Da’wah in Trinidad: Part 4
Now we come to those who are known as the ‘Shaikhs’ the ‘Maulanas’ and the ‘Muftis’. Alias the graduates of institutions. However I will not focus on the ‘Maulanas’ and the ‘Muftis’ because as I have observed many if not all of them cannot even speak Arabic properly. And do not have understanding of basic issues. Therefore, they are not considered in this post.
As for the ‘Shaikhs’ we have some that are good. Who are upon the Sunnah and strive their hardest to spread the Da’wah of Tawheed. May Allah give them their reward for their service to the da’wah.
However, there are some of them who do not call toward the Sunnah but rather they call toward themselves under the guise that they are calling toward the Sunnah. What do I mean by this?
Some of them co-operate with the people of innovation. One of them works in the Darul Uluum which was built upon Sufism. He defends it and the teachers that teach there even though they are clear enemies of the people of Hadeeth. Furthermore, to add insult to injury he warns against those who call toward the Manhaj of the Salaf and he doesn’t warn his own students against the Taqleed. Que Pena!!!!!
Another one co-operates with the Modernists in this country. And spoke against Salafeeyah on the Minbar in a famous Tableeghi Masjid in north Trinidad. And he is known to give lectures in their main Masjid. And when myself and him had an argument about Salafeeyah he said: “We have disagreement you are Salafi and I am Muslim”. And even after being advised that same man gave the same Khutbah in a different Masjid weeks after. Yet another ties the general people to those who are known for innovations with the graves.
Then there are those who speak ill of the scholars. One of them who Shaikh Wasiyullah considers an innovator said: “Shaikh Al Albani was nothing at my time”. And also spoke ill against the people of Hadeeth in many instances. Is this a person of Sunnah who curses Ahlus Sunnah? Nay, rather he is an innovator. The other one has spoken ill of Shaikh Rabee’.
Then there are those who play around with the rules ordained in the Shariah. That same innovator married a man’s daughter to a brother the man disapproved of. And when told he was wrong he said that he doesn’t have to answer anyone for that. Now the brother who married the man’s daughter was a man who smokes and is not very righteous.
Also, we have one in particular who doesn’t want to co-operate with others. He has his own instiution where there are only two male teachers. Himself and a brother who teaches secular subjects and the rest are female. Yet this same person ended up crying crocodile tears (figuratively) because some organizations who are Salafi don’t choose to use him to give da’wah.
Also they say we shouldn’t have connections with the Ulama because they studied with them!! La Ilaha Ill Allah. And this is why we have so many problems in Trinidad with these mocking pretenders who hide under the veil of the Sunnah in order to steer the general people toward them. If they were truly upon the Sunnah they would connect the people to the scholars of this time. But why don’t they do so?:
It is because they don’t want others to see the light. A one eyed man is the king in a blind man’s world. Therefore, to keep our brothers and sisters as sheep no connection has been made to the Ulama since the first of them has come back (1986).
They have done a great disservice to the Da’wah and have wasted thousands, possibly millions of Saudi Riyals which the government spent on them in order for them to return and spread the Salafi Da’wah. They have not established one institution in order than brothers and sisters learn the correct Aqeedah and Manhaj (well possibly it is a mercy because they are not upon the correct Aqeedah and Manhaj). And instead of doing so they choose to help other institutions spread their nonsense or to promote themselves as the heads of the Da’wah.
In any case Allah is watching. And now we have a group of Salafi brothers who will return when they have learnt in Madinah. From there it is hoped that something significant can be done inshallah ta’ala to truly spread the Da’wah. As for these brothers who were mentioned they should make Taubah and establish a connection with the Ulama. If they do not do so then there is no need for them.
Memorising Qur’an, Hadeeth and texts.
A lot of brothers and sisters think that seeking Islamic knowledge is like schoolwork. You go to an institute, get accreditation and then Mashallah you are the Alim of the Ulama. It has almost become like the Western Universities where a large quantity of people are churned out each year but little quality is found.
