Great Salaf's

[heesham]

Salaf according to the Arabic means 'predecessor' and you will find that many iterate this word and associate it with great Islamic scholars, however, although this term is used loosely by many it refers to the guided predecessors (Salih) who are the light of Al-Islam and they are known as the "SALAF-AS-SALIH" (the rightly guided predecessors).

I shall use this space to try continue the trend of respectable Sister Sylhet and introduce to you some of these Slaf-as-Salih.

CONTINUED...........

[heesham]

SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM IBN TAYMIYAH

Among the very few, whom the world has ever produced as a man of high calibre, status and quality, Sheikh-ul-Islam (The Great Scholar of Islam) Ibn Taymiyah was one of them. His exalted personality and dignified status as an Islamic Scholar is beyond my Introduction. Many great scholars of our times appear to be his gleaners in knowledge. He has contributed a lot to almost all branches and faculties of ISlamic learning.

His thought, views and judgements have widely affected the different aspects of Islamic life and in many respect has influenced the understanding of Islam be your and I.

Sheikh-ul-Islam had a firm grasp over the concepts and beliefs of different Islamic sects as well as Christianity. In his works, he has taken a serious notice of all these beliefs and purged out of these the correct and perfect Faith and teachings of Islam.

cont......

heesham
student of knowledge........

[heesham]

Imam ibn Taimiyah's full name is Taqi ud-Din Ahmad bin Abdullah Halim. He was born in Harran on 22 January, 1263 AD (10 Tabi' Al-Awwal, 661 AH). His family had long been renowned for its learning. His father 'Abdul-Halim, uncle Fakhr ud-Din and grandfather Majd ud-Din were great scholars of Hanbalite school of jurisprudence and the authors of many books. His family members were forced to leeave their native place in 1269AD before the approach of the Mongols and to take refuge in Damascus. At that time, Ibn Taimiyah was seven years old. His father 'Abdul-Halim was appointed as Professor and Head of the Sukkariyah Madrasah. Endowed with a penetrating intellect and a wonderful memory, ibn Taimiyah studied, at an early age, all the disciplines of jurisprudences, Ahadith of the Prophet (PBUH), commentaries of the Qur'an, mathematics and philosophy, and in each he was far ahead of his contemporaries. Among his teachers, was Shams ud-Din Al-Maqdisi, first Hanbali Chief Justice of Syria following the reform of the judiciary by Baibars. The number of ibn Taimiyahs teachers exceeds two hundred. Ibn Taymiyah was berely seventeen, when Qadi Al-Maqdasi authorised him to to issue Fatwa (legal verdict). Qadi remembered with pride that it was he who had first permitted an intelligent and learned man like ibn Taymiyah to give a Fatwa. At the same age, he started delivering lectures. When he was thirty, he was offered the office of Chief Justice, but refused, as he could not persuade himself to follow the limitations imposed by the authorities.

cont......

heesham
student of knowledge.........

[heesham]

Imam ibn Taimiyah's education was essentially that of a Hanbali theologian and jurisconsult. But to his knowledge of early and classical Hanbalism, he added not only that of the other schools of jurisprudence but also that of heresiographical literature, in particular of philosophy and Sufism. He had an extensive knowledge of the Qur'an, Sunnah, Greek philosophy, Islamic History and religious books of others.
Though he preferred the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, he was never biased in favour of it. In his works, he would always quote the opinions of all four of the well-known schools of jurisprudence, and even others. In a number of matters he himself held opinions different to the four Madhabs (sunni schools of jurisprudence). In fact, he was an original thinker (Mujtahid) who merely drew upon the wisdom of the four established schools.

In all his reformative efforts, Ibn Taimiyah accepted the Qur'an and the Sunnah as the basic criteria. In matters where there was no clear guidance from the Qur'an and the Sunnah or the companions of the Prophet(PBUH), he never hesitated to venture into rational thought and took the path of Ijtihad or creative originality and initiative.

to be continued.........

ya'Rab karam Thou agar Kare wo bat de Zuba ko Jo dilpar asar kare.

heesham
a student of knowledge..........

