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[5] Fighting extremism with extreme negligence! Ed Husain’s Distractive Ruse

Written by abumuaawiyah on . Posted in Bid'ah (Innovation), Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Deviated Callers & Individuals, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Refutations.

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

And thus do We explain the signs (to you O Muḥammad) in detail, and so that the way of the criminals may become evident (to you). [Surah Al-An’aam. Ayah 55]

After speaking about the Prophet’s companions and their in-depth knowledge of truth and falsehood, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] added: “Among those who succeeded the Prophet’s companions are those who are raised in Islam but do not know what opposes it. As a result, some of the details of the believers’ path and that of the criminals (i.e. the unbelievers) are perplexing to him because confusion occurs as a result of a lack of understanding about both paths or one of them, as Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab [may Allah be pleased with him] stated, ‘The bonds of Islam will be undone one after the other when a people are raised in Islam but do not know what pre-Islamic ignorance is’. And there’s the person who isn’t familiar with the criminals’ path and hasn’t had it clarified for him, or he has uncertainties and hence thinks that some of their practices (beliefs, methodologies, etc) are part of the practises of believers. This has occurred in this Ummah in many matters of creed, knowledge, and deeds concerning the path of the criminals, disbelievers, and enemies of the Messengers, that was brought into the path of the believers by one who does not know the (detailed distinction between) the path of the believers and the path of the criminals. [An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’d pages 167-180. Slightly paraphrased]

First, the above insightful statement by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim reveals an affair concerning Ed Husain because, having been previously shackled by the Kharijite methodology of Hizb Tahreer and now under the shackles of philosophy, sophistry, and rhetoric, he failed to differentiate between the facts that distinguished slavery in Islam from other paths, as well as what Islam requires as opposed to individual violations of its commands and prohibitions. In a piece for the independent newspaper, Ed wrote in October 2011: “For the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Wole Soyinka, the unwillingness to confront Arab racism is rooted in the role of Arabs in the slave trade. “Arabs and Islam are guilty of the cultural and spiritual savaging of the Continent,” he writes. The Ethiopian academic Mekuria Bulcha estimates that Arab traders sold 17 million Africans to the Middle East and Asia between the sixth and twentieth centuries. Yet, there is an almost total reluctance on the part of Arab intellectuals to examine their central role in slavery, past or present. Any attempt to confront persistent Arab racism is shouted down by appeals to Arab/African solidarity against the neo-colonialist West, a sentiment that seldom moves beyond slogans. Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, a member of the senior council of Wahhabi clerics responsible for writing Saudi school textbooks, states: “Slavery is part of Islam. Slavery is part of jihad and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam. It has not been abolished”. [End of quote]

Indeed, Ed is exactly what Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim stated, “Among those who succeeded the Prophet’s companions are those who were raised in Islam but do not know what opposes it. As a result, some of the details of the believers’ path and that of the criminals (i.e. the unbelievers) were perplexing to him because confusion occurs as a result of a lack of understanding about both paths or one of them, as Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab [may Allah be pleased with him] stated, “The bonds of Islam will be undone one after the other when a people who grow up in Islam but do not know what pre-Islamic ignorance is”. What Ed [may Allah guide him] failed to explain about slavery, Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him] has beautifully detailed and delineated on these two links: https://video.link/w/Qbaub https://video.link/w/lUZtb

Indeed, after hearing the above clarification from Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, one realises the dishonesty and ignorance of Ed Husain and those of his ilk among the pretenders in this subject matter.

Second, Ed’s description of Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] as “a member of the senior council of Wahhabi clerics” demonstrates another affair regarding his ignorance. See the website regarding the myth surrounding the name “Wahhaabi” by Shaikh Abu Iyaad [may Allah preserve him] http://www.wahhabis.com/authors/Abu.Iyaad.cfm

Indeed, given that Ed Husain’s path is founded upon bidah, philosophy, sophistry, rhetoric, and the flattery of secularists, it is not surprising that he attempted to unjustly disparage one of the upright scholars of our time. Imam Ibn Asaakir [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “Know O, my brother! May Allaah grant us and you His Pleasure and make us from those who have awe and fear of Him as He should be feared. Indeed, the flesh of the scholars is poisonous (i.e. backbiting them) and Allaah’s way of disclosing the hidden affairs of those who diminish their worth is well known”. [Tabyeen Kadhib Al-Muftaree Fee Maa Nusiba Ilal-Imaam Abil Hasan Al-Ash’aree: page 29]

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “All praise and thanks be to Allah – Who, in every era and interval between the Prophets- raises a group from the people of Knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bearing ill-treatment and harm. With the Book of Allah, they give life to the dead [i.e. hearts killed by misguidance, etc] and through Allah’s Light [i.e. guidance] they give sight [i.e. guidance] to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees [i.e. misguided] have they revived?! How many deviated people and wandering have they guided?! How beautiful their effect has been on the people and how vile people have been towards them! They expel from the Book of Allaah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars, and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones – those who uphold the banner of Bidah and unleash trials and discord, differing about the Book [i.e. The Qur’aan], opposing the Book and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allaah and His Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant masses with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allah from the trials of the misguided ones”. [Ar-Radd ‘alal-Jahmiyyah. page 2]

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[4] Fighting extremism with extreme negligence! Ed Husain’s Distractive Ruse

Written by abumuaawiyah on . Posted in Bid'ah (Innovation), Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Deviated Callers & Individuals, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Refutations.

In The Name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised for what they have not done,- think not you that they are rescued from the torment, and for them is a painful torment. [Surah Al-Imran. Ayah 188]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “They want to be commended for what they haven’t done and what they haven’t said, so they combine between evil conduct and its utterance and revel in it. And they love being applauded for something they haven’t done”. (1)

Ed Husain said, ”Free speech is not a Western concept: it is a universal craving of the human soul”. [End of quote]

True, everyone would want to be able to talk, but our Lord warned us about the perils and terrible consequences of an unbridled soul and tongue. Ed desperately attempted to pervert an authentic hadith in order to satisfy his burning desire to advance freedom of speech outside the purview of Shariah, a freedom of expression that would allow him to spread his dubious beliefs in the name of Islam. However, before we cite the hadith that Ed tried to twist for his own purposes, it’s important to note that he is guilty of double standards because he uses freedom of speech to spread his errors while criticising the members of his former group, Hizb Tahreer, when they do the same. Allaah [The Exalted] said:

أَتَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبِرِّ وَتَنسَوۡنَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture! Have you then no sense?] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 44]

While desperately seeking to misinterpret the hadith in order to forward his dishonest pursuit of free speech, Ed said: “Muslim civilisations, too, were once confident in this freedom. The Prophet’s wife, Ayesha, would say to him ‘How convenient that your God reveals verses that satisfy your desires.’ Nasredin Hodja, a Muslim satirist entertained generations of people with his books of jokes and caricatures. For centuries, the Sufis mocked orthodox believers and their rituals. Blessed was blasphemy. We Muslims again need to learn to joke, to laugh more and accept that in the West, since the times of the ancient Greeks, mockery and theatre have been the norm. Islamists cannot and must not destroy this inheritance”. [End of quote]

Observations

“Muslim civilisations, too, were once confident in this freedom. The Prophet’s wife, Ayesha, would say to him ‘How convenient that your God reveals verses that satisfy your desires'”.

Following is the hadeeth from which Ed quoted in order to support his perverse defence of corrupt free speech: Ed quoted the hadith as follows: “Aa’Isha [may Allaah be pleased with her] said to the Prophet, ‘How convenient that your God reveals verses that satisfy your desires'”.  Arabic text as follows: [ما أرى ربك إلا يسارع في هواك – I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your desires]. [Sahih Al-Bukhari. Number 4788]

First of all, depending on the context, the word “Hawaa – desire” can be used to describe behaviour that is commendable or reproachable. Here is an illustration of the word used as a reprimand in Allah’s statement:

وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. [Surah Al-Qasas. Ayah 50]

The word “Hawaa” (desires) is given a blameworthy meaning in the above verse because it is associated with the person who follows his desires without guidance from Allah.

Second, the following text provides an illustration of the word’s commendable meaning: After the battle of Badr, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] consulted both AbuBakr and Umar [may Allah be pleased with them] regarding the prisoners of war, so Umar suggested that they should be executed, but Abu Bakr suggested that they should be set free after a ransom is taken on their behalf. Umar said:

[ فَهَوِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَمْ يَهْوَ مَا قُلْتُ – Allaah’s Messenger هَوِيَ – (with a Kasra on the letter Waw; meaning, the Prophet loved, approved Abu Bakr’s view and held it to be the best thing to do)] (2), and did not approve (or incline towards what I said). Therefore, “Hawaa” is used in a commendable manner in this hadeeth because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never tends to anything unworthy of praise.

