Boosting your Imaan - Shaykh Mohammad Salah

Bismillah

Boosting your Imaan – Shaykh Mohammad Salah

As the conference on the 8^th July 2012 began, each speaker started off with the most important verse from the Quran:

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (Baqarah:183)

Sh. Mohammad Salah’s talk caught my attention the most because he always was talking about boosting our imaan and what better way than by sharing some of the best ahadith, pertaining to the virtues of Ramadan and virtuous moment, with us.

Hadith Number One:  Narrated by Ibn Abbas

When the Prophet returned after performing his Hajj, he asked Um Sinan Al-Ansari, "What did forbid you to perform Hajj?" She replied, "Father of so-and-so (i.e. her husband) had two camels and he performed Hajj on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land."  The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said (to her), "Perform 'Umrah in the month of Ramadan, as it’s (reward) is equivalent to having performed Hajj with me!" (Bukhari)

Hadith Number Two:  Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘For the one who observes the dawn prayer in congregation, then sits down to remember Allah till the rising of the sun, and then observes two rak'ahs (after the sun has risen), there is for him the reward of a Hajj and an Umrah.’ (Tirmidhi)

Hadith Number Three: The most beautiful story telling us about the importance of Ramadan

Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallah reported that two men came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) who had accepted Islam at the same time. One of them used to partake in Jihad more-so than the other, and so (one day) he fought in a battle and was martyred therein. The other remained behind him for another year, and then he passed away.

Talha said, ‘I saw in my dream that I was at the door of Paradise when behold, I was with both of them (the two men). Someone came out of Paradise and allowed the man who passed away later to enter first. Then he came out again and allowed the martyred one to enter. Then he returned and said to me, ‘Go back, for your time has not come yet.’

Talha woke up and began to inform others about this and they were all surprised. This reached the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and when they informed him of it, he said:

He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘What are you surprised about?’ They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Out of them both, this one strove harder (in Jihad) then he was martyred but this other one was entered into Paradise before him.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Did he not remain behind him for one year?’They said, ‘Yes (he did).’ He said, ‘Did he not reach Ramadan, fast and pray with such and such number of prostrations in the year?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘So the difference between them is greater than what is between the heavens and the earth.’ (Ibn Majah, authenticated by Al Albani)

Hadith Number Four:  Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Messenger, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, said : "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]

Hadith Number Five:  It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) ascended the minbar and said: “Ameen, ameen, ameen.” It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, you ascended the minbar and said, ‘Ameen, ameen, ameen.” He said: “Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to me and said: ‘If Ramadaan comes and a person is not forgiven, he will enter Hell and Allaah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘O Muhammad, if both or one of a person’s parents are alive and he does not honour them and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allaah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘If you are mentioned in a person’s presence and he does not send blessings upon you and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allaah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen.”
(Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, 3/188; classed as saheeh by al-Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1679)

Before moving onto explaining more Imaan boosting reasons to grab Ramadan, the Shaykh mentioned a hadith that Ibn Rajab al Hanbali mentioned in his treatise:

**In a Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas; “Allah releases in every night of Ramadan at iftar (breakfast) millions of servants from the hellfire, all of whom were destined for the hellfire. When it is the last night of Ramadan he releases in that night more servants than he did from the beginning of the month until the end of it.”** SubhanAllah, we only need to ponder over this and pray that we are amongst those Allah has made Hell haraam for!

The Shaykh mentioned various activities to help you boost your imaan

1. Accountability – Umar ibn Al Khattab said, ‘Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable’
2. Repentance  - If you repent sincerely, Allah forgives, especially in Tahajjud and Ramadan.
   
   Abu Musa reported: The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Allah, the Exalted, stretches His Hand during the night so that those who commit sins by day may repent, and He stretches His Hand in the day so that those who commit sins by night may repent. He keeps doing so until the sun rises from the West".
   [Muslim].
   NB: One of the conditions of tawbah is to seek forgiveness from those that you’ve hurt.
3. Purifying your heart - On the authority of Abu Huraira who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: The gates of Paradise will be opened on Mondays & on Thursdays, and every servant [of Allah] who associates nothing with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About them] it will be said: Delay these two until they are reconciled; delay these two until they are reconciled. [Hadith Qudsi 20]
   
   **CALL ALL FAMILY MEMBERS**
4. Month of the Qur’an – Recite and listen to the Qur’an because  you never know if we’ll get to witness another Ramadan!
5. Give charity during Ramadan - Ibn Abbas said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was the most generous among people, and he was more generous during the month of Ramadan." (Muslim).

