First day of Class - 1st lesson

Virtues of Seeking Knowledge

Virtues of Seeking knowledge:

The proven hadeeth is that which was narrated by Ibn Maajah from the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.’” (220. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah. What is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of sharee’ah (Islamic knowledge). Al-Thawri said: “It is the knowledge for which no person has any excuse for not knowing.”

"Whoever Allaah سبحانه وتعالى wants good for, He gives him fiqh (understanding) of the Deen.”[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree Kitaabul-'Ilm].

“Whoever traverses a path in order to gain knowledge, then Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will make the path to Jannah easy for him.”[At-Tirmidhee (#2784) Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#6298).].

“Whoever comes to a masjid and he did not come to the masjid except with the intention that he would learn something good or teach something good, he will be given the reward of someone who performed hajj.”[3].

“There is not a people who gather in a house from the houses of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى (a masjid) to recite the Book of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى or study it except that calmness will descend upon them and mercy would cover them and they would be surrounded by the angels and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will mention them with good to those near to Him.”[Saheeh Muslim ].

“Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would say at the end of the gathering of those who gathered to gain knowledge, ‘Get up! You have been forgiven.’ The malaaikah (angels) would say ‘O Allaah سبحانه وتعالى there was a servant of yours who only came to that gathering because of a need – he only wanted a person in that gathering.’ Allaah سبحانه وتعالى would respond ‘I have forgiven him as well.’”[Silsilah as-Saheehah 5/245 (#2210)]

“The student of knowledge (or the seeker of knowledge), everything will ask forgiveness for him even the fish in the ocean.”[ Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#3753)].

الدرس الثاني: أركان الإسلام

 
بيان أركان الإسلام الخمسة، وأولها وأعظمها: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمداً رسول الله، بشرح معانيها، مع بيان شروط لا إله إلا الله، ومعناها: (لا إله) نافياً جميع ما يعبد من دون الله، (إلا الله) مثبتاً العبادة لله وحده لا شريك له.

 
وأما شروط (لا إله إلا الله) فهي: العلم المنافي للجهل، واليقين المنافي للشك، والإخلاص المنافي للشرك، والصدق المنافي للكذب، والمحبة المنافية للبغض، والانقياد المنافي للترك، والقبول المنافي للرد، والكفر بما يعبد من دون الله.
وقد جمعت في البيتين الآتيين:
علم يقين وإخلاص وصدقك مع***** محبة وانقياد والقبــول لهـا
وزيد ثامنها الكفران منك بمـا *****سوى الإله من الأشياء قد ألها

 
مع بيان شهادة أن محمداً رسول الله، ومقتضاها: تصديقه فيما أخبر، وطاعته فيما أمر، واجتناب ما نهى عنه وزجر، وألا يعبد الله إلا بما شرعه الله عز وجل، ورسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم.

 
ثم يبين للطالب بقية أركان الإسلام الخمسة، وهي: الصلاة، والزكاة، وصوم رمضان، وحج بيت الله الحرام لمن استطاع إليه سبيلاً.

The Second Lesson:
Knowing the meaning and the conditions of the declaration of Ash-Shahadataan that: "there is no true God except Allâh, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allâh". The phrase that "there is no true God" negates anything or anyone that is being worshipped other than Allâh, and the phrase: "except Allâh" confirms that all forms of worship, submission and adoration must be for Allâh alone, without setting up rivals with Him. The conditions needed to fulfill the meaning of Ash-Shahadataan are:

• Knowledge about what it means.
• Certainty about its meaning which dispels doubts and suspicions.
• Sincerity that purifies its declarer from any form of shirk (association).
• Honesty which negates hypocrisy.
• Love and attachment to the declaration of Ash-Shahadataan, which leads to the dispel of uneasiness, dislike, or hate to what it implies.
• Adherance: conducting what Allâh has decreed regarding His worship.
• Accepting to obey Allâh by this declaration.
• Dissociating from anything or anyone being worshipped other than Allâh.

with the explanation of the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and its requisite are: to believe him in what he informed, and to obey him in what he ordered, and to leave off what he forbade about and prevented from and that Allah is not worshiped except with what Allah legislated and His Messenger sallallahu alayhe wa sallam.

then explain to the students the remaining five pillars of islam, and they are: the zakat, the sawm in ramadan, and the hajj to the haram house of Allah for whoever has the ability to do so.

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On the authority of Ibn Omar, the son of Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with both, who said : I heared the messenger of Allah say :

"Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god that has the right to be worshiped except Allah and that Muhammed is the messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim

Virtues of Laa ilaha ill Allah:

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said: “He who died knowing (fully well) that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allaah entered al-Jannah (Paradise).” [Collected by Muslim].

“I bear witness that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allaah, and I am His Messenger. The slave of Allaah who would meet Him without harboring any doubt about his (testimony) would enter al-Jannah (Paradise).” [Collected by Muslim].

