Saling Berbagi Kajian Agama Islam

Apa Tuhan itu ada ?

2009-04-02T16:35:00.003+07:00

Ditulis oleh Anonim
Selasa, 15 Juni 2004

Ada seorang pemuda yang lama sekolah di negeri
paman Sam kembali ke tanah air. Sesampainya dirumah ia
meminta kepada orang tuanya untuk mencari seorang
Guru agama, kiai atau siapapun yang bisa menjawab 3
pertanyaannya. Akhirnya Orang tua pemuda itu
mendapatkan orang tersebut.
Pemuda: Anda siapa? Dan apakah bisa menjawab
pertanyaan-pertanyaan saya?

Kyai: Saya hamba Allah dan dengan izin-Nya saya
akan menjawab pertanyaan anda

Pemuda: Anda yakin? sedang Profesor dan banyak
orang pintar saja tidak mampu menjawab
pertanyaan saya.

Kyai: Saya akan mencoba sejauh kemampuan saya

Pemuda: Saya punya 3 buah pertanyaan

1. Kalau memang Tuhan itu ada, tunjukan
wujud Tuhan kepada saya

2. Apakah yang dinamakan takdir

3. Kalau syetan diciptakan dari api kenapa
dimasukan ke neraka yang dibuat dari
api,tentu tidak menyakitkan buat syetan
Sebab mereka memiliki unsur yang sama.
Apakah Tuhan tidak pernah berfikir sejauh itu?

Tiba-tiba Kyai tersebut menampar pipi si Pemuda
dengan keras.

Pemuda (sambil menahan sakit): Kenapa anda marah
kepada saya?

Kyai: Saya tidak marah...Tamparan itu adalah
jawaban saya atas 3 buah pertanyaan yang anda
ajukan kepada saya

Pemuda: Saya sungguh-sungguh tidak mengerti

Kyai: Bagaimana rasanya tamparan saya?

Pemuda: Tentu saja saya merasakan sakit

Kyai: Jadi anda percaya bahwa sakit itu ada?

Pemuda: Ya

Kyai: Tunjukan pada saya wujud sakit itu !

Pemuda: Saya tidak bisa

Kyai: Itulah jawaban pertanyaan pertama: kita
semua merasakan keberadaan Tuhan tanpa mampu
melihat wujudnya.

Kyai: Apakah tadi malam anda bermimpi akan
ditampar oleh saya?

Pemuda: Tidak

Kyai: Apakah pernah terpikir oleh anda akan
menerima sebuah tamparan dari saya hari ini?

Pemuda: Tidak

Kyai: Itulah yang dinamakan Takdir

Kyai: Terbuat dari apa tangan yang saya gunakan
untuk menampar anda?

Pemuda: kulit

Kyai: Terbuat dari apa pipi anda?

Pemuda: kulit

Kyai: Bagaimana rasanya tamparan saya?

Pemuda: sakit

Kyai: Walaupun Syeitan terbuat dari api dan Neraka
terbuat dari api, Jika Tuhan berkehendak
maka Neraka akan Menjadi tempat menyakitkan
untuk syeitan.

http://www.icmi.or.id/ind/content/view/36/44/

Artikel ini hanya sebagai wawasan belaka. Penilaian akhir kami serahkan pada pribadi masing-masing. Wallahu'alam

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

2009-01-28T12:54:00.002+07:00

All praise is for Allaah Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), his pure family, his companions and all those who strive to follow in their footsteps till the last day. To preceed :

Many people today accuse some of the greatest scholars of Islaam of blasphemy and kufr (disbelief). One who is frequently attacked is Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahima-hullaah -. In actual fact he is slandered and lied against. People say things about him which he never said... in actual fact things which he was totally against!! These people who do should fear Allaah, and remember that they should be just and judge a man with justice and from knowledge, rather than judging him from ignorance and heresay ! subhaan-Allaah, Ibn Taymiyyah used to strive for the upliftment of the sunnah, and for the defence of this deen from those who in ignorance are changing it. And it was he who led the people to fight the tyrant tartars and it was he who suffered the darkness of the jails of Egypt so that Islaam can be lifted, and it was he who used to pray to Allaah to guide those who are misguided. Therefore let there be a warning to those who blemish his name - a severe warning indeed- that they may not slander him, for a scholar's flesh is poisonous.

Many people accuse Ibn Taymiyyah of Likening Allaah to the creation.....this a big lie and slander...and these people should fear Allaah, and take account of the evil their tongues utter before its too late. Inshaa.-Allaah below are some quotes from the writings of the noble Shaykh which clarifies his position beyond doubt on this issue. And those who after reading this still utter salnder and lies agianst the Shaykh, then all that can be said about them is that they have an illness in their hearts, and we pray to Allaah that He cures them of this disease.

In "al-'Aqeedatul Waasitiyaah " Ibn Taymiyyah - rahima-hullaah - says:

"from faith (eemaan) is acceptance (eemaan) of what Allaah has ascribed Himself in the scripture as well as what the messenger r ascribed to Him. [This creed] prevents any attempts at altering the sacred texts (tahreef), and rules out stripping Allaah of his tributes (ta'teel) or asking questions), concerining their modality ( takyeef..ie ..ascribing a "howness", or attempting to understand them analogicaly (tamtheel). Indeed [the ahlus-sunnah] hold that:

There is nothing like unto Him (Allaah); [that] He is the All-Hearing and All-Seeing One (Qur.aan 42:11).

They do not negate what Allaah has attributed Himself, nor do they alter the meaning of His words on these matters, nor subscribe to heretical notions regarding the divine names (asmaa') and manifestations (aayaat). They do NOT (!!!) seek to explain His attributes (sifaat) or COMPARE THEM with those of HIS CREATURES, for He (Allaah) has no namesake (samiy), no equal, no peer (nidd) and, therefore, He, the One free of all imperfections and Most High, does NOT befit of being compared to His creatures."

Ibn Taymiyyah says in at-Tadmuriyyah (p20):

"It is a must to affirm that which Allaah affirms for himself , whilst NEGATING ANY likeness to Him to His craetion..... whoever says His Knowledge is like my knowledge, His Power like my power, or Love like my love, or Pleasure like my pleasure, or Hand like my hand, or istawaa (ascending) like my ascending-- then he has resembled and likened Allaah to His creation. Rather, it is must to affirm (Allaah's Attributes) without any resemblance, and to negate (what Allaah negates for Himself), without ta'teel (divesting Allaah of any of His affirmed Attributes)."

Ibn Taymiyyah wrote in Majmoo-al Fatawaa (5/262):

"Whosoever considers the Attributes of Allaah to be like the attributes of creation- such that the Istawa (Ascending) of Allaah is like the ascending of the creation, or His nuzool (descending) is like the descending of the creation, or other than that-- then he is a DEVIATED INNOVATOR."

So people please read and pay heed to the words of the noble scholar !!!!
This is enough proof for those that are just and who are sincerely seeking the truth ...and Allaah knows best.

Taqi.ud-deen Abul-'Abbaas Ahmad Ibn 'Abdul-Haleem Ibn 'Abdus-Salaam Ibn Taymiyyah al-Harraanee al-Hanbalee, was born on Monday the 10th of Rabi' al-Awwal 66l A.H./22nd of January 1263 C.E. at Harraan (northern Iraq) into a well known family of "mutakallimoon"(theologians). His grandfather, Abu al-Barkat Majd-ud-deen ibn Taymiyyah (d.653 A.H./1255 C.E.) was a reputed teacher of the Hanbaleete school and his "Muntaqa al-Akhbaar (selections of prophetic sayings) which classifies such Ahaadeeth upon which Islaamic legislation is based, is even today regarded as a very valuable work. Likewise, the scholarly achievements of Ibn Taymiyyah's father, Shihaabuddeen 'Abdul-Haleem Ibn Taymiyyah (d.682 A.H./1284 C.E.) were wide spread.

This was the time when the Tataar hordes under Hulagu Khaan were inflicting their barbaric onslaught throughout the world of Islaam - especially the mesopotamium region. Ibn Taymiyyah was only seven when the Tataars launched their attack on Harraan. Consequently, the populace left Harraan to seek refuge elsewhere. Ibn Taymiyyah's family proceeded to Damascus in 667 A.H./1268 C.E. which was then ruled by the Mamlooks of Egypt. It was here that his father delivered sermons from the pulpit of the Umayyad Mosque and was invited to teach Hadeeth in the mosque as well as in the Daarul-Hadeeth 'Assaakuriyyah in Damascus. These discourses were attended by a large number of students as well as by the scholars. Damascus was the center of Islaamic studies at that time, and Ahmad Ibn Taymiyyah followed in the footsteps of his father who was a scholar of Islaamic studies by studying with the great scholars of his time, among them a woman scholar by the name Zaynab bint Makkee who taught him hadeeth.

Education

From his early childhood, Ibn Taymiyyah was an industrious student. He fully acquainted himself with all the secular and religious sciences of his time. He devoted special attention to Arabic literature and gained mastery over grammar and lexicography. Not only did he become an expert on the great Arab grammarian Seebawayh's al-Kitaab which is regarded as the greatest authority on grammar and syntax, but he also pointed out the errors therein. He commanded knowledge of all the prose and poetry then available. Furthermore, he studied the history of both pre Islaamic Arabia and that of the post-Islaamic period. Finally, he learnt mathematics and calligraphy.

As for the religions sciences, Ibn Taymiyyah studied the Qur.aan, Hadeeth and Sharee'ah. He learnt the Hanbalee fiqh (law) from his own father and then became a distinguished representative of the Hanbalee school of law. He is reported to have acquired his knowledge on Hadeeth in Syria like Ibn 'Abduddayaam. Another of his teachers was Shamsuddeen 'Abdurrahmaan al-Maqdisee (d.682 A.H./1283 C.E.).Thus Ibn Taymiyyah received a thorough grounding in the Sihaah Sittah and the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad.

Ibn Taymiyyah had great love for tafseer (Qur.aanic exegesis). He read over a hundred commentaries of the Qur.aan.

He completed his studies when he was a teenager and at age 19 he became a professor of Islaamic studies. Well versed in Qur.aanic studies, Hadeeth, fiqh, theology, Arabic grammar and scholastic theology, etc., he started giving fatwas on religious legal matters without following any of the traditional legal schools, the Hanafee, Maalikee, Shaafi'ee and Hanbalee. He defended the sound prophetic traditions by arguments which, although taken from the Qur.aan and the Sunnah, had hitherto been unfamiliar to people of his time. The freedom of his polemics made him many enemies among the scholars of the traditional Orthodox Schools, who falsely accused him, of all kinds of heretical beliefs. Among them was the famous Muslim medieval traveler, Ibn Batutah, who visited Damascus while Ibn Taymiyyah was in jail. This did not hinder Ibn Batutah in testifying in his book that "he witnessed Ibn Taymiyyah on the pulpit saying, 'every night Allaah descends to the lower heaven like my descent', and he descended one step down the pulpit". From reading this 'aqeedah we learn that Ibn Taymiyyah accepted the attributes of Allaah without questioning (bi-laa kayfa).
When Ibn Taymiyyah lost his father in 682 A.H./1283 C.E. at the age of twenty two, he succeeded at the 'Assaakuriyyah. He began to teach "Tafseer" at the Umayyad mosque and in 695 A.H./1296 C.E. he began to teach at the Hanbaleeyyah in Damascus. Soon he became prominent among the leading scholars of Syria and also became immensely popular with the masses.

The Mongol Threat

In the meanwhile, Iraq, Iran, and Khuraasaan continued to smother under the cruel domination of the Tataars. The Mamlooks who were ruling over Egypt, Syria and the Hijaaz (Arabian peninsula) attempted several times to capture Iraq but failed each time. When it was learnt that the Tataars were planning to conquer Damascus, the Mamlook Sultaan, al-Maalik an-Naasir Muhammad bin Qalawoon left Egypt with a powerful army to check the advance of the Tataars.

The two forces met in a bloody battle in 699 A.H./1299 C.E. but the Sultaan was defeated and he returned to Egypt. Now Damascus lay open before the Tataar forces led by Ghazzaan, also known as Mahmood, the great grandson of Ghengis Khaan.

Consequently, all the nobles including the religions scholars, judges, administrators and traders fled from Damascus where total chaos and anarchy held sway in the face of the Tataar invasion.

At this critical moment Ibn Taymiyyah and their remaining notables decided to lead a delegation to meet Ghazzaan and pursue for peace of the city. Accordingly, the delegation led by Ibn Taymiyyah met Ghazzaan at Nabak (near Damascus) and he agreed to grant amnesty to the people of Damascus.

News of the Tataar army advancing towards Syria again reached Damascus in 702 A.H./1303 C.E. Delay in the arrival of Sultaan Qalawoon from Egypt caused panic among the people, many of whom began to abandon their homes for safer places. When Ibn Taymiyyah saw this, he began to urge the people to defend themselves and their city, thereby arresting the exodus. He also went personally to appeal to the Sultaan to speed up his journey to Damascus.

At last the Muslim forces of Egypt and Syria encountered the Tataar forces at Thaqab during Ramadhaan 702 A.H./1303 C.E. and after a bloody conflict the Muslims defeated and dispersed the Tataar armies.

Jihaad Against Heretics

Ibn Taymiyyah's fight was not limited to the Soofees and the people who followed the heretical innovations; in addition, he fought against the Tataars who attacked the Muslim world and almost reached Damascus. The people of Syria sent him to Egypt to urge the Mamlook Sultaan, the Sultaan of Egypt and Syria to lead his troops to Syria to save it from the invading Tataars. When he realized that the Sultaan was hesitant to do what he asked of him, he threatened the Sultaan by saying: "If you turn your back on Syria we will appoint a Sultaan over it who can defend it and enjoy it at the time of peace". He was present at the battle of Shaqhab near Damascus against the Tataars which took place during the fasting month of Ramadhaan and gave a fatwa to the army to break their fast in order to help them against their enemy, as the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) did during the battle of the liberation of Makkah. The Muslims won the battle against the Tataars and drove them away from Damascus and all Syria. Ibn Taymiyyah's courage was expressed when he went with a delegation of 'ulamaa. to talk to Qazan the Khan of the Tataars to stop his attack on the Muslims. Not one of the 'ulamaa. dared to say anything to him except Ibn Taymiyyah who said: "You claim that you are Muslim and you have with you mu'adhdhins, judges, Imam and Shaykh but you invaded us and reached our country for what? While your father and your grandfather, Hulago, were non-believers, they did not attack the land of Islaam, rather, they promised not to attack and they kept their promise. But you promised and broke your promise."

Once the Tataar threat was eliminated, Ibn Taymiyyah again devoted himself to his mission of his intellectual pursuit and teaching. At the same time, he continued to wage Jihaad against the heretical sects like the Baatinites, Ismaa.eelites, Haakimites and Nusayrites living in the hilly tracts of Syria who had invited the Crusaders and the Tataars to invade the Muslim lands, helped these invaders against the Muslims and looted and plundered the weak and defenceless population. Ibn Taymiyyah personally led expeditions against these sects.

Religious Condition Of The Muslims

Apart from the external threats mentioned above, Islaam was also confronted at this time with internal dangers. There were Baatinites (an extremist Sheeite sect which confronted the Muslim Government at that time) and their followers, the Assassins (Hasheeshiyoon). Their creed was a mixture of Magian dogma and Platonic concepts which could easily sow the seeds of intellectual dissension and spread irreligousness and apostasy among the simple minded people. Then there were Muslims who, under the influence of the polytheistic beliefs and customs of the non-Muslims with whom they had free associations, began to glorify their saints (highly pious Soofee personalities - Walee-Allaah) as the Jews and the Christians were doing.

Further more, some Soofee's orders like the Rifaa'iyyah had adopted certain neo-Platonic and Hindu doctrines which became so confused with the true Islaamic beliefs that it became almost impossible to distinguish one from the other.

In the wake of crusaders, some Christians were emboldened to censure Islaam and criticise the Prophet in their speeches and writings. In the intellectual circles of the Muslims there was stagnation and rigidity in their theological disputations and in their approach to the re-interpretation of the Sharee'ah. There was continuous polemical wranglings between the 'Asharites and Hanbaleeites. Finally, some of the philosophers, influenced by the theories of Plato and Aristotle, began to spread their agnostic ideas and concepts in total disregard to the teachings of Islaam.

These were the conditions pertaining to the time of Ibn Taymiyyah and which he had to contend. Ibn Taymiyyah formed a society along with his students and followers to renounce the polytheistic cults, un-Islaamic cults, un-Islaamic influences and heretical beliefs and practices among the Muslim masses. As a result of his enthusiastic and zealous reformative activities and condemnation of heresies, un-Islaamic innovation and practices at the visitation of graves of saints, he earned the displeasure of certain sectors of the population. Nonetheless, his popularity among the Muslim masses increased tremendously.

All this jihad against the enemies of Islaam did not help Ibn Taymiyyah with the 'ulamaa.. The authorities put him in jail many times until he died in jail because of his daring and free progressive opinions on many legal and social issues which angered his opponents, the followers of the Orthodox Schools of law.

However when Ibn Taymiyyah had the chance to punish his opponents among the 'ulamaa. who caused him all kinds of trouble and put him in jail many times, he showed the utmost of magnanimity and forgave them when the Sultaan an-Naasir Qalawoon gave him the chance to do so. He said: "If you kill them you will never find 'ulamaa. like them." The Sultaan said: "They harmed you many times and wanted to kill you!" Ibn Taymiyyah said: "Whoever harmed me is absolved, and who harmed the cause of Allaah and His Messenger, Allaah will punish him."

The Muslim historians, like adh-Dhahabee, Ibn Katheer, Ibn al-'Imad al-Hanbalee and many others praised Ibn Taymiyyah and considered him one of the greatest scholars of Islaam of all time.

He fought heretical innovations in religion which were wide spread during his time all over the Muslim world, especially certain acts and beliefs of some Soofee orders, like saint worship and visiting saints' tombs, and throwing themselves in the fire. His attack on the Soofees caused him a lot of trouble with the authorities whose leaders were under the influence of certain soofee leaders.

As a result of Ibn Taymiyyah's popularity, some influential religions scholars became jealous of him and even annoyed because he challenged the Qaadhee's on juridical matters. They therefore sought ways and means to discredit him in the eyes of the Government and the people. Ibn Taymiyyah rejected the teachings expounded in the al-Futuhaat al-Makkah ("the Makkan Revelations") and Fusoos al-Hakeem ("The Mosaic of Wisdom") of Shaykh Muheeuddeen ibn al-'Arabee (d.638 A.H./1240 C.E.) the most respected Soofee and teacher of tasawwuf - as incompatible with the teachings of the Qur.aan and the Sunnah, thereby earning the wrath of the Soofee's, and by being outspoken on Government policies, he earned the hostility of the government.

Consequently he was summoned to Egypt in 705 A.H./1305 C.E.
When Ibn Taymiyyah arrived in Egypt, he was asked to attend a meeting of theologians, jurists and the chiefs of the state. During the session certain charges were levelled against him relating to his concepts of the nature and attributes of Allaah. He was not allowed to defend himself and was promptly imprisoned for about 16 months. While in prison, he diverted the attention of his followers from indulgence in frolics and amusements to a sense of piety, discipline and temperance. A number of prisoners became his devoted disciples on their release.

After Ibn Taymiyyah was released from prison in 707 A.H./1307 C.E. he decided to remain in Egypt for a while. Soon he began to deliver lectures in various Mosques and educational institutions before select gatherings of scholars, jurists and theologians. However, Ibn Taymiyyah's views on pantheistic monoism, intercession, etc were not received kindly and numerous complaints were made against him to the Sultaan. The religions scholars to whom the complaints were referred could not find any fault with Ibn Taymiyyah. However, as the administration was growing weary of the charges brought against him, he was detained for a while but was soon released on the unanimous request of the religions scholars. But when Sultaan Qalawoon abdicated in favour of his viceroy Baybaan al-Jashnikeer in 709 A.H./1309 C.E., Ibn Taymiyyah was exiled to Alexandria where, inspite of his internment, he earned himself a respectable position in the Academic and literary circles. Soon though Baybaan abdicated and Sultaan Qalawoon returned to Egypt and ordered Ibn Taymiyyah.

Return To Damascus
In Cairo, Ibn Taymiyyah had busied himself in his teachings and reformative activities for about 3 years. At the same time, he acted as adviser to the Sultaan and was instrumental in having several important reforms introduced in Egypt and Syria. Several royal edicts were issued on his advice in 712 A.H./1312 C.E. He visited Jerusalem in the same year, then went for Hajj (pilgrimage) and eventually returned to Damascus in 713 A.H./1313 C.E. From now onward he devoted his attention primarily to juristic problems though he continued teaching. His chief disciple was ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.751 A.H./1350 C.E.) who was chiefly responsible for spreading his ideas.

The Question Of Three Talaaq's
Ibn Taymiyyah like his forefathers was a Hanbaleeite and his legal opinions conformed to that school, though not exclusively. He often rejected the Hanbaleeite view just as in some matters he expressed disagreement with all the four principal juridicial schools. One such case in which he differed with them was in regard to the repudiation of one's wife by three divorces given at one time.

The issue was whether a divorce pronounced thrice at the same time took legal effect or not. This issue raised the following considerations:

• whether revocation of such a divorce was possible or not.
• whether the three sentences of divorce would be counted as one revocable pronouncement (talaaq) or taken as an irreversable separation.
• whether the wife so divorced could return to her husband or not without a halaalah (i.e until his divorced wife was married to another man who, in turn, after the consummation of the marriage, divorces).

All the earlier jurists and traditionalists, likewise a good number of the Prophet's companions were of the view that such a pronouncement, although being repugnant to the law as well as irregular and sinful, would be regarded as an implied divorce with legal effect. As against that Ibn Taymiyyah firmly held the opinion that the three sentences of divorce spoken at the same time should be regarded as one revocable divorce. The view of Ibn Taymiyyah happened to be against the official view which naturally brought him in conflict with the 'ulamaa on one hand and with the government on the other.

Consequently, the theologians tried to prevent him from expressing further legal opinion on such matters. In fact, a royal edict was issued from Cairo in 718AH/1318AD forbidding him from giving legal opinions in such cases.

Initially Ibn Taymiyyah abided by the edict but later again began giving legal judgment on this issue as he decided that it was improper for him to desist simply for fear of the government. As a result in 720 A.H./1320 C.E. he was detained in a citadel for just over five months till he was released on direct orders from Cairo.

The Final Years
Between 721 A.H./1321 C.E. and 726 A.H./1326 C.E. Ibn Taymiyyah devoted himself to teaching in the Madrasah Hanbaleeyyah and his own Madrasah Qassaaseen and revising some of his earlier works. In 726 A.H./1326 C.E. his adversaries again conspired to have him imprisoned. Here he continued writing his exegesis of the Qur.aan as well as treatises and monographs on various issues.

Ibn Taymiyyah died in jail in Damascus on the night of Sunday-Monday 20th Dhul-Qa'dah 728 A.H./26-27 September 1328 C.E. at the age of 67, and is buried in the cemetery of the Soofiyyah in Damascus.

The people of Damascus, who held him in great honor, gave him a splendid funeral and an estimated 200,000 men and 15,000 women attended his funeral. He was buried at the Soofee cemetery in Damascus where his mother was buried.

Character And Achievements
Ibn Taymiyyah occupied a highly honorable place among his contemporary religions scholars due to his prodigious memory, intellectual brilliance, encyclopedic knowledge and dauntless courage. He is described as a great orator, brave and fearless, resolute, disciplined, very pious, resigned and contended, noble and forgiving, just and ever determined.

Ibn Taymiyyah's reformative endeavors and literary pursuits cover a vast field which can be summarised as follows:

1 revival of faith in and adherence to "Tawheed"(oneness of Allaah).
2 eradication of pantheistic beliefs and customs.
3 criticism of philosophy, syllogistic logic and dialects in order to demonstrate the superiority of the Qur.aan and the sunnah.
4 extirpation of un-Islaamic beliefs through refutation of Christianity and Sheeism.
5 rejuvenation of Islaamic thought and its related sciences.

The total number of Ibn Taymiyyah's works is 621 though many of his writings have been lost. Some of Ibn Taymiyyah's writings dealing with the themes are listed below:

1 al-Jawaab as-Saheeh liman baddala Deen al-Maseeh (an answer to the criticism against Islaam by the Christians).
2 Radd 'ala al-Mantiqiyyeen (a refutation of the philosopher).
3 Kitaab as-Siyaasah ash-Shar'iyyah (deals with political theory and government in Islaam).
4 Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah (a refutation of Sheeite beliefs written in response to Minhaaj al-Karanmah of Ibn al-Mutahhir al-Hillee).
5 Ziyaarah al-Quboor (a criticism of saint-workshop, intercession, superstitious beliefs).
6 Majmoo'at ar-Rasaail al-Kubra (this book contains articles on various subjects).
7 Majmoo'at al-Fataawa (a collection of opinions on various issues).
8 Majmoo'at ar-Rasaail wa al-Masaail (contains articles and legal opinions on various issues).
9 Majmoo'at Shaykh al-Islaam Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (contains discussion on Islaamic jurisprudence and legal opinions enunciated by Ibn Taymiyyah).

Conclusion
To include in the words of Mawlaana Abu al-Hasan 'Alee Nadawee who has paid a glowing tribute to Ibn Taymiyyah as follows:

"Ibn Taymiyyah interpreted the Qur.aan and Sunnah, established the superiority of Islaam over heresy, Philosophical concepts and other faiths and contributed to a genuine revival of religion after a deep study and deliberation that was necessary for lighting the religions and intellectual waywardness of the time. Seeking to surpass his opponents he mastered the methodology employed by them to attack Islaam.

In fact, his learning, his erudition, his intellectual attainment and his mental grit always left his adversaries spell bound"(*1)

Little wonder then that Ibn Taymiyyah's contemporary and succeeding scholars have acclaimed him with such complimentary remarks as "The master spirit of the age", "The crown of scholars", "Last of the Enlightened scholars", and "A sign among the signs of God".

(*1) A. H. A. NADAWEE, Saviours of Islaamic spirit, Vol. 2, Academy of Islaamic research and publications, Lucknow, India, 1974, p24.

Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Baaz

2009-01-28T12:46:00.001+07:00

Abu 'Abdullaah Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abdur-Rahmaan Aal-Baaz was born in the city of Riyadh in Dhul-Hijjah 1330 A.H./1909 C.E.

He memorized the Qur.aan in his early age and then he acquired knowledge from many of the great scholars of the Kingdom. Some of his teachers were Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Lateef Aal-Shaykh, Shaykh Saalih ibn 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal-Shaykh and the eminent Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal-Shaykh who, in his time, was the Muftee of Saudi Arabia. Shaykh Ibn Baaz accompanied the eminent Shaykh and learned from him for about ten years. Thus he gained his religious education from the family of Imaam Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab.

Afterwards Shaykh Ibn Baaz was appointed as a Justice and he worked for fourteen years in the judiciary until he was deputed to the education faculty. He remained engaged in teaching for nine years at Riyadh Islaamic Law College, Riyadh Religious Institute. Then he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Islaamic University, al-Madeenah; but shortly afterwards, he was made the Chancellor with all the administrative powers. Later he was appointed President of the General Presidency of Islaamic Research, Ifta, Call and Propagation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He held the position of Grand Muftee of Saudi Arabia, the Presidency of many Islaamic Committees and Councils, the prominent among these being: Senior Scholars Committee of the Kingdom, Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, the Founding Committee of Muslim World League, World Supreme Council for Mosques, Islaamic Jurisprudence Assembly Makkah; and the member of the Supreme Council of the Islaamic University at al-Madeenah, and the Supreme Committee for Islaamic Propagation, until he passed away on Thursday 27 Muharram 1420 A.H./May 13 1999 C.E. May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) have Mercy upon his soul, aameen.

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn 'Uthaymeen

2009-01-28T12:44:00.001+07:00

Abu 'Abdullaah Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen at-Tameemee an-Najdee was born in the city of Unayzah, Qaseem Region on 27th Ramadhaan 1347 A.H./1926 C.E. in a famous religious family.

He received his education from many prominent scholars like Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa'dee, Shaykh Muhammad Ameen ash-Shanqeetee and Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz.

When he entered into teaching, a great number of students from inside and outside Saudi Arabia benefited from him. He had his own unique style of interpretation and explanation of religious points. He was from among those scholars who served Islaam without any type of religious prejudice and kept themselves away from the limitations of blind-following. He was distinguished in his great exertion of effort in religious matters and analogical deductions which clearly prove the religious understanding he possessed, and the correct usage of the principles of religion, he adopted.

In giving religious verdicts, like Shaykh ibn Baaz, his Fataawa were based on evidence from the Qur.aan and Sunnah. He had about fifty compilations to his credit. He taught Religious Fundamentals at the Sharee'ah Faculty of Imaam Muhammad ibn Sa'ood Islaamic University, Qaseem Branch. He was also a member of the Council of Senior Scholars of the Kingdom, and the Imaam and Khateeb of the big Mosque of Unayzah city.

The Shaykh passed away on Wednesday 15 Shawwaal 1421 A.H. / 10 January 2001 C.E. He was 74 years of age. May Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) have Mercy upon his soul, aameen.

Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee

2009-01-28T12:42:00.002+07:00

He was born in the city of Ashkodera, then the capital of Albania in the year 1332 A.H./1914 C.E. into a poor family. His father al-Haaj Nooh Najjaatee al-Albaanee had completed Sharee'ah studies in Istanbul and returned a scholar to Albania. After Albania was taken over by atheism the family made Hijrah to Damascus. In Damascus Shaykh al-Albaanee completed his initial education and was then taught the Qur.aan, Tajweed, sciences of Arabic language, fiqh of the Hanafee madhab and further branches of the Deen by various Shaykhs and friends of his father.

He also learnt from his father the art of clock and watch repair - and became highly skilled in that and famous for it and derived his earnings through it. He began to specialise in the field of Hadeeth and its related sciences by the age of 20 - being influenced by articles in 'al-Manaar' magazine.

He began to work in this field by transcribing al-Haafiz al-Iraaqee's monumental "alMughnee 'an-hamlil-Asfaar fil-Asfaar fee takhreej maa fil-lhyaa minal-Akhbaar" and adding notes to it.

He delved further into the field of Hadeeth and its various sciences despite discouragement from his father. Furthermore, the books he needed were not to be found in his father's library which was composed mainly of various works of Hanafee Fiqh - and since he could not afford many of the books he required he would borrow them from the famous library of Damascus - "al-Maktabah adth-Dthaahiriyyah" or sometimes from book sellers.

He became engrossed with the science of Hadeeth to the extent that he would sometimes close up his shop and remain in the library for up to twelve hours - breaking off his work only for prayer - he would not even leave to eat, but would take two light snacks with him.

Eventually the library authorities granted him a special room to himself for his study and his own key for access to the library before normal opening time. Often he would remain at work from early morning until after 'Ishaa. During this time he produced many useful works - many of which are still waiting to be printed.

The Shaykh faced much opposition in his efforts to promote Tawheed and the Sunnah but he bore this with patient perseverance. He was encouraged by some of the noble Shaykhs of Damascus who urged him to continue, amongst them Shaykh Bahjatul Bayjaar, Shaykh 'Abdul-Fattaah -the imam, and Towfeeq al-Barzah-rahimahumullaah.

After some time he started giving two weekly classes attended by students of knowledge and university teachers - in which he taught various books of 'Aqeedah, Fiqh, Usool and Hadeeth sciences.

He also began organised monthly journeys for Da'wah to the various cities of Syria and then Jordan.

After a number of his works appeared in print the Shaykh was chosen to teach Hadeeth in the new University in Madeenah, Saudi Arabia, for three years from 1381 to 1383H where he was also a member of the University board.

After this he returned to his former studies and work in "al-Maktabah adth-Dthaahiriyyah" leaving his shop in the hands of one of his brothers.
He visited various countries for Da'wah and lectures - amongst them Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, the Emirates, Spain and England. He was forced to emigrate a number of times moving from Syria to Jordan, then Syria again, then Beirut, then the Emirates, then again to 'Ammaan, Jordan. His works - mainly in the field of Hadeeth and its sciences number over 100.

His students are many and include many Shaykhs of the present day amongst them:
Shaykh Hamdee 'Abdul-Majeed, Shaykh Muhammad 'Eed 'Abbaasee, Dr. 'Umar Sulaymaan al-Ashqar, Shaykh Muhammad lbraheem Shaqrah, Shaykh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Waadi'ee, Shaykh 'Alee Khushshaan, Shaykh Muhammad Jameel Zaynoo, Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan Abdus-Samad, Shaykh 'Alee Hasan 'Abdul-Hameed al-Halabee, Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee.

The Shaykh passed away on Saturday 22 Jumaadaa ath-Thaaniyah 1420 A.H. / 2 October 1999 C.E. He was 87 years of age. May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) have Mercy upon his soul, aameen.

Shaykh Dr. Saalih Ibn Fowzaan Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn Fowzaan

2009-01-28T12:39:00.001+07:00

He is the noble Shaykh Dr. Saalih ibn Fowzaan ibn 'Abdullaah from the family of Fowzaan from the people/tribe of ash-Shamaasiyyah.

He was born in 1354 A.H./1933 C.E. His father died when he was young so he was brought up by his family. He learnt the Noble Qur.aan, the basics of reading and writing with the imaam of the masjid of the town, who was a definitve reciter. He was the noble Shaykh Hamood Ibn Sulaymaan at-Talaal, who was later made a judge in the town of Dariyyah (not Dar'iyyah in RIyaadh) in the region of Qaseem.

He later studied at the state school when it opened in ash-Shamaasiyyah in the year 1369 A.H./1948 C.E. He completed his studies at the Faysaliyyah school in Buraydah in the year 1371 A.H./1950 C.E. and was then appointed an infant school teacher.

Then he joined the educational institute in Buraydah when it opened in the year 1373 A.H./1952 C.E., and graduated from there in the year 1377 A.H./1956 C.E. He then joined the Faculty of Sharee'ah (at the University of Imaam Muhammad) in Riyaadh and graduated from there 1381 A.H./1960 C.E. Thereafter he gained his Masters degree in fiqh, and later a Doctorate. from the same faculty, also specialising in fiqh.

After his graduation from the Faculty of Sharee'ah, he was appointed a teacher within the educational institute in Riyaadh, then transferred to teaching in the Faculty of Sharee'ah. Later, he transferred to teaching at the Department for Higher Studies within the Faculty of the Principles of the Religion (usool ad-deen). Then he transferred to teaching at the Supreme Court of Justice, where he was appointed the head. He then returned to teaching there after his period of headship came to an end. He was then made a member of the Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, where he continues to this day.

The noble Shaykh is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, and member of the Fiqh Committee in Makkah (part of ar-Raabitah), and member of the Committee for Supervision of the Callers (du'aat) in Hajj, whilst also presiding over (his main role) membership of the Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa. He is also the imaam, khateeb and teacher at the Prince Mut'ib Ibn 'Abdul-'Azeez masjid in al-Malzar.

He also takes part in responding to questions on the radio program "Noorun 'alad-Darb", as he also takes part in contributing to a number of Islaamic research publications at the Council for (Islaamic) Research, Studies, Theses and Fataawa which are then collated and published. The noble Shaykh also takes part in supervising a number of theses at the Masters degree and Doctorate level.

He has a number of students of knowledge who frequent his regular gatherings and lessons .

He himself studied at the hands of a number prominent scholars and jurists, the most notable of whom were:

The noble Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz (rahima-hullaah);
The noble Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Humayd (rahima-hullaah);
The great Shaykh Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shanqeetee (rahima-hullaah);
The noble Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee (rahima-hullaah);
The noble Shaykh Saalih Ibn 'Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sukaytee;
The noble Shaykh Saalih Ibn Ibraaheem al-Bulayhee;
The noble Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Subayyal;
The noble Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Saalih al-Khulayfee;
The noble Shaykh Ibraaheem Ibn 'Ubayd al-'Abd al-Muhsin;
The noble Shaykh Saalih al-'Alee an-Naasir;

He also studied at the hands of a number of scholars from al-Azhar University (Egypt) who specialised in hadeeth, tafseer and Arabic language.

He has played a major role in calling to Allaah and teaching, giving fatwa, khutbahs and knowledgeable refutations.

His books number many, however the following are just a handful which include Sharh al-'Aqeedatul Waasitiyyah, al-irshaad ilas-Saheehil-I'tiqaad, al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhee, Foods and the Rulings regarding Slaughtering and Hunting, which is part of his Doctorate. They also include at-Tahqeeqaat al-Mardiyyah in inheritance which is part of his Masters degree. Further titles include Rulings relating to the Believing Women, and a refutation of Yoosuf Qaradaawi's book al-Halaal wal-Haraam.

Fatwa of Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh

2009-01-28T12:37:00.001+07:00

Question:
What is your opinion concerning those who travel outside the Kingdom to give da'wah whilst they have never studied/sought knowledge. They encourage this and make odd statements firmly believing that whoever goes out in the path of Allaah for da'wah then Allaah will assist them with "inspirations/revelations" and they also believe that having knowledge is not a condition to do so.

And you know that one who travels outside the Kingdom will find differing madhhaahib and religions/sects with questions which shall be posed to the one giving da'wah.

Is it not your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding the one who travels (outside the Kingdom) in the path of Allaah, that he should be appropriately equipped so that he can face the people, and especially in East Asia where they are actively against the da'wah of Shaykh Muhammed Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab? I request an answer to my question such that benefit can be gained.

Response:
Going out in the path of Allaah is not the sort of going out which is implied today. Going out in the path of Allaah (really means) going out for war. As for that which they call going out nowadays, then this is an innovation which is not mentioned on the authority of any of the Pious Predecessors.