[heesham]

Ibn Taimiyah's life was not confined to the world of books and words. Whenever circumstances demanded, he took part in political and public affairs too, distinguishing himself not only through his writings and speeches but also with the sword as a brave warrior.

In 1300, the Mongols invaded Syria. While the religious divines and saints were leaving Damascus to take refuge in Egypt, Ibn Taimiyah flung himslelf into the stream of affairs. Ibn Taimiyah went from city to city and called people to Jihad and participated in it himself. After a pitched battle at Shaqhab in which Ibn Taimiyah fought bravely, the Mongols were heavily defeated. A victory which highlighted Ibn Taimiyah as a practical follower of the Qur'an and Sunnah in all his affairs.

heesham

[a_baba]

Brother Heesham,
Thank you for your nice writing about Islam and its Scholar,
It is very nice to Know about great scholar of Islam Ibn Thaymiyah,

now a day's some media are trying their best to introduce Islam as a terrorist, fanatic, a greatest threat to the world people.

Islam is not only a religion but a complete code of life.

Please write more about Islam so that we all can learn what not Know,

Waiting to Knoe more

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A. Baba

[This message has been edited by a.baba (edited 10 April 2000).]

[sylhet]

Peace be upon those who follow true guidance
I would like to add more on this topic.
which i have found out from (Islam-qa.com)


Subject: Ruling on saying “I am a Salafi”

Question: I have come to know a person who follows the Salafi da’wah and I have read a book about this movement. I believe that the Salafi da’wah is correct and that those who follow it have the sound ‘aqeedah (belief), but there are some matters I want to ask about:
1. How correct is it from an Islamic point of view to use the word “Salafi” and to describe oneself in this way?
2. If a person says that he is a Salafi, is he praising
3. himself? Is this considered to be dividing the ummah?
4. If we tell the Sufis that their madhhab is not correct, and that neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his Companions taught it, they will respond that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his Companions did not use the word “Salafi” either, so how should we reply to them?

Answer; Praise be to Allaah.
We can answer this question with the following points:
1. Each person is obliged to follow the guidance of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions. This is the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah and the followers of the righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-saalih). Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘This is my way; I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allaah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the mushrikeen (polytheists… those who worship others along with Allaah or set up rivals or partners to Allaah).” [Yoosuf 12:108]
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the oath he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination!” [al-Nisa’ 4:115]
Whoever follows the way of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) belongs to the salaf al-saalih, even if the people call him something else; by the same token, whoever goes against it and deviates from the Sunnah is an innovator, even if he claims to be a Salafi.
2. If a person calls himself a Salafi to express his gratitude for having been guided to this way, or to clearly distinguish himself from innovation, then this is OK and is allowed in Islam. But if he says it only for the purpose of praising himself, then this is not allowed, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “… therefore justify not yourselves…” [al-Najm 53:32 – Yusuf ‘Ali’s translation]. Similarly, it is not allowed if it is said in a spirit of tribalism or sectarianism, because such attitudes are forbidden, as is clear from the following story: Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “A man from the Muhaajireen shoved a man from the Ansaar from behind, so each man’s people gathered around him, saying ‘O Muhaajireen (come and help)!’ or ‘O Ansaar (come and help)!’ News of this reached the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he said, ‘Stop this, for it is repulsive.’ Then he said, ‘What is this call of the people of jaahiliyyah? What is this call of the people of jaahiliyyah?’” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 14105; the hadeeth is also to be found in al-Saheehayn). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) called it the call of the people of jaahiliyyah and described it as repulsive, even though the words “Ansaari” and “Muhaajiri” are Islamic words, the first referring to those who supported Allaah and His Messenger, and the second referring to those who left the land of kufr and migrated to Allaah and His Messenger. Why were they described in this manner? Because in this instance, the words were not used in a permissible fashion; the usage was a sectarian and political one that could have led to fighting between the two groups. The same applies to the word “Salafi”.

...to be continued

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Allah Hafez
A sister

"I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO DEITY WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS HIS MESSENGER."