Salim

curious layman

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الحياة في سبيل الله أصعب من الموت في سبيل الله

Living for the path of Allah is harder than dying in the path of Allah - Shaykh Abu Ishaq Al Huwayni رحمه الله تعالى

This is something people do not realise. Striving fi sabīlillah is difficult, exhausting, and demanding. It requires conquering your desires and avoiding what Allah has made haram. It requires the strength to fulfil the obligations that Allah has placed upon you and the determination to keep going. It requires studying, reading, and memorising thousands of names, books, principles, etc.

The people of Kufr and Shirk with their ideologies have run rampant upon the earth, so it is upon you to learn the Qur'an and Sunnah, call people to it, and remain firm upon its path.

And this is all done while you face calamities and trials from every place and every direction.

We ask Allah to make us sincere and enter us into His Paradise. آمين

Keep pushing. Your meeting with Allah is soon.

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<the value of time, act now.>

"What has passed is gone, and what is hoped for is unknown, and all you have is the hour which you are in."

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Al Fuḍayl bin 'Iyad said,

لو أدخلني الله النار فصر فيها ما أيسته

"If Allah entered me into the fire and I remained in there, I would not despair (of thinking good about Allah)."

[حسن الظن بالله]

Always think good about Allah. Have trust in Him. No doubt, He is the Most Merciful, Most Just.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said,

"Allah says,

أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي

'I am just as My slave thinks I am,..."

[صحيح البخاري]

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Al Hasan Al Basri (رحمه الله) said,

لأني رأيت الناس لا يرضون عن خالقهم فعلمت أنهم لا يرضون عن مخلوق مثلهم

"For [Indeed] I saw that the people are not pleased with the Creator of them, so I knew they would not be pleased with a created [being] like themselves."

[حلية الأولياء]

Pleasing the people is an unattainable goal. Worry about yourself.

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Al Mīdānī (d.518h) said in his collection of Arabic Proverbs,

[Laysa hadhā bi 'ush'shik, Fadrujī]

"This is not your nest, so move along.'

which is [i.e, means], this affair is not something you have a right in, so leave it." [end quote]

سبحان الله

How many times do we see Muslims talk about issues that are far above their level of knowledge and capability. They want to speak about these intricate subjects within Al Islam, yet hardly know the basics.

Some are quick to talk, some are quick to label, and some are quick to act, all while not actually understanding.

They read a book or two on a subject and behold, they are masters, going around opposing everyone they come across.

One should first learn [i.e, properly; from the 'Ulama], then memorise, then act upon, then and finally then, he should spread it, and this takes time.

Also, let there be a time when one seeks and learns mannerisms and how to talk about a subject or to people. One must beautify their knowledge with good manners. Allahu Akbar! Some talk to their Muslim brother or sister as if they are a criminal or intruder who need to be punished, but rather we should speak to them as if they are sick or a patient in need of help. This occurs due to a lack of knowledge within the subject, so they resort to name-calling and slandering their own Muslim brother or sister.

The sayings and narrations that relate to this affair are many. Silence is a wisdom, which many don't practice. Be mindful of this. May Allah bless you.

As the saying goes,

لو كان كل جاهل سكت ... ما حدث في الإسلام فتنة

"If every Jāhil (Ignorant) kept quiet, there would occur no fitnah (trials and tribulations) in Islam."

Whoever assumes he has knowledge, has become ignorant. Know your level, stick to the basics, and learn to be quiet.

May Allah always keep you smiling.

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Some basics to know about the Hanafi Madh'hab

- Isnād (Chain)

- Imāms

- Kutub (Books)

- Mustalahāt (Terminologies)

- Where to begin

The Isnād (Chain)

Imām Abu Hanīfah took from Hammad bin Abi Sulaymān who took from Ibrahim An Nakha'i who took from Alqamah who took from the great companion, Abdullah bin Mas'ūd who took from The Prophet (ﷺ).

The Imāms

He is Abu Hanifah, Nu'man bin Thabit bin Zawta At Taymi Al Kufi

His Sahibān, Al Qadi Abi Yusuf and Muhammad bin Hasan Ash Shaybāni.

