Hadith: Saheeh Bukhari 4340
Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam sent a Sariya under the command of a man from the Ansar and ordered the soldiers to obey him.
He (i.e. the commander) became angry and said, “Didn’t Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam order you to obey me!”
They replied, “Yes.”
He said, “Collect fire-wood for me.”
So they collected it.
He said, “Make a fire.”When they made it, he said,”Enter it (i.e. the fire).”
So they intended to do that and started holding each other and saying,
”We run towards (i.e. take refuge with) Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam from the fire.”
They kept on saying that till the fire was extinguished and the anger of the commander abated.
When that news reached to Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, he said,
“If they had entered it (i.e. the fire), they would not have come out of it till the Day of Resurrection. Obedience (to somebody) is required when he enjoins what is good.”
In Bukhari Hadith no. 7257, Sunan Nasai Hadith No. 4205 (Saheeh), the text mentioned,
“Some of them intended to enter it while some others said, ‘We have run away from it (i.e., embraced Islam to save ourselves from the ‘fire’).”
Sunan Abu Dawud Hadith 2625 (Saheeh, Albani) mentioned the text as
“A group refused to enter into it.”
Saheeh Muslim Hadith 1840/4536 mentioned as
“they began to look at one another and said: We fled from the fire to (find refuge with) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (and now you order us to enter it). They stood quiet until his anger cooled down and the fire went out.
Saheeh Bukhari 7145 mentioned as
“when they were about to throw themselves into it, they started looking at each other, and some of them said, “We followed the Prophet (ﷺ) to escape from the fire. How should we enter it now?” So while they were in that state, the fire extinguished and their commander’s anger abated.
Bismillah! Al Hamdulillah!
Critical Reasoning: DISSECTING Information:
It was an ORDER for them to obey the Ameer. But this was just only a general instruction.
Before this expedition, Sahaba only knew the FIRST part of the order regarding obedience to Ameer.
But there was a certain condition of this order which they were ignorant of.
They came to know the SECOND part (in what condition they can disobey an Ameer) only after this incident.
They, or few of them intend to obey.
Obeying an order of an Ameer could have caused them to burn in the FIRE until the Qiyamah!
IGNORANCE was about to punish:
Can you imagine?
How many Hadiths are there in which following an Ameer were made obligatory?
How many Hadiths are there in which severe warnings were given for disobeying an Ameer?
SubhanAllah! But here they were about to be punished for obeying the Ameer!
Why is that?
They didn’t yet know the related CONDITIONS regarding obedience to an Ameer!
Was it their fault?
They were not told the SECOND part yet, hence they were ignorant!And their ignorance would have been punished even though they were following an ORDER!
La Hawla Wa La Quwata Illa Billah!
Extracting UNKNOWN from what is known: It’s not the KNOWLEDGE but COMMON SENSE ( FITRA) saved them.
They have the knowledge to obey only but those who have common sense they stand against it. Can you imagine what makes a few of them to INTEND to enter the fire? Just because it is the order of the Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam to obey the Ameer.
SubhanAllah! That’s how they took a command.
On the other hand, what makes a few to STAND against the same order of Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam?
Just common sense!
SubhanAllah! It is the common sense that make them to stand against a clear order from an Ameer thus standing against an order of Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.
SubhanAllah! This is huge!
The ORGAN that which makes you the best of the Creations:
Do you not understand now, once again, why Allah gave us this enormous brain?
Allah Subhanahu gave us guidelines and also he gave us the brain!
SubhanAllah! Imagine the use of that brain even going against the clear order of the Ameer! Only because it doesn’t make sense! There was no reason for the Ameer to command such an order, only it was out of his anger he gave such an order!
Disclaimer:
While I emphasis on Common Sense, I don’t mean that Common Sense override the clear command and legislation from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
Allah, Al-Khaliq gave us a huge organ and what’s the function of the brain? To think!
Therefore, when it comes to the disputed matters of the Deen, when there is no clear instruction, when there are many opinions of the Ulema within the group you think on the right (!) course, you can understand how much responsible use of this device Allah expects from you!
And on the other hand, what type of punishment might cause it to you for not using that device!
Fire! Nujubillah.
But again, I don’t mean that you only use the brain to question each of the command of the Ameer. There is something else which is also most important.
It is your intention.
And Allah knows best.
What IS LESSON you get from this?
What do you understand from this incident?
If you do a punishable act, a sin while you remain ignorant about it, you will be punished! Even though that might seem you are following and obeying Allah’s law, such as in this Hadith of obeying Ameer.
It’s just that simple!
And Allah knows best.
Understanding the IMPACT:
And then, where do you go! You are thinking that if you just have an Ameer, you’re done! But this incident should make you shiver about that safety you wish for!
Simply, you’re not safe from the fire even you have an Ameer.
You’re not safe even you follow the order of an Ameer! Allahu Akbar!
Isn’t this Hadith should keep every Muslim on his toes?
SubhanAllah! A Muslim can’t remain as a follower.
A Muslim can’t find safety even following an Ameer without remaining alert even in the face of an order.
And then how could a Muslim remain a blind follower to an Ulema while he remains ignorant?
There’s no alternative to seeking of knowledge:
So, Being Muslim, what do you must have in order to save yourself from punishment?
(1) Knowledge of Deen.
And it is not only knowing the ‘list of sins’ nor it is a list of ‘what consists of a sin’ like a ‘prescription’ but It is the understanding of right and wrong based on the understanding of Deen.
