Rabee‘ ibn Sulaymaan (a companion of Imam Ash-Shafi‘ee) said:
‘We were with Ash-Shafi‘ee one day when an old man wearing garments of wool came to us with a walking stick in his hand.
Ash-Shafi‘ee stood up, fixed his clothes and greeted the old man. He sat down and Ash-Shafi‘ee began looking at him in admiration when the man said:
Old man: Can I ask?
Ash-Shafi‘ee: Ask.
Old man: What is the Hujjah (definitive proof) in the religion of Allah?
Ash-Shafi‘ee: The Book of Allah.
Old man: What else?
Ash-Shafi‘ee: The Sunnah (the way) of the Messenger of Allah (may the Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him).
Old man: What else?
Ash-Shafi‘ee: The consensus of the Jama’ah (i.e. ijmaah of the Sahabah)
Old man: Where did you get ‘consensus of the Jama’ah from? (i.e. what is your evidence).
Ash-Shafi‘ee pondered for a moment when the old man said that.
Old man: I will leave you for 3 days. If you come up with evidence from the Book of Allah, fine. If not, then repent to Allah.
Ash-Shafi‘ee’s face changed colour and then he left.
He didn’t come out until the third day, between dhuhr and ‘Asr. His face, hands and legs had swollen and he became ill.
He sat down but it was only a short while when the old man returned.
He greeted him and sat down then he said,
Old man: Do you have what I asked for?
Ash-Shafi‘ee: Yes.
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast. Allah, the Most High said:”And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the way of the believers, We shall keep him on the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell and what an evil destination. [Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:115]”
And He (Allah the Mighty and the Majestic) will not burn him in Hell for opposing the believers in something except that it is something obligatory.
Old man: You have told the truth. Then he got up and left.
Ash-Shafi‘ee then said to those around him:
“I read the Qur’an 3 times every day (in the 3 days he was given),
until I came to this verse.”
Month: February 2022
EXPOSED / THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
WITH ALL THE STORIES WE HEAR ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY – HERE IS SOME ADVICE
When exposing the evil of a Muslim here are some things to consider
-Does the act the person you wish to expose affect others or is it a private sin that it between the person and Allah?
“Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and Allah is He who hears and knows all things.” (Sûrah al-Nisâ: v148)
-Does the person being exposed even know that what they are doing is wrong?
“Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.” (surat Al-Isra: v15)
-Have they been warned to stop?
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].
-Is there solid proof to back your exposing, not just hear say?
(the burden of proof is on the accuser not the accused)
“Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.”
(surat Al-Baqarah: v 111)
“Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment:
(surat Nur: v23)
“And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses – lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient” (surat Nur: v4)
-Does it really need exposing or does the person just need a good pull of the ears?
“The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin Al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and they forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden). (surat Tawbah :v71)
-What is your intention behind it? (Payback?)
“Those who love (to see) scandal published (and) broadcast among the Believers will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows and ye know not.” (surat Nur: v19)
‘Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (S) said: Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
-Has the person repented from it and no longer does this act?
The Prophet(s.a.w) has said:
“Whosoever covers (the sins of) a Muslim, Allah covers (his sins) on the Day of Judgment” (Reported by Bukhari)
“Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful” (surat Al-Furqan: v70)
We should all Fear Allah both in public and private this exposing topic ruins lives even if it turns out to be a lie, so be sure 100% thats its true and that it is under the category of things that you should be exposing not just because today you feel like it cause its the new thing on FB/TWITTER/INSTA
And Allah knows best.
- ABU OUSAYD