Allaah Connected The Straight Path To Himself And To Those Whom He Has Favored

 
Imaam Al-Allaamah Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy upon him) stated:

"Allaah has connected the straight path to himself and he connected it to his creation. Allaah stated in Soorah Al-Faatihah:
 

"Guide us to the straight path. The path of those whom your favor is upon and not the path of those whom your anger is upon nor those who are astray."

(Al-Faatihah)

Here Allaah has connected the straight path to those whom He has bestowed His favor upon. Allaah has also stated:

"And indeed you guide to a straight path. The path of Allaah, The One for whom is that which is in the heavens and the earth."

(Ash-Shoorah: 52-53)

How do we combine between these two types of connections? We say that Allaah connected the straight path to those whom His favor is upon because they are the ones who traverse upon it. He connected it to himself because He is the one who placed it for His servants and it is that which leads them to Him."

Source:  Tafseer Soorah Yaaseen pg.190 of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy upon him)

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Having Love for Allaah

Allaah has stated:
 

"From amongst the people are those who have taken besides Allaah equals, loving them as they love Allaah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allaah." 

(Al-Baqarah: 165)

Al-Allaamah Shaykh Sulaymaan the grandson of Shaykhul-Islaam Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy upon them both)stated:

"Have knowledge that love is divided into two categories, one that is shared and the other which is exclusive. As for the love that is shared, it is divided into three categories:

1. Natural Love: The love that the one who is hungry has for the food or the love that the one who is thirsty has for the water and similar to that. This doesn't necessitate the magnification (of that which is loved).

2. Love of Mercy: The love that the parent has for his/her small child. This also doesn't necessitate the magnification (of that which is loved).

3. Love of Companionship: The love of those who collectively partake in a matter of manufacturing (something), knowledge, friendship, business or traveling with one another. Like the love that brothers have for one another. These three categories which are suitable for the creation to have for one another, its presence amongst them is not considered Shirk (polytheism) in the love of Allaah. For this the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to love sweets and honey. He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to love His wives and Aaishah was the most beloved of them to Him (sallallaahi alayhi wa sallam). He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to love His companions and the most beloved of them to Him (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was (Abu Bakr) As-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him).

The second category of love: The love which is exclusive, is that which is not suitable to be for anyone except Allaah. Whenever the servant loves other than Allaah, with this type of love, then it is Shirk which Allaah will not forgive (if the person dies upon it). It is the love of servitude which necessitates (that the person is in) the state of lowering himself, being subdued and magnification. It also necessitates complete obedience and giving prefernce over other than him/it. This type of love is not permissible to be connected to anyone besides Allaah from the start, just as Ibn al-Qayyim has established (may Allaah have mercy upon him). This is the type of love that the polytheists equally divide between Allaah and their false deities."

Source: Tayseer Al-Azeez Al-Hameed pgs. 402-403 by Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn Abdillaah (may Allaah have mercy upon him).

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Those Who Indulge in Vain Speech

Allaah stated in His Book:

"When you see those who indulge in vain speech regarding our verses, turn away from them until they indulge in other speech. If the Shaytaan causes you to forget, then do not sit after remembering with the wrong doing people." (Soorah Al-An'aam: 68)

Ash-Shaykh Al-Allaamah Abdur Rahmaan As-Sa'dee (may Allaah have mercy upon him) stated in his Tafseer of this verse:

"That which is intended by indulging in vain speech regarding the verses of Allaah, is speaking with that which opposes the truth from beautifying the false statements, calling to them, and praising its people. It also entails turning away from the truth, speaking ill of it and its people. Therefore, Allaah has commanded His Messenger firstly and His nation after that, that when they see one who indulges in vain speech regarding the verses of Allaah with anything that has been mentioned (previously), to turn away from them, do not attend the gatherings of those who indulge in falsehood and remain upon doing so...This statement includes those who indulge in vain speech with falsehood, everyone who speaks with that which is prohibited or the one who does that which is prohibited. Indeed it is prohibited to sit and be present in the presence of evil that one does not have the ability to change."

