Monday 23 November 2009

Concealing ones sins



Taken from:

http://sisters.islamway.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=501

It is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) that we take the light of guidance regarding this crucial issue, which is one that requires urgent attention due to it being one of the most important matters that will assist in preserving the Muslim community with regards to its religion and chastity. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) said: “Every member of my nation will be forgiven, except those who expose their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allaah then conceals, but, the next morning, he goes and says (to people): ‘I committed such and such a sin last night’ - while Allaah had kept it secret. During the night Allaah had concealed it, but in the morning he tore up the cover provided by Allaah Himself.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim] Those who openly expose their sins to others will be deprived from the forgiveness of Allaah. Imaam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It is permissible to speak openly about those who openly expose the sins that they commit, or innovations they propagate.” Such a person would sit in a gathering and say: “I committed such and such a sin last night” and then give details, whilst the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) said: “Refrain from these filthy matters (i.e. sins) that Allaah has forbidden, and if one of you is tried by committing any of them, then let him conceal them as Allaah has concealed them for him.” [Al-Haakim] Why is this? It is because openly exposing one's sins is a way of slighting the rank of Allaah; it is Allaah who forbade such sins to be committed and who informed us of this through His Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam). Thus, the one who openly exposes his disobedience is expressing indifference regarding the legislation of Allaah, the rank of His Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) and the feelings of the righteous within the Muslim community. To do this is therefore nothing except dogged arrogance. Openly exposing sins and bragging about them is a common practice amongst people nowadays, and has replaced repenting from them and concealing them from others. If one sins, he should not even inform a single person, and must repent and resolve never to commit the same sin again. One may, however, inform a scholar or a wise friend in order to seek his help and receive advice on how to refrain from and resist such sins, as well as to receive guidance on matters that would protect him from being tempted again and to inform him of deterrents that would prevent him from falling into the same mistake again. Another specific permissible reason for one exposing his sin is to do so in order to seek the Islamic ruling regarding what he has committed; the proof for this is the story of the man who had sexual intercourse with his wife during the daytime one Ramadhaan during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam). The man then went and informed the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) of what he had done so that he would know what the ruling was and what he should therefore do regarding this sin. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) did not condemn him for telling him what he had done and instructed him as to what to do for expiation. Exposing sins and bragging about them encourages others to commit them and imitate the sinners. The prohibition of openly committing sins is a great wisdom, because Allaah knows that such acts move others and motivate them to indulge in the same evil; it also makes sinning more attractive to people, decorating it in their eyes. This is why openly exposing one's sins is so perilous. The Islamic scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned many rulings related to those who openly expose their sins to others, such as the prayer behind such people to be disliked (i.e., such people may not lead congregational prayers). Some scholars even went as far as to state that one must repeat his prayer if he prays behind such a person. Ibn Abu Zayd (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked whether or not a sinner can lead people during congregational prayers, to which he answered: “If he is one who openly and persistently exposes his sins to others, then he may not.” This means that he should not be given the opportunity to lead to begin with, and if he is already leading, then people must strive to remove and replace him, because this person is unfit for leadership. On the other hand, if one openly exposes a sin of his unintentionally then he is pardoned due to it occurring accidentally. Imaam Maalik (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this and answered: “This is something that anyone could (accidentally) do … (but) nothing is similar to the evil of he who persistently and openly exposes his sins.” An issue related to this is that of visiting such a person when he is sick; visiting a sick Muslim is highly rewardable by Allaah, and it is a right that a Muslim has over other Muslims, but the Islamic scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said regarding the one who openly exposes his sins: “He is not to be visited, so that this (shunning) acts as a means of making him repent from such evil, and in order for others to refrain from such an act when they see how badly he is treated; but, (one may visit him) if the intention is to admonish and advise him.” Another ruling regarding such a person is concerning praying the funeral prayer over him; the Islamic scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) stated that he is not to be prayed over as a deterrent for others, so that they will not follow in his footsteps. In this regard, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “People should refrain from praying over the dead person who was known to openly expose his sins to others as a means to prevent others from acting like him.” Only the common people should pray over such a person, because he was still a Muslim, but people of piety and knowledge should be absent. What is the ruling of backbiting such people and revealing their sins? Generally, it is recommended to conceal the sins of others because the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) said: “Whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allaah will cover up his fault(s) on the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim] The exception to this narration applies only for the one who openly exposes his sins, as the scholars stated; this is because it becomes recommended for others to expose him to people so that they can avoid dealing with him. Concealing the faults of such a person could encourage him to commit more evil. As for backbiting such people, Imaam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “He who openly exposes his sins to others has no protection against backbiting (i.e. it is not prohibited to backbite him).” On the other hand, Imaam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that it is permitted, but only regarding the sins he exposed to others and nothing else, so that people can be warned against him. Additionally, if he is likely to take heed as a result of people boycotting him, then people should boycott him by not talking to him, not visiting him, not responding to him when he salutes with Salaam and so on. This is because exposition of sins is a matter taken very seriously in Islam. One is obliged Islamically to respond to invitations to wedding feasts because the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) said: “He who does not respond to and honour the dinner invitation of a wedding has disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger.” Nonetheless, this obligation does not apply to the invitations of those who openly expose their sins.

