Who are your friends?

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I came across this article, wonderful reading. May Allah subhana wa tallah increase His favors on His ummah and keep us in the Right Path. Ameen.

The author is unknown to me.

“Know that not everyone is suitable to be your friend…”

1 – Allah Said:

{“Ah! Woe to me! If only I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!”}

[al-Furqan; 28-29]

The Messenger of Allah said:

“A person is upon the way of his friend. So, let one of you look to whom he keeps as a friend.”

['Sahih al-Jami'' (3545) and 'as-Silsilah as-Sahihah' (927)]
2 –

3 – ‘Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hambal said:

“My father went out to Tarsus on foot, and he perfored two or three Hajjs on foot, and he was the most patient of people upon being alone.”

['Tarjamat al-Imam Ahmad'; p. 18]

4 – Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“Know that the greatest of losses is for you to be preoccupied with one who will bring you nothing but a loss in your time with Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – and being cut off from Him, a wasting your time with the person, a weakening of your energy, and the dispersing of your resolve. So, if you are tested with this – and you must be tested with this – deal with him according to how Allah would wish, and be patient with him as much as possible. Get closer to Allah and His Pleasure by way of this person, and make your getting together with him something to benefit from, not something to incur a loss from. Be with him as if you are a man who is on a road who was stopped by another man, who then asks you to take him on your journey. Make sure that you are the one who gives him a ride, and that he is not the one giving you the ride. If he refuses, and there is nothing to gain from travelling with him, do not stop for him, bid him farewell, and do not even turn back to look at him, as he is a highway robber, regardless of who he really is.

So, save your heart, be wary of how you spend your days and nights, and do not let the Sun set before you arrive at your destination.”

['al-Wabil as-Sayyib'; p. 45]

5 – Ibn Jama’ah said:

“So, it is upon the student of knowledge to abandon socialization, as abandoning it is from the most important things that the student of knowledge must do – let alone with members of the opposite gender – especially with those who spend most of their time in play, and spend little of their time in thought, as the nature of individuals can rob you.

The harms of socialization include the passing of life without any benefit, as well as the decline of wealth and religious practice, if this socialization were to occur with the wrong people.

The student of knowledge should not mix except with either those who he can benefit, or can benefit from. And if he is offered the friendship of one who will waste his time with him, will not benefit him, will not benefit from him, and will not assist him in reaching his objective, he should politely end the relationship from the start before it progresses to something deeper, as when something becomes established, it becomes more difficult to change it. There is a phrase that is constantly on the tongues of the Fuqaha’: ‘Repelling something is easier than removing it.’

So, if he requires someone to befriend, let that person be righteous, religious, pious, wary, intelligent, full of benefit, having little evil, good at complying, rarely conflicting, reminding him if he forgets, cooperating with him when he is reminded, helpful if he is in need, and comforting if he is in distress.”

['Tadhkirat as-Sami' wal-Mutakallim'; p. 83]

6 – Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi said:

“Know that not everyone is suitable to be your friend. You must verify that this potential friend has the neccessary characteristics that make friendship with him something to be desired. The one you seek to befriend must have five characteristics:

• He must be intelligent, as there is no good in befriending an idiot, as he will only harm you when he wants to benefit you. By intelligent, we mean one who understands things as they are, either on his own, or if they are explained to him;

• He must have good manners, and this is a must. One who is simply intelligent might be overcome by anger or desire, and obey his desire. Thus, there would be no benefit in befriending him;

• He must not be a fasiq, as such a person would not fear Allah, and whoever does not fear Allah cannot be trusted;

• He must not be an innovator, as his abundance of innovation is feared from befriending him;

• He should not be eager for the dunya.”

['Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin'; p. 126-132]

SINCERE ADVICE FROM SHEIKHAH AL-WAADI’EEYAH….

This is the response to what the Sheikhah Umm Abdillah Al-Waad’eeyah, may Allah preserve her, had when a flyer was shown and translated to her, for a sisters beauty and spa gathering in the west. The request was made to the sister Umm Abdillah Al-Britaaniyah, may Allah preserve her, to ask the Sheikhah about this issue.

