بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
If we are grateful to Allah for the blessing of knowledge, Allah will increase it for us. Allah said in Surah Ibrahim [14:7]:
And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."
#2 - ملازمة خشية الله تعالى
Adhere to the Fear of Allah
In English, fear is one word. However, in Arabic, there are different words for fear - such as خشية (Khashyah), رهبة (Rahbah), خوف (Khawf), وجل (Wajal) - and each term has a meaning unique to it. The most important term which the student of knowledge should be attributed with is خشية (Khashyah).
The student of knowledge should adorn himself inwardly and outwardly with خشية الله (the fear of Allah) by maintaining the rites of Islam, manifesting the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and spreading it by implementing it and calling to it. He should lead the way to Allah by his knowledge, manners, and actions, whilst adorning himself with masculinity (or femininity), leniency, and pious conduct.
The people will look at how he behaves, sits, talks, deals with others. Even if he does not command the people directly, he can make Da'wah by his actions.
If he meets an ignorant, he should be lenient and gentle in calling him.
And the King of all that is Khashyah of Allah. Therefore Imam Ahmed رحمه الله said, "The foundation of knowledge is fear of Allah."
Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله said in his commentary on the above:
الخشية هي الخوف المبني على العلم و التعظيم
خشية (Khashyah) is fear based on العلم (Knowledge) and التعظيم (Magnification).
The ignorant who is fearful has not had خشية (Khashyah). Allah said in Surah Fatir [35:28]:
"And of men and AdDawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is AllMighty, OftForgiving."
The more you increase in knowledge about Allah, the more you will obey Allah
Adhere to the fear of Allah secretly and openly, for verily the best of creation are those who fear Allah, and none fear Him except the knowledgeable, therefore the best of creation are the knowledgeable. And it is not hidden from the mind that the knowledgeable person is not considered knowledgeable unless he acts upon his knowledge, and he will not act upon his knowledge unless he adheres to the fear of Allah.
If you are alone in your room, what prevents you from not acting upon a Sunnah or a recommended act? It is your fear of Allah; that Allah taught you and you are not acting upon it, whilst you are encouraging others to do it.
This applies to even the feelings in our heart; one feels afraid because he has a bad feeling towards someone in his heart, and he knows that Allah knows what is in his heart, so this makes him unhappy.
In Surah Al-Bayyinah [98:7-8]:
"Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) including all obligations ordered by Islam] and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures."
"Their reward with their Lord is 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow, they will abide therein forever, Allah Well-Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord."
Who is that reward for? ذالك لمن خشية ربه - That is for him who fears his Lord."
This is what made him خير البرية (The best of creatures).
Only the knowledgeable person fears Allah. The best of the creatures are thus the Scholars, after the Prophets.
The Scholar will not be considered a Scholar unless he first acts upon his knowledge. And he will not act upon what he knows unless he fears Allah.
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه said,
هتف العلم بالعمل فإن أجابه و إلا ارتحل
Knowledge calls for action. If it answers, (that is good), otherwise it will leave him.
Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله said:
قول المصنف: "لا يعد عالما" يعني، عالما ربانيا، و أما كونه عالما ضد الجاهل فهذا صحيح.....لكن العالم الذي يعمل بعلمه هو العالم الرباني، لأنه يربي نفسه أولا، ثم يربي غيره ثانيا
The Authors saying, "He will not be considered a knowledgeable person";- Meaning an 'Aalim Rabbany. To say that a knowledgeable person is opposite of an ignorant is correct, however a knowledgeable person that acts upon his knowledge is an 'Aalim Rabbany, because he firstly nurtures himself, then secondly nurtures others.
The عالم رباني teaches the people, educates them, advises them, after he has acted upon it himself.
Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله said:
لابد من العمل بما علم لأنه إذا لم يعمل بعلمه صار من أول من تسعر بهم النار يوم القيامة
One should act upon His knowledge. If he does not act upon his knowledge, he will be one of the first three to be thrown into the Hellfire on the Day of Judgement.
فإذا لم يعمل بعلمه أورث الفشل في العلم و عدم البركة و نسيان العلم
If he does not act upon his knowledge, it will cause his knowledge to fizzle out, there will be lack of blessings in it, and it will be forgotten.
This is based on the verse in Surah Al-Maa'idah [5:13]:
"So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (good-doers)"
In Verse 12, Allah mentions the covenant He took from Bani Israeel. Bani Israeel had knowledge, but they broke the covenant with Allah, meaning they did not act upon the knowledge Allah taught them.
What was the result of that?
1) لعناهم - We cursed them
2) جعل قلوبهم قاسية - Made their hearts grow hard
Their hearts were hardened such that no admonition would affect them. Because of that they would change the words of Allah, without having any fear of Allah.
