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Tag: arrogance

Knowledge Should Increase a Person in Humility – Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)

Shaykh Uthaymeen in explanation of verse 54 of Suratul Maa’idah explains the affair of humility.

This verse comprises of praise for the one who is humble to the believers, he lowers his wings to them – i.e. he is compassionate and is humble for indeed these are characteristics which Allah (the Mighty and Majestic) loves. In opposition to whoever looks down upon his believing brothers then this is not praiseworthy in the sight of Allah, or with the creation. Due to this you should know that every time your eemaan increases you (should) increase in humility, and every time your knowledge increases it (should) increase you in humility, some people – We ask Allah not to make us from them – when his knowledge increases he puffs up with pride and becomes arrogant and he does not speak with the people except with disdain, and when the people speak to him he ignores them, and says “what did you say?” whilst he knows, he heard all of their speech but out of arrogance ignores them, and there is no doubt that this is a grave shortcoming, because every time your knowledge increases it’s a must that your humility increases.


Tafseer Suratul Ma’idah verse 54 of Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen (Allah have Mercy upon him)

Humility is a Cause for the Truth to be Accepted – Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)

Some benefits extracted by Shaykh al-Uthaymeen in explanation of verse 82 of Surah al-Ma’idah:

Humility is from the means for the acceptance of truth and gaining affection of the believers.

A benefit taken from this verse is that arrogance is a cause of rejecting the truth, humility is a means for the truth to be accepted, because a person should not hold himself to be infallible, so when the truth becomes clear to him he follows it. Umar (Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Abu Moosa Al-Ash’aree (Allah be pleased with him) and said, “Do not let an affair which you have performed today prevent you from returning to the truth tomorrow” or speech similar to this; meaning that you follow and adhere to the truth wherever it is and you humble yourself to the truth, humble yourself in face of the truth.

Does this humility in face of the truth mean that a person is lowly? No, because the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa salam) said, “Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him” and whoever humbles himself to the truth is given success in following the truth, and a sign of this is if the truth becomes clear to you, you follow it immediately without hesitation or argumentation, if you hesitate or debate then it is extremely dangerous for you, Allah (The Most High) said,

وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡـِٔدَتَهُمۡ وَأَبۡصَٰرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦٓ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time

Al-An’am 6:110

Due to this, when they truth becomes clear to you, do not debate or argue, going left and right attempting to justify yourself, for indeed you are in danger. Allah (The Mighty and Majestic) said,

بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِىٓ أَمۡرٍ مَّرِيجٍ

Nay, but they have denied the truth (this Quran) when it has come to them, so they are in a confused state (can not differentiate between right and wrong). Qaf 50:5

For them truth is mixed/confused with falsehood.

Pay attention to this, you are a student of knowledge and it’s possible that someone opposes you from the people based upon evidence however you want to impose your opinion (upon others), this is a grave error!

Follow the truth wherever it is, the people will follow you wherever you are because the people desire and seek the truth, so if they see that you follow the truth when it becomes clear to you and you return to the truth, they will return (and follow the truth).

Therefore, humbling oneself to the truth in reality it raises, just as the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa salam) said, “Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him” and in opposition to that is arrogance – Refuge is sought with Allah – arrogance causes the truth not to be accepted nor followed.


Tafseer SuraH Ma’idah verse 82 of Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen (Allah have Mercy upon him)

The Fitna of Self-Amazement Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated:

One of the trials and tribulations is that some students of knowledge are afflicted with self-amazement, being opinionated, dismissive of others, and not giving attention to their statements to the extent that a person portrays himself as if he is the scholar of the Ummah and its genius. This disease, I mean: the disease of self-amazement, is one of the most harmful things to a person, especially the students of knowledge because if a man is amazed with his own opinion, he becomes dismissive of others, gives no value to their opinions and have no qualms about opposing others, and you find him walking on the ground as if he were walking on the air due to the intensity of the self-amazement in him.

