QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH SHAYKH (DR) SHAROF GBADEBO ROOJEE

Questioner: If there is an evil going on in the country, can the Muslims and the disbelievers gather in a place to pray together, so as to ask Allaah to take the evil away?

Dr Sharof: No, no! …and the prayer of the disbelievers is only but in error (i.e. futility) [Soorah ar-Ra’d (13):14]. (Allaah also says), Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals? [Soorah al-Qalam (68):35] “…Or is darkness equivalent to light?...” [Soorah ar-R’ad (13):16] You want to sit together in such a way that you will supplicate to Allaah while they will supplicate to Jesus, Omega e.t.c. What for? Are the methodologies similar! Are the methodologies similar!!

The Congregation: No!

Dr Sharof: By Allaah, things have been mixed up here in the Yoruba land. They do these claiming that they have for long being intimate friends. There is no shortcut to al-Jannah. I hope we understand. So we have to face our way.

Also, from the mentality of the Yorubas is that prayers cannot be answered except if done in congregation. I hope you are also suspicious about this. This is their belief. They wish to stress themselves, colliding vigorously and rolling on the floor as if they are fighting. (Shaykh laughed lightly and then continued) You should supplicate to Allaah while I supplicate to Allaah too! Supplicate to Allaah in your prostrations; wake up in the midnight to supplicate to Allaah. I swear by Allaah, Allaah will take care of your needs. As for these innovated (prayers), we do not need them. That is why some people have turned Islaam to Chrislaam; that is, Christianity plus Islaam. And you all know that Chrislaam has no place in Islaam. That is it. You know that whenever the Muslims supplicate to Allaah their prayers will be answered. So why do you want to downplay your prayers by joining the disbelievers to pray?

This is one of the reasons we need to draw attention to some frivolity. If you wake up before Fajr, for example, like 4am because you want to travel for some reasons, you will be surprised seeing some Muslims who are just coming back home. So if you ask them about where they’re coming from, they may say they are just coming from vigil. If you ask them if they are Muslims or disbelievers they will reply that they are Muslims, but their excuse will be based on the assertion that they do not know where their prayers will be answered. Laa ilaaha ilaa Llaah! By Allaah, this is quite unfortunate. How can a Muslim claim he does not know where his prayer will be answered? It is certain that many people do not know about this Islaam; by Allaah, many of them are Muslims by names (alone). There is a great task before me, and there is a great task before you too. We must all explain this religion to everybody.

As for) these ignoramuses, you should discredit their excuses (by teaching them) because they may wish to use these excuses on the Day of Judgment, claiming that they do not know. This is a sitting of knowledge; what is the percentage of the people present when compared to the number of the people in this town? We are not up to one percent of the thousands of the people in this town. Where are the remaining people? That is an indication that we have a great task before us. There are people who snubbed the announcement. Some people where ardently chased after to their houses before giving them the invitation, some people where given the invitation in the mosques, perhaps they will come in twenty days time (a statement indicating lack of their passion for knowledge). We will not leave people like this. It is a responsibility entrusted upon us. This is because it is sorrowful if people do not practice Islaam (in our communities). It is harm for Islaam not to have a ground in a community where the Muslims live. For this reason, it is not enough that others be unseeing (that is, ignorant of the religion) while you’re visible (that is, knowledgeable). For this reason, you should not be selfish regarding that which you know. If you’re capable of giving out cassettes, do give them out (to others). And if you are capable of explaining that which you have learnt, do that. This is because these evils will be reduced gradually. It will be reduced! What does a Muslim need that requires that he should go the church to pray? What does a Muslim need that requires him to go for revival programs (of the unbelievers)? Is he dead and now needs revival? So we seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytoon! This does not mean that such programs should be held in the mosques. ‘Taajud’; we do not know anything called ‘Taajud’ in the Arabic language, but we know of AtTahajjud (The Night prayer). Say it!

The Congregation: At-Tahajjud

Dr Sharof: At-Tahajjud

The Congregation: At-Tahajjud

Dr Sharof: That is what we know in Islaam, but we do not know of ‘Taajud’. Some people have started these innovations; they even fix dates for it. They have introduced innovations into all forms of worship. Do not introduce innovations into these prayers based on the claim that you do not know how to stop the Muslims (from going to churches). There are many ways of preventing them from going to churches. Explain this religion to them and you should also try to learn this religion because (what is apparent) is that you do not understand it too. If the one who wants to give out a benefit does not have it himself, will he steal the benefit from someone else? That is it.

Source: Q&A session of the tape, "Explanation of the Prophet's methodology regarding Eid-al-Fitr

Transcribed by Aboo Aaishah Al Odeomeey

This is lovely! Jazaak Allaahu khayran.

Lots of knowledge, wisdom and understanding embedded.