Were the recent earthquakes caused by a disturbance in the earth’s rotation and is the direction of rotation about to be reversed?
Q. In recent times a message on cell phones has become widespread which speaks of the reasons for the earthquakes in Asia. This message is attributed to Dr Zaghlool al-Najjaar and the text of the message is:
“Dr. Zaghlool al-Najjaar: The reason for the earthquakes in Asia is a disturbance in the earth’s rotation caused by its slowing down, which indicates that the earth’s direction of rotation is about to be reversed, and the onset of the major signs of the Day of Judgement and the beginning of natural disasters, until the sun rises from the west. Spread this message and pray for forgiveness.”
What do you think of this message? Is it true?.
A. Praise be to Allaah.
What is attributed in this message to Dr Zaghlool al-Najjaar is not correct. The Doctor himself had denied it when he was asked about it on the Minbar al-Jazeerah show discussing Arab preparations to face disasters, on the al-Jazeerah satellite channel.
He replied:
“By Allaah, my dear brother, this idea is completely and utterly baseless. It seems that there are devils among mankind who want to spread some of these myths through me, because they know how much the people love me by the grace of Allaah, so they will believe these words.
Firstly: I repeat all the time that the Hereafter has laws which are completely different to the laws of this world.
Secondly: The Hereafter, as the Qur’aan says, will come suddenly, as Allaah describes it (interpretation of the meaning):
“Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden”
[al-A’raaf 7:187]
Thirdly: The mass of the earth is approximately six thousand billion million million tons. Although they are powerful, these earthquakes cannot change the speed of the earth’s rotation or slow it down.
Some people say – and this can be found on the internet and it is correct – that if the explosion is in the opposite direction to the earth’s rotation, it can slow it down, and if it is in the same direction, it can speed up the earth’s rotation around its axis. But in either case the difference is no more than a millionth of a second. So how can it be said that this is one of the major signs of the Hour? The major signs have been defined by our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in precise detail, and there is no room for ijtihaad when the ahaadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) are so clear.”
End quote.
The Doctor has also explained in other discussions the cause of these earthquakes from a scientific point of view, as well as stating that they are a punishment for sin.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”
[al-Shoora 42:30]
“Evil (sins and disobedience to Allaah) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that He (Allaah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allaah, and begging His Pardon)”
[al-Room 30:41]
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Ref: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/69861
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The best books on Aqeedah (Islamic Creed)
The best books on Aqeedah
Reference: qsep.com
A. The most important book in `Aqidah is the Qur'an; it is the most truthful, the greatest and the noblest book. You should adhere to it as much as possible and recite it often. It includes `Aqidah, guidance to goodness and warning against evil. If you read it carefully out of desire to learn and follow its instructions closely, whether in words, deeds or `Aqidah, you will find all goodness in it from the beginning to the end i.e. from Surah Al-Fatihah [Surah (1)] toSurah Al-Nas, 114: 1 Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, If you contemplate this great book and recite it often, you will comprehend the `Aqidah which Allah (Exalted be He) accept from you and from the Mu'mins (believers).
Then, you should read the books of Hadith, such as the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and others.
After that, you should read the books of scholars known for knowledge, grace and true `Aqidah, such as the books written by the Shaykh of Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, including:
- "Al-`Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah",
- "Al-`Aqidah Al-Tadmuriyyah",
- "Al-`Aqidah Al-Hamawiyyah",
- "Minhaj Al-Sunnah" and
- "Majmu` Al-Fatawa".
There is also the book written by Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan entitled:
- "Fat-h Al-Majid" ;
- "Al-Tawhid",
- "Kashf Al-Shubuhat" and
- "Thalathat Al-Usul"
- "Al-Tawhid",
- "Kashf Al-Shubuhat",
- "Thalathat Al-Usul" and
- "Al-`Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah",
Some people call it Wahabiyyah `Aqidah, and think that it is a new `Aqidah contradictory to the Qur'an and the Sunnah. This is not the case; it is the `Aqidah followed by the Salaf of the Ummah (nation) as previously mentioned but our enemies gave it this name to make people hate it and others imitated them out of ignorance.
However, a knowledge seeker should not be deceived by this; they should know the truth from their books, not through the claims of their enemies and those who are ignorant of their `Aqidah. May Allah grant everyone guidance and success!
Ibn Baz Fatwa >Volume 7>The ruling on joining religious parties
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A Reply to a similar quesion in another answer:
A. You should study the Book of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) which contains guidance and light and the Sunnah of his Messenger (peace be upon him). You should also study the books of Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an) and that of thescience of Hadith with the help of specialized scholars.
It is important that you act upon what you learn. Whoever acts upon what they learn will be granted the knowledge of things that they do not know.
The following books are highly recommended:
- the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e., Al-Bukhari and Muslim),
- Bulugh Al-Maram,
- `Umdat Al-Hadith by `Abdul-Ghany ibn `Abdul-Wahid Al-Maqdisy,
- Muntaqa Al-Khbar and Zad Al-Ma`ad by Ibn Al-Qayyim, and
- Al-`Aqeedah Al-Wasittiyah by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (May Allah be merciful with them both), in addition to:
- Al-Tawhid (Book of monotheism),
- Kashf Al-Shobuhat, and
- Fath Al-Majid.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' > Permanent Committee Fatwas > Volume 12: (Jihad and Hisbah) > Jihad and Hisbah > Knowledge > The best books >Fatwa no. 3534
Member Member Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Qa`ud `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz
Reference: qsep.com
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ridding oneself of Arrogance
Ridding oneself of arrogance
Q. How should a person come over arrogance?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Arrogance is a blameworthy characteristic which is the feature of Iblees and his cohorts in this world, those on whose hearts Allaah has placed a seal.
