Early years upon the Manhaj Salaf

Early years upon the Manhaj Salaf

Ibn Qudamah

Mukhtasar Minhaaj Al-Qaasideen

The child is taught to not boast in front of his friends and peers about something that his parents own, or to boast regarding his food and clothes. Rather he is nurtured upon modesty and being kind and generous to whomsoever he has a relationship with. And he is to be prevented from taking something from another child like him. He should be taught that inferiority is in taking and that superiority and dignity is in giving. And he should be made to not like gold and silver.

He is to be prohibited from spitting in gatherings, blowing his nose, yawning in front of others, and from sitting with his legs pointed, one on top of the other.

He should also be accustomed to speaking little and should not speak except when answering a question or fulfilling a request. He should also master the skill of listening well, when others are speaking especially if the one speaking is older than him. He is to be taught to stand for the one who has authority over him and to sit close to, next to, or in front of such a person.

He is to be prevented from lewd speech and that he keeps company with those who use such speech – for indeed the foundation of protecting a child lies in keeping him away from bad friends.

It is also from good practice that when the child finishes from his studying that he is allowed to play in a good way, so that he is able to relax from the difficulty and strictness of learning and discipline. It is has been said,

‘Relax the heart and mind; strengthen the memorisation and intellect.’

The child should be cultivated upon obedience towards his parents and towards the one who educates him, and he should revere such people.

Thereafter, when he reaches the age of seven years, he is to be ordered with the Salaah (obligatory prayers), and he is not to be excused from not being in a state of purity (by knowing the wudhu, and remaining in this state) so that he becomes used to it. He should also be reprimanded from lying and deceit, and then when he approaches puberty he should be taught the various rulings of Islaam and be made responsible for them.

You should know that food is a type of medicine and the objective behind eating is to strengthen the body in order to show obedience of Allah, the most High, through worship. This Dunya (worldly life) will not remain forever and death cuts off the pleasures of this world. Death awaits each person and may arrive any hour. The intelligent one, therefore, is the one who prepares for the Aakhirah (the Hereafter).

Hence, if the upbringing of the child is righteous then this will all become firm in his heart – similar to how an engraving becomes very firm on a stone.

Sahl Ibn Abdullah once said, “I was a child of three years, and I would stay awake at night looking at my uncle, Muhammed bin Sawwaar, praying. So he said to me one day, “why don’t you remember Allah, the one who created you?”

So I asked, “and how do I remember Him?”

He replied, “Say, three times in your heart without moving your tongue: Allah is with me, Allah is watching over me, Allah is a witness over me.”

I then said this a number of nights until I became accustomed to this. He then said to me, “say it eleven times every night.”

So I said it, and I felt the sweetness of this statement in my heart.

A year on from this, my uncle said to me “Memorise and safeguard what I have taught you, and act according to it up until you enter your grave”

So I continued acting upon these words for years and I would find the sweetness of it in my privacy.

He then said, “O Sahl, whomsoever Allah is with, and He watches him and is a witness over him – do you think such a person should disobey Allah? Beware of disobeying Allah.”

After this, I advanced to school and memorised the Qur’aan when I was only six or seven years old. I would then fast all the time, my daily sustenance was bread made from barley and thereafter I would wake during the night in order to pray.

Every Mother (Woman) Must Dedicate Herself

Every Mother (Woman) Must Dedicate Herself

“A woman, first and foremost, needs to be righteous herself, so that she can be a good example for her daughters…

A woman should train her children properly, for her children represent the men and women of the future. In the earliest stages of their development, it is the mothers that human beings learn from. If she is a good mother, good in her manners and dealings and good in the way she brings up her children, then those children will take after her and contribute positively to the betterment of society.

Every mother, then, must dedicate herself to training her children, and if she cannot undertake their training on her own, then their father or another guardian – for example, a brother or uncle, if their father is dead – should help her to raise them.

A woman should not yield to difficult circumstances, feeling that she cannot change her situation or her family’s situation for the better.”

– Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
[The Islaamic Awakening (p. 223 & 229)]

Be careful with his tarbiyyah

Be careful with his tarbiyyah

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said in Tuhfat al-Mawdood (240):

One thing that the child desperately needs is for care to be taken with regard to his morals and attitude, for he will grow up with whatever the one who is raising him accustoms him to when he is small, and when he grows older it becomes difficult for him to change what he has got used to; these attitudes and characteristics that have become deeply ingrained in him, even if he tries to suppress them, they will always surface and expose him.

