Islaam started as something strange. Shaykh Bin Baaz Rahimahullah

[عبد الله بن مسلم]

Question :

The loved one , sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam , said :
'Islaam started as something strange' to the end of the hadeeth.

We hope for the tafseer (explanation) of this hadeeth , and a clarification of its grading (authentic or weak) ?

Answer :

This hadeeth is authentic.

It is narrated by Muslim in his saheeh , from Abee Hurayrah radhiyaAllaahu anhu , from the Prophet sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam , that he said :
'Islaam started as something strange , and will return to being something strange. So tooba is for the strangers.'

So , thus it is an authentic hadeeth ; established from the Prophet sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam.

The group of Imaams of hadeeth ; also have additional narrations.

It was said : ' O , prophet of Allah , who are these strangers ?'

And he sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam said :
' those who do good when the people are corrupt.' [1]

and in another wording :
'They are the ones who will correct what people have corrupted of my Sunnah.' [2]

and in another wording :
' They are those who abandon and are free from partisanship (tribalism).' [3]

and in another wording :
' They are a group of righteous people who are few , among many sinful people.' [4]


And the intent and meaning of al-ghurabaa (the strangers) : they are the people of steadfastness.

And that paradise and bliss is for the ghurabaa , [those] who correct themselves and do good when the people turn wicked.

This is When the matters are changed and simplified , and the people of good become less.

Then they [the ghuraaba] are [still] established to be upon the truth , and steadfast on the religion of Allaah , and they single out Allah (are far from shirk) , and have sincerity to Him in their worship.

And they are steadfast on the salaat (prayers) , and zakaat , and fasting , and hajj , and all the matters of the religion.

These are the ghurabaa.

And they are the ones , about whom Allaah has said , is their example :

'Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allaah (Alone)," and then they Istaqâ*¡ , on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!

"We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for.

"An entertainment from (Allaah, the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [5]


So Islaam began as something strange ,with few people in Makkah. None believed , except a few. And most of the people had enmity and resisted the Messenger sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam , together with harming him. And harming his companions who had accepted Islam.

Then he moved to Madinah as an emigrant , and also those companions who had the ability ; moved with him. And therein also Islaam was strange. Until the people (entering Islaam) increased from among the people of Madinah and the rest of the villages.

Then people entered the religion of Allaah in crowds , after Allaah had opened -for His messenger sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam- Makkah. [the conquest of Makkah]

So the beginning of it (Islaam) was strange . And most of the people were on kufr (disbelief) in Allaah , and associating partners with Allah , and worshipping of Idols , and worship of Prophets and righteous people , and trees and stones , and similar to these.

Then Allaah guided those He guided , through the hands of His Prophet , Muhammad sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam , and through the hands of the companions.

So (the people) entered the religion of Allaah ; and singled out Allaah and worshipped Him with sincerity , and they abandoned worshipping of idols , messengers , righteous people ; and thus they singled out Allaah and worshipped Him with sincerity.

Hence it became that : none other than Allaah was worshipped alone . And none other was prayed to , except Allaah , and no sajda (prostration) was made except for Allaah , and there was no seeking of help or supplication , or seeking cure ; except it was directed to Allaah ,The One free from All Defects , The Most Exalted.

These are the strangers.

And likewise towards the last eras : they are the ones who have stood uprightly and steadfast on the religion of Allaah .

When the people are changing the religion of Allaah , and when the people are disbelieving , and when the people have increased in their sins and evil.

These ghurabaa (strangers) are steadfast on the obedience of Allaah and His religion [the Qur'aan ,and the authentic Sunnah : upon the methodology of the Salafu-Saalih].

And for them is the Paradise and bliss. And for them is the best reward of a praiseworthy end ; in the world and in the hereafter.



Shaykh-ul-Islaam `Abdul`azeez Bin Baz (rahimahullaah)


Footnotes:

1. Hadeeth classified as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee . Silsilah as-saheeha : 1273

2.At-Tirmithi no. 2630 . Imaam Tirmidhee said : Hassan saheeh. Hadeeth classified as very weak by Shaykh al-Albaanee.

3. This part is graded weak by Shaykh Albanee is dhaif sunan ibn Maajah : 862
The hadeeth has also been interpreted to mean : those who abandon and migrate from their people ; because of the religion.

4. Hadeeth classified as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee. Silsilah as-saheeha : 1619 The complete hadeeth is :
? So tooba is for the (ghurabaa) strangers ." ? It was said : O , prophet of Allah , who are these strangers ?' [And he sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam] said :
? They are a group of righteous people who are few , among many sinful people , those who oppose them are much more than those who follow them."

5.Surah Fussilat : 30-32


Source :http://www.ibnbaz.org.sa/index.php?p...fatawa&id=4724

Translation by : Aboo Waheeda as-Salafee

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