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A
Significant Letter by Ibn Taymiah(RA)
Good and beneficial reminder for All of Us Insha-Allah. Remembrance and good
Islamic Zikir. "Fa Zakir, Inna Zikhrah Tinf'a Lili Mu'umineen" - " Remind,
because the reminder it is useful to the believers". Its very appropriate
time for this letter, and its
means a lot to us, as Muslims, and not taken
lightly.
All praises and thanks for Allah Karim only, and Peace, Prayers and Blessings upon our beloved Messenger (SWS), his family and Noble Companions.
Please spare a bit of time, read it and Insha-Allah let us get subsequent
benefit from this significant letter by Ibn Taymiyah, a great scholar of all
time, by understanding and pondering over it. please do not forget to forward/remind it to everyone you may know
of and print it and read it for
your family and friends.
This is the first of two letters especially written for the benefit of his
(RU) students and brothers in Damascus. It is apparent that this letter was
sent after the first release from Gail where lbn Taymiyah (RU) was imprisoned for 18 months from the beginning of 705 AH. Upon his release, the
Deputy Sultan asked the Shaykh to stay in Cairo which he did, proclaiming
the Da'wa and contacting people. Also apparent in this letter, is his forgiveness towards his opponents, asking his brothers not to harm them
because of him. These are the manners of the intelligent and chivalrous scholar. He said (RU) after praising Allah and conveying blessings upon the
Prophet (SWS):
In the name of Allaah, Most Merciful, Dispenser of Mercy
Truly Allah, the most worthy of praise, Has bestowed upon me great rewards
and immense merits that oblige me to thank Him, and be steadfast upon His
worship, and be patient at all times in fulfilling the obligations. Patience
is an obligation in itself, commanded by Allah in times of ease more than at
times of unease. Allah says:
"Thus it is, if We let man taste some of our grace, and then take it away
from him - behold, he abandons all hope, forgetting all gratitude (for our
past favours). And thus it is if we let him taste ease and plenty after hardship had visited him, he is sure to say: "Gone is all affliction from
me" - for, behold, he is given to vain exultation, and glories only in himself.
And thus it is with most men save those who are patient in adversity and do righteous deeds: it is they whom forgiveness of sins
awaits, and a great reward." Surah Hud-11: 9-11.
My brothers, you know that Allah, the Exalted in Might, had favoured me in
this matter (1), with favours. He usually reserves for the assistance of His
soldiers in order to elevate His Word, aid His religion, strengthen Ahlul-sunnah wal Jama'ah, and humiliate the people of innovation and
deviation (2). The guidance of the Sunnah was proclaimed conclusively with
proofs. This lead to the truth prevailing to so many people, and their returning to the way of Ahlus-sunnah wal Jama'ah. You should know that one
of the great principles of this religion is the bringing of Muslims' hearts
together and unifying their call. Allah the Glorified says:
"Remain conscious of Allah, and keep alive the bonds of brotherhood among
yourselves." Surah Al-Anfal 8:1.
"And hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not draw apart
from one another." Surah Al Imran - 3:103.
"And be not like those who have drawn apart from one another and have taken
to conflicting views after all evidence of the truth has come to them."
Surah Al Maidah- 5:105
Similarly, one of the fundamental themes of the Sunnah is obedience to the
Messenger (SWS). Therefore the Prophet (SWS) said in the authentic hadith
related by Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA):
"Allah is pleased with you on three occasions. (Firstly) when you worship
Him and do not associate any partners with Him. (Secondly) when you hold
fast, all together to the bond of Allah and do not draw apart and, (thirdly)
when you advise the good rulers whom Allah had placed in charge of your affairs."
Furthermore, in the hadith of Zayd bin Thaabit (RA) and Ibn Mas'ood (RA),
who were both among the scholars from the companions that the Messenger of
Allah said:
"May Allah brighten the face of a man who hears me and then relays to another who has not. It impossible that a carrier of knowledge is not
himself knowledgeable, or that the carrier of knowledge will deliver it to
someone more knowledgeable.
Three things purify the heart of a Muslim. The
sincerity in working for the sake of Allah, taking-up the task of advising
the rulers, and not departing from the group of Muslims."
In order to implement this principle on a personal note, I say that it is
not my wish for any Muslim to be harmed because of me overtly or covertly.
This applies to all Muslims, but more specifically to our companions and
acquaintances. Neither do I want any of them to be blamed or condemned, as
they are still worthy of honour and respect. Indeed, man does not escape
being classified into one of three categories: a correct mujtahid, a wrong
one, and a sinner. The first is rewarded and praised, the second is rewarded
yet forgiven for his blunder. Regarding the third, I ask Allaah to forgive
him, us and the rest of the Muslims. (3)
Therefore, we shall turn a new leaf on those who had erred and not fulfilled
this aforementioned principle (4). Yet I know of some who say "this man erred" and "this man did not do what he should have", or "the Shaykh was
harmed because of this man."
