"Say: Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them. Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom He permits..." (34:22,23) Abul-Abbas said that Allah has equally negated all that the Mushrikin have attached (to their false gods). For He has negated that anyone has any dominion or any share of it besides Him, or that there is any assistant to Allah, And that there is nothing to remain except intercession. It is clear that there will be no benefit to anyone except for who has been granted permission by the Lord as He stated:
"They will not be able to intercede except for him with whom He is pleased" (21 :28) And for this reason the intercession that the Mushrikin believe in is rejected on the Day of Resurrection, as it is rejected by the Qur'an and as the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) informed us:
Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyah, Ahmad bin Abdul-Haleem bin Abdus-Salam -see Fath-ul-Majeed, page 168. He will come and prostrate to his Lord and praise Him, and he will not begin with intercession at first. It will be said afterwards: "Raise your head, speak and it will be heard, ask and you will be given, intercede and intercession will be granted."
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) :
"Who will be the happiest of people with your intercession?" He (the Prophet P.B.U.H) said, "Whoever said La ilaha illa Allah sincerely with pure intention from his heart." So this intercession is for those people with pure intent, if Allah so wills, and it will not be for those who commit Shirk. The essence of the matter is that it is Allah, Who is above all imperfections, Who favours the people sincere in their worship and forgives them through the medium of the invocation of whoever He has given permission to intercede as an honour to him and to confer upon him the Highest Place (Al-Maqam-al-Mahmud). The intercession which is rejected and denied in the Qur'an is that which involves Shirk, and this is why intercession is confirmed and affirmed by the permission of Allah in many places. The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) made it clear that this intercession will not be for other than the people of Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism) and Ikhlas (sincerity in the religion of Islam).
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verses mentioned. 2) Description of rejected intercession. 3) Description of affirmed intercession. 4) The "Greatest Intercession" being the "Highest Place" (of the Prophet May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). 5) A description of what the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) will do (on the Day of Judgement) and that he will not begin by making intercession, rather he will prostrate and when he is given permission he will intercede. 6) Who would be the happiest of people with the intercession of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). 7) Intercession will not at all be for whoever committed Shirk. 8) Clarification of the real state of intercession. CHAPTER No:18 (Allah guides whom He wills)
Allah the Almighty stated:
"Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided." (28:56) In the Sahih, Ibn Al-Musaiyab has reported from his father:
When death approached Abu Talib, Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) came to him and found `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiyah and Abu Jahl in his company. The Prophet said, "O uncle, say: 'There is no true god except Allah', a word which will enable me to plead for you with Him." The two of them said, "Would you forsake the religion of (your father) 'Abdul Muttalib?" The Prophet repeated (the request) and the two of them also repeated (their question). The final word of Abu Talib was about being on the religion of' Abdul-Muttalib and he refused to say: La ilaha ilIa-Allah. The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, "But I shall continue to pray for your forgiveness as long as I am not prohibited to do so." It was then that Allah the Almighty revealed the verse: "It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe, to ask Allah's forgiveness for the Mushrikin even though they be of kin." (9:113) Allah also revealed concerning Abu Talib: "Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided ones." (28:56) Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verse:
"Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided ones." (28:56) 2) Explanation of the verse:
"It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief)." (9: 113) 3) It is a major issue in the explanation of the statement of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) "Say La ilaha illa-Allah." Differing with those who claim to be possessing (religious) knowledge. (They claim it sufficient to be forgiven by merely uttering Kalimah). 4) Abu Jahl and those who were with him knew full well the intent of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) when he said to the man (his uncle) "Say La ilaha illa- Allah." May Allah denounce the ones who were less knowledgeable than Abu Jahl regarding Islam. 5) The eagerness and intense desire of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to convert his uncle to Islam. 6) The denial of those who claim that Abdul-Muttalib and his forefathers were Muslims. 7) Allah did not forgive Abu- Talib despite the Prophet's initially asking forgiveness for him. On the contrary, he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was forbidden to do so. 8) The harmful influence that evil companions can have on people. 9) The harm of over praising ancestors and important personalities. 10) The arguments of falsifiers are the arguments of Jahiliyah (pre-Islamic period). 11) An attestation to the weight of the final deeds in one's life because had Abu Talib confessed it that there is no true God but Allah, he would have been benefited by it. 12) The consideration of the magnitude of this false argument in the hearts of the misguided, because in the story they did not argue except with it despite the intense effort of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and his repetition (of the Kalimah). Because of their tremendous pride (in ancestry) and its distinction among them, they were content with it. CHAPTER No: 19 Excessive Dogma in the Righteous Persons is the Root Cause of Infidelity of Mankind and its deviation from True Religion
The Statement of Allah the Almighty and Most Exalted:
"O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah anything but the truth..." (4:171) In the Sahih, Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) commented on the verse:
"And they have said: You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd nor Suwa` nor Yaghuth nor Ya'uq nor Nasr (names of the idols)." (71:23) He said:
"These are the names of some righteous persons from Noah's (Nuh) people. When they passed away, Satan inspired their people to set up statues in their honour and set them in their gathering places, and to give these statues the names of those departed. They did this but did not worship them until these people passed away and knowledge of their origins were forgotten, then they were worshipped."
