“Today those who disbelieve have lost all hope of (damaging) your faith. So, do not fear them, and fear Me. Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as Dīn (religion and a way of life) for you. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger, having no inclination towards sin, then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” (Qur’an 5:3)
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“O.K. Settle down, settle down.” We are going to go about this in a very orderly manner. Which one of you is the Mahdi? Simply raise your hand!”
“EARLIER this year Iran’s authorities arrested a score of men who, in separate incidents, claimed to be the Mahdi, a sacred figure of Shia Islam, who was “hidden” by God just over a millennium ago and will return some time to conquer evil on earth.”
“A website based in Qom, Iran’s holiest city, deemed the men “deviants”, “fortune-tellers” and “petty criminals”, who were exploiting credulous Iranians for alms during the Persian new-year holiday, which fell in mid-March.”
“Many of the fake messiahs were picked up by security men in the courtyard to the mosque in Jamkaran, a village near Qom, whose reputation as the place of the awaited Mahdi’s advent has been popularized nationwide by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. When he took office in 2005 he gave the mosque $10m.”
“Iran’s economic doldrums may have helped to cause this surge in people claiming to be mankind’s saviour—and in women saying they were the Mahdi’s wife. “In an open atmosphere where people could criticise the government they would not believe these people,” says an ex-seminarian in Tehran, the capital, noting that most Iranians still get all of their news from state television and state-owned or -sanctioned newspapers.”
“Last year a seminary expert, Mehdi Ghafari, said that more than 3,000 fake Mahdis were in prison. Mahdi-complexes are common, says a Tehran psychiatrist. “Every month we get someone coming in, convinced he is the Mahdi,” she says. “Once a man was saying such outrageous things and talking about himself in the third person that I couldn’t help laughing. He got angry and told me I had ‘bad hijab’ and was disrespecting the ‘Imam of Time’,” as the Mahdi is known.”
“The most famous case was that of Ayatollah Boroujerdi, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2007 for—among other things—claiming he was the Mahdi. Like many influential “false” messiahs, he was forced to recant on state television, confessing that he had been against the Islamic Republic’s core tenets.”
“Mr Ahmadinejad has called his administration “the government of the hidden imam”. Last month he told a batch of new Iranian ambassadors to consider themselves “envoys of the Mahdi”. After his first speech at the UN in 2005, a video circulated showing Mr Ahmadinejad telling a leading Iranian cleric that world leaders had been enchanted, during his oration, by a halo around his head that had been put there by the Mahdi himself.”
Prima-Qur’an Comments:
We have no idea where they keep all these 3000 Mahdis, but could you imagine if they were all in the same prison or same facility? Surely that would be volatile.
Say, “None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.” (Qur’an 27:65)
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A Shia scholar from the 12er Shi’i school of Islam (as opposed to the Zaydi Shia or Ismaili Shia) has made an interesting observation about the so-called ‘Mahdi’.
Mash’Allah look at this man. He certainly has the passage of time on his face. You know, as people get older they often say things that they wanted to say before but didn’t. As each of us approaches death, we become more concerned with what Allah (swt) thinks of us and less concerned with what people think of us.
Imam Muhammed Asif Muhsini said in his book “Mashra`at Bihar al-Anwar”,volume 1 page 408:
الغيبة التي امتدت أكثر من ألف سنة وربما تمتد إلى آلاف أو ملايين السنين. فإن المؤمنين لم ينتفعوا ولا ينتفعون من إمامهم الغائب – عجل الله تعالى فرجه – في الأصول والفروع ، وما يقال بخلاف ذلك فهو تخيل وتوهم ولعب بالعقول
[This Ghaybah that has taken more than a thousand years and maybe it shall keep going for thousands or millions of years. The believers living in it did not and do not benefit from their hidden Imam(may Allah hasten his appearance) in Usool or Furu`, and all else which is said is nothing but illusions and imaginations and playing with people’s minds.]
Muhammad Asif Muhsini said in the same book volume 2 page 223:
ولا يمكن القول بانتفاعنا منه عليه السلام في زمن الغيبة في الأمور الدينية إلا ممن سلب الله عقله
[It is not possible for us to say that we benefit from him (peace be upon him) in religious matters during his Ghaybah, except those whom Allah has robbed them of intellect.]
Finally, Muhammed Asif Muhsini said in footnote #1, in volume 1 page 82:
وأي فائدة لهذه الأحكام المخزونة عند الأئمة: والمكلفون يحرمون منها في أكثر من ألف سنة ولعله في ألف مليون سنة [And what benefit does this knowledge stored with Imams hold: when the Mukallafoun (Shia) are deprived of it for more than a thousand years, and maybe it’ll last for a billion years.]
So, yes, you can imagine as women get raped and murdered and children become fatherless, and mosque becomes decimated and the landfills the cup with the injustice that this so-called ‘hidden Imam’ is somewhere waiting for just the right moment………
Getting ready and prepared…………
Some time……….
Any time…..
Or maybe waiting for the Mahdi is just a waste of time.
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Qur’an 5:2)
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The translation of the Arabic in the text above into English reads as follows:
“I asked my father about this picture, and he told me: This picture is of the Sultanate’s delegation from its various sects during the Islamic Unity Conference in the city of Mashhad. We entered to perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers at the Imam Reza Mosque, so the sheikh brothers asked for me to be an imam, so I indicated to them that Dr. Ali should come forward because the country and the mosque are from the Jafari school of thought.
