'Abdullaah Ibn Salaam: From Judaism to Islam

Al-Hussein Ibn Salaam was one of the scholars of the Jews who lived in
Yathrib, now known as Madeenah. All the people of the town had the
greatest respect for him. Everyone, no matter what his religion was,
treated him with reverence. He had a high reputation for piety,
righteousness, and straightforwardness.
Al-Hussein lived a tranquil and peaceful, yetserious and purposeful
life. He divided his time evenly between four separate activities:
worshiping and preaching at the synagogue, working in his palm grove,
irrigatingand cultivating his trees, and studying the Torah. Whenever
Al-Hussein read the Torah he would spend long periods of time
reflecting on the passages that prophesiedabout the appearance of the
Seal of the Prophets, a Prophet who would arise out of Makkah to
complete the message of all of the Prophets who came prior to him.
Al-Hussein would search for details concerning the awaited Prophet,
such as details about what he would look like, how he could be known,
and other many signs. He would tremble with joy when reading that the
Prophet would leave the town in which he received his call and migrate
to Yathrib wherehe would make his new home. Every time Al-Hussein read
this or thought about it, he would pray that Allaah would let him live
long enough to have the pleasure of meeting the Prophet, and be one of
the first to declare his belief in him.
It was the way of Allaah Almighty to answer the prayer of Al-Hussein
and allow him to live to a very advanced age, even beyond lifetime of
the Prophet . He had the good fortune to meet him and spend time
learning from him, and he believed in the revelation that had been
sent to the Prophet . Let us listen to A-Hussein as he tells his own
story of how he became a Muslim, for his words are the most accurate
reflection of what he wasfeeling.
He narrated from his memory as follows:"When I first heard stories of
the appearanceof a Prophet, I sought outfurther information about his
name, his genealogy, characteristics, and where and how he had started
calling others to Islam. I compared what I heard about him with what
was written in our scriptures, and came to a conclusion that he was
truly a Prophet. I kept this information to myself and did not share
it with the other rabbis or scholars.
The day came when the Prophet left Makkah and headed for Madeenah.
When he reached the town and ended his journey at Qubaa, a man came
through the town announcing his arrival. I was at the top of a palm
tree at that moment caring for it, and my auntKhaalidah Bint
Al-Haarith was seated beneath the tree. When I heard the news, I cried
out:"Allaahu Akbar! Allaahu Akbar!" When my aunt heard this, she
said,"What a disappointment you are! By Allaah if it had been the
Prophet Moses himself coming to us, you could not have been more
excited.""Listen Auntie, I swear by Allaah, he is the brother of
Moses, for he brings the same religion and teaches the same beliefs."
I answered. She fell silent for a moment,"Is he the one of whom you
used to tell us who would be sent to fulfill what was taught before
him as a completion for the messages of his Lord?" she asked. "Yes," I
said. "So be it," she agreed.
I immediately went and sought out the Messenger of Allaah and found
people crowding with each other to get to his door. I squeezed myself
between them till I came close to him. The first thing that I could
hear him saying was: "O people! Greet each other with peace and feed
the hungry, perform the Prayer at night when others are sleeping and
you will be sure to enter paradise."
I scrutinized him until I was satisfied, and knew that his was not the
face of an untruthful man. I drew closer to him and pronounced the
declaration of faith that there is no god but Allaah, and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. Muhammad then turned to me and
asked, "What isyour name?" I said quickly, "Al-Hussein ibn Salaam." He
looked at meand replied, "No, your name will be Abdullaah ibn Salaam."
"Yes, Abdullaah Ibn Salaam," I responded. "I swear by the one who sent
you with the truth, I do not wish to use any other name from this day
forward."
Then I left the Messenger of Allaah and went home.I called my wife,
children and relatives to believe in Islam, and they all became
Muslims, even myaunt, who was quite elderly, accepted Islam. Then, I
asked them to keep our conversation secret from the other Jewish
people until I told them the time was right. They consented.
