By Asma bint Shameem
The situation in Palestine is heartbreaking.
No one who calls himself a “human” can even bear to hear of the atrocities committed against the poor, unarmed people of the holy land.
As an Ummah, we are shaken to the core and our hearts bleed.
We’re being flooded with messages from people telling us what to do in these times of trouble.
Some are telling us to read certain specific Aayaat “X” number of times so Allaah’s Help can come.
And some are sending posts about reading “wazeefahs” of “Surah al-Feel” so that Muslims can gain victory.
Some are saying to send a “chain” of Istighfaar “that should not be broken” by reading it 3 times before passing it on to complete 10 million Istighfaars!
And the list goes on.
Subhaan Allaah!
Is this what the sahaabah did?
Is ANY of this proven from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet ﷺ?
The answer is a big NO!
NONE of the above is proven from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
📌 The Prophet ﷺ and the Sahaabah went through some VERY SEVERE tests and trials.
The disbelievers of Quraysh
tormented them, and reviled them.
They beat them and expelled them from their homes and even killed them in the most horrendous of ways.
🍃 When Khabbaab ibn al-Aratt radhi Allaahu anhu couldn’t take it any more, he complained to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“Why do you not ask Allaah to help us? Why do you not pray to Allaah for us?
What did the Prophet ﷺ say?
Did the Prophet ﷺ ask Khabbaab radhi Allaahu anhu to read Surah al-Feel “X” number of times?!
NO!
Did the Prophet ﷺ ask the Sahaabah to read Aayaat 26-27 from Surah al-Baqarah?
Or read any “wazeefah” of this or that? Or ANYTHING?
NO!
Did he tell him to say Istighfaar 3 times then “pass it on” as a “chain” to the other sahaabah and make sure it doesn’t end?!
NO, no and no!
What did the Prophet ﷺ tell Khabbaab radhi Allaahu anhu to do?
He told him to be patient.
🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said to Khabbaab radhi Allaahu anhu:
“Among the people who came before you, a man would be seized and a hole would be dug for him, then they would place him in it. Then they would bring a saw and place it on his head, then cut him in two, and they would use an iron comb to drag the flesh from his bones. Yet that would not make him renounce his faith. By Allaah, this matter will be completed [i.e., Islaam will be perfected and will prevail] until a rider traveling from Sana‘aa’ to Hadhramawt will fear nobody but Allaah or the attack of a wolf on his sheep, but you are too impatient.”
(al-Bukhaari 6544).
📌 And when the Sahaabah suffered losses or disease or trials of all sorts after the death of the Prophet ﷺ, did they invent “new” ways of asking for Allaah’s Help and Victory?
Or come up with “chains” of Istighfaar or aayat Kareemah to complete 1 million? Or 10 million or whatever?!
Isn’t the purpose of Istighfaar to turn back to Allaah “sincerely”, regretting our sins and asking for forgiveness?
Is Istighfaar really just a “ritual” to repeat with your tongue “three times” then “pass it forward” like a baton in a relay race?
Aren’t words just “words” unless they come from the “heart”?
And what is the significance of reaching “10 million” anyway?
Where did this number come from?
What if we can’t reach this number?
Is Istighfaar being accepted dependent on this number?
Would Istighfaar NOT be accepted if it was less than that?!
Actually even ONE Istighfaar is ENOUGH if it’s done sincerely coming from the heart!
📌 Dear brothers and sisters,
All Ibaadaat are “tawqeefi”.
That means there should be EVIDENCE of that in the Sharee’ah; otherwise it’s NOT allowed to invent new ways of worshipping Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
Our Deen is complete and we do NOT need any new ways of Ibaadah.
🍃Allaah said:
“This day, I have PERFECTED your religion for you, COMPLETED My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion.”
(Surah al-Maa’idah:3)
🍃 And the Prophet ﷺ said:
"There is NOTHING that brings you CLOSER to JANNAH except that I have INFORMED you about it and there is NOTHING that brings you CLOSER to the FIRE of Hell except that I have WARNED you against it."
(at-Tabaraani--Saheeh)
🍃And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“EVERY innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance leads to the Hellfire.” (saheeh Muslim)
The word “Kullu” means EACH and EVERY newly invented thing in the religion is WRONG.
Do you think Allaah’s Victory will come if you invent NEW WAYS of worshipping Allaah?
Why would Allaah help us while we DISOBEY the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and GO AGAINST his teachings?
How can that be possible?
Actually, inventing new ways of Ibaadah brings on the CURSE of Allaah! May Allaah protect us.
🍃Allaah says:
“And whoever OPPOSES the Messenger, AFTER guidance has become CLEAR to him and FOLLOWS OTHER than the WAY of the believers (meaning the Sahaabah)– We will turn him where he wants to turn and ROAST him in HELL!
And EVIL it is as a destination"
(Surah an-Nisaa':115)
🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator then upon him is the CURSE of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind."
(al-Bukhaari 12/41, Muslim 9/140)
📌 My dear Muslim brothers and sisters!
You want Allaah’s Help and Mercy?
You want His Victory and Rahmah to descend upon the Ummah?
Then stick to the ways of the Prophet ﷺ and his sahaabah.
And DO NOT INNOVATE.
🍃 Allaah says:
“OBEY the Messenger (ﷺ ) that you may receive mercy (from Allaah)”
(Surah an-Noor 24: 56)
🍃 And Allaah says:
“O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allaah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.”
(Surah Muhammad 47:7, 8)
🔺 So what to do?
- stay away from ALL ibaadaat that have no proof from the Sharee’ah.
- be PATIENT and don’t let emotions or the Shaytaan make you desperate, or make you lose focus of the authentic Sunnah such that you resort to bid’ah.
- make lots of duaa SINCERELY, without specifying “numbers” and “quantities” or “wazeefahs”.
- CRY and BEG Him to relieve the Ummah of misery especially at times when duaa is more likely to be accepted such as in your sujood and tashahhud in the five daily prayers, or at tahajjud time, or in the last hour of Friday, or in between adhaan and Iqaamah, or when it rains etc
- Have Taqwa of Allaah in ALL that you do and OBEY Him.
- Make sincere taubah to Allaah and FIX your issues.
🍃 Remember these beautiful Aayaat:
“Allaah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear, (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.
But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).
And perform As-Salaat (establish the prayer), and give Zakaah and obey the Messenger (ﷺ ) that you may receive mercy (from Allaah)”
(Surah an-Noor 24:55, 56)
May Allaah relieve the plight of the oppressed Muslims all over the world and grant us victory.
May Allaah guide us and unite us on the Qur’aan and authentic teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
And Allaah knows best.
Comments