AL-JIHAD: THE FORGOTTEN OBLIGATION!!

AL-JIHAD: THE FORGOTTEN OBLIGATION


CONTENTS:
1. NO DEED EQUALS JIHAD
2. Al-MUJAHID -THE MOST SUPERIOR
3. Al-JiHAD - THE APEX OF THE DEEN
4. Ar-RIBAT - AN UNENDING REWARD
5. THE LOVE OF THE SAHABA FOR RIBAT
6. THE GRADE OF THE MUJAHIDEEN
7. THE PALACE FOR THE SHUHADAA'
8. IN THE HEARTS OF GREEN BIRDS
9. THE BEST JIHAD
10. SPECIAL FAVOURS FOR THE SHUHADAA'
11. ONE MORNING AND EVENING IN JIHAD
12. THE BLESSED DUST OF JIHAD
13. PARADISE UNDER THE SHADE OF SWORDS
14. KEEPING A HORSE FOR JIHAD
15. GLAD TIDINGS FOR THE MUJAHID
16. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN MAINTAINING THE HARAMAYN
17. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN JUMU'AH WITH THE PROPHET
18. THE PROPHET'S WISH TO BE SHAHEED
19. THE UNDERSTANDING OF AS-SALAF AS-SAALiH
20. PERFECTING EEMAAN: A PRE-REQUISITE FOR JIHAD?
21. THE ORDER TO PREPARE FOR JIHAD
22. THE EXISTENCE OF A KHILAFAH IS NOT A PREREQUISITE
23. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT GO OUT OR PREPARE FOR JIHAD
24. THE ABANDONMENT OF JIHAD

1. NO DEED EQUALS JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (R), a man came to Allah's Messenger (saw) and said
"Instruct me as to such a deed as equals jihad (in reward). He replied, "I
do not find such a deed." Then he added, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter
is in the battlefield, enter your Mosque to perform prayers without cease
and fast and never break your fast?" The man said, "but who can do that?"
Abu Huraira (ra) added, "The Mujahid is rewarded even for the footsteps of
his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied on a long rope." (Sahih
Bukhari, p.391, vol.1)

Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated: One companion asked, "O Messenger of Allah (saw)
tell me of an action by doing which I can attain the reward of the fighters
in the path of Allah." The Prophet (saw) said to him, "Do you have the
strength to continuously offer Salah and get tired and observe fast and not
break it?” The person replied, "O Messenger of Allah (saw)! I am weak, I
do not have the strength." Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "If you
were to be given the strength (to continuously offer Salah and observe fast)
yet you would not have achieved the status of the fighter in the path of
Allah.

Do you not know that the horse of a Mujahid, tied to a rope, when it
treads forth in length for grazing, even for this the Mujahid gains reward."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, wa Tafsir Suratul Kahf)

Al-Fadl ibn Ziyad said, "I heard Abu Abdullaah Ahmad ibn Hanbal while he was
talking about the enemy and he began crying, saying there is no deed of
righteousness better than fighting them." And that he (rahimahullaah) said,
"nothing matches encountering the enemy, and face to face combat is the most
excellent of deeds. Those who fight the enemy are the ones who protect
Islam and its holy places, and what deed could be superior to that? People
are safe while they are in fear, and they have contributed to their very
lifeblood."

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said "As for the occupying enemy who is
spoiling the religion and the world, there is nothing more compulsory after
Eemaan than repelling him."

2. Al-MUJAHID -THE MOST SUPERIOR

Narrated Abu Said Khudri (ra), somebody asked, "O Allah's Messenger! (saw)
Who is the best among the people?". Allah's Messenger (saw) replied, "A
believer who performs jihad with his life and wealth." They asked, "Who is
next?" He replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths
worshipping Allah
and leaving the people safe from his mischief." (Sahih Bukhari p.391, vol.1)

3. Al-JIHAD - THE APEX OF THE DEEN
"The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is salaah and the apex is
jihad." (Bukhari and Muslim)

4. Ar-RIBAT - AN UNENDING REWARD

Narrated Sahl bin Sad, as Saidi (ra), Allah's Messenger (saw) said: "To
guard Muslims from infidels in Allah's cause for one day is better than the
World and whatever is on it's surface, and a place in Paradise as small as
that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and
whatever is on it's surface; and a morning's or an evening's journey which a
slave (person) travels in Allah's cause is better than the World and
whatever is on it's surface".

(Sahih Bukhari, p.404, vol.1)
Ibn 'Abbas (ra) has said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say,
"Two eyes will not be touched by the Hell fire, one is that eye which has
shed tears in the fear of Allah and second that eye which stayed awake guarding in the path of Allah.
(Tirmidhi)

It is reported in Ibn Majah that Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Prophet
(saw) said, "Whoever dies while guarding the territory, in the cause of
Allah, his good deeds will continue and his sustenance will continue and he
will be saved from the questioning by the Munkar, Nakir and Allah will raise
him in the day of Qiyamah,
protected from the immense adversity of that day".

5. THE LOVE OF THE SAHABA FOR RIBAT

Abu Huraira (ra) said, "Safe guarding the Muslim borders in the path of
Allah is more beloved to me, than my worshipping Allah in the night of Qadr
in front of Hajr al Aswad (the black stone of the Kabah)

Khalid ibn Waleed (ra) said, on his deathbed, "I reached every possible
place for Shahadah, but it was written in my ate that I should die of my
bed. In my opinion there is no deed more dearer than my waiting with my
horse and shield in the darkness of night, the sky to be glittering due to
the rain, waiting for the onset of dawn, so that I can attack the enemy."
(al Jihad, Ibn al Mubarak, p.88)

Umar (ra) asked the people in his gathering, "Which person would attain the
most virtue and reward?" The people suggested zakah and salaah and agreed
the highest rank is for the Ameer ul Mumineen (Umar himself) and started
naming other individuals. Umar (ra) then advised, "Shall I tell you the
best person is terms of virtue who is even higher than the Ameer ul Mumineen
(the leader of the Muslims)?.

