I order you with five things which Allah ordered me with

From al-Haarith al-Ash’aree (radiyallaahu ’anhu) who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahi ’alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed Allah - The Most High - ordered Yahyaa Ibn Zakariyyaa with five things; that he should act upon them and order the Children of Israa’eel to act upon them. ’Eesaa Ibn Maryam said to him, ‘Indeed Allah ordered you with five things, that you act upon them, and that you order the Children of Israa’eel to act upon them. So either you order them, or I will order them.’ So Zakariyyaa said, ‘If you precede me in that, I fear that I will be punished, or swallowed up by the earth.’ So he gathered the people in the Mosque of Jurusalem until it was filled, and the people sat upon its walls. He admonished them saying, ‘Indeed Allah has ordered me with five things which I should act upon, and order you to act upon. The first thing is that you should worship Allah and not associate anything along with Him in this worship. Verily one who worships anything along with Allah is like a man who bought a slave with his own wealth - either gold or silver - and said, ‘This is my house and this is my work so give the wages to me. So the slave worked, and gave the wages to other than his owner. So which of you would be pleased for his slaves to be like that? But Allah created you and provides for you, so do not associate anything in worship along with Him.

And I order you with prayer, and when you pray, then do not turn aside.

And I order you with fasting. And that is the like of a man, amongst a group of people, who had a small pouch containing musk. Each of them likes to smell it. And to Allah, the fasting person is better than the smell of musk.

And I order you with Sadaqah (charity). For its like is that of a man taken prisoner by the enemy, so they will take a hold of him and tie his hand to his neck, so he will say, ‘Will you not allow me to ransom myself for you?’ So he gives them small and large amounts to escape from them.

And I order you to make mention and remember Allah a lot. And the like of this is a man being chased by the enemy, who are hastening after him. So he comes to a protected fortress and enters into its protection. Likewise is the case for the servant. For he does not protect himself from Shaytaan except by the remembrance of Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahi ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “I order you with five things which Allah ordered me with: The Jamaa’ah, hearing, obeying, hijrah (migration), and Jihaad in the way of Allah - the Mighty and Majestic. So whosoever separates from the Jamaa’ah by a hand-span, throws off the yoke of Islam from his neck, unless he repents. And whosoever calls with the calls of the days of ignorance, then he is from the horde of the Hellfire.” It was said, “Even if he fasts and prays?” He said, “Even if he fasts and prays. So call with the Call of Allah which Allah gave: The Muslims, the Believers, Worshippers of Allah."

The Prophets sermon on Ramadan

Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (Radhi Allah 'Anh) that Prophet ('Alaihi Salat was-Salam) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha'ban. In it he ('Alaihi Salat was-Salam) said,

"O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgivenesses. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.

Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed!, miserable is the o­ne who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting remember the hunger and thirst o­n the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.

Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if He is asked, and Accepts if they entreat. O people! you have made your conscience the slave of your desires.

Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honour and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajda (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire o­n the Day of Judgement.

O people!, if anyone amongst you arranges for iftar (meal at sunset) for any believer, Allah will reward him as if he had freed a slave, and Allah will forgive him his sins. A companion asked: “but not all of us have the means to do so” The Prophet (SAW) replied: Keep yourself away from Hell-fire though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else.

O people!, anyone who during this month cultivates good manners, will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) o­n the day when feet will tend to slip. For anyone who during this month eases the workload of his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and for anyone who doesn’t hurt others during this month, Allah will safeguard him from His Wrath o­n the Day of Judgement. Anyone who respects and treats an orphan with kindness during this month, Allah shall look at him with kindness o­n that Day. Anyone who treats his kinsmen well during this month, Allah will bestow His Mercy o­n him o­n that Day, while anyone who mistreats his kinsmen during this month, Allah will keep away from His Mercy.

Whomever offers the recommended prayers during this month, Allah will save him from Hell, and whomever observes his obligations during this month, his reward will be seventy times the reward during other months. Whomever repeatedly invokes Allah’s blessings o­n me, Allah will keep his scale of good deeds heavy, while the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whomever recites during this month an ayat (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, will get the reward of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months.

O people!, the gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained, invoke your Lord not to let him dominate you."

Ali ibn Talib (RAA) said: “I asked, ‘O messenger of Allah, what are the best deeds during this month’?” ‘He replied: ‘O Abu-Hassan, the best of deeds during this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden’.”

The purpose of Fasting

by Syed Qutb

{"O you who believe! Fasting was prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may acheive taqwa."}[al-Baqarah; 183]

"...And it is only natural that fasting would be obligated for the same Ummah upon whom Jihaad in the Path of Allah is obligated, in order to establish His way of life on this Earth, and in order to lead humanity, and to become witnesses over the people. So, fasting is the manifestation of this intense, strong will, and it is the manifestation of the human being's connection with his Lord - the connection of obedience and submission - just as it is the manifestation of one rising above all of his material needs and withstanding the pressures and pains of doing such, all in pursuit of Allah's Pleasure.

And all of these are necessary components in preparing the soul to withstand the burdens of the path that is filled with obstacles and hardships, and that is surrounded on each side of it with desires and passions, and which throws in the face of the one traversing it thousands of deceptions!

Of course, this is all in addition to that which time has shown to be the physical benefits of fasting. Even though I generally do not like to connect the obligatory acts of worship and divine injunctions with the physical benefits that are obvious to the eye - since the underlying wisdom in them is to prepare the human spirit for its proper role on Earth, and to condition it for the complete reward that is awaiting it in the Hereafter - with this, I do not want to deny that which science has shown to be the physical benefits of these obligatory acts and injunctions...

And so begins the obligation of answering this call which is beloved to the believers - the call that is mentioned to them along with its underlying reality. Then, it is confirmed and established - after making this call to them - that fasting is an ancient obligation upon the believers in Allah from all religions, and that the primary purpose and goal of fasting is to prepare and condition their hearts to have taqwa, transparency, sensitivity, and fear of Allah:

{"O you who believe! Fasting was prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may acheive taqwa."}

Such is the overall goal and purpose of fasting announced: it is taqwa. So, taqwa is what wakes up in the heart, while it is fulfilling this obligation, the obedience to Allah and the pursuit of His Pleasure. Taqwa is what shields these hearts from ruining one's fast with sins, even those that simply appear in their conscience. And those whom the Qur'an is addressing know the value of taqwa with Allah, as it is a goal that their souls yearn for! And this fasting is simply one path to this goal. As a result, raised before their eyes is a goal and a guiding light that leads them by way of fasting...{so that you may acheive taqwa."}"

['Fi Dhilal al-Qur'an'; 1/167-168]

The Believer Fears No Person!

{“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”} [Al 'Imran; 175]

Ibn Taymiyyah commented (‘Majmu’ al-Fatawa’; 1/77-78):

“So, this verse proves that Satan makes his allies sources of fear, and he causes people to be afraid of them. And the verse shows that it is not permissible for the believer to fear the allies of Satan, and he should not fear people, as it was Said: {“So, do not fear the people, and fear Me…”} [al-Ma'idah; 44] So, we are commanded to fear Allah, and we are prohibited from fearing the allies of Satan. Allah Said: {“…So that men may have no argument against you except those of them that are wrong-doers. So, fear them not, and fear Me!”} [al-Baqarah; 150] So, He prohibited the fear of the wrong-doer, and He commanded us to fear Him.

He also Said: {“Those who convey the message of Allah and fear Him, and fear none except Allah…”} [al-Ahzab; 39] And He Said: {“…and fear Me, alone…”} [an-Nahl; 51]

And some people say: ‘O Lord! I fear You and I fear those who don’t fear You.’ These are nonsensical words, and it is not allowed to say them. Rather, one should fear Allah alone and not fear any person, since whoever does not fear Allah is too low to be feared, as he is a wrong-doer and is from the allies of Satan. So, Allah has forbidden us from having fear of such a person. If it is said that ’such a person can hurt me,’ the response is that he is only hurting you because Allah has set him loose on you, and if Allah seeks to repel his harm from you, He can easily do so. The affair is all with Allah, and He sets people loose upon a person because of his sins, and if you fear Allah and keep your duty to Him and rely on Him, He will protect you from every evil there is and will not allow anyone to have power over you, as He Said: {“And whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.”} [at-Talaq; 3] The fact that someone is given power over you is the result of your sins and your fear of that person. So, if you fear Allah and repent from your sins and seek His Forgiveness, nobody can overpower you, as Allah Said: {“…and Allah will not punish them while they seek His Forgiveness.”} [al-Anfal; 33]

And a narration states that Allah Said: “I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship except Me! I am the King of kings! The hearts and foreheads of all kings are between My Hands. So, whoever obeys Me, I will make the hearts of all kings merciful to him, and whoever disobeys me, I will make them a source of agony for him. So, do not preoccupy yourselves with the abilities of the kings. Rather, repent to Me and obey Me, and I will make them support you.”
In ‘Ighathat al-Lahfan’ (1/94), Ibn Qayyim said:

“From the plots of the enemy of Allah (i.e. Satan) is that he makes the believers afraid of his soldiers and allies. So, they do not strive against them, they do not enjoin what is good, and do not forbid what is bad. This is from his greatest plots for the believers, as Allah has informed us by Saying: {“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”} …Qatadah explained this by saying: “He makes them great and powerful in his heart. This is why Allah Said: {“…So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”} So, the stronger your faith becomes, the weaker the fear in your heart will be of Satan’s allies, and the weaker your faith becomes, the stronger the fear in your heart will be of them.”"

