Sun 30th Sep

Lesson 2: Indeed Actions are by Intentions (Parts 1+2)

• It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu’minin, Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) who said: “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]
• For an action to occur it must have an intention behind it, otherwise this cannot be termed an action. For example, when a sleeping person or an insane person performs an act, then we do not say this is the same as what someone does who intends to do that act
• Important aspects of an Action:
• • the intention itself
  • the one for whom you are doing the action for
• The explanation by Shaykh Abdelmuhsin Al-Abbād can be divided into 9 parts

Part 1: The chain of narration

• This hadith has been collected by Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam Muslim and the collectors of the Sunan,
  • Who are the collectors of the sunan?
• Other collectors of hadith have also collected this hadith
• This hadith was narrated through only Umar (at the level of the companions)
• Who narrated it from Umar?
• NOTE: when a narration has only one person at a specific level (e.g. at the level of the companions or the generations that followed them) then this type of hadith is called Ghareeb. This does not mean that it is unauthentic, it merely means that there is only one person at any level.
• This is the very first hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari. Likewise the very last hadith of Sahih Al-Bukhari is also a ghareeb hadith
  • Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection]’.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Part 2: The great importance of this Hadith

• Shaykh Abdelmuhsin Al-Abbād says that Imam An-Nawawi as well as a great amount of scholars have begun their books with this hadith.
  • Who are these Scholars?
• Imam Nawawi quotes Imam Shaafi’i that “This hadith enters upon 70 different chapters of fiqh (Jurisprudence)”.
• Imam Nawawi quotes Imam Shaafi’i that “This hadith is a third of knowledge”
• This hadith is one of the hadith that Islam revolves around
• Every muslim should have some level of understanding regarding this hadith
• Imam Nawawi says that he began with this Hadith in order to follow the footsteps of Imam Al-Bukhari and cites the scholars who preceded him as to the importance of beginning with this hadith
• Shaykh Abdelmuhsin Al-Abbād mentions that Ibn Rajab (who authored a comprehensive Explanation of the 40 Hadith if Imam Nawawi), that he says that Imam Bukhari places this hadith in the beginning of his book as though to indicate it as an introduction or preface and that any action one does without dedicating it to seeking the face of Allah, then such action has no fruit to it in this life nor in the hereafter

Sat 29th Sep 2018

Lesson 26: Warning against making Dua Melodious, pronunciation and making dua for your parents and the Muslims

Warning againts making Dua Melodious:

• It is not from the Sunnah to make your dua melodious (e.g. rhyming, intonations and tones etc)
• Imam Bukhari has a chapter regarding that which is disliked from making dua rhythmic or melodious
• Imam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that some people make dua in such a way that is not from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, they use words that have melodies, patterns and syllables and they leave the actual duas of the Prophet (ﷺ) and this may therefore mean their dua may not be answered
• There may be certain authentic narrations which may have words that sound as though they rhyme, however to purposely attempt to create melodious dua is makrooh, disliked. Such a person is in danger of being more focused on making their dua sound nice rather than having
• Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar mentioned that what is mentioned in authentic narrations (i.e dua which were said by the Prophet (ﷺ)) which may rhyme are an exception to the makrooh ruling of making dua melodious.
  • What are some Examples?

Is Correct Pronunciation necessary for the dua to be valid?:

• It is important that the dua is read accurately and properly
• Shaykh Ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah was asked about the saying that a person who makes dua with wrong pronunciation or incorrect arabic grammar then his dua is invalid, he said whoever says that has opposed the Qur’an and sunnah since the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions have not said such a thing.
• A person should try to strive to make sure they are reading with correct pronunciation however if this is difficult for him/her then they should not make it so that they divert most of their attention to this instead of the dua, rather they should focus on the dua itself.

