WEBVTT 00:00:00.850 --> 00:00:03.850 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.850 --> 00:00:09.300 The life of the believer is defined by the balance between speech and action. 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:14.599 Condemning base desires and the virtue of those who oppose them. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:19.850 Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: 00:00:19.850 --> 00:00:22.940 "Base desire is a worshipped deity." 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:23.940 And he recited: 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:27.940 “Hast thou seen him who maketh his desire his god, and Allah sendeth him astray purposely, and sealeth up his hearing and his heart, and setteth on his sight a covering? Then who will lead him after Allah (hath condemned him)? Will ye not then heed?” (45:23) 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:33.390 It was said to 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:00:33.390 --> 00:00:35.420 "Which struggle is the most excellent?" 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:39.420 He replied, "Struggling against your own base desires." 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:41.740 He (may Allah have mercy on him) also said: 00:00:41.740 --> 00:00:46.740 "Do not be among those who follow the truth only when it aligns with their desires, 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:49.740 and oppose it when it conflicts with their desires. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:54.780 For if you do that, you are not rewarded for the truth you followed, 00:00:54.780 --> 00:00:57.780 and you are punished for that which you opposed." 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:02.189 Ibrahim ibn Adham (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:01:02.189 --> 00:01:05.219 "The most intense struggle is the struggle against base desires. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.219 Whoever restrains his soul from its base desires 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:11.219 has found rest from the world and its tribulations, 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:15.219 and has been protected and spared from its harm." 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:17.579 It used to be said: 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:20.579 "Base desire is the partner of blindness." 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:24.959 Malik ibn Dinar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:30.060 "Struggle against your base desires just as you struggle against your enemies." 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:33.379 Some scholars have said: 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:37.379 "Allah created the angels with intellect but no desire, 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:41.409 and He created the beasts with desire but no intellect, 00:01:41.409 --> 00:01:45.409 and He created the son of Adam with both. 00:01:45.409 --> 00:01:48.540 So, whoever allows his intellect to overcome his desire 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:51.540 is better than the angels, 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:54.629 and whoever allows his desire to overcome his intellect 00:01:54.629 --> 00:01:57.629 is worse than the beasts." 00:01:57.629 --> 00:01:59.890 A poet said: 00:01:59.890 --> 00:02:03.890 "If a person grants his soul everything it craves, 00:02:03.890 --> 00:02:07.890 and does not restrain it, it will yearn for every falsehood, 00:02:07.890 --> 00:02:11.919 and lead him toward sin and the ruin 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.919 that it invited him to, for the sake of fleeting sweetness." 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:19.590 Ibn al-Muqaffa' (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:02:19.590 --> 00:02:24.750 "A wise person must know that sound judgment and base desire are enemies, 00:02:24.750 --> 00:02:29.819 and that it is the nature of people to procrastinate on judgment and hasten to satisfy desire, 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:31.819 so he must oppose that, 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:37.819 and strive to ensure his desire is always delayed and his judgment is always prioritized." 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:41.520 He (may Allah have mercy on him) also said: 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:43.550 "If you are confronted by two matters, 00:02:43.550 --> 00:02:45.550 meaning, if two matters suddenly arise, 00:02:45.550 --> 00:02:48.550 and you do not know which is more correct, 00:02:48.550 --> 00:02:52.550 then look at which one is closer to your base desire and oppose it, 00:02:52.550 --> 00:02:56.550 for the majority of what is correct lies in opposing base desire." 00:02:56.550 --> 00:03:03.210 Condemning disputation and argumentation in general. 00:03:03.210 --> 00:03:08.389 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 00:03:08.389 --> 00:03:13.550 "Disputation: its wisdom is not grasped, and its tribulation is not safe." 00:03:13.550 --> 00:03:18.060 Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:22.099 "It is sufficient sin for you that you never cease to be a disputer." 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:25.770 Al-Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:03:25.770 --> 00:03:28.860 "If Allah intends evil for a people, 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:35.409 He opens the door of argumentation for them and denies them action." 00:03:35.409 --> 00:03:38.409 From Muslim ibn Yasar (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:03:38.409 --> 00:03:40.409 He used to say: 00:03:40.409 --> 00:03:43.439 "Beware of disputation, 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:46.439 for it is the hour of the scholar's ignorance, 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.080 and through it, Satan seeks his downfall." 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.240 Some of the salaf said: 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:57.240 "By Allah, I have not seen anything more destructive to religion, 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:59.240 nor more diminishing to one's honor, 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.240 nor more wasteful of time, 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:05.879 nor more distracting to the heart than hostility." 