Wrong statement by the shaitan:

Answer:

Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions did go out to many places to spread the Dean. If you study the Sirah, you will see that at the time of Prophet Muhammad's (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) final Khutba, there were close to 120,000 Sahabah that attended. If you look at the number of graves of the Sahabah that are at Mecca and Medina, you will find that there very few, less than 5000.

What was the reason for this, when we know that praying at the Haram (the Kaaba) is 100,000 times better than anywhere else, and praying at the Prophets Mosque is 10,000 times better than anywhere else? The reason was because the people went to spread the Dean, which has more reward than praying at those two masjids.

The people in the past were very much committed to Allah and spread Allah's truth throughout the world. Not following them is the Bidaa. Not doing any Dawaah or tabligh at all is the Bidaa, because Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions, not only did this work, but sacrificed their whole lives for the work of Allah.

Now, the question comes up on how long to go. The best answer would be to devote your whole life only for the sake of Allah, because this is what many of the Sahabah did. However people are weak, and it may be difficult to devote one's whole life only for the work. The next closest amount of time would be for four months, which is the amount of time Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) enjoined the Muslims to go. That amount of time still may be difficult for some people.

What would be a smaller amount of time that people can go, that is according the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and Blessings be upon him)? If we look at the authentic Ahadith, we find none that directly mention the amount of time a person should go. There are, however, hadith that are considered "Dhaif" or weak by most scholars that mention the amount of time for forty days. Some would conclude from these hadith, and the traditions from Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that the time to go is arbitrary, that is the more time one goes the better.

So why do the wise say to go for forty days? It is so because Allah rewards people ten times for the action the person does. Forty days is about a tenth of the time of a whole year. The wise recommend spending one tenth of all the time solely for Allah. 2 and half hours every day, 3 days every month, 40 days in a year, and 4 months in a whole life time.

If a person disagrees with going for forty days, then that person should go for whatever number of days he thinks is closest to the Sunnah. The person should go and not make excuses to disobey Allah, Calling people to Allah and the truth. What excuse will you have when you will stand in front of Allah on the day of judgment? What will you have to answer for Allah when He asks you what you did for his sake?

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

The Jamaat Tabligh is a sect (group).

Answer:

The Muslims are One Ummah. It is commanded by Allah for all the Muslims to invite and call people to Allah, starting with themselves, and then their families and the rest of the people. It is a duty for all Muslims. A good example is like the regular five daily prayers enjoined by Allah. There is only a number that do it, and even less that perform the prayers in the Masjid. Would you call them a sect (group)?

Some people quote a hadith saying that prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) has said that close to the day of judgment the Muslims would be divided into 70 sects, and all but 1 one of them would go into the hell fire. Note that in this hadith prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had said that the one group that would be saved is the one that follows the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's Peace and Blessings be Upon him.) We can see from this hadith that the sects here refer to groups that follow other than the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). That is they follow the Sunnah of another person, like that of Ahmad Ghulam (Qadiyanis) and others.

At the time of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the Sahabah were distinguished by two categories, the Muhajirs and the Ansar. Would you call them a sect (group)?

It is by the grace and mercy of Allah that the people that do the work of calling people to Allah according to the ways of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) organized themselves. A person could make an individualized effort, however to make the effort together is much better, like the way prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did with his companions. The example may be looked at as the example of Salah. Praying alone to Allah is good, however praying in jamaat in the Masjid is 27 times better.

We should go and not make excuses to do the work of Allah, of Calling people to Allah and the truth. What excuse will we have when we will stand in front of Allah on the day of judgment? What will we have to answer for Allah when He asks us what we did for his sake? May Allah accept from all of us. Amin.

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

When people go for Tabligh, they leave their families behind, not taken care of. I need to stay behind and take care of my family, so therefore I will not spend any time at all calling people to Allah.

Answer:

It is absolutely not true that when people go out for tabligh, that they leave their families behind not taken care off. Allah has given people responsibilities which they need to fulfill. A person that is devoted to Allah fulfills those responsibilities more. A person that is not devoted to Allah fulfills them less. The people that go out and call people to Allah follow Allah's commands more, and the fulfill the responsibilities that Allah puts on them more.

