Kitaab Sharh us-Sunnah

[Umm Mohammad]

To have Faith in the punishment of the grave : 18

To have faith in the punishment of the grave and Munkar and Nakeer -1

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NOTES

1. To have Faith (Eemaan) in the punishment of the grave has the consensus (ijmaa’) of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, as has been declared by Abul-Hasan al-Ash’aree (Risaalah ilaa Ahlith-Thaghr, p.279), being denied only by the Khawaarij and some of the Mu’tazilah

Allah, the Most High, says

In front of the Fire will they be brought, morning and evening, and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels), ‘Cause Pharaoh’s people to enter the severest torment!’ Soorah Ghaafir (40): 46

Ibn Abbas said, “Allah’s Messenger passed by two graves and said, ‘Indeed, they are being punished, but they are not being punished for something major.’ Then he said, ‘Rather it is so: one of them did not protect himself from being soiled with his urine; the other used to go about telling stories (to cause enmity)....’ ” Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/141/no.215), Ahmad and the compilers of the four Sunan

Abu Hurairah reports that Allah’s Messenger said, “When the deceased (or ‘one of you’) is put in the grave, two black angels having blue eyes come to him. One of them is called al-Munkar and the other an-Nakeer and they will say.....” Reported by at-Tirmidhee and declared hasan by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaam’i.

There are many ahaadeeth concerning the punishment of the grave. Al-Baihaqee wrote a whole treatise entitled Ithbaat ‘Adhaab al-Qabr, consisting of some 240 narrations

Imam ash-Shaafi’ee (d.204H) said, “The punishment of the grave is true, the questioning of those in the graves is true, the Resurrection is true, the Day of Judgement is true, and Paradise and the Fire are true. Whatever else is reported in the Sunnah and so mentioned by the scholars and their followers throughout the lands of the Muslims are true.” Reported by al-Baihaqee in Manaaqib ash-Shaafi’ee - 1/415

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d.241H) said, “The principles of the Sunnah according to us are: to cling to that which the Companions of Allah’s Messenger were upon and to follow them...to have Faith in the punishment of the grave and that this Ummah will be tested in their graves and asked about Faith and Islaam, who is his Lord and who is his Prophet. Munkar and Nakeer will come to him as Allah wills and however Allah wishes.” From Usool us-Sunnah of Imaam Ahmad

Imaam Ahmad said, “Punishment of the grave is true. No-one denies it except one who is misguided and astray and leading others astray.” Reported by Ibn Abee Ya’laa in Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah - 1/174

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19: To have Faith in the Pool (Hawd) of Allah's Messenger

To have Faith in the Pool (Hawd) of Allah's Messenger. Every Prophet has a Pool, except Saalih (alaihis-salaam) because his Pool was the udder of his she-camel - 1

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NOTES

1. The explainer of at-Tahaawiyyah said, “The ahaadeeth reported about the Pool reach the level of mutawaatir, being reported by more than thirty Companions

Anas ibn Maalik (radiallaahu anhu) reports that Allah’s Messenger said, “The size of my Pool is like what is between Jerusalem and San’aa in Yemen and it has drinking cups like the number of stars in the sky.” Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 8/380/no.582), Ahmad and at-Tirmidhee.

Samurah reports that Allah’s Messenger said, “There will be a Pool for every Prophet. They vie with regards to who has the greater number of people coming to it. I hope from Allah that I will have the greater number.” Reported by at-Tirmidhee and others. Shaikh al-Albaanee declared it saheeh in as-Saheehah - no.1589

As regards the exception quoted for Saalih (alaihis salaam), the narrations about that are not authentic

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20: To have Faith in the Intercession of Allah’s Messenger

To have Faith in the Intercession (Shafaa'ah) of Allah's Messenger on the Day of Resurrection for those guilty of sins, those upon the bridge and to cause them to come out from within the Fire. There is intercession for every Prophet, likewise for their eminently truthful and sincere followers, the martyrs and the pious. After that, Allah bestows His grace abundantly upon those whom He pleases and people are taken out of the Fire, after having been burnt and reduced to charcoal-1

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NOTES

The long hadeeth of the Intercession is reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans., vol. 6, no. 236) and Muslim - Eng. trans., vol. 1, pp.122-135

Concerning the types of intercession, Shaikh Abdul-Azeez ibn (rahimahullaah) says, in his notes on al-Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah (p.73), ''The different intercessions that will occur on the Day of Resurrection are six and are well-known from the Sharee'ah proofs. From them, three are particular to the Prophet. The six types are

1) The Major Intercession, which is for judgement to commence for those gathered for it; 2) Intercession for the People of Paradise to enter it; 3) His intercession for the punishment to be lightened for his uncle, Abu Taalib, so that he is placed in a shallow part of Hell-Fire. This form of intercession is particular to the Prophet for his uncle Abu Taalib. As for other disbelievers, there is no intercession for them. He, the Most High, said

