Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) said:
There is nothing in existence to which the slave [of Allāh] turns to in comfort, or derives tranquility from, or gains prosperity in facing, except for Allāh the Exalted.
Hence, whoever worships other than Allāh, even if he loves that [object of worship], and consequently is able to derive feelings of closeness and bliss from it in this worldly life; it is all but a detriment to the companion [of this worship]. This detriment is greater even than one who derives bliss from consuming food laced with poison as [explained in the ayah]:
لَوْ كَانَ…
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
‘Shayṭān may come to one of you, saying: ‘Who created such-and-such? Who created such-and-such?’ Until he says: ‘Who created Allāh?’ If he reaches [this degree of question], then seek refuge in Allāh, and refrain [from further queries of this nature].’ In another wording: ‘Let him say: ‘I believe in Allāh and His Messenger.’
Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim and in another wording:
‘Mankind continues to question one another until they say: ‘Who created Allāh?’’
The Prophet (ﷺ) has guided us in this great ḥadīth to the…
Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Rajab (d. 795 AH) said:
The scholars have differed [concerning what deeds the angels write]: Do they write everything that one says, or [is their writing relegated] to only reward or punishment?
These are the two most well-known opinions [in this matter].
The First Opinion: The Angels Write Everything One Says
ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭalḥah narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allāh be pleased with both of them) who said: They [the angels] write everything that one says whether it be good or evil. To the extent that they even record his saying: “I ate,’’ “I drank,’’ “I went,’’ “I came”. On Thurs…
Imām Abū al-Farj Ibn al-Jawzī [d. 510 AH] said:
Indeed, I have seen that the majority of mankind, when afflicted with sickness, busy themselves with grief, despair, and complaints, while others seek medication. They do this until [their sickness] intensifies to the point where its seriousness consumes them, turning their attention away from that which is beneficial to them from:
[Writing their] last will and testaments.
Carrying out acts of obedience.
Preparing for their eventual demise.
For how many sins have they left unrepented?
How many borrowed assets have they left unreturne…
The Messenger (ﷺ) always loved a good sign. Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrated: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Evil omens are non-existent, but a good sign pleases me.’ They said: ‘What is a good sign?’ He (ﷺ) responded: ‘A pleasant word [is a good sign.]’”1 Consequently, the Messenger (ﷺ) changed the unpleasant names of many Companions to a pleasant one.
Usāmah ibn Akhdarī (رحمه الله) reported:
A group of people visited the Prophet (ﷺ), and a man called Aṣram (رضي الله عنه) accompanied them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “What is your name?” He replied: “I am Aṣram [Aṣram is derived from the word to s…
Imām ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Saʿdī (d. 1376 AH) said:
If it is asked: What is the very best and most fruitful occupation?
We reply: The people of knowledge have differed concerning this—from them are those who favour farming and tilling [the land], and among them are those who favour buying and selling, and others favour craftsmanship, carving, and its like.
All [of these scholars] have well-presented arguments. However, it is this ḥadīth that completely settles this discussion. It is his (ﷺ)’s saying:
‘Aspire and strive towards that which is beneficial to you, and seek Allāh’s aid.’…
Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Rajab (d. 795 AH) said:
“The reasons for difference of opinion in [matters of fiqh] are plentiful. Nonetheless, [it should be noted] that there must exist from this ummah [for each individual issue] a scholar whose opinion coincides with the truth. Thus, this scholar is [considered] the most knowledgeable regarding this ruling. The issue may not be entirely clear to some of the other scholars and thus they are not considered to be [most] knowledgeable when it comes to this ruling [specifically]. For, truly, this ummah will never wholly and completely devolve into misguidance, no…
Narrated by Abū ʿAbdullah al-Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr [may Allāh be pleased with him] who said: I heard the messenger of Allāh (رضي الله عنه) say:
Verily, [that which is] ḥalāl is clear and that which is ḥarām is also clear. But between the two of them exist matters that are unclear to most people. So whosoever avoids these matters, he has declared himself innocent from them in terms of his dīn and his honour. Whoever falls into these matters has fallen in ḥarām…1
Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Rajab [d. 795] said:
“The words of the Prophet (ﷺ) prove that there are from among mankind those who have knowledge regar…
Concerning the matters of fiqh in which there is a difference of opinion between ḥalāl and ḥarām, Imām Ibn Taymiyyah [d. 728 AH] said:
If it is said: Who will actually be punished [for the perpetration of ḥarām acts derived from verdicts of the Muslim scholars]? For the [scholar] who enacts any ḥarām act has either made judicial strife [which has led him to believe the matter to be ḥalāl] or he imitates one who has done so, and both scenarios are exempt from punishment.1
The Answer to This is in the Following Points:
1.) The underlying intention must first be to clarify that the [debated]…
