s_ali
January 10th, 2008, 19:47
Actions (Al-A’maal) are from Eemaan
By Shaykh ‘Abdullaah al-Jarboo
on Saturday, June 18th, 2005
INTRODUCTION
Assalaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh, All praises and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists), the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah alone without any partners; and I bear witness that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His servant and His Messenger.
To proceed,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيداً {70} يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً
{O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds
and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah, and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement}
[Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71]
Together Inshaa Allaah, we intend to acquire in every meeting the reward of seeking knowledge. We also intend, which is the most important matter, to understand the way of the truthful and to know their attributes and their situations so that it becomes easy for us to benefit from the commandment that Allaah ordered every Muslim with, due to His saying سبحانه وتعالى:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
{O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds} [At-Taubah 9:119]
The truthful are the Messengers of Allaah, the Companions of the Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and everyone who is truthful in faith and who followed the methodology that the Prophets were upon, and this is the straight path. It was in order to clarify this (the straight path) that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى revealed the Qur’aan and likewise the purified Sunnah.
THE DEEN OF ISLAAM IS THE FINAL RELIGION
It is known that the Deen (religion) of Islaam is the final of all religions i.e. the religion of Islaam that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم came with, is the final religion. This is so because the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is the seal of all the Prophets and Messengers. There shall be no Prophet or Messenger after him صلى الله عليه وسلم, and there is no religion or legislation after that. Based on this, it is upon every person living on this earth and those who will be born afterwards, to learn the Deen of Islaam and adhere to it.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said:
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِيناً فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
{And whoever seeks a religion other that Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers} [Aal-Imraan 3:85]
[b][u]ISLAAM IS BUILT UPON GREAT PILLARS[/u][/b]
The religion of Islaam is built upon great pillars as the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified by saying, [i]“Islaam is based on five principles; to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers, to pay the Zakaat (charity), to observe fast during the month of Ramadaan and to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) for those who are able to do so.”[/i][1]
[b][u]TAWHEED OF ALLAAH[/u][/b]
Therefore, one must enter into monotheism (tawheed). He must be a monotheist, testifying to the two testimonies (bearing witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Prophet and Messenger) and implementing monotheism. Tawheed (monotheism) stands upon two great foundations, which all the Messengers called to.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said:
[COLOR=BLUE][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[b]{And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allaah (alone),
and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities)…}[/b] [An-Nahl 16:36]
So, they are: sincerity upon the Deen (religion) and upon the worship of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى after knowing Him, glorified is He; and disbelieving in at-Taaghoot i.e. being free from polytheism (shirk), its people, and from every religion other than the religion of Islaam.
[b][u]ESTABLISHING THE SALAAH[/u][/b]
Then after that, the second pillar is establishing the salaah (five daily prayers). The prayer is the second pillar from the pillars of Islaam. Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله, the imaam of Ahlus-Sunnah has mentioned that the great principle of Islaam is: “holding fast to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم were upon, taking them (and their way) as a model to be followed, and abandonment of innovations.”
This is the basis of knowledge, meaning that the person should learn the religion that the Companions were upon. He should learn that way of life and worship Allaah based upon it. He should familiarize himself what the Companions were upon and learn about the evidences that they used for the positions that they held. This is the way of the Salafi – to know the religion that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught to his Companions – to hold fast to it, to follow them رضي الله عنهم and to stay away from innovations. The creed of Salafiyyah is that the people cannot (correctly) understand the Qur’aan and the Sunnah without referring to the guidance of the Companions رضي الله عنهم.
[b][u]WHOEVER ABANDONS THE SALAAH HAS DISBELIEVED[/u][/b]
Imaam Ahmad mentioned in his treaty entitled Usool-us-Sunnah (the Principles of the Sunnah) that establishing the salaah (prayer) is from the pillars of the religion and whoever gives it up, has disbelieved. He mentioned that the Companions held the opinion that whoever abandons the salaah is a disbeliever. He (Imaam Ahmad) pointed out the statement of the Taabi’ee (follower) Abdullah bin Shaqeeq who said: [i]“The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم were of the view that there is nothing from amongst the actions, the abandonment of which constitutes disbelief except for the prayer.” [/i][2]
In explaining this position of the Companions, he said that they never considered any single act, other than the abandoning of salaah, as an act which would take a person out of the fold of Islaam, making him a disbeliever. He quoted this narration from a Taabi’ee (Successor) Abdullah Ibn Shaqeeq, using it as evidence (daleel) showing that this was something that the Companions were upon.
