An-Nawawi and Al-Albani: on seeking forgiveness for the deceased non-Muslims

An-Nawawi and Al-Albani: on seeking 

forgiveness for the deceased non-Muslims

‘Alī Ibn Abī Tālib (رضي الله عنه) said: I heard a man seeking forgiveness for his polytheist parents. So I said: “You seek forgiveness for your parents and they are polytheists?!” The man said: “Did not Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) seek forgiveness for his father, and he was a polytheist?” So I informed the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) of that, and the following verse was revealed:

[] مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ [] [] وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ []

“It is not correct for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah’s forgiveness for the polytheists even if they be close kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire [because they died in a state of disbelief]. And the request of forgiveness of Ibrahim for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Ibrahim that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed Ibrahim was compassionate and patient.” (At-Tawbah 113-114) Reported An-Nasā’ee 1/286; At-Tirmidhee 4/120 and he declared it hasan; Ahmad 771, 1085, Al-Hākim 2/335 who declared it saheeh, and Dhahabee agreed.

Al-Albānī (رحمه الله ) said: “The forgiveness referred to here is that which Allah has mentioned at the end of Sūrah Ibrāhīm (14:41) wherein Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said:

[] رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ []

“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”

Ibn Abī Hātim reported with an authentic chain of narration as Suyootee stated in Al-Fatāwā (2/419) from Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) who said: “Ibrāhīm did not cease seeking forgiveness for his father until he died – and when his father died, it was made clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, so he did not seek forgiveness for him.” (Ahkāmul-Janā’iz, p. 124)

An-Nawawī (رحمه الله ) said:

“The funeral prayer over the unbeliever; and supplicating for his forgiveness is forbidden by the text of Qur’ān and by consensus (ijmā’).” (Al-Majmū’ 5/144, 258)

Al-Albānī (رحمه الله ) stated:

“I say: from this you come to know the error of some of the Muslims today who invoke the mercy of Allah and His pleasure upon some of the non-Muslims. And this is something being done plentifully by some [Muslim] journalists. Indeed I have heard that one of the heads of the Arabs who is well known for religiosity invoked the mercy of Allah upon Stalin the communist [1]; both himself and his ideology is the from the severest, most vehement enemies of Islam! And that was a speech delivered in a radio broadcast by this leader upon the occasion of the death of Stalin. And it is not surprising that this ruling is unknown to the likes of this person. However, what is surprising is that some of the Islamic callers have also fallen into this, wherein one of them said in a treatise, “May Allah have mercy upon the [deceased] Bernard Shaw…” [2] And some trustworthy narrators mentioned to me that one of the sheikhs would pray the funeral prayer over those who died from the esoteric (Bātinee) sect of Isma’īlees whilst he himself believes that they are non-Muslims, due to the fact that they don’t believe in the Prayer (Salāh) or the Hajj and they worship a human being! Yet alongside all this he prays over their deceased out of hypocrisy and wishing to impress them. And to Allah is the complaint and His aid is sought.” (Ahkāmul-Janā’iz, p. 124)

Footnotes:

[1] Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953) was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. Holding the post of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, he was effectively the dictator of the state.
Stalin was one of the seven members of the first Politburo, founded in 1917 in order to manage the Bolshevik Revolution, alongside Lenin, Zinoviev,Kamenev, Trotsky, Sokolnikov and Bubnov.[3] Among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who took part in the Russian Revolution of 1917, Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the party’s Central Committee in 1922. He subsequently managed to consolidate power following the 1924 death of Vladimir Lenin by suppressing Lenin’s criticisms (in the postscript of his testament) and expanding the functions of his role, all the while eliminating any opposition. He remained General Secretary until the post was abolished in 1952, concurrently serving as the Premier of the Soviet Union from 1941 onward. (source: wikipedia)

[2] George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic and polemicist whose influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 1880s to his death and beyond. He wrote more than sixty plays. (source: wikipedia)
[To read this text in Spanish Language click here]

Taken from: http://www.abukhadeejah.com/an-nawawi-and-al-albani-on-seeking-forgiveness-for-the-deceased-non-muslims/

Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan on Loving and Hating for the Sake of Allaah

 

Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan on Loving and Hating for the Sake of Allaah

 

In the Name of Allaah…

 

Recently, the great scholar, Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:

 

What is the ruling on rejecting the idea of hatred for the sake of Allaah and claiming that it is not from Islam? Is a person’s Islaam valid if he does not hate the Jews and Christians?

