Alleviating Grievances in Describing the Condition of the Strangers
ALLEVIATING GRIEVANCES
in describing the condition of the
- STRANGERS -
Written by:
Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbalee
Translated by:
isma’eel alarcon
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction to the Book…………………………………………. 5
2. Text of the Book…………………………………………………. 6
3. The Strangeness of the Sunnah and Its Adherents……………….. 12
4. The Strangeness of the Believer during the Last Days…..……. 14
5. Clinging onto the Sunnah during Times of Affliction………….
6. The Hadeeth of Imaam ‘Alee concerning Knowledge…………… 17
7. Categories of the Bearers of Knowledge………………………… 19
8. Characteristics of the People of Knowledge……………………... 21
9. Types of Believers according to their Strangeness……………
10. Types of Strangeness…………………………………………… 25
All praise is for Allaah with much praises and blessings, as our Lord loves and is pleased with and as is
required for attaining the honor of His most Sublime Face.
1
And may the peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon our teacher Muhammad,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, his family and his companions.
Imaam Muslim reported in his
Saheeh
from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah,
radyAllaahu ‘anhu
, that the
Prophet,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, said: “
Islaam began as something strange and it will return to
being strange as it began. So
Toobaa
2
is for the strangers.
”
3
Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Maajah have also reported this hadeeth on the authority of Ibn Mas’ood,
radyAllaahu ‘anhu
, with the addition at the end of it: “
It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, and who are
the strangers?’ He,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, said: ‘The
Nuzaa’
(those who extract themselves)
from their families and close relatives.’”
4
Abu Bakr Al-Aajuree also transmitted it and in his report there occurs:
"It was said: ‘Who are they, O
Messenger of Allaah?’ He,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, said: ‘Those who rectify (themselves/others)
when the people have become corrupt.’”
Others have transmitted it with the following words, in which he,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , said:"They are those who flee from trials (fitan) for the sake of their Religion."
At-Tirmidhee reported it from the hadeeth of Katheer Ibn 'Abdillaah Al-Maznee on the authority of his
1.What is meant here is the attainment of Paradise in which the people who are granted it will be able to see the Face of Allaah, as has been stated in various texts of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.
2 It is said that Toobaa means something good. Allaah mentions this word in Surat-ur-Ra’ad of His Final
Revelation:
“Those who believe and do righteous deeds,
Toobaa is for them and a pleasant destination.”
According to Ibn Katheer’s Tafseer (Abridged 1/281), Ibraaheem An-Nakha’ee (rahimahullaah), the great
Taabi’ee, said it means “good is for them.” Qataadah said: “When a man says Toobaa for you it means you
have attained something good. ‘Ikrimah and Mujaahid said that Toobaa means Paradise. And it is also said
that Toobaa refers to a tree in Paradise which the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, spoke of when he said:
“Verily, there is a tree in Paradise under the shadow of which a rider can travel for a hundred years
without being able to cover (it’s distance) completely.”
[Saheeh Muslim] This is what seems to be indicated
in the above hadeeth, due to another hadeeth reported on the Prophet, in which he said:
“
Toobaa is a tree in Paradise. Its (shade’s) distance (in traveling) is one hundred years. And the garments of the
inhabitants of Paradise will be extracted from its branches.” Imaam Al-Albaanee graded it hasan in his Silsilat-ul-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah (no. 1985).
3 Saheeh Muslim (1/130): See Sharh Saheeh Muslim of Imaam An-Nawawee (2/175-176)
4. Sunan Ibn Maajah (no. 3988), Sunan At-Tirmidhee (5/18) and he said it was authentic, Musnad Ahmad
(5/296). It has also been recorded by Al-Khattaabee in his Ghareeb-ul-Hadeeth (1/175). Shaikh Al-Albaanee declared it weak (da'eef) in his collection Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah (no. 1273)
5 This hadeeth is also reported by Ahmad and At-Tabaraanee and it is saheeh as has been stated by Shaikh
Saleem Al-Hilaalee in his book Toobaa Lil-Ghurabaa (no. 1). However the hadeeth with a different wording
from the hadeeth of 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan Ibn Sanah is weak. See Toobaa Lil-Ghurabaa (no. 10)
father who reported from his grandfather that the Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"Verily, thisReligion began as something strange. And it will go back to being something strange. So Toobaa is
It has also been transmitted by At-Tabaraanee from the hadeeth of Jaabir, radyAllaahu ‘anhumaa, on the for the strangers – those who rectify what the people have corrupted after me of my Sunnah."
Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. And in the hadeeth there occurs:"It was said: 'And who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?' He said: 'They are those who rectify and make corrections when the people have become corrupted."
7. He (At-Tabaraanee) also reported it from the hadeeth of Sahl Ibn Sa'ad,
radyAllaahu ‘anhu, with a similar wording.
8 Imaam Ahmad also transmitted it from the hadeeth of Sa’ad Ibn Abee Waqqaas, radyAllaahu ‘anhumaa
, on the authority of the Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. And it is stated in the hadeeth:
“So Toobaa on that day will be for the strangers – when the people have become corrupt.”
In another narration transmitted by Imaam Ahmad and At-Tabaraanee from the hadeeth of 'Abdullaah
Ibn 'Amr,radyAllaahu ‘anhumaa, the Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Toobaa is for the
strangers.” It was said: “And who are the strangers? He, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A
righteous people surrounded by people abounding in much evil. Those who disobey them are
6This hadeeth was reported by At-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (5/18) and he said it was saheeh. It was also
reported by Ibn 'Adiyy in Al-Kaamil (6/2080), At-Tabaraanee in Al-Kabeer (17/16), Abu Nu'aim in Al-Hilyah(2/10) and Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadee in Al-Jaami' (1/112) as well as others. In his checking to the book Al'Itisaam
of Imaam Ash-Shaatibee (1/22), Shaikh Saleem Al-Hilaalee said concerning At-Tirmidhee's
authentication of this hadeeth: "This is from the hadeeth that he, may Allaah have mercy on him, has
overlooked. For indeed, Katheer (Ibn 'Abdillaah) is very weak. Rather, Ash-Shaafi'ee accused him of being a liar! And he described him with that (lying) as being one of his main supports, as occurs in Manaaqib-ushShaafi'ee of Al-Bayhaqee (1/547-548). This is a criticism (jarh) that reaches the highest level of severity. Thus his hadeeth are to be disregarded completely."Therefore, the hadeeth is da'eef jiddan (very weak) as is stated in Toobaa Lil-Ghurabaa (no. 13) and Da’eef Al-Jaami’-us-Sagheer (no.1441)
7 This hadeeth has been reported by At-Tahaawee in Mushkil-ul-Aathaar (1/298), Al-Laalikaa'ee in Sharh
Usool 'Itiqaad Ahl-is-Sunnah (2/112), and Al-Bayhaqee in Az-Zuhd-ul-Kabeer (200). Al-Haythamee
attributed it to At-Tabaraanee in his book Majma'-uz-Zawaa'id (7/278), saying: "In its chain is 'Abdullaah Ibn
Saalih, the scribe of Laith, and he is weak. However, he has been declared reliable."
8 At-Tabaraanee reported this hadeeth in his Kabeer (6/164) and his Sagheer (1/104). Al-Haythamee said in Majma’-uz-Zawaa'id (7/278): "Its narrators are all of the standards of the Saheeh (collections), except Bakr Ibn Saleem, for he is reliable. Saleem Al-Hilaalee said in his checking of Al-'Itisaam (1/18): "Bakr Ibn Saleem is weak. However, he is used as a support during cases when hadeeth need to be backed up and supported. AlHaafidh (Ibn Hajr) said in At-Taqreeb:'He is acceptable' meaning when a hadeeth needs to be supported. And if this is not the case, then he is layyin."
9 This hadeeth is recorded by Imaam Ahmad, Al-Bazaar and Abu Ya’laa. Al-Haythamee said in Majma’-uz-Zawaa’id (7/277): "Its narrators are the narrators of the standard of the Saheeh (collections)." Saleem AlHilaalee declared it saheeh in his Toobaa Lil-Ghurabaa (no. 11)
more numerous than those who obey them.”
