بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على نبينا محمد وبعد

Imam Abu Dawood said:

“Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about the individual who did not perform the raising of the hands at the various places yet he knew of the narrations concerning this matter.

Imam Ahmad replied:

Never mind whether his prayer is accepted or not, he is lacking in the fundamentals (Usool) of his religion. [Masaa'il Imam Ahmad,P.33]

The reason being that raising the hands before and after rukoo is authentically narrated on the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  in mutawattur form,related from numerous numerous Companions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Companions and those who followed their path raised their hands in the Salaah.And the People of Hadeeth have ijmaa’ on this Sunnah and they raise their hands.

Yet the Hanafee blind followers not only refuse to do so,they have the nerve to say that it’s detestable!And the only reason they refuse is due to their bigoted blind-following of their madhab,

putting opinions before the confirmed guidance from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and His Companions  and the rest of the Salaf thus turning a would-be misunderstanding in fiqh(furoo’, subsidiary branches) into a full-blown defect in Creed and Methodology (Usool,fundamental principles of the religion) such as the issue of al-MasH ‘ala al-Khowfein (wiping over the two socks) between Ahlus-Sunnah and the Shia Rawaafidah.

Allah threatens such individuals with a severe and clear threat when He said,

“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) after the right path has been shown clearly to him,and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen,and burn him in Hell–what an evil destination!”

So let these individuals take note!

And Allah knows best. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad and his Companions and those who follow them.

Shaikh Rabee’ibn Haadee Al-Madkhalee

(hafidhahullaah),in his highly beneficial book The Status of the Messenger and his Rights,relayed this beautiful statement of Imam Ibn Qayyim al-

Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) from his book 

Madaarijus-Saalikeen which illustrates the bad manners of the madhab blind-followers:

“As for the mannerisims that should be utilized with the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam),then indeed the Qur`aan is filled with descriptions of it, and at the base of it is the obligation of fully submitting to him, obeying his orders, and accepting and believing what he has informed you of without weakening it with opposing false views so as to make it ‘understandable,’and without weakening it with doubt and skepticism, and without preferring the opinions of men and the waste of their intellects over it nor should they stop observing his orders and believing in his reports because of their preference to the statements of their teacher or their Imaam or their madhhab or their group or whosoever they elevate. So if he is allowed to, he obeys his orders and accepts his reports. If this is not the case, then if he seeks blamelessness, he abandons his orders and his reports, and entrusts it to them (i.e/ his imaam,teacher, group),or he distorts it from its proper meaning,and then claims that it is interpretation and explanation; that they are interpreting and explaining it.“

Shaikh Rabee notes: “With great sorrow, this is what many sects do with many aspects of the ‘aqeedah and the Sharee’ah.”

So I (Abdul-Karim) say that this is the condition of the madhab blind-followers who have the nerve to claim that Salafees have bad manners (with other people, with the creation) when in reality they (the madhab blind-followers) have bad manners with Allaah the Creator and His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم !!!!!

Then,the Shaykh Rabee’,May Allah preserve him, the Aalim,the Scholar of the Quran and the Sunnah,the Scholar of Hadeeth,poses a scenario to one of the heads of these blind-followers:

“One day, I spoke to one of the leaders of these people and said to him:

‘I Ask you, by Allaah,if it was decreed that the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu‘alaihi wa sallam)was alive and with us,and we witnessed his speech and sermons,would it be obligated upon us to follow him,without referring it to the opinions,statements and madhhab of other than him,or do we not obey him until we refer what we heard from him to the opinions and intellects of others?’

He answered,‘Rather it would be obligatory to hasten to obedience without returning to other than him.”

I say: Anyone who believes in Allah and His Messenger MUST answer in this manner.

If he doesn’t,then he cannot be a believer!

So then upon getting the correct response,Shaykh Rabee’poses two questions that You,O’ Sunni, can pose to any fanatical blind follower of a Madhab, who puts the speech of his Imaam over the speech of Allah and His Messenger:

“I said, ‘So what has removed this obligation from us today and what has replaced it?’