So, this is what Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله clarified: that the Companions رضي الله عنهم held the view that whoever abandons the prayer completely, never praying, then even if he displays (signs of) Islaam and utters the two testimonies; he is not a Muslim. He mentioned this from Abdullah bin Shaqeeq and it was also mentioned by Imaam Al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله who reported from the Salaf i.e. the Companions and those who came after them, that they hold the view that whoever intentionally left off one obligatory prayer until the time for the prayer elapsed, not having any excuse for it, then by that he becomes a disbeliever.
If we were to look at the authentic evidences from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in both of the authentic collections of hadeeth (Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim) and other than them, we would find that this is clearly proven. From that is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“The pact which is between us and them is the prayer; whoever gives it up, has disbelieved.”[/i][3]. Also, the saying of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“Between a man and shirk and kufr (disbelief) is neglecting the prayer.”[/i][4]
Furthermore, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the leaders who would change and abandon uprightness upon Islaam, and who would display injustices and sins, some of the Companions said to him صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“Shall we not go out against them? Shall we not raise the sword against them or fight against them?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “No, unless you see clear disbelief.” [/i][5]; and in another narration, [i]“No, as long as they establish the prayer.” [/i][6] The People of Knowledge have clarified that from these two evidences, it becomes apparent that abandonment of the prayer is clear disbelief.
[b][u]ACTION MUST ACCOMPANY FAITH[/u][/b]
We are mentioning these matters to show the importance of salaah so that no one will think that tawheed (monotheism) alone is sufficient for one to be Muslim. Indeed, it is a pillar of Islaam and whoever abandons it, his Islaam becomes destroyed. We also mention this because today we find that some of the People of the Sunnah affirm that whoever gives up all actions in entirety still remains a Muslim. Without any doubt, this is the opposite of what the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were upon, as was clarified by Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله.
[b][u]THE ONE WHO LEAVES OFF A PILLAR OF ISLAAM[/u][/b]
If we return to the books of the Salaf, we find that they used to narrate from the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and they used to research whether an individual who gave up one obligatory prayer becomes a disbeliever. They also researched another matter – is the one who totally abandons prayer a disbeliever or a believer? The Companions have agreed that if a person committed shirk, he is a disbeliever. There is no doubt about this with anyone from the people of Islaam especially the Companions. But there occurred amongst them research and discussion on whether a person becomes a disbeliever if he abandons any other pillar of these five pillars i.e. besides the Shahaadatayn (the two testimonies of faith). Some of them say that he becomes a disbeliever, especially if he gives up salaah and zakaah (obligatory charity).
The first group amongst the Companions said that he becomes a disbeliever if he abandons Hajj (Pilgrimage) or if he gave up fasting or any other pillar of the pillars of Islaam. This is the opinion of the Imaam, ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه the Caliph from amongst the rightly guided Caliphs and also ‘Alee bin Abi Taalib رضي الله عنه and other than them.
The second group said that he becomes a disbeliever if he gave up the salaah and zakaah. They all agreed (as mentioned by Abdullaah Ibn Shaqeeq) that the polytheist is a disbeliever and the one who gives up the prayer is also a disbeliever. This is what the pious predecessors were upon. Nothing has been narrated from any of them that he said; “whoever gives up all compulsory actions is a Muslim.” This is something which is not known from the Salaf, but they used to consider this statement to be something great and used to view it as an atrocious statement.
It has been narrated that ‘Umar رضي الله عنه said: [i]“There is no share in Islaam for the person who gives up the salaah (prayer)”[/i][7]
Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله said: [i]“Whoever wanted to know his station with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, let him look at the station of the salaah with him. If the prayer has a great position with him and he performs it with proper manners and gives it attention, then let him know that he has some share or a position with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى. And whoever is negligent about the prayer, abandoning it and being careless about it, then he has no share with Allaah.”[/i][8]
[b][u]CLOSING ADVICE[/u][/b]
My advice at the end of this lesson is that I advise the brothers to concern themselves with Tawheed. They must learn it and know Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and know the rights of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى upon them. They must also preserve the salaah, honor its station and perform it in congregation. If they were to do this, they will find an abundance of good because (Allaah said):
[COLOR=BLUE][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[b]{…the prayer prevents one from shameful and evil deeds…}[/b] [Al-Ankaboot 29:45]
If they do this, then they get closer to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is closer to them and the other branches of eemaan will become easy for them. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk to the brothers in America and I apologize for making the lesson short because I have some guests. Jazaakum Allaahu Khair. Wasalaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.