Pictured above in the standing position are Muslims who follow the Zaydi, Ibadi, Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi’i and Maliki schools, respectively. They are following the Imam of the Ja’fari school.
Hayya alas Salah means exactly that: Come to Prayer. It does not mean come to this or that group or sect. The Imam leads the prayer. You stand behind him as long as he is Ahl Qiblah. Simple.
If the Imam leading the prayer harbors things in his heart that are not good, those who follow him are free from it. The follower’s only obligation is to follow the Imam in the prayer, not in his view.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah’s and His Apostle’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.”
The title of the video: Praying behind Non-Ibadi -Shaykh Dr. Kahlan Al-Kharusi (h), the assistant Mufti of Oman.
The honorable Shaykh went to mention that we can pray behind any of the Muslims from the Ahl Qiblah.
So, basically the honorable Shaykh is telling us that the sect of the Imam does not affect our prayer. The only time it breaks the prayer is if the person (regardless of sect) is adding something that breaks the prayer and this is regardless if he is an Ibadi or not.
The title of this video is: Is it permissible to pray behind someone who recites a surah with Al-Fatihah silent prayer? -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h) Mufti of Oman
So the people came and asked the honorable Shaykh about praying behind (Sunni Muslims) because during the dhuhr and asr prayers it is known that many of them recite a surah other than al fatiha in the first two rakats.
So the honorable Shaykh replied it is not an issue at all. They have their evidence and we have our evidence.
In Ibadi school we recite surah after al fatiha in fajr, maghrb and isha. However, just like the last two rakats of isha and the last rakat of maghrib, likewise in the last two rakats of dhur and asr we do not recite anything other than al fatiha.
Here is a Sunni website that goes into some discussion on the matter:
The title of the video is: Praying behind an imam who recites prayers and performs the qunut.
The honorable Shaykh again says that this is not an issue for us. Our belief is that the Qunut was abrogated, and it is no longer part of the prayers. However, if we follow those who do it, it does not affect our prayers.
The actions of the Imam do not affect the prayers of those who pray behind him. That is unless he does an action where he adds extra rakat, shortens the prayer, forgets prostration.
If the actions of the Imam (that we differ on) affected the prayer of those behind them, then Sunni Muslims of various schools could not pray behind each other.
Salafis who follow Shaykh Bin Baz, who puts his hands on his chest after the ruku, could not follow the Salafis who leave their hands at their sides after the ruku and vice versa.
What about the beliefs of the Imam leading the prayer?
The title of this video is: What is the ruling on praying behind someone who believes in a vision?
This means those Muslims who believe we will see Allah (swt) in the afterlife?
So, as you can see, this is now not about fiqh but about the aqidah (the beliefs of the Imam).
This is a very strong fatwa by the honorable Shaykh. The people also asked: “What about those who say we do not pray behind the Ibadi?” The Shaykh responded: “We do the opposite.” We pray behind them if they become Imams for us. We will not be like them. We will do the opposite of their action.”
Be tranquil in your prayer.
We should be tranquil in our prayers. There is no action in our prayer that requires us to look to the left or the right until the termination of the prayer with taslim (salam).
Which, by the way, the mashur (majority) view in our school is that the prayer terminates with one taslim (salam) to the right. However, we have an opinion concerning doing two taslim (salam to the right and left) and we are encouraged, if we are an Imam in a majority Sunni area, to take the view of doing the two taslim. This is to avoid any fitna.
Prostration of Forgetfulness.
If this occurs before the Taslim, we follow the Imam in the prostration of forgetfulness.
So this is the way with us and our school and the path is spacious. Have tranquility when in your prayer, dear brothers and sisters. What is important is to ask ourselves after each prayer.
Was my prayer acceptable to Allah (swt)? Not concern ourselves with what the others are doing. Allah knows best and the help of Allah is sought.
“And give full measure whenever you measure, and weigh with a balance that is true” (Qur’an 17:35)
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It was narrated that ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: ‘The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to sell his brother goods in which there is a defect, without pointing that out to him.”‘
That the Messenger of Allah (saw) passed by a pile of food. He put his fingers in it and felt wetness. He said: ‘O owner of the food! What is this ?’ He replied: ‘It was rained upon O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Why not put it on top of the food so the people can see it?’ Then he said: ‘Whoever cheats, he is not one of us.'”
He said: There are narrations on this topic from Ibn ‘Umar, Abu Al-Hamra’, Ibn ‘Abbas, Buraidah, Abu Burdah bin Niyar, and Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman.
[Abu ‘Eisa said:] The Hadith of Abu Hurairah is Hasan Sahih Hadith. This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. They dislike cheating and they say that cheating is unlawful.
A Muslim is one who does not cheat others. We do not cheat our employers by looking for short cuts or by not giving them the best of our efforts. We do not cheat our employees by not giving them what is due to them. Or by trying to extract more from them then what is fair.
We do not cheat others by being inconsistent. We have one measure for one group and another measure for another group. We do no cheat others by being dishonest about what we sell to them in terms of products or services.
One of our dear brothers from Turkey mentioned to us about a person in Germany who approached a man selling trinkets. (Neither the seller nor the buyer are Muslim).
The buyer says to the one selling, “I do not have this amount can you lower the cost of the item as it is for my mother?” The seller agreed to this and lowered the amount substantially. He is under no obligation to do so.
However, the buyer was someone who was looking out for people who would be generous. Thus, the buyer wanted to give the seller 1000 Euros for his act of generosity. Even then the seller said, “If you have the amount I am selling the item for simply give me that amount!”
