From the Advice and Guidance of Sheikh Muqbil -Umm ‘Abdullaah al-Wadi’ee

Source: Sheikh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Wadi’ee

Written by Umm ‘Abdullaah bint Sheikh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Wadi’ee ¹

From the Advice and Guidance of Sheikh Muqbil, rahimahu Allaah

  

Aqeedah

He often counseled giving importance to al- ‘aqeedah (the correct Islaamic beliefs).

He said, “It is of the utmost importance to give the matter of al-‘aqeedah the concern which it is due. For the Muslim without correct ‘aqeedah is unable to stand firm in front of his enemies, and does not behave with Islaamic behavior. And so, because of this, our Prophet, Muhammad, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, gave precedence to al-‘aqeedah, and his entire life was spent in calling to al-‘aqeedah, along with the general rulings and actions.”

 

 

Tawheed

He advised giving importance to the call to at-Tawheed (singling out Allaah Alone for worship).

He said, “Because if they love and recognize at-Tawheed then they submit themselves to that which is along with it, and if they free themselves from ash-Shirk (worshipping others along with or other than Allaah) then they free themselves even more from that which is beside it.”

 

 

Uprightness

He advised uprightness (al-Istiqaamah).

And he would say, “If we are upright, we will be victorious, for Allaah has promised us victory.

The Most High says, ﴾ If you help (in the cause of Allaah), He will help you and make your foothold firm ﴿-(Surah Muhammad, Ayat 7)

And the Most High says, ﴾ While as for those who accept guidance He increases their guidance, and bestows upon them piety ﴿ -(Surah Muhammad, Ayat 17)

And you, oh student of knowledge, are from the most worthy of people to be upright so that your discernment (between truth and falsehood) with not be clouded.

Allaah says, ﴾ So when they turned away (from the right path) Allaah turned their hearts away (from the right path). And Allaah does not guide the people who are Fasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient to Allaah) ﴿–(Surah as-Saff, Ayat 5)

And the Most High says, ﴾And whenever there comes down a surah, they look at one another saying, “Does anyone see you? Then they turn away. Allaah has turned away their hearts (from the light) because they are a people who understand not ﴿-(Surah at-Tawbah, Ayat 127)

 

 

Knowledge & Instruction

He urged giving importance to knowledge and instruction.

Once when we came to a chain of narration in which was az-Zuhri, he paused and said, “Az-Zuhri said about knowledge, ‘No one loves it except the men who have the characteristic of masculinity, and no one hates it except those of them who are effeminate.’ And he (az-Zuhri), may Allaah have mercy upon him, would not eat fruit so that his memory would not become weak, and he would say, ‘Whoever desires to attain knowledge all at one time, then all of it will escape him.'” He (Sheikh Muqbil) said, commenting on az-Zuhri’s words, “He spoke the truth when he said, ‘Whoever desires to attain knowledge all at one time then all of it will escape him’ because he who thinks that knowledge will come to him in ten days, or a month, or a year, then boredom will set in and he will not benefit at all.

So it is necessary for the student of knowledge to settle down and devote himself to seeking knowledge. And if he doesn’t understand today, then he will understand tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, if Allaah wills. So strive and be diligent before there comes to you something that will turn you away (from seeking knowledge); for man does not know when something may come to him that will keep him distracted from seeking knowledge.”

 

 

Patience

He encouraged patience with those being called.

He said, “For from them are the ignorant, and from then are the obstinate, and from them are the envious, and from them are the wickedly sinful.

Allaah the Most High says, ﴾…and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply with mild words of gentleness ﴿-(Surah al-Furqaan, Ayat 63)

And the Most High says, ﴾And when they hear al-laghw (dirty, false, evil, vain talk) they withdraw from it and say, ‘To us our deeds and to you, your deeds. Peace be to you, we seek not (the way of) the ignorant ﴿-(Surah al-Qasas, Ayat 55)

So teach the Sunnah until Allaah makes it easy for you with helpers.

Allaah says, “So be patient with a good patience” (Surah al-Ma’aarij, Ayat 5)

And when we came to the hadeeth (narration) of Abu Hurairah in Saheeh Muslim: “The Prophet said to me, {They will continue to question you, Oh Abu Hurairah, until they say, “Here is Allaah- so who created Allaah?” ‘” He (Abu Hurairah) said, “So one day I was in the masjid when there came to me some people of the Bedouins, and they said, ‘Oh Abu Hurairah, here is Allaah- so who created Allaah?'” So he (Abu Hurairah) took some pebbles in his hand and threw them at them. Then he said, “Stand up! My close friend spoke the truth!}

He (Sheikh Muqbil) said, commenting on this hadeeth, “It is necessary to treat the Bedouins with kindness and leniency, and not to be gruff and rough with them. Rather, they should be taught.

