Lesson 8: Respecting the Scholars, and the Virtue of remembering Allah with his names and Attributes
Recap of virtues of Seeking knowledge (Lesson 6):
It is a form of remembrance in itself
You are learning about Allah, your creator, about the pillars of Islam and the rulings of our religion
There is no doubt in preoccupying oneself with seeking knowledge, knowing what is halaal and haraam, studying the Qur’an and pondering over it and understanding the Seerah (biography) and Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم,) that type of knowledge is the best type.
The gatherings of knowledge are the best types of gatherings and superior to gatherings of standard remembrance
Explanation of Fardhu ‘Ain (obligation upon each Muslim) vs Fardh Kifaayah (obligation upon the Muslims as a collective)
The hadith of the virtue of the Scholar over the worshipper
Statements from the Scholars regarding the virtue of seeking knowledge:
Ath-Thawri (may Allah be pleased with him) said there is nothing better which that brings one closer to Allah than seeking knowledge, and Knowledge has not been sought at a better time than now (i.e. today, do not delay seeking Knowledge)
Maymoon Ibn Mahraan (may Allah be pleased with him) indeed the example of the Scholar in a country is like the example of a fresh spring of water
Al-Hasan Al-Basri (may Allah be pleased with him) said the Scholar is better than a Zaahid (i.e. someone who lives a humble life) in the worldly life, and the scholar is better than one who continues to strive to worship Allah. Why is this?
Imam Ash_Shaafi’i (may Allah be pleased with him) said seeking knowledge is superior to the superogatory (optional) prayers. Why is this?
Imam Ahmed (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked “Which is more beloved to you, that I should pray the superogatory night prayer or that or that I should sit down seeking knowledge. Imam Ahmed replied that if one would sit down and write about the Religion then that is more beloved to him. Imam Ahmed also said that nothing can be equated to knowledge.
The Prophet (saws) said: “He is not from us who doesn’t have mercy for our young, and respects our old and knows the right of our scholar.”” [Saheeh Al-Jaami’-us-Sagheer (no. 5443)]
Therefore me must respect the Scholars
There are some people who do not respect the Scholars and instead speak about them in a mocking and belittling way
This ideology of disrespecting the Scholars and learned people, this started in the early people of innovation and desires.
The people who belittle the scholars are of two types:
Type 1: Those on a sufi methodology, they make these disrepectuful statement as their priority in everything is their innovated acts, claiming they do it out of love. For such Sufis, they cannot be content with knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah being spread to the people or their followers seeking knowledge, instead they would like their followers to be as though they are dead bodies (i.e. in complete obedience and blind following)
Type 2: These are of the ideological, “intellectual”, “modernist” and philosophical type of people. Again, they cannot be content with the religion of Islam to be practiced in the way Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم,) and his companions practiced it. Their objective is to draw people to their own way of thinking and in order to do this, they belittle the Scholars
Type 3: These are the khawaarij, renegades. Their objective is to take political power for themselves, and in order to do this they attempt to distance and separate people from the Scholars, this reduces knowledge of how Islam is to be practiced, then they attempt to convince the people of their own way which has no basis in reality.
✏️ Lesson 7: The balanced position of the people of Qur’an, The Superiority of the Qur’an and Knowledge
The balanced position of the people of the Qur’an
We have already learnt that the best type of Dhikr is the Qur’an itself
The people who memorise it have a great virtue
Verse: “Thus We have made you [true Muslims – real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) verse 143]
Allah made this Ummah to be balanced and just.
Verse: “Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad SAW, etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise).” [Surah Al-Isra (The Journey By Night) verse 9]
Allah did not reveal this Qur’an to cause misery to the people, rather it is to give them joy, happiness and guidance.
Verse: “Ta-Ha. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress, But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah). A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the earth and high heavens. The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil. And if you (O Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden. Allah! La ilahla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names.” [Surah Ta-ha verses 1 to 8]
This was revealed because the Mushrikuun (polytheists of Makkah) used to say that the Qur’an was revealed upon Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in order to distress him.
Therefore, every carrier of the Qur’an, and all Muslims, must stay within the boundaries of the Qur’an and respect the Halal and Haraam mentioned in it.
Allah has described the virtues of the carriers of the Qur’an
✏️ Lesson 6: The Virtues of verse Ayatul-Kursi (2:255), Suratul Ikhlaas (The Purity) and other chapters
Brief Recap of previous lessons
This lesson will cover the virtue of Ayatul Kursi (the verse which mentions the footstool of Allah, 2:255), Chapter Al-Ikhlaas (The Purity) and other chapters
Previous lessons have mentioned that certain chapters of the Qur’an have specific virtues, e.g. we covered Chapter Al-Fatiha (The Opening) in lesson 5
The greatest verse of the Quran is Ayatul kursi (Chapter Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 255)
Ubayy b. Ka’b said: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Abu’ al-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest? I said: Allah and His Apostle (ﷺ) know best. He again said: Abu’l-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest? I said: Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. Thereupon he struck me on my breast and said: May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu’l-Mundhir!” [Sahih Muslim]
What is the reason for the high status of Ayatul kursi? This is due to the meanings of tawhid (Islamic monotheism) and praise upon Allah that it carries. It mentions the attributes of Might and Majesty of Allah.
