Questions taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the
Sunnah’
Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May
Allaah Preserve him]
Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad
as-Sudayree
9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013Question: Some fathers are complaining about the use of the media by their children, and that they don’t listen when advised, what’s your advice to deal with this?
Answer: It is Waajib upon fathers to give their
children Tarbiyyah (i.e. righteous upbringing), to plant and instill fear of
Allaah in their children. Some children fear their parents and as soon as they
have gone, they go back to their sin, they don’t fear Allaah. Some fear a bad
reputation they may get if they leave the sin from their peers or they fear on
losing out on a worldly gain, they don’t dear Allaah. This is because parents
have fallen short in giving their children Tarbiyyah.
So the first thing you should do is call your
children fear Allaah and to bring them up worshipping him. Teaching the stories
of those who came before, knowing that those before us disobeyed Allaah and He
Destroyed them in this world and the Hereafter. Advise them of the Hereafter
and remind that they will return to their Lord and will need to have prepared
an answer for their deeds.
So from the lack of Tarbiyyah this problem has
stemmed, our children have become spoilt and they have left seeking the Aakhira
and now they want the Dunya. However, if we had instilled in them the fear of
Allaah in the first place, then we would be able to trust them and their
behaviour would reflect this and he wouldn’t disobey his parents.
Question: Many Muslims have left practising the
Sunnah and they do things that go against it, such as shaving their beards or
wearing clothes that fall below their ankles. And when they are advised, they
say it’s only Sunnah, meaning I am not punished or sinful for leaving it off.
What is the answer to this?
Answer: The Sunnah of The Prophet [Peace and
Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] is of two types; that which is Waajib because
he has commanded us to do certain things, and the origin of a command is that
it is Waajib to execute. And an example of this is the command of growing the
beard, “Trim the moustache and leave the beard.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree (5443);
Muslim (600)]
And Allaah, the Most High, orders us to follow
what has been commanded:
“And let those who
oppose the Messenger's commandment beware, lest some Fitnah befall them
or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” [an-Noor 24:63]
Similarly, Isbaal has been made prohibited as
the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in
the Fire.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree (5450)]
This narration shows there is a punishment for
those who wear their clothes like this, thus it is Haram and not a mere Sunnah.
Sunnah isn’t always something optional, that the
person will be rewarded for doing it and not sinful for leaving it, rather some
are Waajib and yes, some Sunnah are Mustahab. We can’t mix the two under one
definition.
Also, if we talk about Mustahab and one wants to
leave doing something that is Mustahab and that which is Sunnah, then being
lazy in this and permitting leaving it off will make his heart hard towards the
Sunnah. It is as if one is saying, yes The Prophet did it but I don’t need to
do it, or I don’t need to follow it or be like him. So this person will find
himself being misguided and will find himself behaving towards the Sunnah as if
he doesn’t care about it, it as if the Sunnah has come and he says, ‘I decide
not to answer it’.
Also, these issues are to do with appearance and
people often leave growing the beard and let their Thobe long because they want
to look good, but how can they not want to look good in front of the Lord of
the ‘Aalameen? He leaves looking good in front of Allaah and prefers trying to
impress the people?
Question: Some of the innovators are spreading
images of the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] on the
television, so how can we defend and debate with them?
Answer: It is Waajib to refute them and not to give
them the status they seek by sitting and debating with them. Innovators are
callers to misguidance, so it is Waajib upon us to refute them, make the truth apparent,
to explain to the people these people’s mistakes and misguidances, this is what
is Waajib. However, we find that the Salaf didn’t debate with the people of Bid’ah,
they wold explain the truth and refute Ahl al-Bid’ah but they didn’t debate them.
A man once came to Imaam ash-Shafi’ee and asked,
“Can I debate with you?” He said, “What if I win?” The man replied, “I will
follow you.” So Imaam ash-Shafi’ee asked, “What if another person comes and
debates us and he wins, what should we do?” The man then said, “We follow him.”
Then the Imaam asked again, “What if a fourth comes?” He replied, “We follow
him.” Imaam ash-Shafi’ee said, “A religion which wavers in this way has no good
in it.”
So to debating them and sitting with them is not
from the way of the people in Islaam, rather it is Waajib is not to pay
attention to them so that they may gain status and not to honour them in this
way, rather we refute them and explain the truth. This is Waajib, this is what
the text of the Sharee'ah explain for us to do.
If it is possible to refute a person without
mentioning his name then and to bring the proof against him and explain the
truth, then this is Waajib.
