Learning Self Defense is from the Objectives of the Shariah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer and in both of them there is some good.[1] These words inform us about the status of strength in Islam and how it’s something pleasing to Allah. This includes a strong physique with solid faith. When a Muslim fixes his internal faith to match his external appearance with actions, he can then protect the objectives of the Shariah and invite others to follow suit through his accomplishments. The Shariah came to protect the religion, wealth, honor, intellect, and human life. The protection of these things make-up a perfect life in any society. They are the five necessities for safety and peace.

Today there are many people transgressing the rights of peace and safety found within the objectives of the shariah. The legislation for certain penalties when these necessities are violated help maintain order in life and safeguard human’s rights. For instance, one who is an innovator is boycotted, by doing so we protect Islam. The thief who steals has his hand cut off; and by doing so we protect the wealth of the people. In fact, the threat of it alone is enough for a smart individual to not steal. What’s more, is the one who slanders a person is whipped publicly and this protects people’s honor. Moreover, the one drinks intoxicants is flogged, and this protects his intellect and the safety of others. Furthermore, the one who kills another unjustly is executed and this protects mankind from murder after murder from the killer; and the who commits adultery is stoned to death.

The laws for these penalties can only be enforced in a Muslim country by the government there following the Sharia; as its regulation in their judicial system. Protecting the religion is the primary aim of the Shari’ah followed by the human-life. When it comes to a person’s life then there are times when he must defend and protect himself and if he is harmed in the way of doing so, then he will be rewarded. Above all he has the right to defend his faith, life and his wealth. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “He who dies while defending his property is a martyr; he who dies in defense of his own life is a martyr; and he who dies on defense of his faith is a martyr, he who dies in defense of his family is a martyr.” [2]

This hadith establishes the proof that learning self-defense plays a role in protecting the 5 necessities of life from the objectives of the Shariah. Imam Al-Khattabi said: “The person fighting to protect his wealth, defend his family, and religion desiring Allah’s reward, and thus is killed in the process earns the status of being a martyr. Included in this hadith is fighting a thief, a renegade, those who spread corruption on the earth, and a highway robber. i.e car jacker and purse snatcher.[3]

Ibn Battal said that the above hadith is evidence for self-defense and if the attacker is the one killed in the incident, then there is no penalty for person defending himself, nor has committed a crime.[4] Imam Ash-Shafa’I and Imam Ahmed both held the view that when a person is attacked by someone trying to rob him, or kill him then he must defend himself in the best way possible. Other scholars were on the opinion that if a person felt the danger of being assaulted then he is within his right to attack first. Once a burglar entered Umar’s home and he stood with sword ready to strike a blow; however, there was something between him and the thief that blocked him. Hasan Al-Basri was asked about an intruder entering one’s house carrying a weapon. Hasan replied, “Kill him with anything you can get your hands on.”[5]

The era we live in today plagued with violence and chaos makes it essential for the person to be prepared for any unexpected encounter regardless of where they are. Allah said: and do not throw yourselves into destruction and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).[6] Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik held that this verse is proof of self -defense in general according to Islamic law. This includes an attacker, or an intruder regardless of; age, religion, sanity, human or animal. A person must protect himself. A person surrendering helplessly to his attacker falls under them meaning of the verse, “Throw yourselves into destruction…”

Imam Ash-Shafa’I held the opinion that self-defense against the non-Muslim attacker was a must; since giving in to him is dishonoring the religion. Conversely, if the one transgressing against you was a Muslim, then it’s permissible for you to surrender to him. This makes no difference of his age or sanity. It’s said that it is sunnah to surrender to someone in this situation. Similarly, it is obligatory to defend yourself against an attacker.[7]

These three Imams agree that self defense has a place in Islam. Imam Ibn Quddamah from Hanabala Jurists said in Al-Mugna’, that a person must defend himself in the best way possible that he knows against any attacker trying to kill him, or a burglar attempting to rob him. If he kills the attacker then be it, and if he is killed, thus he is a martyr.[8]

Islam allows the right to self-defense depending on the threat. This includes verbal threats when you feel an imminent danger to harm. At the same time a Muslim isn’t allowed to provoke a person to attack him. Rather, the approach to avoiding all types of conflict is better if possible; however, in the event this is not possible and your life, your family’s life, your property and your wealth are the target then you have to survive. Surviving a street confrontation, a home invasion, or any other attack might not require deadly force all the time. Islam’s allowance of self-defense does not mean deadly force in all instances as mentioned by the hadith, the four Imams and the Salaf. Plainly put when you are in a confrontation does your self-defense match the threat, so the aggressor(s) ends up dead when you didn’t have to kill him!

There are many arts to study, Kali and Silat are effective for street fighting and weapons defense. When mentioning street fighting it is important to understand that 3 things must be calculated before the fight begins; its going to quick and severe, assume he has weapons and multiple attackers will be involved. Hence, I mentioned Kali and Silat first. Second, Brazilian Ju Jit Su, Aki Ju jitsu, JuJutsu and from these arts you have many descendant arts such as; Krav Maga, and Sambo, both great arts as well. Lastly, there is Boxing and MMA. Be sure when you are searching for a school that the teacher is properly qualified, and has truly earned the rank, he wears around his waist. There are a lot of scams out there so be smart, careful and stay safe.

