No Questions Asked (Hadith No. 2769)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2768 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 371 :
Narrated by Urwa bin Az-Zubair
Hakim bin Hizam (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “I asked Allah’s Apostle for something, and he gave me. I asked him again, and he gave me, and said to me. ‘O Hakim! This wealth is like green sweet (i.e. fruit), and if one takes it without greed, then one is blessed in it, and if one takes it with greediness, then one is not blessed in it, and will be like the one who eats without satisfaction. And an upper (i.e. giving) hand is better than a lower (i.e. taking) hand,’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I will not ask anyone for anything after you till I leave this world.” So, when Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) during his Caliphate, called Hakim to give him (some money), Hakim (radiallaahu `anhu) refused to accept anything from him. Once ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) called him (during his Caliphate) in order to give him something, but Hakim refused to accept it, whereupon ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “O Muslims! I give him (i.e. Hakim) his right which Allah has assigned to him) from this Fai ‘(booty), but he refuses to take it.” So Hakim (radiallaahu `anhu) never took anything from anybody after the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) till he died.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 53, Number 372 :
Narrated by Nafi
‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I vowed to observe Itikaf for one day during the Pre-lslamic period.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered him to fulfill his vow. ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) gained two lady captives from the war prisoners of Hunain and he left them in some of the houses at Mecca. When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) freed the captives of Hunain without ransom, they came out walking in the streets. ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said (to his son), “O Abdullah! See what is the matter.” ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu) replied, “Allah’s Apostle has freed the captives without ransom.” He said (to him), “Go and set free those two slave girls.”
(Nafi added:) Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) did not perform the ‘Umra from Al-Jarana, and if he had performed the ‘Umra, it would not have been hidden from ‘Abdullah.

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Smile. All The Time! (Hadith No. 2670)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2669 (below) is a repeat. Read it here (number 90).

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 272 :
Narrated by Al-Bara (radiallaahu `anhu)
I saw Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) on the day (of the battle) of the Trench carrying earth till the hair of his chest were covered with dust and he was a hairy man. He was reciting the following verses of ‘Abdullah (bin Rawaha): “O Allah, were it not for You, We would not have been guided, Nor would we have given in charity, nor prayed. So, bestow on us calmness, and when we meet the enemy. Then make our feet firm, for indeed, Yet if they want to put us in affliction, (i.e. want to fight against us) we would not (flee but withstand them).” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to raise his voice while reciting these verses.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 273 :
Narrated by Jarir (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) did not screen himself from me since my embracing Islam, and whenever he saw me he would receive me with a smile. Once I told him that I could not sit firm on horses. He stroked me on the chest with his hand and said, “O Allah! Make him firm and make him a guiding and a rightly-guided man.”

Why Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave Jarir (radiallaahu `anhu) this du`a is mentioned in a longer narration in this post. But our focus today is going to be on the first part of this hadith: “..whenever he saw me he would receive me with a smile.”

Is there anyone in our lives who can say the same for us? Let’s smile more often, shall we? :)

Traveling Preferences of the Prophet [sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam] (Ahadith 2594 – 2597)

Bismillah.

1. Traveling on Thursday:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 199 :
Narrated by Ka’b bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) set out on Thursday for the Ghazwa of Tabuk and he used to prefer to set out (i.e. travel) on Thursdays.

2. Traveling after Zuhr

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 200 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) offered a four-Rak’at Zuhr prayer at Medina and then offered a two Rak’at ‘Asr prayer at Dhul-Hulaifa and I heard the companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) reciting Talbiya aloud (for Hajj and ‘Umra) altogether.

3. Traveling at the end of the Month:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 201 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
We set out in the company of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) five days before the end of Dhul Qa’da intending to perform Hajj only. When we approached Mecca, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered those who did not have the Hadi (i.e. an animal for sacrifice) with them, to perform the Tawaf around the Ka’ba, and between Safa and Marwa and then finish their Ihram. Beef was brought to us on the day of (i.e. the days of slaughtering) and I asked, “What is this?” Somebody said, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) has slaughtered (a cow) on behalf of his wives.”

4. Traveling in Ramadan:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 202 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) set out in the month of Ramadan. He observed fasting till he reached a place called Kadid where he broke his fast.

Which is better, breaking one’s fast when traveling or fasting?

The four Imams and the majority of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een were of the view that fasting whilst traveling is permissible and is correct and valid. If the traveler fasts, it counts and he does not have to make it up. See al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, vol. 28, p. 73

As to what is better, that depends:

1 – If fasting and not fasting are the same, in the sense that fasting does not affect him, then in this case fasting is better, because of the following evidence:

(a)   It was narrated that Abu’l-Darda’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [on a journey] during the month of Ramadaan when it was intensely hot, until one of us would put his hand on his head because of the intense heat, and no one among us was fasting apart from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1945; Muslim, no. 1122).