www.islamweb.net

Shirk in Love



Taken from:
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=403

Shirk in Love

[Major shirk can be divided into four categories: - The first category of major shirk is “associating in supplication”, which involves directing one’s supplications to other than Allah as a means of gaining provisions or being cured from a sickness or obtaining help during a crisis or for any other purpose. - The second category of major shirk is “association in the intention”, that is, performing deeds that may be good in themselves but which are done for the sake of this worldly life and not for the sake of Allah. The third category of major shirk is “association in loving Allah”. That is to love someone or something else more than or as much as one loves Allah. The fourth category of major shirk is “association in obedience” which is to obey people when they make unlawful things lawful, and to believe that it is permissible to follow those who make such legislations. Here we discuss the third category.]
The third category of major shirk is “association in loving Allah”. That is to love someone or something else more than or as much as one loves Allah. Allah says: “There are men who take others besides Allah as equal with Him. They love them as much as they should love Allah. But the believers have more love for Allah.” (Qur’an 2:165)
There are people who recognize Allah as the Creator, the Owner and the Sustainer of the universe, and yet love others more than Him. Some people love money more than they love Allah and for this reason, they do not pay zakat or they gain their money from unlawful sources. They are the slaves of Dirhams and Dinars, or in today’s terminology, the slaves of Dollars. The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said: “He who became the slave of the Dinar or the Dirham will perish and be destroyed.” (This is part of a hadith related by Al-Bukhari). Some people love their desires more than they love Allah. Consequently, they would follow their desires even when they lead to disobeying Allah: “Do you see the one who is taking as his lord his own desires?” (Qur’an 25:43). Therefore, loving Allah and His Messenger more than anything is a precondition for tasting the sweetness of faith. It has been narrated in an authentic hadith that the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said: “There are three qualities whosoever has them will taste the sweetness of Iman: loving Allah and His Messenger above all else, loving someone solely for the sake of Allah, and hating to return to disbelief after Allah has rescued him from it, as much as he would hate being thrown into Hellfire.” (Related by Al-Bukhari). Allah has put two criteria to test whether one’s love for Him is more than the love of anything else. The first is the following of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam. Allah says: “Say (Muhammad), if you do love Allah, follow me, Allah will love you (in return) and forgive your sins” (Qur’an 3:31). Thus, following the Sunnah in all aspects of our lives is absolutely essential. The second criterion to know if one’s love of Allah is more than anything else is through jihad for the sake of Allah: “Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives or your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline or the houses in which you delight, are dearer to you than Allah or His Messenger, or the jihad for Allah’s sake; then wait until Allah brings about his decision; and Allah does not guide the rebellious,” (Qur’an 9:24).

Monday 9 November 2009

The increadible Merci and Kindness of Allah!



The prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,
إن الله تعلى كتب الحسنات والسيأت. ثم بين ذلك: فمن هم بحسنة فلم يعملها, كتبها الله تعلى عنده حسنة كاملة; فإن هم بها فعملها, كتبها الله تعلى عنده عشر حسنات إلى سبعمائة ضعف إلى أضعاف كثيرة. وإن هم بسيئة فلم يعملها, كتبها الله عنده حسنة كاملة; فإن هم بها فعملها, كتبها الله تعلى سيئة واحدة.
“Allaah has recorded the good deeds and the evil deeds. Then He made them clear: He who has intended a good deed and does not do it, Allaah writes it down with Him as a performed good deed; but if He intends it and does perform it, Allaah records for him from ten good deeds to seven hundred times that or more than that. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, then Allaah writes it down as a good deed; but if he intends an evil deed and performs it, Allaah records it as one evil deed.”(Sahih al-Jami #792)