Also from his prominent students, Zufar bin Al Hudhayl and Al Hasan bin Ziyād.

*Important note*

The school of Abu Hanifah is a collective founded school, it is not limited to the opinions of Abu Hanifah himself. But also his Sahibān, who were Mujtahideen of themselves.

The Kutub (Books)

• Dhāhir Ar Riwāyah (Masa'il Al Usūl) are the six books of Imām Muhammad, they are,

1. Al Mabsūt (Al Asl)

2. Az Ziyadah

3. Jami Al Kabeer

4. Jami Ash Sagheer

5. Siyar Al Kabeer

6. Siyar As Sagheer

which are a collection of sayings and issues from the Imāms of the Madh'hab,

• Al Kāfi by Al Hakim Ash Shaheed

• Al Mabsūt by Sarakhsi

• Mukhtasar Al Quduri (Al Kitab) by Al Quduri

• Mukhtasar At Tahawi by At Tahawi

• Tuhfatul Fuqaha' by As Samarqandi

• Bada'i As Sana'i by Al Kāsāni

• Mukhtasar Al Karkhi

• Al Hidayah by Al Marghinani

• Kanz Ad Daqa'iq by An Nasafi

• Durr Al Mukhtar by Haskafi

• Tanwir Al Absār by At Tumurtāshī

• Radd Al Muhtar by Ibn 'Ābideen

• Al Bahr Ar Rā'iq by Ibn Nujaym

Mustalahāt (Terminologies)

• Al Imām Al A'dham: Imām Abu Hanīfah

• Imām Ath Thani / At Thani (The Second): Al Qadi Abi Yusuf

• Ath Thalith (The Third): Muhammad bin Al Hasan Ash Shaybani

• Imām Rabbani: Imam Muhammad

• Al A'immah Ath Thalathah (The Three Imāms): Abu Hanifah, Abi Yusuf, Muhammad

• Shaykhān (The Two Shaykhs): Abu Hanifah and Al Qadi Abi Yusuf

• Sahibān (The Two Companions): Al Qadi Abi Yusuf and Imām Muhammad

• At Tarfān: Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Muhammad

• Al Usūl: Dhāhir Ar Riwāyah; 6 books of Imām Muhammad

• Al Mabsut: The Mabsut of As Sarakhsi

• Al Kitāb: Mukhtasar Al Quduri

• Mutoon Al Arba'ah: Mukhtasar Al Quduri, Kanz Ad Daqa'iq, Al Wiqayah, Mukhtar lil Fatwa or Majmu' Al Bahrayn

Where to begin

After one writes down, the chain, history, biography of the Imāms and their beliefs, the books, of the Madh'hab.

One should start with the book

• Nūr Al Īdāh by Shurunbulālī

Or

• Munyatul Musalli by Kāshghari

(Or Fiqh Al Muyassar by Nadvi for very basic)

Once he has studied those well, he should move to,

• Multaqa Al Abhur by Al Halabi

Then

• A Sharh [commentary] of Kanz Ad Daqa'iq by An Nasafi

Then

• Al Hidayah by Al Marghināni

This is some basic information of the Hanafi Madh'hab that everyone who attributes themselves to it must know.

والله تعالى أعلم

and Allah surely knows best.

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The Mushrikīn of Quraysh believed in the Rubūbiyyah [Lordship] of Allah. Yet, it was of no benefit.

The tafāsīr [explanations] of the following verse will elucidate this,

Allah says,

وَمَا يُؤۡمِنُ أَكۡثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشۡرِكُونَ

"And most of them believe not in Allāh except while they associate others with Him."

[سورة يوسف : ١٠٦]

'Ikrimah (d. 104h) said,

"If you asked them, "Who created them?, and Who created the heavens and earth, they would say, "Allah." So that is their belief in Allah, and [yet] they worship other than Him."

[تفسير الطبري]

Mujāhid (d.100h) said,

"Their belief in Him is that they say, "Allah created us, and provides for us, and causes us to die." So this is their belief [mixed] with Shirk because they worship others besides Him."