Subhan’Allah. This is from the non-Muslims. May Allah (swt) guide them both.
Yet, our dear brother from Turkey informed us that if you are a foreigner in Istanbul and the driver knows you are a foreigner they will extract from you an exorbitant amount.
This is unfortunately true in many countries where Muslims are the majority. This is bad because not only are you committing a big sin, you are giving Islam a bad name and by extension due to your greed and not looking at the bigger picture you can ruin the economic opportunity of your respective country.
Stealing is certainly a sin.
But this all becomes problematic when there are certain schools of jurisprudence that have problematic rulings when it comes to Non-Muslims. Thus, many Muslims may feel encouraged to do the things that they do by these rulings.
May Allah (swt) straighten our affairs.
Again, the problematic thinking of certain Muslims who think if they proclaim the testimony of faith or they simply proclaim themselves to be Muslims that they can go on living and doing as they please.
“They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. ” (Qur’an 39:67)
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So Shaykh Uthaymeen was asked about Allah’s blanket.
The questioner says, can we say it is a metaphor?
Uthaymeen is agitated. “Will you say to Allah on judgement day that he doesn’t have a blanket?!”
If you want to perfect your aqidah (your creed) in accordance with this bizarre sect then if it is affirmed that Allah (swt) has a blanket are you going to deny this?!
You may also be interested in reading the following:
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.” (Qur’an 5:75)
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (Qur’an 42:11)
“There is no comparison to His absoluteness.” (Qur’an 112:4)
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I used to think that the Salafi/Athari were people who had subtlety in their doctrine. And people who at least claimed to take the apparent meaning of a text. They would claim that Allah (swt) is not like his creation and that they do not liken Allah (swt) to the creation.
I couldn’t have been more wrong!
I am now of the view that the God of the Salafis is one that has a form or a shape. This is from THEIR understanding of certain text.
It was narrated that Abu Umamah Al-Bahili said:
“The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed us, and most of his speech had to do with telling us about Dajjal. He warned about him, and among the things he said was: ‘There will not be any tribulation on earth, since the time Allah created the offspring of Adam, that will be greater than the tribulation of Dajjal. Allah has not sent any Prophet but he warned his nation about Dajjal. I am the last of the Prophets, and you are the last of the nations. He will undoubtedly appear among you. If he appears while I am among you, I will contend with him on behalf of every Muslim, and if he appears while I am not among you, then each man must fend for himself and Allah will take care of every Muslim on my behalf. He will emerge from Al-Khallah, between Sham and Iraq, and will wreak havoc right and left. O slaves of Allah, remain steadfast. I will describe him to you in a manner in which none of the Prophets has described him before me. He will start by saying “I am a Prophet,” and there is no Prophet after me. Then a second time he will say: “I am your Lord.” But you will not see your Lord until you die. He is one-eyed, and your Lord is not one-eyed, and written between his eyes is Kafir. Every believer will read it, whether he is literate or illiterate.”
Notice that the text that is attributed to the Blessed Prophet (saw) does not even remotely begin to refute the idea that Allah could be in the form of a human being.
The text only gives the following assurances.
Your Lord is not One-Eyed.
You will not see your Lord until you die.
In other words it is not at the core of one’s innate fitra or it is not innate to the mind that Allah (swt) is not something that takes on forms and shapes!
To have such an assurance tied to this particular hadith, of which the multitude have not even heard of!?
The proof is irrefutable.
The Prophet (saw) said, “Allah did not send any prophet but that he warned his nation of the one-eyed liar (Ad-Dajjal). He is one-eyed while your Lord is not one-eyed, The word ‘Kafir’ (unbeliever) is written between his two eyes.”
Now those who follow the Neo-Salafi Athari school will use the above text to claim that Allah (swt) has two eyes. Although that is pure speculation. Saying that the Dajjal has eye one does not necessitate that Allah (swt) has two eyes. Or saying that Allah (swt) isn’t defective in one eye does not entail Allah (swt) has more than one eye. You could say that a spider has 8 eyes and that it does not have a defective eye and both statements could be true.
However, when Allah (swt) opened my eyes to something deeper and more sinister. That the Neo-Salafi believe that the above text is trying to teach a theological point!
So what they are saying and think about this…what they are saying is that the way to DISTINGUISH Allah (swt) from the dajjal, is that the dajjal has ONE EYE and ALLAH DOES NOT HAVE ONE EYE.
What about the fact that the very hadith says, “THE WORD KAFIR IS WRITTEN BETWEEN HIS TWO EYES.”? Wouldn’t that be a big tale tell sign that THIS IS NOT Allah (swt)?
But even more bone chilling and down right frightening is that this flawed analogy leads one to think what seems to be THE ONLY thing that distinguishes Allah (swt) from the dajjal? Wouldn’t it be OBVIOUS that if a PERSON, ANY PERSON were to claim to Allah (swt) that we as Muslims would KNOW that this person is a charlatan, simply on the basis of:
Allah (swt) cannot be and is not a man/human being.
Allah (swt) cannot and does not assume form/shape.
Allah (swt) cannot be and is not a person.
However, if one is to take the Neo-Salafi perspective apparently not! Think about this good people.
What if you were to find a person that does amazing feats of magic, or breaks the laws of physics or does the unexplained. Would YOUR criteria as a Muslim be, well the person has two eyes, 20/20 vision, so maybe, possibly it COULD be Allah?
REALLY?
