Letters of Ibn Taymeeyah From Prison
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Title: Letters of Ibn Taymeeyah From Prison
Created on: Wed Jan 09 15:17:22 -0500 2008
Updated on: Wed Jan 09 15:17:22 -0500 2008
Version: 1
Abstract: ... h the work of the envious. So, although he was tried and punished, a great benefit shone through the bars of his prison, and his Da'wa became known in that place as never before. 2. Ibn Taymeeah referred to them as Ahlu-Bid'a wal-Firqa. 3. There is nothing beyond this forgiveness, and it can onlyc ome from a scholar who has undoubtedly inherited the tradition of the Prophets. 4. He is probably referring to some of his brothers and companions in Damascus who grew weak during his trial, and who did not continue on the methodology of their Shaykh. He is barring his companions from harming them, and at the same time excuses them showing that he has no ill feelings towards them in his heart. Instead he values them and loves them for the Sake of Allaah. 5. The issue refers to his being falsely accused in the subject of 'aqeedah, and the envious shaykhs ill treatment towards him, and his subsequent imprisonment as a result, although his opinion was correct. 6. He is referring to his exposing innovation and the many lessons he taught in masjids and Schools. 7. Al-Ifk here denotes a false accusation of unchastity. It refers to an incident, which occurred on the Prophet's return from the campaign against the tribe of Mustaliq in the year 5AH. The Prophet's wife 'Aaishah, who had accompanied him on that expedition, was inadvertently left behind when the Muslims struck camp. After spending several hours alone, she was found by one of the Prophet's companions, who led her to the next halting-place of the army. This incident gave rise to malicious insinuations of misconduct on the part of 'Aaishah, daughter of Aboo Bakr. These rumours were short-lived and her innocence was established beyond all doubt in the Qur'aan 24:11-20. ----------------------------- The letter of Shaykh ul Islam from his prison in Alexandria to his companions urging them to turn to Allah and be attentive to Him. In the Name of Allah, ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem "And of your Sustainer's blessings shall you always speak" (93:5) I would like to inform my companions, may Allah please and favour them in this life and the next, that I am in a state of bliss the like of which I have never seen or experienced before. Allah has indeed opened wide for me the gates of His endless bounties. These blessings from Allah will only be tasted by those who have acquired insight into the realities of eemaan and tawheed and were granted a share in what all people endeavour towards: knowledge and faith. The subsequent pleasure and happiness, total joy and excitement, that are difficult to describe, are all found in and are a manifestation of, the higher spiritual wisdom and knowledge of Allah the Exalted in Might, believing in Him and worshipping Him Alone in the true way. One Shaykh used to say, "I experience a state where I think to myself: Lucky are the people of Paradise if they are in this state!" Another says, "There are times when my heart dances with joy due to the blessing of knowledge and belief, since there is not one blessing in this life equal to that of the Hereafter's, apart from those." In the same vein, the Prophet (saw) used to say to Bilaal: "Comfort us by prayer, O Bilaal". The Prophet had never asked to be comforted from prayer, as the sluggish might say. As Allah says in His book: "And seek help in patience and prayer, and truly it is heavy and hard except for the Khaashi'oon". (2:45) Attentiveness is the total surrender to Allah. It is the inner peace derived from the confidence in Allah in heart and limb. The Prophet used to say: "It has become beloved to me from this life of yours, women and beautiful scent". Until he said, "And my total peace and ultimate delight are from prayer." The Messenger of Allah did not just pronounce the first sentence of the hadith. Some people today pronounce the first sentence and stop, although it was not the way that Imam Ahmad and Nasa'i had related it. Those Imaams explain the joy of attentive prayer and the subsequent satisfaction, to be more significant than the other things mentioned. It is the heart where the whispers of the inner-self dwell. The Shaytan commands the following of desires, and makes them seem attractive. He whispers doubts and thereby turns life into a miserable existence. He who loves any other besides Allah is tormented in this life and the next. If that person attains his urges, he will then be punished for it. However, if he does not, he will be distressed and saddened. There is no complete happiness and total delight but in the love of Allah and in practising the acts instructed by Him. This love is attained through the rejection of all others, and this is the reality of Laa ilaaha ill-Allah. It was the reality of Ibrahim 'alayhis salaam, and the rest of the Prophets and Messengers, may the peace of Allah be upon them all. