بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
9/2/1439
Acquiring knowledge is one of the best deeds by which a slave draws nearer to Allah. Therefore, the Scholars emphasized the importance of following the manners of seeking knowledge. The student of knowledge should take care of following the manners of attending the gatherings of knowledge, the manners of studying and reviewing his knowledge, the manners of dealing with his companions, etc. There are a lot of manners the student of knowledge has to follow in order that Allah blesses the knowledge he has.
Shaikh Bakr Abu Zayd رحمه الله wrote a book called حلية طالب العلم (Hilyat Talibul-'Ilm) which has been explained by Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله and consists of advices for the student of knowledge:
#1 - كن على جادة سلف الصالح
Adhere to the Path of the Pious Predecessors
Adhere to the Manhaj of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) from among the Companions and those who followed after them, who pursued their tracks in all aspects of Religion, from Tawheed to acts of worship, and so forth. Be distinguished as strictly adhering to the tracks of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and implementing the Sunan upon yourself, and leaving arguments and disputes, and not engrossing in 'Ilm Al-Kalam (rhetorical speech), and all that brings one sins and diverts from the Shari'ah.
Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله said in his explanation of the above statement:
الجدال و المراء هو الباب الذي يغلق طريق الصواب ، فإنهما تحملان المرء على أن يتكلم لينتصر لنفسه حتى لو بان له الحق تجده إما أن ينكره و إما أن يؤوله على وجه مستكره انتصارا لنفسه و إرغاما لخصمه على الأخذ بقوله، فإذا رأيت من أخيك جدالا و مراء حين يكون الحق واضحا و لكن لم يتبعه ففر منه فرارك من الأسد و قل: ليس عندي إلا مما ذكرته لك من الحق
Argumentation and disputes are a gate which block the path of correctness for a person, because they make him speak in order to support and make himself victorious. Even if the truth is clear, you will either find him denying it or retorting in a forceful way, seeking to make himself victorious and forcing his opponent to accept his opinion. So if you see argumentation and disputation from your brother while the truth is clear because he does not want to follow it, flee from him the way you flee from a lion, and say: I don't have anything besides what I have mentioned to you from the truth.
The person disputes because he does not want to be defeated. His concern is not to defend the Religion, but himself.
Therefore, the student of knowledge should not indulge in disputes. The Sheikh رحمه الله mentioned that at the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the bedouin would come from the desert asking him a matter related to the Religion, and then take the answer, accept, submit himself to the truth, and leave without any difficulty. Disputing and argumentation harms the person. It causes doubts to be raised in ones heart after he was certain of the knowledge.
It was narrated by Abu Umamah Al-Bahili that the Prophet ﷺ said:
أنا زعيم ببيت في ربض الجنة لمن ترك المراء، وإن كان محقاً، وببيت في وسط الجنة لمن ترك الكذب، وإن كان مازحاً، وببيت في أعلى الجنة لمن حسن خلقه
I guarantee a house in the boundaries of Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners." [Abu Dawud]
And he also narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُوتُوا الْجَدَلَ " . ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {ما ضربوه لك إلا جدلا بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ}
"No people go astray after having being guided but they resort to arguing." Then the Messenger of Allah recited the verse in Surah az-Zukhruf [43:58]: "They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people."" [Authenticated by Al-Albani in Saheeh at-Tirmithi #3253]
This is why the Sheikh رحمه الله said to flee from the person who disputes regarding the Religion just as you would flee from a lion. You should be afraid for your Religion; you may be misguided because of this dispute. If you bring a person evidences and he refuses, do not try to force him to accept your opinion.
This was the attitude of the Quraish and the disbelievers at the time of the Prophet ﷺ, as well as the attitude of Iblees.
إن مما يلزم من حث الطلبة على منهج السلف - رحمهم الله - دفعهم إلى معرفة منهجهم بمطالعة الكتب المؤلفة في هذا ك(سير أعلام النبلاء) و غيره، حتى نعرف طريقهم و نسلك ذالك المنهج القويم
It is incumbent on the one who urges students upon the methodology of the Salaf to motivate them to know their methodology by reading the books of authors on this subject, such as Siyar A'laam An-Nubalaa (by Adh-Dhahabi) and others, in order to know their way and accordingly follow that correct methodology.
