Detailed Chapters Clarifying Tawhid Minor Shirk & Major Shirk

Among his outstanding traits (radhiallahu ‘anhu) is what Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected on the authority of Anas bin Malik (radhiallahu ‘anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Ubay,

إِنَّ اللهَ أَمَـرَنِـي أَنْ أَقْـرَأَ عَـلَـيْـكَ , قَـالَ : آلله سَـمَّـانِـي لَـكَ ؟ قَـالَ : اللهُ سَـمَّـاكَ لِـي . قَـالَ : فَـجَـعَـلَ أُبَـيٌّ يَـبْـكِـي .

“Indeed Allah ordered me to teach you” He (i.e. Ubay) said, “Did Allah mention my name to you?” the Prophet said, “Allah mentioned your name to me” Anas bin Malik said, “Ubay began to weep.”

Likewise you should contemplate in order to grasp Ubay’s the full extent of understanding of the religion (radhiallahu ‘anhu); his response to this question wasn’t after long period of time like a week or a month in which he could review the verses and contemplate its meanings; rather he (radhiallahu ‘anhu) merely responded immediately after the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) repeated the question; so he chose this blessed verse.

The Imam was asked a long question of which a part was – What is the opinion of the scholars regarding a man who is afflicted by a disease, and knows that if it should continue it would damage his life? The Imam Quoted the Hadith from Sahih Bukhari The prophet (S) said: ‘Allah has appointed a remedy for every disease He has sent down’ Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Usamah bin Shareek that the ‘ Prophet (S) said Allah has not made a disease without providing a remedy for it, wih the exception of one disease, namely old age’ This Applies to the medicine for the heart, soul and body. The well being of the servant’s heart, is far more important than that of his body, for while the well being of his body enables him to lead a life that is free from illnesses in this world, that of the heart ensures him both a fortunate life in this world and eternal bliss in the next.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya was born into a scholarly and virtuous family in 691 AH/ 1292 A.D. At that time Damascus was a centre of literature and thought. Many schools were located there and he studied and graduated under the protection, direction and sponsorship of his father. He was particularly influenced by his Shaykh and teacher Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, and also by Ibn ash-Shirazi amongst others. Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya died in the city of Damascus the year 751 AH/1350 C.E.,when he was scarcely 60 years old, and was buried at the cemetery of Bab- al-Saghir, near the grave of his father – Rahimahuma Allah.