Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 577 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (575) | Controls for taking reasons
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
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The principles of utilizing means.
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A person must be balanced in their utilization of means.
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They should not let it conflict with reliance upon Allah.
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Nor should they abandon or neglect them.
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For doing so is a detraction from the wisdom of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic.
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Who has linked effects to their causes.
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And it is a deficiency in intellect.
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To achieve this balance,
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One must observe the following guidelines when utilizing means.
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First:
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One must not rely upon them.
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Nor believe that they are independently capable of achieving the desired outcome.
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For it is Allah, glorified be He, who made a thing a cause for the occurrence of an effect.
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He may strip that property from it.
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And there may be obstacles to it.
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It is Allah who perfects the cause and removes its obstacles.
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Whatever He wills happens, even if creation does not will it.
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And whatever He does not will does not happen, even if creation wills it.
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He prevented the fire from burning His Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him.
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And stripped it of its causality in burning.
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The essence of reliance (tawakkul), therefore,
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Is the heart’s dependence upon Allah alone.
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Such that engaging with means does not harm one’s faith.
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While the heart remains free from relying upon them.
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Second:
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One should not utilize a means without verifying that it is indeed a cause.
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And that it is sanctioned by knowledge and certainty.
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For whoever affirms a cause without knowledge,
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Or affirms a cause that contradicts the Sharia,
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Is invalid in their assertion and sinful in their belief.
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Third:
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If only a prohibited means exists to achieve a desired end,
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It is not permissible to engage with it or utilize it.
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Except in cases of necessity alone.
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And necessity is measured according to its extent.
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And in accordance with the objectives of the Sharia and their hierarchy,
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Which are the preservation of religion, life, intellect, honor, and wealth.
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As for situations other than necessity,
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One must never resort to a prohibited means under any circumstances.
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Rather, their sole means to achieve the desired end
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Should be pure reliance upon Allah alone.
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And what a blessed means that is for achieving one's goal.
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Fourth:
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One should examine the permissible means and its effect on the realization of reliance in their heart.
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If it weakens it, then it is better to abandon it.
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If it does not weaken it, then engaging with it is better.
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As one thereby fulfills the wisdom of Allah in linking effects to their causes.
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And by doing so, one has performed the servitude of the heart through reliance,
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And the servitude of the limbs through the utilization of means.
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Fifth and finally:
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Utilizing means in the manner described above
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Is what truly realizes reliance.
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Whoever neglects the commanded means,
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Their reliance is not valid.
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Rather, it becomes mere passivity, helplessness, and wishful thinking.