As for the meaning of the hadeeth in Al-Bukhaari Number 4788 [ما أرى ربك إلا يسارع في هواك – I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires], Imaam An-Nawawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said that this hadith means: “Your Lord has made things easy for you and given you a lot of leeway in your affairs”. (3) Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said that this hadith means: “Without delay, Allah fulfils what you want and reveals what you love and choose”. (4)

And moreover, Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

By the star when it goes down, (or vanishes). Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired. [Surah An-Najm. Ayaat 1-4]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “Allah [The Exalted] revealed that Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is neither misguided nor ignorant, neither is he astray nor does he follow his desires, nor does he speak according to his desires but rather according to the revelation that has been sent down”. (5)

There is no ambiguity, speculation, or guesswork because this is the hadeeth’s clear meaning. The hadith’s use of the word “Hawaa” refers to an inclination towards something honourable rather than a desire for something that is blameworthy. But Ed fervently used this hadith to promote satire and corrupt free speech. Al-Allaamah Saalih Al Fawzaan cautioned us against this attitude, saying, “Transmitting forged and false reports while attributing them to the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] is not permitted. This is due to the fact that many misguided people and followers of desires fabricate narrations, use them as evidence, and declare them authentic when they line up with their desires. As for when the authentic narrations conflict with their wishes, they either deny them or alter and explain them (in a way different from what is meant by) correct meanings. This is the situation of the proponents of misguidance; they look for fabricated and false narrations, offer them to the people, and use them as evidence if it supports their desires. Similarly, one of the traits of a hypocrite is that he lies when he speaks, so refrain from speaking to the people unless you are truthful, and avoid using the ahaadeeth excessively in situations where there is no benefit out of fear that you would start telling lies. The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, ‘It is enough lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears'”. (6)

Then Ed Husain stated: “Nasredin Hodja, a Muslim satirist entertained generations of people with his books of jokes and caricatures. For centuries, the Sufis mocked orthodox believers and their rituals. Blessed was blasphemy. We Muslims again need to learn to joke, to laugh more and accept that in the West, since the times of the ancient Greeks, mockery and theatre have been the norm. Islamists cannot and must not destroy this inheritance”. [End of quote]

Whatever a person does to entertain the public, it cannot contradict the divine revelation found in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah. A joke is acceptable as long as it does not make fun of the religion or an authentic act of worship carried out by a Muslim. That’s because a joke of this nature amounts to major disbelief.

وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا ڪُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلۡعَبُ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ
لَا تَعۡتَذِرُواْ قَدۡ كَفَرۡتُم بَعۡدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمۡ‌ۚ

If you ask them (about this), they declare: “We were only talking idly and joking.” Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?” Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. [Surah At-Tawbah. Aayah 65]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “The affairs related to Divine Lordship, Prophethood, Revelation, and the religion are sacred and are to be venerated. It is impermissible to disrespect them, either by mocking them to make others laugh or to make fun of them. If anyone does that, he is an unbeliever because this shows his disrespect towards Allaah and His Messengers, the Books, and Divine Laws. Whoever does this must repent to Allaah because it is a type of hypocrisy. Therefore, the person must repent to Allaah, seek forgiveness, change his behaviour, nurture fear of Allaah [in his heart], venerate Allaah, and have a love for Allaah in his heart”.  (7)

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Woe to the one who speaks to make people laugh and lies, woe to him, woe to him”. (8)

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “A man may say something to make his companions laugh, and he will fall into Hell as far as the Pleiades because of it”. (9)

As for Ed Husain’s statement,  “Blessed was blasphemy”. The word blessed used in this context can either mean pleasure or relief as a welcome contrast to what one has previously experienced, or it is used in mild expressions of annoyance or exasperation – emphasizing that you are annoyed about something. Indeed, regardless of the meaning intended by Ed Husain, he is reminded that the Muslim does not utilise freedom of speech to utter disbelief, sin, or transgression.

As for Ed Husain’s statement: “We Muslims again need to learn to joke, to laugh more and accept that in the West, since the times of the ancient Greeks,  and mockery and theatre have been the norm”. [End of quote]

Indeed, because Allah’s Messenger is the only person who has lived a faultless life in all respects, a sensible Muslim makes an effort to emulate his example. We make jokes and laugh in accordance with the divine revelation, and we pay no attention to Ed Husain’s absurd recommendations. If satire was common, then it would also be common among the Prophets of Allah and their upright followers. We are commanded to follow the upright path rather than that taken by terrorists like ISIS or those who have engaged in excessive neglect like Ed Husain. Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “Indeed, the Messenger is the highest criterion (amongst humans and Jinn), and all affairs are given to him (i.e. for judgment and judged) based on his manners, way, and guidance; so, whatever agrees with this is truth, and whatever disagrees is falsehood”. (10)

[1] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
[2] Sharh Saheeh Muslim By Imaam An-Nawawi. 12/74
[3] Sharh Saheeh Muslim 10/49
[4] Fat’hul Baaree 8/668. Publisher: Daarus Salaam. 1st Edition 1431AH (2000)]
[5] An Excerpt from Al-Jawaabus Saheeh Liman Baddala Deenul Maseeh. 1/26-30. Slightly paraphrased
[6] An Excerpt from ‘It’haaf At-Tullaab Bi-Sharhi Mandhoomah Al-Aadaab’ page 103’. Slightly paraphrased
[7] Al-Majmoo’ Ath-Thameen, 1/63
[8] Narrated by Abu Dawood 4990
[9] Silsilah As-Saheehah 2/78
[10] Al-Jaami Li-Akhlaaq Ar-Raawi Wa Aadaab As-Saami’ page 8

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[1] Ensuring the preservation of the sound Islamic creed involves addressing Yasir Qadhi’s inclination towards exaggerations whilst commending those who denounce the atrocities committed by Netanyahu’s Zionist Far-right Regime

Written by abumuaawiyah on . Posted in Categories, Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Monotheism - Tawheed, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Refutations, Shirk, Sin, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Importance of Identifying The Sound Creed 

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated

This is the most crucial topic in life because it impacts everything depending on its soundness, corruption, or absence. Indeed, humankind split into many religious groups and pursued different paths in terms of beliefs. All of these paths are distorted, crooked, harmful, and unbeneficial, except for those who are led to the true religion of Islam since such individuals will achieve uprightness, goodness, and peace of mind in every way.

Among the people are those who have been influenced by Shaytaan, so they worship things other than Allah, such as trees, stones, images, prophets, angels, the righteous and the unrighteous, while acknowledging that Allah alone is their Lord, Owner, and Creator. These are the polytheists of various groups and methodologies that accept the Oneness of Allah’s Lordship but they deviate from worshipping Him alone. Indeed, the (uncorrupted) divine books of the past and their seal (i.e. the Qur’an) demonstrate the wretchedness of these people and the path that leads them to destruction. All the Messengers agreed on the command to (establish) pure monotheism and forbid polytheism, and that anybody who ascribes a partner with Allah in worship will be barred from entering paradise permanently (if they do not repent before death), and their abode will be the fire. Sound minds and sound natural disposition would view polytheism, the deification of other than Allah, and devotion to created things and objects made by people (for the sake of worship) to be corrupt.

And among the people are those who believe in some of the Messengers and divine Books but not in others, despite the fact that the Messengers and divine Books affirmed each other’s truthfulness, agreed with each other, and agreed on fundamental principles. As a result, their denial invalidated their belief, and their acknowledgment of some Prophets and divine books was rendered invalid by their denial of other Prophets and divine books; thus, they remained in deviation in their religion, befuddled in their faith, and in a state of contradiction in their knowledge. Allah [The Exalted] said:

إن الذين يكفرون بالله ورسله ويريدون أن يفرقوا بين الله ورسله ويقولون نؤمن ببعض ونكفر ببعض ويريدون أن يتخذوا بين ذلك سبيلا أولئك هم الكافرون حقا

Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make a distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, “We believe in some but reject others,” and wish to adopt a way in between. They are in truth disbelievers. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayaat 150-151]

The reason Allah pronounced a judgement of unbelief against them is that He is aware that their claim to belief was false; if it had been sincere, they would have believed all the facts that the Messengers had agreed to. Allah said that they stated:

نؤمن بما أنزل علينا ويكفرون بما وراءه وهو الحق مصدقا لما معهم

“We believe in what was sent down to us”. And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 91]

Since their claim of faith is false, Allah declared the following concerning them:

فلم تقتلون أنبياء الله من قبل إن كنتم مؤمنين

Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?

