Fadl al-Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm Mun Khalaf (Pt.6): Aqidah and Fiqh (and How to Deal with Differences)

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-Ibn Rajab then goes on to affirm the Aqeedah of the Salaf in not asking Kayf, or making Ta’weel, or Ta’weel or Tahreef or Tamtheel. Rather we take its meaning and not ask how - this is not beneficial knowledge.

Shaykh Muhammad said in commentary: therefore Ilm al-Mantiq (philosophy) and anything that stems from it is harmful knowledge.

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-In issues of differences of opinion in Fiqh, we are commanded to follow the truth and what we think is the closest. It is not proper to use all of ones time to research all the various views without conclusion, this was not the way of the Salaf.

Commentary: 

True, we must know areas of difference of opinion and areas of Ijma, as the Salaf didn’t allow anyone giving Fatwaa without this. But the point is we don’t busy ourselves with trying to find out what everyone says.

-We know a person is blessed and knowledgeable when he doesn’t spend his time debating and chasing people’s mistakes. Rather he is Fiqh and ‘Amal.

Fadl al-Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm Mun Khalaf (Pt.5): Astronomy and Nahw

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-It's permissible to learn astronomy if it serves a purpose, such as learning distances and times. However if a person believes the stars has a benefit in themselves or it will lead to false beliefs then this is Haram; this is the view of Ibn Abbas, Abu Haneefah, Ishaq, Qatadah and others.

For example, if a person sees a road sign and it gives a distance to a particular place, no one would say that this would be Haram unless if a person takes the road sign as something that in and of itself can give information or benefit. 

Therefore, astronomy has three rulings:

-Shirk, if it leads to false beliefs and acts of worship.

-Haram, to learn it for the sake of learning it.

-Permissible, to learn routes and time periods:

'And landmarks (signposts, etc. during the day) and by the stars (during the night), they (mankind) guide themselves.' (16:16) 

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-Abu Ubayd, bin Muthanna, Ahmad and others all said studying Arabic in too much detail is not allowed as it distracts a person from what is of greater importance.

Qasim bin Khaybarah said, "The first of it is hard and the last of it a distraction." 

Ibn Rajabc quotes Ibn al-‘Arabi saying, "Learning Nahw is like salt on food".

Shaykh Muhammad said in commentary: 

Therefore, we only need enough of Nahw to understand the religion as a tool. This goes for all sciences as we don't have need to go into detail into all disciplines. 

Fadl al-Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm Mun Khalaf (Pt.4): Signs of Beneficial Knowledge

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-the sign of a person with knowledge is that he doesn't speak with that which will harm him and not benefit, otherwise he will be worse than the Jaahil

-those magicians who became Muslim after seeing the miracle of Musa became Muslim because they witnessed an Ayah of Allaah and Eman entered their hearts. Therefore, all knowledge isn't beneficial, it's only that will make one accept Emaan and benefit.

-Ibn Rajab lists different topics that are beneficial to learn, including Arabic, lineage and astronomy. However, the benefit is limited and if one exceeds then it will become harmful knowledge. Thus, these aren't absolutely beneficial (Mutlaq).

Fadl al-Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm Mun Khalaf (Pt.3): Types of Knowledge

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-Knowledge is of four types:

1. Beneficial knowledge and benefits a person.

‘Is then he who is a believer like him who is Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)? Not equal are they’ (32:18)

2. Beneficial but he doesn't benefit himself, this knowledge is good but the blame is the one who doesn't practice.

‘The likeness of (some of) those who were entrusted with the Tawrah, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example of people who deny the proofs of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are criminals’ (62:5)

3. Not beneficial and doesn't benefit but harms him:

‘but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's Leave’ (2:102)

Here, Allah describes black magic as being a type of knowledge but negated any benefit in it and affirmed it as being something harmful.

