The Real Unity Wanted

Unity an Obligation
by Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali حفظه الله
on Saturday August 21st, 2004

Introduction

Indeed we are blessed to have with us our beloved Shaykh wa waalidunaa (and our father) Abu Muhammad Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhalihafidahullaahu Ta’aala and he is indeed a well-known scholar. We ask Allaah to bless him in his knowledge, actions and his life.

The Shaykh hafidahullaahu ta’aala began by praising Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and sending Salaat and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family his Companions and those who follow the guidance. He then thanked Allaah for this conference and for being invited to speak with us and he praised Allaah سبحانه و تعالى that He guided us to Islaam, and to the Manhaj of the Salaf.

The manhaj of the Salaf is (adhering to) the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه و سلم upon the fiqh of the Salaf as-Saalih. He said, I order myself, and you with the taqwa of Allaah عز و جلand the uprightness and firmness upon this Deen and upon this manhaj. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gave us advice, and the pieces of advice are many and the orders are many; and from them is that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says:

وَاعْتَصِمُوابِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَاللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْفَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً

{And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’ýn), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith)} [Aal-Imraan 3:103]

Tawheed

And you must learn Tawheed, the tawheed of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى ý that we worship Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and we do not associate partners with Him and we all hold together, fast upon this rope. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said that “Verily Allaah likes for you three things: that you worship Him and disassociate anything as partners with Him; that you hold fast to the Rope of Allaah and do not split; and that you submit or you obey the leaders over you; and He hates for you three things: ‘He-said,she-said’ (irrelevant talk), persistent questioning, and wasting of wealth.”[1] In this hadith and in the previous ayah there is a commandment regarding: holding onto the Rope of Allaah عز و جل, thabaath (being firm) upon that and the prohibition of splitting and dividing.

He hafidahullaahu ta’aala went on to say that after the Sahaabah were split, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى guided them to Islaam and brought together between their hearts and put love between them. So Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has blessed and has given His favours to this Ummah. It is fromthe greatest blessings and favours which He bestowed upon us that He made us brothers, the ni’mah (نعمة ý blessing) of aquwwah(أخوة brotherhood) ý the blessing of being brothers upon the Kitaab and the Sunnah and that we stay away from associating partners with
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. So, after worshipping Allaah سبحانه و تعالىAlone we come together as one, and we forbid shirk and we order with tawheed. The aayaat and ahaadeeth are many to this effect, in these aayaat and ahaadeeth we are shown the danger of shirk. We must learn these aayaat and ahaadeeth, the proofs of at-tawheed and the proofs of shirk.

‘Ibaadah

We must also learn our ‘Ibaadah how to worship Allaah in all types of Ibaadah as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

وَمَاخَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ {55} مَا أُرِيدُمِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ {56} إِنَّ اللَّهَهُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ

{And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong

. } [adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56-58]

Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (Rahimahullaah) said that Ibaadah(worship) is a comprehensive term for everything which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى loves and is pleased with from speech and actions ý apparent andhidden.ý There are many acts of Ibaadah, from them are:duýaa, seeking help from Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, hoping in Allaah سبحانهو تعالى, asking of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, having trust in Allaah سبحانهو تعالى, being obedient to your parents, keeping the ties of the womb, seeking refuge with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى from the Shaitaan and otherthan him, establishing the salaah, giving the zakaah, fasting, performing hajj and so on and so forth.

The Importance of Knowledge

We need to study these ‘ibaadaat, we need to study howthey are done ý from the aspects of tawheed and doing them sincerelyfor Allaah سبحانه و تعالى; and we need to learn about shirk so we may stay away from it,and we need to know the halaal from the haraam, and again, all of thiscomes from the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه و سلم and from the fiqh (understanding) of the Salaf.

This Knowledge is a great affair and the life of the Muslims cannot be upheld without it.Those that are deprived of it are deprived of everything, they cannotgo forth. We have to take advantage of the knowledge when it is givenand we have to seek the knowledge and strive for it.