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.879 Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:13.099 "The believer does not flatter, nor does he dispute; 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:16.100 he spreads the wisdom of Allah (the Almighty and Exalted). 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:20.100 If it is accepted, he praises Allah (the Almighty and Exalted), 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:24.100 and if it is rejected, he praises Allah (the Almighty and Exalted)." 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:27.649 Al-Barbahari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:04:27.649 --> 00:04:30.740 "Sitting for the sake of debate 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:32.740 closes the door to benefit." 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:39.459 Condemning disputation and argumentation in matters of religion. 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:45.040 Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was asked about touching the Black Stone. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.040 He said: 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:53.040 "I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) touch it and kiss it." 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:54.100 He said: 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:57.100 "I said, 'What if I am crowded?' 00:04:57.100 --> 00:04:59.100 'What if I am overcome?'" 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:00.100 He said: 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:03.100 "'Leave your "what ifs" in Yemen; 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:09.100 I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) touch it and kiss it.'" 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:12.839 Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.899 "The worst of Allah's servants 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:18.899 are those who pursue the worst of issues, 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:21.899 blinding the servants of Allah with them." 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:27.290 Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:05:27.290 --> 00:05:30.420 "Beware of hostility in religion, 00:05:30.420 --> 00:05:34.420 for it occupies or corrupts the heart, 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:36.420 and breeds hypocrisy." 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:42.019 Malik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him) left the mosque one day, 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:45.019 leaning on my hand, 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:49.019 when a man accused of Irja' (the belief that deeds are separate from faith) caught up with him. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:50.019 He said: 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:52.019 "O servant of Allah, 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:59.019 listen to me, let me speak to you, argue with you, and inform you of my opinion." 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:00.149 He (Malik) said: 00:06:00.149 --> 00:06:02.149 "And if you defeat me?" 00:06:02.149 --> 00:06:03.149 He (the man) said: 00:06:03.149 --> 00:06:06.149 "If I defeat you, follow me." 00:06:06.149 --> 00:06:07.149 He (Malik) said: 00:06:07.149 --> 00:06:12.149 "And if another man comes and speaks to us and defeats us?" 00:06:12.149 --> 00:06:13.149 He (the man) said: 00:06:13.149 --> 00:06:14.149 "We follow him." 00:06:14.149 --> 00:06:18.310 Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:06:18.310 --> 00:06:20.310 "O servant of Allah, 00:06:20.310 --> 00:06:26.310 Allah (the Almighty and Exalted) sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with one religion, 00:06:26.310 --> 00:06:30.310 yet I see you moving from one religion to another." 00:06:30.310 --> 00:06:33.889 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz said: 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:38.889 "Whoever makes his religion a target for disputes will change his views frequently." 00:06:38.889 --> 00:06:43.139 Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:47.139 "Argumentation in religion breeds disputation, 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:50.139 removes the light of knowledge from the heart, 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:53.139 hardens it, and inherits malice." 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:57.459 He (may Allah have mercy on him) used to criticize argumentation in religion, 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:59.459 and say: 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:03.500 "Every time a man comes to us who is more argumentative than another, 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:10.500 he wants us to reject what Gabriel brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)." 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.850 It was said to him (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:07:13.850 --> 00:07:16.850 "A man has knowledge of the Sunnah; 00:07:16.850 --> 00:07:18.850 should he argue for it?" 00:07:18.850 --> 00:07:19.850 He said, "No. 00:07:19.850 --> 00:07:22.850 Rather, he should inform others of the Sunnah; 00:07:22.850 --> 00:07:25.850 if it is accepted from him, good, otherwise he should remain silent." 00:07:25.850 --> 00:07:29.519 Al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:31.519 "Disputation in religion 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:35.519 hardens the heart and inherits malice." 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.939 It was said to al-Hakam ibn 'Utaybah (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:42.939 "What drives people to base desires?" 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:45.970 He said, "Hostilities." 00:07:45.970 --> 00:07:49.740 It was said to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him): 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:51.740 "O Abu 'Abdullah, 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:56.740 I am in a gathering where no one knows the Sunnah except me, 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:59.740 and an innovator speaks in it; 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:01.740 should I refute him?" 