Salaf-us-Saalih.com :: The Call of the Salaf is True Islam

Increase of Provision through Forgiveness

Compiled & Translated by Umm Yahya

A) Hasan al Basri -Rahimullaah- mentioned:

‘That a man complained to him concerning drought so it was said seek forgiveness from Allaah, another complained about another matter so it was said seek forgiveness from Allaah, another complained about lack of rain for his land so it was said seek forgiveness from Allaah another complained of no offspring so it was said seek forgiveness from Allaah, then he (Hasan al Basri) recited.

ٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارٗا ١٠ يُرۡسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّدۡرَارٗا ١١ وَيُمۡدِدۡكُم بِأَمۡوَٰلٖ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجۡعَل
لَّكُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ وَيَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ أَنۡهَٰرٗا ١٢

<<Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. >> [Nuh: 10-12]

[Taken from: ‘Fath al-Bari’ Chapter: the Best Method of Seeking forgiveness]

B) al-Hafidh Emaad ad-Deen Isma’eel Ibn Katheer (d. 774 A.H.) -Rahimullaah- said in his Tafseer about the previous Ayaat:

‘If you repented to Allaah and sought forgiveness from Him and showed obedience to Him your Rizq (provision) would increase and rain would fall from the blessings of the skies, and the blessings of the earth would spring forth, crops would grow for you. You will be given abundant livestock. You will be aided with wealth and offspring; meaning that offspring and wealth would be given to you. And you will be given gardens that have numerous types of fruits and through out there will be rivers that flow in these gardens. This is the way of giving Dawa’ by encouragement.’

[Taken from: ‘Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-Atheem’ 4/p.536]

C) It is narrated from Abi Saeed Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:

‘Whoever performs Wudu and then says:
‘ Subhanaka Allahuma wabihamdika la ilaha ila anta astaghfiruka wa atooboo ilaika’
(‘Far are You O Allaah from imperfection, and You have all praise, there is none worthy of worship in truth except You, I seek forgiveness from You and I repent to You),
then this reward is written in a parchment and it is stamped with a seal and no falsehood can break it until the day of Judgment.’

[Taken from ‘Silsilah as-Saheehah’ No. 2333 declared Hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani]

Source : http://followingthesunnah.wordpress.com – Brother Abbaas Abu Yahya and Umm Yahya’s blog

Related articles :

• Br. Abbas Abu Yahya’s valuable Translations
• Allaah is Al-`Afuww (the Pardoner) (asmawasifaat.wordpress.com)
• Forgiving & Pardoning the one who has oppressed you hoping for the reward from Allaah (salaf-us-saalih.com)
• Consequences of Sins of a Believer are Repelled with Ten Means (sinsinislam.wordpress.com)

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficient, Most Merciful. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions and all those who follow them in goodness until the day of Return. As for what follows;

Question:

The religion of Islaam has encouraged us to aqquire lawful earnings. However I wish that you could mention to us the effects that unlawful earnings have on an individual and the community as a whole?

Sheikh Saalih al-Fouzaan, may Allaah protect him, answers:

Unlawful earnings, and Allaah’s refuge is sought, nourishes the body in a corrupt manner and rears a person upon evil.

The Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, stated in the narration of the one who travels a far distance: “… dishoveled and dusty, who stretches his two hands out to the sky saying, “My Lord! My Lord!”, while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he has been nourished from unlawful sources, so how can he possibly be answered?” [Muslim]

Therefore using and dealing in the haraam (unlawful) matters prevents (one’s) supplication from being answered and shuts the door of response between him and his Lord, the Most High. Indulging in the unlawful is very risky and it has many unhealthy traces upon a persons livelihood and his interactions with the people. He beecomes hated in the muslim community and the people flee away from him along with many other things that are connected with indulging in the unlawful affairs. And if there wasn’t anything except the fact that it prevents the supplication from being answered and one’s actions from being accepted it would be sufficient. And there is no might nor power except with Allaah.

