Watch Your Mouth!

The speech of a person is usually one of the first few things that people notice about them. It is at that time that they have already passed a judgement on their character, based simply on what they heard them say and the way it was said.

A Muslim is one who is known for speaking only that which is good, pure and true. He refrains from all sorts of bad language and loose talk - even in the worst scenarios.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The believer is not a slanderer, one who curses a great deal, one who indulges in obscenity or who in engages in foul talk.”
[at-Tirmidhi, 1977; Classed as sahih]

Commentary:

In the Hadith above, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has defined for us that a Muslim does not slander people i.e. he does not accuse people & degrade them or mock them. Neither does in use foul language or engage in anything that is obscene or indecent. If one was to do such things, he would not be true to the very essence of Islam. Think of it this way, before you talk ask yourself; would you say the same words in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? Would you say the same words before Allah? Can He, the Almighty not hear you now?

Here is a short clip by Sh. Kamal El Mekki on the subject, really funny, and spot on!

Forgiveness of Allah

Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. No matter what we have done in the past, He can forgive us if we do sincere taubah. But the forgiveness of Allah comes with some conditions. Allah says in the Qur’an:

Say: "O My slaves who have transgressed against their own selves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith to your Lord and submit to Him, before the azaab (torment/disaster) comes upon you, then you will not be helped.”

[Surah az-Zumar 39:53-54]

Commentary:

Indeed Allah is ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem, but in order to get His mercy & forgiveness you must do the following:

(a) Leave the sin you are already involved in.
(b) Sincerely intend never to do it again.
(c) Turn to Allah and submit to His Will from now onwards, not your own desires.

This is the true way to please Allah and not be punished with an azaab in both dunya & akhira.

Here's a video to elaborate further in-sha'Allah:

A Sin that Leads to Jannah

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his famous book Al-Waabil As-Sayyib Min Kalaam At-Tayyib:

So if Allaah intends goodness for His slave (after he has fallen into a sin), He opens up the doors of repentance for him and puts (in his heart) the feeling of need (for Allaah) and makes him dependant upon Allaah. Allaah grants him humbleness and brings him closer to Himself through enabling him to perform good deeds, and this one sin was the reason behind a (mountain) of good deeds, so much so that the enemy of Allaah (Iblis/shaytan) will say, ”O how I wish I had never made him commit that one sin!”

This is what some of our pious predecessors have said:

“Verily, a slave commits a sin and thereby enters Jannah (because of it) and he performs a good deed and enters Hell because of it.”

They asked, “And how is this?”

And it was said: (This is because) he commits the sin and he does not cease shedding tears concerning it, fearing (its consequence) regretting it, feeling shameful before his Lord the Most High. Hanging his head low with a broken heart, because of this, the sin is in truth more beneficial for him as it is the source of many good deeds after it. And through it the slave attains salvation and success, so much so that this sin becomes the reason for the slave to enter jannah (i.e through the mercy of Allaah).

And he (might) perform a good deed and does not cease in mentioning that, and feeling full of pride and is amazed at himself saying “I did and I did!” (i.e boasting) so pride enters (his heart) which results in his destruction.

Shaytan: The Enemy Within

Ancient Chinese warrior and philosopher, Sun Tzu, in his book titled “The Art of War” said to have been written almost two thousand years ago, told his men:
“Know your enemy.”

Today, military generals and infantry men alike take these ancient words of wisdom very seriously and do their utmost to prepare against their foes.

To apply the same principle on an individual level, we might wonder, who is our own greatest enemy? Who is an open enemy of every human being on this planet?

Allaah, the Almighty tells us the answer in the Noble Qur’an:

إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ إِنَّمَا يَدۡعُواْ حِزۡبَهُ ۥ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
“Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.”
[Fatir 35:6]

Allaah tells us that since Shaytan is our open enemy, so we should treat him like one. Not that we start treating him like a friend, listening to his advice and giving him a place in our heart. For if we did that, we would certainly be at loss in this life and also in the next.

Who is Shaytan?

The chief of the shayateen (devils) is known as Iblis, who is one of the jinns. Jinns are beings similar to humans in many ways, the difference being that they have been created from smokeless fire. They can see us but we cannot see them. Just as Adam (a.s.) is the father of all mankind, Iblis is considered to be the father of all jinns. When Allaah created Adam (a.s.) He commanded Iblis to bow before him but he refused. He was too proud and arrogant to bow before a being that had been created from clay. He considered himself to be far superior. Allaah punished Iblis by making hell his final resting place but he asked for some time to prove that mankind is just as corrupt as he is. He wanted to prove that Adam and his children would be equally disobedient to Allaah. That if he tried to mislead them, they will be lead astray from Allaah’s path. Allaah told him to do what he can but he will not be able to affect those who truly believe in Allaah and follow His commands.



