Al Qubaysiyaat [Part 3]

Friday, 08 January 2010 17:21 |

Written by Bintussabeel |

Allah is ‘in’ everything?!

One of Munirah al Qubaysi’s students in Lebanon, Sahr Halbi, believes that Allah is in the Ka’bah and that is why people go on hajj. This is because she believes that Allah exists everywhere, EVEN in trees. Once, a woman entered her gathering to find Sahr Halbi and her students quiet and still, and when she wanted to speak they said to her: ‘Be quiet, revelation is descending upon her right now.’

This is clear pantheism [the “All-is-God doctrine,” the belief that God is manifest in and a part of everything].

In fact, it is such beliefs which promote the dangerous and perilous myth of god incarnate.^{Usama Al-Sadeed, Al-Tanzeem Al-Suraa Al Khateer ; also : ibid.}

For, if we look into the Qur’aan, the words of the Prophet, sallallahu a'lyhi wa sallam, his Companions and the pious predecessors, we find abundant, unequivocal, definitive, unambiguous, and univocal proof that Allah (a'zza wa jall) is above and separate from His creation and not a part of His creation.

Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah believe in and confirm all of the attributes of Allah without distorting their meaning, and that Allah is above His seven heavens, above His 'Arsh (throne), separated from His creatures and His creatures are separated from Him. For example, Allah (a'zza wa jall) says in the Qur’aan: "They fear their Rabb above them." [An-Nahl [16]:50] And “Are you sure that He who is above the heaven will not cleave the earth beneath you? Or are you sure that He who is above the heaven will not send against you a stone-charged hurricane."^{Al Mulk [67]:17}

There are many Prophetic Narrations which assert this belief. One such hadeeth is that of Mu'awiyah as-Sahmi, in which he reported:

"I had some sheep which I kept between Uhud and Juwaniyyah with a slave-girl to look after them. One day, I went out to check on my sheep and discovered that a wolf had devoured one of them. Since I am just a human, (I became angry) and struck the girl. Later on, I came to the Prophet [sallallahu a'lyhi wa sallam] and reported to him the incident. He terrified me with the gravity of my action. I said, 'Messenger of Allah! Shall I free her (as an expiation of my sin)?’ He said 'Call her over.' When I did, he asked her, 'Where is Allah?'

She said, 'Above the heavens.'

Then he asked her, 'Who am I?' She said, 'The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu a'lyhi wa sallam].' Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu a'lyhi wa sallam] ordered me,

'Free her. She is a believer.'"^{Imaam Muslim, Abu Dawood, and others}

Here is a luminous proof of the Loftiness of Allah, the Exalted. Does not the above narration stand as a solid proof of Allah being above the heavens? Doubtlessly, that slave girl, the shepherdess, knew her Lord more than those who ignorantly claim that Allah is everywhere, regardless of the fact that they have Masters and PhDs!

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah grant him His mercy, said:

‘All Muslims in the past and in the present, when supplicating Allah or imploring His help, always raise their hands with palms towards the heaven. They do not lower their hands with palms towards the earth, nor do they turn them right or left, nor towards any other direction. They raise their hands up, knowing that Allah is above them. The Muslims also say in prayer while prostrating, "I declare my Rabb, the Supreme, to be far removed from every imperfection or impurity."’^{Al-Juyoosh al-Islamiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, p.123.}

In Conclusion

Today we are in dire need of Muslim women actively participating in the field of Da’wah [Islamic Propagation] by formulating organizations which cater for the religious, political and social needs of Muslim women. Without a doubt, there are arising many groups and organizations by Muslim women around the world to cater for these needs, although it is sad to see many are infected with maladies, such as feminism and innovation.

We, as Muslim women, should realize that it was the pure, untainted teachings of Islam that brought about the liberation, glory and empowerment of women who were oppressed and abused, and this still holds true for the 21^st century. It is only by means of this unadulterated understanding of Islam, which was followed by the righteous before us, that we will be able to bring about the Islamic sahwah [revival]. The Prophet, may the choicest of peace and blessings be upon his noble soul, repeatedly warned us from going astray and as a consequence, into the hellfire:

“O mankind! I am leaving two things with you, if you cling to them you will never go astray: The Book of Allah and my way of life (the Sunnah).”^{Al-Haakim and Al-Baihaqi}

"Every newly-invented thing is a bid'ah (innovation), every bid'ah is a going astray, and every going astray will be in the Fire."^{Reported by al-Nisaa'i in al-Sunan, Salaat al-'Eedayn, Baab kayfa al-Khutbah.}

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say, when beginning a khutbah (sermon): "… The best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray…" ^{Reported by Muslim, no. 867} and,

"Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not a part of it will have it rejected."^{Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Baari, no. 2697}

Surely, our analogy is that of moths that surround a fire, not realizing the danger that lies therein. Whereas Muhammad, sallallahu a'lyhi wa sallam, is like the one who drives the moths away from the fire, in order to protect them and safeguard them from a fire that lies in wait to devour and consume its prey. Today, the Qur’aan and the teachings of Muhammad, the Chosen One, when followed sincerely will safeguard us from making the mistakes which bring about the wrath and displeasure of Allah (a'zza wa jall) and instead bring about the mercy and blessings of Allah, the Glorious and Lofty. In this lies our success, O Muslims Sisters.

No other means has ever and will ever work for the believers. We must turn to the Qur’aan, the enlightened Sunnah of our Noble Messenger and the way of the righteous Muslims of before, in order to extract our beliefs and the proper conduct of how to gain knowledge and behave around our teachers.

Muslim Women should unite under the banner of the pure and untainted Shar’iah (Islamic Law) and thereby strive for a revival by means of the correct prescribed methods.

And surely, in this lies true submission and inevitable success.

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