In leaving disputation is a great relief for the person.
The Name of Allah الملك (Al-Malik)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمَا مِائَةً إِلاَّ وَاحِدًا مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
"Allah has ninety nine Names, one hundred minus one, whoever أحصاها will enter Paradise" [Agreed Upon]
In order to be of the people mentioned in the aforementioned Hadith, we have to:
a) Know the meaning of every name
b) Know the impact of the attribute the name implies
c) Worship Allah by the name
d) Memorize the name
The Attribute the Name الملك (Al-Malik) implies: الملك (Al-Mulk / The Dominion)
Allah is ذو الملك (The Owner of the Dominion). He has full power over the dominion and disposes the affairs of the dominion based on His perfect attributes.
الثالث: أن له التدبيرات النافذة، يقضي في ملكه بما يشاء و يحكم فيه بما يريد، لا راد لقضائه و لا معقب لحكمه، له الحكم فيه تقديرا و شرعا و جزاء
THIRD: To Allah belongs the executive management. He ordains in His dominion whatever He wills, and He decides in His dominion what He wills. None can repel His decision or ordainment, nor can anyone put back His Judgement. To Him belongs the Command; The Decreed Commands, Legal Commands, and Recompense
Allah disposes the affairs of His dominion by three types of commands:
1) أحكام قدرية - Decreed Commands
Allah controls the decrees of His creation. Whatever is happening now has been ordained by Allah 50,000 years before the creation of the heavens and earth. Everything that has been written is based on His knowledge, and happens to us now by the Will of Allah. Allah ordains upon us decrees which we have no choice in, such as death, life, sustenance, prevention, giving, humiliating, honouring, etc.
2) أحكام شرعية - Legal Commands
Allah sent Messengers and Books and legislated laws. He commands His creation to act upon His laws; to carry out His commands and avoid His prohibitions.
3) أحكام جزائية - Recompense
Whenever the ملك (Malik) ordains the people with something, it is only logical that He recompense them. If they obey Him, He will reward them. If they disobey Him, He will punish them.
Impacts of Believing in the Name الملك (Al-Malik)
#1 - If we really believe that to Allah belongs these three types of commands, we would not judge people or what they are going through. Do not say, "They deserve it" or "They do not deserve it". We do not know who deserves it and who doesn't. Nor should we say, "Why is this lawful?" or "Why is this unlawful?". Many people boldly ask these questions because they do not know who Allah, Al-Malik is. Allah's attributes are perfect, and our attributes are deficient.
Whenever you come across any law or decree in Islam, do not feel حرج (difficulty, hatred, hardship) in your heart. Differentiate between two matters:
a) Accepting the law but not wanting to comply with it because it opposes ones desire
b) Transgressing against the command and rejecting the law
There's a difference between a person who accepts but does not want to comply because it opposes his desire and a person who rejects and denies the law.
E.g. Polygamy. Many women do not like to act upon it but they accept that Allah ordained it in the Religion. This is different from rejecting, denying, and fighting the law.
Our attitude towards the law of Allah should be full submission (التسليم التام). Similarly with the decrees; we should submit and accept the decrees that befall us.
What makes us submit? Our belief that Allah, Al-Malik, who is perfect in His attributes is the One who decreed and ordained it. There is a wisdom behind the matter, although we may not know it right now. This is the attitude of the believer.
All the above three types of commands are based on justice, mercy, and wisdom, because Allah is the One who commanded them.
Example for the Three Types of Commands
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن : إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيراً له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيراً له
How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him. [Muslim]
الحكم القدرية (Decreed Command):
إن أصابته سراء - If prosperity attends him
وإن أصابته ضراء - and if adversity befalls him
الحكم الشرعية (Legal Command):
شكر - he expresses gratitude to Allah
صبر - he endures it patiently
(This is what Allah ordered us to do. Our patience and gratitude is acting upon Allah's legal command)
الحكم الجزائية (Recompense):
فكان خيراً له - and that is good for him
You are a human upon whom the Qadar of Allah; The King, befalls on. You do not choose the Qadar, but it is in your hand to act upon the command of the King or not. Accordingly, Allah will recompense you.