And going out calling to Allaah is not specific to any particular day(s) rather one should call to Allaah according to circumstances and abilities, without specifying a group (with which to go out with) nor 40 days or more or less.

And similarly from that which is obligatory upon the caller is to have knowledge. It is not permissible to call to Allaah whilst one is ignorant (lacking knowledge). Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{Say: This is my way, I invite to Allaah with sure knowledge…}, [Soorah Yoosuf, Aayah 108].

i.e. upon (sound) knowledge, because it is imperative the caller knows what he is calling to from that which is: waajib, mustahab (recommended), muharram (impermissible) and makrooh and also knows what is shirk, sinning, kufr, fisq (open sinning) and knows the (different) levels and the manner in which to forbid and discourage.

And going out whilst one is busy seeking knowledge is not befitting because seeking knowledge is an obligation and is not achieved except by learning/studying and this is from the evil and ignorant ways of the misguided Soofees because any action without knowledge leads to misguidance.

From the book:
Thalaathu Muhaadiraat fil-'Ilm wad-Da'wah

Fatwa of the Shaykh Muhammed Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh

2009-01-28T12:34:00.001+07:00

Question:
What is your opinion concerning the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh? Is it permissible for a student of knowledge or other than him to go out with them under the guise of inviting to (the path of) Allaah?

Response:
The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh does not uphold the manhaj of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and that which our Pious Predecessors were upon.

And if the situation was such, then it is not permissible to go out with them because it defies our manhaj in calling to the manhaj of the Pious Predecessors. So in the path of inviting to Allaah, then an 'aalim can go out with them but as for those (ignorant - without knowledge) who go out with them, then it is obligatory upon them to remain in their countries and (study Islaam) seek knowledge in their masaajid until there graduates from amongst them people of knowledge who hold study circles inviting to the path of Allaah.

As long as the situation is like that, it is upon the student of knowledge to invite these people (those from Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh) to study the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah and invite people to it.

And the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh, with respect to da'wah to the Book and the Sunnah, do not intend by it a starting point, rather they consider that to be a divided call (da'wah)/approach; And because of this, they most resemble the Jamaa'ah of al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen.

They say their da'wah is based upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah, however this is mere idle talk for certainly they have no 'aqeedah upon which they are united (which unites them) - so you find some are Maatureedee, others are Ash'aree, whilst others are Soofee and even some who have no madhhab (affiliation to any particular ideology).

This is because their da'wah is built upon amassing (the people), then gathering together and culturising/instructing them, and in reality they do not really have any culture. More than half a century has passed and there has not appeared from amongst them a scholar.

As for us, then we say instruct them, then gather together, such that the gathering together is based upon a foundation in which there is no doubt.

So the da'wah of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh is that of the Soofiyyah, they call to good manners, as for correcting the differing 'aqeedah of the group, then they do not exert themselves one iota. This is because they believe this will cause differences (and splitting apart).

It came to pass that a brother, Sa'd al-Husayn had much correspondence with the leader of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh in India or Pakistan and it became clear from that they acknowledge (belief in) intercession and seeking help (from other than Allaah) and many other such things. And they require their people (members) to make bay'ah (oath of allegiance) based upon four issues: amongst them the Naqshbandiyyah methodology. So it is upon every tableeghee (one who ascribes to the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh) to make bay'ah of these fundamentals (issues).

A questioner may ask: Indeed this group has corrected its faults (returned to Allaah) as a result of the efforts of many individuals and quite possibly many non-Muslims have accepted Islaam at their hands. Is this not sufficient (proof) for the permissibilty of going out with them and participating in that which they call to?
So we say: Indeed we know these words and hear them a lot and know them to emanate from the Soofiyyah! For example, there is a Shaykh whose 'aqeedah is incorrect and does not know anything about the Sunnah. Instead they deceitfully take from the wealth of the people, so together with this, many open sinners seek forgiveness from them!

So every group which invites to good, then it is imperative they should be in adherence (to the Qur.aan and the Sunnah), and (this) our approach is pure, so what are they (others) calling to?

Are they calling to adherence to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and the ;aqeedah of the Pious Predecessors, abandoning blind following of the madhhabs to such an extent that they adhere to the Sunnah over and above their madhhab!? So the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh do not have a knowledge-based (manhaj), rather, their manhaj is according to the place where they are to be found, so they change their "colours" to suit themselves.

al-Fataawa al-Imaaraatiyyah of al-Albaanee

Fatwa of Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz regarding the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh

2009-01-28T12:28:00.001+07:00

Question:
I went out with the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh to India and Pakistan. We used to congregate and pray in masaajid within which there were graves and I heard that the salaah in a masjid within which there is a grave is invalid. What is your opinion of my salaah and should I repeat them? What is the ruling about going out with them to these places?

Response:
Indeed, the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh do not have real knowledge pertaining to issues of 'aqeedah so it is not permissible to go out with them except for the one who has real knowledge of the correct 'aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. In this, he can enlighten them, advise them and co-operate with them in good because they are active in their affairs. However, they are in need of more knowledge from those who can enlighten them amongst the scholars of Tawheed and Sunnah. May Allaah grant everyone understanding of the religion and firmness upon it.

As for the salaah in the masaajid within which are graves, then it is incorrect and it is obligatory upon you to repeat all that you did (in those masaajid) due to that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Allaah has cursed the Jews and the Christians who have taken the graves of their Prophets' as places of worship)) - it's authenticity is agreed upon.

Also, his (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) statement:

((Indeed those before you used to take the graves of their Prophets' and pious people as places of worship, so do not take the graves as places of worship, for certainly I prohibit you from that)), transmitted by Muslim in his Saheeh.

And the ahaadeeth on this subject are numerous - and with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers upon our Prophet Muhammed, his family and his companions.

Fatwa dated 2/11/1414 A.H.

The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen are amongst the 72 sects

2009-01-28T12:25:00.002+07:00

Question:
May Allaah grant you the best (of His favours). In the hadeeth of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), relating to the splitting of the Ummah, he says:

((…and my Ummah shall split into 73 sects…)).

So, is the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh, with what they have in terms of shirk and innovations; and also the Jamaa'ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, with what they have in terms of partisanship and revolting/rebelling against the leaders and lack of obedience; from the 72 sects?

Response:
They are from the 72 (sects). Whoever opposes the 'aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah enters the fold of the 72 (sects). The meaning of the Prophet's (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) statement ((My Ummah)) is: the Ummah of Ijaabah, i.e. the Ummah of response; those who responded to the Prophet's call and revealed their allegiance to him. And the meaning of 73 sects: the victorious sect which adhered to him and was upright in their religion and 72 of those sects - amongst them the kuffaar, the sinners and various innovators.

So, the questioners asked:
Are these two groups (Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and Jamaa'ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen) from amongst the 72 sects?

And the Shaykh responded:
Yes, they are from the amongst the 72 sects, along with the Murji'ah and other than them; the Murji'ah and the Khawaarij - some of the people of knowledge regard the Khawaarij from amongst the kuffaar, out of the fold of Islaam although amongst the 72 sects.

Taken from the recording of the Shaykh Ibn Baaz's lessons in Sharh al-Muntaqaa in Ta'if approximately 2 years or less before his death.

The final fatwa of Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz warning against the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh

2009-01-28T11:54:00.003+07:00

Question:
Your excellency, we hear about the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and that which their da'wah entails. So would you advise me to join this Jamaa'ah. I anticipate your guidance and advice, and may Allaah reward you immensely.

Response:
Whoever invites to (the path of) Allaah, then he is a muballigh (one who conveys the message (of Islaam)), (as the hadeeth mentions):

((Convey from me, even if it be a (single) Aayah));

However, the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh (originally) from India have many deviations. They have some aspects of bid`ah and shirk, so it is not permissible to go (out) with them, except for a person who has knowledge and goes (out) with them to disapprove of what they are upon and to teach them (the truth). If, however, he goes (out) to follow and adhere to them, then no.

That is because they have deviations, mistakes and lack of knowledge. However, if there was a Jamaa'ah doing tableegh other than them, from the people of knowledge, then (it is permissible to) go out with them for daw'ah purposes.

If there was a person of knowledge who goes out with them to enlighten and guide them, along with teaching them such that they leave their falsehood and embrace the way of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, (then that is good).

This fatwa was extracted from the tape: 'Fatwa Samaahatush-Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Baaz concerning the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh' which was published in Ta'if about two years before the Shaykh's death. The tape refutes the cover-up of the Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh and the old statement of the Shaykh which was published before their reality and manhaj was made clear to him.

The Ahmadiyyah (Qadiyaniyyah), its followers and those who favour them

2009-01-28T11:51:00.000+07:00

Question:
What is the Islaamic ruling about this new religion Ahmadiyyah (Qadiyaniyyah) and its followers? In addition, when and where did this religion originate and what is the Islaamic ruling about people who are in favour of it?

Response:
All Praise is for Allaah the One, and prayers and salutations upon His Messenger, upon his family and his companions. To proceed…

The Pakistan government has ruled these people outside the fold of Islaam; also, the Muslim World League in Makkah has passed a similar fatwa. In the gathering of the Muslim Scholars (Muslim World League) in the year 1394 A.H. (1974 A.D.), a written statement was drafted to explain the true principles of this group, how and when they started, and so on.

Very briefly, this group has declared that Mirza Ghulaam Ahmad, an Indian, is a prophet who has received revelations from Allaah and that no one will be correct in his Islaam, unless he believes in him (Mirza). He (Mirza) was born in the 13th century, but Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) has told us in his Book (Qur.aan) that Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is the last of the Prophets; all Muslim scholars have given a unanimous ruling that whoever makes the claim that after him (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) there can appear a new prophet is a kaafir, because he will be lying about Allaah's Book and about the hadeeth of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) which states that he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is the very last of the Prophets. In addition, this would be contrary to the consensus of the Muslim Ummah.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., Question 3 of Fatwa No.1615

Difference between Arab Christians and non-Arab Christians

2009-01-28T11:49:00.000+07:00

Question:
Is there a difference between Arab Christians and non-Arab Christians?

Response:
There is no difference between Arab Christians and non-Arab Christians.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 12, Page 252, Question 2 of Fatwa No.8097

Saying (('Alee Karram-Allaahu wajhahu))

2009-01-28T11:47:00.001+07:00

Question:
How correct is it to say: (('Alee Karram-Allaahu wajhahu)) ('Alee (ibn Abee Taalib), may Allaah honour his face (i.e. him))"?

Response:
There is no basis for saying this specifically for 'Alee (radhi-yallaahu 'anhu), rather it is an example of the excessive (love and respect) of the Shee'ah (Raafidhah) towards him.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 3, Page 100, Question 5 of Fatwa No.6542

The ruling concerning the Braylwiyyah

2009-01-28T11:43:00.002+07:00

Question:
There is a particular group in Pakistan called the ((Braylwiyyah)) or ((Jamaa'ah Nuwaaree)) which is a reference to their current leader known as ((Nuwaaree)). I ask your excellencies the Sharee'ah ruling regarding them and their 'aqeedah, and the prayer behind them as this is a contentious issue which many people are unaware of the reality. I will mention some of their defective ways and beliefs:

1) The belief that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is alive;

2) The belief that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is
present and all-seeing, especially immediately after Salaat al-Jumu'ah;

3) The belief that the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is the foremost intercessor;

4) They believe in "saints" and the dead in their graves, and they offer salaah at the graves requesting them for their needs to be met;

5) Their commendation of domes and lighting up of graves;

6) Their saying ((Yaa Rasool, Yaa Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)));

7) Their hatred towards whoever loudly says ((Aameen)) and raises his hands in the salaah, considering such a person to be a Wahhaabee;

8) Their great astonishment at the use of the miswaak before the salaah;

9) Kissing the thumbs whilst doing wudhoo., the adhaan and after the salaah;

10) After the salaah, their imaam repeating the aayah:

{Allaah sends His prayers on the Prophet and also His angels too}, [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 56].

11) They gather after the Salaat al-Jumu'ah standing and reciting anaasheed and sending praises (to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam));

12) After they complete the Noble Qur.aan in the Salaat at-Taraaweeh in the month of Ramadhaan, they prepare alot of food and distribute it in the dining area of the masjid, in addition to sweets;

13) They build masaajid and seek much importance in decorating them, writing ((Yaa Muhammad)) above the mihraab (standing place of the imaam);

14) They consider themselves the people of the Sunnah and correct 'aqeedah and that (all) others are in error;

15) What is the Sharee'ah ruling regarding performing the salaah behind them (their imaam), considering I am a medical student in Karachi and live next door to the masjid where they are in (overall) control (i.e. their beliefs and practices prevail)?

Response:
Whoever has these characteristics and attributes, then it is not permissible to offer your salaah behind them (their imaam), and whoever knows of their condition, then their salaah is not correct. This is because most of their characteristics and attributes are of kufr and bid`ah which negate the tawheed (oneness) with which Allaah had sent His messenger and revealed in His Book, and that which conflicts with the Qur.aan, such as His (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) saying:

{Verily, you (Muhammad) will die and verily, they (too) will die}, [Soorah az-Zumar, Aayah 30]

And His saying:

{And the mosques are for Allaah (alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allaah}, [Soorah al-Jinn, Aayah 18]

And their bid`ah which they practice should be detested with good manners, and if they accept (and leave these pratices) then all praise is for Allaah (alone); And if they do not accept (and continue in these practices) then you should leave them and offer your salaah in the masjid of the Ahlus-Sunnah. And in this, with respect to Ibraaheem (alayhis-salaam) there is a good example:

{And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides Allaah. And I shall call on my Lord; and I hope that I shall not be unblest in my invocation to my Lord}, [Soorah Maryam, Aayah 48].

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 2, Page 396, Fatwa No.3090

The difference between the Muslims and the Ahmadiyyah (Qaadiyaaniyyah)

2009-01-28T11:29:00.004+07:00

Question:
What is the difference between the Muslims and the Ahmadiyyah (Qaadiyaaniyyah)?

Response:
The difference between the two is:

The Muslims are those who worship Allaah alone and follow His messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and believe the he is the seal of (all) the prophets, and that there is no prophet (to come) after him.

As for the Ahmadiyyah who are followers of Mirza Ghulaam Ahmad, then they are kuffaar and not Muslims, because they claim that Mirza Ghulaam Ahmad is a prophet after Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and whoever believes this 'aqeedah then he is a kaafir according to all the scholars of the Muslims, as Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (seal) of the Prophets}, [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 40].

And because of what has been authenticated on the authority of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he said:

((I am the seal of (all) the prophets, there is no prophet after me)), [Imaam Ahmad - volume 2, page 398 and 412, volume 3 page 79 and 248, volume 4, page 81, 84, 127 and 128, volume 5, page 278; al-Bukhaaree (Fat.h al-Baaree) number 3535; Muslim - number 2286 and 2287; Abu Daawood - number 4252].

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 2, Page 314, Question 3 of Fatwa No.8536

Islaamic ruling regarding the Qaadiyaaniyyah

2009-01-28T11:27:00.001+07:00

Question:
We request your explanation about the Islaamic ruling regarding the Qaadiyaaniyyah group, and their self-procalimed "prophet" Ghulaam Ahmad al-Qaadiyaanee. We also request you send us some books which have researched this group since I am concerned in studying them?

Response:
The prophethood was completed by our prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) so there is no prophet after him, for that which is confirmed in the Book and the Sunnah. So whoever claims prophethood after this, then he is a liar. And from amongst these (claimants) is Ghulaam Ahmad al-Qaadiyaanee. So his call of prophethood for himself is a lie, and that which the Qaadiyaaniyoon (his followers) claim of his prophethood, then this claim is false.

And the judgement of the Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia was passed regarding the Qaadiyaaniyyoon, that they were a kaafir sect because of their beliefs.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 2, Page 313, Fatwa No.4317

The Islaamic viewpoint regarding sects

2009-01-28T11:25:00.001+07:00

Question:
There have to date appeared many sects, such as the differing Sooffiyyah sects: ash-Shaathiliyyah, al-Ibraaheemiyyah, and al-Qaadiyaaniyyah, etc. So what is the Islaamic viewpoint regarding these sects? And what is our position as Muslims towards them and towards that which their followers propogate of their evil and corrupted thoughts (in the name) of the religion of Islaam?

Response:
We acknowledge that which conforms to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and reject that which opposes the Book and the Sunnah.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 2, Page 306, Question 3 of Fatwa No.9772

Praying in the masjid of the Soofiyyah

2009-01-28T11:22:00.000+07:00

Question:
In the area where I live there is a masjid where there is a group who follow the way of the Soofiyyah. Is it permissible to pray in this masjid?

Response:
You should not pray with the Soofiyyah in their masjid, and you must beware of their companionship and mixing with them in case you are afflicted with what they have been afflicted with. So perofrm your prayers in a(nother) msajid where they uphold the Sunnah and are steadfast upon it.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 2, Page 301, Question 9 of Fatwa No.6250

Blindly following the madhhab of the Shee'ah (Raafidhah)

2009-01-28T11:19:00.001+07:00

Question:
Some people consider that it is an obligation upon the Muslim to blindly follow one of the four well known school of Islaamic jurisprudence in order for their acts of worship and their deeds to be correct. Yet the madhhab of the Shee'ah (Raafidhah) is not included amongst them, not even the madhhab of the Zaydee (Zaidi) Shee'ah. Does your eminence agree absolutely with this view, and thus prohibit the blind following of the madhhab of the Shee'ah (Raafidhah), such as the imaamah of the Ithnaa 'Ashariyyah?

Response:
It is an obligation upon the Muslim to follow what came from Allaah and His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), if he is able to infer the legal rulings himself; if he is unable to do so, he should ask the people of knowledge regarding what troubles him in the matter of his religion. He should make inquiries of the most knowledgeable scholar with whom he is able to make contact, so that he may ask him, either in person or in writing.

It is not permissible for the Musim to blindly follow the Shee'ah (Raafidhah) imaamah madhhab, nor the Zaydee (Zaidi) madhhab, nor any other such like madhhab from the people of innovation, such as the Khawaarij, the Mu'tazilah, the Jahmiyyah and others.

As for belonging to one of the four well known madhhaahib, there is no objection to this, so long as he is not a blind follower of the madhhab to which he belongs and does not dispute (authentic) evidence on account of it.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Fataawa Islaamiyyah - Volume 1, Page 153

The famous Soofee leader - as-Sayyid Ahmad ar-Rifaa'ee

2009-01-28T11:16:00.001+07:00

Question:
What is the correct opinion about the stories narrated from one of the famous Soofee leaders, as-Sayyid Ahmad ar-Rifaa’ee, which say that he visited al-Masjid an-Nabawee (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) in Madeenah and made du'aa. at his grave, and the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) reached his hand out to him and he kissed it? This is a widespread belief among the followers of his tareeqah (sect) and it is a belief they hold firmly, even though he lived in the 6th century AH. How true is this story

Response:
This is false(hood) and has no basis of truth, because the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) died as decreed by Allaah and as Allaah said:

{Verily you (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) will die and verily, they (too) will die}, [Soorah az-Zumar, Aayah 30]

According to a Saheeh hadeeth, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Allaah has angels who travel about in the earth and convey to me the salaams (prayers and salutations) of my Ummah))

And he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((There is no one who sends salaams (prayers and salutations) upon me but Allaah will restore my soul to me so that I may return his salaam))

And he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((The best of your days is Friday, so send more blessings (salaah) upon me on that day, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, how will they be shown to you when you (your body) have disintegrated?” He said, “Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets))

And there are many ahaadeeth which say similar things, but it is not narrated anywhere that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said that he would shake hands with anybody. This indicates that this story is false. Even if we were to assume that it is true, then it could be that that was a Shaytaan (devil) who shook hands with him in order to deceive him and lead him and others astray. What all Muslims have to do is to fear Allaah and to adhere to His Sharee'ah, which is indicated in His Book and in the Sunnah of His trustworthy Messenger, and to beware of anything that goes against that.

May Allaah reform the Muslims and grant them understanding of His religion and cause them to adhere to His Sharee'ah, for He is the Most Generous.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat ash-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn Baaz - Volume 9, Page 31

Warning the people against deviants

2009-01-28T11:14:00.000+07:00

Question:
Is it permissible to mention peoples' names and characters when one wants to criticise them and their thinking?

Response:
If someone writes something that contradicts the pure Sharee'ah, and distributes that material, or if he propagtes that view in the media, it becomes compulsory to refute him and expose the falsehood of what he says. There is nothing wrong in mentioning that person's name or in warning people about him if he calls to innovation, shirk, or if he calls people to what Allaah has prohibited or to disobedience. Until this day, there are knowledgeable and believing people from the callers to the truth and bearers of the Sharee'ah fulfilling this obligation, sincerely for Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) and for the benefit of His servants, rebuking the wrong, inviting to the truth, warning others against those who propagate falsehood and destructive rhetoric.

And Allaah is the Expounder of (all) success.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa Islaamiyyah - Volume 4, Page 279

Refuting the mistakes of Sayyid Qutb, Hasan al-Bannaa et al

2009-01-28T11:13:00.000+07:00

Question:
What is your opinion regarding those who refute the mistakes of some of the books of Sayyid Qutb, Hasan al-Bannaa, Mustafaa as-Sibaa'ee and other than them from the people whose mistakes affect the 'aqeedah of every Muslim; whilst others say: it is not permissible to refute their mistakes since they are mujtahidoon (those qualified to make ijtihaad - calculated independent reasoning). So what is your opinion regarding those who say this and their likes, and (may) Allaah reward you with good?

Response:
In reality, certainly these (people) have evil mistakes in 'aqeedah, and that which is obligatory upon the Muslim, rather, obligatory upon the people of knowledge is to clarify the truth. As for the people of knowledge remaining silent regarding the falsehood until it is widespread, then this is not permissible, ever! Rather, whoever refutes them, then he is regarded as a mujaahid in the Path of Allaah.

Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee
al-Fataawa al-Jaliyyah ‘anil-Manaahij ad-Da’wiyyah – Page 31, Question No.41

The Islaamic ruling regarding (Ayatollah) Khomeini

2009-01-28T11:10:00.000+07:00

Question:
What is the Islaamic ruling regarding (Ayatollah) Khomeini?

Response:
Khomeini has a book in which he mentions the excellence of the Imaams (Hassan and Hussein et al) of the family of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) over and above the Prophets and the Messengers (`alayhim as-salaam); (So) based upon this (statement of his) he is not a Muslim.

Shaykh al-Albaanee
al-Haawee min Fataawa ash-Shaykh al-Albaanee – Page 349

The Jamaa'ah at-Tableegh's lack of importance given to seeking Knowledge

2009-01-28T11:09:00.002+07:00

Question:
That which is well known about this group (Jamaa’ah at-Tableegh) is the lack of importance they place on seeking knowledge, and likewise, their dislike for those from amongst them who do seek knowledge, claiming that all the Sahaabah did not seek knowledge, and that there were only a few scholars amongst them, whilst their emphasis was more on giving da'wah?

Response:
This is from ignorance, and that is for someone to place a lack of importance in (seeking) knowledge. I don’t know how their da'wah can be correct without knowledge, (for) certainly da'wah is not correct except with knowledge, as Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{Say: “This is my way, I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me…”}, [Soorah Yoosuf, Aayah 108]
And it is not possible for a person to become a caller (daa'ee) until he knows full well what he is calling to. So that which is obligatory for the callers (ahl ad-da’wah) is to learn first and (then) teach and call the people.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen
as-Sahwah al-Islaamiyyah - Question 115, Page 282

The Muslim's Creed

2009-01-28T10:28:00.003+07:00

Question No.1
Why has Allaah created us?

Answer
To worship Him alone and to worship no other besides Him.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And I have not created Jinn and human beings except they should worship Me}, {Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat, Aayah 56]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The right of Allaah upon slaves is to worship Him and not to associate partners with Him)), Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.2
How should we worship Allaah?

Answer
As Allaah and His Messenger commanded us.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him alone}, {Soorah al-Bayyinah, Aayah 5]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever does any deed (in religion) which our matter in not in accordance with, it will not be accepted)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.3
Should we worship Allaah with fear and hope?

Answer
Yes, we worship Him with fear and hope.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And invoke Him with fear and hope}, {Soorah al-A'raaf, Aayah 56]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((I beseech Allaah to grant me Paradise and I seek refuge in Him from Hellfire)), [Transmitted by Abu Daawood]

Question No.4
What is Ihsaan (perfection in worship)?

Answer
Ihsaan is to be conscious that Allaah sees us during worship.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud prayer)}, {Soorah ash-Shu'araa, Aayah's 218]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Ihsaan is to worship Allaah as if you are seeing Him, yet truly He is seeing you)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.5
Why did Allaah send the Messengers?

Answer
To call mankind to His worship and to reject the worship of anything besides Allaah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And verily We have sent among every nation a Messenger (proclaiming) worship Allaah alone and avoid Taaghoot (false deities)}, {Soorah an-Nahl, Aayah 36]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The prophets are brothers and their faith is one)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.6
What is meant by (Tawheed) oneness of Allaah?

Answer
It means devoting worship to him alone like supplication, vow, judgment.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{So know (O Muhammad) that there is no God except Allaah}, {Soorah Muhammad, Aayah 19]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Let the first thing you invite them to do is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.7
What is the meaning of there is no God but Allaah?

Answer
It means there is no deity that truly deserves to be worshipped except Allaah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{That is because Allaah, He is the truth and that is which they invoke besides Him is al-Baatil (falsehood, Satan, and all other deities)}, {Soorah al-Hajj, Aayah 62]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever says there is no God except Allaah and rejects whatever is worshipped besides Allaah, his property and blood become sacrosanct and his reckoning with Allaah , the Mighty and Exalted)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.8
What is meant by oneness of names and attributes of Allaah?

Answer
To confirm the names and attributes as Allaah described them in His Book and as His Messenger described them in authentic Sunnah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{There is nothing like unto Him and His the All-Hearer, the All-Seer}, {Soorah ash-Shooraa, Aayah 11]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah descends each night to the first heaven)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.9
What is the benefit of monotheism (oneness of Allaah) to the Muslim?
Answer
Right guidance in this world and salvation from eternal punishment in the Hereafter.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{It is those who believe (in oneness of Allaah) and confuse not their belief with Thulm (wrong) by worshipping others besides Allaah) for them (only) there is security and they are guided}, {Soorah al-An'aam, Aayah 82]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The right of worshippers upon Allaah is that He will not punish those who worship none beside Him)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.10
Where is Allaah?

Answer
Allaah is over the Throne which is above the seven heavens.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{ar-Rahmaan (The Merciful) Istawaa (rose over) the Throne}, {Soorah Taa Haa, Aayah 5]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah wrote out in a book with Him over the throne that His Mercy preceded His Wrath)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]

Question No.11
Is Allaah with us by His entity or knowledge?

Answer
Allaah with us by His knowledge, He hears and sees us.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{He (Allaah) said: Fear not, verily I am with you both, Hearing and Seeing}, {Soorah Taa Haa, Aayah 46]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((You call upon the one Who hears, Who is near and is with you)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.12
What is the greatest sin with Allaah?

Answer
It is the major Shirk (polytheism).

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Verily whoever sets partners with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden paradise for him and the Fire will be his abode}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 72]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The Prophet was asked : what is the greater sin , he said: To ascribe partners to Allaah even though he created you)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]

Question No.13
What is the major shirk (polytheism)?

Answer
It is to devote any forms of worship to one other than Allaah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Verily Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that to whom He pleases}, {Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 48]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The greatest sins are polytheism etc.)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.14
What is the harm of major shirk?

Answer
The reason for eternity in Hellfire.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Verily whoever assigns partners (commits Shirk) to Allaah, Allaah makes it impermissible for him to enter al-Jannah}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 72]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever died while joining partners with Allaah (commits Shirk) enters Hellfire)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.15
Are good deeds of any benefit to one who worships others besides Allaah?

Answer
No, good deeds are of no benefit to those who worship others besides Allaah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{But if they had joined in worship others with Allaah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them}, {Soorah al-An'aam, Aayah 88]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Who ever does any deed in which he associates partners with Me, I reject him and his Shirk)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.16
Does Shirk exist among Muslims today?

Answer
Yes, it does exist.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And most of them believe not in Allaah except that they attribute partners (unto Him)}, {Soorah Yoosuf, Aayah 106]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The doom Day will not occur until some tribes of my Ummah (Islaamic nation) have joined the idolaters and they will even worship idols)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee]

Question No.17
What is ruling concerning praying (supplicating) to other than Allaah like the dead?

Answer
Praying to them is a major Shirk.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Invoke not with Allaah another ilaah (God) Lest you be among those who receive punishment}, {Soorah ash-Shu'araa, Aayah 213]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever dies having called upon partners besides Allaah shall enter Hellfire)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]

Question No.18
Is supplication a form of worship?

Answer
Yes, supplication is worship.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And your Lord said: Invoke Me, I will respond to your invocation}, {Soorah Ghaafir, Aayah 60]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Supplication is worship)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee]

Question No.19
Do dead hear our supplication?

Answer
No, they do not hear.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{But you can not make hear those who are in graves}, {Soorah Faatir, Aayah 22]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah Has assigned angels to inform me of my nation salutation)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.20
Do we seek help from those who are dead, or from those who are not present?

Answer
No we do not seek help from, we rather seek help from Allaah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Remember when you sought help of your Lord, and He answered you}, {Soorah al-Anfaal, Aayah 9]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((O Ever-Living, Self-Subsistent, upon Him all subsist, I seek help through Your Mercy)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee]

Question No.21
Is it permitted to seek help from any other besides Allaah?

Answer
No, it is not permitted.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{You (alone) we worship and you (alone) we ask for help}, {Soorah al-Faatihah, Aayah 5]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((If you ask, ask of Allaah, if you seek help seek help of Allaah)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee]

Question No.22
May seek help from the living?

Answer
Yes, in the matters in which they are able to help.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Help one another in al-Birr and at-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness)}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 2]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah helps the worshipper as long as the worshipper helps his brother)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.23
Is it allowed to make vows to other than Allaah?

Answer
No, it is not allowed to swear oaths except in Allaah’s Name.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{O my Lord I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services}, {Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 35]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever vows to obey Allaah should obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Him should not disobey Him)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]

Question No.24
Is it allowed to sacrifice in any name besides Allaah?

Answer
No, it is not allowed.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)}, {Soorah al-Kowthar, Aayah 2]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah curses whoever sacrifices and slaughters in any name other than Allaah)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.25
Is it permitted to circumambulate the graves of pious men?

Answer
No, it is not allowed.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And circumambulate the Ancient House (the Ka'bah in Makkah)}, {Soorah al-Hajj, Aayah 29]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever circumambulate the House (Ka'bah) seven times and prays two rak'ah)), [Transmitted by Ibn Maajah]

Question No.26
Is it allowed to pray while the grave is in front of you?

Answer
No, it is not allowed.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{So turn your face in the direction of al-Masjid al-Haraam}, {Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 144]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Don‘t sit on the graves and do not pray towards them)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.27
What is the ruling in Islaam concerning the practice of sihr (black magic/sorcery)?

Answer
The practice of sihr is considered an act of disbelief.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{But the Devils disbelieved, teaching men sihr (magic and such things)}, {Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 102]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Avoid seven destroyers: Shirk, sihr…)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.28
Should we believe the claims of fortunetellers and soothsayers?

Answer
No, we should not believe them.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghayb (unseen)}, {Soorah an-Naml, Aayah 65]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever goes to a fortuneteller or soothsayer, and believe what they say, has disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammad)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.29
Does any one have the knowledge of the (unseen)?

Answer
No one but Allaah alone has the knowledge of the unseen.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And with Him are the keys of Ghayb (unseen), none knows them but He}, {Soorah al-An'aam, Aayah 59]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((No one has the knowledge of the unseen except Allaah)), [Transmitted by at-Tabaraanee]

Question No.30
By what sources do the Muslims govern?

Answer
Muslims govern by laws laid down in the Qur.aan and authentic Ahadeeth.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And so judge (you O Muhammad) between them by what Allaah has revealed}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 49]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Allaah is the judge and to whom is the return)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.31
What is the ruling in Islaam concerning applying non – Islaamic laws?

Answer
It is an act of disbelief.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And whosoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, such are the disbelievers}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 44]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((When the leaders do not rule by Allaah’s Book (Qur.aan) and choose the good from that which Allaah has revealed, Allaah will cause conflict among them)), [Transmitted by Ibn Maajah]

Question No.32
Is it permitted to swear by other than Allaah’s Name?

Answer
No, it is not permitted.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Say: Yes! By my Lord you will certainly be resurrected}, {Soorah at-Taghaabun, Aayah 7]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever swears by anyone other than Allaah, has associated partners with Allaah)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.33
Should we wear good luck charms (like amulets or talismans)?

Answer
No, we should not wear them.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And if Allaah touches you with harm none can remove it but He}, {Soorah al-An'aam, Aayah 17]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever wears an amulet has committed Shirk)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.34
Through what may we seek intercession with Allaah?

Answer
By His Names and Attributes.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And (all ) the most beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them}, {Soorah al-A'raaf, Aayah 180]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((I ask you by all your names, with which you wave named your self)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.35
Does any supplication to Allaah require a human intermediary?

Answer
No, prayer does not require a human intermediary.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge)}, {Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 186]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((You pray to the one who hears all and He is near and He is with you)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.36
What is the mediation (waasitah) of the Messenger?

Answer
The mediation of the Messenger is the transmission of Allaah’s Message.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{O Messenger (Muhammad) proclaim what has been sent down to you from your Lord}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 67]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Oh Allaah, have I proclaimed your message? Oh Allaah bear witness. (In response to the statement of the Sahaabah, "Indeed, we bear witness that you have proclaimed the message."))), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.37
From whom may we seek the Messenger’s intercession?

Answer
From Allaah alone.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Say: To Allaah belongs all intercession}, {Soorah az-Zumar, Aayah 44]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Oh Allaah grant to him (the Prophet) intercession for me)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee]

Question No.38
How do we demonstrate our love for Allaah and his Messenger?

Answer
By obeying and following their commands.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Say (O Muhammad to mankind) if you really love Allaah then follow me, Allaah will love you}, {Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 31]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((None of you have perfect faith until you love me more than your parents, children, and all mankind)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.39
Should we be excessive in our praise for the Messenger?

Answer
No, we should not be excessive in our praise to him.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Say I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your god is one ilaah (Allaah)}, {Soorah al-Kahf, Aayah 110]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Do not exaggerate in praising me, I am only a slave. So say Allaah’s slave and Messenger)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]

Question No.40
Who were the first creation?

Answer
From human being was Adam and from things was the pen.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Remember when your Lord said to the angels truly I am going to create man from clay}, {Soorah Sa'd, Aayah 71]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The first thing created by Allaah was the pen)), [Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee and Abu Daawood]

Question No.41
From what was Prophet Muhammad created?

Answer
He was created from Nutfah (drops of semen - male and female discharges).

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{It is He Who created you (Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah}, {Soorah Ghaafir, Aayah 67]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((In every one of you, all components are created together in your mother’s womb by 40 days)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.42
What is the status of jihad for the sake of Allaah in Islaam?

Answer
It is obligatory with lives, wealth and speech.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{March forth , whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor) strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allaah}, {Soorah at-Towbah, Aayah 41]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Fight against the polytheisms with your wealth, lives and speech)), [Transmitted by Abu Daawood]

Question No.43
What is Walaa (friendship and loyalty)?

Answer
Walaa (friendship and loyalty) is love and help of the faithful believers.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{The believers men and women are Awliyaa (helpers, supporters friends and protectors) of one another}, {Soorah at-Towbah, Aayah 71]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The faithful believers are as a brick structure, each supporting the other)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.44
Is seeking the friendship and help of disbelievers permitted?

Answer
No, it s not permitted.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And if any amongst you take them as Auliyaa then surely he is one of them}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 51]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((The people of such and such clan are not my supporters (Awliyaa))), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.45
Who is Walee (friend)?

Answer
A Walee is a true believer, who fears Allaah very much.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Verily, Awliyaa of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve}, {Soorah Yoonus, Aayah's 62-63]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((My only Walee is Allaah then the most pious among the true believers)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.46
Why did Allaah reveal the Qur.aan?

Answer
So as to apply it to our daily life.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord}, {Soorah al-A'raaf, Aayah 3]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Read Qur.aan and apply it, do not make your living from it)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.47
Is the Qur.aan alone sufficient for us without the Hadeeth (statements, actions, tacit approvals of the Prophet)?

Answer
No, it is not sufficient.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And We have sent down unto you (O Muhammad ) the reminder and the advice (the Qur.aan) that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought}, {Soorah an-Nahl, Aayah 44]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Indeed I have been given Qur.aan and along with it that which is like it)), [Transmitted by Abu Daawood]

Question No.48
Should we give priority to other opinions over the Word of Allaah and His Messengers?

Answer
No, we should not.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Oh you who believe, do not be forward (hasten not to decide) in the presence of Allaah and His Messenger}, {Soorah al-Hujuraat, Aayah 1]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((There is no obedience to the creatures if it means disobeying the Creator)), [Transmitted by Ahmad]

Question No.49
What should we do if we differ in the religious matters?

Answer
We should refer to holy Qur.aan and authentic Sunnah.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And if you differ in any thing amongst yourselves, refer back to Allaah and His Messenger}, {Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 59]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((I am leaving two things with you, you will never go astray if you hold fast to them, and they are Allaah’s Book and the Sunnah)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.50
What is (al-bid’ah) innovation in religion?