10
And it has been reported on ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr,
radyAllaahu ‘anhumaa
, in
marfoo’
and
mawqoof
form
in this hadeeth, that:
“It was said: ‘Who are the strangers?’ He,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, said: ‘They
are the ones who flee for the sake of their Religion. Allaah, may He be Exalted, will send them
with ‘Eesaa Bin Maryam’”
12
Concerning his,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, statement:
“Islaam began as something strange”
, then it is
referring to the people before his advent, who were upon widespread deviance. This is as the Prophet,
sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, said: “
Indeed Allaah looked at the people of the earth and hated them,
both Arabs and non-Arabs, except for some remnants that were from the People of the Book.
”
So when the Prophet was sent forth and began calling towards Islaam, his call was not answered at first
instance except by a few from each tribe. And those that did accept his call feared from their tribes and
families lest they should be subjected to extreme punishment. And they would suffer while being patient
with that for sake of Allaah.
Due to their weakness, the (first) Muslims would be frightened by every opposing force and they would
flee for the sake of their Religion to far-off lands as was shown when they migrated twice - to the land of
Abysinnia, and then when they migrated to Madeenah. And there was from among them, he who was
tortured for the sake of Allaah and he who was killed.
So those who entered into the fold of Islaam,
back in those days – they were the strangers.
Then Islaam spread after theHijrah to Madeenah and its followers became victorious over every group.
After that, the people entered into the Religion of Allaah in multitudes. And Allaah perfected the
Religion for them and completed His favor upon them. Then the Messenger of Allaah died, and the
Muslims were upon the utmost level due to their firm adherence to their Religion. They were powerful
and dominant. And they continued to be upon this condition during the times of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar
(during theirKhilaafah).Then the Shaytaan (Devil) unleashed his evil plot upon the Muslims and discord fell between them. And
the trials of Doubts (Ash-Shubuhaat) and Desires (Ash-Shahawaat) became widespread. These two evils did not stop increasing at all until the plan of Shaytaan was established and the majority of the
10 Al-Haythamee (rahimahullaah) said in Majma’-uz-Zawaa'id (7/278): "In its chain is Ibn Lahee'ah and there is weakness in him." The hadeeth can be found in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (2/177). It is authentic due to its many paths of narration. Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh Al-Jaami'-us-Sagheer (no. 3291)
11 A marfoo' hadeeth is a statement that has been reported by a companion, yet "raised" to the level of being asaying of the Prophet. A mawqoof hadeeth is a statement that is reported by a companion and "stopped",
meaning it ends up being only his statement, as opposed to being raised to a saying of the Prophet.
12This hadeeth has been narrated by Imaam Ahmad in mawqoof form, and by his son ‘Abdullaah in marfoo’form. It can be found in Az-Zuhd (77149). The hadeeth is da'eef as has been clarified by Shaikh Saleem AlHilaalee in his book Toobaa Lil-Ghurabaa(no.3)
13 Saheeh Muslim (Eng.): vol. 4, no. 6853. What is meant by the remnants of the People of the Book are those who stuck to their religion upon truth without changing it. other. And it will destroy you, just as it destroyed them.”
17 And there occurs in the two Saheeh collections on the authority of 'Uqbah Ibn 'Aamir,radyAllaahu "anhu, a hadeeth from the Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam with a similar meaning. And when the treasures of Kissra (Chosroes) were opened for ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, he began to weep and said:“Indeed this (treasure) did not open upon a people ever, except that Allaah placed discord
between them.”
18 The Prophet used to fear these two evils (of Doubts and Desires) for hisummah as has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad on the authority of Abu Barzah that the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Indeed, I only fear for you the desires of transgression found in your stomachs and your private parts and the calamities ( fitan ) that lead people astray." And in another narration there occurs:"...and the desires (hawaa) that lead people astray."
19 So when a majority of the people fell victim to either or both of these evils, they began to cut off ties with
one another and they began to hate one another. This only came after them having been brothers, loving
and supporting one another. Indeed the evil of
Desires
became something common and accepted
amongst a majority of the creatures. And it tested people by way of the worldly life and its pleasures. So
that became the goal of the people’s striving. They sought after it and became pleased with it. They
became angry due to it and they hated for its sake and loved for its sake. Because of this, they would
sever family relations and spill blood unlawfully. And for this purpose, they committed disobedience to
Allaah.
