How should the hadeeth, “Convey from me, even if it is one verse”, be understood?

Sheikh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaimeen رحمه الله said:

“When a person has knowledge and insight into that which he is calling to, then there is no difference between the one who has a great amount of knowledge, or a student of knowledge who has recently started in pursuit of knowledge or a lay person – as long as he has certain knowledge of the issue at hand.

The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“Convey from me, even if it is one verse.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

So it is not a condition upon the da’ee (the one calling) to attain a great amount of knowledge, but the condition is that one must have knowledge of what one is calling to. If this calling is established upon ignorance and built upon emotion and passion, then it is not permissible.

Thus, we see that some of the brothers who call to Allaah سُبحانه وتعال, they do not have except a little knowledge. We see them, due to their strong emotions, prohibiting that which Allaah has not prohibited, whilst making obligatory that which Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى has not made obligatory upon His worshippers. This is a very dangerous matter, since permitting what Allaah has made haraam (unlawful) is like prohibiting what Allaah has made halaal (lawful). So when they begin prohibiting people for making a particular matter then others will rebuke them for making it haraam.

Keep away from everything which causes regret...

Sheikh Uthaimeen رحمه الله  said:

“Indeed the Legislation orders us to keep away from everything which causes regret..."

Allaahسُبحانه وتعالى  said:

“Secret counsels (conspiracies) are only from Satan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allaah permits.”

[Mujaadilah 58:10]

And Allaahسُبحانه وتعالى  only told us this so that we keep away from it, it was not merely a piece of information telling us that the Devil wants to cause us grief, no, what is meant is that we keep away from everything which causes grief.

You'll never make wudhu or pray the same again (inshaaAllaah)!!

An Important issue!!
 

Sheikh ibn 'Uthaimeen  رحمه الله  said: 

"I wish to remind myself and (all of) you about an important issue, which is: 
 

All of us make wudhu when we desire to pray, but the majority of the time the people merely do so to establish a condition of worship [i.e. the prayer]. And there is nothing wrong with this for the goal is reached. But there is something greater and more complete than this:

Privilege of Salaah over other acts of `Ibaadah:

Sheikh Saalih Al-`Uthaimeen  رحمه الله

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

In respect to al-Salaah (prayer), not only is the reward multiplied, but also the actions:

(In the beginning), Salaah (prayer) Fifty times a day was made compulsory, and this shows the extent of the love of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and His concern for them. But (later on) they were reduced, so that they are Five in action but Fifty in the Scale – as if the person (actually) prayed Fifty times (in a day). It is not to be understood in the terms that the reward for a good deed will be multiplied Ten times. If it was the case – that the reward for the good deed (i.e. prayer) is multiplied Ten times (only) – then the prayer would have had no privilege over the other forms of worship, because for every form of worship is rewarded Ten times. But what is apparent is that the reward of actually praying Fifty times (a day) is written for the person. What confirms this is the fact that the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم and he is the Imaam of this Ummah – accepted the obligation of praying Fifty times a day and was pleased with them. Thereafter Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى reduced them (in numbers), but He سُبحانه وتعالى kept the reward for the Ummah (as it is) upon what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had initially accepted and was pleased with – i.e. Fifty prayers.

The evidence for this is what al-Bukhaaree has reported in his Saheeh on the authority of Anas رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«فراجَعته ـ يعني: الله ـ فقال: {هي خمس وهي خمسون}»

“So I returned to Allaah and He سُبحانه وتعالى said:{These are five prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty}.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (349) and Saheeh Muslim (242)]

Be firm upon the TRUTH!

Sheikh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaimeen رحمه الله

“Be FIRM, and DO NOT change (your stance) because of the large number of attacks on you nor due to (their) being offended by your words. As long as you are upon the TRUTH then be firm, for truth is never budged (by falsehood). Thereafter, defend (the truth) if you are in a weak position. There is nothing lesser than defending (the truth). But if you are in a strong position, then upon you is to attack (the falsehood). For the days take turns (sometimes in your favor and sometimes otherwise).

But (remember) the most important thing is that even if you are in a weaker position, then you should remain firm. And never say: ‘Oh, all the people are in opposition to this.’ Rather, be firm, for Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى aids His Deen, His Book, His Messenger throughout the ages.