Ibn Al-Qaiyim (May Allah be pleased with him) said that most of our predecessors have stated: After the death (of the righteous persons), they confined at their graves and made statues and after much time passed they started worshipping them. Umar (bin AI-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him)) is reported to have said that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Do not exaggerate in praise of me just as the Christians exaggerated in the praise of Jesus, son of Mary. I am but a slave, so call me Allah's slave and His Messenger." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Be ware of exaggeration. Your predecessors perished on account of their exaggeration."
In (Sahih) Muslim, Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that
Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Destroyed are those who are extreme (in religion)." He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said it three times. Important issues of the Chapter
1) Whoever understood this chapter and the following two, will recognize clearly the "strangeness" of Islam and see Allah's wondrous power and wisdom to change hearts. 2) The first Shirk on the earth happened due to the confusion regarding righteous persons (that they have attributed godly characteristics). 3) The first thing to cause changes in the religion of the Prophets and the reason for that, despite the knowledge that they were sent by Allah. 4) The acceptance of heresy though it is against legal laws and inborn nature. 5) The reason for all of that is the mixing of truth with falsehood: firstly, the exaggeration in the love of the righteous; and secondly, the action of people with religious knowledge intending to do good (performed with well intentions); but the later generations thought that they intended something else. 6) Explanation of the verse in Surah Nuh (71:23). 7) Human nature towards the truth weakens in the heart while falsehood increases. (Except upon whom Allah has bestowed His mercy). 8) It confirms the sayings of righteous predecessors that heresy(Bid'ah) is the main cause leading to Kufr (disbelief) [and that it (Bid'ah) is more loved by Iblis than sinfulness because one may repent from sins but will not repent from Bid 'ah]. 9) Satan (the devil) knows what the result of heresy is (and how much will it misguide), even if one commits it with good intention. 10) Knowledge of the general rule that excess and exaggeration (in the righteous ones) is prohibited, and knowledge of what it leads to. 11) The harm of seclusion at the grave even with intention of performing a righteous deed. 12) The prohibition against statues and the wisdom in destroying them. 13) Greatness of the matter within this story and how badly it is needed (i.e. the lesson within) in the face of the heedlessness and neglect of it. 14) It is absolutely amazing! And more amazing is that despite their (people of Bid'ah) reading this story in the books of Tafsir and Hadith, along with their understanding of its meaning, and knowing about the obstruction that Allah has put between them and their hearts, they believed that the deed of the people of Nuh (i.e. over praising the dead and memorializing their graves with statues) is the best type of worship. They believed in what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden which is the disbelief (Kufr) that permits the taking of life and wealth ...! 15) The declaration that they only wished the righteous ones to intercede for them. 16) Their assumption that those scholars who first shaped the statues had intended so. 17) The tremendous statement of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) “Do not exaggerate in praise of me just as the Christians had exaggerated in the praise of Jesus, son of Mary". May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him who has conveyed the clear message! 18) The admonition by the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to us of destruction of those going to extreme in religion. 19) The clear statement that they (the statues) were not worshipped until true knowledge was forgotten. This explains the value of the presence of knowledge and the harm of losing it. 20) The reason for the loss of knowledge is the death of scholars. CHAPTER No: 20 The condemnation of the One who worships Allah at the Grave of a Righteous Man and how then does this amount to Worship of the Man
In the Sahih (i.e. AI-Bukhari and Muslim), 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
"Umm Salamah mentioned to Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) that in Abyssinia she saw a church full of pictures and statues. He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: "When a righteous man or pious worshipper among them dies they build a place of worship over his grave and set up all kinds of pictures and statues. They are the worst of all creatures before Allah. They combine the two evils; worshipping at the graves and-making graven images and statues."