[b][u]References[/u]:[/b]
[1] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree with the following wording in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#8), and in Saheeh Muslim,
The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#16).
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والحج، وصوم رمضان[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[2] Reported in Sunan at-Tirmidhee 5/14 in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#2622); Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says with a Saheeh sanad.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]كان أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يرون شيئا من الأعمال تركه كفر غير الصلاة[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[3] Reported by in Jaami’ at-Tirmidhee 5/13 in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#2621); in Sunan an-Nasaa’ee 1/231 in The Book of Prayer (كتاب الصلاة) Hadeeth (#463), in Sunan ibn Maajah 1/342 in The Book of Establishing the Prayer (كتاب الإقامة) Hadeeth (#1079). Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says all these are Saheeh. Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Buraydah, narrated from his father.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها فقد كفر[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[4] Reported in Saheeh Muslim, The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#82). Narrated by Jaabir ibn Abdillaah رضي الله عنه.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]إن بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاة[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[5] Reported by Al-Imam Muslim 6/17
[6] Reported in Saheeh Muslim with the following wording in The Book of Leadership (كتاب الإمارة) Hadeeth (#1855)
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]خيار أئمتكم الذين تحبونهم ويحبونكم. ويصلون عليكم وتصلون عليهم. وشرار أئمتكم الذين تبغضونهم ويبغضونكم وتلعنونهم ويلعنونكم) قيل: يا رسول الله! أفلا ننابذهم بالسيف؟ فقال (لا. ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة. وإذا رأيتم من ولا تكم شيئا تكرهونه، فاكرهوا عمله، ولا تنزعوا يدا من طاعة) [/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[7] `Umar became unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al Miswar bin Makhramah, it was said: "Nothing would wake him up except the call to prayer, if he is still alive." They said to him, "The prayer has finished, O Chief of the Faithful!" He woke up and said, "The prayer, by Allaah! Verily, there is no share in Islaam for whoever abandons the prayer." He performed the prayer while his wound was bleeding. [Sifaat as Safwah 2/131, As-Siyar 5/220]
[8] Reference pending
By Shaykh ‘Abdullaah al-Jarboo
on Saturday, June 18th, 2005
INTRODUCTION
Assalaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh, All praises and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists), the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah alone without any partners; and I bear witness that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His servant and His Messenger.
To proceed,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيداً {70} يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً
{O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds
and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah, and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement}
[Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71]
Together Inshaa Allaah, we intend to acquire in every meeting the reward of seeking knowledge. We also intend, which is the most important matter, to understand the way of the truthful and to know their attributes and their situations so that it becomes easy for us to benefit from the commandment that Allaah ordered every Muslim with, due to His saying سبحانه وتعالى:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
{O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds} [At-Taubah 9:119]
The truthful are the Messengers of Allaah, the Companions of the Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and everyone who is truthful in faith and who followed the methodology that the Prophets were upon, and this is the straight path. It was in order to clarify this (the straight path) that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى revealed the Qur’aan and likewise the purified Sunnah.
THE DEEN OF ISLAAM IS THE FINAL RELIGION
It is known that the Deen (religion) of Islaam is the final of all religions i.e. the religion of Islaam that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم came with, is the final religion. This is so because the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is the seal of all the Prophets and Messengers. There shall be no Prophet or Messenger after him صلى الله عليه وسلم, and there is no religion or legislation after that. Based on this, it is upon every person living on this earth and those who will be born afterwards, to learn the Deen of Islaam and adhere to it.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said:
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِيناً فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
{And whoever seeks a religion other that Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers} [Aal-Imraan 3:85]
[b][u]ISLAAM IS BUILT UPON GREAT PILLARS[/u][/b]
The religion of Islaam is built upon great pillars as the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified by saying, [i]“Islaam is based on five principles; to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers, to pay the Zakaat (charity), to observe fast during the month of Ramadaan and to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) for those who are able to do so.”[/i][1]
[b][u]TAWHEED OF ALLAAH[/u][/b]
Therefore, one must enter into monotheism (tawheed). He must be a monotheist, testifying to the two testimonies (bearing witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Prophet and Messenger) and implementing monotheism. Tawheed (monotheism) stands upon two great foundations, which all the Messengers called to.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said:
[COLOR=BLUE][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[b]{And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allaah (alone),
and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities)…}[/b] [An-Nahl 16:36]
So, they are: sincerity upon the Deen (religion) and upon the worship of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى after knowing Him, glorified is He; and disbelieving in at-Taaghoot i.e. being free from polytheism (shirk), its people, and from every religion other than the religion of Islaam.