Answer
It is any thing not based on evidence from Islaamic law.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Or have they partners with Allaah who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed?}, {Soorah ash-Shooraa, Aayah 21]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever adds something new in our matter (Islaam), it will not be accepted)), [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Question No.51
Is there good innovation (bid’atun hasanatun) in religion?

Answer
No, there is no good innovation in religion.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour on you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion}, {Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Beware of new things (in the matters of religion) for every new thing is innovation, every innovation is heresy and every heresy leads to Hellfire)), [Transmitted by an-Nasaa.ee]

Question No.52
Is there such a thing as Sunnah Hasanah in Islaam?

Answer
Yes, there is Sunnah Hasanah are good deeds (such as giving charity).

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{And made us leaders of the Muttaqoon (the pious)}, {Soorah al-Furqaan, Aayah 74]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Whoever introduces a good practice into Islaam, will have the reward for it and the reward of those who follow his practice thereafter, yet they will lose nothing of their reward)), [Transmitted by Muslim]

Question No.53
Is it enough for a person to reform himself?

Answer
No, it is a duty on him to reform his relatives also.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{Oh you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire}, {Soorah at-Tahreem, Aayah 6]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((Verily Allaah will ask every shepherd about his flock. Did he protect it or lose it?)), [Transmitted by an-Nasaa.ee who declared it hasan]

Question No.54
When will Muslims be victorious?

Answer
When they apply Qur.aan and Sunnah (fully) in their lives.

Evidence from the Noble Qur.aan
{O you who believe! If you help in the cause of Allaah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm}, {Soorah Muhammed, Aayah 7]

Evidence from the authentic Sunnah
((There will always be a victorious group from my nation)), [Transmitted by Ibn Maajah]

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo

Understanding Islaam

2009-01-28T10:22:00.002+07:00

1) The deen (religion) of Islaam: It is the way of life that Allaah sent the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) with. By it, Allaah terminated the validity of all other religions, perfected this religion for His worshippers, completed His favour upon them and has chosen only this religion for them - no other religion will be accepted by Him from anyone. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Muhammad is not the father of any man amongst you. Rather he is the Messenger of Allaah and the khaatim (last and final) of the Prophets}, [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 40]

{This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3]

{Indeed the religion with Allaah is Islaam}, [Soorah Aal-'lmraan, Aayah 19]

{Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers}, [Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 85]

And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) obligated all of mankind to take Islaam as their religion. So Allaah said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

{Say: O mankind! Indeed I have been sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah; to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped except Him; it is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger - the Prophet who can neither read nor write - who believes in Allaah and His Words. So follow the Messenger of Allaah so that you may be rightly-guided}, [Soorah al-A'raaf Aayah 158]

And in Saheeh Muslim (1/93), from Abu Hurayrah radhi-yallaahu 'anhu that Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((By Him in whose Hand is the life of Muhammad! There is no one from this nation, be he a Jew or a Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in the Message that I was sent with, except that he will be one of the Companions of the Hellfire)).

And eemaan (faith) in the Prophet implies: affirming that which he was sent with, along with acceptance of it and submission to it. Without these two matters, mere affirmation is not sufficient. This is why even though Abu Taalib (the Prophet's uncle) affirmed what was sent to the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and that Islaam was the best of religions, yet he did not accept his message nor submit to it; and thus he did not have eemaan, in the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).

2) The religion of Islaam contains all that was beneficial from the previous religions. It is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

{And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it> testifying to the truth contained therein whilst exposing the falsehood that has been added therein}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 48]

That Islaam is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation does not mean that it becomes submissive to nations - being altered and changed by them - as some people falsely think. But rather it means that whenever it is truly adhered to then it brings benefit and goodness to that nation, as well as reforming and correcting it - in whatever age or place.

3) The religion of Islaam is the religion of truth. It is the way of life that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) guaranteed His help and victory for those who truly adhere to it, and that He would make it dominant over all other religions.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that it may prevail over all other religions, even if the pagans detest it}, [Soorah at-Tawbah, Aayah 33]
And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Allaah has promised to those amongst you who truly have eemaan (true faith and belief) and act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, that He will grant them rulership upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will establish their Religion for them and grant them the authority to practice their Religion which He chose and ordered them with. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security, after their fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me, not associating anything else in worship with Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by disobedience to their Lord - then they are the rebellious transgressors}, [Soorah an-Noor, Aayah 55]

4) The religion of Islaam is a complete religion comprising both 'aqeedah (beliefs) and Sharee'ah (laws).

It commands them with tawheed (to single out Allaah alone for worship) and prohibits them from shirk (associating partners with Allaah in that which is particular to Him).

• It commands them with being truthful and prohibits them from lying.

• It commands them with 'adl (justice) and prohibits them from injustice and oppression.

• It commands them with fulfilling trusts and prohibits them from acting treacherously.

• It commands them with keeping promises and prohibits them from breaking them.

• It commands them with kindness and good treatment of parents and prohibits them from disobedience to them in that which is not sinful.

• It commands them with joining the ties of relations and prohibits them from severing them.

• It commands them with good treatment of neighbours and prohibits the causing of harm to them.

In short, Islaam orders all that is good, from manners and morals, and prohibits all that is evil from it.

Likewise, it orders all actions which are righteous and good and prohibits all actions that are evil and harmful.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Indeed Allaah enjoins upon you justice, kindness and the giving of good to relatives and near ones. And He prohibits you from all shameful and evil deeds, oppression and transgression. Thus He admonishes you, that you may take heed and be reminded}, [Soorah an-Nahl, Aayah 90].

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Sharh Usool al-Eemaan - Pages 4-7

What is Islaam?

2009-01-28T10:20:00.000+07:00

The word "Islaam" is an Arabic word that means "submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God".

The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means peace.

Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islaam was both revealed by God and carries a deep spritual meaning - only by submitting one's will to Almighty God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter. Islaam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message - which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to worship Him and Him alone.

For this reason, Islaam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

..........
Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Who are Muslims?

2009-01-28T10:17:00.000+07:00

The Arabic word "Muslim" literally means "someone who submits to the will of God".

The message of Islaam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim.

Some people mistakenly believe that Islaam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80% of the world's Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists.

If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia - it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities.

From the very beginning, Islaam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Almighty God.

A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past, even though you don't see it as much today, the word "Mohammedans" was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either wilful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.

..........
Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Who is Allaah?

2009-01-27T16:57:00.001+07:00

Very often one will here the Arabic word "Allaah" being used in regards to Islaam.

The word "Allaah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews.

If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word "Allaah" being use where the word "God" is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, "Allaah", is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages - for example, the Hebrew word for God is "Elah".

For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islaam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets. However, even though Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God -since there is only one God - their concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.

..........
Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Who is Muhammad?

2009-01-27T16:56:00.000+07:00

The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad.

Muhammad explained, interpreted and lived the teachings of Islaam.

The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet.

Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God.

Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of God, "God Incarnate" or the "Son of God". All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasised that he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as "the Messenger of God and His Slave".

To Muslims, Muhammad is the supreme example for all people - he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history. Muslims don't need to have "faith" that he existed and that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad that he had be sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God's messages, God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad. This was because Almighty God promised not to send another messenger after him.

Since all of God's messengers have preached the message of Islaam - i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone - Muhammad is actually the last prophet of Islaam, not the first.

..........
Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

What are the teachings of Islaam?

2009-01-27T16:54:00.000+07:00

The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in the Unity of God.

This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him.

Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing that there is "One God" - as opposed to two, three or four.

There are a number of religions that claim belief in "One God" and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islaam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as "Lord" and "Saviour" for anyone besides Almighty God. Islaam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.

The essence of falsehood is the claim that God cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasising the burden of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the Mercy of God. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach God directly, people can be mislead into turning to false gods for help. These "false gods" can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the "Son of God" or "God Incarnate". In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god don't consider it to be, or call it, a "god". They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islaam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity - anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.

Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and beyond comprehension - He has no "Son", partners or associates. According to Muslim belief, Almighty God "does not beget nor was He begotten" - neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically - He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Unity of God is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that effects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islaamic belief in the Oneness of God, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.

What is the Qur.aan?

2009-01-27T16:53:00.000+07:00

It is the final revelation of the will of Almighty God's to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to the Prophet Muhammad in its sounds, words and meanings.

The Qur'aan, sometimes spelled Koran, was relayed to the Prophet's companions, which they memorised verbatim, and which has been publicly and continually recited by them and their successors until the present day. In short, the Qur'aan is the book of guidance from God par excellence. The Qur'aan is still memorised and taught by millions of people.

The language of the Qur'aan, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people, so unlike the scriptures of other religions, the Qur'aan is still read in its original language by countless millions of people. The Qu'raan is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is known to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. God's final revelation to mankind, the Qur'aan, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur'aan, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn't something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qu'raan was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

The entire Qur'aan was completely written down in the lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorised the entire Qur'aan word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur'aan was always in the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God's word and, due to wide-spread memorisation, it was perfectly preserved.

In regards to the teachings of the Qur'aan - it is a universal scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's revelation in the Qur'aan focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'aan contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness", the Qur'aanic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

How do Muslims view the nature of man, the purpose of life and the Hereafter?

2009-01-27T16:51:00.001+07:00

In the Holy Qur'aan, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness.

Since the teachings of Islaamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islaam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islaam is not limited to religious rituals.

The teachings of Islaam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islaam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness.

The Islaamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islaam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand.
God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance of always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islaamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy.

A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islaam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur'aan, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgement. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islaam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: The Islaamic Threat

2009-01-27T16:49:00.001+07:00

In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media have been given to the threat of "Islaamic Fundamentalism". Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word "Islaam" has become almost synonymous with "terrorism". However, when one analyses the situation, the question that should come to mind is:

Do the teachings of Islaam encourage terrorism?

The answer: Certainly not!

Islaam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals. Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a "Muslim terrorist".

However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called "Christian terrorists", nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled "Christian terrorism". Also, when right-wing Christians in the U. S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called "Christian terrorists". Reflecting on these facts, one could certainly conclude that there is a double-standard in the media! Although religious feelings play a significant role in the previously mentioned "Christian" conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islaam itself - and not the misguided individual.

Certainly, Islaamic Law (Sharee'ah) allows war - any religion or civilisation that did not would never survive - but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women or children. The Arabic word "jihaad", which is often translated as "Holy War", simply means "to struggle". The word for "war" in Arabic is "harb", not "jihaad". "Struggling", i.e. "making jihaad", to defend Islaam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islaam.

However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islaam. Islaam also clearly forbids "taking the law into your own hands", which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture.

Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful authority and a knowledgeable judge. Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time, the people in these countries were culturally, materially and religiously exploited - mostly by the so-called "Christian" nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim countries, where people are still under the control of foreign powers or puppet regimes supported by foreign powers.

Also, through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are "Islaamic" leaders - when just the opposite is true. Neither of these rulers even profess Islaam as an ideology, but only use Islaamic slogans to manipulate their powerless populations. They have about as much to do with Islaam as Hitler had to do with Christianity! In reality, many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being "Islaamic" oppress the practice of Islaam in their countries. So suffice it to say that "terrorism" and killing innocent people directly contradicts the teachings of Islaam.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Muslims worship a different God

2009-01-27T16:47:00.000+07:00

First of all, there is only One God who created the Universe and all of mankind.

Throughout history, people have created false gods in their minds and come up with false ideas about Almighty God, but regardless of this there is still only One True God - and He alone is worthy of worship. Unfortunately, some non-Muslims have come to incorrectly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This might be due to the fact that Muslims sometimes refer to God as "Allaah", but also because over the centuries there have been many lies and distortions spread by the enemies of Islaam. In actuality, Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus --- the same God as Christians and Jews.

The word "Allaah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God and it is the same word that Arabic speaking Christians and Jews use to refer to God. If you pick up an Arabic translation of the Christian Bible, you will see the word "Allaah" where "God" is used in English. For more information on the word "Allaah", please refer to the article: Who is Allaah? But even though Muslims, Jews and Christians believe in the same God, their concepts about Him differ quite a bit. For example, Muslims reject the idea of the Trinity or that God has become "incarnate" in the world. Also, the teachings of Islaam do not rely on or appeal to "mystery" or "paradox", they are straightforward and clear.

Islaam teaches that God is Merciful, Loving and Compassionate and that He has no need to become man (nor do humans need for Him to). One of the unique aspects of Islaam is that it teaches that man can have a personal and fulfilling relationship with Almighty God without compromising the transcendence of God. In Islaam there is no ambiguity in Divinity, God is God and man is man. Muslims believe that God is the "Most Merciful", and that he deals directly with human-beings without the need of any intermediary. Actually, the phrase "In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful" is one of the most repeated verses in the Holy Qur.aan. Additionally, the pure and straightforward teachings of Islaam demand that Almighty God be approached directly and without intermediaries. This is because Muslims believe that God is completely in control of everything and that He can bestow His Grace and Mercy on His creatures as He pleases - no Atonement, Incarnation or blood sacrifice is necessary. In summary, Islaam calls people to submit to the One True God and to worship Him alone without any partners.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Muslims worship Muhammad

2009-01-27T16:46:00.000+07:00

According to Islaamic belief, the Prophet Muhammad was the last Messenger of God.

He, like all of God's prophets and messengers - such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus -- was only a human being.

Christians came to the mistaken assumption that Muslims worship Muhammad by formulating an incorrect analogy - they worship Jesus so they assumed Muslims worship Muhammad. This is one of the reasons that they called Muslims by the incorrect name "Mohammedans" for so many years!

Muhammad, like Jesus, never claimed divine status. He called people to worship only Almighty God, and he continually emphasised his humanity so that people would not fall into the same errors as Christians did in regards to Jesus. In order to prevent his deification (being referred to as a god worthy of worship), the Prophet Muhammad always said to refer to him as "the Messenger of God and His slave".

Muhammad was chosen to be God's final messenger, to communicate the message not only in words but to be a living example of the message. Muslims love and respect him because he was of the highest moral character and he brought the Truth from God - which is the Pure Monotheism of Islaam. Even when Islaam was in its very early stages, God revealed that Muhammad "was sent as a mercy to all of mankind" - thus informing us that the message of Islaam would become very widespread. Muslims strive to follow the great example of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but they do not worship him in any way.

Additionally, Islaam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's prophets and messengers - but respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them. All true Muslims realize that all worship and prayer must be directed to Almighty God alone. Suffice it to say that worshipping Muhammad, or anyone else, along with Almighty God is considered to be the worst sin in Islaam. Even if a person claims to be Muslim, but they worship and pray to other than Almighty God, this cancels and nullifies their Islaam. The Declaration of Faith of Islaam makes it clear that Muslims are taught only to worship God.

This declaration is as follows: "There is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, and Muhammad is the Messenger and Servant of God".

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Islaam is a religion for Arabs only

2009-01-27T16:45:00.000+07:00

The fastest way to prove that this is completely false is to state the fact that only about 15% to 20% of the Muslims in the world are Arabs.
There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims, and more Indonesian Muslims than Indian Muslims!

Believing that Islaam is only a religion for Arabs is a myth that was spread by the enemies of Islaam early in its history. This mistaken assumption is possibly based on the fact that most of the first generation of Muslims were Arabs, the Qur.aan is in Arabic and the Prophet Muhammad was an Arab. However, both the teachings of Islaam and the history of its spread show that the early Muslims made every effort to spread their message of Truth to all nations, races and peoples.

Furthermore, it should be clarified that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. An Arab can be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist - or of any other religion or ideology. Also, many countries that some people consider to be "Arab" are not "Arab" at all, such as Turkey and Iran (Persia). The people who live in these countries speak languages other than Arabic as their native tongues and are of a different ethnic heritage than the Arabs.

It is important to realise that from the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, his followers came from a wide spectrum of individuals; there was Bilaal - the African slave; Suhayb - the Byzantine Roman; Ibn Saylam - the Jewish Rabbi; and Salmaan - the Persian.

Since religious truth is eternal and unchanging, and mankind is one universal brotherhood, Islaam teaches that Almighty God's revelations to mankind have always been consistent, clear and universal. The Truth of Islaam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality or linguistic background. Taking a look at the Muslim World, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia to Afghanistan is enough to prove that Islaam is a Universal message for all of mankind, not to mention the fact that significant numbers of Europeans and Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are entering the fold of Islaam.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Islaam degrades women

2009-01-27T16:43:00.001+07:00

Even though many aspects of Islaam are misunderstood by non-Muslims, the ignorance, misinformation and incorrect assumptions that are made in regards to Islaam's treatment of women are probably the most severe.

Numerous verses of the Qur.aan make it clear that men and women are equal in the sight of God. According to the teachings of Islaam, the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their level of God-consciousness. Due to this, many people are surprised to find out that Islaamic Law guaranteed rights to women over 1400 years ago and that women in Europe and America only obtained their rights recently. For example, Islaam clearly teaches that a woman is a full-person under the law, and is the spiritual equal of a male. Also, according to Islaamic Law, women have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work. Women are allowed total control of their wealth, they cannot be married against their will and they are allowed to keep their own name when married.

Additionally, they have the right to inherit property and to have their marriage dissolved in the case of neglect or mistreatment. Also, Islaam does not consider a woman an "evil temptress", and thus does not blame women for the "original sin". Women in Islaam participate in all forms of worship that men participate in. Actually, the rights that Islaam gave to women over 1400 years ago were almost unheard of in the West until the 1900's.

Less than fifty years ago in England and America, a woman could not buy a house or car without the co-signature of her father or husband! Additionally, Islaam gives great respect to women and their role in society; it gives them the right to own property, marry who they want and many other rights. Also, it should be mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad's mission stopped many of the horrible practices in regards to women that were present in the society of his time. For example, the Qur.aan put an end to the pagan Arab practice of killing their baby daughters when they were born.

Additionally, Islaam put restrictions on the unrestricted polygamy of the Arabs of the time, and put many laws in place to protect the well-being of women. Today, most of the so-called reforms in the status of women came about after the West abandoned religion for secularism. Even those in the West who claim to follow the so-called "Judaeo-Christian tradition" really follow the values of Western liberalism, but just to a lesser degree than their more liberal countrymen.

If women in the Muslim World today don't have their rights, it is not because Islaam did not give them to them. The problem is that in many places alien traditions have come to overshadow the teachings of Islaam, either through ignorance or the impact of Colonialisation.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Muhammad wrote the Qur.aan

2009-01-27T16:42:00.000+07:00

In addressing this misconception, it is interesting to note that no other religious scripture claims to be the direct word of Almighty God in total and as clear and as often as the Holy Qur.aan.

As the Qur.aan clearly says: "if had been written by man, you would have found many discrepancies therein".

At the time the Qur.aan was revealed, the Arabs recognised that the language of the Qur.aan was unique and that it was distinctly different from the language normally used by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Arabs of that time, by the way, were known for their beautiful poetry and Muhammad was known to be an illiterate man!

The Qur.aan clearly says that Muhammad was unable to read and write, so if this wasn't true, certainly his contemporaries would have protested and rejected him. However, there are no reports of this. Certainly there were people who rejected Muhammad's message, just like other prophets were rejected, but none for this reason. On the contrary, Muhammad, peace be upon him, had thousands of loyal followers and the results of their efforts spread Islaam from Spain to China in just over a century!

It is also interesting to note that even though the Qur.aan is not poetry, the Arabs more or less gave up writing poetry after it was revealed. It could be said that the Qur.aan is the piece of Arabic literature par execellance, and Muhammad's contemporaries realised that they couldn't out do it.

Additionally, it is easy to prove that Muhammad did not possess a great deal of the knowledge which is expounded in the Qur.aan: such as knowledge of historical events, previous prophets and natural phenomenon. The Qur.aan says in several places that Muhammad and his people did not know these things, so again, if this wasn't true, certainly his contemporaries would have rejected his claims. Suffice it to say that not only is the Qur.aan the most memorised and well preserved scripture on earth, it is also unequalled in eloquence, spirtual impact, clarity of message and the purity of its truth.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Islaam was spread by the sword

2009-01-27T16:40:00.001+07:00

Many non-Muslims, when they think about Islaam, picture religious fanatics on camels with a sword in one hand and a Qur.aan in the other.

This myth, which was made popular in Europe during the Crusades, is totally baseless.

First of all, the Holy Qur.aan clearly says "Let there be no compulsion in religion".

In addition to this, Islaam teaches that a person's faith must be pure and sincere, so it is certainly not something that can be forced on someone. In debunking the myth that Islaam was "spread by the sword", the (non-Muslim) historian De Lacy O' Leary wrote: "History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islaam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever accepted." (Islaam at the Crossroads, London, 1923, p. 8.).

It should also be known that Muslims ruled Spain for roughly 800 years. During this time, and up to when they were finally forced out, the non-Muslims there were alive and flourishing. Additionally, Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslim lands of the Middle East for centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan all have Christian and/or Jewish populations. If Islaam taught that all people are supposed to be killed or forced to become Muslims, how did all of these non-Muslims survive for so long in the middle of the Islaamic Empire?

Additionally, if one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islaam from Spain and Morocco in the West to India and China in the East, one would realise that they were far too few to force people to become converts of a religion against their will. Additionally, the great empire and civilisation established by the Muslims had great staying power, its citizens were proud to be part of it.

The spread of Islaam stands in contrast to the actions of the followers of Christianity, who since the time of the Emperor Constantine have made liberal use of the sword - often basing their conduct on Biblical verses. This was especially true of the colonisation of South America and Africa, where native peoples were systematically wiped-out or forced to convert. It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered large portions of the Islaamic Empire, instead of destroying the religion, they adopted it. This is a unique occurrence in history - the conquerors adopting the religion of the conquered! Since they were the victors, they certainly could not have been forced to become Muslims! Ask any of the over one billion Muslims alive in the world today whether they were forced! The largest Muslim country in the world today is Indonesia -- and there were never any battles fought there! So where was the sword? How could someone be forced to adhere to a spiritually rewarding and demanding religion like Islaam?

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Muslims hate Jesus

2009-01-27T16:39:00.000+07:00

Many non-Muslims are surprised to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus, the son of Mary, is one of the greatest messengers of God.

Muslims are taught to love Jesus, and a person cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.

Muslims believe these things about Jesus not because of the Bible or any other religion, but simply because the Holy Qur.aan says these things about him. However, Muslims always emphasise that the miracles of Jesus, and all other prophets, were by "God's permission". This having been said, many Christians feel to not believe that Jesus is the "Son of God", "God Incarnate" or the "Third Person" of the Trinity. This is because the Qur.aan clearly says that Almighty God does not have a "Son" --- neither allegorically, physically, metaphorically or metaphysically.

The Pure Monotheism of Islaam rejects the notion of "defining" God (which is basically what the "Doctrine of the Trinity" does), saying that someone is "like" God or equal to him, or praying to someone else besides God. Also, Islaam teaches that titles such as "Lord" and "Saviour" are due to God alone.

In order to avoid misunderstanding, it should be clarified that when Muslims criticise the Bible or the teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking "God's Word" or Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. From the Muslim point of view, they are defending Jesus and God's Word, which they have in the form of the Qur.aan. Muslim criticism is targeted at writings that some people claim are God's word, but Muslim's simply don't accept their claim that they are really God's word.

Additionally, Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the Atonement are criticised by Muslims precisely because they did not originate from Jesus, peace be upon him. In this way, Muslims are the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, because they defend him from the exaggerations of the Christians and teach the Pure Monotheism that Jesus himself followed.

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Misconception: Islaam is fatalistic

2009-01-27T16:37:00.000+07:00

Most Muslims find it rather odd that their religion, which strikes a beautiful balance between faith and action, could be accused of being "fatalistic".

Perhaps this misconception came about because Muslims are taught to say "Praise be to God!" whenever anything good or bad happens. This is because Muslims know that everything comes from Almighty God, who is the All-Knowing Sustainer of the Universe, and that since a Muslim should rely completely on God, whatever happened must have been for the better. However, this does not mean that Muslims are not taught to take action in life, quite simply the opposite is true.

Islaam requires not only faith, but action -- such as regular prayer, fasting and charity. To be more precise, in Islaam actions are part of one's faith. Islaam totally rejects the extreme beliefs of some religions that teach that you shouldn't go to a doctor when sick, but only pray for God to heal you. Islaam's outlook is very positive, since it teaches that human beings can take positive action in this life. This was certainly what was taught by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to his followers - since they obviously took the action of spreading Islaam from Spain to Morocco in a very short period of time.

Even though Islaam teaches that God knows what human beings will do before they do it, human beings still have free will.

Certainly God, who is All-Knowing and All-Wise, knows what is going to happen to everyone before it happens -- to deny this would be a denial of God Himself. However, if human-beings did not have free will, it would be ridiculous and un-just for God to demand that they do certain things and believe certain things. Far from being "fatalistic", Islaam teaches that a human-being's main purpose in life is to be God-conscious. Due to this, Muslims worry less about material matters and view their earthly life in a proper perspective. This is due to the fact that Islaam clearly teaches that if people worship and depend on Almighty God alone, then they have nothing to worry about - since God wants what is best for them.

True freedom, from the Islaamic perspective, does not mean aimlessly following all of your human desires for food, drink, wealth and sex. On the contrary, freedom means being able to control one's base desires and fulfilling them in a proper and legal way. This brings one's desires in tune with what God wants for us - only then is a person truly free!

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Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Understanding Islaam

2009-01-27T16:31:00.002+07:00

1) The deen (religion) of Islaam: It is the way of life that Allaah sent the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) with. By it, Allaah terminated the validity of all other religions, perfected this religion for His worshippers, completed His favour upon them and has chosen only this religion for them - no other religion will be accepted by Him from anyone. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Muhammad is not the father of any man amongst you. Rather he is the Messenger of Allaah and the khaatim (last and final) of the Prophets}, [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 40]

{This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3]

{Indeed the religion with Allaah is Islaam}, [Soorah Aal-'lmraan, Aayah 19]

{Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers}, [Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 85]

And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) obligated all of mankind to take Islaam as their religion. So Allaah said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

{Say: O mankind! Indeed I have been sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah; to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped except Him; it is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger - the Prophet who can neither read nor write - who believes in Allaah and His Words. So follow the Messenger of Allaah so that you may be rightly-guided}, [Soorah al-A'raaf Aayah 158]

And in Saheeh Muslim (1/93), from Abu Hurayrah radhi-yallaahu 'anhu that Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((By Him in whose Hand is the life of Muhammad! There is no one from this nation, be he a Jew or a Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in the Message that I was sent with, except that he will be one of the Companions of the Hellfire)).

And eemaan (faith) in the Prophet implies: affirming that which he was sent with, along with acceptance of it and submission to it. Without these two matters, mere affirmation is not sufficient. This is why even though Abu Taalib (the Prophet's uncle) affirmed what was sent to the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and that Islaam was the best of religions, yet he did not accept his message nor submit to it; and thus he did not have eemaan, in the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).

2) The religion of Islaam contains all that was beneficial from the previous religions. It is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

{And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it> testifying to the truth contained therein whilst exposing the falsehood that has been added therein}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 48]

That Islaam is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation does not mean that it becomes submissive to nations - being altered and changed by them - as some people falsely think. But rather it means that whenever it is truly adhered to then it brings benefit and goodness to that nation, as well as reforming and correcting it - in whatever age or place.

3) The religion of Islaam is the religion of truth. It is the way of life that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) guaranteed His help and victory for those who truly adhere to it, and that He would make it dominant over all other religions.
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that it may prevail over all other religions, even if the pagans detest it}, [Soorah at-Tawbah, Aayah 33]

And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Allaah has promised to those amongst you who truly have eemaan (true faith and belief) and act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, that He will grant them rulership upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will establish their Religion for them and grant them the authority to practice their Religion which He chose and ordered them with. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security, after their fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me, not associating anything else in worship with Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by disobedience to their Lord - then they are the rebellious transgressors}, [Soorah an-Noor, Aayah 55]

4) The religion of Islaam is a complete religion comprising both 'aqeedah (beliefs) and Sharee'ah (laws).

It commands them with tawheed (to single out Allaah alone for worship) and prohibits them from shirk (associating partners with Allaah in that which is particular to Him).

• It commands them with being truthful and prohibits them from lying.

• It commands them with 'adl (justice) and prohibits them from injustice and oppression.

• It commands them with fulfilling trusts and prohibits them from acting treacherously.

• It commands them with keeping promises and prohibits them from breaking them.

• It commands them with kindness and good treatment of parents and prohibits them from disobedience to them in that which is not sinful.

• It commands them with joining the ties of relations and prohibits them from severing them.

• It commands them with good treatment of neighbours and prohibits the causing of harm to them.

In short, Islaam orders all that is good, from manners and morals, and prohibits all that is evil from it.

Likewise, it orders all actions which are righteous and good and prohibits all actions that are evil and harmful.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:

{Indeed Allaah enjoins upon you justice, kindness and the giving of good to relatives and near ones. And He prohibits you from all shameful and evil deeds, oppression and transgression. Thus He admonishes you, that you may take heed and be reminded}, [Soorah an-Nahl, Aayah 90].

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Sharh Usool al-Eemaan - Pages 4-7

Misconceptions about women in Islaam: Why two women witnesses?

2009-01-27T16:19:00.003+07:00

A question that repeatedly arises is that concerning the 'position of women in Islaam'. Muslim scholars have been able with great success - despite the onslaught of distortion and mis-representation - to demonstrate the true position of Muslim women; especially of women's liberation in the advent of Islaam. The Islaamic ruling on issues such as inheritance, the right to earn, the right to own property etc. have reinforced this position and have been prescribed by Allaah - the One True God - long before western nations even thought of such concepts!

The issue of two women witnesses in place of one man is the concern of the present treatise. As will become clear to the sincere and objective reader, the intellectual status of a Muslim woman is neither marred nor degraded by the commandment that if two Muslim male witnesses are not available then one Muslim male and two Muslim females should be invited to witness. Rather, this injunction is in perfect harmony with the nature and psychology of the woman as will become evident through quotations from psychologists, psychiatrists and medical research.

The passage of the Qur.aan (Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 282) in which the above-mentioned requirement is made has usury, capital and debtor difficulties as its theme. Allaah grants guidelines in matters relating to monetary obligations. Then business transactions are dealt with. In this section, the requirement to commit all transactions into writing is stated most emphatically:

{Reduce them to writing...}

The section after this describes the responsibility of the scribe, or in modern parlance, the person responsible for drawing up the agreement. The following section describes the responsibility and the obligation of the person incurring the liability. The section after this explains how if the party that is liable cannot effectively draw up the contract - out of being deficient or weak mentally, or being unable to dictate - then his or her guardian should help draw out the contract and choose two suitable witnesses to observe. It must be understood that this situation arises if it is not possible for the liable party to draw out the contract by him/herself. The condition to put things into writing is still supreme.

The next section then explains that two men should be called to witness and if two men are not available:

{And if there are not two men...}, then a man and two women.

The legislation then continues and reminds most emphatically that one should not be complacent about putting ALL agreements into writing - no matter whether these agreements are major or minor as this is more JUST in the sight of Allaah and more reliable as evidence. The passage of the Qur.aan further explains that for practical reasons it may not always be possible to commit on-the-spot agreements into writing. In this case, it is also recommended that it be witnessed. The section which follows then lays down the guidelines which should be followed in the event that no witnesses are present.

The purpose in giving the above outline is to draw attention to the fact the question of women witnesses relates, in this instance, to commercial agreements and is not a STATEMENT ON THEIR STATUS.

Let's look at the section under investigation in more detail. Allaah said:

{And get two witnesses of your own men, and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as you choose for witnesses - so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her...}, [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 182]

A number of questions (as well as eyebrows!) are raised when this section of the passage is read. The questions often posed include:

* Do women have weaker memories than men?
* Why should two women be needed in the place of one man?
* Are women inferior to men?

One must remember that Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) was neither a physiologist, a psychiatrist and nor a surgeon. He was an illiterate and could neither read nor write. He passed on the revelation exactly as he received it.
Allaah, the Creator, with His infinite wisdom gave the directives best suited to humankind. He is the Creator, therefore, He knows man better than a man himself.

In this scientific age we can explore the significance of this legislation. A great deal has been discovered since the early days of Islaam. And each day of advancement brings about a better understanding of the the last and final revelation from the Creator, Allaah to the creation, humankind.

As women, we are aware of the cyclical psychological strains that a woman has to encounter every month. The symptoms during early pregnancy, ante-natal and post-natal depressions, the phenomenon of menopause, the physiological and psychological problems due to infertility and last but not least the psychological problems faced after miscarriage.

It is under these situations that women can experience extraordinary psychological strains giving rise to depression, lack of concentration, slow-mindedness and SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. Let us examine these episodes in a bit more detail and with medical references from the scientific world. PMT is an umbrella term for more than 140 different symptoms and there is a lot of evidence that it causes a lot of unhappiness in many women, and consequently, to their families.

Psychiatry in Practice, April 1983 issue states: "Forty percent of women suffer from pre-menstrual syndrome in some form and one in if our women have their lives severely disrupted by it. Dr Jill Williams, general practitioner from Bury, gives guidelines on how to recognise patients at risk and suggests a suitable treatment."[1]

In the same issue, George Beaumont reporting on the workshop held at the Royal College of Obstreticians and Gynaecologists in London on pre-menstrual syndrome, says: "Some authorities would argue that 80 percent of women have some degree of breast and abdominal discomfort which is pre-menstrual but that only about 10 percent complain to their doctors - and then only because of severe tenderness of the breasts and mental depression... Other authorities have suggested that pre-menstrual syndrome is a new problem, regular ovulation for 20 years or more being a phenomenon caused by 'civilisation', 'medical progress', and an altered concept of the role of women."[2]

In its examination of the occurrence of physical and psychological change during the period just prior to the onset of menstruation we read in Psychological Medicine: "Many studies have reported an increased likelihood of various negative affects during the pre-menstrual period. In this affective category are many emotional designations including irritability, depression, tension, anxiety, sadness, insecurity, lethargy, loneliness, tearfulness, fatigue, restlessness and changes of mood. In the majority of studies, investigators have found it difficult to distinguish between various negative affects, and only a few have allowed themselves to be excessively concerned with the differences which might or might not exist between affective symptoms."[3]

In the same article dealing with Pre-menstrual Behavioural Changes we read: "A significant relationship between the pre-menstrual phase of the cycle and a variety of specific and defined forms of behaviour has been reported in a number of studies. For the purpose of their review, these forms of behaviour have been grouped under the headings of aggressive behaviour, illness behaviour and accidents, performance on examination and other tests and sporting performance."[4] The lengthy review portrays how female behaviour is affected in these situations.

In 'The Pre-menstrual Syndrome', C. Shreeves writes: "Reduced powers of concentration and memory are familiar aspects of the pre-menstrual syndrome and can only be remedied by treating the underlying complaint." This does not mean, of course, that women are mentally deficient absolutely. It just means that their mental faculties can become affected at certain times in the biological cycle. Shreeves also writes: "As many as 80 percent of women are aware of some degree of pre-menstrual changes, 40 percent are substantially disturbed by them, and between 10 and 20 percent are seriously disabled as a result of the syndrome."

Furthermore, women face the problem of ante-natal and post-natal depression, both of which cause extreme cycles of depression in some cases. Again, these recurring symptoms naturally affect the mind, giving rise to drowsiness and dopey memory.
On the subject of pregnancy in Psychiatry in Practice, October-November 1986, we learn that: "In an experiment 'Cox' found that 16 percent of a sample of 263 pregnant women were suffering from clinically significant psychiatric problems. Eight percent had a depressive neurosis and 1.9 percent had phobic neurosis. This study showed that the proportion of pregnant women with psychiatric problems was greater than that found in the control group but the difference only tended towards significance."[5]

Regarding the symptoms during the post-natal cycle Dr. Ruth Sagovsky writes: "The third category of puerperal psychiatric problems is post-natal depression. It is generally agreed that between10 to 15 percent of women become clinically depressed after childbirth. These mothers experience a variety of symptoms but anxiety, especially over the baby, irritability, and excessive fatigue are common. Appetite is usually decreased and often there are considerable sleep difficulties. The mothers lose interest in the things they enjoyed prior to the baby's birth, and find that their concentration is impaired. They often feel irrational guilt, and blame themselves for being 'bad' wives and mothers. Fifty percent of these women are not identified as having a depressive illness. Unfortunately, many of them do not understand what ails them and blame their husbands, their babies or themselves until the relationships are strained to an alarming degree."[6]

"... Making the diagnosis of post-natal depression is not always easy. Quite often the depression is beginning to become a serious problem around three months postpartum when frequent contact with the health visitor is diminishing. The mother may not present with depressed mood. If she comes to the health centre presenting the baby as the patient, the true nature of the problem can be missed. When the mother is continually anxious about the baby in spite of reassurance, then the primary health care worker needs to be aware of the possibility of depression. Sometimes these mothers present with marital difficulties, and it is easy to muddle cause and effect, viewing the accompanying low mood as part of the marital problem. Sometimes, only when the husband is seen as well does it become obvious that it is a post-natal depressive illness which has led to the deterioration in the marriage."[7]

Again there is a need to study the effects of the menopause about which very little is known even to this day. This phase in a woman's life can start at any time from the mid-thirties to the mid-fifties and can last for as long as 15 years.

Writing about the pre-menopausal years, C.B. Ballinger states: "Several of the community surveys indicate a small but significant increase in psychiatric symptoms in women during the five years prior to the cessation of menstrual periods... The most obvious clinical feature of this transitional phase of menstrual function is the alteration in menstrual pattern, the menstrual cycle becoming shorter with age, and variability in cycle length become very prominent just prior to the cessation of menstruation. Menorrhagia is a common complaint at this time, and is associated with higher than normal levels of psychiatric disturbance."[8]

On the phenomenon of menopause in an article in Newsweek International, May 25th 1992, Dr. Jennifer al-Knopf, Director of the Sex and Marital Therapy Programme of Northwestern University writes: "...Women never know what their body is doing to them... some reporting debilitating symptoms from hot flashes to night sweat, sleeplessness, irritability, mood swings, short term memory loss, migraine, headaches, urinary inconsistence and weight gain. Most such problems can be traced to the drop-off in the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, both of which govern the ovarian cycle. But every woman starts with a different level of hormones and loses them at different rates. The unpredictability is one of the most upsetting aspects. Women never know what their body is going to do to them..."