There is a group among the people who ascribe to the (knowledge) of philosophy and metaphysics; they then introduced the greatest misguidance and ridiculous statements, denied the Great Lord (Allah) and His existence, and so denied the Messengers, the divine books, and matters of the unseen. They wrongly, arrogantly, and owing to self-exaltation denied Allah’s Ayaat [lessons, proofs, revelations], although being convinced within their own souls about them; and denied the Messengers’ knowledge and what the divine scriptures advised, and arrogantly turned away from them because of what they knew about natural sciences and the affairs associated with them. In contrast to the knowledge of the Prophets, they denied all other realities outside what they could perceive through their senses and limited, restricted experiences, so they worshipped nature, made it their primary preoccupation, and the totality of their knowledge, went beyond what their (innate) natural dispositions dictated and did not adhere to any divine religious laws or (sound) human morals. As a result, animals became better than them since they were bereft of (sound) morality and urged towards animalistic desires – neither had a real goal to strive for or outcomes to achieve. Allah said:

وقالوا ما هي إلا حياتنا الدنيا نموت ونحيا وما يهلكنا إلا الدهر

And they say: “There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahr (the time).] [Surah Al-Jaathiyah. Ayah 24]

Thus, despite their polytheism and disbelief, the polytheists became better and considerably less evil than these individuals. Furthermore, due to religious weakness and lack of understanding, as well as when powerful nations built traps to encourage it, this detrimental school of thought has destroyed a vast number of people in recent times.

The Islamic religion, on the other hand, guided people out of the darkness of ignorance, disbelief, injustice, aggressiveness, and other ills and into the light of knowledge, (sound) faith, certainty, justice, mercy, and all good things. Allah said:

لقد من الله على المؤمنين إذ بعث فيهم رسولا من أنفسهم يتلو عليهم آياته ويزكيهم ويعلمهم الكتاب والحكمة وإن كانوا من قبل لفي ضلال مبين

Indeed Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur’an), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements, acts of worship, etc.)], while before that they had been in manifest error. [Surah Aal Imran. Ayah 164]

Allah said:
إن الله يأمر بالعدل والإحسان وإيتاء ذي القربى وينهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر والبغي يعظكم لعلكم تذكرون

Verily, Allah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone – Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.): and forbids Al-Fahsha’ (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right, etc.), and Al-Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may take heed. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 90]

Allah said:
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَہۡدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقۡوَمُ

Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right.
[Surah Al-Israa. Ayah 9]

Allaah said:
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا

This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion]. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Ayah 3]

Allah said: [وتمت كلمة ربك صدقا وعدلا – And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice (Surah Al-An’aam. Ayah 115)]- Meaning, Allah’s divine revelation through which He legislated the laws and established rulings. Indeed, Allah perfected them in every aspect, with no defect in any form- (perfect) truthful reports from Allah regarding His Oneness and Recompense, the sincerity of His Messengers in that which they have communicated regarding issues of the unseen, and just rulings. All of its commands are founded on (perfect) justice, benevolence, all types of good, righteousness, and (upright) rectification; its prohibitions are based on flawless wisdom, and it condemns all forms of injustice, transgression, and harm.

Allah said:
ومن أحسن من الله حكما لقوم يوقنون

And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm Faith.
[Surah Al-Maa’idah. Ayah 50]

Neither has Allah forbidden anything that a person of sound mind would say, “If only Allah had commanded it,” nor has Allah commanded anything that a person of sound mind would say, “If only Allah had forbidden it.” This religion has approved of all that is good and beneficial while forbidding all that is evil and harmful. Allah said:

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), he commands them for Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khaba’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 157]

Islam is the religion that guides (Allah’s) servants towards everything that is beneficial to them in their worldly and religious affairs and cautions them to avoid everything that is detrimental to their livelihood and religion. When there is an ambiguity between things that bring about welfare and things that are corrupt, and between beneficial and harmful things, it commands them to establish consultation in choosing the affair whose greater benefit is clearly established and repelling the affair whose corruption is manifest.

It is the mighty comprehensive religion that commands belief in every (divine) book revealed by Allah and every Messenger sent by Allah. Allah said:

فلذلك فادع واستقم كما أمرت ولا تتبع أهواءهم وقل آمنت بما أنزل الله من كتاب وأمرت لأعدل بينكم الله ربنا وربكم لنا أعمالنا ولكم أعمالكم لا حجة بيننا وبينكم الله يجمع بيننا وإليه المصير

So unto this (religion of Islam, alone and this Qur’an) then invite (people) (O Muhammad ), and Istaqim [(i.e. stand firm and straight on Islamic Monotheism by performing all that is ordained by Allah (good deeds, etc.), and by abstaining from all that is forbidden by Allah (sins and evil deeds, etc.)], as you are commanded, and follow not their desires, but say, “I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the divine Books – the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham), and this Qur’an as the final one, and the only one to be acted upon], and I am commanded to do justice among you, Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds (good and bad). There is no dispute between us and you [i.e. after the realities have been manifested, and after the clear distinction between truth and falsehood, and after the clear distinction between guidance and misguidance, there is no room for debate because the goal behind the debate is to distinguish between right and wrong so that the one to be guided is guided and the proofs established against the misguided one (Tafseer Sadi)]. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return. [Surah Ash-Shooraa. Ayah 15]

It is the mighty religion whose accuracy and perfection have been attested to by the All-Mighty Lord (Allah), as well as by the most perfect and the purest among the creation. Allah said:

شهد الله أنه لا إله إلا هو والملائكة وأولو العلم قائما بالقسط لا إله إلا هو العزيز الحكيم

Allah bears witness that Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilah illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise]. [Surah Aal Imran. Ayah 18]

Allah said:
إن الدين عند الله الإسلام
Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.

[Surah Aal Imran. Ayah 19]

It is the religion through which Allah gathers outer and inner beauty, perfect morals, and deeds for those who embody it. Allah said:

ومن أحسن دينا ممن أسلم وجهه لله وهو محسن

And who can be better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah (i.e. follows Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism); and he is a Muhsin (a good-doer)]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 125]

There is none better than one who is sincere to Allah, benevolent to Allah’s servants, and sincere in their adherence to Allah’s laws, which are the best of laws and the most upright methodology, so that their heart becomes imbued with sincerity and sound Islamic monotheism, and their morals and actions are based on upright guidance and sound rectification.

Allah said:
صبغة الله ومن أحسن من الله صبغة ونحن له عابدون

The Religion (ordained and chosen by) Allah (for humankind and jinn (i.e. Islam) and which religion can be better than the One (ordained and chosen) by Allah? And we are His worshippers.

It is the religion whose adherents – those who established it and embodied its guidance and teachings – gave the hearts access to good with knowledge and sound faith, and they triumphed over the inhabitants of the various regions of the earth through justice, mercy, and sincere advice to the human race.

It is the religion through which Allah rectifies the beliefs, morality, the worldly life, and (a person’s) affairs in the afterlife, and through which the disunited hearts and divergent desires unite (upon one upright path).

It is the great and decisive religion, conclusive in all of its judgements and reports. It doesn’t report or make judgements unless they are (perfect) statements of truth and justice that directly address the reality of the situation. There is no factual knowledge that invalidates any of its reports, and there is no ruling that is superior to its rulings. All affairs, both present and past, are perfectly addressed and governed by its foundations and rules. Because it is a revelation from the All-Wise, The One Worthy of All Praise (Allah), perfect equity and justice, mercy, goodness, and benevolence are applied wherever the various mutual dealings between individuals and groups are established–in every time and place–based on its fundamental principles.

Allah said:
كتاب أحكمت آياته ثم فصلت من لدن حكيم خبير

(This is) a Book (i.e. the Qur’an), the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things)]. [Surah Hud Aayah 1]

Allah said:
لا يأتيه الباطل من بين يديه ولا من خلفه تنزيل من حكيم حميد

Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah)]. [Surah Fussilat. Ayah 42]

Allah said:
إنا نحن نزلنا الذكر وإنا له لحافظون

Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the reminder (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)]. [Surah Al-Hijr. Ayah 9]

Its words (statements and meanings) are unquestionably safe from addition, deficiency, and change, and its rulings are secure from deviation and deficiency; rather, they are at the highest degree of justice, uprightness, and a means of facilitating every good.

It is the magnificent religion that leads to the truth and the straight path–truthfulness is its motto, justice is its focal point, truth is its basis, mercy is its essence and goal, goodness is what always accompanies it, righteousness and upright rectification are its beauty and functions.

