An Educational Course Based Upon Beneficial Answers to Questions on Innovated Methodologies

COMPILER’S INTRODUCTION

A

ll praise is due to Allaah alone, we praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and the evils of our actions. Whoever Allaah guides, no one can lead him astray and whoever is caused to go astray, there is no one that can guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah alone with no partners. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His worshipper and Messenger, peace and salutations be upon him, his household, his Companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the day of Judgment. To proceed:

Seeking general knowledge of the methodology of Islaam is a personal responsibility

Our beloved Prophet was sent as a mercy to all of the worlds and was given that guidance which humanity needs to be successful in both this world and the next, an enduring guidance whose night is like its day- clear, evident, and unmistakable. Allaah, the Most High, says in the uncreated Qur’aan, ﴾ And We have not sent you, (O Muhammad), except as a mercy to the worlds.﴿-(Surah al-Anbiyaa’: 107) We find that trustworthy scholars of the branch of knowledge dedicated to properly explaining the Qur’aan have explained the full meaning of this essential verse. Imam al- Baghawee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, from the sixth century of Islaam, states,[1] [1]

“ Ibn Zayd said ‘Meaning a mercy to the believers specifically, such that he is a mercy to them.’ Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “This carries a general meaning, in relation to those who believe and those who do not believe. For those who believe, as Muslims, he is a mercy to them in both the goodness received by them in this world and in the next world.

As for those who do not believe, he is a mercy for them in this world only, by delaying the worldly punishment to have come down on them, and removing from them corrupt beliefs, the humiliation of their misguidance, and pulling their falsehoods away from among them through calling them to Islaam. Indeed, the Messenger of Allaah, may the praise and salutations of Allaah be upon him, said {I am a mercy, offering guidance.} [2] [2]

Imaam as-Sa’adee, a well known scholar of our current age, may Allaah have mercy upon him, stated the following in explaining this same verse,[3] [3]

“Then Allaah praises His messenger who came forth with the Qur’aan, saying ﴾ And We have not sent you, (O Muhammad), except as a mercy to the worlds.﴿-(Surah al-Anbiyaa’:107) He, the Messenger, is His mercy offering guidance to His created beings. There are those in creation who believe in that guidance, accept this mercy they have been given, are grateful for it, and fulfill the different aspects of its guidance. Whereas others among creation disbelieved in that guidance, exchanged and replaced this tremendous blessing from Allaah with disbelief, and rejected and turned away from this mercy and bounty directed towards them by Allaah.”