This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abdullah Nasir Rahmani's Explanation of Kitab al-Tawheed from Sahih Bukhari.
باب ما جاء في دعاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أمته إلى توحيد الله تبارك وتعالى:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ calling his Ummah towards the Oneness of Allah, the Lord of Glory.
The requirement of this chapter is that Tawheed should be taken in the light of the rules and principles explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
- Never take the knowledge of Tawheed from any Jahmi, Mu'tazili, Mutakallim, Mushabbih, Maturidi, Ash'ari, or any of these.
- That is, Tawheed should be taken only from one who has the true and correct understanding of Tawheed, in the light of the same rules and regulations explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
- The mention of prayer along with Tawheed establishes the importance of prayer.
There are two types of Ummah:
[1] The Ummah of Invitation
[2] The Ummah of Acceptance
Both are meant here.
[1] The Ummah of Invitation:
The entire Ummah including disbelievers and polytheists, to whom the Prophet ﷺ extended the invitation.
[2] The Ummah of Acceptance:
The Ummah that accepted the invitation of the Prophet ﷺ.
Note: The rules and regulations made for atheists are unnecessary and, in fact, those rules and regulations are destructive.
Reference: 7371: حدثنا أبو عاصم، حدثنا زكرياء بن إسحاق، عن يحيى بن عبد الله بن صيفي، عن أبي معبد، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما: أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بعث معاذا إلى اليمن۔
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated that: The Prophet ﷺ sent Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه to Yemen.
Reference: 7372:
وحدثني عبد الله بن أبي الأسود، حدثنا الفضل بن العلاء، حدثنا إسماعيل بن أمية، عن يحيى بن عبد الله بن محمد بن صيفي: أنه سمع أبا معبد، مولى ابن عباس، يقول: سمعت ابن عباس يقول: «لما بعث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم معاذا نحو اليمن، قال له: إنك تقدم على قوم من أهل الكتاب، فليكن أول ما تدعوهم إلى أن يوحدوا الله تعالى، فإذا عرفوا ذلك، فأخبرهم أن الله فرض عليهم خمس صلوات في يومهم وليلتهم، فإذا صلوا، فأخبرهم أن الله افترض عليهم زكاة في أموالهم، تؤخذ من غنيهم فترد على فقيرهم، فإذا أقروا بذلك فخذ منهم، وتوق كرائم أموال الناس۔I heard from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما, he said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه to Yemen, he said to him: You are going to a people from the People of the Book. Therefore, first invite them to believe in Allah alone (and to accept my prophethood). When they understand this, then inform them that Allah has prescribed five prayers upon them in one day and night. When they begin to pray, then tell them that Allah has made zakat obligatory on their wealth, which will be taken from their rich and returned to their poor. When they accept this as well, then take zakat from them and avoid taking the best of their wealth.
Benefits and Deductions: Fadilah Sheikh Abdullah Nasir Rahmani Hafizahullah
Brief Introduction of the Narrators:
◈ Abu Asim: Teacher of Imam Bukhari.
Name: Al-Dhahak ibn Makhlad
Title: Al-Nabil
◈ Abi Mu'bad: He was the servant of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.
Name: Nafidh
Death: 104 AH
Imam Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned two chains of narration for this hadith.
[1] The chain of the first hadith (7371) is excellent. (Meaning) fewer intermediaries.
[2] The chain of the second hadith (7372) is weak. (Meaning) more intermediaries.
Question: Why was Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه specifically chosen for Yemen?
Answer: Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه was a great scholar of halal and haram.
Evidence: [وأعلمهم بالحلال والحرام معاذ بن جبل]
And the greatest scholar of halal and haram is Mu'adh ibn Jabal.
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi:3791)
[قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:، معاذ بين يدي العلماء يوم القيامة برتوة]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Mu'adh رضي الله عنه will be raised on the Day of Judgment one rank above the scholars.
Reference: (Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra - Scientific Edition: 264/2)
بالفاظ مختلفة: إنه يحشر يوم القيامة بين يدي العلماء نبذة.
He will be raised on the Day of Judgment among the scholars as a group.
Reference: (Musnad Ahmad - Al-Risalah Edition: Hadith 108)
- Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه was sent towards Yemen in 10 AH.
- Yemen is called Yemen because it is to the right of Mecca. And Sham (Syria) is to the north-left side.
- فلیکن: This is an imperative form.
And from this word, it is understood that the knowledge of Allah, the Lord of Glory, is the first obligation.
- According to the theologians and the Mu'tazila, the first obligation is to contemplate the proofs, which is absolutely incorrect.
- According to some theologians, the first obligation is doubt.
So all these views of the theologians are false and rejected.
- And in one hadith, these words are mentioned: [فإذا عرفوا الله] Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:1458)
The subject of this hadith is the Oneness of Divinity and Lordship.
After the knowledge of Oneness, the subject of prayer begins.
