Ahmad ibn Hanbal said:��

*التَّغْيِيرُ بِالْيَدِ لَيْسَ بِالسَّيْفِ وَالسِّلَاحِ*

*Changing evil with one’s hand is not done with swords or weapons.*

Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam34⬆️

Bishr al-Hārith [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“The servant [of Allāh] will not attain the sweetness of worship until he places between himself and his lusts and desires a barrier made of iron.”

Hilyat ul-Awliyā’a, 8/345 | Abi Nu’aym al-Asfahāni [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes

Abul-Aaliyah Sa’eed (رحمه الله) said:

“Learn Islaam, then when you have learnt Islaam, do not turn away from it to the right or to the left. But be upon the straight path and be upon the Sunnah of your Prophet and that which his companions were upon. . . And beware of these innovations, because they cause enmity and hatred amongst you, but stick to the original state of affairs which was there before they divided.”

- Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah, no. 136 and Al-Aajuuree in Ash-Sharee’ah, p.24.

Lesson 1 of Six Fundamental Principles by Uways at-Taweel



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIg9x4U_4cA

Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
If a person boasts about committing zina, this implies that he regards zina as being permissible and whoever regards zina as permissible is a kaafir.

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen, 1/116]

Al-Hāfidh ibn Rajab al-Hambāli [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“From amongst the signs of beneficial knowledge are that it causes the seeker of knowledge to flee from the worldly-life and its splendors; from leadership, fame and praise. The seeker of beneficial knowledge is one who does not claim to have knowledge; nor does he use it to act arrogantly towards anyone; nor does he describe anyone as being ignorant, except those who oppose the guidance and example of the Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and its people [i.e., followers].”

Majmū Rasā’il 3/13 | Al-Hāfidh ibn Rajab al-Hambāli [may Allāh have mercy on him]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever does you a favour, then reciprocate, and if you cannot find anything with which to reciprocate, then pray for him until you think that you have reciprocated him.” Narrated by Abu Dawood

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“I advise myself [first and foremost] and urge you all to always beseech Allāh for steadfastness upon faith and that you have fear, for beneath your feet are pitfalls. Therefore, if Allāh, the Almighty, the Majestic does not keep you steadfast, you will fall into destruction!”

Sharh al-Mumti’, 5/388 | Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes

Umayr (radiyallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) said: "The ruler will be brought forth on the Day of Judgement and placed on Hell's Bridge. The Bridge will shake violently such that all the joints of the ruler's body will be displaced. If he was obedient to Allah in his deeds, he will be safeguarded. However if he was disobedient to Allah in his actions, the Bridge shall crumble and he will fall into Hell the distance of fifty years." Umar (radiyallahu anhu) then asked if anyone would dare seek office after hearing this

|Fleeing From The Fire by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali page 85, Dar as-Sunnah Publishers Transaction|

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever fights under a banner of folly, supporting Assabiyah (Tribalism, Nationalism) or getting angry for the sake of Assabiyah, he dies in a state of ignorance.”

Sunan Ibn Majah 3948

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaimīn [رحمه الله] said:

❝It is only right that a person be optimistic, feeling happy about the good he sees [in things]; and he should not look at the life lying ahead of him in this world as dark and dismal so that he becomes weary [of life] and loses hope.❞
[Sharḥ Riyaḍ Al-Ṣāliḥīn, (4/115-116) | Translated By Mikail Ibn Mahboob Ariff]

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said:

“If a camel died, wretched, on the bank of the (river) Nile, I would fear that Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, will ask me about it.”

- Al-Muntadham of Ibn al-Jawzee, 4/141, through Hayaat al-Salaf of Ahmad al-Tayyaar.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaimīn [رحمه الله] said:
❝It is only right that a person be optimistic, feeling happy about the good he sees [in things]; and he should not look at the life lying ahead of him in this world as dark and dismal so that he becomes weary [of life] and loses hope.❞
[Sharḥ Riyaḍ Al-Ṣāliḥīn, (4/115-116) | Translated By Mikail Ibn Mahboob Ariff]

I feel this is a timely reminder in the light of things taking place around the world.

Shaykh Ahmad ibn Yahya an-Najmi (رحمه الله) said:

“The mother is the first school. If she is righteous, the progeny becomes righteous.”

- Fath-ur-Rabb al-Wadud, 2/256.

