Schools of Thought, Religions and Sects
Chapter 2
Religions
48987: Did Islam exist before
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him)?
Question:
Was there a religion called Islam before the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) came?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It should be noted that the word "Islam" may
refer to two things: a general meaning and a
specific meaning.
Islam in a general sense means submitting to
Allaah alone, which implies worshipping Him
alone and obeying Him alone.
Everyone who believes in Allaah alone and
worships Him according to His laws that have not
been abrogated is a Muslim.
Shaykh al-Islam said in
al-Tadmuriyyah, p. 168-170:
This religion is the religion of Islam,
besides which Allaah will accept no other
religion, either from the earlier or the later
generations. All the Prophets followed Islam.
Allaah says of Nooh (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And recite to them the news of Nooh
(Noah). When he said to his people: `O my
people, if my stay (with you), and my reminding
(you) of the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allaah is
hard on you, then I put my trust in Allaah. So
devise your plot, you and your partners, and let
not your plot be in doubt for you. Then pass
your sentence on me and give me no respite.
72. `But if you turn away (from accepting my
doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship
none but Allaah), then no reward have I asked of
you, my reward is only from Allaah, and I have
been commanded to be of the Muslims (i.e. those
who submit to Allaah's Will)'"
[Yoonus 10:71-72]
And Allaah says of Ibraaheem (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And who turns away from the religion of
Ibraaheem (Abraham) (i.e. Islamic Monotheism)
except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose
him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter
he will be among the righteous.
131. When his Lord said to him, `Submit (i.e.
be a Muslim)!' He said, `I have submitted myself
(as a Muslim) to the Lord of the `Aalameen
(mankind, jinn and all that exists).'
132. And this (submission to Allaah, Islam)
was enjoined by Ibraaheem (Abraham) upon his
sons and by Ya'qoob (Jacob) (saying), `O my
sons! Allaah has chosen for you the (true)
religion, then die not except in the Faith of
Islam (as Muslims — Islamic Monotheism)'"
[al-Baqarah 2:130-132]
And He says of Moosa (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And Moosa (Moses) said: `O my people! If
you have believed in Allaah, then put your trust
in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to
Allaah's Will)'" [Yoonus 10:84]
And He says of the Messiah (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And when I (Allaah) inspired
AlHawariyyoon (the disciples) [of `Eesa (Jesus)]
to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said:
`We believe. And bear witness that we are
Muslims'"
[al-Maa'idah 5:111]
And He says of the previous Prophets
(interpretation of the meaning):
"…by which the Prophets, who submitted
themselves to Allaah's Will …"
[al-Maa'idah 5:44]
And He tells us that Bilqeez said
(interpretation of the meaning):
"My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself,
and I submit [in Islam, together with Sulaymaan
(Solomon)] to Allaah, the Lord of the
`Aalameen(mankind, jinn and all that
exists)"[al-Naml 27:44]
This is the religion of Islam, besides which
Allaah does not accept any other. This means
obeying Allaah at any given time by doing what
He commanded at that time. So initially the
command was to face towards the Rock [in
Jerusalem] in prayer, then the command came to
face towards the Ka'bah. Both actions come under
the heading of the religion of Islam, because
religion is obedience and worship in both cases,
but the actions varied in some regards which was
the direction faced in prayer. Similarly the
religion of all the Messengers is one and the
same, but their laws varied. End quote.
With this general meaning of the word "Islam"
in mind, it is correct to say that there was a
religion called Islam before the Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) was sent.
All the Prophets who were sent were Muslims,
and their followers who adhered to their true
religion, before it was distorted or abrogated,
were Muslims.
Before the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) came there were a few
individuals who followed the true religion with
which Allaah had sent `Eesa (peace be upon him).
This is indicated by the report narrated by
Muslim (2865) from `Iyaad ibn Himaar
al-Mujaashi'i, that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
one day in his khutbah: "Allaah looked at the
people of the earth and was angry with them all,
Arabs and non-Arabs, except for the remainder of
the People of the Book. And He said: `I have
only sent you to test you and test others by
you…'"
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said:
Maqt (translated here as "angry")
means extreme anger. Looking refers to the time
before the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sent. What
is meant by the remainder of the People of the
Book is those who continued to adhere to their
true religion without altering it. End quote.
With regard to Islam in a specific sense,
this is the religion with which Allaah sent His
Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him).
In this specific sense, it is not correct to
say that there was a religion called Islam
before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) was sent.
Shaykh al-Islam said in al-Tadmuriyyah
(p. 173-174):
People have disputed concerning those who
came before them of the nations of Moosa and
Ibraaheem _ were they Muslims or not?
This is a semantic dispute, because Islam in
the specific sense with which Allaah sent
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) and the law of the Qur'aan is not followed
by anyone except the ummah of Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This is
what is meant by Islam nowadays. But with regard
to Islam in a general sense, referring to every
law with which Allaah sent one of His Prophets,
this includes the Islam of every nation that
followed one of the Prophets.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
33679: Islam and the west
between strength and weakness
Question:
Looking at the calamities faced by the
Muslims in all places, I want to know what is
the difference between the Islamic way of life
and the life of wealth, progress and strength in
the west, and between the rulings on women in
both societies. I am asking because I am sad
about the situation of the Muslims in those
countries.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The disasters and calamities that are
befalling the Muslims are only happening because
they have forsaken the laws of Allaah regarding
themselves, their societies and their nations.
They do not support (the cause of) Allaah so how
will He support them?
When some of the Muslims disobeyed the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) in the Battle of Uhud, Allaah punished them
with defeat, even though the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the senior
Sahaabah were among them. So what about the
Muslims nowadays when they are disobeying Allaah
night and day and transgressing His sacred
limits, except for those on whom Allaah has
mercy?
Secondly:
Although the Muslims are living through
disasters and calamities, and are suffering a
great deal, what the west is facing in its
societies and in their personal situations is
even worse, with regard to faith, security and
the family, especially in matters pertaining to
women.
If you look at recent statistics from western
countries, you will see that they are more
deserving of pity because of their situation. We
will look at a few examples:
65% of female workers are faced with sexual
harassment in the work place in some European
countries.
18% of women in America have been raped or
have been faced with attempted rape at some
stage in their lives.
More than half of the women who are raped are
under the age of 17.
Ihsaa'aat, Diraasaat, Arqaam, p. 140.
According to a phone survey in Canada,
covering 12,300 women throughout Canada between
February and June 1993:
Half of Canadian woman have been exposed to
an incident of physical or sexual violence after
the age of 16.
45% were attacked by men who were known to
them.
23% of them were attacked by strangers.
23% were attacked with weapons as the result
of marital disputes.
Ihsaa'aat, Diraasaat, Arqaam, p. 141
In America:
One million illegitimate children are born
each year.
12 million children are homeless and living
in unhealthy circumstances.
There are one million abortions each year in
America.
In Britain:
25 million obscene phone calls were recorded
in one year.
40 million children are homeless in Latin
America.
The law in Sweden allows marriage of brothers
and sisters.
Ihsaa'aat, Diraasaat, Arqaam, p. 150.
Thirdly:
We appreciate your pride in Islam, and your
protective jealousy concerning the Muslims. We
ask Allaah to give us and you strength.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
20884: Muslim man marrying a
non-Muslim woman
Question:
A non muslim girl wants to loves a muslim guy
and has decided to marry him. she is also ready
to accept islam. does islam permits a muslim guy
to marry a non muslim asian girl. both love each
other very much and cant stay without each
other. what must be done now, how and when can
she accept islam.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Through this website we will send a message
to this non-Muslim woman and others, telling
them that no one can attain true life, happiness
and peace of mind unless he believes in Allaah
as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad
as his Prophet. For all of the universe is
created, and its Creator is Allaah. He is the
One Who raised the heavens with no pillars and
spread out the earth, and created the mountains
to stabilize it, and created the sea and the
rivers.
"Surely, His is the creation and
commandment. Blessed is Allaah, the Lord of the
`Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!"
[al-A'raaf 7:54 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
Once this is clear, it should be understood
that Allaah sent Messengers to His slaves, to
show them the way, teach them and guide them to
the path of salvation.
"Messengers as bearers of good news as
well as of warning in order that mankind should
have no plea against Allaah after the (coming
of) Messengers"
[al-Nisa' 4:165]
And He ended the series of His Messengers
with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him):
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your
men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the
last (end) of the Prophets"
[al-Ahzaab 33:40 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
Allaah sent him with the religion of Islam
other than which He will not accept any religion
from anyone:
"And whoever seeks a religion other than
Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in
the Hereafter he will be one of the losers"
[Aal `Imraan 3:85 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
Secondly:
With regard to when and how she may become
Muslim:
It is very easy indeed. All she has to do is
to say "Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illaaha
ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammad `abduhu was
rasooluhu (I bear witness that there is no
god except Allaah and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)." Once she
says that, she becomes Muslim. She should hasten
to do that, because death may come suddenly, and
no one knows whether he will live until tomorrow
or not.
We welcome her as our sister in Islam, and we
ask Allaah to inspire her and guide her to do
that which will bring her happiness in this
world and in the Hereafter.
Thirdly:
What is stated in this question is that the
woman is "non-Muslim". This may be understood as
meaning that she is one of the people of the
Book _ i.e., Jewish or Christian _ or it may be
understood as meaning that she is something else
_ such as Buddhist, Zoroastrian or communist. If
the woman who wants to marry a Muslim man is one
of the people of the Book, there is no shar'i
impediment to this marriage, so long as it
fulfils the shar'i conditions, such as the
requirement that she be chaste. But the Muslim
husband should be keen to bring his wife into
Islam so as to save her from eternity in the
Fire and so that he and his children will have a
home that is based on Islam.
