Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Explanation Of The Creed (Sharh-us-Sunnah) Points. 46-50

Point---46 Amongst the nation of Muhammad ('allayhees salat wassalam) are Believers and Muslims with regard to rulings, inheritance, slaughtering animals and funeral prayer.


Point---47 However, we do not bear witness that any of them is a true and perfect Believer, unless he fulfils all the laws and duties of Islaam. If he neglects any of that, then his Faith is deficient until he repents. His Faith is for Allaah, the Most High, alone to judge, whether it is complete or imcomplete, except for when any of the duties of Islaam are seen to be neglected.


Point---48 (Funeral) prayer upon anyone who dies from the people of the Qiblah is Sunnah. The adulterer or adulteress stoned to death, the one who commits suicide, others from the people of hte Qiblah, the drunkard and other than them, to pray the (funeral) prayer over them is the sunnah.


Point---49 None of the people of the Qiblah leave Islaam unless they reject an Aayah from the Book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, or reject any narrations from the Messenger of Allaah ('allayhees salat wassalam), or pray to other than Allaah or sacrifice to other than Allaah.1 If he does any of that, it is binding upon you to expel him from Islaam. If he does not do any of that, he is a Believer and a Muslim in name, even if not in reality.

1 Or directing any part or form of worship to any other than Allaah. For example, performing tawaaf around graves, supplicating to the dead, seekign assistance or relief from the dead. If a person does any of these actions in igorance, those with knowledge should teach him that this is Shirk and establish the proof against him, so that he is able to understand it, but if he then arrogantly rejects it and continues in Shirk knowningly, he has left Islaam.


point---50 Everything of the narrations which you heard but cannot fully understand, like the saying of the Messenger of Allaah (allayhis salat wassalam), "The hearts of the servants are between two fingers of the Most Merciful,the Might and Majestic,"1 his (allayhis salat wassalam) saying "Indeed Allaah descends to the lowest heaven,"2 "He descends on the Day of Arafah,"3 He descends on the Day of Resurrection,"4 "Hellfire does not cease having them thrown into it until He, the Majestic, places His Foot upon it,"5 Allaah, the Most High's saying to the servant, "If you walk towards Me, I run towards you,"6 his (allayhis salat wassalam) saying, "Allaah created Adam in his image,"7 the saying of Allaah's Messenger (allayhis salat wassalam), "I saw my Lord in the most excellent form"8 and the like of these ahadeeth, then accept them, affirm them, perform Tafweed9 (i.e. abandon delving into how they are) (but be pleased with them). Do not explain any of them with your feelings/desires, since believing in them is obligatory. So anyone who explains anything from them according to his desires or rejects them is a jahmee.10

1) Reported by muslim (Eng. trans. 4/1397/no.6418) and Ahmad.

2) The hadeeth about Alaah descending is authentic and has many routes of narration. For example, refer to al-bukhari (Eng. trans. 2/136/no.246) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/365/no.1656).

3) He (allayhis salt wassalam) said, "Allaah descends on the evening of 'arafah to the lowest heaven and boasts about the people of the earth to the angels." Reported by Ibn Majah in at-Tawheed (147/1). Its chain of narration is weak as explained in Silsilatud-Da'eefah (no.679) of Shaikh al-Albanee. However, it is authentic as the saying of Umm Salamah (radhiAllahu 'anhaa), reported by ad-Daarimee in ar-Radd 'alal-Jahmiyyah, ad-Daaraqutnee in an-Nuzool (95,96) and al-Laalikaa'ee (no.768). It has the ruling of being the saying of the prophet (allayhis salat wassalam) since it is something which Umm Salamah could not have known except from him.

4) Refer to ar-Radd 'alal-Jahmiyyah of ad-Daarimee (p.72). Allaah, the Most High, says: Your Lord comes with His Angels, rank upon rank. Surah al-Fajr (89:22).

5) Reported by al-Bukhari (Eng. trans. 6/353/no.371) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 4/1483/no.6819).

6) Reported by al-Bukhari (Eng. trans. 9/369/no.502) and Muslim (Eng. trans. 4/1408/no.6471).

7) Reported by al-Bukhari (Eng. trans. 4/1378/no.6325) and Ibn Abee 'Aasim in as-Sunnah. Explanation of this hadeeth, by shaikh Hammad al-Ansaaree can be found in Kitaabus-Sifaat of ad-Daaraqutnee (p.58, checking of Dr.'Alee Naasir Faqeehee).

8) Musnad Ahmad (1/285 and 290) and Ibn Abee 'Aasim in as-Sunnah and declared Sahih by Shaikh al-Albani who has mentioned that, "this was in a dream as indicated by some wording (of the hadith)." Refer, also to as-Sunnah (no.1117) of 'Abdullah ibn Ahmad.

9) Tafweed: The Salaf did not delve into 'how' the attributes of Allaah are. The knowledge of that is with Allaah alone. But, as for the Ash'arees and others, 'Tafweed' to them is that they believe that what is apparent from the attributes is not what is meant. to them the Aayaat about the attributes of Allaah are mutashaabih i.e. of uncertain meaning anad th us they were not known about by the prophet (allayhis salat wassalam) and the Companions. This is clearly wrong! Refer to Risaalah 'Alaaqatul-Ithbat wat-TAfweed bi Siffat Rabbil-'Aalameen of Dr. Ridaa Mu'tee and Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn baz, (RahimuhuAllah), reply to as-Saaboonee (pp.8-14).

10) Jahmee: a denier of Allaah's attributes, following the way of al-Jahm ibn Safwaan and his teacher al-Ja'd ibn Dirham, both of whom were executed for their wicked beliefs and heretical teachings.

The Correct believe with regards to the attributes of Allaah is the belief of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamma'ah. that is, we have Faith in all of Allaah's attributes without denying them or their meanings (Tahreef), without explaining how they are (Takyeef), or likening Allah's attributes to those of the creation (Tamtheel).

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