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Be you Rabbaniyyun

Allaah stated:

"It is not possible for any human being to whom Allaah has given the Book and the Hukm (knowledge and understanding of the laws) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshipers rather than Allaah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyyun (learned men of religion who practice what they know and also preach to others)-Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allaah's will?" 

(Aali 'Imraan: 79-80)

Shaykhul-Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdil-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy upon him) stated about these two verses:

"When you come to know that the reason behind these verses coming down is the statement of the people of the book: "We are Muslimoon, we will worship Allaah except if you want us to worship you", you'll come to know that it is the most clear of that which is in the Qur'aan from the establishment of sincerity and disassociation from polytheism. It is also from the greatest of that which clarifies for you the path of the rightly guided leaders and the misleading leaders. It is that Allaah has described the leaders of guidance with the negation and the affirmation. He negated for them that they command their followers with associating them as partners (with Allaah), or the Angels or even the Prophets even though they are the most righteous of the creation. He affirmed for them that they command their followers to be those who learn and practice that which they learn and teach it to others. So if it is not conceivable that the one who Allaah has given this status would command his followers to make him a partner with Allaah, nor the Prophets, nor the Angels, then other than them would be more apparent (in not calling the people to Shirk)."

Source: Tafseer of Shaykhul-Islaam Muhammad bin Abdil-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy upon him) pg. 31

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Oh you who believe, fasting has been obligated upon you as it was obligated upon those before in order that you may attain At-Taqwaa

Benefits from Soorah Al-Baqarah verse 183

 
Allaah stated:
 

"Oh you who believe, fasting has been obligated upon you as it was obligated upon those before in order that you may attain At-Taqwaa"

(Soorah Al-Baqarah: 183)

 

Benefits from this verse:

 

1. The importance of fasting being that Allaah addressed the believers with it.

 

2. Fasting is from the affiars of Eemaan (faith).

 

3. The obligation of fasting upon this Ummah.

 

4. The obligation of fasting upon the previous nations.

 

5. The mentioning of fasting being obligated upon the previous nations to make the affair easy upon this nation.

 

6. The completion of this Ummah (nation) by way of practicing that which was good from the previous nations and more.

 

7. The wisdom behind fasting is the attainment of At-Taqwaa (piety).

 

8. Actions are from Eemaan which is a refutation against the Jahmiyyah and the Murji'ah who do not hold actions to be a part ofEemaan.

 

9. Through the performance of the legislated acts of worship, there's a benefit for the individual.

 

10. Through fasting, one displays his/her gratitude to Allaah for favoring him/her with Eemaan.

 

11. Through fasting, one displays his/her claim of Eemaan.

 

12. Virtue of At-Taqwaa

 

13. Allaah has obligated different acts/types of worship. Some are performed by way of wealth, some by way of the body parts etc...

 

14. The Qur'aan is guidance for the believers.

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Looking at the Noble Face of Allaah

Looking at the Noble Face of Allaah

 Soorah Qaaf: 35

Allaah has said:

 

"For them is that which they want in it, and with Us there's more."

(Qaaf: 35)

 

Shaykh Abdul-Maalik Ramadaani (may Allaah preserve him) stated:

 

"Many of the people of knowledge has explained the statement "more" to mean the looking at the Noble Face of Allaah on the Day of Standing, as is mentioned in Tafseer Al-Baghawee 4/226, Zaadul-Maseer of Ibn al-Jawzee 8/21, and Roohul Ma'aani of al-Aloosi 26/190.  Likewise, they have explained the statement:

 

"and more"

 

in verse 26 of Soorah Yoonus. Ibn Katheer mentioned in his Tafseer:

 

"The statement of Allaah "and with Us there's more" is similar to the statement of His:

 

"For those who have done good there's good and more."

(Yoonus: 26)

 

It has preceded in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Suhaib bin Sinaan Ar-Roomi (may Allaah be pleased with him) the meaning is looking at the Noble Face of Allaah. Al-Bazzaar and Ibn Abi Haatim have narrated from the Hadeeth of Shareek Al-Qaadi on the authority of Uthmaan bin Umayr Abi Al-Yaqthaan on the authority of Anas bin Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him), regarding the statement of Allaah:

"and with Us there's more"

 

He said: "Their Lord will appear to them every Jumu'ah." Likewise,  Ibn Jareer narrated on him in his Tafseer 26/173. As well as Al-Bayhaqi in "Al-Ba'th wan Nushoor."