Islam is the religion that combines the needs of the body, the heart, and the soul. Allah gave the believers the same instructions He gave the Messengers, commanding them to worship Him alone, perform good deeds that please Him, eat from the good things (He provided), and extract (benefits from the various things He created), which He subjugated to His servants in this life. Those who truly established this affair achieved every lofty achievement and sound progress. Anyone who knows any of the attributes of this religion will know the huge favour that Allaah has bestowed on humankind and Jinn, and anyone who rejects it will fall into falsehood, misguidance, disillusionment, and loss. The creeds that oppose Islam are either founded on superstitions and the worship of images, or they follow the paths of materialism and atheism, and they cause their followers’ hearts and actions to resemble those of animals (in behaviour); in fact, they lead them even further away from the way of upright behaviour than animals do. This is because when sound religion (or creed) departs from the hearts, good morals are abandoned and replaced with evil behaviour; thus, those on this path are led to the lowest level of evil behaviour, and their greatest concern and knowledge is confined to the enjoyment of this present (temporary) worldly life. [1]

 

Ensuring the preservation of the sound Islamic creed involves addressing Yasir Qadhi’s inclination towards exaggerations whilst commending those who denounce the atrocities committed by Netanyahu’s Zionist Far-right Regime

Indeed, it is evident that millions of individuals and many nations openly denounce the heinous acts committed by the Zionists, and this commendable stance deserves recognition. Nevertheless, it is crucial to avoid exaggeration and making assertions that contradict the infallible final divine revelation, as exemplified by the recent remarks made by the Bid’ee Yasir Qadhi regarding the followers of modern Judaism. He stated, “They are the real followers of Mosses! They are the ones who make the Children of Israel proud”. [End of quote]

Thus, it is crucial to maintain the only balanced approach that agrees with the infallible divine text to avoid exaggeration and to give proper recognition to what truly deserves acknowledgment. Firstly, Shaikh Abu Iyaadh [may Allah preserve him] stated in his discussion regarding the connection between Zionism and Judaism: “However, it is important to note that not all Jews are involved in these intrigues and the Jews as a population have, throughout history, been subject to the whims and desires of their religious and political leaders, and have been made to undergo much persecution as a result. Also, there are many religious Jews who denounce Zionism as heresy in religion and cause of calamities for them and for Palestinians. Just as there are religious Jews who reject liberal and woke ideas used to disintegrate family and society. Hence, it is not correct to brush all Jews with the same brush, just as it is not correct to paint all Muslims with the brush of al-Ikhwān, Ḥizb al-Taḥrīr, al-Qaeda, ISIS and other extremists and terrorists”. [End of quote] https://abuiyaad.com/w/king-faisal-zionism

Secondly, we now present the undeniable truth concerning the people of the Scripture after the advent of of the final Prophet Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]. Allah [The Exalted] says:

فلذلك فادع واستقم كما أمرت ولا تتبع أهواءهم وقل آمنت بما أنزل الله من كتاب وأمرت لأعدل بينكم الله ربنا وربكم لنا أعمالنا ولكم أعمالكم لا حجة بيننا وبينكم الله يجمع بيننا وإليه المصير

So unto this (religion of Islam, alone and this Qur’an) then invite (people) (O Muhammad ), and Istaqim [(i.e. stand firm and straight on Islamic Monotheism by performing all that is ordained by Allah (good deeds, etc.), and by abstaining from all that is forbidden by Allah (sins and evil deeds, etc.)], as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say: “I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, this Qur’an and the Books of the old from the Taurat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham)] and I am commanded to do justice among you, Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return. [Surah Ash-Shuraa. Ayah 15]

[وَأُمِرۡتُ لِأَعۡدِلَ بَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ – and I am commanded to do justice among you], Meaning, when passing judgement regarding that which you have differed between yourselves. Therefore, your enmity and hatred do not prevent me from judging with justice between you. It is from justice that when judging between people who make different statements – amongst the people of the Scripture and others – one accepts what they possess of truth and rejects what they possess of falsehood.

[ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمۡ‌ۖ لَنَآ أَعۡمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُڪُمۡ‌ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ – Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return].

[لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ‌ۖ – There is no dispute between us and you] – Meaning, there is no dispute between us and you [i.e. after the realities have been manifested, and after the clear distinction between truth and falsehood, and after the clear distinction between guidance and misguidance, there is no room for debate, because the goal behind the debate is to distinguish between right and wrong so that the one to be guided is guided and the proofs established against the misguided one. [ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَا‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ – Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return] [2]

Allah [The Most High] said:

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” [Surah Aal Imraan. Ayah 64]

Meaning: say to the people of the scripture – the Jews and Christians, [تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ – Come to a word that is just between us and you]- Meaning: Come let us unite upon the statement which all the Prophets and Messengers agreed upon and none opposes it except the obstinate and misguided. This statement is not specific to anyone of us; rather it is something that you and us should establish between us, so this is justice and fairness in debate. Then Allah explains this and said: [أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا  –  that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him]- Meaning: We should single out Allah in worship, devoting all love, fear and hope to Him alone, and we should not associate anyone as partner with Allah in worship- neither a Prophet, an Angel, a Righteous Person, an Idol, a Deified image, a living or non-living thing, [وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ  – and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah]; rather all obedience is to be devoted to Allah and His Messengers. [فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ – Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims]”. [3]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said:

The believers – those whom Allah pardoned and accepted their repentance after they were in a state of ignorance and wrongdoing – are the true followers of the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them], because indeed the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them] were sent with knowledge and justice, as Allah [The Exalted] says:

وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

By the star when it goes down, (or vanishes). Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired. [Surah An-Najm. Ayaat 1-4]

Therefore, Allah [The Exalted] made it known that Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] is neither misguided and ignorant, nor is he astray and following his desires, nor does he speak out of his own desires; rather he speaks based on the revelation which Allah revealed to him. Allah [The Exalted] says:

[هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ‌ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدً۬ا – He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), that He may make it (Islam) superior over all religions. And All-Sufficient is Allah as a Witness]. [Surah Al-Fath. Ayah 28]

Guidance necessitates beneficial knowledge and the religion of truth necessitates righteous action, and it is built on justice, as Allah says: [لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ – Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice]. [Surah Al-Hadeed. Ayah 25]

The foundation of justice in relation to fulfilment of Allah’s rights is to worship Allah alone without associating a partner to Him, for indeed ascribing partners to Allah in worship is great wrong, just as Allah stated that Luqman [peace be upon him] said: [يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ – O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed]. [Surah Luqmaan. Ayah 13]

In Bukhaari and Muslim, Abdullah Bin Mas’ood [may Allah be pleased with him] said that when the Ayah was revealed [ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمۡ يَلۡبِسُوٓاْ إِيمَـٰنَهُم بِظُلۡمٍ  – Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and mix their belief with wrong], it worried the companions of Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]; so they said, “Who amongst us has not wronged himself?” So, Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “It is not what you think; rather it is to ascribe partners to Allaah. Have you not heard the statement of Allaah’s righteous servant [i.e. Luqmaan (peace be upon him)]:  [إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٌ۬-  Verily ascribing partners to Allaah in worship is great wrong].

And when it is case that the true followers of the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them] are people of knowledge and justice, therefore the speech of the people of Islam and the true adherents to the Prophetic Sunnah regarding the unbelievers and the proponents of religious innovations has to be based on knowledge and justice, and not conjecture and what the soul desires. And due to this the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “The judges are three: one will go to Paradise and two to Hell. A man who knows the truth and judges with it will enter paradise; a man who knows the truth but judges with the opposite of it will enter the fire, and a man who judges for the people based on ignorance will enter the fire’’. [Reported by Imaam Abu Dawud 3573]

And when it is the case that the one who judges between the people in [affairs] of wealth, blood [i.e. murder cases, physical violence etc] and honour will enter the hell fire if he is not a just scholar, then how about the one who passes judgements – without knowledge and justice – on creeds, religions, the fundamentals of belief,  divine knowledge and the general fundamental principles related to different subject matters, as is the case with ahlul bidah wal ahwaa [the people of religious innovations and desires]- those who follow the ambiguous doubtful matters, abandon those explicitly clear texts that have transmitted by the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them], cling to affairs that share an ambiguous similarity through mere analogy and opinions,  and then present affairs whose differences can neither be reconciled nor equated, just as is the case with the unbelievers and all the proponents of religious innovation and followers of desires, who liken the creation to the Creator [i.e. they give the creation the Perfect Attributes that only belong to the Creator], and liken the Creator to the creation [i.e. by describing the Creator with the imperfect attributes of the Creation], and then they put forward an evil similitude for Allah by way of thoughtless and confusing speech. This is because the false religion of the Christians is an innovated [or concocted] religion- innovated after the departure of the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and altered the religion of the Messiah through it; so they deviated from the Messiah’s [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] path and remained upon that which they innovated.