But if the woman who wants to marry a Muslim
man is not one of the people of the Book, then
it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry her.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And do not marry Al-Mushrikaat
(idolatresses) till they believe (worship Allaah
Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is
better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress),
even though she pleases you. And give not (your
daughters) in marriage to AlMushrikoon till they
believe (in Allaah Alone) and verily, a
believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik
(idolater), even though he pleases you. Those
(Al-Mushrikoon) invite you to the Fire, but
Allaah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness
by His Leave, and makes His Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember"
[al-Baqarah 2:221]
Ibn Katheer said:
Here Allaah forbids the believers to marry
mushrik woman who worship idols, and if this
were general in meaning, it would include every
mushrik woman, whether she is of the people of
the Book or is an idol worshipper, but the woman
of the people of the Book are excluded from that
in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
"(Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste
women from the believers and chaste women from
those who were given the Scripture (Jews and
Christians) before your time when you have given
their due Mahr (bridal-money given by the
husband to his wife at the time of marriage),
desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal
wedlock) not committing illegal sexual
intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends"
[al-Maa'idah 5:5]
`Ali ibn Abi Talhah said, narrating from Ibn
`Abbaas concerning the words "And do not
marry Al-Mushrikaat (idolatresses) till they
believe (worship Allaah Alone)": Allaah
excludes from that the women of the people of
the Book. This was also the view of Mujahid,
`Ikrimah, Sa'eed ibn Jubayr, Makhool, al-Hasan,
al-Dahhaak, Zayd ibn Aslam, al-Rabee' ibn Anas
and others. And it was said that what is meant
is the mushrikoon who worship idols, and it does
not mean the people of the Book at all. This
meaning is close to the first meaning. And
Allaah knows best.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/474
Whilst noting that this is permissible, we
should also remember that Islam encourages the
Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman who is
religiously committed, because the Muslim's life
with his wife is a complete and comprehensive
life which involves chastity, lowering the gaze,
and protecting and looking after the house and
children. These and similar things cannot be
achieved except with a religiously-committed
wife.
See the answer to question no. 12283;
also the answer to question no 20227,
which gives more details on the bad consequences
of marriage to a non-Muslims woman. In the
answer to question no. 3320 it states
that it is not permissible to allow her to
celebrate (non-Islamic) festivals inside or
outside the home.
And Allaah knows best. Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
27093: The differences
between Christianity and Islam
Question:
What are the factors which causes a widening
gap between muslim and christian communities?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
There are many great factors that widen the
gaps between Muslims and Christians. The
differences in belief between us and them do not
let us get close unless they give up their kufr
(disbelief) and misguidance, and join the
monotheists who believe in One Lord and God, and
bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is His
Messenger, and believe that `Eesa (Jesus _ peace
be upon him) was a human being.
These are the most significant deviations in
their religion, which widen the gap between us
Muslims and them:
1. The Christian belief that the Messiah is
the son of God.
2. The Christian belief that the Messiah
(peace be upon him) is a god alongside God and
that he is the second person of the holy
trinity, according to their beliefs.
3. The belief that divinity may be incarnated
in humanity.
4. The belief that God is formed of three
Persons, which is known as the doctrine of the
trinity.
5. The Christian belief that the Messiah
(peace be upon him) was crucified by the Jews on
the command of Pontius Pilate, and that he died
on the cross.
6. The Christian belief that the Messiah died
on the cross as a ransom for mankind and as
expiation for original sin.
7. The Christian attitude towards the Jews
who disbelieved in Jesus (peace be upon him) and
claimed that they crucified him and killed him,
and they accused his mother Mary (Maryam) of
fornication _ of which she was innocent _ yet
despite all that their attitude towards them
today is one of support and loyalty, and their
attitude towards the Muslims who venerate Jesus
(peace be upon him) and his mother is one of
enmity and disavowal.
8. Their distortion of the Book of God the
Gospel (Injeel), whether they distorted the
words by changing them or by adding words, or
they distorted the meaning, and in doing that
they attribute things to God that cannot be
attributed to Him.
9. The doctrine of redemption, which is their
belief that God sent His only son to redeem
mankind from a sin committed by the father of
mankind (Adam _ peace be upon him), but God was
unable to forgive his sin, so He sent His only
son who had no sin, to sacrifice himself in
order to do away with sin. This is an
attribution of imperfection to the Lord of the
Worlds and a denial of the fact that Adam (peace
be upon him) repented and Allaah saved the
Messiah (peace be upon him) from death.
10. Their disbelief in the Prophethood of
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), even though he is mentioned in the Old and
New Testaments.
11. Their belief in the soundness of the
distorted Torah that they have in front of them
today, which contains insults against God,
describing Him as having shortcomings, and
insults against the Prophets and Messengers,
saying things that one can hardly dare utter,
but we mention them in order to highlight the
abhorrent nature of the kufr (disbelief) that
they follow. They describe God as weeping with
regret for the Flood which drowned the people of
Noah, until His eyes became sore, and the angels
came to visit Him _ exalted be He far above
that.
They describe Lot (peace be upon him) as
committing incest with his two daughters, and
Noah as drinking wine until he became drunk and
his `awrah (nakedness) became visible. And there
are even more foolish stories than that.
See Hidaayat al-Hayaara fi Awbah al-Yahood
wa'l-Nasaara by Ibn al-Qayyim; Naqd
al-Nasraaniyyah by Dr. Muhammad ibn
`Abd-Allaah al-Saheem
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
22029: Ruling on reading the
books of Ahl al-Kitaab and debating with them on
the internet
Question:
My worry is the propogation of false notions
about quran by some christians through
internet.i even sent a mail to the so called
muslim to christians about their fabricated
stories.i want to know what should be our
response regarding alkexander the great whom
they say according to history died young at 33
and in koran it states that he died at a ripe
old age.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to read the specious
arguments that the Christians propagate on the
internet or via other media, or to engage with
them in religious disputes and debates, except
for those who are qualified to do so, who have
proof and evidence and who know how to present
arguments. A number of scholars have stated that
it is haraam to look at any of the books of the
People of the Book, except for those who have
deep knowledge, because we are commanded neither
to believe nor disbelieve what they tell us
about stories that are not present in our
religion. There is no guarantee that the
ordinary person who has no knowledge will not
end up believing in falsehood and rejecting the
truth. Moreover, man is weak and specious
arguments may take root in the heart and it may
be difficult to get rid of them. The following
fatwa was issued by the Standing Committee:
"A great deal of distortion, addition and
subtraction has befallen the previous
divinely-revealed scriptures, as Allaah has
stated, so it is not permissible for a Muslim to
read them and study them, unless he is one who
has deep knowledge and is seeking to explain the
distortions and contradictions therein."
(3/311).
So whatever Christian books have come to you,
you must hasten to get rid of them.
With regard to what you say about Alexander
the Great, this is a specious argument which is
indicative of the stupidity and ignorance of the
Christians. We may respond to that from several
angles, as follows:
1 _ There is no mention in the Qur'aan of how
long Dhu'l-Qarnayn (Alexander) lived, or of the
era in which he lived.
2 _ Dhu'l-Qarnayn who is mentioned in the
Qur'aan is not Alexander the Macedonian or Greek
who built Alexandria. This Alexander is the one
who died at the age of 33, as mentioned in the
Christian books. He lived 323 years before the
birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him).
Dhu'l-Qarnayn who is mentioned in the Qur'aan
lived at the time of Ibraaheem (peace be upon
him), and it is said that he became Muslim at
the hands of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), and
he went on pilgrimage to the Ka'bah walking. The
scholars differed concerning him, as to whether
he was a Prophet or a righteous slave and just
king, but they agree that he was a Muslim, a
monotheist (believer in Tawheed) and one who was
obedient to Allaah.
The correct view is to refrain from stating
what he was, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I do not
know whether Tubba' was a Prophet or not, and I
do not know whether Dhu'l-Qarnayn was a Prophet
or not."
(Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi;
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Jaami', no. 5524).
3 _ The difference between this righteous
slave, and the Macedonian Alexander who was a
kaafir, is well known to Muslim scholars. Ibn
Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Badaayah wa'l-Nahaayah (1/493):
"It was narrated that Qutaadah said:
Alexander was Dhu'l-Qarnayn and his father was
the first of the Caesars, and he was one of the
descendants of Saam ibn Nooh (Shem the son of
Noah). As for Dhu'l-Qarnayn, he was Alexander
son of Philip… ibn Roomi ibn al-Asfar ibn Yaqaz
ibn al-`Ees ibn Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem al-Khaleel.
This is the genealogy of him given by al-Haafiz
ibn `Asaakir in his Taareekh. (He is
known as) the Macedonian, the Greek, the
Egyptian, builder of Alexandria, on the events
of whose life the Greeks based their calendar.
He came much later than the first Alexander.
This was approximately three hundred years
before the Messiah. The philosopher Aristotle
was his minister and he is the one who killed
Daar ibn Daar (Darius) and humiliated the kings
of Persia and invaded their land.
We have drawn attention to him because many
people think that they are one and the same and
that the one who is mentioned in the Qur'aan is
the one whose minister was Aristotle, which has
resulted in a lot of mistakes and far-reaching
corruption. The former was a righteous believing
slave and a just king, and the latter was a
mushrik and his minister was a philosopher.
There were more than two thousand years between
the two, so what comparison can there be between
them? They are not alike at all and they have
nothing in common, except in the mind of a fool
who does not know anything."
4 _ The Christians have no information in
their holy book about the second Alexander, let
alone the first. All they have is the story of
the visions of Daniel, which they claim refer to
the rule of this infidel Alexander, and the
division of his kingdom after his death.
5 _ If we assume that there is a difference
between what the Qur'aan says and what their
book says about a person or an event, why should
that be regarded as strange? There are many such
differences, especially in the stories of the
Prophets such as Ibraaheem (Abraham), Nooh
(Noah), Loot (Lot), Moosa (Moses), Dawood
(David) and `Eesa (Jesus) (peace be upon them).
The Christians have no reliable and continuous
chain of narration for this book in which they
believe, and they know nothing about those who
translated it. Moreover it contains dozens of
contradictions which effectively nullify any
claim to infallibility or to have been written
with inspiration from the Holy Spirit. It is
sufficient to note the contradictions in the
genealogy of Jesus (peace be upon him)!
So how can we take what is in these distorted
books as a standard by which to judge the Holy
Qur'aan which is preserved by Allaah?!
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
12713: Is the trinity that
the Christians believe in mentioned in Islam?
Question:
In christianity the word TRINITY is used as
the main pillers of the religion.is there any
mention of this belief mentioned in Qurran.If
this is a true belief,will this not come within
the perview of SHIRK.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, this belief is mentioned in the Qur'aan,
but that is by way of refutation and proving it
to be false, and describing the one who believes
in it as a kaafir and mushrik. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Surely, in disbelief are they who say that
Allaah is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:17]
"Surely, disbelievers are those who said:
`Allaah is the third of the three (in a
Trinity).' But there is no Ilaah (god) (none who
has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah
(God —Allaah). And if they cease not from what
they say, verily, a painful torment will befall
on the disbelievers among them"
[al-Maa'idah 5:73]
"And the Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the son
of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah is
the son of Allaah. That is their saying with
their mouths, resembling the saying of those who
disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on
them, how they are deluded away from the truth!