Then I returned to the Prophet and said to him, "Messenger of Allaah,
many of my people prefer lies to the truth. However, I want you to
summon their leaders, and to conceal me from them in one of your
rooms. Ask their opinion about my character without informing them
that I have become Muslim. Then invite them to accept Islam. If they
wereto know that I have become a Muslim, they would criticize me,
accuse me of having every defect, and slander me."
So the Messenger of Allaah put me into oneof his rooms, summoned them
and invited them tojoin Islam. He made faith appealing to them and
reminded them that theirscriptures contained prophecies of his
coming.They began using specious arguments to make truth seem false,
and continued to do so until he despaired of their accepting the
faith. At that point he asked them, "What is your evaluation of
Al-Hussein Ibn Salaam?" They answered, "A chief of ours, and the son
of chiefof ours. He is an eminent scholar."
The Prophet questioned them further;"Do you think if he accepted Islam
that you would also accept Islam? Astound at the thought, they
replied, "Allaah forbids! He would never do that!" May Allaah protect
him from that!" So I came out and addressed them, "My people! Fear
Allaah, and accept what Muhammad has brought to you. I swear by Allaah
that you know that he is the Messenger of Allaah, and that you can
find his name and description in the copies of the Torah inyour
possession. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allaah. I
believe in him and in what he says and I recognize him for what he
is." They responded byaddressing the Prophet harshly, "You liar! He
(Al-Hussein) is a low person, born to a low family. He is one of our
ignorant people, and born of an ignorant family!!" and they went on
defaming me until I said to the Messenger of Allaah, "I told you so;
most of them are unfaithful. They are treacherous and shameful, do you
not see?"
Abdullaah Ibn Salaam turned to his new faith with the eagerness of a
thirsty man going to a cool spring of water. He loved the Quran so
deeply that he was constantly reciting versesfrom it. He became so
fond of the Prophet that became closer to him than his shadow. He
devoted himself to working to attain Paradise, until the Prophet
himself gave him the good tidings thathe would achieve it. The news
spread among the Companions until it was known amongst all of them.
The story of howthe Prophet gave Abdullaah this piece of news is a
story recorded by Qays ibn Ubaadah:
One day Qays was sitting in a study group in the Mosque of the Prophet
in Madeenah. In the group was an old man to whom everyone felt
closeand comfortable. He gavea beautiful talk to the group. When he
had finished and left everyone said, "if anyonewishes to look at one
of the inhabitants of Paradise, let him look at that man." Qays
asked,"Who is he?" They told him, "Abdullaah ibn Salaam." So Qays
swore to himself that he would follow him, and he did. He followed him
all the way on the outskirts of Madeenah. Then Qays went up to
Abdullaah IbnSalaam's house and requested permission to enter. He was
invited inside and Abdullaah Ibn Salaam asked him, "Whatdo you want,
son?""When you left the Mosque I heard people saying about you, 'If
anyone wishes to look at one of the inhabitants of Paradise let him
look at that man.' So I followed you so that I would find out how the
people knew that you are going to Paradise." said Qays.
"Only Allaah knows who is going to Paradise, my son," said Abdullaah
Ibn Salaam. "I know," said Qays, "but there must be a reason for them
to say that." Abdullaah Ibn Salaam turned to him and said, "I will
tell you the story." "Please do," said Qays, 'and may Allaah Almighty
grant yougreat reward."
Abdullaah Ibn Salaam began narrating his story: One night I had a
dream about a man who came to me and told me to get up. When I got up
he led me by the hand. There was a path on the left and I wanted to
take it, but the man said to me, "Take this path." So I followed that
path, which took me to a grassy, spacious garden. It was cool,
refreshing and full of vegetation. In the middle was an iron pole
reaching up to the sky and at the top of it was a loop of gold. The
man told me, "Climb on it." But I protested, 'I cannot!' Then out of
nowhere, a slave appeared! He lifted me up and I began climbing until
I reached the top of the pole. I grabbed the hoop with both hands and
remained hanging on it until I awakened from the dream. As soon as it
was morning, I wentto the Messenger of Allaah and told him about my
dream. He said, "The path which yousaw on your left side wasthat of
the companions of the left, and they will be the inhabitants of the
Fire. The path that you saw on your right side was the path of the
companions of the right and they will be the inhabitants of Paradise.