Also in Al-Bukhari and Muslim it is reported that `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
When the death approached Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) he began to draw a piece of cloth (bed sheet) over his face, (sometimes covering and sometimes removing because of distress), he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said in this state: "Allah's curse be upon the Jews and the Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship." Thus he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) warned the people about their actions. Had there not been any fear of making the Prophet's grave a place of worship, his (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) grave would have been as open as the graves of his Companions (May Allah be pleased with him). Muslim reported from Jundub bin Abdullah ((May Allah be pleased with him)) who narrated:
I heard the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) say only five days before his death: "I am free and clear towards Allah of having any of you as my Khalil (especially close friend). Verily, Allah has taken me as His Khalil just as He had taken Ibrahim ((May Allah be pleased with him)) as a Khalil. If I would have taken anyone from my Ummah as a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr ((May Allah be pleased with him)) as a Khalil. Beware! Those who proceeded before you, used to make their Prophets' graves into places of worship. Beware! Don't take (any) graves as places of worship. I forbid you to do so." He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) forbade this at the end of his life. After this [forbidding of taking graves as Masjid (place of worship)], he cursed anyone who did any such deed within this context. Prayer at the graves is one of these deeds, even if no Masjid has been built. This is the meaning of his (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) words "He feared (his grave) would be taken as a Masjid". The Companions never built any place of worship around his grave. Any place which is intended for prayer or where prayer is performed has indeed been taken as a Masjid. Just as the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: "The whole earth has been made for me a Masjid and it is pure and clean."
Ahmad has reported with a good Sanad that Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated in a Marfu' Hadith (tradition traced to the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) himself):
"The most evil men are those upon whom the (signs of) Hour (of Resurrection) comes while they are still alive, and those who take graves as places of worship (Masjid)". [This tradition was also reported by Abu Hatim in his Sahih.]
Important issues of the Chapter
1) The intimidation of Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) over the one who builds a mosque to worship Allah near the grave of a righteous person even with good intention. 2) Prohibition. of statues and likenesses and the gravity of the matter. 3) A lesson in the emphasis of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) on this. How he first explained and clarified the issue (politely), then five days before his death saying what he said, then how he found at the time of his death what was. previously said insufficient in the context. 4) Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) strongly prohibited the turning of his grave into a Masjid before it had come into existence. 5) It was the practice of the Jews & Christians to turn the graves of their Prophets into places of worship. 6) His curse on the Jews and Christians for this practice. 7) His intention in doing so was a warning to us regarding his grave. 8) The reason for not raising his grave. 9) The meaning of taking them (graves) as Masjid. 10) The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) linked those who took the graves as Masjid to those upon whom the Hour will occur. He mentioned the means to Shirk before its actual occurrence along with its final consequence. 11) The mentioning of Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) in his speech a refutation of the two worst sects of innovators just five days prior to his death. Some scholars have not included these two sects in the 721 sects. These two sects are Rafidah2and Jahmiyah3.The occurrence of Shirk and grave worshipping was due to Rafidah sect, and they were the first to build Masjid over the graves. 12) Suffering of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) with pains and
72 sects mentioned as being from the Prophet's nation, but all would go to Hell because of their heresies.
Rafidah -The Shi'ah called Rafidah because of their rejection (Rafd) to `Ali bin Hussain (Zain Al-'Aabideen).. Jahmiyah -A sect denying all the Names and Attributes of Allah. affliction from the agony of death. 13) Allah awarded the favour of making him a Khalil (friend). 14) A clear declaration that close friendship is more valuable than love. 15) A clear declaration that As-Siddiq (Abu Bakr) (May Allah be pleased with him) was the best of the Companions. .......................................................... 16) The indication to him (Abu Bakr) as caliph (successor to the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ) CHAPTER No: 21 Exaggeration in the Graves of the Righteous Persons tends them to become Idols worshipped besides Allah
Imam Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) recorded in his book Muwatt ' that the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"O Allah! Never turn my grave into an idol to be worshipped. Allah's, wrath intensified on a people who turn their Prophet's graves into Masjid."
