Archive for March, 2008

One of our dear teachers, an instructor at Zaytuna, and no less than a graduate from the ancient Al-Qarawiyyin, Ustadh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali has written an excellent piece on a commonly-mentioned hadith from Sahih Muslim.

Many have probably been troubled by the meaning of the hadith at some level. Insha Allah, the article will prove to be beneficial and will give us a better understanding of the noble hadith.

Click here for the document (external link).

Please visit the Lamp Post website for more beneficial material, particularly from the Maliki madhhab.

In the previous discussion we made the claim that Ibn Uthaymeen, and in reality the Wahhabi movement of today, have revived the madh-hab of Muqaatil, a madh-hab of creed laced with tajseem and tashbeeh (anthropomorphism). There is yet another issue that manifests the fact that Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) was a neo-Muqaatili. In his work “Aqidat Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah” he states after mentioning Yunus:3,

واستواؤه على العرش: علوه عليه بذاته علوَّاً خاصاً يليق بجلاله وعظمته لا يعلم كيفيته إلا هو.

[We believe that He "created the Heavens and the Earth in six days, then He settled Himself on the throne; He manages everything" (10:3).] His “settling on the throne” means that He is sitting in person (bi-dhaatih) on His throne in a way that is becoming to His majesty and greatness. No one save He knows the kayfiyyah (howness, modality etc) [of the sitting].

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Unfortunately, it seems, some are under the impression that Seekingilm.com has some kind of connection with Shaykh Nuh or Sufi Shaykhs. Seekingilm.com has no affiliation to Shaykh Nuh or any other sufi Shaykh. We do not speak for Shaykh Nuh, nor any other Sufi Shaykhs. The content posted on this website is the sole opinion of the authors. We would like to make clear that Seekingilm has no relation too, affiliation with, or connection to Shaykh Nuh Keller or any other Shaykh.

Some of the members on this site may refer to Shaykh Nuh, or other Sufi Shaykhs, within articles, but none of the Seekingilm staff speaks for or represents their opinions. Seekingilm has never claimed such a view, nor is such propogated or promoted by Seekingilm.com’s staff.  We assert that there is no such thing as copyright to divine knowledge. It is for all of mankind, and should be spread freely to all those who seek it. Thus we hold that audio clips - unless sold by the respective orator with the intent of profit - as well as articles fall under  ”open source” regulations (or lack thereof). If anyone disagrees with this stance you have one of two choices:

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The following report was called into question by a particular brother commenting on Seekingilm. The following is the takhrij. Abu Nu’aym reports the following in his Hilyat Al-Awliyaa through Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal:

حدثنا أبو بكر بن مالك، حدثنا عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل، حدثني أبي، وإبراهيم بن زياد، قالا: حدثنا إسماعيل بن علية، عن خالد الحذاء، عن عكرمة. قال: قال أبو هريرة: إني لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه كل يوم اثنى عشر ألف مرة، وذلك على قدر ديني، أو قدر دينه

From ‘Ikrimah that Abu Hurayrah said: “Verily, I turn to Allah asking forgiveness and repenting to Him  12,000 times every day.”

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The “salafi” commentator of Imam Al-Bayhaqi’s “Asmaa’i was-Sifaat” writes, “As for our Lord, we affirm that He possesses a Sura (form) .” In another place: “As for us, we affirm a sura (form) for Allah unlike other forms.”

Similar was said by the deviant Karramiyya of old, “Allah has a body unlike bodies.”¹ So what does Ahlus Sunnah say regarding Allah having a form? Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi said in his Dafa’ Ash-Shubah,
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Footnotes (Click ↩ at the end of the note to Go Back to Original Place in the article) :

1. quoted by Adh-Dhahabi in his Siyar ‘Alam An Nubalaa’ [↩]

I have for some time utilized the labeling “Neo-Muqaatiliyyah” for the Mujassim pseudo-salafis of our tried era. They have embodied the same beliefs as Muqatil ibn Sulayman as we have shown elsewhere. Some claim, may Allah guide them and bless them with good, that I have innovated this term. Here I shall present the quote from Al-Hafith Ibn Hajr Al-’Asqalani from his Tahthib At-Tahthib for all Muslims to see for themselves. Click the following scan to see for yourself:

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حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا حيوة بن شريح ويزيد بن عبد ربه قالا ثنا بقية قال حدثني بحير بن سعد عن خالد بن معدان عن أبي قتيلة عن بن حوالة انه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : سيصير الأمر إلى ان تكون جنود مجندة جند بالشام وجند باليمن وجند بالعراق فقال بن حوالة خر لي يا رسول الله ان أدركت ذاك قال عليك بالشام فإنه خيرة الله من أرضه يجتبي إليه خيرته من عباده فان أبيتم فعليكم بيمنكم واسقوا من غدركم فان الله عز وجل قد توكل لي بالشام وأهله

The Prophet Muhammad said:

“It shall reach a point when you will all be joining [opposite] armies: one army in shaam, one in Yemen, one in ‘Iraq. Abdullah ibn Hawaalah said, “Choose for me Oh Rasulullah!” He said, “You must join Shaam, for it is Allah’s chosen land in His earth. In it shall the chosen ones among His servants have protection. Otherwise, go to Yemen but be prepared to drink from still water. For Allah has given me a gurantee concerning Shaam and its people.” [This is the translation of Shaykh G.f. Haddad and It is correct.]

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If I were a Pseudo-Salafi…..

….I would have no choice but to believe that Najd is not in Iraq but in fact in Saudi Arabia. Using their simplistic methodology of “only” Quran & Sunnah, this post will show how relying solely on hadith from Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, one has no choice but to accept that Najd is not in Iraq.
First of all, for those who are unaware of the subject matter , I would like to give you a little background as to why we should even bother debating this issue. The following hadith is from Sahih Bukhari:

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When I read this fatwaa my heart moved. It is a beautiful explanation:

A senior spiritual aspirant wrote,‘Most of the time I am attentive (of Allah). However, a doubt pesters me all the time. That is, with this attention (towards Allah) spontaneouly my thoughts are directed (upwards) towards the sky. I understand that I am exempted for such an unintentional thought, but its presence bothers me. May be it is from a (hidden) sub-section of unbelief (kufr). Please, prescribe some treatment for it if necessary.’Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“Peace and blessing be on you.

Allah, Most High is free from been given a direction.

However, His most selected effulgences (tajeliyat) have a special relationship with His Throne (’arsh). It is for this reason thoughts of Him direct one’s attention insticntively upwards. This is based on a reality and there is nothing of unbelief (kufr) in it.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page 1126

Source: http://www.ashrafiya.com/2007/11/25/is-allah-in-sky/