Prepared by;

Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Doha, Qatar 1443©

The Importance of learning Grappling and Self-Defense according to the Sunnah

[1] Sahih Muslim 2664

[2] Abu Dawud (4772) graded as being Sahih by Imam Al-Albani

[3] معالم السنن by Imam Al-Khattabi , vol 4pg 336

[4] Explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari by Ibn Battal, vol 6,pg 607

[5] Jami’ Uloom Wa Hikam, vol 1, pg 124, by Ibn Rajab.

[6] 2:195

[7] دفع الصائل وأحكامه في الشريعة اإلسالمية by Dr.Hatem Ismail Musa pg 4-5

[8] المقتع vol 3/ pg 505-507, by Ibn Quddamah

The Man who Ordered His Children to Cremate His Corpse

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ حَسَنَةً قَطُّ لأَهْلِهِ إِذَا مَاتَ فَحَرِّقُوهُ ثُمَّ اذْرُوا نِصْفَهُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَنِصْفَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قَدَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ لَيُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا لاَ يُعَذِّبُهُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ فَعَلُوا مَا أَمَرَهُمْ فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ الْبَرَّ فَجَمَعَ مَا فِيهِ وَأَمَرَ الْبَحْرَ فَجَمَعَ مَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا قَالَ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ يَا رَبِّ وَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏ فَغَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: That a man who had never done any good deed asked the members of his family to burn his dead body when he died and to scatter half of its ashes over the land, and the other half in the ocean. I swear by Allah, that if Allah finds him in His grip, He would torment him with a punishment unlike He did with anyone else in the world; and so when the person died, it was done to him as he had commanded (his family). Allah commanded the land to collect (the ashes scattered on it) and He commanded the ocean and that collected (ashes) contained in it. Allah questioned him why he had done. that He said: My Lord, it is out of fear that I have done it and You are well aware of it, and then Allah forgave him.[1]

This story is about a man who Allah blessed in this world with a lot of money and a lot of children; however, he was not grateful to Allah for the blessings that He gave him. Instead, he was in engulfed in sin and in disobedience throughout his entire life, so when he got sick and the time of death approached him, he remembered his Lord and how he disobeyed Him. Thus, he was very afraid and in awe of the Highest.

This man knew that when he met his Lord that He would punish him with a severe punishment. Therefore, he prepared himself to a way to flee from the punishment of Allah; as he believed that by doing what he did he would be able to escape from that chastisement. Consequently, he told his children to come to him and he reminded them of how he was good to them and how he took good care of them. The father said to his children: “Was I a good father to you?” His children responded: “ Yes! You are the best father anyone could have.”

Hence he told them what was on his mind and stressing him out. He told his children about the life of disobedience and sins he lived. What’s more, He informed that if Allah had the ability, He would punish him with a severe punishment unlike He punished anyone ever before. For that reason, he asked them to burn his body and to scatter his ashes in the air in order to flee and escape the punishment of Allah. This man believed that if he did that that Allah would not have the ability to gather his body and bring him back to life

Following this he laid out the method how they should take care of his remains after his death. First, they should gather the firewood together and then make a big fire and leave him on top of this fire until he becomes like charcoal. Following this, they should gather all of his remains and crush them until he becomes ashes. Next, they were to wait for a hot sunny day in which there was a strong wind. Then, take half of his ashes and throw them in the sea, and the other half scatter them on land. The man believed that by doing that that Allah would not have the ability to bring him back to life

This poor soul was heedless of Allah’s the ability to do everything; and that He will resurrect His servants on the day of judgement. Some of those resurrected will be those who sharks have eaten, or those that the predatory birds have eaten, or the prairie beast have eaten. Moreover, included in those whom will be resurrected are going to be those who have turned into dirt and have become fertilizer for the trees. In the spite of that, the way those people died and were consumed, Allah has the ability to resurrect them, and give them life, put them back together from the stomachs of the fish, from the intestines of the birds, and from the stomachs of the prairie beasts.

The man requested from his children to give him an oath and vow that they would follow his orders. He threatened them that if they did not make this promise then he would not allow them to inherit his wealth, and that it would go to someone else. For that reason, they gave him their oath and they promised that they would fulfil his wishes and they swore to him to that would take care of it as he planned.

In the end, they did what he what their father requested of them to do after his death. Nonetheless, the Earth and this sea gathered his ashes and it was said be such and such; and when he was standing his Lord asked him why did you request your children to do this to you, and of course Allah knows why. The man replied out out of fear and awe of you. Consequently, he was forgiven for his sins due to the fear that he had and he was pardoned for his ignorance believing that Allah did not have the ability to bring him back together.[2]

Benefits for this Hadith:

1. Having fear of Allah is the highest status of the pious. Having fear and awe of Allah can erase a large number of sins and allow one to be forgiven. This man was forgiven for his great number of sins; as his heart he had the fear of his Lord.