Then there are the psychiatric aspects of infertility and miscarriage. On the subject of infertility, Dr. Ruth Sagovsky writes: "Depression, anger and guilt are common reactions to bereavement. In infertility there is the added pain of there being nobody to grieve for. Families and friends may contribute to the feeling of isolation by passing insensitive comments. The gynaecologist and GPs have to try to help these couples against a backdrop of considerable distress."[9]

On the subject of miscarriage the above article continues: "Miscarriage is rarely mentioned when considering abortion. However, miscarriage can at times have profound psychological sequelae and it is important that those women affected receive the support they need. Approximately one-fifth of all pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion and the effects are poorly recognised. If however, the miscarriage occurs in the context of infertility, the emotional reaction may be severe. The level of grief will depend on the meaning of pregnancy to the couple."[10]

Also, the fact that women are known to be more sensitive and emotional than men must not be overlooked. It is well known, for example, that under identical circumstances women suffer much greater anxiety than men. Numerous medical references on this aspect of female behaviour can be given but to quote as a specimen, we read in 'Sex Differences in Mental Health' that: "Surveys have found different correlates of anxiety and neuroticism in the two sexes. Women and men do not become equally upset by the same things, and being upset does not have the same effect in men as in women. Ekehammer (1974; Ekehammer, Magnusson and Ricklander, 1974) using data from 116 sixteen-year-olds, did a factor analysis on self-reported anxiety. Of the eighteen different responses indicating anxiety (sweating palms, faster heart rate, and so on) females reported experiencing twelve of them significantly more often than males. Of the anxiety-producing situations studied, females reported experiencing significantly more anxiety than males reported in fourteen of them."[11]

It is in light of the above findings of psychologist, psychiatrists and researchers that the saying of Allaah, the Exalted:

{And get two witnesses of your own men, and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as you choose for witnesses - SO THAT IF ONE OF THEM ERRS, THE OTHER CAN REMIND HER...}, [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 182]

...can be understood. One must also bear in mind that forgetfulness can be an asset. A woman has to be put up with children presenting all kinds of emotional problems and a woman is certainly known to be more resilient than man. The aim of presenting these research findings on a number of aspects related with the theme is to indicate that a woman by her biological constitution faces such problems. It does not however make her inferior to man but it does illustrate that she is different. Viewed in this way, it can only lead one to the conclusion that Allaah knows His creation the best and has prescribed precise laws in keeping with the nature of humankind.

Allaah, the Creator is - as always - All-Knowing and man (or the disbeliever in Allaah and the final, perfected, revealed way of life, Islaam) is - as usual - either ignorant and arrogant.

..........
Footnotes

[1] Psychiatry in Practice, April 1993, p.14.

[2] Psychiatry in Practice, April 1993, p.18.

[3] Psychological Medicine, Monograph Supplement 4, 1983, Cambridge University Press, p.6.

[4] Psychological Medicine, Monograph Supplement 4, 1983, Cambridge University Press, p.7.

[5] Psychiatry in Practice, October-November, 1986, p.6.

[6] Psychiatry in Practice, May, 1987, p.18.

[7] Psychiatry in Practice, May, 1987, p.18. As has been mentioned above the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) was neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist. Rather, he merely conveyed the truth that was revealed to him. It is in the context of this quotation and the one before it that the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) can be understood:

((Treat your women kindly. The woman has been created from a rib, and the most curved part of a rib is its upper region. If you try to straighten it you will break it, and if you leave it as it is, it will remain curved. So treat women kindly))

And in another narration:

((If you try to straighten her you will break her and breaking her means divorce)), [Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].

This is very important advice for the man - for him to have patience and not to try to 'reform' the behavioural pattern of the woman during these times i.e. 'to straighten her'. He will not be able to do that, as it is biological in origin. Instead, he should maintain and protect his relationship with her by showing kindness.

[8] Psychiatry in Practice, November, 1987, p.26.

[9] Psychiatry in Practice, Winter, 1989, p.16.

[10] Psychiatry in Practice, Winter, 1989, p.17.

[11] Katherine Blick Hoyenga and Kermit T. Hoyenga in 'Sex Differences in Mental Health', p.336.
..........
Prepared by: Abu 'Iyaad

Imam An-Nawawi

2009-01-27T09:10:00.001+07:00

Disusun Oleh: Ustadz Anas Burhanuddin, Lc.

Beliau adalah Yahya bin Syaraf bin Hasan bin Husain An-Nawawi Ad-Dimasyqiy, Abu Zakaria. Beliau dilahirkan pada bulan Muharram tahun 631 H di Nawa, sebuah kampung di daerah Dimasyq (Damascus) yang sekarang merupakan ibukota Suriah. Beliau dididik oleh ayah beliau yang terkenal dengan kesalehan dan ketakwaan. Beliau mulai belajar di katatib (tempat belajar baca tulis untuk anak-anak) dan hafal Al-Quran sebelum menginjak usia baligh.

Ketika berumur sepuluh tahun, Syaikh Yasin bin Yusuf Az-Zarkasyi melihatnya dipaksa bermain oleh teman-teman sebayanya, namun ia menghindar, menolak dan menangis karena paksaan tersebut. Syaikh ini berkata bahwa anak ini diharapkan akan menjadi orang paling pintar dan paling zuhud pada masanya dan bisa memberikan manfaat yang besar kepada umat Islam. Perhatian ayah dan guru beliaupun menjadi semakin besar.

An-Nawawi tinggal di Nawa hingga berusia 18 tahun. Kemudian pada tahun 649 H ia memulai rihlah thalabul ilminya ke Dimasyq dengan menghadiri halaqah–halaqah ilmiah yang diadakan oleh para ulama kota tersebut. Ia tinggal di madrasah Ar-rawahiyyah didekat Al-Jami’ Al-Umawiy. Jadilah thalabul ilmi sebagai kesibukannya yang utama. Disebutkan bahwa ia menghadiri dua belas halaqah dalam sehari. Ia rajin sekali dan menghafal banyak hal. Iapun mengungguli teman-temannya yang lain. Ia berkata : “Dan aku menulis segala yang berhubungan dengannya,baik penjelasan kalimat yang sulit maupun pemberian harakat pada kata-kata. Dan Allah telah memberikan barakah dalam waktuku.” [Syadzaratudz Dzahab 5/355].

Diantara syaikh beliau: Abul Baqa’ An-Nablusiy, Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Al-Ausiy, Abu Ishaq Al-Muradiy, Abul Faraj Ibnu Qudamah Al-Maqdisiy, Ishaq bin Ahmad Al-Maghribiy dan Ibnul Firkah. Dan diantara murid beliau: Ibnul ‘Aththar Asy-Syafi’iy, Abul Hajjaj Al-Mizziy, Ibnun Naqib Asy-Syafi’iy,Abul ‘Abbas Al-Isybiliy dan Ibnu ‘Abdil Hadi.

Pada tahun 651 H ia menunaikan ibadah haji bersama ayahnya, kemudian ia pergi ke Madinah dan menetap disana selama satu setengah bulan lalu kembali ke Dimasyq. Pada tahun 665 H ia mengajar di Darul Hadits Al-Asyrafiyyah (Dimasyq) dan menolak untuk mengambil gaji.

Beliau digelari Muhyiddin ( yang menghidupkan agama ) dan membenci gelar ini karena tawadhu’ beliau. Disamping itu, agama islam adalah agama yang hidup dan kokoh, tidak memerlukan orang yang menghidupkannya sehingga menjadi hujjah atas orang-orang yang meremehkannya atau meninggalkannya. Diriwayatkan bahwa beliau berkata :”Aku tidak akan memaafkan orang yang menggelariku Muhyiddin”.

Imam An-Nawawi adalah seorang yang zuhud, wara’ dan bertaqwa. Beliau sederhana, qana’ah dan berwibawa. Beliau menggunakan banyak waktu beliau dalam ketaatan. Sering tidak tidur malam untuk ibadah atau menulis. Beliau juga menegakkan amar ma’ruf nahi munkar, termasuk kepada para penguasa, dengan cara yang telah digariskan Islam. Beliau menulis surat berisi nasehat untuk pemerintah dengan bahasa yang halus sekali. Suatu ketika beliau dipanggil oleh raja Azh-Zhahir Bebris untuk menandatangani sebuah fatwa. Datanglah beliau yang bertubuh kurus dan berpakaian sangat sederhana. Raja pun meremehkannya dan berkata: ”Tandatanganilah fatwa ini!!” Beliau membacanya dan menolak untuk membubuhkan tanda tangan. Raja marah dan berkata: ”Kenapa !?” Beliau menjawab: ”Karena berisi kedhaliman yang nyata”. Raja semakin marah dan berkata: ”Pecat ia dari semua jabatannya”. Para pembantu raja berkata: ”Ia tidak punya jabatan sama sekali. Raja ingin membunuhnya tapi Allah menghalanginya. Raja ditanya: ”Kenapa tidak engkau bunuh dia padahal sudah bersikap demikian kepada Tuan?” Rajapun menjawab: ”Demi Allah, aku sangat segan padanya”.

Imam Nawawi meninggalkan banyak sekali karya ilmiah yang terkenal. Jumlahnya sekitar empat puluh kitab, diantaranya:

1. Dalam bidang hadits : Arba’in, Riyadhush Shalihin, Al- Minhaj (Syarah Shahih Muslim), At-Taqrib wat Taysir fi Ma’rifat Sunan Al-Basyirin Nadzir.

2. Dalam bidang fiqih: Minhajuth Thalibin, Raudhatuth Thalibin, Al-Majmu’.

3. Dalam bidang bahasa: Tahdzibul Asma’ wal Lughat.

4. Dalam bidang akhlak: At-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalatil Qur’an, Bustanul Arifin, Al-Adzkar.

Kitab-kitab ini dikenal secara luas termasuk oleh orang awam dan memberikan manfaat yang besar sekali untuk umat. Ini semua tidak lain karena taufik dari Allah Ta’ala, kemudian keikhlasan dan kesungguhan beliau dalam berjuang.

Secara umum beliau termasuk salafi dan berpegang teguh pada manhaj ahlul hadits, tidak terjerumus dalam filsafat dan berusaha meneladani generasi awal umat dan menulis bantahan untuk ahlul bid’ah yang menyelisihi mereka. Namun beliau tidak ma’shum (terlepas dari kesalahan) dan jatuh dalam kesalahan yang banyak terjadi pada uluma-ulama di zaman beliau yaitu kesalahan dalam masalah sifat-sifat Allah Subhanah. Beliau kadang menta’wil dan kadang–kadang tafwidh. Orang yang memperhatikan kitab-kitab beliau akan mendapatkan bahwa beliau bukanlah muhaqqiq dalam bab ini, tidak seperti dalam cabang ilmu yang lain. Dalam bab ini beliau banyak mendasarkan pendapat beliau pada nukilan–nukilan dari para ulama tanpa mengomentarinya.

Adapun memvonis Imam Nawawi sebagai Asy’ari, itu tidak benar karena beliau banyak menyelisihi mereka (orang-orang Asy’ari) dalam masalah-masalah aqidah yang lain seperti ziyadatul iman dan khalqu af’alil ‘ibad. Karya-karya beliau tetap dianjurkan untuk dibaca dan dipelajari, dengan berhati-hati terhadap kesalahan-kesalahan yang ada. Tidak boleh bersikap seperti kaum Haddadiyyun yang membakar kitab-kitab karya beliau karena adanya beberapa kesalahan didalamnya.

Komite Tetap untuk Riset Ilmiah dan Fatwa kerajaan Saudi ditanya tentang aqidah beliau dan menjawab: ”Lahu aghlaath fish shifat” (Beliau memiliki beberapa kesalahan dalam bab sifat-sifat Allah).

Imam Nawawi meninggal pada 24 Rajab 676 H -rahimahullah wa ghafarahu-.

Catatan: Lihat biografi beliau di Tadzkiratul Huffazh 147, Thabaqat Asy-Syafi’iyyah Al-Kubra, Syadzaratudz Dzahab 5/354

Words of Wisdom :

Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahima-hullaah) said:

((When a hadeeth is found to be saheeh, then that is my madhhab)).

Ibn 'Aabideen in al-Haashiyah (1/63) and in his essay Rasm al-Mufti (1/4 from the Compilation of the Essays of Ibn 'Aabideen), Shaikh Saalih al-Fulaani in Eeqaaz al-Himam (p. 62) and others. Ibn 'Aabideen quoted from Sharh al-Hidaayah by Ibn al-Shahnah al-Kabeer, the teacher of Ibn al-Humaam.

Imam Al Baihaqi

2009-01-27T09:07:00.000+07:00

Imam Al Baihaqi, yang bernama lengkap Imam Al-Hafith Al-Mutaqin Abu Bakr Ahmed ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Musa Al Khusrujardi Al-Baihaqi, adalah seorang ulama besar dari Khurasan (desa kecil di pinggiran kota Baihaq) dan penulis banyak buku terkenal.

Masa pendidikannya dijalani bersama sejumlah ulama terkenal dari berbagai negara, di antaranya Iman Abul Hassan Muhammed ibn Al-Hussein Al Alawi, Abu Tahir Al-Ziyadi, Abu Abdullah Al-Hakim, penulis kitab "Al Mustadrik of Sahih Muslim and Sahih Al-Bukhari", Abu Abdur-Rahman Al-Sulami, Abu Bakr ibn Furik, Abu Ali Al-Ruthabari of Khusran, Halal ibn Muhammed Al-Hafaar, dan Ibn Busran.

Para ulama itu tinggal di berbagai tempat terpencar. Oleh karenanya, Imam Baihaqi harus menempuh jarak cukup jauh dan menghabiskan banyak waktu untuk bisa bermajelis dengan mereka. Namun, semua itu dijalani dengan senang hati, demi memuaskan dahaga batinnya terhadap ilmu Islam.

As-Sabki menyatakan: "Imam Baihaqi merupakan satu di antara sekian banyak imam terkemuka dan memberi petunjuk bagi umat Muslim. Dialah pula yang sering kita sebut sebagai 'Tali Allah' dan memiliki pengetahuan luas mengenai ilmu agama, fikih serta penghapal hadits."

Abdul-Ghaffar Al-Farsi Al-Naisabouri dalam bukunya "Thail Tareekh Naisabouri": Abu Bakr Al-Baihaqi Al Hafith, Al Usuli Din, menghabiskan waktunya untuk mempelajari beragam ilmu agama dan ilmu pengetahuan lainnya. Dia belajar ilmu aqidah dan bepergian ke Irak serta Hijaz (Arab Saudi) kemudian banyak menulis buku.

Imam Baihaqi juga mengumpulkan Hadits-hadits dari beragam sumber terpercaya. Pemimpin Islam memintanya pindah dari Nihiya ke Naisabor untuk tujuan mendengarkan penjelasannya langsung dan mengadakan bedah buku. Maka di tahun 441, para pemimpin Islam itu membentuk sebuah majelis guna mendengarkan penjelasan mengenai buku 'Al Ma'rifa'. Banyak imam terkemuka turut hadir.

Imam Baihaqi hidup ketika kekacauan sedang marak di berbagai negeri Islam. Saat itu kaum muslim terpecah-belah berdasarkan politik, fikih, dan pemikiran. Antara kelompok yang satu dengan yang lain berusaha saling menyalahkan dan menjatuhkan, sehingga mempermudah musuh dari luar, yakni bangsa Romawi, untuk menceraiberaikan mereka. Dalam masa krisis ini, Imam Baihaqi hadir sebagai pribadi yang berkomitmen terhadap ajaran agama. Dia memberikan teladan bagaimana seharusnya menerjemahkan ajaran Islam dalam perilaku keseharian.

Sementara itu, dalam Wafiyatul A'yam, Ibnu Khalkan menulis, "Dia hidup zuhud, banyak beribadah, wara', dan mencontoh para salafus shalih."

Beliau terkenal sebagai seorang yang memiliki kecintaan besar terhadap hadits dan fikih. Dari situlah kemudian Imam Baihaqi populer sebagai pakar ilmu hadits dan fikih.

Setelah sekian lama menuntut ilmu kepada para ulama senior di berbagai negeri Islam, Imam Baihaqi kembali lagi ke tempat asalnya, kota Baihaq. Di sana, dia mulai menyebarkan berbagai ilmu yang telah didapatnya selama mengembara ke berbagai negeri Islam. Ia mulai banyak mengajar.

Selain mengajar, dia juga aktif menulis buku. Dia termasuk dalam deretan para penulis buku yang produktif. Diperkirakan, buku-buku tulisannya mencapai seribu jilid. Tema yang dikajinya sangat beragam, mulai dari akidah, hadits, fikih, hingga tarikh. Banyak ulama yang hadir lebih kemudian, yang mengapresiasi karya-karyanya itu. Hal itu lantaran pembahasannya yang demikian luas dan mendalam.

Meski dipandang sebagai ahli hadits, namun banyak kalangan menilai Baihaqi tidak cukup mengenal karya-karya hadits dari Tirmizi, Nasa'i, dan Ibn Majah. Dia juga tidak pernah berjumpa dengan buku hadits atau Masnad Ahmad bin Hanbal (Imam Hambali). Dia menggunakan Mustadrak al-Hakim karya Imam al-Hakim secara bebas.

Menurut ad-Dahabi, seorang ulama hadits, kajian Baihaqi dalam hadits tidak begitu besar, namun beliau mahir meriwayatkan hadits karena benar-benar mengetahui sub-sub bagian hadits dan para tokohnya yang telah muncul dalam isnad-isnad (sandaran atau rangkaian perawi hadits).

Di antara karya-karya Baihaqi, Kitab as-Sunnan al-Kubra yang terbit di Hyderabat, India, 10 jilid tahun 1344-1355, menjadi karya paling terkenal. Buku ini pernah mendapat penghargaan tertinggi.

Dari pernyataan as-Subki, ahli fikih, usul fikih serta hadits, tidak ada yang lebih baik dari kitab ini, baik dalam penyesuaian susunannya maupun mutunya.

Dalam karya tersebut ada catatan-catatan yang selalu ditambahkan mengenai nilai-nilai atau hal lainnya, seperti hadits-hadits dan para ahli hadits. Selain itu, setiap jilid cetakan Hyderabat itu memuat indeks yang berharga mengenai tokoh-tokoh dari tiga generasi pertama ahli-ahli hadits yang dijumpai dengan disertai petunjuk periwayatannya.

Itulah di antara sumbangsih dan peninggalan berharga dari Imam Baihaqi. Dia mewariskan ilmu-ilmunya untuk ditanamkan di dada para muridnya. Di samping telah pula mengabadikannya ke dalam berbagai bentuk karya tulis yang hingga sekarang pun tidak usai-usai juga dikaji orang.

Imam terkemuka ini meninggal dunia di Nisabur, Iran, tanggal 10 Jumadilawal 458 H (9 April 1066). Dia lantas dibawa ke tanah kelahirannya dan dimakamkan di sana. Penduduk kota Baihaq berpendapat, bahwa kota merekalah yang lebih patut sebagai tempat peristirahatan terakhir seorang pecinta hadits dan fikih, seperti Imam Baihaqi.

Sejumlah buku penting lain telah menjadi peninggalannya yang tidak ternilai. Antara lain buku "As-Sunnan Al Kubra", "Sheub Al Iman", "Tha La'il An Nabuwwa", "Al Asma wa As Sifat", dan "Ma'rifat As Sunnan cal Al Athaar".

Words of Wisdom :

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahima-hullaah) said:

((Indeed the people of Truth and the Sunnah do not follow anyone [unconditionally] except the messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), the one who does not speak from his desires - it is only revelation revealed to him)).

Majmoo'ah al-Fataawaa Ibn Taymiyyah, vol 3, page 216, Daar Ibn Hazm Print, Trans: Aboo 'Abdis-Salaam

Imam Tirmizi

2009-01-27T08:56:00.001+07:00

Khazanah keilmuan Islam klasik mencatat sosok Imam Tirmizi sebagai salah satu periwayat dan ahli Hadits utama, selain Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Daud, dan sederet nama lainnya. Karyanya, Kitab Al Jami', atau biasa dikenal dengan kitab Jami' Tirmizi, menjadi salah satu rujukan penting berkaitan masalah Hadits dan ilmunya, serta termasuk dalam Kutubus Sittah (enam kitab pokok di bidang Hadits) dan ensiklopedia Hadits terkenal. Sosok penuh tawadhu' dan ahli ibadah ini tak lain adalah Imam Tirmizi.

Dilahirkan pada 279 H di kota Tirmiz, Imam Tirmizi bernama lengkap Imam Al-Hafiz Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa bin Saurah bin Musa bin Ad-Dahhak As-Sulami At-Tirmizi. Sejak kecil, Imam Tirmizi gemar belajar ilmu dan mencari Hadits. Untuk keperluan inilah ia mengembara ke berbagai negeri, antara lain Hijaz, Irak, Khurasan, dan lain-lain.

Dalam lawatannya itu, ia banyak mengunjungi ulama-ulama besar dan guru-guru Hadits untuk mendengar Hadits dan kemudian dihafal dan dicatatnya dengan baik. Di antara gurunya adalah; Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, dan Imam Abu Daud. Selain itu, ia juga belajar pada Imam Ishak bin Musa, Mahmud bin Gailan, Said bin Abdurrahman, Ali bin Hajar, Ahmad bin Muni', dan lainnya.

Perjalanan panjang pengembaraannya mencari ilmu, bertukar pikiran, dan mengumpulkan Hadits itu mengantarkan dirinya sebagai ulama Hadits yang sangat disegani kalangan ulama semasanya. Kendati demikian, takdir menggariskan lain. Daya upaya mulianya itu pula yang pada akhir kehidupannya mendapat musibah kebutaan, dan beberapa tahun lamanya ia hidup sebagai tuna netra. Dalam kondisi seperti inilah, Imam Tirmizi meninggal dunia. Ia wafat di Tirmiz pada usia 70 tahun.

Di kemudian hari, kumpulan Hadits dan ilmu-ilmunya dipelajari dan diriwayatkan oleh banyak ulama, di antaranya; Makhul ibnul-Fadl, Muhammad bin Mahmud Anbar, Hammad bin Syakir, Abd bin Muhammad An-Nasfiyyun, Al-Haisam bin Kulaib Asy-Syasyi, Ahmad bin Yusuf An-Nasafi, Abul-Abbas Muhammad bin Mahbud Al-Mahbubi, yang meriwayatkan kitab Al-Jami' daripadanya, dan lain-lain. Mereka ini pula murid-murid Imam Tirmizi.

Banyak kalangan ulama dan ahli Hadits mengakui kekuatan dan kelebihan dalam diri Imam Tirmizi. Selain itu, kesalehan dan ketakwaannya pun tak dapat diragukan lagi. Salah satu ulama itu, Ibnu Hibban Al-Busti, pakar Hadits, mengakui kemampuan Tirmizi dalam menghafal, menghimpun, menyusun, dan meneliti Hadits, sehingga menjadikan dirinya sumber pengambilan Hadits para ulama terkenal, termasuk Imam Bukhari.

Sementara kalangan ulama lainnya mengungkapkan, Imam Tirmizi adalah sosok yang dapat dipercaya, amanah, dan sangat teliti. Kisah yang dikemukakan Al-Hafiz Ibnu Hajar dalam Tahzib At-Tahzibnya, dari Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Abu Dawud, berikut adalah salah satu bukti kelebihan sang Imam :

Saya mendengar Abu Isa At-Tirmizi berkata, "Pada suatu waktu dalam perjalanan menuju Mekkah, dan ketika itu saya telah menulis dua jilid buku berisi Hadits-hadits berasal dari seorang guru. Guru tersebut berpapasan dengan kami. Lalu saya bertanya-tanya mengenai dia, mereka menjawab bahwa dialah orang yang kumaksudkan itu. Kemudian saya menemuinya. Dia mengira bahwa 'dua jilid kitab' itu ada padaku. Ternyata yang kubawa bukanlah dua jilid tersebut, melainkan dua jilid lain yang mirip dengannya. Ketika saya bertemu dengannya, saya memohon kepadanya untuk mendengar Hadits, dan ia mengabulkan permohonan itu. Kemudian ia membacakan Hadits yang telah dihafalnya. Di sela-sela pembacaan itu ia mencuri pandang dan melihat bahwa kertas yang kupegang ternyata masih putih bersih tanpa ada tulisan sesuatu apa pun. Melihat kenyataan itu, ia berkata, 'Tidakkah engkau malu kepadaku?' Lalu aku bercerita dan menjelaskan kepadanya bahwa apa yang ia bacakan itu telah kuhafal semuanya. 'Coba bacakan!' perintahnya. Aku pun membacakan seluruhnya secara beruntun. Ia bertanya lagi, 'Apakah telah engkau hafalkan sebelum datang kepadaku?' Aku menjawab, 'Tidak.' Kemudian saya meminta lagi agar dia meriwayatkan Hadits yang lain. Ia pun kemudian membacakan 40 Hadits yang tergolong Hadits-hadits sulit atau gharib lalu berkata, 'Coba ulangi apa yang kubacakan tadi!' Lalu aku membacakannya dari pertama sampai selesai, dan ia berkomentar, 'Aku belum pernah melihat orang seperti engkau.' "

Selain dikenal sebagai ahli dan penghafal Hadits, mengetahui kelemahan-kelemahan dan perawi-perawinya, Imam Tirmizi juga dikenal sebagai ahli fiqh dengan wawasan dan pandangan luas. Pandangan-pandangan tentang fiqh itu misalnya, dapat ditemukan dalam kitabnya Al-Jami'.

Kajian-kajiannya mengenai persoalan fiqh ini pula mencerminkan dirinya sebagai ulama yang sangat berpengalaman dan mengerti betul duduk permasalahan yang sebenarnya. Sebagai tamsil, penjelasannya terhadap sebuah Hadits mengenai penangguhan membayar piutang yang dilakukan si berutang yang sudah mampu, sebagai berikut: "Muhammad bin Basysyar bin Mahdi menceritakan kepada kami. Sufyan menceritakan kepada kami, dari Abi Az-Zunad, dari Al-Arai dari Abu Hurairah, dari Nabi SAW, bersabda: Penangguhan membayar utang (yang dilakukan oleh si berutang) yang mampu adalah suatu kezaliman. Apabila seseorang di antara kamu dipindahkan utangnya kepada orang lain yang mampu membayar, hendaklah pemindahan utang itu diterimanya."

Bagaimana penjelasan sang Imam? Berikut ini komentar beliau, "Sebagian ahli ilmu berkata: 'Apabila seseorang dipindahkan piutangnya kepada orang lain yang mampu membayar dan ia menerima pemindahan itu, maka bebaslah orang yang memindahkan (muhil) itu, dan bagi orang yang dipindahkan piutangnya (muhtal) tidak dibolehkan menuntut kepada muhil.' Sementara sebagian ahli lainnya mengatakan: 'Apabila harta seseorang (muhtal) menjadi rugi disebabkan kepailitan muhal 'alaih, maka baginya dibolehkan menuntut bayar kepada orang pertama (muhil). Alasannya adalah, tidak ada kerugian atas harta benda seorang Muslim. Menurut Ibnu Ishak, perkataan 'Tidak ada kerugian atas harta benda seorang Muslim' ini adalah 'Apabila seseorang dipindahkan piutangnya kepada orang lain yang dikiranya mampu, namun ternyata orang lain itu tidak mampu, maka tidak ada kerugian atas harta benda orang Muslim (yang dipindahkan utangnya) itu'." demikian penjelasan Imam Tirmizi.

Ini adalah satu contoh yang menunjukkan kepada kita, betapa cemerlangnya pemikiran fiqh Imam Tirmizi dalam memahami nash-nash Hadits, serta betapa luas dan orisinal pandangannya itu. Hingga meninggalnya, Imam Tirmizi telah menulis puluhan kitab, diantaranya: Kitab Al-Jami', terkenal dengan sebutan Sunan at-Tirmizi, Kitab Al-'Ilal, Kitab At-Tarikh, Kitab Asy-Syama'il an-Nabawiyyah, Kitab Az-Zuhd, dan Kitab Al-Asma' wal-Kuna.

Selain dikenal dengan sebutan Kitab Jami' Tirmizi, kitab ini juga dikenal dengan nama Sunan At-Tirmizi. Di kalangan muhaddisin (ahli Hadits), kitab ini menjadi rujukan utama, selain kitab-kitab hadits lainnya dari Imam Bukhari maupun Imam Muslim.

Kitab Sunan Tirmizi dianggap sangat penting lantaran kitab ini betul-betul memperhatikan ta'lil (penentuan nilai) Hadits dengan menyebutkan secara eksplisit Hadits yang sahih. Itu sebabnya, kitab ini menduduki peringkat ke-4 dalam urutan Kutubus Sittah, atau menurut penulis buku Kasyf Az Zunuun, Hajji Khalfah (w. 1657), kedudukan Sunan Tirmizi berada pada tingkat ke-3 dalam hierarki Kutubus Sittah.

Tidak seperti kitab Hadits Imam Bukhari, atau yang ditulis Imam Muslim dan lainnya, kitab Sunan Tirmizi dapat dipahami oleh siapa saja, yang memahami bahasa Arab tentunya. Dalam menyeleksi Hadits untuk kitabnya itu, Imam Tirmizi bertolak pada dasar apakah Hadits itu dipakai oleh fuqaha (ahli fikih) sebagai hujjah (dalil) atau tidak. Sebaliknya, Tirmizi tidak menyaring Hadits dari aspek Hadits itu dhaif atau tidak. Itu sebabnya, ia selalu memberikan uraian tentang nilai Hadits, bahkan uraian perbandingan dan kesimpulannya.

Diriwayatkan, bahwa ia pernah berkata: "Semua Hadits yang terdapat dalam kitab ini adalah dapat diamalkan." Oleh karena itu, sebagian besar ahli ilmu menggunakannya (sebagai pegangan), kecuali dua Hadits, yaitu: Pertama, yang artinya: "Sesungguhnya Rasulullah SAW menjamak shalat Dhuhur dengan Ashar, dan Maghrib dengan Isya, tanpa adanya sebab takut dan dalam perjalanan.'' Juga Hadits, "Jika ia peminum khamar, minum lagi pada yang keempat kalinya, maka bunuhlah dia." Hadits mengenai hukuman untuk peminum khamar ini adalah mansukh (terhapus) dan ijma' ulama pun menunjukkan demikian. Sedangkan mengenai shalat jamak, para ulama berbeda pendapat atau tidak sepakat untuk meninggalkannya. Sebagian besar ulama berpendapat boleh hukumnya melakukan shalat jamak di rumah selama tidak dijadikan kebiasaan. Pendapat ini adalah pendapat Ibn Sirin dan Asyab serta sebagian besar ahli fiqh dan ahli Hadits juga Ibn Munzir.

Beberapa keistimewaan Kitab Jami' atau Sunan Tirmizi adalah, pencantuman riwayat dari sahabat lain mengenai masalah yang dibahas dalam Hadits pokok (Hadits al Bab), baik isinya yang semakna maupun yang berbeda, bahkan yang bertentangan sama sekali secara langsung maupun tidak langsung.

Selain itu, keistimewaan yang langsung kaitannya dengan ulum al Hadits (ilmu-ilmu Hadits) adalah masalah ta'lil Hadits. Hadits-hadits yang dimuat disebutkan nilainya dengan jelas, bahkan nilai rawinya yang dianggap penting. Kitab ini dinilai positif karena dapat digunakan untuk penerapan praktis kaidah-kaidah ilmu Hadits, khususnya ta'lil Hadits tersebut.

Words of Wisdom :

A man came to al-Hasan (al-Basree) and said:

((I wish to debate with you about the Religion)).

al-Hasan replied:

((I know my Religion. If you have lost your Religion go out and look for it)).

Reported by al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah (p. 57), al-Laalikaa'ee in as-Sunnah (no. 215) and Ibn Battah (no. 586) and it is saheeh

Imam Muslim

2009-01-27T08:42:00.004+07:00

Imam Muslim dilahirkan di Naisabur pada tahun 202 H atau 817 M. Imam Muslim bernama lengkap Imam Abul Husain Muslim bin al-Hajjaj bin Muslim bin Kausyaz al Qusyairi an Naisaburi. Naisabur, yang sekarang ini termasuk wilayah Rusia, dalam sejarah Islam kala itu termasuk dalam sebutan Maa Wara'a an Nahr, artinya daerah-daerah yang terletak di sekitar Sungai Jihun di Uzbekistan, Asia Tengah. Pada masa Dinasti Samanid, Naisabur menjadi pusat pemerintahan dan perdagangan selama lebih kurang 150 tahun. Seperti halnya Baghdad di abad pertengahan, Naisabur, juga Bukhara (kota kelahiran Imam Bukhari) sebagai salah satu kota ilmu dan pusat peradaban di kawasan Asia Tengah. Di sini pula bermukim banyak ulama besar.

Perhatian dan minat Imam Muslim terhadap ilmu hadits memang luar biasa. Sejak usia dini, beliau telah berkonsentrasi mempelajari hadits. Pada tahun 218 H, beliau mulai belajar hadits, ketika usianya kurang dari lima belas tahun. Beruntung, beliau dianugerahi kelebihan berupa ketajaman berfikir dan ingatan hafalan. Ketika berusia sepuluh tahun, Imam Muslim sering datang dan berguru pada seorang ahli hadits, yaitu Imam Ad Dakhili. Setahun kemudian, beliau mulai menghafal hadits Nabi SAW, dan mulai berani mengoreksi kesalahan dari gurunya yang salah menyebutkan periwayatan hadits.

Selain kepada Ad Dakhili, Imam Muslim pun tak segan-segan bertanya kepada banyak ulama di berbagai tempat dan negara. Berpetualang menjadi aktivitas rutin bagi dirinya untuk mencari silsilah dan urutan yang benar sebuah hadits. Beliau, misalnya pergi ke Hijaz, Irak, Syam, Mesir dan negara-negara lainnya. Dalam lawatannya itu, Imam Muslim banyak bertemu dan mengunjungi ulama-ulama kenamaan untuk berguru hadits kepada mereka. Di Khurasan, beliau berguru kepada Yahya bin Yahya dan Ishak bin Rahawaih; di Ray beliau berguru kepada Muhammad bin Mahran dan Abu 'Ansan. Di Irak beliau belajar hadits kepada Ahmad bin Hanbal dan Abdullah bin Maslamah; di Hijaz beliau belajar kepada Sa'id bin Mansur dan Abu Mas 'Abuzar; di Mesir beliau berguru kepada 'Amr bin Sawad dan Harmalah bin Yahya, dan ulama ahli hadits lainnya.

Bagi Imam Muslim, Baghdad memiliki arti tersendiri. Di kota inilah beliau berkali-kali berkunjung untuk belajar kepada ulama-ulama ahli hadits. Kunjungannya yang terakhir beliau lakukan pada tahun 259 H. Ketika Imam Bukhari datang ke Naisabur, Imam Muslim sering mendatanginya untuk bertukar pikiran sekaligus berguru padanya. Saat itu, Imam Bukhari yang memang lebih senior, lebih menguasai ilmu hadits ketimbang dirinya.

Ketika terjadi fitnah atau kesenjangan antara Bukhari dan Az Zihli, beliau bergabung kepada Bukhari. Sayang, hal ini kemudian menjadi sebab terputusnya hubungan dirinya dengan Imam Az Zihli. Yang lebih menyedihkan, hubungan tak baik itu merembet ke masalah ilmu, yakni dalam hal penghimpunan dan periwayatan hadits-hadits Nabi SAW.

Imam Muslim dalam kitab shahihnya maupun kitab-kitab lainnya tidak memasukkan hadits-hadits yang diterima dari Az Zihli, padahal beliau adalah gurunya. Hal serupa juga beliau lakukan terhadap Bukhari. Tampaknya bagi Imam Muslim tak ada pilihan lain kecuali tidak memasukkan ke dalam Kitab Shahihnya hadits-hadits yang diterima dari kedua gurunya itu. Kendatipun demikian, dirinya tetap mengakui mereka sebagai gurunya.

Imam Muslim yang dikenal sangat tawadhu' dan wara' dalam ilmu itu telah meriwayatkan puluhan ribu hadits. Menurut Muhammad Ajaj Al Khatib, guru besar hadits pada Universitas Damaskus, Syria, hadits yang tercantum dalam karya besar Imam Muslim, Shahih Muslim, berjumlah 3.030 hadits tanpa pengulangan. Bila dihitung dengan pengulangan, katanya, berjumlah sekitar 10.000 hadits. Sementara menurut Imam Al Khuli, ulama besar asal Mesir, hadits yang terdapat dalam karya Muslim tersebut berjumlah 4.000 hadits tanpa pengulangan, dan 7.275 dengan pengulangan. Jumlah hadits yang beliau tulis dalam Shahih Muslim itu diambil dan disaring dari sekitar 300.000 hadits yang beliau ketahui. Untuk menyaring hadits-hadits tersebut, Imam Muslim membutuhkan waktu 15 tahun.

