The Shaykh’s Guidance on the Tablighi Question: “Where is Allah?”
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The Shaykh : Now, if I were to ask you, where is Allah? What would be your answer?
The questioner : I will not give you the correct answer because this issue has not come up for me. You do not investigate this matter.
The Shaykh : No, may Allah guide you. I am looking for the worst kind of laughter that does not make one cry. I am laughing now, and you laughed just now. I am laughing out of my frustration and my sorrow for the Muslims, that they have started working on others and forgetting themselves.[Al-Ma'idah 5:105] Why is it that you do not even have an answer, and this is a matter of creed? The creed of “Where is Allah?” You have no answer, why? You have no answer because you admit you are only two years old. Now, what about this one who is ten or twenty years old, does he have an answer or not? I am telling you he does 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 just a simple Ahmad, please, speak. What is your answer to this creed? If it is correct, we will tell you where you got it from. From the Tablighi group? We will tell you that the Tablighi group does not investigate 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 da'wah of Islam, and you have not even known this creed or its answer. This will not do.
The questioner : Now, 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 may 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 that entering the mosque and reaching Allah the Exalted, Allah has not written for you to care about people. So now you say, “I will give it to you, but it might not please you.” What do you want from me, that it please me or not? You are seeking the Face of Allah.
The questioner : I might say that Allah is closer to...
The Shaykh : No, that is not the answer. That is not the answer to “Where is Allah?” Do you know the hadith of the girl?
The questioner : No, I do not know it.
The Shaykh : Now, this is it. Now, do any of our brothers present know the answer to “Where is Allah?”
The questioner : I do not know.
Another questioner: Muhammad, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Professor Ahmad is with...
The Shaykh : What do you mean, Ahmad?
The questioner : He is with...
The Shaykh : About what...
The questioner : About...
The Shaykh : He is telling you he does not know!
The questioner : No, I am saying about my son, I mean Ahmad.
The Shaykh : Ah, okay, please, go ahead, my brother.
The questioner : Allah... as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an
The Shaykh : Please proceed.
The questioner : Peace be upon you[Taha 20:5]
The Shaykh : Good, beautiful.
The questioner :[Taha 20:5] What is the meaning of istawa?
The questioner : He is the Highest in...
The Shaykh : I mean, because you know that the mufassirun here, some say istawa means to dominate, and some say istawa means to be above. So, 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 settled. But after that, we must look at whether the evidence from this verse supports either of the two interpretations mentioned in the books of tafsir: istawa means to dominate, and istawa means to be above.
The questioner : To be above.
The Shaykh : Very good. This is the correct answer, and our brother here takes it, because first, it is based on the verse and 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, etc. But they call to things that the ones being called know. All that is needed is for someone to move them and advise them. Do you see? If I order someone to pray, is there a Muslim who denies the prescription 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, etc. It is a beneficial reminder. I told you, enjoining good and forbidding evil. But those who want to perform the collective obligation, the fard kifayah, they must first perform the individual obligation, the 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, then, then, etc.
So when I am speaking about a group I know well, if they have a correct creed or a correct worship that is not derived from their da'wah, but they took it from others, they are to be thanked for it. They are to be thanked as individuals. You took the description of prayer and were guided to the prayer of the Prophet. He took this correct creed from other than the Tablighi group, so the creed became correct, etc. This is a good thing, but it is derived from other than the da'wah of the Tablighi group. We want these good deeds and these correct ideas to emanate from the Tablighi group itself and to radiate them to the whole world. But if they do not know, then one who lacks a thing cannot give it.
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 this group to be callers to Islam on the basis of the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him) to Mu'adh and others.
The questioner : I will not give you the correct answer because this issue has not come up for me. You do not investigate this matter.
The Shaykh : No, may Allah guide you. I am looking for the worst kind of laughter that does not make one cry. I am laughing now, and you laughed just now. I am laughing out of my frustration and my sorrow for the Muslims, that they have started working on others and forgetting themselves.
O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided
يا أيها الذين أمنوا عليكم أنفسكم لا يضركم من ضل إذا اهتديتمThe questioner : Now, 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 may 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 that entering the mosque and reaching Allah the Exalted, Allah has not written for you to care about people. So now you say, “I will give it to you, but it might not please you.” What do you want from me, that it please me or not? You are seeking the Face of Allah.
The questioner : I might say that Allah is closer to...
The Shaykh : No, that is not the answer. That is not the answer to “Where is Allah?” Do you know the hadith of the girl?
The questioner : No, I do not know it.
The Shaykh : Now, this is it. Now, do any of our brothers present know the answer to “Where is Allah?”
The questioner : I do not know.
Another questioner: Muhammad, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Professor Ahmad is with...
The Shaykh : What do you mean, Ahmad?
The questioner : He is with...
The Shaykh : About what...
The questioner : About...
The Shaykh : He is telling you he does not know!
The questioner : No, I am saying about my son, I mean Ahmad.
The Shaykh : Ah, okay, please, go ahead, my brother.
The questioner : Allah... as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an
The Shaykh : Please proceed.
The questioner : Peace be upon you
above the Throne established.
على العرش استوىThe Shaykh : Good, beautiful.
The questioner :
above the Throne established.
على العرش استوىThe questioner : He is the Highest in...
The Shaykh : I mean, because you know that the mufassirun here, some say istawa means to dominate, and some say istawa means to be above. So, 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 settled. But after that, we must look at whether the evidence from this verse supports either of the two interpretations mentioned in the books of tafsir: istawa means to dominate, and istawa means to be above.
The questioner : To be above.
The Shaykh : Very good. This is the correct answer, and our brother here takes it, because first, it is based on the verse and 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 religion is sincere advice
الدين النصيحةSo when I am speaking about a group I know well, if they have a correct creed or a correct worship that is not derived from their da'wah, but they took it from others, they are to be thanked for it. They are to be thanked as individuals. You took the description of prayer and were guided to the prayer of the Prophet. He took this correct creed from other than the Tablighi group, so the creed became correct, etc. This is a good thing, but it is derived from other than the da'wah of the Tablighi group. We want these good deeds and these correct ideas to emanate from the Tablighi group itself and to radiate them to the whole world. But if they do not know, then one who lacks a thing cannot give it.
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 this group to be callers to Islam on the basis of the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him) to Mu'adh and others.