2. At times Allah pardons an individual due to the things he does while he is ignorant. This man believed that Allah did not have the ability to bring him back together after his ashes were scattered.

3. Allah has the ability to resurrect people and give them life; as he ordered the sea and earth to collect this man’s body then he ordered his ashes to return to that man to reshape him. This is similar to how life will be given to those creations on the day of resurrection after they have existed for long periods of times with their bones broken and scattered into the dirt.

4. It is not permissible to declare a servant a non-Muslim due to his sins. A believer with sins that does not repent then his affair is with his Lord; if He wills He can punish him, and if He wills He can forgive him. This belief of |Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jama. Unlike the belief of the Khawarij and Murjia’. This doctrine is established in our sharia as it was established with the people of the book before us . The proof is Allah forgave this man who in lived a life of sin

5. A man in immersed in his sin can still be good to his children and have a great diligence for their upbringing, by placing their well-being first and foremost. The children acknowledged, that their father was like that with them , since they claimed he was the best father anyone could.

6. It was obligatory for his children do not obey their father there is no obedience to creation in this obedience to the creator their fathers command was a sin.[3]

Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Battle

Doha, Qatar ©

[1] Al-Bukhari (3452), Muslim( 2111)

[2] Al-Bukhari : 514,466,312,2110,467,515, Muslim: 2112,2111,110, 514,2109

[3] Taken from Sahih Qisas of the Prophet, By Dr. Umar Sulayman Al-Ashqar (رحمه الله) pg 229-235

Seeking Refuge in Allah from High-Stress Situations

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «تَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ وَسُوءِ القضاءِ وشَماتة الْأَعْدَاء

Abu Huraira( رضي الله عنه) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in Allah from a severe calamity, being overtaken by misery, an evil destiny, and the triumphant mockery of enemies.”[1]

Benefits for this subject;

Imam At-Tibee said: These words repel the calamities in the general sense and in specific sense.[2]

Imam Al-Bukhari mentioned this Dua in collection twice. Once in the book of Qadr and the other in the book of supplications.

A severe calamity is of two types. One is when is person is ill in his body and the other is when a person tried by those who spread his wrongdoing and conceal his good. The severe calamity on the body can be described as person having a severe pain from illness that affects his head stomach, and chest.[3]i.e Cancer and Diabetes

“from a severe calamity…” Every difficulty and hardship that befalls a person and he doesn’t have the ability to bear it or deal with it, is considered a severe calamity. Ibn Umar( Radi Allahu anhu) said : “A severe calamity is when one has a lot of dependents and not enough money to take care of them.[4]

“from a severe calamity…” Imam At-Tibee said: “It is test that hits a person to the point he kills himself or at least thinks about.[5]

“ being overtaken by misery…” is divided into two categories; the first relates to the affairs of this life and the other refers to the affairs of the next life.

“ being overtaken by misery…” Misery is the opposite of happiness. Happiness is obtained by doing righteous deeds while misery is attained by committing sins. In this part of the supplication, you are asking Allah to aide you in avoiding bad deeds which result in your misery. The misery you can possibility encounter is you are overtaken by your bad deeds, thus Allah punishes you for them.[6]

“ being overtaken by misery…” This can also mean a person lives in misery and is destined to be among the people of Hell.

“an evil destiny…” An evil destiny is something that befalls a person as trial in regards to his body, health, wealth, and family.

an evil destiny…” is everything causes bad things to arise in a person’s worldly and religious life, as well in his health and his wealth; and thus he dies in that state.

“the triumphant mockery of enemies” are words that break the heart and reach the soul.

the triumphant mockery of enemies” One’s enemies rejoice at the calamities that befall a person. They are delighted to see him being tested in such a way. This characteristic of the supplication is included on all of the other three, although it is separately mentioned. [7]

These words are concise. The believers should seek refuge in Allah from these four things and taught by the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) supplicated with these words to teach his ummah how to do so; as Allah protected him from all kinds of evil. It’s been reported that Ayyub (ﷺ) was asked about the most difficult trial he faced and his reply was the triumphant mockery of enemies.

This hadith proves that it is legislated to seek refuge in Allah and this doesn’t contradict what has already been decreed for a person can. Consequently, it can be inferred from this that seeking refuge in Allah and supplicating to Him can prevent or repel the things He has decreed for a person. Therefore, this supplication removes that calamity from the individual.[8]

Supplicating and seeking refuge in Allah shows that a person is in dire need of Him, thus he supplicates to the Most High.

There is a consensus among the scholars that it is allowed for a person to complain to Allah. [9] This is better than complaining to people who can careless about what you are going through.

Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Sr.

[1] Al-Bukhari 6616 and Muslim 2707

[2] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703

[3] Explanation of Riyadus Salaheen, by Al-Uthaymeen, vol 6,pg 23

[4] Sharh Sahih AL-Bukhari, ibn Battal vol 10,pg 110

[5] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703

[6] Explanation of Riyadus Salaheen , Al-Uthaymeen, vol 6, pg 23

[7] Faydul Qadir, vol 3,pg 256, by Imam Al-Munawi

[8] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703

[9] Jami’ Al-Masa’il by Ibn Taymiyyah , vol 4, pg 72