by Shaykh Muhammad al-Maaliki حفظه الله
on Saturday, October 14th, 2006
5. Question: Could you please tell us the ruling on young children learning about Islaam and Ramadaan through nasheeds, videos, cartoons and the like?
Answer: Wallaahi this issue has spread in the Muslim world today. It started as a means of teaching but now it is a form of material enjoyment. They are not able to do without it and this is really bad as it will lead to the days of the Sufis – where they used to worship Allaah by anaasheed and they called it Islaamic songs. There are no Islaamic songs.
Yaa Ikhwan, its best to teach the children whether today or twenty thousand (20,000) years from now, in the way which fourteen (14) centuries ago, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to deal with the children. For example, he صلى الله عليه وسلم told ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah, his step child [24]:
يا غلام، سمِّ الله، وكل بيمينك، وكل مما يليك
He taught him something which was good for him. He did not make him sing nor did he صلى الله عليه وسلم sing for him. Also, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbas:
يا غلام إني أعلمك كلمات احفظ الله يحفظك احفظ الله تجده تجاهك
…until the end of the hadith.[25] This hadith today, (words unclear it sounds like: “degrees of speech are being done on it. Teach Deen.”) Notice how this hadith is given to a little boy – why? So that he would grow up with this understanding; let them (our children) grow up with Qur’aan, recitation and du’aa – teach them what will benefit them.
These things – anasheed and cartoons will make them happy because they don’t differentiate between good and bad, but they will love it and they will live with it until they die. These things will remain (in their minds). As Shaykh Muhammad Mukhtar ash-Shanqiti حفظه الله said in a lecture when he was asked about the anasheed for the students of tahfeez (memorization), he said “No, don’t make it a hobby for them because what will happen is whenever anasheed is found they will come and when anasheed is stopped they will turn away from Qur’aan” – they turn away from tahfeez (memorization), they turn away from religion. That’s what we observe.
Look to the ‘Ulamaa. Do you want your child to be from amongst the ‘Ulamaa? Okay, take the biography of Shaykh Ibn Baaz and the biography of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and see how they grew up. I challenge anyone to show me that Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, Shaykh al-Albaani, Shaykh Muqbil, Shaykh Fawzaan, Shaykh Luhaydaan grew up listening to anasheed or cartoons. No! they grew up in a serious manner. They were in the halaqah (circles, sittings) of the shuyuukh; and in the house their mother reviewed what they studied and encouraged them in increasing in memorizing the Qur’aan and studying the Sunnah. They gave them sweet etc. (as an incentive) because they wanted to encourage them, and that is why when they became adults they became more serious than others. Shaykh Ibn Baaz said that when the children used to play he always used to stay with the Qur’aan. Akhi, Subhanallaah, who are the children who were with the Shaykh? We don’t know them; he didn’t mention any of the scholars of today who were his friends in boyhood. He did not mention them and this means that all those children went only to the dunya (got caught up in worldly affairs), but by staying with the Qur’aan he رحمه الله became the noble ‘Aalim, the noble Imaam of his time. This also pertains to the other great and grand ‘Ulamaa.
You will see some old People of Knowledge today encouraging anasheed and when you go back to their childhood you find them with anasheed. They used to watch cartoons and that’s why even now with their white beards, grey hair, bent back, holding the stick and speaking very broken they are still saying anasheed. Subhanallaah! This is because they grew up with it and they lived with it; but the other scholars are always saying “Qur’aan, Qur’aan” and “hadeeth, hadeeth”. So decide what you want your child to be like when he becomes a man or a woman and then work from now to achieve this, as they say:
يشب فتى الفتيان فينا على ما كان عوده أبوه
The young will become young (grow into adolescence) as he was raised by his father (upon what his father got him accustomed to) when he was a boy. If he was left to anasheed and cartoons he will love it and grow up with it and live with it. Wallaahi, I saw brothers in the Jaami’ah (University) and some of them were in the Faculty of Hadeeth playing games on the mobile phone or on the computer. Subhanallaah, is this what they are created for, they are Taalibul ‘Ilm (Students of Knowledge). When I asked them why, I found out that from their boyhood days they lived with that.
However, notice that those people who are always involved in seeking knowledge, teaching knowledge and busy in Qur’aan recitation – you always see when they become adults – men or women, and when they become old you always see them in those fields and people will have a need for them. But people of anasheed nobody needs them. Yaa Ikhwaan we have to realize the difference between what Allaah تعالى created us for and work towards it, and what is to be found from enjoyment. Wallaahu A’lam.
6. Question: Yaa Shaykh may Allaah Preserve you. Is it true that the jinn/shayateen are repulsed by frankincense (bakhoor) and the angels are attracted to it? Do angels accompany cats and do jinns occupy vacant places and if a person moves into a house that has been vacant for a period of time are there any procedures that the Muslims should take to free the house of jinns/shayateen?
