Advice to the Women

 

Shaykh Ahmad Bazmool may Allah preserve him was asked:

We request from you some guidance for the women regarding spreading the salafi da'wah and also nurturing and educating the children upon this correct manhaj.

"There is no doubt that the mother is a teacher within the house and an educator to her child, so it is upon her first and foremost to obtain knowledge of the religion and to also understand from the lessons of the scholars and their books what the methodology of the salaf is.

Then afterwards, teach and educate her children upon this.  For indeed in this is a great good -if Allah the Exalted wills.  Also what is upon the mother to know regarding the child she is nurturing upon the salafi manhaj- and this is something the father should know as well- is that this young boy or young girl, if they are in fact nurtured upon the salafi manhaj and upon righteous deeds, then every righteous good deed they perform, you will have a reward of the like without that decreasing from their reward any. 

Indeed the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever calls to something good they will have the like of the reward of whoever follows them in that good and this will not decrease from their reward any".  

He also said, "The one who shows another to good, will have the likes of the reward of the one who did the action". 

So it is upon the mother to be diligent in teaching her children good and that she must know that if her son or daughter spreads this good, the good from your daughter (or son), and the recipient of that knowledge will also benefit you.  

Also the prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said, "All of you are shepherds and all of you are responsible for your flock." 

Then he said, "And the woman is like a Shepherd over her home and she is responsible for her flock". 

You find some women who say: "I have nothing to do with this, this is the fathers responsibility, I'm not teaching the child."

This is an error because the messenger (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is saying to you if you are able and qualified to teach the true methodology or to direct to the true methodology, he is saying you are responsible. What did you do regarding your child? You saw him or her listening to falsehood or doing acts of disobedience and you did not command them with the good or forbid them from evil.  

Furthermore it was mentioned in the biography of Imam Ash Shaafi'ee (may Allah have mercy upon him), that from those who played a great role in nurturing him upon knowledge and upon the correct methodology was his mother. 

She used to say to him, "Do not go to Hafs because he is an innovator," and she would forbid him from going to him. So my advice to the mothers first and foremost is to obtain knowledge of the religion ('ilm Ash-Shar'ee). What is the meaning of obtaining knowledge of the religion? It does not mean that you must learn every aspect of knowledge and that you be a student of knowledge or a scholar, because you have some women who say, "I'm not able to do that". 

We say to you: this is not what is meant, rather what is meant is that you obtain the knowledge of the religion which you are in need of and what you need to teach your children. This is something easy and not hard. Perhaps you sit and waste time speaking to other sisters and you waste your time in things that have no benefit and going out with sisters and visiting relatives and sometimes this occurs with the passing of days, nights and sometimes weeks wasting this time. Could you not spend an hour or half hour sitting with your child teaching them? 

You teach them, then see how they respond, then teach them and then see how they respond and so on and so forth. This can occur in minutes. How many times do children grow up and remember the advice of their mother and father and they say, "They taught me this or that" and it is useful in sticky situations.  So no doubt, the mother and father are from the most caring people that their child obtains what is good. So my advice to them is to first learn, then act upon what they know because the parent is also an example. They should not say, "O my child do not listen to music then they themselves go and listen to it". Do not say to them that the scholars say that anaasheed (Islamic songs) are impermissible but then you go and listen to anaasheed. So she must be an example and act (according to what she knows) then she teaches her child and practices this.

I also advise her that she uses gentleness and softness with her child and let the child know that she loves him or her. The affair should not be that she beats them or pushes them or speak harshly to them, except out of what necessity requires. So gentleness and showing her child(ren) she loves them will cause the child to follow their mother. 

 

Translated by Anwar Wright

27 Jumaad al Oolaa 1434
April 8th 2013
Blessed city of Makkah

 

 

 

 

The Causes of the Hardening of the Heart and How to Escape This

The Causes of The Hardening Of The Heart And

How To Escape This

Imam ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy upon him and grant him Paradise)

The Shaykh was asked:

How does a person escape the hardening of the heart and what are the causes of this?

Answer:

The things that cause the hardening of the heart are sins and disobedience, frequent heedlessness [i.e. of the remembrance of Allaah] and accompanying the heedless and immoral sinners. All of these corruptive [behaviours] cause the hardening of the heart.

As for the softening, purity and tranquillity of the heart, then this is achieved through the obedience of Allaah (the Mighty and Majestic), accompanying the righteous and preserving ones time with the remembrance of Allaah, recitation of the Quran and seeking forgiveness.