E.g. You experience something good in your life. For example, Allah gives you wealth, position, a righteous son, or any gate of goodness is opened for you. This is something you have no choice in.
What should your attitude be towards this Qadar? You have to act upon the command of the King, which is showing gratitude to Him for it. Thanking Allah is not limited to words, but it entails using that blessing in the way which is pleasing Allah.
If you did not thank Allah for the blessing, you will be of those whom Allah is not pleased with. Allah, Al-Malik, told us what pleases Him and what displeases Him. He told us what He loves and hates. It is thus our duty to learn what He loves and hates, in order to dispose of the blessing in the way pleasing to Him.
E.g. Allah granted you good health. This is a favour bestowed upon you by Allah. What should our attitude be towards this blessing? Our health is a trust from Allah, and we have to maintain our trusts. Also, we should use our good health to worship Allah.
E.g. Allah granted you strong memory and intellect. How will you thank Allah for this blessing? By memorizing the Qur'an, acquiring knowledge, etc.
Allah ordained for the believers to enter Paradise and the disbelievers to enter the Hellfire. Allah, the King, is just. He never oppresses His creation. He is perfect in His attributes.
If in any case His perfect wisdom was hidden from you, do not doubt in His wisdom. There is a wisdom, but you do not know. In many cases in our lives, we do not know why the decree is happening, but know that one day Allah will show you the wisdom. If not in this world, then on the Day of Judgement.
Whoever knows Allah well will never object to His decrees or laws, because He knows that he belongs to Allah and to Him he will return. Nothing happens in the dominion of Allah without His knowledge, wisdom, or will. In Surah Al-Burooj [85:1-3]:
"By the heaven, holding the big stars."
Allah swears by the heavens which hold the sun, moon, stars. Since we have opened our eyes in this world, we have seen the sun rising from the east and setting in the west. We have seen the moon changing phases throughout every month. The positions of the stars and planets remain in their orbit. Allah placed everything in this Dunya in its right place. The sun does not collide with the moon and nothing changes. People are able to make calendars thousands of years in the future because of this. Everything is in an organized system.
"And by the Promised Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection);"
You can see the impacts of Allah's perfection in the Dunya. Just as He put everything in its right place in this world, Allah will put everyone in their right place on the Day of Judgement. The believer in his right place, and the disbelievers in his right place. No one will be dealt with injustice.
"And by the witnessing day (i.e. Friday), and by the witnessed day [i.e. the day of 'Arafat (Hajj) the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah];"
Everyone witnessing and witnessed will be brought on the Day of Judgement to be taken account.
Surah Al-Burooj is about the disbelievers who burnt the believers, just because they believed in Allah. You see what is happening in the world of injustice and killing; you are witnessing the injustice that is happening now. All of them will be brought on the Day of Judgement and taken into account. But do we believe about Allah? Do we believe that He is unjust? Or do we believe that nothing happens in the dominion of Al-Malik without His knowledge? He is not unaware of what is happening nor unjust; rather what is happening is a trial. And Allah mentioned in Surah Al-Burooj that the end of the believers who were burnt will be Paradise:
"Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success."
And the end of those who burnt the believers, if they do not repent:
"Verily, those who put into trial the believing men and believing women (by torturing them and burning them), and then do not turn in repentance, (to Allah), will have the torment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the burning Fire."
The disbelievers burnt the believers by the will of Allah. Allah gave them permission to as a test, and Allah will take them to account on the Day of Judgement for what they did. We do not like the believers being killed and we feel pity for them and invoke Allah for them, but what is our belief regarding Allah Al-Malik? Do we think evil of Him? Allah deserves all praise for His decreed commands, legal commands, and recompense.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to say الحمد لله على كل حال (Praise is to Allah in all circumstances) when something disliked to us happens, and الحمد لله بنعمته تتم الصالحات (Praise is to Allah by whose grace all good is completed) when something good happens. In both cases we say الحمد لله (All Praise to Allah). Do not let any word of criticism come out of your mouth, especially when an unpleasant decree occurs. Hold yourself patiently upon the painful calamities that happen to you, and Allah will compensate you in the future.
Allah, Al-Malik, judges in His kingdom with what He wills. To Him belongs the perfect wisdom; oppression and wrongdoing are negated from Him.