In ‘al-Fawa’id’ (p. 78), he also said:

“There is nothing that exists that can affect something else completely independently and of its own accord. Rather, nothing can affect something without another factor somehow contributing to that effect and an obstacle is removed that prevents that effect from taking place. This applies to matters that can be seen by the eye. It also applies to the invisible and metaphysical, such as the Sun affecting livestock and plants, as this depends on other factors such as the presence of fertile ground, as well as other factors in addition to this factor. Likewise, childbirth depends on many factors besides intercourse, and this rule applies to everything that affects something else. So every creature that is feared or hoped in is at best simply one of many factors that can affect something else, and nothing can affect something in a completely independent fashion except Allah, the Overwhelming One. So, none should be hoped in or feared except He.

This is a concrete proof that attachment, hope, and fear of any but Allah is null. If we were to assume that one can affect something on his own, we would still have to accept that he did not derive this power on his own, and was rather granted it by someone else. So, he has no power of his own, as there is no might nor power except with Allah. He has all might and power in His Hand. So, the might and power for which people are feared are in reality in the Hand of Allah. So, how can we fear and hope in those who have no might or power? In fact, fearing someone and hoping in him is a reason for being afflicted by that very person and being prevented from his mercy, because the more you fear someone other than Allah, the more that person will overpower you, and the higher your hopes are in that person, the more you will be prevented from his mercy.”

ٌRegarding this verse, Sayyid Qutb said in ‘Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an’:

“Indeed, it is Satan who tries to make his allies a source of fear and terror, and to dress them up with the appearance of power and awe. As a result, the believers should be aware of the plot of Satan and impede his attempts. They should not fear these allies of his. Rather, they should fear Allah alone, as He alone is the Mighty, Overwhelming, and Able who should be feared: {“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”} Indeed, Satan is the one who inflates the reputation of his allies and dresses them up with the garments of power and ability, and implants in our hearts the idea that they have the ability to do this and that, and that they can bring about benefit and harm. He does all this to fulfill his own interests: to use them to spread evil and corruption on Earth, as well as to cause people to bow down to them and submit their hearts to them so that nobody would say a word of opposition to their faces, and that nobody would even think of criticizing them or preventing them from evil and corruption.

Satan has an interest in falsehood and evil becoming widespread, and that he appear strong, capable, overwhelming, aggressive, and tyrannical so that no opposition stands to his face, nobody repels him, and nobody overpowers him. Satan has an interest in maintaining things this way. So, under the umbrella of fear, terror, and aggression, his allies carry out on Earth that which brings joy to his eyes! They make good appear as evil and evil appear as good. They spread corruption and falsehood and deception. They stifle out the voice of truth, guidance, and justice. They set themselves up as gods on Earth to support evil and kill off good without anyone daring to confront them or stand up to them or expel them from their positions of power - in fact, without anyone pointing out the falsehood that they have beautified or beautifying the truth that they have painted as ugly.

And Satan is a deceptive plotter who hides behind his allies and spreads fear through them into the hearts of those who fail to protect themselves from his whispers. Here, Allah exposes him and stands him naked without any covering for his plots, and makes his reality plain and clear to the believers - the reality of his plots and whispers - so that they are aware of them. So, they do not fear the allies of Satan, as they are too weak to be feared by a believer who relies on his Lord and His Power.

Indeed, the only power that is to be feared is the power that has the ability to bring about benefit and harm. It is the Power of Allah, and it is the Power that the believers in Allah fear. When they fear it alone - the greatest Power of all powers - no force on Earth can stand in front of them - neither the power of Satan nor the power of the allies of Satan… {“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”}”

Dhikr gives a person strength

Ibn Qayyim said:

"Dhikr gives a person strength so that he can do with dhikr that which he cannot do without it. I saw wonders in the strength of Shaykhul'-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in walking, speech, courage and writing. He used to write in one day what a scribe would write in a week, or more. The troops saw his amazing strength in war. RasulAllah (saw) taught his daughter Fatimah (raa) and Ali (ra) to recite tasbih thirty-three times every night when they went to bed, and to recite tahmid thirty-three times, and to recite takbir thirty-four times, when she asked him for a servant and complained to him about the hardship of grinding corn, working and serving (her family). He taught her that and said: “It is better for you than a servant.” It was said: The one who persists in doing that will find strength in his body that will make him independent of the need for a servant."

(al-Waabil al-Sayyib, 77)

The different importance of the ranks of "the sword" and "the pen" in the (various) dynasties.

Abd Ar Rahman bin Muhammed ibn Khaldun
AL MUQADDIMAH اﻟﻤﻗﺩﻤﻪ

It should be known that both "the sword" and "the pen" are instruments for the ruler to use in his affairs. However, at the beginning of the dynasty, so long as its people are occupied in establishing power, the need for "the sword" is greater than that for "the pen." In that situation, "the pen" is merely a servant and agent of the ruler's authority, whereas "the sword" contributes active assistance.

The same is the case at the end of the dynasty when its group feeling weakens, as we have mentioned, and its people decrease in number under the influence of senility, as we have stated before.543 The dynasty then needs the support of the military. The dynasty's need of the military for the purpose of protection and defense is as strong then as it was at the beginning of (the dynasty) for the purpose of getting established. In these two situations, "the sword," thus, has the advantage over "the pen." At that time, the military have the higher rank. They enjoy more benefits and more splendid fiefs.

In mid-term of the dynasty, the ruler can to some degree dispense with "the sword." His power is firmly established. His only remaining desire is to obtain the fruits of royal authority, such as collecting taxes, holding (property), excelling other dynasties, and enforcing the law. "The pen" is helpful for (all) that. Therefore, the need for using it increases. The swords stay unused in their scabbards, unless something happens and they are called upon to repair a breach. For (purposes) other than that, (swords) are not needed. In this situation, the men of the pen have more authority. They occupy a higher rank. They enjoy more benefits and greater wealth and have a closer and more frequent and intimate contact with the ruler. At such times, (the pen) is the instrument the ruler uses to obtain the fruits of his royal authority. He uses it to supervise and administer his realm and to display its (excellent) condition. At such a time, the wazirs and the military can be dispensed with. They are kept away from the intimate circle of the ruler and have to beware of his moods.

It is in this sense that Abu Muslim wrote the following reply to al-Mansur when he ordered him to come (to him): "And now: We remember the following admonition of the Persians: 'The most fear-ridden thing there is, is the wazirs when the mob has calmed down.' " 544

This is how God proceeds with his servants.

"By it, the entire matter (of religion) is established and maintained.."

Shaykh Abdu'r-Rahman Ibn Hasan Aali-Shaykh said:

"Imam Nawawi said: Know, the concept of enjoining good and forbidding evil has been lost with the passing of time and nothing seems to remain in these times except slight traces while this is an enormously important concern। By it, the entire matter (of religion) is established and maintained। And when deviation increases, the punishment will befall both the righteous and the wicked


When he (Nawawi) said:

“in these times” he was referring to the fifth and sixth generations। If this is the case then, what about the tenth generation and after-wards when foreign concepts have become so deep-rooted?" (Fathu'l-Majid Sharhu Kitabi't-Tawhid)

"We are free of you and of what you worship beside Allah..."

The example of Ibrahim (as) was indeed a shining example and provides an excellent model both in his loyalty to his Lord, to his religion and to the community of the believers, and in his and in his disavowal, even though these included his own father.

The story of Ibrahim's struggle with his own people is like that of all the other Messengers. He called them to something better than what they had, to the worship of Allah alone, to the devotion of worship to Him Alone, to the rejection of every other object of worship other than Allah.

“And mention Ibrahim in the Book, surely he was of good faith, a prophet. When he said to his father: Father why do you worship what can neither see, nor hear, nor do you any good? Father, knowledge has come to me that has not come to you, so follow me, I will lead you on the single path. Father, do not be a servant of Satan, surely he is an enemy of the all Merciful God. Dear father, I fear that the punishment of Allah should descend upon you, that you should become a minion of Satan. He said: Would you, Ibrahim, find our gods wanting? And will you not now desist, or shall I have to pelt you with stones. Go now, for we have come to the parting of the ways. He said: Upon you be peace, I will seek your forgiveness from my Lord, He has indeed been to me ever gracious. I sever my bonds with all of you and with what you worship beside Allah. And I call upon my Lord and hope that in so doing I should not remain thus burdened.' And he withdrew from them and from what they used to worship beside Allah, and We blessed him with Ishaq and Yaqub, each of them We made a Prophet.” (Maryam 19/41)

This was the beginning of the da'wah of Ibrahim (as), which he began by inviting those closest to him. When they did not respond he abandoned them to the falsehood in which they reveled; obstructing, rejecting and denying the glad tidings which he brought, for surely had he remained with them in the midst of their society, and been prevented from leaving their land, then surely they would have succeeded in advancing their call to falsehood before him.