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:02.769 He said: 00:08:02.769 --> 00:08:05.769 "Do not set yourself up for this. 00:08:05.769 --> 00:08:08.769 Inform him of the Sunnah, but do not argue." 00:08:08.769 --> 00:08:16.199 Warning against debating the people of innovation and base desires. 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:20.220 Abu Qilabah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:26.350 "Do not sit with the people of base desires, and do not argue with them, 00:08:26.350 --> 00:08:30.350 for I do not feel safe that they will plunge you into misguidance, 00:08:30.350 --> 00:08:35.799 or confuse you in your religion with some of what they have been confused with." 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.799 A man came to al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:40.799 and said: 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:46.799 "O Abu Sa'id, come so that I may argue with you about religion." 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:48.799 Al-Hasan replied: 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:51.799 "As for me, I have insight into my religion; 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:56.470 if you have lost your religion, go and seek it." 00:08:56.470 --> 00:09:01.570 From Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani (may Allah have mercy on him), he said: 00:09:01.570 --> 00:09:05.570 "There is no refutation of them more severe than silence." 00:09:05.570 --> 00:09:09.700 A man from the people of base desires said to him: 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:13.700 "O Abu Bakr, I want to ask you about a word." 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:19.179 He turned away, gesturing with his finger, "Not even half a word." 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:22.179 From Ma'mar (may Allah have mercy on him), he said: 00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:27.179 "I was with Ibn Tawus (may Allah have mercy on him), and his son was with him, 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:33.179 when a man known as Salih, who spoke about Qadar (divine decree), came to him. 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:36.299 He began to speak about it, 00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:40.299 so Ibn Tawus put his fingers in his ears 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:45.299 and said to his son, 'Put your fingers in your ears and press hard, 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:48.299 so that you do not hear anything of what he says, 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:51.299 for the heart is weak.'" 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:57.820 Two men from the people of base desires entered upon Muhammad ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him). 00:09:57.820 --> 00:09:59.820 They said: 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:02.820 "O Abu Bakr, may we tell you a hadith?" 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:04.909 He said, "No." 00:10:04.909 --> 00:10:05.909 They said: 00:10:05.909 --> 00:10:09.909 "May we recite a verse from the Book of Allah to you?" 00:10:09.909 --> 00:10:10.909 He said, "No. 00:10:10.909 --> 00:10:14.909 Either you leave, or I will leave." 00:10:14.909 --> 00:10:15.909 They said: 00:10:15.909 --> 00:10:17.909 "So they left." 00:10:17.909 --> 00:10:19.909 Some of the people said: 00:10:19.909 --> 00:10:20.909 "O Abu Bakr, 00:10:20.909 --> 00:10:27.940 what would it have cost you to let them recite a verse from the Book of Allah (the Exalted)?" 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:28.940 He said: 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:33.940 "I feared that they would recite a verse to me and distort it, 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:36.940 and that would settle in my heart." 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:41.490 Muhammad ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:10:41.490 --> 00:10:44.519 "No man has ever argued with me about something— 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:45.519 meaning, disputed with me— 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:48.580 without me knowing what he wants, 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:51.580 and knowing more about disputation than him, 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:55.320 but I refuse to argue with you." 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:58.320 Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.480 "Disputation and argumentation in knowledge 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:05.480 remove the light of knowledge from the heart of the servant." 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.480 He said: 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:10.480 "It hardens the heart and inherits malice." 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:12.990 Al-Zuhri said: 00:11:12.990 --> 00:11:17.019 "I saw Malik and a group of people arguing in his presence, 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:20.019 so he stood up, shook his garment, 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:21.019 and said: 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:24.600 'You are nothing but a source of conflict.'" 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.659 He would say when some of the people of base desires came to him: 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:32.659 "As for me, I am upon clear evidence from my Lord, 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:35.889 and as for you, you are in doubt; 00:11:35.889 --> 00:11:38.950 Go then to someone like yourself and dispute the matter. 00:11:38.950 --> 00:11:39.950 Then he recited. 00:11:39.950 --> 00:11:45.019 “Say: This is my Way: I call on Allah with sure knowledge. I and whosoever followeth me - Glory be to Allah! - and I am not of the idolaters.” (12:108) 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:48.580 The life of the weapon. 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:51.899 Between speech and action.