Mengenai metode penyusunan hadits, Imam Muslim menerapkan prinsip-prinsip ilmu jarh, dan ta'dil, yakni suatu ilmu yang digunakan untuk menilai cacat tidaknya suatu hadits. Beliau juga menggunakan sighat at tahammul (metode-metode penerimaan riwayat), seperti haddasani (menyampaikan kepada saya), haddasana (menyampaikan kepada kami), akhbarana (mengabarkan kepada saya), akhabarana (mengabarkan kepada kami), dan qaalaa (ia berkata).

Imam Muslim menjadi orang kedua terbaik dalam masalah ilmu hadits (sanad, matan, kritik, dan seleksinya) setelah Imam Bukhari. "Di dunia ini orang yang benar-benar ahli di bidang hadits hanya empat orang; salah satu di antaranya adalah Imam Muslim," komentar ulama besar Abu Quraisy Al Hafizh. Maksud ungkapan itu tak lain adalah ahli-ahli hadits terkemuka yang hidup di masa Abu Quraisy.

Reputasinya mengikuti gurunya Imam Bukhari

Dalam khazanah ilmu-ilmu Islam, khususnya dalam bidang ilmu hadits, nama Imam Muslim begitu monumental, setara dengan gurunya, Abu Abdillah Muhammad bin Ismail al-Bukhary al-Ju’fy atau lebih dikenal dengan nama Imam Bukhari. Sejarah Islam sangat berhutang jasa kepadanya, karena prestasinya di bidang ilmu hadits, serta karya ilmiahnya yang luar biasa sebagai rujukan ajaran Islam, setelah al-Qur’an. Dua kitab hadits shahih karya Bukhari dan Muslim sangat berperan dalam standarisasi bagi akurasi akidah, syariah dan tasawwuf dalam dunia Islam.

Melalui karyanya yang sangat berharga, al-Musnad ash-Shahih, atau al-Jami’ ash-Shahih, selain menempati urutan kedua setelah Shahih Bukhari, kitab tersebut memenuhi khazanah pustaka dunia Islam, dan di Indonesia, khususnya di pesantren-pesantren menjadi kurikulum wajib bagi para santri dan mahasiswa.

Pengembaraan (rihlah) dalam pencarian hadits merupakan kekuatan tersendiri, dan amat penting bagi perkembangan intelektualnya. Dalam pengembaraan ini (tahun 220 H), Imam Muslim bertemu dengan guru-gurunya, dimana pertama kali bertemu dengan Qa’nabi dan yang lainnya, ketika menuju kota Makkah dalam rangka perjalanan haji. Perjalanan intelektual lebih serius, barangkali dilakukan tahun 230 H. Dari satu wilayah ke wilayah lainnya, misalnya menuju ke Irak, Syria, Hijaz dan Mesir.

Waktu yang cukup lama dihabiskan bersama gurunya al-Bukhari. Kepada guru besarnya ini, Imam Muslim menaruh hormat yang luar biasa. "Biarkan aku mencium kakimu, hai Imam Muhadditsin dan dokter hadits," pintanya, ketika di sebuah pertemuan antara Bukhari dan Muslim.

Disamping itu, Imam Muslim memang dikenal sebagai tokoh yang sangat ramah, sebagaimana al-Bukhari yang memiliki kehalusan budi bahasa, Imam Muslim juga memiliki reputasi, yang kemudian populer namanya — sebagaimana disebut oleh Adz-Dzahabi — dengan sebutan muhsin dari Naisabur.

Maslamah bin Qasim menegaskan, "Muslim adalah tsaqqat, agung derajatnya dan merupakan salah seorang pemuka (Imam)." Senada pula, ungkapan ahli hadits dan fuqaha’ besar, Imam An-Nawawi, "Para ulama sepakat atas kebesarannya, keimanan, ketinggian martabat, kecerdasan dan kepeloporannya dalam dunia hadits."

Kitab Shahih Muslim

Imam Muslim memiliki jumlah karya yang cukup penting dan banyak. Namun yang paling utama adalah karyanya, Shahih Muslim. Dibanding kitab-kitab hadits shahih lainnya, kitab Shahih Muslim memiliki karakteristik tersendiri, dimana Imam Muslim banyak memberikan perhatian pada ekstraksi yang resmi. Beliau bahkan tidak mencantumkan judul-judul setiap akhir dari satu pokok bahasan. Disamping itu, perhatiannya lebih diarahkan pada mutaba’at dan syawahid.

Walaupun dia memiliki nilai beda dalam metode penyusunan kitab hadits, Imam Muslim sekali-kali tidak bermaksud mengungkap fiqih hadits, namun mengemukakan ilmu-ilmu yang bersanad. Karena beliau meriwayatkan setiap hadits di tempat yang paling layak dengan menghimpun jalur-jalur sanadnya di tempat tersebut. Sementara al-Bukhari memotong-motong suatu hadits di beberapa tempat dan pada setiap tempat beliau sebutkan lagi sanadnya. Sebagai murid yang shalih, beliau sangat menghormati gurunya itu, sehingga beliau menghindari orang-orang yang berselisih pendapat dengan al-Bukhari.

Kitab Shahih Muslim memang dinilai kalangan muhaditsun berada setingkat di bawah al-Bukhari. Namun ada sejumlah ulama yang menilai bahwa kitab Imam Muslim lebih unggul ketimbang kitabnya al-Bukhari.

Sebenarnya kitab Shahih Muslim dipublikasikan untuk Abu Zur’ah, salah seorang kritikus hadits terbesar, yang biasanya memberikan sejumlah catatan mengenai cacatnya hadits. Lantas, Imam Muslim kemudian mengoreksi cacat tersebut dengan membuangnya tanpa argumentasi. Karena Imam Muslim tidak pernah mau membukukan hadits-hadits yang hanya berdasarkan kriteria pribadi semata, dan hanya meriwayatkan hadits yang diterima oleh kalangan ulama. Sehingga hadits-hadits Muslim terasa sangat populis.

Berdasarkan hitungan Muhammad Fuad Abdul Baqi, kitab Shahih Muslim memuat 3.033 hadits. Metode penghitungan ini tidak didasarkan pada sistem isnad sebagaimana dilakukan ahli hadits, namun beliau mendasarkannya pada subyek-subyek. Artinya jika didasarkan isnad, jumlahnya bisa berlipat ganda.

Antara al-Bukhari dan Muslim

Imam Muslim, sebagaimana dikatakan oleh Prof. Mustafa ‘Adzami dalam bukunya Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature, mengambil keuntungan dari Shahih Bukhari, kemudian menyusun karyanya sendiri, yang tentu saja secara metodologis dipengaruhi karya al-Bukhari.

Antara al-Bukhari dan Muslim, dalam dunia hadits memiliki kesetaraan dalam keshahihan hadits, walaupun hadits al-Bukhari dinilai memiliki keunggulan setingkat. Namun, kedua kitab hadits tersebut mendapatkan gelar sebagai as-Shahihain.

Sebenarnya para ulama berbeda pendapat mana yang lebih unggul antara Shahih Muslim dengan Shahih Bukhari. Jumhur Muhadditsun berpendapat, Shahihul Bukhari lebih unggul, sedangkan sejumlah ulama Marokko dan yang lain lebih mengunggulkan Shahih Muslim. Hal ini menunjukkan, sebenarnya perbedaannya sangatlah sedikit, dan walaupun itu terjadi, hanyalah pada sistematika penulisannya saja, serta perbandingan antara tema dan isinya.

Al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar mengulas kelebihan Shahih Bukhari atas Shahih Muslim, antara lain, karena Al-Bukhari mensyaratkan kepastian bertemunya dua perawi yang secara struktural sebagai guru dan murid dalam hadits Mu’an’an; agar dapat dihukumi bahwa sanadnya bersambung. Sementara Muslim menganggap cukup dengan "kemungkinan" bertemunya kedua rawi tersebut dengan tidak adanya tadlis.

Al-Bukhari mentakhrij hadits yang diterima para perawi tsaqqat derajat utama dari segi hafalan dan keteguhannya. Walaupun juga mengeluarkan hadits dari rawi derajat berikutnya dengan sangat selektif. Sementara Muslim, lebih banyak pada rawi derajat kedua dibanding Bukhari. Disamping itu kritik yang ditujukan kepada perawi jalur Muslim lebih banyak dibanding kepada al-Bukhari.

Sementara pendapat yang berpihak pada keunggulan Shahih Muslim beralasan — sebagaimana dijelaskan Ibnu Hajar —, bahwa Muslim lebih berhati-hati dalam menyusun kata-kata dan redaksinya, karena menyusunnya di negeri sendiri dengan berbagai sumber di masa kehidupan guru-gurunya. Beliau juga tidak membuat kesimpulan dengan memberi judul bab sebagaimana Bukhari lakukan. Dan sejumlah alasan lainnya.

Namun prinsipnya, tidak semua hadits Bukhari lebih shahih ketimbang hadits Muslim dan sebaliknya. Hanya pada umumnya keshahihan hadits riwayat Bukhari itu lebih tinggi derajatnya daripada keshahihan hadits dalam Shahih Muslim.

Karya-karya Imam Muslim

Imam Muslim berhasil menghimpun karya-karyanya, antara lain seperti:
1) Al-Asma’ wal-Kuna.
2) Irfadus Syamiyyin.
3) Al-Arqaam.
4) Al-Intifa bi Juludis Siba’.
5) Auhamul Muhadditsin.
7)At-Tarikh.
8) At-Tamyiz.
9) Al-Jami’.
10) Hadits Amr bin Syu’aib.
11) Rijalul ‘Urwah.
12)Sawalatuh Ahmad bin Hanbal.
13) Thabaqat, 14) Al-I’lal.
15) Al-Mukhadhramin.
16) Al-Musnad al-Kabir.
17) Masyayikh ats-Tsawri.
18) Masyayikh Syu’bah.
19) Masyayikh Malik.
20) Al-Wuhdan.
21) As-Shahih al-Masnad.

Kitab-kitab nomor 6, 20, dan 21 telah dicetak, sementara nomor 1, 11, dan 13 masih dalam bentuk manuskrip. Sedangkan karyanya yang monumental adalah Shahih dari judul singkatnya, yang sebenarnya berjudul, Al-Musnad as-Shahih, al-Mukhtashar minas Sunan, bin-Naqli al-’Adl ‘anil ‘Adl ‘an Rasulillah.

Wafatnya Imam Muslim

Imam Muslim wafat pada Ahad sore, pada tanggal 24 Rajab 261 H. Semoga Allah SWT merahmatinya, mengampuni segala kesalahannya, serta menggolongkannya ke dalam golongan orang-orang yang sholeh. Amiin.

Words of Wisdom :

On the authority of Abee Hamzah ath-Thumaalee who said: 'Alee ibn al-Husayn used to carry a sack of bread on his back during the night and used to distriibute it in charity. And he used to say:

((Indeed, charity done in secret will prevent the anger of the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic)).

Siffatus-Safwah - Volume 2, Page 96

Imam Bukhari

2009-01-27T08:31:00.001+07:00

Kelahiran dan Masa Kecil Imam Bukhari

Imam Bukhari (semoga Allah merahmatinya) lahir di Bukhara, Uzbekistan, Asia Tengah. Nama lengkapnya adalah Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ismail bin Ibrahim bin Al-Mughirah bin Badrdizbah Al-Ju'fiy Al Bukhari, namun beliau lebih dikenal dengan nama Bukhari. Beliau lahir pada hari Jumat, tepatnya pada tanggal 13 Syawal 194 H (21 Juli 810 M). Kakeknya bernama Bardizbeh, turunan Persi yang masih beragama Zoroaster. Tapi orangtuanya, Mughoerah, telah memeluk Islam di bawah asuhan Al-Yaman el-Ja’fiy. Sebenarnya masa kecil Imam Bukhari penuh dengan keprihatinan. Di samping menjadi anak yatim, juga tidak dapat melihat karena buta (tidak lama setelah lahir, beliau kehilangan penglihatannya tersebut). Ibunya senantiasa berusaha dan berdo'a untuk kesembuhan beliau. Alhamdulillah, dengan izin dan karunia Allah, menjelang usia 10 tahun matanya sembuh secara total.

Imam Bukhari adalah ahli hadits yang termasyhur diantara para ahli hadits sejak dulu hingga kini bersama dengan Imam Ahmad, Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidzi, An-Nasai, dan Ibnu Majah. Bahkan dalam kitab-kitab fiqih dan hadits, hadits-hadits beliau memiliki derajat yang tinggi. Sebagian menyebutnya dengan julukan Amirul Mukminin fil Hadits (Pemimpin kaum mukmin dalam hal Ilmu Hadits). Dalam bidang ini, hampir semua ulama di dunia merujuk kepadanya.

Tempat beliau lahir kini termasuk wilayah Rusia, yang waktu itu memang menjadi pusat kebudayaan ilmu pengetahuan Islam sesudah Madinah, Damaskus dan Bagdad. Daerah itu pula yang telah melahirkan filosof-filosof besar seperti al-Farabi dan Ibnu Sina. Bahkan ulama-ulama besar seperti Zamachsari, al-Durdjani, al-Bairuni dan lain-lain, juga dilahirkan di Asia Tengah. Sekalipun daerah tersebut telah jatuh di bawah kekuasaan Uni Sovyet (Rusia), namun menurut Alexandre Benningsen dan Chantal Lemercier Quelquejay dalam bukunya "Islam in the Sivyet Union" (New York, 1967), pemeluk Islamnya masih berjumlah 30 milliun. Jadi merupakan daerah yang pemeluk Islam-nya nomor lima besarnya di dunia setelah Indonesia, Pakistan, India dan Cina.

Keluarga dan Guru Imam Bukhari

Bukhari dididik dalam keluarga ulama yang taat beragama. Dalam kitab As-Siqat, Ibnu Hibban menulis bahwa ayahnya dikenal sebagai orang yang wara' dalam arti berhati-hati terhadap hal-hal yang hukumnya bersifat syubhat (ragu-ragu), terlebih lebih terhadap hal-hal yang sifatnya haram. Ayahnya adalah seorang ulama bermadzhab Maliki dan merupakan mudir dari Imam Malik, seorang ulama besar dan ahli fikih. Ayahnya wafat ketika Bukhari masih kecil.

Perhatiannya kepada ilmu hadits yang sulit dan rumit itu sudah tumbuh sejak usia 10 tahun, hingga dalam usia 16 tahun beliau sudah hafal dan menguasai buku-buku seperti "al-Mubarak" dan "al-Waki". Bukhari berguru kepada Syekh Ad-Dakhili, ulama ahli hadits yang masyhur di Bukhara. Pada usia 16 tahun bersama keluarganya, ia mengunjungi kota suci Mekkah dan Madinah, dimana di kedua kota suci itu beliau mengikuti kuliah para guru-guru besar ahli hadits. Pada usia 18 tahun beliau menerbitkan kitab pertamanya "Qudhaya as Shahabah wat Tabi’ien" (Peristiwa-peristiwa Hukum di zaman Sahabat dan Tabi’ien).

Bersama gurunya Syekh Ishaq, beliau menghimpun hadits-hadits shahih dalam satu kitab, dimana dari satu juta hadits yang diriwayatkan oleh 80.000 perawi disaring lagi menjadi 7275 hadits. Diantara guru-guru beliau dalam memperoleh hadits dan ilmu hadits antara lain adalah Ali bin Al Madini, Ahmad bin Hanbali, Yahya bin Ma'in, Muhammad bin Yusuf Al Faryabi, Maki bin Ibrahim Al Bakhi, Muhammad bin Yusuf al Baykandi dan Ibnu Rahwahih. Selain itu ada 289 ahli hadits yang haditsnya dikutip dalam kitab Shahih-nya.

Kejeniusan Imam Bukhari

Bukhari diakui memiliki daya hapal tinggi, yang diakui oleh kakaknya Rasyid bin Ismail. Kakak sang Imam ini menuturkan, pernah Bukhari muda dan beberapa murid lainnya mengikuti kuliah dan ceramah cendekiawan Balkh. Tidak seperti murid lainnya, Bukhari tidak pernah membuat catatan kuliah. Ia sering dicela membuang waktu karena tidak mencatat, namun Bukhari diam tak menjawab. Suatu hari, karena merasa kesal terhadap celaan itu, Bukhari meminta kawan-kawannya membawa catatan mereka, kemudian beliau membacakan secara tepat apa yang pernah disampaikan selama dalam kuliah dan ceramah tersebut. Tercenganglah mereka semua, lantaran Bukhari ternyata hafal di luar kepala 15.000 hadits, lengkap dengan keterangan yang tidak sempat mereka catat.

Ketika sedang berada di Bagdad, Imam Bukhari pernah didatangi oleh 10 orang ahli hadits yang ingin menguji ketinggian ilmu beliau. Dalam pertemuan itu, 10 ulama tersebut mengajukan 100 buah hadits yang sengaja "diputar-balikkan" untuk menguji hafalan Imam Bukhari. Ternyata hasilnya mengagumkan. Imam Bukhari mengulang kembali secara tepat masing-masing hadits yang salah tersebut, lalu mengoreksi kesalahannya, kemudian membacakan hadits yang benarnya. Ia menyebutkan seluruh hadits yang salah tersebut di luar kepala, secara urut, sesuai dengan urutan penanya dan urutan hadits yang ditanyakan, kemudian membetulkannya. Inilah yang sangat luar biasa dari sang Imam, karena beliau mampu menghafal hanya dalam waktu satu kali dengar.

Selain terkenal sebagai seorang ahli hadits, Imam Bukhari ternyata tidak melupakan kegiatan lain, yakni olahraga. Ia misalnya sering belajar memanah sampai mahir, sehingga dikatakan sepanjang hidupnya, sang Imam tidak pernah luput dalam memanah kecuali hanya dua kali. Keadaan itu timbul sebagai pengamalan sunnah Rasul yang mendorong dan menganjurkan kaum Muslimin belajar menggunakan anak panah dan alat-alat perang lainnya.

Karya-karya Imam Bukhari

Karyanya yang pertama berjudul "Qudhaya as Shahabah wat Tabi’ien" (Peristiwa-peristiwa Hukum di zaman Sahabat dan Tabi’ien). Kitab ini ditulisnya ketika masih berusia 18 tahun. Ketika menginjak usia 22 tahun, Imam Bukhari menunaikan ibadah haji ke Tanah Suci bersama-sama dengan ibu dan kakaknya yang bernama Ahmad. Di sanalah beliau menulis kitab "At-Tarikh" (sejarah) yang terkenal itu. Beliau pernah berkata, "Saya menulis buku "At-Tarikh" di atas makam Nabi Muhammad SAW di waktu malam bulan purnama".

Karya Imam Bukhari lainnya antara lain adalah kitab Al-Jami' ash Shahih, Al-Adab al Mufrad, At Tharikh as Shaghir, At Tarikh Al Awsat, At Tarikh al Kabir, At Tafsir Al Kabir, Al Musnad al Kabir, Kitab al 'Ilal, Raf'ul Yadain fis Salah, Birrul Walidain, Kitab Ad Du'afa, Asami As Sahabah dan Al Hibah. Diantara semua karyanya tersebut, yang paling monumental adalah kitab Al-Jami' as-Shahih yang lebih dikenal dengan nama Shahih Bukhari.

Dalam sebuah riwayat diceritakan, Imam Bukhari berkata: "Aku bermimpi melihat Rasulullah saw., seolah-olah aku berdiri di hadapannya, sambil memegang kipas yang kupergunakan untuk menjaganya. Kemudian aku tanyakan mimpi itu kepada sebagian ahli ta'bir, ia menjelaskan bahwa aku akan menghancurkan dan mengikis habis kebohongan dari hadits-hadits Rasulullah saw. Mimpi inilah, antara lain, yang mendorongku untuk melahirkan kitab Al-Jami' As-Sahih."

Dalam menghimpun hadits-hadits shahih dalam kitabnya tersebut, Imam Bukhari menggunakan kaidah-kaidah penelitian secara ilmiah dan sah yang menyebabkan keshahihan hadits-haditsnya dapat dipertanggungjawabkan. Ia berusaha dengan sungguh-sungguh untuk meneliti dan menyelidiki keadaan para perawi, serta memperoleh secara pasti kesahihan hadits-hadits yang diriwayatkannya.

Imam Bukhari senantiasa membandingkan hadits-hadits yang diriwayatkan, satu dengan lainnya, menyaringnya dan memilih mana yang menurutnya paling shahih. Sehingga kitabnya merupakan batu uji dan penyaring bagi hadits-hadits tersebut. Hal ini tercermin dari perkataannya: "Aku susun kitab Al Jami' ini yang dipilih dari 600.000 hadits selama 16 tahun."

Banyak para ahli hadits yang berguru kepadanya, diantaranya adalah Syekh Abu Zahrah, Abu Hatim Tirmidzi, Muhammad Ibn Nasr dan Imam Muslim bin Al Hajjaj (pengarang kitab Shahih Muslim). Imam Muslim menceritakan : "Ketika Muhammad bin Ismail (Imam Bukhari) datang ke Naisabur, aku tidak pernah melihat seorang kepala daerah, para ulama dan penduduk Naisabur yang memberikan sambutan seperti apa yang mereka berikan kepadanya." Mereka menyambut kedatangannya dari luar kota sejauh dua atau tiga marhalah (100 km), sampai-sampai Muhammad bin Yahya Az Zihli (guru Imam Bukhari) berkata : "Barang siapa hendak menyambut kedatangan Muhammad bin Ismail besok pagi, lakukanlah, sebab aku sendiri akan ikut menyambutnya."

Penelitian Hadits

Untuk mengumpulkan dan menyeleksi hadits shahih, Bukhari menghabiskan waktu selama 16 tahun untuk mengunjungi berbagai kota guna menemui para perawi hadits, mengumpulkan dan menyeleksi haditsnya. Diantara kota-kota yang disinggahinya antara lain Bashrah, Mesir, Hijaz (Mekkah, Madinah), Kufah, Baghdad sampai ke Asia Barat. Di Baghdad, Bukhari sering bertemu dan berdiskusi dengan ulama besar Imam Ahmad bin Hanbali. Dari sejumlah kota-kota itu, ia bertemu dengan 80.000 perawi. Dari merekalah beliau mengumpulkan dan menghafal satu juta hadits.

Namun tidak semua hadits yang ia hapal kemudian diriwayatkan, melainkan terlebih dahulu diseleksi dengan seleksi yang sangat ketat, diantaranya apakah sanad (riwayat) dari hadits tersebut bersambung dan apakah perawi (periwayat / pembawa) hadits itu terpercaya dan tsiqqah (kuat). Menurut Ibnu Hajar Al Asqalani, akhirnya Bukhari menuliskan sebanyak 9082 hadis dalam karya monumentalnya Al Jami' as-Shahih yang dikenal sebagai Shahih Bukhari.

Dalam meneliti dan menyeleksi hadits dan diskusi dengan para perawi tersebut, Imam Bukhari sangat sopan. Kritik-kritik yang ia lontarkan kepada para perawi juga cukup halus namun tajam. Kepada para perawi yang sudah jelas kebohongannya ia berkata, "perlu dipertimbangkan, para ulama meninggalkannya atau para ulama berdiam dari hal itu" sementara kepada para perawi yang haditsnya tidak jelas ia menyatakan "Haditsnya diingkari". Bahkan banyak meninggalkan perawi yang diragukan kejujurannya. Beliau berkata "Saya meninggalkan 10.000 hadits yang diriwayatkan oleh perawi yang perlu dipertimbangkan dan meninggalkan hadits-hadits dengan jumlah yang sama atau lebih, yang diriwayatan oleh perawi yang dalam pandanganku perlu dipertimbangkan".

Banyak para ulama atau perawi yang ditemui sehingga Bukhari banyak mencatat jati diri dan sikap mereka secara teliti dan akurat. Untuk mendapatkan keterangan yang lengkap mengenai sebuah hadits, mencek keakuratan sebuah hadits ia berkali-kali mendatangi ulama atau perawi meskipun berada di kota-kota atau negeri yang jauh seperti Baghdad, Kufah, Mesir, Syam, Hijaz seperti yang dikatakan beliau "Saya telah mengunjungi Syam, Mesir dan Jazirah masing-masing dua kali, ke Basrah empat kali menetap di Hijaz selama enam tahun dan tidak dapat dihitung berapa kali saya mengunjungi Kufah dan Baghdad untuk menemui ulama-ulama ahli hadits."

Disela-sela kesibukannya sebagai sebagai ulama, pakar hadits, ia juga dikenal sebagai ulama dan ahli fiqih, bahkan tidak lupa dengan kegiatan kegiatan olahraga dan rekreatif seperti belajar memanah sampai mahir, bahkan menurut suatu riwayat, Imam Bukhari tidak pernah luput memanah kecuali dua kali.

Metode Imam Bukhari dalam Menulis Kitab Hadits

Sebagai intelektual muslim yang berdisiplin tinggi, Imam Bukhari dikenal sebagai pengarang kitab yang produktif. Karya-karyanya tidak hanya dalam disiplin ilmu hadits, tapi juga ilmu-ilmu lain, seperti tafsir, fikih, dan tarikh. Fatwa-fatwanya selalu menjadi pegangan umat sehingga ia menduduki derajat sebagai mujtahid mustaqil (ulama yang ijtihadnya independen), tidak terikat pada mazhab tertentu, sehingga mempunyai otoritas tersendiri dalam berpendapat dalam hal hukum.

Pendapat-pendapatnya terkadang sejalan dengan Imam Abu Hanifah (Imam Hanafi, pendiri mazhab Hanafi), tetapi terkadang bisa berbeda dengan beliau. Sebagai pemikir bebas yang menguasai ribuan hadits shahih, suatu saat beliau bisa sejalan dengan Ibnu Abbas, Atha ataupun Mujahid dan bisa juga berbeda pendapat dengan mereka.

Diantara puluhan kitabnya, yang paling masyhur ialah kumpulan hadits shahih yang berjudul Al-Jami' as-Shahih, yang belakangan lebih populer dengan sebutan Shahih Bukhari. Ada kisah unik tentang penyusunan kitab ini. Suatu malam Imam Bukhari bermimpi bertemu dengan Nabi Muhammad saw., seolah-olah Nabi Muhammad saw. berdiri dihadapannya. Imam Bukhari lalu menanyakan makna mimpi itu kepada ahli mimpi. Jawabannya adalah beliau (Imam Bukhari) akan menghancurkan dan mengikis habis kebohongan yang disertakan orang dalam sejumlah hadits Rasulullah saw. Mimpi inilah, antara lain yang mendorong beliau untuk menulis kitab "Al-Jami 'as-Shahih".

Dalam menyusun kitab tersebut, Imam Bukhari sangat berhati-hati. Menurut Al-Firbari, salah seorang muridnya, ia mendengar Imam Bukhari berkata. "Saya susun kitab Al-Jami' as-Shahih ini di Masjidil Haram, Mekkah dan saya tidak mencantumkan sebuah hadits pun kecuali sesudah shalat istikharah dua rakaat memohon pertolongan kepada Allah, dan sesudah meyakini betul bahwa hadits itu benar-benar shahih". Di Masjidil Haram-lah ia menyusun dasar pemikiran dan bab-babnya secara sistematis.

Setelah itu ia menulis mukaddimah dan pokok pokok bahasannya di Rawdah Al-Jannah, sebuah tempat antara makam Rasulullah dan mimbar di Masjid Nabawi di Madinah. Barulah setelah itu ia mengumpulkan sejumlah hadits dan menempatkannya dalam bab-bab yang sesuai. Proses penyusunan kitab ini dilakukan di dua kota suci tersebut dengan cermat dan tekun selama 16 tahun. Ia menggunakan kaidah penelitian secara ilmiah dan cukup modern sehingga hadits haditsnya dapat dipertanggung-jawabkan.

Dengan bersungguh-sungguh ia meneliti dan menyelidiki kredibilitas para perawi sehingga benar-benar memperoleh kepastian akan keshahihan hadits yang diriwayatkan. Ia juga selalu membandingkan hadits satu dengan yang lainnya, memilih dan menyaring, mana yang menurut pertimbangannya secara nalar paling shahih. Dengan demikian, kitab hadits susunan Imam Bukhari benar-benar menjadi batu uji dan penyaring bagi sejumlah hadits lainnya. "Saya tidak memuat sebuah hadits pun dalam kitab ini kecuali hadits-hadits shahih", katanya suatu saat.

Di belakang hari, para ulama hadits menyatakan, dalam menyusun kitab Al-Jami' as-Shahih, Imam Bukhari selalu berpegang teguh pada tingkat keshahihan paling tinggi dan tidak akan turun dari tingkat tersebut, kecuali terhadap beberapa hadits yang bukan merupakan materi pokok dari sebuah bab.

Menurut Ibnu Shalah, dalam kitab Muqaddimah, kitab Shahih Bukhari itu memuat 7275 hadits. Selain itu ada hadits-hadits yang dimuat secara berulang, dan ada 4000 hadits yang dimuat secara utuh tanpa pengulangan. Penghitungan itu juga dilakukan oleh Syekh Muhyiddin An Nawawi dalam kitab At-Taqrib. Dalam hal itu, Ibnu Hajar Al-Atsqalani dalam kata pendahuluannya untuk kitab Fathul Bari (yakni syarah atau penjelasan atas kitab Shahih Bukhari) menulis, semua hadits shahih yang dimuat dalam Shahih Bukhari (setelah dikurangi dengan hadits yang dimuat secara berulang) sebanyak 2.602 buah. Sedangkan hadits yang mu'allaq (ada kaitan satu dengan yang lain, bersambung) namun marfu (diragukan) ada 159 buah. Adapun jumlah semua hadits shahih termasuk yang dimuat berulang sebanyak 7397 buah. Perhitungan berbeda diantara para ahli hadits tersebut dalam mengomentari kitab Shahih Bukhari semata-mata karena perbedaan pandangan mereka dalam ilmu hadits.

Terjadinya Fitnah

Muhammad bin Yahya Az-Zihli berpesan kepada para penduduk agar menghadiri dan mengikuti pengajian yang diberikannya. Ia berkata: "Pergilah kalian kepada orang alim dan saleh itu, ikuti dan dengarkan pengajiannya." Namun tak lama kemudian ia mendapat fitnah dari orang-orang yang dengki. Mereka menuduh sang Imam sebagai orang yang berpendapat bahwa "Al-Qur'an adalah makhluk".

Hal inilah yang menimbulkan kebencian dan kemarahan gurunya, Az-Zihli kepadanya. Kata Az-Zihli : "Barang siapa berpendapat bahwa lafadz-lafadz Al-Qur'an adalah makhluk, maka ia adalah ahli bid'ah. Ia tidak boleh diajak bicara dan majelisnya tidak boleh didatangi. Dan barang siapa masih mengunjungi majelisnya, curigailah dia." Setelah adanya ultimatum tersebut, orang-orang mulai menjauhinya.

Sebenarnya, Imam Bukhari terlepas dari fitnah yang dituduhkan kepadanya itu. Diceritakan, seseorang berdiri dan mengajukan pertanyaan kepadanya: "Bagaimana pendapat Anda tentang lafadz-lafadz Al-Qur'an, makhluk ataukah bukan?" Bukhari berpaling dari orang itu dan tidak mau menjawab kendati pertanyaan itu diajukan sampai tiga kali.

Tetapi orang itu terus mendesak. Ia pun menjawab: "Al-Qur'an adalah kalam Allah, bukan makhluk, sedangkan perbuatan manusia adalah makhluk dan fitnah merupakan bid'ah." Pendapat yang dikemukakan Imam Bukhari ini, yakni dengan membedakan antara yang dibaca dengan bacaan, adalah pendapat yang menjadi pegangan para ulama ahli tahqiq (pengambil kebijakan) dan ulama salaf. Tetapi dengki dan iri adalah buta dan tuli. Dalam sebuah riwayat disebutkan bahwa Bukhari pernah berkata : "Iman adalah perkataan dan perbuatan, bisa bertambah dan bisa berkurang. Al-Quran adalah kalam Allah, bukan makhluk. Sahabat Rasulullah SAW, yang paling utama adalah Abu Bakar, Umar, Usman, dan Ali. Dengan berpegang pada keimanan inilah aku hidup, aku mati dan dibangkitkan di akhirat kelak, insya Allah." Di lain kesempatan, ia berkata: "Barang siapa menuduhku berpendapat bahwa lafadz-lafadz Al-Qur'an adalah makhluk, ia adalah pendusta."

Wafatnya Imam Bukhari

Suatu ketika penduduk Samarkand mengirim surat kepada Imam Bukhari. Isinya, meminta dirinya agar menetap di negeri itu (Samarkand). Ia pun pergi memenuhi permohonan mereka. Ketika perjalanannya sampai di Khartand, sebuah desa kecil terletak dua farsakh (sekitar 10 Km) sebelum Samarkand, ia singgah terlebih dahulu untuk mengunjungi beberapa familinya. Namun disana beliau jatuh sakit selama beberapa hari. Dan Akhirnya meninggal pada tanggal 31 Agustus 870 M (256 H) pada malam Idul Fitri dalam usia 62 tahun kurang 13 hari. Beliau dimakamkan selepas Shalat Dzuhur pada Hari Raya Idul Fitri. Sebelum meninggal dunia, ia berpesan bahwa jika meninggal nanti jenazahnya agar dikafani tiga helai kain, tanpa baju dalam dan tidak memakai sorban. Pesan itu dilaksanakan dengan baik oleh masyarakat setempat. Beliau meninggal tanpa meninggalkan seorang anakpun.

Words of Wisdom :

Sahl ibn Sa'd (radhi-yallaahu 'anhu) narrated that Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Beware of sins which are treated as being minor, just like a people who encamp in the centre of a valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and someone else brings a stick until they are therefore able to bake their bread. Likewise sins which are treated as being minor and for which the person is taken to account will destroy him)).

Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad - Volume 5, Page 331 and others

Imam Hanbali

2009-01-27T08:27:00.003+07:00

"Ia murid paling cendekia yang pernah saya jumpai selama di Baghdad. Sikapnya menghadapi sidang pengadilan dan menanggung petaka akibat tekanan khalifah Abbasiyyah selama 15 tahun karena menolak doktrin resmi Mu'tazilah merupakan saksi hidup watak agung dan kegigihan yang mengabdikannya sebagai tokoh besar sepanjang masa." Penilaian ini diungkapkan oleh Imam Syafi'i, yang tak lain adalah guru Imam Hanbali. Menurut Syafi'i, perjuangan mempertahankan keyakinan yang tak sesuai dengan pemikiran seseorang, selalu menghadapi risiko antara hidup dan mati. Dan Imam Hanbali membuktikan hal itu.

Imam Hanbali yang dikenal ahli dan pakar hadits ini memang sangat memberikan perhatian besar pada ilmu yang satu ini. Kegigihan dan kesungguhannya telah melahirkan banyak ulama dan perawi hadits terkenal semisal Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, dan Imam Abu Daud yang tak lain buah didikannya. Karya-karya mereka seperti Shahih Bukhari, Shahih Muslim atau Sunan Abu Daud menjadi kitab hadits standar yang menjadi rujukan umat Islam di seluruh dunia dalam memahami ajaran Islam yang disampaikan Rasulullah SAW lewat hadits-haditsnya.

Kepakaran Imam Hanbali dalam ilmu hadits memang tak diragukan lagi sehingga mengundang banyak tokoh ulama berguru kepadanya. Menurut putra sulungnya, Abdullah bin Ahmad, Imam Hanbali hafal hingga 700.000 hadits di luar kepala.

Hadits sejumlah itu, diseleksi secara ketat dan ditulisnya kembali dalam kitab karyanya Al Musnad. Dalam kitab tersebut, hanya 40.000 hadits yang dituliskan kembali dengan susunan berdasarkan tertib nama sahabat yang meriwayatkan. Umumnya hadits dalam kitab ini berderajat sahih dan hanya sedikit yang berderajat dhaif. Berdasar penelitian Abdul Aziz al Khuli, seorang ulama bahasa yang banyak menulis biografi tokoh sahabat, sebenarnya hadits yang termuat dalam Al Musnad berjumlah 30 ribu karena ada sekitar 10 ribu hadits yang berulang.

Kepandaian Imam Hanbali dalam ilmu hadits, bukan datang begitu saja. Tokoh kelahiran Baghdad, 780 M (wafat 855 M) ini, dikenal sebagai ulama yang gigih mendalami ilmu. Lahir dengan nama Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal, Imam Hanbali dibesarkan oleh ibunya, karena sang ayah meninggal dalam usia muda. Hingga usia 16 tahun, Hanbali belajar Al-Qur'an dan ilmu-ilmu agama lain kepada ulama-ulama Baghdad.

Setelah itu, ia mengunjungi para ulama terkenal di berbagai tempat seperti Kufah, Basrah, Syam, Yaman, Mekkah dan Madinah. Beberapa gurunya antara lain Hammad bin Khalid, Ismail bil Aliyyah, Muzaffar bin Mudrik, Walin bin Muslim, dan Musa bin Tariq. Dari merekalah Hanbali muda mendalami fikih, hadits, tafsir, kalam, dan bahasa. Karena kecerdasan dan ketekunannya, Hanbali dapat menyerap semua pelajaran dengan baik.

Kecintaannya kepada ilmu begitu luar biasa. Karenanya, setiap kali mendengar ada ulama terkenal di suatu tempat, ia rela menempuh perjalanan jauh dan waktu lama hanya untuk menimba ilmu dari sang ulama. Kecintaan kepada ilmu jua yang menjadikan Hanbali rela tak menikah dalam usia muda. Ia baru menikah setelah usia 40 tahun.