Whosoever preserves his time by [utilising it] for the remembrance of Allaah, recitation of the Quran, and accompanying the righteous and staying away from the heedless and wicked, then verily his heart will be healthy and soft.

Allaah, The Most High Said:

 “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find rest.” [Ar-R’ad: 28]

Majmoo’ Fataawa Wa Maqaalaat Ibn Baaz (Vol. 5)

http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/1760

Advice to Those who are Tried with Love of the Chair and Fame

Advice to those who are Tried with Love of the Chair and Fame

By: The Noble Shaykh Sulaymaan Ar-Ruhaylee

Before we begin the lesson, I want to remind my brothers regarding an affair; and I ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic to place in it good and that which is beneficial. That is, the fact that from the tremendous evils and great hindrances in the path of the student of knowledge in his quest to seek knowledge and his journey to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic is love of the chair and love of fame and a desire that the people should be in need of him. Indeed this is from the great evils. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

لا تعلموا العلم لتباهوا به العلماء، ولا لتماروا به السفهاء، ولا تخيروا به المجالس، فمن فعل ذلك فالنار النار

“Do not learn knowledge (simply) to compete with the scholars nor to argue with the foolish nor to (appear) elite within gatherings. For whoever does that, then the Fire; the Fire.”  (Ibn Maajah)

The righteous predecessors, may Allaah’s Pleasure be upon them, did not use to love fame nor did they like to be mentioned; while at the same time they loved the manifestation of the truth. Ayyoob As-Sakhtiyaanee used to say: “I was mentioned while I do not like to be mentioned.” It was said about him that when he would walk he walked through pathways wherein no one knew him. To the point that some of them (the people) would say: “I don’t know how he was guided to it (i.e. how he ever found this pathway).”

Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah the Mighty and Majestic have mercy upon him, used to say: “I wish that I could be in a mountain trail from the mountain trails of Makkah.” He said to his son: “I wish that your father was not associated with that; however, I have been tried with fame.” A calamity; he considered it to be a calamity. Hence, it is proper for the student of knowledge that she should seek knowledge with humility; and that whenever he increases in knowledge he increases in humility. Due to that, when Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah the Mighty and Majestic have mercy upon him, mentioned: “Nothing is equivalent to seeking knowledge (meaning, from the superogatory acts); for the one who makes his intention sound.” It was said to him: “How does he make his intention sound?” He said: “He is to seek it with humility and intend to benefit himself.” (the Shaykh repeats:) “He is to seek it with humility and intend to benefit himself.” So it is proper for the student of knowledge that he should always remain diligent to be humble in his seeking of knowledge; diligent upon safety. For nothing is equivalent to safety. For this reason the Salaf did not used to race toward issuing verdicts, nor did they race towards the students of knowledge (i.e., having an abundance of students). Rather, one of them would direct (people) to the other. The issue would come to him, and he would know the answer, yet he would direct to questioner to someone else; and perhaps the other one would direct him to someone else! As occurred from some of the companions, may Allaah’s Pleasure be upon them. The last one would issue a verdict and he (the questioner) would return to the second one and he would say: “Whatever he said, then I said the same.” Then he would return to the first one and he would say: “Whatever he said then I say the same.” They were not ignorant of the answer. However, they would push the fatwa to other than them from the scholars who they knew concerning them that they had knowledge and insight.

If the student of knowledge is tried with love of the chair and fame and that the people should look to them and a desire that the people should be in need of them, then he has been afflicted with a great disease. He will remain such that you will find him one who reviles the firm and trustworthy scholars for whom safety and goodness has been attested to. It is inevitable that that will drive him to revile the major trustworthy scholars; the people of goodness, the people of guidance, the people of the Sunnah; such as our major scholars from the Committee of Senior scholars, or the Permanent Committee, or other than them from the major scholars; such as Shaykh Saalih Aalsih-Shaykh, the Shaykh ‘Abdul-Muhsin Al-‘Abbaad, Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee, Shaykh ‘Ubayd Al-Jaabiree, Shaykh Saalih As-Suhaymee, and many others from those who the students of knowledge are familiar with. You find, in this vein, that which shows that he reviles these (scholars); not out of support for the religion; but because he sees them as an impediment in his path to fame.

