Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
These are gems from the work of Al-Imaam al-Haafidh Aboo Sulaymaan Hamd bn Muhammad al-Khattaabee al-Bustee (d. 388 hijrah), may Allaah be merciful to him.
Translation and adaptation by Aboo Aamir Ishaaq bn Abdirraheem (may Allaah forgive him and his dead parents)
Preamble:
There are various Ayaat of the Qur'aan and statements of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanding unity and cooperation among the Muslims.
Allaah the Mighty says:
وَاعتَصÙموا بÙØَبل٠اللَّه٠جَميعًا وَلا تَÙَرَّقوا
[Âl-'Imrân: 103]
And for another instance, Apostle of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said on the authority of Abdullah bn Umar (radiyallaahu an'huma):
'من أرادَ بَØبوØØ©ÙŽ الجنَّة٠Ùعليه٠بالجماعةÙØŒ Ùإنَّ الشَّيطانَ معَ الÙذّÙ.'
'Whoever desires the opulence of Jannah should remain with the Muslim Community for Shaytan is with a lone person.'
(Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh in Takhreej Kitaaab Sunnah p.86)
There are several other such divine statements guiding the Muslims to togetherness.
Nevertheless, many Muslims have overstretched this commandment towards togetherness and mutual cooperation whereby they got affected in their Deen by a wrong choice of those they associate with.
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did say every Muslim should watch whom he/she takes as a friend!
On the auhtority of Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu an'hu), the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
الرَّجÙل٠على دين٠خليلÙÙ‡Ù ÙلينظÙر Ø£ØدÙÙƒÙÙ… من يخالÙÙ„Ù
'A person will be on the way of life of his friend so let everyone of you be watchful of whom he takes as a friend.'
Al-Imaam al-Albaanee graded it as hasan in Saheeh Sunan at-Trimidhi (2378)
Also today people have turned cooperation into gossiping, eavesdropping, spread of malice, unnecessary talks, etc.
There is no doubt that we are in a period of time we should be more conscious of our time and environment. The ideological and moral pollution is commonplace and people's character continues to suffer a great decline.
Al-Imaam al-Khattaabee (rahimahullaah) said: 'Divisions are of two types: division in thoughts and ideologies, this is prohibited because it will lead to misguidance and abandonment of religious requirements...the coming of the Messengers of Allaah would have been meaningless, this is what Allaah the Mighty berates in His Book.
'Also in this vein is when people differ over the scholars and rulers, this makes the community lose its cohesion and strength...
'The second form of division is physical separation of dwellings, places of abode etc. this comes with necessity and public benefit, and how morally safe is the society...when the society is morally bankrupt then the best is to stay away from the corrupt people because it is through only that one can attain peace of mind.
'We are not saying here - may Allaah be merciful to you - that we should stay away from the congregational and Friday prayers, or that we deny the people their rights in worship such as spreading salaam among them and other similar things...
'What we are canvassing against here is excessive and unbridled association with the people. The effect of this excessiveness is usually bad.
(The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
زÙرْ غÙبًّا تزدَدْ ØÙبًّا
'Pay visits (to your friends and others) at intervals, you will gain more love.' Saheeh at-Targheeb, 3538.)
A poet composed:
'Whoever praises a people before he makes a finding aout about them
Will come back to disparaise what he had praised.
He will come to prefer staying aloof from them
When close and farther people estrange him.'
See al-Uzlah of Al-Imaam al-Khattaabee pp.53-60 for this adaptation.
Let's meet in the subsequent series Inshaa Allaah for soul-enriching and inspiring words of wisdom from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and those who drank from his ocean of knowledge after him.
Baarakallaahu feekum.
