Don’t Be Unreasonable Student of Knowledge

Giyaath Ibn Ibraaheem[1] used to feign knowledge and claim that he has memorized Ahaadeeth and would narrate them. He was eminent and eloquent. The people used to sit around him and he would narrate amazing things to them which they believed.

One day, a man saw him doing something inappropriate and said to him: “Are you not shy of the people?” He replied: “Where are the people?” He said: “Those people who gather around you.” He said: “You mean those people; those people are not human being, they are cattle. If you want me to prove it to you, come with me.”

Then both of them went and Giyaath sat in his assembly and began to narrate to the people about Paradise and its description while they listened attentively.

When he noticed their attentiveness to his narrations, he fabricated a hadeeth from his intellect: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever among you who can touch the tip of his nose with his tongue will enter Paradise.”

So the people immediately began to bring out their tongues, trying to touch the tip of their nose with it. Then Giyaath turned to his friend and said to him: “Did I not tell you that they are cattle?!”

Source: Searching For a Job? p. 106-107 by Dr. Muhammad al-Areefi, translated by this writer.

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[1] He was a liar and fabricator of hadeeth. Aboo Haatim stated about him in his book, al-Majrooheen: “He used to fabricate amazing narration “He used to fabricate amazing narrations ascribing them to reliable narrators.”

When Is a Person Considered Out Of the Salafi Manhaj?

Question: When does a man exit from the Salafī manhaj, and [when is it] judged upon him that he is not a Salafī?

Shaykh ‘Ubayd: This has been explained by the People of Knowledge, and they have included it in their books, which is that a man leaves Salafiyyah when he opposes a foundation from the foundations of Ahl al-Sunnah, the proof is established upon him and then he refuses to return. For then he leaves Salafiyyah. And likewise they said even in the subsidiary matters, when he opposes a branch from the subsidiary branches of the religion, and he makes loyalty and disownment around it, then he leaves Salafiyyah.

Source: The Crime of Tamayyu’ upon the Salafi Manhaj, p. 40 by Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jabiri, translated by Abu ‘Iyad Amjad Rafiq

Is One Takbeer Sufficient When You Meet the Imaam in Rukoo’ Position?

Shaykh bin Baaz stated: “What is preferred and to be on the safe side is to say two takbeers: one of them is takbeeratul-Ihraam, which is a pillar and it is essential to do it while standing. The second is the takbeer of bowing, one should do it while going for rukoo’. But if a person fears missing the rak’ah, takbeeratul-Ihraam suffices according to the most authoritative view among the scholars. This is because they are two acts of worship, which came together at the same time. The major one suffices for the minor one; and this suffices for this rak’ah according to most scholars.” End of quote

A group among the past scholars like az-Zuhree, Sa’eed bin al-Musayyib, al-Awzaa’ee and Maalik declared that one takbeer suffices for the like of this situation.

Source: Al-Qawlul-Mubeen fee Akhtaa’ al-Musalleen, by Mashhoor Hassan Salmaan p.262-263  

The Difference between Advice and Backbiting

Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote:

The difference between advice and backbiting is that the intent in giving advice is to warn a Muslim against an innovator, a tempter, a cheat or a corrupt person. So you should mention his affairs if a Muslim seeks your counsel about his companionship, dealings with him and forming relationship with him as stated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Faatimah bint Qays when she sought his counsel regarding marrying Mu‘aawiyah or Aboo Jahm. He said: “As for Aboo Jahm, he never puts down his stick from his shoulder (i.e. he is always travelling), and as for Mu‘aawiyah he is a poor man with no property.”[1] Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to someone who was travelling with an acquaintance of his: “When you reach the town of his people, be careful of him.”[2]

So if backbiting occurs in the form of sincere advice for the sake of Allah, His Messenger and His Muslim servants, it is part of drawing nearer to Allah and one of the righteous deeds. But if it occurs in the form of disparaging your brother, destroying his honor, consuming his flesh and debasing him in order to diminish his status in people’s hearts, then such is an incurable disease and a fire for good deeds that devours good deeds the way fire devours wood.

Source: Ar-Rooh by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah have mercy on him)

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[1] Recorded by Muslim (1480)

[2] Recorded by Aboo Daawood (4853): The isnaad of this hadeeth is weak due to tadlees of Ibn Ishaaq and the condition of Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin al-Faghwaa’ al –Khuzaa’ee is unknown.