asalamualikum.
* Title: Unity an Obligation *
by *Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali حفظه الله*
on Saturday August 21st, 2004
http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2488
*Introduction*
Indeed we are blessed to have with us our beloved Shaykh wa waalidunaa (and
our father) Abu Muhammad Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali hafidahullaahu ta'aala
and he is indeed a well-known scholar. We ask Allaah to bless him in his
knowledge, actions and his life.
The Shaykh hafidahullaahu ta'aala began by praising Allaah سبحانه و تعالى
and sending salaat and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, his
family his Companions and those who follow the guidance. He then thanked
Allaah for this conference and for being invited to speak with us and he
praised Allaah سبحانه و تعالى that He guided us to Islaam, and to the manhaj
of the Salaf.
The manhaj of the Salaf is (adhering to) the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى
and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه و سلم upon the fiqh of the
Salaf as-Saalih. He said, I order myself, and you with the *taqwa* of Allaah
عز و جلand the uprightness and firmness upon this Deen and upon this manhaj.
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gave us advice, and the advices are many and the
orders are many; and from them is that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا
نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ
قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً
*{And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this
Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh's Favour on
you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together
so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith)
…}*[Aal-'Imraan 3:103]
*Tawheed*
And you must learn *tawheed*, the tawheed of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى – that we
worship Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and we *do not associate partners with
Him*and we all hold together, fast upon this rope. The Messenger of
Allaah صلى
الله عليه و سلم said that *"Verily Allaah likes for you three things: that
you worship Him and disassociate anything as partners with Him; that you
hold fast to the Rope of Allaah and do not split; and that you submit or you
obey the leaders over you; and He hates for you three things: 'he-said,
she-said' (irrelevant talk), persistent questioning, and wasting of wealth."
*[1] In this hadith and in the previous ayah there is a commandment
regarding: holding onto the Rope of Allaah عز و جل, *thabaath* (being firm)
upon that and the prohibition of splitting and dividing.
He hafidahullaahu ta'aala went on to say that after the Sahaabah were split,
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى guided them to Islaam and brought together between
their hearts and put love between them. So Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has blessed
and has given His favours to this Ummah. It is from the greatest blessings
and favours which He bestowed upon us that He made us brothers, the
*ni'mah*(نعمة – blessing) of
*aquwwah* (أخوة – brotherhood) – the blessing of being brothers upon the
Kitaab and the Sunnah and that we stay away from associating partners with
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. So, after worshipping Allaah سبحانه و تعالى Alone we
come together as one, and we *forbid shirk and we order with tawheed*. The
aayaat and ahaadeeth are many to this effect, in these aayaat and ahaadeeth
we are shown the *danger of shirk*. We must learn these aayaat and
ahaadeeth, the proofs of at-tawheed and the proofs of shirk.
*'Ibaadah*
We must also learn our 'ibaadah – how to worship Allaah in all types of
'ibaadah as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ {55} مَا أُرِيدُ
مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ {56} إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ
الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
*{And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship
Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them
(i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they
should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).
Verily, Allâh is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.
}*[adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56-58]
Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (Rahimahullaah) said that *"'ibaadah
(worship) is a comprehensive term for everything which Allaah سبحانه و تعالى
loves and is pleased with from speech and actions – apparent and
hidden."*There are many acts of 'ibaadah, from them are: du'aa,
seeking help from
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, hoping in Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, asking of Allaah
سبحانه و تعالى, having trust in Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, being obedient to
your parents, keeping the ties of the womb, seeking refuge with Allaah
سبحانه و تعالى from the Shaitaan and other than him, establishing the
salaah, giving the zakaah, fasting, performing hajj and so on and so forth.
*The Importance of Knowledge*
We need to *study* these 'ibaadaat, we need to study how they are done –
from the aspects of tawheed and doing them sincerely for Allaah سبحانه و
تعالى; and we need to *learn about shirk so we may stay away from it*, and
we need to know the halaal from the haraam, and again, all of this comes
from the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى
الله عليه و سلم and from the *fiqh* (understanding) of the Salaf.
This Knowledge is a *great affair* and the life of the Muslims *cannot be
upheld without it*. Those that are deprived of it are deprived of
everything, they cannot go forth. We have to take advantage of the knowledge
when it is given and we have to *seek the knowledge* and strive for it.
