All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Last Prophet Muhammad.
O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except as Muslims.
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly your Lord knows who has gone astray from His path, and He is the best aware of those who are guided.
This is my last and final public reply to this topic. This is because this group was primarily conceived as a forum for discussing the possibility of having an Islamic Media in the Philippines. As such, it is not appropriate and not justified to discuss sectarian issues that are not related to the primary objective of the group.
I started with the verse of Allah where He commanded us to fear Him, to really fear Him. The question: to what extent we should fear Him is answered in the next sentence “the way He should be feared”. Our fear should therefore be proportional to the Might, Glory, and Power etc of Allah. This is an impossibility because we cannot possibly conceive the extent of Glory, Power, Might, etc. of Allah. In another verse, to clarify the issue further, He said “Fear Allah according to your ability”. Thus we should fear Him as humanly as possible. Then the next sentence says “and die not except as Muslims”, also another impossibility for humans because we don’t control our death, hence the verse would mean to be ready for death all the time.
The second verse I mentioned is the methodology of Da’wah. That is, da’wah is inviting, and calling people, not scaring them away. That it is telling people the truth and asking them to think about it, if they will not take heed then Allah said “Allah guides whom He wills”. Therefore it is not proving to somebody that we are better than them in terms of intelligence and research. If intelligence alone can guide us to the right path then why are there are so many intelligent people who do not believe in Allah.
The reference of giving da’wah is:
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe Allah and the last day. That is better and more suitable for final destination. (An Nisa 59).
And from this I shall proceed to my reply.
I shall only mention verses of the Qur’an to prove my point not because the proofs can only be found in the Qur’an but because this is the common ground for you and me to stand upon, a frame of reference to anchor our discussion. Although Allah has also mentioned His Messenger as a reference in the verse above, I will not quote hadeeth as much as possible because you don’t take knowledge from the Sahabah that is not in your ten odd saved list. This is because the Sahabah were the ones who passed on to us the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah and because of your belief against the Sahabah.
POINT NUMBER ONE: Allah subhanahuwataala is pleased with the Sahabah (A Sahabi is the one who met the Messenger of Allah and believed in him and died believing in him)
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُواْ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
And the first to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.
Brother it is Allah who is saying this that He is pleased with the Muhajirun and the Ansar.
Not only that, even those who will follow their way, He will be pleased with them (so that people like us in the later generations would have chances of gaining the pleasure of Allah).
He has prepared for them Paradise.
Doubt Number 1: Who are the Muhajirun and the Ansar?
Answer to doubt Number 1:
Who are the Muhajirun and the Ansar? Do they not include Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman aside from Ali, radiallahu anhum ajmain? Who migrated together with the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, inside the cave, wasn’t it Abu Bakr? Who helped the Muhajirun when they emigrated to Madeenah, wasn’t it the Ansar. That is why they are called Ansar because it literally means ‘helpers’.
إِلاَّ تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنزَلَ اللّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ السُّفْلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (Muhammad and Abu Bakr) were in the cave, and he said to his companion (Abu Bakr): "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us." Then Allah sent down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquillity, peace, etc.) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
Doubt Number 2: Indeed Allah is talking about the Muhajirun and the Ansar and they were good Muslims when this verse was revealed but when the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam died they went apostate. Allah may be pleased with them at the time but He wasn’t pleased with them later after the Messenger died.
Answer to doubt Number 2:
Doubt number 2 is also contradicting the verse of the Muhajirun and the Ansar because:
a. Allah said that He has prepared for them Paradise.
· This means that Allah is still pleased with them even after the Messenger of Allah died otherwise He wouldn’t say it in the Qur’an and be preserved for all time that He has prepared for them paradise.
b. If what you claim is true (that they went apostate after the death of the Messenger) then the burden is upon you to produce a proof from the Qur’an that Allah has abrogated the verse above.
· What I am asking you is a Qur’anic verse, please note this properly. I am not asking Seerah and Hadeeth (whether it is Sahih, Daeef or even Maudoo’) for two reasons:
i. It is only the Qur’an that you and me can refer to because we both agree that it is still the same Qur’an revealed to the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam. In fact it is only because of our mutual belief in the Qur’an that we call ourselves ‘brother.’
ii. The Qur’an (Isnad) chain of transmission is Mutawaatir. Meaning, so many people transmitted it in every chain and generation with the same accuracy and content, that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to come together and concoct a lie and create a false (matn) text.
iii. Because of point ii above, not all hadeeth you can mention to me has the same status in the eyes of the skilled Muhadditheen. Hence any hadeeth or seerah that you might show me in the course of our discussion that doesn’t have same level of authenticity is not acceptable. This is another topic, though related but merits a separate discussion. (There should be a topic called: hadeeth criticism between Ahlus Sunnah and Shee’a – Subhanallah this should be interesting). I suggest you read hadeeth criticism.
c. If we truly believe in the Qur’an and truly fear Allah (remember the two verses I mentioned above) indeed this single verse is ENOUGH to discredit the claim of the Sahabah, the majority of them, including the Muhajirun and Ansar, went apostate after the death of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam. This verse is clear and unequivocal.