Due to this, O brothers, when you see the scholars criticizing a thing or an individual you find, within their criticism, love of the religion, making the truth manifest, and refutation of falsehood; as you find evident within the refutations of Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee. For the one who is just and reads the refutations of the Shaykh he will find therein love for making the religion manifest, fervent desire (for that), religiosity, and support (for the religion). Whereas you find within the speech of some that which indicates personal aspirations. Moreover he will continuously be explicit in that. So he says whenever we say something to him: “The scholars didn’t say (so and so) the scholars didn’t clarify (such and such).” So why are you saying (anything)?[1] So he clearly states the reason for his revilement of the scholars. And he will continue to come to the people with newly invented matters. Because he is, as has come on the authority of Ibn Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he says: “What is wrong with the people that they will not follow me? I have memorized the Qur’aan and have acquired knowledge; they will not follow me unless I invent something for them.” So he invents an affair for them by which he can become famous. Either he falls into an innovation wherein he attacks (others) with Takfeer or he comes with innovations wherewith he opposes that which Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah were upon, from the various types of Bid’ah in order that he will become famous and be recognized by way of it. When the scholars clarify to him that it is an innovation he becomes arrogant and rebuts them. The rebuttal is not done with the truth; it is only a rebuttal with falsehood.

I say this, O brothers, as an advice to myself (and O how I am in need of that), and as an advice to my brothers so that we do not fall into this calamity. I ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic by His beautiful Names and lofty Attributes that He cures those who have been afflicted with this and that he returns him to guidance, truth, and the Sunnah. And that He makes him, if he returns, to be a sign from the signs of the Sunnah. And that He suffices me and you from the evils of this calamity. And that He makes us to be righty-guided guides who love goodness and its people and who support the truth and its people. This is a statement which I gave in response to a question which one of the students of knowledge asked me regarding this topic. I ask Allaah to place good within my speech and to make it good and beneficial.

Translated By: Raha ibn Donald Batts    

http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=123584    

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[1] The Shaykh seems to ask this rhetorically; and Allaah knows best. i.e. If the scholars didn’t speak on an issue, as you claim, then why are you speaking on it?

Advice to Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah

Advice to Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah from Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ramzaan Al-Haajiree 
(May Allaah Preserve Him)

01/28/2011

Indeed, all praise is due to Allāh. We praise Him, seek His aid, assistance and His forgiveness. We seek refuge inAllāh, from the evil within ourselves and the evil effects of our actions. Whoever Allāh guides cannot be led astray and whoever Allāh misguides then no one can guide him. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except for Allāh without any partner. And I bear witness that Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger. To proceed:

This advice or words is due to the request of the brother Hassan Somali and it is directed at some of our daughters who are involved with an internet website specifically for women, Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah. 

Firstly: I advise my daughters to give importance to knowledge and evidence; and to give importance to establishing the proof by way of the Quran and the authentic Sunnah in accordance to the understanding of the rightly guided predecessors. And the (As-Salaf As-Saalih) are well known in every era. They are those who have passed from the praised generations and those who follow them in goodness all the way until the Day of Judgment.

I also advise my daughters to give importance to respecting the people of knowledge and they should avoid entering into debates with those who argue foolishly.

I advise my daughters to not allow the internet to busy them from their household obligations and the rights of raising their children.

I advise my daughters to be careful of going beyond (the legislated) bounds in talking to men and communicating via the internet.

I advise my daughters to be cautious, extremely cautious, of the websites of lusts and doubts. There are many desires and lusts, and this is referring to disobedience and foul activities that are seen and witnessed whether it is in the form of video clips or pictures. Likewise, doubts which are connected to matters of creed and the religion such as innovations and false practices.

I advise my daughters to stay far away from the chat rooms where men are present. And to be careful as how many people enter claiming to be a female (and are actually men).  The internet is a world full of unknown people (Majaaheel)!

They should give importance to referencing statements to their correct sources and they should not be content with the statement ‘taken from another site’. It is necessary to return to the correct sources of knowledge by mentioning the page and volume number. How many people claim something falsely and their statement is a lie!

I advise my daughters to show great concern to the Salafi Aqeedah and Salafi character, and to respect their husbands and children.

This is my advice to my daughters on these websites on the internet.  And I thank all of my daughters.  (End of Advice from the Shaykh)

May Allaah preserve, reward and bless the Shaykh for this advice and put it along with his actions on his scale of good deeds on Yawmul Qiyyaamah. Aameen.  

Note:  I, Umm Abdillah Aakeefah, contacted Shaykh Muhammad  Ibn Ramzaan Al-Haajiree (May Allah preserve him) on January 19,2011 at which time he conveyed his salaams to the sisters and agreed to give us some words of advice. During the conversation the Shaykh requested that I have the brother Hasan As-Somali contact him. I then requested from the brother Hassan As Somali (May Allah preserve him) to ask the Shaykh to advise us (the administrators) as to how we should proceed with the group and the task of cultivating the sisters upon Ad-Dawatus Salafiyyah.


Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah
Admin