As for the evil of Doubts and vain desires that lead astray, then it was because of this that the Muslims
divided and became sects, some groups declaring others as disbelievers. Thus, they became enemies,
divided into groups and parties. This only happened after having been brothers. Their hearts were united
upon the heart of one man. So not one of all these sects is saved, except for the one saved sect (AlFirqat-un-Naajiyah).And they are the ones mentioned in the saying of the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
:“There will not cease to be a group from my ummah triumphant upon the truth. Those who
oppose them will not be able to harm them, nor will those who abandon them, until Allaah’s order
comes about (Day of Judgment) and they are in that state.”
They will be the strangers – the ones who have been mentioned in the previous
ahaadeeth– during the Last Days. They are the ones who will correct others when the people have become corrupt. They are those who will rectify what the people have corrupted of the Sunnah. They are the ones who will flee from affliction for the sake of their Religion.
They are the ones who will extract themselves from their close relatives (for Allaah’s sake). This is because they are so few that you will not find any among them in an entire tribe (family), except one or two. In some tribes, you will not find any of them, just as it was when the first people entered into Islaam. This is the way the majority of the scholars have explained this hadeeth.
THE STRANGENESS OF THE SUNNAH AND ITS ADHERENTS
Concerning the statement of the Prophet: “Islaam began as something strange and will return to being strange, as it began”, Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee (rahimahullaah) said: “As for this, then it does not mean that Islaam will go away, but rather it means that the
Ahl-us-Sunnah
will go away, up to the point that there will not remain in a land, any from them except one person.”
Based on this understanding, there can be found in the statements of theSalaf much praise for the
Sunnah and their describing it as being strange, and describing its adherents and followers as being few.
Al-Hasan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah) used to say to his companions: “Oh Ahl-us-Sunnah! Be gentle with
one another and may Allaah have mercy on you. For indeed, you are from amongst the fewest of
people.”
22 Yoonus Ibn ‘Ubayd (rahimahullaah) said: “There is not a thing more stranger than the Sunnah. And what
is more stranger than it, is the one who knows it.” Sufyaan Ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah) said: “Treat the
Ahl-us-Sunnah kindly, for verily, they are strangers.”
23 The understanding of the term “Sunnah” to these scholars, was the way of the Prophet – that which he
and his companions were upon – free from Doubts (Ash-Shubuhaat) and Desires (Ash-Shahawaat). Due to this, Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaad (rahimahullaah) used to say: “Ahl-us-Sunnah is he who knows what is entering his stomach from the halaal.”That is because the consumption of halaal is from the greatest aspects of the Sunnah, which the Prophet and his companions were upon.
Then it remained the custom of the majority of the later scholars, from the scholars of hadeeth and other
fields, that the Sunnah consisted of what was free from Doubts in regards to Creed. This was especially the case with issues such as the belief in Allaah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day,
and other issues such as Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-Ordainment) and the merits of the Sahaabah. They
21 What is meant by the term Ahl-us-Sunnah are all the Muslims who strictly follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. They learn it, act upon it, enforce it and teach it to others. They consist of the scholars, their students and those that follow in their footsteps.
22This report was recorded by Al-Laalikaa'ee. Badr Al-Badr indicated its weakness in his notes to Kashf-ulKurbah.However,a similar narration to this one has been recorded by Ad-Daarimee (1/72) and its wording is:"For verily,Ahl-us-Sunnah are the least of people in number who have preceded, and they are the least of people in number who remain." This narration is authentic. See Dr. Nasr Al-'Aql's book Mafhoom Ahl-isSunnati
23 This narration was recorded by Al-Laalikaa'ee in his Sharh Usool 'Itiqaad Ahl-is-Sunnah (1/64) and it was mentioned from him by Ibn Al-Jawzee in Talbees Iblees. Dr. Nasr Al-'Aql mentioned it in his book Mafhoom Ahl-is-Sunnati wal-Jamaa'ah (pg. 85)
compiled literary works concerning this knowledge and named them books of “Sunnah”. This
knowledge was only labeled with the name “Sunnah”, because its significance was tremendous and all
those who opposed it were on the brink of destruction.