Example, people honour the Sunnah today but we
find people of misguidance in many places as well, they come with doubts but we
are able to address these issues and explain to the masses their mistakes and
present the evidence for what the truth. This is the best way of dealing with
all issues like this.
For example, some people insult Mua’waiyyah bin
Abee Sufyaan [May Allaah be Pleased with him], but there is no need to mention
his name so that the people who don’t know him and have no knowledge will
become recognised with this person. Rather it is sufficient to refute what they
say about Mua’waiyyah bin Abee Sufyaan [May Allaah be Pleased with him] and
mention his virtues, that he was a scribe for the Prophet, writing down the
revelation as it came down, he was described as the ‘Uncle of Believers’ [a
description given by ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib, see: Al-Sunnah by al-Khallaal
(2/433)] and that the Prophet said about him that he has justice and ability to
judge. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] also said that
Hasan will bring peace between two armies of the believers who are fighting
each other [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree (3430)], so in this Hadeeth Mua’waiyyah
bin Abee Sufyaan [May Allaah be Pleased with him] has been described as a
believer, so how can people say otherwise?
Some say try and quote the Hadeeth where the
Prophet said about him, “May Allaah not fill his belly.” But we say in this is
Hadeeth it is actually Dua’a for him and not against him, because the context
of the Hadeeth explains this. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
Upon him] called him to write down what was being revealed but he couldn’t come
because he was eating, but the person calling him went back and again said he
was eating until the third time this happened, The Prophet [Peace and Blessings
of Allaah be Upon him] said, “May Allaah not fill his belly.” Meaning, Allaah
will not make him of those who don’t eat so that he’s not left with shame.
So this is a Dua’a for him and not against him
and refutation against those who oppose him and the Sunnah becomes clearer and
apparent, thus this is sufficient for those who have such doubts and there
remains no need to mention names in this instance as the refutation is profound.
It may even be sufficient to just to state the virtues of the Companions [May
Allaah be Pleased with them all] in general, as he was one of them.
Question: Is coming late to work and saying you
were on time Haram, Ghulool (i.e. taking wealth unlawfully) and what do we
people who do this?
Answer: From matters that we have been
surrounded with is, is eating Haram wealth, whether it is individuals or
companies, this is all Haram. If one is late then he needs to mention it or go
back and return what they gave in the salary to the company. Wealth that is
letter is better than wealth that is a lot but it is Haraam. Eating what is Haram
makes one corrupt and it will increase this person in doing what is Haram. So
look at the children today, they eat from Haram and they have become corrupted
and even worse,
“So
let not their wealth or their children amaze you (O Muhammad); in reality
Allah's Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of the this world”
[at-Tawbah 9:55]
So the person must be warned and he should
realise that Barakah is the most important thing, this is what he should seek
to gain. The Ummah is corrupt today because of Haram wealth, they deceive
others and they don’t realise they deceive themselves before anyone else.
Question: Is it permissible to buy and sell with the
Raafidah?
Answer: Buying and selling with a Kaafir or an
innovator of three types:
That which is going to be used for Haraam, then
this is Haraam to buy and sell, even if the person you are trading with is a
Muslim.
That which helps in oppression, Bid’ah or Kufr, this
is also Haram. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]
prohibited selling arms in times of war [Aboo Dawood (3480) and Classed Saheeh
by al-Albaanee Saheeh al-Jaami’ (6948)]. It’s not even allowed to sell bread to
those who will eat and then go do oppression with the energy they have gained
from it, in the state of war.
Likewise the same applies to selling to an
innovator; if it will help in his Bid’ah then you have shared in his Haram and
sin.
Question: Movies that
have been made impersonating The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon
him] have been made in a derogatory light and some movies are even being spread,
not making fun out of him but to give a wrong impression of Islaam, what is your
advice on this?
Answer: We should help by spreading the
authentic Seerah and we can use the media to do so, just as they do, so as long
as it is not Haram. So we need to spread the Seerah and show people who he lived,
the Hikmah of Shar’eeah he came with and to make people aware that these people
are spreading lies. Mocking the Prophets [Peace be Upon them all] is nothing
new, it’s the way of the people of the past and will continue to be their way
until the Last Day.
“Indeed (many) Messengers were mocked
before you (O Muhammad), but the scoffers were surrounded by that, whereat they
used to mock.” [an-Anbiyaa 21:41]
But Allaah, the Most High, has Protected The Prophets
[Peace be Upon them all] and their mocking doesn’t affect them in the
slightest.