 

As for the hadeeth of Suhayb (may Allaah be pleased with him) which is in Saheeh Muslim, he narrated on the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) with the wording:

 

"When the people of Paradise enter the paradise Allaah will say: Do you want anything more that I can add to what I have already given you? They will say: Have you not made our faces white? Have you not entered us into the paradise and saved us from the hell-fire? He, the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: He (Allaah) will remove the veil and they (the people of paradise) will not have been given anything more beloved to them than looking at the face of their Lord. Then He (the Prophetsallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) recited the verse:

 

"For those who have done good there's good and more".

 

From this hadeeth it is known from the angle of where the looking at the Noble Face of the Lord is named that which is "More". 

We ask Allaah, The Noble, for the pleasure of looking at His Noble face on the day we will meet Him without there being harm or misleading trial.

 

Source: Min Kulli Soorah Faa-idah by Shaykh Abdul-Maalik bin Ahmad Ramadaani (may Allaah preserve him) pgs. 278-279

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Ash-Shayaateen Led Them Astray

Shaykh Yahyaa Al-Hajooree (may Allaah preserve him) stated regarding the Hadeeth of I'yaad Ibn Himaar (may Allaah be pleased with him): That the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned on His Lord:

"Indeed I created my servants as monotheists..."

 

Shaykh Yahyaa stated:

 

"The Haneef is the one who turns to Allaah, excluding other than Him."

 

 

"Then the Shayaateen led them astray"

 

Shaykh Yahyaa stated:

 

"Meaning they made Haraam upon them that which Allaah made Halaal. They also made Halaal that which Allaah made Haraamfor them. The meaning of the statement -Then the Shayaateen led them astray- means that they distanced them from the truth. This entails the Shayaateen of the mankind and the Shayaateen of the Jinn. It's possible that they can be the father, the mother, the companion one sits with, from the children, or the neighbors who can be one of the Shayaateen who misled that child"

 

Allaah has stated:

 

"Shayaateen from the mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion."

(Soorah Al-An'aam: 112)

 

 

Source:  At-Tabyeen Li Wujoob Tarbiyyatil Baneen pg. 9

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Whenever you can't find the Explanation in the Qur'aan or in the Sunnah

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said:

 

"Whenever you can't find the Tafseer in the Qur'aan nor in the Sunnah, you are to go back to the statements of the Sahaabah. Indeed, they have the most comprehension in that matter since they witnessed it from the Qur'aan, and situations that where specific to it. Also, they have the complete understanding, the correct knowledge, and the righteous actions. Especially, the scholars and elders from amongst them like the four rightly guided Khulafaa, and the rightly guided leaders from amongst them, like Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased with him)."

 

Source: Qalaa-idul Jawhar wa At-Teejaan alaa Uloom Al-Qur'aan - Shaykh Abu Amr Abdul-Kareem al-Hajooree pg. 217

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Fear Allaah

How Should I Respond When Someone Says To Me: 

“Fear Allāh”?

The ‘Allaamah, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy upon him)

An Exclusive Translation For Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah 

Allah, the Most High said,

"And when it is said to him, Fear Allāh, pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is that resting place."

[Al-Baqarah: 206]

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said,

From the benefits of this verse is that the man who has been described with these traits haughtily rejects being commanded to fear Allāh, based on His Saying, the Most High:

"Pride in the sin takes hold of him."

So he disdains this. It is as if he said to himself, “I am above you commanding me to fear Allāh.” And it appears that this ignorant individual pretends to be unaware of the Saying of Allāh, the Most High to the most pious of  mankind,

"O Prophet, fear Allāh and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise."

[Al-Ahzaab: 1]

Among the benefits [of this verse] is that it warns against rejecting [the advice] of the sincere advisors because Allāh included this among the characteristics of the hypocrites. Therefore, the one who rejects the [counsel] of a person who commands them to fear Allāh has resembled the hypocrites [in this affair].

It is obligatory upon a person when it is said to them, “Fear Allāh” that they respond by saying, “We hear and we obey,” revering the fear of Allāh.