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to say to his companions. "Say that we are on the fitrah of Islam, the word of sincerity, the religion of our Prophet Muhammad and the way of our father Ibrahim, who was a true believer and never a mushrik." Yet man is wicked and ignorant, as His Creator, Allah said: "Verily we did offer the trust to the Heavens and the earth, and the mountains but they refused to hear it because they were afraid of it. Yet man took it up - for verily, he has always been prone to be most wicked, most foolish". (33:72) So the objective of those loyal to Allah, His successful party and victorious soldiers, is repentance. And due to this, this religion is a mixture of affirming Allah's true Oneness AND seeking His forgiveness. "Your God is One therefore, take the straight path unto Him and seek forgiveness of Him" (41:6) And so, the achievement of all the commands and abandonment of all the forbidden acts are a part of the tawheed of Laa ilaaha ill-Allah. When the willing servant of Allah is blessed with tawheed, and he has absolute confidence and conviction, then Allah will bless him with safety, happiness, joy and mercy. Alternatively, the fear that dwells in the heart is ash-shirk as Allah says: Into the heart of those who are bent on denying the truth, "We shall cast dread in return for their shirk". (3:151) Similarly in an authentic hadith, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Grief unto the servant of dinaar and grief unto the servant of dirham (monetary units). Grief unto the servant of ostentatious clothes, and grief unto the servant of beautified cloth. May grief and distress be on him, and if he was to feel pain, may he never be relieved". When the Prophet of Allah, Ibrahim, was threatened with the idols of his people, he replied: "And why should I fear anything that you worship which you set up beside Allah, seeing that you are not afraid of ascribing divinity to others beside Allah, for which, He has revealed unto you no warrant? [Tell me] Which of the two parties has a better right to be secure? [Answer me that] if you have knowledge!" (6:81) Therefore, Imam Ahmad said to one man, "If your belief is correct, you should fear no one". Furthermore every act that the Muslim does in accordance with the Prophet's command has a share in Allah's saying: "Grieve not, verily Allah is with us". (9:40) We have seen and experienced this godly company many times. It is this company which was foretold of in Qur'an, that will ultimately be victorious, and will exist until the Day of Reckoning. Alternatively, he who rejects what Muhammad (saw), came with will have a share of: "Verily he that hates you has indeed been cut-off [from all that is good]" (108:3) Abu Bakr ibn 'Ayash says, "The Ahlus Sunnah live and so does their fine reputation. Whereas the death of the people of innovations ends their mention. This is due to their dislike of what Allah had revealed, and so they were cut-off accordingly." Those who proclaim the sunnah of the Prophet (saw) will have a share of Allah's Promise to him: "And We have raised you high in dignity". (94:4) In conclusion, what Allah has blessed me with whilst in this place has been enormous, and I am unable to even count His favours upon me here. Yet what pains me is my distance from my "group" (2), for I would love for them to attain the delight and happiness which they strive for. I would also love for them to be more obedient to Allah, and to reach the highest levels through participation in j*haad for His sake. I aim to tell the group that, Allah's favours upon me are increasing. If I cannot be with them in person and to be of service to them, then I am supplicating to Allah day and night for their well-being; thereby fulfilling part of my duty towards them. What I command every one of them, is to fear Allah and be conscious of Him, to be reliant solely on Him, to be a mujahid in His Way, and for his supplication and all other acts to be in accordance with Allah and His Messenger's commands. O Allah! Be Merciful to the believers, men and women. Gather their hearts and resolve their differences. Make Muslims victorious over Your and their enemies, and distance them from sin, the apparent and the hidden. O Allah! Aid Your Religion, Book and faithful servants. O Allah! Punish the disbelievers and hypocrites who desire to obstruct Your Path and change Your Deen. O Allah! Send Your unswerving might upon the transgressors. O Allah! The Mover of Clouds, the Revealer of the Book, and the Striker of the Confederates! Strike them, pulverise them, shake the earth under them, and assist us against them. O Allah! Aid us and do not aid others against us. Plan for us and not against us, and help us overcome our oppressors. O Allah! Make us amongst the thankful, the obedient and those who return to You, O Allah! Accept our repentance, and cleanse us of our sins. Strengthen our reasoning and correct our tongues, and take out those dreaded diseases from our hearts. And Praise be to Allah, whose succour of the Sunnah is permanent, and His crushing of the people of innovation is plain and evident. May blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, (saw), his kin and companions (ra). 