If the Neo-Salafi do not understand this hadith as the Blessed Messenger (saw) simply informing that Allah (swt) is not unaware and has full grasp, and has no defects than brothers and sisters, dear readers…
WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!
We have a big problem because nothing else is obvious; like the fact that the dajjal is:
human
has eyes.
has hands.
has feet.
has curly hair.
has a mouth.
most likely eats food (Qur’an 5:75) thus answers the call of nature.
has mass.
occupies space.
needs to have an army to effect change. Where as Allah (swt) gives the command ‘Kun faya kun’ (be and it is) ?wouldn’t ALL THESE BE A DEAD GIVE AWAY THAT THIS IS NOT ALLAH? According to the Neo-Salafi, NOPE!
But one way to POSSIBLY TELL THAT IT IS NOT ALLAH IS THIS: Is the person blind in one eye?
Imagine being brought up with this belief and you are out on police patrol one night in Saudi Arabia and you spot someone with one eye. “Hello, headquarters this is dispatch. Suspect has one defective eye. Possibly Dajjal, Definitely not Allah.”
So according to the Neo-Salafi the above hadith has come to teach us a theological point concerning Allah (swt). That being don’t be fooled because dajjal has one eye (one eye is defective) and your Lord does not have a defective eye.
This is what lead me to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that these people believe that Allah (swt) has a form, and can even come in the form of a human being!
Saying that the Lord is not one eyed is not an affirmation that he has two eyes!
“The Originator of the heavens and earth. How could He have children when He has no mate? He created all things and has knowledge of everything.” (Qur’an 6:101)
This is a negation that Allah (swt) could not have children as he has no companion. So does this entail the opposite? If Allah (swt) had a companion he could have children? How bizarre is this type of thinking! That Allah (swt) would need anything in order to accomplish what he wants is not the belief of the Muslims.
Subhan’Allah!
May Allah (swt) rescue the Muslims and save the Muslims from perversion in their faith!
“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Qur’an 20:114)
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Most people, when they think of Turkey, do not think of it as a bastion of Shi’ism.
What makes obtaining numbers difficult in the case of Turkey is that they conduct census based only on religion, not on sects, races or ethnicity because according to the law, only religions are recognized, not sects. Additionally, another law states that everyone living in Turkey is considered a Turk.
Did you know that the Alevi Shi’a community is estimated to be between as low as 4 million and as high as 20 million of Turkey’s 80 million citizens?!
In fact, did you know that the bulwark of the Ottoman Military Machine, the famed Janissaries, were not Sunni Muslims?!
They cursed Muaviya, and they believed in the 14 infallibles, The Blessed Prophet (saw), Fatima (ra) and the 12 imams! They held that Ali was superior to the other companions. They were Shi’i; however not in the traditional sense. They were part of a Sufi order that was strongly influenced by Shi’i ideas and beliefs.
Bekta-Shism: A Sufi order that originated in Anatolia in the 13th century and named after their Saint: Haji Bektsah Veli.
Yeniçeriler gelsin!
Once that Shofar horn is blown, the only thing that awaits the opponent is swift and merciless death.
We don’t know if it was genius or mischievous of the Ottomans to send people who had heterodox views to be shock troops knowing they would take the brunt of the causalities. In a sense: canon fodder.
It must have been terrifying for Christian armies to see legions of soldiers basically dressed like Orthodox Christian Bishops coming to kill them! Just an unstoppable juggernaut chanting Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah has they charge forth.
Genius or diabolical would be a matter of perspective here.
Psychology is just as much a part of war as the weapons we wield!
The Daily Sabah says:
“Alevis, who make up the second-largest religious community in the country with approximately 20 million followers.”
“The number of Alevis is a matter of contention. Estimates from different sources range considerably – from around 10 percent to as much as 40 percent of the total population – but recent figures suggest Alevis number in the region of 20 to 25 million.”
Not surprising is that Sunni Muslims opposed to Shi’ism altogether would opt for polls or data that suggest that their population is not divided.
Recently, on X (Twitter), one Turkish Muslim we engaged with on the subject favoured KONDA Research, which suggests a very low 4% of the Turkish population to be Alevi Shi’a.
“Leaders of the Alevi Foundation estimate Alevi Muslims comprise 25 to 31 percent of the population. KONDA Research and Consultancy estimates the Alevi community at approximately 6 percent of the population, almost 5 million individuals. The Shia Jafari community estimates its members make up 4 percent of the population.”
Curious as to why that individual quoted KONDA research, we asked the individual what he thought about Tarhan Erdem’s view that Turkey was responsible for the genocide of Armenians, of which he offered no engagement on the question.
Turkey is allies with Shi’a Azerbaijan against Christian Armenia and Shi’a Iran.
Azerbaijan facts:
Religions:
Shi’i Muslim 97.3%, Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
Why many Turks unfortunately feel sour about Palestine and Palestinians.
Why do many Turks unfortunately feel sour about Palestine and Palestinians?
We have had many religiously observant Turkish Muslim friends express to us that they felt betrayed by Palestine.
One Turkish brother shared with us a picture from X (Twitter) that says: “I stand with Armenia forever. From Palestine.
To which he replied: “This is what makes me angry. My people and my nation support them. Going against Israel and having economic problems. And these shameless people support our enemies! Brother, there are Turks who support Israel, but those Turks are not Muslims. But these Palestinians claim to be Muslim and oppressed but still support Armenia and China. I have not seen a single Palestinian or Pan-Arab or supports other Muslims. Those oppressed in Myanmar, China or elsewhere.”