Questions From the West About Covid-19 Answered by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh
Posted on December 11, 2020 by admin
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

From Moosaa at-Taweel al-Amreekee to the Grand Mufti, the virtuous Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh: As-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. As for what follows:

In these days -the days of the Coronavirus Pandemic- Allah has indeed blessed us with good leadership, governmental leaders and scholars who love the Muslims, and the Muslims love them. They lead the people to safety and well-being, by the Permission of their Lord. Their cooperation in establishing safety protocols in the land of Tawheed, the land of the two sacred and honored mosques, the respected Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -may Allah protect it from every evil- is an exemplary thing, a role model for the entire world, and the praise is for Allah. People of all different religions and various languages notice this, so may Allah compensate you for your hard work and reward you with the best reward for what you do for your Ummah!

A matter that causes fear has indeed come to us, a very serious matter, and [about it] the people have differed in their views. And our Lord, the All-Knowing, the Ever Informed, has indeed guided us to what is befitting for us in these types of issues, with His Statement [which means]:

And when there comes to them a matter of safety or fear, they spread it openly. Yet had they only referred it back to the Messenger and those in authority among them, those of them capable of extracting its ruling would have done so. [4:83]

So in order to implement this Noble Verse, and with due concern for unity, I present some important questions. I do believe that your answers to them will –by Allah’s Permission- save your children of Ahlus-Sunnah in foreign lands from the differing that has befallen them, as you hold a position of trust with everyone. It is from Allah that I hope that we could benefit from your noble instructions.

The First Question: How do we know exactly what the nawaazil (pending issues in need of verdicts) are, those which must be deferred to the senior scholars and people of authority? Are the Fiqh issues connected to the Coronavirus from those nawaazil?

[ANSWER] From ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Muhammad Aal ash-Shaykh to the respected Moosaa at-Taweel, may Allah grant him success. As-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh, and as for what follows the greeting:

Your letter has reached me, the one asking about five matters, so here is the response:

Firstly, whatever issues and nawaazil happen to people are to be returned back to the Book and the Sunnah, as the Exalted One says:

O you who have believed! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you differ over any matter, then return it back to Allah and the Messenger if truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for a final determination. [4:59]

And whenever the issue is specific to some individuals, then the Fuqahaa’ (those knowledgeable of Fiqh, i.e. Islamic rulings), the rightful people of ijtihaad (deducing rulings from evidences), those who fulfill the requirements of ijtihaad, implement their ijtihaad, due to His Statement, the Most High:

Follow what has come down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any helpers (or protectors) besides Him. Little do you remember! [7:3]

And whoever is not from the Fuqahaa’ is to refer to the scholars, due to His Statement, the Most High:

So ask the people of knowledge when you do not know. [21:7]

And whatever issues are connected to broad public concern are referred back to those in [official positions of] authority, those who consult with the people of knowledge and specialization [of specific relevant fields], as He, the Most High, has said:

ﱡAnd when there comes to them a matter of safety or fear, they spread it openly. Yet had they only referred it back to the Messenger and those in authority among them, those of them capable of extracting its ruling would have done so. And had it not been for the Favor of Allah upon you, and His Mercy, you would have followed the Shaytaan, save a few. [4:83]

The Second Question: What should be done if we enter a mosque these days -the days of the Coronavirus-, and we find that the people of this masjid are not distancing themselves from one another, nor are they implementing the safety protocols of the authorities, in non-Muslim lands? Instead, they order those praying to come together and stand without gaps in the rows. Please instruct us, may Allah protect you from every evil.

[ANSWER] Secondly, keeping distance between the people who pray in the mosque is done for the purpose of avoiding the spread of the disease. It does not affect the validity of the prayer, and it is from what accomplishes [legislated] benefit and repels harm. Thus, if you enter a mosque where the people are not abiding by the protocols of safety requested by the authorities to prevent the spread of the disease, then it is upon you to advise those who maintain that mosque to have the people abide by the precautionary procedures required by the relevant authorities.

The Third Question: In the West, we have some doctors among the Muslims, people of Sunnah and [good practice of] Religion, people known for their love of Islamic knowledge and its dissemination. However, in these days specifically, they oppose the official Health agencies, saying that there is no need for the well-known protocols of safety which those officials instruct the people to observe, like distancing, wearing masks, etc., protocols that match or are close to the same ones chosen by the Muslim leaders. They say that the verdicts issued by the people of knowledge in the Muslim lands and the decisions made by their rulers are erroneous opinions, because they are based on blindly following global health organizations of the non-Muslims, and that they -those in such organizations- are people with evil agendas against the Muslims. This stance has begun to spread among some of the youth, so what direction do you have for us and them?

[ANSWER] Thirdly, upon you is to abide by the safety instructions issued by the official authorities, those taken in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Furthermore, you must not subject the Muslims to punitive action by encouraging them to violate the instructions issued by the official authorities.