They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis
and their monks to be their lords besides Allaah
(by obeying them in things which they made
lawful or unlawful according to their own
desires without being ordered by Allaah), and
(they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of
Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians)
were commanded [in the Tawraat (Torah) and the
Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilaah
(God — Allaah) Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has
the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and
glory be to Him (far above is He) from having
the partners they associate (with Him)"
[al-Tawbah 9:31]
This is something that is well known among
the Muslims, and they are unanimously agreed
that the Christians are kaafirs, and even that
those who do not regard them as kaafirs are also
kaafirs. Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Wahhaab
said concerning the things which are unanimously
agreed to nullify Islam:
"Whoever does not regard the mushrikoon as
kaafirs, or doubts that they are kaafirs, or
thinks their religion is correct, is himself a
kaafir." (See also question no. 31807).
We are surprised at the question, in which
the questioner appears to think that the shirk
which exists among the Christians also exists in
the religion of the Muslims. Hence we advise the
questioner to read the books of `aqeedah which
explain Tawheed (the Oneness of Allaah) and
discuss its meaning and rulings, and also
describe the various kinds of shirk. He should
also listen to useful tapes on this topic, for
this is one of the most important obligations
that are enjoined upon people. This trinity in
which the Christians believe is not one of the
things that lead to shirk, rather it is the
essence of shirk. The trinity that the later
Christians have fabricated has no evidence in
reason and fitrah (the innate nature of man),
and there is nothing to support it in the
divinely-revealed Books which Allaah sent down.
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
This is the attitude all the people of
misguidance with their leaders and followers.
When a monotheist (believer in Tawheed) disputes
with the ignorant Christians and points out that
their trinity is false and self-contradictory,
they say, "The answer is with the priest." The
priest says, "The answer is with the
archbishop." The archbishop says, "The answer is
with the patriarch." The patriarch says that the
answer is with the three hundred and eighteen
clergymen who gathered at the time of
Constantine and enjoined upon the Christians
this trinity and shirk which contradicts sound
reasoning and religion… Miftaah Daar
al-Sa'aadah, 2/148.
With regard to the word "trinity" (tathleeth)
it is not mentioned in either the Qur'aan or the
Sunnah, rather the word tathleeth (in the sense
of doing something three times) is mentioned by
the scholars when they discuss cleaning onself
with pebbles after relieving oneself, or when
discussing wudoo', ghusl, washing the dead,
saying tasbeeh when bowing and prostrating,
asking permission to enter a house, etc.
What is meant in all of these cases is doing
something three times, and it has nothing to do
with the trinity of the Christians, which Allaah
mentions describing their words and commanding
them to believe that He is One (Tawheed) and to
believe that `Eesa (Jesus) is a Messenger and
not a god.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do
not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say
of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah `Eesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more
than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (`Be'
— and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary)
and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so believe
in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: `Three
(trinity)!' Cease! (it is) better for you"
[al-Nisa' 4:171]
In this verse Allaah referred to `trinity and
incarnation, and forbade both of these beliefs.
He states that the Messiah is only "a
Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (`Be' — and he
was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a
spirit (Rooh) created by Him". And He says,
"so believe in Allaah and His
Messengers", then He says, "Say not:
`Three (trinity)!' Cease! (it is) better for
you".
Al-Jawaab al-Saheeh, 2/15
Some Christians _ because of their ignorance
_ think that the plural pronoun which is used to
show respect in verses such as "Verily, We
have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory"
[al-Fath 48:1] and "Verily, We have sent
it down as an Arabic Qur'aan…" [Yoosuf 12:2]
is proof of their false belief in trinity.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
The view of the salaf (early generations) of
this ummah and of its imams and later
generations is that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) heard the
Qur'aan from Jibreel, and Jibreel heard it from
Allaah. The use of plural forms in such phrases
is the style of Arabic speech used to refer to
one who is of high standing and has helpers who
obey him. So if his helpers do something by his
command, he says, "we did it". This is like when
a king says, "We conquered this land, we
defeated this army" and so on. Because he did
that through the actions of his helpers. Allaah
is the Lord of the angels and they speak not
until He has spoken, and they act in accordance
with His commands; they do not disobey the
commands of Allaah, rather they do what He
commands. Moreover He is their Creator and the
creator of their deeds and their power. But He
has no need of them; He is not like a king whose
helpers do things by their own strength. So what
He says when He does something through His
angels is, "We did it", this is more appropriate
and He is more entitled to say it than some
king.
This plural form is ambiguous and the
Christians try to use it as evidence against the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), when they find such phrases in the Qur'aan
as "Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) a
manifest victory" [al-Fath 48:1], etc. But
Allaah condemned them for ignoring the clear
verses in the Qur'aan which state that God is
One, but they cling to the ambiguous verses
which may be interpreted as referring to one who
has a peer with him, or to one who has helpers
who are his slaves and creation. They follow the
ambiguous verses, seeking to stir up confusion
in this manner. This is confusion in the heart,
by thinking that there are many gods, and
seeking to twist the meaning. No one knows the
true interpretation except Allaah and those who
are well versed in knowledge.
Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 5/233, 234
See also question no. 606
And Allaah knows best. Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
21534: Attitude of Islam
towards other religions
Question:
I have some questions about Islam, could you
explain them for me? What does Islam say about
people of other religions? Are all non-Muslim
people regarded as sinners because they do not
follow Allaah and Islam? Can any non-Muslim
person enter Paradise without following Islam?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The ruling of Islam concerning other
religions is that they are all either fabricated
and false, or abrogated.
The fabricated and false religions are those
like the ancient Arabian practise of worshipping
idols and stones.
The abrogated religions are those which were
taught by the Prophets who came before our
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him). They are valid in that their
origins are from Allaah, but Islam came and took
their place, not with regard to basic beliefs
such as the existence of God, the angels,
Paradise and Hell, for these are matters which
all the Messengers have in common, but there are
differences between them with regard to ways of
worshipping and drawing close to Allaah by means
of prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, alms, etc. The
later followers of the Prophets have fallen into
deviations of belief and shirk, but Islam came
to point that out and bring people back to the
correct belief taught by the earlier Prophets.
It was narrated that Abu'l-Darda' (may Allaah
be pleased with him) said: `Umar brought some
pages of the Tawraat to the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
said, "O Messenger of Allaah, these are some
pages of the Tawraat which I took from a brother
of mine from Banu Zurayq." The expression of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) changed, and `Abd-Allaah ibn
Zayd _ who had been shown the adhaan [in a
dream] _ said, "Has Allaah taken away your mind?
Do you not see the expression on the face of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him)?" `Umar said, "We are
pleased with Allaah as our Lord and with Islam
as our religion and with Muhammad as our Prophet
and with the Qur'aan as our guide." Then the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) relaxed [?}, and said, "By
the One in Whose hand is my soul, if Moosa were
to come among you and you were to follow him and
leave me, you would have gone far astray. You
are my share among the nations and I am your
share among the Prophets." (Narrated by Ahmad,
15437).
Ibn Hajar said:
All the isnaads of this hadeeth are such that
they could not be taken as evidence
individually, but when taken together they prove
that this hadeeth is correct. (Fath
al-Baari, 13/525).
The evidence for that is the verse in which
Allah says (interpretation if the meaning):
"And whoever seeks a religion other than
Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in
the Hereafter he will be one of the losers"
[Aal `Imraan 3:85]
Imam al-Tabari said in his commentary on this
verse:
What Allaah means by that is that whoever
looks for a religion other than Islam to follow,
Allaah will never accept that from him, "and
in the Hereafter he will be one of the
losers" meaning, one of those who deprived
themselves of their share of the mercy of
Allaah."
(Tafseer al-Tabari, 3/339)
Islam does not regard them (followers of
other religions) only as sinners, but as kaafirs
(disbelievers) who will abide forever in the
Fire of Hell, as stated in the verse quoted
above.
He (the kaafir) will be a loser in Hell, and
will not come of out it. It is not possible for
a kaafir to enter Paradise unless he becomes
Muslim. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Verily, those who belie Our Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) and treat them with arrogance, for them
the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they
will not enter Paradise until the camel goes
through the eye of the needle (which is
impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimoon
(criminals, polytheists, sinners)"
[al-A'raaf 7:40]
It was proven that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "By the
One is Whose hand is my soul, no one of this
nation, Jew or Christian, will hear of me and
not believe in that with which I have been sent,
but he will be one of the people of Hell."
(Narrated by Muslim).
We ask Allaah to guide the seekers of truth
from other religions to look into the religion
of Islam and its Book, the Qur'aan. May Allaah
guide them and open their hearts to enter Islam.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
26728: Ruling on saying "We
are the children of Allaah"
Question:
What is the rulling on, when a Muslim say "We
believe we are all children of Allah" Basing it
on the weak Hadeeth (All creations are sustained
by Allah). Please provide details of the ruling.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The hadeeth mentioned was narrated by
al-Bazzaar and Abu Ya'la from Anas, and says,
"All of mankind are the dependents of Allaah,
and the most beloved of them to Allaah are those
who are most helpful to their dependents." This
is a very weak (da'eef jiddan) hadeeth as
al-Albaani said in Da'eef al-Jaami',
hadeeth no. 2946.
Any Muslim who says, "We believe that we are
all the children of Allaah" should be asked to
explain what he means before any judgement is
made concerning him.
1 _ If what he means by being children is the
metaphorical meaning, which is that people are
dependent upon Allaah, and he is using this word
for a purpose allowed in sharee'ah, such as
refuting the Christians who say that the Messiah
is the son of God, then there is nothing wrong
with that if he uses it only with Christians in
order to show that their belief is false, but he
should not use it with others lest that generate
confusion and misunderstanding. That is because
one of the means of showing the Christians'
beliefs concerning `Eesa (peace be upon him) to
be false is to use the same expressions as are
mentioned in their holy Book (the Bible) to
prove that others were described as "sons of
God" as well as `Eesa, which clearly indicates
that what is meant by being a son of God in the
texts of the Gospels is not "sonship" in the
literal sense, which St. Paul claimed for Jesus
in order to lead them astray from belief in
Divine Oneness (Tawheed). St. Paul based his
argument on the confusion that may arise from
the use of the words "father" and "son". Some of
the Bible texts that may used to refute their
argument are as follows:
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said of those
who believed in him:
"They are like the angels. They are God's
children since they are children of the
resurrection."
[Luke 20:36]
And in the Book of Isaiah:
"Bring back My sons from afar and my
daughters from the ends of the earth"
[Isaiah 43:6]
And this is what was said describing God as
the Father, as it is narrated in the Gospel of
Matthew that the Messiah said to his students:
"If you do, you will have no reward from your
Father in heaven."
