The people of the Qiblah who are kafir

Edited by Friends of Deoband
 

In his Ikfarul Mulhideen, 'Allamah Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri (Allah have mercy on him) states: “Such people of the Qiblah who deny beliefs on which there is consensus, are unanimously kafir (disbeliever).” Mulla 'Ali al-Qari (Allah have mercy on him) says in Sharh Fiqh Akbar: "Remember! The People of the Qiblah are only those who are in full agreement with the Ahl al-Haqq (people of the truth) regarding the essentials of the din such as the temporal nature of the universe, physical resurrection in Qiyamah, the knowledge of Allah is all-embracing and comprehends the minutest detail."

Thus a person who adheres to the laws and worship of the din his entire life, but believes [for example] that the universe is eternal or he rejects the physical resurrection of the bodies or he believes that Allah’s knowledge is not all-comprehensive, never is such a person among the Ahl al-Qiblah (people of the Qiblah). Without any difference of opinion he is a kafir.

Qunut & Du'a

Edited by Friends of Deoband

While Muslims the world over are humiliatingly powerless to assist their brethren who are being massacred universally, there is one effective strategy that we have to adopt – du'a. Supplicating to Allah for succour is within the ability of every Muslim. Du'a, Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said is "the essence of  'ibada (worship)".

In situations of communal and national disaster and fear, Qunut Nazilah is sometimes recited during Salah. Although this is a valid practice, our akabireen advocate Salah al-Hajah (prayer of need) and du'a individually in privacy.

Errors of the saliheen

Edited by Friends of Deoband

The saliheen (pious saints) also sometimes commit errors. However, their errors should not be cited as justification for corrupt views and for audacity to commit sins. Such an attitude is kufr (disbelief), hence, ‘Allamah ‘Abdul Wahhab al-Sha’rani (Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever takes to the obscurities [and errors] of the ‘ulama has made his exit from Islam."

Hadhrat Mawlana Ya’qub Nanautwi (Allah have mercy on him) was a teacher of Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him). He was among the first wrung of teachers of Dar al-'Ulum Deoband. He was an expert of many subjects. Once he desired to become an expert in music. Despite his acknowledged lofty spiritual state, he soon acquired expertise in the science of music. Music here refers to the art or theoretical rules and regulations of the science of music. It does not refer to music accompanied by musical instruments.

When is the silence of the 'Ulama justified

Edited by Friends of Deoband

The 'ulama are the brains and the heart of the community. When they become decrepit with moral and spiritual diseases, there is no hope for the masses. As long as the 'ulama faithfully discharge their sacred obligations, the community as a whole will remain on the Path of Rectitude and safe from the universal punishment

However, there are situations when it becomes virtually impossible for most 'ulama to publicly practise Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy an l-Munkar (enjoining which is good and forbidding which is evil). Such situations exist in places where evil, immoral munafiq (hypocrite) regimes exist. In countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, etc., 'ulama are imprisoned and tortured for proclaiming the haqq (truth).

Advice to a Molvi

 Edited by Friends of Deoband

A newly qualified molvi (student who has completed 6 years or more of rigorous Islamic studies), finding himself caught up in the baatil (falsehood) of his community whose imam is a Bid’ati Qabar Pujaari (Grave-Worshipper), wrote to us seeking advice. How should he conduct himself in the cauldron of baatil in which he has been cast? Our advice which will benefit other students or new molvis in similar circumstances is as follows:

It should be abundantly clear that it is not permissible to join people of baatil. Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy an l-Munkar (enjoining which is good and forbidding which is evil) is wajib (obligatory). It is your

To Compromise with baatil or not?

Edited by Friends of Deoband 

A disease which has beset the 'ulama of the age is compromise with baatil (falsehood). A variety of baatil excuses is proffered for justifying this compromise. The following episode narrated by Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali al-Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) should be sufficient lesson for the compromisers.

"When Sultan Mahmud al-Ghaznawi conquered India, he set about to demolish the Hindu temple in Somnath. All the idols in the temple were smashed. When the biggest idol was about to be smashed, the idol-worshippers passionately pleaded for their idol to be spared. They promised to give in exchange the weight of the idol in gold if it was not smashed.

Q&A: Lifting the hands at the graveyard

Edited by Friends of Deoband

Question:

Regarding raising the hands in the graveyard when making du'a, a Shaykh al-Hadith says that it is not bid’ah. He says that if one’s aqidah (belief) is correct then one may lift the hands even whilst facing the grave. Is this correct? Also, Imam Nawawi states that it is mustahab (desirable) to raise the hands whilst making dua' in the graveyard. In Abu Dawud, Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) instructed the Sahabah to make du'a by the grave. Now may the hands be lifted by the grave since it is established from other ahadith?

Introduction

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Insha Allah, I aim to regularly update this blog with articles that appear in the monthly journal of the Majlisul Ulama of South Africa, The Majlis and any other publications that the organisation publishes. The Majlis is edited by the well respected and senior khalifa and student of Hadhrat Maseeh al-Ummat Mawlana Maseeh Allah Khan al-Sherwani (Allah have mercy on him); Mawlana Ahmed Sadeck Desai of Port Elizabeth. I aim to edit these articles so as to conform to a more universally understood standard where Arabic, Persian and Indian terms are replaced for the benefit of those who do not come from these cultural backgrounds.

I humbly ask readers to pray that this small effort will be of benefit and Allah makes it a means to my salvation in the afterlife.

The Editor
Friends of Deoband
09-May-2012
17-Jumaad al-Ukhra-1433