ابن القيّم رحمه الله في "تحفة المودود" (240) :

" ومما يحتاجُ إليهِ الطفلُ غايةَ الاحتياج الاعتناء بأمرِ خلْقهِ ، فإنهُ ينشأ على ما عوّدهُ المربي في صغره ، فيصعبُ عليه في كبرهِ تلافي ذلك ، وتصيرُ هذهِ الأخلاق صفاتٍ وهيئاتٍ راسخةً له ، فلو تحرّزَ منها غايةَ التحرزِ فضحته ولا بد يومًا ما "

Do not become lazy and inactive your children

Do not become lazy and inactive your children

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said, discussing the parent’s responsibilities in raising the child in Tuhfat al-Mawdood (241):

He should avoid letting him became lazy and inactive, and should teach him the opposite. He should not let him rest for more than he needs to refresh his body and soul for more work, for laziness and inactivity bring bad consequences and will end in regret, but hard work brings good consequences, either in this world or in the Hereafter or in both.

 ابن القيم في معرض الحديث عما يجب على الولي من التربية في "تحفة المودود" (241) :

" ويُجنبهُ الكسلَ والبطالةَ والدعةَ والراحةَ ، بلْ يأْخذهُ بأضدادها ، ولا يُريحهُ إلا بما يجمُ نفسَهُ وبدنه للشغلِ ، فإنّ الكسلَ والبطالةَ عواقبُ سوءٍ ، ومغبةُ ندمٍ ، وللجدّ والتعبِ عواقبُ حميدةٌ ، إمّا في الدنيا ، وإما في العُقبى ، وإمّا فيهما "

The ruling on watching the “magic of illusion”

The ruling on watching the “magic of illusion”

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan حفظه الله was asked: 

Question: What is the ruling on watching the “magic of illusion”, whether that is in real life or on television? 

He replied: It is not permissible to watch magic, whether it is real or is just illusions. It is not permissible because it is falsehood, and it is not permissible to witness or watch falsehood, because by watching it one has approved of it, unless he is watching it in order to denounce it and strive to put an end to it. In that case there is nothing wrong with it. But if he watches it and says nothing, or he tells others about it, this is haraam because it is idle entertainment. 

سئل الشيخ صالح الفوزان – حفظه الله

ما حكم مشاهدة " السحر التمثيلي " سواء كان على الطبيعة أو على التلفاز ؟ .

فأجاب : " لا يجوز مشاهدة السحر سواء كان حقيقيّاً أو تمثيليّاً تخييليّاً ، لا يجوز ؛ لأنه باطل ، ولا يجوز للإنسان مشاهدة الباطل ؛ لأنه إذا شاهده : فقد أقره ، إلا إذا كان يشاهده من أجل القيام بإنكاره والعمل على إزالته : فلا بأس بذلك ، أما أن 

يشاهده ساكتاً ومتكلما بذلك : هذا حرام ، لأنه لهو بالباطل " انتهى . نقلا عن موقع الشيخ حفظه الله على هذا الرابط :

http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/4827

http://maktabasalafiya.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-ruling-on-watching-magic-of-illusion.html

Your children are a trust

Your children are a trust

 

 

Al-Allaamah Abdullaah Bin Muhammad Bin Humayd رحمه الله

 

"Your children are a trust and when you neglect them, then indeed you have betrayed them. It is obligatory upon every one of us to fear Allah with regards to the (affair) of his children and those under his care."

 

Source: Al-Fataawaa Wad-Duroos Fil Masjid Al-Haraam: by Al-Allaamah Abdullaah Bin Muhammad Bin Humayd رحمه الله . Pages: 938-944

Choosing a school and friends for your child

Choosing a school and friends for your child

 

 

From an upcoming Al-Ibaanah publication: "Raising Children in Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah" by 'Abdus-Salaam As-Sulaymaan. The book was introduced and commended by Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan.]

 

5. Choosing a School:

 

The father should strive to carefully choose a good school for his child, thus selecting the one that is of the finest quality and not necessarily the one that is closest to him. He should also ask those involved in the field of teaching and educating, who are sincere and honest, as to which of the schools is the best.

 

School has a deep impact on a student since it is there that he spends a quarter of his day – which is in fact the best time of the day. In the school he learns and is educated, and that is the place where he finds friends and companions.

 

So based on this, the father must keep a close connection with the school by going to visit it, staying in contact with it by phone and asking about the state of his son or daughter. He should be concerned with asking about his child’s character, behavior and friends before asking about his grades.

 

He should also follow up on his child’s educational development and studies, and check his notes and homework and be aware of the remarks the teacher makes to his child’s work so that he may correct it.

