Beneficial Knowledge

Umm Salamah said, "O Messenger of Allah, men are mentioned when it comes to hijrah, but not women?" So this ayah was revealed: ‎[أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ] "I will never allow the deeds of any doer - neither male nor female - to be lost." [Aal 'Imran 195] [Tafsir al-Tabari 7/487]

Ibn Mas'ood rarely did optional fasts so someone asked him why that was. He replied, "When I fast, I become too weak to recite Qur'an or perform optional prayers, and I prefer to recite and perform optional prayers. [Tafsir ibn Kathir 1/98]

al-Ash'ath al-Humli said: I said to al-Hasan, "Abu Sa'eed, do you really think what you've said about the intercession [for the sinful believers to be removed from the hellfire] is true?" al-Hasan said, "Yes, it is true." al-Ash'ath said, "What about Allah's statement: ‎[رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ] "O our Lord, whoever You have entered into the hellfire You have disgraced." [Aal 'Imran 192] and His statement: ‎[يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَخْرُجُوا مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنْهَا] "They will want to leave the hellfire but they will never exit from it." [al-Ma'idah 37] al-Hasan said, "By Allah, you haven't brought anything that overturns what I have said. In the hellfire there will be some people who will never exit from it, just as Allah says." al-Ash'ath said, "Abu Sa'eed, so these ayaat are talking about people who will enter the hellfire and later leave it?" al-Hasan said, "Those are the people who committed certain sins in this life as a result of which Allah will punish them by placing them into the hellfire. Later He will take them out of it on account of the belief and good actions confirming that faith that He knows to be in their hearts." [Tafsir al-Tabari 7/477-478]

Ibn al-Jawzi addressed a common doubt in one of his works by writing: [فإذا جاء إبليس؛ فقال: كَم تدعوهُ ولا ترى إجابة!؛ فقُل: أنا أتعبّدُ بالدُّعاء.ـ] When Iblis comes and says, "How many times have you made du'a to Him without seeing a response?!" then say, "When I make du'a I am in fact engaged in an act of worship!" [Sayd al-Khatir pg 222]

Allah says in surah Aal 'Imran: [وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ] And remember when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the scripture, "you must make it clear to mankind and not conceal it," but they threw it behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price, and what a poor exchange they made. [187] Regarding this ayah, Qatadah said:  This was a covenant that Allah took from the people of knowledge, so whoever knows something should teach it. Beware of concealing knowledge, for concealing knowledge is a source of ruin. No man should make himself responsible for something he has no knowledge of, for he might leave the religion and become a fraud.  As the saying goes, "Knowledge which is not spoken is like wealth that is not spent. And wisdom that is not displayed is like a propped up idol that neither eats nor drinks."  As they say, "Glad tidings to a knowledgeable person who speaks, and glad tidings to a listener who remembers well." That is a man who knows something so he teaches it, spreads it, invites others to it, and another man who hears good, commits it memory, stores it away and benefits from it. [Tafsir al-Tabari 7/461]

Harithah ibn Mudharrib said: ❝'Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote to us, saying: learn surahs al-Nisa', al-Ahzab and al-Noor.❞ [al-Durr al-Manthoor 10/633]

In surah Aal 'Imran, Allah commands the Prophet to behave towards his companions with the following instructions: [فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ] "Pardon them and seek forgiveness for them and consult them about matters. Then when you have made a decision, place your reliance on Allah." [159] Regarding this ayah, Qatadah said: Allah commanded His Prophet to consult with his companions about matters even though revelation comes to him from above! That is because that is easier for people's souls to accept, and because when people seek advice from one another and do so in seeking Allah's Face, Allah will set them on the most upright way. [Tafsir al-Tabari 7/343-344]

al-Hasan al-Basri said: I have found 90 places in the Qur'an where Allah has decreed provisions and guaranteed it for His created beings, and I have found one place that [الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ] "The shaytaan promises you poverty and commands you to do immorality" [al-Baqarah ayah 268] So we doubted what the Truthful One said in 90 place but we believed the liar in this one place. [Qama' al-Hirs #120]

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Complete the Qur’an in forty days." [Sahih al-Jami’ #1154] Ishaq ibn Rahawayh and others said: it is disliked for a man to let forty days pass by him without completing a reading of the Qur'an, just as it is disliked for him to complete it in less than three days. [Tafsir ibn Kathir 1/73]

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote: Real power lies in placing your reliance - al-tawakkal - on Allah.  It is like one of the salaf said, "Whoever wants to be the strongest, let him place his reliance on Allah." [Zad al-Ma'ad 2/364]