It is upon the Muslim to suffice himself with the lawful and be content with what Allaah permitted for him because in that is good and blessings. And to leave off what He has forbade becuase there is no good in that rather it will harm him and will be a great burden on his back the day of Judgement.

Source: http://alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13575
Translated by: Abu Fouzaan Qaasim
American student studying in the Islaamic University of Medinah from Chester,PA.

With regards to the student of knowledge not chasing after the luxuries and comforts of this world, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah comments:

(The author’s advice), “do not accustom yourself to comfort and luxury”.

This is advice to be said to the student of knowledge and (also) to other than the student of knowledge – because accustoming oneself to that is contrary to the guidance of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. For indeed he used to forbid from an abundance of luxuriousness and he would command with walking barefoot sometimes.

And a person who has become accustomed to a luxurious life will find it difficult when he encounters (certain) matters – because sometimes there will come to him matters in a form where he is not able to have the luxury (he is used to) along with him.

And let us strike an example, with the example which we have mentioned in the hadeeth: he would command with walking barefoot sometimes. Some people do not walk barefoot – always there is a sock upon him, and upon it a leather sock, and upon it a shoe. You will not find him walking, this man, if a temporary impediment were to occur to him and he were to be told to walk 500 metres without any protection for the foot; you would find that extremely difficult upon him. And sometimes his foot would bleed from the contact with the ground.

However if he were to accustom himself to a roughness and to leaving off always having comfort, then he would attain much good.

So if the (person’s) body is not accustomed to the like of these matters (of forsaking luxury), then he will have no manaa’ah (strength and toughness). You will find him feeling pain from anything from that (affair which is difficult).

However if he has manaa’ah then he will not be bothered by it.

(Sharh hilyah taalib il ‘ilm p43 of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah)

Aboo Hurayrah (radiallaahu ‘anhu) once passed by the market in Madinah. He stopped at the market and said: “O people of the market, how incapable you are!” They said, “And how is that Aboo Hurayrah?” He replied, “Over there, the inheritance of Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is being distributed and you are here! Won’t you go and take your share?” “Where is it?” they asked. He replied, “In the Masjid.” So they hurried to the Masjid, and Aboo Hurayrah waited for them until they returned. When they came back, he said, “What’s the matter?” They replied, “Aboo Hurayrah! We went to the Masjid, but we didn’t see anything being distributed.” Aboo Hurayrah asked them, “And you didn’t see anyone in the Masjid?” They replied, “Indeed we did; we saw people praying, others reciting Qur`an and others studying the regulations of halal and haram.”

So Aboo Hurayrah said, “Woe to you! That is the inheritance of Muhammad, salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”

[Reported by at-Tabaraani in al-Aswaat, with a hassan chain of narrators; Al-Albanee also graded it hasan in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb, Vol 1, pg. 19.]

Related Links :

• Do You Really Want Paradise – Jawad Ahmed
• The Advice of ‘Alee (radiallaahu ‘anhu) – Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.6

That is a successful trade, O Abu Ad-Dahdah!

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, “When this Ayah,

[مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ]

(Who is he that will lend Allah handsome loan: then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying),) was revealed, Abu Ad-Dahdah Al-Ansari said, `O Allah’s Messenger! Does Allah ask us for a loan‘ The Prophet said,

«نَعَمْ، يَاأَبَا الدَّحْدَاح»

(Yes, O Abu Ad-Dahdah.) He said, `Give me your hand, O Allah’s Messenger,’ and the Prophet placed his hand in his hand. Abu Ad-Dahdah said, `Verily, I have given my garden as a loan to my Lord.’ He had a garden that contained six hundred date trees; his wife and children were living in that garden too. Abu Ad-Dahdah went to his wife and called her, `Umm Ad-Dahdah!’ She said, `Here I am.’ He said, `Leave the garden, because I have given it as a loan to my Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored.’ She said, `That is a successful trade, O Abu Ad-Dahdah!’ She then transferred her goods and children. The Messenger of Allah said,

