The Ruling on Abandoning the Means and Relying on Them
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Those who disdain the means, what is Shaykh Salih’s opinion of them?
The Shaykh:
Those who disdain the means are mistaken. For this reason, the scholars say that relying on the means is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and abandoning the means so that they do not function as means is blameworthy in the Shari'ah. Neglecting the means is blameworthy in the Shari'ah, and it may be a sin against Allah the Exalted. Allah the Exalted says, “And do not throw yourselves into destruction,” and He says, “Marry, for the best provision is taqwa (mindfulness of Allah),” and He says[Al-Jumu'ah 62:10] so seeking sustenance [Al-Baqarah 2:198].
This means buying and selling during the season of Hajj. This is one of the means. Allah commanded us to take the means, and neglecting the means is not permissible. The one who calls to this is mistaken, and he does not practice this himself. If he says this, he does not act on it himself. Does he abandon food and drink? Does he abandon marriage and say, “If it is decreed for me to live, I will live without eating or drinking, and if it is decreed for me to have children, they will come about without marriage”? No one says this.
The presenter:
In reality, Shaykh Salih, especially in this time, we are in urgent need of further clarification on this matter. Because some speakers take the story of Maryam (peace be upon her) and speak about this topic to ultimately claim, as they assert, that she was provided for without a cause. Maryam was provided for through a cause, the greatest of causes, which is du'a' (supplication). Supplication and righteousness.
The Shaykh:
And the worship of Allah the Exalted. This is the greatest of causes. The greatest of causes is du'a' (supplication), worship, and supplicating to Allah the Exalted. Then, Allah also commanded her to perform the cause. He said to her[Maryam 19:25], so Allah commanded her to shake the palm tree, and the dates fell. Shaking is one of the causes. The palm tree does not drop its dates without being shaken. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
Those who disdain the means, what is Shaykh Salih’s opinion of them?
The Shaykh:
Those who disdain the means are mistaken. For this reason, the scholars say that relying on the means is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and abandoning the means so that they do not function as means is blameworthy in the Shari'ah. Neglecting the means is blameworthy in the Shari'ah, and it may be a sin against Allah the Exalted. Allah the Exalted says, “And do not throw yourselves into destruction,” and He says, “Marry, for the best provision is taqwa (mindfulness of Allah),” and He says
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَThere is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْThis means buying and selling during the season of Hajj. This is one of the means. Allah commanded us to take the means, and neglecting the means is not permissible. The one who calls to this is mistaken, and he does not practice this himself. If he says this, he does not act on it himself. Does he abandon food and drink? Does he abandon marriage and say, “If it is decreed for me to live, I will live without eating or drinking, and if it is decreed for me to have children, they will come about without marriage”? No one says this.
The presenter:
In reality, Shaykh Salih, especially in this time, we are in urgent need of further clarification on this matter. Because some speakers take the story of Maryam (peace be upon her) and speak about this topic to ultimately claim, as they assert, that she was provided for without a cause. Maryam was provided for through a cause, the greatest of causes, which is du'a' (supplication). Supplication and righteousness.
The Shaykh:
And the worship of Allah the Exalted. This is the greatest of causes. The greatest of causes is du'a' (supplication), worship, and supplicating to Allah the Exalted. Then, Allah also commanded her to perform the cause. He said to her
And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.
وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّاThe presenter:
May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 01/155 — archive.org (14:59)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.