1. Khaashi'oon means those who are attentive and humble in spirit and fear Allah's punishment much. 2. Meaning the Shaykhs followers and beloved brothers in Damascus ------------------------- Letter Seven -- the letter of the Imaam of the Muttaqeen, Ibn Taymeeyah to the King of Cyprus and the religious leaders, princes and priests replying to their enquiries. He explains to them the message of religions that proceeded the final message. He emphasises the difference between the Muslim understanding of it as opposed to the adulterations that took place later. From Ahmad ibn Taymeeyah to Sarjawaz, the leader of his nation, and his courtiers, religious leaders, bishops, hermits, princes. Peace be upon the followers of guidance. We praise Allaah, the only God, the Lord of Ibraaheem, and the household of 'Imraan. We ask Him to send His blessings upon His chosen worshippers and His guided prophets. Especially, those prophets who possessed the greatest determination who are the leaders of all creation and the chiefs of all nations. They were the ones whom covenants were taken from: Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosa, 'Eesaa, and Muhammad (saw) as they were mentioned in Allaah's Book " In matters of faith, He (Allah) has ordained for you that which He enjoined upon Nuh , and into which We gave you (O Muhammad SAW) insight through revelation -- as well as that which we enjoined upon Ibraaheem , Moosa and 'Eesa: steadfastly uphold the truth and do not break up your unity therein" (42:13) "And Lo! We did accept a solemn pledge from all the Prophets - from you [O Muhammad] as well as from Nooh, and Ibraaheem, and 'Eesaa the son of Maryam - for we accepted a most weight, solemn pledge from [all of] them, so that [at the end of time] He might ask those men of truth as to [what response] their truthfulness [had received on earth]. And grievous suffering He has readied for all who deny the truth." (33:7-8) We ask Him to direct the peace and blessings towards the Seal of Messengers, their speaker when they return to their Lord and their Imaam when they meet. He is the interceder of the creation on the Day of Reckoning, the Prophet of mercy and courage who embodies all of the splendours of previous prophets. He was the one that 'Eesaa, the servant of Allaah (1), His Spirit and Word that He bestowed upon the truthful, pure and virginal Maryam, daughter of 'Imraan, gave glad tidings of. This was the Messiah of guidance, 'Eesa ibn Maryam, of great honour in this life and the next, characterised by grace and mercy due to what he relieved Banee Israa'eel (those descendents from the household of Prophet Ya'qoob) of Moosa's message, characterised by the magnificence and firmness. Allaah had then sent the final and concluding Messenger (saw) characterised by firmness on the disbelievers and mercy of the believers, whose sharee'ah contained the beauty of all the previous ones. May Allaah bless them all, and bless those that follow them until the Day of Judgement. Indeed, Allaah created the creations with His Supreme Ability, and shown in them a sign of His Wisdom and Mercy. All this was done so that His Command is obeyed through His worship. The origin of such worship is the higher spiritual wisdom and knowledge of Allaah and love for Him. So whom Allaah guides to His straight path is thereby given knowledge of His noble Names and exalted Attributes. The person is then awarded repentance and fear of him, so that he longs for Allaah like the eagles long for their high nests, and to be immersed in His Love the same way a baby loves his mother. Thus is worship: love, fear and hope, and thus is sincerity to Who owns the heavens and earth, the Lord of the firsts and the lasts. It is Allaah, the Creator of the Seen and that which is beyond human perception, and His servants do not ascribe partners unto Him to be revered in the same way, nor do they take (instead of Allaah) a protector, a king, a prophet or a priest. Allaah's worshippers recognise that everyone in the heavens and earth, are mere servants. Allaah knows them all and they will return to Him one by one on the Day of Judgement. Such are the people chosen, guided and strengthened to the truth by Allaah the Most Graceful, for He guides whom He pleases to the Straight Path. Mankind after the time of Aadam and before that of Nooh, 'alayhis salaam, were on the Tawheed and sincerity that their father Nooh was upon. At a later date, humankind invented shirk and the worship of idols. This innovation was self-made and had no origin in a book of Allaah, or through a prophet of His. Rather, they were doubts that the Shaytaan had instilled in their imagination, relying on corrupt analogies, and deviant conceptions. Some of them thought idols as the talismans of stars and great spirits. Some sculptured them in the likenesses of their previous prophets and pious people. And some made their idols the lowly