 

So your concern with your child’s studies and your solid relationship with his school, his teachers, his schoolwork, and his levels of education is a good that will assist in his well-being and learning, by the will of Allah.

 

6. Choosing a Friend:

 

From the things in which there is no doubt is that a friend has a profound effect on an individual – whether positive or negative. Sufficient to clarify this point is the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when he said: “The example of the righteous companion and the evil companion is like that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: “A man is upon the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look into whom he takes as a close friend.” [Reported by Abu Dawood]

 

Therefore, O father, it is incumbent upon you to look for a good friend and a sincere companion for your child before he chooses one on his own, for he may choose the wrong ones and then grow attached to them, after which it will be hard for you to separate them.

 

There are many accounts, too numerous to be recorded, in which children were raised in good environments and in conservative households but ended up mixing with bad companions on the pretext that they were going on a trip or an outing with them or using the excuse that they wanted to play with them or have fun with them or study with them. And the end result of this was that they had a negative effect on them.

 

In these days it is extremely difficult for a father to raise his child in exclusion of friends. Trials and temptations constantly surround the youth from all directions.

 

Bad friends can either be people who are engulfed in their desires or in misconceptions. If they are those who are given into whims and desires, they will lead your child towards mischief and a digression from good character. As for those who follow misconceptions, they will lead your child towards innovations and opposing the guidance of the pious predecessors (Salaf as-Saalih). Perhaps he may even fall into the acts of declaring Muslims disbelievers and innovators. This particularly applies to the members of those methodologies that are foreign to this country (i.e. Saudi Arabia), as has occurred to some of our youth, may Allah guide them and return them back to the truth.

 

In conclusion, I ask Allah to rectify for all of us our intentions and offspring, and that He forgive our parents, granting them the best of rewards on our behalf. I ask Allah to assist us in being dutiful to them during their lives as well as after their deaths.

 

I also ask Allah to aid us in raising our children upon the Qur’an and the Sunnah and to make them righteous offspring and an enjoyment to our eyes in this life by, through their uprightness, and after death, through their righteous deeds.

 

May the peace and praises of Allah be upon our prophet Muhammad.

 

Published on: February 27, 2007

 

Author: ‘Abdus-Salaam bin ‘Abdillaah As-Sulaymaan

Source: Tarbiyat-ul-Awlaad fee Daw’-il-Kitaabi was-Sunnah (pg. 65-68)

Umm Sulaym as mother

 

Umm Sulaym as mother

 

 

 

Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) accepted Al-Islam and she mentioned that:

 

Abu Anas came after being away and he said: “You have become one who has no religion.” She responded by saying: “I did not, rather I believe in this man.” She began to teach Anas; she would say to him: say: “Laa Ilaaha Illallaah”, say “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said it. His father said to her: “Do not corrupt my son.” She would respond by saying: "Indeed I am not corrupting him."

 

Benefits from this:

 

1. The companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to command their children with the Tawheed of Allah and the following of the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).

 

2. When a parent accepts Islam, the parent should encourage the child/children to say the two testimonies of faith.

 

3. Refuting those who speak ill of Islam.

 

4. Teaching Islam does not corrupt the people, rather it brings about the rectification of the people.

 

5. The enemies of Islam of the past sought to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths by speaking ill of Islam and distorting the image of Islam.

 

6. The enemies of Islam today use the same tactics, which they have learned from their evil predecessors, against the call of Islam.

 

7. The command to save oneself and family from the hell-fire was being implemented by Umm Sulaym.

 

8. Umm Sulaym is one of the good examples from the Sahaabiyyaat of a mother.

 

Source: Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa 2/305

We Need Salafy Schools or We Need to Leave!

Brother Abu Mu'aawiyyah shared these notes from today's tele-link:

Shaykh Abu Abdul'Alaa Khalid 'Uthmaan al-Misree (hafidhahullah) said,

"Protecting Our Children's Muslim Identity.... It is obligitory for Muslims upon the sunnah in the west to get together and form a school, or gather together in one location, to teach the Qur'aan and Sunnah and have our children intermingle with one another. The Shaykh said Imaam Malik has a statement that it is not permissible to send our children to the non-muslim to even learn reading and writing. This is because the non-muslims will exert all their efforts and energy to influence our children into their creed, beliefs and behaviour.

The Shaykh (hafidhahullah) said, "...If the Salafis find it difficult to establish their own schools, then it is upon them to hasten to make hijrah!"

