MinAhlilHadeeth
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ASPECTS OF THE DAYS OF IGNORANCE
(Masaa'il-ul-Jaahiliyyah)
(Masaa'il-ul-Jaahiliyyah)
Written by Shaikh-ul-Islaam, Imaam Muhammad Ibn 'Abd-il-Wahhaab
[died 1206H]
Translated by abu maryam isma’eel alarcon
[died 1206H]
Translated by abu maryam isma’eel alarcon
TEXT OF THE BOOK
These are the aspects that the people of the Days of Ignorance – both the people of the Book and the non-People of the Book – were upon, which the Messenger of Allaah, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, opposed. They are from the matters that every Muslim is required to possess knowledge of. This is since with (understanding) one side of the opposite, the goodness of the other side of the opposite can be made apparent. And it is by (making apparent the) opposite of something that matters become clarified.
The most important of these aspects (of the Days of Ignorance) and most severe in terms of danger was the absence of faith (Eemaan) in the heart, for what the Messenger of Allaah, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, came with. And if approval for what the people of the Days of Ignorance were upon is further added to this (absence of faith), then the total ruin is achieved, as Allaah says: “And those who believe in the falsehood while disbelieving in Allaah, it is they who are the losers.” [Surat-ul-‘Ankaboot: 52]
[1] They performed worship by mixing righteous people into their supplication and worship of Allaah. They only did this desiring that these (righteous people) act as intercessors for them before Allaah, based on their notion that Allaah loved this and that these righteous people loved Him. Allaah says: “And they worship besides Allaah things that harm them not nor profit them, and they say: ‘These are our intercessors with Allaah.’” [Surah Yoonus: 18]
And He says: “And those who take associates apart from Him, (they say): ‘We worship them only so that they may bring us nearer to Allaah.’” [Surat-uz-Zumar: 3]
This is the greatest of matters that the Messenger of Allaah opposed them in. So he brought sincerity (i.e. doing deeds sincerely for Allaah alone and not for anyone else) and informed that it was the Religion of Allaah, which all the messengers were sent with. And he informed us that no deeds are accepted (by Allaah), except those done sincerely (for Him alone). And he, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, informed that whosoever does what these (polytheists) approved of, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him and his final destination will be the Hellfire. It is due to this aspect that mankind becomes divided into Muslims and disbelievers. And it is due to it that enmity (between the two) occurs. And it is for this purpose that Jihaad was legislated, as Allaah says: “And fight them (disbelievers) until there is no more fitnah (evil/disbelief) left, and the religion is for Allaah alone.” [Surat-ul-
Anfaal: 39]
[2] They divided into sects within their religion. Allaah says: “And do not be among the polytheists – of those who split up their religion and became divided into sects – each sect rejoicing in that which it has.” [Surah Room: 32]
They also split up into divisions with regard to their worldly affairs, and they saw that as being the correct thing to do. So Allaah prescribed unity and agreement in the Religion, saying: “He has ordained for you the same religion which He ordained for Nooh and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad), and that which We ordained for Ibraaheem, Moosaa and ‘Eesaa, (saying): ‘You should establish the Religion and make no divisions within it.’” [Surat-ush-Shooraa: 13]
And He says: “Verily, those who split up their religion and became sects, you have no concern with them in the least.” [Surat-ul-Ana`aam: 159]
He has forbidden us from being similar to them, saying: “And be not like those who split up and differed after the clear signs came to them.” [Surah Aali `Imraan: 105]
And He has forbidden us from splitting up into sects in the Religion: “And hold firmly onto the Rope of Allaah, all of you together, and be not divided.” [Surah Aali `Imraan: 103]
[3] They held the acts of opposing the figure of authority and failing to comply with him as being something virtuous. And they saw the acts of hearing and obeying as being humiliating and degrading. So Allaah's Messenger, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, opposed them and commanded that patience be observed when facing the oppression of the rulers. And he commanded with hearing and obeying them,3 as well as advising (them). And he, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, spoke extensively in regards to that and
he constantly brought it up and repeated it.
These (first) three aspects (of the Days of Ignorance) have been gathered together in what has been related on the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, in the two Saheehs, that he said:
“Indeed, Allaah is pleased with three things for you: 1) That you not worship (anything else) except Allaah and that you not associate anything with Him, 2) That all of you, together, hold tightly onto the Rope of Allaah and not be divided into groups, and 3) That you mutually advise he whom Allaah has given authority over your affairs.” 4
There did not occur any defects in the religious and worldly affairs of mankind, except that it was due to a violation of these (first) three aspects, or one of them.
[4] Their religion was built upon certain principles, the greatest of which was taqleed (blind following). So this was the biggest principle for all of the disbelievers – the first and last of them – as Allaah says: “And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (Muhammad) to any town (people), except that the luxurious ones among them said: ‘Verily, we found our forefathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow in their footsteps.’” [Surat-uz-Zukhruf: 23]
And He says: “And when it is said to them: ‘Follow that which Allaah has sent down’, they say: ‘Nay, we shall follow that which we found our forefathers (following).’ Would they do so even if the Devil invites them to the torment of the Fire?” [Surah Luqmaan: 21]
So He revealed to them His saying: “Say: ‘I exhort you to one thing only – that you stand up for Allaah’s sake in pairs and singly – and then reflect (upon the life of the Prophet). There is no madness in your companion (Muhammad).’” [Surat-us-Saba`:46]
And His saying: “(Say to the disbelievers): ‘Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow not any partners besides Him.’ Little do you remember!” [Surat-ul-A`araaf: 3]
[5] From their greatest principles was that they were deceived by (following) the majority, using that as a proof against the correctness of a matter. 5 And they also used as evidence for declaring the falsehood of something, the fact that it was strange and that
its adherents were few. So Allaah prescribed the opposite of that and He clarified this in many places of the Qur'aan.