This reaches the point where a man holds a weak opinion without any validity, embraces it, and diminishes the value of others who possess the knowledge and insight that he does not possess because he encounters a hadith that he is unaware contradicts others, and he is unaware that it is weak or restricted by another hadith in meaning or ruling, but he embraces it. If only he would embrace it and others are safe from his evil, but instead he embraces it and (proceeds) to declare erroneous those who are better than him knowledge and devotion in religion. This is a grave ailment that inevitably leads the afflicted person – and we seek refuge in Allah from it – to be blinded from the truth, perceiving falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood.

Indeed, I have heard about some young individual among the seekers of knowledge who was once presented with Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal’s statement and told, “You say such-and-such, while Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said such-and-such”, so he stated, “And who is Ahmad Ibn Hanbal? He is a man, and I am a man.” Manhood in knowledge and religion requires knowledge and piety. Let us consider that you are a man and Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, is also a man, however, are you on the same level as Imam Ahmad in terms of knowledge, his indifference to the permissible things of worldly life that are of no source of reward in the Hereafter, and his piety?! O my brother! Fear Allah, and recognise your own value. Whoever recognises his own value, the people will recognise it. Whoever is amazed by himself, their worth diminishes in the eyes of the people. This (self-amazement) is one of the major trials. That’s why you find a man speaking to you while he is a young student who is proud, and self-elevated, neither relents nor is truth clear to him because they are amazed by themselves. This is one of the trials and tribulations. We ask Allah to include us among those who recognise their true worth and keep it in its rightful place.


An Excerpt from “Mawqif Al-Muslim Min Al-Fitan”. page 18-19

NEW VIDEO! Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure – Shaykh Fawzaan

Question: I am a man who is afflicted with many diseases of the heart, they include: bad thoughts of people, arrogance, and love of being heard and seen (showing off). I know that all of this is from the Shaytaan and I try to distance myself from this. However, Shaytaan lures me each time. What is your advice, O Shaykh Saalih (Al-Fawzaan) towards this?

 

Watch the full video for the Shaykh's answer!

 

Links 🔗 from Video – salafidawah.uk/Online – Online Quran Lessons Salafischool.co.uk/online – Online Full Day Classes – TuitionClub.org/Online

 

Fire is Better than Clay? Benefits from Shaytān’s Refusal to Prostrate to Ādam – Shaykh Fawzān, Additional Benefits from Shaykh ibn Bāz

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Shaykh Fawzān (hafidahullāh) in explaining the events surrounding Iblees’s disobedience of Allāh (The Mighty & Majestic) said,

Allah – jalla wa ‘alaa – commanded the angels to prostrate to Ādam; a prostration of greeting and not a prostration of worship, because prostration of worship is not allowed except for Allāh (t’āla). So all of the Angels prostrated together, except Iblīs, for indeed he was envious of Ādam (alayhis salām), and [Allaah said that Iblees] said,

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

[Iblis (Satan)] said: “I am better than him, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.” (Sād:78)

He claimed that clay had no benefit within it, whilst claiming that fire has benefit. And this is a false analogy, because clay is better than fire; fire burns and does not bring forth (anything), whereas clay brings forth seedlings and agriculture/farming and yields goodness. Therefore clay, has goodness within it, however Iblīs was blinded of this and boasted about (being created from) fire,

خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ

You created me from fire

And he did not envision what was in clay of goodness and blessing. (1)

Al-Imām ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh) in explanation of prostrating to Ādam and Yusuf (alayhimus salātu was salām) said,

This was a deed which was specified in the divine law revealed to Yoosuf [alayhis salaam], and likewise was the case when the Angels prostrated to Aadam- a specific prostration which Allaah allowed the Angels to perform and [likewise] the brothers of Yusuf.

As for the divine law that was revealed to Muhammad [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], it is not permissible to prostrate to anyone elss besides Allaah alone. None is to prostrate to another person, neither to one’s father nor to a husband, nor anyone else. When some of the companions prostrated to the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], he forbade them from that. As for in the divine law that was revealed to Yusuf [alayhis salaam], that prostration was performed as an act greeting and a sign of respect, but not an act of worship. It was permissible in the divine law that was revealed to Yusuf [alayhis salaam] but forbidden in the divine law that was revealed to Muhammad.