With this we end the first of the talks by the speaker. All the activities mentioned will be worth so much more during Ramadan and inshaa’Allah through them you will attain Jannah. Whatever good you get out of this post is from Allah and all mistakes are from myself

Meeting with Allah - Shaykh Nabil al Awadi

Bismillah

Shaykh Nabil al Awadi – Meeting with Allah

Who is Allah?

(Paraphrasing) The Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam said, after glorifying, ‘To you belongs all Praise, Life, Sustainer, Lord of the heavens and the earth. You are true, your promise is true and the meeting with You is true.’ This is what every believer yearns for.

The desire to meet Allah is in accordance with the love we have for Allah. It is the greatest thing a believer loves.

(Paraphrasing) ‘Those who believe, their love for Allah is deeply rooted in their heart’

The Shaykh then reminded us of the story of Musa and his meeting with His Lord.

(Paraphrasing) Musa departed from Israel, after Pharaoh was destroyed. He had a meeting with Allah and he reached there early. When he was asked why, he said it was because of his desire to meet Allah early....

’Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest’ (Ra’d:28). 

Allah gave Musa the tablet of the commandments. Musa asked to see Allah (he couldn’t help himself). Allah said, ‘You’ll not be able to see me but look at the mountain (think about the size and strength of the mountain) and if the mountain can handle it, then you can. The mountain crumbled and Musa fell unconscious. He then replied ‘Glory be to you Allah, indeed I have repented’

The Prophet’s, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam dua – ‘I ask for the delight to gaze upon your face’

**NOW IMAGINE YOU’RE IN JANNAH**

As Allah says, ‘Those who fear their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups and then, the gates will open (there’s a little pause)’. It’s a beautiful sight to JUST be outside of Jannah. The first to be resurrected will be the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam and he will knock on the door of Paradise. People will begin to enter Paradise and be greeted by the greetings of the angels ‘Salaamun Alaykum’ because they were patient in salah and fasting.

The Shaykh said, ‘What a beautiful ending for those who’ve reached that level’

The delights of Paradise are many indeed i.e. rivers/food/drinks/clothing.

(Paraphrasing) ‘If just a nails worth of Paradise was placed in this dunya, it would adorn and embellish the whole of the heavens and earth.’

The Shaykh then went back to the hadith and said people will be enjoying themselves and there will be no sleep, otherwise you’ll be cut off from the pleasures of Paradise.

‘O people of Jannah, Your Lord, The Most High, wants to meet you’ – Imagine you’re having fun and you think that’s the best thing ever and then there’s more.

After being invited, they’ll be taken on special units to take them to this place. In this place, pulpits will be erected. They will be waiting and someone will call out ‘Oh people of Jannah, Salam Alaykum’. IT WILL BE ALLAH GIVING THE SALAM!

The people reply, ‘Oh Allah, You are Salaam and from is As Salaam and Glory be to you’. After this greeting, Allah will ask the believers if there is anything else they’d like.

They will reply, ‘Haven’t you given us everything?’ They ask Allah to be pleased with them and He says that if He wasn’t pleased with them, they would be here today. In the same voice, the believers ask to see Allah’s Face.

Allah will remove the veil and they will gaze upon the face of their Lord. All of the beautiful names of Allah. This is vision is not an all encompassing vision but despite that you’ll be in great delight. Even the faces that gaze at Allah will be affected as they will be gleaming.

When it comes to this situation, will it be crowded? No! Everyone will be in their own respective places. Indeed you will see your Lord, just like you see the moon at its fullest and Allah is far greater than the moon.

The punishment of the people in the Hereafter is that they will be denied to see Allah. A veil will be placed between them and Allah. These people didn’t prepare for this day. They didn’t have hope for Allah.

So this vision, to see Allah is of two types. Jannah doesn’t come at a cheap price and we strive by giving charity/dawah/cry/give up our life for Allah.

The Shaykh ended with a dua. ‘We ask Allah to make us of the people who can see His face’ Ameen!

All good is from Allah and all mistakes are from myself.