To this, Iblis made a promise to drag as many of us as he can with him to hell. He knows his destination is fixed, all he needs now is company.

(Allaah) said: "What prevented you (O Iblis) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?" Iblis said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay." (Allaah) said: "(O Iblis) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced." (Iblis) said: "Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)." (Allaah) said: "You are of those respited." (Iblis) said: "Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from the front of them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful (i.e. they will not be obedient to You)."
[Al-A’raaf 7:12-17]

Attacks of Shaytan

Now that we know that shaytan is an open enemy and that he has sworn to mislead us from Allaah’s path, let’s see how he can attack us.

His first attack is to make us disbelieve in Allaah altogether or to associate partners with Him in worship. That instead of worshipping Allaah alone, we worship Him through someone else. Instead of asking Allaah alone, we ask others who have no power to grant us what we need.

If we fight the shaytan and persist in our belief in Allaah, he tries to make us disobedient to Allaah. He makes us leave our daily prayers, detach ourselves from the Qur’an and do those things that displease Allaah.

If we still persist in being good Muslims, he makes us either too lazy and carefree in our acts of obedience to Allaah, or too self-righteous and a show-off. Either you find yourself delaying or neglecting prayer or you do them on time but show-off about it to others. Both of these are traps of shaytan.

To make it really simple, if you find yourself thinking any of the following thoughts, know that shaytan has you wrapped up nicely in his arms:

• I am still young. I’ll live however I want to right now; I’ve got plenty of time to repent when I am old.
• Everybody’s doing it, why can’t I?
• My intentions are pure from the inside.
• I am only going to do it just this once and then never again. Promise!
• As long as I am good to people, that’s what really matters. I don’t need to pray or fast or do any of the other obligations that Allaah has laid down.
• I am too busy with work, play or studies to practise Islam completely.
• All Muslims will go to jannah anyway, so what’s the point?

The above points are things that shaytan can make us believe ourselves or he can get others to say this to us, in order to make us his permanent companions. Would any of us like that? Do we want shaytan to win in our fight against him?

If the answer is “No”, then the time is now to take action. The next section tells us how we can fight back!

Round One: FIGHT!

Here’s how we take the fight back to shaytan. Allaah tells us that for those who fear Allaah, shaytan will not be able to misguide them.

“When the devil whispers to you any whisper, seek refuge in Allaah; He (Allaah) is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. Those who fear Allaah, whenever the devil approaches them with an evil thought, they remember Allaah, whereupon they see clearly.”
[Al-A’raaf 7:200-201]

So the first step is that whenever we get an impure thought or feel that we are under attack, we recite:

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
“Say I seek refuge in Allaah, from Satan the rejected”

Was the shaytan putting excuses in our mind to avoid a religious duty? Was he making us feel arrogant? Or was he tempting us towards something Allaah has forbidden? Whatever the case maybe, thinking about the consequences and remembering Allaah will send shaytan running!

“Whoever withdraws himself from the remembrance of (Allaah) the Most Gracious, We assign to him a shaytan, to be his companion.”
[Az-Zukhruf 43:36]

The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) told us that whoever recites the following prayer 100 times during the day, he will be protected from the shaytan till the night:

لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شیْ ٍٔ قَدِیْرٌؕ
“(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There are) no partners for Him. For Him is the Kingdom. And for Him is the Praise. And He has power over everything.”
[Bukhari/Muslim]

Make a habit of reciting this prayer every morning, the benefits are huge and it does not take more than 15 minutes.

At night, to protect yourself from the shaytan, recite any or all of the following before you go to sleep:
• Ayat-al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255). [Bukhari]
• Surah al-Ikhlaas (112), Surah al-Falaq (113) and Surah an-Naas (114). After reciting them, blow into the palms of your hands and rub them on your body. This is a sunnah of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). [Bukhari]
• Recite the last two ayaat of Surah al-Baqarah i.e. 2:285-286 [Bukhari]

Last but not least, remember to be a good Muslim – the best you can be! Always remember Allaah and be obedient to Him; in-sha’Allaah the shaytan will have no power over you. For Allaah says in the Qur’an:

“(Shaytan) has no authority over those who believe and place trust in their Lord.”
[An-Nahl 16:99]

The Fake Scholar

And from his character in seeking knowledge is that he seeks it whilst being in the state of neglect and forgetfulness. He only seeks the knowledge which his desire calls him towards.
And if it’s said, ‘How is that possible?’

