Milestones on the path to stability | Episode (5) | One of the means of stability: correct rooting

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

0:03 Milestones on the path of steadfastness.

0:10 Correct foundational grounding.

0:16 Among the means of steadfastness is correct foundational grounding.

0:20 By foundational grounding, we mean:

0:22 That a Muslim builds their knowledge and deeds upon firm, established foundations.

0:28 Whose sources are the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

0:30 And the understanding of the salaf of the Ummah.

0:32 Enlightened by the foundational principles of the leading scholars of the Ummah, both ancient and modern.

0:37 Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in Majmu' al-Fatawa:

0:41 "We shall mention a comprehensive rule in this regard for the entire Ummah."

0:47 We say:

0:48 "A person must possess comprehensive principles to which specific details are referred."

0:54 "So that they may speak with knowledge and justice."

0:57 "Then, they must understand how those specific details occurred."

1:00 "Otherwise, they will remain in a state of falsehood and ignorance regarding the details."

1:04 "And ignorance and injustice regarding the comprehensive principles."

1:07 "Thus, great corruption is generated."

1:11 And since the proponents of speculative theology and philosophy,

1:14 Built their methodology upon corrupt foundations,

1:17 They were the most unstable and doubtful of people,

1:20 Constantly shifting from one opinion to another.

1:24 Shaykh al-Islam said in Majmu' al-Fatawa:

1:27 "You find the proponents of speculative theology to be the most prone to shifting from one opinion to another."

1:33 "They are certain of an opinion in one instance, and certain of its opposite in another."

1:37 "And they declare the one who holds it a disbeliever in yet another instance."

1:41 "This is proof of a lack of certainty."

1:44 That is why some of the salaf said,

1:46 Whether it was 'Umar Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz or someone else:

1:49 "Whoever makes his religion a subject for disputes,"

1:52 "Will frequently change his position."

1:54 As for the people of the Sunnah and the hadith,

1:57 It is not known that any of their scholars, nor their righteous commoners,

2:02 Ever retracted their beliefs or convictions.

2:05 Rather, they are the most patient of people in that regard.

2:08 Even if they are tested with various trials,

2:11 And afflicted with various tribulations.

2:14 This was the state of the prophets and their followers among the early generations,

2:18 Such as the People of the Ditch and those like them.

2:21 And like the salaf of this Ummah, from the Companions and the Tabi'un,

2:24 And other leading scholars.

2:27 Ibn al-Qayyim said in al-Fawa'id:

2:30 "Whoever desires the loftiness of his structure,"

2:32 "Must secure and reinforce its foundation."

2:35 "And pay intense attention to it."

2:38 "For the structure is only as strong as the security and reinforcement of its foundation."

2:43 "Deeds and spiritual ranks are a structure, and their foundation is faith."

2:47 "Whenever the foundation is secure,"

2:50 "It bears the structure and rises above it."

2:53 "And if any part of the structure collapses, it is easy to rectify."

2:57 "But if the foundation is not secure,"

3:00 "The structure will not rise, nor will it remain firm."

3:03 "And if any part of the foundation collapses,"

3:06 "The structure falls, or is on the verge of falling."

3:08 "Therefore, the wise person focuses on correcting and reinforcing the foundation."

3:13 "While the ignorant person builds upward without a foundation."

3:17 "So his structure does not last before it collapses."

3:20 Allah the Almighty said:

3:23 “Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (9:109)

3:29 "Is one who founded his building..."

3:32 "...on the edge of a crumbling bank..."

3:39 “Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (9:109)

3:45 "...And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

3:52 So, build your structure upon the strength of the foundation of faith.

3:56 If any part of the upper structure or its surface becomes shaky,

4:00 Rectifying it is easier for you than the ruin of the foundation.

4:04 This foundation consists of two things:

4:07 First:

4:08 Correct knowledge of Allah, His commands, His names, and His attributes.

4:13 Second:

4:14 Devoting one's submission to Him and His Messenger alone, to the exclusion of all others.

4:19 This is the most secure foundation upon which a servant can build his structure.

4:24 And according to it, the structure rises as high as it may.

4:27 Allah has provided a parable for this true foundational grounding in His saying:

4:33 “Seest thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven,” (14:24)

4:48 “Seest thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven,” (14:24)

4:54 “Giving its fruit at every season by permission of its Lord? Allah coineth the similitudes for mankind in order that they may reflect.” (14:25)

5:00 "And Allah presents parables for the people that perhaps they will remember."

5:07 “And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from upon the earth, possessing no stability.” (14:26)

5:13 “And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from upon the earth, possessing no stability.” (14:26)

5:24 “Allah confirmeth those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah sendeth wrong-doers astray. And Allah doeth what He will.” (14:27)

5:33 "And Allah leads the wrongdoers astray."

5:38 “Allah confirmeth those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah sendeth wrong-doers astray. And Allah doeth what He will.” (14:27)

5:43 Allah, glory be to Him, began with the true foundation and its description.

5:49 Then, with the false foundation and its description.

5:52 Then, with the fruits of both foundations regarding steadfastness and the lack thereof.

5:57 The "good word" is the word of Tawhid: La ilaha illa Allah.

6:03 Any call that is not built upon this great foundation,

6:07 Is false and doomed to failure, because Tawhid is the first obligation and the last obligation.

6:14 It is the beginning and the end; the caller and the one called cannot be detached from it.

6:20 This word has its roots firmly planted in the soil of piety.

6:25 Thus, its branches are high in the sky, unshaken by trials.

6:31 Nor is it moved by whims or worldly interests.

6:34 It has its fruits at all times, in war and in peace.

6:39 In stages of weakness and strength, in imprisonment and in freedom.

6:44 Its possessor never knows despair or hopelessness.

6:48 At all times, he has a deed, whether with his heart, his tongue, or his limbs.

6:55 Unlike that evil tree which has no roots and no foundations.

7:02 As soon as the first trial comes, it is uprooted from above the earth.

7:08 It lacks the strength for steadfastness and resilience.

7:11 Through this, you know the benefit of foundational grounding.

7:15 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

7:19 "Deeds are like a vessel; if the bottom is sound, the top is sound."

7:25 "And if the bottom is corrupt, the top is corrupt."

7:29 Milestones on the path of steadfastness.

Milestones on the path to stability | Episode (5) | One of the means of stability: correct rooting

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