The people replied, "Please do tell us". He
said, "that small person who is holding the reins of his horse in Syria
safeguarding the Muslim army, he is unaware if a wild animal will rip him
apart or an insect will bite him or the enemy will attack. This person is
higher in rank than those people whom you have mentioned and he is higher
than the Ameer ul Mumineen in virtue. (Kanzul Ummal, p.289, vol.2)

6. THE GRADE OF THE MUJAHIDEEN

"Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their
wealth and lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has
promised good (paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and
fight above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward." (4:95)

Narrated Abu Huraira (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever believes in Allah
and His Messenger, performs salaah and observes sawm of the month of
Ramadhan, then it will be a promise binding upon Allah to admit him to
Paradise, no matter whether he fights in Allah's cause or remains in the
land where he was born." The people said, "O Allah's Messenger (saw) shall
we aquaint the people with the good news?".

He said, "Paradise has one
hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahideen who fight in his
cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance
between the Heaven and the Earth.

So when you ask Allah (for something), ask for al-Firdaus which is the middle (best) and the highest part of Paradise. And above it is the throne of the Beneficient (Allah), and from it
gushes forth the rivers of Paradise. (Sahih Bukhari, p.391, vol.1)
at-Tirmidhi narrated that the distance between the two grades of jannah is
quoted as 100 years and in a further hadith in Tabarani this distance is
quoted as 500 years.

7. THE PALACE FOR THE SHUHADAA'

Narrated Samura, the Prophet (saw) said, "Last night two men came to me (in
a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a better and
superior house better of which I have never seen. One of them said, this
house is the house of the Shuhadah." (Sahih Bukhari, p.185, vol.1)
Ahmad, at-Tabarani and al-Haakim report from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, "The shuhadaa' are in a green dome besides the river
of Baariq, near the gate of Paradise, from which provision comes to them,
morning and evening" (Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 3/235 no. 3636)

8. IN THE HEARTS OF GREEN BIRDS

Ibn Mas'ood narrated that the Prophet (saw) said "Indeed the souls of the
shuhadaa' are in the hearts of green birds, and they have lanterns hanging
underneath the 'arsh (throne of Allaah) of ar-Rahmaan. They roam around in
Paradise wherever they wish, then they return to their lanterns." (Muslim,
at-Tirmidhi)

9. THE BEST JIHAD

Jabir (ra) narrated that a person asked, "O Prophet of Allah, which is the
best Jihad?". The Prophet (saw) said,
"The Jihad is that the legs of your horse be cut off and your blood spilt
(shahadah)".
(Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.438. vol.2)
Whilst the narration "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater
jihad", that is, that of striving against the self, is often quoted and thus
well known amongst the Muslims, this cannot be attributed to the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) as it is da'eef (as-Suyuti, al-'Iraaqi, al-Bayhaqi) or
according to some (Ibn Taymiyyah), mawdoo' (fabricated).

10. SPECIAL FAVOURS FOR THE SHUHADAA'

Ubada bin Samit (ra) narrates, that the Prophet (saw) said, "The shaheed is
granted seven gifts from Allah swt -
1. He is forgiven at the first drop of his blood.
2. He sees his status in jannah.
3. He is dressed in the clothes of iman.
4. He is safe from the punishment of the grave.
5. He will be safe from the great fear of the Day of Judgement.
6. A crown of honour will be placed on his head.
7. He will intercede on behalf of 70 members of his family.
(Musnad Ahmad, at-Tabarani, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.443, vol.2)
Abud-Darda (r) narrates that I heard the Prophet saw saying that the Shaheed
will intercede on behalf of 70 Members of his family.(Abu Dawud, at-Targheeb
wa at-Tarheeb)

Naeem ibn Hamar (ra) narrates that a person asked the Prophet (saw), "Which
Shaheed is superior?".

The Prophet (saw) answered, "Those who are in the rows of battle and do not
turn their face till they are killed.

They will roam around in the highest rooms in Jannah and their Lord will
laugh at them. This is an indication that, when Allah laughs at somebody, there is no accounting of his deeds on the day of Judgement."

(Musnad Ahmed, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.442, vol.2)
Narrated Anas bin Malik (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "Nobody who enters
Paradise likes to go to the world even if he got everything in the earth
except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be shaheed
ten times, because of the dignity he receives (from Allah)". (Sahih Bukhari,
p.395, vol.1)

Jabir ibn Abdullah (r) says that when Abdullah bin Amr ibn Haram was Shaheed
the Prophet saw said, "O Jabir! Shall I inform you of how Allah honoured your father?" He
answered, "Please do." The Prophet saw said,
"Allah does not talk to anybody but behind the veil but he talked to your
father directly (without the veil)".
(Tirmidhi, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p437, vol. 2)


11. ONE MORNING AND EVENING IN JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), The Prophet (saw) said, "A single endeavour (of
fighting) in Allah's cause in the afternoon
or forenoon is better than all that, on which the sun rises and sets."
(Sahih Bukhari, p.392, vol.1)

Ibn Daqeeq ul-Eed (ra) says that the meaning of, "a single expedition in the
afternoon or forenoon of the Mujahid being better than all that is on the
earth and which is in it, " is: that of a person was to be given the whole
world and own all the wealth and needs of the world and then he spends all
this in a good cause, the reward of this cannot be compared to one noon or
forenoon spent by the Mujahid in the battlefield, in fact, spending one
morning or afternoon in the battlefield is more virtuous than spending all
the world in Allah's cause.

"He who fights in the way of Allaah for the time between the milking of the
camel jannah becomes waajib upon him" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi).

12. THE BLESSED DUST OF JIHAD

The Prophet (saw) said "Never will there combine upon a servant the dust of
battle in the way of Allaah
and the smoke of the Hellfire." (Ahmad)
The Prophet (saw) said, "Whosever’s feet were covered with the dust in the
way of Allaah,
He forbids the Hellfire upon him." (al-Bukhari)

13. PARADISE UNDER THE SHADE OF SWORDS

The Prophet (saw) said, "Know surely that Jannah is under the shade of
swords" (Sahih Bukhari, p.395, vol.1)

Ibn al-Jawzi states the understanding of this hadith is that Jannah is
attained by performing Jihad. One companion asked the Prophet (saw) "O
Messenger of Allah! What is the reason that every Muslim has to face the
trial of the grave, except the Shaheed?".