Pertama kali, ia menikah dengan Aisyah binti Fadl dan dikaruniai seorang putra bernama Saleh. Ketika Aisyah meninggal, ia menikah kembali dengan Raihanah dan dikarunia putra bernama Abdullah. Istri keduanya pun meninggal dan Hanbali menikah untuk terakhir kalinya dengan seorang jariyah, hamba sahaya wanita bernama Husinah. Darinya ia memperoleh lima orang anak yaitu Zainab, Hasan, Husain, Muhammad, dan Said.

Tak hanya pandai, Imam Hanbali dikenal tekun beribadah dan dermawan. Imam Ibrahim bin Hani, salah seorang ulama terkenal yang jadi sahabatnya menjadi saksi akan kezuhudan Imam Hanbali. ''Hampir setiap hari ia berpuasa dan tidurnya pun sedikit sekali di waktu malam. Ia lebih banyak shalat malam dan witir hingga Shubuh tiba,'' katanya.

Mengenai kedermawanannya, Imam Yahya bin Hilal, salah seorang ulama ahli fikih, berkata, ''Aku pernah datang kepada Imam Hanbali, lalu aku diberinya uang sebanyak empat dirham sambil berkata, 'Ini adalah rezeki yang kuperoleh hari ini dan semuanya kuberikan kepadamu.'''

Imam Hanbali juga dikenal teguh memegang pendirian. Di masa hidupnya, aliran Mu'tazilah tengah berjaya. Dukungan Khalifah Al Ma'mun dari Dinasti Abbasiyah yang menjadikan aliran ini sebagai madzhab resmi negara membuat kalangan ulama berang. Salah satu ajaran yang dipaksakan penganut Mu'tazilah adalah paham Al-Qur'an merupakan makhluk atau ciptaan Tuhan. Banyak umat Islam yang menolak pandangan itu.

Imam Hanbali termasuk yang menentang paham tersebut. Akibatnya, ia pun dipenjara dan disiksa oleh Mu'tasim, putra Al Ma'mun. Setiap hari ia didera dan dipukul. Siksaan ini berlangsung hingga Al Wasiq menggantikan ayahnya, Mu'tasim. Siksaan tersebut makin meneguhkan sikap Hanbali menentang paham sesat itu. Sikapnya itu membuat umat makin bersimpati kepadanya sehingga pengikutnya makin banyak kendati ia mendekam dalam penjara.

Sepeninggal Al Wasiq, Imam Hanbali menghirup udara kebebasan. Al Mutawakkil, sang pengganti, membebaskan Imam Hanbali dan memuliakannya. Namanya pun makin terkenal dan banyaklah ulama dari berbagai pelosok belajar kepadanya. Para ulama yang belajar kepadanya antara lain Imam Hasan bin Musa, Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Daud, Imam Abu Zur'ah Ad Dimasyqi, Imam Abu Zuhrah, Imam Ibnu Abi, dan Imam Abu Bakar Al Asram.

Sebagaimana ketiga Imam lainnya; Syafi'i, Hanafi dan Maliki, oleh para muridnya, ajaran-ajaran Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbali dijadikan patokan dalam amaliyah (praktik) ritual, khususnya dalam masalah fikih. Sebagai pendiri madzhab tersebut, Imam Hanbali memberikan perhatian khusus pada masalah ritual keagamaan, terutama yang bersumber pada Sunnah.

Menurut Ibnu Qayyim, salah seorang pengikut madzhab Hanbali, ada lima landasan pokok yang dijadikan dasar penetapan hukum dan fatwa madzhab Hanbali. Pertama, nash (Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah). Jika ia menemukan nash, maka ia akan berfatwa dengan Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah dan tidak berpaling pada sumber lainnya. Kedua, fatwa sahabat yang diketahui tidak ada yang menentangnya.

Ketiga, jika para sahabat berbeda pendapat, ia akan memilih pendapat yang dinilainya lebih sesuai dengan Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah Nabi SAW. Jika ternyata pendapat yang ada tidak jelas persesuaiannya dengan Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah, maka ia tidak akan menetapkan salah satunya, tetapi mengambil sikap diam atau meriwayatkan kedua-duanya.

Keempat, mengambil hadits mursal (hadits yang dalam sanadnya tidak disebutkan nama perawinya), dan hadits dhaif (hadits yang lemah, namun bukan 'maudu', atau hadits lemah). Dalam hal ini, hadits dhaif didahulukan daripada qias. Dan kelima adalah qias, atau analogi. Qias digunakan bila tidak ditemukan dasar hukum dari keempat sumber di atas.

Pada awalnya madzhab Hanbali hanya berkembang di Baghdad. Baru pada abad ke-6 H, madzhab ini berkembang di Mesir. Perkembangan pesat terjadi pada abad ke-11 dan ke-12 H, berkat usaha Ibnu Taimiyyah (w. 728 H) dan Ibnu Qayyim (w. 751 H). Kedua tokoh inilah yang membuka mata banyak orang untuk memberikan perhatian pada fikih madzhab Hanbali, khususnya dalam bidang muamalah. Kini, madzhab tersebut banyak dianut umat Islam di kawasan Timur Tengah.

Hasil karya Imam Hanbali tersebar luas di berbagai lembaga pendidikan keagamaan. Beberapa kitab yang sampai kini jadi kajian antara lain Tafsir Al-Qur'an, An Nasikh wal Mansukh, Jawaban Al-Qur'an, At Tarikh, Taat ar Rasul, dan Al Wara. Kitabnya yang paling terkenal adalah Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal.

Nasab dan Kelahirannya
Beliau adalah Abu Abdillah Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal bin Hilal bin Asad bin Idris bin Abdullah bin Hayyan bin Abdullah bin Anas bin ‘Auf bin Qasith bin Mazin bin Syaiban bin Dzuhl bin Tsa‘labah adz-Dzuhli asy-Syaibaniy. Nasab beliau bertemu dengan nasab Nabi pada diri Nizar bin Ma‘d bin ‘Adnan. Yang berarti bertemu nasab pula dengan nabi Ibrahim.

Ketika beliau masih dalam kandungan, orang tua beliau pindah dari kota Marwa, tempat tinggal sang ayah, ke kota Baghdad. Di kota itu beliau dilahirkan, tepatnya pada bulan Rabi‘ul Awwal -menurut pendapat yang paling masyhur- tahun 164 H.

Ayah beliau, Muhammad, meninggal dalam usia muda, 30 tahun, ketika beliau baru berumur tiga tahun. Kakek beliau, Hanbal, berpindah ke wilayah Kharasan dan menjadi wali kota Sarkhas pada masa pemeritahan Bani Umawiyyah, kemudian bergabung ke dalam barisan pendukung Bani ‘Abbasiyah dan karenanya ikut merasakan penyiksaan dari Bani Umawiyyah. Disebutkan bahwa dia dahulunya adalah seorang panglima.

Masa Menuntut Ilmu
Imam Ahmad tumbuh dewasa sebagai seorang anak yatim. Ibunya, Shafiyyah binti Maimunah binti ‘Abdul Malik asy-Syaibaniy, berperan penuh dalam mendidik dan membesarkan beliau. Untungnya, sang ayah meninggalkan untuk mereka dua buah rumah di kota Baghdad. Yang sebuah mereka tempati sendiri, sedangkan yang sebuah lagi mereka sewakan dengan harga yang sangat murah. Dalam hal ini, keadaan beliau sama dengan keadaan syaikhnya, Imam Syafi‘i, yang yatim dan miskin, tetapi tetap mempunyai semangat yang tinggi. Keduanya juga memiliki ibu yang mampu mengantar mereka kepada kemajuan dan kemuliaan.

Beliau mendapatkan pendidikannya yang pertama di kota Baghdad. Saat itu, kota Bagdad telah menjadi pusat peradaban dunia Islam, yang penuh dengan manusia yang berbeda asalnya dan beragam kebudayaannya, serta penuh dengan beragam jenis ilmu pengetahuan. Di sana tinggal para qari’, ahli hadits, para sufi, ahli bahasa, filosof, dan sebagainya.

Setamatnya menghafal Alquran dan mempelajari ilmu-ilmu bahasa Arab di al-Kuttab saat berumur 14 tahun, beliau melanjutkan pendidikannya ke ad-Diwan. Beliau terus menuntut ilmu dengan penuh azzam yang tinggi dan tidak mudah goyah. Sang ibu banyak membimbing dan memberi beliau dorongan semangat. Tidak lupa dia mengingatkan beliau agar tetap memperhatikan keadaan diri sendiri, terutama dalam masalah kesehatan. Tentang hal itu beliau pernah bercerita, “Terkadang aku ingin segera pergi pagi-pagi sekali mengambil (periwayatan) hadits, tetapi Ibu segera mengambil pakaianku dan berkata, ‘Bersabarlah dulu. Tunggu sampai adzan berkumandang atau setelah orang-orang selesai shalat subuh.’”

Perhatian beliau saat itu memang tengah tertuju kepada keinginan mengambil hadits dari para perawinya. Beliau mengatakan bahwa orang pertama yang darinya beliau mengambil hadits adalah al-Qadhi Abu Yusuf, murid/rekan Imam Abu Hanifah.

Imam Ahmad tertarik untuk menulis hadits pada tahun 179 saat berumur 16 tahun. Beliau terus berada di kota Baghdad mengambil hadits dari syaikh-syaikh hadits kota itu hingga tahun 186. Beliau melakukan mulazamah kepada syaikhnya, Hasyim bin Basyir bin Abu Hazim al-Wasithiy hingga syaikhnya tersebut wafat tahun 183. Disebutkan oleh putra beliau bahwa beliau mengambil hadits dari Hasyim sekitar tiga ratus ribu hadits lebih.

Pada tahun 186, beliau mulai melakukan perjalanan (mencari hadits) ke Bashrah lalu ke negeri Hijaz, Yaman, dan selainnya. Tokoh yang paling menonjol yang beliau temui dan mengambil ilmu darinya selama perjalanannya ke Hijaz dan selama tinggal di sana adalah Imam Syafi‘i. Beliau banyak mengambil hadits dan faedah ilmu darinya. Imam Syafi‘i sendiri amat memuliakan diri beliau dan terkadang menjadikan beliau rujukan dalam mengenal keshahihan sebuah hadits. Ulama lain yang menjadi sumber beliau mengambil ilmu adalah Sufyan bin ‘Uyainah, Ismail bin ‘Ulayyah, Waki‘ bin al-Jarrah, Yahya al-Qaththan, Yazid bin Harun, dan lain-lain. Beliau berkata, “Saya tidak sempat bertemu dengan Imam Malik, tetapi Allah menggantikannya untukku dengan Sufyan bin ‘Uyainah. Dan saya tidak sempat pula bertemu dengan Hammad bin Zaid, tetapi Allah menggantikannya dengan Ismail bin ‘Ulayyah.”

Demikianlah, beliau amat menekuni pencatatan hadits, dan ketekunannya itu menyibukkannya dari hal-hal lain sampai-sampai dalam hal berumah tangga. Beliau baru menikah setelah berumur 40 tahun. Ada orang yang berkata kepada beliau, “Wahai Abu Abdillah, Anda telah mencapai semua ini. Anda telah menjadi imam kaum muslimin.” Beliau menjawab, “Bersama mahbarah (tempat tinta) hingga ke maqbarah (kubur). Aku akan tetap menuntut ilmu sampai aku masuk liang kubur.” Dan memang senantiasa seperti itulah keadaan beliau: menekuni hadits, memberi fatwa, dan kegiatan-kegiatan lain yang memberi manfaat kepada kaum muslimin. Sementara itu, murid-murid beliau berkumpul di sekitarnya, mengambil darinya (ilmu) hadits, fiqih, dan lainnya. Ada banyak ulama yang pernah mengambil ilmu dari beliau, di antaranya kedua putra beliau, Abdullah dan Shalih, Abu Zur ‘ah, Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Atsram, dan lain-lain.

Beliau menyusun kitabnya yang terkenal, al-Musnad, dalam jangka waktu sekitar enam puluh tahun dan itu sudah dimulainya sejak tahun tahun 180 saat pertama kali beliau mencari hadits. Beliau juga menyusun kitab tentang tafsir, tentang an-nasikh dan al-mansukh, tentang tarikh, tentang yang muqaddam dan muakhkhar dalam Alquran, tentang jawaban-jawaban dalam Alquran. Beliau juga menyusun kitab al-manasik ash-shagir dan al-kabir, kitab az-Zuhud, kitab ar-radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyah wa az-zindiqah(Bantahan kepada Jahmiyah dan Zindiqah), kitab as-Shalah, kitab as-Sunnah, kitab al-Wara ‘ wa al-Iman, kitab al-‘Ilal wa ar-Rijal, kitab al-Asyribah, satu juz tentang Ushul as-Sittah, Fadha’il ash-Shahabah.

Pujian dan Penghormatan Ulama Lain Kepadanya
Imam Syafi‘i pernah mengusulkan kepada Khalifah Harun ar-Rasyid, pada hari-hari akhir hidup khalifah tersebut, agar mengangkat Imam Ahmad menjadi qadhi di Yaman, tetapi Imam Ahmad menolaknya dan berkata kepada Imam Syafi‘i, “Saya datang kepada Anda untuk mengambil ilmu dari Anda, tetapi Anda malah menyuruh saya menjadi qadhi untuk mereka.” Setelah itu pada tahun 195, Imam Syafi‘i mengusulkan hal yang sama kepada Khalifah al-Amin, tetapi lagi-lagi Imam Ahmad menolaknya.

Suatu hari, Imam Syafi‘i masuk menemui Imam Ahmad dan berkata, “Engkau lebih tahu tentang hadits dan perawi-perawinya. Jika ada hadits shahih (yang engkau tahu), maka beri tahulah aku. Insya Allah, jika (perawinya) dari Kufah atau Syam, aku akan pergi mendatanginya jika memang shahih.” Ini menunjukkan kesempurnaan agama dan akal Imam Syafi‘i karena mau mengembalikan ilmu kepada ahlinya.
Imam Syafi‘i juga berkata, “Aku keluar (meninggalkan) Bagdad, sementara itu tidak aku tinggalkan di kota tersebut orang yang lebih wara’, lebih faqih, dan lebih bertakwa daripada Ahmad bin Hanbal.”
Abdul Wahhab al-Warraq berkata, “Aku tidak pernah melihat orang yang seperti Ahmad bin Hanbal”. Orang-orang bertanya kepadanya, “Dalam hal apakah dari ilmu dan keutamaannya yang engkau pandang dia melebihi yang lain?” Al-Warraq menjawab, “Dia seorang yang jika ditanya tentang 60.000 masalah, dia akan menjawabnya dengan berkata, ‘Telah dikabarkan kepada kami,’ atau, “Telah disampaikan hadits kepada kami’.”Ahmad bin Syaiban berkata, “Aku tidak pernah melihat Yazid bin Harun memberi penghormatan kepada seseorang yang lebih besar daripada kepada Ahmad bin Hanbal. Dia akan mendudukkan beliau di sisinya jika menyampaikan hadits kepada kami. Dia sangat menghormati beliau, tidak mau berkelakar dengannya”. Demikianlah, padahal seperti diketahui bahwa Harun bin Yazid adalah salah seorang guru beliau dan terkenal sebagai salah seorang imam huffazh.

Keteguhan di Masa Penuh Cobaan
Telah menjadi keniscayaan bahwa kehidupan seorang mukmin tidak akan lepas dari ujian dan cobaan, terlebih lagi seorang alim yang berjalan di atas jejak para nabi dan rasul. Dan Imam Ahmad termasuk di antaranya. Beliau mendapatkan cobaan dari tiga orang khalifah Bani Abbasiyah selama rentang waktu 16 tahun.

Pada masa pemerintahan Bani Abbasiyah, dengan jelas tampak kecondongan khalifah yang berkuasa menjadikan unsur-unsur asing (non-Arab) sebagai kekuatan penunjang kekuasaan mereka. Khalifah al-Makmun menjadikan orang-orang Persia sebagai kekuatan pendukungnya, sedangkan al-Mu‘tashim memilih orang-orang Turki. Akibatnya, justru sedikit demi sedikit kelemahan menggerogoti kekuasaan mereka. Pada masa itu dimulai penerjemahan ke dalam bahasa Arab buku-buku falsafah dari Yunani, Rumania, Persia, dan India dengan sokongan dana dari penguasa. Akibatnya, dengan cepat berbagai bentuk bid‘ah merasuk menyebar ke dalam akidah dan ibadah kaum muslimin. Berbagai macam kelompok yang sesat menyebar di tengah-tengah mereka, seperti Qadhariyah, Jahmyah, Asy‘ariyah, Rafidhah, Mu‘tashilah, dan lain-lain.

Kelompok Mu‘tashilah, secara khusus, mendapat sokongan dari penguasa, terutama dari Khalifah al-Makmun. Mereka, di bawah pimpinan Ibnu Abi Duad, mampu mempengaruhi al-Makmun untuk membenarkan dan menyebarkan pendapat-pendapat mereka, di antaranya pendapat yang mengingkari sifat-sifat Allah, termasuk sifat kalam (berbicara). Berangkat dari pengingkaran itulah, pada tahun 212, Khalifah al-Makmun kemudian memaksa kaum muslimin, khususnya ulama mereka, untuk meyakini kemakhlukan Alquran.

Sebenarnya Harun ar-Rasyid, khalifah sebelum al-Makmun, telah menindak tegas pendapat tentang kemakhlukan Alquran. Selama hidupnya, tidak ada seorang pun yang berani menyatakan pendapat itu sebagaimana dikisahkan oleh Muhammad bin Nuh, “Aku pernah mendengar Harun ar-Rasyid berkata, ‘Telah sampai berita kepadaku bahwa Bisyr al-Muraisiy mengatakan bahwa Alquran itu makhluk. Merupakan kewajibanku, jika Allah menguasakan orang itu kepadaku, niscaya akan aku hukum bunuh dia dengan cara yang tidak pernah dilakukan oleh seorang pun’”. Tatkala Khalifah ar-Rasyid wafat dan kekuasaan beralih ke tangan al-Amin, kelompok Mu‘tazilah berusaha menggiring al-Amin ke dalam kelompok mereka, tetapi al-Amin menolaknya. Baru kemudian ketika kekhalifahan berpindah ke tangan al-Makmun, mereka mampu melakukannya.

Untuk memaksa kaum muslimin menerima pendapat kemakhlukan Alquran, al-Makmun sampai mengadakan ujian kepada mereka. Selama masa pengujian tersebut, tidak terhitung orang yang telah dipenjara, disiksa, dan bahkan dibunuhnya. Ujian itu sendiri telah menyibukkan pemerintah dan warganya baik yang umum maupun yang khusus. Ia telah menjadi bahan pembicaraan mereka, baik di kota-kota maupun di desa-desa di negeri Irak dan selainnya. Telah terjadi perdebatan yang sengit di kalangan ulama tentang hal itu. Tidak terhitung dari mereka yang menolak pendapat kemakhlukan Alquran, termasuk di antaranya Imam Ahmad. Beliau tetap konsisten memegang pendapat yang hak, bahwa Alquran itu kalamullah, bukan makhluk.

Al-Makmun bahkan sempat memerintahkan bawahannya agar membawa Imam Ahmad dan Muhammad bin Nuh ke hadapannya di kota Thursus. Kedua ulama itu pun akhirnya digiring ke Thursus dalam keadaan terbelenggu. Muhammad bin Nuh meninggal dalam perjalanan sebelum sampai ke Thursus, sedangkan Imam Ahmad dibawa kembali ke Bagdad dan dipenjara di sana karena telah sampai kabar tentang kematian al-Makmun (tahun 218). Disebutkan bahwa Imam Ahmad tetap mendoakan al-Makmun.

Sepeninggal al-Makmun, kekhalifahan berpindah ke tangan putranya, al-Mu‘tashim. Dia telah mendapat wasiat dari al-Makmun agar meneruskan pendapat kemakhlukan Alquran dan menguji orang-orang dalam hal tersebut; dan dia pun melaksanakannya. Imam Ahmad dikeluarkannya dari penjara lalu dipertemukan dengan Ibnu Abi Duad dan konco-konconya. Mereka mendebat beliau tentang kemakhlukan Alquran, tetapi beliau mampu membantahnya dengan bantahan yang tidak dapat mereka bantah. Akhirnya beliau dicambuk sampai tidak sadarkan diri lalu dimasukkan kembali ke dalam penjara dan mendekam di sana selama sekitar 28 bulan –atau 30-an bulan menurut yang lain-. Selama itu beliau shalat dan tidur dalam keadaan kaki terbelenggu.
Selama itu pula, setiap harinya al-Mu‘tashim mengutus orang untuk mendebat beliau, tetapi jawaban beliau tetap sama, tidak berubah. Akibatnya, bertambah kemarahan al-Mu‘tashim kepada beliau. Dia mengancam dan memaki-maki beliau, dan menyuruh bawahannya mencambuk lebih keras dan menambah belenggu di kaki beliau. Semua itu, diterima Imam Ahmad dengan penuh kesabaran dan keteguhan bak gunung yang menjulang dengan kokohnya.

Sakit dan Wafatnya
Pada akhirnya, beliau dibebaskan dari penjara. Beliau dikembalikan ke rumah dalam keadaan tidak mampu berjalan. Setelah luka-lukanya sembuh dan badannya telah kuat, beliau kembali menyampaikan pelajaran-pelajarannya di masjid sampai al-Mu‘tashim wafat.

Selanjutnya, al-Watsiq diangkat menjadi khalifah. Tidak berbeda dengan ayahnya, al-Mu‘tashim, al-Watsiq pun melanjutkan ujian yang dilakukan ayah dan kakeknya. dia pun masih menjalin kedekatan dengan Ibnu Abi Duad dan konco-konconya. Akibatnya, penduduk Bagdad merasakan cobaan yang kian keras. Al-Watsiq melarang Imam Ahmad keluar berkumpul bersama orang-orang. Akhirnya, Imam Ahmad bersembunyi di rumahnya, tidak keluar darinya bahkan untuk keluar mengajar atau menghadiri shalat jamaah. Dan itu dijalaninya selama kurang lebih lima tahun, yaitu sampai al-Watsiq meninggal tahun 232.

Sesudah al-Watsiq wafat, al-Mutawakkil naik menggantikannya. Selama dua tahun masa pemerintahannya, ujian tentang kemakhlukan Alquran masih dilangsungkan. Kemudian pada tahun 234, dia menghentikan ujian tersebut. Dia mengumumkan ke seluruh wilayah kerajaannya larangan atas pendapat tentang kemakhlukan Alquran dan ancaman hukuman mati bagi yang melibatkan diri dalam hal itu. Dia juga memerintahkan kepada para ahli hadits untuk menyampaikan hadits-hadits tentang sifat-sifat Allah. Maka demikianlah, orang-orang pun bergembira pun dengan adanya pengumuman itu. Mereka memuji-muji khalifah atas keputusannya itu dan melupakan kejelekan-kejelekannya. Di mana-mana terdengar doa untuknya dan namanya disebut-sebut bersama nama Abu Bakar, Umar bin al-Khaththab, dan Umar bin Abdul Aziz.

Menjelang wafatnya, beliau jatuh sakit selama sembilan hari. Mendengar sakitnya, orang-orang pun berdatangan ingin menjenguknya. Mereka berdesak-desakan di depan pintu rumahnya, sampai-sampai sultan menempatkan orang untuk berjaga di depan pintu. Akhirnya, pada permulaan hari Jumat tanggal 12 Rabi‘ul Awwal tahun 241, beliau menghadap kepada rabbnya menjemput ajal yang telah dientukan kepadanya. Kaum muslimin bersedih dengan kepergian beliau. Tak sedikit mereka yang turut mengantar jenazah beliau sampai beratusan ribu orang. Ada yang mengatakan 700 ribu orang, ada pula yang mengatakan 800 ribu orang, bahkan ada yang mengatakan sampai satu juta lebih orang yang menghadirinya. Semuanya menunjukkan bahwa sangat banyaknya mereka yang hadir pada saat itu demi menunjukkan penghormatan dan kecintaan mereka kepada beliau. Beliau pernah berkata ketika masih sehat, “Katakan kepada ahlu bid‘ah bahwa perbedaan antara kami dan kalian adalah (tampak pada) hari kematian kami”.

Demikianlah gambaran ringkas ujian yang dilalui oleh Imam Ahmad. Terlihat bagaimana sikap agung beliau yang tidak akan diambil kecuali oleh orang-orang yang penuh keteguhan lagi ikhlas. Beliau bersikap seperti itu justru ketika sebagian ulama lain berpaling dari kebenaran. Dan dengan keteguhan di atas kebenaran yang Allah berikan kepadanya itu, maka madzhab Ahlussunnah pun dinisbatkan kepada dirinya karena beliau sabar dan teguh dalam membelanya. Ali bin al-Madiniy berkata menggambarkan keteguhan Imam Ahmad, “Allah telah mengokohkan agama ini lewat dua orang laki-laki, tidak ada yang ketiganya. Yaitu, Abu Bakar as-Shiddiq pada Yaumur Riddah (saat orang-orang banyak yang murtad pada awal-awal pemerintahannya), dan Ahmad bin Hanbal pada Yaumul Mihnah”.

Words of Wisdom :

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-'Azeez said:

((I have never lied since learning that lying adversely affects the liar)).

Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa. - Volume 5, Page 121

Imam Syafi'i

2009-01-27T08:23:00.001+07:00

Nama dan Nasab
Beliau bernama Muhammad dengan kun-yah Abu Abdillah. Nasab beliau secara lengkap adalah Muhammad bin Idris bin al-‘Abbas bin ‘Utsman bin Syafi‘ bin as-Saib bin ‘Ubayd bin ‘Abdu Zayd bin Hasyim bin al-Muththalib bin ‘Abdu Manaf bin Qushay. Nasab beliau bertemu dengan nasab Rasulullah pada diri ‘Abdu Manaf bin Qushay. Dengan begitu, beliau masih termasuk sanak kandung Rasulullah karena masih terhitung keturunan paman-jauh beliau , yaitu Hasyim bin al-Muththalib.

Bapak beliau, Idris, berasal dari daerah Tibalah (Sebuah daerah di wilayah Tihamah di jalan menuju ke Yaman). Dia seorang yang tidak berpunya. Awalnya dia tinggal di Madinah lalu berpindah dan menetap di ‘Asqalan (Kota tepi pantai di wilayah Palestina) dan akhirnya meninggal dalam keadaan masih muda di sana. Syafi‘, kakek dari kakek beliau, -yang namanya menjadi sumber penisbatan beliau (Syafi‘i)- menurut sebagian ulama adalah seorang sahabat shigar (yunior) Nabi. As-Saib, bapak Syafi‘, sendiri termasuk sahabat kibar (senior) yang memiliki kemiripan fisik dengan Rasulullah saw. Dia termasuk dalam barisan tokoh musyrikin Quraysy dalam Perang Badar. Ketika itu dia tertawan lalu menebus sendiri dirinya dan menyatakan masuk Islam.

Para ahli sejarah dan ulama nasab serta ahli hadits bersepakat bahwa Imam Syafi‘i berasal dari keturunan Arab murni. Imam Bukhari dan Imam Muslim telah memberi kesaksian mereka akan kevalidan nasabnya tersebut dan ketersambungannya dengan nasab Nabi, kemudian mereka membantah pendapat-pendapat sekelompok orang dari kalangan Malikiyah dan Hanafiyah yang menyatakan bahwa Imam Syafi‘i bukanlah asli keturunan Quraysy secara nasab, tetapi hanya keturunan secara wala’ saja.

Adapun ibu beliau, terdapat perbedaan pendapat tentang jati dirinya. Beberapa pendapat mengatakan dia masih keturunan al-Hasan bin ‘Ali bin Abu Thalib, sedangkan yang lain menyebutkan seorang wanita dari kabilah Azadiyah yang memiliki kun-yah Ummu Habibah. Imam an-Nawawi menegaskan bahwa ibu Imam Syafi‘i adalah seorang wanita yang tekun beribadah dan memiliki kecerdasan yang tinggi. Dia seorang yang faqih dalam urusan agama dan memiliki kemampuan melakukan istinbath.

Waktu dan Tempat Kelahirannya
Beliau dilahirkan pada tahun 150H. Pada tahun itu pula, Abu Hanifah wafat sehingga dikomentari oleh al-Hakim sebagai isyarat bahwa beliau adalah pengganti Abu Hanifah dalam bidang yang ditekuninya.

Tentang tempat kelahirannya, banyak riwayat yang menyebutkan beberapa tempat yang berbeda. Akan tetapi, yang termasyhur dan disepakati oleh ahli sejarah adalah kota Ghazzah (Sebuah kota yang terletak di perbatasan wilayah Syam ke arah Mesir. Tepatnya di sebelah Selatan Palestina. Jaraknya dengan kota Asqalan sekitar dua farsakh). Tempat lain yang disebut-sebut adalah kota Asqalan dan Yaman.

Ibnu Hajar memberikan penjelasan bahwa riwayat-riwayat tersebut dapat digabungkan dengan dikatakan bahwa beliau dilahirkan di sebuah tempat bernama Ghazzah di wilayah Asqalan. Ketika berumur dua tahun, beliau dibawa ibunya ke negeri Hijaz dan berbaur dengan penduduk negeri itu yang keturunan Yaman karena sang ibu berasal dari kabilah Azdiyah (dari Yaman). Lalu ketika berumur 10 tahun, beliau dibawa ke Mekkah, karena sang ibu khawatir nasabnya yang mulia lenyap dan terlupakan.

Pertumbuhannya dan Pengembaraannya Mencari Ilmu
Di Mekkah, Imam Syafi ‘i dan ibunya tinggal di dekat Syi‘bu al-Khaif. Di sana, sang ibu mengirimnya belajar kepada seorang guru. Sebenarnya ibunya tidak mampu untuk membiayainya, tetapi sang guru ternyata rela tidak dibayar setelah melihat kecerdasan dan kecepatannya dalam menghafal. Imam Syafi‘i bercerita, “Di al-Kuttab (sekolah tempat menghafal Alquran), saya melihat guru yang mengajar di situ membacakan murid-muridnya ayat Alquran, maka aku ikut menghafalnya. Sampai ketika saya menghafal semua yang dia diktekan, dia berkata kepadaku, “Tidak halal bagiku mengambil upah sedikitpun darimu.” Dan ternyata kemudian dengan segera guru itu mengangkatnya sebagai penggantinya (mengawasi murid-murid lain) jika dia tidak ada. Demikianlah, belum lagi menginjak usia baligh, beliau telah berubah menjadi seorang guru.

Setelah rampung menghafal Alquran di al-Kuttab, beliau kemudian beralih ke Masjidil Haram untuk menghadiri majelis-majelis ilmu di sana. Sekalipun hidup dalam kemiskinan, beliau tidak berputus asa dalam menimba ilmu. Beliau mengumpulkan pecahan tembikar, potongan kulit, pelepah kurma, dan tulang unta untuk dipakai menulis. Sampai-sampai tempayan-tempayan milik ibunya penuh dengan tulang-tulang, pecahan tembikar, dan pelepah kurma yang telah bertuliskan hadits-hadits Nabi. Dan itu terjadi pada saat beliau belum lagi berusia baligh. Sampai dikatakan bahwa beliau telah menghafal Alquran pada saat berusia 7 tahun, lalu membaca dan menghafal kitab Al-Muwaththa’ karya Imam Malik pada usia 12 tahun sebelum beliau berjumpa langsung dengan Imam Malik di Madinah.

Beliau juga tertarik mempelajari ilmu bahasa Arab dan syair-syairnya. Beliau memutuskan untuk tinggal di daerah pedalaman bersama suku Hudzail yang telah terkenal kefasihan dan kemurnian bahasanya, serta syair-syair mereka. Hasilnya, sekembalinya dari sana beliau telah berhasil menguasai kefasihan mereka dan menghafal seluruh syair mereka, serta mengetahui nasab orang-orang Arab, suatu hal yang kemudian banyak dipuji oleh ahli-ahli bahasa Arab yang pernah berjumpa dengannya dan yang hidup sesudahnya. Namun, takdir Allah telah menentukan jalan lain baginya. Setelah mendapatkan nasehat dari dua orang ulama, yaitu Muslim bin Khalid az-Zanji -mufti kota Mekkah-, dan al-Husain bin ‘Ali bin Yazid agar mendalami ilmu fiqih, maka beliau pun tersentuh untuk mendalaminya dan mulailah beliau melakukan pengembaraannya mencari ilmu.

Beliau mengawalinya dengan menimbanya dari ulama-ulama kotanya, Mekkah, seperti Muslim bin Khalid, Dawud bin Abdurrahman al-‘Athar, Muhammad bin Ali bin Syafi’ –yang masih terhitung paman jauhnya-, Sufyan bin ‘Uyainah –ahli hadits Mekkah-, Abdurrahman bin Abu Bakar al-Maliki, Sa’id bin Salim, Fudhail bin ‘Iyadh, dan lain-lain. Di Mekkah ini, beliau mempelajari ilmu fiqih, hadits, lughoh, dan Muwaththa’ Imam Malik. Di samping itu beliau juga mempelajari keterampilan memanah dan menunggang kuda sampai menjadi mahir sebagai realisasi pemahamannya terhadap ayat 60 surat Al-Anfal. Bahkan dikatakan bahwa dari 10 panah yang dilepasnya, 9 di antaranya pasti mengena sasaran.

Setelah mendapat izin dari para syaikh-nya untuk berfatwa, timbul keinginannya untuk mengembara ke Madinah, Dar as-Sunnah, untuk mengambil ilmu dari para ulamanya. Terlebih lagi di sana ada Imam Malik bin Anas, penyusun al-Muwaththa’. Maka berangkatlah beliau ke sana menemui sang Imam. Di hadapan Imam Malik, beliau membaca al-Muwaththa’ yang telah dihafalnya di Mekkah, dan hafalannya itu membuat Imam Malik kagum kepadanya. Beliau menjalani mulazamah kepada Imam Malik demi mengambil ilmu darinya sampai sang Imam wafat pada tahun 179. Di samping Imam Malik, beliau juga mengambil ilmu dari ulama Madinah lainnya seperti Ibrahim bin Abu Yahya, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ad-Darawardi, Athaf bin Khalid, Isma‘il bin Ja‘far, Ibrahim bin Sa‘d dan masih banyak lagi.

Setelah kembali ke Mekkah, beliau kemudian melanjutkan mencari ilmu ke Yaman. Di sana beliau mengambil ilmu dari Mutharrif bin Mazin dan Hisyam bin Yusuf al-Qadhi, serta yang lain. Namun, berawal dari Yaman inilah beliau mendapat cobaan –satu hal yang selalu dihadapi oleh para ulama, sebelum maupun sesudah beliau-. Di Yaman, nama beliau menjadi tenar karena sejumlah kegiatan dan kegigihannya menegakkan keadilan, dan ketenarannya itu sampai juga ke telinga penduduk Mekkah. Lalu, orang-orang yang tidak senang kepadanya akibat kegiatannya tadi mengadukannya kepada Khalifah Harun ar-Rasyid, Mereka menuduhnya hendak mengobarkan pemberontakan bersama orang-orang dari kalangan Alawiyah.

Sebagaimana dalam sejarah, Imam Syafi‘i hidup pada masa-masa awal pemerintahan Bani ‘Abbasiyah yang berhasil merebut kekuasaan dari Bani Umayyah. Pada masa itu, setiap khalifah dari Bani ‘Abbasiyah hampir selalu menghadapi pemberontakan orang-orang dari kalangan ‘Alawiyah. Kenyataan ini membuat mereka bersikap sangat kejam dalam memadamkan pemberontakan orang-orang ‘Alawiyah yang sebenarnya masih saudara mereka sebagai sesama Bani Hasyim. Dan hal itu menggoreskan rasa sedih yang mendalam pada kaum muslimin secara umum dan pada diri Imam Syafi‘i secara khusus. Dia melihat orang-orang dari Ahlu Bait Nabi menghadapi musibah yang mengenaskan dari penguasa. Maka berbeda dengan sikap ahli fiqih selainnya, beliau pun menampakkan secara terang-terangan rasa cintanya kepada mereka tanpa rasa takut sedikitpun, suatu sikap yang saat itu akan membuat pemiliknya merasakan kehidupan yang sangat sulit.

Sikapnya itu membuatnya dituduh sebagai orang yang bersikap tasyayyu‘, padahal sikapnya sama sekali berbeda dengan tasysyu’ model orang-orang syi‘ah. Bahkan Imam Syafi‘i menolak keras sikap tasysyu’ model mereka itu yang meyakini ketidakabsahan keimaman Abu Bakar, Umar, serta ‘Utsman , dan hanya meyakini keimaman Ali, serta meyakini kemaksuman para imam mereka. Sedangkan kecintaan beliau kepada Ahlu Bait adalah kecintaan yang didasari oleh perintah-perintah yang terdapat dalam Alquran maupun hadits-hadits shahih. Dan kecintaan beliau itu ternyata tidaklah lantas membuatnya dianggap oleh orang-orang syiah sebagai ahli fiqih madzhab mereka.

Tuduhan dusta yang diarahkan kepadanya bahwa dia hendak mengobarkan pemberontakan, membuatnya ditangkap, lalu digelandang ke Baghdad dalam keadaan dibelenggu dengan rantai bersama sejumlah orang-orang ‘Alawiyah. Beliau bersama orang-orang ‘Alawiyah itu dihadapkan ke hadapan Khalifah Harun ar-Rasyid. Khalifah menyuruh bawahannya menyiapkan pedang dan hamparan kulit. Setelah memeriksa mereka seorang demi seorang, ia menyuruh pegawainya memenggal kepala mereka. Ketika sampai pada gilirannya, Imam Syafi‘i berusaha memberikan penjelasan kepada Khalifah. Dengan kecerdasan dan ketenangannya serta pembelaan dari Muhammad bin al-Hasan -ahli fiqih Irak-, beliau berhasil meyakinkan Khalifah tentang ketidakbenaran apa yang dituduhkan kepadanya. Akhirnya beliau meninggalkan majelis Harun ar-Rasyid dalam keadaan bersih dari tuduhan bersekongkol dengan ‘Alawiyah dan mendapatkan kesempatan untuk tinggal di Baghdad.