 

 

Being Easy On The People

And he would advise being easy on the people, and not making them flee from Allaah’s religion.

He would say, “The student of knowledge should facilitate, and this doesn’t mean that he has authority to do what he likes in Allaah’s religion. Rather, it means that if he finds a concession in the religion he is pleased with it for them Muslims (i.e. because it brings ease to the Muslims). As-Sufyaan ath-Thawree, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, ‘Only the scholar makes it easy for the people. As for making it difficult and hard, then they can all do this.’

And likewise in every day affairs, it is necessary to bind the people to the Book and the Sunnah, and not to make them (these affairs) their greatest worry; and to make the Book and the Sunnah beloved to the people. If they love this, then they will submit themselves to it, and distance themselves from the prohibited things.

And it is feared for the one who makes things difficult that he will turn people away from Allaah’s religion, and will carry a part of the sin. For the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {Make things easy, and not difficult.} (Recorded by al-Bukharee and Muslim, Abu Dawood, and Musnad Imam Ahmad) And he said, {I have been sent with the forbearing Hanifiyyah (the true religion which forbids associating partners with Allaah and is built upon sincere worship of Allaah Alone.)} (Musnad Ahmad, from the narration of Aboo Amaanah. Sheikh al-Albani declared it Saheeh in Silsalat al-Hadeeth as-Saheehah No. 2924)

 

 

Boycotting

And therefore when he (Sheikh Muqbil), may Allaah’s mercy be upon him, would speak concerning the matter of boycotting the Muslim.

He would say, “It is necessary to consider whether your abandoning of him will bring about his guidance, or whether you, by your leaving him, will only increase him in arrogance and aversion; and perhaps he will join the communists, or the socialists, or the Mukaarimah (a sect with Shi’ite beliefs) or other than them from the people of deviance and falsehood. And consider whether the one whom you are abandoning cares about that (i.e. your abandoning of him).

And some of the people have gone beyond the bounds in abandoning, so it is necessary to consider whether it will result in benefit for the person and for Islaam.”

 

 

Separation From One’s Homeland

And when the separation from one’s home became difficult to bear for students, you would see him (Sheikh Muqbil) exhorting them to have patience, and mentioning to them its benefits.

And from his words: “The separation from one’s homeland brings out men, for the Prophet (may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family) emigrated from his homeland, as did his companions. And some of the scholars have said, ‘Knowledge must be sought. And there is much good and blessing in journeying (for knowledge).’ And a person will strive for the thing that is attained only with great hardship; but as for the thing that is convenient for him, then perhaps he will not strive for it, except if he is like Imaam ash-Shawkaani, who did not travel for knowledge because of his parents. However he, may Allaah have mercy upon him, heard from the scholars of Yemen, and Allaah benefited the people by him.

We are now in a time of strangeness, and perhaps the father will mock his son for traveling to seek knowledge, and how many are weak, and how many are oppressed?”

 

 

Reliance In Your Teachers

He would advise his students to place reliance in their teachers, in order that they benefit from them.

I (Umm ‘AbdAllaah) say: And this is the way of the sincere; that they desire benefit from the community, from those who are qualified for that. And ‘AbdAllaah ibn Mubaarak said:

Oh you student of knowledge

            go to Hammad ibn Zayd

then seek knowledge from him

            and bind it firmly with ties

Not like Jahm or Kuthur

            or like ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubaid

And some of them said:

Whoever is seeking the sittings of the righteous

            then go to the gatherings of Ma’sar ibn Kudaam

In it there is tranquility and serenity and its people

            are those of virtue, nobility and steadfastness.

 

 

False Biased Attachments

He warned against the false, biased attachments (al-‘asabiyyah), even with the closest of relatives. He spoke about the hadeeth of Ibn Ma’sud: {He is not from us who slaps the cheeks and rends the juyab (the front of one’s clothes), and makes the ignorant claims of al-jahiliyyah (the period of ignorance before Islaam)}.

Sheikh Muqbil said, “This includes the biased attachment of the ignorant one, the person of partisanship, and the fanatic adherent to a madhab (legal school of jurisprudence). So the Sunnah does not divide, for we do not have division; rather it is the arrogance of al-jahiliyyah which divides. As for what the Messenger of Allaah (Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family) said, {I am the Prophet without falsehood. I am the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib}– then there is no harm (in this sort of attachment) if it does not involve arrogance towards others.”