4. Not beneficial but no harm, like learning lineages, as long as it doesn't destruct his Akhirah 

Fadl al-Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm Mun Khalaf (Pt. 2): About The Book

Follow @AhleDhikr The reason why this book is important:

-One can only be an Imam if he follows the Imams before him, this as Allah, the Most High, says:

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 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"' (25:74)

The methodology of the Book:

-The book is split into three:

1.      What's beneficial knowledge and what is not

2.      How to act upon it

3.      What's are the characteristics of a scholar

And Allah Knows best (to be continued...)

'The Virtues of The Knowledge Possessed By The Salaf Over The Knowledge Possessed By Those After Them' (فضل العلم السلف على علم الخلف) [Part 1]

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This tab will display a series of notes taken from the explanation of the extremely valuable book, 'The Virtues of The Knowledge Possessed By The Salaf Over The Knowledge Possessed By Those After Them' (فضل العلم السلف على علم الخلف), authored by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali. The explanation was delivered by the noble scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Tahiri in which he gives valuable benefits.

I ask Allah to make this beneficial for the author, commentator and the translator and that it helps to serve Islam and the Muslims.

How to Benefit from Ramadaan (29) - Zakaat al-Fitr

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How to Benefit from Ramadaan (29) - Zakaat al-Fitr: How many people pay zakat but they don't purify themselves and loosen their attachment to the Dunya rather zakat is to purify your inner self from sin and attachment to the Dunya and pay from what you love for the sake of Allaah

-Taken from Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen by Ibn 'Uthaymeen. 

How to Benefit from Ramadan (28): Rejoicing on the Day of Eid for the Mercy of Allaah and His Pardon

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (28): Rejoicing on the Day of Eid for the Mercy of Allaah and His Pardon:

Hasan al-Basree said, “It will be said to the Friend of Allaah by the Hoor al-‘Ayn, whilst they are laying with them near the rivers of honey, ‘I saw you from far away on a day when you were thirsty and because of this it was said to the Angels, ‘Look at My Slave, he left his wife, he desires, himself, his food and his drink all because of Me, Seeking what is with Me. Bear witness that I have Forgiven him this day’ and then you were made married to me.’”

-Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

How to Benefit from Ramadan (27): Continuing Upon Goodness and Realizing the True Day of Eid is the Day He Enters Jannah

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How to Benefit from Ramadan (27): Continuing Upon Goodness and Realizing the True Day of Eid is the Day He Enters Jannah: Some of the Salaf are narrated to fast a great deal (in general and not exclusive to this month) and that they narrated that they saw in their dreams that they had entered al-Jannah.  

This Dunya, all of the time within it, is the month of fasting for those who have at-Taqwaa. The time when they break their fast is when they meet their lord, this is their Day of ‘Eid. So because they honoured each day with the worship of fasting, their lives had passed and their ‘Eid is brought near.

-Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

How to Benefit from Ramadan (26) - Ending the Month with Tawheed and Tawbah

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (26) - Ending the Month with Tawheed and Tawbah: Istighfaar is from the deeds that one must do upon completion of righteous deeds, such as upon the completion of Salaah, Hajj or Qiyaam al-Layl. It is also prescribed to say Istighfaar upon the completion of sittings and gathering, so if the gathering was a gathering of remembering Allaah and a beneficial gathering then we are closing the righteous deed by seeking Istighfaar and if the gathering had shortcomings or sins, then we are seeking to be pardoned and forgiven.

-Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

How to Benefit from Ramadan (25) - Optimism and a Good Word

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How to Benefit from Ramadan (25) - Optimism and a Good Word:

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ (5) 

5. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.

Al-Islaam began with peace and a goodly word, however, a sign of a persons ignorance and misguidance is that they do not wish for goodness in words or deeds. When they are faced with the truth, they remain stubborn upon their falsehood and supplicate for punishment, as opposed to supplicating for Forgiveness and Mercy.

"And (remember) when they said: 'O Allah! If this (the Qur'an) is indeed the truth (revealed) from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.'" (8:32)

-Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan al-'Ajlaan, Teacher at al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah

How to Benefit from Ramadan (24) - Belief in the Unseen and in a World that is Greater Than Ours

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How to Benefit from Ramadan (24) - Belief in the Unseen and in a World that is Greater Than Ours:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ (4)

4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees.