So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them. Soorah al-Mudathir (74): 48

4) Intercession for some of those who deserve the Fire not to enter it; 5) Intercession for those who enter the Fire to come out of it; 6) His intercession for the raising of the ranks of the people of Paradise. This last intercession is general for the Prophet and other Prophets, the righteous, the angels and for Muslim children who died whilst they were young

All of these are only for the people who were upon Tawheed. As regards the sinful from the people of Tawheed who enter the Fire, they will not remain in it, but will be brought out after being purified. It is established in the Saheeh from the Prophet that the sinful will die in it, and then they will be brought out like charcoal. Then, they will sprout (in Paradise) like shoots upon a riverbank

[Umm Mohammad]

21: To have Faith in the Bridge over Hell

To have Faith in the Bridge over Hell. The Bridge seizes whomever Allah pleases, allows passage to whomever Allah pleases and causes whomever Allah pleases to fall into Hell. The people are preceded by light according to their level of Faith - 1

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NOTES

1. Allah, the Most High, says

There is none of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is, with your Lord, a decree which must be accomplished; but we shall save those who used to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him and We shall leave the wrongdoers therein, (humbled) to their knees. Soorah Maryam (19): 71-72

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22: To have Faith in the Prophets and Angels

To have Faith in the Prophets and the Angels

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NOTES

1. Allah, the Most High, says

The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to Him from His Lord, as do the believers. Each (one of them) believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers. (They say): We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers. Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 285

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23: To have Faith that Paradise and the Fire are true and both are already created

To have Faith that Paradise is true and real and that the Fire is true and real and that both are already created [1]. Paradise is in the seventh Heaven. Its ceiling is the Throne. The Fire is beneath the seventh and lowest earth. They are both created. Allah, the Most High, knew the number of inhabitants of Paradise and those who would enter it and the number of those who are the inhabitants of the Fire and those who would enter it. Neither of them will ever end; they will both last along with Allah forever and ever

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NOTES

1. The hadeeth of the Israa and Mi'raaj shows the present existence of Paradise and the Fire. It occurs in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans., vol.5, no.227) and Saheeh Muslim (Eng. trans., vol.1, and no.309-322). Raf'ul-Astaar by al-Ameer as-San'aanee is an excellent book, being a reply to those who claim that the Fire will eventually come to an end

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[Umm Mohammad]

24: Adam (alaihis salaam) was in Paradise, but was removed from it after disobeying Allah

Adam (alaihis salaam) was present in the everlasting and created Paradise, but was removed from it after disobeying Allah, the Mighty and Majestic

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25: To have Faith in al-Maseehud-Dajjaal

To have Faith in al-Maseehud-Dajjaal [1

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NOTES

1. From the many ahaadeeth about the Dajjaal is what al-Bukhaaree reports in his Saheeh (Eng. trans., vol.9, no.245) from Anas (radiallaahu anhu), that the Prophet said, “No Prophet was sent except that he warned his nation about the one-eyed liar (i.e. Dajjaal). Beware! He is blind in one eye, whereas your Lord is not so. There will be written between his (Dajjaal’s) eyes: ‘Kaafir

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26: To have Faith in the descent of 'Eesaa (alaihis salaam)

To have Faith in the descent of 'Eesaa (alaihis salaam), the son of Maryam. He will descend, kill Dajjaal, marry and pray behind the leader of the Muslims, who is from the family of Muhammad, and he will die and be buried by the Muslims [1

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NOTES

1. All of this is established in authentic ahaadeeth and many of these are quoted by al-Haafidh ibn Katheer in his tafseer of verse 159 of Soorah an-Nisaa’. Refer also to Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans., vol.4, nos. 657, 658) and Saheeh Muslim (Eng. trans., vol.4, nos. 6924, 7023

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27: Eemaan (Faith) comprises of speech, action and beliefs and it increases and decreases

To have Faith that Eemaan (Faith) comprises of speech, action and beliefs. It increases and decreases. It increases as Allah wills and may decrease to the extent that nothing remains of it [1

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NOTES

1. Al-Laalikaa’ee reports, in Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah (5/958/no.1737), that ‘Abd ar-Razzaaq (as-San’aanee) said, “I met seventy Shaikhs, from amongst them are Ma’mar, al-Awzaa’ee, ath-Thawree, al-Waleed ibn Muhammad al-Quraashee, Yazeed ibn as-Saa’ib, Hammaad ibn Salamah, Hammaad ibn Zayd, Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyainah, Shu’ayb ibn Harb, Wakee’ ibn al-Jarrah, Maalik ibn Anas, Ibn Abee Laylaa, Isma’eel ibn ‘Ayyaash, al-Waleed ibn Muslim and those I have not named, all of them saying: Faith is saying and action, it increases and decreases

