Aboo Uthmaan

By Dr. Saleh as-Saleh (d.1429H)
Transcribed by Aboo Uthmaan [1]

There is no doubt that in our age we are witnessing a renewed interest and a growing awareness amongst Muslims of the need to learn and understand the Deen [2] of Islam [3], at the same time it is sad to see that along with this resurgence has come growing disputes and divisions; disputes and divisions that do not just manifest themselves in isolated communities, but rather, they have entered into every single Muslim community the world over.

The Muslim is seeing himself in a state of perplexity regarding the many concepts and/or groups around him, all of which are claiming to be upon the right path, yet he sees contradictions and unexplainable methodologies, he looks for proofs only to find a sea of imitations, he asks for the authentic Sunnah and sees that some have turned the bid’ah into Sunnah and vice versa. If he (the Muslim) strives to revive the Sunnah he may be told that he is dividing the community, or that he is dividing the Ummah.

He listens to those who emphasise “rationalism” and finds them chained to scholarastic theology, a sister system of philosophy which sets reasoning as the reference of choice upon which the Qur’aan and the authentic ahaadeeth are to be judged, whereas some fall into another extreme of neglecting the intellect completely.

Some believe that spiritual satisfaction can only be attained through mystic “so-called” Sufi orders using innovated and mystic terminology claiming that the Qur’aanic and ahaadeeth texts have hidden meanings, the apparent meanings that are aimed at who they considered to be from the general Muslims and the hidden meanings that are only known to their “elders” and “so-called” spiritual masters. Rigid and often contradictory mystic orders have transformed worship into Hindu like seclusions and meditations.

The perplexity intensifies when the Muslim reads literature titled with headings like “Beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah” only to discover later that they (the beliefs contained therein) represent the beliefs of scholarastic theologians and their various and often contradicting views. He sees so many quotations from scholars only to read later that they were taken out of context or edited in such ways to support certain views, whilst at other times they are totally fabricated. The result is more perplexity and distrust.

The Muslim may meet some people of “thought” known as the “contemporaries” who strongly admire “Western Culture” and in the name of progress they call the Muslims to “free” themselves from many aspects of revelation in order to fit into the “new-era”, they tell the Muslims that they must have a developed mind as opposed to a rigid one.

At the other extreme he may encounter another group that tells him that he must rigidly follows one of the madhhab’s in matters of ‘aqeedah (creed/belief). He (the Muslim) is then told by some not to talk about the Names and Attributes of Allaah because they are matters of the unseen, whilst others tell him that the Attributes of Allaah don’t have meanings and that they are only words, others tell him not to confirm the meanings of Allaah’s Attributes because it will mean that he will be giving Allaah a form and others tell him that he should make figurative interpretations of the Attributes of Allaah.

The Muslim becomes confused in the most important matter of faith, knowing Allaah. Similarly the Muslim is hearing more and more disputes about other matters of belief. In the name of politics the Muslim sees conflicting groups brutally killing each other for the sake of the chair or presidency. Muslim land is labelled the land of kufr by many groups who raise the banner of jihad, this is because they consider almost ever ruler a kaafir and as such justify (to themselves) the killing of disobedient Muslims in government positions, women without hijab and/or ignorant men. All of this is done in the name of Islam.

If one points out these matters, even in the form of advice, he may be isolated or labelled as someone who does not believe in such and such, or as someone who does not know about the concept of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil or a government agent, or, or, or… you name it!

The Muslim remembers that for more than half a century Islamic groups have been engaged in endless and bloody confrontations with many regimes. He listens to emotional speeches declaring that we have to offer more and more sacrifices for our brothers. The cycle of violence and counter violence continues with more suffering, agony and blood shed. While the Muslim may not doubt the intentions of many of the people within these groups and does not want to be on the side of the tyrants, he wonders whether the approach of many Islamic groups is the right one.

Fanatic and blind imitation of founders of groups and/or prominent leaders and their thoughts, fanatic and blind imitations to Imaams made infallible by their followers. Hidden sects are wide-spread and they add to the state of confusion.

Most Muslims think that the Ummah follows one Book, one Prophet and one Deen. However, the bitter facts are that there are paths and groups that hold principles that were inherited and adopted from deviant concepts that made the Ummah divide amongst itself in matters regarding the general precepts of Islam, creed, sources of Deen foundations of tafsir, energises, following… what happened to us? How did we come to this state of division while we have the Book that is protected by Allaah and the Sunnah that is authentically transmitted to us?

