Advice for protection of Iman

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes after describing the signs and the Wahhabi ordeal in the light of the Hadith:

 

“It can’t be doubted that this faction is suffering from some deep-seated deprivation because of which the True Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said that they will never return to the Deen; but one reason which seems obvious is that in their zeal for defending Tauheed, eliminating shirk and bida’a (innovations), they not only disrespect the beloved of Allah Ta’ala, but also learn it and teach it to others as if they are teaching the principles of Deen, which Allah’s sense of honor cannot bear and it destroys them.  (Anwaar e Ahmadi, 324, 325)

 

Shaykh Ul Islam instructs the Wahhabis to give up disrespect and to follow the manners of the Sahabah:

 

“The Wahhabis should fear Allah Ta’ala that they see the grandeur and superiority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, they hear it from the Muslims but ignore them and search for such Hadith, which outwardly diminish the superiority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).   Will such Salaat, such fasts and such belief in the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) be of any benefit?  We have an example of a large group of people that these things will not benefit; so we give them well-meaning advice to leave this way and adopt the manners of the Sahabah. ” (Maqasid ul Islam, Vol 11, Pg No.  23)

 

Iman Is The Testification Of Tauheed And Prophethood

 

Linguistically, there is a slight difference between Iman and Islam, but in the terminology of the Shariah, there is no difference.  The word “Islam,” means obedience and following of rules.  The person who outwardly follows (the commandments of) Allah Ta’ala, performs Islamic actions (a’amaal) and does not do anything anti-Islamic is called a Muslim.   The Shariah does not give the order to determine his/her emotions.   If any act is attributed to the person who looks anti Islamic, then that person will be declared a Kafir.   After a highly scholarly argument Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam says:

 

“To summarize, it is not necessary to find out what goes on inside the heart of a person to declare him/her as a Muslim.   If it were necessary, then nobody could be called a Muslim which would create problems for Muslims.   For this reason, the Shariah says that whoever expresses Islam through words and actions, that person should be considered a Muslim and treated as one, as Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Nisa.  

 

In the same way, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says that whoever declares the Tauhid of Allah Ta’ala and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and performs Salaat etc.  should be considered a Muslim and there is no claim against that person.   Thus, based on the actions, words etc.  the Iman of a person would be decided.   In the same way the Kufr (denial) of a person will also be declared based on the actions and words of a person; as Ibn Taimiyya writes in As Sarim ul Maslool.   It is written in Sharh Maqasid, etc.  that some sins have been declared by the Law-giver as indications of rejection of faith, such as harboring enmity against the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), throwing the Holy Quran in dirt and filth, prostrating to a idol, etc.

 

Through this the Muslims can understand that if any person says that those matters in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, which cannot be understood logically (i. e.  using the present corpus of knowledge), they need to be explained away (tawil), which only means that they should not be understood as they are, then what we should think about such a person?

 

Shaykh Imam Taqiuddin writes in As Saif ul Maslool that a consensus has been achieved on this that any Muslim who diminishes the honor and glory of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), or abuses Him, the execution of that person is compulsory (Wajib) and writes that Hadhrat Umar (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) has explicitly ordered that the person who abuses Almighty Allah Ta’ala or the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should be killed. ” (Maqasid Ul Islam, Pg No: 137, 138)

 

The Result Of Disrespect And Avoiding The Books Of The Misguided

 

If any person declares himself/herself as a Muslim and all the signs of Islam such as offering Salaat, fasting, acting upon the Shariah and along with that if that person disrespects the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) whether directly or indirectly, then that person will be considered a Kafir (denier).   That person’s declaration of faith and the manifestation of acts of Iman from that person do not mean anything.   Muslims should refrain from reading or listening to such books which create doubts in their minds and should supplicate Allah Ta’ala for guidance.   In this connection, Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam reproduces what Ibn Taimiyya wrote and comments on them:

 

“The substance of all these is that any person who disrespects Allah Ta’ala and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is considered worthy of being killed, even though the disrespect might be indirect.   If any person says that the Zuhd (abstinence from the pleasures of the world) was not His own wish, if He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had got something better to eat, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have had it.   Then even that person is worthy of being killed.

