So we said “O Messenger of Allah! It is as if this is a farewell admonition, so advise us.” He said, “I advise you with the taqwa (fear, reverence) of Allah. And listen and obey, even if the one who is appointed over you in authority is a slave. Indeed, whosoever from amongst you lives after me, then he shall see much differing. So stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto it with your molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters, since every innovation is misguidance.
You will quite often find in a single city in Europe or North America, scores of competing factions of Muslims vying for the hearts (and allegiance) of the Muslims, each one claiming that it is upon the Truth to the exclusion of others. They can’t all be right? Can they? The author of this treatise, Shaikh Rabi al-Madkhali, expounds upon the challenges facing the Salafis living in the West and imparts some invaluable advice to them. A must read.
He clarifies why one should openly manifest the madh-hab of the Salafus-Saalih, name oneself with as-Salafiyyah, and brings some of the evidences of why it is obligatory to follow and cling to this noble madh-hab. Other topics explained includes, the manhaj of the Salafus-Saalih in aqeedah in contrast to the mank of the People of Desires. He concludes with a brief explanation of the position of the Salafus-Saalih in refuting the innovators and provides guidance on how Ahlus-Sunnah should deal with the People of Desires.
Furthermore, in seeking the correct understanding of Islam, he makes clear the status of the Companions when he says, ‘No matter how much an individual excels in intelligence, aptitude and cleverness, he cannot do without the understanding of the Salaf.
Even great Scholars like Shaafi’ee, Malik, Ahmed, Abu Haneefa and others were in great need of referring back to the illustrious companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Ash- Shaafi’ee said: ‘The companions are superior to us in all aspects of knowledge, intelligence and understanding.’’
In addtion, he discusses the two types of Sunnah: The clear Sunnah and the implied Sunnah.
To conclude, twelve points of benefit summarize the excellence of the Sunnah, its lofty status and clear any misconceptions surrounding this noble topic.
I advise the scholars and all those who are involved in calling to ALLAH to take advantage of this opportunity and exert all their efforts in calling to ALLAH and teaching the people the reason for their creation; which is worshipping Allah, obeying Him, reading His Book and so on. I advise them to engage in everything they possibly can, including delivering the jumu’ah khutbah along with other sermons during suitable occasions, authoring books and involving themselves with the different types of media outlets such as the radio, television and newspapers.
This book is for open-minded people who see beyond media propaganda and wish to acquire an accurate understanding of Islām and its position on extremism and terrorism.
Loyalty towards the disbelievers is of two categories: The first category: The loyalty towards the disbeliever that removes the person from the fold of Islam. Thus, he becomes a disbeliever after having been a Muslim. And this is allegiance.
In this time of political turmoil and social upheavals, many sects claim to follow the way of the Salaf, yet their actions and what they call to are contrary to what the Salaf were upon. They entice the people with rhetoric, calling them to misguidance, leading them to the Hellfire. Thus it is imperative that the Muslim arms himself with knowledge, knowledge of what Salafiyyah is and the ability to recognise who the true Salafees really are.
The Messenger of Allaah, may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, further explains that over time differing and controversy will occur between the Muslims. He mentions to them the cure to this differing and separation, that is: Stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. He continued: Hold on to that with your molar teeth. The Messenger, may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, warned the Muslims from innovating in matters of worship in this hadeeth: Be warned of the newly invented matters for verily every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance , and to obey the Muslim rulers: I advise you with the fear of Allaah and to hear and obey (your leaders) even if an Abyssinian slave were to rule over you. The hadeeth is beautifully explained by the Scholar and former teacher at the Islamic University of Madinah, Shaikh Ubayd Al-Jaabiree and it has compiled and presented to you in this book.
The Status of the companions of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) verily they have, by Allah, a status and a great position with Allah the Blessed and Exalted, and with His Messenger (Peace be upon him) and with the true believers.
In this book the erudite scholar and doctor, Shaikh Sālih bin Fawzān al-Fawzān brings the story behind the life of one of the most notable scholars of the 18th century, Shaikh ul-Islām Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb, may Allāh shower His Mercy upon him. Prophetic narrations state that in every era Allāh has placed scholars who remain firm upon calling to the Book of Allāh and upon enlightening the people in spite of the efforts of their opponents to dissuade or harm them.
Shaikh al-Fawzān states: “Each time there appears a caller to the
truth, a caller from falsehood stands in opposition to him.” From these callers to the truth is the Imām and reviver of the religion, Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb.
Therefore, He didn’t leave anything good except that He made it clear to us; and He didn’t leave anything evil except that he made it clear to us. Thus, among the greatest causes for the Ummah’s salvation is clinging to the Aqeedah and Tawheed, its avoiding Shirk and bid’ah.
So the foundation of the causes, which saves (us) from fitan(i.e. plural for trial) is Tawheed, avoidance of Shirk, Bid’ah, and new matters in the religion.
Altogether, this combination of a scholar’s guidance and wisdom with a student of knowledge’s research and investigation makes for an incredible and invaluable resource for Muslims everywhere to benefit from.
