From Among the Punishments of Sins:

- There is the weakening of the journey to Allaah and the (blessed) abode of the Hereafter.

- There is the stoppage of blessings and the lowering of punishments.

- A servant is living in a state of fear, dread and loneliness.

- The heart is turned away from a condition of healthiness and correctness to that of illness and deviation.

- The heart becomes blind and its light is extinguished.

- The removal of status, honor and respect in the sight of Allaah and His creation.

- A decrease in one's intellect.

- The blessings of long-life, provisions, knowledge, deeds and obedience are blotted out.

- The various species of creation confront the servant with injury.

- The servant forgets himself.

- The Guardian Angel withdraws from the servant and Shaytaan draws near to him.

Source: Sins and Their Punishments - by Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) pg. 29

ASK FOR AL-FIRDAUS:

Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu 'anhu):

The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam) said,

Whoever believes in Allaah and His Messenger, offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allaah, no matter whether he fights in Allaah's Cause or remains in the land where he is born." The people said, "O Allaah's Messenger! Shall we acquaint the people with the good news?" He said, "Paradise has one hundred grades which Allaah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allaah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise." (The sub-narrator added, "I think the Prophet also said, 'Above it (i.e. Al-Firdaus) is the Throne of Ar-Rahman (The Most Beneficent, i.e. Allaah), and from it originate the rivers of Paradise."

Americans flocking to Kingdom to learn Islaam

By M. Nasir Jawed

MAKKAH – The growth and spread of Islam to every nook and corner of the world could almost be witnessed in the Umrah-cum-knowledge trip of not less than 75 men and women from America. The group, with several converts to Islam, made pilgrimage to the Two Holy Mosques between July 16-Aug. 3.
Senior scholars of Saudi Arabia, including the Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Aal-Sheikh, gave lectures and taught the aspiring learners various sciences of Islam. All seminars were translated bit-by-bit for the American audience.
The trip is organized every year by Al-Qur’an wa As-Sunnah Society of New York (www.albaseerah.org), which is engaged in inviting people to Tawheed and Sunnah. The Society has held several seminars that has featured nearly 50 prominent scholars.
The Grand Mufti made clear to the students Islam’s stance on terrorism and suicide bombing. He urged them to show respect for non-Muslims.
“Islam is a religion of peace and mercy. It denounces terrorism in all forms and shapes and those who do this do not understand Islam. Islam is free from them – both terrorism and terrorists. Those, who do this, need to fear Allah,” the Mufti said.
The three weeks of seminars covered topics on Tawheed, Sciences of Hadith, Fiqh, and spirituality. There were also special sessions for women and for learning Tajweed.
“We are here to seek knowledge and boost our faith,” says Zahid Rashid, Graduate of Umm Al-Qura University and president of Al-Qur’an wa As-Sunnah Society of New York.
The program is quite unique for the English world. No single event in the English-speaking community manages to bring senior scholars like Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ghudyan, Sheikh Saleh Al-Luhaydan, Sheikh Sa’d Nasir Ash-Shitri and Sheikh Saleh Al-Husayyan under its umbrella.
Perhaps one of the many highlights of the seminar was that the Imam of Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Abdul Rahman Al-Hudhaify, sat with the students after Isha prayers till 2 A.M. giving lessons on Tajweed (proper recitation of the Qur’an) and listened to the recitation of entire delegation brothers and sisters.
The students were drawn from diverse backgrounds. While some where doctors, IT professionals and businesspeople, others were Imams and Khateebs in America. Families had also come together.
The message with which all students went home was the importance of good conduct with Muslims and non-Muslims, the dangers of terrorism, and an exhortation to continue seeking Islamic knowledge.
Imani, a 37-year-old woman who converted from Christianity to Islam at the age of 19, described how Islam brought her out from a dark past to a virtuous present. She had a three-year-old daughter from a past relationship when she embraced Islam. Now she lectures women at mosques and also looks after 13 children.
“One of the best things that has happened to my life is coming to the Two Holy cities to seek knowledge,” Imani said.
Hamza Jayinz Mckind, from Columbus, Ohio, was brought up in a religious Christian family. His father is a Christian priest and he himself was in the process of becoming a Christian minister. Things turned around when he got an opportunity to work in an Islamic school.
“I found so many things in Islam, which I had earlier learnt in the Bible, but in the Qur’an I found them to be in detail. I saw the truth and embraced Islam. My mother followed me two months later,” Mckind said.
“The whole trip was wonderful, and quite a rejuvenation for me,” said one participant.
Bidding farewell however is an emotional experience. “They are crying as they are about to leave Saudi Arabia,” said another participant.
“By such trips, we get close to Allah as we have the opportunity to not only make pilgrimage, but seek knowledge directly from the inheritors of the prophets,” he added referring to the Prophetic narration on the virtue of Islamic scholars.
One of the many Saudi Arabia’s blessings, Zahid says, is the presence of such a large number of well-learned scholars, which is missing in America.
“Scholars here have devoted their lives to teach and educate people about Islam. They have great concern for the Ummah and humanity at large,” he said.
The president of Al-Qur’an wa Sunnah Society of New York and his entire administration expressed their sincere thanks and gratefulness to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the governors of Makkah and Madina and all scholars for their help and cooperation in making the seminar successful. – SG

salaf or khalaf?