Di Baghdad, beliau kembali pada kegiatan asalnya, mencari ilmu. Beliau meneliti dan mendalami madzhab Ahlu Ra’yu. Untuk itu beliau berguru dengan mulazamah kepada Muhammad bin al-Hassan. Selain itu, kepada Isma‘il bin ‘Ulayyah dan Abdul Wahhab ats-Tsaqafiy dan lain-lain. Setelah meraih ilmu dari para ulama Irak itu, beliau kembali ke Mekkah pada saat namanya mulai dikenal. Maka mulailah ia mengajar di tempat dahulu ia belajar. Ketika musim haji tiba, ribuan jamaah haji berdatangan ke Mekkah. Mereka yang telah mendengar nama beliau dan ilmunya yang mengagumkan, bersemangat mengikuti pengajarannya sampai akhirnya nama beliau makin dikenal luas. Salah satu di antara mereka adalah Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

Ketika kamasyhurannya sampai ke kota Baghdad, Imam Abdurrahman bin Mahdi mengirim surat kepada Imam Syafi‘i memintanya untuk menulis sebuah kitab yang berisi khabar-khabar yang maqbul, penjelasan tentang nasikh dan mansukh dari ayat-ayat Alquran dan lain-lain. Maka beliau pun menulis kitabnya yang terkenal, Ar-Risalah.

Setelah lebih dari 9 tahun mengajar di Mekkah, beliau kembali melakukan perjalanan ke Irak untuk kedua kalinya dalam rangka menolong madzhab Ash-habul Hadits di sana. Beliau mendapat sambutan meriah di Baghdad karena para ulama besar di sana telah menyebut-nyebut namanya. Dengan kedatangannya, kelompok Ash-habul Hadits merasa mendapat angin segar karena sebelumnya mereka merasa didominasi oleh Ahlu Ra’yi. Sampai-sampai dikatakan bahwa ketika beliau datang ke Baghdad, di Masjid Jami ‘ al-Gharbi terdapat sekitar 20 halaqah Ahlu Ra ‘yu. Tetapi ketika hari Jumat tiba, yang tersisa hanya 2 atau 3 halaqah saja.

Beliau menetap di Irak selama dua tahun, kemudian pada tahun 197 beliau balik ke Mekkah. Di sana beliau mulai menyebar madzhabnya sendiri. Maka datanglah para penuntut ilmu kepadanya meneguk dari lautan ilmunya. Tetapi beliau hanya berada setahun di Mekkah.

Tahun 198, beliau berangkat lagi ke Irak. Namun, beliau hanya beberapa bulan saja di sana karena telah terjadi perubahan politik. Khalifah al-Makmun telah dikuasai oleh para ulama ahli kalam, dan terjebak dalam pembahasan-pembahasan tentang ilmu kalam. Sementara Imam Syafi‘i adalah orang yang paham betul tentang ilmu kalam. Beliau tahu bagaimana pertentangan ilmu ini dengan manhaj as-salaf ash-shaleh –yang selama ini dipegangnya- di dalam memahami masalah-masalah syariat. Hal itu karena orang-orang ahli kalam menjadikan akal sebagai patokan utama dalam menghadapi setiap masalah, menjadikannya rujukan dalam memahami syariat padahal mereka tahu bahwa akal juga memiliki keterbatasan-keterbatasan. Beliau tahu betul kebencian meraka kepada ulama ahlu hadits. Karena itulah beliau menolak madzhab mereka.

Dan begitulah kenyataannya. Provokasi mereka membuat Khalifah mendatangkan banyak musibah kepada para ulama ahlu hadits. Salah satunya adalah yang dikenal sebagai Yaumul Mihnah, ketika dia mengumpulkan para ulama untuk menguji dan memaksa mereka menerima paham Alquran itu makhluk. Akibatnya, banyak ulama yang masuk penjara, bila tidak dibunuh. Salah satu di antaranya adalah Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. Karena perubahan itulah, Imam Syafi‘i kemudian memutuskan pergi ke Mesir. Sebenarnya hati kecilnya menolak pergi ke sana, tetapi akhirnya ia menyerahkan dirinya kepada kehendak Allah. Di Mesir, beliau mendapat sambutan masyarakatnya. Di sana beliau berdakwah, menebar ilmunya, dan menulis sejumlah kitab, termasuk merevisi kitabnya ar-Risalah, sampai akhirnya beliau menemui akhir kehidupannya di sana.

Keteguhannya Membela Sunnah
Sebagai seorang yang mengikuti manhaj Ash-habul Hadits, beliau dalam menetapkan suatu masalah terutama masalah aqidah selalu menjadikan Alquran dan Sunnah Nabi sebagai landasan dan sumber hukumnya. Beliau selalu menyebutkan dalil-dalil dari keduanya dan menjadikannya hujjah dalam menghadapi penentangnya, terutama dari kalangan ahli kalam. Beliau berkata, “Jika kalian telah mendapatkan Sunnah Nabi, maka ikutilah dan janganlah kalian berpaling mengambil pendapat yang lain.” Karena komitmennya mengikuti sunnah dan membelanya itu, beliau mendapat gelar Nashir as-Sunnah wa al-Hadits.

Terdapat banyak atsar tentang ketidaksukaan beliau kepada Ahli Ilmu Kalam, mengingat perbedaan manhaj beliau dengan mereka. Beliau berkata, “Setiap orang yang berbicara (mutakallim) dengan bersumber dari Alquran dan sunnah, maka ucapannya adalah benar, tetapi jika dari selain keduanya, maka ucapannya hanyalah igauan belaka.” Imam Ahmad berkata, “Bagi Syafi‘i jika telah yakin dengan keshahihan sebuah hadits, maka dia akan menyampaikannya. Dan prilaku yang terbaik adalah dia tidak tertarik sama sekali dengan ilmu kalam, dan lebih tertarik kepada fiqih.” Imam Syafi ‘i berkata, “Tidak ada yang lebih aku benci daripada ilmu kalam dan ahlinya” Al-Mazani berkata, “Merupakan madzhab Imam Syafi‘i membenci kesibukan dalam ilmu kalam. Beliau melarang kami sibuk dalam ilmu kalam.”

Ketidaksukaan beliau sampai pada tingkat memberi fatwa bahwa hukum bagi ahli ilmu kalam adalah dipukul dengan pelepah kurma, lalu dinaikkan ke atas punggung unta dan digiring berkeliling di antara kabilah-kabilah dengan mengumumkan bahwa itu adalah hukuman bagi orang yang meninggalkan Alquran dan Sunnah dan memilih ilmu kalam.

Wafatnya
Karena kesibukannya berdakwah dan menebar ilmu, beliau menderita penyakit bawasir yang selalu mengeluarkan darah. Makin lama penyakitnya itu bertambah parah hingga akhirnya beliau wafat karenanya. Beliau wafat pada malam Jumat setelah shalat Isya’ hari terakhir bulan Rajab permulaan tahun 204 dalam usia 54 tahun. Semoga Allah memberikan kepadanya rahmat-Nya yang luas.

Ar-Rabi menyampaikan bahwa dia bermimpi melihat Imam Syafi‘i, sesudah wafatnya. Dia berkata kepada beliau, “Apa yang telah diperbuat Allah kepadamu, wahai Abu Abdillah ?” Beliau menjawab, “Allah mendudukkan aku di atas sebuah kursi emas dan menaburkan pada diriku mutiara-mutiara yang halus”

Karangan-Karangannya
Sekalipun beliau hanya hidup selama setengah abad dan kesibukannya melakukan perjalanan jauh untuk mencari ilmu, hal itu tidaklah menghalanginya untuk menulis banyak kitab. Jumlahnya menurut Ibnu Zulaq mencapai 200 bagian, sedangkan menurut al-Marwaziy mencapai 113 kitab tentang tafsir, fiqih, adab dan lain-lain. Yaqut al-Hamawi mengatakan jumlahnya mencapai 174 kitab yang judul-judulnya disebutkan oleh Ibnu an-Nadim dalam al-Fahrasat.
Yang paling terkenal di antara kitab-kitabnya adalah al-Umm, yang terdiri dari 4 jilid berisi 128 masalah, dan ar-Risalah al-Jadidah (yang telah direvisinya) mengenai Alquran dan As-Sunnah serta kedudukannya dalam syariat.

Sumber :
1. Al-Umm, bagian muqoddimah hal 3-33.
2. Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala’
3. Manhaj Aqidah Imam asy-Syafi‘, terjemah kitab Manhaj al-Imam Asy-Syafi ‘i fi Itsbat al-‘Aqidah karya DR. Muhammad AW al-Aql terbitan Pustaka Imam Asy-Syafi‘i, Cirebon.

Words of Wisdom :

On the authority of 'Amru ibn Thaabit who said: When 'Alee ibn al-Husayn died, they washed him and noticed a black mark on his back, so they (some of them) said:

((What is this?)) So they (the others) said:

((He used to carry a sack of flour on his back during the night and used to distribute it to the poor and needy of the people of Madeenah)).

Siffatus-Safwah - Volume 2, Page 96

Imam Hanafi

2009-01-27T08:17:00.001+07:00

Imam Abu Hanifah An-Nu’man bin Tsabit al-Kufiy merupakan orang yang faqih di negeri Irak, salah satu imam dari kaum muslimin, pemimpin orang-orang alim, salah seorang yang mulia dari kalangan ulama dan salah satu imam dari empat imam yang memiliki madzhab. Di kalangan umat Islam, beliau lebih dikenal dengan nama Imam Hanafi.

Nasab dan Kelahirannya bin Tsabit bin Zuthi (ada yang mengatakan Zutha) At-Taimi Al-Kufi Beliau adalah Abu Hanifah An-Nu’man Taimillah bin Tsa’labah. Beliau berasal dari keturunan bangsa persi. Beliau dilahirkan pada tahun 80 H pada masa shigharus shahabah dan para ulama berselisih pendapat tentang tempat kelahiran Abu Hanifah, menurut penuturan anaknya Hamad bin Abu Hadifah bahwa Zuthi berasal dari kota Kabul dan dia terlahir dalam keadaan Islam. Adapula yang mengatakan dari Anbar, yang lainnya mengatakan dari Turmudz dan yang lainnya lagi mengatakan dari Babilonia.

Perkembangannya
Ismail bin Hamad bin Abu Hanifah cucunya menuturkan bahwa dahulu Tsabit ayah Abu Hanifah pergi mengunjungi Ali Bin Abi Thalib, lantas Ali mendoakan keberkahan kepadanya pada dirinya dan keluarganya, sedangkan dia pada waktu itu masih kecil, dan kami berharap Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala mengabulkan doa Ali tersebut untuk kami. Dan Abu Hanifah At-Taimi biasa ikut rombongan pedagang minyak dan kain sutera, bahkan dia punya toko untuk berdagang kain yang berada di rumah Amr bin Harits.

Abu Hanifah itu tinggi badannya sedang, memiliki postur tubuh yang bagus, jelas dalam berbicara, suaranya bagus dan enak didengar, bagus wajahnya, bagus pakaiannya dan selalu memakai minyak wangi, bagus dalam bermajelis, sangat kasih sayang, bagus dalam pergaulan bersama rekan-rekannya, disegani dan tidak membicarakan hal-hal yang tidak berguna.

Beliau disibukkan dengan mencari atsar/hadits dan juga melakukan rihlah untuk mencari hal itu. Dan beliau ahli dalam bidang fiqih, mempunyai kecermatan dalam berpendapat, dan dalam permasalahan-permasalahan yang samar/sulit maka kepada beliau akhir penyelesaiannya.

Beliau sempat bertemu dengan Anas bin Malik tatkala datang ke Kufah dan belajar kepadanya, beliau juga belajar dan meriwayat dari ulama lain seperti Atha’ bin Abi Rabbah yang merupakan syaikh besarnya, Asy-Sya’bi, Adi bin Tsabit, Abdurrahman bin Hurmuj al-A’raj, Amru bin Dinar, Thalhah bin Nafi’, Nafi’ Maula Ibnu Umar, Qotadah bin Di’amah, Qois bin Muslim, Abdullah bin Dinar, Hamad bin Abi Sulaiman guru fiqihnya, Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir, Ibnu Syihab Az-Zuhri, Muhammad bin Munkandar, dan masih banyak lagi. Dan ada yang meriwayatkan bahwa beliau sempat bertemu dengan 7 sahabat.

Beliau pernah bercerita, tatkala pergi ke kota Bashrah, saya optimis kalau ada orang yang bertanya kepadaku tentang sesuatu apapun saya akan menjawabnya, maka tatkala diantara mereka ada yang bertanya kepadaku tentang suatu masalah lantas saya tidak mempunyai jawabannya, maka aku memutuskan untuk tidak berpisah dengan Hamad sampai dia meninggal, maka saya bersamanya selama 10 tahun.

Pada masa pemerintahan Marwan salah seorang raja dari Bani Umayyah di Kufah, beliau didatangi Hubairoh salah satu anak buah raja Marwan meminta Abu Hanifah agar menjadi Qodhi (hakim) di Kufah akan tetapi beliau menolak permintaan tersebut, maka beliau dihukum cambuk sebanyak 110 kali (setiap harinya dicambuk 10 kali), tatkala dia mengetahui keteguhan Abu Hanifah maka dia melepaskannya.

Adapun orang-orang yang belajar kepadanya dan meriwayatkan darinya diantaranya adalah sebagaimana yang disebutkan oleh Syaikh Abul Hajaj di dalam Tahdzibnya berdasarkan abjad diantaranya Ibrahin bin Thahman seorang alim dari Khurasan, Abyadh bin Al-Aghar bin Ash-Shabah, Ishaq al-Azroq, Asar bin Amru Al-Bajali, Ismail bin Yahya Al-Sirafi, Al-Harits bin Nahban, Al-Hasan bin Ziyad, Hafsh binn Abdurrahman al-Qadhi, Hamad bin Abu Hanifah, Hamzah temannya penjual minyak wangi, Dawud Ath-Thai, Sulaiman bin Amr An-Nakhai, Su’aib bin Ishaq, Abdullah ibnul Mubarok, Abdul Aziz bin Khalid at-Turmudzi, Abdul karim bin Muhammad al-Jurjani, Abdullah bin Zubair al-Qurasy, Ali bin Zhibyan al-Qodhi, Ali bin Ashim, Isa bin Yunus, Abu Nu’aim, Al-Fadhl bin Musa, Muhammad bin Bisyr, Muhammad bin Hasan Assaibani, Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Anshari, Muhammad bin Qoshim al-Asadi, Nu’man bin Abdus Salam al-Asbahani, Waki’ bin Al-Jarah, Yahya bin Ayub Al-Mishri, Yazid bin Harun, Abu Syihab Al-Hanath Assamaqondi, Al-Qodhi Abu Yusuf, dan lain-lain.

Penilaian para ulama terhadap Abu Hanifah
Berikut ini beberapa penilaian para ulama tentang Abu Hanifah, diantaranya:

1. Yahya bin Ma’in berkata, “Abu Hanifah adalah orang yang tsiqoh, dia tidak membicarakan hadits kecuali yang dia hafal dan tidak membicarakan apa-apa yang tidak hafal”. Dan dalam waktu yang lain beliau berkata, “Abu Hanifah adalah orang yang tsiqoh di dalam hadits”. Dan dia juga berkata, “Abu hanifah laa ba’sa bih, dia tidak berdusta, orang yang jujur, tidak tertuduh dengan berdusta, …”.

2. Abdullah ibnul Mubarok berkata, “Kalaulah Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala tidak menolong saya melalui Abu Hanifah dan Sufyan Ats-Tsauri maka saya hanya akan seperti orang biasa”. Dan beliau juga berkata, “Abu Hanifah adalah orang yang paling faqih”. Dan beliau juga pernah berkata, “Aku berkata kepada Sufyan Ats-Tsauri, ‘Wahai Abu Abdillah, orang yang paling jauh dari perbuatan ghibah adalah Abu Hanifah, saya tidak pernah mendengar beliau berbuat ghibah meskipun kepada musuhnya’ kemudian beliau menimpali ‘Demi Allah, dia adalah orang yang paling berakal, dia tidak menghilangkan kebaikannya dengan perbuatan ghibah’.” Beliau juga berkata, “Aku datang ke kota Kufah, aku bertanya siapakah orang yang paling wara’ di kota Kufah? Maka mereka penduduk Kufah menjawab Abu Hanifah”. Beliau juga berkata, “Apabila atsar telah diketahui, dan masih membutuhkan pendapat, kemudian imam Malik berpendapat, Sufyan berpendapat dan Abu Hanifah berpendapat maka yang paling bagus pendapatnya adalah Abu Hanifah … dan dia orang yang paling faqih dari ketiganya”.

3. Al-Qodhi Abu Yusuf berkata, “Abu Hanifah berkata, tidak selayaknya bagi seseorang berbicara tentang hadits kecuali apa-apa yang dia hafal sebagaimana dia mendengarnya”. Beliau juga berkata, “Saya tidak melihat seseorang yang lebih tahu tentang tafsir hadits dan tempat-tempat pengambilan fiqih hadits dari Abu Hanifah”.

4. Imam Syafii berkata, “Barangsiapa ingin mutabahir (memiliki ilmu seluas lautan) dalam masalah fiqih hendaklah dia belajar kepada Abu Hanifah”

5. Fudhail bin Iyadh berkata, “Abu Hanifah adalah seorang yang faqih, terkenal dengan wara’-nya, termasuk salah seorang hartawan, sabar dalam belajar dan mengajarkan ilmu, sedikit bicara, menunjukkan kebenaran dengan cara yang baik, menghindari dari harta penguasa”. Qois bin Rabi’ juga mengatakan hal serupa dengan perkataan Fudhail bin Iyadh.

6. Yahya bin Sa’id al-Qothan berkata, “Kami tidak mendustakan Allah swt, tidaklah kami mendengar pendapat yang lebih baik dari pendapat Abu Hanifah, dan sungguh banyak mengambil pendapatnya”.

7. Hafsh bin Ghiyats berkata, “Pendapat Abu Hanifah di dalam masalah fiqih lebih mendalam dari pada syair, dan tidaklah mencelanya melainkan dia itu orang yang jahil tentangnya”.

8. Al-Khuroibi berkata, “Tidaklah orang itu mensela Abu Hanifah melainkan dia itu orang yang pendengki atau orang yang jahil”.

9. Sufyan bin Uyainah berkata, “Semoga Allah merahmati Abu Hanifah karena dia adalah termasuk orang yang menjaga shalatnya (banyak melakukan shalat)”.

Beberapa penilaian negatif yang ditujukan kepada Abu Hanifah
Abu Hanifah selain dia mendapatkan penilaian yang baik dan pujian dari beberapa ulama, juga mendapatkan penilaian negatif dan celaan yang ditujukan kepada beliau, diantaranya :

1. Imam Muslim bin Hajaj berkata, “Abu Hanifah Nu’man bin Tsabit shahibur ro’yi mudhtharib dalam hadits, tidak banyak hadits shahihnya”.

2. Abdul Karim bin Muhammad bin Syu’aib An-Nasai berkata, “Abu Hanifah Nu’man bin Tsabit tidak kuat hafalan haditsnya”.

3. Abdullah ibnul Mubarok berkata, “Abu Hanifah orang yang miskin di dalam hadits”.

4. Sebagian ahlul ilmi memberikan tuduhan bahwa Abu Hanifah adalah murji’ah dalam memahi masalah iman. Yaitu penyataan bahwa iman itu keyakinan yang ada dalam hati dan diucapkan dengan lisan, dan mengeluarkan amal dari hakikat iman.

Dan telah dinukil dari Abu Hanifah bahwasanya amal-amal itu tidak termasuk dari hakekat imam, akan tetapi dia termasuk dari sya’air iman, dan yang berpendapat seperti ini adalah Jumhur Asy’ariyyah, Abu Manshur Al-Maturidi … dan menyelisihi pendapat ini adalah Ahlu Hadits … dan telah dinukil pula dari Abu Hanifah bahwa iman itu adalah pembenaran di dalam hati dan penetapan dengan lesan tidak bertambah dan tidak berkurang. Dan yang dimaksudkan dengan “tidak bertambah dan berkurang” adalah jumlah dan ukurannya itu tidak bertingkat-tingkat, dak hal ini tidak menafikan adanya iman itu bertingkat-tingkat dari segi kaifiyyah, seperti ada yang kuat dan ada yang lemah, ada yang jelas dan yang samar, dan yang semisalnya …

Dan dinukil pula oleh para sahabatnya, mereka menyebutkan bahwa Abu Hanifah berkata, ‘Orang yang terjerumus dalam dosa besar maka urusannya diserahkan kepada Allah’, sebagaimana yang termaktub dalam kitab “Fiqhul Akbar” karya Abu Hanifah, “Kami tidak mengatakan bahwa orang yang beriman itu tidak membahayakan dosa-dosanya terhadap keimanannya, dan kami juga tidak mengatakan pelaku dosa besar itu masuk neraka dan kekal di neraka meskipun dia itu orang yang fasiq, … akan tetapi kami mengatakan bahwa barangsiapa beramal kebaikan dengan memenuhi syarat-syaratnya dan tidak melakukan hal-hal yang merusaknya, tidak membatalakannya dengan kekufuran dan murtad sampai dia meninggal maka Allah tidak akan menyia-nyiakan amalannya, bahklan -insya Allah- akan menerimanya; dan orang yang berbuat kemaksiatan selain syirik dan kekufuran meskipun dia belum bertaubat sampai dia meninggal dalam keadaan beriman, maka di berasa dibawah kehendak Allah, kalau Dia menghendaki maka akan mengadzabnya dan kalau tidak maka akan mengampuninya.”

5. Sebagian ahlul ilmi yang lainnya memberikan tuduhan kepada Abu Hanifah, bahwa beliau berpendapat Al-Qur’an itu makhluq.
Padahahal telah dinukil dari beliau bahwa Al-Qur’an itu adalah kalamullah dan pengucapan kita dengan Al-Qur’an adalah makhluq. Dan ini merupakan pendapat ahlul haq …,coba lihatlah ke kitab beliau Fiqhul Akbar dan Aqidah Thahawiyah …, dan penisbatan pendapat Al-Qur’an itu dalah makhluq kepada Abu Hanifah merupakan kedustaan”.

Dan di sana masih banyak lagi bentuk-bentuk penilaian negatif dan celaan yang diberikan kepada beliau, hal ini bisa dibaca dalam kitab Tarikh Baghdad juz 13 dan juga kitab al-Jarh wa at-Ta’dil Juz 8 hal 450.

Dan kalian akan mengetahui riwayat-riwayat yang banyak tentang cacian yang ditujukan kepada Abiu Hanifah -dalam Tarikh Baghdad- dan sungguh kami telah meneliti semua riwayat-riwayat tersebut, ternyata riwayat-riwayat tersebut lemah dalam sanadnya dan mudhtharib dalam maknanya. Tidak diragukan lagi bahwa merupakan cela, aib untuk ber-ashabiyyah madzhabiyyah, … dan betapa banyak dari para imam yang agung, alim yang cerdas mereka bersikap inshaf (pertengahan ) secara haqiqi. Dan apabila kalian menghendaki untuk mengetahui kedudukan riwayat-riwayat yang berkenaan dengan celaan terhadap Abu Hanifah maka bacalah kitab al-Intiqo’ karya Al-Hafizh Ibnu Abdil Barr, Jami’ul Masanid karya al-Khawaruzumi dan Tadzkiratul Hufazh karya Imam Adz-Dzahabi. Ibnu Abdil Barr berkata, “Banyak dari Ahlul Hadits – yakni yang menukil tentang Abu Hanifah dari al-Khatib (Tarikh baghdad) – melampaui batas dalam mencela Abu Hanifah, maka hal seperti itu sungguh dia menolak banyak pengkhabaran tentang Abu Hanifah dari orang-orang yang adil”

Beberapa nasehat Imam Abu Hanifah
Beliau adalah termasuk imam yang pertama-tama berpendapat wajibnya mengikuti Sunnah dan meninggalkan pendapat-pendapatnya yang menyelisihi sunnah. dan sungguh telah diriwayatkan dari Abu Hanifah oleh para sahabatnya pendapat-pendapat yang jitu dan dengan ibarat yang berbeda-beda, yang semuanya itu menunjukkan pada sesuatu yang satu, yaitu wajibnya mengambil hadits dan meninggalkan taqlid terhadap pendapat para imam yang menyelisihi hadits. Diantara nasehat-nasehat beliau adalah:

a. Apabila telah shahih sebuah hadits maka hadits tersebut menjadi madzhabku
Berkata Syaikh Nashirudin Al-Albani, “Ini merupakan kesempurnaan ilmu dan ketaqwaan para imam. Dan para imam telah memberi isyarat bahwa mereka tidak mampu untuk menguasai, meliput sunnah/hadits secara keseluruhan”. Hal ini sebagaimana yang dijelaskan oleh imam Syafii, “maka terkadang diantara para imam ada yang menyelisihi sunnah yang belum atau tidak sampai kepada mereka, maka mereka memerintahkan kepada kita untuk berpegang teguh dengan sunnah dan menjadikan sunah tersebut termasuk madzhab mereka semuanya”.

b. Tidak halal bagi seseorang untuk mengambil/memakai pendapat kami selama dia tidak mengetahui dari dalil mana kami mengambil pendapat tersebut. dalam riwayat lain, haram bagi orang yang tidak mengetahui dalilku, dia berfatwa dengan pendapatku. Dan dalam riawyat lain, sesungguhnya kami adalah manusia biasa, kami berpendapat pada hari ini, dan kami ruju’ (membatalkan) pendapat tersebut pada pagi harinya. Dan dalam riwayat lain, Celaka engkau wahai Ya’qub (Abu Yusuf), janganlah engakau catat semua apa-apa yang kamu dengar dariku, maka sesungguhnya aku berpendapat pada hari ini denga suatu pendapat dan aku tinggalkan pendapat itu besok, besok aku berpendapat dengan suatu pendapat dan aku tinggalkan pendapat tersebut hari berikutnya.

Syaikh Al-Albani berkata, “Maka apabila demikian perkataan para imam terhadap orang yang tidak mengetahui dalil mereka. maka ketahuilah! Apakah perkataan mereka terhadap orang yang mengetahui dalil yang menyelisihi pendapat mereka, kemudian dia berfatwa dengan pendapat yang menyelisishi dalil tersebut? maka camkanlah kalimat ini! Dan perkataan ini saja cukup untuk memusnahkan taqlid buta, untuk itulah sebaigan orang dari para masyayikh yang diikuti mengingkari penisbahan kepada Abu Hanifah tatkala mereka mengingkari fatwanya dengan berkata “Abu Hanifah tidak tahu dalil”!.

Berkata Asy-sya’roni dalam kitabnya Al-Mizan 1/62 yang ringkasnya sebagai berikut, “Keyakinan kami dan keyakinan setiap orang yang pertengahan (tidak memihak) terhadap Abu Hanifah, bahwa seandainya dia hidup sampai dengan dituliskannya ilmu Syariat, setelah para penghafal hadits mengumpulkan hadits-haditsnya dari seluruh pelosok penjuru dunia maka Abu Hanifah akan mengambil hadits-hadits tersebut dan meninggalkan semua pendapatnya dengan cara qiyas, itupun hanya sedikit dalam madzhabnya sebagaimana hal itu juga sedikit pada madzhab-madzhab lainnya dengan penisbahan kepadanya. Akan tetapi dalil-dalil syari terpisah-pesah pada zamannya dan juga pada zaman tabi’in dan atbaut tabiin masih terpencar-pencar disana-sini. Maka banyak terjadi qiyas pada madzhabnya secara darurat kalaudibanding dengan para ulama lainnya, karena tidak ada nash dalam permasalahan-permasalahan yang diqiyaskan tersebut. berbeda dengan para imam yang lainnya, …”. Kemudian syaikh Al-Albani mengomentari pernyataan tersebut dengan perkataannya, “Maka apabila demikian halnya, hal itu merupakan udzur bagi Abu Hanifah tatkala dia menyelisihi hadits-hadits yang shahih tanpa dia sengaja – dan ini merupakan udzur yang diterima, karena Allah tidak membebani manusia yang tidak dimampuinya -, maka tidak boleh mencela padanya sebagaimana yang dilakukan sebagian orang jahil, bahkan wajib beradab dengannya karena dia merupakan salah satu imam dari imam-imam kaum muslimin yang dengan mereka terjaga agama ini. …”.

c. Apabila saya mengatakan sebuah pendapat yang menyelisihi kitab Allah dan hadits Rasulullah yang shahih, maka tinggalkan perkataanku.

Wafatnya
Pada zaman kerajaan Bani Abbasiyah tepatnya pada masa pemerintahan Abu Ja’far Al-Manshur yaitu raja yang ke-2, Abu Hanifah dipanggil kehadapannya untuk diminta menjadi qodhi (hakim), akan tetapi beliau menolak permintaan raja tersebut – karena Abu Hanifah hendak menjauhi harta dan kedudukan dari sultan (raja) – maka dia ditangkap dan dijebloskan kedalam penjara dan wafat dalam penjara.

Dan beliau wafat pada bulan Rajab pada tahun 150 H dengan usia 70 tahun, dan dia dishalatkan banyak orang bahkan ada yang meriwayatkan dishalatkan sampai 6 kloter.

(diambil dari majalah Fatawa)

Daftar Pustaka:
1. Tarikhul Baghdad karya Abu Bakar Ahmad Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi cetakan Dar al-Kutub Ilmiyah Beirut
2. Siyarul A’lamin Nubala’ karya Al-Imam Syamsudin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Utsman Adz-Dzahabi cetakan ke - 7 terbitan Dar ar-Risalah Beirut
3. Tadzkiratul Hufazh karya Al-Imam Syamsudin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Utsman Adz-Dzahabi terbitan Dar al-Kutub Ilmiyah Beirut
4. Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah karya Ibnu Katsir cetakan Maktabah Darul Baz Beirut
5. Kitabul Jarhi wat Ta’dil karya Abu Mumahhan Abdurrahman bin Abi Hatim bin Muhammad Ar-Razi terbitan Dar al-Kutub Ilmiyah Beirut
6. Shifatu Shalatin Nabi karya Syaikh Nashirudin Al-Albani cetakan Maktabah Al-Ma’arif Riyadh

Words of Wisdom :

‘Abdullaah ibn Daawood said:

((I have never lied except on one occasion.
My father said to me: “Have you read to the teacher?”
And I said: “Yes”…whereas I had not read to him)).

Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa. - Volume 9, Page 349

Imam Malik

2009-01-27T08:14:00.003+07:00

Dalam sebuah kunjungan ke kota Madinah, Khalifah Bani Abbasiyyah, Harun Al Rasyid (penguasa saat itu), tertarik mengikuti ceramah al muwatta' (himpunan hadits) yang diadakan Imam Malik. Untuk hal ini, khalifah mengutus orang memanggil Imam. Namun Imam Malik memberikan nasihat kepada Khalifah Harun, ''Rasyid, leluhur Anda selalu melindungi pelajaran hadits. Mereka amat menghormatinya. Bila sebagai khalifah Anda tidak menghormatinya, tak seorang pun akan menaruh hormat lagi. Manusia yang mencari ilmu, sementara ilmu tidak akan mencari manusia.''

Sedianya, khalifah ingin agar para jamaah meninggalkan ruangan tempat ceramah itu diadakan. Namun, permintaan itu tak dikabulkan Imam Malik. ''Saya tidak dapat mengorbankan kepentingan umum hanya untuk kepentingan seorang pribadi.'' Sang khalifah pun akhirnya mengikuti ceramah bersama dua putranya dan duduk berdampingan dengan rakyat kecil.

Imam Malik yang bernama lengkap Abu Abdullah Malik bin Anas bin Malik bin Abi Amir bin Amr bin Haris bin Gaiman bin Kutail bin Amr bin Haris al Asbahi, lahir di Madinah pada tahun 712 M dan wafat tahun 796 M. Berasal dari keluarga Arab terhormat, berstatus sosial tinggi, baik sebelum maupun sesudah datangnya Islam. Tanah asal leluhurnya adalah Yaman, namun setelah nenek moyangnya menganut Islam, mereka pindah ke Madinah. Kakeknya, Abu Amir, adalah anggota keluarga pertama yang memeluk agama Islam pada tahun 2 H. Saat itu, Madinah adalah kota ilmu yang sangat terkenal.

Kakek dan ayahnya termasuk kelompok ulama hadits terpandang di Madinah. Karenanya, sejak kecil Imam Malik tak berniat meninggalkan Madinah untuk mencari ilmu. Ia merasa Madinah adalah kota dengan sumber ilmu yang berlimpah lewat kehadiran ulama-ulama besarnya.

Kendati demikian, dalam mencari ilmu Imam Malik rela mengorbankan apa saja. Menurut satu riwayat, sang imam sampai harus menjual tiang rumahnya hanya untuk membayar biaya pendidikannya. Menurutnya, tak layak seorang yang mencapai derajat intelektual tertinggi sebelum berhasil mengatasi kemiskinan. Kemiskinan, katanya, adalah ujian hakiki seorang manusia.

Karena keluarganya ulama ahli hadits, maka Imam Malik pun menekuni pelajaran hadits kepada ayah dan paman-pamannya. Kendati demikian, ia pernah berguru pada ulama-ulama terkenal seperti Nafi' bin Abi Nuaim, Ibnu Syihab az Zuhri, Abul Zinad, Hasyim bin Urwa, Yahya bin Said al Anshari, dan Muhammad bin Munkadir. Gurunya yang lain adalah Abdurrahman bin Hurmuz, tabi'in ahli hadits, fikih, fatwa dan ilmu berdebat; juga Imam Jafar Shadiq dan Rabi Rayi.

Dalam usia muda, Imam Malik telah menguasai banyak ilmu. Kecintaannya kepada ilmu menjadikan hampir seluruh hidupnya diabdikan dalam dunia pendidikan. Tidak kurang empat khalifah, mulai dari Al Mansur, Al Mahdi, Hadi Harun, dan Al Ma'mun, pernah jadi murid Imam Malik. Ulama besar, Imam Abu Hanifah dan Imam Syafi'i pun pernah menimba ilmu dari Imam Malik. Belum lagi ilmuwan dan para ahli lainnya. Menurut sebuah riwayat disebutkan murid terkenal Imam Malik mencapai 1.300 orang.

Ciri pengajaran Imam Malik adalah disiplin, ketentraman, dan rasa hormat murid kepada gurunya. Prinsip ini dijunjung tinggi olehnya sehingga tak segan-segan ia menegur keras murid-muridnya yang melanggar prinsip tersebut. Pernah suatu kali Khalifah Mansur membahas sebuah hadits dengan nada agak keras. Sang imam marah dan berkata, ''Jangan melengking bila sedang membahas hadits Nabi.''

Ketegasan sikap Imam Malik bukan sekali saja. Berulangkali, manakala dihadapkan pada keinginan penguasa yang tak sejalan dengan aqidah Islamiyah, Imam Malik menentang tanpa takut risiko yang dihadapinya. Salah satunya dengan Ja'far, gubernur Madinah. Suatu ketika, gubernur yang masih keponakan Khalifah Abbasiyah, Al Mansur, meminta seluruh penduduk Madinah melakukan bai'at (janji setia) kepada khalifah. Namun, Imam Malik yang saat itu baru berusia 25 tahun merasa tak mungkin penduduk Madinah melakukan bai'at kepada khalifah yang mereka tak sukai.

Ia pun mengingatkan gubernur tentang tak berlakunya bai'at tanpa keikhlasan seperti tidak sahnya perceraian paksa. Ja'far meminta Imam Malik tak menyebarluaskan pandangannya tersebut, tapi ditolaknya. Gubernur Ja'far merasa terhina sekali. Ia pun memerintahkan pengawalnya menghukum dera Imam Malik sebanyak 70 kali. Dalam kondisi berlumuran darah, sang imam diarak keliling Madinah dengan untanya. Dengan hal itu, Ja'far seakan mengingatkan orang banyak, ulama yang mereka hormati tak dapat menghalangi kehendak sang penguasa.

Namun, ternyata Khalifah Mansur tidak berkenan dengan kelakuan keponakannya itu. Mendengar kabar penyiksaan itu, khalifah segera mengirim utusan untuk menghukum keponakannya dan memerintahkan untuk meminta maaf kepada sang imam. Untuk menebus kesalahan itu, khalifah meminta Imam Malik bermukim di ibukota Baghdad dan menjadi salah seorang penasihatnya. Khalifah mengirimkan uang 3.000 dinar untuk keperluan perjalanan sang imam. Namun, undangan itu pun ditolaknya. Imam Malik lebih suka tidak meninggalkan kota Madinah. Hingga akhir hayatnya, ia tak pernah pergi keluar Madinah kecuali untuk berhaji.

Pengendalian diri dan kesabaran Imam Malik membuat ia ternama di seantero dunia Islam. Pernah semua orang panik lari ketika segerombolan Kharijis bersenjatakan pedang memasuki masjid Kuffah. Tetapi, Imam Malik yang sedang shalat tanpa cemas tidak beranjak dari tempatnya. Mencium tangan khalifah apabila menghadap di baliurang sudah menjadi adat kebiasaan, namun Imam Malik tidak pernah tunduk pada penghinaan seperti itu. Sebaliknya, ia sangat hormat pada para cendekiawan, sehingga pernah ia menawarkan tempat duduknya sendiri kepada Imam Abu Hanifah yang mengunjunginya.