The Qur'an continues to describe the mission of Ibrahim (as), saying that he presented them with every possible kind of evidence. Allah says:

“And tell them the story of Ibrahim when he said to his father and his people: What is this that you are worshiping? They said: We worship idols, and to them wear ever devoted. He asked: Do they hear you when you call, do they help you, can they harm you. They said: No, but we found our fathers doing this. He said: Do you observe what you have been worshiping, you and your fathers and those before them? They are all my enemies, except for the Lord of the Worlds." (ash-Shu'ara 26/70-77)

When they could produce no kind of proof for what they said they resorted to blind tradition, to what their fathers and grandfathers had done. Ibrahim (as) said to them: "I am the enemy of these gods of yours." It is the same thing that Nuh (as) said, challenging his people, for he said:,

“Decide then upon your course of action, you and your gods. Let there be no doubt about it in your minds. Then do your worst and give me no respite.” (Yunus 10/71)

Likewise, Huud (as) said:

“Allah is my witness, as are you, that I deny all that you worship beside Him. So connive against me all of you and give me no respite. Allah is my rock, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that it is in His grip. Indeed my Lord is on the Straight Path.” (Huud 11/54-56)

And again about Ibrahim (as) said:

“You have a shining example in Ibrahim and those with him when they said to their people: We are free of you and of what you worship beside Allah. We renounce you. There has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred enduring until you believe in Allah alone." (al-Mumtahina 60/4)

The most illustrious of our scholars, those of the first generations of the Muslims, have spoken about this doctrine of Ibrahim (as), which they described as saying, there can be no alliance without enmity. Thus, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya said: "Alliance in the absence of enmity is incorrect. Allah has said about our father Ibrahim: "Do you observe what you have been worshiping, you and your fathers and those before them? They are all my enemies, except for the Lord of the Worlds." Ibrahim's alliance and amity towards Allah would be unjustified without the establishment of this enmity. There is no ally other than Allah, and there is no alliance except in renunciation of all objects of worship other than Him. He said, And when Ibrahim (as) said to his father and his folk: "I renounce all that you worship except He that created me. Surely He will guide me. And he made it a word enduring after him, perhaps they would to their Lord return.” (az-Zukhruf 43/26-28) Rather it was the allegiance to Allah and the severance from all that is worshiped beside him which was the word enduring after him passed down through the prophets and their followers, one after the other. It is the 'word', 'there is no god but Allah', the heritage of Ibrahim until the Day of Resurrection." (al-Jawab al-Kaafi, 213; see also Tafsir Ibn Kathir 7/212 and Majmu'at at-Tawhid, 133)

Imam Tabari remarks: "O followers of Prophet Muhammad (saw), you have had a shinning example in the act of Ibrahim (as) and of those who were with him in the matter of exposing the disbelievers, declaring enmity towards them and in abandoning relations with them, except for his words to his father: "I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah for you)." this is not part of the exemplary behavior of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) since it refers to a promise he made his father before it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah. After this was clear to him he freed himself completely of him, so free yourselves also from the enemies of Allah. Do not take any of them as protectors, as allies, until they believe in the One God and renounce worship of all else. Show them clearly your enmity and hatred." (Tabari, Tafsir, 28/62)

As a result of Ibrahim's declaration, dark forces gathered to plot his death. Throughout history and across the ages, this is always there action of those who reject the call to Allah, piqued by the simple fact that someone has called others to the worship of Allah alone. Similarly, in the story of the companions of the Trench, Allah (awj) says:

“And they had no complaint against them except that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise.” (al-Buruj 81/8)

So the people of Ibrahim (as) prepared a fire for him to be burnt but, encompassed by the protection of Allah, he remained unharmed, since the fire was commanded to temper itself and to give safety to him.

“They said: Let us build a fire for him and cast him to the flames. So they plotted a plot against him, but and We made them the lowest of the low.” (as-Saffat 37/97-98)

"In advancing their own theories and counter-arguments they assumed a position of equality with the Divine Source of Guidance, and neither did the proof that they had been shown prevent them from using force in order to advance their foolishness, their delusion, so Allah entrapped them and raised up His Word and His Religion, as the Qur'an relates: "They said: Burn him and stand by your gods, if you will be doing. We said: "O fire, be coolness and peace, safety for Ibrahim'. And they wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst of losers." (Ibn Kathir, Qasas al-Anbiyya, 1/181; see also details of the story in the same source al-Anbiyya 21/68-70)

So also, the Last of the Prophets Muhammad (saw) was directed to follow the religion of his father Ibrahim (as):

“Then We revealed to you (Muhammad) to follow the religion of Ibrahim Hanifan (Islamic monotheism, to worship none but Allah). Indeed he was not of al-Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers).” (an-Nahl 16/123)

“Say (O Muhammad) Allah has spoken the truth; so follow the religion of Ibrahim Hanifan. Indeed he was not of al-Mushrikun.” (Al-i Imran 3/95)

“They said: Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided. Say (to them Muhammad): Nay, only the religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan, and he was not of al-Mushrikun.” (al-Baqarah 2/135)

"Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who follow him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe. And Allah is the protector of the believers.” (Al-i Imran 3/68)

“Who is more upright in religion than one who submits himself to Allah; and he is a Muhsin (a good-doer). And follows the religion of Ibrahim Hanifan. And Allah has taken Ibrahim as His intimate friend.” (an-Nisa 4/125)

"And strive hard in Allah's Cause, as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not made for you any hardship in religion. This is the religion of your father Ibrahim, he who has named you Muslims before.” (al-Hajj 22/78)

“And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who be-fools himself?” (al-Baqarah 2/130)

This is what Allah has said to the followers of Muhammad (saw), about the deeds of Ibrahim (as) who acted incomplete sincerity and depended utterly upon Allah Alone. Who worshiped only Allah and denounced all disbelief and those who followed it, who opposed all falsehood and its minions.

The First Friday Sermon after the Liberation of Quds by Sultan Salahuddeen Ayubi (May Allah have mercy on him)

The first Friday sermon that was delivered after the liberation of Jerusalem from the occupation of the Crusaders at the hands of Sultan Abi Al Muzaffar Yousuf Bin Ayyub. Salahuddin Al Ayyubi, on 4th Shaban 583 H, corresponding to the 10th of October 1187, delivered by shaikh Mahyudeen Muhammad Bin Zakee Adeen Ali Al Qurayshi (May Allah have mercy on him), that has been related in the majestic book of the Anas in the Tareekh Al Quds “History of Quds” and Al Khaleel The friend” of Mujeeruddin Al Hanbali (May Allah have mercy on him).

When he advanced (i.e. shaikh Muhyadeen) on the pulpit he began with Surah Fatihah and
recited it till the end

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

And said, (Surah Al Anaam, Verse 45)

Of the wrong-doers the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.

Then he read from (Surah Al Anaam Verse 1-3

Praise be Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light. Yet those who reject Faith hold (others) as equal, with their Guardian-Lord.
He it is created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for you). And there is in His presence another determined term; yet ye doubt within yourselves!
And He is Allah in the heavens and on earth. He knoweth what ye hide, and what ye reveal, and He knoweth the (recompense) which ye earn (by your deeds).

Then he recited from the (Surah Isra Verse 11)

The prayer that man should make for good, he maketh for evil; for man is given to hasty (deeds).

Then from (Surah Al Kahf Verse 1-6)

Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness:
(He hath made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward,
Wherein they shall remain for ever:
Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son":
No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!
Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message.

Then he read from (Surah Nahl Verse 59)

With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on?

Then he recited from (Surah Fatir Verse 1-2)

Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things.
What Allah out of his Mercy doth bestow on mankind there is none can withhold: what He doth withhold, there is none can grant, apart from Him: and He is the Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom.

Then he began the Sermon and said:

First Khutbah (sermon):

All praise be to Allah, the glorifier of Islam with His victory, disgracer of disbelief with His might, and resolver of matters by His commands, and the perpetuator of bounties through His thanks, and the tempter of the disbelievers with His cunning who has destined days as exchange (amongst people) with His justice, and made the outcome for the pious with His grace, and has shaded His slaves by His shadow, and has exhibited His religion over all religions… So Powerful over His slaves that He isn’t argued, and apparent over His creation that He is not competed, and the matters go in accordance with His wishes that He doesn’t consult, and the Ruler of what He wants that He cannot be protected against. Praise him for His victory and Manifestation, and His reinforcement of His auliyaa (allies) and His victory for His ansar (helpers), and for the purification of Jerusalem from the impurities of idolatry and harms. He has truly praised Him, who has felt the praise from the secret of his inner self and the apparent of his outer self. And I bear witness that there is no God Except Allah, He has no partner, unto Him is all praise, He is the Self-sufficient, He does not beget nor is He begotten, and there is no one like Him. This is the witness of the ones who have purified their hearts with the Oneness of Allah, and pleased Allah with it, And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, the remover of Doubts, and the refuter of Shirk, and the Denier of lies, who was taken for a journey by night from the Sacred mosque (Masjid Al Haraam) to the Farthest mosque (Masjid Al Aqsa) and was ascended to the High Skies

So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up. (Surah Najm, Verse 14)

Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his successor, Caliph Abu Bakr as Siddiq, the forerunner to belief and on the Ameer-Al Muminin Umar Bin AL Khattab…the first to lift from this land the rites of the Cross and on Ameer Al Muminin Usmaan Bin Afaan, ‘the one with 2 lights’ the compiler of the Qur'an, and the Ameer Al Muminin Ali Bin Abi Talib, the agitator of idolatry and the destroyer of the idolaters, and on his family and his companions and the ones who follow him with righteousness. O people, take glad tidings for the pleasure of Allah, which is the ultimate aim, and the highest of ranks, for Allah has facilitated on your hands to restore this lost (property- Masjid Al Aqsa) of the lost Ummah and has returned it to its residence of Islam after its abuse at the hands of the idolaters for about a 100 years, and the purification of this house, where Allah has permitted His name to be exalted and remembered, and the wiping off of idolatry from its ways after it had extended on it lobbies, and its rites had settled in it, and for having raised its bases with tawhid, for it was actually based on it and for having strengthened its base with blessings. It has been built on piety from between its hands and from behind it, for it is the homeland of your father Ibrahim and the Ascent of your Prophet (peace be upon him) and your Qiblah towards which you used to pray at the beginning of Islam, and it is the abode of the Prophets and the destination of the Awliya (righteous), and the graveyard of the Prophets and the descent of the revelation, and the place where descends the obligations and prohibitions, and it is the land of summoning and the crescendo of propagation. It is in the holy land that Allah has mentioned in His articulated book, and it is the Masjid Al Aqsa where RasulAllah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed with the closest Angels (to Allah) and it is the country where He sent His slave and Prophet and His word that he revealed to Maryam and His soul Isa, who He graced with His message and honored with Prophet hood, but did not shunt him from the rank of slavery to Him, for the Almighty has said:

Christ disdaineth nor to serve and worship Allah, nor do the angels, those nearest (to Allah): those who disdain His worship and are arrogant,-He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer). (Surah An Nisa, Verse 172)

No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him: (if there were many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah! (He is free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him!
He knows what is hidden and what is open: too high is He for the partners they attribute to Him! (Surah Al Mominoon, Verse 91-92)

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."
(Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah, and his beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay, ye are but men,- of the men he hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)"
O People of the Book! Now hath come unto you, making (things) clear unto you, Our Messenger, after the break in (the series of) our messengers, lest ye should say: "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil)": But now hath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil). And Allah hath power over all things. (Surah Al Maidah, Verse 17-19)

It is the first of the two Qiblah and the second of the Holy mosques and the third of the Holy lands, journeys are not made after the 2 Mosques except o it, and aims are not aught after the two abodes except to it. For had it not been that Allah has chosen you from His slaves and exalted you from the citizens of this land, Allah wouldn’t have specified you with this preference, in which no one can compete with you and no one can exceed you in glory, so Tuba (glad tidings) to you for an army at whose hands the Prophetic miracles occurred and the incidents of Badr and the determinations of the Siddeeq, and the victories of Umar, and the armies of Usman, and the terrorizing of Ali. You renewed for Islam the days of Qadisiyah, and the epics of Yarmuk, and the duals of Khaibar, and the attacks of Khalid.

So may Allah reward you on behalf of His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the best of rewards, and thanks to you for what you sacrificed of your souls in combating the enemies, and may Allah accept your shedding of your blood as a closeness to Him and may Allah reward you with Paradise for it is the land of the joyous, so appreciate this bounty, May Allah have mercy on you, the appreciation it deserves and rise obediently to Allah for its obligatory to thank Him for it, for it is His compassion on you that He has appointed you with this reward, and qualified you for this favor, for this is the victory for which the doors of the skies have opened, and the darkness has lighted due to its occurrence, and the close Angels are delighted, and the eyes of the Prophets and the messengers are cooled.

Is it not a bounty that He has made you the army at whose hands the Jerusalem is freed at the end of time, and the army who stood by their swords since the spread of the Message of iman, for Allah is about to free at your hands similar places and that the gratitude be to the people of the greenery more than the gratitude to the people of the barren. Isn’t this the house that Allah has mentioned in His book and stipulated in His Precise Message? For Allah has said,

Glory to (Allah) who did take his servant for a journey by night from the sacred mosque to the farthest mosque whose precincts we did bless, -In order that we might show him some of our signs: for he is the one who heareth and seeth (all things)…. (Surah Bani Israel, Verse 1)

Isn’t it the house for which Allah held the sun on Yushaa (peace be upon him) that it sets and separated in between its steps so that conquering it is enabled and neared? Isn’t this the house which Allah the Almighty ordered Musa to order his followers to rescue it but none answered except 2 and Allah got angry on them for that and made them wanderers as a punishment of forgetfulness. So praise Allah who guided your determination for what the Children of Israel backtracked whereas they were preferred on the worlds?

He caused you to do what other nations failed before you, from the previous nations. And assembled your word which was divided, and enriched you with what was required. Let it humble you (enough) that Allah has mentioned you to a gathering who are with Him and made you, after formerly being solders with no identity, His army.

The descended Angels have thanked you for what you have gifted this house from the pleasance of tawhid (oneness), and the spreading of holiness and glorification, and for your wiped of their (Christians) ways of harm of Idolatry and trinity, and the dissolute and wicked belief. So now the Angels of the skies ask forgiveness for you, and pray for you blessed of prayers, so save, may Allah bless you, this bounty with the fear of Allah that which whomsoever holds on to it is safe and who takes refuge with its tab, has succeeded and is protected. And beware of following fantasies, and the signs of deterioration, and retaliating sternforemost, and recoiling from the enemy, and grab this opportunity to remove the remains of the torment (disbelief), and fight in the way of Allah, the true Jihaad, and sell yourself O the slaves of Allah for His pleasure for He has made you the best of His slaves, beware that the Satan makes you stumble and makes despotism enter unto you so you start imagining this victory to have come by your sharp swords, and by your excellent horses, and by your slaughtering (the enemies) in the lands of slaughter, No BY Allah this victory is only from Allah the Almighty, the Just, so beware O slaves of Allah, after Allah has graced you with this great victory, and high achievement, and honored you with this apparent conquest, and has bound your hands with His firm rope, that you do perform any Major sin, and that you commit any great disobedience.

Jihaad… Jihaad for it is the best of your worships, and the most honorable of your habits, triumph Allah, Allah will triumph you. Save Allah, Allah will save you, and remember Allah, Allah will remember you, and thank Allah, He will increase and thank you. Terminate the evil and cut off the root of the enemies, and purify the rest of the earth from these impurities that has angered Allah and his messenger and cut all the branches of Disbelief and uproot its base, for the days have called you for retaliation for Islam, and the nation of Muhammad, Allah is the greatest, triumph of Allah and His victory, domination of Allah and subjugation… Allah has disgraced those who disbelieved.

And know, May Allah have mercy on you, that this is the chance, so grab it, and a prey so hunt it, and booties so take it, and a mission so go out for it and excel in it, and advance your determination to it and prepare for it, for the matters are by their outcomes, and the gains by its munitions, for Allah has triumphed you on this disillusioned enemy and they were like you (in numbers) or more, so how is it after Allah has multiplied one of you to 20, For the Almighty said

O Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding.
For the present, Allah hath lightened your (task), for He knoweth that there is a weak spot in you: But (even so), if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred, and if a thousand, they will vanquish two thousand, with the leave of Allah: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (Surah Al Anfaal, Verse 65-66)

May Allah help us and you to follow His commands, and restrain us from what He has restrained, and aid us O Muslims with victory from Him.

If Allah helps you, none can overcom e you: if he forsakes you, w ho is there, after that, that can help you?.. (Surah Aal Imran, Verse 160)

The most honorable of sayings that is said at any station, and the deepest penetrating arrows launched from the bows of speech and the most understandable saying that appeals to the mind is the saying of the One Almighty, the All-Knower, Allah the Exalted has said

When the qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive mercy.. (Surah Al Aaraf, Verse 204)

I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful

Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, declares the praises and glory of Allah: for he is the exalted in might, the wise..… .It is he who got out the unbelievers among the people of the book from their homes at the first gathering (of the forces). Little did ye think that they would get out: and they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! but the (wrath of) Allah came to them from quarters from which they little expected (it), and cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their dwellings by their ow n hands and the hands of the believers. Take warning, then, o ye with eyes (to see)!. (Surah AL Hashr, Verse 2)

Then he said“

I command you and my self, O the Slaves of Allah with what Allah has ordered from obeying with goodness so obey Him, and forbid you and myself from what Allah has forbade, from the ugliness of disobedience so don’t disobey Him, I say these words of mine and seek forgiveness from Allah the Great, for me and you and for all the Muslims of the world, so seek forgiveness from Him.”

the second part of the khutbah by Salaahudeen al Ayyubi

Then he delivered the second Khutbah (sermon) as is usual, shortened, then he prayed for the Imam Nasir, Khalifa Al Asr and said,

Second Khutbah (sermon)

O Allah, prevail the rule of your slave –the submitter to Your might, the grateful to Your bounties, the acknowledger to Your ability, Your sharp sword, and glowing star and the protector of Your religion, the defender, and the guard on Your prohibited sacredness, the Esteemed Master, the King Al Nasir, the unifier of the word of faith, and the suppressor of the slave and Cross, the Sultan of the Deen (religion) and the Duniya (world), the Sultan of Islam and Muslims, and the purifier of Jerusalem from the hands of the idolaters, Abi Al Muzaffar Yusuf Bin Ayyuub resuscitator of the State of Ameer Al Muminin.