Summarised from Tafseer Surah Al-Baqarah (2/448), Daar Ibn Al-Jawzee.

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Speak with Good Words

"And speak to people with good words.”

[Al-Baqarah: 83]

An Exclusive Translation for Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah

 

Islam teaches Muslims to be polite and courteous.

 

Allaah, the Most High, said:

 

“And speak to people with good words.” [Al-Baqarah: 83]

 

‘Ataa, a classical scholar of Islam (d. 120H/739), said in explanation of this verse:

 

“(Be polite when speaking) to all people.”[i] Tafseer at-Tabaree (This narration has a sound chain)

 

This is further emphasised by the Prophetic tradition where Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed one of his noble companions upon sending a delegation to the Christians of Yemen:

 

“Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it away; and deal with the people in a good manner.”[ii] At-Tirmidhi (This hadeeth is hasan)

 

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.” [Al-Mumtahinah: 8]

 

 

---

[i] Tafseer at-Tabari, V. 1/ p.452, Daar Ihyaa at-Turaath Al-‘Arabee, Lebanon, 2001.

[ii] Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee, V. 2/p. 373, Maktabatul Ma’aarif, Riyadh, 2002.

 

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Convey the Message

Imaam Al-Bukharee mentions in his Saheeh:  The Book of Tafseer, Chapter 5:  Al-Ma'idah

The statement of Allaah which is translated to mean:

O Messenger (Muhammad Sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam)! Convey (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message...... (Suratul Ma'idah 5:67)

On the authority of Aisha (radhiyallaahu anha) she said, 

"Whoever informs you that Muhammad concealed anything that was revealed upon Him has indeed lied."

Allaah says what is translated to mean:  

O Messenger (Muhammad Sallaallaahu alayhi wa sallaah)! Convey (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. 

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Why Can't We See Allaah in this Life?

My Young Daughter Constantly asks me, ‘Why can’t we see Allah in this life?’

An Exclusive Translation for Sisters Upon Al-Istiqaamah

Shaykh Al-Fawzan was asked on behalf of a young girl the following question:

My young daughter constantly asks me, ‘Why can’t we see Allah in this life?’ What is the best answer to give her as she is young?

The Shaykh (May Allah preserve him) said,

Say to her, ‘This is because you are not able to see him [in this life]. You would burn to pieces.’ It is not possible for a created being to see Allah in this life. Whereas in the Hereafter Allah gives the believer the strength and ability so he is able to see Allah. Yes. (1)

In another place Shaykh Al-Fawzan mentions:

“The Jahmiyyah and the Mu’tazilah, all of them, reject Ar-Ru’yah (the seeing of Allah) in the Hereafter. Another group exists who say, ‘Verily Allah is seen in this life and in the Hereafter.’ This is a position that is held by some of the Sufis.

The third position, and this is the true and correct stance, is that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic will be seen in the Hereafter by the people of paradise as is found in the ahadeeth that have been narrated upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and which have reached the level of Mutawaatir (such a great number of ahadeeth it is not possible that they have all been invented). However, in this life, then verily Allah cannot be seen because the people cannot endure and survive seeing Him, the Exalted in this life. When Moosa (peace and blessings be upon him) asked to see Allah, the Exalted, in this life, Allaah said:

"And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, “My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You.” [Allāh] said, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me.” But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, “Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers.” [Al-A’raaf: 143]

The solid mountain became dust due to the Greatness of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. So how can a human being withstand seeing Allah [in this life]?” (2)
________________________

Source:  (1)  http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=119604

             (2)  Shaykh Al-Fawzan’s explanation of Al-Haa’iyyah, p. 78-79

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The People of the Qur'aan

On the authority of Anas (May Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 
 
 

"Indeed for Allaah are a people from amongst the people." It was said: "Who are the people of Allaah from amongst them?" He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "The people of the Qur'aan are the people of Allaah and His elite."

 

(Musnad of Ahmad, Sunan of Ibn Maajah)

 

 

 

On the authority of Umar (May Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

 

"Indeed Allaah elevates a people by this Book and lowers others."

 

(Saheeh Muslim #817)

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