Defending the Religion is from Good Character, Good Manners with Allaah, Subhanahu wa Ta'aala, and from Wanting Good for the Muslims

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd 



Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: 

Accepting Allaah's reports [Qur`an and Sunnah] and believing them means that one does not doubt them or waver in his affirmation of what Allaah, Subhanahu wa Ta'aala, says. This is because what Allaah Ta'aala says only comes from Knowledge, while He is the Most Truthful in speech.

Allaah, Ta'ala, has said about Himself: 

 وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثا

And who is more truthful in speech than Allaah? [Soorah an-Nisaa`, ayah 87]


To truly believe in what Allaah says necessitates that one puts his trust in His reports, defends them, and struggles by way of them, and he does not allow the entrance of any doubt or confusion over what Allaah, Subhanahu wa Ta'aala, and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) reported. 

When someone takes on this kind of character, it enables him to repel the doubts cast by those who speak with ulterior motives about the reports of Allaah and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), whether they be from the Muslims who have introduced new affairs into the Religion, or from the non-Muslims who try to cast doubts into the hearts of the Muslims. * 

Ibn Taymeeyah (rahimahullaah) relayed:  

It was once said to Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah): If a man fasts, prays, and makes 'itikaff, is that more beloved to you or that he speaks out against innovators? He replied: If he fasts and prays and makes 'itikaaf, then that is for himself. But if he speaks out against innovators, this is for the Muslims. This is better. **  

Ponder upon the following question, and its vagueness and covertness, and then read how Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) recognized this and then refuted the doubt within the question with a beneficial response 

Question: Is it from the manhaj of the Salaf to gather the mistakes of some individual and present it in a book to be read by the people? 

Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee al-Madkhalee answered:    

Subhaanallaah! This is uttered by the people of misguidance; those who are fanatical in defense of their innovations, their books, their methodologies, and are fanatical in revering personalities. 

Yes, Allaah (Subhaanah) and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) mentioned much concerning their (affairs) of misguidance. The statements of the Jews and Christians have been gathered and disapproved of in many of the Aayaat of the Qur`aan. 

Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah from the earliest times to this era of ours have spoken against Jahm Ibn Safwaan and Bishr Al-Mareesee. They (Ahlus-Sunnah) have enumerated their innovations and acts of misguidance. They (Ahlus-Sunnah) have gathered the statements of the people of splitting and criticized them. So who has made this (gathering and refuting mistakes) impermissible? 

If the people are misguided by a person's numerous innovations, and you gather (such innovations) in one place and warn against it, then may Allaah reward you with good. And with this (warning) of yours, you have done much good for Islaam and the Muslims.***  

May Allaah have mercy on all our 'ulemma of Ahlus-Sunnah, and preserve our living 'ulemma.

Sources:   

* Shaikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaimeen's highly beneficial book Upright Moral Character - A Concise Guide to Attaining Dignified Islaamic Character   

**[Majmoo'-ul-Fataawaa` (28/231)] 

*** [Ajwibatul 'Allaamat-ush-Shayk Rabee' Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee 'Alaa As-ilati Abee Ruwaaha
Al-Manhajiyyah; pgs. 28-29]

  

Virtues and Important Rulings of Fasting and Praying in Ramadan, by Shaikh Ibn Baaz

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd  

The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam) said: He who fasts Ramadan believing in Allah and hoping for His reward, Allah will forgive what has proceeded from his sins. He who stands in prayer in the month of Ramadan believing in Allah and hoping for His reward, Allah will forgive what has proceeded from his sins. And He who stands in prayer on the 'Night of Power' believing in Allah and hoping for His reward, Allah will forgive what has proceeded from his sins. [Bukhari and Muslim]


And it has be legislated for all of the Muslims to strive hard in the many types of worship in this month such as: optional prayers; reading, reflecting and learning the Quran; praising, hailing, thanking, and glorifying Allaah; seeking his forgiveness, supplicating, ordering with good and forbidding the evil, calling others to Allah the Mighty and Sublime, comforting the poor, striving hard towards obeying the parents, enjoining the ties of kinship, being hospitable to the neighbors, visiting the sick, and performing the many other acts of good and virtue as he (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam) said in a previous prophetic statement:  

...Allah looks upon your competition (for his sake to do good deeds) in Him and His angels are boastful of you thusly showing Allah goodness from yourselves, for indeed the miserable one is he whom the mercy of Allah has been prohibited.