The Prophet (saw) answered, "The sword over his head was enough as a trial" (meaning he would not be now put in any trial or torment). (Kanzul Ummal, p.596, vol.4)

14. KEEPING A HORSE FOR JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), the Prophet (saw) said, "If somebody keeps a
horse (for Jihad) in Allah's cause, motivated by his faith in Allah and his
belief in His promise, then he will be rewarded on the day of resurrection
for what the horse has eaten or drunk and for it's dung and urine". (Sahih
Bukhari, p.406, vol.1)

15. GLAD TIDINGS FOR THE MUJAHID

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), the Prophet (saw) said, "Let the slave of dinar
and dirhams, of khatifah and khamisa, (ie money and luxurious clothes),
perish for he is pleased if these things are given to him and if not he is
displeased. Let such a person perish and relapse, and if he is pierced with
a thorn, let him not find anybody to take it out for him.

Paradise is for him who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allah's cause, with hair
unkempt and feet covered with dust, if he is appointed in the vanguard, he
is perfectly satisfied with his post of guarding, and if he is appointed in
the rear guard, he accepts his post with satisfaction, (he is so simple and
unambitious that if he asks for permission he is not permitted and if he
intercedes his intercession is not accepted)". (Sahih Bukhari, p.404, vol.1)

16. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN MAINTAINING THE HARAMAYN

"Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the
maintenance of al-Masjid al-Haram as equal to the worth of those who believe
in Allaah and the Last Day and fight in the way of Allaah.
They are not equal before Allaah." (9:19)

17. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN JUMU'AH WITH THE PROPHET

The Prophet (saw) sent an army in which Abdullah bin Rawaha participated.
When the army set out, Abdullah bin Rawaha stayed behind so that he could
perform Jumma Salah behind the Prophet (saw) and then intended to join the
army straight after. The Prophet (saw) said to him, "I swear by the One in
whose power lies my life, if you were to spend everything on earth you could
not attain the virtue of their one morning." (Fath ul Bari, p.91, vol.6)

18. THE PROPHET'S WISH TO BE SHAHEED

Narrated Abu Huraira (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "By him in whose hands my
life is! Were it not for some men amongst the Believers who dislike to be
left behind me, and whom I cannot provide with means of conveyance, I would
certainly never remain behind any sariyah (army unit) setting out in Allah's
cause. By Him in whose hands my life is! I would love to be Shaheed in
Allah's cause and then get resurrected, and then get Shaheed and then get
resurrected again, and then get Shaheed. " (Sahih Bukhari, p.42-3, vol.4)

19. THE UNDERSTANDING OF AS-SALAF AS-SAALiH

At-Tabari reported that al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad was seen at money-changers
in Emesa. He was leaning on the table due to his corpulence, and it was said
to him, "Allaah has excused you (from jihad)!" Whereupon he said, "The surah
of dispatchment (i.e. at-Tawbah) has come to us, "March forth, light and
heavy."

Abu Talha (ra) said "Young, and old, Allaah has not accepted the excuse of
anyone.O my son! Prepare me (for jihad), prepare me!". His son said, "May
Allaah have mercy on you! You did battle along with the Prophet (saw) until
he died, and together with Abu Bakr until he died, and the same alongside
'Umar until he died so now we will do battle on your behalf." But Abu Talha
said, "No! Prepare me!" So he went out and died at sea.

His body could not be buried for seven days, at which time it had still not decomposed.
Az-Zuhri said, "Sa'eed ibn al-Mussayib went out for Jihad, blind in one eye
and somebody told him, "You are an invalid" but he said, "Allaah has called
forth the light and the heavy.
If I cannot fight I will increase our numbers and guard possessions."

20. PERFECTING EEMAAN: A PRE-REQUISITE FOR JIHAD?

Narrated al-Bara (r), a man whose face was covered with an iron armour (i.e.
clad in armour) came to the Prophet saw and said, "O Allah's messenger!
Shall I fight or embrace Islam first?" The Prophet (Saw) replied, "Embrace
Islam first and then fight". So he embraced Islam and was Shaheed. Allah's
Messenger (saw) said, "A little work, but a great reward." (He did very
little after embracing Islam but he was rewarded in abundance). (Sahih
Bukhari, p.394, vol.1)

Ibn Ishaq has recorded in maghazi (an authentic tradition of Abu Huraira (r)
that the Prophet (saw) said, "Tell me about a person who never prayed one
salaah but entered jannah." Then he answered himself that this lucky person
was Amar bin Thabit (r)" (Fath ul Bari, p.105, vol.6) Taking this narration
into consideration, the scholars of hadith have agreed that the person
mention in Bukhari is Amar bin Thabit (r).

21. THE ORDER TO PREPARE FOR JIHAD

"And make ready against them (the Kuffar)all you can of power
including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, etc) to
terrorise
the enemy of Allaah and your enemy" (8:60)
Sheikh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah: "It is an obligation to make preparations
for jihad at times when it is not possible to wage it due to weakness. For
anything without which an obligation cannot be fulfilled is an obligation
itself."

22. THE EXISTENCE OF A KHILAFAH IS NOT A PREREQUISITE

Ibn Qudama: "The absence of the Muslim ruler should not (be used as an
excuse) to put off Jihad, otherwise its exigency and advantages will be lost
by so doing; and if the Muslims happen to take some booty (from the war)
they should distribute it in accordance with the laws of the Shariah."

Ash-Shawkaani, "The Muslims have differed regarding attacking the Kuffaar in
their lands, whether the presence of the main Imam is a pre-requisite or
not. And the truth most worthy of acceptance is that it is waajib upon every
individual from the Muslims and the Quranic verses and Ahadeeth are
general and not restricted."
(ar-Rasaa'il as-Salafiyyah, p.43)

23. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT GO OUT OR PREPARE FOR JIHAD

These are like the Munafiqoon, and they said to the believers
"Our possessions and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us."
(48:11)

The Prophet (saw) "Whoever dies and he does not fight nor does he ever
intend to fight (prepares for it)
then he dies on a branch of hypocrisy" (Muslim)
"And if you march not forth He will punish you with a painful torment and
will replace you with another people
and you cannot harm Him in the least." (9:39)

And let the one who claims love for jihad and desire for its implementation
but who does nothing to prepare for it remember the words of Allaah:
"And if they had intended to march forth they would certainly have made
ready some preparation for it, but Allaah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind,
and it was said to them,
"Sit you with those who sit (at home)". (9:46)

24. THE ABANDONMENT OF JIHAD

Our beloved Prophet (saw) said: "When people become stingy towards the dinar
and dirham, and deal in fine things, and engage themselves in agricultural
activities, forsaking Jihad in the Way of Allaah, Allaah will send down on
them a calamity that will not be dispelled away from them until they return
to their deen" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud)

And ibn al-Arabi said regarding the verse, "If you march not forth He will
punish you." (9:39),
"The severe punishment in this world is through the occupation of the enemy
and in the Hereafter by fire."

