Part 7

Fear of mistake in knowledge.and guidance:

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would have terrible fear that mistakes would enter into their knowledge, practice and in their directing the nation (Ummah) to what is good in the world and the Hereafter. Do not think that any of them loved to be elevated in rank in any worldly matter. They hated giving religious verdicts (fataawah) because the one who gives the verdict (fatwah) has entered a station between Allaah and His worshippers.

Do not say about that which your tongues put forth falsely "This is lawful (Halaal) and this is forbidden (haraam)", so as to invent lies against Allaah. Those who invent lies about Al-

laah will bever prosper.

"Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abi Lailah uss Said, “Ihave met 120 companions of the Messenger of Allaah gauss vssim. None of them spoke without wishing his brother’s speech be sufficient,

and none of them gave a fatwah without wishing his brother would suffice him in it."

Fudayl ibn ‘Tyaad (nmiuan Said, "To spend difiars. (money) on

1. Sooratun-Nahl (16):116 ‘65

a people is more beloved to me than to spend on them my

speech, and therefore easier‘on my soul.”

faults and then come to a mutual concealment!"

Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani jasmin said, "Many people live amongst the people just with their knowledge, destroying their

souls", ie., with vanity and egoism.

Abu Haazim (arinmma used to say, "The scholars of our time have been content with speech and with no practise! The Salaf used to practise but not speak. After them the people practised and spoke being followed by a people who spoke but did not practise. There will come a time when people will not speak nor

’‘Abdur-Raheem as-Sulami tinnun Said, "We met people who learned the Qur’an ten verses (ayaat) being followed by another ten. They would not move to another ten. without practising the

‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak (umn reported on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ziyaad that he said, "I saw Abu Umamah speaking to a person who had been weeping and crying to Allaah in prostration in the mosque saying: You would have been

as yourself had this been your house!"

It was said to ash-Sha’Di (arinanuun, "Deliver your verdict to us O scholar (‘aalim)!" He replied to them, "Do not say scholar to the likes of me, but the ‘aalim is the one who humbles his joints from the submissive fear (khushoo’) of Allaah"

Sufyaan ath-Thawri wumnuos said, "Whoever’s knowledge makes him weep, then he is a scholar (‘aalim). Allaah the Most High said, "Verily those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them they fall down on their faces in humble prostration."! He also said, "When the verses (aayaat) of ArRahmaan (The Most Merciful) is recited to them they fall in

So reflect in your soul dear brother. Have you fulfilled the rights of your knowledge and action as they used to?

I, surah Banee Israel (17):107 2. Sooratul-Maryam (19);58

Asking about each other sincerely:

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would ask about each others concerns making sure that they had enough food, clothes and money. So they could help in repaying

their debts and share their burdens.

People. today are strangers to such manners, contradicting their way. Maybe somebody asks his friend, “How are you, or how’s things?". He replies, "Good, allright etc" concealing the real situation knowing that his friend is not really concerned

with his problems nor even knows about them.

The statement "How are you?" is just a fruitless custom now where most people do not even wait for the reply. So the questioner does not wait for the reply nor does the questioner bother

in giving a proper response.

One of the Salaf said, “If one of you do not wish to fulfil his brother’s needs by sharing his worries or by making invocations (du‘ah) then do not ask - How are things - because it is considered

hypocrisy”. The Salaf nus mie) used to ask about each other so that the

absent minded one would be reminded about thankfulness to Allaah, resulting in a fruitful question.

Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq (nium WAS asked, “How are you this morning?” He replied, “This mornirig I enter as a lowly slave to a magnificent Lord. I enter the morning commanded by His com-

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee timaua Was asked, "How are you this morning?” He replied, "This morning I have entered eating my Lord’s provision but not fulfilling true gratitude towards him."

Maalik ibn Deenar ‘aiimhumn Was asked, "How are you this

morning?” He replied, “I enter the morning with my remaining

age diminishing and my sins increasing."

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would be fully conscious of fighting Iblees and they would strive to know about his plots and plans. Allaah the Most High said: Verily the shaitaan is an enemy to you all, so take him as an enemy. He only calls his followers to be the people of a blazing fire.!

