Archive for March, 2007

In the first part of our research paper we presented the proofs for the face being ‘Awrah in front of non-mahram men. The second part of the research will respond to the most common doubts presented by the Islamic opposition of this view. We will respond to narrations and rational aspersions cast upon this noble command of our majestic Lord by a minority of individuals of this Ummah.

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The attacks upon Islām never cease by the ‘modernists’ and those who claim to be ‘progressive’. As of recent, they have turned their poisonous attacks the Muslim woman. They have begun by attacking her religious right to wear the Niqab. The Niqab is the article of clothing worn upon the face of a woman, generally tied at the back of the head or using elastic to maintain its position. Niqab is a wasīlah (means) to fulfilling what the majority of the scholars deem ‘awrah (the part of a persons body that must be covered on front of non-related opposite gender). A Muslim teacher in the UK said on a Muslim forum,

“The fact is, niqaab is not fard, and I’m not knocking it, I want to wear it myself…”

Seekingilm.com’s staff thus feels obliged to correct such a claim and defend the stance that it is obligatory for the free woman to cover her face in front of the ajnabī (non-related, marriageable man, in front of whom the woman must cover her ‘awrah). It is our hope that this article will, at the least, assist the laywoman in her honest research regarding the niqab. We will also try our utmost to keep the article brief so as to not overwhelm the researcher with information. We have set up a step process for the researcher to follow in understanding this issue.

Lastly we would like to state that this article is by no means misogynistic or patriarchal. Rather, Muslims certainly believe that the divine laws legislated for women are liberating and originally progressive. May Allāh grant us all tawfīq, Āmīn!

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Ilhām (Inspiration), Firāsa (foresight) and Other Metaphysically Inspired Knowledge is a reality that many of us have experienced ourselves. Have you ever had a dream come true? Have you seen things before they happen? Many will respond with a certain ‘yes’. The difference between the layman’s experience of this and the experience of Ahlu-Allah (the people of Allah ) is that Ahlu-Allah have control over their foresight and are certain of their inspiration. This article is a brief explanation of the metaphysical communication received by Awliyā’ (the close friends or saints) of Allah .

In the two Sahīhs Abū Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said,

“In the nations long before you there were people who were communicated to although they were not prophets. If there is anyone of them in my community, it is ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattāb!”

In the narration of Sahīh Muslim, the student of Mālik ibn Anas and erudite scholar, Ibn Wahb states,

“Communicated to means mulham (inspired).”

In Fat-hul-Bārī Al-Hāfith Ibn Hajr states, “Communicated to means by the Angels.” In the Sharh (explanation) of Sahīh Muslim by Imām An-Nawawī we find the Imām commenting, “The scholars differed concerning the words ‘communicated to’. Ibn Wahb said it meant mulham (inspired). It was also said, “It is those who are correct, and when they convey an opinion it is though they are communicated to, and then they give their opinion.” It was also said, “The angels speak to them”. Al Bukhārī said, “Truth comes from their tongues.” This hadīth contains a confirmation of the miracles of the saints (karamātul-Awliyā’).”

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Compiled by SeekingIlm Staff

Imām Ash-Shāfi’ī said,

“Bida’ah is of two kinds: Bida’atun Mahmūda (praiseworthy bida’ah) and Bida’ahtun Madhmūma (blameworthy innovation).”

Abu Nu’aym also reports with different wording:

البدعة بدعتان: بدعة محمودة وبدعة مذمومة، فما وافق السنة فهو محمود، وما خالف السنة فهو مذموم

“Bida’ah is of two types: Bida’ah that is praiseworthy and Bida’ah that is blameworthy. What agrees with the sunnah is praiseworthy and what contradicts the sunnah is blameworthy.”

[Abu Nu'aym's Al-Hilya, Ibn Rajab's Jaami' Al-'Ulum wal Hikam (Arnaa'ut stated "Sahih" in his edition), Ibn Hajr in Fat-h-ul Baari, Shawkaani in Qawl Al Mufid]

Imām Al-Jurjānī states in At-Ta’rifāt,

“Whatever contrivance (fi’latun) contradicts the Sunnah, it is named Bida’ah because whoever supports it innovated it without basis from an Imām. It consists of a novel matter which the Sahābah and their successors did not follow and which is unsupported by a legal proof.” [pg 62]

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The honest researcher will find that the majority of the past scholarly forefathers of the Islamic Ummah were Sūfīs. One such example of this that shocks many claimant ‘salafis’ is Imām Adh-Dhahabī. Many may not agree with the creed of Imam Adh-Dhahabi, but his balance regarding those who he disagreed with, is an attribute of his worthy of praise.

Imām Adh-Dhahabī states in his Siyar ‘Alam An-Nubala,

“My Shaykh, the hadīth scholarand ascetic Dhiya’ ud-Dīn ‘Isā ibn Yahyā Al-Ansārī conferred upon me the khirqah (cloak) of tasawwuf in Cairo and said: ‘Shaykh Shihāb Ad-Dīn As-Suhrawardī conferred it upon me in Makkah from his uncle Abūn-Najīb.”

[Siyar: 16:300-302 #5655]

Another example of Imām Adh-Dhahabī’s balanced stance towards the Sufīs can be found in his treatise, “Muqiza Fi ‘Ilm Mustalah Al-Hadīth”, wherein he states:
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