So he placed his finger upon his mouth and remained pale-faced and confused and did not utter a word.”

And the blind-follower was utterly defeated, and they, all of them, are unable to answer these two questions:

1. What has removed the obligation of following the speech and commands of the Messenger of Allah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, unconditionally without referral to a madhab?  and…

2. What has replaced this obligation?

اللهم أرانا الحق حقّاً وارزقنا اتباعه

“O’ Allah show us the true truth and and grant us the ability of following it” Ameen.

Umm Al-Dardâ` [the Younger]–Allâh be pleased with her–reports:

One day,Abû Al-Dardâ`came home angry,so I asked him, “What has made you so angry?”

He replied, “By Allâh,I do not recognize anything from the Ummah of Muhammad except that they pray (salâh) in congregation.”

Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh,Chapter on the Virtue of Praying Al-Fajr in Congregation.

We learn from this narration:

Prayer (salâh) in congregation is from the characteristics of the Ummah of Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him.

· The noble Companion Abû Al-Dardâ`was conveying the idea that deficiency and negative changes had begun to creep in to the practices of the Muslims,and he wanted to point out this evil so that people could be aware and try to keep to the original teachings.

Al-Hâfidh Ibn Hajr states,“Abû Al-Dardâ`intended to point out that all the deeds of those mentioned had suffered some degree of deficiency and change,except praying in congregation.

This [change] is relative,for the condition of the people during the time of the Prophet was better compared to how it changed after that time; and during the time of the Two Shaykhs (Abû Bakr and ‘Umar) it was better compared to how it was after them.It is as if this concern came from Abû Al-Dardâ`towards the end of his life–during the latter part of ‘Uthmân’s Caliphate.And just imagine,if that virtuous generation was described by Abû Al-Dardâ`as it was,then what about those who came after them up to our own time?!”

· This narration shows us that we should be angry if some aspect of the religion is changed,and that renouncing evil can be done by showing one’s anger if one is not able to do any more than that.

Imām Sa’īd b. Al-Musayyib–Allāh have mercy on him–once saw a man praying more than two rak’ah after  the beginning of Fajr,making many bows and prostrations,and so he forbade him.The man said;

Sa’īd said, “No,but He will punish you for contradicting the Sunnah.”

Al-Bayhaqī,As-Sunan Al-Kubraa 2:466.See Irwā Al-Ghalīl 2:236.

It is reported that a man once came to ‘Abdullâh b.‘Umar–Allâh be pleased with him–and said:

Ibn ‘Umar replied:

The man asked,“Why?”

He replied,“Because you sing in your adhân (call to prayer),and you take a wage [for calling it]!”

Al-Tabarânî, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabîr, article 13059;

Abû Hurayrah–Allâh be pleased with him–once passed by the market in Medinah.

He stopped at the market and said, “O people of the market,how incapable you are!”

They said, “And how is that Abû Hurayrah?”

He replied,“Over there the inheritance of Allâh’s Messenger–Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – is being distributed and you are here! Won’t you go and take your share?”

“Where is it?” they asked.

He replied, “In the Masjid.”

So they hurried to the Masjid and Abû Hurayrah waited for them until they returned.When they came back, he said, “What’s the matter?”

They replied,“Abû Hurayrah! We went to the Masjid but we didn’t see anything being distributed.”

Abû Hurayrah asked them, “And you didn’t see anyone in the Masjid?”

They replied, “Indeed we did;we saw people praying,others reciting Qur`ân and others studying the regulations of halâl and harâm.”

So Abû Hurayrah said,“Woe to you! That is the inheritance of Muhammad–Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him.”

Al-Hâfidh Al-Mundhirî said in Al-Targhîb wa Al-Tarhîb,“Reported by Al-Tabarâni in Al-Awsat with a hasan chain of narrators.”. See his Sahîh Al-Targhîb wa Al-Tarhîb Vol. 1 p19.