From the one in need of Allah's mercy,

أبو عبد السلام صدّيق الجياني

Abu Abdis Salaam Siddiq Al Juyaanee 

www.SalafyInk.com

__._,_.___

An Important Warning Regarding Fictional Story Writers and Their Fatwaas

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (may Allaah have Mercy on him) reminds us that those who write fictional stories not based on real events are sinful and considered to be from what the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) spoke about when he said (what means), “Woe to the one who speaks with lies to make the people laugh, woe to him, woe to him!” (Collected by Aboo Daawood)

Acting in plays and writing fictional stories

Acting in plays and writing fictional stories

 

Question: What is the ruling on acting in plays? And what is the ruling on writing fictional stories?

 

Response: Acting in plays is from the avenues of false talk that have been introduced to the Muslim lands. It is not permissible to take part in them nor to occupy oneself with them. In them are lies and contradictions to reality. The actors degrade respected personalities that they pretend to be. There is also in them an imitation of the disbelieving celebrities as well. There are a number of other dangers.

 

Some of the mashaayikh have written about this, may Allaah reward them well. They have written valuable books personifying their harms and warning from them, like what the virtuous Shaykh, Dr. Bakr Aboo Zayd wrote, and like what the virtuous Shaykh 'Abdus-Salaam ibn Burjis Aali 'Abdil-Kareem wrote, and like what the Shaykh Hamood at-Tuwayjiree wrote. So reveiw them and what is found in them regarding the benefits (of plays and fictional stories), since the real harms that result from them are many times more. And preventing harm takes a precedence over gaining benefit.

 

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan

al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Fadheelatush-Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume 2, Page 222, Fatwa No. 193

Translated by: Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson

Is it allowed for children to read and write fictional stories...?

Reading and writing fictional stories

 

Question: What is the ruling regarding reading or writing fictional stories and those which arouse the imagination? And if some of them [aid in] rectify[ing] social problems, then is this permissible?

 

Response: Fictional stories are from lies which occupy the time of the writer and the reader without benefit, so abandoning busying oneself with them is preferable. And if writing and reading [fictional stories] occupies oneself from that which is obligatory then this [fictional stories] is prohibited. And if it occupies oneself from that which is recommended then this [fictional stories] is disliked. In any case, the time of the Muslim is valuable, so it is not permissible to spend it in that which there is no benefit.

 

Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan

ad-Durar an-Naadhirah fil-Fataaawa al-Mu'aasirah - Pages 644-645

al-Fowzaan - ad-Da'wah 1516, Jumaada al-Oolaa 1416AH

Writing fiction

The seventh question of Fatwa no. 6252
Q 7: Is it permissible for a person to write fiction stories, which are all lies, for children to read and learn from?
A: It is Haram (prohibited) for a person to write such false stories. The stories mentioned the Qur'an, the Sunnah and other factual stories suffice and serve as moral lessons.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
http://alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=4415&PageNo=1&BookID=7

Ruling on making models of the Ka‘bah to explain the rituals of Hajj

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a school that teaches the students about Hajj and umrah but the students do not understand properly; it is permissible to make a model of the Kaba and holy places in the school so that they can learn in practical terms and not just theoretically.

 

He replied:

 

This is not permissible and it is not appropriate at all. The teacher can draw a picture of the Kaba on the blackboard and say, We circumambulate it like this… But as for making a model, this to my mind is turning acts of worship into mere movements with no impact on the heart.

 

End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-‘Uthaymeen, 24/91

 

It says in a fatwa of the Standing Committee: It is not permissible to make models of the Kaba and the (green) dome that is over the grave of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

 

End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 2 (1/324)

 

More info in arabic: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=25066

الشيخ ابن عثيمين – رحمه الله – عن مدرس يشرح للطلاب صفة الحج والعمرة ولكن يقول: لا يستوعب الطلاب استيعاباً جيداً فهل يجوز أن أجعل في المدرسة مجسماً للكعبة والمشاعر حتى يطبقونها تطبيقاً عملياً ؟

فأجاب فضيلته بقوله : هذا لا يجوز، ولا ينبغي إطلاقاً ، ويستطيع أنه يرسم في السبورة صورة كعبة ، ويقول : تطوف عليها هكذا ، أما أن يجعل مجسماً ، فهذا في ظني أنه يجعل العبادات مجرد طقوس وحركات فقط ، ليس لها تأثير في القلب " .
انتهى من " مجموع فتاوى ورسائل العثيمين " (24 / 91).
وجاء في فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة " لا يجوز تصنيع مجسم للكعبة المشرفة وللقبة التي على قبر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم " انتهى من " فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة – 2 " (1 / 324).

 

The mother is the first school...

an-Najmî: "The mother is the first school. If she is righteous, the progeny becomes righteous." (Fath-ur-Rabb al-Wadûd (2/256))