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

‘Verily, Allaah does not take away knowledge by snatching it away from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to ignorant ones as their leaders; then they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, so they go astray, and lead others astray.’[2]

So take advantage of the ýUlamaa before they die and take advantage ofthe knowledge while it is around. Take advantage of them, go to them, call them, ask them, and travel, travel for this knowledge. This Ummah is in great need of those who go out and seek knowledge sincerely forAllaah سبحانه و تعالى, these are few, we donýt have many.

We must know the fadl (فضل ý virtue) of the ‘Ulamaa (Scholars) and the fadl of those who seek knowledge, we must know these virtues.

‘Verily the angels put their wings down for the student of knowledge in approval of what they are doing’[3] and Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء

‘It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah’} [Faatir 35:28]

And He says:

هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ

‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?…} [az-Zumar 39:9]

And Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ

‘Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge’} [al-Mujaadilah 58:11]

We need this Knowledge more then we need water and air, we are in need of it because it is from this Knowledge that we understand why we were created. We need to find out why we were created, and this Knowledge teaches us why. The Shaykh hafidahullaahu taýaala said we must learn, we must learn the knowledge of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. We must go forth and seek it; we must take advantage before time runs out.

Manners between the Salaf

Then, if we have understood this Deen upon Knowledge, we become brothers upon this Knowledge, and this is the strongest bond that will be formed upon this knowledge ý we will become brothers upon it. Bevery nice with each other, be easy with your brother and do not try tobe over him, be lowly (humble) and easy with him, and use wisdom and patience with him. Many of the shabaabý the young men, have not been given this at all; and because of this they dispute between themselves. They have not been given patience and rifq (gentleness) and love between each other, and this has caused them to dispute and split apart.

It is upon you to take the asbaab the reasons for coming together. From them is seeking the knowledge, giving the salaam, making our rows straight and being together in salaah; give much salaam and go over to each other’s houses and be sincere with each other.

And leave the fighting, leave the argumentation, leave it, throw it away if it comes, throw it away. Leave cutting each other off, leave it! Leave turning your back away from each other, and if one of you thinks he wants to make hajr of the other i.e. where you want to separate from your brother, then this is not the way. If you want to do this then you must have the correct asbaab the correct means which are clear and which comes from the Ulamaa an ‘Aalim (Scholar) that understands the benefits and the harm, an Aalim that differentiates between the person being upon the Sunnah or upon bid’ah. This hajr is not between the Salafiyeen at all, we need to leave this. The Salafiyeen are those who follow the Kitaab and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf ‘Umar and Ali and Abu Bakr etc. رضي الله عنهم. This is what Salafiyyah is.

Also from this, is that we become hareef to hold on tenaciously, to the reasons, the means of becoming brothers; whatever means makes you get closer to your brother and makes that brotherhood stronger go forth with it, hold on to it and keep it going.

As for the mubtadi’ who is clear upon his bid’ah, calling to it, unwavering from it, not taking the advice, then when this is known you make tahdheer(تحذير) i.e. you warn from him so that the people may not fall into this bid’ah that is clear and known. Warn from him, and give naseehah (advice) to the people to be aware of him and that this is a bid’ah, and leave him.

As for between you, as-Salafiyeen the people that are upon this haqq, then know that there should be none of this, this is not allowed with you, this is not the way ý you have to take the means and you have to take the approach that is correct for bringing together between the brothers so that you may love each other. Leaving each other and turning your backs is not the way, you have to take the correct asbaab that you may come together. And you have to help each other upon this manhaj which you are upon, face your brother with the best face, and deal with him in the best manner; he is your brother, he is the one you deal with best. This will show the correct face of as-Salafiyyah, this will show everyone the true love, the true brotherhood, the correct face of this Deen. When you have come together, when you yourself deal with each other like this, then you have shown the correct Deen.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

‘Indeed Allaah is Rafeeq (Gentle), He loves rifq (gentleness) in all affairs.’[4] and,
‘Verily rifq does not exist in something except that it beautifies it; and itis not taken out of something except that it harms it.’[5]
This is the meaning of what Rasool صلى الله عليه و سلم said regarding oneself and when dealing with the da’wah. This is what you do when you give the da’wah ý give glad tidings and don’t drive the people away; give them glad tidings of what they will receive; and by your actions make it easy and not hard for them to accept it. If this is how you deal even with the kaafir (disbeliever), so how is it then with your brother, he has the highest levels of rifq. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى loves this leniency in all of the affairs and whoever loves this Deen and loves Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and loves the Messenger صلى اللهعليه و سلم and loves the haqq he is upon, then he will force himself to leave his shiddah (harshness) and he will take the means of leniency because of his love for the Deen and the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم and the haqq that he is upon.