spirits of jinns and devils. As most were ignorant followers of their leaders, turning away from the path of guidance, Allaah sent unto them his Prophet Nooh, 'alayhis salaam. Nooh called them to the worship of Allaah alone, rebuking them for the worship of other beings even though they claimed that the idols were worshipped for purposes of intercession only. Nine hundred and fifty years was the length of time that Nooh proclaimed the call until Allaah informed him that none will reach islaam save those already Muslim. Then, Nooh 'alayhis salaam, prayed to Almighty Allaah to drown the disbelievers, and he was answered. Then came the prophets after him, one after the other until the earth was engulfed by the beliefs of the disbeliever in the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allaah, when the tyrants and pharoahs were the chiefs throughout the world. During these terrible times the Imaam of all believers, and the originator of the pure creed and everlasting word Ibraaheem, 'alayhis salaam was sent. Ibraaheem called people to the declaration of God's perfection and denounced their planet and idol worship, saying: "Unto Him who brought into being the heavens and the earth have I turned my face, having turned away from all that is false; and I am certainly not of those who associate others with Allaah in His divinity". (6:79) He also said to his people, "Have you, then, ever considered what is that you have been worshipping, you and those ancient forefathers of yours? Verily, these [false deities] are my enemies [and that none is my helper] save the Sustainer of all the worlds who created me and is the One who guides me, and is the One who gives me to eat and to drink, and when I fall ill, is the one who restores me to health, and who will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life, and who, I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement" (26:75-82) Ibraaheem, 'alayhis-salaam, with his followers, have also said to their people, "Verily, we absolve ourselves from you and of all that you worship instead of Allaah: we deny the truth of whatever you believe; and between us and you there has arisen enmity and hatred, to last until such a time as you come to believe in Allaah alone." (60:4) And so Allaah made the prophets and messengers from amongst Ibraaheem's descendants and equipped all with signs, and placed some higher than others in status. Allaah granted Moosa the stick that He caused to come to life and devour what the magicians had made through ropes and sticks. Allaah had also split the sea and caused it to harden whilst the water stood divided into twelve paths for the number of the tribes. Moosa, 'alayhis salaam, was shaded with his people, white clouds escorting them, and was provided with manna and quails every morning; and when they became thirsty, Moosa struck the rod with his stick and water gushed out into twelve springs. Allaah had then sent prophets from among the Israelites. Some resurrected the dead and others cure the sick. Some prophets were given command over other creatures, and others were sent with many kinds of miracles. This is all agreed, even by the Jews and Christians, for their books contain many narratives of prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Habakkuk, David and Soloman, and what the book of Kings, and other contain in terms of valid stories. Yet Banee Israa'eel were a coarse and unrepenting nation. Sometimes they worshipped idols and stones, and other times Allaah. Sometimes they would kill the prophets unjustifiably, and so they were cursed by Daawood, 'alayhis salaam, and the destruction of Jerusalem is common knowledge to all. In the midst of this, Allaah sent the Messiah, the son of Maryam, together with his mother, as a messenger and a sign to mankind. This miraculous act was a testimony to the ability of Allaah and comprehensiveness of His Command in dividing mankind into four unique categories. Aadam, 'alayhis salaam, was created without a male-female interaction, and his wife created from a part of a male. Then the Messiah, son of Maryam, was created from a female without male intervention and all others from males and females. This servant, the Messiah son of Maryam, was given clear signs whereby he returned the dead back to life, healed the blind and the leper, and called to the worship of Allaah, following the way of his fellow prophets, confirming what came before him, and giving glad tidings of what shall come after. But Banee Israa'eel disobeyed and became arrogant. This was a direct contrast to 'Eesa's message. This message was noted for its humility, mercy and forgiveness, seen in the characters of early priests and hermits. Later on, 'Eesa and his followers became an issue that divided people into three camps: The first disbelieved and claimed that he was an illegitimate child whose father was Joseph the Carpenter, accusing his mother of fornication. That first group had also claimed that none of the Old Testament was abrogated. At the same time a second group were very excessive in elevating his