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The 6 Pillars of Eemaan

The third lesson from the "Important Lessons for the Muslim Ummah" of Shaykh Bin Baaz is the Pillars of Eemaan.

The 6 pillars are to believe in:

1) Allaah

2) His Angels

3) His Books

4) His Messengers

5) The Last Day

6) Qadr (Divine Predecree) - its good and its bad

These are the principles that all of the Prophets were united upon. They all agreed in calling to these 6 pillars.

The Prophet Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:

"The Prophets are brothers from one Father. Their mothers are different but their religion is one."

Meaning; Their 'Aqeedah is one but their legislations may differ.

Allaah says:

"And for every one of you (of the Prophets) we made for him a legislation and a way to follow (i.e. a sunnah)"

You cannot separate the pillars from each other, you must believe in all of them. They go hand in hand. The one who believes in some and not in others cannot be called a believer.

In the Qur'an we find many ayaat affirming these six pillars, for example:

"It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophet's"

and also:

"The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)."”

Belief in Allaah

The first, and most important of the 6 pillars, is Belief in Allaah. All other pillars stem back to this pillar. It’s not possible to have belief in the others without the belief in Allaah

Belief in Allaah consists of 3 pillars:

1) To believe in the Oneness of Allaah in His Lordship (Ruboobiyyah) - to single out Allaah in His Actions (Creating, Sustaining, Maintaining the Affairs, etc)

2) To believe in the Oneness of Allaah in His Names and Attributes - So the creation become aware of who they are worshipping. These Names and Attributes are found only from the Quraan and Sunnah, there is no room for us to derive names for ourselves.

"And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them" 7:180

As it relates to the Names and Attributes of Allaah, we have 4 key principles; We do not 1) Ask "How?" (Takyeef); 2) Liken them to creation (Tamtheel); 3) Distort the meaning (Tahreef); 4) Render them futile (Ta’teel)

3) To believe in the Oneness of Allaah with His Worship (Uloohiyyah) - to single out Allaah with our actions

"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and that is the right religion." (98:5)

This 3rd and final pillar (Uloohiyyah) was the reason the Prophets fought with the Mushrikoon. As this was the point of differing between the believers and the disbelievers.

In next week’s lesson we will move on to the Belief in the Angels bi’ithnillaahi ta’aalah. For more in depth notes from this lesson, see the post on learnaboutislam.co.uk. BaarakAllaahu Feekum.

In Lesson 4 of this series we began with the Chapter: “Disbelievers’ Pots & Clothes”.

This chapter included a discussion on the following:

• The Rulings on Vessels, whether from gold, silver or otherwise.

• The Ruling on using gold and silver generally.

• The Rulings on the Hides of Animals, whether they be edible animals or inedible animals.

• The Rulings on the clothes of the disbelievers.

See the post on learnaboutislam.co.uk for a diagram summarising the full topic and for more details on the above, listen to the audio BaarakAllaahu feekum.

Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 19/7/17 and streamed live on SunnahRadio.Net

Introduction:

Having the correct belief and aqeedah is from the foundations of this religion. So when we reflect upon the Qur'an and what Allaah informed us of regarding the call of the Prophets and Messengers, we see that they focused on rectifying the Aqeedah of their people. So they would say:

""O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)." 7:65

That which is incumbent upon the people is to be diligent upon learning this belief, and teaching it in the schools and the masaajid. Up until it becomes firm in the people and its great importance becomes known to them. The intent is not to strive in worship without knowing Tawheed and having the correct belief. Another reason we should ensure our religion is correct is because, if it is incorrect, then all of our actions will be of no benefit.

Allaah has favoured our Ummah over other religions. From the favours is Allaah has preserved our religion, He says in the Quran:

"Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)."15:9

It was preserved by the Prophet Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and then his companions, and then the Taabi'in (Students of the Companions) after them it was preserved by those who followed them in goodness. It was in the time of the Tabi'in that the corrupt beliefs started to enter into the religion, so they fought against it.