A Palestinian had said in response to such sentiment:
“I’m sorry for the Turks. We need to kiss their feet because we lived with Armenians in our neighborhoods when we were kids. And they were good people. I’m so sorry, Brother Turk, you have every right to feel sour and not care about us being subject to genocide. Empires rise and fall. The Turks betrayed the Ottoman Empire way before any Arab did.”
As you can see, our brothers from Turkey and Palestine equally have valid points. My point to the Turkish brother is that the Palestinians as a whole should not be made to suffer because of the statements or actions of Mahmoud Abbas or those in the past.
This unfortunately is the sad state of our Muslim Ummah.
If we had a word of caution for my brothers in Turkey it would be this.
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
This seemingly innocuous Bekta-Shism state being carved out of Albania (with EU approval) might not be as innocent as one thinks.
“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be in the company of those blessed by Allah: the prophets, the people of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous—what honourable company!” (Qur’an 4:69)
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Shaykh Al Qanoubi (h) is the luminary of the Ibadi school in the sciences of the hadith. The one whom Allah (swt) has illuminated his mind, and given sharp wit. Able to be among the scientists who detect the ʿillah, the hidden defects that often escape the grasp of the most astute.
This entry is in regard to what is known as: Hadith Al Thaqalyan or two matters of weight or two matters of importance.
Source: (Hadith 40, in Al Jami’ Al Sahih)
In the short video clip below, Shaykh Dr. Abdullah bin Sa’ed Al Ma’mari (h) mentions that Shaykh Al Qanoubi (h), in his study on the subject, has not found the narrations that include: “and my family” as being authentic from the Blessed Prophet (saw).
As Shaykh Dr Abdullah bin Sa’ed Al Ma’mari (h) says, what is authentic for us in the Ibadi school are the words: “The book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
Obeying Allah and his Messenger is transmitted via tawatur from the Qur’an.It does not need confirmation from the hadith.
What Shaykh Dr Abdullah bin Sa’ed Al Ma’mari (h) has said is true. We don’t find a single mention of obey Allah, Obey the Messenger and Obey the Ahl Bayt.
“He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah, but those who turn away-We have not sent you over them as a guardian.” (Qur’an 4:80)
“O you who believe, you shall obey Allah, and obey the messenger. Otherwise, all your works will be in vain.” (Qur’an 47:33)
“And obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then Our Messenger is responsible only for conveying the message clearly. (Quran 64:12)
“Say, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then he is only responsible for his duty, and you are responsible for yours. And if you obey him, you will be guided. The Messenger’s duty is only to deliver the message clearly.” (Qur’an 24:54)
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He has sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him)” (Qur’an 4:136)
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in the result. (Qur’an 4:59)
The hadiths that the Sunni and Shi’i primarily dispute about are as follows:
Follow the Qur’an
“I have left among you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. And you would be asked about me (on the Day of Resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They (the audience) said: We will bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), discharged (the ministry of Prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people (said):” O Allah, be witness. 0 Allah, be witness,” saying it thrice.”
On the authority of Ikrimah, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, that the Messenger of Allah, (saw) , addressed the people during the Farewell Pilgrimage and said: “O people, I have I have left among you that which if you hold fast to it you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.”
“On the authority of Ikrimah, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, that the Messenger of Allah, (saw), The Prophet (saw) addressed the people during the Farewell Pilgrimage and said: “Satan has despaired of being worshipped in your land, but he is content to be obeyed in other than that, of your deeds that you despise. So beware, O people, for I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray: The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (saw). Indeed, every Muslim is a brother to Allah.” A Muslim, Muslims are brothers, and it is not permissible for a man to take from his brother’s wealth except what he gives of his own free will. And do not wrong, and do not revert after me to disbelief, striking one another’s necks . ”
That the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Indeed, I am leaving among you, that which if you hold fast to them, you shall not be misguided after me. One of them is greater than the other: The Book of Allah is a rope extended from the sky to the earth, and my family – the people of my house – and they shall not split until they meet at the Hawd, so look at how you deal with them after me.”
The problem with the above hadith is it contains the vile and evil al-A’mash! No consideration is given to it.
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah during his Hajj, on the Day of ‘Arafah. He was upon his camel Al-Qaswa, giving a Khutbah, so he said: ‘O people! Indeed, I have left among you, that which if you hold fast to it, you shall not go astray: The Book of Allah and my family, the people of my house.'”
Yazid b. Hayyan reported, I went along with Husain b. Sabra and ‘Umar b. Muslim to Zaid b. Arqam and, as we sat by his side, Husain said to him:
Zaid. you have been able to acquire a great virtue that you saw Allah’s Messenger (saw) listened to his talk, fought by his side in (different) battles, offered prayer behind me. Zaid, you have in fact earned a great virtue. Zaid, narrate to us what you heard from Allah’s Messenger (saw). He said: I have grown old and have almost spent my age and I have forgotten some of the things which I remembered in connection with Allah’s Messenger (saw), so accept whatever I narrate to you, and which I do not narrate do not compel me to do that. He then said: One day Allah’s Messenger (saw) stood up to deliver sermon at a watering place known as Khumm situated between Mecca and Medina. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the sermon and. exhorted (us) and said: Now to our purpose. O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I, in response to Allah’s call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family.He (Husain) said to Zaid: Who are the members of his household? Aren’t his wives the members of his family? Thereupon he said: His wives are the members of his family (but here) the members of his family are those for whom acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. And he said: Who are they? Thereupon he said: ‘Ali and the offspring of ‘Ali, ‘Aqil and the offspring of ‘Aqil and the offspring of Ja’far and the offspring of ‘Abbas. Husain said: These are those for whom the acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. Zaid said: Yes.
