The Shaykh directing a question to a Tablighi member.

The Shaykh : Okay, now if I asked you: Where is Allah? What is your answer?

The questioner : I will not give you the correct answer; because this issue has not come up for me, you do not research this matter.

The Shaykh : No, may Allah guide you, I am laughing. The worst kind of laughter is that which does not make one cry. I am laughing because you just laughed. I am laughing out of my frustration and my sorrow for the Muslims that they sit and work on others while forgetting themselves. . Why is it that you do not even have an answer, and this is a matter of creed? You have no answer for the creed of "Where is Allah"? Why? You have no answer because you are like a two-year-old. So what about the one who is ten or twenty years old, does he have an answer or not? I tell you: they do not have an answer. And if they do have an answer, it will be contrary to the Sunnah. You will say to me: Do not accuse people. I am not like that, I am not a simple Ahmad, please, speak. This is a creed, what is your answer to it? If it is correct, we will tell you: Where did you get it? From the Tablighi group? We will tell you: No, the Tablighi group does not research these issues. And if you do not have an answer, the problem is even greater. Why? A creed that you do not know, yet you are living and calling people to the call of Islam, and you have not yet known this creed or its answer? This will not do.

The questioner : Okay, give us the answer so that we may benefit, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : I will give you the answer, it is obligatory for me to answer, but why do you not give me the answer?

The questioner : I might give you an answer that you do not like!

The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar! Why do you want to give me an answer that I like or do not like? We have been advising our old brother here since the beginning to enter the mosque and pray to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and not to care about what people say. So now you say: I will give you an answer, but it may not please you. What do you want from me, that I like it or not? You should seek the Face of Allah.

The questioner : I might say that Allah is closer to ... than the vein of the neck.

The Shaykh : No, that is not an answer. That is not an answer to "Where is Allah?" Do you know the hadith of the girl?

The questioner : No, I do not know it.

The Shaykh : Okay, that is it. Okay, do any of our brothers present know the answer to "Where is Allah?" Hmm?

The questioner : I do not know.

Another questioner : Muhammad, Abu Muhammad ...

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : Professor Ahmad has the evidence with him.

The Shaykh : Which Ahmad?

The questioner : He is the one who has the evidence with him.

The Shaykh : What should I ask him about?

The questioner : About it.

The Shaykh : He is telling you: He does not know!

The questioner : No, I am saying Ahmad, meaning my son.

The Shaykh : Ah, okay, please, please, my brother.

The questioner : Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : .

The Shaykh : Good, beautiful.
The Shaykh: , what is the meaning of "istawa" (rose above)?

The questioner : Yes, He is above, (Exalted and Majestic is He).

The Shaykh : I mean, because you know that the mufassirun (exegetes) here, some say "istawa" means "istawla" (took control), and some say "istawa" means "istala" (rose above). So you, may Allah reward you with good, when you brought the verse, this is an answer with no argument. Allah said it and the matter is ended. But we need to see whether the evidence from this verse is based on which of the two interpretations mentioned in the books of tafsir (exegesis)? "Istawa" meaning "istawla" (took control), and "istawa" meaning "istala" (rose above)?

The questioner : "Istala" (rose above).

The Shaykh : Very good. This answer is taken by our brother here, it is a correct answer; because first, it is based on the verse, and it is based on the correct interpretation. I am asking you now: Did you learn this creed from the Tablighi group?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : Did you see? So this is our topic, my brother. And , the Tablighi group is on our heads and eyes, enthusiastic, and they call, and so on. But they call to things that the ones being called know. All that is the case is that they need someone to motivate them and advise them, do you see? But if I order someone to pray, is there a Muslim who denies the legitimacy of prayer? The worst one will say to you: May Allah accept my repentance. If I forbid them from drinking intoxicants, none of them will consider drinking intoxicants permissible, and so on. It is a beneficial reminder, I told you, enjoining good and forbidding evil. But those who want to perform the collective obligation (fard kifayah), they must first perform the individual obligation (fard 'ayn). It is an individual obligation for every Muslim to correct his creed; regarding Allah first, then regarding his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) second, and so on.
The Shaykh: So when I am speaking about the group, I know them well. If they have a correct creed or a correct worship that is not derived from their call, but they took it from others, they are to be thanked for it. They are to be thanked for it as individuals. You took "The Description of Prayer" and you were guided to the prayer of the Prophet. He took this correct creed from other than the Tablighi group, so the creed became correct, and so on. This is a good thing, but it is derived from other than the call of the Tablighi group. So we want these good deeds and these correct ideas to emanate from the Tablighi group itself, and for them to radiate them to the whole world. But if they do not know, then one who lacks a thing cannot give it!
The Shaykh: So perhaps it has become clear, and it has become clear to you, if Allah wills, that I do not accuse a person of what is not in him, and that I am eager for our group, these people, to be callers to Islam based on the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him) to Mu'adh and others.