Then when  Allah [The Exalted] sent Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], they disbelieved in him; so their disbelief and misguidance occurred in two way- substitution of the religion of the first Messenger [i.e. the Messiah] and belied the second Messenger [i.e. Muhammad], just as the Jews substituted the rulings of the Torah before the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] was sent and then belied him. The Christians’ denial of the Messengership of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is a well-known belief of theirs to every Muslim, which is similar to the Jews’ disbelief  in the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. The Christians emphasise the disbelief of the Jews greater than what the Jews deserve, because the Jews claimed that the Messiah was a magician and a liar; rather they said that he is an illegitimate child, as Allaah informed us about them: [وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ عَلَىٰ مَرۡيَمَ بُہۡتَـٰنًا عَظِيمً۬ا – And their speech against Maryam (Mary)- a grave false charge (that she has committed illegal sexual intercourse]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 156]; however, the Christians claimed that the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is Allaah, so therefore the trial between them and the Jews regarding the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] involved a lot of contradictions, misguidance at similar levels and confrontation, and this is why both nations rebuked one another with something more than what each of them deserved, just as Allaah said:

وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ مِثۡلَ قَوۡلِهِمۡ‌ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ

The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing; and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing; though they both recite the Scripture. Like unto their word, said (the pagans) who know not. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 113]

Muhammad Bin Abee Muhammad [may Allah ave mercy upon him] the protege of Zaid Bin Thaabit [may Allah be pleased with him] reported from Ikrimah [may Allah be pleased with him] or Saeed Bin  Jubayr [may Allah have mercy upon him], who reported from Ibn Abbaas [may Allah be pleased with him and his father]that when the Christian delegation of Najraan came to the Messenger of Allah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], the Rabbis came and argued with them in the presence of the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]; so Rabee bin Hurmilah said, “You are upon nothing”, so he disbelieved in Eesaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and all the Injeel”; then a man from the people of Najraan said to the Jews, “You are upon nothing”, so he wilfully denied Moosaa’s [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] Prophethood and disbelieved in the Torah, so Allah revealed: [وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ‌ۗ – The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing; and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing; though they both recite the Scripture]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 113]

So each of them recited the affirmation of what they reject in their book- meaning, the Jews disbelieved in Eesaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] whilst they had the Torah in which Allah established the evidence against them through Moosaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] that they should believe in Eesaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]; and in the Injeel, Eesaa [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] confirmed the Messengership of Moosaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and what he came with. So, each one disbelieved in what was in the possession of the other. [Ibn Abee Haatim. 1/339]

[وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬  – The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing];  Qataadah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said regarding this Ayah, “Certainly, the early Christians were upon something, but they innovated and split”.  [وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ – and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing]; Qataadah said regarding this Ayah, “Certainly, the early Jews were upon something, but they innovated and split”. The Jews belied the religion of the Christians and said that the Christians were upon nothing; and the Christians denied everything through which the Jews were distinguished from them, even the laws of the Torah which the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] did not abrogate; rather he commanded them to act upon it. As for the Jews, they denied many of things through which others were distinguished from them, until they denied the truth brought by Eesaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him].

So, even though the Christians – due to that which they innovated of exaggeration and misguidance – went into extremes in excommunicating the Jews and showed them enmity beyond what is obligated, however there is no doubt that the Jews disbelieved when they belied the Messiah [peace and blesssings of Allaah be upon him], just as Allaah [The Exalted] said to the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]:

إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوۡقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ

I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that ‘Iesa (Jesus) is Allah’s son] of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (Monotheists, who worship none but Allah) superior to those who disbelieve [in the Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, e.g. Muhammad, ‘Iesa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g. the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Qur’an] till the Day of Resurrection. [Surah Aal Imraan. Ayah 55]

And Allah [The Exalted] says:

قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ لِلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنۡ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحۡنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬‌ۖ فَأَيَّدۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ ظَـٰهِرِينَ

Eesaa the son of Maryam said to Al-Hawariun (the disciples): “Who are my helpers (in the Cause) of Allah?” Al-Hawarieen (the disciples) said: “We are Allah’s helpers” (i.e. we will strive in His Cause!). Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. So We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became the uppermost. [Surah As-Saff. Ayah 14]

The disbelief of the Christians – due to their denial of Muhammad’s [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] Messengership and being in opposition to the Muslims- is greater than the disbelief of the Jews due to their denial of the Messiah’s [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] Messengership, because indeed the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] only abrogated a little from the Torah and all the laws and acts of worship ordained for him could be traced back to the Torah; however the majority of the beliefs and practices of the Christians were innovated after the departure of the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]. That which is found in the Jews’ denial of the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] by opposing Allah’s Shariah is not the same as the Christians’ denial of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], who brought an independent book from Allaah, because nothing in the laws of the Qur’an was ordained based on the law of another Messenger. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِهِمۡ أَنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَرَحۡمَةً۬ وَذِڪۡرَىٰ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ – Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) which is recited to them? Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder (or an admonition) for a people who believe]. [Surah Al-Ankabut. Ayah 51]

The Qur’an is an independent book like the Torah of Moosaa [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], even though the Qur’an is greater than it. And this is why the  Christian scholars made a connection between Moosaa and Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon them], just as when An-Najaashee [may Allah have mercy upon him]- the (Ethiopian) king of the Christians- heard the Qur’an, he said, “Indeed, this and what Moosaa brought came from the same source”.

Also, when Waqarah bin Nawfil [may Allah have mercy upon him] – who was one of Christian Arab scholars- heard the statement of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], he said, “Indeed, the Naamoos [i.e. Jibreel] came to you, who was sent to Moosaa. I wish I were young till when your people expel you [i.e. from Makkah]”. Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] asked, “Will these people drive me out?” Waraqah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Yes, for nobody brought the like of what you have brought, but was treated with hostility. If I were to remain alive till your day [when you start calling to Islaam], then I would support you strongly”. [Bukhaari]

And this is why Allah mentions the Torah and the Qur’an together in His statement:

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓ‌ۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَڪۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ قَالُواْ سِحۡرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ۬ كَـٰفِرُونَ

قُلۡ فَأۡتُواْ بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهۡدَىٰ مِنۡہُمَآ أَتَّبِعۡهُ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

But when the truth (i.e. Muhammad with his Message) has come to them from Us, they say: “Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa (Moses)? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Musa (Moses) of old? They say: “Two kinds of magic [the Taurat (Torah) and the Qur’an] each helping the other!” And they say: “Verily! In both we are disbelievers.” Say (to them, O Muhammad): “Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two [the Taurat (Torah) and the Qur’an], that I may follow it, if you are truthful.” [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayaat 48-49]

Allah did not revealed books that were a better guide than the Tawraat and the Qur’aan. Then Allah says:

فَإِن لَّمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لَكَ فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ بِغَيۡرِ هُدً۬ى مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists). [Surah Al-Qasas. Ayah 50] [4]

Finally, must bear in mind always that rebutting false beliefs, ideas and views does not necessitate bad behaviour, rather Muslims are commanded to behave well towards others. Must read article by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him]: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/ 

And Allah knows best

[1] An Excerpt from Ad-Deenus Saheeh Yahillu Jamee al-Mashaakil (The right religion is the answer to every problem- pages 3-5

[2] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased

[3] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased

[4] An Excerpt from Al-Jawaabus Saheeh Liman Baddala Deenul Maseeh. 1/26-30. Slightly paraphrased

 

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[1] A Glimpse of Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi

Written by abumuaawiyah on . Posted in Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, History of Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Repentance, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands for five centuries until it fell into the hands of the Christian Crusaders in the year 492AH. So they entered and wreaked havoc on it, killing about seventy thousand of its people, until, as some historians say, the only thing seen was the piles of severed heads, hands, and feet in the roads and squares, plundered, stormed Al-Aqsa Masjid and slaughtered those who took shelter there, until the Masjid’s courtyards were stained with the blood of worshipers and those who were in a state of bowing and prostration.

The leader of the Crusade, Raymond, proceeded to enter the Masjid’s courtyard, seeking his way among the corpses and blood that had reached its courtyard. The Crusader fighters entered with him, where they destroyed the furniture of the Masjid, and looted the lamps, which amounted to more than forty lamps of silver, each lamp whose price in weight was three thousand and six hundred dirhams, and they took more than twenty lamps of gold. The Al-Aqsa Masjid and blessed Jerusalem remained under the occupation of the invading Christians for a period of ninety-one years, until Allah facilitated (the Ummah with) Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi [may Allah have mercy upon him], who had great enthusiasm to guard the sanctities of the Muslims. Then when Sunday, the 15th of Rajab in the year 583 AH arrived, he camped with his army west of Jerusalem, then moved to the northern side and camped there. He restricted the Franks’ paths, and by throwing catapults, he laid siege on Jerusalem which led the Crusaders to hand over the city. This took place on Friday 27th of Rajab in the aforementioned year. [1]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated: Establish Islam among yourselves [I], then after that, Allah will aid His religion because Allah will not support so-and-so because he is so-and-so, or support this party because they are Arabs or support that party because they are so-and-so. He aids the one who establishes this religion (of Islam properly). Was Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi [may Allah have mercy upon him] of Arab by descent? He was not Arab, but Allah aided him against the Christians (Crusaders) because he established the religion ordained by Allah. [2]

To be continued…InShaaAllah

[I] This applies to all of us and not only those Muslims who are being oppressed.