Following the Messenger of Allah is a Must!!

Following the Messenger of Allah is a Must

Dr. Mustafa as-Siba'i

The Sunnah and its Position in the Islamic Sharee`ah
As-Sunnah wa Makaanatuhaa fit-Tashree` al-Islaamee
Translated by: Ahmed M. Hashim


The Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to take the ruling on different matters in their lives from the Qur’aan, which they use to learn from Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). In many instances, the aayaat (verses) of the Qur’aan treat a subject in a general manner without a specific condition. Sometimes the aayaat will come as an absolute ruling without any precondition or limitation required by time, place, etc. As an example of what came in a general way in the Qur’aan is the Salaat. The Qur’aan does not mention how many Rak`ahs (units of prayer) we should make, or how to physically move during prayer, or the time for prayer. Similarly, the Qur’aan does not mention the minimum amount of money to have before giving Zakaat (charity) or the conditions by which to pay it. Many of our `Ibaadaat cannot be performed without stopping at the explanations related to the regulations, pillars, and conditions of nullification. It is thus a must to return to Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to know the rules in a comprehensive and clear manner.

Many times, the Companions faced incidents in which the Qur’aan which had no ruling, and there was a need to return to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to know the ruling of such matters. It was the Prophet who was ordered by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) teach humanity, and it is the Prophet who is the most knowledgeable of mankind about that which Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa expects from us.

Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) has told us about the duty of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) with respect to the Qur’aan, where Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said:

"And We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought." [Qur’aan 16:44]

Allah also made it clear to us that the duty of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is to clarify the truth to people when there is a dispute:

"And We sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou shouldst make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe." [Qur’aan 16:64]

We are obligated to follow any ruling by Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in any dispute:

"But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction." [Qur’aan 4:65]

Allah also mentioned that Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) was given the Qur’aan and Wisdom to teach people the regulations of their religion:

"Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error." [Qur’aan 3:164]

Regarding the last aayah, most scholars and those of great knowledge said that the wisdom mentioned in the aayah means another thing besides the Qur’aan. It is what Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa has given Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) from the knowledge of matters and regulations that the rest of humanity can not attain. Imaam Ash-Shaafi`ee rahimahullaahhas said that "Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa has mentioned the scripture which is the Qur’aan, and he mentioned wisdom and I have learned from the people of knowledge that the wisdom here is the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). It is from the mercy of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) that He has sent to us a way to practice what is in the Qur’aan."

Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) did not stop by saying scripture only, but the inclusion of the Sunnah with the Qur’aan is an indication of its important and the obligation on us to follow it as we have to follow the Qur’aan. Imaam Ash-Shaafi`ee goes on saying that the letter 'wa' ('and' between Scripture and Wisdom in the aayah) is a letter of conjunctions in Arabic which requires that the two parts it joins must be different otherwise the sentence will be redundant, and Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) is far away from that; na`oodhu billaah. And so when Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said that he has conferred a great favor on the believers, He does not confer anything that is not correct and truthful. Therefore, this wisdom must be followed as the Qur’aan, and Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) has never ordered us to follow anything but Him and His messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). Which must mean that this wisdom is what came from Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in the form of rules and sayings regarding legislation.

To clarify the concept of Sunnah and our obligation to follow it, Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said:

"Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper." [Qur’aan 7:157]

Because this teaching is mentioned in general in this aayah, then it must include the rules in the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

A very strong indicator of the obligation upon us to follow the Sunnah can be found in this aayah:

"...And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam)) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment." [Qur’aan 59:7] Allah has also made the obedience of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in conjunction with the obedience to Him:

"And obey Allah and the Messenger, that ye may obtain mercy." [Qur’aan 3:132]

We are asked by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) to answer any order by Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam):

"O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life." [Qur’aan 8:24]

Allah made the obedience of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) an obedience to Him, and following Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) an indication of the love of Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa:

"He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah." [Qur’aan 4:80]

"Say: If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you sins." [Qur’aan 3:31]

And Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa warrned us from not following the instructions of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam):

"Then let those beware who withstand the Messenger’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them." [Qur’aan 24:63]

Not only that, but Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) told us that disobeying Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is Kufr (disbelief):

"Say: Obey Allah and His Messenger.: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith." [Qur’aan 3:32]

It was never allowed by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) that a believer disobey Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) order:

"It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path." [Qur’aan 33:36]

To show that not following the ruling of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) when a dispute occurs is a sign of hypocrisy, Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) says:

"They say, We believe in Allah and in the apostle, and we obey; but even after that, some of them turn away; they are not (really) Believers. When they are summoned to Allah and His apostle, in order that He may judge between them, behold some of them decline (to come)....The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, "We hear and we obey"; it is such as these that will attain felicity." [Qur’aan 24:47-51]

COUNT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU ARE COUNTED!!

COUNT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU ARE COUNTED


"We are not free to pick and choose which portions of Islam we believe in and which portions we don't. If we truly believe this religion is from Allah then how can we deny any of what Allah says? It simply doesn't's make sense. None of us are perfect. None of us will be able to follow all the rules. But there is a fine difference between someone who admits to his or her imperfections and asks Allah for forgiveness, as opposed to someone who attempts to justify or rationalize their imperfections. If a child makes a mistakes, admits to it and apologizes, there is a good chance the parent will forgive the child. But if the child is rebellious and refuses to admit its mistake, how will the parent react? la Illah ila Allah"

"Keep the faith strong and true throughout all troubles, as things do happen that we don't understand. However, there is always a reason behind them, no matter how hard they are to find! Believe in Allah, as he knows what's best, and don't try to fight the inevitable."
"Truly in the heart there is a void that can not be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that can not be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness."