Dari Al Muwatta' Hingga Madzhab Maliki

Al Muwatta' adalah kitab fikih berdasarkan himpunan hadits-hadits pilihan. Santri mana yang tak kenal kitab yang satu ini. Ia menjadi rujukan penting, khususnya di kalangan pesantren dan ulama kontemporer. Karya terbesar Imam Malik ini dinilai memiliki banyak keistimewaan. Ia disusun berdasarkan klasifikasi fikih dengan memperinci kaidah fikih yang diambil dari hadits dan fatwa sahabat.

Menurut beberapa riwayat, sesungguhnya Al Muwatta' tak akan lahir bila Imam Malik tidak 'dipaksa' Khalifah Mansur. Setelah penolakan untuk ke Baghdad, Khalifah Al Mansur meminta Imam Malik mengumpulkan hadits dan membukukannya. Awalnya, Imam Malik enggan melakukan itu. Namun, karena dipandang tak ada salahnya melakukan hal tersebut, akhirnya lahirlah Al Muwatta'. Ditulis di masa Al Mansur (754-775 M) dan baru selesai di masa Al Mahdi (775-785 M).

Dunia Islam mengakui Al Muwatta' sebagai karya pilihan yang tak ada duanya. Menurut Syah Walilullah, kitab ini merupakan himpunan hadits paling shahih dan terpilih. Imam Malik memang menekankan betul terujinya para perawi. Semula, kitab ini memuat 10 ribu hadits. Namun, lewat penelitian ulang, Imam Malik hanya memasukkan 1.720 hadits. Kitab ini telah diterjemahkan ke dalam beberapa bahasa dengan 16 edisi yang berlainan. Selain Al Muwatta', Imam Malik juga menyusun kitab Al Mudawwanah al Kubra, yang berisi fatwa-fatwa dan jawaban Imam Malik atas berbagai persoalan.

Imam Malik tak hanya meninggalkan warisan buku. Ia juga mewariskan mazhab fikih di kalangan Islam Sunni, yang disebut sebagai Mazhab Maliki. Selain fatwa-fatwa Imam Malik dan Al Muwatta', kitab-kitab seperti Al Mudawwanah al Kubra, Bidayatul Mujtahid wa Nihaayatul Muqtashid (karya Ibnu Rusyd), Matan ar Risalah fi al Fiqh al Maliki (karya Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Zaid), Asl al Madarik Syarh Irsyad al Masalik fi Fiqh al Imam Malik (karya Shihabuddin al Baghdadi), dan Bulgah as Salik li Aqrab al Masalik (karya Syeikh Ahmad as Sawi), menjadi rujukan utama mazhab Maliki.

Di samping sangat konsisten memegang teguh hadits, mazhab ini juga dikenal amat mengedepankan aspek kemaslahatan dalam menetapkan hukum. Secara berurutan, sumber hukum yang dikembangkan dalam Mazhab Maliki adalah Al-Qur'an, Sunnah Rasulullah SAW, amalan sahabat, tradisi masyarakat Madinah (amal ahli al Madinah), qiyas (analogi), dan al maslahah al mursalah (kemaslahatan yang tidak didukung atau dilarang oleh dalil tertentu).

Mazhab Maliki pernah menjadi mazhab resmi di Mekah, Madinah, Irak, Mesir, Aljazair, Tunisia, Andalusia (kini Spanyol), Marokko, dan Sudan. Kecuali di tiga negara yang disebut terakhir, jumlah pengikut mazhab Maliki kini menyusut. Mayoritas penduduk Mekah dan Madinah saat ini mengikuti Mazhab Hanbali. Di Iran dan Mesir, jumlah pengikut Mazhab Maliki juga tidak banyak. Hanya Marokko saat ini satu-satunya negara yang secara resmi menganut Mazhab Maliki.

Words of Wisdom :
The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((All of the children of Aadam make mistakes, and the best of them are those who repent)).

Musnad of Imaam Ahmad - Volume 3, Page 198; At-Tirmidhee - The Book of the description of the Day of Judgement, Volume 4, Page 569, Number 2499;
Ibn Maajah - The Book of Abstention, Chapter - The mention of repentance;
ad-Daarimee - The Book of ar-Riqaaq, Chapter - Repentance;
Sharhus-Sunnah of al-Baghawee - Volume 5, Page 92;
al-Hilyah of Abu Naeem - Volume 6, Page 332; Kashful-Khafaa of al-Ajloonee. - Volume 2, Page 120;
al-Mustadrak of al-Haakim - Volume 4, Page 273, where it mentions: This hadeeth has a sound chain of narrators and they (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) have not transmitted it;

Sharhus-Sunnah of al-Baghawee - Volume 2, Page 120 where it mentions: Its chain of narrators is strong.

Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab - A renowned Reviver and a great Reformer

2009-01-22T16:25:00.005+07:00

Sheikh-ul-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab
A renowned Reviver and a great Reformer

His Birth and Lineage

Sheikh-ul-Islam, Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, was born in 1115 H. in the city of Uyainah,seventy kilometers northwest of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He belonged to a highly respectable and scholarly family; his father Sheikh Abdul-Wahhab bin Sulaiman, characterized by his profound scholarship and righteousness, inherited an exalted status from his ancestor Sheikh Sulaiman bin Ali, the chief of the scholars and well versed in teaching, writing and giving verdict.

Education
Sheikh-ul-Islam acquired his primary education from his esteemed father at his native place and was nurtured under his guidance. He was intelligent enough to memorize the Qur'an by heart at the very tender age of ten only. He read the books on Tafseer (exegesis),Hadith and Fiqh. From the very outset, he was greatly interested in studying the works of early scholars, particularly those of Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyah and his noble disciple Allamah Ibn Qaiyim. He went through all those books and well grasped the contents.

On attaining the age of maturity, he set out to perform Hajj at Makkah and derived benefits from the scholars there. He then proceeded to Al-Madinah, met the learned ones there, and adopted the studentship of two renowned erudite, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim bin Sa'id Najdi and Sheikh Muhammad Hayat Sindhi for a long period. Out of the curiosity for higher education, he took also the journey to Iraq and Basrah and got himself benefited there.

Condition of Najd
In those days, the people of Najd were badly indulged in polytheistic deeds and un-Islamic practices. They were completely overwhelmed with polytheism. The graves, trees, stones, caves, evil spirits and insane persons were regarded as deities. The baseless stories and tales were ascribed to them to manifest their excellence. The worldly Ulama too had misguided them for the fulfillment of their materialistic lust. The soothsayers and magicians were having their influence over the society.

None could dare challenge their holds on the commoners. Same condition was prevailing in both Makkah and Al-Madinah also. Yemen was also in the same line. Polytheism, erection of structures on the graves, seeking refuge and assistance of the dead, saints and jinns were the common religious features.

Mission of Da'wah
Having studied this pitiable condition of the nation, Sheikh was highly moved. More pitiable was the situation that no one was ready to take trouble to guide the people to the Right Path. It is obvious that to take this task meant to challenge those evildoers who had) their provisions through these practices. It meant to make oneself prepared to face every torture and atrocities from these selfish misguiders and their followers. But Sheikh resolved to make every effort to fight against the circumstances up to the extent of Jihad.

Sheikh started his mission. He invited the people to the Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism) and guided them to the Qur'an and Sunnah. He urged upon Ulama to strictly follow the Qur'an and Sunnah and derive the issues directly from them. He forcibly contradicted the blind following of any scholar of the Ummah in preference to the Qur'an and Hadith.

Sheikh was a man of courage and enthusiasm. He started his preaching, made correspondence with religious scholars inviting them to lend helping hands in eradication of the prevailing absurdities and defilements in religious matters.
A number of scholars from Makkah, Al-Madinah and Yemen accepted his invitation, and
supported him. But apart from them, there were also such ignorant and selfish scholars who criticized him and kept themselves aloof. The so-called learned ones rose against Sheikh as they were being affected by his Da’wah in terms of their worldly gains. Even then he took journey to different places to convey his message
to the people given to error. Traveling through Zabir, Ahsa, Huraimala, he reached Uyainah.

Arrival at Uyainah
That was the period when the ruler of Uyainah was Uthman bin Hamd bin Ma'mar. He
welcomed Sheikh gladly, and assured him every help in his mission of Islamic
Da'wah. Sheikh devoted himself to this great work of reformation for the sake of Allah. He gained the popularity far and wide. People started resorting to him in large numbers. He became engaged in their guidance and teachings.

Sheikh, however, continued his struggle to free the environment from all the defilements and pollutions. There were numerous tombs, graves, caves, trees..etc, which were worshipped by the Muslims. With the help of Amir Uthman bin Ma'mar, most of them were extirpated by Sheikh. He became engaged in purifying the people from polytheistic and heretic rituals in Uyainah and its surroundings.

In the mean time, a woman came to him for her purification from the sin of committing adultery. Investigations- were made as to whether she was mentally sound or not and also that whether she had chose for the punishment under some pressure or voluntarily. When it was confirmed that she was doing that voluntarily out of repentance, Sheikh ordered for the Rajm (to kill by throwing stones-punishment for adultery). Owing to these events dismantling of tombs, self-surrendering of the woman for punishment and migration of the people to Uyainah to seek guidance from the Sheikh-the reputation of Sheikh spread far and wide.

Exit from Uyainah and Entrance to Dar'iyah
When the ruler of Al-Ahsa and its surroundings, Sulaiman bin Urai'ar came to know about the popularity of Sheikh among the people, he became afraid of the growing strength of the Sheikh and resolved to crush him at the very outset, lest he should overthrow him from his power. So he threatened Amir Uthman, with whom Sheikh was living, and asked him to kill the Sheikh. Amir Uthman was not in a position to withstand Sulaiman, hence he became panicky. Apprehending that if he disobeyed his order, he would punish him and overpower him, he made Sheikh acquainted with the whole situation and submitted him to migrate to any other place. And Sheikh migrated from Uyainah to Dar'iyah.

The people of Dar'iyah knew the Sheikh very well and they were also aware of his mission. When the ruler of Dar'iyah Amir Muhammad bin Saud came to know about the arrival of the Sheikh in his territory, he was much pleased and visited him at his place. Muhammad bin Saud belonged to a pious family and himself was a practical Muslim. He exchanged his views with Sheikh and was rejoiced to know that his mission aimed to revive Qur'an and Sunnah and the Islamic teachings in its original form; he desired to promote firm belief in the Oneness of Allah and true guidance of Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)

Pledge to propagate the teaching of Islam
Sheikh described before him the accounts of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and his Companions as to how did they strive for the cause of Allah, enduring all the difficulties and making their best efforts with all the sacrifices. Sheikh persuaded the Amir also to the same and assured him of Allah's pleasure in the Hereafter, and His favour and victory in this world. Ibn Saud, being convinced by the Sheikh, agreed with him and promised his full support to him and to his mission, provided when Allah would bless him with victory, he would not leave him. Sheikh also gave his words to this effect, and thus Ibn Saud gave Sheikh his pledge to propagate the teachings of Islam (esp. Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah), mobilize Muslims for Jihad (fighting for the cause of Allah), emphasize adherence to the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) , enjoin the good deeds and forbid the evils. Sheikh invoked Allah to be his Guide and bless him to be firm in his determination, and to give him every success in this life and the Hereafter.

Dar'iyah, the Centre of Da'wah
At this time Sheikh found himself in a peaceful environment, most suitable for his work of Da'wah. He seized the golden opportunity and started to educate the masses. People of Dar'iyah and its surroundings resorted to him for the lessons in Islam. Amir Muhammad bin Saud presented himself before the Sheikh as one of his students of Islam along with the me mbers of his family. Dar'iyah was crowded with the people visiting for learning. Sheikh started teaching, preaching and inviting people to Allah. He undertook the task of delivering lectures on different branches of knowledge namely, Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism), exposition of Qur'an and Sunnah,
knowledge of Fiqh and (May Allah be pleased with him) language etc.

Thus Dar'iyah turned into a centre of learning and Da'wah, and people started migrating to it in a large number.

The concourse of people and far-reaching effect of his mission made him far-famed which rendered his enemies into jealous. They started false propaganda against the Sheikh and even blamed him of blasphemy, and branded him a Zindiq and sorcerer. Sheikh was a man of courage. He did not care for these blames and continued his mission with full enthusiasm. He even debated his opponents in the best manner and in a polite way. This attitude proved very effective and rendered his opponents to be his supporters.

Sheikh, along with his work of Da'wah, planned for Jihad against overwhelming polytheism and heretic ideas and practices, and invited people of all ranks to join in this mission. Delegates from every comer of the Arab Peninsula visited Dar'iyah to pledge their support to Sheikh and to take lesson of true monotheism of Islam. Then they would return back to their areas to teach the same to their people and educate them.

The ruler of Uyainah and the elites took journey to pay visit and requested him to turn back to Uyainah. But Sheikh rejected the proposal. They also pledged to fight for the cause of Islam till their last. Sheikh also sent his disciples to the different regions and countries to preach the teachings of Islam based only on Qur'an and authentic Ahadith of the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)

Correspondence with Rulers
Sheikh drew the attention of the rulers and the scholars of each region towards the polytheism and heresy in which the people were indulged, and invited them for their eradication. For the purpose, he stepped into correspondence. He wrote letters to the rulers, elites and scholars of Najd, Riyadh, Kharj, towns of the southern region, Qaseem, Hayel, Washm, Sudair etc. He also wrote to the outstanding Ulama
of Ahsa, Makkah and Al-Madinah. Outside the Arab Peninsula, he made correspondence to the learned figures of Syria, Iraq, India, and Yemen as well. He maintained his
communication with them, explained them the aims and objects of his mission, substantiated the points with Qur'an and Sunnah and invited their attention towards the eradication of absurd and heretical beliefs and practices in the masses.

Sheikh's mission spread far and wide. A large number of scholars and other people throughout India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, etc. got influenced and attracted towards his Da'wah. They also stood up in their own regions, with a great zeal and enthusiasm, to invite the people towards Allah and to the pure and basic teachings of Qur'an and Sunnah, free from all heresies and misinterpretations.

Death
Sheikh dedicated his whole life for this Da'wah and Jihad with his utmost sincerity and with the help of Muhammad bin Saud and his son Abdul-Aziz, the rulers of Dar'iyah. He breathed his last on the last day of the month of Dhul-Q'adah in 1206 H (1792 A.C).

Impact of Da'wah
As a result of the continued Da'wah, vigorous struggle and Jihad in the way of Allah for a long period of about fifty years from 1158 H to 1206 H. A complete victory over the entire Najd was gained. People abandoned worshipping graves, tombs, shrines, trees etc. and all the more they deserted all of them and practiced the pure faith of Islam. Blind following of the forefathers, ancestors and traditions in vogue was abandoned; and Shari 'ah was revived and established. Obligatory duties were being observed in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah.

A framework for enjoining good deeds and forbidding bad ones was instituted. Mosques began to be visited by people in abundance for performing Salat.

Peace and tranquility prevailed everywhere, in towns as well as in villages. People became safe even in deserts and on lonely ways. The ignorant and notorious bedouins moulded their conduct. The preachers and preceptors were sent to every comer to teach and educate the common people.

Thus a thorough revival of the complete religion came into existence. After the expiry of Sheikh, his sons, grandsons, disciples and supporters continued the work of
Da'wah and Jihad in the way of Allah. Among his sons, the most ardent in these activities were: Sheikh Imam Abdullah bin Muhammad, Sheikh Husain bin Muhammad, Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad and Sheikh Ibrahim bin Muhammad; and among his grandsons were: Sheikh Abdur-Rahman bin Hasan, Sheikh Ali bin Husain, Sheikh Sulaiman bin Abdullah. Apart from them, a large group of his disciples including Sheikh Hamd bin Nasir, scholars from Dar'iyah and others remained continuously engaged in inviting people towards Allah's true religion by writing and publishing books, fighting for the cause of Allah and making correspondence in this regard.

Some of his works
Despite the fact that Sheikh-ul-lslam Muhammad bin AbdulWahhab was a reformer and a man of Da 'wah, he still engaged in writing also. His some famous works are as follows:
1. Kitab At-Tawhid
2. Kitab AI-Kabaair
3. Kashf Ash-Shubhat
4. Mukhtasar Seerat Ar-Rasool
5. Masail Al-Jahiliyah
6. Usool Al-Iman
7. Fadail Al-Qur'an
8. Fadail Al-Islam
9. Majmu' Al-Ahadith
10. Mukhtasar Al-Insaf wa Ash-Sharh Al-Kabeer
11. Al-Usool Ath- Thalatha
12. Aadab Al-Mashi ila As-Salat
And others.

TAUHID : Islamic Monotheism

2009-01-21T22:39:00.003+07:00

By :
Dr. M. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali, Ph.D.
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
Islamic University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara

Tauhîd (Islamic Monotheism) has three aspects:

(A) Oneness of the Lordship of Allah; Tauhîd-ar-Rubûbiya: To believe that there is only one Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, and the Giver of security, etc., and that is Allah.

(B) Oneness of the worship of Allah; Tauhîd-al-Ulûhiya: To believe that none has the right to be worshipped [e.g. praying, invoking, asking for help (from the unseen), swearing, slaughtering sacrifices, giving charity, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.] but Allah.

(C) Oneness of the Names and the Qualities of Allah: Tauhîd-al-Asmâ was-Sifât: To believe that:

(i) We must not name or qualify Allah except with what He or His Messenger SAW has named or qualified Him;
(ii) None can be named or qualified with the Names or Qualifications of Allah; e.g. Al-Karîm;

(iii) We must confirm all of Allah's Qualifications which Allah has stated in His Book (the Qur'ân) or mentioned through His Messenger (Muhammad SAW ) without changing them or ignoring them completely or twisting the meanings or giving resemblance to any of the created things [e.g. Allah is present over His Throne as mentioned in the Qur'ân (V. 20:5):-

"The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne," over the seventh heaven; and He only comes down over the first (nearest) heaven to us on the day of 'Arafât (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijja), and also during the last third part of the night as mentioned by the Prophet SAW , but He is with us by His Knowledge only, not by His Personal-Self (Bi-Dhâtihi).

Also Allah said:
"There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer" (V.42:11).
This holy Verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight for Allah without resemblance to others, and likewise He SWT also said:
"To one whom I have created with Both My Hands," (V.38:75);

and He also said:
"The Hand of Allah is over their hands." (V.48:10).
This confirms two Hands for Allah, but there is no similarity for them. This is the Faith of all true believers, and was the Faith of all the Prophets of Allah, from Nûh (Noah), Ibrâhim (Abraham), Mûsa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Christ) till the last of the Prophets, Muhammad SAW. [It is not like as some people think that Allah is present everywhere - here, there and even inside the breasts of men].

These three aspects of Tauhîd are included in the meaning of Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).

It is also essential to follow Allah's Messenger, Muhammad SAW : Wajûb al-Ittebâ' and it is a part of Tauhîd-al-Ulûhiya.

This is included in the meaning, "I testify that Muhammad SAW is Allah's Messenger," and this means, "None has the right to be followed after Allah's Book (the Qur'ân), but Allah's Messenger SAW".

Allah said:
"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW ) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)." (V.59:7)

And also Allah said:
"Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind), 'If you (really) love Allah then follow me [i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah (legal ways of the Prophet SAW)], Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins.' " (V.3:31)

Hukum Shalat

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Shalat hukumnya fardhu bagi setiap orang yang beriman, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala telah memerintahkan kita untuk mendirikan shalat, sebagai-mana disebutkan dalam beberapa ayat Al-Qur'anul Karim. Di antaranya adalah firman Allah Ta'ala:

"Maka dirikanlah shalat itu, sesungguhnya shalat itu adalah kewajiban yang ditentukan waktunya atas orang-orang yang beriman." (An-Nisa': 103)
"Peliharalah segala shalat(mu) dan (peliharalah) shalat wusthaa (shalat Ashar)." (Al-Baqarah: 238)

Dan Rasulullah SAW. menempatkannya sebagai rukun yang kedua di antara rukun-rukun Islam yang lima, seba-gaimana sabdanya yang berbunyi:

"Islam itu dibangun berdasarkan rukun yang lima; yaitu: Bersaksi bahwa tidak ada sesembahan yang haq selain Allah dan Nabi Muhammad itu utusanNya, mendirikan shalat, membayar zakat, melaksanakan ibadah haji ke Baitullah dan berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

Oleh karena itulah, maka orang yang meninggalkan shalat itu hukumnya kafir dan dilaksanakan hukum bunuh terhadapnya, sedangkan orang yang melalaikan shalat dihukumi sebagai orang fasik.

Keutamaan Shalat

Shalat adalah ibadah yang utama dan berpahala sangat besar. Banyak hadits-hadits yang menerangkan hal itu, akan tetapi dalam kesempatan ini kita cukup menyebutkan beberapa di antaranya sebagai berikut:

1. Ketika Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam ditanya tentang amal yang paling utama, beliau menjawab:

"Shalat pada waktunya". (Muttafaq 'alaih)
2. Sabda Rasulullahshallallaahu alaihi wasallam :

"Bagaimana pendapat kamu sekalian, seandainya di depan pintu masuk rumah salah seorang di antara kamu ada sebuah sungai, kemudian ia mandi di sungai itu lima kali dalam sehari, apakah masih ada kotoran yang melekat di badannya?" Para sahabat menjawab: "Tidak akan tersisa sedikit pun kotoran di badannya." Bersabda Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam: "Maka begitu pulalah perumpamaan shalat lima kali sehari semalam, dengan shalat itu Allah akan menghapus semua dosa." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

3. Sabda Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam :

"Tidak ada seorang muslim pun yang ketika shalat fardhu telah tiba kemudian dia berwudhu' dengan baik dan memperbagus kekhusyu'annya (dalam shalat) serta ru-ku'nya, terkecuali hal itu merupakan penghapus dosanya yang telah lalu selama dia tidak melakukan dosa besar, dan hal itu berlaku sepanjang tahun itu." (HR. Muslim)

4. Sabda Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam:

"Pokok segala perkara itu adalah Al-Islam dan tonggak Islam itu adalah shalat, dan puncak Islam itu adalah jihad di jalan Allah." (HR. Ahmad, At-Tirmidzi dan lainnya, hadits shahih)

Peringatan Bagi Orang Yang Meninggalkan Shalat

Ada beberapa ayat Al-Qur'an dan hadits-hadits Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam yang merupakan peringatan bagi orang yang meninggal-kan shalat dan mengakhirkannya dari waktu yang semes-tinya, di antaranya:

1. Firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:

"Maka datanglah sesudah mereka, pengganti (yang buruk) yang menyia-nyiakan shalat dan memperturut-kan hawa nafsunya, maka mereka kelak akan menemui kerugian." (Maryam: 59)

2. Firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:

"Celakalah bagi orang-orang yang shalat, yaitu orang-orang yang lalai dalam shalatnya." (Al-Ma'un: 4-5)

3. Sabda Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam:

"(Yang menghilangkan pembatas) antara seorang muslim dengan kemusyrikan dan kekufuran adalah meninggalkan shalat." (HR. Muslim)

4. Sabda Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam:

"Perjanjian antara kita dengan mereka (orang munafik) adalah shalat, barangsiapa meninggalkannya maka sesungguhnya ia telah kafir." (HR. Ahmad, At-Tirmidzi dan An-Nasai, hadits shahih)

5. Pada suatu hari, Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam berbicara tentang shalat, sabda beliau:

"Barangsiapa menjaga shalatnya maka shalat tersebut akan menjadi cahaya, bukti dan keselamatan baginya pada hari Kiamat nanti. Dan barangsiapa tidak men-jaga shalatnya, maka dia tidak akan memiliki cahaya, tidak pula bukti serta tidak akan selamat. Kemudian pada hari Kiamat nanti dia akan (dikumpulkan) ber-sama-sama dengan Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman dan Ubay Ibnu Khalaf." (HR. Ahmad, At-Thabrani dan Ibnu Hibban, hadits shahih)

Words of Wisdom :

Ibraaheem ibn Maysarah (rahima-hullaah) mentions:

((Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islaam)).

al-Laalikaa'ee - Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah (1/139)

Sujud Sahwi

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Sujud sahwi ialah sujud yang dilakukan orang yang shalat sebanyak dua kali untuk menutup kekurangan yang terjadi dalam pelaksanaan shalat yang disebabkan lupa.

Sebab-sebab sujud sahwi ada tiga; Karena kelebihan, karena kurang, dan karena ragu-ragu. Keterangannya sebagai berikut:

a. Sujud Sahwi Karena Kelebihan

Barangsiapa kelupaan dalam shalatnya kemudian dia menambah ruku', atau sujud, maka dia harus sujud dua kali sesudah menyelesaikan shalatnya dan salamnya. Hal ini berdasarkan hadits berikut:

"Dari Ibnu Mas'ud radhiallaahu anhu, bahwa Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam shalat Dhuhur lima rakaat, kemudian beliau ditanya, 'Apakah shalat Dhuhur ditambah rakaatnya?', beliau balik bertanya, 'Apa itu?' Para sahabat menjelaskan, 'Anda shalat lima rakaat.' Kemudian beliau pun sujud dua kali setelah salam. Dalam riwayat lain disebutkan, beliau melipat kedua kakinya dan menghadap kiblat kemudian sujud dua kali, kemudian salam." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

Salam sebelum shalat selesai berarti termasuk kele-bihan dalam shalat, sebab ia telah menambah salam di pertengahan pelaksanaan shalat. Barangsiapa mengalami hal itu dalam keadaan lupa, lalu dia ingat beberapa saat setelahnya, maka dia harus menyempurnakan shalatnya kemudian salam, setelah itu dia sujud sahwi, kemudian salam lagi. Dalilnya adalah hadits Abu Hurairah radhiallaahu anhu:

"Dari Abu Hurairah radhiallaahu anhu, bahwasanya Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam shalat Dhuhur atau Ashar bersama para sahabat. Beliau salam setelah shalat dua rakaat, kemudian orang-orang yang bergegas keluar dari pintu masjid berkata, 'Shalat telah diqashar (dikurangi)?' Nabi pun berdiri untuk bersandar pada sebuah kayu, sepertinya beliau marah. Kemudian berdirilah seorang laki-laki dan bertanya kepadanya, 'Wahai Rasulullah, apakah Anda lupa atau memang shalat telah diqashar?.' Nabi berkata, 'Aku tidak lupa dan shalat pun tidak diqashar.' Laki-laki itu kembali berkata, 'Kalau begitu Anda memang lupa wahai Rasulullah.' Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam bertanya kepada para sahabat, 'Benarkah apa yang dikatakannya?'. Mereka pun menga-takan, 'Benar.' Maka majulah Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam, selanjutnya beliau shalat untuk melengkapi kekurangan tadi, kemudian salam, lalu sujud dua kali, dan salam lagi." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

b. Sujud Sahwi Karena Kekurangan

Barangsiapa kelupaan dalam shalatnya, kemudian ia meninggalkan salah satu sunnah muakkadah (yaitu yang termasuk katagori hal-hal wajib dalam shalat), maka ia harus sujud sahwi sebelum salam, seperti misalnya kelupaan melakukan tasyahhud awal dan dia tidak ingat sama sekali, atau dia ingat setelah berdiri tegak dengan sempurna, maka dia tidak perlu duduk kembali, cukup baginya sujud sahwi sebelum salam. Dalilnya ialah hadits berikut:

"Dari Abdullah bin Buhainah radhiallaahu anhu, bahwa Rasulullah shallallaahu alaihi wasallam shalat Dhuhur bersama mereka, beliau langsung berdiri setelah dua rakaat pertama dan tidak duduk. Para jama'ah pun tetap mengikuti beliau sampai beliau selesai menyempurnakan shalat, orang-orang pun menunggu salam beliau, akan tetapi beliau malah bertakbir padahal beliau dalam keadaan duduk (tasyahhud akhir), kemu-dian beliau sujud dua kali sebelum salam, lalu salam." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

c. Sujud Sahwi Karena Ragu-ragu

Yaitu ragu-ragu antara dua hal, yang mana yang terjadi. Keragu-raguan terdapat dalam dua hal, yaitu antara ke-lebihan atau kurang. Umpamanya seseorang ragu apakah dia sudah shalat tiga rakaat atau empat rakaat.

Keraguan ini ada dua macam:

1. Seseorang lebih cenderung kepada satu hal, baik kelebihan atau kurang, maka dia harus menurutkan mengambil sikap kepada yang lebih ia yakini, kemudian dia melakukan sujud sahwi setelah salam. Dalilnya hadits berikut:

"Dari Abdullah Ibnu Mas'ud radhiallaahu anhu, bahwasanya Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam bersabda, 'Apabila salah seorang dari kamu ada yang ragu-ragu dalam shalatnya, maka hendaklah lebih memilih kepada yang paling mendekati kebenaran, kemudian menyempurnakan shalatnya, lalu melakukan salam, selanjutnya sujud dua kali'." (Muttafaq 'alaih)

2. Ragu-ragu antara dua hal, dan tidak condong pada salah satunya, tidak kepada kelebihan dalam pelaksanaan shalat dan tidak pula pada kekurangan. Maka dia harus mengambil sikap kepada hal yang sudah pasti akan kebe-narannya, yaitu jumlah rakaat yang lebih sedikit. Kemudian menutupi kekurangan tersebut, lalu sujud dua kali sebelum salam, ini berdasarkan hadits berikut:

"Dari Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri radhiallaahu anhu, bahwasanya Nabi shallallaahu alaihi wasallam bersabda, 'Apabila salah seorang di antara kamu ragu-ragu dalam shalatnya, dia tidak tahu berapa rakaat yang sudah ia lakukan, tigakah atau empat? Maka hendaknya ia meninggalkan keraguan itu dan mengambil apa yang ia yakini, kemudian ia sujud dua kali sebelum salam. Jika ia telah shalat lima rakaat, maka hal itu menggenap-kan pelaksanaan shalatnya, dan jika ia shalat sempurna empat rakaat, maka hal itu merupakan penghinaan (pengecewaan) terhadap syaitan'." (HR. Muslim)

Ringkasnya, bahwa sujud sahwi itu adakalanya sebelum salam dan adakalanya sesudah salam.
Adapun sujud sahwi yang dilakukan setelah salam ialah pada dua kondisi:

Apabila karena kelebihan (dalam pelaksanaan shalat).
Apabila karena ragu antara dua kemungkinan, tapi ada kecondongan pada salah satunya.
Sedangkan sujud sahwi yang dilakukan sebelum salam, juga pada dua kondisi:

Apabila dikarenakan kurang (dalam pelaksanaan shalat).
Apabila dikarenakan ragu antara dua kemungkinan dan tidak merasa lebih berat kepada salah satunya.
Hal-hal Penting Berkenaan Dengan Sujud Sahwi

Apabila seseorang meninggalkan salah satu rukun shalat, dan yang tertinggal itu adalah takbiratul ihram, maka shalatnya tidak terhitung, baik hal itu terjadi secara sengaja ataupun karena lupa, karena shalatnya tidak sah. Dan jika yang tertinggal itu selain takbiratul ihram, dan ditinggalkan secara sengaja, maka batallah shalatnya. Jika tertinggal secara tidak sengaja, dan dia sudah berada pada rukun yang ketinggalan tersebut pada rakaat kedua, maka rakaat yang ketinggalan ru-kunnya tadi itu dianggap tidak ada, dan dia ganti dengan rakaat yang berikutnya. Dan jika ia belum sampai pada rakaat kedua, maka ia wajib kembali kepada rukun yang ketinggalan tersebut, kemudian dia kerjakan rukun itu, begitu pula apa-apa yang setelah itu. Pada kedua hal ini, wajib dia melakukan sujud sahwi setelah salam atau sebelumnya

Apabila sujud sahwi dilakukan setelah salam, maka harus pula melakukan salam sekali lagi.

Apabila seseorang yang melakukan shalat meninggal-kan sunnah muakkadah (hal-hal yang wajib dalam shalat) secara sengaja, maka batallah shalatnya. Jika ketinggalan karena lupa, kemudian dia ingat sebelum beranjak dari sunnah muakkadah tersebut, maka hendaklah dia melaksanakannya dan tidak ada konsekwensi apa-apa. Jika ia ingat setelah melewatinya tapi belum sampai kepada rukun berikutnya, maka hendak-lah dia kembali untuk melaksanakan rukun tersebut. Kemudian dia sempurnakan shalatnya serta melakukan salam. Selanjutnya sujud sahwi kemudian salam lagi. Jika ia ingat setelah sampai kepada rukun yang berikut-nya, maka sunnah (muakkadah) itu gugur dan dia tidak perlu kembali kepadanya untuk melakukannya, akan tetapi terus melaksanakan shalatnya kemudian sujud sahwi sebelum salam seperti kami sebutkan di atas pada masalah tasyahhud awal.

Words of Wisdom :

as-Saffaareenee (rahima-hullaah) said:

((And we are not focusing on mentioning the virtues of the people of Hadeeth, for indeed their virtues are well known and their merits are many. So whoever belittles them, then he is despicable and lowly. And whoever hates them, then he is from the backward party of the Devil)).

Lawaa.ihul-Anwaar - Volume 2, Page 355

Tata Cara Shalat Orang Sakit

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1. Orang yang sakit wajib melaksanakan shalat fardhu dengan berdiri, sekali pun bersandar ke dinding atau ke tiang atau dengan tongkat.

2. Jika tidak sanggup shalat berdiri, maka hendaklah ia shalat dengan duduk, dan lebih baik kalau duduk bersila pada waktu di mana semestinya berdiri dan ruku', dan duduk istirasy pada waktu di mana dia sujud.

3. Jika tidak sanggup shalat sambil duduk, boleh shalat sambil berbaring bertumpu pada sisi badan menghadap kiblat. Dan bertumpu pada sisi kanan lebih utama dari sisi kiri. Jika tidak memungkinkan untuk menghadap kiblat boleh menghadap ke mana saja dan tidak perlu mengulangi shalatnya.

4. Jika tidak sanggup shalat berbaring, boleh shalat sambil terlentang dengan menghadapkan kedua kaki ke kiblat. Dan yang lebih utama yaitu dengan mengangkat kepala untuk menghadap kiblat. Dan jika tidak bisa meng-hadapkan kedua kakinya ke kiblat, dibolehkan shalat menghadap ke mana saja.

5. Orang sakit wajib melaksanakan ruku' dan sujud, jika tidak sanggup, cukup dengan membungkukkan badan pada ruku' dan sujud, dan ketika sujud hendaknya lebih rendah dari ruku'. Dan jika sanggup ruku' saja dan tidak sanggup sujud, dia boleh ruku' saja dan menundukkan kepala saat sujud. Demikian pula sebaliknya jika dia sanggup sujud saja dan tidak sanggup ruku', dia boleh sujud saja dan ketika ruku' dia menundukkan kepala.

6. Jika tidak sanggup dengan menundukkan kepala ketika ruku' dan sujud, cukup dengan isyarat mata, dengan memejamkan sedikit ketika ruku' dan dengan meme-jamkan lebih kuat ketika sujud. Adapun isyarat dengan telunjuk seperti yang dilakukan beberapa orang sakit, itu tidak betul dan penulis tidak pernah tahu dalil-dalilnya baik dalil dari Al-Qur'an maupun As-Sunnah, dan tidak pula dari perkataan para ulama.

7. Jika tidak sanggup juga shalat dengan menggerakkan kepala dan isyarat mata, hendaklah ia shalat dengan hatinya, dia berniat ruku', sujud dan berdiri serta du-duk. Masing-masing orang akan diganjar sesuai dengan niatnya.

8. Orang yang sakit wajib melaksanakan semua kewajiban shalat tepat pada waktunya sesuai menurut kemampu-annya sebagaimana kita jelaskan di atas. Tidak boleh sengaja mengakhirkannya dari waktu yang semestinya. Dan jika termasuk orang yang kesulitan berwudhu dia boleh menjamak shalatnya seperti layaknya seorang musafir.

9. Jika dia sulit untuk shalat pada waktunya, boleh menja-mak antara Dhuhur dengan Ashar dan antara Maghrib dengan Isya', baik jama' taqdim maupun jama' ta'khir, sesuai dengan kemampuannya. Kalau dia mau, dia boleh memajukan shalat Asharnya digabung dengan Dhuhur, atau mengakhirkan Dhuhurnya digabung dengan Ashar di waktu Ashar. Jika mau, boleh juga dia memajukan shalat Isya' untuk digabung dengan shalat Maghrib di waktu Maghrib atau sebaliknya. Adapun shalat Subuh, maka tidak boleh di-jama' dengan shalat yang sebelumnya atau sesudahnya, karena waktunya terpisah dari waktu shalat sebelumnya dan shalat se-sudahnya. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala berfirman:

"Dan dirikanlah shalat dari sesudah tergelincirnya mata-hari sampai gelap malam, dan (dirikanlah pula) shalat Subuh. Sesungguhnya shalat Subuh itu disaksikan (oleh malaikat)." (Al-Isra': 78)

Harap Cantumkan, Dicopy dari :

Website “Yayasan Al-Sofwa”
Jl. Raya Lenteng Agung Barat, No.35 Jagakarsa, Jakarta - Selatan (12610)
Telpon: (021)-788363-27 , Fax:(021)-788363-26
www.alsofwah.or.id ; E-mail: info@alsofwah.or.id

Words of Wisdom :

Imaam Abu 'Uthmaan as-Saaboonee (rahima-hullaah) said:

((The signs of the people of innovation are clear and obvious. The most apparent of their signs is their severe enmity for those who carry the reports of the Prophet)).

The 'Aqeedah of the (Pious) Predecessors - Page 101