بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
24-1-1438H
When we study the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, we should hope that this will be a means of testification of our belief that Muhammed ﷺ is a Messenger of Allah and our belief that whatever he said is a revelation from Allah. The Shahadah أن محمد رسول الله will not be fulfilled unless we learn what the Prophet ﷺ mentioned in the Hadith. Therefore it is a must on a Muslim to not just love, honour, and defend the Prophet ﷺ, but to learn his Sunnah, act upon it, and spread it amongst people.
Another hope we have is to be of the saved sect, which the Prophet ﷺ mentioned:
"إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَفَرَّقَتْ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً كُلُّهُمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلاَّ مِلَّةً وَاحِدَةً قَالُوا وَمَنْ هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي "
"....Indeed the children of Isra'il split into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will split into seventy-three sects. All of them are in the Fire Except one sect." He said: "And which is it O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "What I am upon and my Companions." [Tirmithi]
Our methodology and attitude in this Dunya should be as Ibn Aun said:
1) To ponder over the Qur'an and ask if we do not understand.
2) To learn the Sunnah and ask if we do not know.
3) And to leave the people aside, except from good.
Following and believing in the Prophet ﷺ is not a mere claim, we have to prove our belief by learning his Sunnah. Many Muslims do know except Sahih Bukhari, and yet they do not know what the book consists of. It is a treasure.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ سَنَوَاتٌ خَدَّاعَاتٌ يُصَدَّقُ فِيهَا الْكَاذِبُ وَيُكَذَّبُ فِيهَا الصَّادِقُ وَيُؤْتَمَنُ فِيهَا الْخَائِنُ وَيُخَوَّنُ فِيهَا الأَمِينُ وَيَنْطِقُ فِيهَا الرُّوَيْبِضَةُ قِيلَ وَمَا الرُّوَيْبِضَةُ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ التَّافِهُ فِي أَمْرِ الْعَامَّةِ "
"There will come to the people years of treachery, when the liar will be regarded as honest, and the honest man will be regarded as a liar; the traitor will be regarded as faithful, and the faithful man will be regarded as a traitor; and the Ruwaibidah will decide matters.’ It was said: ‘Who are the Ruwaibidah?’ He said: ‘insignificant and ignorant men who control the affairs of the people." [Ibn Majah 4036 - Authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Silsilah As-Saheeha]
الرويبضة applies to everyone who speaks about everything without knowledge. And we find nowadays that there are so many people giving their opinions about everything - even about religious matters without having knowledge. With new technology and communication, we receive messages from people who have no knowlege, telling us what is Halal and Haraam.
There was a woman from a deviated sect and she said to the person who was trying to clarify her mistakes:
"To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)."
And she does not realize that the Surah is called "سورة الكافرون" - It refers to the disbelievers. She is applying disbelief to herself. They do not know, but they are fighting to defend their wrong beliefs.
We see الرويبضة spread nowadays. Everyone gives their opinion of the religion with no knowledge nor fear of Allah.
سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ سَنَوَاتٌ خَدَّاعَاتٌ
Deceiving Years;- The balances are upside down. The truthful will be considered a liar, and when the liar speaks, people will believe him. This is exactly what is happening; we are living in these years.
E.g. When people call Islam and Tawheed terrorism. Whoever calls to oneness to Allah is considered a terrorist, because they do not want Tawheed to be spread throughout the world. And it is the ignorant among the Muslims who believe these lies the disbelievers forge against Islam and the Muslims. So they called people who follow Tawheed "Wahhabis" and Islam "A Religion of Terrorism"
Although, whenever the Prophet ﷺ dispatched an army for battle, he would advise the commander and soldiers to not kill women, children, nor those who worship in their monasteries. And yet nowadays people kill women and children with the claim that they are fighting terrorism. And the ignorant amongst the people believe them. This is the situation all over the world.
We need to ask Allah to enlighten us - so we see the truth as truth, and falsehood as falsehood.
But when will this happen? When faith becomes weak. Because when faith becomes weak, the person will have no light to see the truth.