[6] They relied upon (the actions of) their ancestors as evidence (for their doings), as is found in His saying: “Then what about the generations of old?” [Surah Taha: 51] 6
And His saying: “We never heard of this thing (which you have brought), amongst (the speech of) our forefathers.” [Surat-ul-Mu`minoon: 24] 7
[7] For means of evidence, they relied on the claim that they were a people that had been given strength in understanding and works, as well as in dominion, wealth and status.
So Allaah refuted that by saying: “And indeed We had firmly established them (disbelievers of old) with that wherewith We have not established you (O Quraish)!” [Surat-ul-Ahqaaf: 26]
And saying: “Although aforetime, they had invoked Allaah (for the coming of Muhammad) in order to gain victory over those who disbelieved. Then when there came to them that which they recognized (i.e. the Prophet), they disbelieved in him.” [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 89]
And saying: “Those who have been given the Scripture recognize him (Muhammad) as they recognize their own sons.” [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 146] 8
[8] They used as evidence for determining the falsehood of a matter, the fact that only the weak ones followed it, as is found in Allaah's saying: “They said: 'Shall we follow you, when the lowliest of people follow you?'” [Surat-ush-Shu`araa: 111] 9
And He says (relating their statements): “Is it these (poor believers) whom Allaah has favored from amongst us?” [Surat-ul-Ana`aam: 53]
So Allaah refuted this claim, saying: “Should not Allaah know best those who are grateful?” [Surat-ul-Ana`aam: 53]
[9] They followed and took their example from their evil and wicked scholars and worshippers. So Allaah revealed His saying: “O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and (Christian) monks that take the wealth of mankind unjustly and hinder them (mankind) from the way of Allaah.” [Surat-ut-Tawbah: 34]
And His saying: “Do not go to extremes in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth. And do not follow the vain desires of people that went astray, from times of past, and who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path.” [Surat-ul-Maa’idah: 77]
[10] They used the following argument for determining the falsehood of a religion: That the ones who followed it possessed a short amount of understanding and lacked good memory, as Allaah says: “They followed you without thinking.” [Surah Hood: 27] 10
[11] They used a wicked and false type of reasoning to establish evidence, as occurs in His saying: “You are no more than human beings like us!” [Surah Ibraaheem: 10] 11
[12] They rejected the correct and true way of reasoning. The reason for the occurrence of this aspect and the one before it was due to a lack of understanding, on their part, of (what consisted of) similarities and differences (i.e. similarities and differences between the prophets and normal human beings).
[13] They went to extremes with regard to their scholars and righteous people, as is found in His saying: “O People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion (by exceeding the limits set forth by Allaah). And do not speak concerning Allaah, except that which is true.” [Surat-un-Nisaa: 171]
[14] Everything that has been mentioned previously is based upon a principle, which is denying and affirming. Thus they followed (their) desires and speculation while turning away from what Allaah revealed to them.
[15] They used the claim that they had a “lack of comprehending” as an excuse for not following what Allaah revealed to them, as Allaah says: “(They said): 'Our hearts are sealed (with coverings).'” [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 88]
And He says: “(They said): ‘O Shu’aib, we do not understand much of what you say!’” [Surah Hood: 91]
So Allaah declared them to be liars and clarified that their lack of understanding was due to the sealing of their hearts, and the sealing of their hearts was due to their disbelief.
[16] They replaced what came to them from Allaah with books of magic, as Allaah mentions in His saying: “And when there came to them a Messenger from Allaah confirming what was with them, a party of those who were given the scripture threw the Book of Allaah behind their backs, as if they did not know! And they followed (instead) what the devils gave out (falsely of magic) in the lifetime of Sulaymaan.” [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 101-102]
[17] They ascribed their falsehood to the prophets, as is found in Allaah’s saying: “And Sulaymaan did not disbelieve” [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 102] and His saying: “Ibraaheem was neither a Jew nor a Christian.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 67] 12
[18] They contradicted themselves in their affiliations, for they affiliated themselves to Ibraaheem, yet they openly manifested their abandonment of following him.
[19] They would slander and accuse righteous people based on the actions of other who had close relations with these (righteous people). An example of this is found in the Jews' slander of 'Eesaa and the Christians' and Jews' slander of Muhammad. 13
[20] They believed that the tricks of the sorcerers and their likes were from the miracles of the righteous people. And they attributed it to the prophets, such as their ascribing it to Sulaymaan.
[21] They performed worship by whistling and clapping their hands. 14
[22] They took their Religion as an amusement and a game. 15
[23] They were deluded by the life of this world. So they perceived Allaah’s bestowal of worldly material (on someone), as an indication of His contentment (with that person),16 as He says: “And they say: ‘We are abundant in wealth and in children. And (because of that) we are not going to be punished.’” [Surah Saba’: 35]
[24] They refused to enter into the truth when they saw that they had already been preceded to it by the weak and poor - out of pride and disdain - so Allaah revealed: “And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face.” [Surat-ul-Ana’aam: 52] 17
[25] They determined the truth to be false based upon their argument that the weak and poor people took precedence in accepting it. This is as He says: “(They said): ‘Had it (i.e. Islaam) been something good, they (poor and weak ones) would not have preceded us in (accepting) it.’” [Surat-ul-Ahqaaf: 11]
[26] They distorted (i.e. tahreef) the Book of Allaah after having comprehended it, while doing so knowingly (i.e. deliberately and not out of ignorance).18
To be continued...