The garden that captivated you with its freshness and greenness was
the religion of Islam. The pole that you saw in the middle of the
garden was the Prayer, and the ring at the top of it was steadfast
faith. You will be one of the people who will hold fast to it the rest
of their lives."
And so Abdullaah Ibn Salaam did just that; he found what he had been
eagerly searching for andheld on to it unwaveringly for the remainder
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A Muslim must accept andfollow the Sunnah

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- Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a
revelation revealed. } [Quran 53:3-4]
Muslim scholars are in total agreement that if a person refuses to
accept the Sunnah of the Prophet and obey it asan integral part of the
religion (Islam), a revelation from Allaah Almighty that is a Divine
source of Islam and an explanation of the Quran,and a perfect example
for all mankind to follow,then he is an apostate or a disbeliever.
Imaam Ibn Hazm said: "If a person says, 'I only accept what I find in
the Quran', he becomes a disbeliever according to the consensus of
Muslims."
In the past as well as in our times, Muslims have seen amongst their
ranksa few who now and thenclaim that they do not need the Sunnah or
they do not believe in it or reject it altogether. Someof those who
may say that claim to be Muslims but they only follow and obey the
Quran and nothing else. However, Allaah Almighty, whom they claim to
obey has clearly stated in many places of the Noble Quranthat
everyone, regardlessof any situation or status,should obey the Prophet
in all times and conditions, and when they do so, then they have
achieved obedienceto Allaah. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): } He
who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allaah...} [Quran 4:80] Moreover,
Allaah Says (what means): {But no, byyour Lord, they will not [truly]
believe until they make you [O Muhammad]judge concerning that over
which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no
discomfortfrom what you have judged and submit in [full, willing]
submission..} [Quran 4:65]Here Allaah makes it clearthat one who does
not accept the verdicts of the Prophet is not a believer.
Others disregard the Sunnah because they say that the Prophet's
authority was only valid while he was alive. This istotally baseless,
and they have to reject the Quran with it, if this were to be true.
Allaah Says what means: {Say [O Muhammad] 'O mankind, indeed I am the
Messenger of Allaah to you all...} [Quran 7:158] This makes it clear
that Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, was sent to all people and
for all times.
Finally, some reject the Sunnah because they say that there are flaws
in its recording. They claim that too many Hadeeths were fabricated
or"projected back," or were not recorded until later generations.
Hadeeth and Sunnah scholars have responded to all such claims
throughout history. They showed definite evidence that the Hadeeth
recording was established at the time when the Prophet, sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam, was alive. As for fabricated Hadeeths, the
methodology followed by these scholars insured that none of them was
toremain uncovered. Muslims do not accept but the Hadeeths that were
proven acceptable under that methodology. Actually, this fact makes
Islam unique among all religions. It rendered it immune to corruption
and change.
Allaah Almighty Says what means: {Say, 'Obey Allaah and the
Messenger.' But if they turn away – then indeed, Allaah does not like
the disbelievers.} [Quran 3:32] and {O you who have believed, obey
Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if
you disagree over anything, refer it to Allaah and the Messenger, if
you should believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is the best [way]
and best in result.} [Quran 4:59]
Thus, to deny any part of the Sunnah is disbelief. However, this does
not mean that one who doubts the authenticity of a particular Hadeeth
is a disbeliever.

The Sunnah of the Prophet: Definitions

"Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It isnot but a
revelation revealed." [Quran 53:3-4]
Lexically, the word Sunnah has several, different yet close meanings.
Sunnah may mean a way of life, or a path or behavior that is followed
whether praiseworthy, or otherwise. Mostly, however, it refers to
something good. The Prophet said, "Whoever starts a good Sunnah he
will get the reward for it and the reward of others who would do the
same thing until the Day of Judgment. And whoever does a bad Sunnah he
will have the punishmentfor doing it and the punishment of others who
practice it." [Muslim]
Another Arabic root of the word Sunnah is bayaan , or making something
clear through talking or acting. The most common meaning indicates
that Sunnah is to initiate something or set an example to be followed.