«كَمْ مِنْ عَذْقٍ رَدَاحٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاح»

(How plentiful are the sweet date clusters that Abu Ad-Dahdah has in Paradise!)” In another narration, the Prophet said,

«رُبَّ نَخْلَةٍ مُدَلَّاةٍ، عُرُوقُهَا دُرٌّ وَيَاقُوتٌ، لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاحِ فِي الْجَنَّة»

(How many a date tree that has lowered down its clusters, which are full of pearls and gems in Paradise for Abu Ad-Dahdah!)

{Tafsir ibn kathir} – The Encouragement to make a Handsome Loan in the Cause of Allah

Related Links:

• [Blog] The Perfect Investment

Question:

Is it permissible for Muslims who live as minority communities in non-Islaamic countries and who have no supporter or guardian other than Allaah, to take out insurance policies? The insurance company, through monthly payments, will take care of a person’s children after his death?

Response:

According to my knowledge, insurance policies are based on winning and losing. Every policy or contract that is based on this is in fact gambling, which Allaah has forbidden in His Book (Qur.aan) and has placed alongside wine and the worshipping of idols. He, the Almighty, says: {O you who believe! Alcoholic drink, gambling and divining with arrows are an abomination of Satan’s doing. So avoid them in order that you may be successful}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 90].

Let me give you an example, You insure a car and pay one thousand dirhams every year in order that the insurance company guarantees to cover the cost of whatever might happen to the car, whether it is written-off or just damaged. If a year passes and the car has neither been written-off nor damaged, then the insurance company is the winner and the insurance policy holder is the loser. If, however, the car is written-off or badly damaged, the policy holder will get back more than he paid to the company. In this case, he is the winner and the insurance company is the loser. Every contract which is based on this is gambling and hence forbidden.

However, it has been mentioned to me that in some countries people are forced to take out insurance policies. So what can Muslims do if this is the situation? In my opinion, he should pay whatever money that he is forced to pay for insurance but he should not consider that it is a legal contract or agreement, but rather that it is money paid unjustly under pressure. If no loss occurs, this is by the Grace and Mercy of Allaah towards him and the money has been taken from him unjustly and he shall find it on the Day of Resurrection. In the event that he suffers some loss to his property and the insurance company intends to reimburse him, then, if the amount he is due back is equal to what he paid for his policy, he can justly take it. If, on the other hand, what he is due from the insurance company is more than he paid, he should not take more than the amount that he paid them. In this way, the process will, in my opinion, be in accordance with Islaamic law.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah – Page 63, Fatwa No.3

Related Links:

• Ruling about life and property insurance – Ibn Baaz
• He fears that if he does not have health insurance he will become bankrupt – by Shaykh Muhammad Saleh Al Uthaymeen
• Ruling on medical insurance made by institutions and companies on the employees and their families – alifta.com
• Taking Loan from a bank that deals with interest to buy a house?
• Regarding the HSBC-Amanah/Kuwaiti bank type transaction
• How to earn more rizq(sustenance)!!!
• Buying shares in companies which deals with riba
• The Perfect Investment – Must Read !!

Shaykh Ahmed al-Wasaabee warns us of evil callers who make ribaa “halal,” evil callers such as Qaradaawe, Siraaj Wahhaaj

Question to Shaykh Ahmed al-Wasaabee: Some youth try to tell us that ribaa (interest) in the west is permissible. And they attribute this to al-Qaradaawee. So what is the ruling on the one who follows these types of rulings? And other people in the west have made similar statements, such as Siraaj Wahhaaj, and others like him. This is a very common thing, as many youth say that ribaa is permissible in the west because of necessity (i.e. you cannot purchase a house without a mortgage, and if you do not purchase a house, the Muslims will be in a state of weakness!, etc.).