Other verses where Allah mentions His pleasure with the Sahabah, the first believers.
Allah is not fivolous in anything He says or does. Thus I will mention to you other verses of the Qur’an mentioning the obligation of following the Sahabah. When I say Sahabah here, it includes the household of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, his ahlul bayt.
عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا
Indeed, Allâh was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai'â (pledge) to you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory
Allah not only said that He is pleased with them but He also commanded us to follow the footsteps of the Sahabah especially on those issues where they have agreed upon.
الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination.
Point to be taken from this verse:
Contradicting and opposing the Messenger is connected with following other than the believers way. This verse what revealed during the time when there are Muslims and Mushrikeen. The Muslims at that time were, of course the Messenger of Allah, his family, his relatives who are believers, the Muhajirun and the Ansar and other companions.
If the Sahabah went apostate show me a verse in the Qur’an that abrogates the specific point mentioned in the verse.
Another verse:
آمَنُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنتُم بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللّهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
So if they believe in the like of that which you believe, then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allâh will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
Point to be taken from this verse:
When Allah said ‘They’ and ‘You’ in this verse, to whom is He referring to? He is refering to the Mushrikeen and the Muslims at that time. What was Allah telling them? It is to believe like what the believers believe at that time, then it is the right guidance.
Again if the Sahabah went apostate, show me a verse in the Qur’an that abrogates the specific points mentioned in this verse.
Another verse:
لَـكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ جَاهَدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
أَعَدَّ اللّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
But the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) and those who believed with him (in Islâmic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allâh's Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful.
For them Allâh has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success. (At-Tawbah 9:88, 89)
How many of the Muhajirun and the Ansars who fought with the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam who are not in your saved list? Allah is saying here that they will be successful and again, He has prepared for them gardens underwhich rivers flow. These people were ready to die and give up their lives for the sake of Allah. Would they do that if they were just ‘going with flow’?
If they went apostate after the death of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, then produce your proof of abrogation.
POINT NUMBER TWO: The Sahabah were not infallible
This point is very obvious that in american english, this would be called a ‘no brainer’. Therefore, they can commit mistakes – indeed they committed mistakes. It should be emphasized here that in terms of (Athaar) or narrations from the Sahabah and on the seerah as well, the ruling of authenticating narrations also applies, exactly the same as with the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah. Therefore whatever you can mention to me regarding their supposed ‘sinful deeds’ may or may not be authentic according to the Usool al Hadeeth.
So what are we going to do with their mistakes?
Again lets see the Qur’an:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاؤُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful. (Al-Hashr 59:10)
This is one of the fundamentals teachings of Islam. What do we do if our brother or sister Muslims committed mistakes? What does Islam teaches? Are we supposed to tell the world about peoples mistakes? Are we commanded by Allah to dig the sins of the people and broadcast it to everyone? Are we supposed to slander them?
As before we return to the Qur’an:
A slanderer going about with calumnies (Al Qalam 68:11)
Woe to every slanderer and backbiter (Al Humazah 104:1)
Allah subhanahuwataala mentioned slander and backbiting here separately. In Arabic, there are few words I want to bring up here:
Nameemah: tale carrying from one person to another, the usual intention of which is to promote discord and disunity between the people.
Gheebah: Back biting
Buhtaan: saying something untrue about a person
Humaza: slanderer
Lumaza: backbiter
Allah had forbidden them all. If one should not slander a common Muslim, what do you think of those whom Allah praised in His own book?
Slandering the Sahabah will only bring discomfort in the least for those who are not firmly grounded in knowledge and hatred to them in the most.
Ponder carefully on this verse again:
And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful. (Al-Hashr 59:10)
We must ask Allah’s forgiveness for them and we must not put in our hearts any hatred against them. This is a very clear verse that those who believe in the Qur’an and those who fear Allah (the first two verses I mentioned) will not hesitate to accept.
Summary
What I have given here brother are just proofs from the Qur’an, the Speech of Allah that you and me hold on to. I suggest you do the same, that is, also give proofs from the Qur’an that are as clear and unequivocal as these.
The hadeeth literature is filled with proofs that supports all the Qur’anic statements quoted above. I hope Allah grants me ability and time to make a second part reply which would compose primarily from the hadeeth.
In the end it is Allah who guides and He guides whoever is sincere in seeking the truth.
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