True fulfillment of the meaning of the testification that:
«لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ» وأن «مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ»
‘There is nothing worshipped in truth except for Allāh’
in one’s heart,
belief in the truthfulness of these words
and bearing witness to this with sincerity
all stipulate that one worships Allāh alone. His worship will be out of recognition of His extreme sublimity, in a state of awe, fear of His punishment, love of Him, hope for His reward, seeking to exalt Him while putting one’s complete trust in Him. His heart must be filled with this to the extent that he…
The correct opinion [in this matter] is what is narrated in some wordings of the ḥadīth: ‘Tanning [the hide of an animal] is through its lawful slaughtering.’ The word used is ‘slaughtering’ which only purifies the animal that is permissible for eating. For example, if you were to slaughter a donkey [impermissible for consuming], and you proclaimed the name of Allāh on it, and allowed the blood to run, this would not be termed lawful slaughter. Based on this, we say:
The hide of any animal which is ḥarām for us to consume, even if that animal is considered pure while alive, is not purifi…
“In these latter times, it has become rampant among people to refer easily to individuals as being ‘Imām’. It has even gotten to the point where the one being given this title is from among the smallest person of knowledge. This is a matter that, had it not been for the extreme effects such titles hold, would have been considered insignificant. However, these titles have an effect as a person may hear an individual described as an imām and henceforth emulate his opinions. Despite the fact, this person is not deserving of such emulation.
This is also like the widely dispersed saying concern…
The one who delivers [the message of Islām] from Allāh must support his [mission] by having knowledge of the message itself and truthfulness with regards to it.
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH)For only the one who is described with the characteristics of knowledge and truthfulness could ever be amenable for a station of delivering [this message], narrating [from the Prophet (ﷺ) and passing laws [of Islamic jurisprudence]. He must be knowledgeable of that which he is delivering and truthful with regards to it. He must also have a praiseworthy path [in life], a commendable legacy and be just …
Truly, it is permissible for those other than the prophets-(may the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon all of them)- to fall into error, be it minor or major. Even if this individual is considered from among the steadfast affirmers of truth [the Ṣiddīqīn] or martyrs or the righteous. This is because what the perpetration of sin obligates [from punishment] may not occur due to:
Repentance
Sincerely seeking forgiveness
Deeds of righteousness that expiate [sin]
The occurrence of an expiating catastrophe
Intercession
or simply by the Will of Allāh and His Mercy.
As such, it is im…
An intention is also [important] in what one engages in from permissible actions [mubāḥ][1] and in worldly affairs. For whomsoever intends from the way he chooses to make a living, and his worldly, mundane actions, that they are for the sole purpose of seeking aid in the execution of the right of Allāh [over him], from carrying out that which has been made obligatory or recommended, and he keeps this righteous intention in his eating, drinking, sleeping, resting, and earning a living: He will have successfully turned his mundane everyday actions into worship. Moreover, Allāh will bless him …
The Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘My ummah will be divided into seventy odd sects. The most troublesome of them will be a group who seek to combine this religion with their own opinions. In doing so, they will prohibit that which Allāh has permitted and permit that which Allāh has prohibited.’ [1]
Narrated by ʿAwf ibn Mālik al-AshjaʿīAbū ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Barr said: Such is qiyās (baseless analogies) and speaking concerning this dīn with assumptions and falsifications. Do you not see his saying in this ḥadīth: ‘they will prohibit that which Allāh has permitted and permit …
The second type of heart is the opposite of the sound type. It is the dead heart possessing no signs of life. It does not know its Lord, nor does it worship Him with what He has ordered, loves, and is pleased with. Rather, it ensconces itself in its own desires and trivial enjoyments, even if they are deserving of the annoyance and anger of its Lord. [The dead heart] pays no mind in so long as its desire and allotment are attained, whether his Lord is pleased or angry. It is fully engaged in the worship of other than Allāh. It loves fears, hopes, seeks the pleasure of, gains the anger of, g…