Introduction of the Book:

"The one who opposes this methodology (what is to be mentioned in this book), or speaks ill of it, or belittles the one who speaks with this methodology. Then this person is an opposer, an innovator, outside the folds of the "Jamaa'ah" (main body of muslims), somebody who has erred and gone astray. "

That which they were united upon:

1. “Iman is statement, action, intention and clinging to the sunnah. It increases and decreases.”

o It is to believe in the existence of Allaah, that He is the Ever Living, the First (None before Him) and the Last (None after Him).

o It is to believe in His Ruboobiyyah - that He is the Creator, Maintainer, Sustainer.

o It is to believe in His Uloohiyyah - that He alone is worthy of worship (I.e. reliance, sacrificing and others)

o It is to believe in His Perfect Names and Lofty Attributes - We believe in them in a general sense and likewise in a specific sense (those mentioned specifically in the Qur'an and Sunnah). We do not resemble them to creation, nor liken them to creation, nor distort them, nor change their meanings.

o All of the Imams believed in this explanation of Iman, the terminology used to describe it may have differed, but the reality of the belief was always the same.

o It increases with obedience to Allaah and decreases with the disobedience of Allaah.

o Some of the early generation started to oppose this understanding. From them; The Jahmiyyah and the Murji'ah. As a result, he begins to describe the ruling upon those who oppose this understanding of Iman.

 Firstly, the Jahmiyyah - they say Iman is only to have belief in the heart, not statements nor actions.

 Secondly, the Karaamiyyah - they say Iman is only utterance upon the tongue.

 Thirdly, the Ashaa'irah - they, like the Jahmiyyah, say Iman is only belief in the heart.

 Fourthly, the Murjiatul Fuqahaa - they say Iman is statements and belief, but exclude actions from Iman.

o A proof for theincrease and decrease in Iman is the saying of Prophet Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam:

"Take out from the Fire, those who had in the hearts, the equivalent of a mustard seed of Iman"

o Saying "I am a believer if Allaah wills" is a sunnah of the scholars of the past. The Murji'ah use to say you cannot say this. If a person says this out of doubt, then clearly it is impermissible. However, saying it out of humility, not wanting to testify to one's own Iman. Or to say that his faith is not like that of the angels, then this is acceptable.

The second pillar of Islam is Salah (prayer). It is the greatest pillar after the Shahadah (First pillar - Testification of Faith). It is the evidence of the truthful nature of one's Iman.

"Whoever preserves his prayers, then they will be for him light, an evidence and a means of salvation on the Day of Ressurection. And whoever does not preserve his five daily prayers, then there will be no light, evidence nor salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection. And he will be resurrected with Qaroon, Firawn, Hamaan and Ubay ibn Khalaf (from the Munafiqoon)" - Hadith of the Messenger of Allaah Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam.

It is not sufficient to declare the shahadah upon your tongue but not combining it with actions as Allaah says:

“The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.”

The Prophet Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:

"The difference between us and them (the disbelievers) is As Salah (The Prayer). So whoever abandons it, he has disbelieved."

The one who rejects the obligation of prayer is a disbeliever by consensus - no disagreement. The difference of opinion arises regarding the affair of the one who doesn't pray out of laziness. An evidence which supports the opinion of the scholars who say the one who leaves off prayer out of laziness is disbelief is the statement of Abdullah bin Shaqeeq (A "Taabi'i" - From the second generation of muslims) who said:

"The companions did not see the abandonment of any action to be disbelief, other than the prayer"

The first thing a person will be brought to account about is his prayer. If it is correct, he will be successful and saved, and the rest of his actions will be accepted. If it is rejected, the rest of his actions will be rejected, he will be from the losers, destroyed.

Unfortunately many people grow up being taught the Maturidi or Ash'ari Aqeedah. Which teaches that Iman is belief in the heart alone, not actions upon the limbs. As such they are extremely lax with the actions like salah.

Allaah says:

"What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their Salat (prayers)"

Salah is often coupled with the third pillar of Islam, Az Zakah.

Zakah is wealth taken from the rich and given to the poor. It must be given out of the persons willingness to give, not feeling forced. Zakah helps to get rid of blameworthy charachteristics and traits. For example, stinginess, envy, etc.

The Fourth Pillar is Siyaam - Fasting the month of Ramadhan. It is a clear obligation as we see in the Ayah:

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun.”

Fasting is something that brings about the fear of Allaah. In it is a means of freeing ones soul from its desires and training oneself upon patience. Ramadhan is the month in which Allaah revealed the Quran as well as having many other virtues. It is obligatory to learn about the rulings of what can break your fast, whats obligatory, etc.

The final pillar is Hajj (Pilgrimage). It is obligated once in the life of the muslim - if they are able. Anything beyond that is voluntary.

