Concerning the statement of Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah):

"The truth is always victorious yet tested, so do not be amazed, for such is the Sunnah (way) of the Most Merciful."

So it is not permissible for us to despair, rather it is incumbent upon us to have forbearance and await (with patient perseverance); since the good end (i.e. the final outcome) will always be for the righteous pious ones. And hope is a strong motivator/cause for continuing in the Da'wah (the propagation and call to Allaah) and striving for its success, just as despair is a cause for the failure and hindrance of the Da'wah.

Reference: Sharh Kashf ash-Shubuhaat of Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen, p.47-48, Daar ath-Thuraaya, 1416H/1996CE, First Edition.

Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.

Beware of looking into the books of the people of Falsafah (philosophy)

By Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) rahimahullaah

Beware of looking into the books of the people of Falsafah (philosophy) who claim - in their books - that the more stronger the light of truth and its proofs become in the hearts, the more al-Ma'rifah (knowledge and awareness) will become obscure!

Just like the sunlight blinds and dazzles bats during the day.

So be warned from the likes of those people, and incumbent upon you is the companionship of the followers of the Messengers.

Reference: Excerpt taken from Majmoo' al-Fataawa of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullaah, (11/696-698)

Translation by Aboo Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree

Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen rahimahullaah mentions:

"The author - may Allaah have mercy upon him - has highlighted a tremendous benefit in this sentence; where he clarifies that it is from the Wisdom of Allaah (the Mighty and Majestic) that He did not send a single Prophet except that He would appoint for him enemies from Mankind and Jinn. And that is due to the fact that the presence and existence of the enemy purifies and clarifies the truth..."

The Truth Is Tested But Always Victorious

Explanation by Shaykh Muhammad b. Saalih al-'Uthaymeen rahimahullaah

Text:

Know that from the Wisdom of Allaah, the One free from all imperfections, is that He did not send a single Prophet with this Tawheed (i.e. singling out Allaah alone in His Worship) except that He made enemies for him, as Allaah, the Most High, mentions:

"And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayateen (devils) among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception)." [Sural al-An'aam: 112].

Explanation:

The author - may Allaah have mercy upon him - has highlighted a tremendous benefit in this sentence; where he clarifies that it is from the Wisdom of Allaah (the Mighty and Majestic) that He did not send a single Prophet except that He would appoint for him enemies from Mankind and Jinn. And that is due to the fact that the presence and existence of the enemy purifies and clarifies the truth. That is because every time an opponent and antagonist (against the truth) is found, it only strengthens the argument and proof of the other (person upon the truth). And this is that which Allaah, the Most High, has assigned for the Prophets and likewise He has ordained it for their followers. So whatever happened to the Prophets will also happen to all the followers of the Prophets. Allaah, the Most High, mentions: 

"And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayateen (devils) among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception)." [Sural al-An'aam: 112].

And He mentions: "Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the Mujrimoon (disbelievers, polytheists, criminals). But Sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper." [Surah al-Furqaan: 31].

So these criminals have enmity towards the Messengers, their followers and what they came with (i.e. the truth); by employing two methods:

Firstly: at-Tashkeek (causing doubt and suspicion about them and the truth).

Secondly: al-'Udwaan (enmity and aggression against them and the truth).

As for the Tashkeek (causing doubts); then in response to that is the saying of Allaah, the Most High: "But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide" for those whom the enemies of the Prophets want to misguide (through these futile doubts).

As for the enmity; then in response to that is the saying of Allaah, the Most High: "...and Helper"  for those whom the enemies of the Prophets want to prevent and deter (from following the truth).

So Allaah, the Most High, guides the Messengers and their followers and He aids them in overcoming their enemies, even if they are from the most strongest of enemies.

Therefore, we must not despair due to the large number of enemies and the great strength and power of those who fight and reject the truth. For indeed the truth is as Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

"The truth is always victorious yet tested, so do not be amazed, for such is the Sunnah (way) of the Most Merciful."

So it is not permissible for us to despair, rather it is incumbent upon us to have forbearance and await (with patient perseverance); since the good end (i.e. the final outcome) will always be for the the righteous pious ones. And hope is a strong motivator/cause for continuing in the Da'wah (the propagation and call to Allaah) and striving for its success, just as despair is a cause for the failure and hindrance of the Da'wah.

Reference: Sharh Kashf ash-Shubuhaat of Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen, p.47-48, Daar ath-Thuraaya, 1416H/1996CE, First Edition.

Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.

Who Are The Salaf?

Question: I hear much about the Salaf, who are the Salaf O Noble Shaykh?


Answer:

The meaning of the [word] Salaf is Al-Mutaqaddimoon (the predecessors) so every person that precedes another is a Salaf for him. But when this term is used unrestrictedly, then it only refers to the first three praised generations - from the Sahaabah (Companions), the Taabi’oon (those that followed them) and those that followed them (i.e. Atba’ at-Taabyi’een). They indeed are the Salaf as-Saalih (Pious Predecessors).