It is Allah that provides the sustenance. Allah increases it for whom He pleases and Allah decreases it to whom He pleases. The Shaitan makes people think that the sustenance comes from other sources. Allah has written for the person several things when the person was in the womb of his/her mother. One of the things that Allah has written for the person is how much sustenance that person will have. Allah provides for us and our families. If Allah were to withhold those provisions who could provide for us afterwards? Won't we then obey Allah?

When people go out and spend their time for the sake of Allah, they earn the rewards of the afterlife. This life is short, and the hereafter lasts forever. The hereafter is far better than anything one can achieve in this world's life.

A good example is like that when people spend money in Sadaqat, would we say that all people when they spend money in Sadaqat that they are neglecting their duties with their families? Allah has enjoined the Sadaqah on people, and Allah has enjoined the people to call people to Allah, the greatest truth and reality. Certainly one ought to encourage people to give in Sadaqat, and spend time doing good deeds, and not discourage them by saying they need to fulfill the worldly responsibilities with their families, so that they spend no time at all.

Another example is like that of the Martyrs and others (May Allah have mercy on them) that went to the battlefield in the way of Allah. They spent time away from their families, and some got killed or seriously injured in the way of Allah. Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went to many battles. Would you say that they were neglecting their duties to their families? They are earning the greatest rewards for themselves and their families in the afterlife. The people that stayed behind with their families, when the call for Jihad came, were counted amongst the Munafiqeen (Hypocrites), who end up in the lowest depths of the hell fire, unless Allah forgives them.

As Allah says in the Quran:

009.024 Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you than God, or His Apostle, or the striving in His cause;- then wait until God brings about His decision: and God guides not the rebellious.

In my experience, I have seen some women, discouraging their spouses to go for the work of Allah. Indeed prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw the inhabitants of the hell fire and saw that most of the people there were women. It is better for us to encourage our spouses to do more good deeds, and not discourage them from doing good deeds. Allah commands the believers to help each other out in righteousness and good deeds and not help one another in sin and rancor.

According to the traditions of what prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the wife of the husband that goes out for Allah's work gets the same reward as the husband that goes out. These statements discouraging people from doing the work of calling people to Allah clearly indicate that they are heedless of the afterlife, which is far better than this world, and lasts much longer. What happens sometimes is that we do the tabligh to other people, but often times neglect inviting those close to us. It is important for us to remind and invite those close to us to Allah, as Allah says in the Quran:

066.006 O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from God, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

It is wrong for people to make interpretations from the Quran, so therefore we will not learn what it means nor teach it to others.

Answer:

Allah revealed the Quran to His final Messenger (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as a guidance for mankind. Allah revealed the arabic Quran in order that people have smartness (Aql). Please see the article labeled Solution for Muslims.

It is wrong for people to make interpretations from OTHER than the Quran and the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). People need to base their interpretations and decisions on what Allah and His final Messenger (May Allah's peace be upon him) has said, not from other sources that are influenced with the lies of the shaitan. The Quran is the Word of Allah, and the sayings and actions of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) are the explanations of Allah's words. When people go away from them, they will become easy prey for the shaitan and inevitably go astray.

Hadith in Bukhari:

6.545: Narrated 'Uthman: The Prophet said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."

As the hadith above states, the best person is the one that learns the divine words of Allah, and teach it to others. Allah's words are far greater than any other words. Allah also tells us about the people before us (the Jews and the Christians):

003.187 And remember God took a covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And evil was the bargain they made!

The verse above tells us about some of the Jewish and Christian people in the past. Instead of conveying the message of truth, they hid it from others, and threw it away as worthless garbage. They also made up things for their personal worldly gain. Let us not make the same mistake. The Quran is the word of Allah. We must take it seriously, and convey Allah's words to others.

The shaitan also makes some people think that Quran is difficult to understand. Allah says in the Quran:

054.017 And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

The Quran is the guidance that Allah has made for mankind. Allah has certainly made it easy to understand and remember. Will we not take warning?

The shaitan also makes some people think that the Quran is only meant for scholars and not for all the people. Allah says in the Quran:

039.041 Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth, for mankind. He, then, that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.

