Part 1

Shaykh al-Islam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah al-Magdisi al-Hanbali (d. 620 AH)

RANKS of the FEARFUL

being a translation of his ‘A/+Khawf Hagigatibi wa Bayan Darajatihi’

“So fear them not, and fear Me alone,

if you are believers.”

Ranks of the Fearful

by Shaykh al-Islam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH)

W* www.darassunnah.com E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

British Library Cataloguing in publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Title: Ranks of the Fearful by Shaykh al-Islam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH) Translated from the original Arabic by Yousef Hussin

CHAPTER ONE The Nature of Fear The Reality of Fear

CHAPTER TWO The Divisions of Fear

CHAPTER THREE Levels of the Fearful Ones

CHAPTER FOUR Virtue of Fear and Hope: Which is Superior?

CHAPTER FIVE The Treatment Leading to Fear

CHAPTER SIX An Evil End to One’s Life

From the Stories of the Fearful Ones Section One : The Intensity of Fear of the Angels Section Two: The Intensity of Fear of the Prophets Section Three: The Intensity of Fear of the Prophet

Muhammad (3) Section Four : The Intensity of Fear of the Companions

Section Five: The Intensity of Fear of the Successors

APPENDIX ONE Disturber of the Hearts The Secrets of the Barzakh The Anxiety and Solicitude of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab Decpiction of the Punishment of Hell Decpiction from the Lives of the Righteous Predecessors He remains under the Dust until the Day of Judgement The Grief Of The Day Of Judgment Brings Forth Tears In This Worldly Life Horrors of the Day of Judgement The Conversation Between The Dead The Horrors of the Grave A Portray from the Punishment of the Grave The Condition Of Sun On The Day Of Judgement The First Three Persons Admit into Hell

Keep Remembering the Destructor of Desires Worldly Fire compared to the fire of Hell

The Resurrection of People on the Day of Judgement

The Least of Punishment In Hell

The Severity Of the Punishment of the Grave and

APPENDIX TWO Averting Excessive Fear and Cautiousness of Death Section One: Excessive Fear Section Two: Curing the Whispers Section Three: Increase in Anguish Section Four: Repentance Section Five: Being Optimistic

INDEX OF ARABIC WORDS

With the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful

Like many Arabic words, it is not possible to directly translate al-Khanf into English, without losing the depth of its meaning, significance and various connotations. It generally denotes fear or anticipation of fear or a loss - and it is a quality that every Muslim needs in conditioning his heart and intellect upon, in order to recognise Allah’s greatness and to maintain the inviolability of His prohibitions.

Allah, the Most High, has praised those who possess the attribute of an acute sense of fear saying,

[oO Ath oraretien 37 Ste

“And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord...”

Cdk. bee op AVS ae Qo Gunde Solo ob ch ole “So fear them not, and fear Me alone, if you are

Al-Khawf is Allah’s whip with which He rectifies the condition of those fleeing from Him in heedlessness. The extent of one’s fear of Allah is proportional to one’s knowledg. The more one knows and understand it, the higher his consciousness of the reality of this life will be. As the Prophet (2) said, “I am the most knowledgeable of Allah among you, and most intense in His khashyah.”"

Allah said about those who understand the reality of fear and those who do not,

Lee Gt od fod AY, vo PH SNF SA NES a ahh “And warn therewith (the Qur’an) those who fear that

they will be gathered before their Lord...”

OieNpaise “Nay! But they fear not the Hereafter (from Allah’s

Punishment).” [al-Muddaththir (74): 53]

Khashyah is more specific than khawf because it is a quality that is particular to the people knowledgeable of Allah.

Allah said, “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” [Fatir (35): 28] - As a result khashyah is associated with knowledge.

RANKS OF THE FEARFUL

When fear of Allah is established in the hearts, it decimates sources of desire and attachment to dunya. It is a light that navigates a person through sin and temptation, and when this fear is removes, it leads them astray - for surely fear is being vigilant from committing sins of all types. Thus the true and praiseworthy fear is that which prevents a person from transgressing the prohibitions of Allah. Yet when fear exceeds this boundary, it may bring hopelessness and despair, which is also blameworthy - therefore fear is not the end in itself, but a means towards a successful end.

Before youis a translation of a book elucidating some profound insights into the topic of a/-Khauf, its reality and merits, types and levels and cures that bring about fear. It also discusses causes that

lead to a bad ending for people on this earth and gives poignant examples from the lives of the fearful ones from among the An-

gels, Prophets and our Salaf.

The author, Shaykh al-Islim Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah was from the leading scholars of the sixth century /yr7. An ascetic who was known for his vast knowledge, the Imam of al-Hanabilah and author of many authoritative treatises of Hanbali jurisprudence.

Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi

His Name and Lineage He is Muwaffaq al-Din Abi Muhammad, ‘Abd-Allah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Qudamah Ibn Miqdam Ibn Nasr Ibn ‘AbdAllah al-Magqdisi al-Jamma‘ili, and later became al-Dimashqi. His Birth He was born in Sha’ban in the year 541 AH. in the village of Jamma‘ll, Jabal Nablus, which is in present day Palestine. His Early life and Travels

He moved to Damascus with his family when he was ten years

old, where he memorized the Qur’an. Then he memorised ‘Mukhtasar al-Khiragi’ -on the Figh of Imam Ahmad. Later in life he wrote an explanation of it in 9 volumes, called ‘a/-Mughni’.

RANKS OF THE FEARFUL

He travelled to Baghdad with his maternal cousin, al-Hafiz ‘Abd al-Ghani in the year 561 H. In Baghdad they learnt and heard from many of the scholars.

He studied jurisprudence (fig4) until he surpassed his peers and became notably successful. Thus he mastered the knowledge of the madbhab (school of jurisprudence) and its principles.

His Piety and his Asceticism (zuhd)

He was pious, ascetic and dignified, as well as possessing wisdom and tolerance. His time was preoccupied with knowledge and action. He would counter disputes with his strength of evidences, and not become angry or enraged, while his opponents would shout and display discourtesy.

He had the honour to learn directly from numerous scholars and exegetes. The following list includes the names of some of his teachers:

* Taqi al-Din Aba Muhammad ‘Abdu’l-Ghani al-Maqdisi (d.

* His father Ahmad ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (491-558H), His elder brother Aba ‘Umar Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (528-607H),

Shaikh ‘Abdu’l-Qadir al-Jilani (471-561H),

Abi’l-Fath Nasr ibn Fityan ibn Matr Ibnul-Manni (501-583), Abw’l-Fath Ibnul-Batti (477-564H),

Fakhrun-Nisa’, Shuhdah-the daughter of the Mubaddith Abi Nasr Ahmad ibn al-Faraj al-Dinawari -(480-574H).

* And many more

Imam bn Qudamah al-Maqdisi

Some of the names of scholars and people of knowledge who received knowledge from him are:

al-Baha ulMaqdisi (d. 624H) who wrote ‘a/-‘Uddah Sharh al-Umdah’.

Diya ud-Din al-Maqdisi (d. 643H)

The son of his brother: Shamsuddin ibn Qudamah (d.

682H) Al-Hafiz Zaki al-Din Aba Muhammad al-Mundhiri (d. 656

AH) Shihab al-Din Aba Shamah al-Magdisi (d. 665 AH). And many more

Statements from the Learned about him

Ibn Taymiyyah said: ‘After al-Awza‘i no one entered Sham having more ‘Figh’ knowledge and understanding of the Religion than al-Muwaffaq.’

Abia ‘Amr Ibn al-Salah said: ‘I did not see anyone like the shaykh Muwaffaq.’

Al-Mundhitri said: ‘He was a/-Fagih al-Imam, he narrated (abadith) in Damascus, he issued fa/awa and taught. He wrote books in figh and other subjects, in detailed and summarised form.’

Al-Dhahabi said: ‘He was one of the eminent Imams and an author of many books.’

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said: ‘The fagih, the ascetic, the Imam, Shaikbul-Islim. The singularly exceptional scholar.’

RANKS OF THE FEARFUL

Ibn Kathir said: ‘Shatkhul-Islam, Imam, an outstanding scholar. There was not in his time, indeed even for a long time before him, anyone having greater knowledge of Figh than him.’

Ibn al-Najjar describes him as: ‘The Imam of the Hanabilah in Damascus Masjid, he was a trustworthy, noble figure, extremely generous, of a clean character, a cautious worshipper, follower of the methodology of the Sa/af, emitting light (of knowledge and piety) and respectful. One may benefit from his sighting before even hearing his speech!’

He was easy and mild-mannered, humble, and he had love for the poor. He was fine in manners, generous and giving, whoever saw him then it was as if he had seen one of the Companions; and it was as if light came from his face. He was plentiful in wor-

ship. His Works In Figh: = al-Mughni (9 volumes), a/-Kafi (2 volumes), a/-‘Uddah, al-Umdah and al-Mugna’.

In ‘Agidah: " Luma’at al-Ttigad, Al-Qadar, Dhamm al-Ta’uil.

In Usil al-Figh: " Randat al-Nadbr

In Raqa’ig and Zuhd: " Al-Rigqah wa’l-Buka, Kitabut-Tawwabin

Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi

His writings number over forty, with some of them remaining as manuscripts. We ask Allah to enable them to be published.

Al-Habbil said, ‘He passed away on the 15" of Sha‘ban, in the year 389AH and some poets composed poems in his memory.’

His funeral which had a huge attendance was held the next day and he was buried on the hill of Qasiyin.