No doubt that you will face harm (from the people). Here is Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله, he was dragged by a mule in the market and was whipped. But he was patiently firm.

What is the best way to seek knowledge?

Question: Briefly, what is the way to seek knowledge, and may Allaah reward you with good?

Response by Sheikh ibn ‘Uthaimeen رحمه الله:

Briefly, in point form, the way to seek knowledge is as follows:

1) Take care to memorize the Book of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and allocate some time every day to memorize and read, such that your recitation is with reflection and understanding. And if you come across a beneficial point whilst reading, then make a note of it;

2) Take care to memorize that which is easy (for you) from the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم and from that (I recommend) memorizing (the book) ‘Umdatul-Ahkaam;

3) Take care in concentrating and confirming (whilst seeking knowledge) such that you do not take a little knowledge from here and a little from there. This is because this wastes your time and (unnecessarily) busies your mind;

4) Start with the smaller books and study them well, then move on to that which is above this (in level) until you obtain knowledge little by little in a manner which makes firm (the knowledge) in your heart and to that which you are at peace (comfortable) with;

5) Take care to understand the fundamental issues, their rules and the limits of all that passes by you, as it has been said:

Whoever does not take care to learn the fundamentals/principles, then he has prevented (himself) from arriving at the conclusion/goal;

Does supplication have any effect in changing what is written for a person before he was created?

Answer by Sheikh Saalih al-Uthaimeen رحمه الله:

There is no doubt that supplication has an effect on changing what is written, but this change was also written because of the supplication. So, do not think that if you supplicate to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى that you are supplicating with something which was not written; rather the supplication is written, and what results from it is written. This is why we find that the reciter recites over the sick person and he is cured, and in the story of the military expedition which the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم sent, they stayed as guests with a people, but they did not treat them hospitably, and it was decreed that a snake bit their leader, so they requested someone to recite something over him. The Companions رضي الله عنهم imposed the condition that they should be paid for that, and they gave them a flock of sheep, so one of them went and recited Surat al-Faatihah over him, and the man who was bitten arose as if he had been freed from shackles, that is, as if he was a camel which had broken free from its tethering rope. Therefore the recitation had an effect in curing the sick person.

The Conditions of a Sacrificial Offering

Sheikh Saleh Al Uthaimeen رحمه الله

There are six conditions that a sacrificial offering (udhiyyah) must meet:

The First Condition: The sacrificial offering must be an animal from among cattle, which include camels and cows, or smaller livestock such as sheep and goats. This is based on Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى’s statement:

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ

“And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies that they may mention the Name of Allaah over the beasts of cattle that He has given them for food.”

[Surah Al-Hajj 22:34]

The term “beasts of cattle” refers to camels, cows, sheep and goats. This definition is well known amongst the Arabs as stated by Al-Hasan, Qataadah, and others.

The Second Condition: It must have reached the required age that is in accordance with the religious standards such as six-months for sheep and one-year and up for everything else. The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“Do not slaughter any animal except for one that is mature in age unless that is difficult for you, in which case you may slaughter a premature one from among sheep.”

[Reported by Muslim] ^[1]

“Mature in age” is the age at which an animal is considered fully developed as well as any age beyond that, while “premature” is the age before that. With respect to a camel, a mature-aged one is one that has completed five years. With respect to a cow, a mature-aged one is one that has completed two years. A mature-aged sheep is that which is one-year old while a premature sheep is one that has competed half a year (up to one year).

The Evil Consequences of Lying - Khutbah

                                                                         

- by Sheikh Saleh al Uthaimeen رحمه الله

O people! Fear Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and be among those who are truthful in their worship to Allaah and in their treatment of His servants. Be sincere to Allaah in your worship, with no showing off or seeking of reputation. Abide by the commands of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى in order to attain nearness to Him and obtain His good rewards; shun His prohibitions in order to avoid being far from His mercy and being liable to His punishment. Do not seek anyone’s praise for your worship of Allaah, for He سُبحانه وتعالى is the One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Him, He shall abandon him to the one whom he associates with Allaah.

Be truthful to the Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم without failing to follow his Sunnah and without introducing innovation to it. Be truthful to people when you deal with them, telling them the truth and explaining to them the reality. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى  orders you to be truthful when He says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

“O you who have believed! Fear Allaah and be with those who are true [in word and deed].”

(At-Tawbah 9:119)

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