Another symptom of these deceiving years is what we see nowadays of people feel shy of showing their Religion. They are not proud of Islam anymore, and try their best to imitate the disbelievers in their way of life, talking, dressing, greeting. They believe that this is modernity and feel shy to show they are Muslims, especially when they travel. In the past, non-Muslims that travelled to Muslim countries were shy to show that they were not Muslim. These are all indications that people think that this is right and Islam is not right - سنوات خدّاعات.
It is a فتنة for Muslims to believe the disbelievers. Since when were the disbelievers truthful? How can you trust someone who does not believe in Allah? Allah allowed this to happen in order to test us.
The means of salvation from all this is to hold fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah. When a person does that Allah will give him light and keep him firm, so that he is able to distinguish the truth from falsehood.
The Description of المعتصم (The one who holds fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah):
1) He feels sufficient with the Qur'an and Sunnah
2) He believes that the Qur'an and Sunnah are جوامع الكلم (Short in expression, but bear wide meanings)
3) He is a مقتدي; He follows and focuses on the Prophet ﷺ. He knows if he follows the Prophet ﷺ, he will reach Paradise, and those who come after him will follow him. Therefore he strictly follows the Qur'an and Sunnah.
4) He does not ask excessive questions, especially regarding issues whose ruling is clear; which Allah has already decided in the Qur'an. Nor does he ask questions about the detail of the unseen or hypothetical questions.
This does not mean that he does not ask questions at all, but not excessively.
5) He does not burden himself with undue hardship in religious matters. He takes whatever is there; but he does not make the religion difficult on himself, seeking perfection.
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَفَرًا، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ أَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ آكُلُ اللَّحْمَ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ أَنَامُ عَلَى فِرَاشٍ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَصُومُ فَلاَ أُفْطِرُ . فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَكَذَا لَكِنِّي أُصَلِّي وَأَنَامُ وَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي "
"It was narrated from Anas that there was a group of the Companions of the Prophet, one of whom said: "I will not marry women." Another said: "I will not eat meat." Another said: "I will not sleep on a bed." Another said: "I will fast and not break my fast." News of that reached the Messenger of Allah and he praised Allah then said: "What is the matter with people who say such and such? But I pray and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." [An-Nasaa'i #3217]
There are people who are negligent to an extreme, and there are people who are excessive to an extreme. Islam is a moderate religion: الوسطية - in order to reach our goal, which is Paradise.
Hadith #7294:
كتب معاوية إلى المغيرة: 'اكتب إليَّ ما سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم
This indicates the keenness of Mu'awiyah in learning the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The first and most important prohibiton Al-Mugheera mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ forbade us from is:
قيل و قال
I.e. So and so said, he said, they said, it is said, this channel said;- to indulge in spreading information regarding any matter, whether religious or worldly, without having proof or while your statement has no benefit.
Ruling: Forbidden
E.g. You heard someones opinion regarding a matter and spread it around without evidence. This is considered قيل و قال. We have to be careful of conveying the speech and opinions of people without proof.
E.g. There are some people who analyze the news and what is happening in the community. Whenever an event happens everyone talks about it, the young and the old, the women and the men, and they do not know that they are indulging in قيل و قال.
You were not present at that event and you are not sure of the credibility of the sources.
Even if you were there and have proof, how will it benefit me knowing what exactly happened and how many people died? It will not increase me in knowledge, nor in faith.
When you commit this action, you have opposed the command of the Prophet ﷺ. The معتصم does not contradict the statements of the Prophet ﷺ; he abides by it.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
" الْعِبَادَةُ فِي الْهَرْجِ كَهِجْرَةٍ إِلَىَّ "
"Worship during the time of bloodshed is like emigrating to me.” [Ibn Majah #3985]
Some interpreters said that another meaning of الهرج is excessive talking. When you seperate yourself from people when they indulge in speaking about irrelevant or unbeneficial matters and focus on worshipping and remembering Allah you will get the reward of emigration to the Prophet ﷺ.
There are times when you cannot physically leave. If you are a teacher at school, for example, and your colleagues are indulging in قيل و قال and you have no other office to go to, then mentally seperate yourself;- Read a book, remember Allah, make dua, etc.
The event may have finished, but what has the person who talked and talked about the event gained? He wasted his time - instead of spending it in worshipping Allah, he committed sins.
There are people who wait for news to come so that they will be the first to tell others about it.
