Denouncing the open transgression of scholars

 

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (DB)

 

During the time of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam, a woman by the name of Faatima (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) committed theft. She belonged to the Banu Makhzoomiyyah, a well-known family of the Quraysh tribe.

 

The matter was taken to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam and Hadhrat Usama (Radhiyallahu anhu) interceded on her behalf. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam responded: “Do you intercede (with me) with regard to one of the legal punishments of Allah?”

 

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam thereupon addressed the people, saying: “O people! The nations before you were destroyed because if a noble person committed theft (or any crime), they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment (hadd) on him. By Allah, if Faatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.”[1]

 

From this incident and others, we learn that everyone is subject to the Law of Allah Ta’ala; the rule of law applies to everyone regardless of one’s status. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam further emphasised this by taking an oath, saying he would mete out the same punishment if his daughter, Hadhrat Faatima (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) had to steal.

 

We take lesson:  

 

Normally, we show respect to an Aalim. We keep in mind his status as an Aalim and scholar. We think and even say: How can you speak against him?  He is a learned person. He is a religious person. You cannot speak out against the learned people. Some even go so far as saying that the Aalim is a Khalifah, Qari, Mufti, etc. and is on such a high level that to call him out and to show opposition upon his open transgression is coming within the purview of the Hadith-e-Qudsi wherein Allah Ta’ala states: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him.”

 

Obviously, this kind of thinking and deduction are based on sheer ignorance. A wali of Allah Ta’ala is a wali due to his abstinence from sin and disobedience. We will not find a wali of Allah Ta’ala openly sinning, promoting Haraam or aligning himself to any kind of fitan. Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur’aan Sharief:

إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهٗٓ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُوْنَ

“…Verily none are the friends of Allah except those who refrain from His disobedience…”

[Surah Al-Anfal 8 : 34]

 

Furthermore, an Aalim is not infallible. He is not sinless. Only, the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) are ma’soom (sinless). We cannot use this Hadith-e-Qudsi to defend or excuse one who is openly contravening the laws of Allah Ta’ala even though he is learned.  When a scholar’s actions are evident and go against the Shari’ah, then his learning, title and status will not be endorsed. Hadhrat Umar (RA) had emphatically stated: “We judge by the apparent.” A scholar - who openly, publicly sins - cannot be considered in the category of the Auliya Allah. This is the assertion of the Qur’aan Sharief: “None are the friends of Allah Ta’ala except those who stay away from sins.” Whoever does wrong is in the wrong. We must not be naïve nor blind followers. This is a matter of the safety of our Dien. Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said: “Indeed this knowledge is religion, so be careful with regards to the one whom you take your religion from.”

 

Further, Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’aan Sharief:

 

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللّٰهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمٰؤُاْ

 “…It is only those who have knowledge among his slaves that fear Allah…”

[Surah Fatir 35 : 28]

 

The Mufassireen (Commentators of the Qur`aan Sharief) have explained that the Ulama-e-Haq can be recognised and distinguished by virtue of their fear of Allah Ta’ala. This fear is apparent in their adherence and obedience to the Commands of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and their abstinence from sin. If an Aalim is openly transgressing the laws of Allah Ta’ala – whether it be the sins of photography, interfaith, music, free mixing with the opposite gender, etc. - he will not be considered an Aalim despite his titles. ...Instead of inviting towards good, he invites towards sins by his actions.

 

If khilafat was given by any of our akaabir, that khilafat will be cancelled if the khalifah goes against the conditions of the khilafat and publicly breaks the laws of Allah Ta’ala. Mureedeen need to dissociate themselves from such a Sheikh.

 

The onus is upon us. We must see what is haq. We must see which camp a scholar has joined and who he fraternises with. If he is with modernists, interfaith leaders, politicians and scholars who have diverged from Dien and promote Haraam, that is sufficient as a red flag and sufficient to raise the alarm.

 

May Allah Ta’ala give us taufeeq to recognise haq and follow it, to recognise baatil and stay away from it.

 

 

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[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari / Sahih Muslim

The Rightly Guided

 Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

by Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhu)

 

In the Hadith which is related to Aashura, Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Observe the fast of Aashura and oppose the Jews. Fast a day before it or a day after.”^[1]

 

This instruction is given to differentiate between us and the Ahle-Kitaab. When we are directed to be different in ibaadah, we must be different in our worldly matters as well.

 

When we recite Surah Fatiha, we make dua: “Guide us to the Straight Path.”

 

What is the Straight Path? The Qur’aan Sharief informs us:

“The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favour.”

 

Who is being referred to in this dua?

“…the Ambiyaa, the Siddiqeen, the Shuhada and the righteous.” 