 

 

Detestable Partisanship

He warned about the detestable partisanship, and the evil smelling (hateful) innovations, and the sittings of its people.

He, rahimahuAllaah, would say, “Cooperation with the people of innovation is what caused the da’wah to become unstable, and what made Afghaanistan a place of slaughter for the Muslims; because they were a mixture (of innovators)…so this one was a Hizbee (a person of partisanship), and this was a Sufee, and this was an Ikhwaanee. So it is necessary to have separation and distancing from every innovator. What we advise is distancing oneself from them, as they are from the people of falsehood and deviation.

As Ibn Qilaabah said, ‘Do not sit with the people of desires and innovation, for I do not feel secure that they would not submerge you in their falsehood, and cause you to doubt some of that which you know.’

 

And I have seen that what breaks the backs of the innovators are two matters:

 The first matter: al-jarh wa at-ta’deel (the use of the science of criticism and praise)

The second matter: Distancing (oneself from them). That is, separating from them. So do not sit with them and do not attend their lectures.”

²

 

 

Blind Following

He (Sheikh Muqbil) advised us to avoid blind following in the religion in general, and from blind following himself in particular.

He would say, “Beware, and do not blind follow me; for who am I that you would blindly follow me? And if we were those who blindly followed, we would blindly follow Ahmad ibn Hanbal, or rather, we would blindly follow Abu Bakr as-Siddiq!”

 

And he would say, “No one blindly follows me except the one who fails.”

The scholars have unanimously agreed that the blind follower is not from the people of knowledge. Ibn ‘Abdal-Barr said this. And Ibn Hazm said, “The similitude of the blind followers is that of a man on a dark night and he is given a lamp. So he extinguishes the lamp and remains floundering (in the darkness).” So this one, Allaah gave him light, and then after that he said, “I will blindly follow.” So it is proper for the student of knowledge to be better than the money changer, for the money changer counts his money and looks at another thing and knows the forged money from that which is not (due to his experience). So likewise it is upon the student of knowledge to be clear-sighted and to know the truth from falsehood and the false from that which is not. And the greatest disease which has entered upon the Muslims is blind following.

His students listened to this advice, and those who claim that his students blindly follow him have perished and lost, for if any of you could have heard their (his students’) clamor and express their views to my father, may Allaah have mercy on him, if they heard from him that which did not agree with their understanding (of an issue). After this can it be said, “They blindly follow him“?! By Allaah, this is certainly obstinacy!

Allaah the Most High says, ﴾They utter nothing but falsehood ﴿ -(Surah al-Kahf, Ayat 5).

And how many a matter did they understand differently than he himself understood?

 

 

Security In The Land

He advised the establishment of security in the land, and not inciting the people against the oppressive rulers; and if one finds clear disbelief (in the ruler) then certain conditions must be met regarding opposing him.

The first: That the Muslims have strength and capability

The second: That the situation does not turn back upon itself so that the battle is then fought between the Muslims, and that one stays in his place while the Muslims fight each other.

The third: That they have self-sufficiency so that they do not need to reach out their hands to America or other than it from the disbelieving countries. Also, to not depend upon some of the rulers of the Muslim countries, for they are treacherous. If it is said to them (by an outside power), “Do not help“, then they will not (they will obey the outside power and refuse to help the Muslims).

 

 

The Reputation Of Islaam

He counseled upholding the reputation of Islaam, and from his words on this subject:

“The lands of disbelief are enemies in this time, because they do not pay the jizyah (the tax paid by non-Muslim inhabitants of disbelieving countries that have fallen into Muslim hands). And it is not permissible to take their wealth, for in this there is harm to Islaam. They will think Islaam is a religion of deception, thievery, and treachery. And those who come late to Islaam because of this say, ‘You steal and lie, and you make promises and then break them.’ Rather, it should be said, ‘Islaam is free from this, and if Muslims are found whom this is their situation, then they are harming their own selves.'”

 

 

Acquiring Beneficial Knowledge

He explained the ways of acquiring beneficial knowledge. He, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,

“The greatest paths by which beneficial knowledge may be attained are:

 

• at-Taqwa (fearing Allaah by fulfilling that which He has commanded and avoiding that which He has forbidden)

As the Most High says, ﴾Oh you who believe! Fear Allaah and believe in His Messenger (Muhammad). He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight) ﴿–(Surah al-Hadeed, Ayat 28)

And the Most High says, ﴾ Oh you who believe! If you obey and fear Allaah, He will grant you a furqaan (criterion to judge between right and wrong) and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you ﴿ –(Surah al-Anfaal, Verse 29)

• al-Ikhlaas (sincere intention of performing an act for Allaah, alone)

For the one who does not have the pure intention is not capable of persisting in that which he is upon, and there comes to him laziness, boredom, and slackness.