[Matthew 6:1]
In the Gospel of Luke:
"When you pray say, `Our Father, Who art in
heaven…'"
[Luke 11:2]
In the Gospel of John:
"I am returning to my Father and your Father,
my God and your God."
[John 20:17]
The Christians do not say that the angels,
the Children of Israel and the Disciples were
sons of God in a literal sense, or that God was
their father in a literal sense, rather they
interpret that in a metaphorical sense, i.e.,
that He is a father to them in the sense of
blessing them, being kind to them, protecting
them and taking care of them, and they are His
children in the sense that they worship Him,
need Him and are dependent upon Him.
This demonstrates the falseness of their
understanding of `Eesa being the son of God,
basing their argument on some texts that say
that he is the son of God.
2 _ If he means that all people are children
of Allaah just as `Eesa is the son of Allaah, in
the sense of the Christian belief, then this is
kufr (disbelief) that is worse than the kufr of
the Christians.
3 _ If he means that we are all children of
Allaah or dependent upon Him, with no difference
between Muslims and kaafirs, and he means that
the Jews, Christians and idol-worshippers are
not kaafirs, then this is riddah or apostasy
from Islam, because whoever doubts that the Jews
and Christians are kaafirs or approves of their
religions is a kaafir, according to scholarly
consensus.
4 _ If he means thereby to justify using the
word "brother" for Jews and Christians, because
we are all the children of Allaah, this is
false, because there is no brotherhood between
the believers and the disbelievers. The hadeeth
(which some may interpret as meaning that all
men are brothers) has been proven to be not
saheeh. Even if it was saheeh, it could not be
interpreted in this fashion.
We must beware of using confusing words which
may cause a person to fall into something haraam
or make people think badly of him, especially
words which have to do with the Oneness of
Allaah (Tawheed) and His Uniqueness in His names
and attributes. For the rights of Allaah take
precedence and must be taken care of, and we
must avoid anything that may violate them,
especially when those words are used by the Jews
and Allaah quotes them in the Qur'aan in the
context of condemnation.
"And (both) the Jews and the Christians
say: `We are the children of Allaah and His
loved ones.' Say: `Why then does He punish you
for your sins?' Nay, you are but human beings of
those He has created…"
[al-Maa'idah 5:18 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
26301: Can a person who
believes that Jesus is the son of God be a
Muslim?
Question:
Can you be a muslim and still believe that
Jesus is the son of God?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah. One of the most
important principles of belief in Allaah is to
declare that Allaah is above all attributes that
imply shortcomings. One of the attributes that
imply shortcomings that the Muslim must reject
is the notion that Allaah has a son, because
that implies need and that there is a being who
is like unto Him, and these are matters which
Allaah is far above. Allaah says in Soorat
al-Ikhlaas, which describes an attribute of the
Most Merciful and is regarded as being equal in
reward to reciting one-third of the Qur'aan:
"Say (O Muhammad): He is Allaah, (the)
One.
AllaahusSamad [Allaah — the SelfSufficient
Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither
eats nor drinks)].
He begets not, nor was He begotten.
And there is none coequal or comparable unto
Him"
[al-Ikhlaas 112:1-4 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
Because the Christians believe that `Eesa
(Jesus) is the son of God _ exalted be Allaah
far above what they say _ many verses of the
Qur'aan deny this claim and refute it, as Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And the Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the son
of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah is
the son of Allaah. That is their saying with
their mouths, resembling the saying of those who
disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on
them, how they are deluded away from the truth!"
[al-Tawbah 9:30]
"O people of the Scripture (Christians)!
Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor
say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah
`Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no
more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word,
(`Be!' — and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam
(Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so
believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not:
`Three (trinity)!' Cease! (it is) better for
you. For Allaah is (the only) One Ilaah (God),
glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having
a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens
and all that is in the earth. And Allaah is
AllSufficient as a Disposer of affairs"
[al-Nisa' 4:171]
"The Messiah [`Eesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam
(Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were
the Messengers that passed away before him. His
mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddeeqah [i.e. she
believed in the Words of Allaah and His Books].
They both used to eat food (as any other human
being, while Allaah does not eat). Look how We
make the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to
them; yet look how they are deluded away (from
the truth)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:75]
"And the Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the son
of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah is
the son of Allaah. That is their saying with
their mouths, resembling the saying of those who
disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on
them, how they are deluded away from the truth!"
[al-Tawbah 9:30]
Because this false belief existed among the
Christians, it was essential for those among
them who entered Islam to give up these false
beliefs which contradict Islam, one of which is
this belief. It was narrated that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Whoever bears witness that there is no
god except Allaah alone, with no partner or
associate, and that Muhammad is His slave and
Messenger and that `Eesa is His slave and
Messenger, and His Word which He bestowed upon
Maryam and a spirit created by Him, and that
Paradise is real and Hell is real, Allaah will
admit him to Paradise (and grant him a position
therein) according to his deeds." (al-Bukhaari,
3435; Muslim, 28). Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said: From this it may be
understood what the Christian must be taught to
say when he becomes a Muslim. Fath
al-Baari, hadeeth no. 3435.
Based on this, a person can only be regarded
as a Muslim if he disavows himself of this false
belief, and believes that Allaah is above all
shortcomings. Whoever acknowledges the greatness
of Allaah will find it easy to give up his old
beliefs that are not appropriate with regard to
Allaah. We ask Allaah to help us to venerate Him
and appreciate how great He is.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
9607: Guidelines of the true
religion
Question:
What are the attributes of the correct
religion?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Every member of a faith tradition believes
that his community is following the truth. Every
follower of a religion believes that his
religion is the best religion and the
straightest way. Whenever you ask the followers
of deviant religions or the followers of
man-made traditions about the evidence for their
beliefs, they tell you that they found their
fathers doing this so they are following in
their footsteps, then they tell you stories and
reports that have no sound basis and whose texts
are not free of faults and discepancies. They
rely on inherited books of which it is not known
who wrote or said them, or in which language
they were originally written, or in which land
they originated; rather they are a mixture that
has been gathered and written in a book that is
venerated, then they were passed down from
generation to generation with no proper
scientific examination of the source of the text
or of the text itself.
These unknown books and stories and blind
imitation do not provide valid proof with regard
to religions and beliefs. Are all these deviant
religions and human traditions true or false?
It is impossible that they could all be true,
because the truth is one; there are not many
"truths". And it is impossible that all these
deviant religions and human traditions could
have come from Allaah and all be true. If they
are many, and the truth is one, then which of
them is the truth? So there have to be
guidelines by which we may recognize the true
religion and distinguish it from false
religions. If we find that these guidelines
apply to a religion then we will know that it is
the truth; if these guidelines or one of them is
absent from a religion then we will know that it
is false.
The guidelines by which we distinguish the
true religion from false religions
1 _ The religion should have come from
Allaah, revealed through one of the angels to
one of His Messengers, to convey it to His
slaves, because the true religion is the
religion of Allaah, and Allaah is the One Who
will judge mankind and bring them to account on
the Day of Resurrection according to the
religion which He revealed to them. Allaah says:
"Verily, We have sent the Revelation to you
(O Muhammad) as We sent the Revelation to Nooh
(Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also)
sent the Revelation to Ibraaheem (Abraham),
Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), Ya'qoob
(Jacob), and AlAsbaat [the offspring of the
twelve sons of Ya'qoob (Jacob)], `Eesa (Jesus),
Ayyoob (Job), Yoonus (Jonah), Haaroon (Aaron),
and Sulaymaan (Solomon); and to Dawood (David)
We gave the Zaboor (Psalms)"
[al-Nisa' 4:163]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And We did not send any Messenger before you
(O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying):
Laa ilaaha illa Ana [none has the right to be
worshipped but I (Allaah)], so worship Me (Alone
and none else)"
[al-Anbiya' 21:25]
Based on this, then any religion which is
introduced by some person who attributes it to
himself and not to Allaah is undoubtedly a false
religion.
2 _ It should call for the worship of Allaah
alone, and forbid shirk (polytheism or the
worship of anything other than Allaah). It
should also forbid the means that lead to that,
because promoting Tawheed (belief in the oneness
of Allaah) is the basis of the call of all the
Prophets and Messengers. Every Prophet said to
his people:
"Worship Allaah! You have no other Ilaah
(God) but Him" [al-A'raaf 7:73 _
interpretation of the meaning]
Based on this, any religion that includes
shirk and joins others in worship with Him, such
as a Prophet, angel or wali ("saint") is a false
religion, even if its followers attribute it to
one of the Prophets.
3 _ It should be in accordance with the
principles advocated by the Messengers, such as
the worship of Allaah alone, calling people to
His path, and forbidding shirk, disobedience to
parents, unlawful killing and immoral deeds,
both hidden and open. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And We did not send any Messenger before you
(O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying):
Laa ilaaha illa Ana [none has the right to be
worshipped but I (Allaah)], so worship Me (Alone
and none else)"
[al-Anbiya' 21:25]
"Say (O Muhammad): Come, I will recite
what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not
anything in worship with Him; be good and
dutiful to your parents; kill not your children
because of poverty — We provide sustenance for
you and for them. Come not near to Al-Fawaahish
(shameful sins and illegal sexual intercourse)
whether committed openly or secretly; and kill
not anyone whom Allaah has forbidden, except for
a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He
has commanded you that you may understand"
[al-An'aam 6:151]
"And ask (O Muhammad) those of Our Messengers
whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint
aalihah (gods) to be worshipped besides the Most
Gracious (Allaah)?"
[al-Zukhruf 43:45]
4 _ It should not be self-contradictory, so
it should not issue one command that is
contradicted by another, or forbid something
then allow something very similar for no reason,
or forbid something or allow it for some but not
for others. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Do they not then consider the Qur'aan
carefully? Had it been from other than Allaah,
they would surely, have found therein many a
contradiction"[al-Nisa' 4:82]
5 _ The religion should guarantee to protect
people's religious commitment, honour, wealth,
lives and children though the commands,
prohibitions and morals that it prescribes,
which protect these five holistic principles.