 

The shaykh responded:

 

Walaa’ and baraa’ (the islamic system of loyalty) is a must. (It is) disallegiance with the enemies of Allaah and loyalty to the allies of Allaah. Walaa’ and baraa’ means to have hatred, declaring oneself free of them (the disbelievers) and their religion, this is baraa’.

 

Walaa’ means to love Allaah, to love His Messenger, and to love His believing servants, take them as allies and come to their defense.

 

"Indeed you have a good example in Ibraaheem (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: We are free of you and all that you worship beside Allaah…”[Meaning of Quran 60:4]

 

They declared themselves free of them and their idols, their objects of worship.

 

“…We are free of you and all that you worship beside Allaah. We have disbelieved in you (i.e. your religion), and there shall be enmity and hatred between us forever, unless you believe in Allaah alone.” [Meaning of Quran 60:4]

 

Thus it is not permissible to love the disbelievers. Whoever takes them as allies, Allaah, the Mighty and Most High, has said [what means]:

 

“O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and Christians as allies! They are allies of one another. Whoever takes them as allies is indeed from them. Verily Allaah does not guide people who are oppressive.” [Meaning of Quran 5:51]

 

The issue is very serious. Walaa’ (loyalty) and baraa’ (disallegiance) arefrom the essential foundations of this Religion. The religion (of a person) is not valid without both of them.

 

Source: The shaykh’s answer given on 1434/8/23 in Jeddah. [ English & Arabic video /Arabic audio / Arabic transcript ]

 

As you can see, this hatred which some misguided Muslims try hide and/or negate from Islaam is in fact an absolutely essential concept in Islaam, according to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the scholars of Islaam.

 

Disclaimer: Muslims have every right to love and hate as their Lord has asked them to.  While the non-Muslims typically frown on this concept, Muslims seek to please Allaah, not His disbelieving creation. We do not change our Religion to match the whims of the people and agree with what they feel are acceptable religious beliefs. This does not mean that our hatred is allowed to manifest through acts of transgression against innocent people living in a peaceful society. Allaah says (what means):

 

“Allaah does not prevent you from dealing justly and kindly with those who have not fought against you nor expelled you from your homelands. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity.” [Meaning of Quran 60:8]

 

While Muslims are required to love and hate for the sake of Allaah, we are also commanded to be fair and deal with people fairly and kindly. Unjustly transgressing against non-Muslims’ personal safety and property is strictly forbidden in Islam.

 

And Allaah knows best.

 

Translation and commentary by: Moosaa Richardson

 

Audio: http://www.bakkah.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/love-hatred-jews-christians-fowzaan-08231434.mp3

Text: http://yusufestesarabic.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/al-fowzaan-on-love-and-hatred-in-islam-jeddah-1434-08-23.pdf

Misplaced Loyalty – Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Baz

Misplaced Loyalty 

Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Baz

Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.6

THE BASIS OF RIGHT GUIDANCE

Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahallaah – said:

“The Religion of the Muslims is built upon following the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and that which the Ummah has agreed upon. So these are the three infallible usool (fundamentals). So whatever the Ummah differs in, then it is referred back to Allaah and His Messenger. Thus, it is not for anyone to set-up a person for the Ummah, and to call to his way, and form walaa (love, loyalty and allegiance) and ‘adaa (enmity and hatred) based upon that, except for the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Nor is any speech set-up for them based upon which they form walaa and ‘adaa, except for the speech of Allaah, and that of His Messenger, and that which the Ummah has agreed upon. Rather, this is the practice of the people of Innovation, who set-up a person, or a saying, with which they cause splits in the Ummah; forming walaa or ‘adaa based upon that saying or ascription.”1

Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah – rahimahullaah – also said:
“It is not for anyone to ascribe himself to a particular Shaykh and to have walaa with those who follow him, or to have ‘adaa based upon that. Rather, he should have walaa for everyone who is from the people of eemaan (i.e. is a Muslim) and is known to have taqwaa (piety and obedience to Allaah in that which He has ordered and prohibited), from the Shaykhs, or from others. No one should be particularised with an increase in walaa except if he sees from him greater eemaan and taqwaa. So precedence and excellence is given to whomsoever Allaah and His Messenger have given them to. Allaah – the Most High – said: “O mankind! Indeed We created you from a man and a woman, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed the most noblest of you with Allaah are those that have the most taqwaa (piety).” [Soorah al-Hujuraat 49:13].”2