The response from the Sheikhah:

All praises are due to Allah. And may the prayer and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without any partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is his slave and messenger. To proceed:

Firstly, it is upon every Muslim woman to know that Allah has made it obligatory upon her to remain at home. As He has said:

وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ ٣٣:٣٣

“And stay in your homes (Oh you women) and do not display your adornments or beauty like the days of Ignorance”

So this is the foundation, however if it becomes necessary for her to leave her home then there is no objection. Provided that she leaves for a reason permitted by the legislation of Al-Islaam. This is because of the speech of the Prophet:

قد أنِنَ الله لكُنَّ أنْ تُخْرُجْنَ لِحَوائِجِكُنَّ

“Indeed it has been permitted for you (women) to leave your homes”

Collected in the Saheeh of Imaam Muhammad bin Ismaa’eel Al-Bukhaari #5237

Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzaan Defines Innovation

Ash-Sheikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) said in o­ne of his verdicts:  Question 181: Indeed there has appeared between the students of knowledge differing regarding the definition of the innovator. So some of them said: he (the innovator) is whoever said or did an innovation, even if the proof was not presented to him. And from among them are those who said: the proof must be established for him. And from among them are those who made a difference between the Mujtahid scholar, and others besides him from those who established their principles that are in opposition to the methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah. And there has appeared from amongst some of these statements the declaration of Ibn Hajr and An-Nawawee as innovators, and refusing to pray for mercy upon them. We seek from your eminence a clarification regarding this issue, which the discussion about it has increased. May Allaah reward you with good. Answer:Firstly, it is not appropriate for the beginning students of knowledge and others besides them from the common folk, to busy themselves with declaring people innovators (Tabdee’) and declaring people to be immoral sinners (Tafseeq). This is because it is a matter that is dangerous, and they do not have the knowledge and comprehension in this matter. Also, this causes hatred and enmity between them. Therefore, it is obligatory upon them to busy themselves with seeking knowledge, and restraining their tongues from that which contains no benefit – rather it contains harm for them and for others besides them as well.Secondly, innovation (Al-Bid’ah) is what has been introduced into the religion from what was not from it. This is due to the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa salaam – may prayers of blessing and peace be upon him), “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours what is not from it, then it is rejected.” [Reported by Al-Imam Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (3/167) from a narration o­n the authority of ‘Aa’ishah – may Allaah be pleased with her].And if a person did something that is in opposition to the religion due to his ignorance (he simply did not know), then verily he is to be excused because of his ignorance, and he is not to be ruled an innovator (Mubtadi’). However, his action is (still) considered an innovation.Thirdly, whoever has some mistakes in matters of Ijtihaad (scholarly deduction), which some others besides him made interpretation concerning – like Ibn Hajr and An-Nawawee, and what occurred from them of interpreting some of the Attributes of Allaah – then that person is not to be ruled as an innovator. Rather, it should be said: This which occurred from them is a mistake, and it is hoped that they will be forgiven due to what they brought forth of tremendous service for the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – may prayers of blessing and peace be upon him). So they are two great Imaams, who are reliable according to the people of knowledge. Source: Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawaa Al-Fawzaan, Volume 2Conveyed from Sahab net.Posted o­n 2/21/07http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=344465Translated by Aqeel Walker2/23/07  قال الشيخ صالح الفوزان حفظه الله في إحدى فتاواه :181 ـ لقد ظهر بين طلاب العلم اختلاف في تعريف المبتدع‏.‏‏.‏ فقال بعضهم‏:‏ هو من قال أو فعل البدعة، ولو لم تقع عليه الحجة، ومنهم من قال لابد من إقامة الحجة عليه، ومنهم من فرَّق بين العالم المجتهد وغيره من الذين أصلوا أصولهم المخالفة لمنهج أهل السنة والجماعة، وظهر من بعض هذه الأقوال تبديع ابن حجر والنووي، وعدم الترحم عليهم‏.‏‏.‏ نطلب من فضيلتكم تجلية هذه المسألة التي كثر الخوض فيها‏.‏‏.‏ جزاكم الله خيرًا‏؟‏ أولاً‏ :‏ لا ينبغي للطلبة المبتدئين وغيرهم من العامة أن يشتغلوا بالتبديع والتفسيق؛ لأن ذلك أمر خطير وهم ليس عندهم علم ودراية في هذا الموضوع، وأيضًا هذا يحدث العداوة والبغضاء بينهم، فالواجب عليهم الاشتغال بطلب العلم وكف ألسنتهم عما لا فائدة فيه، بل فيه مضرة عليهم وعلى غيرهم‏.‏ ثانيًا‏:‏ البدعة‏:‏ ما أحدث في الدين مما ليس منه لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏(‏من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد‏)‏ ‏[‏رواه الإمام البخاري في ‏"‏صحيحه‏"‏ ‏(‏3/167‏)‏ من حديث عائشة رضي الله عنها‏]‏، وإذا فعل الشيء المخالف جاهلاً فإنه يعذر بجهله ولا يحكم عليه بأنه مبتدع، لكن ما عمله يعتبر بدعة‏.‏ ثالثًا‏:‏ من كان عنده أخطاء اجتهادية تأوَّل فيها غيره كابن حجر والنووي، وما قد يقع منهما من تأويل بعض الصفات لا يحكم عليه بأنه مبتدع، ولكن يُقال‏:‏ هذا الذي حصل منهما خطأ ويرجى لهما المغفرة بما قدماه من خدمة عظيمة لسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فهما إمامان جليلان موثوقان عند أهل العلم‏.المنتقى من فتاوى الفوزان- الجزء الثاني-    منقول من شبكة سحاب الخير

