Imam Ibn Rajab al Hanbali Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 113 | Size: 3 MB
The Key To Paradise: An Explanation To The Testimony Of Faith And Its Benefits
When the Messenger of Allah (salallahu
alaihi wa salam) was sent to the polytheists to call to this statement,
‘None has that right to be worshiped save Allah,’ that understood
something from it that made them reject it, opposed the Messenger, and
all those who believed in it. What was this understanding? Was it the
understanding that Allah existed and was One? They already believed in
this. They believed that He was the Creator, Nourisher, Sustainer, in
His hands was the control of all affairs, and in His hands was life and
death.
It was said to al-Hasan, ‘People say that
whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped,’ shall enter
Paradise.’ He said, ‘Whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped
save Allah,’ and fulfills its obligations and meets its requirements
shall enter Paradise.’
Wahb ibn Munabbih was asked, ‘Is not the
testification that “none has the right to be worshipped save Allah” the
key to Paradise?’ He replied, ‘Of course, but every key has its teeth:
if you bring a key that has teeth, the door shall open; but if not, it
will not.’
My brothers! Strive, today, to your
utmost in actualizing Tawhid, for nothing else can take you to Allah. Be
desirous for establishing its rights for nothing else will save you
from the punishment of Allah. The testification of Tawhid has many great
benefit, it is not possible to enumerate them all, however, the author
mentions fifty-five benefits of it.
This small treatise deals with the
correct and accurate meaning of the testification of Tawhid and with an
extremely beneficial appendix – The Types of Hearts – by al-Hafiz ibn
Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.
About Imam Ibn Rajab al Hanbali (736 – 795 AH)
He was the noble Imaam, the Haafidh, the
Critic, Zayn-ud-Deen ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Ahmad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin
al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Abil-Barakaat Mas’ood As-Salaamee
Al-Baghdaadee (due to his place of birth), Al-Hanbalee (due to his
madh-hab), Ad-Dimashqee (due to his place of residence and death). His
kunyah was Abul-Faraj, and his nickname was Ibn Rajab, which was the
nickname of his grandfather who was born in that month (of Rajab).
He was born in Baghdad in 736H and was
raised by a knowledgeable family, firmly rooted in knowledge, nobility
and righteousness. His father played the greatest role in directing him
towards the beneficial knowledge.
Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have
mercy on him, was deeply attached to the works of Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn
Taimiyyah, for he would issue legal rulings according to them and would
constantly reference his books. This is since he served as a student
under Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, the most outstanding student of
Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allah have mercy on all of them. But
in spite of this, he (rahimahullaah) wasn’t a blind follower or a
fanatical adherent (to his teacher). Rather, he would review,
authenticate, verify and follow the evidences.
Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have
mercy on him passed to the realm of the Akhira in Ramadaan, 795H. He
died while in Damascus.
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