(b)  Fasting whilst traveling means that one fulfils one’s duty more quickly, because making it up later means delaying it, but fasting in Ramadaan means doing it sooner.

(c)  It is usually easier for the one who has this duty, because fasting and breaking the fast with the people is easier than starting to fast all over again.

(d)  It makes the most of a blessed time, namely Ramadaan, for Ramadaan is better than other times, because it is the time when fasting is obligatory. Based on this evidence the view of al-Shafaa’i, which is that fasting is better in the case of one for whom fasting and not fasting are the same, is most likely to be correct.

2 – If not fasting is easier for him, then in this case we say that not fasting (when traveling) is better. If something will give him hardship, then in his case fasting becomes makrooh, because doing something that causes hardship when there is a concession indicates that one is spurning a concession granted by Allaah.

3 – If it will case unbearable difficulty, then in this case it becomes haraam for him to fast. The evidence for that is the report narrated by Muslim from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with them), that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out to Makkah in the year of the Conquest in Ramadaan, and fasted until he reached Kuraa’ al-Ghameem. The people were fasting, but he called for a cup of water and lifted it up so that the people could see it, then he drank it. After that, he was told that some of the people had continued to fast. He said, “Those are the disobedient, those are the disobedient.” According to another report, he was told, “The people are finding it hard to fast, and they are waiting to see what you will do.” So he called for a cup of water after ‘Asr. (1114) So he described those who fasted even though it was very difficult as being disobedient. See al-Sharh al-Mumti’by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 6, p. 355).

Al-Nawawi and al-Kamaal ibn al-Humaam said: the ahaadeeth which indicate that it is better not to fast are to be interpreted as referring to those who will be harmed by fasting; in some of them this is clearly stated, so they must be interpreted in this manner, so as to reconcile between the ahaadeeth. That is better than neglecting some of them or claiming that they have been abrogated, without definitive evidence to that effect.  In the case of those for whom fasting and not fasting are the same, they quoted as evidence the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Should I fast whilst traveling?” – and he used to fast a lot. He (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) said: “if you want to, then fast; if you don’t want to, then do not fast.” (Agreed upon).

[IslamQA]

Surprise Attacks: Not a Sunnah (Ahadith 2588 – 2590)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 193 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Whenever Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) attacked some people, he would never attack them till it was dawn. If he heard the Adhan (i.e. call for prayer) he would delay the fight, and if he did not hear the Adhan, he would attack them immediately after dawn. We reached Khaibar at night.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 194 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Same as Hadith No. 193 above.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 195 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) set out for Khaibar and reached it at night. He used not to attack if he reached the people at night, till the day broke. So, when the day dawned, the Jews came out with their bags and spades. When they saw the Prophet; they said, “Muhammad and his army!” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, Allahu Akbar! (Allah is Greater) and Khaibar is ruined, for whenever we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then it will be a miserable morning for those who have been warned.”

This is really interesting because Muslims had the perfect opportunity to use the element of surprise when they reached Khaibar. They could’ve raided the whole town, plundered and looted, but they didn’t. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) waited till dawn so the Jews could come out and see that they were under attack and prepare for retaliation/defense. Fair and square. The Jews still lost and nobody could say that the Muslim army wasn’t strong enough to handle theirs. The wait would’ve helped rejuvenate the soldiers too as they got to get some rest after travelling. So that was a plus.

This is all my own theory and understanding, not a scholar’s commentary. And based on the words of Anas (radiallahu `anhu), I chose the title of this post. Now there could have been some exceptions to this in the Seerah that I can’t think of right now. But this was a norm of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), so yeah, surprise attacks are not from the Sunnah.

Modern warfare need not use all the same strategies as the Prophet’s (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), since it’s a different time and our ways have changed, but as long as the basic rules laid down by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (for example, not cutting trees unnecessarily, not killing women and children etc.) are being followed, we’re good. (Y)

Bid`ah 101 (Hadith No. 2359)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2357 – 2358 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 49, Number 859 :
Narrated by Aisha (radiallahu `anhaa)
The following Verse: If a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part (i.e. the husband notices something unpleasant about his wife, such as old age or the like, and wants to divorce her, but she asks him to keep her and provide for her as he wishes). (4.128) “There is no blame on them if they reconcile on such basis.”

Volume 3, Book 49, Number 860 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (radiallahu `anhumaa)
A bedouin came and said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! Judge between us according to Allah’s Laws.” His opponent got up and said, “He is right. Judge between us according to Allah’s Laws.” The bedouin said, “My son was a laborer working for this man, and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that my son should be stoned to death; so, in lieu of that, I paid a ransom of one hundred sheep and a slave girl to save my son. Then I asked the learned scholars who said, “Your son has to be lashed one-hundred lashes and has to be exiled for one year.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No doubt I will judge between you according to Allah’s Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to go back to you, and your son will get a hundred lashes and one year exile.” He then addressed somebody, “O Unais! go to the wife of this (man) and stone her to death” So, Unais went and stoned her to death.

