optional rak’ahs from the non-obligatory Prayer every day, except that Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” [2] Likewise, you should pay the zakaat; which is an the needy. Allaah – the Most High – said to his Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
“Take charity from their wealth in order to purify them and to sanctify them by it.” [Sooratut-Tawbah 9:103]
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal (radiyallaahu ’anhu), when he was sending him to Yemen: “And inform them that Allaah has obligated upon them to give charity from their wealth, to be taken from the rich and given to the poor.” [3] Likewise, one should fast in the month of Ramadaan, because Allaah has prescribed it for this Ummah, and one should make the Hajj (Pilgrimage) and the ’Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage) for whosoever has the ability to do so. These are the pillars of Islaam, after the first pillar which is Shahaadatayn (the two testimonies); to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and to testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.
“Allaah has ordained for you the same Religion which He ordained to Nooh, and that which We revealed to the Prophet, and that which We prescribed to Ibraaheem, Moosaa and ’Eesaa, saying: That you should establish the Religion by doing that which you were commanded with, and that you should not make any divisions in it.” [Sooratush-Shooraa 42:13]
Thus it becomes very clear that what is required from us – as it was required from the Prophets who were foremost in resolve – is to establish the Religion and not to make any divisions therein. So our Lord – the Mighty and Majestic – ordered us to establish the Religion and not to make any divisions in it. O my brothers! Unite your ranks, and do not differ, since Allaah – the Most High – said:
“And do not dispute with each other, unless you lose courage and your power departs, but be patient. For indeed Allaah is with those who are patient.” [Sooratul-Anfaal 8:46]
Do not label each other as being deviant, nor label each other as sinners. If you see any of your brothers that which is objectionable, then go to them and debate with them about this, until your word is unified, and thus cause the Ummah to remain united. None of you should try to slander his brother, since this will cause a great deal of enmity and hatred. Likewise, none of you should declare his Muslim brother to be a disbeliever, innovator or a sinner – since this is not from the nature of a Muslim.
“Indeed Allaah enjoins you upon justice, kindness and the giving of good to relatives and near ones, and He prohibits you from all shameful and evil deeds, oppression and transgression. He admonishes you, in order that you may take heed and be reminded. And fulfil the Covenant of Allaah when you have made it, and do not break your oaths after you have confirmed them, and indeed you have appointed Allaah as your Guarantor. Indeed Allaah knows all what you do.” [Sooratun-Nahl 16:90-91]
O my brothers, da’wah (calling to Islaam) is to be done by your actions, as you are commanded to do with your speech. However da’wah through actions will be more effective than da’wah which is merely done with speech. So I say again, that those who practice Islaam in a wrong manner, they will create a false understanding of Islaam in people’s view. Allaah – the Most High – has said about those who invite to what is correct, but do not practice themselves:
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do. It is most hateful to Allaah that you say that which you do not do.” [Sooratus-Saff 61: 2-3]
“Until when death comes to him, he says: O my lord! Send me back so that I may then do good in that which I have left behind.” [Sooratul-Mu‘minoon 24:99-100]
Time is such that when it departs it does not return, whereas wealth, when it departs, then it is possible to replace it. So time is of the utmost importance. This is why I advise you to safeguard your time, and to occupy yourselves in that which benefits. Keep away from qeela wa qaal (gossiping) – that so and so said such and such about this and that person – because the Prophet sAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in an authentic narration: “Indeed Allaah hates qeela wa qaal (gossip mongering), asking too many questions, and wasting one’s wealth.” [4] Unfortunately, many of the youths – after returning to the correct path, and uniting their hearts and unifying their word have become disunited and fragmented into many factions, and this is due to the whisperings of Shaytaan amongst them and the disuniting of their word. So advise the brothers to utilize your time in beneficial matters, and to keep away from qeela wa qaal. Indeed, time is like a sword; either you strike it, or it will strike you!
Call to Allaah with mildness, forbearance, and intending to rectify matters – not with harshness, nor intending to cause divisions. This is because Allaah – the Most Perfect – said to His Prophet (sallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam):
“Call mankind to the way prescribed by your Lord, with wisdom, and admonish them with the examples and warnings that Allaah has provide in is Book, and argue with them in a way that is better.” [Sooratun-Nahl 16:125]
“By the mercy of Allaah you behaved with gentleness towards them. Had you been severe or hard-hearted they you have left you and departed. So pass over their faults, and ask Allaah to forgive them, and consult them in their affairs.” [Soorah Aali-’Imraan 3:159]
Thus, it is obligatory for the Believer to follow the Prophet (sallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in this, and to be mild and forbearing in calling to Allaah – the Most Blessed, the Most High – since it is authentically established from the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) that he said: “Indeed Allaah is gentle and loves gentleness, and He gives due to gentleness that which He does not give due to harshness.” [5]
Footnotes:
[1] Related by Muslim (no. 1888) from Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ’anhu) [2] Related by Muslim (no. 728), from Umm Habeebah (radiyallaahu ’anhaa) [3] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 7372) and Muslim (no. 19) [4] Related by Muslim (no 1715), from Aboo Hurayrah (radiyAllaahu ’anhu) [5] Saheeh: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 3688) from Aboo Hurayrah. It was authenticated by Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no. 1771)
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 July 2007 ) |
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