The reply is, his aim in seeking knowledge is not due to him thinking it is fardh upon him or in order for him to worship Allah by fulfilling His obligations and staying away from the things He has declared unlawful, No! Rather his aim is to become known to the people as a taalib-ul-’ilm (student of knowledge) and so that the students flock around him.

He studies only for Riyaa (showing off) and debates with others in order to be known for his knowledge and eloquence in discussion. If the person he is debating with has the truth with him, it causes him grief. Even if he knows he is wrong he carries on debating and never declares he is mistaken due to fear of people criticizing his mistakes.

He is lenient with giving fatwa to those he loves and is severe and stern against those who can not benefit him at all. Whoever he teaches knowledge to he expects benefits back from. And if his students can not benefit him in this world but only benefit him in the aakhirah, teaching them becomes a burden upon him (and he sees it as a waste of time).

He anticipates the reward for knowledge he never practiced, and is not afraid of the consequences for knowledge he never acted upon. He speaks words of wisdom so it might seem he is from its people, whilst not fearing the evidence being established against him, because he doesn’t practice what he preaches. The more he learns and seeks knowledge the more he shows off and boasts.

If the scholars of his time are many in number and they are mentioned as people of knowledge he wishes to be mentioned with them. If they, the scholars, are asked about a question and he is not asked he wishes he be asked as well, when it was upon him to praise Allah who just saved him from being asked when others had fulfilled the need.

If it reaches him that any of the scholars made a mistake whilst he got the right verdict, he becomes happy for the mistakes of others, when in reality he should be sad for the mistakes of his brothers. If any of the scholars pass away it makes him happy since now people will be in need of him and his knowledge more.

And if he is asked about a matter that he has no knowledge of, it becomes difficult for him to say ‘I do not know’. If he hears about someone else that is benefiting the people more than he is, he hates him and does not tell the people about him. His pride stops him from admitting his own mistakes, even when corrected by others he will keep on defending his mistake, despite knowing it is a blatant mistake, just so that he might not be looked down upon by the people.

His fitnah (trial) is love for this dunya and being praised by mankind along with status and nobility. He beautifies himself with knowledge as people in this dunya beautify themselves with jewelry but he forgets to beautify his knowledge with actions.

(Taken from Akhlaaq al-Ulamaa by al-Aajoriyy)

The Difference between a Student of Knowledge and a Student of the Internet

By Shaykh Abdul Malik Abdul Hameed (may Allah preserve him)

The Student of Knowledge

He is the one who before doing anything fixes his soul. Then he maintains his soul to upright character. Therefore he becomes an example for others, in his character and manners.

The student of knowledge strives for knowledge and benefit. The seeker of ilm does his utmost to sit with scholarly men, people of piety and in circles of knowledge. The person striving to learn his deen constantly equips himself with beneficial knowledge and information.

He safeguards his time. Hence you don’t see him involved in things which are useless. The student of knowledge turns away from things that don’t concern him, and busies himself with things that affect him.

Whenever he speaks, he brings benefit to the people, and when he writes it’s beneficial. Furthermore whoever sits with him, learns something.

He gives precedence to knowledge, its people, consequently benefiting from them.

As result of this he honors the people of knowledge; he supplicates for them, and asks Allah to have mercy and forgiveness for the deceased scholars.

The student of knowledge hates backbiting, abhors the backbiters and detests anyone’s name mentioned in a bad light.

You notice about the student of knowledge, that he is humble, he doesn’t raise himself above his level. He doesn’t act like he’s loaded with something he really can’t offer.

This student isn’t misled by people praises of him, people blowing him up to be a big shot, or their extolment of him.

The student of knowledge doesn’t want to be famous, so he doesn’t seek fame from the people.

Reason being, he knows that it’s Allah who raises the people and gives them rank, not such and such.

This seeker of knowledge is one who calls to Allah and advises the Muslims. He enjoins what’s right and forbids what’s wrong based on the Islamic principles and guidelines.

You will notice that the student of knowledge is always trying to unite the Muslims and their hearts. He can’t stand division between the people of the Sunnah. He is well aware that division is connected to innovation, and unity is connected to the Sunnah.

For that reason it is said, “ Ahulus Sunnah wal Jama’a (the People of Sunnah and the gathering) and Ahul Bid’ah wal Farqa (the People of innovation and sects)”.

