Archive for April, 2010

Knowledge of the Five

By Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Shabbir Ahmad 'Uthmani
April 25, 2010
Knowledge of the Five

Al-Qurtubi said: "No one can expect to know one of these five matters because of this hadith. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) explained the statement of Allah Most High: "With Him are the keys of the ghayb (unseen), that none knoweth but He" (6:59) as these five. And this is from the authentic ." Al-Qutubi said: "So whoever claims knowledge of one of these without a chain back to Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), he...
more »

The Issue of the Ambiguous Attributes of Allah

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
April 23, 2010
The Issue of the Ambiguous Attributes of Allah

His statement "two fingers of the fingers of the Most Merciful": al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This is from the hadiths of attributes and there are two views in regards to them which have just preceded: "One of them is to believe in them without venturing into ta'wil (interpretation), or trying to understand its meaning. Rather, one believes it is the truth and that its outward purport is not intended. Allah Most High said 'Naught is as His likeness' (42:11). "And the second...
more »

Seeking Blessing through the Relics of the Prophets and the Pious

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
April 22, 2010
Seeking Blessing through the Relics of the Prophets and the Pious

Some 'ulama adduce from this narration of Ibn Sa'd proof that tabarruk through the relics of the pious is prohibited. However, this inference is not strong, because it is possible 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) cut down the tree because he was aware that the tree at which the pledge was taken is not known to anyone; and because the tree that people claimed was the Tree of Ridwan and prayed near, should not be identified as the tree at which the...
more »

A Query about Mujaddids and their Signs

By Imam Rabbani Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi
April 22, 2010
A Query about Mujaddids and their Signs

The beginning is referred to as ra's therefore a mujaddid would be at the beginning of a century although the beginning of a century is also the end of the century that preceded it because it is possible someone may refer to it as the end . Anyway, in whichever century he comes he will be there at the beginning of that century so that the effect of his tajdid remains until the end. The signs of a mujaddid...
more »

Hadith on the Life of the Prophets

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
April 19, 2010
Hadith on the Life of the Prophets

Indeed the starting point of this issue is Allah's statement "And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: 'They are dead.' Nay, they are living, though ye perceive not" (2:154). Since the life of the martyrs is established, the life of the Prophets (peace be upon them) is established by indication of this text, because the rank of the Prophets is higher than the rank of the martyrs without doubt. Al-Shawkani said in Nayl al-Awtar (Adab al-Jumu'ah 3:211): "A...
more »

The Accusation of Irja’ against Imam Abu Hanifah

By Shah Waliullah al-Muhaddith al-Dahlawi
April 9, 2010
The Accusation of Irja’ against Imam Abu Hanifah

A questioner asked me about the statement of the Imam of the Path, the Pole of Reality, Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jaylani (Allah Most High be pleased with him and give him satisfaction) in Ghuniyyat al-Talibin when mentioning the sects that will not attain salvation where he divided the Murji'ah into twelve sects, and one of them were the Hanafis. Then after a detailed explanation, he said: "As far as the Hanafis are concerned, they are the companions of Abu Hanifah al-Nu'man. He believed that...
more »

Hadith on the Hearing of the Dead

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
April 8, 2010
Hadith on the Hearing of the Dead

His statement "he hears the noise": this hadith is a proof for those who affirm the hearing of the dead and this is the position of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him). Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that it is the preferred view of ibn Jarir al-Tabari, ibn Qutaybah and most of the 'ulama. It was narrated from 'A'ishah (Allah be pleased with her) that she took of the negation of hearing of the dead and interpreted...
more »

Hadiths reported by Sufis

By Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Yunus Jaunpuri
April 4, 2010
Hadiths reported by Sufis

Scholars have not given credence to the reports of Sufis, as these respected people, due to their preoccupation with acts of devotion ('ibadat), are unable to fully dedicate themselves to knowledge. This is why their reports are littered with errors and confusions. Likewise, their husn al-zann (good opinions regarding others) is to such a degree that they do not even make critical analysis and, consequently, accept any spoken word without investigation. This is why their reports contain weak, rejected and...
more »