Likewise, the prostration of the Angels to Aadam was a prostration of greeting and respect and not a prostration of worship. (2)


(1) Shaykh Fawzān’s explanation of Igāfatul Lahfān 1439-07-01

(2) Excerpt. Slightly paraphrased from Shaykh bin Bāz’s official website

The Correct Aqīdah – Makes You Humble – Shaykh Rabī B. Hādi

The Correct Aqīdah – Makes You Humble

Shaykh Rabī ibn Hādi Al-Madkhalī:

If Allāh makes firm a person upon His True Religion, upon the True Methodology of Allāh and upon correct belief, then this is a blessing from Allāh. Therefore, he should not be deceived by himself or be arrogant and proud.

Rather, he only humbles himself to Allāh (The Lord of all that exists) and thanks him (for making him firm) and he implores Him (The Glorified and Most High) to preserve his religion for him, and to avert from him dangers and deviation.


Al-Wasāya Al-Manhajīya Page 10

Reminder to any ignorant, deviated or arrogant Graduate!

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

 

Imaam Shaafi-ee (rahimahullaah) said:

The person with the highest status (amongst the people) is the one who does not see his status, and the person with the most virtue is the one who does not see his virtue.” [Siyar 10/99]

Yusuf bin Isbaat (rahimahullaah) was asked: What is the height of humility? He said: ”You do not meet anyone except that you consider him more virtuous than yourself.” [Siyar. 9/170]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

And from the signs of wellbeing and success is that whenever the slave is increased in his knowledge, he increases in humility and mercy; and whenever he is increased in action, he increases in his fear and caution; and whenever his age is increased, he decreases in eagerness; and whenever he is increased in wealth, he increases in his generosity and spending; and whenever his status and honour is increased, he increases in coming close to the people, in fulfilling their needs and being humble in (their presence).

And the signs of wretchedness are: Whenever he is increased in knowledge, he increases in pride and haughtiness; and whenever he is increased in actions, he increases in his boasting, mockery of the people and having a good opinion of himself; and whenever he is increased in his status and honour, he increases in pride and haughtiness. These affairs of (wellbeing and wretchedness) are a trial and a test from Allaah, by which He puts His slaves to trial. He brings about wellbeing and wretchedness to a people by way of these affairs. [Al-Fawaa-id. Page:228]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said:

It is possible for a person to come, holding the certification of a doctorate (PhD), and take up the position of teaching in the faculties and universities, yet he is the most ignorant of people. And if a secondary grade student came, he would be better than him (in understanding and knowledge). And this is witnessed, observed (nowadays), there is to be found now one who holds the certification of a doctorate yet he knows absolutely nothing of knowledge. [Translated by Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah. Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen 3/436]

End of quotes

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Therefore, let it be absolutely clear to every arrogant graduate and boaster; we neither welcome nor give any consideration to any arrogant boaster regardless of his qualifications.  Likewise, we do not entertain anyone who speaks ill or belittles the well-known students of knowledge in the various Maraakiz of Salafiyyah (the well-known students of knowledge who transmit the works of the scholars in English Language in the West)–those who have maintained firmness throughout the Fitan and have no affiliation to the people of hizbiyyah, bidah and Tamyee; such as the likes of Abu Hakeem, Abu Khadeejah, Hasan Somaali, Amjad Rafiq, Abu Idrees, Abdul Ilaah, Uwais Taweel, Abu Umar Faarooq, Taqweem Aslam and others in Canada, America etc (may Allaah protect us and them from trials and tribulations). We give them a helping hand upon Bir and Taqwaa and we do not listen to the complaints of the arrogant inexperienced newcomers and those drowned in despondency.  Therefore, safeguard yourselves from being self-opinionated, arrogant and boastful; rather be sincere and humble.

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