Whoever came after them and traversed upon their Minhaaj (way and methodology) then he is like them upon the way of the Salaf; even though he may have come after them with regards to time because as-Salafiyyah is a designation which applies to the Minhaaj (way and methodology) which was traversed by the Salaf as-Saalih (Pious Predecessors), as stated by the Prophet (ﷺ):

“Indeed my nation will split into seventy three sects all of them in the Fire except one and it is al-Jamaa’ah (the united body of the Muslims).”

And in another wording: “..whoever is upon the same as what I am upon and my companions.”

So based upon that then as-Salafiyyah here is specific in meaning, hence whoever is upon the Minhaaj (way and methodology) of the Sahaabah, the Taabi’oon and those who followed them upon goodness then he is a Salafi even if he is in our contemporary times and whilst it being the fourteenth century after the Hijrah (the Migration of the Prophet (ﷺ) from Makkah to Madeenah). Yes.


Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen Fataawa Noor 'alaa al-Darb (1/35).

Translated by Abu 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.

The Rejection Of All Newly Invented Matters (Bid'ah) In The Deen
 
By Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d. 795H) rahimahullaah
 
On the authority of ‘Aaishah (radiallaahu ‘anha), who said: The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it then it will be rejected.”
The wording in Muslim is: “Whoever performs an action that is not according to our affair then it will be rejected.”
So this Hadeeth is a tremendous principle from the foundational principles of Islaam. It is like a scale for (measuring) actions that are outward apparent actions; just like the Hadeeth "every action is judged by the intentions" is a scale for (measuring) actions that are the hidden inner ones. So just like every action which is not intended for seeking the Face of Allaah, the Most High, then there is no reward in it for the one who performs it. Likewise, every action that is not according to a command from Allaah and His Messenger (ﷺ) then it will be rejected from the person who performs it. And every person who introduces something in the religion for which Allaah and His Messenger have not given him any permission, then it has nothing to do with the religion whatsoever.
 
Then Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) mentions:
So this Hadeeth proves, through what it explicitly states, that every action that is not in accordance to the affair (i.e. the religion and legislation) of the Legislator then it will be rejected. And it proves, through what is understood from it, that every action that is in accordance to His affair then it is not rejected (i.e. it is accepted). And the intent here by “His affair” is His religion and His legislation, just as the intent by his (ﷺ) statement in another narration: “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it [then it will be rejected].”
 
So the meaning therefore is that whoever has an action that is outside of the legislation and it is not Mutaqayyid (laid down and stipulated) by the legislation then it is rejected.  
 
And his (ﷺ) statement: “…that is not according to our affair ...” It is an indication to the fact that the actions of those people who perform them, it is incumbent that they all fall under the rulings of the Sharee’ah (legislation), and that the rulings of the Sharee’ah (legislation) are authoritative and decisive over all of them with its commands and prohibitions. And the person whose action comes under the rulings of the Sharee’ah and in agreement to it, then it is accepted. And the person whose action is not under that then it is rejected.

Reference: Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam by Ibn Rajab rahimahullaah, p.118-119, checking by Taariq b. ‘Awadullaah, Daar Ibn al-Jawzee print, 9th Edition, 1431H.

Translation by: Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilal Hussain al-Kashmiree

The True Slave

By Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah

From sincerity to Allaah is defending the religion of Allaah, the Most High, which He has legislated for His worshippers, proving the falsity of the plot of the plotters and refuting the Mulhidoon (Atheists) who present the religion as if it were bonds and chains that fetter and inhibit people from their freedoms. Whilst in reality religion is the proper bounds set for true freedom; that is because mankind is bound (in servitude) to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and enslaved to Allaah, and (by the bounds set) in the religion of Allaah. And if they are not bound by that then they will be enslaved to Shaytaan; and will be upon following the footsteps of Shaytaan, since the Nafs (self) is always Hammamah (fervently eager and vehemently restless). Therefore, never does a person’s Nafs remain calm and subdued. Rather, it is incumbent that it has some (type of) interests and motivations in something, whether that is in something good or evil. How excellent is the statement of Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullaah in his ‘an-Nooniyyah’; he mentions:

“They fled from the enslavement for which they were created…And were put to trial and tested with enslavement to the Nafs (self) and the Shaytaan.”

They ran away from the slavery and servitude for which they had been created and that is the worship of Allaah. Allaah, the Most High, mentions: “And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 56]. But they ran away from this enslavement which is total freedom and complete happiness to the enslavement of the self and the Shaytaan.

Furthermore, the Nafs (self) – we seek refuge in Allaah from its evil – seeks to enslave the person and instructs him with desires so that he becomes subservient to its desires.