[Al-Kabeer lit-Tabarany] 

The Three Types of Guidance, by Muhammad Baazmool

Shaykh Muhammad bin 'Umar Baazmool (hafidhahullaah) stated: 


The affair of being established upon the religion is from the bequeaths of the Prophets. Allaah has said:

And this (Islaam) was enjoined by Ibraahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya'qoob (Jacob), (saying), "O my sons! Allaah has chosen for you the (true) religion. So do not die unless you are Muslimoon." (Al-Baqarah, ayah 132)

It is the guidance of the straight path which Allaah has taught us. We ask Him for it in our supplications and prayers. The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) informed us:

There's no prayer for the one who doesn't recite the Faatihah of the Book (al-Qur`aan)

In the Faatihah we recite: Guide us to the straight path (al-Faatihah:6) 

The guidance is of three types:

1. Hidaayatul-Irshaad wa at-Ta'leem wa ad-dalaalah (The guidance of direction, teaching and evidence)

2. Hidaayatut-Tawfeeq Li Qabool al-Haqq (The guidance of success to the acceptance of the truth)

3. Hidaayatut-Tawfeeq Li ath-Thabaat 'Alaa al-Haqq (The guidance of success to be established upon the truth)

The person praying when he/she stands for prayer, he/she is in need of these categories of guidance.  

Beware of Pokeman, which involves many religious violations, including (Shirk) polytheism and gambling

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd 

Here is a fatwa from the Permanent Committee regarding the game, Pokemon. In the question, many evils of the game including its references to the Shinto religion is mentioned: 

Symbols of the Shinto creed: Shinto is a polytheistic religion that exists in Japan. The Japanese deify the sun, the earth and many plants and animals. The game contains many of these images.

In the answer of the Committee, they mention: 

Furthermore, this game promotes and circulates the symbols of disbelievers and the forbidden images. It is also a form of consuming money unlawfully.

Accordingly, the Committee decides that this game, earnings gained through it, its sale or purchase are all prohibited, for it is a form of gambling that is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger. The Committee also recommends that every Muslim should be careful of this game and prevent his children from playing it to preserve religion, morals and creed.

 

May Allaah protect the Muslims & their kids from all evils and the plots of the Kuffaar.

 

Even in Extreme Case of Ruler Disbelieving Clearly, there are Wise Conditions to Rebelling; Opposing these Conditions leads to shedding of blood, calamities, tribulations

You may have noticed that Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) did not rebel against the ruler even though the ruler was calling Imam Ahmad to kufr and even trying to force it upon him. So why, you might wonder, did Imam Ahmad not rebel? Why did the courageous Imam of the Sunnah of his time not rebel?

Insha` Allaah, the answer will become clear to you after reading the following explanations from the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah - the inheritors of the Prophets - the scholars whose evidence is the Qur`an and Sunnah upon the correct understanding, and not whims, nor desires, nor opinions, nor emotion, nor other ignorant reasons, nor wordly reasons.   Shaikh Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: ...It is not permissible to rebel against the ruler, except under two conditions:

1- Blatant Kufr for which they (those who want to rebel) have a proof from Allaah. 

2- The power to depose the ruler without an evil worse than that of the ruler resulting.

In the absence of these conditions, it is not permissible.

Shaikh al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said:


Even if we were to assume the extreme - that a leader is a disbeliever - does this then mean we can incite the people to oppose him, even if it causes revolt, chaos, and killing? This is definitely wrong.


Shaikh al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) said:    


The calamities in these past few years have occurred by the hands of these people [the Khawaarij], beginning with the discord of the sacred mosque in Mecca to the dissension in Egypt and the killing of Sadat. Now in Syria and in Egypt and Algeria, everyone witnesses the shedding of blood of many innocent Muslims because of these evils and tribulations and the many resulting calamities. All of this because they opposed many texts from the Book and the Sunnah, the most important of which is:  

Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. (Al-Ahzab, ayah 21)

If we really want to establish the rule of Allaah on earth in reality and not just by claim, then do we start by making Takfeer of the rulers while it is not possible for us to confront them, let alone fight them? Or do we start with the same obligation the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) started with? [Tawheed] No doubt, the answer is:

Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. (Al-Ahzab, ayah 21)

But what did the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) begin with? [Tawheed] It is known with certainty to anyone who has even smelled the fragrance of knowledge that he began with the call and propagation among individuals whom he thought were ready to accept the truth. 