Allaah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says, ﴾Surely the religion is for Allaah only ﴿–(Surah az-Zumar, Ayat 3)

And in the Saheehayn (al- Bukhaaree and Muslim, the two books of hadeeth that are the most authentic sources of knowledge after the Qur’aan), on the authority of Jundab ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him. He said, {The Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, said, “He who lets the people hear of his good deeds intentionally, to win their praise, Allaah will let the people know his real intention (on the Day of Resurrection). And he who does good deeds in public to show off and to win the praise of the people, Allaah will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him).}

The path to attaining al-Ikhlaas has matters:

The first of them: Faith in al-Qadr (the Divine pre-decree)

The second of them: Looking at the weakness of a person and his faults- for if he is unable to gain for himself benefit nor repel from himself harm, how can he do so for others?!

The third of them: Abstaining (az-zuhd) from the worldly matters. ³

• at-Tawakkul (relying solely) on Allaah

The Most High says, ﴾And whoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him ﴿–(Surah at-Talaaq. Ayat 3)

And trusting your affairs to Allaah; so, for example, concerning trusting in Allaah in regards to ones residence and marriage.

He, the Most High, says, ﴾And no living, moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (i.e. in uterus, grave). All is in a Clear Book ﴿-(Surat Hud, Ayat 6)

And the Most High says, ﴾And so many a moving, living creature carries not its own provision. Allaah provides for it and you and He is the All Hearer, All Knower ﴿–(Surah al-Ankaboot, Ayat 60)

And our society in which we live does not help us with the good. For your family hinders you, and likewise your wife, and likewise your father. So if you realize this, then we advise you not to waste your time and to persist in that which benefits you as the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {Persist in that which benefits you. Seek Allaah’s help, and do not behave helplessly.} (From Abee Hurairah, in Saheeh Muslim) And as he, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {The servant of Allaah will not move (i.e. on the Day of Judgment) until he is asked about four matters. (and from them): His life and how he spent it.} (at-Tirmidhi, 7331)

• Sitting with the students of knowledge who spend their time wisely, and to discuss and strive to record the fawaaid (benefits) and nawaadir (rare benefits that the student does not often come across). And beware of blind following for blind following is falsehood and blindness.

• Distancing yourself from problems

• Eating of the sweet things and those foods which are hot in nature, such as dates, raisins, honey, ginger, and frankincense, on the condition that one does not take too much (i.e. does so in moderation). And taking too much ginger heats the blood and causes one to be obsessed with delusions from the Shaytaan; and likewise, frankincense.

• Preservation of your physical condition and health. For perhaps a person is tested with illness of the chest and forgets to memorize the Qur’aan. So he should pay attention to what he eats and drinks, and cleanliness within the limits of his capability. And Allaah makes things very easy, and Allaah shows mercy towards the student of knowledge. And there were those from our scholars who would abstain from certain types of foods; for example, az-Zuhri and Muhammad ibn Qaasim al-‘Anbari. (They abstained from) such foods as apples and those types of food whose nature is acidic and cool.

• Standing in prayer in night.”

 

Evil People And Their Close Companions

He warned against sitting with the evil people and their close companions.

He would say, “They have a strong effect on a person, as the Most High says about the inhabitants of Paradise, ﴾They will turn to one another mutually questioning. A speaker from them will say: Verily I had a companion (in the world) who used to say: ‘Are you from among those who believe, that when we die and become dust and bones, shall we (be raised up) to receive reward or punishment according to our deeds?’ (The speaker) said, ‘Will you look down?’ So he looked down and saw him in the depths of the Fire. He said, ‘By Allaah, you have nearly ruined me! Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell) ﴿-(Surah as-Saffat, Ayat 50-57)

And in the Saheehayn on the authority of Abee Moosaa al-‘Ash’aree, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said, “The Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {The similitude of the righteous sitting and the evil sitting is like the seller of perfumes and the blacksmith. As for the seller of perfumes, either you will purchase from him, or you will carry away a good smell. And as for the blacksmith, then either you or your garments will be burned or you will carry away an unpleasant smell.’}

And it is narrated on the authority of Abee Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he said, “The Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {The man is on the religion of his close companion, so let one of you examine whom he takes as a close companion.}

And the poet says:

If you keep company with the people

         then keep company with the best of them

And do not stay with evil people

         and so become evil like them.