 – Surah An-Nisaa 4 : 69

 

The Straight Path is the whole of Deen, the Shari’ah and the Sunnah. 

 

We thereafter make dua: “…not of those who have earned Your anger or of those who are astray.” – the Jews and Christians.  

 

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam taught us the dua:

 

“O Allah make Imaan (faith) beloved to us and beautify it in our hearts, and make us hate disbelief, immorality and sin, and make us amongst those who are rightly guided.”

 

This is a very important dua for us, in this day and age. Dien must be beloved to us; we must see and appreciate its beauty and practise upon it. We must also hate kufr, the ways of the kuffaar, immorality and sin.

 

We must analyse and determine our condition and in which direction we are headed. …Consider our lifestyle, homes, dressing, weddings, etc. Is it according to the Sunnah or according to the modern, western ways and trends?

 

Allah Ta’ala make us of those who are rightly guided, who follow the Straight Path and fulfil all the Commandments of Allah Ta’ala and live by the Sunnah of our beloved Rasul Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam. May Allah Ta’ala grant us true and sincere appreciation for this beautiful Dien of Islam and the Sunnah. 

 

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[1] Baihaqi

A Day for Dua

 Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

 

Following a different path

 Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (DB)

 

Allah Ta’ala says in Surah An-Nisaa:

 

“And whoever defies the Messenger after guidance has become clear to them and follows a path other than that of the believers, We will let them pursue what they have chosen, and We shall admit him to Jahannam - and evil it is as a destination!”

[Surah An-Nisaa 4 : 115]

 

The miracle of the Qur’aan Sharief is that it fits, ‘hand in glove’ for all occasions till Qiyamah. In this Ayah from Surah An-Nisaa, Allah Ta’ala informs us that whoever goes against the way of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – that is, he diverts from the way of Islam – and he is bent on the path that he has chosen will ultimately find himself reaching an evil destination - Jahannum.

 

The path of Islam is a known path. It has come down generations, in its original, pristine form. The masses are familiar with the basic concepts and principles of Islam. Even non-Muslims are aware that Islam advocates for segregation of men and women, prohibits interest and so forth.

 

Today, many scholars have changed their views on Islamic teachings. Not too long ago, they preached and propagated the true message of Islam; then they fell for the devil’s baits and became string-puppets for shaytaan and the enemies of Islam, selling Dien for the paltry gains of dunya. May Allah Ta'ala protect us.  ...Although they should know far better than others, they now go to the extent of legalising what Allah Ta’ala has declared as Haraam.

 

Someone asked Hadhrat Huzaifah bin Yamaan (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu): “How does a person know that he is caught up in fitnah and has gone astray?”

 

He replied: “When a person had regarded something as impermissible yesterday and today, he regards it as permissible; he is caught up in fitnah.”

 

…That is, what he accepted yesterday as Haraam, today he declares it Halaal. This is what we find presently with photography, intermingling of sexes, music, interfaith, LGBTQ, Islamic finance, etc. These same scholars now promote and sanction what Allah Ta’ala has prohibited.

 

There are four primary sources of Dien which we must follow:

-         Qur’aan Sharief

-         Hadith and Sunnah

-         Ijma (Consensus of the Ulama-e-Haq)

-         Qiyaas (Analogical reasoning)

 

The latter are for those who are qualified and experts in the Dien. It is not everyone’s work. However, certain matters are understood by all due to their clear proofs. Imam Shafi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had explained that the ijma of the ummah is also daleel; that is, there is clear proof of what Islam is on the consensus of the Muslim community. The general Muslim Ummah is unanimous that interest, LGBTQ, free integration of the sexes, music, etc. are Haraam. These are clear-cut laws yet these pseudo-scholars try to prove otherwise.

 

It is said that a scholar who misleads people is the one who is most astray. Normally, he is regarded as gone astray and one who misleads others. However, this statement shows that he is the one who is most off course; he is most in error and most misguided! Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam said: “There is something I fear for my Ummah more than Dajjal.” Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam repeated this thrice. When questioned as to what this was, Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam replied: “Misguided and astray leaders.”

 

From the Ayah in Surah An-Nisaa we see the system of Allah Ta’ala: When a person is adamant to do wrong - and he is not prepared to rectify his wrong - he will then consider his wrongdoing as right despite his knowledge of Dien, and he will traverse a path that leads to Jahannum. …Shaytaan too has knowledge of Dien but he is shaytaan. 

 

On the day of Qiyamah, the criterion is based on Imaan and kufr; not family ties nor favours, contacts or alliances.  May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and the concern for our aakhirah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the taufeeq of sincere taubah that we rectify ourselves and follow the path of the true believers.