O Allah pervade his simple land, and surround your Angels around his flag, and reward him aptly on behalf of the Hanafi religion, and thank on behalf of the creed of Muhammad his determination and march. O Allah, preserve for Islam its soul, and preserve for belief its containment, and spread in the East and West its message. O Allah how You liberated on his hands Jerusalem after we assumed what we assumed, and the Muslims were put to trial, conquer at his hand nearest of the earth and farthest of it, and make him possess (control) the matter of disbelief and their forelocks. Let not there remain a unit he encounters, except that he disrupted it, nor a group except that he scattered them, neither a group after group except that he put them with who preceded them. O Allah, thank on behalf of Muhammad (peace be upon him) the Sultan, and spread in the East and West his order and prohibition. O Allah guide through him the centers of the lands and its sides, and corners of the countries and its folds, O Allah disgrace through him the cores of the disbelievers and smear (in dust) through him the noses of the dissolute, and spread peace with his rule in the region, and spread the units of his soldiers in all directions. O Allah, retain the rule for him on his heel until the Day of Judgment, and protect his righteous successors, and his brothers, who bloom with determination and establishment, and aid his rule with their presence, and decree to glorify his and their supporters. O Allah as you have shown at his hand to Islam this goodness of days, and is renewed with the passage of months and years, so grant him the immortal rule (land) that does not perish in the House of the pious, and answer His prayer in his saying

"My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.'' (Surah AnNaml, Verse 19)

Then he prayed with what was the norm and descended and established the prayer

May Allah grant us the honor of listening the Friday sermon at the liberation of Aqsa again!

They are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other

Tafseer Ibn Abbaas

“Muhammad is RasulAllah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward.” (al-Fath 49/28)

(Muhammad is RasulAllah) and this without the witness of Suhayl Ibn 'Amr. (And those with him) i.e. Abu Bakr, the first who believed in him and called the disbelievers with him to the religion of Allah (are hard against the disbelievers) this refers to 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab who was tough with the enemies of Allah, strong in the religion of Allah and a defender of Allah's Messenger (and merciful among themselves) and dutiful towards each other; this refers to 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan who was very dutiful and merciful towards the Muslims, and spent much of his money on them. (Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing) in prayer (and falling prostrate (in worship)) this refers to 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib who abundantly bowed and prostrated in prayer, (seeking bounty) reward (from Allah and (His) acceptance) acceptance of their Lord through Jihaad; this refers to Talhah and al-Zubayr who were very hard on, and tough with, the disbelievers. (The mark of them is on their foreheads from) the sign of their staying awake is on their faces from (the traces of prostration) from repeated prostration at night; this refers to Salman al-Farisi, Bilal, Suhayb and their fellow believers. (Such is their likeness) their description (in the Torah and their likeness) and their description in (in the Gospel like as sown corn) this is the Prophet (pbuh) (that) Allah (sendeth forth its shoot) i.e. Abu Bakr, the first to believe in him and the first to face the enemies of Allah (and strengtheneth it) and assists him; this is 'Umar who assisted the Prophet (pbuh) with his sword against the enemies of Allah (and riseth firm) He became strong with the wealth of 'Uthman which he used in Jihaad in the way of Allah (upon its stalk) and spread his message among Quraysh through 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, (delighting the sowers) the Prophet (pbuh) was pleased with Talhah and al-Zubayr (that He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them) by means of Talhah and al-Zubayr. It is also said that from Allah's saying (Muhammad is RasulAllah…) up to here was revealed in praise of those who took part in the swearing of allegiance at Ridwan and the sincere, obedient prophetic Companions in general. (Allah hath promised, unto such of them as believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (and do good works) and do acts of obedience in private between themselves and their Lord, (forgiveness) of their sins in this world and in the Hereafter (and immense reward) and abundant reward in the Garden'.

The defiance of Abu Bakr

Once during his caliphate, Ali ibn Abi Taalib stood up before the people and delivered the following sermon:

"O people, who is the bravest of all people?" Those that were present answered, "You are, O Leader of the Believers." Ali said, "Lo, I never entered into a duel with another man except that I came out victorious over him. And yet, the bravest of all people was none other than Abu Bakr Ra. We once build a command centre for RasulAllah SAW, and we said, "Who will stay with RasulAllah SAW, so as to prevent the polytheists from attacking him? By Allah, not a single one of us approached (to volunteer for the job) except for Abu Bakr Ra, who, with his sword unsheathed, stood over the head of RasulAllah SAW. Abu Bakr Ra then fought against anyone who tired to attack.

I remember the time when I saw the Quraish opposing the Prophet SAW and physically shaking him violently, and all the while they were saying to him, "Have you taken our Gods and made them into one God!" By Allah, not a single one of us stepped forward (to defend him) except for Abu Bakr Ra, who struggled against and struck one man and pushed violently another; all the while he was saying (to them), "Woe upon you, are you fighting against a man because he says: My Lord is Allah?" Ali Ra then lifted the robe he was wearing, and he began to cry until his beard became soaked in tears. He then continued, "I ask you by Allah, was the believer from the family of the Pharaoh better or Abu Bakr?" The attendees of the gathers then began to cry along with Ali Ra, who said, "By Allah, Abu Bakr for an hour is better than the believer of the family of the Pharaoh even if clones of him were to fill the entire earth: the latter kept his faith a secret while the former openly proclaimed his faith"

Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (3/271, 272)

Silence is Golden...quotes from Nawawi's Kitab Al-Adhkaar

Imam Shafi' said: "When one wishes to say something, then it is upon him to think before he speaks. If there is beneficial good in what he will say, then he should speak. If he has doubt about that, then he must not speak until that doubt is removed."

al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad said: "Whoever limits his speech to be in accordance with his actions will (surely) lessen his speech on that which doesn't concern him."

Imam Shafi' adviced one of his students: "Do not speak about things that do not concern you, for indeed, every time that you speak a word, it takes control of you and you do not have any control over it!"

Abdullah ibn Mas'ood said: "There is nothing that deserves to be imprisoned more than the tongue."

Abul-Qaasim al-Qushayree said: "Remaining silent is salvation and that is a fundamental principle. Staying quiet at the appropriate time is a characteristic of manhood, just as speaking when it is right to do so is from the most honorable of manners."

10 ahadith about imitating the practices of the nations that came before

These types of narrations come that inform us of future events, they are meant as an indhar (warning), not iqrar (approval). These mawquf narrations from the Companions have the ruling of being marfu' (attributed to the Prophet), since they discuss issues of the Unseen, and the Companions would not speak about such issues from their own opinion. Rather, they took these words from the Prophet, and Allah Knows best.

1 - Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated that RasulAllah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

"Indeed, you will follow the practices of those who came before you - handspan by handspan, armspan by armspan - to the point that if they follow the lizard into its hole, you would follow them in this." We said: "O Messenger of Allah, are you referring to the Jews and Christians?" He replied: "Who else?"

[Reported by Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim]

2 - al-Mustawrad bin Shaddad said that RasulAllah said:

"This nation (i.e. the Muslims) will not leave anything from the practices of the people who came before it except that it will adopt them."

[Reported by at-Tabarani, and al-Haythami said: "Its narrators are trustworthy."]

3 - Hudhayfah said:

"You will follow ways of those who came before you, step by step. You will not avoid their path, and it will not avoid you."

[Reported by al-Ajuri in 'ash-Shari'ah']

4 - He also said:

"There is nothing that Bani Isra'il did except that you will do the same." So, a man asked: "Will there be homosexuality amongst us?" He replied: "Yes."

[Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah]

5 - 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said:

"By Allah, you resemble Bani Isra'il more than anyone else. You will not leave a single thing that they did except that you will also do it, and there will not be a single characteristic that they had except that you will also have it."

[Reported by Muhammad bin Nasr al-Maruzi in 'as-Sunnah']

6 - Ibn Mas'ud and Hudhayfah both said:

"You resemble Bani Isra'il more than anyone else in their character and practice. You imitate them in their actions step by step, except that I am not sure whether or not you will worship a calf!"

[Reported by al-Baghawi and Ibn Abi Shaybah]

7 - Ibn 'Abbas said:

"There isn't anything that was with Bani Isra'il except that it will also be with you."

[Reported by Nu'aym bin Hammad and Muhammad bin Nasr al-Maruzi]

8 - 'Ubadah bin as-Samit said:

"By Allah, there is nothing about those who came before you except that it will also be with you."

[Reported by Muhammad bin Nasr al-Maruzi]

9 - Ibn 'Umar said:

"You will adopt the practices of those who came before you - the good and the bad."

[Reported by al-Maruzi]

10 - al-Walid said that he was walking with Abyad, one of the Companions of the Prophet, to visit a friend:

"So, we entered the mosque, and we saw the people praying. I said: "Praise be to Allah who has caused Islam to unite white and black people!" So, Abyad said: "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the Day of Resurrection will not come until you adopt some practices of every religion." I said: "Will this be because people will leave Islam?" He replied: "They will pray like you pray, they will sit in your gatherings, they will live amongst you, and they will adopt some of the practices of every religion.""

[Reported by 'Abdan in the book 'as-Sahabah']

Reflecting Over Punished Nations

'Abdullah bin 'Umar narrated that RasulAllah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and his Companions passed by al-Hijr, which was the location of the dwellings of the people of Thamud. So, the Prophet turned to them and said: "Do not approach the dwellings of these people who have been punished except that you are weeping. If you will not weep while doing so, do not approach them lest you be struck with the same punishment they were struck with."

This was reported by al-Bukhari (433) and Muslim (2970).