Shaykh Ahmed al-Wasaabee: Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) has completed our deen for us. Allaah’s statement:

This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. (Al-Ma’idah 5:3)

So our deen is perfect, and it is perfect in every time and every place. So the one who has given the fatwa that working with ribaa, and eating ribaa is allowable in the lands of the west, then he is from amongst the people who are following the footsteps of shaytaan. And it is waajib upon us and the Muslims to enter into al-Islaam fully. And to accept al-Islaam in its entirety, in all of its forms, all of its orders, and all of its prohibitions. Allaah’s statement:

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). (Al-Baqarah 2:208)

So the ones who issued these fataawa, allowing ribaa in the lands of the west, then they are indeed following in the footsteps of shaytaan. And the deen of al-Islaam must be established and performed in all places, in Yemen, and in Makkah, and in Britain, and in America, and other than them; and the deen is not to be established in certain places and to be left off in other places.

And the ruling of ribaa is clear. Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) said: O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. (Al-Baqarah 2:278)

And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger. (Al-Baqarah 2:279)

And He (taa’ala) said:

Those who eat Ribaa (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say: “Trading is only like Ribaa (usury),” whereas Allaah has permitted trading and forbidden Ribaa (usury). So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Ribaa (usury) shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allaah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Ribaa (usury)], such are the dwellers of the Fire – they will abide therein. (Al-Baqarah 2:275)

And the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihiwasallam) said, “Every time a person increases in ribaa, then the end of his issue is to littleness and nothingness.”

And the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihiwasallam) did not make a distinction in these hadeeths, and Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) did not make a distinction in these ayaats, regarding times and places. And this is applicable to every time and to every place.

And the ones who change the deen and make it applicable in certain times and certain places, then they are the ones who follow their desires. Allaah’s statement:

Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilaah (god), and Allaah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. (Al-Jathiyah 45:23)

So it is waajib upon the believers to fear Allaah in these issues. Allaah’s statement:

Say (O Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alaihiwasallam) to these polytheists): “Tell me, what provision Allaah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful.” Say (O Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alaihiwasallam)): “Has Allaah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allaah?” (Yunus 10:59)

quote:

And verily, the people who allow ribaa in the west have made a lie upon Allaah (suhbhaana wa ta’laa). And they have no justification for what they say. And the clear verses and the clear commands of Allaah and His Messenger are present. And there is no room for anyone to twist and modify them according to certain times and places. And these fataawa are false and far astray, and they come from the people who are not cautious in their deen.  And my advise is that we do not ask about our deen except from the Ahlul-’Ilm, the people known to be upon the Kitaab and the Sunnah, the Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. And we do not ask about our deen from the Ahlul-Bidaah, such as Yusuf al-Qaradaawee, and others like him. So they are never to be asked about affairs of our deen, and never to be depended upon in their legal opinions. And they are to be warned against.

And Islaam calls the disbelievers to enter into al-Islaam, and calls them to fulfil the orders of Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) and to leave off His prohibitions. And from His prohibitions is ar-ribaa.

[And the shaykh warned us about these callers of evil (those who issue rulings making ribaa permissible in the west), and that they should be warned against, and to be stay away from.]

In summary, ribaa is not permissible in the west.

Benefit: It is not permissible to put money in banks that deal with ribaa. However, out of necessity, if a person fears that his money may be stolen, or that it may be robbed, or that it may be taken from him (if he does not place it in a bank); then in this instance, the ‘Ullema, like Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Baaz and others have issued fataawa that it is permissible for people to put their money in banks that deal with usury in order to secure their money. This is with the condition that they are not allowed to earn interest on this money. But if this fear is not a reality, then it is not allowed for any Muslim to place his money in banks that deal with ribaa, even if he fulfils the condition that he does not earn interest on his money. For verily, the banks benefit from those who place money in their banks.