3) و نسوا حظ مما ذكر - And they forgot a good part of the message that was sent to them
There are two kinds of forgetfulness:
a) نسيان ذهنيا - To mentally forget
b) نسيان عملي - To forget to act upon it
Both happened to Bani Israeel. They forgot the knowledge and they forgot to act upon it.
If one acts upon what he learns, Allah will increase him in knowledge.
A person who forgets is like a person who learns to perform Wudu' according to the Sunnah. If he goes home and does not act upon what he learned, he will forget it. But if he acts upon it daily, he will never forget it. It will become a part of his life, and Allah will increase him more in knowledge, because he acted upon it. Ask Allah to help you act upon what you learn and to not make the knowledge a plea against you.
Bakr Abu Zayd and Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمهما الله have now passed away, but this is the inheritance they leave behind. They are in their graves and are benefitting from what we are learning.
The Name of Allah الملك (Al-Malik)
Allah is Al-Malik; ذوا الملك. He disposes the affairs of His dominion with His perfect attributes. ملك يتصرف في ملكه.
How does he manage the affairs of His creation?
1) احكام قدرية - Decreed Commands
2) احكام شرعية - Legal Commands
Allah tests us with the above, then accordingly:
3) احكام جزائئة - Recompense
Allah is مالك الملك (The Owner of the whole Dominion) and He grants us from His ملك (Dominion) to possess. The true believer believes that all what he owns belongs to Allah and that Allah gave it to him as a test, and that He will recompense him accordingly.
What should you do when Allah grants you any blessing?
a) Ask Allah to protect that blessing for you
b) Ask Allah to put بركة in that blessing
c) Ask Allah to guide you to use it in the right way
If you do that, you have done what Allah wants from you, and you will be recompensed accordingly.
Impacts of the Name Al-Malik
#3 - As Shaikh Abdur-Razzaq Al-Badr mentioned:
و من معاني ملكه: إنزاله كتبه، و إرسال رسله، و هداية العالمين، و إرشاد الضالين، و إقامة الحجة و المعذرة على المعاندين المكابرين، ووضع الثواب و العقاب مواضعها، و تنزيل الأمور منازلها إلى غير ذالك من التدبير و التصرف في مملكته بما شاء سبحانه
And from the meanings of His Mulk: Revealing books, sending Messengers, guiding the 'Alameen (all of mankind, Jinn, and all that exists), showing the way to the astray, establishing the proofs and excuses against the stubborn arrogant (opponents), setting reward and punishment in their right places, and placing all matters in their places, and so forth of matters of management and disposal in His kingdom with what He wills.
Allah's disposal is in accordance to what He wills, and the will of Allah is based on His knowledge and wisdom. He puts everything in its right place, in the right amount, at the right time.
All of the above indicates the mercy of Allah.
Out of Allah's mercy He sent Books and Messengers and established signs to guide the people. He sends decrees to the heedless to awaken them from their deep heedlesness. How many people were heedless and astray and a calamity befell them and woke them up? For example, a group of youth in a car accident. All of them died except one, and that affected him and became a cause of his righteousness.
Of Allah's mercy is that He exposes the falsehood of the disbelievers. How many were non-Muslims, then Allah showed them their falsehood, and this made them convert to Islam? Allah casts certainty in the hearts of the believers and His beneficence descends upon them continuously.There are people who are guided and people who are not.
A woman had committed a sin when she was young and forgot it without repenting. Years later, she was listening to the Fatawa from Saudi Arabia. One of the questions was exactly about a sin she has committed many years ago which she had not taken heed of nor repented from. After all these years, Allah did not take her with punishment, but made her realize her sin so that she could repent from it before death. Allah deals with His servants with mercy. He disposes the affairs of His creation with His mercy. He is ملك رحيم.
In Surah an-Nahl [16:18]:
"And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
We have to feel the blessings upon us.
Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
إن حقيقة الملك إنما تتم بالعطاء و المنع، و الإكرام و الإهانة، و الإثابة و العقوبة، و الغضب و الرضا، و التولية و العزل، و إعزاز ممن يليق به العز، و إذلال ممن يليق به الذل
Verily, true kingship is only fulfilled by giving and prevention, honouring and debasing, rewarding and punishing, anger and pleasure, giving leadership and removing it, honoring those who deserve honour, and humiliating those who deserve humiliation.
This is the reality of the true kingship. The one who does the above is the One who deserves to be called the King.
If someone asks you how Allah manages the world, you say that He gives, prevents, rewards, punishes, etc. These are the actions of the True King.
When you see people whom Allah gave many blessings and people whom Allah did not give as much, and people who are healthy and people who are sick, people who are honoured and people who are humiliated, know this is Al-Malik disposing the affairs of His creation.