It can not be denied (by anyone with understanding) that there is always a nexus between those of contemporary times who have the beliefs of Ahlul Hadeeth wal Athar and cling tenaciously to their minhaaj, that they will be in consonant with the people of the past who adhered to the same beliefs and methodology.

Likewise, the people today who have strayed, they also have a connection to their counterparts of days gone by. Those who have adopted the variant paths and who have disobeyed the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu'alaihe wa sallam by using their incisor or canine teeth to hold on to his Sunnah and the Sunnah of his Companions, instead of clinching on to it with their molars.

One of the traits of those who went astray is that they supported each other, defended each other, aided each other or were silent about the evil or harm that emanated from those who were in violation of injunctions or commandments. This was because they had the same goals and objectives.


As Aboo Alee ad-Daqqaaq said: “The one who is silent about the truth (doesn't speak it when he knows it) is a dumb shaytaan and the one who speaks falsehood is an eloquent shaytaan!”

Some of them today have tried to get slick when caught, will quickly pull out of their smoke screen bag of tricks or suitcase of diversionary tactics statements like:

“I didn't mean that”

“I don't remember saying that”

“That was five years ago when I said that”

“I was exaggerating when I said that”

“I meant that in the linguistic sense or meaning, not in the shar’ee or legal sense of the word”

The person, who makes erroneous statements or commit acts of treachery must make a clear repentance. Stay away from the people of desires as a sign of their tawbah. Another sign of their true repentance is, realigning oneself with the people of truth and guidance, sitting with them, aiding them, supporting them, honoring them, speaking in their defense and loving them.

For there is no doubt, that the Salaf would make a judgment of an individual by his companionship. Since a man is with whom he loves as our Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihe wa sallam informed us.

Abood Dardaa’, radiyallaahu ‘anhu said:

“ It is from the fiqh (understanding of a person) that he [chooses] those whom he walks with, whom he enters upon (visits) and whom he sits with.”

Taken from al-Ibaanah (2/477).

Imaam al-Awzaa'ee, rahimahullaah said:

”Whoever hides his innovation from us will not be able to hide his companionship from us.”

al-Ibaanah (2/476)

Muhammad ibn Ubaid al-Ghulaabee rahimahullaah said:

“Ahlul Ahwaa (People of Desires) hide everything except their intimate friendship and companionship.”


al-Ibaanah (2/482)

Allaah the Most High has said: “You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people)…”

Sooratul Mujaadilah 58:22

The Messenger also warned against the people of innovation, from befriending, supporting or taking from them saying:

“Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator then upon him is the Curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.”

Reported by Imaams al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

We also find the Noble Companions and the Taabi’een after them warning from the danger of innovations upon the Ummah and its people.


Ibn Abbaas, radiyallaahu 'anhu said: “Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations.”

Reported by al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa (4/316)


Sufyaan ath-Thawree said:

“Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from.”

Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no. 238)

Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyaad said: ”I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation.”

Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no.267)

Al-Hasan al-Basree said: “Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them.”

Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/121)

Ibraaheem bin Maysarah said: “Whoever honors an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam.”

Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (1/139).

Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyaad said: “Whoever sits with a person of innovation, then beware of him and whoever sits with a person of innovation has not been given wisdom. I love that there was fort of iron between me and a person of innovation. That I eat with a Jew and a Christian is more beloved to me than that I eat with a person of innovation.”

Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no.1149)

And again he said:

“ Whoever honors an innovator has assisted in the demolition of Islaam”

Al-Layth bin Sa'd (d. 175H) said: “If I saw a person of desires (i.e. innovations) walking upon the water I would not accept from him." So Imaam as-Shaafi'ee then said: "He (al-Layth) has fallen short. If I saw him walking in the air I would not accept from him.”
Reported by as-Suyootee in al-Amr bil 'Ittibaa wan-Nahee anil Ibtidaa'.

Shaikh Saalih Aal ash-Shaikh, may Allaah preserve him said:

“Muslims are of two groups: Salafees and Khalafees. As for the Salafees, then they are the followers of the Salafus Saalih. As for the Khalafees, then they are the followers of the understanding of the Khalaf and they are (also) called Innovators. Since everyone who is not pleased and satisfied with the path of the Salafus Saalih, in knowledge and action, understanding and fiqh, then he is a khalafee, an innovator!

BUT WE ARE LIKE SCUM!!!

unity

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