Source: Al-Qawl-ul- Mufeed Fee Adillatit Tawheed [Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawheed], in the Q&A at the end of the 20th Chapter (The Danger of Ascribing Shirk with Allaah)

Related Links:

• Lessons on Tawhid – Approximately 50 Classes – from Dar-ul-Hadith, Dammaj, Yemen These were lessons conducted on the book ‘al-Qawl-ul- Mufeed Fee Adillatit-Tawhid’ [Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawhid] written by one of the major scholars of the Sunnah in Yemen, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab al-Wasabi (may Allah preserve him).

• The Interesting Dream of the Prophet Sallalahu Alahi wa Sallam – from Sahih Bukhari

• Warning Against Riba (Usury) Transactions.doc – By Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
  Translated by Jalal Abualrub [ Download PDF here]
  This is a short rebuttal of a research written by Dr. Ibraahim bin Abdullah AnNaasir, in which he tried his best to show the permissibility of most types of Ribaa (usury and interest) transactions that have appeared in recent times in the numerous financial institutions of the world. Hence, we thought English speaking Muslims would benefit from this translated response by Shaikh Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, one of the noted scholars of our time and a staunch supporter and defender of the Manhaj of the Righteous Predecessors (As-Salaf As-Saalih). Shaikh Ibn Baz’s response is a refutation of the misguided effort of Dr. Ibraahim An-Naasir to allow Ribaa transactions.
• Prohibition of Riba from Riyadh ul Saliheen

• Regarding the HSBC-Amanah/Kuwaiti bank type transaction – Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmee (hafidhahullah)

Hardship and prosperity, obedience and sin

Posted: 23 Aug 2010 12:14 PM PDT

It is reported that Wuhayb b. Al-Ward – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Verily, when Allâh the Exalted wants to honor a servant of His (for his righteousness), He afflicts him with a reduced means of living, illness in his body and a fearful life (all of which expiate his sins). Until death comes upon him, and he still has some sins, death is made hard upon him because of them, causing him to meet Allâh with no sins against him.

And when a person is of little value to Allâh (because of his disobedience), He makes his body healthy, broadens his means of living and makes him feel safe (the rewards for any good deeds he did are exhausted). Until death comes upon him, and he still has some good deeds, the experience of death is lightened for him because of them, and he meets Allâh with nothing.

Abu Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 2865.

Related posts:

1. The Last Drops of this World
2. Fearing that Wealth is your only Reward
3. Death and budgeting; speaking and deeds
4. Relying on some deeds, forgetting others
5. The Provision of a Traveler [this world to the next]

Question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen:

Health care in the US where I live is very expensive, and if I do not have health insurance they will not treat me. If I want to pay for my own health care, I will go bankrupt and may even end up in prison. Is this considered to be a valid excuse for taking out health insurance, which is a form of gambling, given that there is no Islamically-acceptable form of insurance and I cannot afford to pay for health care for myself, my children and my wife in the way that is usual in some other countries?

The shaykh, may Allaah preserve him, answered as follows:

“So long as the man knows that this is a form of gambling, this is not permissible because it is of the works of the Shaytaan. He should rely on Allaah and put his trust in Him, because whoever puts his trust in Allaah, Allaah will suffice him, and whoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty). So it is not permissible for him to get involved in insurance.”

We have already explained that the reason why health insurance is like a form of gambling is that a person pays a sum of money which becomes the property of the insurance company; if he falls sick or has an accident he will benefit, otherwise his money is gone. Moreover, the benefits he gains may be equal to what he has paid, or they may be more, or less. This involves jahaalah (buying something sight unseen) and undue risk, or consuming wealth unlawfully. It also means that one of the two parties will suffer a loss. I wish that some of the Muslims or wise people would set up cooperative insurance institutions that are in accordance with Islamic sharee’ah, the basic idea of which would be for people to cooperate in making payments to a specific account (that is not owned by any third party), so that if any one of them falls sick or has an accident, he will be compensated, with the consent of his partners. There would be nothing wrong with paying a salary to those who take care of this account, or with investing the money in another company according to a certain level of profit. And Allaah is the source of strength.