Claims about the Unseen

And Picturing One’s shaykh

Sūrat Al-Zumar 39:3

Question:

1. We have an imam of the masjid who says that on Laylat al-Qadr, Muḥammad, may blessings and peace be upon him, came to the masjid and gave the greeting of peace (salām) to the people, and that Jibrīl, peace be upon him, also came to the masjid and gave the greeting of peace to the people. What is your opinion regarding these statements?

2. Is it permissible to pray behind someone who says that whoever does not picture[1] the shaykh[2] during his wird[3] will be cut off from divine illuminations?

Answer (from Sheikh Wahbah Al-Zuḥaylī):

1. These claims and allegations are false. It is not lawful to make them, repeat them or believe in them. Lies like these are akin to lying against the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, against the Revelation[4] and against Jibrīl, and the matter therein is spiritual;[5] no one has knowledge of it besides Allah, Mighty and Majestic.

2. This statement is false and is also not lawful in the Revealed Law. It is not permissible to picture a shaykh or anyone else whenever one is in prayer,[6] because a condition of the prayer is to be sincerely devoted to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and the texts of the Qurʾān show the opposite of this, such as the Exalted One’s statement regarding idol-worshippers: “And those who take protectors besides Him – ‘We only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah’…” [Sūrat Al-Zumar 39:3] This kind of picturing is closer to idolatry,[7] and we seek refuge in Allah the Exalted.

[Translated from Fatāwā Muʿāṣirah (Damascus: Dār Al-Fikr, 1427/2006), p.67-68]

Related Posts: A Beautiful Interview with Sheikh Ramadan Al-Bouti (Part 2)

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[1] (tn): Ar. takhayyul, i.e. to picture him in one’s mind

[2] (tn): i.e. the leader of a Ṣūfī ṭarīqah

[3] (tn): a set of daily supplications and invocations, which in this case would be prescribed by the shaykh. For a general example, please see A Daily Wird.

[4] (tn): Ar. waḥī, which includes the Qurʾān and the Sunnah

[5] (tn): Ar. rūḥānī, i.e. immaterial and thus not something that can be witnessed and verified

[6] (tn): and the same applies to supplicating to Allah and invoking Him

[7] (tn): Ar. shirk

Windmills vs. Fracking

White Throated Needletail (Photo by Steve Duffield)

Assalaam alaykum,

Please have a read of these two blog posts; one discusses the ongoing oppression and tribulations that are bring wrought by the wind industry while the other deals with the Leftist opposition to fracking, which again shows that Leftist/socialist policies are narcissistic at core, serving their aims to exalt their own egos as opposed to being derived from any sincere intention for the welfare of others. This is a theme that has been discussed before on this blog.

1. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100223770/this-bird-rare-enough-for-you-greenies/

2. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100223838/greens-dont-like-fracking-because-they-dont-like-prosperity/

Wassalaam,

Mahdi

Authentic Narrations regarding the 15th of Shaʿbān

Question:

Is there anything affirmed in the Revealed Law that indicates that it is recommended to supplicate (duʿāʾ) and fast the middle day of Shaʿbān, or fast the day following the night of the Isrāʾ wa Al-Miʿrāj on the 27^th of Rajab?

Answer (from Sheikh Wahbah Az-Zuḥaylī):

There is nothing affirmed in the Revealed Law that indicates that one should spend the night of the middle day of Shaʿbān in group supplication, nor is there any specified prayer (ṣalāh) therein. Likewise, there is nothing affirmed regarding it being recommended to fast the middle day of Shaʿbān, or the day of the Isrāʾ wa al-Miʿrāj due to the difference of opinion amongst the ʿulamāʾ regarding its exact date. Amongst the things that are rejected is the supplication that is frequently used on the middle day of Shaʿbān, for it contains that which transgresses the bounds of the Revealed Law when, in the supplication, it is said, “Allah erases whatever He wills or endorses it. The Master Copy of the Book is with Him” [Sūrat Ar-Raʿd 13:39], because the foundations of things are never erased or reaffirmed and thus differ with what is written on the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ).[1]

The ḥadīth that has been related by Ibn Mājah on the authority of ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “If it is the night of the middle day of Shaʿbān, then stand during its night and fast during its day, for indeed Allah, Blessed and Exalted, descends therein upon the setting of the sun to the lowest sky, and says, “Is there anyone seeking forgiveness that I can forgive? Is there anyone seeking provision that I can provide for? Is there anyone suffering that I can relieve? Is there anyone such-and-such? Is there anyone such-and-such?” until the crack of dawn” is not authentic (ṣaḥīḥ).

