The Salafi Woman Between Adherence, Negligence and Pretentious ClaimsBy Shaykh Maahir Ibn Dhaafir Al-QahtaaneeAn Exclusive Translation for Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah
By a woman being Salafi this means that she possesses numerous qualities, which can be summarised as follows:
That she acts upon the book of our Lord, The Exalted and the Sunnah of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but not in the way her desires dictates that she should understand them.
She should not approach a clear and apparent text whether it be from the book or the Sunnah, or one that could be understood in various ways and explain it in accordance to her desires.
Neither should she give precedence to a statement of a scholar for whom she has deep regard/love for his knowledge and virtue and whom her desires agree with many of his opinions, and this is not due to the fact that the truth and the Sunnah is with him in a particular occurrence or issue, but because it conforms to her desires and he is lenient in his rulings, or due to the beauty of his personality, person, or his manner of delivery.
Nor should she give precedence to the interpretation offered by those who cling to the customs of her land, her relatives, family or a female teacher of the religion who she loves.
Rather, it is upon her to implement from the understanding of the people that which is most beloved to Allah and this is the understanding of the rightly guided predecessors (As-Salaf As-Saalih), and this is an obligation and not a matter of choice. And they are the companions of the Messenger of Allah (May the peace and blessings be upon him) who witnessed the revelation [being received by the Prophet] and heard directly the Hadeeth of the trustworthy messenger. They witnessed his actions and saw his tactic approvals with their own eyes. And they are the Successors (At-Taabi'oon) who took from the companions.
So this noble Salafi woman should fight against her desires so that the tranquil soul within her can be victorious. She should act upon the Sunnah, against the evil inclination of her soul, which attempts to impede her from acting upon it, with the understanding of the Salaf.
That soul that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would seek refuge with Allah from its evil in every sermon and which actually commanded them to seek refuge (with Allah from its evil) at every need as collected by An-Nasaa'ee in his Sunan upon the authority of Abul Ahwas and Abu `Ubaidah who said that Abdullah stated:
"The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the sermon of need: `Khutbatul Hajjah...'
So she should strive against her soul and her desires in order to act upon the understanding of the Salaf if it opposes this. And the head of the Salaf is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) who said as is found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad with a sound chain upon the authority of Fadaalah Ibn `Ubaid who said, `I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The Mujaahid is the one who strives against his soul in the path of Allah."
She should give precedence to the obedience of the Most Merciful who created, sustained, and blessed her by guiding her to Islam over obedience to the devil who is her clear enemy.
Allah, the Most High said: [Shaitan] commands you only what is evil and Fahsha (sinful),and that you should say against Allah that which you know not.(Al-Baqarah 2:169)
To Be Continued Insha Allah.....