Know that the Shaytan and the followers of the Shaytan consider the person following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ as a backwards person from the old ages.
Do not harm your heart by always following the news and indulging in قيل و قال. If you hear that your Muslim brothers and sisters are being afflicted in another country, pray for them, but do not follow the news 24/7. There is no benefit in doing so.
If you have news which the Shaytan is pushing you to tell people, ask yourself:
1) Is it verified?
2) Will it benefit people?
Otherwise keep quiet.
Imam Ash-Shafi'i, Imam Ahmed, and the Salaf used to say that there is no قيل و قال in knowledge. Meaning; when we acquire knowledge we hear and say "This is the opinion of such and such Scholar". This is not forbidden.
Generally, قيل و قال is related to three things:
1) Worldly Affairs
E.g. In assemblies people say, "There's a huge sale in this shop....prices are all down...it's good to go now.."
There may have been a person who is totally away from the Dunya; busy with قال الله و قال الرسول, learning, attending classes. He is occupied with the religion. After the gate of Dunya was closed on him, you opened it for him. You made him covetous towards the Dunya. Allah made him hate the Dunya, and you made him love and desire it. You harmed him because of your قيل و قال about Dunya related matters.
If your heart is opened to the Dunya there is no end. There are few who seek knowledge because the Dunya prevails in the hearts of the people.
It is not a sin, but think about the consequence. What have you done to that person? There were known Scholars (one from Qaseem - Saudi Arabia) who visited France for just one visit, yet when he came back, all his concepts were turned upside down. After he had written a valuable book on Tawheed, he wrote another book called "The Chains" accusing Islam of chaining people. And whatever secularists say or do nowadays is based on this book. This was at the time of Shaikh As-Sa'dee رحمه الله. This is the seriousness of opening the Dunya for someone. Do not say I trust my self, or my children, or my friends. Do not expose and throw anyone into the Dunya, you do not know what will happen to them.
Remembrance of the Dunya hardens the hearts of people. Bukhari mentioned the above Hadith in كتاب الرقاق to show us that قيل و قال will harden the heart of a person and diminish his faith.
2) Matters which do not concern a person - whether public or private affairs.
There is no benefit in transmitting news of what is happening in the community or family to people. If it is a family matter, قيل و قال could ruin and cut relationships between family.
If an event or something dangerous happens in the community, your duty is to keep quiet and let those who have authority speak.
E.g. A father or husband raised his voice to his children for some reason. The neighbour hears his voice, and without knowing exactly what happened, make up a story of what they think happened and go to the police, etc. This will cause corruption. قيل و قال ruins households.
If we misbehave with Allah and violate His prohibitons by committing wrong, something evil could happen to us. We should be sure of what we convey, and when we were sure we should make sure it is beneficial.
The community consists of disbelievers, hypocrites, believers - weak believers, strong believers, and sinners. Which of these would you like for yourself? The strong believer is concerned about his faith, high ranks with Allah, his meeting with Allah. He does not care about what is happening in the community. He is concerned about being protected from the Hellfire and admitted into Paradise.
Leave the people except from good; do not run after news. There are people who want to be the first to talk about the news, and this all indicates sicknesses in the hearts. If you address them, they tell you not to be blind. They think that the more you know what is happening in the world, the more educated you are. They do not consider pursuing the news as something bad; they think they are reforming. They do not know this is one of the descriptions of the hypocrites, as Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah [2:11]:
"And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."
And in Surah At-Tawbah [9:69]:
"Like those before you, they were mightier than you in power, and more abundant in wealth and children. They had enjoyed their portion awhile, so enjoy your portion awhile as those before you enjoyed their portion awhile; and you indulged in play and pastime as they indulged in play and pastime. Such are they whose deeds are in vain in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers."
3) Illusion / Waswaas
A person speaks from his imagination. He says "I feel something bad will happen, I think, maybe..." and his speech is transmitted to people. This is قيل و قال and is waswaas from the Shaytan. This may happen as a punishment for him, because he was thinking bad about Allah.
Sometimes he may have suspicions about things or people and speak about it, without having proof. And speech becomes قيل و قال when there is no proof for what you are speaking about.