As-Sirat (The Bridge Over Hell)
The Sirat is stretched over Hell. It is the bridge between Paradise and Hell. People cross it in accordance with their deeds. Some cross as quickly as the eye winks; Some cross as if a flash of lightening; Some cross as if wind; Some cross as a noble horse would; Some cross as a camel rider might; Some cross it running, some walking; Some cross it crawling; And some are snatched and thrown into Hell. The bridge has hooks to snatch the people according to their deeds. Whoever passes over it enters Paradise. If they cross the Sirat, they will be halted over a bridge between Paradise and Hell to settle accounts between themselves; If they are cleared and purified, they are permitted to enter Paradise. Aisha b. Dawud Abdul-Qadir

Count Yourself Before You are Counted"
Islamic daily life:

Have you prayed Fajr, every day with the group, in the Masjid?
Did you perform all of the prayers daily, inside the Masjid, with the group?
Did you read from the Book of Allah (Qur'an) today?
Did you mention Allah and Glorify Him after each prayer?
Did you keep the extra prayers (Sunnah) before or after each prayer?
Were you concentrating daily on your prayers by meditating on what you said in your prayers?
Have you remembered Death and the Tomb today?
Have you thought about the Day of Judgment and its overwhelming hardship?
Have you asked Allah tree times to permit you into Paradise? Because if you say: "Oh Allah, permit me into Paradise." three times, the Paradise will reply: "Oh Allah allow him to enter me."
Have you asked Allah to protect you from the Hellfire today, three times? If you did the Hellfire will say: "Oh Allah, protect him from me." [both hadith by Tirmidhi]
Did you read a Hadith about the Prophet(sAas) today?
Haven't you thought about being away from those who are evil doers?
Haven't you tried to avoid laughing and joking too much or too often?
Did you thank Allah for bestowing on you the hearing, sight, good heart, and all the other gifts?
Did you pay charity today to the poor and needy?
Did you get angry for your own sake or for the sake of Allah?
Did you avoid arrogance and self admiration?
Have you cried today out of the fearfulness of Allah?
Did you mention Allah after Fajr or Isha prayer?
Have you asked Allah to forgive you from the sins and transgressions that you have committed, by making (astaghfir) seeking forgiveness from sins?
Did you ask Allah sincerely and honestly today to grant you shaheed (martyrdom)? The Prophet(sAas) said: "The one who asks Allah sincerely to grant him shaheed, Allah will grant it to him even though he dies in his bed." [Muslim]
Did you ask Allah to stabilize your heart and your religion?
Did you take the opportunity, make supplications (du'a) in the hours that Allah accepts them?
Did you buy a new Islamic book for the sake of learning from it the knowledge of the religion?
Did you seek forgiveness for the Believers, men and women, alive or dead, because if you did Allah will reward you for each of them.
Did you thank Allah for His Blessings on you, by making you Muslim and for the Blessings of Islam?
Did you visit a brother or sister for the sake of Allah?
Did you invite people to Allah, your family, your brothers, sisters, or neighbors, or those whom you have been in contact with?
Were you kind to your parents today?
Have you faced a problem and did you say? "Inna li lehi wa inna leh raja'oon" (By Allah we are created and to Him we shall return).
Have you made du'a by saying: "Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You, by the things I have committed wrongfully and knowingly. And I seek forgiveness for the things that I have committed without my knowledge." If you say this Allah will wipe off the big sins and the small sins.


"Allaah has promised the believers Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of 'Adn. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allaah. That is the supreme success." Surah At-Tawbah ayah 72

The Forgotten Sweetness!!

The Forgotten Sweetness


Alif Laam Meeeem..Zalikal Kitabu La rayba fi….

And the Imam starts off reciting the Surah in his awesome voice, causing your heart to turn over at the sweetness. You make a promise to yourself that after this Ramadan you will recite the Qur’an more often. Ramadan passes, Shawwal comes and goes, then Dhul Qada’ and then Dhul Hijjah…Safar…and you haven’t touched the Qur’an since Ramadan. This is the fourth time this occurred, you remember making the same promise to yourself the year before…and the year before…and the year before…only to end up being distracted each time and leaving the Qur’an on top of the shelf to collect dust.

Why is it that we can find ourselves spending so much time doing other things, reading other books, studying secular studies, and surfing the internet yet it’s hard for us to find time for the Qur’an?

{O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (this Qur’an), and a healing for that in your breasts, – a Guidance and a Mercy for the believers.} 10:57

Little do we realize what this Qur’an is and how little time do we spend reciting it! How little time do we spend memorizing it, contemplating it, and pondering over it! If only we knew the high status of those who become companions of the Quran, then surely we would attach ourselves to it and never detach ourselves from it. Our tongues would dry with constant recitation.

So the intention here is to remind ourselves by highlighting some of Ahadeeth that pertain to the Qur’an and the glad tidings they give to the People of the Qur’an, and to mention some statements of our Salaf, to incite ourselves to spend more time with it. For indeed Allaah has chosen this Ummah to receive the Qur’an, the one miracle that will remain until the Day of Judgment, The Book about which Allaah says: {Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah.} 59:21. This is the Ummah of the Qur’an, and we are of this Ummah, will we not then seize this? O Ummah of the Qur’an, Allaah asks you:

{Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder?…} 57:16


~ The Qur’an and the Hearts

Allaah’s Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam has said:

“The people of Qur’aan, they are the people of Allaah and His specialties.”

[Ahmad, Nisaa’ee, Ibn Maajah]

So who are the ‘People of the Qur’an’? What does it take to become one of them? And how can we strive to join their ranks? What sets them apart from the rest of the people?

It is high time for us to return to the Qur’an, for our state in the world today is only because of ourselves, because we have abandoned the Qur’an. We have severed our relationship with the Book, and have taken ourselves to other petty matters, turning to the Qur’an only when we are in need, and sometimes, not even then. When it comes to finding peace, we find our youth turning to music instead of the recitation of the Qur’an, we find our brothers and sisters turning to novels instead of the recitation of the Qur’an. This is not finger pointing, but the aim here is merely to incite ourselves to examine our life to check whether we have habits, and to check whether we do things that are non essential and non beneficial and leave them and turn that time to the Qur’an because without the Qur’an, what life do our hearts have? We have forgotten the role the Qur’an should have in our lives, will we not then give that role back to the Qur’an?