‘Abdullâh b.‘Amr –Allâh be please with them both–said:

Ibn‘Abd Al-Barr,Al-Tamhîd.

Sahîh Al-Targhîbi wa Al-Tarhîb Vol. 1 p135.

Mālik b. Mighwal said:

Al-Sha’bī once said to me,“When these [people] report to you from Allāh’s Messenger  praise and peace of Allāh be upon him,adhere to it; but when they merely opine,throw it in the trash.”

Al-Dārimī, Al-Sunan 1:78.

Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd [187H] – Allah have mercy on him – said:

“Allah ‘azza wa jalla accepts only those deeds which are both correct and sincere (pure). If the deed is done correctly but not sincerely,it will not be accepted.And if it is sincere but not correct,it will not be accepted.”

He was asked, “Abû ‘Alî! What is the sincere and correct deed?”

He replied, “The sincere deed is one that is done only for Allah ‘azza wa jall.And the correct deed is one done according to the Sunnah.”

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ`Vol.8 p95.

Imâm Al-Shâfi’î said:

Al-Dhahbî in Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ’ under the biography of Imâm Mâlik.

Abû ‘Uthmân Sa’îd b.Ismâ’îl Al-Naysâbûrî (d290H) said:

Abû Nu’aym in Al-Hilyah Vol.10 p244,and others.

After mentioning this and other similar narrations Shaykh Al-Islâm Ibn Taymîyah said (Minhâj Al-Sunnah Vol.5 p117):

It is as they said,for if a person does not follow what the Messenger came with he will act according to his own wishes.Thus he will be one who follows his desires without guidance from Allah.

‘Abdullah b.‘Umar–Allah be pleased with them both–said:

Al-Lâlakâ’î in Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah Vol 1.P134, no.111; and Ibn Battah in Al-Ibânah Al-Kubraa Vol.1 p219,no.213

It is reported that Sufyân Al-Thawrî–Allâh have mercy on him–said;

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`,Vol.7 p243.

It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrī–Allāh have mercy on him–once said during the funeral of a man:

May Allāh have mercy on the man who works for the likes of this day; for today you are able to do what these brothers of yours,the residents of these graves,cannot do.So make full use of your health and free time before the day of distress and accounts comes upon you.

Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dhamm Al-Dunyā article 53.

It is narrated that ‘Uthmân b. Áffân – Allâh be pleased with him – said in a sermon:

Son of Adam! Know that the angel of death who has been assigned to you has not ceased to pass you and move on to others, ever since you have been in this world. But it is as if he is about to pass someone else and move on to target you,so be careful and prepare for him (by correcting your deeds).And do not forget him,for he does not forget you. And know o son of Adam,if you are heedless about yourself and do not prepare,no one else will prepare for you.You must meet Allah the Mighty and Majestic,so take for yourself and do not leave it to someone else. Peace be on you.

Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî,

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î (d157H) wrote:

O Muslims,fear Allâh and obey Him,and accept the advice of the sincere advisers and the exhortation of the exhorters,and know that this knowledge is religion,so be careful about what you do [in it] and from whom you take [it] and who you follow and who you trust your religion to. For verily,the followers of Bid’ah are all falsifiers and liars,neither are they careful nor do they fear and protect [against wrongdoing],and nor are they to be trusted to not distort what you hear.They say what they know not when criticizing and decrying or when affirming their lies. But Allâh encompasses what they do.So be on guard against them,suspect them,reject them and distance yourselves from them,for this was what your earlier scholars and the righteous latter ones did and instructed others to do.

Beware of rising against Allâh and becoming instruments in the destruction of His religion and undoing its handholds by respecting the innovators,for you know what has come down to us about respecting them.And what stronger respect and veneration can there be than taking your religion from them, following them, believing them,being close to them and helping them in alluring those they allure and attracting those they attract of the weak Muslims towards their ideas and the religion they practice? This is enough to be considered a partnership and contribution to what they do.Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 6:361,362.

