The Cure, the Explanation, the Clear Affair, and the Brilliantly Distinct Signpost: Book 1

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:

the success of muslims is founded upon authentic beliefs and actions upon them

The guiding scholar Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-‘Utheimeen, may Allaah, the Most High, have mercy upon him, was asked,[1] “What would be the effects and consequences, upon the current condition of the Muslim Ummah, of sound efforts to call Muslims to having the correct beliefs, and the sound methodology of Islaam?” He answered, [1]

There is no doubt that the effect of calling people to have the correct beliefs and the correct methodology upon the life of the Muslim Ummah would be something significant and substantial. This effect was shown and manifested in the lives of the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah be pleased with them all, in the other two distinguished early generations, and within the lives of all those Muslims who followed them in goodness. It is seen in their honor and prominence, in their having satisfied good lives both in the world and eventually in the next….

…If the people rectify their beliefs, and establish upon those true beliefs their rulings and judgements in the general matters of life, with the Muslims, as a whole, adopting and truly embracing what is correct and sound, then they will undoubtedly achieve what those early Muslims from the first generations, who proceeded them, achieved of honor, prestige, and lives of contentment.

Just as if they fail to embrace the correct beliefs, and act upon them, then they will end up in the same lowly state that the rest of humanity finds itself in. And Allaah the Most High, knows best.

There is no doubt that we as Muslims, are those who love Islaam and are those who want good for our Ummah, the people of Islaam. For this reason we should ask ourselves, what was the way which the first generations of Muslims understood and practiced Islaam that made them successful- enabling them to bring good to themselves and others by the mercy of Allaah, who has among His names al-Fattah, the Opener? How did they “embrace the correct beliefs, and act upon them”, meaning both the general Muslims and those incredible early scholars, in a way that brought them success? As indeed, the scholars generally among the Muslims have always played a central role in their well being and success. In clarifying exactly who we are speaking about when referring to their correct understanding and practice, Sheikh Hammaad Ibn Muhammad al-Ansaaree, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,[2] [2]