What set our Salaf apart from the rest of the following generations? It was nothing except their attachment to the Qur’an. Their lives was the Qur’an. In the day they would recite Quran, and during night prayers, they contemplated over it. And history is a witness to where it led them. Ibn Khaldun said in Al-Muqaddima “Then the cities of Islam grew, and illiteracy disappeared from amongst the Arabs because of their constant occupation with the Qur’an.“

Like our body needs food to survive, our soul also need its nurishment as well. Our hearts need ‘food’ to remain alive. If we do not provide our hearts with this ‘food’, they will die out and Allaah has condemned the ones with dead hearts in the Qur’an many times. {So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah! They are in plain error!} 39:22. So what is the ‘food’ of our hearts? Ibn Al Qayyim said: “The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Qur‘aan , being humble before Allaah in secret, and leaving sins.” [Haadiyyul-’Arwaah ilaa Bilaadil-Afraah (p. 45)]. And if one thinks about this, he finds that they are dependent upon one another. The Qur’an and evil cannot coexist in the same heart, so one needs to leave off sins in order to be able to recite and reflect on the Qur’an for it to have any effect on him, and only when one reflects on the Qur’an can he feel the power of its Words, and only then can he humble himself before Allaah in secret for it is easier to commit a sin in secret then in the open. Ibn Masud said “These hearts are vessels. Fill them up with Qur’an and occupy them with nothing else.” and he also said “The love of the Quran and the love of music cannot combine in the heart of a believer.”

Allaah says, telling of the characteristics of the believers, when they recite or hear the Qur’an:

{…The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide.} 39:23

Ibn Kathir says regarding this verse:

“This is the description of the righteous, when they hear the Words of the Compeller, the Protector, the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving, because they understand the promises and warnings contained therein. The frightening words and threats make their skin shiver from fear.
[...]
When they hear the Ayat of Allah, they are not too busy to pay attention to them; they listen to them and understand their meanings. So they act upon them and prostrate when they hear them, out of understanding, not out of ignorance and blind following of others. Third they adhere to the correct etiquette when they listen to them. As the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do when they listened to the words of Allah recited by the Messenger of Allah. Their skin would shiver, and their hearts would soften to the remembrance of Allah. They did not shout or do other actions that are not natural; on the contrary, they would sit quietly with the proper attitude of fear, in an unparalleled fashion. they attained the victory of praise from their Lord in this world and the Hereafter.
[...]
Qatadah said: “This is the characteristic of the friends of Allah; Allah has described them in this manner, saying that their skin shivers, their eyes weep and their hearts find rest to the remembrance of Allah. He did not say that they lose their minds and swoon; that is the characteristic of the followers of innovation, and that comes from the Shaytan.”

Remember that the Qur’an can either be a proof for us or a proof against us, let us make sure that it will become a proof for us on the Day of Judgment. It is narrated on the authority if Umar r.a. that the Messenger of Allaah salalahu alaihiwassalam said:

“Verily, Allaah will raise elevate some people by this Book and He will degrade others with it”

[Muslim]

Naturally, the question comes up, how can the Qur’an raise people and lower others? This Hadith is a confirmation of the verse in Surah Al Isra where Allaah says regarding the Qur’an: {And We send down of the Qur’an that which is a cure and a mercy to the believers, and it increases the wrongdoers in nothing but loss. (82)}. Qatadah said regarding this verse that: “When the believer hears it, he benefits from it and memorizes it and understands it.” The disbelievers on the other had do not benefit from the Qur’an nor do they memorize it nor can they understand it, and this is because Allaah has made this Qur’an a Cure and a Mercy for the Believers. So the ones who Allaah will elevate are those that turn to the Qur’an, memorize it, and understand it, and the ones who’s ranks are lowered those that {threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know} 2:101. In another narration the Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam said: “Whoever puts (the Qur’aan) ahead of him, it will lead him to Paradise; and whoever throws it behind him, it will drag him into Hell.” [at-Tabaraani]

To love Allaah and His Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam is from the foundations of our belief, because without love for Allaah and His Messenger how can we have Imaan? The Messenger of Allah salalahu alaihiwassalam said: “Whoever wants to to love Allah and His Messenger, then let him read the Mushaf.“ ['Sahih al-Jami''; # 6289]

We ask Allaah to make us of those who recite this Book, follow it, understand it, and then teach it to others seeking nothing except His reward.

~ The Reward

So let us turn to our first source, the Ahadeeth and take a look at a few narrations about the Qur’an and the reward of the one who recites it and let us ask Allaah to make us of the Companions of the Qur’an.

The Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam has informed us of the great reward of those that take the Qur’an as their companion, and hold fast to it, stick to it and never abandon it for anything else. They are with the Qur’an in the day, and they recite it at night in prayer.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet salalahu alaihiwassalam said:

“The Qur’aan will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honor to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honor.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allaah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse you will gain one more hasanah (reward for good deed).”

[at-Tirmidhi, 2915 - Hasan]

Subhanallah, if this was the only Hadeeth describing the reward, then it would suffice! The Qur’an itself will come on the Day of Judgement and intercede for its companions, and Allaah will give him a crown of honor, a garment of honor, Allaah will be pleased with him. What else is needed to persuade us to recite the Qur’an?

Yet here is another, it was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet salalahu alaihiwassalam said:

“It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan: ‘Read, advance in status and recite as you used to do in the world, for your status will be commensurate with the last ayah that you recite.’”

[at-Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud - Hasan Sahih]

And another narration, it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet salalahu alaihiwassalam said:

“The one who recites the Qur’aan and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And, whoever exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”

[Bukhari & Muslim]

Subhanallaah, aren’t these three narrations enough to make us pick up the Qur’an and read it and try to understand it? In this last Hadeeth is a glad tiding for our brothers and sisters who want to recite this Book, yet they find it hard, they will have a double reward.

The rewards are not limited to the on who becomes a companion of the Qur’an himself, but by the Mercy of Allaah, it goes further and it goes to his parents as the hadeeth states: “…his parents will be clothed with garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “O Lord, how did we earn this?” It will be said to them, “Because you taught your child the Qur’an.” [Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, 6/51]

In the following Hadeeth the Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam tells us of the reward of simply reciting the Qur’an.