Of the man do not ask

         rather ask about whom he keeps company with

For every close friend

         takes guidance from the other.”

 

And he (Sheikh Muqbil) would say, “The satellite dishes and the video and the television are from the evil sittings.”

 

 

Free Mixing

He would warn against the free mixing between the men and women and he would say, “The intermingling in the schools is an offense to education.”

 

 

A Sense Of Shame

He encouraged having a sense of shame. And he would say, “Having a sense of shame is part of excellent character. And the one who has a sense of shame leaves many of the evils. As the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, {If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.} (Recorded in Saheeh al-Bukharee, on the authority of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir al-Ansaaree)

 

 

Gentleness Towards Women

He would encourage gentleness towards the women because of their weakness and inclining disposition and quickness to drift. As the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, said, {Be gentle with the fragile vessels.} (Recorded by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Anas)

And the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, was the best of people towards his family; and he is the one who said, {The best of you is the one who is best to his family and I am the best of you towards my family.}

And he (Sheikh Muqbil) used to encourage that they should be taught, because Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, says, ﴾Oh you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire whose fuel is men and stones ﴿–(Surah at-Tahreem, Ayat 6)

And Allaah, the Most High, says, to his prophet Muhammad, ﴾ And enjoin salaah on your family and be patient in offering them (i.e the prayers). We ask you not a provision; We provide for you. And the good end is for the mutaqoon (pious and righteous persons) ﴿-(Surah TaaHaa, Ayat 132)

And the Most High says, praising Ismaa’eel, upon him be peace, ﴾ And he used to enjoin on his family and his people as-salaah, and His Lord was pleased with him﴿ -(Surah Maryam, Ayat 55)

And teaching the woman results in much good in the way of cooperation in education; for she undertakes the teaching of her children and her family and fills a gap in the midst of the women. Also she takes upon herself a great deal of the establishment of the commanding of the good and forbidding of the evil between the sisters of her community, or by way of writing. And there is an enormous difference and a great contrast between the ignorant woman and the knowledgeable one.

The poet said:

She went eastward and I went westward

   What a great difference between the one going east and the other west

So the knowledgeable, pious woman endeavors to establish a righteous family, while the ignorant woman spreads in the house the ideas of the rabble and common people. And she destroys that which her righteous husband has established from good upbringing and rectification. This is in addition to the division between herself and her husband which results from her desire to keep pace with her society, and she does not respect the boundaries that Allaah has set.

 

 

Supporting The Woman In Seeking Knowledge

And he advised supporting the woman with the good and the seeking of knowledge, by making easy for her that which will help her to seek knowledge. Such as by the father taking the older children with him.

 

 

Lowering The Gaze

He would advise lowering the gaze. When he was asked, “Is looking at the women who is ajnabiyyah (who is not your wife or one of the relatives whom it is impermissible for you to marry) from the minor or major sins?”

He replied, “It is from the minor sins, due to the words of Ibn ‘Abbaas, “I have not seen anything that has more resemblance to the small faults than that which Abu Hurairah reported from the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family, {It has been written for the son of Aadam his portion of fornication. He will without doubt experience this. So the fornication of the eye is the looking (at that which it is sinful to look at), and the fornication of the tongue is to utter what it is unlawful to utter…} (al-Bukharee, Muslim, Musnad Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud) And what is obligatory upon him is that he lower his gaze, because he might be tempted and there is nothing equal to being secure from the temptation. And it is from the sins and all sins are disobedience. And disobedience is departure from that which is correct. Because of this, the one who departs from obedience is called a faasiq (wickedly sinful, rebellious, disobedient person).

 

 

The Label “Wahaabee

He forbade attributing oneself with the label, “Wahaabee”.

And from his exact words, “It is not permissible for anyone to say about himself, ‘I am Wahaabee.’ This is because it is attributing oneself to a person. As for the Sunnah (i.e. to say, ‘I am a Sunni’), then it is an attribution to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him and his family. And likewise, as-Salafeeyah; for it is an attribution to the Salaf as-Saalih (the pious predecessors); that is, what the Salaf were upon from following the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah“

 

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1. Taken from the book, “Nubdha Mukhtasira min Nasaaih waalidee al-‘Alaama Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Wadi’ee wa Seeratuhu al-‘atira” Published by Daar al-Athaar
2. And this benefit was recorded on Friday 1420/3/5
3. Translators note: Sheikh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyyaah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says: Zuhd is leaving that which does not benefit in the hereafter.