 Shaykh 'Abdul-Muhsin Ibn Naasir Aali-'Ubaykaan (hafidhahullaah) said:   


When such a ruling [takfeer] is made against a Muslim leader, then the issue is even greater due to the outcomes of such a ruling like rebelling against them, wielding weapons against them, public chaos and bloodhshed, all of which corrupt the servants and their nation. Because of such outcomes, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) prohibited rebelling against them, saying: 

Unless you see clear and absolute disbelief from them for which you have an evidence from Allaah to support you in that.


(Bukhari, Muslim; in hadeeth narrated by 'Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, radiallaahu 'anhu)  

- his (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) statement: Unless you see indicates that mere assumptions and rumors are not sufficient.  

- his (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) statement: disbelief indicates that commiting evil crimes, sins - even major sins - is not sufficient, such as if he is oppressive, drinks alcohol, gambles, and allows himself to commit other forbidden sins.  

- his (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) statement: clear and absolute indicates that an act of disbelief that is not completely apparent and explicit is not sufficient.

- his (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) statement: for which you have an evidence from Allaah to support you in that indicates that there must be an explicit supporting proof in that it is authentic and clear in its evidence. So, a proof having a weak chain of narration is not sufficient, nor is a proof that its evidence is not entirely clear and applicable.  

- his (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) statement: from Allaah indicates that regardless of the statement of any scholar - no matter what level he may have achieved in religious knowledge and trustworthiness - if he does not have a clear explicit proof from the Book of Allaah (ta'aala) or the Sunnah of His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) to support his statement, then it is rejected. All of these conditions show the danger and severity of this matter of takfeer.

To summarize, being hasty in passing a ruling against someone as being a disbeliever is a very dangerous issue due to the statement of Allaah:

Say (O Muhammad): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawaahish whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge." (Al-A'raf, ayah 33) [Click here for more on the dangers of speaking without knowledge.]  

Second, this incorrect belief (takfeer) frequently develops into other crimes such as further declaring people's blood lawful to spill, violating people's honor, plundering private and public wealth and property, bombing homes and structures, and the devastation of buildings.

Consequences of Ar-Riyya` (Showing off)

1- Ar-Riyya` is minor shirk - that does not remove one from Islaam - but it is shirk nonetheless, and therefore worse than bid'ah that does not reach the level of kufr, and also worse than major sins such as usury, sodomy, fornication, drinking alcohol, gambling... It can be major shirk, as Shaikh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab al-Wasaabee (hafidhahullaah) explained: Ar-riyaa` (showing off) can be from ash-Shirk al-Akbar if a person performs an action only for the people. And it can be from ash-Shirk al-Asghar if a person starts with the right intention, but then ar-riyaa` overcomes him.


2- It nullifies the action. He will not receive a reward on the Day of Judgement for it.    

3- Humiliation. Allaah will command him to go to those he showed off for in this world, and see if they have a reward for him. And as the scholars explained, Allaah will also expose this person in this world.    

4- It may be a cause of entering the hellfire - aoodhubillaah! - even if it is not forever.   

5- It can lead to hypocrisy - aoodhubillaah! - since the hypocrites do deeds to be seen by men, while they disbelieve. And the hypocrites, of course, will be in the lowest level of the hellfire.

And refuge in Allaah is sought from falling into ar-Riyya`

Beware of Sufism, and Those Who Call to Sufism under the Guise of "Zuhd" or Anything Else!

One of those 72 deviant sects that lead to the hellfire is Tasawwuf ("Soofism" in English), so beware - may Allaah safeguard you.

The people who adhere to this deviant way are called Soofiyyah ("Soofees", in English), who in some lands such as here in America invite to their deviant sect - their bid'ah - under the guise of "Zuhd."