The Quran teaches people about Allah, the Greatest truth and reality. It is the words of Allah, the Creator and Controller of this universe. We should know what Allah, our Lord, is saying to us. Allah teaches people about Himself in the Quran. The Quran is the guidance that Allah has made for mankind. The shaitan knows that if people follow the guidance that Allah has sent for mankind, he would not be able to affect them. The shaitan wants people to go away from the Truth, so that he could lead them to the hellfire. The greatest defeat of the shaitan would be if a person follows the guidance of Allah. Let us not be a helper of the shaitan, he wants to make a fool out of us. It is incumbent on everyone to learn and understand Allah's Revelation and teach it to others. If a person does so, they earn the rewards for themselves in the Afterlife. Allah has prepared Palaces for those that strive in His cause. If a person strays away from the guidance of Allah, they are only hurting themselves. Nor am I to force anyone to do what's right.

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

People are wasting their time (coming here). People should stay in their own localities where they would have more effect instead of going out.

Answer:

The effects of peoples actions are with Allah. Allah is the One that determines the effects of our efforts. Allah decides how much it would affect people. Its not the action that people do that determine the outcome, it is Allah that determines the outcome. Allah grants the effectiveness of these actions to whomever He pleases. Please see the article labeled Blessings.

A person that Allah has blessed so that his effort is highly effectual is said to have a lot of Karamah (honor by Allah). It is up to Allah how effectual the outcome will be, not up to us. Whom does Allah give this Karamah? Allah gives it to whomever He pleases. It is inappropriate for people to say that certain actions would be more effectual than others. It is not their decision that decides, but Allah that decides.

Going out has a special blessings from Allah. It's similar to the emigration (Hijrah) that the early Muslims made between Mecca and Medina. It is according to the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions. What do you think would have happened if they (May Allah be pleased with them) just stayed in Mecca and Medina? It is by their work, accepted by Allah, that all of us are Muslims today. May Allah accept from all of us. Amin.

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

People that do the work of tabligh are not knowledgeable. Only people that have great knowledge should go out and call people to Allah.

Answer:

The knowledge is from Allah. He grants it to whom He pleases without limit. Allah says in the Quran:

035.028 And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colors. Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for God is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.

This verse here states that the knowledgeable are the ones that have the fear (Khushu) of Allah. Allah has made the animals and humans of different colors. Allah is the powerful, and is ever encompassing in forgiveness. What is the real knowledge? It is the real knowledge where people know about Allah. It is the knowledge the brings people to have more fear (Khushu) of Allah. It is the knowledge that Allah gives to whomever He chooses.

035.032 Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by God's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace.

The above verse states that of the people that Allah has given the Quran, there are some who do wrong, some who follow a middle way and some that are foremost in good deeds. These verses indicate that people that inherited the book need to go to the next step and be foremost in good deeds. The purpose of learning the Quran and Hadiths is so that people get closer to Allah, and know more about Allah. People that know about Allah are indeed knowledgeable people. Allah is the Creator and Controller of this universe, and all commands go back to Him. Please see the article labeled truth.

The wise will tell you that the person with the most knowledge is the one that remembers Allah Much. Not just by saying the words with the tongue, but by thinking about Allah deep down in the heart. Like Allah says about the People of understanding (Oulil Albab):

003.191 Men who remember God, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.

These people of understanding remember Allah much, standing sitting, and lying down. They have the understanding of Allah. They ponder over the creation of Allah of the universe, and they fear the punishment that Allah has prepared in the after life, the Hell fire whose fuel is human beings and rocks. These are the people of understanding.

Also in the Quran, Allah says:

039.009 Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.

A person that calls on Allah with fear and hope during the hours of night, and strives for the hereafter, and rests his hope in the mercy of his Lord is indeed a very smart person. Are they the same as a person that doesn't do those things? Is the person who knows and is conscious of Allah the same as a person that is unaware? A person that remembers Allah much and fears him, is indeed knowledgeable. A person that becomes heedless of the remembrance of Allah has the shaitan as his companion. The greatest knowledge is the understanding of who Allah, the Creator and Master of this universe, is. That is the purpose of the Quran, Hadith, prayers etc., so that a person becomes conscious of Allah.

It is also a duty on every believer to convey the message of Allah.

Hadith in Bukhari:

4.667: ------- Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet said, "Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence, and tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire."

In the above hadith from Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commands us to convey the message. This command is for everyone. The prophet (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) orders us to convey the message even if it were a single statement. The prophet (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also commands us to relate the stories of Bani Israel, and whoever says a lie about prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) will find his seat in the hell fire.

It is a duty for every person to convey what they know to others. This is a duty on every person, not just the scholars. Whatever the amount the person knows, even if it is just one statement, it is a duty to convey it to others.

Another hadith in Bukhari:

5.688: ------- Narrated Abu Bakra: The Prophet said, "Time has taken its original shape which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, four of which are sacred, and out of these (four) three are in succession, i.e. Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab which is named after the Mudar tribe, between (the month of) Jumaida (ath-thania) and Sha'ban." Then the Prophet asked, "Which is this month?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that the Prophet kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then the Prophet said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?" We replied, "Yes." Then he said, "Which town is this?" "We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the town of Mecca?" We replied, "Yes, " Then he said, "Which day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the day of An-Nahr (i.e. sacrifice)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "So your blood, your properties, (The sub-narrator Muhammad said, 'I think the Prophet also said: And your honor..) are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours; and surely, you will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not become infidels after me, cutting the throats of one another. It is incumbent on those who are present to convey this message (of mine) to those who are absent. May be that some of those to whom it will be conveyed will understand it better than those who have actually heard it." (The sub-narrator, Muhammad, on remembering that narration, used to say, "Muhammad spoke the truth!") He (i.e. Prophet) then added twice, "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed (Allah's Message) to you?"

Allah commands us to be helpers of Allah and His final Messenger (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fulfilled his duty by conveying the message to his companions. It's now the duty upon us to convey the message to others, and Allah is well aware of what we do. All the praises are for Him the All Knowing.

Wrong statement by the shaitan:

Fazail Amaal contains all fabricated shirk.

Answer:

In Fazail Amaal there are some hadith that are considered to be weak by some, however to denote them as 'shirk' is going too far. A person must be careful that they don't call others by derogatory names, especially people that are very close to Allah. On the day that they stand before Allah, Allah will transfer the deeds (good and bad) from one person to another. Anytime a person calls someone else with a bad name; even in cases where it may be true, the person takes for himself some sins of the person he called the name.

Some people prefer to read books which contain only the most authentic narrations. It is recommended for people who have this preference to study the collection of Ahadith "Riyadh al Saliheen". However, there is nothing wrong with reading and following any other books on Islam. Tabligh is the propagation of Allah's message, originated by prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), continuing on till today. Learning and teaching other books is also Tabligh. May Allah accept from all the believers.

The book Fazail Amaal, is a good book, because of the blessings it contains, (Please see the article labeled blessings ).

A good example of authenticity and blessings could be given with a phone book. A phone book lists the names of people and their phone numbers, which are very authentic. Some people would say that the listings are more authentic than Ahadith found in the Sahihs. However memorizing the phone book, though more 'authentic', does not have the blessings.

When a person becomes devoted in the work of Allah, and propagating Allah's religion, they understand the importance of Blessings. Allah puts things on levels of blessings, which determine the effectiveness of their work. It is Allah that gives the blessings.

The first section of the book is called "Stories of the Sahabah." The Sahabah are the rightful ones to be followed. They have the blessings. The other chapters are collections of Ayats from the Quran and Hadith on a variety of subjects, like the virtues of Quran, Salaat, Dhikr, Tabligh, etc.

Some people from their arrogance think they know everything, and as a result seem to find things that seem to be untrue. This is a result of negative thinking, where that person tries to find 'contradictions' in everything they come across. Sometimes this negative thinking makes a person seem to find things contradictory in other places, even finding contradictions in what Allah and His Messenger say.

The wise people are the ones that use positive thinking; that is thinking how a narration may be correct, instead of trying to find contradictions. as Allah says in the Quran:

039.018 Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it: those are the ones whom God has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding.

Allah says here in the above verse that the people that have His guidance, and the wise, are the ones that follow the good in the talk. They listen to sayings, and use positive thinking. These people are the ones that are endued with understanding.

Perhaps the negative thinking people will some day realize how much blessings and knowledge Allah has given to people close to Him. I pray that Allah guide all the believers.

Insha Allah, I will answer all questions, with the help of Allah. Please feel free to send me mail at aljisuhail@mail.com