So, one has to be like this in giving the Da’wah and in his dealings with his brothers etc. We must come together and associate with each other, and especially with the Salafis, in the best manner possible, showing the best face we can. In every single affair we have with them, and in every sphere of life we deal with them in the very best way. If we don’t do this and we don’t leave our harshness for each other, and put forth the means of love and coming together amongst each other, then we will dispute, and we will have differences and we will split. The people that are not from it, they will run away, and Rasool صلىالله عليه و سلم said:

‘O People! Verily there are among you those who chase people away!’ [6]
‘So give the glad tidings and do not chase the people away, and make easy and do not make hard the affairs ‘[7].

The Shaykh hafidahuýAllaah went on to make du’aa that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى grant us success so that we act upon this (advice) and that we stay all together upon the haqq the manhaj of as-Salafiyyah, and he made some other du’aa; du’aa for us to stay true (saadiqeen) and sincere to Him and he made much duýaa for us.
Baarak Allaahu Feehiwa Jazaahu Allaahu Khairan and this is where he ended his talkhafidahullaahu, and we ask Allaah سبحانه و تعالى that He grant him shifaa (cure) because he was feeling a little bit tired and this is the end of the Shaykh’s hafidahullaahu ta’aala lecture. JazakaýAllaahu Khairan.

References

[1] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh Muslim by Abu Hurayrah in Kitaab al-Aqdiyya (#1715)

إنالله يرضى لكم ويكره لكم ثلاثا. فيرضى لكم أن تعبدوه ولا تشركوا به شيئا.وأن تعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا ولا تفرقوا. ويكره لكم قيل وقال. وكثرةالسؤال. وإضاعة المال

[2] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaabal-ýIlm (#100) and with a similar wording in Saheeh Muslim, The Book ofKnowledge (Kitaab al-`Ilm), (#2673)

إنالله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من العباد، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبضالعلماء، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما، اتخذ الناس رؤوسا جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوابغير علم، فضلوا وأضلوا

[3] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaamiý (#6297).

إن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما يصنع

[4] Reported as part of the following hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (#6528) and Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab as-Salaam (#2165)

استأذن رهط من اليهود على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا: السام عليك، فقلت: بل عليكم السام واللعنة، فقال: (يا عائشة، إن الله رفيق يحب الرفق في الأمر كله). قلت: أولم تسمع ما قالوا: قال: (قلت: وعليكم)
[5] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaamiý (#5654)

ما كان الرفق في شيء إلا زانه ولا نزع من شيء إلا شانه

[6] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree as part of several ahaadeeth Kitaabal-Jamaaýaat wal Imaamah (#670, #672), Kitaab al-Adab (#5759) andKitaab al-Ahkaam (#6740) and also in Saheeh Muslim Kitaab as-Salaah(#466)

إن منكم منفرين

[7] Reported with the following wording as part of a hadith in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Jihaad was-Sayr (#1732)

بشروا ولا تنفروا ويسروا ولا تعسروا

www.albaseerah.org

Poem on Niqaab

Asalamu alykum wa rahmatullaah

Oh sister covered in hijab by Shaykh Badr Ali Utaybee hafidahullaah

This is a poem by shaykh Badr Bin Ali Utaybee hafidahullaah, taken from “20 pieces of advice to my sister before her marriage”

“Oh sister veiled in hijaab slacken your pace.
Walk upon the hearts of the jealous
ones and cause them to tremble!

Move with nobility and pride whenever the eyes of the envious
are barred from glancing at your skin.

You are beauty in its goodness and perfection.
You are chastity in all its glory.