6 _ The religion should be a mercy to
mankind, freeing them from the wrongs that they
do to themselves and to one another, whether
those wrongs have to do with violating their
rights, giving control of wealth to the few or
leaders misleading the masses. Allaah says,
telling us of the mercy that was contained in
the Tawraat which He sent down to Moosa (peace
be upon him:
"And when the anger of Moosa (Moses) was
calmed down, he took up the Tablets; and in
their inscription was guidance and mercy for
those who fear their Lord"
[al-A'raaf 7:154 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
Allaah says, telling us how He sent `Eesa
(peace be upon him):
"And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to
mankind and a mercy from Us (Allaah)"
[Maryam 19:21 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
And Allaah says of Saalih (peace be upon
him):
"He said: O my people! Tell me, if I have
a clear proof from my Lord, and there has come
to me a mercy (Prophethood) from Him"
[Hood 11:63 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
And He says of the Qur'aan:
"And We send down of the Qur'aan that
which is a healing and a mercy to those who
believe"
[al-Isra' 17:82 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
7 _ It should include guidance regarding the
laws of Allaah and should show people what
Allaah wants, and should tell them where they
came from and where they are going. Allaah says
of the Tawraat:
"Verily, We did send down the Tawraat
(Torah) [to Moosa (Moses)], therein was guidance
and light"
[al-Maa'idah 5:44 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
He says of the Injeel:
"and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in
which was guidance and light"
[al-Maa'idah 5:46 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
And He says of the Qur'aan:
"It is He Who has sent His Messenger
(Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of
truth (Islam)"
[al-Tawbah 9:33 _ interpretation of the
meaning].
The true religion is that which contains
guidance concerning the laws of Allaah and
brings security and peace of mind, so that all
whispers of the Shaytaan are driven away and all
questions are answered, and all confusing
matters are cleared up.
8 _ It should advocate the best attitudes and
actions, such as truthfulness, justice,
trustworthiness, modesty, chastity and
generosity. And it should forbid bad attitudes
and actions, such as disobedience to parents,
murder, immoral actions, lying, wrongdoing,
oppression, miserliness and promiscuity.
9 _ It should bring happiness to those who
believe. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"TaaHaa.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the
Qur'aan, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their
meanings.]
We have not sent down the Qur'aan unto you (O
Muhammad) to cause you distress"[Ta-Ha
20:1-2]
It should be in accordance with the sound
natural disposition of man (al-fitrah):
"Allaah's Fitrah (i.e. Allaah's Islamic
Monotheism) with which He has created mankind"
[al-Room 30: 30 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
It should also be in accordance with sound
reason and common sense, because the true
religion is the laws of Allaah, and sound reason
is the creation of Allaah, and it is impossible
that the law of Allaah and the creation of
Allaah would contradict one another.
10 _ It should point towards the truth and
warn against falsehood. It should show the way
to true guidance and steer people away from
misguidance. It should call people to the
straight path in which there is no crookedness.
Allaah tells us that when the jinn heard the
Qur'aan, they said to one another:
"O our people! Verily, we have heard a
Book (this Qur'aan) sent down after Moosa
(Moses), confirming what came before it, it
guides to the truth and to the Straight Path
(i.e. Islam)"
[al-Ahqaaf 46:30 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
It does not call them to that which would
cause them misery. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"TaaHaa.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the
Qur'aan, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their
meanings.]
We have not sent down the Qur'aan unto you (O
Muhammad) to cause you distress"[Ta-Ha
20:1-2]
And it does not enjoin them to do anything
that would cause their doom. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one
another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to
you"[al-Nisa' 4:29]
It does not differentiate between its
followers on the grounds of race, colour or
tribe. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"O mankind! We have created you from a
male and a female, and made you into nations and
tribes, that you may know one another. Verily,
the most honourable of you with Allaah is that
(believer) who has AtTaqwa [i.e. he is one of
the Muttaqoon (the pious)]. Verily, Allaah is
AllKnowing, AllAware"
[al-Hujuraat 49:13]
The only distinguishing feature for which
people may be preferred over others, according
to the true religion, is piety or fear of
Allaah.
In the light of the guidelines by which we
may distinguish between the true religion and
false religions, supported by that which what is
said in the Holy Qur'aan, which indicates that
these guidelines apply to all the truthful
Messengers who were sent from Allaah, we may
then discuss different types of religions.
From Kitaab al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi'uhu,
by Dr. Muhammad ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih
al-Suhaym. (www.islam-qa.com)
2912: Who are the Jews and
Christians who will enter Paradise?
Question:
For the time being, I do not have the
resources to quote the exact Quranic verse, nor
can I tell you what sura it has been taken from.
However, I believe it is a common verse. I
understand little Arabic; hence I found that in
English. The verse can be interpretted as
such:
The godfearing Jews, muslims and
christians will not have fear (on that day).
I am not exactly sure of the bracketted
phrase.
Now my question to you: is it
mistranliteration?
We know that christians
and jews in general cannot be hoped to have any
sanction in the life hereafter. So, how do we
understand the verse?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
What you refer to in your question is
mentioned in two similar aayaat in the Qur'aan.
The first of them is the aayah (interpretation
of the meaning): "Verily, those who believe
and those who are Jews and Christians, and
Sabians, whoever believes in Allaah and the Last
Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their
reward with their Lord, on them shall be no
fear, nor shall they grieve."
[al-Baqarah 2:62]
The second is the aayah (interpretation of
the meaning): "Surely, those who believe,
those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the
Christians _ whosoever believed in Allaah and
the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them
shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
[al-Maa'idah 5:69]
In order to understand these aayaat
correctly, we need to refer to the scholars of
Tafseer (Qur'aanic commentary). The great Imaam
Ismaa'eel ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on
him, said in his tafseer of the aayah from
Soorat al-Baqarah:
"Allaah, may He be exalted, points out that
whoever of the previous nations did well and was
obedient, will have a good reward, and this will
be the case for everyone who follows the
Unlettered Prophet [Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) until the Hour
comes _ he will have eternal happiness, and they
will not fear what they are going to face, nor
will they grieve for what they have left behind.
As Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
`No doubt! Verily, the awliya' of Allaah
[i.e., those who believe in the Oneness of
Allaah and fear Allaah much, and love Allaah
much], no fear shall come upon them nor shall
they grieve.' [Yoonus 10:62]. And Allaah
tells us what the angels say to the believers at
the time of death (interpretation of the
meaning): `Verily, those who say, "Our
Lord is Allaah," then they istaqaamu [stood
straight, i.e., truly followed Islam], on them
the angels will descend (at the time of their
death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But
receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you
have been promised!"' [Fussilat 41:30]
As far as the Jews are concerning, their
faith meant believing in the Tawraat (original
Torah) and following the way of Moosa (peace be
upon him) until `Eesa came, after which whoever
continued to follow the Torah and the way of
Moosa, and did not leave this and follow `Eesa,
was doomed. As far as the Christians are
concerned, their faith meant believing in the
Injeel (original Gospel) and following the laws
of `Eesa; whoever did this was a believer whose
faith was acceptable to Allaah, until Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
came, after which whoever did not follow
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) and leave the way of `Eesa and the Injeel
that he had been following before, was doomed.
The aayah (interpretation of the meaning),
"And whoever seeks a religion other than
Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in
the Hereafter he will be one of the losers" [Aal
`Imraan 3:85] is a statement that Allaah
will not accept any way or deed from anyone,
after sending His Final Messenger, except those
that are in accordance with the laws of Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Prior to this, however, anyone who followed the
Prophet of his own time was on the Straight Path
of salvation. So the Jews were those who
followed Moosa (peace be upon him) and referred
to the Tawraat for judgement at that time. When
Allaah sent `Eesa (peace be upon him), the
Children of Israel were obliged to follow him
and obey him, and so they and others who
followed him became Christians..
When Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), as the Final
Prophet and a Messenger to all the children of
Adam, all of mankind was obliged to believe in
him and obey him, and refrain from what he
prohibited. Those who did so are the true
believers.
The ummah (nation) of Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) are called the
believers because of their deep eemaan (faith)
and conviction, and because they believe in all
the past Prophets and in the prophesied events
that are yet to come."
Commenting on the aayah in Soorat al-Baqarah,
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"What is meant is that every group believed
in Allaah and the Last Day, which is the
appointed Day of Reckoning, and did righteous
deeds. But after Muhammad (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) was sent to both mankind
and the jinn, true belief can only be in
accordance with the way of Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). Whoever
follows his way will not fear the future or
grieve for what they leave behind".
Islam Q&A Sheikh Muhammed Salih
Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
14055: Mankind's need for
religion
Question:
Why do people need religion? Isn't it enough
to have (man-made) laws that will regulate
people's lives?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Man's need for religion is greater than his
need for any of the other necessities of life,
because man needs to know what pleases Allaah
and what angers Him; he needs to acts in his own
interests and to ward off things that will harm
him. Sharee'ah is what distinguishes between
actions that will bring benefit and actions that
will cause harm. This is Allaah's justice
towards His creation, and His light which shines
for His slaves. People cannot live without laws
(sharee'ah) to help them distinguish between
what they should and should not do.
Because man has a will, he has to know what
he wants, is it beneficial or harmful? Is it
good for him or bad for him?
Some of these things may be known
instinctively, some of it may be known by
working it out in a rational manner, and some of
it may only be known from the teachings and
guidance of the Messengers. See
al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah, p. 213, 214; Miftaah Daar
al-Sa'aadah, vol. 2, p. 383.
No matter how impressive and attractive the
atheist, materialist schools of thought may be,
and no matter how many ideas and theories there
may be, individuals and societies can never do
without the true religion, they can never answer
the needs of body and soul. The further the
individual sinks into those ways, the more
certain it becomes that he cannot find security
or quench his thirst, and that there is no way
out except through the true religion. Ernest
Renan says: "It is possible that everything we
love could disappear and that rational thinking,
science and industry could cease to exist, but
it is impossible that religion could be
eliminated. Rather it will remain as proof that
materialistic thought which wants to restrict
man to the narrow path of the base life of this
world is false." (See al-Deen by
`Abd-Allaah Darraaz, p. 87)
Muhammad Fareed Wajdi says: "It is impossible
that the idea of religion could diminish,
because it is the most refined inclination of
the soul and its noblest emotion, in addition to
being the inclination that ennobles man. Rather
this inclination will increase and the religious
nature of man will remain so long as he retains
that reason which enables him to distinguish
between beauty and ugliness. This instinct will
increase according to his level of rationality."
(Ibid., p. 87)
If man is far away from his Lord, then
according to his level of knowledge and
understanding he will realize the extent of his
ignorance of his Lord and His attributes, and
his ignorance of his own self and what is good
for him or bad for him, what leads to bliss and
what leads to doom, and his ignorance of such
basic matters as astronomy, mathematics and the
like. At this point the wise man will move from
the state of arrogance and pride to humility and
submission, and will realize that behind all
this knowledge is the All-Knowing, All-Wise, and
that behind nature there is an almighty Creator.