[ibid]

Qatādah (d. 110h) said,

"You will not meet a single one from them except that he will inform you that Allah is his Lord, and He created him and provided for him. Yet, he is a Mushrik in his worship [of Allah]."

[ibid]

So, the Mushrikīn of Quraysh affirmed Allah's Rubūbiyyah, yet this did not enter them into Islam. Now you come to know that the shirk they were guilty of is in Ulūhiyyah [The Worship of Allah]. Directing their 'Ibadah [worship] to other than Allah, such as Du'ā, Istighāthah [seeking help], bowing, and prostrating (whether that be to a grave or an idol), sacrificing, etc.

So anyone who directs their acts of worship to other than Allah has committed shirk with Allah. Therefore, rendering all your deeds null and entering yourself into Jahannam for eternity.

My brothers and sisters, be Muwahhidūn! [Monotheists], there is no greater honour than this wallahi! That you only rely upon Allah - Alone. only call to Allah - Alone, only bow and prostate to Allah - Alone, only ask for help from Allah - Alone.

اللهم اجعلنا من الموحدين

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Some words of praise for Imām Al A'dham, Abu Hanifah, Nu'mān bin Thābit bin Zawṭa At Taymi Al Kufi. (رحمه الله تعالى) [2/2]

Asad bin 'Amr said,

"Abu Hanīfah would pray Fajr with the same Wudu he had for 'Isha for forty years, and he would spend most of the night reciting the entire Qur'ān in one rak'at."

[مناقب الإمام أبي حنيفة وصاحبيه]

Ibn Mubārak said,

If Allah has not aided me through - Abu Hanifah and Sufyān, I would have been like the rest of the people."

Abu 'Āsim An Nabīl said,

"Abu Hanifah was called Al Watad (The Pillar) due to his abundance of Salah."

[كتاب من أعلام السلف]

It was said to Imām Mālik, "Have you seen Abu Hanifah?" He said, "Yes, I have seen a man, that if he wanted to convince you that this pole was made of gold, he could establish the proof [i.e, convince you]."

[كتاب من أعلام السلف]

Abu Mu'āwiyah Ad Ḍarīr said,

"Loving Abu Hanifah is from the Sunnah."

[كتاب من أعلام السلف]

Al Khuryabi said,

"No one finds faults with Abu Hanifah except the Hāsid (envious) or Jāhil (Ignorant)."

[كتاب تاريخ الإسلام]

Ash Shafi'i said,

"All the people are dependent in Fiqh, on Abu Hanifah."

[كتاب من أعلام السلف]

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The Aqeedah of Al Imām Al A'dham, Abu Hanifah, Nu'mān bin Thābit bin Zawṭa At Taymi Al Kufi (رحمه الله تعالى) [1/2]

He (رحمه الله) said,

"It is not befitting for anyone to call upon Allah, except by Him [Alone], [with] the Du'a that He has permitted and ordered [...]"

He also said it is disliked for the supplicator to say,

"I ask You by the right of Your Prophets and Messengers [...]"

He (رحمه الله) said,

"Allah is not to be described with the attributes of creation and His Anger and His Pleasure are two attributes from His attributes, bilā kayf (without how). [...]"

He also said,

"He [Allah], has a Hand, a Face and a Self. As Allah has mentions in the Qur'ān, so whatever Allah mentioned in the Qur'ān in regards to the Face, the Hand and His Self, these are His Attributes, Bilā kayf (without how) [...]"

Imām Abu Hanifah was asked about the Nuzūl of the Lord (Divine Descent), and he said,

ينزل بلا كيف

"He descends, Bilā kayf (without how)"

He said,

"Whoever says, "I don't know whether my Lord is fis samā [above the sky], or in the earth." then he has disbelieved. Likewise, Whoever says that, He is above the 'Arsh, but I don't know whether the Arsh is in the sky or in the earth."

He said,

"The Qur'ān is the Kalāmallah, it is written upon the pages, and preserved in the hearts, and recited upon the tongues, and it was revealed upon the Prophet (ﷺ)"

and he said,

"The Qur'ān is not created."