 

These Traditions show that how much ever a person expresses Islam, if the above signs are found in that person, then that person will be considered a Kafir and that person’s declaration of faith and his acts of Islam will be worth nothing.   This was the result of denying only one verse of the Holy Quran.

 

Now think that if a person has doubt in Allah's power that the Lord Almighty can only do what is His habit and nothing beyond that, then this negates how many verses of the Holy Quran and would also include all the miracles of all the Prophets, of the Qiyamah (Day of Judgment), of Jannah and Jahannum (heaven and hell), the existence of angels and the Jinn.   In fact, of all those things whose exiHadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam advises the Muslims about the protection of their Iman and their beliefs in the following words:

 

“Nowadays, at least this much the Muslims need to do that they should not read such Tafseer nor even listen to them, which create doubts in their mind.  Instead, they should pray to Allah Ta’ala to guide us and them and grant us that Islam and Iman which will ensure our eternal deliverance”.  (Maqasid Ul Islam Vol 1, Pg No: 137-140)

 

Using Double-Meaning Words To Address The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) Is Not Correct Even If It Is Done With A Good Intention

 

In the Tafseer of a verse of the Holy Quran , Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes:

 

“The substance of this is that even though the Sahabah used this word in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with the intent and purport of respect, but because this word was used as an abuse in another language, Allah Ta’ala decreed against its use.  Now every person can understand that when a word does not even suggest disrespect, but only because of another language, the usage of that word was prohibited, then how can these insolent words, which directly intend the diminishing of the glory of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), be allowed?  If somebody says that the Jews were not allowed to use this word, then we will say maybe.  But the prohibition is for Muslims expressly, those with whom this word was used as form of respect.  Also, here neither the Jews are mentioned, nor their language.  If only this was intended, then like their other mischief, this also would have been mentioned here itself.  That the prohibition is for the Muslims expressly shows that using such words even with good intention is also not correct.  Then the punishment for this was decreed that that person should be executed.  If a Muslim had used this word, then because this order was for all, undoubtedly would have been killed.  Nobody would have asked him/her what did you intend by this word.”  (Anwaar-e-Ahmadi- Pg No: 222)

 

After writing this Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes in a moving and thought-provoking way:

 

“We should think that how much worse it is to use such words for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) which mean only disrespect regardless of whether they express it or intend it? Would the Sahabah, before whom the one who said think whether he would be worthy of being executed, delay the execution of such people.  Would their useless explanations be of any use?  No never.  But what can happen now?  What can we do now except to recall those times and cry on our powerlessness.  Where will those firm people be found whose fervor fixed the flags of Islam in the east and the west.  This age and time could not see those beacons of guidance.  Thus, whoever sees that the stage is vacant says whatever comes to his mind with terrific courage.  Then have a look at their courage that Iman is being based on those acts which would make a person liable to be executed.  If this is Iman, then we need to think carefully what lack Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam advises the Muslims about the protection of their Iman and their beliefs in the following words:

 

“Nowadays, at least this much the Muslims need to do that they should not read such Tafseer nor even listen to them, which create doubts in their mind.  Instead, they should pray to Allah Ta’ala to guide us and them and grant us that Islam and Iman which will ensure our eternal deliverance”.  (Maqasid Ul Islam Vol 1, Pg No: 137-140)

 

Using Double-Meaning Words To Address The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) Is Not Correct Even If It Is Done With A Good Intention

 



Protection Of Iman, The Advice Of Shaykh Ul Islam

 

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam advises the Muslims about the protection of their Iman and their beliefs in the following words:

 

“Nowadays, at least this much the Muslims need to do that they should not read such Tafseer nor even listen to them, which create doubts in their mind.  Instead, they should pray to Allah Ta’ala to guide us and them and grant us that Islam and Iman which will ensure our eternal deliverance”.  (Maqasid Ul Islam Vol 1, Pg No: 137-140)