The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said: *" Verily, Allaah does not
take away knowledge by snatching it away from the people but He takes away
knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned
person, people turn to ignorant ones as their leaders; then they are asked
to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, so
they go astray, and lead others astray.*[2]
So take advantage of the 'Ulamaa before they die and take advantage of the
knowledge while it is around. Take advantage of them, go to them, call them,
ask them, and travel, travel for this knowledge. This Ummah is in great need
of those who go out and seek knowledge sincerely for Allaah سبحانه و تعالى,
these are few, we don't have many.
We must know the *fadl* (فضل – virtue) of the 'Ulamaa (Scholars) and the *
fadl* of those who seek knowledge, we must know these virtues. *'Verily the
angels put their wings down for the student of knowledge in approval of what
they are doing'*[3] and Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء
*{… It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh …}
* [Faatir 35:28]
And He says:
هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
*{…Are those who know equal to those who know not?...}* [az-Zumar 39:9]
And Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ
دَرَجَاتٍ
*{…Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have
been granted knowledge…}* [al-Mujaadilah 58:11]
We need this Knowledge more then we need water and air, we are in need of it
because it is from this Knowledge that we understand why we were created. We
need to find out why we were created, and this Knowledge teaches us why. The
Shaykh hafidahullaahu ta'aala said *we must learn*, we must learn the
knowledge of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. We must go forth and seek it;
we must take advantage before time runs out.
*Manners between the Salaf*
Then, if we have understood this Deen upon Knowledge, we become brothers
upon this Knowledge, and this is the strongest bond that will be formed upon
this knowledge – we will become brothers upon it. Be very nice with each
other, be easy with your brother and do not try to be over him, be lowly
(humble) and easy with him, and use wisdom and patience with him. Many of
the *shabaab* – the young men, have not been given this at all; and because
of this they dispute between themselves. They have not been given patience
and *rifq* (gentleness) and love between each other, and this has caused
them to dispute and split apart.
It is upon you to take the *asbaab* – the reasons for coming together. From
them is seeking the knowledge, giving the salaam, making your rows straight
and being together in salaah; give much salaam and go over to each other's
houses and be sincere with each other.
And leave the fighting, leave the argumentation, leave it, throw it away –
if it comes, throw it away. Leave cutting each other off, leave it! Leave
turning your back away from each other, and if one of you thinks he wants to
make *hajr* of the other i.e. where you want to separate from your brother,
then this is not the way. If you want to do this then you must have the
correct *asbaab* – the correct means which are clear and which comes from
the 'Ulamaa – an 'Aalim (Scholar) that understands the benefits and the
harm, an 'Aalim that differentiates between the person being upon the Sunnah
or upon bid'ah. This *hajr* is not between the Salafiyeen at all, we need to
leave this. The Salafiyeen are those who follow the Kitaab and the Sunnah
upon the understanding of the Salaf – 'Umar and 'Ali and Abu Bakr etc. رضي
الله عنهم. This is what Salafiyyah is.
Also from this, is that we become *hareef* – to hold on tenaciously, to the
reasons, the means of becoming brothers; whatever means makes you get closer
to your brother and makes that brotherhood stronger go forth with it, hold
on to it and keep it going.
As for the *mubtadi'* who is clear upon his bid'ah, calling to it,
unwavering from it, not taking the advice, then when this is known you make
*tahdheer* (تحذير) i.e. you warn from him so that the people may not fall
into this bid'ah that is clear and known. Warn from him, and give
*naseehah*(advice) to the people to be aware of him and that this is a
bid'ah, and
leave him.
As for between you, as-Salafiyeen – the people that are upon this *haqq*,
then know that there should be none of this, this is not allowed with you,
this is not the way – you have to take the means and you have to take the
approach that is correct for bringing together between the brothers so that
you may love each other. Leaving each other and turning your backs is not
the way, you have to take the correct *asbaab* that you may come together.