This truth compels the objective seeker to
believe in the unseen and acknowledge the true
religion, and to respond to the call of human
nature and innate instinct. If a person fails to
do that he is going against his innate nature
and sinking to the level of the dumb animals.
Thus we may conclude that following the true
religion _ that which is based on belief in
Allaah alone (Tawheed) and worshipping Him in
the way that He has prescribed _ is an essential
element of life if man is to be a true slave to
the Lord of the Worlds, and to attain happiness
and be free of tiredness and exhaustion in this
world and in the Hereafter. It is essential in
order to perfect man's rational thinking. In
this way alone can reason fulfil its desires;
without it man cannot fulfil his higher
ambitions.
It is an essential element for purifying the
soul and disciplining the emotions, for in
religion the noble emotions find fertile ground
and an inexhaustible spring to help them achieve
their goals.
It is an essential element for strengthening
will power and supplying it with the greatest
motives and power to resist the factor of
helplessness and despair.
On this basis, if there is anyone who says
that man is sociable in nature, we must say that
man is religious by nature. (See ibid., 84, 98),
because man has two strengths, knowledge and
willpower, and his ultimate happiness depends on
him acquiring both. Full knowledge can only be
attained by knowing the following:
1- Knowing Allaah, the Creator and Provider
Who created man from nothing and bestowed
blessings upon him.
2- Knowing the names and attributes of
Allaah, and the effect of these names upon His
slaves.
3- Knowing the way to reach Him.
4- Knowing the obstacles that prevent man
from knowing this way and the great blessings to
which it leads.
5- Knowing yourself in a true sense, and
knowing what your soul needs, what is good for
it and what is bad for it, and knowing its
faults and shortcomings.
These five matters will complete a person's
knowledge. Achieving perfect will power can only
be achieved by paying attention to the rights of
Allaah over His slaves and fulfilling them
sincerely, adhering to that and bearing witness
to the blessings of Allaah. These two strengths
can only be perfected with the help of Allaah,
so man needs Allaah to guide him to the Straight
Path to which He guides His close friends. See
al-Fawaa'id, p, 18-19.
Once we know that the true religion is the
divine support that directs the potentials of
man, then we know that religion is also a
protective shield for society, because human
life can only be strong when there is
co-operation among the members of society. This
co-operation can only be achieved by means of a
system that regulates the relationships between
them, defines their duties and protects their
rights. This system needs a deterrent that will
deter one from transgressing and encourage one
to follow the system, one that carries weight in
people's hearts and prevents them from
overstepping its limits. What is this authority?
I say that there is no power on earth that can
match the power of religion in protecting the
sanctity of the system, guaranteeing the
coherence of society and the stability of its
system, and providing the means of peace and
security.
The reason for that is that man differs from
all other living beings in that his voluntary
actions and dealings are governed by something
that can be neither seen nor heard, namely the
religious belief that disciplines the heart and
guides his faculties. Man is inevitably led by
his belief, whether it is sound or corrupt. If
his belief is sound, everything else will also
be sound, but if it is corrupt then everything
else will also be corrupt.
Belief and faith are the two things that
regulate man and _ as we can see in most cases _
they are of two types: (1) Belief in the
importance of virtue and human dignity, and
other abstract values which make noble souls
feel ashamed to go against their principles even
if they are spared the consequences of physical
punishment.
(2) Belief in Allaah and that He is always
watching and knows what is in our hearts, and
that He knows secrets and that which is more
hidden. The authority of sharee'ah is based on
its commands and prohibitions, and makes a
person feel shy before Allaah, either out of
love for Him, or out of fear of Him, or both.
Undoubtedly this type of faith is the
stronger of the two and carries more weight in
human hearts. It is more able to resist the
storms of desire and the upheavals of emotion,
and it has more effect on the hearts of the
masses and the elite.
For this reason, religion is the best
guarantee for ensuring that people will deal
with one another on a basis of fairness and
justice, and hence it is a social necessity. It
comes as no surprise that the relationship of
religion to the ummah is like that of the heart
to the body. Nowadays we see that there are many
religions in the world, and each people has its
religion which they cling to. What is the true
religion which will fulfil the aspirations of
the human soul? What are the guidelines of the
true religion?
From al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi'uhu by Dr.
Muhammad ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih al-Suhaym.
(www.islam-qa.com)
21525: Categories of
religion
Question:
What are the different categories of religion
that exist in the world?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
People are divided according to their
religions into two categories:
1 _ Those who have a Book that was revealed
from Allaah, such as the Jews, Christians and
Muslims. The Jews and Christians, because of
their lack of knowledge of what was narrated in
their books, and because they took humans as
lords instead of Allaah, and because a long time
has passed (since those Books were revealed),
have lost their books which Allaah revealed to
their Prophets. So the rabbis and priests wrote
books for them which they claimed came from
Allaah, but they are not from Allaah, rather
they are the work of forgers and the distortion
of fanatics.
With regard to the Book of the Muslims (the
Holy Qur'aan), it is the last of the Divine
Books to be revealed, and the most reliable, and
Allaah has guaranteed to preserve it _ He did
not leave that to human beings. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down
the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'aan) and surely, We will
guard it (from corruption)"
[al-Hijr 15:9]
It is preserved in men's hearts and on paper,
because it is the final Book in which is
Allaah's guidance for mankind, and He has
established it as proof against them until the
Hour begins. He has decreed that it will abide
and He has created for it in every age people
who will follow its guidance, learn it by heart,
implement its laws and believe in it.
2 _ Those who do not have a Book that was
revealed from Allaah, although they may have an
inherited book that is attributed to the founder
of their religion, such as the Hindus, Magians
(Zoroastrians), Buddhists, Confucians and the
Arabs before the coming of Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him).
There is no nation that does not have
knowledge or act according to what is in their
best worldly interests. This is part of the
general guidance that Allaah has given to all
people, and indeed to all animals, as He guides
animals to eat food and drink that are good for
them, and to avoid those that are harmful.
Allaah has created in them love for the former
and hatred towards the latter. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most
High,
Who has created (everything), and then
proportioned it.
And Who has measured (preordainments for
everything even to be blessed or wretched); and
then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as
well as the wrong paths, and guided the animals
to pasture)." [al-`Alaa 87:1-3]
And Moosa (peace be upon him) said to
Pharaoh:
"Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its
form and nature, then guided it aright"
[Ta-Ha 20:50 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
And Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) said:
"Who has created me, and it is He Who
guides me"
[al-Shu'ara' 26:87 _ interpretation of the
meaning] See al-Jawaab al-Saheeh fiman
badala Deen al-Maseeh, vol. 4, p. 97.
Every intelligent person _ who has the
slightest insight _ knows that the followers of
different religions have more beneficial
knowledge and do more righteous deeds than those
who are not followers of any religion, so there
is nothing good to be found with the non-Muslim
followers of other religions, and what the
Muslims have is more perfect. The followers of
different religions have something that others
do not have. Knowledge and actions are of two
types:
The first type is knowledge that is acquired
through mental reasoning, such as mathematics,
medicine and manufacturing. These things are the
same for followers of religion and for others,
indeed they are more well versed in them. But
with regard to matters which cannot be known
merely through mental reasoning, such as divine
knowledge and knowledge of religions, this is
something that belongs only to the followers of
religion. This includes matters for which
rational evidence can be produced, and the
Messengers guided mankind and pointed out to
them the rational basis of this knowledge, thus
it is rational and shar'i at the same time.
The second type is that which can only be
known from the words of the Messengers. There is
no way to acquire this knowledge through mental
reasoning. This includes information about
Allaah, His names and attributes, the reward in
the Hereafter for those who obey Him, the
punishment for those who disobey Him, His laws,
and news of the earlier Prophets and their
dealings with their nations. See Majmoo'
Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, vol.
4, p. 210-211. From al-Islam Usooluhu wa
Mabaadi'uhu by Dr. Muhammad ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn
Saalih al-Husaym. (www.islam-qa.com)
9905: The misguidance of the
Jews with regard to `aqeedah
Question:
we know where the christians went wrong,
where did the jews go wrong ?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah. Undoubtedly the mistakes
that the Jews made are more serious than those
which the Christians made, although both of them
have erred and are kaafirs. The Qur'aan mentions
a number of the ways in which the Jews went
astray.
1. Among them there is a group which claims
that Allaah has a son, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And the Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the
son of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah
is the son of Allaah. That is their saying with
their mouths, resembling the saying of those who
disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on
them, how they are deluded away from the truth!"
[al-Tawbah 9:30]
2. They described Allaah as having
shortcomings, and they killed the Prophets and
Messengers of Allaah, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"The Jews say: `Allaah's Hand is tied up
(i.e. He does not give and spend of His
Bounty).' Be their hands tied up and be they
accursed for what they uttered. Nay, both His
Hands are widely outstretched. He spends (of His
Bounty) as He wills" [al-Maa'idah 5:64]
"Indeed, Allaah has heard the statement of
those (Jews) who say: `Truly, Allaah is poor and
we are rich!' We shall record what they have
said and their killing of the Prophets unjustly,
and We shall say: `Taste you the torment of the
burning (Fire).'" [Aal `Imraan 3:181]
3. They distorted the word of Allaah, i.e.,
the Tawraat (Torah). Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"So, because of their breach of their
covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts
grow hard. They change the words from their
(right) places"
[al-Maa'idah 5:13]
"Then woe to those who write the Book with
their own hands and then say, "This is from
Allaah," to purchase with it a little price! Woe
to them for what their hands have written and
woe to them for that they earn thereby"
[al-Baqarah 2:79]
4. They deserved the curse of Allaah, because
of what Allaah has said about them. Allaah says:
"Those among the Children of Israel who
disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawood
(David) and `Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary).
That was because they disobeyed (Allaah and the
Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond
bounds.
They used not to forbid one another from
Al-Munkar (wrong, evildoing, sins, polytheism,
disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was
what they used to do"
[al-Maa'idah 5:78-79]
The lies that they have fabricated against
their Prophets are many, such as the following:
1. The Jews claimed that the Prophet of
Allaah Sulayman (Solomon) was an apostate and
that he worshipped idols, as mentioned in I
Kings 11:5.
2. The Jews claimed that Loot (Lot) _ peace
be upon him _ drank wine and committed incest
with his two daughters, as mentioned in Genesis
19:30ff.
3. The Jews claimed that the Prophet of
Allaah Ya'qoob (Jacob) committed theft, as
mentioned in Genesis 31:12.