Moreover, you will notice that the student of ilm is shy to speak. He doesn’t speak about everything or every affair that happens among the people. He remains silent, because he knows that he will be called to account for his words, the same way for his actions. Hence, he safeguards his own well being in his speech and actions. He won’t open a door to evil for the general masses.

The student of knowledge doesn’t embark on issues of falsehood and deal with things he’s unaware of. That’s why; he enters into issues with clarity. He is aware of them inside and out. He is prepared for the meeting with Allah.

These are some of the traits of the student of Knowledge. May Allah give them to us-Ameen

The Student of the Internet

First of all, he doesn’t have any of the traits we mentioned, as this is witnessed.

The student of the net is shameless in his character. He displays arrogant behavior towards people.

The student of the World Wide Web wastes his time in things that are fruitless. He attacks anyone, regardless if they are a minor or senior. He hurls his assault without maintaining the reverence of knowledge, age, or its people.

The student of the internet learns hatred, he follows the mistakes and slip ups of others. These are the fruits of learning from the internet. For the student on this path, days and years remain empty. He is unable to relax and the people can’t feel at ease from his harm and evil.

In conclusion, if you want to be a student of knowledge, here you are! Take the path. The milestones have been laid out for you.

On the other hand if you want to be a student of the internet, there you are! There is the way. That path is full with filth and rubbish. So disgrace yourself, if you want to be a student of the net, but beware of lying to the people claiming you’re a STUDENT OF KNOWLEDGE!

(Reference: qsep.com)

The Praiseworthy Differences and the Blameworthy Differences?

Source: How do I Achieve FIQH (understanding) of the Deen? - From the lectures of Shaikh Saleh ibn Fawzan al-Fawzaan

Translated by Shawana A. Aziz

Published by Quran Sunnah Educational Programs -www.qsep.com

Main Heading: From Whom should I take Fiqh of the Deen?

Sub-Title 14: The praiseworthy differences and the blameworthy differences?

Question: O Shaikh, please explain the praiseworthy differences and the blameworthy differences?

Reply by Shaikh Saleh ibn Fawzan al-Fawzaan (p. 877):

Differences are not praiseworthy but there are

• differences which are excused and
• differences which are inexcusable.

Differences in Furu'ee (i.e., issues not related to Aqeedah) issues of Ijtihaad like deducing rulings from the proofs… One says, 'The proofs point towards this', and the other says, 'The proof proves that.'

So, each of them talks according to what appears (correct) to him, and what his Ijtihad concludes.

The Messenger of Allah (once) told the Sahabah, "None of you should pray except in Bani Quraydah."

The Sahabah left but the time of Asr Salaat arrived while they were on their way. And a group said,

"The Prophet meant that we should not pray except after reaching Bani Quraydah —even if the Salaat is to be delayed."

So, they delayed their Salaat until they reached their destination.

Another group said,

"The Prophet meant to exhort us to hasten in departure. He did not mean delaying the prayers." (So, they prayed Asr Salaat on the way).

And when they (informed the Prophet about their disagreement and how each group acted differently and) asked the Prophet, he (salallahu alaihi wasallam) did not criticize either of them because each of them made Ijtihad, and had a point of view in understanding (the daleel or the statement of the Prophet).

There is no blame on this form of Ijtihad because it is based upon deduction from the Daleel.

Similarly, the story of the two men who ran out of water and prayed with Tayammum, then they found water before the time of the prayer expired. So, one of them performed wudhu, and repeated his Salaat while the other did not repeat the Salaat.

So, the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said to the one who performed wudhu and repeated the Salaat, "You have two rewards." And he said to the other, "You Salaat is accepted from you." [See, Abu Dawood] So, he (salallahu alaihi wasallam) did not criticize either of them for the Ijtihad. [see, Abu Dawood. The narration of Abu Saeed]

As for the blameworthy difference, it is the difference in Aqeedah.

Aqeedah has no scope for differences, and Manhaj has no scope for difference - because Allah has ordered us to return back to the Book and Sunnah of the Prophet, and what the Salaf were upon. Allah Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

"The Jews split into 71 sects, the Christians split into 72 sects, and you will split into 73 sects —all of them in the fire except one." They asked, "Which sect is that, O Allah's Messenger?"

He (salallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, "(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow." [(hasan) Saheeh at-Tirmidhee]

So, the 72 sects are not excused except the one which adhered to the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) because difference in Aqeedah and Manhaj are not excused.

Verily, the exception is for issues of Furoo (i.e., issues not in Aqeedah) which are deduced from the texts if there is a need for Ijtihad from the text. As for, if Ijtihad is not required, then it is not permissible.