Subsequently, if desire overcomes then al-‘Aql (sound reason and intellect) is lost. As the poet said: “Two (types of) intoxication, being intoxicated with desire and intoxicated with fine wine…then when would the one who is inebriated with both (types of) intoxications sober up and awaken?”
He is describing a person who drinks wine – and Allaah’s Aid is sought – and he says that the person who has both types of intoxication, (he is in the state of) being intoxicated with desires and drunkenness with wine, so when would the one who has both types of intoxication wake up? And it is clear that there is no hope for such a person to sober up and awaken.

Then in summary, indeed a person must devote himself in servitude to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and not (in servitude) to the Nafs and the Shaytaan, so that he is able to free himself from the bonds and shackles that harm him and do not benefit him.

Reference: Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen, Explanation by Ibn al-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah, (2/385-386), Daar Madaar al-Watan print, 1425H

Translation by: Aboo Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.

Passing Away Of The Scholars - A Great Calamity

Abdullaah b. al-Mubaarak (d. 181H) rahimahullaah said:

“Know, O my brother, that indeed death today is an honor for every Muslim who will meet Allaah upon the Sunnah. Fa Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon (And indeed we belong to Allaah and we shall return to Him). And to Allaah we complain about our loneliness, passing away of the brothers, the lack of helpers and the innovations becoming manifest and apparent. And to Allaah we complain about the greatness of (the calamity of) what has befallen this Ummah from the passing away of the scholars, the people of the Sunnah and the innovations becoming manifest and apparent.”

اعْلَمُ أَي أَخي أَنَّ الْمَوْتَ الْيَوْمَ كَرَامَةٌ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ، فَإِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، فَإِلَى اللَّهِ نَشْكُو وَحْشَتَنَا، وَذَهَابَ الْإِخْوَانِ، وَقِلَّةَ الْأَعْوَانِ، وَظُهُورَ الْبِدَعِ، وَإِلَى اللَّهِ نَشْكُو عَظِيمَ مَا حَلَّ بِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَنْ ذَهَابِ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَأَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ، وَظُهُورِ الْبِدَعِ

Translated by: Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree
Reference: Kitaab al-Bid’a of Ibn Waddaah (d. 287 H), p.87 -88 (no.97), checking by Badr al-Badr, Daar as-Sumay'iee, First Edition 1416H/1996CE.

The People Of Desires Dispute Using The Vague and Unclear Texts From The Qur'an

Ibn Katheer (d. 774H) rahimahullaah mentions: "And they (i.e. the innovators such as the Qadariyyah and those of their ilk) argue in support of their innovation by using vague and unclear texts from the Qur'an (as evidence) and they leave and abandon from it what is clearly in refutation of them. And this is the case with all the people of misguidance and deviation/transgression. And it is mentioned in an authentic (Saheeh) Hadeeth:

"If you see those who follow that which is not clear from it (i.e. the Qur'an), then know that they are the ones that Allaah has named, so beware of them." [Al-Bukharee (no.4547) & Muslim (no.2665)].

Meaning (Allaah), the Most High, (named them) in His statement:

"So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof." [Surah Aal Imraan: 7].

So, all praise be to Allaah, there is nothing in the Qur'an which is a valid evidence for an innovator (to use in support of his misguidance). Since the Qur'an came to distinguish between the truth from falsehood - clearly making a distinction between guidance and misguidance. Moreover, it does not have any contradictions in it nor any discrepancies because it is from Allaah, a revelation sent down from the All-Wise, the Most Praiseworthy."

Reference: Tafseer Ibn Katheer - Tafseer al-Qur'aan al-'Adheem, (1/33), Daar al-Ma'rifah print, Second Edition, 1413H/1993CE.

Translation by: Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.

Gain Knowledge From The Upright Scholars That Are Upon The Correct Way

By Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan hafidhahullaah

So we must focus on and pay attention to the way of the Salaf, we should not let the one who undermines and belittles its importance and significance or he describes it with lowly and reprehensible attributes lead us to renounce and turn away from it. This does not lower its importance and significance within our souls. Rather, this only increases it (in importance) within our souls because they have not waged war against it except due to the fact that it is the path to the truth whilst they want misguidance.
So be warned from them, O servants of Allaah, and do not be satisfied by the mere anoscription and affiliation, and do not be sufficed by feigning knowledge without actually learning it. And gain knowledge from the well-known ‘Ulamaa (scholars), the upright scholars that are upon the correct way. So avoid and keep away from these deviated ways that Allaah has warned us from: "And follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path.” [Surah Al-An'aam: 153]. The Path of Allaah, the One free from all imperfections and the Most High, is the way of Allaah.


Reference: Excerpt taken from Manhaj Salafus-Saaleh wa Haajatul-Ummah ilayhi, A Khutbah by Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan
www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/ar/node/15030

Translation by Aboo Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree

The statement of Allaah, the Most High:

"And do not cause Fasaad (corruption and mischief) upon the earth, after it has been set in order." [Surah al-A'raaf: 56].