In 'Fath al-Bari' (1/632), Ibn Hajar commented with the following:

"The motive for this fear is that weeping will push one to think and reflect. So, it is as if he commanded them to reflect over things that one has no choice but to weep over, such as Allah's Ordainment that these people would remain upon kufr while simultaneously allowing them to flourish and establish themselves on Earth, be heedless for such a long period of time, and then have His Anger and extreme punishment befall them, and He is the controller of the hearts. So, the believer can never feel secure from his outcome being the same as this.

Reflection should also occur over how these people responded to Allah's blessings upon them with kufr and the failure to use their intellect to believe in Him and obey Him. So, whoever passes by their dwellings and fails to reflect over what should bring one to tears has imitated them in their actions, and this is a sign of the hardness of his heart and lack of humility. So, such a person is not protected from following them in their actions and thus being stricken with what they were stricken with. With this, we have a response to the question of those who ask: how can the punishment of the transgressors befall those who don't transgress? This is because such a person is not safe from becoming a transgressor and being punished for his transgression.

This hadith also encourages taking oneself to account, as well as the prohibition of living in the lands of those who were punished, and that one should proceed quickly when passing by them. This was also indicated in the verse: {"And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it became clear to you how We dealt with them..."} [Ibrahim; 45]"

In his commentary on 'Sahih Muslim' (9/266), an-Nawawi said:

"This shows the encouragement of taking oneself to account when passing by the dwellings of the transgressors and the places where they were punished. The same applied to the Valley of Muhassar, as this was where the People of the Elephant were destroyed. So, whoever passes by such places should engage in reflection over his own actions, have fear, be weeping, and think about these people and their fate, and he should ask Allah to protect him from that."

al-Bukhari (3379) and Muslim (2971) continued to relate on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that when the Companions arrived at al-Hijr, they drank from its wells and used its water to knead dough. So, RasulAllah commanded them to spill whatever drinking water they had collected from these wells and to feed the dough to their camels, and to instead drink from the well that the she-camel of Prophet Salih used to drink from.

an-Nawawi commented (9/266) by saying: "This shows that they avoided the wells of the wrongdoers and instead sought the blessing of using the wells of the righteous."

importance of chosing trustworthy scholars

The first thing that the seeker of knowledge must do is to choose trustworthy scholars, people who are religiously-committed, trustworthy and pious. He should only acquire knowledge from those who are qualified, and those who are truly qualified are those who have the knowledge and act upon it, by obeying Allah and adhering to His laws and commands. The teacher has the greatest effect on the student, so he should have the quality of fear of Allah (taqwa).

"It was narrated that Ibrahim al-Nakha’i said: When they came to a man to acquire knowledge from him, they would look at his character, his prayer and his situation, then they would take knowledge from him." (al-Jaami’ li Akhlaq al-Raawi, 1/127)

Imam Nawawi said: "It should not be learned except from one who is fully qualified and whose religious commitment is apparent, whose knowledge is proven to be sound and whose piety is well known. Muhammad ibn Sirin, Malik ibn Anas and others among the salaf said: This knowledge has to do with religion, so look to whom you take your religion from." (al-Tibyan fi Adaab Hamalat al-Qur’an, 13)

al-Zarnuji said: "He should choose the most knowledgeable, the most pious and the oldest, as Abu Hanifah chose Hammaad ibn Abi Sulayman after much thinking and consideration, and he said: I found him to be a patient, forbearing and dignified old man." (Ta’lim al-Muta’allim, 7)

Ibn Jamaa’ah al-Kinaani said: "The seeker of knowledge should look and pray istikhaarah, asking Allah for guidance concerning the one from whom he will take knowledge and learn good attitude and manners; if possible he should be one who is fully qualified, and is proven to be kind, compassionate and chivalrous, and who is well known for his chastity and piety, and who is well versed and has deep understanding. The student should not continue to learn when there is a shortcoming in (the teacher’s) piety or religious commitment, or his attitude is not good. It was narrated from one of the salaf: This knowledge has to do with religion, so look to whom you take your religion from. If you explore the lives of the earlier and later generations, you will find that the student usually only benefits and succeeds if the Shaykh is clearly sincere towards his students. Even if you look at books, you will find that you will benefit from books authored by those who are more pious and have less interest in worldly gains."

(Tadhkirah al-Saami wa’l-Mutakallim, 133)

Tawhid is not merely Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah

Shaykhu'l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “The Tawhid with which the Messengers came with comprises of affirming that Divinity and worship belong to Allah alone, such that a person witnesses that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and that none is worshipped except Him, nor depended upon other than Him, nor are alliances or enemies made except for Him, nor is an action done except for Him. This affirmation also covers those Names and Attributes which Allah affirms for Himself, as Allah (awj) says:

“And the Allah to be worshipped is only one Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.” (ali Imran 3/163) And Allah (awj) says:

“Do not take two objects of worship. Indeed, Allah is the only Deity to be worshipped, so fear Him.” (an-Nahl 16/51) And He (swt) says:

“Whosoever calls upon (i.e. supplicates or prays to) other than Allah, for which he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not be successful.” (Mu‘minun 23/117) Allah (swt) also says:

“And ask those of our Messengers whom we sent before you, Did We ever appoint objects of worship besides the Most Merciful?” (az-Zukhruf 43/45) And Allah (awj) informed us about every Prophet from amongst the Prophets that they called the people to the worship of Allah alone, having no partner, as He (awj) said:

“Indeed there is an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: Indeed we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you, and there has arisen between us and you, hostility and hatred forever - until you believe in Allah alone.” (al-Mumtahia 60/4) And Allah (swt) said about the mushriks:

“When it is said to them: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, they become arrogant. And they say: Are we to abandon those deities that we worship because of a mad poet?” (as-Saffat 37/35-36) And this occurs a lot in the Qur‘an.

And what is meant by Tawhid is not merely Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah -the belief that Allah alone is the Creator- which is what some of the people of Kalaam and the Sufis think! So they think that if they affirm this type of Tawhid, along with its proofs, then they have affirmed the utmost limits of Tawhid and that if they bear witness to this and become absorbed in it, then they have absorbed themselves in the limits of Tawhid! However, this is not the case. Since even if a person agreed to those attributes which are befitting to the Lord, and declared Him free from everything He should be declared free from and affirmed that He alone is the creator of everything -then still such a person would not be a muwahhid until along with this, he witnesses that the only Ilah (i.e. object of worship) is Allah- (i.e. none has the right to he worshipped except Allah alone)- affirming that Allah alone is the Ilah deserving off all worship, adhering to this worship and associating no partners with Him. Also affirming that this Ilah is He who is deified and worshipped and who deserves worship and it is not that Ilah merely with the meaning, “The One who has the power to create and originate."

So if an explainer (of the Qur‘an) explains Ilah to mean, “The One who has the power to create and originate” and believes that this is the most particular description of Ilah and affirms this to be the limits of Tawhid -as is done by the people of Kalaam, and it is what they say from Abu'l-Hasan al-Ash’ari and his followers- then they do not know the true reality of the Tawhid with which Allah sent His Messengers, since the Arab mushriks used to agree that Allah alone is the Creator of everything. Yet despite this, they were still mushriks, as Allah (swt) says: “Most people do not believe in Allah except that they commit shirk (i.e. associate others with Him in belief and worship).” (Yusuf 12/106)

A group from amongst the salaf said: “If you ask them who created the Heavens and the earth, they will say, ‘Allah’ - yet along with this, they worshipped others besides Him.” (narrated from Ibn Abbas (ra) and others; Tabari, Jaami’ul-Bayan an Ta’wilu'l-Qur‘an, 13/50-51) Allah (swt) said:

“Say: ‘Whose is the earth and all that is in it, if you do indeed know?’ They will say, ‘It belongs to Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then remember?’ Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the great Throne?’ They will say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then fear Him?’” (Mu'minun 23/84-87) So not everyone who affirms that Allah is the Lord of everything and is its Creator, will be a worshipper of Him to the exclusion of everything else -calling upon Him alone, hoping in Him alone, having fear of Him alone, forming allegiance and enmity for Him, obeying His Messengers, ordering what He orders and forbidding what He forbade.”

(Majmua al-Fatawa, 3/97-105)

My imprisonment

Daniel Joseph Maldonado, an American convert, was arrested in January 2007 by the Kenyan army and handed over to the authorities in the U.S.. In April he was found guilty of receiving training from a foreign terrorist organization, and in June he was condemned to ten years imprisonment. The following report the brother describes from his prison in Houston's Federal Detention Center to al-Istiqamah.com the events around his migration to Somalia, the tragic death of his beloved wife Umm Musa, and his arrest in Kenya and imprisonment there and in the U.S..


In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Please and Blessings be Upon Muhammad.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmahtullahi wa Barakatuhu.

Migration with Umm Musa (May Allah accept her):

Once my wife (may Allah accept her) and I found out that an Islamic State was established in Somalia, especially after the taking of Mogadishu, we decided to go and make Hijra (migration) from Egypt. Immediately we made plans and tried to sell everything in our apartment. After being offered about $7,000–$8000, Umm Musa (May Allah accept her) made such a beautiful statement. She said, “You know that everything (in the apartment) is worth more than that Daniel…But what Allah offers me is better!” So she gave away everything in the apartment to someone to distribute to the poor in a small village. If that wasn’t enough, we had about $2,800 cash after we had gotten tickets etc. She decided to give $2,000 to a close friend in deep debt, so as to reap as many blessings as possible for the trip ahead.

