While the People Sleep – Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali

Praying at night necessitates Jannah as was previously mentioned. Allaah said: 

“Verily, the pious will be in the midst of gardens and springs, taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun. They used to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness, and from their properties was [given] the right of the beggar, and the deprived.”

(Adh-Dhariyat 15-19)

 

Thus He described them as being awake at night, seeking forgiveness in the early hours of the morning, and spending from their wealth. Some of the Salaf would be asleep and something would come to them saying: Stand and pray. Don’t you know that the keys to Jannah lie with those who stand at night? They are its treasurers.

Standing at night entitles one to the highest levels in Jannah. Allaah said to His prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم), “And in some parts of the night offer the Salah with it (ie. recite the Qur’an), as an optional salah for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to the highest level in Jannah.” (Isra: 79) Hence, He made the highest level in Jannah the reward for his (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) tahajjud at night.

 

‘Awn Ibn Abdullah said, “Indeed Allaah will enter into Jannah people who will be given until they cannot accept anymore. However, there will be people on the higher levels above them, and when they look at them they will recognize them. They will say, “Our Lord they are our brothers who used to be with us. By what were they favoured above us?” He would say, “Indeed they used to be hungry whilst you were all filled. They used to thirsty whilst you were all satiated, and they used to stand whilst you were all asleep” It also necessitates the pleasures of Jannah that no eye has ever seen anything similar to it in this life. Allaah says: “Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (As-Sajdah 16-17)

 

Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) said, “Allaah says I have prepared for My servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine.” Recite if you wish, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.”
(Al Bukhari 8/515 and Muslim 4/2174)

Some of the Salaf have said (regarding this ayah): They hid their deeds for Allaah’s sake so He hid their reward.

 

Al-Hasan Al-Basri was asked about how is it that those who perform tahajjud have the brightest faces. He replied, “That is because they seclude themselves in devotion to Allaah so He beautifies them with light from His light.”  Karaz Ibn Wabrah said that it had reached him that Ka’b used to say, “The angels look down from the sky at (holding in esteem) those who make tahajjud just as you all look up to the stars in the sky.”

 

Some people complained to Ibn Mas’ud, “We are not able to stand at night.” He told them, “That is because your sins have distanced you all.” It was said to Al-Hasan Al-Basri, “It is very difficult for us to stand at night.” He said, “Your sins are holding you back.”

• Transcribed from: The Dispute of the Highest Angels | Ikhtiyar al-Awlaa fee Sharh Hadith Ikhtisaam al-Mala al-A’alaa | Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali

The Mufti of KSA [Al-Allaamah Abdul-Azeez Aala Shaikh] Speaks Against Boko Haram [The Khawaarij of Nigeria]

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti has condemned the kidnapping of more than 200 school girls by Nigeria’s Boko Haram, saying the group was formed to “smear the image of Islam”.

“This is a group that has been set up to smear the image of Islam and must be offered advice, shown their wrong path and be made to reject it,”

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the top religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, told the Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat in an interview published on Friday, Reuters reported.

“These groups are not on the right path because Islam is against kidnapping, killing and aggression,” he said.

“Marrying kidnapped girls is not permitted.”

–

Al-Allaamah Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh (may Allaah preserve him) says:

*Their actions are evil and harmful for Islam and the Muslims.

*Their actions are destructive.

*Abducting girls is from the actions of a misguided group.

*If Boka Haraam are claiming a call to jihad, then it is nothing but ignorance and enmity against Islaam and the Muslims.

*Boka Haraam are not upon correctness and guidance because Islaam opposes abduction/kidnapping, unlawful killing and transgression.

*Marrying off kidnapped/abducted females is haraam and it is not permissible to give them in marriage.

Do Not Be Deceived By Ahlul-Bid’ah who may agree with the Salafees in certain matters

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu ‘ala rasulullaah , Amma-ba’d…

Direct your attention, in-sha`Allaah, toward a specific part of the well known hadeeth of Hudhayfa ibn al-Yamaan (radiallaahu Ta’aala ‘anhu):

“…I (Hudhaifah) said: “Will there be any good after that evil?”

He (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Yes, but therein will be Da`khan (a hidden evil).

I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein?

He said: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know (their) good points as well as (their) bad points.“

Student Abu ‘Abdis-Salaam (hafidhahullaah) said: “(Meaning) you will see things from them which you will acknowledge and accept, and you will see from them things which you will disapprove of. So we understand from this, ya ‘Ibad-ullaah (oh slaves of Allaah), that just because there comes from a person who is upon dalaala (misguidance) something that agrees with the haqq (truth) it equates to nothing so long as they are upon the guidance other than the guidance of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Because the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that, in describing the deficiency of the people who will seek guidance with a guidance of other than the guidance of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). We will see certain things that we will acknowledge and accept, and we will see certain things that we will deny and reject.” [1]

Imaam Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullaah Ta’aala) said:

“If bid’ah only consisted of lies, then it would NOT have been accepted and everybody would even hurry to condemn it and refute it. And if it only consisted of Haqq (truth), then it would not have been a Bid’ah, rather, in agreement with the Sunnah. But it (Bid’ah) consists of both truth and lies in which the truth is clothed with lies.