Those words that have harmed some brothers I do not condone, nor do I pardon
those who utter them.
You should also know that we are all joining to assist one another. It is
obligatory upon us to aid each other, more so now than before. So whomsoever
thinks that harming some brothers as a result of the hardship experienced in
Damascus and Egypt, then he is wrong. It is true that a believer to a believer is like the two hands, one cleans the other. And it is also true
that some kinds of dirt can only be washed by hard scrubbing, yet this treatment will be justified when the outcome appears to the restoration of
that brotherly love. Let no one think that the believer can be economical
with helping their brothers, and in aiding them. If some of our companions
had neglected us before, they came to us, their status will rise higher than
before. You might also know - may Allah be pleased with you - that issues
like this one often occur due to a difference of opinion and variations that
might even befall the people of Iman due to the whispers of shaytaan. Allah
says:
"Yet man took it [the trust] up - for, verily, he has always been prone to
the most wicked, most foolish. [And so it is] that Allah imposes suffering
on the hypocrites, both men and women, as well as on the men and women who
ascribe divinity to anything besides Him. And [so too, it is] that Allah
turns in His Mercy unto the believing men and believing women: for Allah is
indeed much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
" Surah Al Ahzab- 33:72-73.
Even the excesses that took place in this issue (5), including the misconceptions, both desires and also the lies and fabrications, were all a
bonus and benefit as Allah says:
"Verily, numerous among you are those who would falsely accuse others of
unchastity: [but, O you who are thus wronged,] deem it not a bad thing for
you. No, it is good for you. [As for the slanderers,] to every one of them
will be [accounted] all that he has earned by [thus] sinning; and awesome
suffering awaits any of them who takes it upon himself to enhance this
[sin]." Surah An Nur 24:11.
Those who erred towards me, I pardon. As for those who abused the rights of
Allah, then let them repent and Allah will forgive them. If they do not,
then Allah's Rule should be imposed upon them. For if the human were to be
thanked for his errors, I would have thanked everyone responsible in this
matter for the subsequent benefits in this life and in the next (6). But
Allah is the most worthy of praise, and the believer seeks the good in all
of His decrees. Similarly, those with good intention are thanked for that,
and those who do good are praised for their work. But to those who perform
bad deeds, we ask Allah to forgive them. And this is what you are accustomed
to of my manners, and what I know of this matter and I what I have experienced is great and more grave than what you perceive.
Nevertheless, the rights of people to one another, and the rights of Allah
upon them, are all under His Rule, and He will be the eventual arbiter.
Let us not forget the incident involving the Sideeq (truthful one) Abu Bakr(RA) during the trial of Ifk (7) about which some verses of the Qur'an were
revealed. In it, Abu Bakr (RWA) promised that he would no longer assist the
companion Mistah ibn Athathah. The reason behind Abu Bakr's (RA) decision to
exclude Mistah from the many Muslims he helped on a regular basis, was based
on the latter's involvement in the spreading of lies.
So Allah revealed:
"Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander,] let not those of you
who have been graced with [Allah's] favour and ease become remiss in helping
[the erring ones among] their near of kin, and the needy, and those who have
forsaken the domains of evil for the sake of Allah, but let them pardon and
forbear. [For] do you not desire that Allah should forgive your sins, seeing
that Allah is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
"Surah An Nur- 24:22.
The reaction of Abu Bakr (RA) when this verse was revealed was, "Of course!
By Allah, I wish for Him to forgive me." Abu Bakr (RA), the father of the
wrongly accused promptly returned to helping Mistah.
"Allah will in time, bring forth people whom He loves and who live Him -
humble towards the believers, proud towards the disbelievers. They strive
hard in Allah's cause and do not fear to be blamed by anyone who might blame
them: such is Allah's favour, which He grants unto whom He wills. And Allah
is infinite, All-Knowing. Behold, your only helper shall be Allah, and His
Messenger, and the believers - those that are constant in prayer, pay Zakat
and bow down before Allah. For, all those who ally themselves with Allah and
His Messenger and those who believed - behold, it is they, the partisans of
Allah who shall be victorious." Surah Al Maidah - 5:54-56.
Thanks for reading it, Insha-Allah reward and guidance rests with Allah
Karim, nothing to be worried, let us be firm in our Iman and patience.
O Allah! we beg of you to reward all of us for our patient and suffering;
and replace our loss with what is best;
Oh Allah! we seek refuge in You;
Lest we mislead or mislead; Or wrong or be wronged;
Of fool or be fooled.
Ameen!
Allah Karim knows all best.
Tasir.
March, 2004.
tasirul@yahoo.com
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