“Truly! We will suffice you against
the scoffers.” [al-Hijr 15:95]
So those who wish deceive the Muslims in leaving
the Sunnah and his Seerah and his religion, then this is exactly what they want
and fear. However, the Muslim must realise that their Kufr that they are
already upon is far worse than mocking the religion.
Also, it is the Universal Sunnah of Allaah, the
Most High, that those who try to ridicule the religion and prevent people from
entering it, Allaah actually causes it
to increase those who enter the religion, thus the opposite of what they are
trying to achieve.
“Verily, those who disbelieve spend
their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue
to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will
be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.” [al-Anfaal 8:36]
This is the Sunnah of Allaah but this isn’t the
problem, they want to stop the religion from spreading and want the Muslims to
leave their religion. So it is Waajib, not only for the ‘Ulema or the Dua’at, but
on everyone to defend the religion.
Question: What is the ruling on renting to own
an item, i.e. you pay monthly in order to pay by instalments and what is the
difference between this an Wa’d at-Tamleek (i.e. promising to buy an item)?
Answer: Wa’d
al-Mulzim is a principle known with the Maalikee scholars, but there is no real
evidence for this principle, so we don’t take this and it’s not correct. We
don’t act upon Fiqh if there is no evidence to support their claim. What we are
concerned with is what is correct from the statements of the scholars, based on
evidences. Wa’d al-Mulzim actually goes against the evidence and it is not
permissible for us to act or give a Fatwa on this once we know that it is false.
Rent to own, where one pays in instalments and
then becomes the owner once he has paid the final instalment, has an aspect in
Shar’eeah.
For example, the scholars have stated that if
one gives a deposit for an item, then we are allowed to take it, but this
doesn’t mean that the person is giving money away, rather he is making a
reservation by making a payment. The intention here is to deposit money with
the intent of purchasing something, therefore so you have both agreed in
exchanging a percentage of the price for the full amount to be paid later. This
is similar to Wa’d al-Mulzim but it different from the viewpoint of the
conditions that the buyer and the seller have placed, when giving a deposit a
percentage has been given but in Wa’d, no such condition may exist.
This is similar to renting to own via payment in
instalments, one pays instalments so that he can complete the amount in
instalments, this is called ‘Uqood al-Mu’allaqah (i.e. agreement to complete
the transaction in the future).
Some have had reservations on this kind of
transaction but the Hadeeth of ‘Urwah gives this type of transaction some strength.
‘Urwah ibn al-Ja’d [may Allaah be Pleased
with him] was given a Deenar by the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
Upon him] to go and buy a sheep on his behalf. So ‘Urwah went and was able to
buy two sheep for a Deenar and then he sold one of them for a Deenar. So he
went back to the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] with one Deenar
and one sheep, and the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]
prayed for blessing for him. [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree (3643)]
So the Prophet [Peace
and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] didn’t permit him to do this but
once he became aware of what happened he allowed it and didn’t rebuke him. We
can derive from this that a changing of a contract, half way through a
transaction, is permissible as this is what happened in this incident. Also, we
learn that both parties can delay making a decision on their trade for the
future, so when the future arrives, they can reassess the situation. This is called
Mu’allaq, where the possessor or the owner of the wealth gives permission for
something to happen or change in their trade.
Also, we know that this kind of transaction is
permitted because he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah
be Upon him] prayed for him, thus showing his approval and blessings for this
act of ‘Urwah.
Question: What books would you recommend that are
connected to honouring the Sunnah of the Prophet [Peace
and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] and the Seerah of the Companions [May
Allaah be Pleased with them all]?
Answer: From the greatest of these books is the
Quraan, as the Quraan honours the life and struggle of The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] and the Companions
[May Allaah be Pleased with them all] as there are many Ayaat that praise them
and talk about the life of the Messenger of Allaah[Peace
and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].
As for the Sunnah, then the six books of
Hadeeth, al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Aboo Dawood, Nasaa’ee, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn
Maajah. All of these books have chapters which honour and explain the Sunnah.
Al-Bukhaaree has a chapter which honours the
Sunnah and he called it, ‘Holding firm to the Sunnah.’
In the introduction of Ibn Maajah, he has many
chapters explaining the correct methodology and he expands on it a great deal.
Sunan ad-Daarimee also has chapters as well.
Some scholars have authored books on honouring
the Sunnah, there are also ‘Aqeedah books named ‘as-Sunnah’ which explain the
correct ‘Aqeedah. These books have written by many of the Salaf, showing how
they honouring the Sunnah and held it with high esteem.
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