“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allaah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “Laam” is a letter, and “Meem” is a letter.”

[Sunan At-Tirmithee - Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee (3/164)]

That’s 30 hasanat for reciting only 3 letters! Imagine if one were to recite Al Fatihah how much hasanat they will receive, imagine if one recites Al Baqarah! The amount of Hasanat only Allaah can calculate. Imagine for a second, the ones who set out to memorize this Book, reciting its verses over and over hunderds of times to engrave it in their memories, how much is their total recitation? How much is their reward?

~ The Warning

{O My Lord, indeed my people took this Qur’aan as something worthy of being abandoned!} 25:30


In our times, rarely does the Qur’an come down from that top shelf in our bookshelves where it’s sitting collecting dust, it comes down only when someone dies. Subhanallaah, this Qur’an was revealed for the living, not the dead! In fact, it is so bad in some places, that if the Qur’an is heard being recited loudly, people will come to you and say “Ina lillahi wa ina ilayhi Rajiun, who has died?” That is what the Qur’an has become! An ornament, which is decorated and then placed on the top most shelf and left only to be picked up when someone passes away. This shows a preference of symbolism over substance. When Ibn `Abbas saw a copy of the Qur’an decorated with silver, he said: “In so doing, you will be seducing the thief, while its true ornament and decoration are within it.“

We have become people who honor only the letters of the Qur’an, leaving behind its guidance. We rarely recite it, and we do not understand it nor do we follow much of its commandments. We respect the outside of the Qur’an, yet leave off respecting the inside. Shaykh Shuraim of Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, said in one of the Dua’s that he would say: “Oh Allaah make us from those that stand up for the Hudud (laws) of the Qur’an, and do not make us from those who stand up and respect the letters and loose the Hudud of Yours.“

Then there are amongst us those who only take the Qur’an for barakah and only for that. Some just restrict themselves to Surah Ya-Sin never going beyond that, and you’ll find these small pocket-sized mass printed. What happened to the rest of the Qur’an? What happened to the rest of the Surahs? Allaah has revealed the entire Qur’an and made the entire book blessed not just one surah!

From the long Hadeeth in Ahmad regarding what happens to the soul and the questioning, it is narrated:

“…So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).’ They say, ‘What did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’…”
(Ahmad -18063-Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1676)

Re-read the underlined portion brothers and sisters! The only way the soul will be able to answer the three questions will be if he read the Book of Allaah! How then can one hope to answer these questions if he never picked up the Words of his Lord, and never strove to understand them?

Ibn Qayyim said:

There are various types of ‘abandonment’ of the Qur’aan:

1) To abandon listening to it and believing in it.

2) To abandon acting upon it, and ignoring its lawful and prohibited ordinances (Halaal and haraam), even if one believes in it and recites it.

3) To abandon judging by it, and resorting to it as a judge when there are differences in the essence of the religion or other matters.

4) To abandon pondering over it, and understanding it, and seeking the explanation of it.

5) To abandon using it as a cure in all types of diseases of the heart, and instead to seek to cure these diseases by other means.

[Quoted in 'An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'aan' - Shaykh Yasir Qadhi]

So brothers and sisters let us take a step back, examine our lives and see if we are guilty of abandoning the Qur’an in any of these categories and strive to make up wherever we are lacking. I remind foremost myself, and then you to pick up the Qur’an and recite a portion of it daily, listen to it, and understand it Bi’Idhnillah..

~ The Salaf & The Qur’an

The Salaf were the best of this Ummah as stated by the Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam in an authentic narration. There is not much to say about these narrations, they speak for themselves:
Jubayr bin Mut’im said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah recite ‘at-Tur’ in the Maghrib prayer, and when he got to the verses {“Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No, but they have no firm Belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord? Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?”} [at-Tur; 35-37], my heart wanted to fly from my body out of awe.”

['Tafsir Ibn Kathir'; 4/309]

‘Uthman bin ‘Affan said:

“If our hearts were truly pure, we would never get enough of the Words of our Lord, and I hate that one day passes with me not looking in the Mushaf.”

['al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah'; 7/215]

Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrated:

“‘Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl used to press the Mushaf to his face and cry, saying: “The Book of my Lord! The Words of my Lord!”"

[Reported by 'Abdullah bin al-Mubarak in 'al-Jihad'; # 56]

Bishr bin as-Sirri said:

“Verily, each verse is like a date: the more you chew it, the more of its sweetness is released.” Abu Sulayman heard this and commented: “True. It is the case with one of you that if he begins one chapter of it, he wants to read it to the end.”

['al-Hadith fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an'; p. 70]

Abu az-Zahiriyyah narrated:

“I went to Tarsus, so I entered upon Abu Mu’awiyah al-Aswad after he had become blind. In his house, I saw a Mushaf hanging from the wall, so said to him: “May Allah have Mercy upon you! A Mushaf while you cannot even see?”
He replied: “My brother, will you keep a secret for me until the day I die?”
I said: “Yes.” Then, he said to me: “Verily, when I want to read from the Qur’an, my eyesight comes back to me.“

[Imam Ibn Al Jawzi's Sifat us-Safwah]

So keeping in mind what has proceeded, let us try to spend more time with the Qur’an and let us have sincerity in this because the Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam has informed us in an authentic narration that of the first of the people to be thrown into Hell will be a person who memorized the Qur’an in order to show off to the people and receive their praise. May Allaah protect us from that. Know that we cannot achieve success in becoming the People of the Qur’an without making Dua’ for it. So we ask Allaah: Allahuma Ja3lna min Ahlil Quraan. Oh Allaah make us of the People of the Qur’an. Ameen.

Let us try to pick up the Mushaf more often, and try to recite the Qur’an daily. Let us get a Tafsir of the many widely available today and sit down and try to understand what the verses mean. Let us memorize the Qur’an be it only a verse per day. And let us teach others what we have learned because the Messenger salalahu alaihiwassalam said “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” [Bukhari]

{And you will remember what I am telling you, and my affair I leave it to Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of (His) slaves.} 40:44

The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status!!