“Allaah has forbidden the Fire upon one who says laa ilaaha illal-laah seeking by this the Face of Allaah.” [An agreed upon hadeeth].

Proof for the meaning of laa ilaha ill Allah:

لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

 

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

Proof for Muhammad Rasul Allah:

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. (Al-Hashr 59:7)

لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad SAW) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he SAW is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. (At-Tawbah 9:128)

The Kuffar of Jahiliyah knew the meaning of laa ilaaha illa Allah: 

قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاء وَالأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ والأَبْصَارَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيَّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ Say (O Muhammad   ): "Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?" They will say: "Allâh." Say: "Will you not then be afraid of Allâh's Punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allâh)?" (Yunus 10:31)

أَجَعَلَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌ

"Has he made the âliha (gods) (all) into One Ilâh (God - Allâh). Verily, this is a curious thing!" (Sad 38:5)  

Some Explanation with regard to the kalima attawheed:

The Shaykh went on and mentioned that this great word (La ilaaha ill Allaah), when a person says it enters the deen of islaam. Because of this word the world was created and the messengers were sent to mankind conveying Allaah’s (subhaana wa ta’laa) message. And because of this word the book was sent down to the Messenger.

The Shaykh went on and mentioned that the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) remained in the beginning of his dawah for 13 years in Makkah, calling the people to this great statement, which is La ilaaha ill Allaah. And during the response of the polytheists in Makkah at that time, he made the object of worship one, meaning to Allaah sincerely, and this is an amazing thing.

The person who says this word embraces Islaam and his blood, honour, and wealth becomes forbidden. And the opposite of this, the one who does not say this statement, then his blood and his wealth and his honour are open grounds. The hadeeth by Abee Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) were Allah 's Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)” (Bukhari, no. 2754).

The Shaykh then described that the meaning of La ilaaha ill Allaah, that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, this nessecitates that the servant makes Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) the sole object of worship, not directing any worship to other than him, whether that worship be khawf, or khas’yah, or tawakkul (which means putting ones trust solely in Allaah), and the other meanings of ibaadah. It is binding upon a servant to realize the greatness of this word and to make it a reality in his life, and that he does not say the statement emptily without meaning it. 

Allaah’s statement in the Qur’aan:

And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (Adh- Dhariyat 51:56)

Allaah’s statement in the Qur’aan: 

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad SAW) but We inspired him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." (Al-Anbiya 21:25)

The Shaykh commented on the meaning of La ilaaha ill Allaah, which is laa ma’booda bi haqqin ill Allaah. And he commented on the “haqq,” and that Allaah (subhaana wa ta’laa) is the one worshipped in truth and He is the one that deserves to be solely worshipped, because he is the sole creator (Khaliq), and the sole provider (Raziq).

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَأَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

That is because Allâh, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things. (Al-Hajj 22:6)

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ

That is because Allâh He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood) And verily, Allâh He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Al-Hajj 22:62)

Virtues of Salah:

"Guard strictly your prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)." (Sura Al-Baqarah, ayah # 238)

Narrated Abu Hurayrah ( ) Rasulullah ( ) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed. (Sahih Muslim Book 2, Number 0448)

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds." (Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 1, Book 10, Hadith # 506)

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah ( ) Rasulullah ( ) said: The similitude of five prayers is like an overflowing river passing by the gate of one of you in which he washes five times daily. Hasan said: No filthiness can remain on him. (Sahih Muslim Book 4, Hadith # 1411)

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RAA) Rasualullah (SAW) said, "No prayer is harder for the hypocrites than the Fajr and the 'Isha' prayers and if they knew the reward for these prayers at their respective times, they would certainly present themselves (in the mosques) even if they had to crawl." The Prophet added, "Certainly I wish to order the Mu'adh-dhin (call-maker) to pronounce Iqama and order a man to lead the prayer and then take a fire flame to burn all those who had not left their houses so far for the prayer along with their houses." (Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Book 11, Hadith # 626) note: We should see the importance of Fajr and Isha salah in the Masjid.

Narrated Abu Huraira: "Rasulullah ( ) said, "The angels keep on asking Allah's forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Mu,salla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, 'O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith #436)

Warning against leaving the salah:

In an other Hadith of Rasulullah ( ) said "What lies between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer." ( Agreed upon by Muslim, Abu Dawood and Nasaa'ee as sahih authentic)

Rasulullah ( )  said "The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become a disbeliever."  (Agreed upon by Ahmad, Tirmidhee and Nasaa'ee to be authentic)

Informing us about the inhabitants of Hell, Allaah (SWT) says "(The people in Hell will be asked:) What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their Salât (prayers). Nor did we feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allaah hated) with vain-talkers. And we used to belie thc Day of Recompense. Until there came to us that which is certain (i.e., death). So no Intercession of intercessors will benefit them.  (Sura Al-Muddaththir, ayah 42-48)