The Weakness of the Ahaadeeth Mentioning Wiping the Face with the Hands After Du`aa’ (Supplication)

From Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (2/178-182) by Shaykh al-Albaani

1) “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), when he raised his hands in du`aa’, he would not put them down until he had wiped his face with them.”

Da`eef (Weak). Transmitted by Tirmidhi (2/244) & Ibn `Asaakir (7/12/2) via: Hammaad ibn `Isa al-Juhani from Hanzalah ibn Abi Sufyaan al-Jamhi from Saalim ibn `Abdullaah from his father from `Umar ibn al-Khattaab, who said: …

Tirmidhi said after it, “This is a saheeh ghareeb hadeeth. We only know it as a hadeeth of Hammaad ibn `Esa, for he is alone in reporting it; he has few ahaadeeth, but the people have reported from him.”

However, this reporter is weak, as in Taqreeb of Ibn Hajr, who says about him in Tahdheeb:

Ibn Ma`een said, “A good shaikh”<sup>1</sup>Abu Haatim said, “Weak in Hadeeth“; Abu Daawood said, “Weak, he reports munkar ahaadeeth”; Haakim and Naqqaash said, “He reports fabricated ahaadeeth from Ibn Juraij and Ja`far as-Saadiq.” He is declared to be weak by Daaraqutni. Ibn Hibbaan said, “He reports things which are the wrong way round on the authority of Ibn Juraij and `Abdul `Azeez ibn `Umar ibn `Abdul `Azeez, such that it seems to those whose field this is that it is deliberate; it is not permissible to use him as proof.” Ibn Maakoolaa said, “They declare his ahaadeeth to be weak.”

Hence, the like of this reporter is very weak, so his ahaadeeth cannot be raised to the level of hasan, let alone saheeh!

A similar hadeeth is:

“When the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) did du`aa’ and raised his hands, he would wipe his face with his hands.”

Da`eef (Weak). Abu Daawood (1492) from Ibn Lahee`ah from Hafs ibn Hishaam ibn `Utbah ibn Abi Waqqaas from Saa’ib ibn Yazeed from his father.

This is a weak sanad due to Hafs ibn Hishaam being unknown and the weakness of Ibn Lahee`ah (cf. Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb).

This hadeeth cannot be strengthened by the two routes of narration together due to the severity in weakness of the first one, which you have seen.

2) “When you call upon Allaah, then supplicate with the palms of your hands, and do not supplicate with their backs, and when you finish, wipe your face with them.”

Da`eef (Weak). Related by Ibn Maajah (1181, 3866), Ibn Nasr in Qiyaam al-Lail (p. 137), Tabaraani in Al-Mu`jam al-Kabeer (3/98/1) & Haakim (1/536), from Saalih ibn Hassaan from Muhammad ibn Ka`b from Ibn `Abbaas (radi Allaahu `anhu) as marfoo`.