[b][u]ESTABLISHING THE SALAAH[/u][/b]
Then after that, the second pillar is establishing the salaah (five daily prayers). The prayer is the second pillar from the pillars of Islaam. Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله, the imaam of Ahlus-Sunnah has mentioned that the great principle of Islaam is: “holding fast to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم were upon, taking them (and their way) as a model to be followed, and abandonment of innovations.”
This is the basis of knowledge, meaning that the person should learn the religion that the Companions were upon. He should learn that way of life and worship Allaah based upon it. He should familiarize himself what the Companions were upon and learn about the evidences that they used for the positions that they held. This is the way of the Salafi – to know the religion that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught to his Companions – to hold fast to it, to follow them رضي الله عنهم and to stay away from innovations. The creed of Salafiyyah is that the people cannot (correctly) understand the Qur’aan and the Sunnah without referring to the guidance of the Companions رضي الله عنهم.
[b][u]WHOEVER ABANDONS THE SALAAH HAS DISBELIEVED[/u][/b]
Imaam Ahmad mentioned in his treaty entitled Usool-us-Sunnah (the Principles of the Sunnah) that establishing the salaah (prayer) is from the pillars of the religion and whoever gives it up, has disbelieved. He mentioned that the Companions held the opinion that whoever abandons the salaah is a disbeliever. He (Imaam Ahmad) pointed out the statement of the Taabi’ee (follower) Abdullah bin Shaqeeq who said: [i]“The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم were of the view that there is nothing from amongst the actions, the abandonment of which constitutes disbelief except for the prayer.” [/i][2]
In explaining this position of the Companions, he said that they never considered any single act, other than the abandoning of salaah, as an act which would take a person out of the fold of Islaam, making him a disbeliever. He quoted this narration from a Taabi’ee (Successor) Abdullah Ibn Shaqeeq, using it as evidence (daleel) showing that this was something that the Companions were upon.
So, this is what Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله clarified: that the Companions رضي الله عنهم held the view that whoever abandons the prayer completely, never praying, then even if he displays (signs of) Islaam and utters the two testimonies; he is not a Muslim. He mentioned this from Abdullah bin Shaqeeq and it was also mentioned by Imaam Al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله who reported from the Salaf i.e. the Companions and those who came after them, that they hold the view that whoever intentionally left off one obligatory prayer until the time for the prayer elapsed, not having any excuse for it, then by that he becomes a disbeliever.
If we were to look at the authentic evidences from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in both of the authentic collections of hadeeth (Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim) and other than them, we would find that this is clearly proven. From that is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“The pact which is between us and them is the prayer; whoever gives it up, has disbelieved.”[/i][3]. Also, the saying of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“Between a man and shirk and kufr (disbelief) is neglecting the prayer.”[/i][4]
Furthermore, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the leaders who would change and abandon uprightness upon Islaam, and who would display injustices and sins, some of the Companions said to him صلى الله عليه وسلم [i]“Shall we not go out against them? Shall we not raise the sword against them or fight against them?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “No, unless you see clear disbelief.” [/i][5]; and in another narration, [i]“No, as long as they establish the prayer.” [/i][6] The People of Knowledge have clarified that from these two evidences, it becomes apparent that abandonment of the prayer is clear disbelief.
[b][u]ACTION MUST ACCOMPANY FAITH[/u][/b]
We are mentioning these matters to show the importance of salaah so that no one will think that tawheed (monotheism) alone is sufficient for one to be Muslim. Indeed, it is a pillar of Islaam and whoever abandons it, his Islaam becomes destroyed. We also mention this because today we find that some of the People of the Sunnah affirm that whoever gives up all actions in entirety still remains a Muslim. Without any doubt, this is the opposite of what the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were upon, as was clarified by Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله.
[b][u]THE ONE WHO LEAVES OFF A PILLAR OF ISLAAM[/u][/b]
If we return to the books of the Salaf, we find that they used to narrate from the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and they used to research whether an individual who gave up one obligatory prayer becomes a disbeliever. They also researched another matter – is the one who totally abandons prayer a disbeliever or a believer? The Companions have agreed that if a person committed shirk, he is a disbeliever. There is no doubt about this with anyone from the people of Islaam especially the Companions. But there occurred amongst them research and discussion on whether a person becomes a disbeliever if he abandons any other pillar of these five pillars i.e. besides the Shahaadatayn (the two testimonies of faith). Some of them say that he becomes a disbeliever, especially if he gives up salaah and zakaah (obligatory charity).