Don’t be decieved! Indeed veiling your face is from the sunnah
of that chosen Hashami Mesenger (sallallahu alyhi wa sallam)

Being veiled from sight is for you
a sign of dignity;
be delighted and with it, spoil yourself.

Your veil is a protective armor from every dreadful assailing wolf.

This is our legislation, truly and justly
Just as it is our nature.

It has been established in verses of the Qur’an and
authentic hadiths, related by trustworthy narrators.

When you recite the book of your Lord then understand
that in (surah) an-Nur are ayaat concerning al-Hijaab.

So ponder His order to throw the khimar, that covers your head,
over your face and to let it drape over your sides front and back.

And understand the word (throw) to indicate the importance
of being keen to cover your face and body
and this is clear truth.

And you have been prohibited from throwing your legs about,
So let not the sounds of anklets entice the ears.

And also in (surah) al-Ahzaab are verses 53 and on,
In them is my Lord’s command to veil.

When
they came asking the prophet’s wives or if you, Oh
sister are asked.

Because these verses even though they are for the prophets wives,
they are to be applied generally, due to what follows.

Because veiling is for the purification of the hearts which
so quickly fades the eyes when lined with kuhl.

And look to the conclusion of Al-Ameen and his understanding of the verse in
Adwaa’ul bayaan (1) and it is replete with benefits and also in this verse is an order
for you to bring your garment over you fully as to hide yourself and make yourself unrecognizable.

This book of Allaah Affirming that unveiling is
a foundation of evil that bring (men) to trial.

And the best of creation says about you “she is auwra”(2)
referring to women so think!

And on the authority of ibn Mas’ood as related by at-Tirmidhee
and declared hasan saheeh with each narrator just and precise
from first to
last.

And likewise al Bazzaar and ibn Khuzaymah and ibn al Adiyy
and Ali ad-Daraqutni (3)

Oh sister do not throw off the veil.
It is nobility for you and increase you in splendor,

As for those who encourage unveiling,
they only intend for you shame and belittlement.

And that you become like a mannequin in the hands,
a plaything, sold off for a petty price.

They seek that your picture is displayed in magazines
after you were once like a jewel, protected and safeguarded.

They want you to dance to music with them,
abandon your religion, and act like someone else.

And that the scum of mankind exchange,
between them and themselves, authority over you.

And use not acting as an excuse
Barking jackals, howling wolves,
there is no trust to be had in them.

Be warned from becoming the hunted, stalked down and eaten.

The “muck” of the art is belittling and
embarressing,
be warned of falling, Oh sister into mud.

Don’t be amazed by the laughing of the mistresses of singning
and don’t be bedazzled by the sinful stars of cinema.

This cannot decieve your type!
By Allaah, their chests constrict due to their sins,
filled with anguish and regret.

They, with their worries and woes, live their lives in a sick state,
Only Allaah’s religion holds the cure.

Their chests are burnt by an open flame
that has set a blaze in its hollow.

With every day it burns stronger, more hot.

This is their intent; it decieves us not.

So do you, Oh sister, see as we see?

Do you understand whats being presented to thee?

Is dignity, that the Muslim woman relinquishes her hijaab?

Or that she fills with shame and disgrace?

Or is it decency if she is naked, uncovering her face,
wearing tight clothes and pants instead a modest
overgarment?

Is chastity to sing the song of adulterers and fornicators,
when overtaken by passion la la lee?

Is fortitude to agree to burn along with those
that will roast in hell?

Or is it sound politics to appoint to office over the masses,
one pampered raised in petty amusement(4) .

Those who make one from your gender in charge over their affairs will never attain success,
As authentically reported in the prophetic narration (5)

And it is just that she is given exactly as her husband in inheritance
and in rights of marriage and divorce ? (6)

Naturally she is not the same as a man

And in Islamic legislation she is below him
and is rightfully under his guardianship.

Oh our sisters, By Allaah this is her condition,
If you asked them: A modern woman

So do yourself well and stick to the shari’ah,
which if you hold firm to it,
your will not be misguided and will not
go astray.

It is your fortress, your honour.

It is your covering,
your light in the darkeness of the nights

Your are exalted in sticking to the injunctions of your faith,
like a star by which the sky is full of beauty.