status until they called him God and the son of God. They claimed that the Lord of the Worlds had descended and sent His son to be crucified for the sin of Aadam, 'alayhis salaam. But how could they allege that Allaah, the One, the Eternal, who begets not, and neither is He begotten, and there is nothing that could be compared to Him, had in fact begotten and taken a son? Without justifying proof by intellect or through their own Biblical evidences, a difference has continued into the areas of trinity and unity. Though there were some perplexing verses in some scriptures, there were many clear-cut ones to sort out any confusion professing the servanthood of 'Eesaa and his supplication to, and the worship of Allaah, alone. (1) Servitude in Islaam refers to the total submission to Allaah AND absolute love for Him. The cornerstone of religion is the belief in Allaah and His Messenger, as the final Prophet has said: "I was ordered to fight the people until they bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger". He also said: "Do not over-glorify me as the Christians did to 'Eesaa bin Maryam, for I am but a servant and so therefore describe me as (1) the servant of Allaah and (2) His Messenger." And as a result of this pillar, the Sabians and Brahmins and those of the same ilk who rejected the prophets are Kuffaar in their affirmations and beliefs, corrupt in their view of prophets. And those instigators of trinity into the heart of monotheism had corrupted their religion in a plain way, known through the fitrah that Allaah had created humans upon and through the books that He had sent. A general trend is observed among the priests, cardinals and Archbishops whereby their rise to genuine distinction and prominence is accompanied with their gradual disbelief in their own creed. Yet they insist on retaining their privileged positions and continuing their hypocrisy to the rulers and people. This observation is evident in the behaviour of Ibn al-Bouri of Jerusalem and Ibn al-Quf of Damascus. Similarly, many of the distinguished members of the clergy have been approached and advised by some (Muslim) noble people, who made it clear that their beliefs were not firmly held, if present at all, and that their retention of position is due to custom and privilege and not by right. A similar tradition is applicable to the kings and the wealthy. It is also observed that the efforts of theologian scholars are not directly concerned with the religion of the Messiah. Instead, logic, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and medicine are commonly found. And if a religious discipline is studied, then the theological rhetoric of the Sabians is used. This last feature is the exact disbelief that Allaah had sent Ibraaheem to counter through conveying the authentic message. And this message is the one ignored by current clergy who substitute it with the rites approved by whims of the public and the desires of the rulers. This aforementioned clergy had ever contradicted the Jews in their adherence to the Scriptures, although they claimed to follow its entirety save what 'Eesaa had abrogated. The Jews belittled the prophets until they killed them, whereas the Christians were so excessive in their admiration as to worship them. The Jews claimed that it does not befit the Almighty to change or abrogate His Word from time to time even if a messenger claims it. Yet the Christians counter-claimed that their religious leaders had the power to change what they see as appopriate, and in doing so prohibit or sanction what they wish. Furthermore, those religious leaders can order the sinner to participate in extra worship and thereby forgive him. The Jews claim that many things have been prohibited upon them, yet the Christians say that everything between the mosquito and elephant is allowed: one eats what he wishes and leaves what he despises. The Jews claim that physical impurities are grave, that it is disallowed to sit or eat with the menstruating women. The Christians say the opposite, and do not enjoin either circumcision or washing (ghusl) and the removal of impurities, even though the disciples were on the sharee'ah of the Torah. Moreover, the prayer to the east, and the hanging of the cross were not acts enjoined by the Messiah or called for by his disciples. Rather, they were innovated by Emperor Constantine and others. Any true religion whose followers aim is the pleasure of Allaah, has to be commanded by Allaah Himself and delivered by His prophets and messengers. On the other hand, innovations in religious matters all amount to misguidance and idols were only worshipped first through innovation. In generally the majority of current Christian rites of worship and celebration were never commanded by Allaah nor sent through His Messenger. Yet Christians possess mercy and kindness, which are from Allaah's Deen. This characteristic was not found amongst the Jews who are coarse and aloof. The Jews, nevertheless are intelligent, yet stubborn and arrogant, and the Christians are ignorant of... [Full Article...]