It is reported that a man came to ‘Abdullâh b.Mas’ûd– Allâh be pleased with him–and asked;

“Teach me some comprehensive and beneficial words.”

He replied, “Worship Allâh and do not associate any partners with Him,and be with the Qur’ân wherever it is.And whoever comes to you with some truth–whether he is young or old,even if he is hated by you–then accept [that truth].And whoever comes lying to you–even if he is beloved and close–then reject it from him.”

Abû Bakr Al-Kharâ`itî, Masâwî Al-Akhlâq wa Madhmûmihâ p72.

It is reported that Abû Al-Dardâ`–Allâh be pleased with him–used to say;

“Learn knowledge before it is taken way,and it is taken away by its people (scholars) being taken away.The scholar and the student are partners in good and there is no good in any other people. The richest of men is the knowledgeable man whose knowledge is needed: he benefits those who need him and if done without,he benefits himself with the knowledge Allâh ‘azza wa jalla has placed with him.So how is it I see your scholars dying yet the ignorant amongst you not learning? I fear that the predecessor will depart and the successor will not learn.If the scholar studies,he only increases in knowledge,and he does not take anything away from knowledge.And if the ignorant studies,he will find knowledge firm and established. So how is it that I see you full up with food, yet starved of knowledge?”    Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol.2 p233.

When Abû Bakr Al-Siddîq was on his deathbed he called ‘Umar–Allah be pleased with them–and said:

Fear Allah o ‘Umar,and know that Allah has deeds to be done for Him in the day which He will not accept if done at night,and He has deeds to be done for Him at night which He will not accept if done during the day.He will not accept extra (nâfilah) deeds unless you fulfill the obligatory deeds. The scales of those whose scales will be weighty on the Day of Resurrection will only be weighty because they followed the truth in this life and it was weighty to them. And scales in which the truth will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be heavy. And the scales of those whose scales will be light on the Day of Resurrection will only be light because they followed falsehood in this life and it was a light matter to them. And scales in which falsehood will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be light.

Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Paradise and mentioned them in the context of their best deeds, and overlooked their evil deeds, so when I remember them I say to myself: I fear that I will not be included with them. And Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Hell and mentioned them in the context of their worst deeds and rejected their best deeds,so when I remember them I say: I hope I won’t be amongst them.Allah’s worshippers should always be in a state of hope and fear, they shouldn’t wish flimsy wishes about Allah and neither should they despair of Allah’s mercy.

If you keep to this advice of mine,no one who is not with you now should be more beloved to you than death–and it is sure to come to you.But if you disregard this advice,no one who is not with you now should be more hated to you than death–and you cannot escape it.

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol.1 p18;and Ibn Al-Jawzî,Sifah Al-Safwah.

Abu Al-’Âliyah reports that a man once asked ‘Ubay b. Ka’b–Allah be pleased with him–for advice.

He said:

Take the Book of Allah as your leader (imâm) and be pleased with it as a judge and ruler.It is what your Messenger left amongst you.It will be an intercessor for you.It is to be obeyed.It is a witness never doubted.In it is a mention of you and those before you,and judgment for whatever happens amongst you.And in it is news about you and whatever will come after you.

Al-Dhahabî in Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ’,in the biography of ‘Ubay b.Ka’b

Sa’īd b. Jubayr–Allāh have mercy on him–reports that a man once asked Ibn ‘Abbās–Allāh be pleased with them:

“How many kabā`ir (major,deadly sins) are there? Seven?”

He replied, “They are closer to seven hundred than seven; except a major sin does not remain so if one (truly) seeks forgiveness [from Allāh], and a lesser sin does not remain so if one insists on continuously doing it (i.e. it becomes a major sin).”

Al-Tabarī, Al-Tafsīr article 9207,et al.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The Prophet said;

"Straighten your rows for I see you from behind my back." Anas added, "Everyone of us used to put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion and his foot with the foot of his companion."
(Sahih Bukhari Volume 1,Book 11 ,Number:692)