The Disease of this Ummah and its Doctor

It is reported that Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “Wealth is the disease of this Ummah, and the scholar is the doctor of this Ummah. So if the doctor brings the disease to himself, how will he cure the people?”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, Vol. 7 p243.

June 29, 2009 - الاثنين 07 رجب 1430 | Affairs of the Ummah, dunyâ, knowledge, zuhd

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Praying for the Muslim Ruler

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “If I had one supplication that was going to be answered I would make it for the ruler (imâm), for the wellbeing and righteousness of the imâm means wellbeing for the land and its people.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` in his biography of Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd.

Points to note

Wanting good for the Muslim rulers and supplicating to Allâh for them features as an important aspect of the creed of Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâah, and distinguishes them from the extremist ideology of the Khawârij sect. This has been recorded in the classical works of Sunni ‘aqîdah, for example:

Al-Barbahârî (Sharh Al-Sunnah p113, 114) states, “If you see a man supplicating against the ruler, know that he is a heretic (sahib hawâ), and if you see a man supplicating for the ruler, know that he is a Sunni – inshâ Allâh.”

Al-Imâm Al-Âjurrî (d360H) states (Al-Sharî’ah Vol.1 p371), “I have mentioned warnings against the ways of the Khawârij that convey the message for everyone who Allâh protects against the ways of the Khawârij, and who does not hold the views of the Khawârij, but is [instead] patient over the injustice of the rulers … and who prays for the wellbeing and righteousness of the rulers, and who does Hajj and Jihâd behind the rulers against every enemy of the Muslims, and who prays the Jumu’ah and ‘Eid prayers behind the rulers. Whoever fits this description is upon the Straight Path – inshâ Allâh.”

November 24, 2008 - الاثنين 26 ذو القعدة 1429 | 'Aqîdah, Affairs of the Ummah, Bid'ah, Sunnah

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Fathers for the Ummah

It is reported that Imâm Mâlik said, “I heard Rabî’ah b. Abd Al-Rahmân say, ‘The people under the care of their scholars are like children in the laps of their fathers.’”

Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ Vol.1 p44.

October 28, 2008 - الثلاثاء 29 شوال 1429 | Affairs of the Ummah, knowledge

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Where did we get our Glory?

Ibn Shihâb reports:

‘Umar went out to Shâm (Transjordan) and Abû ‘Ubaydah b. Al-Jarrâh was with us. They came to a ford while ‘Umar was on his camel. He dismounted his camel, took off his leather socks, placed them on his shoulder and took the reins of his camel and began to go down the ford. Abû ‘Ubaydah said, “O Leader of the Believers! You are doing this?! You take off your leather socks, put them on your shoulder, take your camel’s reins and go down the ford?! I wouldn’t want the people of this land to see you in such a state!” ‘Umar said, “If only someone else had said this o Abû ‘Ubaydah. You have made a lesson for the Ummah of Muhammad – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him! We were the lowliest of people but Allah gave us might and glory through Islam. If we seek glory through other than what Allah gave us glory through, He will abase us (again).”

In another version Abû ‘Ubaydah said:

O Leader of the Believers, should the armed forces and elite of Shâm meet you in this condition? ‘Umar replied, “We are a people whom Allah gave might and glory to through Islam, so we will never seek glory through anything else.”

Reported by Al-Hâkim, Al-Mustadrak Vol.1 pp61, 62. He declared it to be sahîh according to the criteria of Al-Bukhaârî and Muslim. Al-Dhahabî and Al-Albânî concur. See Al-Albânî, Al-Sahîhah Vol.1 p50.

September 9, 2007 - الأحد 28 شعبان 1428 | Affairs of the Ummah

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