Notice dear reader: “and the offspring of ‘Abbas.” Surely Ibn Abbas (ra) would know best what the Blessed Prophet (saw) said.
Prima Qur’an comments:
As mentioned, the inclusion of the Book of Allah and my family is important for the Shi’i in helping to establish their positions. This is not the case for us (the Ibadi school).
Some Sunni Muslims (in particular those who follow a Sufi Tariqah) reconcile the narrations by stating that they (Sunni Muslims who follow a Sufi Tariqah) follow the Qur’an and Sunnah via the descendants of the Blessed Messenger (saw). Since it is claimed by Sunni Muslims that the bulk of the descendants of Prophet Muhammed (saw) are actually contained within the house of ‘Ahl Sunnah Wal Jammah’, then they are best suited to teach and guide.
So, for example: Shaykh Muhammed Al Yaqoubi, who is a claimed descendant of the Blessed Prophet (saw) via Hasan ibn Ali. People who follow a Sufi order that he is affiliated with would find that he is best suited to guide.
As seen in two of the narrations above, Ibn Abbas (ra) is in the chain of transmission. For us (The Ibadi school) he is part of the household of the Blessed Prophet (saw). Thus, he, being a member of Ahl Bayt, transmitted that we are to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah.
That statement aligns with what we find in the Qur’an.
It could be very well that the Prophet (saw) was meant to convey the following:
Did he convey the message? Did he bring the Qur’an? Of which everyone agrees that he did.
That he would want people to look after and take care of his kinsfolk. This is only natural and something any honourable person would desire. How much more the most honorable among creation?
As we find in the Qur’an:
“That is the good news which Allah gives to His servants who believe and do good. Say, “I do not ask you for a reward for this—only honour for kinship.” Whoever earns a good deed, We will increase it in goodness for them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative” (Qur’an 42:23)
Rest assured that if there are any lectures or writings from Shaykh Al Qanoubi (h) where he fleshes out the more reasons for not accepting the transmissions that include ‘and my family’ insh’Allah will be sure to share them. Allah-Willing.
“And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?” (Qur’an 54:40)
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Our colleague relates the encounter.
Imagine if you will that you have a son or a daughter that informs you that they wish to get married. You sit down with your son or daughter and ask them the following: “What do you wish for a life partner?” “What are some of the traits or qualities you would like to have in a life partner?” Their response is: “I don’t have any standards, I will just take anything!”
That response is the surest way of knowing that they are not ready for marriage at all!
This Muslim Ummah needs to have some standards. We are talking about elementary standards. We are talking about ‘the bare minimum‘.
If one is going to be acclaimed to be the commander of the faithful, the Imam of the Muslims, the Imam is such that if you do not recognize him you die the death of an unbeliever, then at the very least you had best be able to recite the Qur’an. That is not asking for much. It is, however, asking the Ummah to require some very basic standards.
So, no, we are not talking about theology, we are not talking about jurisprudence, we are not talking about philosophy. We are asking a very basic simple question: “Can you Qur’an tho?”
I do not know about other Muslims, but I would like my commander of the faithful and my Imam to be able to recite the Qur’an at ….the….very…..least.
In fact, this may be a very interesting academic article. When did the Imams of the Nizari Isma’ili community begin to distance themselves from the Qur’an? In other words, when did these phenomena of having an insouciant relationship with the Qur’an begin? Which of the Nizari Isma’ili imams set this off?
So recently, when encountering one of many arguments that took place in the wild world of X (Twitter). I saw some mutual fat shaming going on between Imam Hamza wald Maqbul and Professor Khalil Andani.
So, being mildly agitated by this bickering, I put out a challenge to both men.
It was quite a simple and straight-forward point-blank challenge to Professor Andani and Imam Hamza wald Maqbul. I challenged Professor Andani to produce for us the Aga Khan reciting the Qur’an in public. I also challenged Imam Hamza wald Maqbul to produce an example of him reciting the Qur’an in public.
To be quite honest, I do not doubt that Imam Hamza wald Maqbul can properly recite the Qur’an. Professor Andani, over all, is a guy who can comprehend more than basic English. Thus, his response was puzzling.
Produce for us the Aga Khan reciting the Qur’an in public. Professor Andani did the best he could, so he meekly offered: “Karim Aga Khan led the Ismailis in Eid Namaz twice in the 1940s as a child. Obviously he can recite the Quran, which he did during namaz.”
It was after this comment that I now publicly retract every glowing attribute I gave to Professor Andani during his debate with Jake Brantecella. Do I think Professor Andani won that debate? Absolutely. However, after I am quite dismayed at the response given by Professor Andani.
First there is the matter of plain English. “Produce for us the Aga Khan reciting the Qur’an in public.” That is people in the Julian calendar year of 2024.
Second, to make claims that (Professor Andani) himself did not witness is not “obvious” at all. Claims that he led the Eid prayer twice in the 1940s is not proof that he can properly recite the Qur’an. We want proof that Karim, the son of Joan Yarde-Buller, can properly recite the Qur’an.
Then Professor Andani gave another meek reply: “Quran is part of Namaz.” Indeed, it is. Indeed, it is. One could do the dhur prayer or asr prayer. In many schools of jurisprudence, the Qur’an is not recited out loud. Meaning that one would not be able to ascertain that one could properly recite the Qur’an. I will give the benefit of the doubt and say that it is possible that he may not be aware of this.