Why is this? It is because many of the Islamic Institutes have made the students focus upon reading and understanding rather then memorizing and understanding. Therefore you would find that many of our brothers and sisters would have knowledge but unfortunately it is not comprehensive in any subject. When you ask them for quotes or evidences they cannot bring out even one and when they answer questions they have no idea of the issue being asked about in the first place. This is because they have abandoned the way of our Salaf in seeking this religious knowledge.
Commiting Qur’an, Hadeeth and Texts to memory is essential. Qur’an because it is the book of Allah. Hadeeth because it is the statements, actions and permissions of the Messenger (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) and texts (mutuun) which show us how the scholars derive their rulings and speech.
They best of these statements I have found is this one:
Whatever one can take into the Hamaam (washroom) it is knowledge.
This is because one who memorizes has proofs with him at all times and can speak about issues pertaining to Islamic knowledge at the drop of a dime. As for the one who hasn’t done so you would find that he is unable to bring about proofs and speak about Islamic knowledge in a proper manner. This is why I am amazed that many people are given titles such as Alim, Alimah, Mufti and Shaikh and they haven’t even memorized 2 or 3 Juz of Qur’an, 40 Nawawi or even a simple text on Tawheed or Fiqh. And Allah’s help is sought. And I am even more amazed at the likes of those who take people with university degrees (from the University of the West Indies) as people of knowledge when these people cannot even recite Surat Al Faatihah or have basics in knowledge which every Muslim should know. Once I was speaking to a former Vice President of the UWI Islamic Society and he was upon the path of rejecting some of the Ahadeeth. So I asked him Ya Akhii what is a Hadeeth (its definition)? Sad thing he didn’t even know. Therefore, I say that these people who have Doctorates in sociology and engineering and have not studied memorized an Ayah of the Qur’an properly have delusions of grandeur when they seek to put themselves forward in order to teach Islam. Unfortunately, they put themselves forward as ignorant leaders who are astray and lead others astray.
In any case let us look at the memory of our past scholars:
Bismillah:
These are some statements from the people of hadeeth. The people who Allah raised up to protect and preserve this religion:
(1)Muhammad ibn Ismaa’eel al-Bukhaaree(i.e Imaam Al Bukhaari) said:
((I have written (hadeeth) from more than 1,000 Shaykhs, and from each one I have (taken) 10,000 hadeeth; There is nothing I have except that I recall its isnaad))
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 12, Page 407
(2)Abu Zur’ah ar-Raazee (died 264 A.H.) said:
((I have in my house (something) I wrote 50 years (ago) and have not read it since I (first) wrote it. Certainly, I know which book it is in, (and) which page it is on (and) which line it is on))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 32
Taareekh Baghdaad – Volume 10, Page 332
(3)ash-Sha’bee said:
((For 20 years, I have not heard a man narrate hadeeth except that I know more about it than him; (however) I had forgotten some knowledge (the extent of which) if a man was to memorise that (which I had forgotten) he would be an ‘aalim.))