The only thing that has been authentically narrated from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is regarding the virtue of the entire month of Shaʿbān, without distinguishing one night over another, and this is why he would fast a lot during this month. Also, it is unlawful to fast in the second half of Shaʿbān unless one has fasts to make up or those days coincide with one’s normal fasts.[2]

[Translated from Fatāwā Muʿāṣirah (Damascus: Dār Al-Fikr, 1427/2006), p.36-37]

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[1] (tn): i.e. the āyah is being used out of context and incorrectly.

[2] (tn): For example, if one has a habit of fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or every other day, then one is permitted to persist with those fasts throughout the month of Shaʿbān.

Hikma 182

With Sheikh Muhammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī, may Allah have mercy on him

تسبق أنوار الحكماء أقوالهم

فحيثما صار التنوير وصل التعبير

Courtesy of the Naseem Al Sham Channel.

The Creation of Man and Evolution Theory

By Sheikh Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī, may Allah have mercy on him, from his book Kubrā Al-Yaqīniyyāt Al-Kawniyyah

Alhamdulilah, the full section is now available in English and can be read and downloaded from the English Naseem Al-Sham site. Please scroll to the bottom to access the PDF version.

And with Allah alone is every success.

UPDATE: This translation is now available here.

An Important Announcement from the Family of the Great Scholar and Martyr

A translation of this announcement from Naseem Al-Sham:

 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful

            The Ummah of Islam has suffered an immense loss, and we have suffered especially due to the loss of our master and teacher, the great scholar, Dr Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī, may Allah the Exalted have mercy on him, who was martyred, and along with him his grandson Aḥmad and fifty students of knowledge, on the night of Friday,[1] the 10^th of Jumād Al-Awal, 1434 AH.

            First of all, for our part, we remember the families and children of these sincere brethren who accepted nothing but to attain the honour of companionship and martyrdom, and they are from the minority that stayed firm despite the circumstances that our blessed land is suffering under. Likewise, we ask Allah to heal and restore to health those who have been wounded and afflicted, and they are greater in number.

            We thank all the loving and sincere brethren who have offered their condolences and consoled us with regards to our loss, from within Syria and without.

            However, our first and last consolation is that the great scholar and his companions ascended to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in a gathering that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described as, as related in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: “No people gather in one of the houses of Allah reciting the Book of Allah and studying it amongst themselves except that tranquillity transcends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them and Allah mentions them to those with Him.”

   

            The great scholar and martyr has attained martyrdom in the most magnificent of ways: in the miḥrāb of one of Allah’s houses while accompanied by students of knowledge who were studying the Book of Allah amongst themselves. When the wretch from amongst the wretched had blown himself up, shortly after the explosion the masjid was overcome with intense darkness while the great scholar and martyr remained sitting, undaunted, with his enlightened face like the full moon on the chair of teaching, embracing the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and sealing his life with the words: ‘O Allah.’

            Engraved on his face was a smile of pleasure to be meeting Allah the Exalted, and his blessed body remained tender and fresh as if he were sleeping until the time came to wash him, which was carried out by a group of loving and sincere people from amongst the people of knowledge. Meanwhile, his warm blood drained from a wound in his body up until the time in which he was buried.

            Indeed on this occasion, we decisively negate the lies that are being spread by a channel that is known near and far for lying and falsehood, and we make it absolutely clear that the virtuous scholar and martyr does not have any sons or daughters in Turkey. Likewise, we negate that any one of his sons, daughters or grandchildren have made any statement accusing the Syrian regime, and especially for the channel whose dubious background, along with its agents and lies, the great scholar and martyr warned tirelessly against.

            Whoever examines the internet will realise who was spewing threatening and menacing words towards the great scholar and martyr and who was inciting the killing of scholars, and are now gloating over the martyrdom of the great scholar. 

            Our sheikh, our master, our teacher: you lived well and you have died well… we ask Allah the Exalted to gather us with you and with our grandfather, Sheikh Mulla Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī, under the banner of the master of creation, our master Muḥammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

The Family of the Great Scholar and Martyr

30/03/2013

19 Jumād Al-Awal, 1434

This translation is also available on the English Naseem Al-Sham site.

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[1] (tn): please note that an Islamic day starts after sunset

The Life and Passing of the Imam, the Martyr, Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī

A short dars about the life of Imam  Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī in honour of his great contributions to this Ummah, following his martyrdom the day before.