None of the above do I attribute to myself and Allah is a Witness over what I say. With only $800 we left for Somalia…Did that stop her? No, she still gave to those in need! To this day, I don’t even know half of the good she did. Such was her custom to keep it hidden.

Something worth mentioning, we ended up staying in the airport [at Dubai] for three days, waiting for a flight. What did Umm Musa say about going out in Dubai? She said, “I lived with poor people in Egypt; I am going to live with the poor in Somalia. Dubai will be a fitnah (trial)” Thus we slept in the airport. I can still see her (thinking back) nodding off while nursing the baby under her abaya (coat-like burqah) in secrecy.

She became extremely devout; everything about her changed for the better. Her faith was stronger than I have ever seen! She became so pious, and put all her trust in Allah to the point I felt I was no longer even on the same level as her…Not even close!

While I was away from her and the children, I would try to call her and them as much as possible. We would constantly entertain Allah’s praise and express our deep love for one another. Her patience was truly amazing!

After the bombing of Mogadishu airport, I advised that she and the children leave to the South to meet me as soon as possible. I remember asking her, “Did you hear it [the bombing]?” She said, “Yes”. I asked, “Were you scared?” She simply said, “No”.

I met her and the children in a town between the area she had left and the area we would head to before she would leave the country. She had dirt all over her abaya from the difficult trip; her eyes were tired and weary. I approached her and said, “I swear, I have never seen you more beautiful than today!”

So we went further, South. We would stay in a house with many other families before we left (the next morning). After Fajr (the pre-dawn prayer), the sisters started preparing to evacuate. Umm Musa refused to go. After some of us spoke to her, she – while weeping – listened and prepared to leave.

Knowing that the Ethiopians were coming and the women were about to leave, she though that there was a great possibility I would be killed. So we had a nice, long beautiful talk as she prepared. We expressed our love and admiration for each other. She thanked me by saying: “You are the greatest teacher I have ever had. You are the only man who has stuck around in my life. (Her father and grandfather etc were never around for her. She grew up in a house of women.) You are a real man. I love you so much.” She was weeping. Then she said something that I will never forget:

“Forgive me…I could not ask Allah to make you a martyr. I love you too much to see you go… So I asked Him to make me a martyr instead!”

After much loving talk, the S.U.V. (off-road-vehicle) started to ride away. Her eyes were watering as it pulled off… Seeing it was slowly pulling away past me, I said: “Peace be upon you, oh women of Paradise insha’Allah!” She asked why I said such. I said “If any women are the women of Paradise, it is you, the women of the migrants.”

The S.U.V. pulled away and she recited a verse from Quran as they drove off... It was Eid. That would be the last time I would see my wife….May Allah accept my beloved and join me with her in Paradise with our children. Ameen.

Surviving in the Jungle

After my family had left for the border, I departed with the brothers. To make a long story short, we were surrounded by helicopters attacking all units around us from mid–afternoon to maghrib (sunset).

The next day we were ambushed…many died in that ambush…For those who survived along with me, we ended up wandering in the jungle with literally nothing to eat! Our water ran out as well… The following day we were so very thirsty, we would lick the dew of the leaves in the jungle! It was two days since our last drink. We would make du’a (supplication) for water while walking… After not finding water, we reminded each other that we should seek forgiveness, for the one from sin will have his du’a answered. Sure enough, about a mile ahead was some water. I can remember all of us weeping and thanking Allah while prostrating. I can still hear one of them panting while saying “Allahul Kareem” (Allah is the Most Generous) over and over again. We would sit on the edge of this waterhole with a shell we’d found and use it as a cup. One would fill it and pass it to another who would pass it to another. There were to be many days like that…

For two weeks we did not eat at all except for one time at the very beginning of our wanderings. One day we came out to a Savannah area; it looked like something out of Lion King! We were careful, as helicopters were still in the sky and we were obviously being hunted by them. We would stay along the edge of the jungle area until we felt it was safe to actually go out into the long-grassed Savanna.

Suddenly one of the brothers caught a baby gazelle that seemed to just stand there, waiting for us. A brother took out a simple razor from his pocket. He pointed the animal towards the Qibla (direction towards Makkah) and we slaughtered it according to the noble shareeah (Islamic Law). We had one lighter (which later broke), a few packs of season that my wife had given me, and garlic that we used for antibiotics. We praised Allah and ate. After this we would not eat anything except leaves and an occasional snail for two weeks. Keeping our tongues wet with the remembrance of Allah did more for us than the occasional waterhole…and they were few. For those two weeks we would go a day, sometimes two, without water. We walked and walked, malnourished and thirsty. We became so malnourished that our skin began to feel tight around our ribs.

We came to another open area one day, but this one had much water. In fact, there was the jungle behind us and miles of shallow water in front of us. We needed to make it to the other end where the jungle began again. We walked through this chest-high water from mid-afternoon to the next morning…It was extremely hard on us, seeing that we could not rest or sit down, because the water was chest-high! By the time we got out, it was almost Fajr time. I don’t think that I have ever been so cold in my life! I remembered that Umm Musa (may Allah accept her) had given me these packets that warm up when you open them. So I used them with the brothers. Strange, I remember asking her: “What in the world would I need hand-warming packets for in Africa?” She simply said: “You never know…”

A bit before this incident, I had a dream of her. (I didn’t know she had passed away). She was wearing a blue silk hijaab and her face was uncovered (she always appeared veiled outside). This hijaab stretched out as far as I could see. I had to climb up it! I then lay next to her, stared into her eyes and said: “I love you…” She replied “I love you sixty three times.” To this day, I wonder about the meaning of that dream.

Some nights later, a brother told me that he had a dream about my family — although he had never met my wife. Mind you, I didn’t know about her death yet. He said that my wife was at a long white table that had such beautiful food on it. My children were running around playing. My wife then said to them, “Patience, patience he will be with us very soon.” In retrospect, I find these dreams to be amazing.

Arrest and Imprisonment in Kenya

So it is that we would, after thirsting and starving for two weeks, find a small village in Kenya. Being that the villagers were Muslims, some spoke Arabic. They fed us and gave us water. I remember walking into the village with all the brothers and falling prostrate to Allah crying and thanking Him for what seemed like an hour!

We were brought to a Masjid (mosque) where we could finally rest. After getting bombed, shot at with bullets whizzing by my head, having friends die, starving and sleeping in ant and tic infested areas, I barely noticed a rat in the masjid crawling on my leg. One brother shouted, “Akhee (brother), there’s a rat!” I brushed it off myself like you would a fly; I was so exhausted.

Suddenly someone yelled out “Soldiers!” The Kenyan military stormed in, pulled us out, laid us on the ground and beat many of us. Then we were thrown half-naked onto a truck on top of each other, to be driven through the jungle to the next town, in the freezing cold night. Thrown out of the truck, we were pushed around, beaten some more, laughed at, humiliated and filmed, then thrown into a dark, dirty cell. Four walls and a bucket, that’s it. Suddenly a Yemeni brother and I started singing “Ghurabaa” (The Strangers). We even wept. That night we would be pushed around, beaten and interrogated by the Kenyan police.

The next morning, we were woken up to be cable-tied, blindfolded, mocked and thrown into a truck that brought us to a helicopter. We were thrown off the truck onto the ground and put on the helicopter, then taken to an airport and put on a plane. The whole flight we were mocked and threatened whilst blindfolded and cable-tied. The brothers and I heard a sister on the plane with kids. One brother asked: “Are you okay, sister?” Suddenly one of the police or soldiers came around and said, “Shut up!” The he told her, “If you speak again, I will tape your eyes shut.”

No one would utter a word throughout the whole flight to Nairobi…Wondering if I could sneak a peek to see what was going on, I noticed that the baby and the little girl were my daughters! Frantically, I would try to peer everywhere I could to see if my wife was seated close by. All I could think was: “Oh Allah! Where is she? She would never leave the baby with someone else. Where is our son Musa?”

After landing, I would be pulled off the plane with the others. I could not contain myself. I asked the sister while being pulled off, “Sister! Do you know my wife?” She quickly responded “Yes!” I asked where she was, and the sister replied “Your daughters are fine.” I exclaimed while being roughly pulled off: “My wife and my son?” She again stated: “Your daughters are fine; they are okay.”

[Note: More can read about this sister and her imprisonment alongside Daniel’s children in a report by Cageprisoners]

I was thrown to the ground on my knees. I could hear cameras snapping and people around me. One man came and asked where I was from. After telling him, I said: “There is a woman on the plane who knows my wife. Is my family okay?” He left, then came back and said, “Your family is fine...”

The others and I were then shipped off to a prison barefoot, malnourished and extremely dirty. The cell was cramped with about twelve of us. It was very dirty, with just one bucket to share as a toilet. We would pass the time by praising and remembering Allah. I never made so much dhikr (remembrance) in my life. Every night, you could find each of us standing in prayer on and off — as if it were an intended rotation. The police would constantly pull us out to interrogate us, one at a time, every other day or night. Many of us were threatened with death along with getting shipped back to Somalia and being handed over to the Ethiopians! The days seemed to last forever…When we would ask about our embassies out of curiosity, they would quickly reply: “Your embassies know you are here. They don’t care about you.”


