Al-Barbahaaree’s Beginning of Sharhus-Sunnah: “Praise of Allāh and His Favour”

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Sharh us-Sunnah of Imaam Al-Barbahaaree (died 329 AH, rahimahullaah)

The book “Sharh us-Sunnah” of al-Imaam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Alee bin Khalf Al-barbahaaree (d. 329H) is contained in Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilah of Abu Ya’laa (2/18), and exists in manuscript form in al-Maktabah adh-Dhaahiriyyah in Damascus in the writing of the Imaam, Abu al-Qaasim Ubayd Allaah bin Hamza (d. 550H), and it has been ascribed to Al-barbahaaree by Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in “Bughyat ul-Murtaad“, adh-Dhahabi in “al-Uluww” and “Taareekh ul-Islaam“, and “Siyar“, also by Ibn Muflih in “al-Furoo” and “al-Aadaab ash-Sharee’ah“, and also by as-Safadee in “al-Waafee bil-Wafayaat“, and by Ibn Hajar in “Fath al-Baaree“, and by Ibn al-Imaad in “Shadharaat adh-Dhahab

Introduction: “Praise of Allāh and His Favour” | Explanation by the Noble Shaikh, the Scholar, Sālih al-Fawzān

Imām al-Barbahāree, may Allāh’s Mercy be upon him, said:

 

قال البربهاري الحمد لله الذي هدانا للإسلام ومن علينا به وأخرجنا في خير أمة فنسأله التوفيق لما يحب ويرضى والحفظ مما يكره ويسخط

 

All praise is due to Allāh who guided us to Islām, and He favoured us with it, and He placed us in the best nation – so we ask Him to grant us success to adhere to that which He loves and is pleased with, and to protect us from that which He hates and that which angers Him.

EXPLANATION

This is the opening address of the book, so he began with “All praise is due to Allaah (al-hamdulillaah)” thereby acting upon the Sunnah. The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) himself used to praise and extol Allāh in his writings and sermons – and this was the way of the Pious Salaf and the people of knowledge. They would begin their books with the words “In the name of Allāh, the Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy” following in that the Book of the Almighty; and they would begin also with “All praise is due to Allāh, the Lord of the worlds” following the example of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam). So when he (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) would wished to deliver a sermon or to speak to clarify a matter, he would praise Allāh and extol Him[1], he would then explain and clarify whatever he wished (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam). So the author, al-Barbahāree, has taken this same methodology following the Salaf and beginning with “al-hamdulillāhi” i.e. all praise is due to Allāh.

The meaning of “al-hamdulillāhi” is that all praises are due to Allāh (the Most High), and “al-hamd” is praise and extolling of the praiseworthy. So Allāh (the Most High) is praised Himself, and that praise is due to His Attributes, His Names, and He (the Most High) is praise upon His Actions. So He is deserving of all of the types of praise because all the bounties come from Him (the Most High). As for other than Him, then that person is praised in accordance to what is conferred upon him of bounties, however the absolute, complete and all-encompassing praise is for Allāh (the Most High) only – so it would not be permissible for you to say: “Al-hamd (i.e. all praise) is due to so-and-so” with the meaning of complete and overwhelming praise. This is not permitted for anyone except Allāh, just as it occurs in the Qur’ān:

 

 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

 

 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Al-Fātihah, 2-3 

 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ 

 

 All praise is due to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light. Al-An‛ām, 1 

 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ 

 

 All praise is due to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth. Fātir, 1 

If you were say, “I am grateful to so-and-so” or, “I praise so-and-so due to what he has done” with the meaning of specifying something for which you have praised him or thanked him, then in that there is no harm. As for you saying, “Al-hamd (i.e. all praise) is due to so-and-so” then this is not permitted except for Allāh (the Most High).

As for “Allāh“, then it is a name from His names, the Most High. It’s meaning is “The One Diety (al-Ma’looh), The One Worshipped (al-Ma‛bood)”. This is because the meaning of al-Uloohiyyah (i.e. to single out Allāh as the Diety) is al-‛Uboodiyyah (i.e. to single Allāh alone with all worship).

This is name that is not used except for Allāh – no one is to be ever named with this name other than Allāh Himself. Even the tyrants, the obstinate disbelievers and the godless athiests never named themselves “Allāh”. The Pharoah never said, “I am Allāh”, rather he would say, “I am your Lord the Most High.”[2] So this name is specific and only for Allāh (the Most High).