And as for the complete Sunnah, then it is the path that is free and safe from
Doubts and Desires, as has been stated by Al-Hasan, Yoonus Ibn ‘Ubayd, Sufyaan, Al-Fudayl and others besides them. Due to this,its adherents are described as strange because of their small number and rarity in the Last Days.This is why it has been mentioned in some of the previously stated reports that they are:
"A righteous people surrounded by people abounding in much evil. Those who disobey them are greater in
number than those who obey them."
24 In this is an indication of the smallness of their amount in number and in the amount of those who answer
and accept their call. We also are made aware of the greatness in number of those who oppose them and
disobey them.That is why it is reported in numerousahaadeeth, praise for the one who sticks firmly to his Religionduring the Last Days. And that he who does so will be like one who holds tightly onto hot pieces of coal. And that the one who acts upon it, will receive fifty times the reward more than those before him. This is because he will not find any supporters in doing good deeds.
These strangers are of two categories: The first of them are those who rectify themselves when the people
have become corrupt. The second category contains those who rectify what the people have corrupted of
the Sunnah. And this (latter one) is the most highest and virtuous of the two categories.
THE STRANGENESS OF THE BELIEVER DURING THE LAST DAYS
At-Tabaraanee and others transmitted with a chain of narration that has some speculation to it, from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah,radyAllaahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet said: “Verily, for every matter there is a progression and a regression. And verily from the progression of this Religion is what you used to be upon from blindness and ignorance and what Allaah sent me with. And verily from the progression of this Religion is that the clan was taught (Islaam) by its family members, to the point that there was not found amongst them (the tribes) anyone except for one evildoer or two evildoers. So these two were oppressed and degraded. When they want to speak, they are restrained, subdued and persecuted. And verily from the regression of this Religion is that the tribe acts harshly against its family members, to the point that there is not seen
amongst them anyone except one faqeeh (one with understanding) or two faqeehs. Thus they will both be oppressed and degraded. If they speak and command the good and forbid the evil, they are restrained, subdued and persecuted. And they will not find any supporters or helpers in that
matter.”
Thus, the believer who is knowledgeable of the Sunnah and who possesses understanding of the
Religion, is described in this hadeeth as being one who during the Last Days – at the point of its
corruption – will be oppressed, debased and not able to find any helpers or supporters. At-Tabaraanee also reported with a weak chain of narration on the authority of Ibn Mas’ood, radyAllaahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet,sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“And verily from its signs (i.e. the Hour) is that
the believer will be in the sight of his tribe, more lower (in status) than the young sheep.” And it is recorded in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that 'Ubaadah Ibn As-Saamat, radyAllaahu ‘anhu, said to one of his companions: "It is imminent that should your life be prolonged for you, you will see a man
who recites the Qur'aan upon the tongue of Muhammad repeating it and displaying it, allowing its halaal and forbidding its haraam
. He will then be lowered in his status and his position will be neglected
amongst you and considered just as the position of a dead donkey.”And similar to this is the saying of Ibn Mas’ood,radyAllaahu ‘anhu: “There will come upon the people a time in which the believer will become lower than the bondmaid.” Indeed the believer will only be debased in the Last Days due to his strangeness in front of the evildoers from among the people of Doubts and Desires Every one of them will hate him and abuse him because of his opposing of their way by following his way, and because of the seeking of his goal over their goal, and because of his evidences over what is with them.And when Dawood At-Taa’ee died, Ibn As-Samaak said: “Indeed Dawood looked with his heart at what
26 Al-Haythamee (rahimahullaah) said: “In its chain is ‘Alee Ibn Yazeed and he is rejected.” [Majma’ uzZawaa’id: 7/261]. Thus the hadeeth is da’eef(weak)
27 The hadeeth is as Ibn Rajab stated in that it has a weak chain of narration, may Allaah have mercy on him. Thus, the hadeeth is da’eef.was in front of him and the sight of his heart overtook the sight of his eyes. So it was as if he no longer saw what you were looking at, and as if you could not see what he was looking at. And you wereamazed at him, and he was amazed at you. It became strange to you that he was alive in the middle ofdeath."And from among them was he whose own family and children would hate him due to their loathing of his condition. ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abd-il-‘Azeez once heard his wife say: “May Allaah relieve us from you.” So he said: “Ameen.” Our Salaf (Predecessors), during their lifetimes, would mainly describe the believer with strangeness as has preceded in their narrations.And from the words of Ahmad Ibn ‘Aasim Al-Andaakee, who was one of the biggest scholars at the time of Sulaymaan Ad-Daaraanee, was:“Indeed, I have reached from all the times, a time when Islaam has returned to being strange as it began. In it, the description of truth has returned to being strange as it began. If you were to turn to the scholar,you would find him being tested with the love of this worldly life and the love for honor and authority. And if you were to turn to the worshipper, you would find him ignorant in his worship, deceived and fallen victim to his enemy Iblees. He has mounted to the highest levels of worship while being ignorant of how to perform them so how can he be at that level? And the rest of the people are from among the ignorant followers, simple-minded and quick to follow a way, as if he were a wolf looking to steal a sheep, or a hungry lion, or a fox on the prowl. This is the description of the people of your time from the carriers of knowledge and the Qur’aan and the callers of wisdom.”