Concerning the verse:
"Have you then considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzza." (53:19) Ibn Jarir (At-Tabari) reported from Sufyan, from Mansur, from Mujahid:
"He (Lat) used to serve the pilgrims by preparing Saweeq (fine flour of barley or wheat mixed with water and ghee) for them. After his death, the people began to stay and confine at his grave for the purpose of reward."
The same was reported by Abul-Jawza (May Allah be pleased with him) from Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him). Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
"Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) cursed the women who visit the graves. He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) also cursed those who set up mosques and lights over graves". [This Hadith has been confirmed by Abu Dawud, At- Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and An-Nasa'i].
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of idols. 2) Explanation of worship. 3) The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did not seek refuge in Allah except from that which he feared would occur. 4) The Prophet's joining this supplication i.e., "O Allah! Never turn my grave..." with taking the graves of Prophets as Masjid. 5) Mention of the intense wrath of Allah (on those who indulge in such activities). 6) Of most importance is the description as to how the worship of Lat, one of the major (pre- Islamic) idols, was started. 7) The knowledge that Lat was the grave of a righteous man. 8) Lat was the name of a person buried in that grave and the mention of the meaning behind (the idol) being named such. 9) Curse (of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ) on the women who visit the graves. 10) The Prophet's curse upon those who put up lights on the graves. CHAPTER No: 22 The protectiveness of Al-Mustafa (May Allah be pleased with him) of Tauhid and his blockading every path leading to Shirk
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad P.B.U.H) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad P.B.U.H) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he P.B.U.H) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say (O Muhammad P.B.U.H): Allah is sufficient for me. La i/aha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne." (9:128,129) Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Do not make your homes graves. Do not make my grave a place of celebration. Send your Salat (blessings, graces, honours and mercy) on me. Your Salat will be conveyed to me, wherever you may be." [Abu Dawud recorded this Hadith with reliable chain of narrators].
And Ali bin Husain narrated:
He saw a man at a space that was at the grave of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and he would go in it and supplicate. So he (Ali bin Husain) prevented the man and instructed him saying, "Should I not tell you a Hadith which I heard from my father who in turn heard it from my grandfather (Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)) who reported from Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: 'Do not take my grave as a place of celebration, nor your homes as graves, make Salat (blessing, graces, honours and mercy) upon me, for, your salutation (asking safety for me) will be conveyed to me from wherever you are.'" [Al-Mukhtdrah (the collection of Imam Al-Maqdasi)]
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verses in Surah Bar 'ah (Taubah). 2) The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did his best to keep his Ummah far away from the boundaries of Shirk as far as possible. 3) The Prophet's concern for our well-being and success and his compassion and mercy. 4) The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) forbade visiting his grave in a certain manner, though visiting his grave is among the best of deeds. 5) The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) forbade us making excessive visits to his grave. 6) His urging to perform voluntary prayer in the home. 7) It is established among the Companions (May Allah be pleased with him) that offering Salat in the cemetery is prohibited. 8) The explanation that a person's invocation of Salat (blessings, graces, honours and mercy) and Salam upon the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) is conveyed to him even if he may be far away. So there is no need of what some misconstrue as a necessity to be in close proximity (to his grave). 9) He (the Prophet P.B.U.H) is in Al-Barzakh where the Salat and Salam of his Ummah are conveyed (to him). CHAPTER No: 23 Some People of this Ummah (Nation) will worship Idols
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Al-Jibt and At- Taghut (all false deities) and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims)." (4:51) Allah the Almighty said:
"Say (O Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to the people of the Scripture): 'Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah: those (Jews) who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshipped Taghut (false deities)." (5:60) Allah the Exalted said:
"Those who won their point said (most probably the disbelievers): 'We verily shall build a place of worship over them.' " (18:21)
Narrated Abu Sa'id (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
"Surely, you will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, in everything as one arrow resembles another, (i.e. just like them), so much so that even if they entered a hole of a sand-lizard, you would enter it." They said, "O Allah's Messenger! Do you mean to say that we will follow the Jews and the Christians?" He replied, "Whom else?" (meaning, of course the Jews and the Christians)." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Muslim reports from Thawban (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Allah the Most Exalted folded for me the earth, so much so that I saw its easts and wests (i.e. the extremities). The kingdom of my community will reach as far as the earth was folded for me. The two treasures, the red (gold) and the white (silver) were bestowed on me, I prayed to my Lord that He may not destroy my community by a prevailing famine, and not give their control to an enemy who annihilates them en masse except from among themselves. My Lord said to me, 'Muhammad, if I issue a decree, it is not withdrawn; I have promised your Ummah that I will not destroy it by a prevailing famine, and I shall not give their control to an enemy -except from among themselves -who exterminates them en masse, even if they are stormed from all sides of the earth; only a section of them will destroy another section, and a section will take as prisoner another section.' " Al-Barqani (May Allah be pleased with him) recorded this Hadith in his Sahih and added to it the following words:
I am afraid about my community of those astray leaders who will lead astray. When the sword is used among my people, it will not be withdrawn from them till the Day of Resurrection, and the Last Hour will not come until the tribes of my people attach themselves to the polytheists and tribes of my people worship idols. There will be among my people thirty great liars each of them asserting that he is a prophet, whereas I am the Seal of the Prophets after whom (me) there will be no Prophet; and a section of my people will continue to hold to the truth and they will be victorious and they will not be harmed by those who oppose them till Allah's Command comes."