The same that is happening to the Muslims also occurred amongst the Jews and the Christians as the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned something to Zayd (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) and commented on it saying that such and such will occur when knowledge disappears. Zayd asked:

“O Messenger of Allaah, how does knowledge go away whilst we read the Qur’aan, teach it to our children who in turn teach it to their children (until the Day of Resurrection.” The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you [4], I always thought you to be one of the understand scholars of Madeenah, aren’t the Jews and Christians reading the Tauraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) while they do not apply anything that is in them.” In another narration he (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Tauraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) are available to the Jews and the Christians yet they are of no use to them.” (Reported in Sunan at-Tirmidhee, its chain is “Saheeh”)

It is sufficient to know that the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emphasised that the division in this Ummah will be greater than that which occurred within Jewish and Christian religions. Whenever there is division and people adopt concepts and paths that differ with the revelation Allaah saves those who follow His revelation and who do not turn away from the path of His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). This is made clear in the following ayah:

“Mankind were one community and Allaah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allaah by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allaah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.” (Al-Baqarah 2:213)

Those who deviated from the way of the Prophet’s knew the truth that came by way of clear proofs; they chose their ways and their understandings causing divisions and opposition to the clear texts of revelation. Many know that Iblis (Satan) followed his way and “rationalised” against the clear revelation from Allaah. Imaam ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) said: “He (Iblis) was the first to oppose the revelation by means of ‘rationalism’ making it supersede the revelation. Indeed, when Allaah ordered him to prostrate to Adam (‘alayhi-salaam) he opposed the command by rationalistic analogy combined in two statements:

‘[Iblis (Satan)] said: ‘I am better than he (Adam)…’ (Sad 38:76) Meaning: that that the superior should not prostrate to the preferred.

‘You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.’ (Sad 38:76).”

When people deviate from the way of revelation divisions and disputes occur and they are forms of punishments from Allaah, this is a Sunnah (the way of Allaah) upon every nation, consider the case of the Jews:

“After this, it is you who kill one another and drive out a party of you from their homes, assist (their enemies) against them, in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allaah is not unaware of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah 2:85)

Imaam ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in his book ‘The Targeted Thunderbolts’ said: “Iblis (Satan) meant that the fire is more powerful than the clay [5], his rationalistic analogy was not used in its proper place because it opposed the texts of command to prostrate to Adam, and that is why he was mistaken. Sound rationalism agrees and submits to the texts of revelation and there is no opposition between revelation and sound rationalism, the mind is called to reflect about the Signs of Allaah that came through revelation to the Prophet’s, rationalism however cannot be an independent judge on the revelation because of its limited capacity.

What about the Christians, what happened to them?

“And from those who call themselves Christians, We took their covenant, but they have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. So We planted amongst them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection (when they discarded Allaah’s Book, disobeyed Allaah’s Messengers and His Orders and transgressed beyond bounds in Allaah’s disobedience), and Allaah will inform them of what they used to do.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:14)

Often the Muslim will hear people say that they want to follow the Qur’aan alone, rejecting the Sunnah which is an integral part of Islam. Whereas others say that we should fit the Qur’aan to our times, thus end up suspending many Qur’aanic texts in the name of our contemporary status. The Qur’aan and the Sunnah constitute a complete message for every era and they hold in terms of their applicability until the Day of Resurrection.

So this is the case of the Jews and the Christians, what about the Muslims? Allaah warns them saying:

“Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another.’ See how variously We explain the ayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), so that they may understand.” (Al-An’am 6:65)

Regardless of the way, form or concept it takes, turning away from the path of revelation causes dissension, confusion, enmity and bring a life of Hardship, as Allaah says:

“…Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’aan nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ta-Ha 20:123-124)

The good news however is that Allaah - Most High, Most Merciful - called the Muslims not to despair:

“And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?” (Al-Hijr 15:56)

“…Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah…” (Az-Zumar 39:53)

Those who follow the paths of the Prophet’s are saved from introducing oppositions and/or alterations to the Deen, those indeed are under Allaah’s Mercy:

“…but they will not cease to disagree, except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy (the follower of truth - Islamic Monotheism).” (Hud 11:118-119)

The Division and he path of its people is a vivid and manifested fact, it is hated by Allaah and it brings His wrath and punishment and He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) warns from falling into its mischief.

The salvation from division and disputes is possible; it takes the way of revelation and the path of the Prophet’s. Allaah has shown us the way and brings forth the true understanding of the Deen that leads to His pleasure.

(2/4) to follow, inshaa’Allaah ta’aala…

Footnotes:

[1] I (Aboo Uthmaan) transcribed (albeit not a verbatim transcription) this text from a lecture entitled “Awareness of the Need to Understand the Religion of Islam” by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh. Any mistakes in this transcription are from me, and the Shaykh is free from them.
[2] The word “Deen” is more comprehensive in its meaning then the concept of religion in some societies. Every aspect of life subscribes to the revelation from Allaah, thus, the word “Deen” covers life in all of its various stages and complexities.
[3] There is also a general interest amongst Non-Muslims, for good or for bad, to know about the religion of Islam. Many people all over the world are accepting Islam as the true religion.
[4] This is an expression of amazement that was used by the Arabs, amazement in that someone doesn’t know something and not an actual wish for the death of the person that this is said to.
[5] Iblis (Satan) was created from fire and Adam (‘alayhis-salaam) was created from clay.