The first group amongst the Companions said that he becomes a disbeliever if he abandons Hajj (Pilgrimage) or if he gave up fasting or any other pillar of the pillars of Islaam. This is the opinion of the Imaam, ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه the Caliph from amongst the rightly guided Caliphs and also ‘Alee bin Abi Taalib رضي الله عنه and other than them.
The second group said that he becomes a disbeliever if he gave up the salaah and zakaah. They all agreed (as mentioned by Abdullaah Ibn Shaqeeq) that the polytheist is a disbeliever and the one who gives up the prayer is also a disbeliever. This is what the pious predecessors were upon. Nothing has been narrated from any of them that he said; “whoever gives up all compulsory actions is a Muslim.” This is something which is not known from the Salaf, but they used to consider this statement to be something great and used to view it as an atrocious statement.
It has been narrated that ‘Umar رضي الله عنه said: [i]“There is no share in Islaam for the person who gives up the salaah (prayer)”[/i][7]
Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله said: [i]“Whoever wanted to know his station with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, let him look at the station of the salaah with him. If the prayer has a great position with him and he performs it with proper manners and gives it attention, then let him know that he has some share or a position with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى. And whoever is negligent about the prayer, abandoning it and being careless about it, then he has no share with Allaah.”[/i][8]
[b][u]CLOSING ADVICE[/u][/b]
My advice at the end of this lesson is that I advise the brothers to concern themselves with Tawheed. They must learn it and know Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and know the rights of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى upon them. They must also preserve the salaah, honor its station and perform it in congregation. If they were to do this, they will find an abundance of good because (Allaah said):
[COLOR=BLUE][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[b]{…the prayer prevents one from shameful and evil deeds…}[/b] [Al-Ankaboot 29:45]
If they do this, then they get closer to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is closer to them and the other branches of eemaan will become easy for them. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk to the brothers in America and I apologize for making the lesson short because I have some guests. Jazaakum Allaahu Khair. Wasalaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.
[b][u]References[/u]:[/b]
[1] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree with the following wording in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#8), and in Saheeh Muslim,
The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#16).
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والحج، وصوم رمضان[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[2] Reported in Sunan at-Tirmidhee 5/14 in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#2622); Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says with a Saheeh sanad.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]كان أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يرون شيئا من الأعمال تركه كفر غير الصلاة[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[3] Reported by in Jaami’ at-Tirmidhee 5/13 in The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#2621); in Sunan an-Nasaa’ee 1/231 in The Book of Prayer (كتاب الصلاة) Hadeeth (#463), in Sunan ibn Maajah 1/342 in The Book of Establishing the Prayer (كتاب الإقامة) Hadeeth (#1079). Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله says all these are Saheeh. Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Buraydah, narrated from his father.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها فقد كفر[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[4] Reported in Saheeh Muslim, The Book of Faith (كتاب الإيمان) Hadeeth (#82). Narrated by Jaabir ibn Abdillaah رضي الله عنه.
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]إن بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاة[/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[5] Reported by Al-Imam Muslim 6/17
[6] Reported in Saheeh Muslim with the following wording in The Book of Leadership (كتاب الإمارة) Hadeeth (#1855)
[COLOR=green][CENTER][FONT=Traditional Arabic]خيار أئمتكم الذين تحبونهم ويحبونكم. ويصلون عليكم وتصلون عليهم. وشرار أئمتكم الذين تبغضونهم ويبغضونكم وتلعنونهم ويلعنونكم) قيل: يا رسول الله! أفلا ننابذهم بالسيف؟ فقال (لا. ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة. وإذا رأيتم من ولا تكم شيئا تكرهونه، فاكرهوا عمله، ولا تنزعوا يدا من طاعة) [/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[7] `Umar became unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al Miswar bin Makhramah, it was said: "Nothing would wake him up except the call to prayer, if he is still alive." They said to him, "The prayer has finished, O Chief of the Faithful!" He woke up and said, "The prayer, by Allaah! Verily, there is no share in Islaam for whoever abandons the prayer." He performed the prayer while his wound was bleeding. [Sifaat as Safwah 2/131, As-Siyar 5/220]
[8] Reference pending