Al-hamdu Lillaahi nasta’eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na’oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa sayi’aati a’maalinaa. Man yahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yudlil falaa haadiya lahu. Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu: Amab'ad
((Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)) To Proceed:
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Welcome to my blog! I chose the name "Oh Strangers!" because of the Hadith of our Nabi Salallahu Alayhi Wa Salaam: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” (Muslim; 145). This blog is mainly geared toward women, as I am a woman, however anyone can benefit from my posts Insha'Allah. My posts will range from Islam to Beauty, and anything I find that will benefit the women. You are welcomed to follow, re-post or share any content on this site, and I hope you find it a source of comfort and a great benefit.
Who are the strangers?
The scholars (rahimahumullaah) have categorized the issue of strangeness into three categories:
1- There is the strangeness from the land or from one's country, and this strangeness could be praiseworthy or blameworthy. And this is connected to the niya (intention) of a particular individual. ...So for instance, if a person were to travel to a strange land for the purpose of halal trade or da'wa, then his strangeness to the land would be a praiseworthy strangeness. And if a person were to travel to a land for the purpose of fisq (sin, evil) orfasaad (evil spreading) or corruption, then this strangeness would be blameworthy.
2- The second type is the [blameworthy] strangeness of the people of fisq, corruption and evil deeds, and the people of dalaala (misguidance) and the people of shirk. [This is] because this kufr, shirk, and dalaala makes their chest constrained, and it makes them individuals who are strangers - even though they may be plentiful in one particular place. But without guidance, these people are strange [in a blameworthy way] and have constraint in their chest. So you see some of them may have much money, but because of the constrained chest - due to kufr and dalaala - they kill themselves. ...
3- The third type of strangeness is the strangeness of Ahlul-Deen, and this is a strangeness that is mamdouha(good). The intent is a person holds onto the religion of Allaah while among the people of dalaala and kufr and shirk and bid'ah and ma'siya. So this strangeness is mahmouda (praiseworthy), because for this individual there will be great reward due to the good he's upon, and opposing the people distant from the deen of Allaah ('Azza wa jall) and the Sunnah of His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam). So you will find this type of stranger obeying Allaah's commands in all his affairs and carrying out the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam).
And this type of praiseworthy strangeness differs from land to land. So you will find in some places that this type of strangeness is not present due to the great presence of the Sunnah, whereas in another place, that strangeness may be present due to the presence of kufr, bid'ah, shirk, and widespread nature of that. This is the strangeness for whom the stranger will find a tremendous reward with Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala).
If this type of strangeness is praiseworthy, and the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam) has praised the individual who has this type of strangeness, then what are the characteristics of this type of stranger? And what is it that distinguishes this stranger from everyone else. Many of the scholars have mentioned many of the characteristics of these strangers. The characteristics are many. We'll mention some, inshaAllaah:
1- The first of those characteristics is ifradullaahi ta'la, that they single out Allaah with 'ibada (worship), knowing that He is alone without partner. So they do not worship except Allaah; they do not pray save to Allaah; they do not fast except for Allaah; they do not perform dhikr except for Allaah; they do not recite Qur'an except for Allaah; they do not seek refuge except with Allaah; they do not seek aid except from Allaah; and they do not rely except on Allaah (Jalla wa 'Alla). So if he says La illaaha il Allaah and he understands its meaning, he puts it into practice. And it was for this reason that when the 'Arabs said La illaaha il Allaah, they would abandon all those things that were worshipped besides Allaah. Those mushrikun (idolators) who entered Islam at the hand of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam) would leave all those idols, and throw them behind their back, because they knew the meaning of La illaaha il Allaah [none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone].Astonishing is the condition today of many Muslims, who say La illaaha il Allaah but don't know the meaning.
Allaah says:
And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)
And also: And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allaah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (Az-Zumar 39:65)
So Allaah ('Azza wa jall) has commanded us with tawheed and has prohibited us from that which opposes it (shirk). Therefore, the greatest of the characteristics of these strangers is they hold onto at-tawheed, singling out Allaah in each and every act of worship; they leave off shirk, distance themselves from it, have a strong fear of falling into it; and give da'wa to at-tawheed, calling the creation to single out Allaah with each and every act of worship.
(More at Source: Abdurrahman.org)
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We live in a time where Islam itself is not strange, but the people who practice it the way it should be practiced, implements the Quran and Sunnah the way they should be implemented, and do their best to live according to that, are indeed looked at as strange...even among the Muslims!
The people who cling to the Sunnah with all of their strength are now being labeled as "extremists," "Wahabis," and my ultimate peeve "Haram Police." So I say to the Muslims who are trying to stick to the sunnah; Do not give up! Stay firm and obedient to Allah, and do not let the words of the layman discourage you from that. Have patience, and seek Allah's pleasure because every pleasure and every reward is with him!
The Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "I advise you to fear Allaah (have taqwaa of Him) and to listen and obey (to the leader) even if it is a black abyssinian slave. He amongst you lives for long will see many controversies/differences. Therefore, you must stick to my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Stick to it (the sunnah) with your molar teeth and beware of the newly-invented matters as every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance."
And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are AlMuttaqûn (the pious). Will you not then understand? (Al-An'am 6:32)
Strangeness and the Strangers: Dawud Adib
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