The proof for the obligation of Hajj is the ayah:

"And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision and residence);"

Likewise there are many ahadith stating that the one who completes Hajj in the manner in which it should be completed, his sins are forgiven and it is as if he has just been born (sinless).

Ibn Uthaymin says that these pillars are a perfection of the test upon the slave. A slave is tested in all aspects. As it may be that a person happily prays 5 times a day, but he finds it very difficult to depart from his wealth.

Sahih al-Bukhari – The Book of Tawheed – Lesson 21 (15/07/17)

Chapter 13: Asking Allah by His Names and seeking refuge in Him by His names.

Today we covered:

Hadith 4:

- Narrated 'Aisha: The people said to the Prophet, "O Allah's Apostle! Here are people who have recently embraced Islam and they bring meat, and we do not know whether they had mentioned Allah's Name while slaughtering the animals or not." The Prophet said, "You should mention Allah's Name and eat."

• Recap of last lesson

• The names of the narrators of the hadith [advanced]

• The asl of eating the meat from the new Muslims

• What to do when a person has doubt that the slaughterer did not mention Allah’s name when slaughtering an animal

• The conditions of slaughtering

• The rulings around eating the meat of the people of the book

o What to do if you know the one slaughtering says he/she is not Christian

• Q&A

o The hadith of using the utensils of the people of the book

Benefit: To gain further understanding when we discuss the chains, follow our “Bayqooniyyah in the Sciences of Hadith” lessons on LearnAboutIslam: http://www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/2016/01/18/al-mandhomah-al-bayqooniyah/

The English translation of the hadiths and all the audio are available on: www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/bukhari

Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 15/07/17 and streamed live on www.SunnahRadio.Net

An exhortation for the Muslims to return back to the foundations of their religion, this is what will ease the trials of the Muslims.

Likewise in that is security from misguidance and the spread of false ideologies, alien to Islaam.

Interactive lesson starting with a recap of the last lesson to aid understanding. See the post on learnaboutislam.co.uk for a diagram summarising the full topic.

We covered a number of fataawa from the fataawa of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen from “Noor ala darb” related to the “chapter of purification and water”.

Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 12/7/17 and streamed live on SunnahRadio.Net

The prophet focused on 3 important matters when he migrated to Madinah. The first, on building the masjid, because the greatest relationship between a slave and his Lord is that built through the daily prayers. “The closest a slave gets to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so be plentiful in supplication, for it is likely to be answered”.

The second important matter was building the ties and bonds of brotherhood between the compantions, between the muhajiroon and the ansaar. It was a unification, and brotherhood that was not built on lineage, or tribalism or status. It was built upon Islam, not witnessed by history.

And He has united their (i.e. believers') hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Seer 8:63

The third that he focused was to repel harm from the believers and he made a treaty with the Jews of Madinah.

The prophet, peace be upon him, said: The believer is as a brother to another believer.

An example from the companions is, abdurahman ibn Awf from Makkah and Sa’d from Madinah who were united by the prophet. Sa’d went to abdurahman saying this is my wealth – take from it what you like and leave what you like. This is my property and these are my gardens. Half is for you and half for me. These are my two wives – see which of them you wish to marry and I will divorce her so you may marry her after her waiting period.

In response to this very generous offer from Sa’d, abdurahman said: May Allah bless you in your family and your property, but show me where the marketplace is. He did not want to take it form Sa’d, but wished to build his own. This is an example of the brotherhood from the companions.

Any brotherhood is based upon the Sunnah, loving each other for the Sake of Allah, calling each other to good and warning each other from evil, upon the manhaj of the Salaf of this ummah.

Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 9/7/17 and streamed LIVE on Sunnah Radio

brotherhood sisterhood

An important lecture about building and maintaining brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam. Numerous verses, hadiths and examples from the Salaf are given in the talk as well as the characteristics a believer should have.

Nothing can bring about a true and strong brotherhood like Islam. We find that when others try to unite behind another cause, they still have some hate towards each other deep down. “You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided” Hashr 59:14.

Now that we are practising, we find that we have many brothers. One of the first things that the prophet, peace be upon him, did when he migrated to Madinah was to establish brotherhood between the warring tribes of Madinah and between them and those who emigrated from Makkah.