May Allaah protect you and All who say
“Be rewarded with good Oh Bad bin Al-Ali

footnotes:

1)
I intend here the shaikh of our scholars, Al- Allaamah Muhammad Al
Ameen ash-Shanqetee, in his book Adwaa Al-bayaan (6/548). He mentioned
that the strongest opinion is that this verse is general to all women.
2)
Translator note: The auwra (private part) for the woman varies
depending on who she is in front of. However, while in front of foreign
men, who are not her husband, father ,grandfather, brother, son , uncle
or nephew, she has to cover every part of her body according to the
opinion of many of the people knowledge.

3) Narrated by
at-Tirmidhee (4/337), Ibn khuzaymah in his saheeh (3/93-94), Al Bazzaar
in his Musnad (5/427), ibn Adiyy in al Kaamil (3/424),ad- Daraqutni in
al-I’lal (5/314), At-Tirmidhee declared it to be hasan saheeh Gareeb
and al Hafidh A’li bin Umar ad-Daraqutni graded it to be authentic.

4)
Allaah, the Most High said about the female gender “(Like they then for
Allaah) a creature who is brough up in adornments (wearing silk and
gold ornaments, i.e. women), and who in dispute cannot make herself
clear?”(surah az-Zukhruf:18) According to the scholars of tafsir, this
verse refers to the weakness of the woman and her deficiency in
expressing herself.

5) Collected by Al-Bukhari , based on this
how can woman be given positions of great importance in a nation, such
as the ruler of the country or military general?

6) A woman is
not equal to man in inheritance or when dealing with marriage and
divorce. All of this is not because of the deficiency in her, but it is
from the completeness of a man’s authority and guardianship over her;
he is her wali and he is responsible for her affairs. That is because
in the Islamic legislation, females are not equal to males.

Umm Yahya Bint Muhammad Ali

Salafiyyah in basics

Among what the best part of life can be spent on is showing concerns for what the Pious Generation (Salafus-Sâlih) was upon. The Imam of the House of Hijrah (rh.) has indeed said,

‘The last part of this Ummah will not prosper except with what brought prosperity to the First.’

The call to Salafiyyah guides to building this generation upon what the First Generation was built, the Generation that was reared from the Messenger of Allâh’s tutelage (s), and a good came to them from Allâh before anyone else, the statement of piety became their watchword. The focus is not merely making the beliefs conform to that of the Salaf’s though the belief is the most important principle , but the focus is that we should conform with them in the understanding of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and in working with both; in their lofty character, in their striving and patience, in their standing up at night and their observing the fast in the day, and in their surrendering themselves to the call of Allâh (Az wa jall) this is the complete meaning of Sunnah.

The students of old, in the Glorious Era, were used to learning etiquette, and taking guidance from their Teachers. So also was the manner of remaining silent while learning the Hadith and the Sciences of the Sharî’ah. They had before them, the best of examples as regard the manner of remaining silent and the best of character. Therefore, they did not need much lessons nor direct acquisition (of knowledge). And then, when the chains of transmission (of Hadith) were broken, and the Sittings of Dictation (Imlâ) became lax for many years, and these lofty characters became difficult (for people to follow), and many students began to take knowledge from the scrolls, while much of the legacies of the Salaf in terms of lofty characters and high etiquette got to their lowest ebbs.

[Culled from a translation work on Shaykh Ahmad Fareed's 'Min Akhlaaqis-Salaf' to be published very soon Insha Allaah by the owner of the blog.]

Calling to the path of the Salaf

Bismillah, this is yet another effort Insha allaah to take the Da’wah of the Salaf across the globe. Muslims will enjoy their Deen when they hold unto the Qur’aan and Sunnah according to the understanding of the Pious Generations: of the Prophet and his Companions, the Taabiun, and the Atbaaut-Taabieen.

This is not just a claim anybody can come with but real action; may Allah facilitate us on the real actions.

So please always come around.

My name is Ishaaq bn Abdurraheem, I am a Nigerian resident in Ede, one of the Muslim towns in South-west Nigeria where there is a silent and queit growth of Salafiyyah, Insha Allaah.