Benefit from Shaykh al-Fawzaan

[Chidr.bin.Malik]

From the Explanation of the Eighth Hadeeth From: An-Nawawee’s Forty Hadeeth
By The ‘Allaamah: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Taken from the Book: al-Minhatul-Rabaaniyyah Fee Sharh al-Arba’een an-Nawawiyyah


On the Authority of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said:

Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakaah; and if they do that then they have safeguarded from me their blood and their wealth except by a right that is due upon them by al-Islaam and their reckoning is with Allah.” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

His (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) statement: “I have been commanded...”, means: ‘Allah the Glorified and Exalted has commanded me.’ For the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is commanded with the commands of Allah and he is a conveyor on behalf of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. Likewise are the rest of the Prophets and Messengers. They are none other than conveyors on behalf of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, concerning that which He commands them with; and concerning that which He prohibits them from. So they are the medium between Allah and His creation in conveyance of the Message.

His statement: “…to fight the people…”, meaning: The disbelievers.

His statement: “…until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakaah…”, means: Until they enter into al-Islaam. Because al-Islaam is the Religion of Allah which He has chosen for His slaves. So there is no (true) religion besides it. Allah the Exalted has said: “Verily the religion with Allah is al-Islaam.” (Aali ‘Imraan 3:19) And He, the Exalted, has said: “And whoever desires a religion other than al-Islaam then it will never be accepted from him.” (Aali ‘Imraan 3: 85) So there is no religion except al-Islaam. (The religion) which the Messengers (prayers and peace be upon them) came with up until Allah sent Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and ‘al-Islaam’ became (the name) applied to that which he (alayhis-Salaah was-Salaam) came with.[1]

Al-Islaam has pillars: The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to establish the prayer; to pay the Zakaah; to fast in Ramadhaan and to make pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah for the one who is able. These are the pillars of al-Islaam as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has clarified.

The first pillar: It is the two testimonies: The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. They are the foundation. So (the statement and belief that) ‘Laa ilaha illa-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allah) negates all Shirk (polytheism) and makes the worship to be purely for Allah ‘Azz wa Jal. The testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah negates all innovations and novelties. It affirms acting upon the Sunnah which has been narrated from him (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). With this, entrance into al-Islaam is attained for the Muslim.

His statement: “…establish the prayer…”. So it is not sufficient that one testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Rather, it is a must that one acts by what the two testimonies necessitates; and the greatest of it is the prayer. What is intended is the five obligatory prayers. So he prays them as Allah has commanded, in their times along with the congregation of Muslims; having al-Khushoo’ (devoutness), al-Khudhoo’ (humility) and at-Tuma’neenah (tranquility). This is ‘establishing the prayer’. It is not to mean that one bows and prostrates without devoutness and tranquility. Or that he prays upon his desires and whims whenever he wants or however he wants. For how many are those who pray but do not establish the prayer, meaning they make a mockery of it!? For this individual his prayer does not benefit him in aught. For the focus is upon establishing the prayer as Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has commanded.

The prayer is the second pillar from the pillars of al-Islaam after the two testimonies. He, the Exalted, has said: “Verily the prayer prevents one from the vile and evil deeds.” (al-‘Ankaboot 29:45). So it is a culmination of every good and it is the most important of (all) acts of bodily worship. It is the difference between the Muslim and the disbeliever, due to his (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) statement: “Between the slave and disbelief shirk is the abandonment of the prayer.”[2] So the one who does not pray, even though he testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, then he is not a Muslim unless he prays.

He said: “…and pay the Zakaah…” This is because the Zakaah is the close companion of the prayer in the Book of Allah ‘Azz wa Jall. For, the prayer is not mentioned, in most cases, except that the Zakaah is mentioned along with it. The prayer is bodily worship whereas the Zakaah is monetary worship. He, the Exalted, has said: “And in their properties there was a right for the beggar and the poor who does not ask.” (adh-Dhaariyaat 51:19) So it is an obligatory right regarding the wealth of the Muslim for the (poor) beggar and the poor who does not ask. It is not superogatory or a donation. It is a pillar from the pillars of al-Islaam.

His statement: “…until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakaah…” (This is) along with the remaining pillars of al-Islaam, performing the obligatory duties and leaving off from the prohibited matters. However, these three are the foundations. So the two testimonies are the foundation of at-Tawheed. The prayer is the foundation of bodily worship. The Zakaah is the foundation of monetary worship.

He said: “…and if they do that then they have safeguarded from me their blood and their wealth…” This proves that al-Jihaad in al-Islaam is for this objective; so that the religion will be solely for Allah. And so that the prayer will be established and the Zakaah will be paid. He, the Exalted, has said: “And if they repent, establish the prayer and pay the Zakaah then leave their way free.” (at-Tawbah 9:5) And He said in another verse: “So if they repent, establish the prayer and pay the Zakaah then they are your brethren in religion.” (at-Tawbah 9:11) So if they do that then Allah has made their blood Haraam and fighting them is not permissible.

His statement: “…they have safeguarded from me their blood…”, contains evidence for the forbiddance of fighting the Muslims; because the blood of the Muslim is inviolable. It is not permissible to shed his blood without a right. The wealth (of the Muslim) is likewise inviolable, due to his (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) statement: “The wealth of an individual (Muslim) is not permissible except (what he gives) from the goodness of himself.”[3] So the wealth of the Muslim, similar to his blood, is Haraam. Likewise, his honor is Haraam due to his (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) statement: “Your blood, your wealth and your honor are Haraam upon (each other).” [4] So it is not permissible to violate the wealth of the Muslim or to take it without right, except (what he gives) by the goodness of himself lest he be prevented from performing a right that is due upon him. Such as (paying) the Zakaah or debts which he owes. For, verily he is required to discharge the rights that are due upon him.

Translated By: Raha ‘Azeezuddeen Batts


[1]. Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, as is mentioned in Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (3/94), said: “The people have disputed concerning those who have preceded from the nations of Moosaa and ‘Eesaa, were they Muslims or not? It is a linguistic argument. For the specific Islaam is that with which Allah has sent Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam); that which comprises the Sharee’ah (legislation) of the Qur’aan. None is upon it except the nation of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The general Islaam, with absolution, (also) includes this. As for the general Islaam it includes every Sharee’ah with which Allah has sent a Prophet. For Islaam includes every nation which follows a prophet from amongst the prophets.” (End of his words)

[2] Saheeh Muslim (82) from the Hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him)

[3] Ahmad reported it in al-Musnad (5/72), (5/425); Aboo Ya’laa in his Musnad (3/140); ad-Daaraqutnee in his Sunan (3/26); al-Bayhaqee in al-Kubraa (6/100) from the Hadeeth of Aboo Harrah Ruqaashah (may Allah be pleased with him) from his paternal uncle)

[4] Al-Bukhaaree reported it (67, 105); Muslim (1679) from the Hadeeth of Aboo Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him)