The Prophet ﷺ said in a Hadith:
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا، أو ليصمت
"He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent." [Agreed upon]
"He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent." [Agreed upon]
The person who is indulged in قيل و قال and talks without restriction does not have strong belief in Allah and the Day of Judgement. Your tongue is a measurement by which you can measure your Faith. If you guard your tongue, it indicates you have strong faith.
Another type of قيل و قال which is related to knowledge: To transmit the opinions of Scholars without verifying them or transmitting شاذ (strange) opinions to the public.
E.g. All the Scholars are in consensus regarding one ruling. One Scholar has a different opinion from the rest, and it is not very strong. If you come and raise this opinion to the public, you will raise doubts, especially amongst those who have no knowledge. To discuss it with students of knowledge is something else.
Talk to people with words they can understand, otherwise they may have aversion towards the religion. Do not use high language or difficult words for normal or uneducated people. What do you want to show them?
Ali رضي الله عنه used to say:
حَدِّثُوا النَّاسَ بِمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُكَذَّبَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
"Narrate to people with what they can understand, would you love Allah and His Messenger to be denied?"
Also, قيل و قال is not limited to the tongue; it includes the messages we send. We may not be talking, but our hand is working, sending messages. Be careful of what you write.
The Description of the Person indulged in قيل و قال
1) He does not have self-restraint; he talks about everything he sees and hears.
Some people consider this purity of the heart - that whatever is in his heart is on his tongue. He considers it something praiseworthy, although it only means he has no control over his self.
Practice an act of worship - Lowering the Gaze. Allah addresses both men and women in Surah Nur [24:30-31]:
"Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do."
"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."
Lower your gaze from the 'Awrah of the People. Whenever you come across a flaw, defect, mistake, or sin, lower your gaze and not talk about it to people. And lower your gaze regarding things which do not concern you, as well as what Allah has given others of worldly enjoyment, as Allah said in Surah Ta-Ha [20:131]:
"And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), the splendour of the life of this world that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting."
If it happened that you saw or heard something, you should ask Allah to give you help to control your tongue and not speak about it. If you conceal people, Allah will conceal you in this world and the next.
2) He does not prevent himself from suspicion
Allah gave us the ability to talk a lot, especially women, in order to use this ability in nurturing and teaching our children.
3) He has no control over his feelings
He talks about whatever he feels regardless if it is wrong or right.
4) The Shaytan easily overpowers him
The Shaytan pushes a person to talk about what he has seen and heard. If the person does not make استغفار, seek refuge in Allah, ask Allahs help, and strive hard against himself, the Shaytan will overpower him and he will speak about everything he sees and hears.
5) He has bad company
Check whom you are accompanying. If you accompany a person who is indulged in قيل و قال it will affect your speech.
We have this lust and desire to talk, so we should control it.
The Remedy:
#1 - التخلية
Empty your heart from all the whispers, bad thoughts, sins, suspicion
#2 - التحلية
Fill your heart with love of Allah; fear of Allah. Occupy yourself with performing good deeds and accompany good people. If you feel the Shaytan is pushing you to talk, seek refuge with Allah from Him. When Allah sees you truthfulness, He will help you.
The second prohibiton in the Hadith is: كثرة السؤال
This includes:
1) Having too many requests and demands from others
2) Asking too many questions regarding religious issues, hypothetical questions, matters which does not concern you, etc.
Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه used to say, "Do not ask about things which have not happened, because I heard Umar رضي الله عنه curse those who did"
E.g. A person wants to go for Umrah. He asks, "What about if I forget to do Tawaf 7 times....What if I forget to cut my hair.."
These are all forbidden and indicate the weakness of the person and that he is under the effect of waswaas. The Shaytan overpowers a person when he is weak in his self and in his faith.
Ask Scholars when the event occurrs; do not have assumptions before anything happens. This is not considered taking precautions, it is is waswaas.
Only Students of Knowledge are allowed to ask many questions and speak about hypothetical matters.
E.g. He is studying Sujood As-Sahw. He has to ask in order to know the ruling in different situations.
The third prohibiton mentioned in the Hadith: إضاعة المال
When will spending money be considered a waste? When you spend it on something which is neither beneficial to your Dunya nor Religion.
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