See 817 in this post.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 49, Number 861 :
Narrated by Aisha (radiallahu `anhaa)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.”

1.    Definition of bid’ah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “According to sharee’ah, the definition is ‘Worshipping Allaah in ways that Allaah has not prescribed.’ If you wish you may say, ‘Worshipping Allaah in ways that are not those of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his rightly guided successors (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon).’”

The first definition is taken from the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?” [al-Shooraa 42:21]

The second definition is taken from the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said:

“I urge you to adhere to my way (Sunnah) and the way of the rightly-guided successors (al-khulafa’ al-raashidoon) who come after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your eyeteeth [i.e., cling firmly to it], and beware of newly-invented matters.”

So everyone who worships Allaah in a manner that Allaah has not prescribed or in a manner that is not in accordance with the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his rightly-guided successors (al-khulafa’ al-raashidoon), is an innovator, whether that innovated worship has to do with the names and attributes of Allaah, or to do with His rulings and laws.

With regard to ordinary matters of habit and custom, these are not called bid’ah (innovation) in Islam, even though they may be described as such in linguistic terms. But they are not innovations in the religious sense, and these are not the things that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was warning us against.

And there is no such thing in Islam as bid’ah hasanah (good innovation).”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, vol. 2, p. 291)

2. Categories of bid’ah

Bid’ah may be divided into two categories:

(i)        bid’ah which constitutes kufr

(ii)       bid’ah which does not constitute kufr

If you ask, what is the definition of bid’ah which constitutes kufr and that which does not constitute kufr?

The answer is:

Shaykh Haafiz al-Hukami (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The kind of bid’ah which constitutes kufr is when one denies a matter on which there is scholarly consensus, which widely-known, and which no Muslim can have any excuse for not knowing, such as denying something that is obligatory, making something obligatory that is not obligatory, or making something haraam halaal, or making something halaal haraam; or believing some notion about Allaah, His Messenger and His Book when they are far above that, whether in terms of denial of affirmation  – because that means disbelieving in the Qur’aan and in the message with which Allaah sent His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Examples include the bid’ah of the Jahamiyyah, who denied the attributes of Allaah; or the notion that the Qur’aan was created; or the notion that some of the attributes of Allaah were created; or the bid’ah of the Qadariyyah  who denied the knowledge and actions of Allaah; or the bid’ah of the Mujassimah who likened Allaah to His creation… etc.

The second category, bid’ah which does not constitute kufr, is defined as that which does not imply rejection of the Qur’aan or of anything with which Allaah sent His Messengers.

Examples include the Marwaani bid’ahs (which were denounced by the greatest Sahaabah who did not approve of them, although they did not denounce them as kaafirs or refuse to give them bay’ah because of that), such as delaying some of the prayers until the end of the due times, doing the Eid khutbah before the Eid prayer, delivering the khutbah whilst sitting down on Fridays, etc.

(Ma’aarij al-Qubool, 2/503-504)

3- The ruling on one who commits bid’ah – is he regarded as a kaafir or not?

The answer is that it depends.

If the bid’ah constitutes kufr, then the person is one of the following two types:

(i)              Either it is known that his intention is to destroy the foundations of Islam and make the Muslims doubt it. Such a person is definitely a kaafir; indeed, he is a stranger to Islam and is one of the enemies of the faith.

(ii)             Or he is deceived and confused; he cannot be denounced as a kaafir until proof is established against him, fair and square.

If the bid’ah does not constitute kufr, then he should not be denounced as a kaafir. Rather, he remains a Muslim, but he has done a gravely evil action.

If you ask, how should we deal with those who commit bid’ah?

The answer is:

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “In both cases, we have to call these people – who claim to be Muslim but who commit acts of bid’ah which may constitute kufr or may be less than that – to the truth, by explaining the truth without being hostile or condemning what they are doing. But once we know that they are too arrogant to accept the truth – for Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning), ‘And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allaah, lest they insult Allaah wrongfully without knowledge.’ [al-An’aam 6:108] – if we find out that they are stubborn and arrogant, then we should point out their falsehood, because then pointing out their falsehood becomes an obligation upon us.

With regard to boycotting them, that depends upon the bid’ah. If it is a bid’ah which constitutes kufr, then it is obligatory to boycott the person who does it. If it is of a lesser degree than that, then it is essential to examine the situation further. If something may be achieved by boycotting the person, then we do it; if no purpose will be served by it, or if it will only make him more disobedient and arrogant, then we should avoid doing that, because whatever serves no purpose, it is better not to do it. And also in principle it is haraam to boycott a believer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘It is not permissible for a man to forsake [not speak to] his brother for more than three [days].’”

(Adapted from Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, vol. 2, p. 293)

Taken from IslamQA

Further reading: innovation (bid’ah) and consideration of public interest (maslahah mursalah).