A man came to Abu Hanifah wanting to argue with him about Al Qadr, so he said to him,

"Do you not know that the one who looks into Al Qadr is like the one who looks at the sun with his eyes? The more you look into it, the more confused you become."

He said,

"Al Imān is Iqrār and Taṣdīq [affirmation and attestation]."

And he said, "Al Imān is affirmation with the tongue, and attestation in the heart and Iqrār alone cannot be Imān."

And he said, "Al Imān does not increase, nor does it decrease."

[The statement of Abu Hanifah regarding Al Imān, is in opposition to the correct position. (That Imān increases and decreases, and that actions are apart of it)]

Ibn 'Abdul Barr and Ibn Abil 'Izz mentioned Abu Hanifah retracted this statement. and Allah knows best.

Imām Abu Hanifah said,

"We do not mention anyone from the Sahābah of the Messenger (ﷺ), illa bil khayr (except with goodness)."

And he said,

"And we affirm that the most excellent of the people after our Prophet, Muhammad (ﷺ), is Abu Bakr As Siddīq, then 'Umar, then 'Uthmān, then 'Ali."

A man asked Abu Hanifah, "What do you say about the Kalām (of 'Amr bin 'Ubayd, regarding A'rād and Ajsām)?

He said,

"These are philosophical statements, upon you is the athar (narrations) and the path of the Salaf, and beware of all newly invented things, for they are Bid'ah."

Taken from the book,

[اعتقاد الأئمة الأربعة أبي حنيفة ومالك والشافعي وأحمد]

"The creed of the four Imāms, Abu Hanifah, Mālik, Ash Shafi'i, and Ahmad"

May Allah have mercy upon, Al Imām Al A'dham, Nu'mān bin Thābit, Abu Hanifah.

and Allah surely knows best.

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Shaykh Muhammad bin 'Abdul Wahhab (رحمه الله) said,

"So if it be that the nullifiers of Wuḍū' are eight (8), then that which should be mentioned with certainty is that

Indeed, the Nullifiers of Al Islam are more than four hundred (400)."

[الدرر السنية في الأجوبة النجدية]

Shaykh Sulaymān bin Sahmān said,

"and some [Scholars] mentioned, "They [Nullifiers of Islam] are closer to four hundred (400), but those which are agreed upon by the 'Ulama, are what was mentioned by Shaykh Al Islam, Muhammad bin 'Abdul Wahhab, in Nawaqid Al Islam, which are ten (10)."

[Ibid]

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Abu Al Atāhiyah (d.211h) said,

"[O'] My God, do not punish me, for Indeed I acknowledge what has come from me [i.e, of sins]

The people think good of me, but I am the worst of the people if You do not pardon me."

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A wise man beautifully said,

وعيناك إن أبدت إليك معايبًا

فدعها وقل يا عين للناس أعينُ

and when your eyes fall upon the sins of others

Turn away, and say, "O' Eyes, the people have eyes [too].

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It was said that when [Zakariyyā bin 'Adī] was dying, he said,

اللهم إني إليك مشتاق

"O Allah, to [meet] You, I yearn."

[سير أعلام النبلاء]

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Wahb bin Munabbih (رحمه الله) said,

مثل السيئ الخلق كمثل الفخارة المكسورة لا ترقع ولا تعاد طينا

"The example of a person with bad character is like that of a broken clay pot — it can neither be patched nor returned to clay."

[نضرة النعيم في مكارم أخلاق الرسول الكريم]

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Ibn As Sammāk (رحمه الله) said,

هب الدنيا في يديك، ومثلها ضم إليك، وهب المشرق والمغرب يجيء إليك،

"Suppose the Dunya [was placed] in your hands, and the likes [of it's worth] is added to you, and suppose [everything from] the East and West comes to you [i.e, is given to you]

فإذا جاءك الموت، فماذا في يديك؟!

So when death comes to you, what is [left] in your hands?

[سير أعلام النبلاء]

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Ibn 'Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said,

البر شيء هين، وجه طليق وكلام لين

"Al Birr (Righteousness) is simple thing, a free [i.e, smiling, happy] face and soft speech."

[الصمت وآداب اللسان]