[1] Al-Kaamil Fee Al-Tarikh 10/194 and 11/547

[2] An Excerpt from “Tafseer Surah An-Nur” Ayah 55

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“Be on the right side of history”

Written by abumuaawiyah on . Posted in Contemporary Issues, Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Methodology - 'Manhaj', Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Qur'aan, Refutations, Shirk, Sin, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

When they say, “Be on the right side of history”, remind them that “The behavior of the majority and the elite in society has not been very impressive in most cases throughout history”

 

Is The Majority The Basis By Which What is Right is Distinguished From What is Wrong

Allah [The Most High] said:

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُ ۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلاً۬ۖ يَـٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُ ۥ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ
أَنِ ٱعۡمَلۡ سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ۬ وَقَدِّرۡ فِى ٱلسَّرۡدِۖ وَٱعۡمَلُواْ صَـٰلِحًاۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ۬
وَلِسُلَيۡمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَہۡرٌ۬ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَہۡرٌ۬ۖ وَأَسَلۡنَا لَهُ ۥ عَيۡنَ ٱلۡقِطۡرِۖ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ مَن يَعۡمَلُ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِۖۦ وَمَن يَزِغۡ مِنۡہُمۡ عَنۡ أَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُ ۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ۬ كَٱلۡجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ۬ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍۚ ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُ ۥدَ شُكۡرً۬اۚ وَقَلِيلٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ

And indeed We bestowed grace on David from Us (saying): “O you mountains. Glorify (Allah) with him! And you birds (also)! And We made the iron soft for him.’’ Saying: ‘’Make you perfect coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armour, and work you (men) righteousness. Truly, I am All-Seer of what you do.’’ And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, its morning (stride from sunrise till midnoon) was a month’s (journey), and its afternoon (stride from the midday decline of the sun to sunset) was a month’s (journey i.e. in one day he could travel two months’ journey). And We caused a fount of (molten) brass to flow for him, and there were jinns that worked in front of him, by the Leave of his Lord, and whosoever of them turned aside from Our Command, We shall cause him to taste of the torment of the blazing Fire. They worked for him what he desired, (making) high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places). “Work you, O family of Dawud (David), with thanks!” But few of My slaves are grateful. [Surah Sabah. Ayaat 10-13]

[ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُ ۥدَ شُكۡرً۬اۚ وَقَلِيلٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ – Work you, O family of Dawud (David), with thanks! But few of My slaves are grateful]– Meaning, the majority of humankind are not grateful to Allah for the blessings bestowed on them nor are they grateful due to the punishments that are averted. As for Shukr (gratefulness), it is the heart’s acknowledgment of Allah’s blessings and to utilise them in obedience to Allah and not in disobedience. [1]

Allah [The Most High] said:

أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَآ أَن لَّوۡ نَشَآءُ أَصَبۡنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ‌ۚ وَنَطۡبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ
تِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآٮِٕهَا‌ۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا ڪَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِمَا ڪَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ
وَمَا وَجَدۡنَا لِأَڪۡثَرِهِم مِّنۡ عَهۡدٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن وَجَدۡنَآ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَفَـٰسِقِينَ

Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its (previous) possessors, that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not? Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you (O Muhammad). And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe in that which they had rejected before. Thus Allah does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers (from each and every kind of religious guidance). And most of them We found not (true) to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [Surah Al-A’raaf. Ayaat 100-100-102]

أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَآ أَن لَّوۡ نَشَآءُ أَصَبۡنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ‌ۚ وَنَطۡبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ

Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its (previous) possessors, that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not?]- Meaning, Allah [The Most High] informs those who inherit the earth -in succession- from those who preceded them that He destroyed their forefathers due to their sins, yet they commit the same sins that were committed by their forefathers! Do they not take heed that had Allah willed He would punish them due to their sins because this is how Allaah deals with mankind – both the previous nations and those who inherited the earth after them. Allah warned those who inherited the earth from the previous nations, but they did not take heed, sent them reminders but they did not reflect and showed them guidance through signs [i.e. revelations through the Prophets and Messengers, as well as miracles within universe and themselves] but they did not follow guidance, so Allah punished them by sealing their hearts – neither did truth enter their hearts nor did good reach their hearts; nor did they give an attentive ear (to the truth); rather they only heard that which established the proofs against them.

Then Allah [The Most High] says:
تِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآٮِٕهَا‌ۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا ڪَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِمَا ڪَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ

Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you (O Muhammad). And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe in that which they had rejected before. Thus Allah does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers (from each and every kind of religious guidance)]- Meaning, messengers came and called them to that which will lead to happiness (in the life and the next), and those messengers were given manifest signs and clear evidence to clarify the truth, but the people did not listen and were not benefited. And because they belied those manifest signs and clear proofs after being well aware of them, Allah [The Most High] prevented them from accepting the sound and infallible creed ordained by Him. This was punishment on them because they rejection the truth, just as Allah [The Most High] said in Surah Al-An’aam Ayah 110:

[وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡـِٔدَتَہُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَنَذَرُهُمۡ فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ – And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly].

Then Allah [The Most High] said: [وَمَا وَجَدۡنَا لِأَڪۡثَرِهِم مِّنۡ عَهۡدٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن وَجَدۡنَآ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَفَـٰسِقِينَ – And most of them We found not (true) to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)]– Meaning, the majority of the nations to whom Allah sent Messengers were not true to their covenant; neither were they steadfast nor did they adhere to the commands of Allah, nor did they submit obediently to the commands of Allah which the Messengers ordered them to obey; rather they followed their desires, except a very few of them. The majority of them turned away from guidance out of arrogance, so Allah sent them various types of punishment. [2]

Allah [The Most High] said in Surah Saad Ayah 24:

[وَإِنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبۡغِى بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ – And, verily, many partners oppress one another, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds] – Meaning, because oppression is one of those habits [i.e. evil habits] of the soul. [ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ – Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds]; because their Imaan and [eagerness to perform] righteous deeds prevents them from committing oppression. [وَقَلِيلٌ۬ مَّا هُمۡ – And they are few]. [3]

Imam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Let every Muslim be careful of being deceived by the great numbers (of people upon such and such ideas, views, beliefs, way of life, etc), whilst saying, “Indeed, the people have become such and such, and have become accustomed to such and such, so I am with them”. This is a great calamity because many people of the past were destroyed due to this [i.e. blindly following the majority]. Therefore, O sensible one! It is obligated to you to examine yourself, take account of yourself, and adhere to the truth, even if the people abandon it. Beware of what Allah has forbidden, even if the people do it, for indeed the truth is more worthy of being followed just as Allah [The Most High] said: [وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّه ِ -And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s Path. [Surah Al An-aam Ayah 116]

Allah [The Most High] said: [ وَمَآ أَڪۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ-And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly] [Surah Yusuf Ayah 103]. [4]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts there is a disease saw that the party of Allaah [i.e. the believers] were small in number and the enemies of Allah were numerous, they thought that victory would be for those who were huge in number. Allah [The Most High] says that the hypocrites said: [غَرَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ دِينُهُمۡ – These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion]. [Surah Anfaal Ayah 49].

So, Allah [Glorified be He and free is He from all Imperfections] informed (them) that victory is achieved by placing one’s trust and reliance upon Allah and not due to being huge in number because Allah cannot be defeated; rather Allah is All-Wise and He aids those who deserve help, even if they are weak. Allah is the All-Wise and All-Mighty, and this necessitates that He will aid the party that truly relies upon Him. [5]

Abu Shaamah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: When the command to adhere to the Jamaa’ah (the main body) is (mentioned), then the intent behind it is to adhere to the truth, even if those who follow it are few and those who oppose it are numerous. That is because the truth is that which the first Jamaa’ah was upon- the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and his companions[may Allah be pleased with them]- and one does not give consideration to the numerous people of falsehood. [6]

Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadee Al-Waadi’ee may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: If numbers are the scale by way of which you judge, then the majority are mostly blameworthy; and if persuasive speech and eloquence is the scale by way of which you judge, then indeed Allah described the Munaafiqoon that they have tongues that utter beautiful speech. Allah said: [وَإِن يَقُولُواْ تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِهِمۡ – And when they speak, you listen to their words]. [Surah Al-Munaafiqoon. Aayah 4]

Therefore, what is given consideration is that one knows the people of truth by their characteristics – that they call to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and companions], and they neither desire reward from the people nor seeking to be thanked. [7]

Shaikh Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Even though there is something in the paths of analogical reasoning and reflection that will lead to knowledge, however sometimes it cannot give a detailed explanation in a dispute between the people of the earth due to the minute details and ambiguities [in that dispute], and at other times due to the fact the people differ when prioritising necessities. Therefore, due to this Allah [The Most High] commanded [us] to return to the revelation in times of dispute. Allah [The Most High] said:

كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ‌ۚ

Mankind was one community (i.e. upon Tawheed and Allaah’s Shari’ah) and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them, He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed]. [Surah Al-Baqarah’ Aayah 213] Therefore, Allaah [The Most High] designated the revealed Books [i.e. the Qur’aan being the final of them] as the judge between the people in matters wherein they differ. [8]

 

Bad Behaviour of The Elite

Allah [The Exalted] said:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥۤ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬
قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّا لَنَرَٮٰكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬

Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!” قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ – The Mala [the notables, leaders and chiefs] amongst his people said, “Verily, we see you in plain error”. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verses 59-60]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمۡ هُودً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّا لَنَرَٮٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍ۬ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ

And to ‘Ad (people, We sent) their brother Hud. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Will you not fear (Allah)?”

قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ – The Mala [ notables, leaders and chiefs] who disbelieved among his people said: “Verily, we see you in foolishness, and verily, we think you are one of the liars.” [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verses 65-66]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَـٰلِحً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡڪُم بَيِّنَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ‌ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَڪُمۡ ءَايَةً۬‌ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡڪُلۡ فِىٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ۬ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬
وَٱذۡڪُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَعَلَكُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عَادٍ۬ وَبَوَّأَڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورً۬ا وَتَنۡحِتُونَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ بُيُوتً۬ا‌ۖ فَٱذۡڪُرُوٓاْ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ
قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَڪۡبَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِمَنۡ ءَامَنَ مِنۡہُمۡ أَتَعۡلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـٰلِحً۬ا مُّرۡسَلٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلَ بِهِۦ مُؤۡمِنُونَ
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَڪۡبَرُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ

And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Salih (Saleh). He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Indeed there has come to you a clear sign (the miracle of the coming out of a huge she-camel from the midst of a rock) from your Lord. This she-camel of Allah is a sign unto you; so you leave her to graze in Allah’s earth, and touch her not with harm, lest a painful torment should seize you. “And remember when He made you successors after ‘Ad (people) and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains, and carve out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah, and do not go about making mischief on the earth.” قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَڪۡبَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ – The Mala [leaders, notables and chiefs] of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak – to such of them as believed: “Know you that Salih (Saleh) is one sent from his Lord.” They said: “We indeed believe in that with which he has been sent.” Those who were arrogant said: “Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in.” [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verses 73-78]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡڪُم بَيِّنَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ‌ۖ فَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡڪَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُواْ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَا‌ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ إِن ڪُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ
وَلَا تَقۡعُدُواْ بِڪُلِّ صِرَٲطٍ۬ تُوعِدُونَ وَتَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَتَبۡغُونَهَا عِوَجً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱذۡڪُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ ڪُنتُمۡ قَلِيلاً۬ فَكَثَّرَڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ
وَإِن كَانَ طَآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنڪُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ فَٱصۡبِرُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَحۡكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيۡنَنَا‌ۚ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡحَـٰكِمِينَ
قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ لَنُخۡرِجَنَّكَ يَـٰشُعَيۡبُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَكَ مِن قَرۡيَتِنَآ أَوۡ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا‌ۚ قَالَ أَوَلَوۡ كُنَّا كَـٰرِهِينَ

And to (the people of) Madyan (Midian), (We sent) their brother Shu’aib. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)].” Verily, a clear proof (sign) from your Lord has come unto you; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in their things, and do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, that will be better for you, if you are believers. “And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him. and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. And see what was the end of the Mufsidun (mischief-makers, corrupts, liars). “And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a party who do not believe, so be patient until Allah judges between us, and He is the Best of judges.” قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦ – The Mala [leaders, notables and chiefs] of those who were arrogant among his people said: “We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu’aib, and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion.” He said: “Even though we hate it! [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verses 86-88]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ –
يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُمۡ‌ۖ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ

قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ – The Mala [leaders, notables and chiefs] of the people of Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said: “This (i.e. Prophet Musa) is indeed a well-versed sorcerer; he wants to get you out of your land, so what do you advise?” [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verse 109]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوۡمَهُ ۥ لِيُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ‌ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَنَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ وَإِنَّا فَوۡقَهُمۡ قَـٰهِرُونَ

[وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ – The Mala (leaders, notables and chiefs) of Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh) people said: “Will you leave Musa (Moses) and his people to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon you and your gods?” He said: “We will kill their sons, and let live their women, and we have indeed irresistible power over them.”] [Surah Al-A’raaf. Verse 127]

Allah [The Exalted] stated:

ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ قَرۡنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيہِمۡ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥۤ‌ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَآءِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَأَتۡرَفۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يَأۡكُلُ مِمَّا تَأۡكُلُونَ مِنۡهُ وَيَشۡرَبُ مِمَّا تَشۡرَبُونَ
وَلَٮِٕنۡ أَطَعۡتُم بَشَرً۬ا مِّثۡلَكُمۡ إِنَّكُمۡ إِذً۬ا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
أَيَعِدُكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ إِذَا مِتُّمۡ وَكُنتُمۡ تُرَابً۬ا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَنَّكُم مُّخۡرَجُونَ
هَيۡہَاتَ هَيۡہَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ
إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَبۡعُوثِينَ
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ڪَذِبً۬ا وَمَا نَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرۡنِى بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ
قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ۬ لَّيُصۡبِحُنَّ نَـٰدِمِينَ
فَأَخَذَتۡہُمُ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ غُثَآءً۬‌ۚ فَبُعۡدً۬ا لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Then, after them (i.e. the people of Prophet Nooh), We created another generation. 32. And We sent to them a Messenger from among themselves (saying): “Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Will you not then be afraid (of Him i.e. of His Punishment because of worshipping others besides Him)?”

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَآءِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ – And the Mala [leaders, notables and chiefs] of his people, who disbelieved and denied the Meeting in the Hereafter, and to whom We had given the luxuries and comforts of this life, said: “He is no more than a human being like you, he eats of that which you eat, and drinks of what you drink. “If you were to obey a human being like yourselves, then verily! You indeed would be losers. “Does he promise you that when you have died and have become dust and bones, you shall come out alive (resurrected)? “Far, very far is that which you are promised. “There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! And we are not going to be resurrected! “He is only a man who has invented a lie against Allah, but we are not going to believe in him.” He said: “O my Lord! Help me because they deny me.” (Allah) said: “In a little while, they are sure to be regretful.” So As-Saihah (torment – awful cry, etc.) overtook them with justice, and We made them as rubbish of dead plants. So away with the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, disobedient to His Messengers, etc.). [Surah Al-Muminoon. Verses 31-41]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرِى فَأَوۡقِدۡ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجۡعَل لِّى صَرۡحً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ
وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَا يُرۡجَعُونَ
فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُ ۥ فَنَبَذۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ‌ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ ڪَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
وَأَتۡبَعۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لَعۡنَةً۬‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ هُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمَقۡبُوحِينَ

[وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَأُ – Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said: “O Mala (leaders, chiefs and notables)! I know not that you have an ilah (a god) other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake (bricks out of) clay, and set up for me a Sarhan (a lofty tower, or palace, etc.) in order that I may look at (or look for) the Ilah (God) of Musa (Moses); and verily, I think that he [Musa (Moses)] is one of the liars.” And he and his hosts were arrogant in the land, without right, and they thought that they would never return to Us. So We seized him and his hosts, and We threw them all into the sea (and drowned them). So behold (O Muhammad ) what was the end of the Zalimun [wrong-doers, polytheists and those who disbelieved in the Oneness of their Lord (Allah), or rejected the advice of His Messenger Musa (Moses)]. And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be helped. And We made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection, they will be among Al-Maqbuhun (those who are prevented to receive Allah’s Mercy or any good, despised or destroyed, etc.). [Surah Al-Qasas. Verses 38-42]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَعَجِبُوٓاْ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ‌ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا سَـٰحِرٌ۬ كَذَّابٌ
أَجَعَلَ ٱلۡأَلِهَةَ إِلَـٰهً۬ا وَٲحِدًا‌ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىۡءٌ عُجَابٌ۬
وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِنۡہُمۡ أَنِ ٱمۡشُواْ وَٱصۡبِرُواْ عَلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِكُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىۡءٌ۬ يُرَادُ
مَا سَمِعۡنَا بِہَـٰذَا فِى ٱلۡمِلَّةِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا ٱخۡتِلَـٰقٌ

And they (Arab pagans) wonder that a warner (Prophet Muhammad ) has come to them from among themselves! And the disbelievers say: “This (Prophet Muhammad ) is a sorcerer, a liar. “Has he (Muhammad) made the aliha (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God – Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!” [وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِنۡہُمۡ – and the Mala (leaders, notable and chiefs) among them went about (saying): “Go on, and remain constant to your aliha (gods)! Verily, This is a thing designed (against you)! We have not heard (the like) of this among the people of these later days. This is nothing but an invention!] [Surah Saad. Verses 4-7]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِى قَرۡيَةٍ۬ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ
وَقَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أَڪۡثَرُ أَمۡوَٲلاً۬ وَأَوۡلَـٰدً۬ا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

And We did not send a warner to a township, but those who were given the worldly wealth and luxuries among them said: “We believe not in the (Message) with which you have been sent.” And they say: “We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished.” [Surah Saba. Verses 34-35]

 

Every Town Had Its Wicked Figureheads And Plotters Against The Messengers And Their True Followers!