The first one who showed arrogance towards Allaah and His creation was the accursed Iblees, when Allaah commanded him to prostrate to Adam and he refused and was arrogant, and said, “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.”
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being); then We told the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves to Adam’, and they prostrated themselves, except Iblees (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrated themselves.
(Allaah) said: ‘What prevented you (O Iblees) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?’ Iblees said: ‘I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay’”
[Qur'an, al-A’raaf 7:11-12]
Arrogance is one of the characteristics of Iblees, so whoever wants to be arrogant should realize that he is acquiring a characteristic of the devils, and that he is not acquiring a characteristic of the noble angels who obeyed their Lord and fell down prostrate.
Moreover, arrogance may be the cause of a person being deprived of Paradise and may mean that the Lord of Glory will not even look at him, as it says in the following two ahaadeeth:
1 – It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“No one who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what if a man likes his clothes and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allaah is Beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.”
[Narrated by Muslim, 91]
2 – It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever lets his garment drag along the ground out of pride, Allaah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Bakr said: “Sometimes my garment slips down on one side, unless I pay attention to it.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “You are not doing that out of pride.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3465]
Secondly:
Pride is an attribute that is not befitting for anyone except Allaah. Whoever seeks to compete with Allaah in that, Allaah will destroy him, wreak vengeance on him and make things difficult for him.
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (S) said: “Might is His garment and pride is His cloak; whoever seeks to compete with Me concerning them, I will punish him.”
[Narrated by Muslim, 2620]
Al-Nawawi said: This is how it is narrated in all texts. The pronoun in the words ‘His garment’ and ‘His cloak’ refers to Allaah, and there is something omitted; what is meant is ‘Allaah says, ‘whoever seeks to compete with Me concerning them, I will punish him’.
What is meant by ‘seeks to compete with Me’ is seeking to acquire that characteristic in the sense of sharing in it.
This is a stern warning against arrogance which clearly demonstrates that it is haraam.
[Sharh Muslim, 16/173]
Everyone who tries to be arrogant and put himself above others, Allaah will bring him down among the lowest of the low, and will humiliate him, because he is going against reality, so Allaah will punish him by thwarting his aims; the punishment is to fit the crime.
The one who is arrogant towards the people will be trampled beneath the feet of the people on the Day of Resurrection, as a punishment for his arrogance.
It was narrated from ‘Amr ibn Shu’ayb via his father and grandfather that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“On the Day of Resurrection, the arrogant will be gathered like ants in the form of men. Humiliation will overwhelm them from all sides. They will be driven to a prison in Hell called Bawlas, with the hottest fire rising over them, and they will be given to drink of the juice of the inhabitants of Hell, which is teenat al-khabaal.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2492; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2025]
Thirdly:
Arrogance is of several types, including the following:
1 – When a person does not accept the truth and produces false arguments against it, as we have mentioned in the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood, “Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.”
2 – When a person admires himself for his beauty or handsomeness, or the fineness of his food or clothing, so he feels proud and arrogant and feels superior to people.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said (or Abu’l-Qaasim (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said):
“Whilst a man was walking, dragging his garment with pride, with his hair nicely combed, Allaah caused the earth to swallow him and he will go on sinking in it until the Day of Resurrection.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3297; Muslim, 2088]
A similar case is the story of the friend of the man whose companion spoke to him arrogantly. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And he had property (or fruit) and he said to his companion, in the course of mutual talk: ‘I am more than you in wealth and stronger in respect of men’”
[Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:34]
It may be that he was boasting about his tribe and linage.
Fourthly:
One of the remedies for arrogance is to think of yourself as being just like other people and realize that they are like you, they were born from a mother and a father just as you were, and that taqwa (piety, fear of Allaah) is the true criterion of superiority.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious)”
[Qur'an, al-Hujuraat 49:13]
The arrogant Muslim should realize that no matter what he achieves, he is still too weak to attain a stature like the mountains in height or rend nor penetrate the earth (cf. al-Isra’ 17:37), as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allaah likes not any arrogant boaster.
And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses”
[Qur'an, Luqmaan 31:18-19]
Al-Qurtubi said:
The phrase “nor walk in insolence through the earth” is a prohibition of arrogance and is enjoining humility. Marah (translated here as insolence) is excessive joy, or it was said that it means being arrogant in walking, or thinking too highly of oneself.
Qutaadah said: it means showing off in walking; or it was said that it means vanity.
All of these suggestions are close in meaning, but they may be divided into two categories: those which are blameworthy and those which are praiseworthy.
Arrogance, vanity, showing off and thinking too highly of oneself are blameworthy; joy and energy are praiseworthy.
[Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 10/260]
Another remedy for arrogance is for a person to realize that on the Day of Resurrection he will be gathered in a small form like an ant which will be trampled underfoot. Arrogant people are hated by other people just as they are hated by Allaah; people love humble, tolerant and gentle people, and they hate those who are harsh and cruel to people.
Another remedy is to remember that he and urine came out of the same place; that he began as a despised drop of sperm and he will end up as a rotten corpse, and that in between he is a vessel for faeces. So what does he have to feel so proud and arrogant about?!
We ask Allaah to rid us all of arrogance and make us humble.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Ref: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/9229
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