People of Paradise and the obstacles to Al Jannah - Shaqur Rahman

Bismillah

Shaqur Rahman – People of Paradise and the obstacles to Al Jannah

Shaqur Rahman started of the talk by reading out a hadith that is reported in Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah who said that the Messenger of Allah (SALLALAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM) said:
When Allah created Paradise and Hell-fire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying: Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: So he came to it and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: So he returned to Him and said: By your glory, no one hears of it without entering it. So He ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship, and He said: Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said: So he returned to it and found that it was encompassed by forms of hardship (1). Then he returned to Him and said: By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it. He said: Go to Hell-fire and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants, and he found that it was in layers, one above the other. Then he returned to Him and said: By Your glory, no one who hears of it will enter it. So He ordered that it be encompassed by lusts. Then He said: Return to it. And he returned to it and said: By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.

The point the ustadh was trying to make is that Al Jannah has been surrounded by difficulties but An Naar is surrounded by temptations. There is wisdom behind this – the Prize of Allah is al Jannah.

‘You think you’ll go to Jannah and not be tested? There were people before us that were touched by tribulations and destroyed and not only that but they had tasted every hardship before going to Jannah’. Any path to Jannah must have hardship because Jannah is not FOR EVERYONE. It is only for those who deserve it

‘Hasten towards good deeds’

The ustadh mentioned some of the hardships we face. He said that all of the fitan can be summarised into two points – doubts and temptations. All of this happens when we fall against the requirement of Allah.

OBSTACLES

 Ø  The desire to have power – e.g. Bashar al Assad

 Ø  Weak conviction – you are not worried about the DoJ until calamities befall you. This person has lost in this world and the next world

 Ø  Ibn Taymiyyah (paraphrasing) – A person who has an emotional imaan, that kind of imaan can easily vanish but imaan through knowledge, that imaan is far more difficult to remove.

 Ø  Being pleased and content with this world. (paraphrasing)’... This dunya is a place which has been beautified and Allah is going to place you therein. Allah is watching what we do. Put a barrier between you and the punishment of Allah. Beware of the fitnah ESPECIALLY THE FITNAH OF THE WOMEN’

Ustadh then said that ‘The prize of Allah is only for those slaves He chooses’

CONCLUSION

Remember, to achieve al Jannah, disobey your desires and submit them to the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam

(Paraphrasing) "None of you (truly) believes until his desire or inclination is in accordance with what I have brought or subservient to what I came with."

All good is from Allah and all mistakes are from myself.

Nawaqid al Islaam - the 8th, 9th and 10th Nullifiers

Bismillah


Nawaqid al Islam (The Nullifiers of Islam) by Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhab

Explanation by Aboo Thaabit

Eighth: Supporting and assisting the polytheists against the Muslims. The proof for this is Allah’s statement: “And whoever amongst you takes them (i.e. the disbelievers) as allies and protectors then he is indeed from among them. Verily, Allah does not guide a wrong-doing people.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 51]

Aiding the mushrikeen against the Muslimeen is disbelief. This is the concept of Al Wara wal Bara. You love the Muslim because of their imaan and you hate the non Muslims because of their disbelief. You don’t hate a non-Muslim because of who he is.

There are two extremes:

         Just by helping a non-Muslim you get called a kaafir

         You are too laid back and you follow the festivals of the non Muslims

**helping the non-Muslims DOES NOT make you a kaafir**

In the same way a Muslim man is allowed to marry a non-Muslim woman, there are two conditions

       This particular lady has to be chaste

        She has to be a Christian of Jewish lady who believes in God

Ninth: Whoever believes that it is permitted for some people to be free of (implementing) the Sharee’ah (revealed laws) of Muhammad (i.e. Islaam), just as it was permitted for Al-Khidr to be free from the Sharee’ah of Moosaa, then he is a disbeliever.

It is not permissible for one to think that he is free from implementing the Shariah and that it does not apply to him because he may have reached a point of ‘certainty’ in his beliefs.

The lessons we learn from this nullifier

       1.       The very fact that Musa, alayhis salaam went out to seek knowledge shows the virtue of knowledge

    
And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death). (Hijr: 99)



     2.       Yaqeen means death but some people have taken it out of context!

     3.       If anyone had the right to stop worshipping Allah, it would have been the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam but even he didn't do it!

     4.       The sahaba interpreted ‘yaqeen’ as death

Sh Fawzan said that the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam was sent to mankind in its entirety. The proof for this is:

Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only, but I have been sent to all mankind.(Bukhari)

So if someone doesn’t follow in the sunnah of the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, he becomes a kaafir

What does it mean to follow in the sunnah of the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam?

     1.       It is to follow his commands

     2.       To believe in what he came with

     3.       To stay away from the things he told you to stay away from

     4.       To not worship Allah in any way except the way he taught you.

With regards to Khidr and Musa, why did Khidr goes against Musa?