Allah [The Most High] said:

[ وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَا‌ۖ وَمَا يَمۡڪُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not]. [Soorah Al-An’aam. Verse 123]

[وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا – And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals] – Meaning: Those figureheads whose crimes were great and whose transgressions were severe. [لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَا‌ۖ -to plot therein]- Meaning: Through deception, calling to the path of shaytaan and waging war – through speech and deeds- against the Messengers and their followers. However, their plots and machinations only backfired on them. That is because they plotted and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.

Likewise Allaah set up great ones amongst the leaders of guidance and the most virtuous of them, who opposed those criminals, refuted their statements and strove against them in the path of Allaah. They followed the paths leading to the path (of Allaah) and Allaah aided them. Allaah gave them an acute discernment and kept them steadfast. So the days of victory and defeat alternated between them and their enemies, until the affair came to its final end-victory and triumph (for the believers) and the good final end is for the Muttaqoon (i.e. the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. [9]

Allah [The Most High] said:

قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ وَيَقُولُ أَيۡنَ شُرَڪَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمۡ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيہِمۡ‌ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ إِنَّ ٱلۡخِزۡىَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ

Those before them indeed plotted, but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and will say: “Where are My (so called) ‘partners’ concerning whom you used to disagree and dispute (with the believers, by defying and disobeying Allah)?” Those who have been given the knowledge (about the Torment of Allah for the disbelievers) will say: “Verily! Disgrace this Day and misery are upon the disbelievers. [Surah An-Nahl. Verses 26-27]

[قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ – Those before them indeed plotted]: The Mufassiroon say that this refers to Namrood who built a tall tower in order to climb – as he claimed – the heavens and fight its inhabitants.

[فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ – but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them]: The Mufassiroon say: Allaah sent a wind which flung the top of the tower to the sea and the rest was destroyed. [وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive]: Meaning, from where they thought they were safe.

[ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ – Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace]: Meaning, disgraced with punishment. [An Excerpt from ‘Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer’ By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

[قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ – Those before them indeed plotted]: Meaning plotted against their Messengers, employed various types of tricks in order to reject that which the messengers brought and established gigantic safeguards [by way of arguments, views etc] on their plots. [فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ – but Allah struck at the foundation of their building]– Meaning, an affair came to them from its basis and foundation [فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ – and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them] -Meaning, so what they built became a punishment for them. [وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive]: Meaning, that is because they thought that such a building will benefit and protect them from punishment, but their punishment occurred from that which they built and established.

This is one the best of parables regarding how Allah nullifies the plots of his enemies, for indeed they pondered and reflected on that which the Messengers brought when they belied them, made up principles and rules for it based on falsehood, referred back to them to reject that which the Messengers came with, employed tricks to bring discomfort to the Messengers and inflict harm on them and those who followed them, but their plot became a source of evil against them, so their plan became their destruction, because their plot was evil as Allah said: [ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. [Surah Faatir: Ayah: 43]

This is in this worldly life and the punishment in the afterlife would be more disgraceful, and due to this Allaah said: [ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ – Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them]. [10]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

Verily, Fir’aun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidoon]. [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 4]

[وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا – and made its people sects]- Meaning: Different group that were organised and distinguished, and he utilised each group in that which he desired in his kingdom. [11]

He made them into sects and different groups to serve him and they went along with what he wanted and obeyed him. [12]

He made them into different distinct groups, dealt with them based on his evil desires and subjugated them as he wanted by means of his power and authority. [13]

He divided them into different sects and they went along with him in everything he desired of evil and corruption, or he used some as a means to get others to obey him; or he made them into different distinct groups under his service and used every group in some type of work, such as construction, tillage, earthwork [drilling etc] and other burdensome work, and whoever did not work was beaten, so they served him by doing so; or he made them into sects and incited hatred and enmity between them, so that they do not come to an agreement [or become united in their stance against him]. [14]

[ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ – Verily, he was of the Mufsidoon]- Meaning: Those whose intention is neither to rectify the religious nor worldly affairs, and this was from his corrupt behaviour in the earth; [15] committing unlawful killing and being disobedient to Allah. [16]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: The fact that a statement regarding something is lies and falsehood is sometimes known based on the statement in and of itself, its contradictions, perplexity and the manifestation of those clear indications which shows that it is lies. Lies may manifest due to what it is in reality, what is apparent and what is being concealed. It is sometimes known due to the situation of the utterer of the lie, for indeed the one who is known for lying, wickedness and deception, his statements do not show anything else except a state of conformity with his deeds. He does not utter a statement or perform an action similar to that of a pious and truthful person – the one innocent of every evil, deception, lie and wicked behaviour; rather the heart, intention, statements and deeds of the truthful one have the same image; and the heart, statements, deeds and intentions of the liar have the same image. [17]

The Difference Between Desire For Righteous Leadership and Pursuit of Leadership For Exaltedness In The Earth

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: The difference between the desire for righteous leadership as opposed to merely desiring leadership: It is the difference between exalting the command of Allah and being sincere to Allaah as opposed to love of exalting oneself and hastening towards the fulfilment of desires. Indeed the one who is sincere to Allaah and exalts Him, he loves that his Lord is obeyed and not disobeyed; [loves that] Allaah’s Word should be uppermost and that all affairs of the religion should be established sincerely for the sake of Allaah, and [that] the servants should obey Allaah’s commands and keep away from what Allaah has forbidden. He is sincere in his servitude to Allaah and sincere to Allaah’s creation in calling them to the path of Allaah. So he loves to be [an upright] leader in the religion; rather he asks his Lord to make him from the leaders of the righteous people who are followed, just as he is a follower of the righteous. Therefore, if this servant -[i.e. this person] who calls to Allaah- loves that he is considered dignified in the eyes [of the people], revered and beloved in their hearts and is one followed amongst them, so that he is trusted by them and they follow the example of the Messenger through him, then this [desire of his] does not harm him; rather he is praised for it. That is because the caller to Allaah loves that Allaah is obeyed and singled out in worship. He loves to be a means by way of which [people] are aided to [obey Allaah, single out Allaah in worship and follow the Messenger]. And due to this, [when] Allaah mentioned those chosen slaves of His- whom He praised in His revelation and will grant the best of reward on the day they meet Him- He mentioned them with the best of their deeds and characteristics, and then said:

[ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا – And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the pious]. [Surah Al-Furqaan. Verse 74]

So they ask Allah to grant them the comfort of the eye by making their wives and offspring obedient to Allah, and to grant them happiness in their hearts due to being followed by the righteous in obedience and servitude to Allah. That is because a trustworthy leader in the religion co-operates with [others] upon obedience [to Allah and His Messenger], and that is to call them to [sound] leadership in the religion, whose foundation is patience and certainty, as Allah [The Most High] said: [ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَہۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْ‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ – And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)]. [Surah as-Sajdah. Verse 24]

Therefore, in their supplication -[in Surah Al-Furqaan Ayah 74]- to Allah that He makes them leaders of the righteous people, is that Allah guides them, grants them success, bless them with beneficial knowledge and righteous actions–outwardly and inwardly–without which [sound] leadership in the religion cannot be achieved.

This is different from [merely] seeking leadership, for indeed its seekers hasten to obtain it in order to achieve their goals, [such as] exaltedness in the earth; enslavement of the hearts to them, attachment to them and aiding them in all their goals, whilst they are exalted and everyone subservient to them. This pursuit of leadership brings about corruption-which none can enumerate except Allah- such as rebellion, envy, transgression, enmity, oppression, trials, being ardent in defending oneself at the expense of violating the rights of Allah, exalting those despised by Allah and belittling those honoured by Allah. [18]

[1] An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. slightly paraphrased

[2] An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. Slightly paraphrased

[3] An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam al-Mannaan’ slightly paraphrased

[4] An Excerpt from ‘Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 12/ 412-416. slightly paraphrased

[5] Zaadul Ma’aad 3/181

[6] Al-Baa’ith Alaa Inkaaril Bid’ah Wal-Hawaadith’ page 22

[7]: قم المعاند – 2/547

[8] Dar Ta’aarud Al-Aql Wan-Naql: 9/17-18

[9] Excerpt from Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan. slightly paraphrased

[10] Excerpt from Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan. slightly paraphrased

[11] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer’. Slightly paraphrased

[12] An Excerpt from ‘Fat-hul Qadeer 4/209’ slightly paraphrased]

[13] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer’. Slightly paraphrased

[14] An Excerpt from ‘Roohul Ma’aanee’ 11/64-65. Slightly paraphrased

[15] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer’. Slightly paraphrased

[16] An Excerpt from ‘Zaadul Maseer’. Slightly paraphrased

[17] An Excerpt from As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 2/469-470. Slightly paraphrased

[18] An Excerpt from ‘Ar-Rooh’ pages 487-489’. slightly paraphrased