Ayatul kursi has 5 names of Allah and over 20 attributes of Allah and this is more than any one verse in the Qur’an
Shayk ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said there is not a single ayah of the qur’an which incorporates that which ayatul kursi incorporates
Due to this great virtue of this verse, a person who reads ayatul kursi at night, then Allah will place a guardian upon him/her until dawn and no shaitan (satan) will approach him/her:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing from the foodstuff. I caught him and said, “I will take you to Allah’s Apostle!” Then Abu Huraira described the whole narration and said: That person said (to me), “(Please don’t take me to Allah’s Apostle and I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you.) When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn.” (When the Prophet heard the story) he said (to me), “He (who came to you at night) told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Satan.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Hadith of Abu umamah that the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “whoever reads Ayahtul kursi at the end of each the obligatory prayers, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except that he dies” [Reported in Sunan an-Nasa’i]
Ibnul Qayyim mentioned that Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah would always recite Ayatul kursi at the end of each of the obligatory prayers
Chapter Al-Ikhlaas (The Purity) also has a great virtue;
The reward for reciting this chapter is equal to that of a third of the qur’an
How is this (i.e. Suratul Ikhlas being equivalent to a 1/3 of the Qur’an) the case?
There are generally 3 topics in the Qur’an, these are; tawhid (monotheism), rulings (e.g. halal, haram) stories of the Prophets or those of the past. Some of the scholars say since Suratul-Ikhlaas purely incorporates tawhid then this is why is has the reward for reciting a third of the Qur’an.
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al Khudri that: A man heard another man reciting “Say: He is Allah, (the) One” and repeating it. When morning came he went to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and told him about that. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it is equal to one-third of the Quran.” [Related by Sunan an-Nasa’i]
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his companions, “Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur’an in one night?” This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, “Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah’s Apostle?” Allah Apostle replied: ” Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.’ (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112.1–to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur’an.” [Related by Al-Bukhari]
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said Suratul Ikhlas being a third of the Qur’an can be explained by the explanation above (regarding the 3 topics), however it should not be said Suratul Ikhlas is better than Suratul Fatiha, or that reciting it 3 times is equivalent to reciting the entire Qur’an. The Qur’an is to be recited as it is. Reciting it provides equivalent reward as though reciting a third of the Qur’an however these acts themselves are not the same and a person should not abandon reciting the rest of the Qur’an.
Lesson 5: The variances in the Chapters of the Qur’an and the Great Virtue of Surah Al-Fatiha
The chapters in the Qur’an have different levels of virtue
NOTE: it is important to emphasise that ALL the chapters of the Qur’an are equal in one aspect, that is that they are all the speech of Allah and his revelation
Therefore, all the chapters of Qur’an have a great status by default
The remembrance of Allah through the recitation of the Qur’an and pondering over the Qur’an has a great amount of reward
However, different chapters have certain virtues,
the speech of Allah has different topics and this determines what types of virtues are present,
For example, Suratul-Ikhlaas (The Sincerity) talks exclusively about the Tawhid of Allah (monotheism)
Another example is surah #
The speech of Allah can be of two types:
Information regarding the creator (e.g. the names and attributes of Allah) or the creation (e.g. stories of prophets, heaven and hell, future events)
Information regarding the rulings (halaal and haraam, commands)
The greatest of the topics in the Qur’an is where Allah tells us about himself
Therefore, those verses talking about Allah are going to be more virtues than the verses about the creation etc
Virtues of Surah Al-Fatiha:
There is nothing in the Torah nor in the injeel (Bible) nor in the rest of the Qur’an that is equal to surah Al-Fatiha, see below hadith.
Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) went out to Ubayy bin Ka`b, and so the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “O Ubayy!”, and he (Ubayy) was praying, Ubayy turned and did not answer him. Ubayy made his prayer light then went to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saying, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah!’ He said, “Peace be unto you. O Ubayy, what prevented you from answering me when I called you?” He said, `O Messenger of Allah! I was praying.’ He said, “Did you not read among what Allah has sent down to me,”﴿اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ﴾”Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life” [8:24]. He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! I will not do it again.’ the Prophet said, “Would you like me to teach you a Surah the likes of which nothing has been revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur (Psalms) or the Qur’an?” He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah said, said, (What do you read in the prayer.) Ubayy said, `So I recited Umm Al-Qur’an to him.’ He said, “By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah has never revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur or the Qurqan a Surah like it. It is the seven repeated verses that I was given.”[Reported by At-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albaani]
This hadith highlights to us the great virtue of Surah fatihah, it has different names, the seven oft repeated verses (see verse 15:87) and also the The core of the Qur’an. Other names are “Ash-Shifa” (the curer).
Another virtue of Surah Al-Fatiha is that your prayer is invalid without it. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said whomsoever prays without reciting surah Al-Fatiha then his prayer will be incomplete. See below Hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, It is deficient [he said this three times] and not complete. It was said to Abu Huraira: At times we are behind the Imam. He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. And when he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Sufyan said: ‘Ala b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ya’qub narrated it to me when I went to him and he was confined to his home on account of illness, and I asked him about it.” [Reported by Sahih Muslim]
Surah Fatiha is a dialogue between Allah and his servant this indicates the great amount of virtue within this chapter. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) when he used to recite Surah Al-Fatiha he used to recite it verse by verse and this is best.