The Tragic News Regarding My Wife…

One day, while sitting on the cold hard floor, I mentioned my love for, and desire to see my wife and kids. I expressed my worry about the situation on the plane, although I was told all is well. One of the brothers stared at me and then stated that he needed to pray. I wondered; it was not prayer time. He finished and then told the brother next to me: “Tell him…” A tear rolled down my cheek… I knew now what they were about to disclose. I leaned closer to the brother, voice cracking, heart torn but hesitant until confirmation. “Tell me what?! What are you going to tell me?” I was crying.

He said: “We were told that an American woman with three children got sick and died on the way. They buried her as a martyr…I’m sorry brother…”

I immediately stood up, tears pouring like never before. My whole world felt as if it had ended. I paced the cell and then leaned on the wall crying, “Don’t, not here! Don’t tell me this here! No…no... Oh Allah, Oh Allah…” One of the older brothers embraced me and quietly repeated in Arabic: “Patience my brother…patience; it is from Allah.” I slumped down the wall on my back until I was seated. Tears in my eyes, I looked up and noticed how everyone was crying with me. I asked about my son; no–one knew anything. I jumped up and yelled for the guard. He proudly came to the door. I said, “I found out just now that my wife has died. I need to know whether or not you have all of my kids.” He said, “How do you know that?!” He opened the door brandishing his night stick saying, “You better get away from this door and shut up before I crack your head open!”

The Hardest Test

The hardest part of this whole ordeal was losing my best friend, my wife, my beloved, my soul mate, the mother of my children. May Allah accept her, ameen. She once told me in Somalia that she never felt so close to Allah and that she wished for shahaadah (martyrdom). “Whoever wishes to meet Allah, Allah will wish to meet him.” It is known that whoever protects their life, property, family and religion and dies while doing so is a martyr. She died while doing all of the above! We know about the hadith (Prophetic tradition) about the one who dies of fever and sickness or plague. We all know about the one who migrates for Allah and dies doing such. I cannot think of a reason that she wouldn’t be shaheed (martyred). She got what she asked for: body not washed for burial [a martyr’s body is not washed for burial], buried in the land she loved and did not want to leave.

You know, this comes as no surprise, as I have never known Umm Musa (may Allah accept her) to raise her hands (in supplication) except that Allah gave her exactly what she asked for. For instance, after the birth of our son, the doctors said she would not be able to have children again, due to many complications. Praise be to Allah! She gave me two beautiful daughters — exactly what she wanted!

She was simple and extremely humble, never making people feel beneath her. She was not the scholarly type, but she practiced what she knew. If you could prove it from The Book (Quraan) and the Sunnah (Prophetic Way), she would not argue, but submit to the proofs. She feared Allah so much! I remember her telling me while crying as if she had lost a beloved one, that she committed a grave wrong when we first became Muslim. She explained that she feared she would never be forgiven. I asked her what it was.

She said that she once exclaimed “Jesus Christ!” when angry or surprised. I asked, “Were you calling upon him (in invocation)?” She cried, saying “No,” explaining that it was just something she grew up saying without meaning (as is common among many a Westerner). I laughed in admiration and told her not to worry, that she did nothing wrong. Moreover, the fact that she feared Allah so much that she worried over something that any new Muslim would do, made her even better! I truly miss her. May Allah accept her and reunite me with her and our children in Paradise, ameen.

Interrogated by the FBI

In the days after the news of my wife’s death I would be pulled out of my cell, blindfolded, shackled, ear muffed and a bag put over my head. I was put in a car and driven away. I could hardly breathe… all I could think was: “They are going to shoot me.” I believe I thought this because I could feel the road change from pavement to dirt.

I figured: “Bag over my head, ear muffs, blindfold, dirt road, threats a
day before…I’m dead.”

I just repeated the shahadatain (Islamic testimonies of faith) again and again. I would end up at a sort of safe house where the FBI would question me. It became increasingly obvious that someone had informed on me, as they knew everything. But what bewildered me was that this “someone” had lied about a lot of things, unless that was just a tactic. Nonetheless, that misinformation was to later be in my paperwork, stating that it was given by a co-witness, a close associate of mine! The details of the few truths made it clear who did some of the talking. I understood then, that one of my beloved brothers had turned on me… I forgive those that did, as the conditions were unbearable. May Allah have Mercy on them.


Reunited with my Children

I was brought to another prison to stay at and was joined by my two daughters! I asked my four year old, while holding the baby, “What happened to Mommy?” She said in a soft, yet very hurt voice: “Mommy got hot with the fever… She went to Allah… They put her in the ground…” I burst into tears and held her, telling her: “I’m sorry. Daddy’s sorry…” Then I asked her, “Where is your brother?” She paused and said, “He ran away into the jungle… he only has one sandal Daddy...” I asked the police if they had a little boy in custody. They replied in the negative…

That night I was put in a cell while my daughters were kept somewhere else. Perhaps they were with the woman whom they were arrested with or with female police officers across the street.

I thanked Allah, praised him and asked Him for a miracle regarding my family being put together. I called on Him saying, “You are the One who gathers. Gather me and my family here!”

I later awoke to the sound of a voice at the reception desk. It was a familiar voice, a young boy explaining why he wasn’t in school. It was the voice of my son! I jumped up and yelled his name through the door. He ran past the police to the door crying, “Dad? Is that you?” They opened the door and he embraced me without any hesitation. We cried together in each other’s arms… The police asked me: “This is your son?” It became obvious that their bringing him to that police station was unintentional.

I asked Musa what had happened. He told me that his mother got sick and the brothers told him that they were taking her to the hospital. This was miles and miles deep in the jungle on the road to Kenya. They clearly said this not to upset him. Muhammad had been with the men bringing the women over the border. He told me that jets had attacked them and everyone fled. He said that he saw his “uncle” getting his stomach blown out.

He explained that he got down, and when they came again he ran into the trees. The brothers called out to him, but he couldn’t find them. He got lost in the jungle for two nights, surviving on berries and dirty water that he’d found. He would retrace his steps back to where they were camped. He told me that everything was black and burnt. Even the wheels on the car were melted. Musa found his way to a village where “a man with a cow” took him in and fed him. Later this man handed him in to the Kenyan military. The next day, all my children were reunited with me, alhamdulillah!

I had to tell my son about his mother… I explained that I had something to tell him that will be difficult. He stood there awaiting this important news as if nothing was wrong. I said, “Your mother has left this world my son.” He said, “No Dad, they took her to the hospital.” I told him: “Son, they said that to you so you wouldn’t get upset…I’m sorry; your mother died.” He looked at me weeping, and without a tear in his eye he looked towards the heavens and said, “Allah has willed it. InshaAllah I will see her in Paradise”

I could not believe how well he took it; how faithful a reply! I hugged him and said, “I’m sorry.” He told me, “It isn’t your fault Dad! You did the best you could do!”

I am a 28 year old man who has been through a lot, and my heroes are a woman who has left this world and a nine year old boy…

Echoes of Guantanamo–Style Treatment

Eventually, my children and I were taken out of prison and put on a plane heading for America. I had to sign papers to temporarily grant custody to my parents seeing that I was “in quite a bit of trouble” — as the FBI agent put it.

We landed at a military base where my children would be separated from me. The agents let us say our goodbyes. They assured me that my children would be taken good care of, and sent directly to my parents. They did keep to their word.

I would stay at that base for three days. After starving in the jungle and being imprisoned in Kenya, I felt like I was in a 5 star hotel! The agents explained that I would be leaving the next day and that the people transporting me would be very strict. When these new agents came, they told me I would not be allowed to pray at all, or use the bathroom without the door being left open. I praise Allah! I made salatul khawf (the Fear Prayer) instead.

The next day I was blindfolded, ear plugged then ear muffed. I was shackled — hands chained to my waist and ankles shackled as well. For the duration of that 24 hour flight I could not hear, see or touch anything… One could never imagine what that’s like until one experiences it for themselves. To pray, I would sneak my hand to wipe the bottom of my shoe for the clean earth on it and make tayyamum (dry ablution using mud or dust) in order to do salatul khawf. I praise Allah! Never through this ordeal did I miss even one prayer. And this is of the benefits of knowledge, even if it is little.

Solitary Confinement and Conviction

We landed in Houston and I was immediately put in solitary confinement with literally no human contact at all. I have been here ever since. I pleaded guilty to “receiving training from a foreign terrorist organization” in order that the second charge of “conspiring to use an explosive device outside the United States” be dropped. That charge carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. I have been sentenced to ten years in prison and fined $1000. If I stay out of trouble in prison, it will only be eight years. Since I am in a Federal prison, I cannot get parole. So the least I will do is eight years, unless some information comes up that could prove innocence etc. I never went to Somalia to fight. I wouldn’t have taken my wife and three small children into a war zone. The situation just erupted while we were there.

I pretty much sit in a cell with a bed, sink shower, toilet and desk for 23 hours a day. I eat and receive all of my “sanitary items” in my cell. I am only allowed outside for one hour a day, the only exceptions to that being Friday and Saturday. I spend my time reading Quraan or any other books on Islaam and doing dhikr (remembrance of Allah). We were put on this earth to worship Allah. As long as we are able to do that, we have all we need!

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmahtullahi wa Barakatuhu.

“What can my enemies do to me? My Paradise is in my heart; it goes with me wherever I am. If they kill me, it is martyrdom. If they exile me from my land, it is a vacation in the Path of Allah. If they imprison me, it is to allow me a private devotion with Allah” - Sheikh–ul–Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah


Daniel Joseph Maldonado