Answer: The Shaykh praised Allaah and sent salaah and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said: First of all let me give you this information and glad tidings: “The jinn are a creation that fears the Believers most.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab [26]:
يا عمر بن الخطاب ما سلكت طريقاً ولا دخلت فجاً شعبا إلا سلك شيطان طريقاً وشعبا غير الذي سلكت
So the shayateen – the jinn, they are scared of the Believers, but they have a sense, they can feel the fear and fright of mankind. So if you become scared of jinns, they become brave and they start scaring you. So what you need to do is what Allaah تعالى says – I am not bringing this from my mind but from what Allaah تعالى says and from my experience – Allaah تعالى says:
ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءهُ فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
{It is only Shaitân (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyâ’ [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger, Muhammad)]; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.} [Aal-‘Imraan 3:175]
So if you are a real Believer do not get scared of the Shayateen.
Regarding incense this is not true – this is commonly known by the Sufis. The Sufis say that the shayateen run away from the bukhoor, the incense, but it’s not true. The angels like any good smell whereas the shayateen doesn’t like good smells, rather they like bad smells. That’s why they whisper for one not to take a shower and they whisper for one not to clean up and that’s why when the kuffar go to the toilet – when they urinate or pass stool, they clean with paper only and they don’t clean well – that’s why the shayateen control them. Allaah تعالى says to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا
{See you not that We have sent the Shayâtîn (devils) against the disbelievers to push them to do evil.} [Maryam 19:83]
And that’s why Yaa Ikhwaan we need to always be clean and that’s why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم encouraged us always have wudū’ and to use perfume. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
حبب لي من دنياكم النساء والطيب
It was made more beloved to me from your life the woman (the wife) and perfume. [27] So it is good use perfume and incense, but don’t think that the shayateen will run away and the angels will come. It’s true that the shayateen do not like good smells and the angels like the good smells; but at the same time don’t let this idea captivate your mind. I say this because some people will be captivated by this idea, then one day they will forget to perfume and then they will then thinking “O Shaytaan is here, Shaytaan is there, jinn is here and jinn is there” and if anyone whistles or anyone says something, (they say) “O that’s Shaytaan” – this is bad.
But what can turn Shayateen away? Akhi, remembrance of Allaah, remembrance of Allaah can turn Shaytaan away. Allaah تعالى says:
الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُم إِيمَانًا
{… when Allâh is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’ân) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone) …} [Al-Anfal 8:2]
And the other ayah:
ألا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
{Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest.} [Ar-Ra’d 13:28]
So do a lot of remembrance (adhkaar), the remembrance of the morning and evening, for entering the house, exiting the house, entering the toilet, exiting the toilet, entering the mosque, exiting the mosque, going into your car etc. You take all the remembrances that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught us. So Inshaa Allaah you will be protected.
And when you get to the house, it’s not true that a house that is abandoned for a while is captured (occupied) by the shayateen. No, the shayateen are everywhere – they are in every house, they are with everyone. Allaah تعالى says that everyone has a Qareen as in Surah Qaaf:
قَالَ قَرِينُهُ
{His companion (Satan/devil) will say…} [Qaaf 50:27]
So everyone has a qareen accompanying him from the jinn. So, how can you be protected from that? You can be protected by continuous remembrance – by continuously being with Allaah (having Him in your thoughts) all the time.
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh,
the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).} [Al-An’aam 6:162]
So you live for Allaah and Allaah will protect you.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
{Truly, Allâh defends those who believe.} [Al-Hajj 22:38]
And in the hadeeth Qudsi: [28]
ولا يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش بها ورجله التي يمشي بها
ولئن سألني لأعطينه وإن استعاذني لأعيذنه
Here Allaah تعالى is telling you that as much remembrance, worship and optional worship you do for Him, He will protect your eyes, your ears, your hands and your legs. That means you are surrounded by protection from Allaah تعالى and Allaah تعالى will send the angels around you.
But when you go to a house whether it is an abandoned house or it is your house or it is someone’s house – even if it is your house whether empty or occupied, what you should do is say as-Salaam:
لا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّى تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَهْلِهَا
{O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them.}[An-Nur 24:27]
And in the other ayah:
فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أنْفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ
{But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allâh (i.e. say: السلام عليكم) As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum – peace be on you)}
[An-Nur 24:61]
So even if it is unoccupied you say Assalaamu ‘Alaikum yourself as Allaah تعالى guides you. By doing that, there will be no shayateen because as in the hadith the shayateen will stand by the door, when the person comes they listen, if he says Assalaamu ‘Alaikum – if he remembers Allaah the head Shaytaan will say ‘go back, go back you have no place here.’ But when you come into the house silent or saying any words other than the remembrance, He says ‘Ok come here you have a place to sleep you have food come, come’ and they come into your house.[29] This is the way you protect yourself from the shayateen, it is not related to the bukhoor or this or that – that is from Sufism. Wallaahu A’lam.
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Masjid Ahlul-Quraan wa As-Sunnah of New york
http://www.seekknowledge.org
http://www.albaseerah.org