In the term “Lord of the worlds (رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ)”, the meaning of ar-Rabb (The Lord) is: al-Mālik (the Owner), al-Mutasarrif (the Governing Sovereign). The worlds (الْعَالَمِينَ) is the plural of world (عَالَم) – the worlds here refers to all of creation. Allāh is the Lord of the worlds, He created them and controls them – He is Sole One that is worthy of being worshipped by the creation and the Sole One and True Diety. The saying of the Imām al-Barbahāree (may Allāh’s Mercy be upon him): “All praise is due to Allāh who guided us to Islām” Then Islām is the greatest blessing, Allāh (the Most High) stated:

 الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا 

 

 This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. al-Mā’idah, 3 

So with Islām the favour and blessing was completed upon the Muslims – and Allāh (the Most High) states:

 قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا 

 

 Say, “In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice” Yoonus, 58 

The bounty of Allāh mentioned here is Islām, and the mercy is the Qur’ān. So let them rejoice with Islām and the Qur’ān.

In this is a recognition for you that bounty belongs to Allāh for you being guided to Islām, and being directed towards it. This is a bounty from Allāh, not due to your strength or your power – rather it is guidance and success that is granted by Allāh (the Most High). He is the One who guided you – and it is for this reason that the people of Paradise will say once they have entered into Paradise on the Day of Resurrection:

 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُýۖ 

 “Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us.” Al-A‛rāf, 43 

Al-Barbahāree stated: “..and He placed us in the best nation..” He took this from the statement of Allāh (the Most High):

 كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ 

 You are the best nation raised for mankind. Āli ‛Imrān, 110 

The saying of Allāh, “You are..” is addressed to the Muslims. His saying, “..best nation..” meaning the best of all nations. And the intent of the term, Nation (Ummah) is al-Jamā‛ah. In the statement of Allāh (the Most High), “..best nation raised for mankind”, scrutinise the words, “..for mankind.” So the goodness of this Ummah is not limited to only upon their own individual selves – it does not suffice that a person learns and acts whilst he abandons others, rather he must spread the message, and spread knowledge, and spread the goodness, and call to Allāh, enjoin what is good, forbid what is evil and he becomes an active member of the Muslim Society. So the meaning of His (the Most High) saying,“..raised for mankind” is that they were not merely raised for their own benefit, but raised for mankind in general.

The saying of the Imām al-Barbahāree (may Allāh’s Mercy be upon him): “So we ask Him to grant us success to adhere to that which He loves and is pleased with” A person asks Allāh for steadfastness, even if he knows the truth, acts upon it and believes in it. He does not feel safe from being deviated, and from trials that may come, plague him and led him astray from the Path of Allāh (the Most High). For this reason the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) would say:

 

“O Turner of the hearts! Keep my heart firm upon your Religion.”[3]

And al-Khalīl, the close friend of Allāh, Ibrāhīm (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) stated in his supplication:

 وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ ۝ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِýۖ

 And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. Ibrāhīm, 35-36 

Allāh’s Messenger Ibrāhīm (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) feared for himself – and it is true that for every strengthening of Īmān in Allāh, a person fears and does not feel secure from being put to trial, and he does not praise himself, or sanctify himself. Rather he asks Allāh for steadfastness, asks Him for a good end to his life, fears a wicked ending. He fears falling into trials and tribulations – he fears deviation, misguidance and the callers to evil.

The saying of the Imām al-Barbahāree (may Allāh’s Mercy be upon him): “And to protect us from that which He hates and that which angers Him.” So He (the Most High) may grant us success in that which He loves and is pleased with of actions, sayings and beliefs – and that He (the Most High) protects us and keeps us away from that which angers Him from sayings, actions and beliefs. So He (the Most High) is The Guide (al-Hādee), The One who grants success (al-Muwaffiq) – He is the One who shows the way and gives direction.

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FOOTNOTES

[1] As occurs in the story related to the conversion of Dimād al-Azdee (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) in which Allāh’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) opening his discussion with:

“All praise is due to Allāh, we praise Him and we seek His assistance. Whomsoever He guides, there is none to misguide, and whomseover He misguides, there is none to guide. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except for Allāh alone – He has no partners – and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, to proceed..”

Reported by Muslim in his Sahīh (2/593 no.868) from ‛Abdullāh bin ‛Abbās (radhiyallaahu ‘anhumaa).

[2] Soorah An-Nāzi‛āt: 24.

[3] Reported by: Imām Ahmad in al-Musnad (4/182), Ibn Mājah in as-Sunan (no. 199), An-Nasā’ee in as-Sunan al-Kubrā (no. 7738), Ibn Hibbān in as-Sahīh (no. 934), Al-Hākim in al-Mustadrak ‛alas-Sahīhain(1/525) – he stated its authenticity upon the conditions of Imām Muslim and adh-Dhahabee agreed. Al-Busairee stated in Misbāh az-Zujājah (1/27): “It’s chain of narration is authentic (sahīh).”

Translation Copyright Salafi Publications. All rights reserved 2012.