(2) And then the next thing is your CONFIDENCE in understanding Deen, which you can achieve only by using your own faculty of intellect.
Knowledge which doesn’t give you confidence is superficial knowledge:
Did you notice, you have the knowledge of Deen but how come you don’t have the confidence to use that knowledge!Because what you have is superficial knowledge, knowledge obtained from third parties, not from the original sources.
Because you didn’t seek the knowledge, it was poured down to you.
Because you didn’t contemplate on it rather you were fed on the contemplation of others.
Since you didn’t contemplate on it, you didn’t put your mind on it.
Since you didn’t think about it, you were not mindful about it.
Superficial Knowledge that doesn’t benefit you:
And the consequences?
This types of knowledge fails you when you need it most.
Therefore, something new comes, what happens?
You always get confused.You run to the Ulema, which is the right thing to do but then, how do you choose which Ulema is giving you the correct verdict?
(A) Whoever can convince you with his power of speech?
(B) Whoever can bring up references and frame it to overwhelm you by the quantity of evidences? SubhanAllah, you think he is giving you the correct knowledge!
(C) Going with the majority because you don’t have the ability to precision nor you have the ability of understanding the best?
(D) Whoever could make you a way out comfortably, isn’t what you wish for, honestly?
And you ended up following your desire:
But there’s a consequence of choosing any of those.
Why? What’s the consequence that it leads to?
(A) Simply following your Nafs without you noticing it.
(B) Simply distracting you from the correct intention of saving yourself from fire, you were just seeking the ease by remaining a follower.
Thus you end up doing Islam only within your comfort zone.
Thus a Ayah from the Quran or a Hadith of clear warning of punishment doesn’t impact on you anymore.
Building your CONFIDENCE in understanding the Deen – A Simple Math:
On the contrary, what could make you firm on your knowledge?
It is your CONFIDENCE in understanding of Deen.
And how can you achieve that CONFIDENCE?
By feeding yourself from the mind of others?
or By studying and thinking about Deen by yourself first?
Only by BUILDING your CONFIDENCE in understanding Deen by YOURSELF!
And Allah knows best. May Allah increase you and me in beneficial knowledge.
Understanding the MISGUIDANCE of keeping you ignorant:
And then lets try to understand your situation.
What is the status of an Ameer, again?
You must follow his order.
Then did Allah ask to obey an Ulema?
No!
But how much secured most of the ignorant Muslims find themselves in obeying a verdict of an Ulema!
But no! They do not OBEY an Ulema actually they CHOISE to FOLLOW blindly while remaining in a bliss of ignorance thinking Jannah is just a breath away.
And there are many misguidance that keep you away from seeking knowledge by yourself.
Did you hear it often ‘follow the majority you will be safe’? Aujubillah!
Do you find any encouragement in it for seeking knowledge?
Or does it give you safe heaven to remain ignorant by just ‘following the majority’?
What actually they intend while they preach you this?
“You just remain ignorant and follow us”.
In fact, this is a criterion to judge the Haqq from the Baatil, if you are to use the device, the brain that Allah Ta Baraka Ta’ala gave you and made you the best of the living creatures!
Check your status:
Then, O Muslims, What do you think of your ignorance when you are following your Ulema blindly against Allah’s Shariah!
Did Allah make obligatory to follow an Ulema?
Imagine the one who Allah made obligatory to follow, an Ameer, even following that Ameer in Sinful orders is punishable!
Then what do you think would be the consequence of your’s when you take your Ulema as your absolute Master and follow his verdict in disobeying Allah’s clear laws and regulations, even WHEN he leads you to clear shirk?
What do you think of your status with Allah!
Ask yourself, your connection with Riba, is it not against Allah’s Law?
Ask yourself, the ‘Halal Finance’ you engage with, which is running into the ocean of Riba, are these operating according to Allah’s Law?
Did not Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam warn you of humiliation when you engage with ‘Enah’ (riba) transactions? (Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawud 3462 (Saheeh by Albani)
Ask yourself, your connection with ‘forced’ Insurance, is it not against Allah’s law?
Who made these things permissible to you which Allah made haram?
What made you to set your connection with these things in the first place?
Because your ‘Ulema’ made it okay for you? “La Ukallifullahu Nafsan Illa UwsAha?
Because these Ulema who Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam described as ‘worst creature under the sky’ made the World System set by the Kuffar acceptable to you?
Think again, Sahaba, who went for Jihad, would have remained in the fire until the Qiyamah had they entered the fire and that is just for a sinful act while they intended to OBEY the Ameer.
And You are following your ‘Ulema’, those who are making Halal for you what Allah made Haram!
Because these ‘Ulema’, the ‘worst creature under the sky’ adjusted Islam in a World System set by the Kuffar!
And then these ‘Saheeh Ulema’ label those Mujahideen as ‘Terrorists’, ‘Khawarij’ who give their life defying the World System set by the Kuffar!
And you think it is only those Ulema who will be responsible to Allah, The Most Just Judge, while you will be safe?
Think again.
Allah gave you a device and you still have breath!
Seek knowledge by yourself first!
Only after that check your understanding with 10s of the Ulama’s understanding keeping fear of Allah in your heart!
Build your confidence in understanding Deen.
Make Dua,
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ “I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.” (Al-Quran 2:67)
And Allah knows best.
May Allah make every Muslim a seeker of knowledge. May Allah guide Muslim. May Allah save us from Jahannam.
Inside a Muslim's Mind 