28 This was the description of the people of his time. So how much has the situation increased and the crisis
become greater after it. Indeed, it has reached a point that would have never been thought of nor
imagined.
CLINGING ONTO THE SUNNAH DURING TIMES OF AFFLICTION
At-Tabaraanee reported from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah,radyAllaahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet.sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“The one who clings onto my Sunnah at the time of the corruption of my ummah will receive the reward of a martyr.”
29 And Abu Ash-Shaikh Al-Asbahaanee reported with a chain connected to Al-Hasan (Al-Basree), that he
(rahimahullaah) said: “If a man from the first generation of Muslims were sent (to us) today, he would not recognize anything from Islaam except for this prayer!”Then he (rahimahullaah) said: “I swear by Allaah, that if he were to live to the time of these evils, he would see the innovator calling to his innovation, or the individual involved with the worldly life calling to his worldly affairs. Then Allaah would protect him and his heart would long for that which the Salaf AsSaalih
(pious predecessors) were upon. And so he would follow their footsteps and act according to their ways. For him there will be a great reward.”Ibn Al-Mubaarak reported from Al-Fudayl from Al-Hasan that he once mentioned the rich and extravagant man who has authority and who amasses wealth claiming that he has no end in it. And then he mentioned the misguided innovator who sets out against the Muslims with an unsheathed sword,changing the meaning of what Allaah has revealed concerning the disbelievers in favor of the Muslims.
Then he said: “Your Sunnah, and I swear by the One besides whom there is nothing worthy of worship except Him,is between these two: between the self-sufficient
one and the hard-hearted, the extravagant one and the ignorant. So have patience upon it, for indeed,
Ahl-us-Sunnah are from amongst the fewest of people, those who do not fall into the category of the extravagant ones in their excessiveness nor do they fall with the innovators in the following of their desires.Rather, they bear with patience upon their Sunnah until they meet their Lord. So be that way, if Allaah wills!”
30 Then he (rahimahullaah) said: “I swear by Allaah, that if a man were to reach these evils, he would hear
someone say: ‘Come over to me!’, and someone else say: ‘Come over to me!’ So he would say: ‘No! I
do not want anything but the Sunnah of Muhammad’, seeking after it and asking questions on it. Indeed
this one will be given a great reward. So be that way, if Allaah wills!”
THE HADEETH OF IMAAM ‘ALEE CONCERNING KNOWLEDGE
And from this understanding, is what Abu Nu’aim and others have reported from Kumail Ibn Ziyaad
on the authority of ‘Alee,radyAllaahu ‘anhu, that he said:
“The people are of three types: the learned scholar, the student of knowledge who is upon the path
towards salvation and the uncivilized ignorant follower following every ideology, blowing in the
direction of every wind. He is not guided by the light of knowledge nor is he established upon a firm
pillar.”
Then he mentioned some words on the benefit of knowledge, up to the point where he said:
“Here! Indeed, here is immense knowledge – and he pointed to his chest – if only I could gather those
who would carry it!
But yes, instead I have found he who is unreliable and not to be entrusted with it. Doing the works of the
Religion for the sake of this worldly life, making a demonstration of the favors of Allaah (i.e. the
knowledge he was given) in front of His servants and using His arguments against His beloved ones (the
true scholars).