Making dua for the Muslims:

• • From the important affairs that is appropriate and required for a muslim to pay attention to is that he/she should make dua for the Muslims, ask Allah to grant them success, to forgive them and to have mercy upon them and that he aids them upon good
  • Every Muslim is need of the above affairs (success, forgiveness, mercy and to be upon good) and indeed every Muslim would love that the others are making dua for him/her, and indeed a Muslim loves for his brother that which he loves for himself
  • Therefore it is befitting for a muslim to make dua for all his muslim brothers and sisters
  • If we look at the state of the Muslims then we find that the Muslims are in different states, however all Muslims are in need of dua from their brothers and sisters
    • For example, a muslim who has an illness and his muslim brothers and sisters make dua for his relief
    • Another example is where there are great trials and tribulations have occurred, e.g., war, enemies, spilling of blood, loss of wealth etc and so these Muslims are in need of the dua made by their Muslim brothers and sisters
    • The Prophet (ﷺ) used to do the Qunuut (the dua in the prayer) when calamities occured
    • Allah says: “The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” [Surah Hujaraat verse 10]
    • Allah says: “The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Surah At-Tawbah (Repentance) verse ]
    • Narrated An-Nu`man bin Bashir: “Allah’s Apostle said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
    • Nu’man b. Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Muslims are like one body of a person; if the eye is sore, the whole body aches, and if the head aches, the whole body aches.” [Sahih Muslim]
    • Narrated Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet said, “A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” The Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that).” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
    • A Muslim should always love goodness for himself as well as his Muslim brothers and sisters. A Muslim should  have a compassionate and understanding nature. He/she should desire goodness, success and rectification and guidance for his brothers and sisters and should make dua a lot
    • A Muslim should not curse and abuse others.
  • Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A true believer is not involved in taunting, or frequently cursing (others) or in indecency or abusing.” [At-Tirmidhi][Riyad as-Salihin]

• It is narrated on the authority of Jabir that he heard the (Holy Prophet (ﷺ)) say:“A Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” [Sahih Muslim]

• Narrated Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet said, “Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah’s Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Ibn Taymiyyah said that the meat of the scholars is poisonous (i.e. one will reap the evil rewards of abusing the scholars)

Friday 28th Sep

Sun 23^rd Sept 2018

Lesson 1: Introduction and Biography of Imam Nawawi and Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād

• Introduction to the 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi
• The best statements uttered by any human are the statements spoken by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
• Imam Nawawi has collected 42 comprehensive hadith from the fundamentals and principles of our deen in this book
• We will be using the commentary of Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād,
  • Story of Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbad and his classes on this book
• The life of Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him):
  • What was his name?
    • kunya and title (Muhyideen, though he disliked it)
  • His birthplace
    • Born in the year 631 AH in the month of Muharram, in a town called Nawa on the outskirts of Damascus
  • His seeking of knowledge
  • His death
    • He passed away in his home town, in the house he was born in, on the 24^th of Rajab in the year 676 AH
  • A brief biography of Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād (may Allah preserve him)
    • His name
    • His birthplace
      • In the town of Zulfi (near Riyadh) in the year 1353 AH
    • His seeking of Knowledge
    • His role at the Islamic University of Madinah
  • Introduction to the book by Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād
    • Praise of Allah
    • Salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his family, his companions and those who follow their footsteps
    • Introduction to the 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi and why he gathered 40 ahadeeth
    • Imam Nawawi’s own introduction to the book and his praise for the scholars
    • The importance of this collection of 42 hadith
    • Imam Nawawi’s citing of the narrations, their authenticity and chains
    • Imam Nawaiw says it is binding for anyone who has ardent desire for the afterlife that he/she knows and reflects on these ahadeeth due to the important matters they contain
    • Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād explains the impact this book has had alongside other great works
    • Imam Ibn Rajab added further 8 hadith to this collection for a total of 50 hadith
    • Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād explains this Sharh (commentary) and how it is structured
  • Encouragement from Shaykh AbdelMuhsin Al-Abbād to learn and memorise these ahadeeth