E.g. Allah is the One sending and withholding the rain. No one is able to send down the rain. Even if all the people gathered to bring rain, they would not be able to do that. Allah says in Surah Al-Mulk [67:30]:
Say (O Muhammad): "Tell me! If (all) your water were to be sunk away, who then can supply you with flowing (spring) water?"
The answer is the first verse:
"Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things."
Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله based his aforementioned statement on the verses in Surah Aal-Imran [3:26-27]:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say (O Muhammad): "O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.
تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ ۖ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ۖ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
You make the night to enter into the day, and You make the day to enter into the night (i.e. increase and decrease in the hours of the night and the day during winter and summer), You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will, without limit (measure or account).
مالك الملك خلقا و تصرفا و مصيرا
He is the One who created the dominion
Disposes its affairs
And all that is in the dominion will go back to Him
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ - O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will.
He gives the Mulk to whomever He wills. Thus could refer to a worldly dominion or it could refer to the Hereafter.
A worldly dominion could be a house for example. Allah gave it to you. Can you dispose it as you like? Sometimes no, sometimes yes. Can you maintain that house forever? No. And this house may have belonged to someone else before. Allah took it from that person and gave it to you.
E.g. The job you have. Allah gave you the job. Someone else was discharged and you took his place. He gives the kingdom to whomever He wills and takes it from whomever He wills. Everything we have is from Allah.
E.g. Our intellect. There are people who were wise, yet lose their intellect when they became old. An old man leaves his house then later calls his son saying he forgot the way back to his own house. Who took this Mulk of intellect from him? Allah; Al-Malik Al-Mulk. He gives the Mulk to whomever He wills and He takes it from whomever He wills.
Therefore the Prophet ﷺ used to say:
He was afraid of losing the blessing he was enjoying. This is because we don't own anything; it has all been given to us. Allah may take it from us at any time. We should feel shy in front of Allah to talk proudly and say, "I did..." "I have...."
We should learn good manners when we talk. The true believer feels shy to say, "I".
E.g. Love. We do not own the love of our children or husbands for us. Allah is the one who puts our love in the hearts of the people. Allah said in Surah Ta-Ha [20:39]:
"And I endued you with love from Me, in order that you may be brought up under My Eye"
Allah endeared Musa عليه السلام to the heart of Pharoah. If you see that people love and respect you, it is all Provision from Allah.
Everything around you belongs to Allah. Your power of writing belongs to Allah, your holding the pen is from Allah. As your belief in this increases, as your attachment and love of Allah will increase. As you will have more in hope of Allah. You will always stand at His gate and ask Him to give you. You were nothing and Allah made you something. Allah said in Surah Al-Insan [76:1]:
"Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned?"
The Actions of Al-Malik
1) تؤتي - You Give
2) تنزى - You Take
3) تعز - You Honour
4) تذل - You Disgrace
5) تولج - You Merge
6) تولج
7) تخرج - You Bring Out
8) تخرج
9) ترزق من تشاء - You Provide for whomever You Will
These are the actions of the True King.
"بيدك الخير" - In Your Hand is the good.
When you see humiliation, sickness, deprivation, or any evil, then know it is good. Because in Allah's Hand is good. The verse does not say, "بيدك الخير و الشر" (In Your Hand is good and evil).
All what we perceive as evil is good, but because we are ignorant we say it is evil, become upset, and do not accept the Qadar.
تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ - You make the night to enter into the day, and You make the day to enter into the night
وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ۖ - You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living.
Allah brings a believer from a disbeliever. A disbelieving mother gives birth to a believing child, or a pregnant woman dies and they bring her baby out alive.
وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ - And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will, without limit (measure or account).
Everything is considered a provision.
Al-Malik disposes the affairs of His creation in the best way, and this indicates His perfect kingship. He may provide for a poor person and make him rich, and make the rich person become poor. How many billionaires are now begging from the people. He honours whomever He wills and disgraces whomever He wills.
Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله also used the verse from Surah Ar-Rahman [55:29] as evidence for his statement:
يَسْأَلُهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ
"Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him (its needs from Him). Every day He has a matter to bring forth (such as giving honour to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some, etc.)!"
He is the True King who is the Owner of the whole dominion. He alone can provide, which is why all those in the heavens and earth ask Him and no one else.
If you were asked to spend for thirty people from your money, the money will decrease and finish. You will not be able to give more. But no matter how much people ask Al-Malik Al-Mulk, it will not diminish from His dominion. This is why everyone asks Him by tongue and state. He is able to fulfill their needs.
