Part 11

The fitnah is shirk (polytheism) since if he rejects anything from his (Muhammad’s) sayings, then some form of heresy may be cast into his heart and cause him to be destroyed.” and knowledge of the deen of Islaam (10) ________________________________________________________ ‘Knowledge of the deen of Islaam’ – Islaam in its general sense is the worship of Allaah in the way in which he prescribed through the messengers that He sent as has been mentioned by Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, in many Ayaat which show that the previous revealed laws were all submission (Islaam) to Allaah, the might and Majestic, Allaah, the Most High says concerning Ibraaheem “O Our Lord, make us Muslims, submitting, obeying and worshipping You alone, and from our progeny those who are Muslims, submitting to You.” [surah al Baqarah: 128] Islaam in its particular sense, after the sending of the Prophet refers to that which Muhammad was sent with. This is because that which the Prophet was sent with abrogates all of the previous deens so that whoever follows him is a Muslim, and whoever declines to follow him is not a Muslim; the jews in the time of Moosa were Muslims, and the Christians in the time of Eesa were Muslims, but since the Prophet Muhammad was sent and they disbelieved in him they are not Muslims. Furthermore this Deen of Islaam is the only deen acceptable to Allaah and the only one which will benefit a person. Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says “The only Deen acceptable to Allaah is Islaam.” [surah Aal Imraa: 19] “And whoever seeks to follow a way other than Islaam then Allaah will not accept that from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [surah Aal Imraan: 85] This Islaam is the Islaam with which Allaah favored Muhammad and his nation, Allaah, the Most High says “This day I have perfected your Deen for you, and completed my favor upon you, and am pleased with Islaam as you Deen.” [surah al Maa’idah: 3] with the proofs (11). ________________________________________________________ The proof being that which leads to that which is sought; and the proofs for this matter are both textual and intellectual. Textual proof is whatever is affirmed by Revelation (wahy) which is the book and the Sunnah, and intellectual proof is that which is established through observation and consideration; Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has frequently mentioned this type of proof in His Book, and there are many Ayaat where Allaah tells us that “from His signs are” such and such, and in this way intellectual proof by Allaah, the Most High, are quoted. As regards knowledge of the Prophet through textual proofs, then examples of these are the Sayings of Allaah, the Most High “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah…” [surah al Fath: 29] “And Muhammad is but a messenger, just like the messengers who passed away before him.” [surah Aal Imraan: 144] The intellectual proofs are by examining and considering the clear signs which he came with: the greatest of them being the book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, which comprehends true and beneficial narrations of events, and just rulings which ensure that wellbeing is achieved. In addition to the miracles which occurred at his hands, and the affairs of the hidden and unseen which he informed of and foretold, and could only be known by means of Revelation – and which occurred just as he had said. (ii) Action upon that (12). (iii) Calling to that (13). ________________________________________________________ This means acting in accordance with what this knowledge demands, with regard to Eemaan in Allaah, establishment of obedience to Him by doing what he has commanded and avoiding what He has forbidden, by performing those actions of worship which benefit each individual, such as: the Praying, fasting and pilgrimage, and those actions of worship which benefit the whole community, such as commanding the right and forbidding evil, and Jihaad in Allaah’s path and the like. Action is, in reality, the fruit of knowledge, so whoever acts without knowledge has resembled the Christians and whoever knows but does not act has resembled the Jews. Calling to the prescribed way laid down by Allaah, the Most high, which the Messenger came with, in it are three of four stages which Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, mentioned in his saying “Call to the way prescribed by your Lord with wisdom (Qur’aan and Sunnah), and with fine admonition, and debate with them in the best manner.” [surah an Nahl: 125] And the fourth is contained in His saying “And do not debate with the People of the Book except with the best words, except for those who remain obstinately upon unbelief and would rather wage ware.” [surah al ‘Ankaboot: 46] An essential requirement for this call is knowledge of the Prescribed Way laid down by Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, so that the call is based upon knowledge and clear evidence, as Allaah the Most high says “Say O Muhammad: "This (call to tawhid) is my way; I invite unto Allaah with certain knowledge (baseerah), I and whosoever follows me with sure knowledge.