The Fourth Question: What should be our stance on those who talk about So-and-So, the government official, in their private gatherings, actually naming one of the authorities in the land of the Two Sacred Mosques, saying that he is causing corruption in the land, because he closes mosques and puts restrictive limits on those who come for Hajj and ‘Umrah, requiring them to follow harsh safety restrictions, which leads to the ruin of the sacred places [of worship].

[ANSWER] Fourthly, it is not permissible to speak ill of the authorities for instituting what they believe are efforts needed to prevent the spread of diseases. Instead, what is due to them is to be praised [for that] and supplicated for.

The Fifth Question: What is our stance on those who say that the governmental leaders in the Land of Tawheed have made decisions during this pandemic based on blindly following the West, without consulting the people of knowledge?

And I do apologize for the number of questions; however we are in a state of differing and dispute, and we are seeking a good way out, one pleasing and successful, from this trial, which is merely from the things that our Lord, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise, tests us with. It is a good trial, so that the Muslims would advise one another and differ [to a point], but then return back to the Truth, come back close to one another, and love one another for Allah’s Sake, all of them together upon one single heart. And it is Allah that I ask to actualize that, by His Grace and Generosity. Was-Salaam. [Dated: 1442/2/18]

[REPLY] Fifthly, the rulers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are vigilant over matters of benefit for the Muslims and repelling harm from them. May Allah reward them with the best reward. Their way of doing things continues to include consultation with the people of knowledge in matters that arise, in order to know the [correct] legislative ruling.

Attached are a number of edicts and official decisions on the topic.

May Allah make us all successful in attaining what pleases Him, and may He aid us and you in what is good.

Was-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.

The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars
General Chairman of Academic Research and Edicts

[stamp]

Dated: 1442/4/22 (Monday, December 7, 2020)

Translation: Moosaa Richardson

The Permanent Committee of Scholars in Saudi Arabia stated:

“It is not permitted for the Muslim to eat that which was prepared by the Jews and Christians or idol-worshippers specifically for their days of festivities. And it is not permitted for the Muslims to accept a gift from them in celebration of those festivities because that contains honoring and cooperating with them in making apparent their religious symbols and furthering and promoting their innovations and partaking in the happiness of their festivals. And this may ultimately lead to taking on their festivals as our own festivals…”

- Fatwa of Al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah, with Shaikhs Ibn Baz, Abdur-Razzaq Afifi, Abdullah Al-Ghudayan and others. See 22/398-399, Fatwa no. 2882.

Abul ‘Āliyyah [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“A time will come upon the people wherein there hearts will be devoid and derelict of the Qur’ān. They will find neither sweetness nor acquire any delight by its recitation. If they fall short of performing what they have been commanded to do, they will say: ‘Certainly, Allāh is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ If they commit that which they have been forbidden from doing, they will say: ‘We shall be forgiven, we have not associated any partners unto Allāh.’ Their affairs will be based on covetousness [and false hope], possessing no truth [and no sincerity]. They will wear the skins of lambs over hearts of wolves. The best of them in his religion will be someone who compromises.”

Kitāb az-Zuhd, 1714 | Al-Imām Ahmad bin Hambal [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes

Amoto94:
Abul ‘Āliyyah [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“A time will come upon the people wherein there hearts will be devoid and derelict of the Qur’ān. They will find neither sweetness nor acquire any delight by its recitation. If they fall short of performing what they have been commanded to do, they will say: ‘Certainly, Allāh is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ If they commit that which they have been forbidden from doing, they will say: ‘We shall be forgiven, we have not associated any partners unto Allāh.’ Their affairs will be based on covetousness [and false hope], possessing no truth [and no sincerity]. They will wear the skins of lambs over hearts of wolves. The best of them in his religion will be someone who compromises.”

Kitāb az-Zuhd, 1714 | Al-Imām Ahmad bin Hambal [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes

Humm! Subhanallah

Al-Imām Ahmad ibn Hambal [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“May Allāh bestow mercy upon a servant who:

‘Speaks the truth, follows the Athār [narrations]; adheres to the example and guidance of the Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and emulates the righteous [Pious
Predecessors and Successors].’”

Tabaqāt al-Hanābilah 1/36 | Al-Imām Muhammad bin Abi Yu’la al-Baghdādi al-Hambali [may Allāh have mercy on him]

It is reported that Al-Shaʿbī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:

Stay away from the sinful amongst the scholars and the ignorant amongst the worshippers, for these two are the calamity of everyone who would fall into fitnah.

Al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab Al-Īmān ḥadīth 1753.