It is reported in a Hadeeth collected by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad (2/519) and classed as Saheeh by al-Albaanee in Silsilah as-Saheehah (2205), "Surely the angels on that night on the earth exceed the amount of pebbles found upon it" 

Angels (besides those who are assigned to protect us and record our deeds) are a creation which travel around the earth whilst seeking the mercy of Allaah, His Blessings and Forgiveness for its inhabitants...(On this night) they are shown what will occur in the following year and are instructed of their duties.

-Imaam an-Nawawi

How to Benefit from Ramadan (23) - Honouring Your Lord is Measured by the Amount You Worship Him By

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (23) - Honouring Your Lord is Measured by the Amount You Worship Him By: 

َيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ{3}

3. The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).

“O you who are turned away, O you who are deprived of meeting your loved ones, if you want to know how you stand before the king, then look at how you are spending your time and what work you are assigned to do. How many people stand at the door of the king, but no one enters except the one whom he cares for.  Not every heart is fit to draw close, not every heart can be filled with love, not every wind is like the morning breeze.” 

-Haafidh Abu Faraj Ibn Jawzi

How to Benefit from Ramadan (22): Accept the Guidance of the Prophet

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How to Benefit from Ramadan (22): Accept the Guidance of the Prophet:

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ{2}

2. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

(This night he became a Prophet) so those who believe in him accepted this mercy, were grateful for it, and lived in accordance with it, whereas others rejected it and responded to the blessing of Allah with ingratitude, and refused to accept the mercy and blessing of Allah.

-Tafseer Ibn Si'di

How to Benefit from Ramadan (21) - Giving Importance to Learning Your Religion

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (21) - Giving Importance to Learning Your Religion:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ{1}

1. Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)

He Revealed the best of speeches (i.e. the Quraan) on the best of nights (i.e. Laylah al-Qadr) to the best of His Creation (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad). The Arabs at that time were ignorant and had the worst of manners, but they were guided by the light of the Quraan and its guidance. It led them on the path of guidance and it preserved them so that they gained a great deal of goodness in their Dunya and the Aakhirah, 

-Tafseer Ibn Si'dee

How to Benefit from Ramadan (20) - Realise the True Value of The Dunya

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (20) - Realise the True Value of The Dunya: Allaah, the Glorified and the Most High, has given us similes and parables in His Book in regards to the reality of wealth and the treasures of the Dunyaa. If you have a wall, not matter how much you beautify it, it remains to be a wall. It is made of mud and clay, and this reality does not change. Just by placing on it treasures and wealth doesn’t make it any greater in its true status and actual value. 

-Shaykh Sa'd ash-Shathree, Member of Panel of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia

How to Benefit from Ramadan (19) - Studying and Being Effected by the Quraan

Follow @AhleDhikr How to Benefit from Ramadan (19) - Studying and Being Effected by the Quraan: “If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.” [59:21]

These are mountains and rocks so how about our hearts? The hearts of some people have become hard and they have no softness within them. So you will find these hearts not fearing, and if they are tested with a great test, May Allaah protect us, you will find their hearts become like rocks or even harder. To rid this, one must recite the Noble Quran as it causes the hearts to soften, so if one recites and ponders on its meaning his heart will be scrutinized.

-Shaykh Muhammad bin al-'Uthaymeen

How to Benefit from Ramadan (18) - Freeing Oneself from the Addiction of Chat Groups

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How to Benefit from Ramadan (18) - Freeing Oneself from the Addiction of Chat Groups

The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] told us that:

“Last night I saw two men come to me … they said: ‘The one whom you saw with the side of his mouth being torn is the liar who tells lies that are conveyed from him until they reach the horizon; that will be done to him until the Day of Resurrection.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6096). 

If a person takes part, it is likely that whatever he hears and reads will affect him or enter his thoughts or may even end-up believing it thinking it to be true. 

Also, it is not permissible for a person to transmit unverified information, as this is a form of lying.

-Shaykh Sa’d ibn Naasir ash-Shithree [may Allaah Preserve him], Member of Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia