Allāh says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“O’ you who believe, do not put yourselves ahead of Allāh and His Messenger and fear Allāh. Verily, Allāh is all-Hearing, all-Knowing.”
(Al-Ḥujurāt, 49:1)
This verse mentions the proper etiquette to be observed with Allāh—the Exalted—and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and the appropriate veneration, respect and honour he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is deserving of. Allāh commands His believing servants with what their belief in Allāh and His Messen…
[Q]: What is the difference between a Qudsī ḥadīth and the regular ḥadīths of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?
[A]: The Qudsī ḥadīth is that which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) narrates from Allāh, in both wording and meaning.
The non-Qudsī ḥadīth is that whose meaning comes from Allāh by way of revelation, but its wording is from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). As Allāh said:
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾
“Nor does he speak out of the desire (of his own soul) (and forge revelation thereby). It is nothing but revelation revealed to him.”
(A…
[Q]: How does the correct ʿaqīdah (creed) reflect in the Muslim’s life and actions?
[A]: If the ʿaqīdah is correct, the rest of the Muslim’s actions will be correct. That is because the correct ʿaqīdah evokes the Muslim to perform righteous actions, directing him to goodness and praiseworthy deeds. If one were to testify that none has the right to be worshipped in truth but Allāh (Lā Illāha Illá Allāh)—that testimony being founded upon knowledge, certainty and awareness of what it entails—then it would direct him to perform righteous actions. For the testimony of Lā Illāha Illá Allāh is not…
[Q]: How can one attain sincerity when seeking Islamic knowledge?
[A]: Sincerity when seeking knowledge is attained by means of the following:
That one intends to fulfil Allāh’s command by way of that, because Allāh commanded the pursuing of Islamic knowledge, for He said:
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ
“So (be firm in your) knowledge (O’ Muḥammad) that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh (alone). And seek forgiveness for your shortcomings…”
(Muḥammad, 47: 19)
He—the Most High—has encouraged seeking Islamic knowledge, stipulating that He…
Allāh has related his guidance of the disbelievers in many verses—regardless of their various religions and ways. Just as He has related his acceptance of repentance from every impermissible act. However, He has also related in other verses that “He guides not the oppressors” and that “He does not guide a rebellious, sinning people”. How do we commensurate between these two?
It should be said that the saying of the Most High:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ وَلَوْ جَاءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ آيَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ ﴿٩٧﴾
“Truly! Those, ag…
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) was asked about the sicknesses of the heart and its cure. Sickness here implies spiritual sickness rather than physical sickness. The heart may fall physically ill. It may be remedied by doctors through medical interventions; however, this danger pertains only to one’s physical life.The second more severe form of illness is spiritual, afflicting the heart due to acts of disobedience. As Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا
“In their hearts is a disease (of doubt, disbelief and hypocrisy), so Allāh increased their disease…
On the authority of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Not a single person among you lives except that his place is already known—either in Paradise or the Fire.” It was then asked: “O Messenger of Allāh! Should we not then abandon action, putting our trust in what has been written for us?” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied: “Engage in action. For everyone shall find ease in that which he has been created for.” Then, he recited:
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَاتَّقَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ ﴿٦﴾ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَا…
Al-Maʾmūn (d. 218 AH, leader of the abbasid caliphate) once entrusted al-Farrāʾ with teaching Arabic naḥw (grammar) to his two sons. One day, al-Farrāʾ had to leave to attend to some personal matters. The two sons rushed to give his sandals to him, both of them insisting on the honour of doing so. The two sons disputed over who would give them to him, and eventually agreed that each would present one sandal. They did so, and this incident was reported to al-Maʾmūn by one of his attendants. Al-Maʿmun summoned Al-Farraʾ and, when he entered, asked him:
“Who is the most honoured of people?”
Al…