Dars given by Al-Hajj Abu Ja'far Al-Hanbali

Venue: The Lote Tree Intstitute (معهد السدرة), Nottingham
Date: Friday, 11th Jumad ul-Uwla, 1434AH
Time: 19:00 - 21:00

Courtesy of the Reasons for Faith Channel.

Our Beloved Sheikh

A translation of this announcement from Naseem Al-Sham:

We remember our sheikh, our master, our beloved, our grandfather, the crown of our scholars:

“From the believers are men who are true to what they have covenanted with Allah; some of them have fulfilled their vow through death and some of them are still waiting, and they have not altered in the least.” [Al-Aḥzāb 33:23]

Yesterday evening (Thursday), during his jihād of conveying knowledge to his students at a time in which most scholars are refraining from this mission, in Masjid Al-Īmān in Damascus, our sheikh, our master, our beloved, our grandfather and the crown of the scholars, the great and virtuous scholar, Ustādh Dr Muḥammad Saʿīd Ramaḍān Al-Būṭī, was martyred, may Allah have mercy on him, when a wretch from amongst the wretched blew himself up amongst students of knowledge who were gathered attentively around the sheikh, listening to his tafsīr of Allah the Exalted’s statement: 

“Indeed those who disbelieve will not be benefitted in the slightest by their wealth and their children against Allah. They are the rightful inhabitants of the Fire and they shall remain therein forever.” [Āl-ʿImrān 3:116]

Martyred along with him were approximately fifty students of knowledge, including his grandson Ahmad, in a gathering that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described by saying: “No people gather in one of the houses of Allah reciting the Book of Allah and studying it amongst themselves except that tranquillity transcends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them and Allah mentions them to those with Him.” Narrated by Muslim.

His pure body will be taken from Al-Jamiʿ Al-Ummawī after Ẓuhr prayers tomorrow (Saturday, 23/03/2013) and he will be buried in Bāb Al-Ṣaghīr graveyard.

We hope that they are all granted martyrdom, a good end and the companionship of the righteous, and we especially mention:

My brother Muḥammad Saʿīd Marwān Sakāf and my brother Usāma ʿAbdur Raḥmān Al-Murābiṭ from our website staff at Naseem Al-Sham.

Book Release: The Book of the Lawful and The Unlawful

Alhamdulilah, a translation of Imam Al-Ghazali's Kitāb Al-Ḥalāl wa Al-Ḥarām is now available. Please click here for further details. The book is also available from Firdous Books and Wardah Books.

Gun Control?

For a Muslim take on this controversial topic, this article comes highly recommended.

One should also note what Imam ʿAbdur Raḥmān Ibn Khaldūn says in his Muqaddima[1]:

5. Bedouins are more disposed to courage than sedentary people.

The reason for this is that sedentary people have become used to laziness and ease. They are sunk in well-being and luxury. They have entrusted defense of their property and their lives to the governor and ruler who rules them, and to the militia which has the task of guarding them. They find full assurance of safety in the walls that surround them, and the fortifications that protect them. No noise disturbs them, and no hunting occupies them. They are carefree and trusting, and have ceased to carry weapons. Successive generations have grown up in this way of life. They have become like women and children, who depend upon the master of the house. Eventually, this has come to be a quality of character that replaces natural (disposition).

The Bedouins, on the other hand, live separate from the community. They are alone in the country and remote from militias. They have no walls and gates. Therefore, they provide their own defense and do not entrust it to, or rely upon others for it. They always carry weapons. They watch carefully all sides of the road. They take hurried naps only when they are together in company or when they are in the saddle. They pay attention to every faint barking and noise. They go alone into the desert, guided by their fortitude, putting their trust in themselves. Fortitude has become a character quality of theirs, and courage their nature. They use it whenever they are called upon or an alarm stirs them. When sedentary people mix with them in the desert or associate with them on a journey, they depend on them. They cannot do anything for themselves without them. This is an observed fact. (Their dependence extends) even to knowledge of the country, the (right) directions, watering places, and crossroads. The reason for this is the thing we have explained. At the base of it is the fact that man is a child of the customs and the things he has become used to. He is not the product of his natural disposition and temperament.The conditions to which he has become accustomed, until they have become for him a quality of character and matters of habit and custom, have re­placed his natural disposition. If one studies this in human beings, one will find much of it, and it will be found to be a correct (observation).

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[1] Chapter 2, Section 5. The entire book, translated by Franz Rosenthal, can be read here: http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ik/Muqaddimah/. Points that should be considered have been underlined.