Tag Archives: Saheeh al-Bukhaaree

Real “Hadith Disciples” Do Not Forsake the Scholars [A Brief Hadeeth Study]

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

Know that the people of knowledge shall indeed be forsaken by some! It is a reality that has been foretold in the hadeeth of Mu’aawiyah (may Allaah be pleased with him), as found in the two Saheeh Compilations of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim:

لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي قَائِمَةً بِأَمْرِ اللهِ، لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ أَوْ خَالَفَهُمْ، حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ اللهِ وَهُمْ ظَاهِرُونَ عَلَى النَّاسِ
“A group of my Ummah shall continue to uphold the Order of Allaah. Those who forsake or oppose them do not harm them, until the Affair of Allaah arrives, whilst they are (still) uppermost among the people.”

These people are known as the scholars of Islam, as al-Imaam al-Bukhaaree (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said in his chapter title: “They are the people of knowledge.”

The statement, “…Those who forsake or oppose them do not harm them…” indicates that there will indeed be people who speak ill of the scholars and try to divert the people from them. This is from the pre-determined Qadr of Allaah, as part of the struggle between truth and falsehood that He, the All Mighty and All Wise, has decreed to be one of the many tests His Servants shall face.

The scholars of Islam actively work to provide solutions to the Ummah’s problems in every place. Allaah blesses their time and efforts, the effects of which can be found everywhere upon Earth, by His Permission. They are the best of Allaah’s Servants, His true allies, those He has paired Continue reading →

Common Acts of Religious Excessiveness (Ghuluww) Regarding “Prayer Rugs”

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In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Mercilful…

Allaah says, addressing the Jews and Christians with a stern admonition that Muslims are required to also heed and live by:

يا أهل الكتاب لا تغلوا في دينكم
“O people of the Book!  Do not go overboard in your religion!” [1]

His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

إياكم والغلو فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو
“Be warned against ghuluww (religious excessiveness), since that which destroyed the people who came before you was ghuluww!” [2]

To help fulfill this Prophetic order, this series of brotherly reminders highlights some everyday manifestations of religious excessiveness that Muslims may commonly fall into, so that we can be on guard against them and warn others of them.

Obsession with Prayer Mats, Rugs, and Carpets

The narrations found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and elsewhere, describing the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) praying on a khumrah [small mat] and a haseer [large mat] show the permissibility of praying on other than the bare ground. A few of the scholars held the opinion that the prayer may only be offered on the bare ground, so these narrations are a proof against their position. They do not provide a proof for the one who takes this action as part of his Religion, since the Companions did not take this as a religious matter. Rather, they understood it to be permissible, and thus prayed on mats, bedding, clothing, etc. whenever it made sense, for example: In the extreme heat to protect oneself from the heat of the ground.

Furthermore, the scholars have stated that it is better for a person to pray directly on the ground if he is able.  Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

The ahaadeeth and the aathaar (narrations from the Prophet, may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace, and the Companions) show that they used to prefer placing their foreheads directly on the bare ground if they were able, and when necessary, like in extremely hot weather and the likes, they would pray with something between them and the ground, using something they had with them: a part of their clothing, turban, or cap… [3]

However, if someone still holds that these narrations prove the legislated nature of praying on what people today call “prayer rugs”, then we can look again to Shaykh al-Islaam Continue reading →