Text authored by: Imam and Mujaddid of the 13th Century Mohamed bin Abdul Wahhaab At-Tameemee An Najdee Rahimahullahu. (D. 1206 A.H) Explained by: The Shaykh of Ethiopia, Aboo Ahmad, As-Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Amaan Ibn 'Alee alJaamee rahimahullaah. (D. 1416 A.H) Taught by: Aboo Aaliyah Abdullaah Dwight Battle (hafidhahullaah)i
Class 1
“ “Know, may Allaah have mercy on you, that it is obligated upon us to seek knowledge of four matters”
As for this statement, then the Shaykh (rahimahullaah) is addressing everyone who reads and everyone who hears what this book contains. The Shaykh does not say that the knowledge of the four matters are only obligated to the Students of knowledge. But in fact it is an obligation upon every Muslim, male and female to seek knowledge of the four matters mentioned. The four matters are: 1) Knowledge. 2) To act in accordance with the knowledge. 3) And to call to that knowledge that one has learned. 4) And to have patience to any harm that comes to one while embarking upon ones call to Allaah Subuhanahu wa Ta’aala, while one is on His Path.
“First matter is: The Knowledge: that is knowing…” As for this statement, then Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab has explained “’ilm” (Knowledge) by “Ma’rifah” (to have a clear understanding). Question) So what is the difference between “’ilm” and “ma’rifah”? www.ahlul-athar.net
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It’s the difference between knowledge and knowing. Question) What did the Shaykh (rahimahullaah) use “ma’rifah” to explain “ilm”? “Ma’rifah” has a more general meaning than “ilm”. Whereas “ilm” on the other hand is more specific in that which it is not preceded with “jahl” (ignorance). And for that reason for Allah’s right he used ‘ilm’. Ma’rifah is not used in knowing Allaah’s right, because Ma’rifah is preceded by Jahl.
“…Knowing Allaah” As for this statement, then it is to know Allaah by His Names and His Attributes. And to know Allaah by the bounties bestowed on the servants and by His clear signs, and by His verses which are recited in the Qur’aan. And Ma’rifah (knowing) Allaah guides the servant to love Allaah. And knowing Allaah obligates the servant to fear Allaah, and to extol Him, and to extol the commands of Allaah and His Legislation. And when the person is fully conscious of Allaah then he is aware at all times that Allaah is the One who sees everything that he does openly or secretly. And as a result of this he fears Allaah. And the meaning of “Knowing Allaah” is not by just mere lip service only. But in the contrary this meaning contains fear, hope, and many other aspects of having consciousness of Allaah. And this includes: - At-Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of Allaah in His Lordship), - At-Tawheed Al-‘Ibaadah (Oneness of Allaah in ones worship), - At-Tawheed Al-Asmaaihi was-Sifaatihi (Oneness of the Names and Attributes of Allaah), - To believe in all that which Allaah sent His Messenger (sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with. - To believe in all of the Books of Allaah (those that are mentioned in the Qur’aan and those which are not mentioned). -To believe in Jannah (paradise) and Naar (Hell-Fire).
“And to Know His Prophet – may Allaah’s prayers and peace be upon him” To know the prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is that one affirms everything that he said. This is because the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam never spoke with his own desires, but only spoke from www.ahlul-athar.net
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revelation. When a person has ma’rifah (knows) the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam then he is guided to obey his commands, and affirms all that which he came with, and follows his guidance. Tasdeeq (affirmation) of the prophethood of Muhammad sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasalam is to believe in all of that which the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam came with, his commands, and his sunan. We find no contradictions in the sunan, everything that he came with, we believe it and we affirm it. Knowing the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is that one loves him more than one loves one’s self, one’s family and wealth.
“And Knowing the Deen of Islaam” Allaah says:
“Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islaam.”(Aali Imran 3:19). Everything that Allaah sent all of the prophets with is Islaam. Nooh ‘alaihi salaam came with Islaam, Ibraheem ‘alaihi salaam came with Islaam, and all of the prophets came with Islaam. However on the contrary when a person mentions Islaam in these times then it is that which the last of the Messengers, Muhammad sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam came with. So for that reason, if a person says Islaam, then he is talking about what the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam came with. All that which Allaah sent the Messengers with, which they conveyed to the people, from Nooh ‘alaihi salaam to the final and last Messenger, the best and the Imaam of the prophets, Muhammad sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam is Islaam is Islaam. And for this reason, it is obligated on us to have ma’rifah of this Deen that which the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam came with. By knowing Islaam we can see the discrepancy of other religions. And by knowing Islaam correctly we know the Messenger sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam and that which the other Messengers came with. And by knowing Islaam one loves the Messengers and affirms them and their Religion. And loving the Messenger and believing which he came with is the key to happiness. However, what some of the people have innovated (priniciples, acts of worship, ideologies, etc) and attribute to Islaam is in reality not Islaam that which the prophets came with. Examples of these innovations are such as celebrating the prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam’s birthday, such as the dhikr circles that which the Soofiyyah have, such as the acts of terrorism, etc. None of the prophets, ‘alaihi salaat was-salaam came with these. We do not find these acts in the Qur’aan, we do not find these in the Sunnah.
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The prophets came with the call to Tawheed (the oneness of Allaah), that is Laai laaha illa laahu (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah alone). “With the proofs and evidences” The statement, “Knowing Allaah, knowing his prophet, and knowing his Deen with its proofs and evidences” shows that there is no taqleed (blind following) in matters of Tawheed. The person should know Allaah, the prophet, and the Deen of Allaah with its evidences. Every knowledge, every statement and action that a person puts forward without any evidence is just a mere empty call. A claim must be built upon adillah (proofs and evidences). Daleel is Qaalallahu (what Allaah said), Qaalar-Rasool sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam (what the Prophet sallalaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said) and that which the sahaba radiAllaahu anhum ajma’een unanimously agree upon.
(End of first class)
i
بسن اهلل الرحون الرحين
الحود هلل والصالة والسالم على رسول اهلل وعلى آله وصحبه وهن وااله وبعد السالم عليكن ورحوت اهلل وبركاث Inshaa-Allaah, on Saturdays we will be having 'Thalaathatul Usool Q & A' explained from the Sharh of Allaamah asShaykh Muhammad Ammaan Jaamee (rahimahullaah), which will be taught by Our noble brother Abu aaliyaah abdullaah ibn dwlight Battle. th
Time: 2 pm Maldivian time, (9 am GMT), Starting from 17 October 2009 Paltalk room: Religion & Spirituality->Islam->Salafiyyah Maldives. And to get the recording of the classes please contact
[email protected]
www.ahlul-athar.net
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