Tawakkul : From Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyah's “Kitaab Ilm as-Sulook”

Tawakkul : From Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyah's “Kitaab Ilm as-Sulook”

[Translated by Sayyid Umar ibn Ghulam Muwlaa al-Hindee]

Source : SalafiTalk.net

Said Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyah in “Kitaab Ilm as-Sulook” (Volume 10) of Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (Page 32):

 “So at this point, the people are divided into four categories:

A group who look towards the orders and prohibitions, and towards obedience; bearing witness to the Ilaahiyyah (right to be worshipped) of the Rabb  – free is He from all imperfections – the One that they have been ordered to worship; and they do not look towards al-Qadhaa and al-Qadr (the decree and predestination) and towards at-Tawakkul (reliance) and al-Isti’aanah (seeking aid and assistance). And this is the situation of many of the Mutafaqqihah (scholars) and the Muta’abbidah (worshippers) . So these people, despite the goodness of their intention and their honoring of the Hurumaat (sacred/forbidden things) of Allaah and His symbols, they are overcome by weakness, incapacity and disappointment. This is because al-Isti’aanah (seeking aid and assistance) from Allaah, at-Tawakkul (reliance/trust) upon Allaah, seeking refuge in Him and making du’aa to Him – this is what strengthens the ‘abd (servant) and makes the affairs easy upon him.     

And this is why some of the Salaf have said: “Whoever is pleased that he should be the strongest of the people then let him place his tawakkul (reliance) upon Allaah” And in the two Saheehs from Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr that the description of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam in the Tauraat (is as follows): ‘We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, a warner and as a protection for the unlettered ones. You are my slave and my Messenger, I have named you al-Mutawakkil (the one who places his reliance upon Allaah). You are neither severe nor harsh-hearted and you don’t do not make a clamor (noise) in the markets. And he does not return evil with evil, rather he returns evil with good, and he overlooks and forgives. And I will not take his soul until I correct by him a crooked people; so by him I will open eyes that are blind, ears that are deaf and hearts that are covered, due to their saying “Laa ilaaha illAllaah” (There is no god worthy of worship except Allaah)’

     And this is why it has been narrated that the only reason why the bearers of the ‘Arsh (Throne of Allaah) were able to bear the lifting of the Arsh is due to their saying: “Laa haula walaa quwwata illaa billaah” (There is no power and no strength except with Allaah). And it has been confirmed in the two Saheehs that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Verily it (the statement ‘Laa haula walaa quwwata illaa billaah’) is a treasure from the treasures of Jannah”. He, The Most High said: “And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him”. And He, The Most High said: “Those (i.e, believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, ‘Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore fear them.’ But it (only) increased them in Eemaan, and they said: ‘Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)’. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allaah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good pleasure of Allaah. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty. It is only Shaytaan that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyaa’ [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah and in His Messenger, Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam]; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.” And it is recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaari from Ibn Abbaas radhiyallaahu ‘anhu regarding Allaah’s statement: “and they said: ‘Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)’” – that Ibraaheem the Khaleel of Allaah alaihi assalaam said it when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said it when the people said to them: “Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army).”

And Shaykhul Islaam continued saying:

“The second category: Those who bear witness to the Ruboobiyyah of Allaah and their poverty towards Him, and they seek aid and assistance from Him; but they do this according to their whims and fancies, not considering the reality of His orders and prohibitions, nor His Pleasure, Anger and Love. And this is the condition of many of the Muftaqirah and the Mutasawwifah (Soofees)……..”

And he rahimahullaah continued: “As for the third category: And this is the one who turns away from the worship of Allaah and seeking aid and assistance from Him. So this is the worst of all categories.

The fourth category: This is the praiseworthy category and this is the condition of those who have actualized (the statement of Allaah) “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)” and His statement “So worship Him (O Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and put your trust in Him”, so they sought aid and assistance from Him in carrying out His obedience, and they bore witness that He is their Ilaah (object of worship/deity) , and that it is not allowed to worship anyone except Him, (and this ‘ibaadah is) by obeying Him and obeying His Messenger; and (and they bore witness) that He is their Rabb (Lord), the One who “there is no protector nor intercessor for them besides Him”; and that “Whatever of mercy (i.e. of good), Allaah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it; and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter”, “And if Allaah touches you with harm, there is none who can remove it but He, and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favor”, “Say: ‘Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allaah – if Allaah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allaah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?’”
     
And this is why a group from the scholars have said,
‘To turn completely towards the means is Shirk in Tawheed; to not consider the means as being the means is a defect in the intellect; to turn completely away from the means is to censure the legislation (sharee’ah). And the Tawakkul that we have been ordered with is only that which gathers together the requisites of Tawheed, the intellect and the legislation.’”

-     End of quote from Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyah.

