Al-Irbad Ibn Sariyah Hadeeth 19_7_1436H
It was narrated that Al-Irbad Ibn Sariyah said, “The Messenger of Allah salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us.” He salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said: “I enjoin you to have fear of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every new matter is an innovation (Biddah) and every innovation is a misguidance.” In another narration; “as the believer is like the camel (with a ring on its nose), wherever he is directed, he follows”.
O servants of Allah! There is a great proof of the Prophecy of our Messenger salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam; as Allah showed him what will happen after his death (peace be upon him). In this Hadeeth, the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam advises us to fear Allah as He said in the Qur’an: “And We have instructed those who were given the Scriptures before you and yourselves to fear Allah”. Fearing Allah {‘Taqwa’} is to obey Allah by doing what He has ordered and avoiding what He has forbidden. The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam always advised his companions, saying, “Fear Allah wherever you are”. Then, commanded us to listen and obey to our ruler even if he was a black slave, so, a Muslim has to obey the ruler as long as he does obey Allah ( Do not obey someone who does what Allah has forbidden).
Moreover, our Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam did tell us that we’ll see many differences, on the contrary to his blessed times; differences in contradiction, dealings, worshipping and these are the times that we are living in nowadays. We live in a different period of time’ where people think they can change everything, thus, some of them were misguided, while others had heart changes and failed. Anas narrated that The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam always said, “O turner of hearts {Allah}, keep my heart firm upon Your faith.” Then I (Anas) told him; O Prophet of Allah, we have believed in you and believed in everything you have been sent with, so are you afraid for us? He salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Yes. Indeed the hearts are between two fingers from the fingers of Allah – He turns them however He wills!”
Whoever looks around will find many changed hearts (May Allah protects us) so, the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam guided us to the way of Safety by saying; “So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to it with your molar teeth.” Moreover, warning us from the innovations, whoever invents new things in Deen, he will be misguided. As the Sunnah of the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam is just like the Ship of Noah, whoever gets in, will survive and will be saved. And whoever abandons it will get lost. Allah said: “But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.”
I seek refuge of Allah for me and you too!
We believe that Islam is suitable for everywhere; place and time. And Allah had told us that Christians and Jews are working so hard to make people away from Islam saying: “Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from them [even] after the truth has become clear to them.” And they figure out the best way to do that by making people away from the Sunnah, so, they urged some hypocrites to arouse suspicions about Al-Bukhary and Sunnah Books; some of them insults the companions whom Allah praised them saying: “Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest.”
Unfortunately, nowadays, we hear a lot about people who doubt and accusing that Shari’ah lacks many things. And we know well these words leads to Kufr. In addition, the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam warned us from such hypocrites saying; “My biggest concern about you {“fear for this Ummah”} is from an eloquent hypocrite.” Muslims have to be aware of their Deen in order not to follow such hypocrites. It is easy for a Muslim who does not know much about his Deen to hate those who enjoin good and forbid evil and to believe those misguided people easily. as Allah said; “As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah.”
Therefore, there is no way to be rescued unless if you adhere to the Sunnah, speak for it and for the great companions, avoiding suspicions of hypocrites and never listen to them. as Allah said in His Book, “And it has already come down to you in the Book that when they hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. If not, Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together!”
Fear Allah, servants of Allah! Adhere to the Sunnah, holding on to it with your molar teeth, raise your children in Islamic environment to protect them, stand up against corruption and corruptive people. May Allah protect us, our Deen and our countries!
The quotations from the Qur’an and Hadiths in this Article are a rough translation of the meanings of the original text!