Allah revealed: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.” Aali Imraan 3:103

Things that weaken brotherhood:

Abu Hurayrah narrated from the Messenger: “Do not envy one another, and do not inflate prices for one another and do not hate one another, and do not turn your backs to one another and let not one of you undercut one another [in trade], rather be servants of Allah, brothers. The Muslims is the brother of a Muslims. He does not oppress him and he does not deceive him and he does not lie upon him, he does not speak down to him. “Taqwa is here [he pointed to his chest three times], it is enough as an evil for a Muslim to belittle his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslims is haram to another Muslim: His blood, his wealth and his honour.” Muslim

If one lets himself fall into these affairs, then he falls into those issues that oppose brotherhood. It can happen that disputes occur between people, however, without hating one another.

We have numerous texts that show the importance of brotherhood, and the issues that destroy it, as well as the characteristics that a believer should have.

We should strive to avoid “ghil”, bitterness between us and anything that can compromise this brotherhood.

In a lengthy hadith, the prophet mentioned that there is not a believer who will fight the cause of his brother, more so that the one who on the day of judgment after the people have entered the fire and paradise. Those who will say, O our Lord! Our brothers, those who prayed with us, fasted with us, we do not see them. Allah will say to them, go to the fire and take out those who have a dinar of imaan.

Therefore, Imam Hasan al-basri said: “Make plenty of believing friends. For indeed they will have a shafaa’ah on the day of judgment.” They used to say, if you do not see me in Jannah, then ask about me.

Listen to the lesson for a more comprehensive explanation and examples.

Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 9/7/17 and streamed LIVE on Sunnah Radio

Lesson 01 – The Shahadah

"Laa Ilaaha Illa Allaah Muhammad Ar Rasool Allaah"

"There is no deity worty of worship in truth except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah."

Laa Illaaha Illa Allaah is split into two parts.

1) Laa Illaaha -Negation of everything that is worshipped other than Allaah.

2) Illa Allaah -Affirmation of all worship being directed to Allaah alone.

The definition of Islam: To submit to Allaah upon Tawhid, complying to Him, freeing ourselves from Shirk (polytheism - worshipping others besides Allaah) and its people.

As it relates to submission to Allaah, there are 3 types of people;

1) One who refuses to submit, is Mustakbir (Haughty and Proud).

2) One submits to Allaah and others, is a Mushrik (Associates partners).

3) One who submits to Allaah alone, is a Muwahid (Singles out Allaah alone).

The mushrikoon at the time of the Prophet Alayhis Salaatu Was Salaam understood its meaning.

Allaah says:

"If it is said to them say Laa Illaaha Illa Allaah, they would become haughty and would say "Shall we leave our gods for a mad poet?""

This shows they understood they would have to abandon their false gods. Unfortunately, some people from our Ummah have not understood this. They explain Laa Illaaha Illaa Allaah as "There is no creator except Allaah". This is not the meaning. Believing that Allaah is the only one worthy of worship necessitates that you believe He is the only Creator.

The Shahaadah has conditions, they are:

1) Knowledge, negating Ignorance:

Having a strong understanding of the statement so that you are not from those who are ignorant of it.

Allaah says: "So know, that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allaah"

Allaah began with knowledge because it is the foundation of his belief.

2) Certainty, negating Doubt:

Certainty is the completion of knowledge. Not permissible to doubt the statement.

Allaah says: "The believers are those who believe in Allaah and His Messenger, then they have no doubt."

3) Sincerity, negating Polytheism:

Also negates Ar Riyaa (showing off).

Allaah says: "They were not commanded except to worship Allaah making the religion purely for him"

4) Truthfulness, negating Lying:

Hadith: "There is none who testifies truthfully from his heart that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammed (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is His servant and Messenger, except that Allah will save him from Hell-Fire." (Al Bukhari: Book of Knowledge)

5) Love, negating Hatred:

In saying this statement, you must love Allaah, His Messenger, His Religion and the Muslims who uphold the legislation of Allaah. You must detest those who oppose the statement.

Allaah says: "And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah." (2:165)

6) Compliance, negating Abandonment:

Allaah says: "And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam)" meaning submit and comply to that which Laa Illaaha Illa Allaah necessitates.

7) Acceptance, negating Rejection:

Allaah says: "Truly, when it was said to them: La ilaha ill-Allah "(none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)," they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it)."

Some scholars add an 8th:

8) Disbelief in all of that which is worshipped other than Allaah:

Allaah says: "Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break"

The meaning of "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah" is:

1) Believe in that which he informed us of

2) Obeying him in that which he commanded

3) Leave off everything he forbade

4) Dont worship Allaah except with that which he legislated.