Defending the Religion and Uniting the Ranks Upon the Truth

Clarity

Istiqaamah Magazine , Issue No.2 ,1996

DEFENDING THE RELIGION

Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241H)- rahimahullaah - said:

"All praise is for Allaah who, in every age and intervals between the Prophets, raises up a group from the People of Knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bearing ill treatment and harm. With the Book of Allaah they give life to the dead, and by Allaah's Light they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees (the Devil) have they revived. How many people astray and wandering have they guided. How beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile people have been towards them. They expel from the Book of Allaah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones - those who uphold die banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords; who differ about the Book, oppose the Book, and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allaah and His Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant masses with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allaah from the trials of the misguided ones." 1

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah - said:

"When some people asked Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied: "If I were to remain silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?" Those who introduce heretical writings which oppose the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and those who innovate in matters of worship, then it is obligatory that they be exposed and that the Muslims be warned against them - by unanimous agreement of the Muslims Scholars. In fact, when Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked about a person who fasted, preyed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship; if he was dearer to him than a person who spoke out against ahlul-bid'ah (the innovators), he replied: "When he fasts and prays and secludes himself, then he does so for the benefit of his own self. However, when he speaks out against the innovators, he does so for the benefit of the Muslims in general, and this is more virtuous." So it is clear that openly opposing the innovators is of general benefit to the Muslims and is considered one of the types of jihaad in the path of Allaah. Since purifying the religion of Allaah and defending it from their attacks is a collective obligation - as is agreed upon by the Scholars. For Allaah did not raise up some people to oppose the innovators, then the religion would suffer harm, corruption and deviation. Indeed, this type of corruption is even greater then the corruption resulting from the disbelievers conquering the Muslims. Since when the disbelievers conquer the Muslims, they do not corrupt their hearts, nor their religion, except after some time. Whereas the innovators corrupt the hearts from the very beginning." 2

UNITING THE RANKS UPON THE TRUTH

Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz - hafidhahullaah - said:

"There is no doubt that it is obligatory upon the Muslims to unify their ranks and to unite their word upon the truth and to co-operate in goodness and piety against the enemies of Islaam - as Allaah, the Most Perfect, ordered them with in His saying: "And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allaah and do not become divided." [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:102]. And likewise, Allaah has warned the Muslims against splitting up, as occurs in His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "And do not be like those who differed and split-up after the clear evidences came to them." [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:105]. However, the order to unify the Muslims and unite their word upon the truth and to hold fast to the rope of Allaah, does not necessitate that they should not censure wrong beliefs and practices - whether from the Soofees or other than them. Rather, what the order to hold fast to the rope of Allaah necessitates is: to order the good, forbid the evil and also to clarify the truth - with the clear Sharee'ah proofs - to whomsoever is misguided or has a mistaken opinion, until they unite upon the truth and turn away from that which opposes it. All of this is included in His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "And help you one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression." [Sooratul-Maa'idah 5:2]. And His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "Let there arise from amongst you a group of people calling to all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, they are the ones who shall be successful." [Soorah Aal'-lmraan 3:110]. And when the people of truth withhold from clarifying the mistakes of those who have erred or are mistaken, then they will not have achieved that which Allaah ordered them with, as regards calling to goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil. So the person in error will remain upon his error, and the one acting in opposition to the truth will remain upon his opposition. And this is contrary to what Allaah - the Most Perfect - prescribed, with regards sincere advice, co-operation upon goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil - and Allaah alone is the One who grants success.

Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz was asked about the correctness of the saying: "We should unite upon that which we agree, and excuse each other in that which we disagree." The Shaykh commented:

"Yes! It is obligatory to co-operate in that which we agree, by aiding the truth, calling to it and warning against that which Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam have prohibited. Its for excusing each other for that in which we differ - then this is not to be taken in an absolute sense, but rather in a general one. Thus, if the difference involves a particular issue of ijtihaad wherein the proofs are deep and detailed - then it is obligatory not to reproach or censure one another. However, if it opposes a clear text of the Book and the Sunnah, then it is obligatory to correct the one who has opposed the clear texts, but with wisdom, beautiful admonition and debating in the best possible manner, acting upon Allaah -the Most High's - saying: "And help you one another in righteousness and piety, but do not help one another in sin and transgression." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:2] And His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "The Believers - man and woman - are protectors to each other, they order the good and forbid the evil ... " [Soorah at-Towbah 9:71]. And His - the Mighty and Majestic's - saying: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful admonition, and argue with them in ways that are better." [Soorah an-Nahl 16:125]. And he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whosoever sees an evil, then let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do this, then with his tongue, and if he is unable to do this, then with his heart. And that is the weakest of eemaan (faith)." And he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whosoever directs a person to do good, will have a reward similar to the one who does that good." 5 And the aayaat (verses) and ahaadeeth with this meaning are plenty." 6

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1. Ar-Radd 'alal-Jahmiyyah waz-Zanaadiqah (p.2) of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
2. Majmoo'ul-Fataawaa (28/231-232).
3. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd 'alaa man Ta'awwalis-Sifaat (pp.31-32).
4. Related by Muslim (2/21), from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree radiallaahu 'anhu.
5. Related by Muslim (13/38), from Abu Mas'ood al-Ansaaree radiallaahu 'anhu.
6. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd 'alaa man Ta'awwalis-Sifaat (pp.14-15)