#2 - الملك بلاء (Ownership is a Trial)
We need to look at and enumerate what Allah has made us possess. Our bodies for example; Allah made us posses eyes, ears, tongues, souls, strength, etc. Allah, the true Owner of these blessings, granted them to us as a test. What will you do with this blessing? You are responsible for whatever Allah put under your ownership.
Can you preserve your health independent of Allah, so that no sickness afflicts you? It is true that the means to the maintenance of our health is in our hands, but no matter how much you try to take care of your health, you may become sick. Allah wants to send us a message - that no matter how much we take the means of protection of our bodies, He is the true owner of protection.
When people have good health, they become deceived by it and think they will never become sick. But that same person could leave his house with soundness in all his organs, then meet an accident, and if he does not lose his life, come back home while having lost a limb. Because what he owns belongs to Allah. Therefore, do not be deceived by blessings and favours, and think they belong to you.
Good health is a test. Many healthy people are deceived by the their health and transgress the limits of Allah with it, when showing gratitude to Allah is to use the blessing in obedience to Him. They waste their good health by staying up late at night committing sins.
Your body is a trust that is entrusted to you by Allah and you are responsible for it. If you do not use it in the way pleasing to Allah, it may be taken away from you. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will make our limbs speak, and they will either be a witness for us or against us.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
اغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغُلِكَ وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” [Reported by Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak and Authenticated by Al-Albani]
All the above are blessings from Allah. If you do not take advantage of them and use them in coming closer to Allah, they will be a cause for regret on the Day of Judgement, if not in this world before that.
Wealth is also a test. Do not think that because you went to work and earned the money you have the full power to dispose of it in whatever way you please. This is a wrong concept. Allah, Malik Al-Mulk, is the One who gave you the money. He is the Owner of the money and put it in your possession as a test. Will you spend the money in the way pleasing to Allah or will you waste it? Bear in mind that if you do not spend the money in a good way, Allah will open gates of wasting that money. Your children might come sick, your car might need fixing in the garage, etc. until the money finishes. There will be no بركة (blessings) in the money.
Spend every blessing Allah gave you in the way of Allah, or you will lose it. Many people think that they own their money and no one has the right to tell them what to do with their money, and are even afraid of spending it, falsely believing that if they spend it it will finish. They do not know that Al-Malik ordered them with the legal command of spending in Zakat and on their family. If they do not act upon His legal command, they will be recompensed for that.
E.g. Allah granted us children, which are trusts in our hands, and tests us regarding them. We are commanded to establish their religious and worldly affairs. We are commanded to educate them, nurture them, teach them, take care of them. Accordingly, we will be recompensed.
In Conclusion: What is ملك (ownership) with regards to humans?
Allah, Al-Malik Al-Mulk (The Owner of the Dominion) granted us blessings as a trial to see what we will do with it. Will we act upon His command or not? Accordingly, He will recompense us for it.
a) We don't possess full disposal over the things we own, meaning we cannot do whatever we want with it.
b) Everything we own is a test
What should we do?
Allah is the Owner of the dominion. He is the One who sends the blessings (بركة) in what we own and He is الحافظ الحفيظ (The Protector, Guardian, Maintainer). As soon as Allah grants you a blessing - a new car for example - you should ask Allah to bless and preserve it.
بركة (Barakah) is to preserve the good in it and continuously increase it. We say in Dua Qunoot:
"و بارك لي فيما أعطيت"
And Bless me in all what You have given me. [An-Nasaa'i]
If you say this supplication while understanding its meaning, Allah will bless everything you have.
If Allah gave you children, He is the One who will protect your children. Many parents have waswaas regarding their children; they worry from the time they leave the house until they come home. This is due to lack of belief in Allah Al-Malik al-Mulk.
If Allah takes a favour away, it belonged to Allah in the first place. If this was our belief we would not feel excessively depressed when we lose something; it was a trust which Allah put in our hands, and He took it back.
When Allah bestows a blessing upon you, do not be a person who does not feel Allah's blessing upon him, such that you don't ask Allah to preserve and bless it for you.
E.g. When the youth's father buys him a car, he doesn't appreciate it. But when he buys it himself, he does the best to maintain it.
Ask Allah to maintain your blessing for you, to preserve it, and to guide you to use it in the way which pleases Him.
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