SECTARIANISM AND MISPLACED LOYALTIES

Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
“Indeed the people of the truth and the Sunnah do not follow anyone (unconditionally) other than Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; who does not speak from his desires, rather it is nothing less than Revelation sent down to him. So it is obligatory to affirm all that he informs, and to obey all that he commands. This status is not given to anyone else from this Ummah. Rather, every person’s saying can be taken or left, except that of Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. So whoever sets up an individual other than Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, such that the one who loves and agrees with him is reckoned to be from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, and the one that differs with him is reckoned to be from the people of innovations and sectarianism – as happens with those groups who follow certain Imaams of kalaam (theology and rhetorical speech) – then the person doing so is from the people of innovation, deviation and sectarianism.”3

He – rahimahullaah – further said:
“Indeed many – from the people who say such sayings – follow their desires in this, in order to elevate their egos, or to gain leadership; or whatever is connected to it. Their intention is not to make the word of Allaah uppermost, nor is it to make the Religion purely for Allaah. Indeed, they have hatred for those who oppose them – even if it is a mujtahid (a Scholar striving his utmost to arrive at the truth) who is excused, and whom Allaah is not angry with. Likewise, they are pleased with those who agree with them – even if it is an ignorant person with evil intentions, who neither has any knowledge, nor good intent. This leads them to praise those whom Allaah and His Messenger have not praised, and to censure those whom Allaah and His Messenger have not censured. It also causes them to have walaa (love and allegiance) and ‘adaa (enmity and hatred) based upon their own self-desires, not upon the Religion of Allaah and His Messenger … So whosoever does this will only bring about fitan (trials and discord) between the people.”4

PRESERVING THE LOVE AND UNITY

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz – hafidhahullaah – said:

“The Religion of Allaah orders to judge (with justice) in all matters, and not to have walaa (love, loyalty and allegiance) with your brother merely because he agrees with you, or to have ‘adaa (enmity and being distant) from him merely because he disagrees with you on a certain opinion or issue. This is not from justice at all! The Companions – radiallaahu ‘anhum – differed in various issues, yet this did not affect the happiness and sincerity between them, nor their walaa and love for each other – may Allaah be pleased with them all. So the Believer acts upon the Sharee’ah (Prescribed and Divine Islaamic Law) of Allaah, follows the truth, gives priority to the evidences before anyone – yet in doing so, he does not oppress his brother, nor negate doing justice to him when he differs regarding any issue of ijtihaad in which the evidences are not so apparent. Likewise is the case for those issues in which differences occur due to a different interpretation of the text. So, in such instances he is excused, and it is upon you to sincerely advice him, and to love only the good for him, and not to split-up, nor to have enmity and hatred between you and your brother – and there is no might, nor any power, except with Allaah. “5

1. Majmoo’ Fataawaa (20/164) of Ibn Taymiyyah.
2. Majmoo’ Fataawaa (11/512).
3. Majmoo’ Fataawaa (3/346-347).
4. Minhaajus-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah (5/255).
5. Majmoo’ Fataawaa wa Magaaalaat Mutanawwi’ah (11346).

[To read this text in Spanish click here]

10 Signs You Have No Al-Walaa Wal-Baraa, By Sh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan

 

10 Signs You Have No Al-Walaa Wal-Baraa, By Sh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan

 

 

1) Imitating them in dress and lingo

 

2) Residing in their lands and not moving from their lands to the lands of the Muslims to save one’s Deen (i.e, hijrah).

 

3) Travelling to the lands of the kuffaar for tourism and vacation.

 

4) Helping them, giving them victory over the Muslims, speaking well of them and defending their honour.

 

5) Seeking their aid, trusting them, putting them in positions to know the secrets of the Muslims and making them advisors.

 

6) Using their calendar instead of the Islaamic calendar and, more importantly, observing the holidays on their calendar, like Christmas etc.

 

7) Observing their holidays or helping them to make that celebration or congratulating them for their holidays or just being present at their celebrations.

 

8) Speaking well of them through what they have of material wealth and being satisfied with their behaviour without looking at their deen which is a false deen.

 

9) Using their names.

 

10) Supplicating for them and being compassionate to them.

 

[Taken from "Al-Walaa' Wal-Baraa", by Sh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan, Pp. ??-??]