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 4, Page 301
(4)Wakee’ said:
((None of our companions were better at memorising hadeeth than him (Yahyaa ibn Yamaan); He would memorise 500 hadeeth in a single sitting.))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 25
Tahtheeb al-Kamaal – Volume 32, Page 58
al-Kaashif – Volume 3, Page 273
(5)Aasim ibn an-Najwad (died 128 A.H.) said:
((I was ill for 2 years, and when I got better, I read the Qur.aan (from memory) and I did not make a single mistake.))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 27
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 5, Page 258
(6)Qataadah ibn Di’aamah as-Suddoosee (died 118 A.H.) said:
((I have never said to a muhaddith: “repeat it to me” and nor have my ears ever heard anything except that it has settled upon my heart (i.e. I have memorised it).))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 14
Tathkiratul-Huffaath – Volume 1, Page 357
al-Hath ‘alaa Hifth al-‘Ilm – Page 54
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 5, Page 276
(7)Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated:
((From amongst the people of al-Basrah, Qataadah was the best at memorising; whatever he heard, he would memorise. The book “Saheefatu-Jaabir” was read to him (only) once and he memorised it (all)))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 15
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 5, Page 276
(8)Muhammad ibn Muslim az-Zuhree (died 125A.H.) narrated:
((I have never revised a hadeeth, and nor have I ever had any doubt in (the memorisation of) a hadeeth, except one hadeeth; and when I questioned my colleague about it, (I found) it was (exactly) as I had memorised (it)))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 15
Hilyatul-Awliyaa. – Volume 3, Page 364
al-Jaami’ lil-Khateeb – Volume 2, Page 264
al-Hath ‘alaa Talabil-‘Ilm – Page 55
(9)Muhammad ibn Muslim az-Zuhree (died 125A.H.) narrated:
((There is nothing I have (ever) memorised and then (later) forgotten))
al-Hifth – Ahammiyyatuhu, ‘Ajaa.ibuhu, Tareeqatuhu, Asbaabuhu – Page 15
Hilyatul-Awliyaa. – Volume 3, Page 364
al-Jaami’ lil-Khateeb – Volume 2, Page 264
(10)Mu’ammar said:
((I used to attend the lessons of Qataadah when I was 14 years old, and there is nothing which I heard in those years except that it is as if it has been written (etched) in (on) my heart))
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 7, Page 6
Abu Moosaa ibn al-Haafiz said upon his death:
((Do not waste this knowledge (over) which we have tired (laboured)))
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 21, Page 450
Let us as students of knowledge follow these examples. And from our modern examples are the likes of Shaikh Yahya Al Haajuri of Dammaj, Yemen. It has been said that he has memorized the 6 books of Hadeeth and moreover it is said that every word that his teacher; Shaikh Muqbil Ibn Haadi has said he has memorized. Alhamdu lillah this is only found among the Salafi Ulama.
Someone may ask: What is the process of memorizing?
I tell them memorizing is quite easy Alhamdu lillah. Allah has said: “And we have made the Qur’an easy to remember so is there anyone who will remember?”
This is the way I memorize and Alhamdu lillah it has worked for me (In Qur’an)
1) I take one verse at a time and memorize it. So once I can say a verse by memory I go onto the next verse.
2) I then go to the second verse and tie it to the first verse. Then the third verse and tie it to the first and second and so on until I have memorized what I wish to memorize.
3) When I am done I repeat it over and over by heart at least 10 times.
4) Memorizing little. I do not go over 2 pages in one day because that is difficult to revise. But I do at least one (on weekdays and Sunday leaving off Saturday for review alone)
5) Revision: I make sure and read it for many days after I memorize it by heart.
Alhamdu lillah by Allah’s permission I memorize a page within 20 or 30 minutes using this method.
As for Hadeeth:
1) I read the Hadeeth from the start. Memorize the name of the Sahabi who narrated the Hadeeth first and foremost.
2) Then I take sentences from the Hadeeth and see if I have memorized them. Then I connect the sentences together to see if I have done the whole Hadeeth.
3) Then when I am finished with three I read all three ten times by heart if they are short. If they are long I read them 10 times each.
4) I do not pass 5 Hadeeth in one day. And memorize at least 3
5) Revising it every day by reciting it by memory.
By Allah’s mercy it doesn’t take much time to memorize it.
The main things in memorizing are nine:
1) Sincerity
2) A lot of Du’a
3) Staying away from sins. Especially looking at women (yes unless it is your wife your mind strays and you tend to forget what you are saying) and listening to music.
4) Memorizing one thing at a time. If one is memorizing a chapter of the Qur’an he memorizes it until he finishes it. If it is a chapter in Hadeeth he does so until he is finished etc. He doesn’t finish half of a Chapter and then leaves it or finished half a chapter in Hadeeth then leaves it.
5) Setting a daily goal. Even if it is 3 lines of Qur’an per day or one Hadeeth.
6) Being consistent on that daily goal. And not leaving it for anything.
7) Revision, revision and more revision.
Understanding and Acting upon what you have memorized.
9) Da’wah toward it. Knowledge is remembered when one teaches it.
Therefore in the Kuffar institutions they read and understand. As for us Muslims we memorize and understand. May Allah make it easy for us and bring from amongst us Imams in knowledge and piety.