Firstly, who is Khidr? The scholars have differed. The scholars have said that firstly you cannot say that Musa was sent to the whole of mankind so you cannot say that Khidr was underneath Musa’s rule. Our Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam was sent to ALL of mankind so if someone does anything that goes against the shariah, it is wrong.

Sh Fawzan said the first category is kufr. So if you say that you don’t need to follow the rulings of the religion, you’ve left the fold of Islam. The second category is by leaving the shariah, you are not kaafir but you are misguided – like the one who might have misinterpreted certain verses.

Tenth: Turning away from Allah’s Religion, not learning it or implementing it (is an act of disbelief). The proof for this is Allah’s saying: “And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the ayaat (signs/verses) of his Lord, then turns away from them. Verily, We shall extract retribution from the criminals.” [Surah As-Sajdah: 22]

Knowledge in itself is divided into two parts

1. Fardh ul Ayn – a must for every Muslim to know. If a Muslim turns away from this type of knowledge, he has turned away from the religion of Allah
2. Fardh Khifayah – This knowledge is obligatory on the community. For example, knowing issues to do with fiqh in depth.

Allah gave Jews knowledge and they didn’t act upon it therefore Allah got angry. Then there are those who do not seek knowledge i.e. the Christians.

So seek knowledge and act upon it! The proof for this is:

When Allah desires good for someone, He gives him understanding of the deen. (Bukhari)

The scholars used to say before that the aalim that doesn’t practice upon his knowledge will be punished on the Day of Judgement before the mushrikeens themselves.

The Shaykh means that there are those who do not even seek the basic knowledge regarding Islam.

The Shaykh, Abdul Wahhab mentioned these ten things because they are from the dangerous of things. As a Muslim you should treasure your imaan. Your faith in Allah should be most beloved to you.

With this we finish the Nullifiers in Islam. All good is from Allah and any mistakes are from myself. May Allah protect us all. Ameen

Nawaqid al Islam - The Seventh Nullifier

Bismillah

Nawaqid al Islam (The Nullifiers of Islam) by Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhab

Explanation by Aboo Thaabit

Seventh: Sorcery, which includes magic spells that cause a person to hate something he seeks after (sarf) or love something he doesn’t seek after (‘atf). So whoever performs it or is pleased with it being done, has committed disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement: “And neither of these two (angels) would teach anyone until they had first said to them: ‘We are only a trial (for the people), so do not commit disbelief.’” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 102]

Magic (Sihr) is of two types

             True magic

             False magic

**Both of these are haram in Islam. **

True magic is what Allah speaks about in Surah al Falaq:

And from the evil of the blowers in knots (Falaq:4)

This type of sihr is that which might cause two married people to separate. This is the help from Jinns and devils

False sihr is the magicians magic during the time of Musa, alayhis salaam. In this society, magic is seen as something nice but magic is a type of kufr

And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah . And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew. (Baqarah:102)

The consequences of performing magic is very severe. If someone is seen performing magic, he must be killed BUT magic is of two types. You don’t only have to be a magician but if you see a magician and LIKE what they do, you become a disbeliever yourself. Disbelief should worry you, in your heart.

In the ayah mentioned, the reference to the angels that would not teach anyone except that they’d say they’re a trial, why would Allah send angels to teach sihr?

The scholars say that this was, as mentioned in the verse, a trial/test. For it to become known who from mankind were true and who would fall for this trial. For example, this is the same case for pigs and alcohol – it’s meant to be a test for mankind.

The only way to fight magic is using the prescribed ways:

Using the Qur’an and adhkaar in the sunnah. You are NOT allowed to use magic to battle magic are haram.

"Allah has not placed a cure for your diseases in things that He has forbidden for you.'' (Bukhari)

It is important for us to understand here that sihr is kufr and THERE IS NO MAGIC THAT IS HALAL and whoever practises magic, he, himself becomes kaafir and then the punishment of magic is death BUT when it comes to fulfilling the laws of Shariah, it is not up to you and me. What is upon you is that you tell the authority  and they make the decision.

All good is from Allah and all mistakes are from myself

Nawaqid al Islaam - The Fifth and Sixth Nullifiers

Bismillah

Nawaqid al Islam (The Nullifiers of Islam) by Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhab

Explanation by Aboo Thaabit

Fifth: Whoever hates something that the Messenger came with, even though he may act on it, has disbelieved.

