Al-Hasan reported:
A man said to Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, “Fear Allah, O leader of the believers! By Allah, the matter is not as you said!”
The people rushed to the man and they said, “Do not criticize the leader of the believers!”
When Umar saw them crowding around the man, he said, “Leave him alone. There is no goodness in him if he did not say it to us, and there is no goodness in us if we do not listen.”
It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad peace be upon him) to the Muhsinun (doers of good).
I went to visit 'Abdullah bin 'Umar at his house which contained many tents made of cotton cloth and these were encircled with Suradik (part of the tent). I asked him from where, should one assume Ihram for Umra. He said, "Allah's Apostle had fixed as Miqat (singular of Mawaqit) Qarn for the people of Najd, Dhul-Hulaifa for the people of Medina, and Al-Juhfa for the people of Sham."
The season of Hajj is approaching. Normally, millions of Muslims prepare to observe this worship at this time every year. They prepare to gather in Makkah and the sacred places to respond to Allah’s invitation to visit His House; an invitation announced by Prophet Ibrahim and then renewed by Prophet Muhammad.
However, the situation this year is pretty unusual. Over 99% of would-be pilgrims will not be able to observe Hajj this year due to COVID-19.
It is sad to see the Holy sites not overflowing with worshipers from all corners of the globe as usual. We will miss the awe-inspiring scene of millions of pilgrims praying together and observing the different rituals of Hajj.
Humble Beginnings
It is reported that Al-Ahnaf b. Qays – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
I find it amazing how anyone who passed through the urinary tract twice could ever be arrogant and haughty!
Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 4:92. https://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/humble-beginnings/
Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?
Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.
Sometimes the Manners Surpassed Knowledge
It is reported that Imām Al-Zuhrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
We used to sometimes come to a scholar and what we learned of his manners was more beloved to us than the knowledge we took from him.
Abū Nuʿaym, Ḥilyatu Al-ʾAwliyāʾ #4575
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."
And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. [Quran 41:33-34]
Ibn Abdu Rabbih reported: Abdul Malik said to his father Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, “O father, what is the matter that you do not implement the commands? By Allah, I would not mind if it caused discord between us as long as it was the truth.” Umar said, “Do not make it so, my son. Verily, Allah blamed wine-drinking in the Quran twice and on the third time He made it unlawful. I fear that if I compelled people to follow the truth all at once, they would reject it all at once and that would cause a tribulation.”
Source: al-ʻIqd al-Farīd 5/185
عن ابن عبد ربه قال عبد الملك بن عمر بن عبد العزيز رحمه الله لأبيه يا أبت ما لك لا تنفذ الأمور فو الله ما أبالي لو أن القدور غلت بي وبك في الحق قال له عمر لا تعجل يا بنيّ فإنّ الله ذمّ الخمر في القرآن مرتين وحرّمها في الثالثة وأنا أخاف أن أحمل الحق على الناس جملة فيدفعونه جملة ويكون من ذلك فتنة
5/185 العقد الفريد
https://abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2015/12/12/umar-ii-gradualism-beware-force/
Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Among the degradation of knowledge is that you debate everyone who debates you, or you argue with everyone who argues with you.”
And he said, “Knowledge is ignorance to the people of ignorance, just as ignorance is ignorance to the people of knowledge.”
Source: Manāqib al-Shāfi’ī lil-Bayhaqī 2/151
عَنْ ابن عبد الحكم قال قال الشافعي رحمه الله من إِذَالَةِ العلم أن تناظر كلَّ من ناظرك وتُقاوِلَ كلَّ من قَاوَلَك
وقال العلم جهل عند أهل الجهل كما أن الجهل جهل عند أهل العلم
The Argumentative Loser
It is reported that Bilāl b. Saʿd – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If you see a man being obstinate, argumentative and impressed with his own opinion, then his loss is complete.
Abū Nuʿaym, ʿHilyatu Al-Awliyāʾ 5:228
قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِى بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do? [Quran 26:112]
بَقِيَّتُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ
What remains [lawful] from Allah is best for you, if you would be believers. But I am not a guardian over you." [Quran 11:86]
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مُنَٰفِقُونَ ۖ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ
And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madinah. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You, [O Muhammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice [in this world]; then they will be returned to a great punishment. [Quran 9:101]
Can you reflect upon the verses above and find a common theme?
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