Ramadan Day Twenty-Six
Levels of Guidance (4): Inspiration (at-Tahdheeth)
The fourth level of guidance is Inspiration (at-Tahdeeth or Al-Ilhaam).
This level is below the level of Special Revelation, it is even below the level of the Siddeeqoon.
Umar bn Al-Khattab - radiyallahu anhu - belonged to this level as the Messenger of Allaah - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - said:
'Indeed there were men who used to be inspired in the past nations, if there were going to be any of such in this Ummah, it would be Umar bn Al-Khattab.' (Saheeh Muslim)
Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullah - was emphatic in saying the past nations were in need of such people than the people of this Ummah are.
This Ummah is complete in that it has the best Prophet as well as the best Message. So it does not need inspired men to make decisions for it.
Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah also said: a siddeeq (like Abu Bakr) is better than a muhaddath (like Umar).
A siddeeq would absolutely be truthful in his obedience to what the Messenger of Allaah - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - brought. He would not need any other form of inspirations before he does so, he also surrenders all his heart to what the Messenger of Allaah - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - brought whether in the open or otherwise.
A muhaddath however would first consider what his heart tells him, if it goes in consonance with what the Messenger brought, he would accept it and if otherwise he would reject it (though none of the Sahabah was like this).
Therefore all this claim by the self-styled saints who say they are under inspirations such that they do say: 'My heart informed me from my Lord...'
Yes it may be true that his heart informs him but from whom? His devil or his Lord? If he says his heart tells him from his lord while we know that he has no chain (of revelation) back to Allaah, that definitely is a lie, so it is from his devil.
Even Umar - radiyallahu anhu - whom the Messenger of Allaah - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - called Muhaddath of the Ummah, he never used to uther such a statement. Allaah the Majestic saved him from such nonsense.
His secretary was taking notes from him one day, then he added 'this is what Allaah has inspired the Ameerul Mu'mineen to say'. Umar said: 'Remove that. Say instead,' 'this is the view of Umar bn Khattab, if he is right, it is from Allaah, if he is wrong it is from him, Allaah and His Messenger are free from him.'
In the matter of al-Kalaalah (the person who died with no heirs), he said: 'This is my view about it, if it is correct it is from Allaah, if it is not, then it is from me and Shaytaan.'
Hope you can see the difference between what Umar - radiyallahu anhu - used to say and what these self-styled saints used to say.
Never mix a pure thing with dirt.
Click here to hear its audio version in Yoruba.