He (Allaah) Ta’aala said:

وَلاَ تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
(al-Baqarah, ayah 42).”

[as-Sawaa´iq al-Mursalah (3/925)]

Mufaddal ibn Muhalhal – rahimahullaah – said:

“If the heretic (person of bid’ah) started mentioning his bid’ah right at the beginning of the sitting, you would be on your guard and flee from him. But what he does is begin by mentioning hadeeth from the Sunnah, then, he slips his bid’ah in on you. It might then stick to your heart, but when will it leave your heart?” [Ibn Battah, Al-Ibaanah Al-Kubraa, 2:444]

Also, our father Shaikh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah Ta’aala) said:

“Don’t say about a man who opposes the manhaj of the Salaf that he is a ‘Salafee.’ No, don’t say about a man who opposes the manhaj of the Salaf that he is a Salafee.

Don’t say that a man is ‘Salafee’ until you are sure that he is upon the manhaj [of the Salaf]. He is honored by it, and calls to it. He loves and unites based upon it, and hates and separates because of it. This is a Salafee. But someone who claims that he is ‘Salafee,’ and defends Ahlul-Bid’ah, and defends them against Ahlul-Sunnah, this is not a Salafee whatsoever. Whoever he is – Arab or non-Arab, in the East or in the West – because Salafiyyah has special qualities.

Salafiyyah has signs. Salafiyyah has affairs that differentiate its people from others in Walaa` and Baraa`, and ‘Aqeedah and Da’wah, and the stances that they take.” [2]

Shaikh Muhammad bin Ramzaan Al-Haajiree (hafidhahullaah) said:

“What are the characteristics of the person of the Sunnah?

His ‘aqeedah (belief). His worship. His following [of the Prophet, salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam]. His da’wah (his call), his invitation. His character, mannerisms. His transactions, his dealings with the people. This is the person of the Sunnah. His ‘aqeedah is correct, and it’s based upon following the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). His worship is like that of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). His calling or invitation is likewise (upon the Sunnah of the Prophet, (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam))…” [3]

Shaikh Ahmad Al-Bazmool (hafidhahullaah) said:

“And from the most important matters, in my view, that the Salafee youths must pay attention to, is that a person should Not be described as a Salafee because he has speech relating to an issue from the issues of Salafeeyah. (Yet at the same instance) we neither know his stance pertaining to other issues of Salafeeyah, nor do we know the methodology that he is upon. And it is possible that some of those who oppose (Salafeeyah) may agree with the Salafees (in certain matters).” [4]

Shaikh Muhammad Bazmool (hafidhahullaah Ta’aala) summarized the principles of Salafiyyah into four, from which other principles stem:

1. Al-Ikhlaas
2. Following the Sunnah (taking Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as Imam in ‘Aqeedah, Manhaj, manner of worship, character)
3. Warning against bid’ah and its people
4. Sticking to the Jama’ah, and not dividing (and not revolting). [5]

So these are the Pillars/Principles of Salafiyyah, such that if an individual removes one from himself, he has removed himself from Salafiyyah, similar to that of a person who did not sit between the two sajdas, then he has no salat, and similar to that of a person who in wudhu did not wash his hands after his face (with the excuse “I already washed my hands in the beginning”), then he has no wudhu.

So do not be deceived just because an individual:- knows the conditions of La illaaha il Allaah
– teaches Qur`an, or memorized Qur`an
– teaches hadeeth, or memorized 40 Nawawee
– teaches ‘Aqeedah
– combines the prayers when it rains
– knows the principles of fiqh
– quotes from some of the Salafee scholars

A Kharijee Takfeeri who has memorized the conditions of La illaaha il Allaah is still a Kharijee Takfeeri.

A grave-worshipping Soofee or Deobandi or Barelwee who teaches Qur`an, or memorized Qur`an is still a grave-worshipping Soofee or Deobandi or Barelwee.

An Ikhwaanee who revolts against the rulers and calls to democracy and at the same time this revolter teaches hadeeth is still an Ikhwanee who calls to democracy and revolts against the rulers.

A Tahreeri or Suroori who gives sadaqah is still a Tahreeri or Suroori.

A Qadari who prays with his hands on his chest is still a Qadaree.

An Ash’aree or Jahmee or Mu’tazilee who teaches ‘Aqeedah is still an Ash’aree or Jahmee or Mu’tazilee who rejects Attributes of Allaah, so flee from his ‘aqeedah classes! A Tableeghi who belives in Wahdat al-Wujood, and uses miswak is still a Tableeghi who belives in Wahdat al-Wujood. A Raafidee who drinks with his right hand is still a filthy Raafidee.

So don’t be deceived, ya ‘Ibadullaah!

Allaah knows best. And our final supplication is Al-Hamdulilaah.