However, as the Eid Prayers have parts where the Qur’an is recited out loud, one could assume that a person knows how to properly recite the Qur’an. However, the idea that Karim, the son of Joan Yarde-Buller, did so twice as a child, of which Professor Andani did not witness (as he was not even born then) as being obvious has to be one of the most obtuse statements ever.
Ultimately, it is an admission of being unable to answer the challenge. The man, Karim, the son of Joan Yarde-Buller, became the Imam around/at the age of 20. He is currently 83 years of age. For 60 years on this Earth there is no evidence for us to ascertain whether this man can properly recite the Qur’an. You can turn the internet upside down and inside out, and you will find no evidence of him being able to recite the Qur’an at all.
Professor Andani doesn’t strike me as someone who wouldn’t bring his ‘A’ game. However, he hasn’t been the most forthcoming with Christians when he shows them his chart. You know the one:
The one that leaves out the Virgin birth of Christ Jesus (quite important to every Christian under the sun).
The one that leaves out the second coming of Jesus:
So all you Christians interacting with Professor Andani, open up your eyes and don’t be blind to it!
Thus, the meek response that Professor Khalil Andani is now proof positive for the whole world that it was the best he can do in the way of evidence. Meaning that there was some event that he himself did not witness or partake in which it is said that Karim, the son of Joan Yarde-Buller, twice as a child, led the Eid prayers. No evidence at all that he can properly read the Qur’an.
It is disheartening. If I thought for one moment that Karim, the son of Joan Yarde-Buller, was the commander of the faithful, the Imam of the Muslims how I would love to have his recitation of the Qur’an. How it could console me in dark times! Just to hear the cadence of his voice and the unison of heart and tongue as his holiness brought forth a most sublime and majestic recitation.
Unfortunately, for the Nizari, Isma’ili will never get this experience. Hey! There are always his sons! Perhaps they may take up seriously the learning to read the Qur’an! Or would that be a problem?
Is that the issue? How can someone who is not Allah’s divine representative on Earth possibly teach the divine representative the Qur’an?
*** UPDATE ***
There is an update to this article. Professor Andani thought he would give it one more shot.
First let me start with a major correction to Professor Andani.
Professor Andani states: “Your post is just a slander against me and the Ismaili Imamat.”
First, I do not see how stating the truth about something of which Professor Andani has failed time and again to prove the opposite of is slander.
Second, a major correction. It is more correct and circumspect to say Nizari Ismaili Imamat! It is hubris to think the Nizrari branch represents the entirety of Ismailism. It does not represent the Musta’li Ismai’li branch. A branch which includes the Dawoodi-Taybi as well as the Sulaymani-Tabi.as well as the Sulaymani-Tabi.
In fact, considering the Musta’li Ismai’li consider the Nizari claims null and void, they could very well be delighted to see such challenges. They may even be reading this article with a certain sense of satisfaction. They may be hoping that their Ismai’li brothers, who are following a man who has not been proven to recite the Qur’an with proper recitation, may decide to leave the Nizari and follow them instead!
Ladies and gentlemen. Dear truth seekers. A picture of a boy standing with his hands behind his ears is not proof that he can properly recite the Qur’an.
Imagine if you will there are people who doubted claims that, when I was an eight-year-old little girl I stood in front of the congregation of my church and recited the entire chapter of the book of Acts (King James Version) with perfect memory and no errors.
Then some people doubted this claim. So my mother, driven by emotional attachment to her daughter, rushes to produce a picture of me as an eight-year-old little girl in Church. “Here is your evidence!”
Surely one can see the futility of such.
If you enjoyed the above article you maybe interested in the following:
In this article we did our level best to help the Imami Shi’a solve a dilemma (the Ismaili included) we have not found any contemporary approaches among the Imami Shi’a to approach this dilemma.
” Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (Qur’an 15:9)
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First let us post what the original video clip has to say about Sayyid Ali’s presentation:
“In this video, the Sayyid responds to a questioner who asks whether the Qurʾān that is present between us today has been subject to distortion or not. Instead of going through the traditions related to whether this has indeed been the case, the Sayyid outlines some epistemological points to bear in mind when trying to evaluate this claim. He delineates general historical principles and facts that cause us to deem such an occurrence, as historians, to be extremely far-fetched. He then outlines the possible goals of a distorter and contrasts these objectives to what is found within the Qurʾānic text, whence we find that had these been the objectives of the distorters, then we would not possess certain verses and contents of the Qurʾān that we do today.” –Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7y9bstcnXM&t=1453s
We would also like to say that this explanation by Sayyid Ali is one of the best, if not the best we have seen. It answers a lot of questions that are put forward in regard to this.
There are those who claim that the Shi’i themselves make this claim. The claim of tahrif of the Qur’an. Sayyid Ali beautifully responds to these claims.
This is a short and succinct lecture, equal to about 29 minutes of your time. It is absolutely worth it.
Those Orientalists and advocates of the historical critical method are most welcome to put this in their pipes and smoke it. The Imam laid out a very cohesive and cogent argument.
We would highly recommend you listen to the whole of the presentation.
@20:04 “Pay attention with me, in the Glorious Qur’an, now if someone wants to distort, what would they want to distort? What are his objectives hind distortion? I mean, what are the possible objectives of distortion? We will mention objectives, and let’s see if they have any basis.”