Lastly, there occurs a detailed discussion about some of the most prevalent doubts upon Ahlus-Sunnah today, such as those from amongst the Mu?tazilah who deny the khabrul-aahaad (singular narration) and the Ashaa?irah and their likes who attribute tashbeeh (resembling Allaah to His creation) to Ahlus-Sunnah, whilst themselves performing ta?weel (figurative interpretation) and ta?teel (denial) of the Attributes of Allaah. The later part of the book is devoted to a biography of Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee, his discussion with the head of al- Azhar concerning the issues of taqleed and the madhaahib and an exposition of standard Ash?aree doubts upon Ahlus-Sunnah and their creed. In a time of severe confusion and corruption, this treatise is sure to be a beacon of enlightenment and a pure spring from which all those desiring true guidance can drink.
Those who wish to lead a spiritual life are in the minority. Thus it is incumbent for the seekers of Allah’s Pleasure to follow the correct path, lest their efforts are rendered worthless. This book will Insha’Allah aid the noble reader to awaken one’s soul to its true purpose and follow the straight path of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the best man to walk this earth, the finest of all examples and the most beloved to Allah whose spirituality, character, morals and ethics are unquestionable.
This work by Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is of great importance. It covers many topics in relation to Spirituality, Paths of Asceticism, Purifying the Self, Conditioning the Heart, Symptoms and Remedies, Beauty of Patience, Pardoning and Avoidance.
This book is an important guide for all those active in the fields of da’wah, giving them an insight into the methodology of da’wah which the prophets employed and how it is a divine and precise methodology which leaves no room for personal opinions, experimentation or individual inclinations!
It will also prove invaluable to all those who desire a return of the honour and victory to and the Muslim ummah, since the programme for success lies in following the methodology of the Prophets. Furthermore the book will enable its reader to be aware of (and therefore protect himself from) the innovated call and methodologies of some of the contemporary movements.
For verily it is not the purpose of the sincere adviser to broadcast the short-coming of the one whom he is advising, and verily his purpose is only to remove the corruption which has occurred in him. And as for broadcasting and manifesting the short-coming, then this is part of what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Allah the Exalted said: Indeed, those who like that immorality should be publicized among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know. And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy…
This is the command of Allaah, the Blessed and High, and His Legislation for His Prophets and the Messengers of Strong Will; establishment of the religion and not dividing in it. This verse contains the most beneficial solution and the safest remedy to quell the differing and to set in order the disarray.
Establishment of the religion is by way of clinging to their religion which Allaah, the Blessed and High, has commanded them with, and preserving it. There is no solution other than this and there is no remedy except it. In establishing the religion, there lies cutting off of the splitting which the people fall into. This is by way of completely returning to the religion.
This is why the scholars of this era, the likes of Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz, Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee, Muhammad bin Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen, Saalih Al-Fawzaan and countless others have praised this book in particular and its author in genera
In this regard, many verses indicate the obligation of obeying the Prophet and adhering to his Sunnah. Also, previous evidence indicated the obligation of adhering to the Book of Allāh, sticking to it, and complying with his orders and abstaining from its prohibitions. These are two relevant fundamentals in which whoever denies one of them denies the other. This is considered an act of disbelief and misguidance which takes one outside the fold of Islām as agreed by all the scholars.
The ahādīth of the Prophet (May Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) indicated the obligation of obeying the Messenger of Allāh (May Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), following his Sunnah and refraining from disobeying him. All of this is relative to the people of his era as well as those to come. It is related by Al-Bukhārī and Muslim on the authority of Abū Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (May Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:
“Whosoever obeys me, obeys Allāh; and he who disobeys me disobeys Allāh.”
By way of these various means, the Qur’ān calls the people to believe in the Sunnah and act upon it, and that it, along with the Qur’ān, is [one of] the true foundations of this religion. Since belief in the Messenger ﷺ is a foundation from the foundations of īmān, then belief in his Sunnah is a necessary component of īmān in him, because he is Ṣāḥib as-Sunnah (the Possessor of the Sunnah), and because īmān, as Imām Ibn al-Qayyim has defined it, is:
About the Book:
This is the third book in the “Classical Knowledge Series” which is a collection of works written by the scholars of the past on the virtues, etiquettes and aspects of knowledge. This particular book written by the great scholar, Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, is one of the well known works authored on the subject.
So this is a precious pearl and an incomparable treatise written by the red pen of the Shaikh, the Jurist (faqih), the exegete (mufassir): Abdur-Rahman Ibn Nasir As-Sa’di (rahimahullah) in which he offers advice to the laypeople of the Ummah and encourages them to unify their word and he cautions them against splitting and differing, which leads to quarrelling and mutual hatred.
So it is obligatory upon the da’ee (caller) to have ikhlaas (sincerity and purity of intentions and actions) for Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic – neither desiring to show-off, nor desiring reputation, nor desiring the praises and the accolades of the people. Rather, the da’ee should only call to Allaah, seeking the Face of Allaah…and this is the most important etiquette and the greatest quality…
(267) 428-1723