The Prophet ﷺ said in an excerpt of a Hadith Qudsi that Allah said:
يَا عِبَادي ، لَوْ أنَّ أوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مَا نَقَصَ ذلِكَ من مُلكي شيئاً، يا عبادي لو أن أولكم وآخركم، وإنسكم وجنكم قاموا في صعيد واحد، فسألوني فأعطيت كل إنسان مسألته، ما نقص ذلك مما عندي إلا كما ينقص المخيط إذا أدخل البحر
...O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to stand in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decrease the sea if put into it. [Muslim]
Every day He is engaged in some affair. Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله enumerated a few of these affairs:
يغفر ذنبا، و يفرج كربا، و يكشف غما، و ينصر مظلوما، و يأخذ ظالما، و يفك عانيا، و يغني فقيرا، و يجبر كسيرا، و يشفي مريضا، و يقيل عثرا، و يستر عورة، و يعز ذليلا، و يذل عزيزا، و يعطي سائلا، و يذهب بدولة، و يأتي بأخرى، و يداول الأيام بين الناس، ويرفع أقواما، و يضع آخرين، يسوق المقادير التي قدرها قبل خلق السماوات و الأرض بخمسين ألف عام إلى مواقيتها فلا يتقدم شيء منها و لا يتأخر بل كل منها قد أحصاه كما أحصاه كتابه و جرى به قلمه و نفذ فيه حكمه و سبق به علمه
Forgiving sins, removing distresses, giving help to the oppressed, taking the oppressor with punishment, honouring some, disgracing others, enriching the poor, healing the sick, mending the hearts, concealing the defects, relieving the captive, destroying countries, bringing others in its place, elevating some and disgracing others, causing the decrees He decreed 50,00 years before the creation of the heavens and earth to happen at its time, so nothing occurs earlier nor is anything delayed. He has enumerated all of it as He has enumerated it in His Book (The Preserved Tablet), and written by His pen, and executed by His command, and preceded by His knowledge.
None of these decreed matters are delayed or advanced. Everything happens as He wills, in the time He decreed.
Then Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
فهو المتصرف في الممالك كلها وحده، تصرف ملك قادر قاهر عادل رحيم، ، تام الملك لا ينازعه في ملكه منازع، و لا يعارضه فيه معارض ، فتصرفه في المملكة دائر بين العدل، و الإحسان، و الحكمة، و المصلحة، و الرحمة، فلا يخرج تصرفه عن ذالك
So He is the Disposer of the affairs of the entire Dominion alone; disposing the affairs with the disposing of a King, Able, Irresistible, Just, Merciful. He is perfect in His dominion: none disputes with Him in His Mulk (Kingship or Dominion) and none opposes Him. His dealings in His Kingdom revolve around justice, benevolence, wisdom, benefit, and mercy, and do not go beyond that.
[End Quote - Tareeq Al-Hijratayn]
When Allah disposes the affairs, it is based on these five things:
a) عدل - Justice
b) إحسان - Ihsan
c) حكمة - Wisdom
d) مصلحة - Benefit
e) رحمة - Mercy
Allah said about His noble self in Surah Yusuf [12:21]:
"...And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs..."
No one can overpower Allah and no one can defeat Allah. Allah is the One who made everything subdued and submit to Him. His Tadbeer revolves around justice, mercy, wisdom, interests, etc.
E.g. A man commits a sin and Allah punishes him. Allah dealt with this person with His justice.
E.g. A person does good and obeys Allah and Allah gives him even more and more of blessings. Allah dealt with him with His Ihsan.
Q. Does Allah sometimes deal with the sinner with His Ihsan? Yes, by giving him respite. A person commits a sin and Allah neither hastens the punishment for him nor stops His blessings from being bestowed upon him. At the same time, Allah opens the gate of performance of good deeds for him so that he will increase in doing good deeds, subsequently his faith will increase and he will remember his past sins and repent to Allah.
E.g. When people are young they commit a lot of undutifulness to their parents, which is a major sin. Allah will not hasten the punishment for them. This person will grow, become a man, get married, then have children and remember what he did with his parents. When he remembers he may ask Allah forgiveness and Allah will forgive him. Allah dealt with this youth with His Ihsan and forbearance, although he was a sinner. And this is one of the impacts of the Name of Allah At-Tawwab. Allah guides them to repentand then He accepts the repentance. Even your repentance is from Allah; Al-Malik.
E.g. A person shows just one hour of patience when someone offended him. Allah will deal with the person with Ihsan, by الشكر (Appreciation). He will appreciate that patience and reward the person abundantly for it.
Allah also deals with His servants with wisdom, benefit, and mercy.
E.g. How many of us invoke Allah persistently for a certain matter, and Allah Al-Malik hears us and is able to give us, but He does not give us. He is dealing wit her with مصلحة (benefit). Her benefit is in not being granted what she wants right now; it might spoil her or make her deviate from the right path. Mercy is not limited to giving you what you want; it also includes protecting you from harm.
E.g. Allah knows that our heart is kindled with something we want urgently, and if we do not get it we will lose our faith, so He gives it to us out of His mercy,
Allah deals with His servants with His Justice, Benevolence, Benefit, Mercy, Wisdom.
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