 

Using Double-Meaning Words To Address The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) Is Not Correct Even If It Is Done With A Good Intention

 

In the Tafseer of a verse of the Holy Quran , Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes:

 

“The substance of this is that even though the Sahabah used this word in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with the intent and purport of respect, but because this word was used as an abuse in another language, Allah Ta’ala decreed against its use.  Now every person can understand that when a word does not even suggest disrespect, but only because of another language, the usage of that word was prohibited, then how can these insolent words, which directly intend the diminishing of the glory of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), be allowed?  If somebody says that the Jews were not allowed to use this word, then we will say maybe.  But the prohibition is for Muslims expressly, those with whom this word was used as form of respect.  Also, here neither the Jews are mentioned, nor their language.  If only this was intended, then like their other mischief, this also would have been mentioned here itself.  That the prohibition is for the Muslims expressly shows that using such words even with good intention is also not correct.  Then the punishment for this was decreed that that person should be executed.  If a Muslim had used this word, then because this order was for all, undoubtedly would have been killed.  Nobody would have asked him/her what did you intend by this word.”  (Anwaar-e-Ahmadi- Pg No: 222)

 

After writing this Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam writes in a moving and thought-provoking way:

 

“We should think that how much worse it is to use such words for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) which mean only disrespect regardless of whether they express it or intend it? Would the Sahabah, before whom the one who said think whether he would be worthy of being executed, delay the execution of such people.  Would their useless explanations be of any use?  No never.  But what can happen now?  What can we do now except to recall those times and cry on our powerlessness.  Where will those firm people be found whose fervor fixed the flags of Islam in the east and the west.  This age and time could not see those beacons of guidance.  Thus, whoever sees that the stage is vacant says whatever comes to his mind with terrific courage.  Then have a look at their courage that Iman is being based on those acts which would make a person liable to be executed.  If this is Iman, then we need to think carefully what lack of Iman would be.”  (Anwaar-e-Ahmadi, Pg No: 222-224)




The Result Of Disrespect And Avoiding The Books Of The Misguided

 

If any person declares himself/herself as a Muslim and all the signs of Islam such as offering Salaat, fasting, acting upon the Shariah and along with that if that person disrespects the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) whether directly or indirectly, then that person will be considered a Kafir (denier).   That person’s declaration of faith and the manifestation of acts of Iman from that person do not mean anything.   Muslims should refrain from reading or listening to such books which create doubts in their minds and should supplicate Allah Ta’ala for guidance.   In this connection, Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam reproduces what Ibn Taimiyya wrote and comments on them:

 

“The substance of all these is that any person who disrespects Allah Ta’ala and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is considered worthy of being killed, even though the disrespect might be indirect.   If any person says that the Zuhd (abstinence from the pleasures of the world) was not His own wish, if He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had got something better to eat, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have had it.   Then even that person is worthy of being killed.

 

These Traditions show that how much ever a person expresses Islam, if the above signs are found in that person, then that person will be considered a Kafir and that person’s declaration of faith and his acts of Islam will be worth nothing.   This was the result of denying only one verse of the Holy Quran.

Now think that if a person has doubt in Allah's power that the Lord Almighty can only do what is His habit and nothing beyond that, then this negates how many verses of the Holy Quran and would also include all the miracles of all the Prophets, of the Qiyamah (Day of Judgment), of Jannah and Jahannum (heaven and hell), the existence of angels and the Jinn.   In fact, of all those things whose existence is proved by the Holy Quran.  When the Holy Quran is being disrespected like this then what to say of the Hadith.  When the possibility of Allah Ta’ala lying is being raised, then will such people take into consideration the Sahabah, the Ulama and others? Then in spite of all these denials, only Allah Ta’ala knows what thing they name as Islam.”  (Maqasid Ul Islam, Pg No: 139)