For example if you say you are Muslim but hate the concept of salaah, you become a disbeliever.

That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds. (Muhammad:9)

Slightly off the topic but the teacher mentioned that a lot of people say that Islam is about equality but this is wrong. Islam is about justice. If you try and make everyone equal then no doubt you’ll transgress against the rights of one party. You give every person their due right and justice is more important than equality.

Question: What about if you don’t hate something but you find it difficult to do? For example, someone finds it difficult to wake for Fajr and they don’t like the idea of making wudhu with cold water. If a person prefers their bed over salaah, is he a kaafir?

Answer: No, there is a difference between having difficulty and disliking something. The proof for this is the 

word of Allah:

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not. (Baqarah: 216)

Therefore difficulties do not fall under disliking something.

Sixth: Whoever mocks or ridicules any part of the Messenger’s Religion or its rewards or punishments has committed an act of disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement: “Say: ‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 65-66]

If someone mocks anything regarding the religion of the Messenger or mocks the rewards of Allah then this is disbelief.

“Say: ‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.” (Tawbah: 65-66)

These ayat were revealed concerning of the battles when the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam left Madinah and a group of Muslims sat together at the camp and were speaking ill of the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam. The Ulama use this as evidence because these people are saying these things and then they are saying that they were joking about these matters.

Allah, when He revealed these ayat, He mentioned a group of people but the hadith concerning this says that it was only one person. Why did Allah mention more people?

The scholars say that when this person spoke about the the religion in this manner, no one stopped him. As Muslims, keeping silent when someone is doing something wrong is in it and of itself wrong.

Making fun of the religion is one way includes making fun of Allah, the Prophet, the Scholars etc and the second way is through actions and gestures. 

All good is from Allah and all mistakes are from myself

Nawaqid al Islaam - The Fourth Nullifier

Bismillah

Nawaqid al Islam (The Nullifiers of Islam) by Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhab

Explanation by Aboo Thaabit

Fourth: Whoever believes that some guidance other than that of the Prophet’s(sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is more complete than his guidance

When we mention his guidance, this includes some things like:

          His statements regarding the religion

          His actions

         What he approved of.

The guidance of the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam is the best type of guidance. The supporting hadith is the following:

The best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray." (Muslim).

There is no one better than the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wa sallam and Allah praised him in the Qur’an. Allah says,

‘You have indeed a good example in the Messenger of Allah (saws) for whosoever hopes for Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much’ (Ahzab:21)

Sh Fawzan then uses gives more support to prove that the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam is the best of the people:

Anas Bin Maalik said: While we were in the masjid with the Messenger of Allah, a Bedouin came; he then urinated in the masjid. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, “Mah Mah (An expression used to severely scold someone, to indicate the graveness of a matter).”The Messenger of Allah said, “Do not put a halt to his urinating, but instead leave him.”They left him alone until he finished urinating. The Messenger of Allah called him over and said to him, “Any kind of urine or filth is not suitable for these masjids. Instead they are only [appropriate] for the remembrance of Allah, the Prayer, and the recitation of the Qur’an,” or this is near to what the Messenger of Allah said. He (saw) then issued an order to a man from the people, who then came with a bucket of water, which he poured over the [effected] area [of the masjid]. [Muslim]

When something is decreed by Allah, we say ‘We hear and we obey’

and that someone else’s judgement is better than his judgement, such as the one who prefers the judgement of the Tawaagheet (pl. of Taaghoot; false deities/religions) over his judgement, then he is a disbeliever.

If you have the option to judge upon the Shariah and another law and you pick the other law, that makes you a disbeliever (kaafir). Scholars have put down certain restrictions.

If a ruler judges according to anything other than the Qur’an and Sunnah, it falls into three categories

1.                               Those who say that the man made law is better than the Qur’an and Sunnah. In Islamic terms, that person is a kaafir because he favoured man made laws over Allah’s laws

2.                               Those who say it does not matter whether you judge according to Qur’an or Sunnah or manmade laws. The scholars say that these people are kaafir because they placed Creator and creation on the same level

3.                               Those who judge with other than Allah’s law BUT they do not say that manmade laws are better. The scholars have said that the person has committed a grave sin.

With regard to this nullifier, the Shaykh is referring to the first two groups of people.

Sh Fawzan says that when it comes to the Shariah law, people think it only deals with issues that happen between mankind but Shariah Law is very comprehensive. It involves all parts of faith because Islam is a way of life. The Qur’an and sunnah are the main things we take our rulings from.