How were the war spoils made lawful for us, when it would have been better for them to be forbidden, since we are superior to the previous nations?
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The student: If people had been prevented from taking war spoils, that would have been better.
The Shaykh : No, no, that is not correct. However, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has provided this Ummah with things to help them, and there is no objection to the one who is superior being provided with things to reach excellence. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to whom Allah forgave what came before of his sin and what came after, still seek forgiveness from Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He? And we are also commanded to send blessings upon him, even though Allah says:[Al-Ahzab 33:56] Therefore, it does not follow that reaching perfection means a person should not strive by its means.
The student: And what was made lawful, O Shaykh...
The Shaykh : Even the Messenger said:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 10:131 ... to help us with this.
The student: ... the story of the one who was found with the stolen spoils?
The Shaykh : The problem is that Ibrahim says: How are they made lawful for us when we are the best of nations? Why is the matter not entrusted to our virtues and our excellences? We say: This is from the grace of Allah, and from the perfection of His grace, that we reach the degree of perfection. For this reason, He made these spoils lawful so that we may use them as a means of assistance.
The Shaykh : No, no, that is not correct. However, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has provided this Ummah with things to help them, and there is no objection to the one who is superior being provided with things to reach excellence. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to whom Allah forgave what came before of his sin and what came after, still seek forgiveness from Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He? And we are also commanded to send blessings upon him, even though Allah says:
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]
إن الله وملائكته يصلون على النبيThe student: And what was made lawful, O Shaykh...
The Shaykh : Even the Messenger said:
And I made my provision under the shadow of my spear.
وجعل رزقي تحت ظل رمحيThe student: ... the story of the one who was found with the stolen spoils?
The Shaykh : The problem is that Ibrahim says: How are they made lawful for us when we are the best of nations? Why is the matter not entrusted to our virtues and our excellences? We say: This is from the grace of Allah, and from the perfection of His grace, that we reach the degree of perfection. For this reason, He made these spoils lawful so that we may use them as a means of assistance.