The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status


Imaam Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh report the hadeeth of Ka'b ibn Maalik al-Ansaari, رضي الله عنه, from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said: "Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep are not more harmful then a person craving after wealth and status is to his Deen (Religion)." at- Tirmidhee said, "It is hasan saheeh."

It is also reported from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم from the hadeeth of Ibn `Umar, Ibn `Abbaas, Abu Hurairah, Usamaah ibn Zayd, Jaabir, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree and `Aasim ibn `Adiyy al-Ansaree, radiyAllahu `anhum `ajma`een

The wording of the hadeeth of Jaabir رضي الله عنه is: "Two ravenous wolves which spend the night amongst sheep whose shepherd is absent, will not cause more havoc for the people than will love of status and wealth to a Believer's Deen."

In the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas, رضي الله عنه, there occurs, "love of wealth" in place of "craving..." This is a very great similitude given to us by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to show how the Deen of the Muslims is corrupted by craving after wealth and worldly status, and that the damage caused to the Deen by it will not be less than the damage caused by two hungry and ravenous wolves which spend the night amongst sheep whose shepherd is absent - so that they feast on them and massacre them.

As is obvious none but a small number of these sheep would escape from the havoc caused by these hungry wolves - and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم informed us that a person's craving after wealth and status does not cause less harm than these two hungry wolves amongst the sheep. Rather, either it will be the same or worse. So this shows that hardly any of a Muslim's Deen remains secure if he craves after wealth and status in this world - just as hardly any of the sheep will be saved from hungry wolves. So this great similitude contains a severe warning against the evil of craving after wealth and status in the world.

Craving for Wealth

The first type of craving for wealth is that a person has extreme love for wealth and also relentlessly exerts efforts to attain it - via means which are lawful - being excessive in that, striving hard and making painstaking efforts and toiling in order to attain it. It has been reported that this hadeeth was in response to the appearance of some elements of this, as at-Tabaraani reports from `Aasim ibn `Adiyy, رضي الله عنه who said,‘I bought a hundred shares from the shares of Khaybar and that reached the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so he said, "Two ravenous wolves remaining amongst sheep whose owner has lost them will not be more harmful than a Muslim's seeking after wealth and status to his Deen."'

There is nothing more to chasing after wealth than the wastage of a person's noble life for that which has no value. Instead he could have earned a high rank (in Paradise) and everlasting bliss, but he lost this due to his craving after provision - which had already been assured to him and allotted to him, and it was not possible for anything to come to him except what was decreed for him - then on top of this he does not benefit from that, but rather abandons it and leaves it for someone else.

He departs from that and leaves it behind so that he will be the one held accountable for it, yet someone else benefits from it. So in reality he is only gathering it, yet someone else benefits from it. So in reality he is only gathering it for someone who will not praise him for that, whilst he himself goes on to One who will not excuse him for that - this itself would indeed be enough to show the blameworthiness of this craving.

The person who has this craving wastes his valuable time and engages himself in that which is of no benefit to himself - in journeying and exposing himself to dangers in order to amass that which will only benefit someone else, so it is as is said: "So one who spends his days in gathering wealth - Out of fear of poverty - then he has achieved only poverty."

It was said to a wise man, "So and so has amassed wealth," so he said, "Then has he amassed days in which to spend it?" It was said, "No" So he said, "Then he has amassed nothing!"

Ibn Mas'ood رضي الله عنه, said, "Certain faith (yaqeen) is that you do not make the people happy by angering Allah, and that you do not envy anyone for that which Allah has provided, and that you do not blame anyone for something which Allah has not given you - since provision will not be brought on by a person's craving after it, nor will it be repelled by a person's disliking it. Indeed Allah through His Justice has made joy and happiness dependent upon having certain faith and contentment, and He has made worries and sorrow spring from doubt and displeasure." One of the Salaf (predecessors) said: "Since decree (qadr) is a reality then craving is futile. Since treachery exists in people's characters then trusting everybody is to expose oneself to humiliation. Since death awaits everybody, then being satisfied with this world is foolishness."

‘Abdul-Waahid ibn Zayd used to swear by Allah that a person's craving after this world was more fearful to him than his worst enemy. He also used to say, "O my brothers! Do not grow up craving after his riches and increase in earnings or wealth, rather look upon him with the eye of one of who detests that he is preoccupying himself with that which will cause his ruin tomorrow in the Place of Return - and is proud with that." He also used to say, "Craving is of two types: Craving which is an affliction and craving which is beneficial. As for the craving which is beneficial, then it is one's desire for that which is obedience to Allah, and as for the craving which is an affliction - then it is a person's craving after this world."

Craving after this world torments a person, he is preoccupied and does not attain joy or pleasure whilst amassing - since he is preoccupied. He does not find time - due to his love of this world - for the Hereafter, and is preoccupied with that which will perish and forgets that which will abide and remain.

In this regard a person said, "Do not envy a brother who craves after riches - rather look upon him with aversion. Indeed the one who craves is preoccupied with his Wealth from having any happiness due to his belongings."

Someone else said in this regard: "O gatherer and miserly one being watched closely by time - which is wondering which of its doors it should be close. You have gathered wealth, but think have you gathered for it - O gatherer of wealth - days in which you can spend it. Wealth is hoarded away with you for those who will inherit it - The wealth is not yours except on the day when you spend it. Satisfaction is for the one who settles in its neighbourhood - And in its shade he finds no worries to disturb him."

A wise person wrote to a brother of his who desired this world: "To proceed, you have become one who craves after this world. It will serve you whilst taking you away from it with accidents, illnesses, calamities and infirmity. It is as if you have not seen one who craves being prevented from what he desires, nor one who shuns this world's granted provision, nor one who died despite having great wealth, nor one who is fully satisfied in this world with a small amount."

A Bedouin rebuked a brother of his for covetousness, saying, "O my brother you are a seeker and one sought. You are being sought by One whom you cannot escape, and you are seeking that for which you have been sufficed. O brother, it is as if you have not seen one who craves being prevented, nor one who shuns the world being granted provision."

A wise man said, "The people who have the greatest degree of restlessness are the envious, those who have the greatest degree of happiness are the contented. Those who persevere most through suffering are those who are covetous. Those who have the simplest and most pleasant life are those who most strongly refuse this world. The one who will suffer the greatest regret is the scholar whose actions contradict his knowledge."