Allah addresses the believers in surah Aal 'Imran by saying: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تُطِيعُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ كَافِرِينَ] O you who have believed, if you follow a group of those who have been given the scripture they would turn you back into disbelievers after you had believed. [100] Mujahid said: The tribes of the Ansar were made up of two main branches, al-Aws and al-Khazraj, and during the times of pre-Islamic ignorance, there had been warring, bloodshed and enmity between them. That continued until Allah blessed them with Islam and with the Prophet. Allah then extinguished the warring between them and united them together in Islam.  One time, a man from al-Aws and a man from al-Khazraj were sitting and talking together and a Jewish man was also sitting with them. The Jewish man kept reminding them of past events and the enmity that had been between them until they began to insult one another and even fight one another.  Each one called out to his people and they came out with their weapons and lined up side by side.  Allah's Messenger was present in al-Madinah that day, so he came and he kept going back and forth between them to calm them down until they left their posts and put down their weapons.  Allah then revealed some of the Qur'an about this event: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تُطِيعُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ] "O you who have believed, if you follow a group of those who have been given the scripture ..."  all the way until: [عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ] "... a great punishment." [surah Aal 'Imran 100-105] [Tafsir al-Tabari 7/59]

Ibn Taymiyah wrote: Being firmly grounded in knowledge and faith in the face of trials and doubts is one of the greatest blessings.  There are some people who believe when times are good, but then when troubles come they leave the faith.  So you need to recognize that being firmly grounded in faith when trials and doubts occur is one of the greatest blessings. [Jami' al-Masa'il 9/399]

In part of Luqman's advice to his son, he said: [وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ] "And do not turn your face away from the people or walk haughtily on the earth. Allah certainly does not love any self-deluded boastful person." [surah Luqman ayah 18] al-Rabee' ibn Anas and Qatadah both said: Do not hold a low opinion of the poor; rather hold a poor person and a wealthy person as being of equal value in your eyes. [Tafsir al-Baghawi 6/289]

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “Whoever enters [the Masjid] whilst the Imām is giving the khutbah, then he should not greet [anyone].” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/200] *Adab During the Khutbah* Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “It is not permissible for him (i.e. the one who is sitting and listening during the khutbah) to fidget with his hand, foot, beard, clothing or other than that.” “Likewise, he should not turn right or left and become busy with looking at the people. Rather, he should turn to the khateeb just like the Ṣaḥābah رضي الله عنهم used to turn towards the Prophet ﷺ during the khutbah.” “If he sneezes then he should praise Allāh secretly (i.e. quietly) between himself and his Lord.” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/200] Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “It is permissible to speak before and after the khutbah, and when the Imām sits between the khutbatayn for a legal benefit. However, one should not speak about worldly affairs.” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/201] Prophet ﷺ said: “If one of you yawns on Friday (during the Khutbah), let him change from the place he’s sitting to another.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 1819] Al-Sharīd b. Suwaid reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw me sitting with my left hand behind my back and leaning on it. He ﷺ said: “Are you sitting in the manner of those with whom Allah is angry (the Jews)?” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4848, Musnad Aḥmad 18960, Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 5674] Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said: “This ḥadīth indicates that it is not allowed to sit in this manner, for the reason that it is the way in which those who are punished sit.” [Iqtida’ al-Ṣirāt al-Mustaqīm, p. 65]

