The Importance of Knowing the Meaning of La ilaha illAllaah

Shaykh Fawzaan (hafidhahullah) said,

"The objective of the statement of La ilaha illAllah is not saying it with the tongue only without understanding it; it is essential that you learn the meaning of La ilaha illAllah; as for you saying it without knowing its meaning, then you do not affirm what it proves and how can you affirm a thing you are ignorant of? Thus, it is essential that you know its meaning until you affirm it and you affirm with your heart what your tongue articulates of it; so it is binding that you learn the meaning of La illah illAllah, as for mere articulation of the tongue without understanding its meaning, then this will not benefit at all"

Explanation of the Treatise "The Meaning of the Statement of Tawheed" by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab - Explained by Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullah) pg. 10

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Placing Our Personal Views upon the People

Shaykh Ahmad Baazmool (hafithahullah) mentioned one of the reasons that lead to differing amongst us:

"I would like to bring the attention to a reason (of separation) that takes place between us, the Salafis; or with some of our Salafi brothers from the students of knowledge, or from some of the virtuous ones. It is dangerous. This reason (of separation), is that we place upon the people our (personal) views, our desires,
our Ijtihaad and make the affair of alliance and disassociation based on it. Not upon the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah along with the Manhaj of the Salaf us-Saalih.

As an example, I have a view (regarding a matter), whoever opposes me I show enmity towards him. My brother, why? If your view and my view has no evidence for it and the matter is one of Ijtihaad, then there's no problem. If your view has no evidence for it, don't try to force me to follow you. Mandate me by way of the evidence and the truth. As for personal views, then personal views can be correct and incorrect. Based upon this, it is not befitting (and this is another matter), to have ta'assub (fanaticism) for individuals (or personalities), magnifying them and raising their affair. Just as it has been mentioned by Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn
Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) when he mentioned extremism:

"Extremism is that person goes beyond the boundary regarding a matter, either blaming it or praising it." 

So when you go to the extremes regarding a person you love, you praise him, and you
go overboard in that, you don't accept nothing said about him (even if it is true), you accept his falsehood, and you are with him upon whatever he is on (even if it is falsehood). And when you dislike an individual, and it can be for a reason that's not based upon the legislation, this opposes that which we have been commanded with of having brotherhood, love and removal of hatred and enmity between ourselves. You
dislike him, you say: "I don't accept him. I dislike him." Ok, you don't accept him (personally), the souls are as the Messenger of Allah stated:

       "The souls are like armies gathered together." 

So the matter of you not having a (natural) inclination towards a person doesn't mean that you have to hate him and combat him to the point that you don't accept from him the truth. You reject his speech (even if it is correct). You belittle him. As has come in the statement of the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)

"Arrogance is rejecting the truth and looking down upon the people." 

The meaning of rejecting the truth is rejecting it and not accepting it. Looking down upon the people means to belittle them and put them down. No my brother. The truth is to be accepted from the one who speaks it whoever it may be. Falsehood is rejected upon the one who speaks with it no matter who he may be. We do not make the truth tied to individuals (or personalities). If they say whatever they say, we accept it. If they reject whatever they reject, we reject it (due to being attached to the individuals/personalities). No! This is not what the Salaf us- Saalih were upon up until the scholars of our time today." 

Author: Shaykh Ahmad Baazmool (hafithahullah) 

Source: 29th Majlis from the Majaalis of Ramadaan in the home of al-Allaamah Shaykh Rabee (hafithahullah) 

Translator: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah 

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One Of The Types Of People Who Backbite

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him) stated: 

"From among the people are those who backbite by way of being in agreement with those whom he sits with, his companions and his tribesman. This is the cause although the person knows that the one being backbitten is free from that which they say about him, or in him is some of that which they say. However, the person sees that if he was to reprimand them ( for backbiting ) the gathering would come to an end, the people of the gathering would become difficult with him, and they would flee from him. Therefore, he sees that being in agreement with them is from good companionship. It is possible that they become angry so he becomes angry, because they are angry. As a result of that, he indulges along with them ( into that which they indulge in )."

Majmoo'al Fataawaa 27 p.23

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