4. The Jews claim that the Prophet of Allaah
Dawood (David) committed adultery, as a result
of which Sulaymaan (Solomon) was born to him, as
mentioned in II Samuel 11:4.
— and so on, may Allaah curse them and put
them to shame.
Allaah and His Messenger cursed them in
numerous places in the Qur'aan and Sunnah
because of their shameless actions. For example,
Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
"And they say, `Our hearts are wrapped
(i.e. do not hear or understand Allaah's Word).'
Nay, Allaah has cursed them for their disbelief,
so little is that which they believe.
And when there came to them (the Jews), a
Book (this Qur'aan) from Allaah confirming what
is with them [the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel)], although aforetime they had invoked
Allaah (for coming of Muhammad) in order to gain
victory over those who disbelieved, then when
there came to them that which they had
recognized, they disbelieved in it. So let the
Curse of Allaah be on the disbelievers"
[al-Baqarah 2:88-89]
"Among those who are Jews, there are some
who displace words from (their) right places and
say: `We hear your word (O Muhammad) and
disobey,' and `Hear and let you (O Muhammad)
hear nothing.' And Raa`ina [in Arabic, this
means `Be careful, listen to us, and we listen
to you', whereas in Hebrew, it means `an
insult'] with a twist of their tongues and as
a mockery of the religion (Islam). And if only
they had said: `We hear and obey', and `Do make
us understand,' it would have been better for
them, and more proper; but Allaah has cursed
them for their disbelief, so they believe not
except a few.
O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews
and Christians)! Believe in what We have
revealed (to Muhammad) confirming what is
(already) with you, before We efface faces (by
making them like the back of necks; without
nose, mouth and eyes) and turn them hindwards,
or curse them as We cursed the Sabbathbreakers.
And the Commandment of Allaah is always
executed." [al-Nisaa' 4:46-47]
"So, because of their breach of their
covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts
grow hard. They change the words from their
(right) places and have abandoned a good part of
the Message that was sent to them. And you will
not cease to discover deceit in them, except a
few of them"
[al-Maa'idah 5:13]
"Say (O Muhammad to the people of the
Scripture): `Shall I inform you of something
worse than that, regarding the recompense from
Allaah: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of
Allaah and His Wrath, and those of whom (some)
He transformed into monkeys and swines, and
those who worshipped Taaghoot (false deities);
such are worse in rank (on the Day of
Resurrection in the Hellfire), and far more
astray from the Right Path (in the life of this
world)."
[al-Maa'idah 5:60]
"The Jews say: `Allaah's Hand is tied up
(i.e. He does not give and spend of His
Bounty).' Be their hands tied up and be they
accursed for what they uttered. Nay, both His
Hands are widely outstretched. He spends (of His
Bounty) as He wills. Verily, the Revelation that
has come to you from your Lord (Allaah)
increases in most of them (their) obstinate
rebellion and disbelief. We have put enmity and
hatred amongst them till the Day of
Resurrection. Every time they kindled the fire
of war, Allaah extinguished it; and they (ever)
strive to make mischief on the earth. And Allaah
does not like the Mufsidoon (mischiefmakers).
[al-Maa'idah 5:64]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:
"May Allaah curse the Jews, for they have
taken the graves of their Prophets as places of
worship."
"May Allaah curse the Jews: fat was forbidden
for them, but they melted it down and sold it,"
These two hadeeths are both narrated in
Saheeh al-Bukhaari.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him)
described them well when he said:
"The nation upon whom is the Divine wrath are
the Jews, the people of lies, slander, betrayal,
conspiracy and trickery, the killers of Prophets
and consumers of ribaa (usury) and bribes. They
have the most evil hearts of all nations, and
the worst attitude. They are the farthest
removed from (divine) Mercy and the closest to
(divine) wrath. Their way is enmity and stirring
up hatred. They represent the house of
witchcraft, lies and trickery. They do not see
anything wrong in rejecting and disbelieving in
Prophets whom they did not like. With regard to
a believer, they respect not the ties, either of
kinship or of covenant [cf. Al-Tawbah 9:10].
They do not respect the rights of those who
agree with them, or show any compassion towards
them, nor do they show any justice or fairness
to those who work with them. There is no safety
or security for those who mix with them, and
there is no sincerity towards those who use
their services. The most evil of them is the one
who is most intelligent, and the cleverest one
among them is the one who cheats the most. The
one who is good at heart _ which it is unlikely
to find among them _ is not a Jew in any real
sense. They are the most bad-tempered of people,
with the gloomiest houses and the filthiest
courtyards. They have very bad manners _ their
greeting is a curse, and meeting them is bad
news. Their slogan is wrath and they are filled
with hatred."
(Hidaayat al-Hayaaraa, p. 8)
These are just a few drops from a flood of
information. Whoever researches the matter will
find out a great deal about their shameful
actions and the forms that their kufr and
deviation take. We ask Allaah to suppress them,
humiliate them, put them to shame and defeat
them, and to grant the Muslims victory over them
sooner rather than later. May Allaah bless our
Prophet Muhammad.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
9341: The authenticity of
the hadeeth about fighting the Jews
Question:
Is the hadeeth saheeh which says that there
will come a day when the Muslims will be
victorious over the Jews, so that a rock beneath
which a Jew is hiding will call out, "There is a
Jew underneath me, come and kill him"?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated that Ibn `Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: "I heard the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) say, `The Jews will fight you and you will
prevail over them, then a rock will say, "O
Muslim, here is a Jew behind me, (come and) kill
him."'"
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 3593).
It was also narrated from Ibn `Umar (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said. "The Jews will fight you and you will
prevail over them until a rock will say, "O
Muslim, here is a Jew behind me, (come and) kill
him."'" (narrated by Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi, who
said, this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth).
And it was narrated that Ibn `Umar (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said: "I heard the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) say: `The Dajjaal will come
down to this pond at Marriqanaat (a valley near
Madeenah), and most of those who go out to
follow him will be women, such that a man will
go back to his wife, mother, daughter, sister or
(paternal) aunt and will tie them up lest they
go out to join him. Then Allaah will grant the
Muslims victory over him, and they will kill him
and his party, until a Jew will hide beneath a
tree or a rock, and the tree or rock will say,
`Here a Jew beneath me, (come and) kill him.'"
(Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad). This
was also narrated by Ibn Maajah from Abu Umaamah
al-Baahili from the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) concerning the Dajjaal.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May
Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions, and grant them peace. Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 3/91 (www.islam-qa.com)
9461: Some Mormons are
visiting him and trying to make him doubt his
religion
Question:
I am a muslim, but have the unfortunate
blessing of living in the USA. I go to a school
where my beliefs are daily insulted by the
christians. Recently mormon (The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints) missionaries have
been repeatedly coming to my house and their
evil children harrassing me at school. It
doesn't matter if I say no, they believe they
will be saving my soul. Are they even christians
or some lower cult scum? They say if islam is so
right to refute their own scripture, the book of
mormon. How should I go about doing this or
should I even at all? Thanks.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
My dear brother, you have to know with
absolute certainty that the religion of Islam is
the true religion which is pleasing to Allaah,
and that Allaah will accept no other religion
from anybody apart from Islam. Islam is based on
the worship of Allaah Alone with no partner or
associate, and on following the Messenger
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him). This is the implication of bearing witness
that there is no god except Allaah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.
If these beliefs are firmly entrenched in the
heart of the Muslim, he will not care about any
opposition or mockery on the part of others.
Rather he will pray to Allaah and act in
accordance with the religion of Allaah, and he
will say, "I am one of the Muslims." Allaah says
(interpretation of the meanings):
"And who is better in speech than he who
invites (men) to Allaah's (Islamic Monotheism),
and does righteous deeds, and says: `I am one of
the Muslims.'"
[Fussilat 41:32]
"Therefore proclaim openly (Allaah's Message
Islamic Monotheism) that which you are
commanded, and turn away from AlMushrikeen
(polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers).
Truly, We will suffice you against the
scoffers,
Who set up along with Allaah another ilaah
(god); but they will come to know"
[al-Hijr 15:94-96]
The Christians are among these mushrikeen
because they worship the Messiah and his mother,
and they worship the cross. So do not pay any
attention to them or their mockery; turn away
from them and do not enter into debate with
them, lest they make you confused with their
specious arguments. If you can change schools
and move to a school where you will not be
exposed to this trouble, then do so.
The Mormon sect appears to be Christian
because they mention their book, which is the
Gospel (New Testament), and they say that if
Islam were like this, i.e., opposing their
religion, it would have refuted their book. This
is ignorance and confusion on their part, for
Islam does not refute the Injeel which Allaah
revealed to `Eesa; in fact the Qur'aan confirms
it and the Books that came before it. But Islam
refutes the religion of the Christians who have
taken the Messiah and his mother as gods instead
of Allaah, and Islam refutes the distorted
Gospels which are in the Christians' hands.
Allaah says, after mentioning the Tawraat
(Torah) and Injeel (Gospel):
"And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad)
the Book (this Qur'aan) in truth, confirming the
Scripture that came before it" [al-Maa'idah
5:48] i.e., the Qur'aan confirms the Books
which came before it, such as the Tawraat and
Injeel.
The Messiah has disowned these mushrik
Christians and their way, and he will disown
them on the Day of Resurrection, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Surely, they have disbelieved who say:
`Allaah is the Messiah [`Eesa (Jesus)], son of
Maryam (Mary).' But the Messiah [`Eesa (Jesus)]
said: `O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my
Lord and your Lord.'"
[al-Maa'idah 5:72]
"And (remember) when Allaah will say (on the
Day of Resurrection): `O `Eesa (Jesus), son of
Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: `Worship me
and my mother as two gods besides Allaah?' He
will say: `Glory be to You! It was not for me to
say what I had no right (to say). Had I said
such a thing, You would surely have known it.
You know what is in my innerself though I do not
know what is in Yours; truly, You, only You, are
the AllKnower of all that is hidden (and
unseen).
Never did I say to them aught except what You
(Allaah) did command me to say: "Worship Allaah,
my Lord and your Lord." And I was a witness over
them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You
took me up, You were the Watcher over them; and
You are a Witness to all things.'"
[al-Maa'idah 116-117]
We ask Allaah to make you steadfast in Islam
and to suffice you against the evil people. May
Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions, and grant them peace.