@20:18 “It may be said, for example, that among the objectives of distortion: Is the removal of certain criticisms directed towards some of the Companions who ruled. I mean, those who had authority. They are all present in the Qur’an. They are found in Surat al-Tahrim, Surat al-Hujurat, which contains: {Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet} [Qur’an 49:2]“
@20:40 “And it’s mentioned about whom it was revealed. The issue of fleeing on the day of Uhud, and Hunayn, all these details are mentioned. The details of the events are mentioned. If someone wanted to distort, why would they distort? I mean, if one of the objectives of authorities was distortion, it would have been something related to them.”
@:20:58 “Those who ruled, the criticisms directed at them in the Book of Allah are present. This is a possible objective [for distortion]. Of coruse, I mention these as supporting points, not as evidence. The [main] evidence has concluded. The evidence has concluded, now we’re mentioning supporting [points].
@21:10 “The second objective is, for example, that these individuals want to remove some matters regarding the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) [being portrayed in a negative light].
@21:19 “They love the Prophet, so they try. The Glorious Qur’an, the criticisms made by the polytheist against the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) are present in the harshest articulation. In fact, some addresses in the Qur’anic chapters to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) that contain-where principally one may perceive some sort of harshness and severity within, for example, {And had We not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little} [Qur’an 17:74], it’s all there.”
@21:49 “Alright? Of course, we say it’s in the sense of “I mean you, and listen O neighbor.” But the address is there.”
@22:17 “Very well. Among the objectives that are mentioned, is removing the names of Ahl al-Bayt (upon them be peace), from the Qur’an. I say—I say, firstly, what’s the meaning of this verse? We’re talking now as Shi’a. {O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not not, then you have not conveyed His message}[Qur’an 5:67]
@22:38 “How do we interpret this? Isn’t it about Wilaya? Isn’t it about Wilaya in the last days of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). And Surat al-Ma’ida is amongst the last [chapters] to be revealed, if not the very last.”
@22:53 “If Wilaya was detailed in previous chapters, then what would be the meaning of: {announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord} [Qur’an 5:67]? We fundamentally believe that it’s natural for the mention of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) to not be frequent in the Qur’an.“
“This is natural. And this is what we believe. I mean, his mentioned as an Imam. I speak of his mention as an Imam. Clear? Not as a man of virtues. Otherwise if we’re speaking of virtues, then a “a quarter [of the Qur’an] is about us”. Clear?”
@23:23 “We are not speaking for that perspective. We’re speaking from the perspective of those in power. Alright? Concerning those in power, {Announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message} [Qur’an 5:67] Now, this verse, what’s the reason for its revelation? It’s natural that the mention of Imam ‘Ali (upon him be peace) will not be frequent in the Qur’an. As for mentioning the rest of the Imams (upon them be peace), in the Qur’an.”
@23:50 “Fundamentally, we Shi’a do not believe in the necessity of believing in [all] the Imams (upon them be peace) except after the death of the previous Imam.
However the Imam later admits:
@27:25 “The thing that may be brought up is the issue of Wilaya. So it would be problematic only on the Shi’a side. But we explained that the Shi’a, when it comes to revealing all of the Imams’ [names], that is something they have deemed far-fetched. Fundamentally. It’s not something to be expected, that there would be something in the Qur’an about Imamate. And on the other hand, concerning the Commander of the Faithful (upon him be peace), we believe that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) proclaimed this towards the end of his life. {O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message} [Qur’an 5:67]. So in reality, naturally, if the name of the Commander of the Faithful (upon him be peace) was in the Qur’an, it would have been rare and minimal. For example, had it been the case. Up to this extent, I mean, this degree of speculation.”
@28:14 “This does not outright negate the existence of the name of Imam ‘Ali (upon him be peace). This is a speculative argument. However, I just want to say, that upon reflection on the matter, the degree of distortion will not, some people, I mean, naturally, the name of Imam Ali, had it been in the Qur’an, it would be rare, Had it been there, it would be rare. Had it been there. Clear? According to the Shi’i view. Nothing else. I’m saying this according to the Shi’i Twelver view. Alright?”
Prima Qur’an comments: First and foremost again, the overall explanation by the respected Imam was/is brilliant! It is unfortunate that some people will allow themselves to be clouded by sectarianism and not benefit by what he said.
The only part where he dropped the ball was giving his minor points (because, as he mentioned, the main case has already been established), but in regard to the minor points is concerning the mention of the ahl bayt and/or the mention of the name of Imam Ali (at the very least).
By quoting a vague reference:”Announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message} [Qur’an 5:67] This does little to dissuade anyone from the idea that a redactor or editor wanted to remove explicit mention of the Ahl Bayt or Imam Ali as the leader of Imam of the Muslims.
The Imam was also honest and transparent enough to say:
“@22:38 “How do we interpret this? Isn’t it about Wilaya? Isn’t it about Wilaya in the last days of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family)
“How do we interpret this.”
“I mean, naturally, the name of Imam Ali, had it been in the Qur’an, it would be rare, Had it been there, it would be rare. Had it been there.”
He was also very objective and fair-minded when he stated:
“The thing that may be brought up is the issue of Wilaya. So it would be problematic only on the Shi’a side. But we explained that the Shi’a, when it comes to revealing all of the Imams’ [names], that is something they have deemed far-fetched
That is correct. It would only be a problem for the Shi’a side, as they are the ones who have as a theological foundation the concept of being ruled by the family of the Prophet (saw), a concept we absolutely do not find in the Qur’an at all.
So, for the Sunni or the Ibadi, this is not something we would expect to find in the Qur’an.