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verse in An-Nisa’ (4:5). 2) Explanation of the verse in AI-Ma'idah(5:60) 3) Explanation of the verse in AI-Kahf(18:21). 4) The, most important issue is what is meant by believing in Al-Jibt (magic, Shirk, idols) and At- Taghut (all false deities worshipped besides Allah). Does it mean believing in that sincerely by the heart; or approval of those who do so while hating it and knowing its falsehood? 5) Their (Jews) saying (regarding the pagan Quraish) that the disbelievers who are well aware of their Kufr (disbelief) are on a more correct and guided path than the believers. 6) Such people will be found in the Muslim community (the Ummah) as is proved by Hadith of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) This is the main object of the Chapter. 7) The occurrence of his declaration that many followers of this Ummah will worship false deities (idols, statues etc). 8) Most amazing is the appearance of those claiming Prophethood like Al-Mukhtar (Al-Mukhtar bin Abi Ubaid Ath-Thaqafi who conquered Kufa at the beginning of the caliphate of Ibn Zubair) despite his proclamation of Ash-Shahiidatain, and his declaration of being a part of this Muslim nation, and (his testifying) that the Messenger (Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ) was true and the Qur'an was true and therein is the confirmation that Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was the "Seal" of the Prophets. He was believed in spite of his clear and open contradiction to it (Ash- Shahiidatain). Al-Mukhtar appeared in the latter era of the Companions and many people followed him. 9) The glad tiding that the truth will never perish completely as it had in the past. Indeed, there will always be a group upon the truth. 10) The greatest of signs is that they (victorious group) will not be harmed by those who oppose them and fight against them despite (them) being few in number. 11) This will be the case until the Last Hour. 12) There are a number of signs in the statement of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) • Allah folded for him (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) the east and the west (i.e. the lands under the control of Islam); the meaning of it; and that it indeed occurred as he informed; as opposed to the north and the south. • That two treasures (i.e. treasures of Rome and Persia) were bestowed upon him. • That two of his D'ua (invocations) on behalf of his nation have been accepted. • That the third of his invocations was prevented. • That the sword would be used and that it would not be lifted after that. • That false prophets would appear among this nation (the Muslims). • There would always be a victorious group. • All of this occurred as he mentioned even though each one of them was far from what could have been conceived. 13) The extent of fear for his nation from the misguided and astray leaders. 14) Warning and notice of the meaning of idol worship. CHAPTER No: 24 On Sorcery (As-Sihr)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter." (2:102) Allah the Almighty said:
"They believe in Al-Jibt and At-Taghut (all false deities)." (4:51) Umar ((May Allah be pleased with him)) is reported to have said that Al-Jibt is magic (sorcery) while At-Taghut is Ash-Shaitan. Jabir ((May Allah be pleased with him)) is reported to have said that At-Taghut are soothsayers upon whom the devil alights and every tribe has one. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have heard the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:
"Save yourself from the seven destroyers." The Companions (May Allah be pleased with him) asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what are those?" He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, "To associate anything with Allah, sorcery (magic), without any just cause killing a life Allah has forbidden, taking interest (usury), usurping the wealth of orphans, turning back from the battlefield, and making a false charge (accusation) against the chaste but unmindful women (i.e. they never even think of anything touching chastity)." (Bukhari and Muslim) Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated the following Marfu' Hadith, which At- Tirmidhi reported:
"The punishment for the sorcerers/magicians is that he be stuck with the sword (executed)." In Sahih Al-Bukhari, Bajalah bin `Abadah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
"'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote: Execute every sorcerer or sorceress". So Bajalah continued: "We executed three sorcerers." Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have ordered an execution of a slave woman who practiced magic/sorcery on her and she was executed. Such an event has also been reported through Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him). According to Imam Ahmad (May Allah be pleased with him) execution of sorcerers (magicians) is testified by three Companions of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) (Umar, Hafsah, Jundub).