Know - may Allaah safeguard you - that true Zuhd (abstinence from worldly affairs) can be practiced without leaving the correct Islam, without leaving Siratul Mustaqeem (the Straight Path), and without exposing yourself to the hellfire, for Zuhd is already part of the religion that Allaah revealed. Ponder that the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was the best of those who practiced Zuhd and - of course - he didn't leave what Allaah (Subhanahu wa Ta'aala) revealed to him to do so.

...

Being asked to [leave the correct Islam and] join a deviant sect so that you can practice Zuhd is like being asked to [leave the correct Islam and] join a deviant sect so you can make Salat or fast Ramadan, or make Hajj, or pay Zakat, or fight Jihaad. These acts of worship are already part of Islaam (the correct Islam).

Why would you have to join a deviant sect to do something that is already legislated in Islam? This is a bold, red flag for the ones who have intellect and are sincere to Allaah.

Tasawwuf (Soofism) is a shameful deception that begins with Dhikr and ends with Kufr. Its outward manifestation appears to be piety, but its inward reality forsakes the Commandments of Allaah.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said: 

The greatest danger that faces the Ummah of Islaam is their being far away from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and replacing them with man-made laws and deviated ideologies. Likewise, the greatest danger that faces the Ummah of Islaam is the misguidance and deviation concerning the 'aqeedah and the infiltration of concepts of kufr, shirk, and bid'ah into it - from the grave-worshippers and the Soofees... The cure for this is to return back to the Book and the Sunnah, learning them, teaching them, judging by them between people, and adopting what they require of morals, manners and character.

[Muntaqaa min Fataawaa (I/417; no. 249)]

And from the lies and deceptions of the Soofiyah is convincing you (brainwashing, may be a more apt term) - first and foremost - to accept their shaikh's statements, opinions and rulings - without question, literally - over and above the Qur`an and authentic Sunnah. They provide as their reasons a few fabricated (forged) ahadeeth, such as the infamous forgery,

"Whoever does not have a shaikh, shaytan is his shaikh."

Forgeries like this and others like them are designed to set up an unlegislated, unbinding relationship between the mureed (novice) and the assigned Soofee "shaikh" that even extends beyond the shaikh's death, an agreement in which the novice takes an oath of loyalty, swearing obedience to the shaikh - without questioning him ever, for questioning, they claim, is a reason for removal from the "shaikh's mercy" - in return for the "shaikh solving his problems," "delivering him from dilemmas whenever he calls on the shaikh for help," and "interceding for him with Allaah so that he may be admitted to Jannah." Aoodhubillaah from such misguidance!

Among the plethora of refutations for this specific Soofee deception is Allaah's statement (what means):  

And invoke not besides Allaah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers)." And if Allaah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favor which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Yunus: 106-107)

As you will soon read via abundant proofs, Tassawuf opposes Tawheed and is a direct link to Shirk, such that 'ulemma the likes of Shaykh Yahya Al Hajuri (hafidhahullaah) said:  

Soofism and Shirk are spouses.

The fact that Wahdatul Wujood and Hulool and sharing in Allaah's Attributes are the principles of Soofiyyah proves the scholars' statements that Tassawuf - all of it - leads to Shirk. (May Allaah have mercy on our righteous scholars.)

Never mind that Tassawuf is haram, more so bid'ah, and one of the 72 deviant sects, but it leads to Shirk/Kufr and ultimately the fire. All of it! So a beginner - who himself is in the process of being duped - may say, "those are the extreme Soofees," but the fact is all of Tasawuff leads to Kufr. It's like a slippery water slide into a pool of fire, except for the one whom Allaah has mercy on, guiding him to repentance and a return to the Sunnah, and saving him from this evil.

If your point of reference of whom/what you worship and what you hold as your 'aqeedah is not the Qur`an and Sunnah, then what is the difference between you and the Jews and Christians and the rest of the mushrikeen?

By Allaah, whose Sunnah, whose way, whose path is better: the pure, legislated path of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or the soiled, invented and deviated path of Ibn 'Arabee, al-Hallaj, Ibn Basheesh, Habib 'Ali Jifri and Hamza Yusuf?