Shaykh `Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak
(www.islam-qa.com)
9459: The Jews' idea that
`Uzayr is "a son of Allaah"
Question:
What does this beginning part of Surah Taubah
9:30 refer to? "The Jews call `Uzair (Ezra) a
son of Allah..." Please answer as thoroughly as
possible and feel free to provide references to
more detailed and extensive discussions of this
matter (Arabic langu
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
When Allaah issued the command to fight the
Jews and Christians, in the aayah
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Fight against those who (1) believe not
in Allaah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor
forbid that which has been forbidden by Allaah
and His Messenger (Muhammad), (4) and those who
acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e.
Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews
and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with
willing submission, and feel themselves subdued"
(al-Tawbah 9:29)
— He then stated the reason that made it
obligatory to fight them, which was their
disbelief in Allaah and their shirk _ which
included their speaking ill of Allaah by
attributing a son to Him, when He is the One,
the Self-Sufficient Master, He begets not, nor
was He begotten, and there is none co-equal or
comparable unto Him. The Jews said that `Uzayr
is a son of Allaah, and the Christians said that
the Messiah was a son of Allaah. `Uzayr was a
righteous man from among the Children of Israel,
who was venerated by the Jews. It was said that
the reason why he was venerated was that he had
memorized the Tawraat (Torah), so the Jews, or
some of them, exaggerated about him and claimed
that he was a son of Allaah. So Allaah condemned
them for that and told them that by saying this
they were doing the same as the mushrikeen who
said that the angels were daughters of Allaah.
The Christians also spoke ill of Allaah when
they said that the Messiah was a son of Allaah;
by doing so they resembled the Jews and
mushrikeen. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And the Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the
son of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah
is the son of Allaah. That is their saying with
their mouths, resembling the saying of those who
disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on
them, how they are deluded away from the truth!"
[al-Tawbah 9:30]
See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, the second
part of his tafseer of Soorat al-Tawbah;
Tafseer Ibn Jareer; Tafseer al-Qurtubi.
Shaykh `Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak
(www.islam-qa.com)
8769: Is there a difference
between Arab Christians and non-Arab Christians?
Question:
Is there a difference between Arab Christians
and non-Arab Christians?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah. There is no difference
between Arab Christians and non-Arab Christians.
From Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 12/252
(www.islam-qa.com)
5976: A Christian is asking
about the Muslim attitude towards Catholicism
and peaceful co-existence
Question:
I am wondering what your relationship is with
the Catholic Church. For I am from the USA and
Muslim countries seem so foreign to me. I don't
know much, but is seems to me that Muslims are
very hostile to the Catholic Faith.
Are they
open to dialogue? Why don't you believe in the
Lord Jesus? Is not the Eternal Love of Allah so
great that He could descend to us to save us
from our sin so that we may live with him
forever?
Also, why is there such fighting in the
middle east, ? Does Islam not see or accept the
saving power of Christ, with His command to love
others (St. John 13:34) so that, if you and I
obeyed ("Islam = total submission) all would go
well with mankind?
Some answers Please! God bless you!
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
According to Islam and for the Muslims,
taking a position of enmity is not something
haphazard. On the contrary, it is governed by
principles and guidelines, and thus is like all
the other rulings of Islamic sharee'ah. These
principles and guidelines come from Allaah, Who
is above having any shortcomings and to Whom
belong the Most Beautiful Names and Sublime
Attributes. The sources of rulings for us are
the Qur'aan and the proven Saheeh (authentic)
Sunnah (the words and deeds of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)).
The Qur'aan and Sunnah brought a clear message
and ideology, which is the belief in Tawheed
(Divine Unity) based on the testimony that there
is no god except Allaah, and Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the
Messenger of Allaah, the Seal of the Prophets
[i.e., the final Prophet] and the Imaam (or
leader) of the Messengers. We do not associate
any other god in worship with Allaah; on the
contrary, we regard Him as Unique in His
Divinity and Lordship, and in His Names and
Attributes. We do not claim that He has any
spouse or son. We take as friends those whom
Allaah takes as friends, and regard as enemies
those whom He regards as enemies. We hate those
who slander Him and attribute to Him a wife or
son, for Allaah is Unique, He is the One, the
Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not nor was
He begotten, and He has no wife or son. Glory be
to Him, how can He have a child? To Him belongs
all that is in the heavens and on earth. He has
no partner and He does not need children as
human beings do. He is the Creator of the father
and of what the father begets. Muslims follow
the commands of Allaah and have no choice with
regard to His rules and regulations, rather they
adhere to the rulings of Allaah. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when
Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter
that they should have any option in their
decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His
Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain
error" [al-Ahzaab 33:36]
Among these rulings is that we should love
for the sake of Allaah and hate for the sake of
Allaah.
But there is also plenty of room
for debate with the Muslims; indeed, in His Book
Allaah commanded the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his ummah
(nation) after him to engage in debate and
dialogue with the People of the Book, i.e., Jews
and Christians. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Say (O Muhammad ): `O
people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians):
Come to a word that is just between us and you,
that we worship none but Allaah (Alone), and
that we associate no partners with Him, and that
none of us shall take others as lords besides
Allaah.' Then, if they turn away, say: `Bear
witness that we are Muslims.'" [Aal `Imraan
3:64]
We believe in Jesus (`Eesa) - peace be upon
him - as a Prophet sent by Allaah, but God
forbid that we should describe Jesus as a god or
lord as the Christians claim, and fail to
distinguish between the Messenger and the One
Who sent him, between the Creator and His
creation. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And (remember) when Allaah will
say (on the Day of Resurrection): `O `Eesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto
men: `Worship me and my mother as two gods
besides Allaah?' He will say: `Glory be to You!
It was not for me to say what I had no right (to
say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely
have known it. You know what is in my inner-self
though I do not know what is in Yours; truly,
You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is
hidden (and unseen). Never did I say to them
aught except what You (Allaah) did command me to
say: "Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord."
And I was a witness over them while I dwelt
amongst them, but when You took me up, You were
the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to
all things.' (This is a great admonition and
warning to the Christians of the whole world)."
[al-Maa'idah 5:116-117].
And Allaah says - addressing you and your
fellow-Christians, and you will be blessed if
you respond - (interpretation of the meaning):
"O people of the Scripture (Christians)!
Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor
say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah
`Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no
more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word,
(`Be!' - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam
(Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so
believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not:
`Three (trinity)!' Cease! (it is) better for
you. For Allaah is (the only) One Ilaah (God),
glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having
a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens
and all that is in the earth. And Allaah is
All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs."
[al-Nisaa' 4:171]
Islam is the
religion of guidance, mercy and love, but there
are people who force the Muslims to fight when
they stand in the way of their conveying the
guidance to mankind. The Muslims do not fight
anyone until they have told them about the
religion of Allaah and given them the choice
between two things, either accepting Islam or,
if they refuse Islam and keep their own
religions, paying the Jizyah (tax) to the
Muslims in return for protection. If they refuse
both of these choices, then they are to be
fought.
When we Muslims fight, it is for the sake of
saving people from worshipping other people, and
teaching them to worship the Lord of the Worlds,
and bringing them out of the injustice of other
religions to the justice of Islam, and freeing
them from the constrictions of this world so
that they may enjoy the bounty of this world and
the Hereafter.
We believe that Jesus
(`Eesa) - peace be upon him - did not die, but
Allaah took him up to Himself. Jesus will come
back to this world at the end of time and will
rule according to Islam. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Jesus will descend to Damascus, by the white
minaret." (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4/117;
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, may Allaah have
mercy on him).
Islam cancels out the
messages that came before it, and Allaah will
not accept any other religion from anyone who
comes to know of Islam during his lifetime. If
people submit in Islam to the Lord of the
Worlds, follow the Best of the Messengers,
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), and do righteous deeds, then Allaah will
be pleased with them and will bless them with a
good life in this world and the next. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever works righteousness - whether
male or female - while he (or she) is a true
believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him
We will give a good life (in this world with
respect, contentment and lawful provision), and
We shall pay them certainly a reward in
proportion to the best of what they used to do
(i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)." [al-Nahl
16:97]
We hope that we have answered
your questions. We ask Allaah to guide us all
and help us all to follow the truth. Peace be
upon those who follow true guidance. Islam
Q&A Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
314: The Muslim belief
concerning the destiny of atheists in the
Hereafter
Question:
What do Muslims believe will happen to
Athiests in the Hereafter
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The athiest is destined to Hell fire in the
Hereafter. This is mainly because an athiest
refuses the most basic belief which is the
existance and oneness of Allaah. I ask Allaah to
guide us all to the truth and help us to follow
it, for He is the best Supporter and Helper.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
300: Who are Ahlul Kitab(
The people of the book)
Question:
Who are the AHLUL KITAB? Are they the ones
who believe in oneness of Allah? Or do they
include the ones who believe in trinity? If they
include Trinitarians, is trinity not SHIRK? And
are present day christians in Africa also
amongst the people of the book?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
People of the Book consist of both believers
and disbelievers, as indicated in the Qur'aan,
where Allaah (AWJ) mentions the disbelievers
among them (interpretation of the meaning):
"O people of the Scripture!: Why do you
disbelieve in the verses [about Prophet Mohammad
(peace be upon him)] of Allaah, while you
(yourselves) bear witness (to their truth)".
(Aala Imraan, 3:70)
And:
"Say: O people of the Scripture! Why do
you stop those who believe from the path of
Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you
(yourselves) are witnesses? And Allaah is not
unaware of what you do". (Aala Imran, 3:99)
And Allah (AWJ) said about the believers
among them, making clear the difference between
them and the aforementioned (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Not all of them are alike; a party of the
people of the Scripture stand for the right,
they recite the Verses of Allaah during the
hours of the night, prostrating themselves in
prayer. They believe in Allaah and the Last Day;
they enjoin what is right and forbid evil and
they hasten in good works; and they are among
the righteous. And whatever good they do,
nothing will be rejected of them; for Allaah
knows well those who are the pious".
(Aala Imran, 3:113-115)
These people also believe in our Prophet (S)
and the Quran which was revealed to him as
mentioned (approximate translation of meanings
is):
"And there are, certainly, among the
people of the Scripture, those who believe in
Allah and in that which has been revealed to
you, and in that which has been revealed to
them, humbling themselves before Allah. They do
not sell the Verses of Allah for a little price,
for then is a reward their Lord. Surely, Allah
is Swift in account". (Aal Imran, 3:199)
The disbelief of the disbelieving People of
the Scripture, that include Jews and Christians,
in our times does not expel them from being
People of the Scripture. So, the rules and
regulations related to them regarding
permissibility of eating their food and marrying
their chaste women, in the Qur'aan and Sunnah,
are still applicable to them.
See also question #103.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
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Introduction