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verse in Al-Baqarah (2:102). 2) Explanation of the verse in An-Nisa (4:51). 3) Meaning of Al-Jibt and At-Taghut and the difference between the two. 4) At- Taghut could be among jinns or humans. 5) Details of seven grave destroyers which are strictly forbidden. 6) Sorcerers or magicians are disbelievers (Kafir). 7) That the sorcerers/magicians should be executed and no repentance is accepted. 8) Sorcerers were found among the Muslims during the period of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). So how about thereafter?1
Meaning, they surely increased in later times. CHAPTER No: 25 Clarification of types of Sorcery (As-Sihr)
Imam Ahmad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Muhammad bin Ja'far narrated from Auf, from Haiyan bin Al- `Ala', from Qatan bin Qabisah, from his father that he heard the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) say:
"Verily, Al-'lyafah (letting birds fly to foretell events) and At-Tarq (drawing lines on earth to predict events) and At-Tiyarah (taking sight on some object as a bad omen) are Al-Jibt (sorceries/magic)." `Auf (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "Al-'lyafah is letting a bird's flight foretell events while At-Tarq is drawing line on earth." Hasan Basri (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "Al- Jibt is the scream of Satan (devil)." The above Hadith has been narrated through good chain of narrators and collected by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban. Abu Dawud reported in his book with Sahih lsnad that Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah's Messenger (P.B.UH) said:
"Whoever learns a part of astrology (drawing knowledge from stars) has learned a part of sorcery (magic). Those who learn more are getting that much more (sin to their credit)."
In An-Nasa'i, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said:
"Whoever tied a knot and blew on it, has committed sorcery and whoever committed sorcery has committed Shirk. Whoever wears an amulet or talisman will be subjected to its control." Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have heard Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:
"Shall I not tell you what Al-'Adh (literally: lying, sorcery etc.) is? It is conveying false rumors for the purpose of causing disputes between people." (Muslim) Both Sahih collectors reported from Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Some eloquence can be (so beautiful that it constitutes) sorcery.”
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Al-'lydfah, At-Tarq, At-Tiyarah are three kinds of Al-Jibt (sorcery/magic). 2) Al-'lyafah, and At-Tarq are explained. 3) Astrology too is a kind of sorcery. 4) Tying knots and blowing over them is also sorcery. 5) An-Namimah (tale bearing, backbiting) is also a form of sorcery. 6) Talking sometimes superfluously and eloquently can too be sorcery. CHAPTER No: 26 On Soothsayers and the like
Muslim recorded in his Sahih, from some of the wives (Hafsah) of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) that he said:
"Whoever goes to a fortuneteller and asks him something and believes in his words, will have his prayer (Salat) rejected for forty days."
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever visited a soothsayer and believed in his words, has denied the Revelation to Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) (i.e. Qur'an)." (Abu Dawud) The other four Hadith collectors and AI-Hakim equally reported this Hadith (of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)) and classified it as Sahih (sound):
"Whoever visits a fortuneteller or a soothsayer and believes in his words, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ."
Abu Ya'la reported a similar Hadith from Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) with good Isnad but as Mawquf (untraceable).
Imran bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates in a Marfu` Hadith that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"He is not from us who seeks omens or has omens interpreted for him (i.e. At-Tiyarah); or who practices fortunetelling or has his fortune told; or who practices sorcery and magic or goes to have it done for him; and whoever goes to a Kahin (fortuneteller) and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)." [Reported by Al-Bazzar with good chain of narrators].
The same Hadith was reported by At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat with a fair chain of narrators from Ibn Abbas without the words "Whoever goes to..." at the end.
Imam Al-Baghawi said, "Al-'Arrafis a person who claims to know the matters with fore signs by which he can point to stolen items, the place of lost things and the like." Some said, it is the Kahin; and Kahin is the one who foretells of unseen matters in the future. It is also said that it is the one who informs of the inner secrets.
