What is 'Jaahiliyyah?'

 كَنْزُالأَطْفاَل  (The Children's Treasure)

  

Taught by: Umm Hyatt al-Ameriki حفظها الله

Question #14

مَا هِيَ الجَاهِلية ؟  - What is 'Jaahiliyyah'?

كُل مَا خَالف الكِتَاب وَ السُنة 
- Everything that opposes and goes against the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم .

Linguistically the word 'Jaahiliyyah' is from the verb 'Jahila' -- which means 'to be ignorant' and  'Jaahiliyyah goes back to 'ignorance.'  Ignorance opposes the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى sent Prophet Muhammad صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم with knowledge.

The word 'Jaahiliyyah' is used in many different forms. It all goes back to ignorance.

One definition of Dr. Faisal's for 'al-Jaahiliyyah' is: Everything that goes against the Kitaab & the Sunnah.

Sheikh A'ala Sheikh حفظه الله mentioned in his book 'Masaa'il al-Jaahiliyyah':

'Jaahiliyyah' is also used to denote everything that prevailed before the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم became a Messenger / and sent as a Messenger.  (This is as far as we look at it from the aspect of 'time.')

* Who are the People of Jaahiliyyah at that time?

Those who oppose the Prophet  صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم. They are the Jews, the Christians and the Mushrikeen from the Arabs. 

So, the Prophet  صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was sent to be different from the people of Jaahiliyyah. He صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was sent to remove the people from the state of ignorance they were in at that time i.e. to remove the ignorance that they had about Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, and the rights He سُبحانه وتعالى is deserving of. Therefore, the ignorance they were upon has to do with the haqq (rights) of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and the rights of each other. So, this is one way the word 'Jaahiliyyah' is used as. 

Another way the word 'Jaahiliyyah' is used to speak about a particular place, (that has jaahiliyyah). For instance, the baladul Kuffaar - (the disbelieving countries) could be referred to as a place of Jaahiliyyah.

Jaahiliyyah could also be used to refer to specific situations or issues where there is 'ignorance.' Jaahiliyyah (in this context) is also found in Muslim countries. Example, in a Muslim country you find the people there upon a particular sin. So, what is meant is that this particular sin is from jaahiliyyah and it is used in a specific context and not in general. It is wrong to say this country is in Jaahiliyyah, rather we say this particular issue is from jaahiliyyah.

In general al-Jaahiliyyah refers to the time before the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم became a Messenger i.e. the state the people at that time were upon.  

In conclusion, knowing the way of 'Jaahiliyyah' is important. We have the hadeeth of  Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman رضي اللّه عنـه who said,

"People used to ask the Prophet  صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things because I was afraid that they might overtake me. I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, we were lost in ignorance (jaahiliyyah) and evil, then Allaah brought this good (i.e. Islaam). Will some evil come after this good thing?' He said, 'Yes' I asked, 'And will some good come after that evil?' He said, 'Yes, but it will be tainted with some evil.' I asked, 'How will it be tainted?' He صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said, 'There will be some people who will lead others on a path different from mine. You will see good and bad in them.' I asked, 'Will some evil come after that good?' He said, 'Some people will be standing and calling at the gates of Hell; whoever responds to their call, they will throw him into the Fire.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, describe them for us.' He said, 'They will be from our own people, and will speak our language.' I asked, 'What do you advise me to do if I should live to see that?' He said, 'Stick to the main body (jama'ah) of the Muslims and their leader (imam).' I asked, What if there is no main body and no leader?' He said, 'Isolate yourself from all of these sects, even if you have to eat the roots of trees until death overcomes you while you are in that state.'"

(Bukhari Vol. 9, Book 88, #206)

In conclusion, knowing the ways and paths of Jaahiliyyah is important so that one can avoid falling into it and this will make him know what is waajib (compulsory) upon him to stay away from and leave off. This is why it is important for us to know the things that are considered to be from Jaahiliyyah so that we could stay away from it.

**DICTIONARY**  - How do we look up the word  الجَاهِلية  -  'al-Jaahiliyyah':

1.     First we have to break up the word. This is where Sarf plays an important role.

2.     ا   ل has nothing to do with Sarf;

3.     ة  in the end also has nothing to do with Sarf;

4.     The Alif after Jeem is extra and so is the ي ;

5.     So, what is left is:    جَهل