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad reports in as-Sunnah (no.612): My father narrated to me: Abu Salamah al-Khuzaa’ee related to us, saying, “Maalik, Shareek, Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyaash, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Abee Salamah, Hammaad ibn Salamah and Hammaad ibn Zayd said, ‘Faith is conviction, declaration and action

Al-Laalikaa’ee reports (5/959/no.1740) that ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Alqamah said: I asked al-Awzaa’ee about Faith; can it increase? He said, “Yes, until it becomes like the mountains.” I said, ‘Can it decrease?’ He said, “Yes, even until nothing remains of it

Amongst the verses quoted by the scholars as proof for the fact that faith increases are: Aayah 173 of Soorah Aali-‘Imraan, Aayah 4 of Soorah al-Fath and Aayah 124 of Soorah at-Tawbah

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[Umm Mohammad]

28: The best of the Companions of Allah's Messenger

The best of this Ummah, after the passing away of its Prophet, is Abu Bakr, and then ‘Umar, and then ‘Uthmaan. This is what is reported to us from Ibn ‘Umar, who said, “We used to say, whilst Allah’s Messenger was amongst us, ‘The best of people after the Messenger of Allah is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, then’Uthmaan.’ The Prophet would hear of that and not criticise it.”[1] Then the best of people after them are ‘Alee, Talhah, az-Zubayr, Sa’d ibn Abee Waqqaas, Sa’eed ibn Zayd, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf and Abu ‘Ubaidah ‘Aamir ibn al-Jarrah. All of them were suitable to be Khaleefah. Then the best of people after them are the (rest of the) Companions of the Messenger of Allah, the first generation amongst whom he was sent, the first Muhaajirs and Ansaar, those who prayed towards both qiblahs, then the best of people after them are those who accompanied the Messenger of Allah for a day, a month, a year or less or more than that. We ask Allah to have mercy upon them. We mention their virtues and remain silent about any mistakes they made and we do not speak about a single one of them except favourably, as the Messenger of Allah said, “When my Companions are mentioned then withhold,” [2] Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyainah [3] said, “He who speaks a single word against the Companions of Allah’s Messenger is an innovator.” [4

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NOTES

1. This is reported by al-Bukhaaree (5/6/no.7), Ahmad in Fadaailus-Sahaabah (no.570) and as-Sunnah of ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad- pp.574-578

2. Saheeh: reported by at-Tabaraanee from Ibn Mas’ood, from the Prophet. See Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (no.34) of Shaikh al-Albaanee

3. Shaikhul-Islaam, Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyainah was a Taabi’ut-Taabi’een. He was born in 107H, in Makkah and died in 198H

4. In the printed edition, after the saying of Sufyaan, there occurs: The Prophet said, “My Companions are like the stars; whichever of them you follow, you will be guided.” This narration is a fabrication. Refer to Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth ad-Da’eefah (no.58) and The Prophet’s Prayer Described, by Shaikh al-Albaanee - pp.94-96

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29: To obey the rulers in that which Allah loves and is pleased with

To hear and obey the rulers in that which Allah loves and is pleased with. Whoever becomes Khaleefah through the consensus of the people and their being pleased with him, he is the ‘Chief of the Believers’ (Ameerul-Mu’mineen

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30 : It is not permissible to spend a night thinking that one has no Imaam

It is, therefore, not permissible for anyone to spend a single night thinking that he has no Imaam over him, whether he (the Imaam) be righteous or wicked

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31: The prayer is performed behind the rulers and Hajj and Jihaad are carried out with them

The Hajj and Jihaad are to be carried out under his leadership. Jumu’ah prayer behind them (i.e. the wicked rulers) [1] is allowed and, after it, six rak’ahs should be prayed, splitting it into sets of two rak’ahs. This is the saying of Ahmad ibn Hanbal [2

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NOTES

1. ‘Ubaydullaah ibn ‘Adiyy ibn Khiyaar reports: I went to ‘Uthmaan (radiallaahu anhu), whilst he was being besieged and I said to him: You are the ruler of the Muslims in general and you see what has befallen you. We are being led in prayer by a leader of insurrection and we are afraid of being sinful. So ‘Uthmaan said, “The prayer is the best of actions which people do so, when the people do good deeds, do good along with them. When they do evil, avoid their evil.” Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/376/ch.56)

2- Abdullaah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal reports in his Masaail (no.446): I asked my father how many (rak’ahs) should I pray after Jumu’ah. He said, “If you wish, pray four (rak’ahs) or, if you wish, pray six rak’ahs, in twos; that is what I prefer, but, if you pray four, there is no harm.” Abu Dawood reports in his Masaail (p.59): I heard Ahmad say, “(Regarding) prayer after Jumu’ah, if one prays four, good. If one prays two, good, and if one prays six, good

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