Abul-Abbas bin Taimiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "Al-'Arraf is a name for the fortuneteller and the astrologer (Al-Munajjim), and the diviner (Ar-Rammal), and the like of them who speak of having knowledge of matters in similar ways."
Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said about those people who write Abjad (alphabet -to use in soothsaying, fortunetelling etc.) and gaze at the stars i.e., believe in their influences on the earth -"I do not see that whoever does such has any share with Allah."
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Belief in a Kahin and faith in the Qur'an cannot coexist. 2) Declaration that to do so (i.e. believe in a Kahin) is disbelief. 3) Mention of the one whose fortune is told. 4) Mention of the one for whom an omen is sought. 5) Mention of the one for whom sorcery is done. 6) Mention of the one who learns Abjad (use of alphabet in soothsaying or astrology). 7) The difference between the Kahin and the 'Arraf CHAPTER No: 27 Curing through Magical Spells (An-Nushrah)
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was asked about An- Nushrah (the act of seeking cure from magical spells/incantation), he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, "It is one of the deeds of Satan." [Ahmad and Abu Dawud have reported it with good chain of narrators (Isnad)].
Imam Abu Dawud reported that when asked by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (May Allah be pleased with him) about this, he said: "Ibn Mas'ud disliked all this."
Al-Bukhari reports from Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) : I said to Ibn Al-Musaiyab, "A man is under a magical spell or is unable to cohabitate with his wife, should we treat him by An-Nushrah or apply some other means to cure the spell/sorcery?" Ibn Al-Musaiyab (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, "It is alright because they intend restoration or mending. That which benefits is not forbidden."1 Imam Al-Hasan (Al-Basri (May Allah be pleased with him)) is of the view that only a sorcerer (magician) can break the spell of another sorcerer. Ibn Al-Qaiyim (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote that An-Nushrah is removing the effects of sorcery/spell from the affected one, and it is of two types: 1) The use of magic (sorcery) to remove the effects of another magic and it is an act of Satan to which the comment of Imam Al-Hasan (Al-Basri (May Allah be pleased with him) ) applies i.e., that the one who performs sorcery and the patient, both get closer to Satan by that which he loves. Satan then removes the effects of magic from the afflicted. 2) The effects of magic can be removed by making recitation of Qur'anic verses; by offering legitimate prayers (Ruqyah) as well as by using pharmaceutical preparations. This type of Nushrah is permissible.
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Prohibition of An-Nushrah. 2) The difference between the prohibited and what is permitted for the removal of such problems.
Ibn Al-Musaiyab predicated it on a kind of An-Nushrah which has no sorcery. CHAPTER No: 28 What is said regarding Belief in Omens (At- Tataiyur)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"Verily, their evil omens are with Allah but most of them know not." (7:131)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
"They (Messengers) said: Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah)." (36:19)
Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:
"(There is) no 'Adwa (contagion of disease without Allah's Permission), nor is At-Tiyarah (any bad omen from birds), nor is there any Hamah (the omen of the night bird i.e., owl), nor is there (any bad omen in the month of) Safar."
In Muslim's Sahih the following words are added:
"... and no Naw' (constellation) and no Ghul (ghost etc.)1 "
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have heard the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:
"No Adwa (contagion) and no Tiyarah (bad omen) but Al-Fa'l pleases me." So they asked, "What is Al-Fa'l?" He (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) answered, "It is the good word." (Bukhari and Muslim)
With valid Isnad, Abu Dawud reported that Uqbah bin Aamir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
At-Tiyarah (taking bad omens) was once mentioned before Allah's Messenger (May the peace
Naw': Constellation in the path of moon or a division of time connected with the phases of the moon. Ghul: Fictitious monster often invoked to scare children like ghost etc. and blessing of Allah be upon him) and he (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, "The best form of it is Al-Fa'l (optimism or the expectation that a event will occur by Allah's Permission). It does not prevent a Muslim from his object. Whenever any of you sees something he dislikes he should pray: 'O Lord, none but You bring good things! None but you prevent evil things! There is no power and no strength except in You.' "
It is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) in a Marfu` Hadith:
"At-Tiyarah is Shirk, At-Tiyarah is Shirk. There is none among us who does not feel something in his heart about At-Tiyarah. But Allah, due to deep trust in Him, removes it." [This Hadith was reported by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.] and it is stated that its last part is the statement of Ibn Mas'ud.
Ahmad reported from Ibn 'Amr the following Hadith: