Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #45

The Auliyaa' of Allaah

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh alh-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]

Some material in this post is redundant due to the fact that the topic of Auliyaa' came up several times throughout the series.

Allaah تعالى says:

{ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون*الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah said: {I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a Walee (pious worshipper) of Mine…}” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6502)]

Definition of “Walee of Allaah”:

Shaikh al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله said (2/60-61):

  

Al-Mubaa`idah (hostility) is the opposite of al-Mawaalah (friendliness). Allaah عز وجل has clarified who a Walee is in His saying:

{ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون*الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

These are the Auliyaa’ of Allaah: {those who believed} i.e. Imaan (Faith) and all that it implies has truly settled in their hearts. {and used to fear Allaah much} and those who would employ their limbs to do righteous deeds sincerely. They fear and stay away from all that which has been made Haraam – not doing that which has been enjoined or doing that which has been prohibited – (they stay away from it). They combine between the inward reformation with Faith and the outward reformation with actions. They are the Auliyaa’.

The Wilaayah of Allaah is not attained by just making claims (i.e. one does not become the Walee of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى by just making claims) as some of the Dajjaals (the liars) do by trying to deceive the general mass into believing that they are Walee of Allaah; rather they are the enemies, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. One can find, in some of the Muslim countries, people deceiving the general mass, saying to them: We are the Auliyaa’, and they would outwardly do acts of `Ibaadah in trying to deceive the people – rather, they are the enemies of Allaah. They use this (false) claim as a means to amass wealth, to make people respect them and many more things.

But with us – and all Praise is for Allaah alone – we have the criterion which Allaah تعالى has made clear, and (He تعالى also) gave the description with which the Auliyaa’ are recognized:

{الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{those who believed and used to fear Allaah much}

These are the Auliyaa’ of Allaah. And as for the one who is hostile towards the Auliyaa’ of Allaah, then Allaah تعالى tells us: {I will declare war against him}. So whoever shows hostility towards the Auliyaa’ of Allaah is actually warring against Allaah. We ask Allaah for protection and well-being. And anyone who wars against Allaah عز وجل will be defeated and disheartened, and there will be no one to support him.

Who is the “Walee of Allaah”:

The Shaikh رحمه الله also said (3/269-270):

The author (Imaam al-Nawawee) then mentioned the Hadeeth of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Allaah said: {I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a Walee (pious worshipper) of Mine…}”

Meaning: “whoever has enmity with one of the Auliyaas’ of mine, I will wage war against him.” So whoever shows hostility against anyone of the Auliyaas of Allaah, then it becomes a war against Allaah - and Allaahs refuge is sought – for example the one who consume usury (interest):

{فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ}

{And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allâh and His Messenger} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 279]

The question is: Who is the Walee of Allaah? The Walee of Allaah is as Allaah تعالى says:

{ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون*الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

These are the Auliyaa’ of Allaah – whoever is (firm) Believer and pious (God-fearing), then he is the Walee of Allaah. This is the (true) Wilaayah. And Wilaayah is not that a person puts on certain types of clothes in front of people or acts monastically in front of people or prolongs his sleeves or (acts submissively) by lowering his head. Rather a person becomes a Walee because of his Faith and piety:

{الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{those who believed and used to fear Allaah much}

And whosoever shows hostility against them, then he is waging a war against Allaah – And Allaah’s refuge is sought.

The Karamaat

Narrated Al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib رضي الله عنه: A man was reciting Surah Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him; a cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and told him of that experience. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That was As-Sakeena (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’aan.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3614, 5011) and Saheeh Muslim (1739, 1740)]

The Shaikh رحمه الله also said (4/651-655):

The author (Imaam al-Nawawee رحمه الله) mentioned a few Ahaadeeth about the virtues of the Qur’aan and one of them is the Hadeeth of al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib رضي الله عنه that a man was reciting Surah al-Kahf, which is a Surah between Surah al-Israa’ and Surah al-Maryam, and it has many virtues and in it are mentioned the incidents and lessons (and examples) which Allaah عز وجل mentioned to His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. So, this man was reciting the Qur’aan and something like a cloud covered him. As he was reciting, it kept on coming closer and closer. The horse which was tied by two ropes started jumping because of what it saw. When this man informed of the incident to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he صلى الله عليه وسلم said that it was tranquility which came down due to the recitation of the Qur’aan. And tranquility comes down whenever the Qur’aan is recited. When a person recites the Qur’aan slowly (and not rushing through it) and with contemplation, the tranquility descends down till it reaches the heart of the reciter – Allaah is the one who sends down the tranquility in his heart.

And this incident is from the Karaamaat (miracles) of the Auliyaa’. For the Auliyaa’ there are Karaamaat; but not every Wali is able to perform a Karaamah. It is Allaah تعالى who gives Karaamah to some of His Auliyaa’ as a proof (of their truthfulness) and to affirm the truth that he is upon. And these Karaamaat are extraordinary events; meaning it will happen against the norm, which Allaah تعالى will perform through the hands of some of His Auliyaa’ for honoring him, and as evidence for him and affirming the truth that which he is upon; and in the same time it a Mu`jizah (miracle) for the Messenger which this Wali is following.

Its’ type:

The scholars’ رحمهم الله have mentioned that these extraordinary events are of three types:

1. The first is the sign of the Prophets.

2. The second is the karamaat of the Awliyaa’.

3. The third is the insult/humiliation from the Shayaateen, which Allaah تعالى allows it to happen against the norm at the hands of the Shayaateen – and Allaah’s refuge is sought.

The sign of that is that whoever performs this extraordinary thing is either a Prophet or a Walee of al-Rahmaan or a Walee of Shaitaan. And what is known is that after the death of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, it is not possible to perform a Mu`jizah because the prophethood has ended as the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was the final Prophet. What are left are the Karaamaat (of the Auliyaa’), the satanic deceptions, sorcery and magic and things similar to it.

The sign of the Karaamaat is that Allaah عز وجل performs it through the hands of one of His righteous servant amongst His Auliyaa’. And the Auliyaa’ of Allaah are the pious Believers as Allaah تعالى said:

{ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون*الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون} 

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

The extraordinary things which are performed at the hands of a person who is righteous and a God-conscious Believer and who is known for his goodness, then this is said to be Karaamah.

The Third type, the magic and the devilish deception, which are performed at the hands of evil sinners and the Auliyaa’ of Shaitaan; those who claim to be Auliyaa’ (of Allaah but in fact are Auliyaa’ of Shaitaan) and who play with the minds of the ignorant and the minds of the common people. One would (often) find them wearing big `Amaamah (turbans), wide sleeves, long beards, their clothes covered with dust, so that they can display the marks of Sujood (making the people think that they pray a lot) and other than that of the tricks which they play on the minds of people. Thereafter, the Shayaateen use special tools/means and produce for him a camel (out of nowhere) or they would carry him in the air etc.

This has been going on for ages that they’ve been playing with the minds of men. These are the shayaateen, even if they were to perform such “great” feast there is no honor for them in this. The scholars have written a lot about these Karaamaat (of the Auliyaa’) and the humiliations (deceptions of the Shayaateen), and one of the best books written on this subject is the book of Shaikh al-Islaam رحمه الله: “The difference between the Auliyaa’ of Allaah and the Auliyaa’ of Shaitaan”. He has mentioned in it a lot of incidents from the Karaamaat of the Auliyaa’ and from the incidents of the deceptions of the enemies (of Islaam). He mentioned in his book about (the incident of) “Musailimah the liar”, who emerged from al-Yamaamah and who claimed to be a prophet, that a group of people came to him saying: we have a well whose water sank low and not much of it is left. They asked him to come with them to this well so that he may bless this well; as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to do when people would come to him complaining about the shortage of water so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stretched out his hand and the water started flowing out from his fingers. So these people came to “Musailimah the liar” and he went along with them to the well. It is said that he took (some water into his mouth) and spat into the well with the water. And when he spat in it, whatever water was there in the well sank down even further – whereas they were expecting the water to increase. Allaah عز وجل showed them a sign about the lies in his claim (for prophethood). This is no doubt that what happened is an extraordinary event. One does not expect to pour water in to the well which already had some water to sink even further. This is not the norm, but Allaah تعالى did that as a sign of humiliation for Musailimah.

Anyways, if you see an extraordinary event from a person who is a pious believer and who is known for his righteousness and his firmness (upon the deen), then this is from the Karamaat of the Auliyaa’. But if otherwise (i.e. he is not a pious believer), then it is satanic deceptions or magic by which they cast spells on the people’s eyes. They cast spells on the eyes by which it would seem that the moving (thing) is stationary and the stationary (thing) is moving. The magicians of Fir`aoun threw their ropes and sticks on the earth and cast the spell over the people’s eyes, till the whole valley felt like (the ropes and sticks) have become alive, till even Moosaa عليه السلام conceived a fear in himself. So Allaah تعالى revealed to him (Moosaa عليه السلام) to throw his stick:

{فألقى عصاه فإذا هي ثعبان مبين}

{Then (Moosaa) threw his stick and behold! it was a serpent, manifest!} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 107]

It became a great serpent which swallowed all the other ropes and sticks, and the people came to know about the truthfulness of his Prophethood as it destroyed every other magic (trick).

Nonetheless, this shade which was covering the reciter (of the Qur’aan) who was reciting Surah al-Kahf, this was a karaamah for him, and it was a sign from Allaah عز وجل to him that with this Qur’aan truly descends the tranquility for those who read it and recite it. We ask Allaah that He makes us and you benefit from it (the Qur’aan), and that He makes it an argument for us (and not against us), leading us towards the Paradise.

More on Karaamaat:

The Shaikh رحمه الله said (6/57-58):

The author (Imaam) al-Nawawee رحمه الله in his book Riyaadh al-Saaliheen said: Chapter: Karaamaat of Auliyaa’ and their virtues. The Karaamaat here means everything which extraordinary, which Allaah تعالى reveals at the hands of the one who follows the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. This is Karaamaat, meaning an unusual event which Allaah تعالى shows at the hands of the one who follows the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم – either in his honor or to support what is right. The (reality of) Karaamaat are established from the Book (of Allaah) and the Sunnah (of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the many incidents (reported and seen). But the question is: Who are the Auliyaa’? The Auliyaa’ are those about whom Allaah تعالى mention in His saying:

{ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون*الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقون}

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

These are the Auliyaa’ in whom is gathered both Imaan (Faith) and Taqwaa (Fear of Allaah). The Auliyaa’ of Allaah are not those proclaim that they are His Auliyaa’, whereas they are His enemies, as it takes place in some of the countries where a person claims to be a Walee while he is a sinner, rebellious and disobedient; calling people to worship him and to follow him in everything; and he would claim that Allaah تعالى has permitted for him everything, even the things which are Haraam – Allaah has allowed him that because he has reached the objective. These are not the Auliyaa’ of Allaah, rather they are the enemies of Allaah (the Auliyaa’ of shaitaan).

The Walee of Allaah is a Believer who fears Allaah as has been mentioned in the Aayah which has preceded. The author then mentioned the Aayaat and the Ahaadeeth proving the incidents (of the Karaamaat which took place in the past) as well as the difference between the signs that were given to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Karaamaat of the Walee and the deception and magic of the enemy (of Allaah).

The difference between them is that the Signs given to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were extraordinary events which Allaah تعالى performed through the hands of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, as a support for him and as an affirmation for him. Example of `Eesaa عليه السلام bringing the dead back to life. `Eesaa ibn Maryam عليه السلام gave live to the dead, but rather brought them out of their grave after they were buried as Allaah تعالى said:

{وإذ تخرج الموتى بإذني}

{And when you brought forth the dead by My Permission} [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 110]

He عليه السلام would stand at the grave and would call the one inside it and he would come out of his grave alive. And he عليه السلام would heal those born blind and lepers; create a figure of a bird out of clay, meaning he would create something which resembled a bird and would then breathed into it and it would become a bird by the permission of Allaah. These are all from the Signs of Allaah. Therefore, the Signs (miracles) of the Prophets are extraordinary matters which Allaah تعالى performs through them.

As for the Karaamaat of the Auliyaa, it is (also) extraordinary matters but it is not (performed) by the Prophets but rather by the one who follows the Prophets. Like how it happened for Maryam عليها السلام:

{فأجاءها المخاض إلى جذع النخلة قالت يا ليتني مت قبل هذا وكنت نسيا منسيا فنادها من تحتها ألا تحزني قد جعل ربك تحتك سريا وهزي إليك بجذع النخلة تساقط عليك رطبا جنيا}

{And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!" Then [the babe 'Iesa (Jesus) or Jibrael (Gabriel)] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you."} [Surah Maryam (19):23-25]

These are from the Signs of Allaah, in honor of Maryam, a woman in labor beneath a date-palm tree shaking the trunk; and shaking the trunk is not easy. Shaking the top of the date-palm might be easy, but definitely not the trunk and the way the dates were made to reach her; these are all from the Signs of Allaah. Moreover, the way she conceived and childbirth are all from the Signs of Allaah عز وجل as Karaamah for her as Allaah تعالى said:

{وجعلناها وابنها آية للعالمين}

{and We made her and her son ['Iesa (Jesus)] a sign for Al-'Alamin (the mankind and jinns)} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21):91]

As for the third at whose hands Allaah تعالى shows these extraordinary events are the magicians and the sorcerers - those who use the help of Jinns. Allaah تعالى allows these events at their hands as a fitnah (trial) for them, and fitnah through them (i.e. they become fitnah for others). There are among people one who would perform these unusual things, but he is not Walee so that we may call it Karaamaat; and for sure we know that he is not a prophet because there is no prophet after Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. So then this is from the Shayaateen’s deception.

Fourthly: the extraordinary events which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى shows at the hands of the liars, manifesting his lies as what has been mentioned about Musailimah the liar, who emerged from al-Yamaamah and who claimed to be a prophet, that a group of people came to him saying: we have a well whose water sank low and not much of it is left. They asked him to come with them to this well so that he may bless this well; as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to do when people would come to him complaining about the shortage of water so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stretched out his hand and the water started flowing out from his fingers. So these people came to “Musailimah the liar” and he went along with them to the well. It is said that he took (some water into his mouth) and spat into the well with the water. And when he spat in it, whatever water was there in the well sank down even further – whereas they were expecting the water to increase. Allaah عز وجل showed them a sign about the lies in his claim (for prophethood). This is no doubt that what happened is an extraordinary event. One does not expect to pour water in to the well which already had some water to sink even further. This is not the norm, but Allaah تعالى did that as a sign of humiliation for Musailimah.

These are the four Signs: the Sign of Prophethood; the Karaamah of a Walee; the deception (magic) of the magicians; and the humiliation of the liars – all of these events are extraordinary, but they all differ depending upon the person through whose hands Allaah تعالى performs these events.

The Shaikh رحمه الله said (6/60):

And based upon this Aayah, Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said that whoever is a pious Believer is a Walee of Allaah. And Allaah تعالى said about these Auliyaa’ that:

{لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون}

{no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve}

Meaning: no fear shall overcome them from the affairs that they are going to face (in the Hereafter), nor shall they grieve of the affairs that has preceded from them (i.e. they will have assurance and hope). This is because they had already realized the meaning of the live of this world; so they did righteous deeds and believed in Allaah and feared Him. Thus they became His Auliyaa’. He تعالى then said:

{لهم البشرى في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة}

{For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter}

They will have two glad tidings, one in this world and the other in the Hereafter. The glad tidings in this world are of many types, from them is righteous dream seen by the person himself or shown to others about him. The righteous dreams which a person will see in his sleep that is concerning him or which a righteous person will see concerning him, like being given the glad tiding of the Jannah or someone else sees him to be from the people of paradise or something similar or that something good is going to happen for him. Anyways, most importantly, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that a good dream which a believer sees is a glad tiding for him. Due to this a person will increase more in doing righteous deeds and will become happy because of it and it will be become dearer for him. All this proves that he is from the Auliyaa’ of Allaah.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

من سرته حسنته، وساءته سيئته فذلك المؤمن

“Whoever rejoices with his good deeds and grieves over his evil deeds, then that is the believer among you.” [Sunan Tirmidhee (2165) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

So if you see within yourself that your chest expands with obedience and constricts with sins, then this is a glad tiding for you, that you are from the believing slaves of Allaah and from His pious Auliyaa’. That is why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

وجعلت قرة عيني في الصلاة

“and coolness (comfort) of my eyes has been provided in prayer” [Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (3939, 3940) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

And from it (the sign) is also that the good people will praise him, and will love him, and will mention him with goodness. So if you see that the good people loving you and praising you with goodness, then this is a glad tiding for you that the good people like you. But as for the bad people, then neither their praise nor their criticism matters, because they have no stability for themselves and nor does Allaah accept their testimony. But as for good people, if you see them praising you and that they mention you with goodness and try to get closer to you, then know that this is a glad tiding from Allaah for you.

And from the glad tidings in the life of this world is what a slave (of Allaah) is given from the glad tidings when he is parting from this world, when the angels descend upon him:

{ألا تخافوا ولا تحزنوا وأبشروا بالجنة التي كنتم توعدون نحن أولياؤكم في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة ولكم فيها ما تشتهي أنفسكم ولكم فيها ما تدعون نزلاً من غفور رحيم}

{“Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for; an entertainment from (Allaah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”}  [Surah Fussilat (41): 30-32]

And from the glad tidings is also when a person receives the glad tidings at his death. It is said to his soul: come out O good one who was in the body of a good one, come out to the mercy of Allaah and His pleasure; this will make it pleased and satisfied.

From it is also is the glad tidings in the grave. When a person will be asked about his Lord, his religion and his Prophet and he will reply correctly – a call will be made from the heavens that my slave has spoken the truth, so spread out for him from the Jannah, and make him dressed up from (the cloth of) the Jannah and open for him the door (window) of the Jannah.

And from it are also the glad tidings on the Day of Resurrection, the angels will say to them:

{هذا يومكم الذي كنتم توعدون}

{“This is your Day which you were promised.”} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 103]

And

{وأبشروا بالجنة التي كنتم توعدون}

{But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!} [Surah Fussilat (41): 30]

Anyhow the important thing is that for the Auliyaa’ of Allaah there is glad tidings in this world and in the Hereafter. We ask Allaah that He تعالى makes us and you from them.