Or he is one who is honest and obedient towards the carriers of truth, while possessing no understanding
and insight (of his own) in his mind. Doubt has pierced his heart and troubled it upon the first time
problems were presented to it. Indeed, he is neither this nor that.
Or he is one who is greedy for fulfilling his pleasures. He has become submissive to the guidance of his
desires or infatuated with the piling up of wealth and treasures. These individuals are not from among
the shepherds of the Religion in any way. The closest things in resemblance to them are the cattle that
graze about freely. Just like that, the knowledge has died with the death of its carriers.
O Allaah! Verily, do not isolate on this earth, he who establishes the evidences for Your sake, whether
he be apparent and well known or fearful and obscure in order that the evidences and clear proofs of
Allaah may not be refuted. And how many of them are there? Where are they? I swear by Allaah, they are the fewest in number, yet the greatest in stature in the sight of Allaah. Allaah preserves His evidences and manifest proofs through them until their likes desist from it and plant it into the hearts of those similar to them.
Through them, knowledge is fortified upon the reality of evidences. And they spread the glad tidings of
the spirit of certainty. They soften what those who give in to excessiveness have roughened. And they
draw close to that which the ignorant feel repelled by and estranged from.
They accompany the world with their bodies while their souls are drawn towards the great abode. They
are Allaah’s aides on His earth and the callers towards His Religion. And they long for their look (at
Him in Paradise)."
CATEGORIES OF THE BEARERS OF KNOWLEDGE
The Commander of the Believers has divided the carriers of knowledge into three categories:
Category One: The People of Doubts
They consist of the one who has no evidences from the carriers of knowledge. Doubt has pierced his
heart when it was first presented to him. He grasped it and thus fell into mass confusion and uncertainty.
From that, he came out producing such acts as innovations and misguided affairs.
Category Two: The People of Desires
Their portion is of two types: The first consists of he who seeks after the worldly life, under the pretense
of desiring knowledge. So he makes knowledge a means of attaining worldly goals. The second portion
consists of the one who is overcome with the desire of amassing worldly gains, its riches and its
treasures.
None of these types of people are from amongst the shepherds of the Religion. Rather, their similitude is
only like that of the cattle.
For this reason, Allaah the Most High has compared those who were entrusted with the Torah and then
failed that trust to donkeys carrying books. And He has compared the learner of evil, the one who
detaches himself from the verses of Allaah, clinging onto this world and following his lusts, with the
likeness of a dog. And the donkey and the dog are the lowest forms of animals and the worst of
examples.
Category Three: The Carriers of Knowledge
They are the possessors of knowledge. They uphold it, protect it and establish it upon the evidences and
clear proofs of Allaah.
It already has been stated that they are the fewest of people yet greatest in stature in the sight of Allaah.
This is an indication towards their few numbers and towards the strangeness of the carriers of knowledge
from this category.Likewise, Al-Hasan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah) has divided the carriers of the Qur’aan into a similar division as that of ‘Alee’s division of the bearers of knowledge.Al-Hasan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah) said: “The reciters of the Qur’aan are of three types: Those who take it as a commodity and gain theirsustenance from it. Those who establish its words, yet neglect its commandments (i.e. read it but don’t practice according to it). Due to (their knowledge of) it, they act arrogantly towards the people of their land and they use it (the Qur’aan) as a support for gaining positions of authority. This type of people
from among the bearers of the Qur’aan are many. May Allaah diminish their number! And there is a
type who apply the remedy of the Qur’aan and thus place it over the sickness of their hearts. Due to it,
their battles come to a standstill and they feel compassionate in their burnooses (long capes worn by the
people of old). And they feel a sense of fear (of Allaah) and the worries (of the worldly life) have left
them. They are the ones whom Allaah sends His rain down upon and He sends victory through them over
the enemies. By Allaah, this type of group from the carriers of the Qur’aan are more honorable than that
of flaming torches in the sight of the rest of the reciters of the Qur’aan."
Thus, he (rahimahullaah) has informed us that this group – and they are the reciters of the Qur’aan who
place it as a cure for their hearts, such that all traces of fear and worry leave them – is more honorable
amongst the other reciters than the example of flaming torches.
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