This is an aspect of life which has been ignored by many people and sirice Iblees is never absent-minded about us, thus neither should we ever ignore him, becatise he watches and is keen to trip up the slave so that he falls into what Allaah the Most High hates.

The Messenger of Allaah (ntssans-usrive at) Said, “Iblees: places his throne (‘arsh) on the sea from which he sends his armies and troops. The one greatest in standing to him is the greatest

in spreading turmoil among the people."

Fudhayl ibn ‘Tyaad tartan Said, "If Iblees conquers the son of Aadam with one of three (things) he says - I will not seek anything else from him - (1) being fond of himself, (2) deeming his

1. Sooratul-Faatir (35):6 2. Reported by Muslim (2813) (67) and al-Baghawi in "Sharhus-Sunnah" (14/410) in ar-Riqaaq.

deeds to be plentiful, and (3) forgetfulness of his sins."

Wahb ibn Munabbih (aims) WOuld say, "Beware of despising shaitaan in public while obeying him in secret. The ore who sleeps in disobedience then for that reason shaitaan will sleep with him as his bride."

Pay attention dear brother and be warned for the sake of your self. Do not think Iblees has abandoned you when you are seen approaching worship, but consider carefully and search the fullest search and you will be sure to find there some presence of

Iblees. Therefore seek the forgiveness of Allaah more.

Al-Hasan (annauan Said, "If shaitaan saw you consistently obeying Allaah he will seek you time and time again. If he sees your consistency he grows weary of you and rejects you. If you changed, however, each and every time, then he begins to have

Consider their own thankfulness:

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would testify against themselves that they had not established an atom's weight of thanks to Allaah. That is because they would see all their thanking as another of Allaah’s favours upon them; the favours of Allaah remaining and unending, impossible for

anyone to catch up to them.

Wahb ibn Munabbihiarminum WOuld say, "If your thanking Allaah the Most High is a favour upon you from the favours of Allaah then there is in reality no such thing as true thankfulness. All your thanks mean you have realised Allaah’s abundant favours

upon you, and that you cannot praise Allaah enough for them."

Sahl at-Tustaree wom Said, “Gratitude to Allaah is not to disobey Him with his favours. The whole body is from. the favours of Allaah and His giving, so do not disobey Him with any

Mujaahid and Makhool (anosumamny used to say about the statement of Allaah, "Then you will be asked that Day about the enjoyment"!, "Indeed this is the cool drink, the shelter of a home, the satisfaction of one’s belly, the perfection of features, and the

If Sufyaan ath-Thawri (riniumy passed by a policeman he would fall down in prostration to Allaah the Most High saying, “Praise be to Allaah who did not make mea policeman nor a taxman." Then he would say to his family, "Sometimes a troubled person passes you by being rewarded in his trial, so you ask your Lord to protect you (from it), but then some of those oppressors pass you by, sinning in their tribulation, but you do not ask for Allaah’s protection!"

Al-Hasan al-Basri auminaen used to say about the statement of the Most High, “Verily mankind is ungrateful to His Lord", "This means that he remembers the tragedies that befell him but forgets the blessings."

“Awn ibn ‘Abdullaah (annus used to say about the statement

of Allaah, “They recognise the blessings of Allaah and then

1. Sooratot-Takaathur (102):8 2. Sooratul-’ Aadiyaat (100):6 3. Sooratun-Nahl (16):83

Allaah but then they attack its origin to people, ignoring Allaah the Most High. They say if it was not for so-and-so these favours

would not have come to us.”

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would strictly analyse their piety (tagwa) never claiming to bea possessor of such. Allaah the Most High has said, "Therefore do not declare yourselves as being purified. He knows best who

The Messenger of Allaah (suns wsnnm Said, "Taqwa is here,"

and he pointed to his chest.

‘Umar ibn ’Abdul ’Azeez amnion used to say, "None can reach the station of faqwa until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter." He was once asked, “When does the worshipper reach the peak of taqwa?" He replied, "If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there." He would frequently say, “The sign of the muttaqi (pious person) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihraam bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqi needs to be a scholar

(‘aalim) of the Sharee‘ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves tagwa with-

1. Sooratun-Najm (53):32 2. Narrated by Muslim (16/120, 121) in al-Birv... and Al-Tirmidhi (8/115) in al-Birr and Ahmad (2/277).