And you have to help each other upon this manhaj which you are upon, face
your brother with the best face, and deal with him in the best manner; he is
your brother, he is the one you deal with best. This will show the correct
face of as-Salafiyyah, this will show everyone the true love, the true
brotherhood, the correct face of this Deen. When you have come together,
when you yourself deal with each other like this, then you have shown the
correct Deen.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: *"Indeed Allaah is Rafeeq (Gentle), He
loves rifq (gentleness) in all affairs."*[4] and, *"Verily rifq does not
exist in something except that it beautifies it; and it is not taken out of
something except that it harms it."*[5] This is the meaning of what Rasool
صلى الله عليه و سلم said regarding oneself and when dealing with the da'wah.
This is what you do when you give the da'wah – give glad tidings and don't
drive the people away; give them glad tidings of what they will receive; and
by your actions make it easy and not hard for them to accept it. If this is
how you deal even with the kaafir (disbeliever), so how is it then with your
brother – he has the highest levels of *rifq*. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى loves
this leniency in all of the affairs and whoever loves this Deen and loves
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and loves the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم and loves
the *haqq* he is upon, then he will force himself to leave his
*shiddah*(harshness) and he will take the means of leniency because of
his love for
the Deen and the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم and the *haqq* that he is
upon.
So, one has to be like this in giving the Da'wah and in his dealings with
his brothers etc. We must come together and associate with each other, and
especially with the Salafis, in the best manner possible, showing the best
face we can. In every single affair we have with them, and in every sphere
of life we deal with them in the very best way. If we don't do this and we
don't leave our harshness for each other, and put forth the means of love
and coming together amongst each other, then we will dispute, and we will
have differences and we will split. The people that are not from it, they
will run away, and Rasool صلى الله عليه و سلم said: * 'O People! Verily
there are among you those who chase people away!* [6] So *'give the glad
tidings and do not chase the people away, and make easy and do not make hard
the affairs'*[7].
The Shaykh hafidahu'Allaah went on to make du'aa that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى
grant us success so that we act upon this (advice) and that we stay all
together upon the *haqq* – the manhaj of as-Salafiyyah, and he made some
other du'aa – du'aa for us to stay true (*saadiqeen*) and sincere to Him and
he made much du'aa for us. Baarak Allaahu Feehi wa Jazaahu Allaahu Khairan
and this is where he ended his talk hafidahullaahu, and we ask Allaah سبحانه
و تعالى that He grant him *shifaa'* (cure) because he was feeling a little
bit tired and this is the end of the Shaykh's hafidahullaahu ta'aala
lecture. Jazaka'Allaahu Khairan.
*References*
[1] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh Muslim by Abu Hurayrah in
Kitaab al-Aqdiyya (#1715)
إن الله يرضى لكم ويكره لكم ثلاثا. فيرضى لكم أن تعبدوه ولا تشركوا به شيئا.
وأن تعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا ولا تفرقوا. ويكره لكم قيل وقال. وكثرة السؤال.
وإضاعة المال
[2] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab
al-'Ilm (#100) and with a similar wording in Saheeh Muslim, The Book of
Knowledge (Kitaab al-`Ilm), (#2673)
إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من العباد، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض
العلماء، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما، اتخذ الناس رؤوسا جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوا بغير
علم، فضلوا وأضلوا
[3] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami' (#6297).
إن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما يصنع
[4] Reported as part of the following hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (#6528)
and Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab as-Salaam (#2165)
استأذن رهط من اليهود على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا: السام عليك، فقلت:
بل عليكم السام واللعنة، فقال: (يا عائشة، *إن الله رفيق يحب الرفق في الأمر
كله*). قلت: أولم تسمع ما قالوا: قال: (قلت: وعليكم)
[5] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami' (#5654)
ما كان الرفق في شيء إلا زانه ولا نزع من شيء إلا شانه
[6] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree as part of several ahaadeeth Kitaab
al-Jamaa'aat wal Imaamah (#670, #672), Kitaab al-Adab (#5759) and Kitaab
al-Ahkaam (#6740) and also in Saheeh Muslim Kitaab as-Salaah (#466)
إن منكم منفرين
[7] Reported with the following wording as part of a hadith in Saheeh
Muslim, Kitaab al-Jihaad was-Sayr (#1732)
بشروا ولا تنفروا ويسروا ولا تعسروا
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http://www.seekknowledge.org
http://www.albaseerah.org
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