*Jumuʿah: The Best Day with Allāh* *Friday — The Day of Celebration* The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Verily, Allah has made this day (of Friday) a celebration for the Muslims. So whoever comes to Friday (prayer), then let him bathe himself, and if he has any perfume let him put some on, and use the toothstick.” ● [Ibn Mājah 1098, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb 1/298] Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said: “The Friday prayer is from the greatest of congregations of the Muslims.” ● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/364–365] *Sending Salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ* The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Increase in salutations upon me, on the day of Friday (Jumuʿah) and its night.” ● [Zād al-Maʿād 2/420] The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Send prayer upon me abundantly on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday) & on the night of Jumu’ah (Thursday night), for he who sends prayer upon me one time, Allāh sends prayer upon him 10 times.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ 1209] *Virtue of Ṣalāh on Jumuʿah* The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of prayers with Allāh is the prayer of morning (Fajr) on the Day of Friday in congregation.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥah 1566] The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday, and bathes completely, and goes early, arriving early, gets close and listens and is silent, there will be for him in every step he takes, the reward of a year of fasting and standing (in prayer).” ● [Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 496] *Recitation of Sūrah al-Kahf* The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays will be adorned with light from that Friday to the next.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥ Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr 2/6470] The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light for him between this Friday and the next.” ● [al-Sunan al-Kubrā 5856] *Duʿā on Jumuʿah* The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is such an hour on Friday, that if any Muslim makes Du’ā during it, his Du’ā will be accepted.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 935, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 852] Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said: “A time when Du’ās will be accepted is during the last hour of ‘Asr on Jumu’ah.” ● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/104] Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله also said: “The Hour of Response in it (i.e. Friday) is like the Night of Decree in Ramaḍān.” ● [Zād al-Maʿād 1/398] *Expiation of Sins* The Prophet ﷺ said: “Jumʿah to Jumʿah expiates the minor sins in between them except for the major sins.” ● [al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 3623] The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of days with Allāh is the day of Jumu'ah.” ● [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ 1098, al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 1502] Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said: “The leader of all days is Friday and the leader of all months is Ramaḍān.” ● [Ibn Abī Shaybah in al-Muṣannaf 5552] *Etiquette of Jumuʿah Khutbah & Masjid Manners* Listening and Silence During the Khutbah Saʿīd ibn Jubayr رحمه الله said: “That I hit whips on my head, it is more beloved to me than me talking whilst the Imām is giving a sermon.” ● [Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd 6/260] Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله said: “It is not legislated to return the salām during the khuṭbah. Rather you must remain silent.” ● [Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 12/339] Sh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله said: “It is impermissible for a man to give salām during Friday sermon and also it is ḥarām to return salām.” ● [Fatāwā 16/100] Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “From the rulings of Jumuʿah prayer is that it is not permissible to speak whilst the Imām is giving the khutbah.” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/198] *Entering the Masjid on Jumuʿah* Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “It is recommended to leave early to go to the Masjid on the day of Jumu’ah and when one enters pray two units of prayer for Taḥiyyat al-Masjid.” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/196] Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said: “It is more right for the one who comes on Jumu’ah that he busy himself with prayer up until the Imām comes out [to give the khutbah]...” ● [Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 24/189] Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said: “From the rulings of Jumuʿah is that whoever comes to the Masjid whilst the Imām is giving the khutbah, he should not sit until he has prayed two light units of prayer.” ● [al-Mulakhkhaṣ al-Fiqhī 1/198]

In a number of places throughout the Qur'an, Allah describes some of the disbelievers claiming that the Qur'an is merely *asaatir al-awwaleen* - tales of the old - such as in surah al-An'am [6]: [يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ] "And those who disbelieve say: this is nothing but tales of the old." [25] The scholars said: whenever the phrase *asaatir al-awwaleen* - "tales of the old" - occurs in the Qur'an, then the person who made this claim was al-Nadhr ibn al-Harith ibn Kaladah.  The reason why he would said that is because he had visited the Persian lands, learned their tales, and then he came to Makkah when he would say, "I will tell you something better than what Muhammad has told you; he is only telling you tales of the old." And the ayah [وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ] "[and who is more unjust than] one who says: I will revealed something like what Allah has revealed." [al-An'am 93] and the Prophet had him executed on the Day of Badr. [al-Burhan fee 'Uloom al-Qur'an 1/246]

Allah says in surah al-Nisaa' [4]: [وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً ۚ وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِن بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا] And whoever makes hijrah for the sake of Allah will find many locations and spaciousness on the earth. And whoever sets out from his home to make hijrah to Allah and His Messenger but then death catches him - his reward has already become incumbent on Allah. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [100] 'Ikrimah said: I spent fourteen years inquiring as to who this person was before I came to know that it was Dhamrah ibn al-'Ees who was one of the persecuted believers in Makkah, and he was also ill. When the ayah of Hijrah was revealed, he set out from Makkah but passed away in al-Tan'eem [on the outskirts of Makkah].  [al-Burhan fee 'Uloom al-Qur'an 1/245]

Allah recounts the story of Zakariyyah and Yahya in surah Aal 'Imran [3] in which Zakariyyah saw Maryam being miraculously provided with fruits outside of their season and then asking Allah to provide him with righteous offspring despite his old age. Allah then says: [فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ] "So the angels called Zakariyyah while he was standing in prayer in the prayer niche, saying that Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya ..." [39] The root of the name "Yahya" goes back to the meaning of "living". In his tafsir of this ayah, Ibn Kathir wrote: Qatadah and others said: The reason why he was named *Yahya* is because Allah gave him life as a result of eemaan. [Tafsir ibn Kathir 2/38]