Hence, if a person started somethingthat people then followed, he is
considered to have established a Sunnah. The Prophet said, "For any
soul, unjustly killed, the first son of Aadam, Abel, will carry a
burden of its shedding, for he was the first to begin the Sunnah (or
crime) of murder." [At-Tirmithi]
As an Islamic term, scholars of the different disciplines of Sharee'ah
(Islamic Law) have defined Sunnah in slightly different ways to suit
their fields' perspectives. According to Legal theorists who typically
regard the Sunnah as a source for the principles used in thederivation
of rulings of various Islamic Jurisprudence matters, define it as "The
statements, actions and approvals (or disapprovals) of Prophet
Muhammad ."
The jurists use the word Sunnah in two different ways. On one hand,
like the Legal theorists, they define Sunnah as the statements,
actions, and approvals of' the Prophet, . On the otherhand, and since
the role of the jurists is to judge actions and indicate theirrulings
as obligatory, recommended, etc., they use the term Sunnah to indicate
actions as being recommended or praise-worthy.
However, the definition of Sunnah, according to the scholars of
Hadeeth, is more comprehensive for it is inclusive of everything
related to the person and life of the Prophet . They definedthe Sunnah
as "Anything narrated from or about the Prophet either before or after
he became a prophet, of his statements, actions, confirmations,
biography, and his physical character and attributes." This is the
definition, which we will be using throughout this series InshaAllaah.

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Dought & Clear, - If he does ghusl following a wet dream, maniy continues to comeout of him during the prayer.

May Allah reward you with good for answering my question, but I think
that it needs further explanation of the issue of sprinkling hot water
on the privatepart, because the wet dream occurred at the time of 'Asr
prayer, and I have a problem, which isthat maniy and even madhiy
continue to come out for a considerable period after they are first
emitted. It often happens with me that one of them is emitted at the
time of prayer, whether that is because of thinking or because of a
wet dream, but in order not to miss the prayer, I sprinkle hot water
(on my private part) so that whatever is left will come out.
Pleasenote that I do not feel any desire when I use this method. Now I
am going to make up the fast of that day that I told you about, in sha
Allah, but what should I do if maniy continues to come out whilst I am
praying? Should I pray inthat case?
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
We appreciate this further explanation and we ask Allah, may He be
exalted, to help us and you avoid reprehensible words and actions.
Secondly:
If it does not come out continually all the time, then it does not
come under the ruling on incontinence; rather it invalidates wudoo' as
soon as it comes out, even if that happens during the prayer. The one
who is faced with that should stop praying,do wudoo' and then repeat
the prayer. He also has to do wash off whatever has gotten onto him if
what came out was urine or madhiy, because they are both najis
(impure), unlike maniy which is taahir (pure).
But the one who is praying should not interrupt his prayer unless he
is certain that something has come out of him, because the basic
principle is that he remains in a state of purity, and that which is
certain cannot be changed by mere doubt or uncertainty.
If maniy came out of a person and he did ghusl for that, then more
cameout but without desire, then he does not have todo ghusl again,
but it does invalidate his wudoo'.
See: ash-Sharh al-Mumti',1/337
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked:
If I do wudoo' for every prayer and then go out to the mosque, I
always emit madhiy; can I pray, knowing that if I take a bath and go
out, madhiy will come out without desire. So do I have to take a bath
every time?
They replied:
If that comes out of you continually, then it comes under the same
ruling as incontinence, and you have to do wudoo' for every prayer
when the time for it begins, then your prayerwill be valid even if it
comes out whilst you arepraying. If it does not happen frequently with
you, then you have to dowudoo' as prescribed forprayer, after washing
the penis and testicles. But you do not have to do ghusl (take a bath)
for that. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah, 5/413
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: When I
finish wudoo' and go to pray, I feel that a drop of urine comes out of
the penis; what should I do?
He replied: What you should do is pay no attention to that and ignore
it, as the Muslim scholars have enjoined. Do not pay any attentionto
it and do not go and look at your penis to see if anything came out or
not. If you seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytaan and
ignore it, it will go away,by Allah's leave. But if you are absolutely
certain about it, then it is essential to wash whatever the urine has
gotten onto and repeat your wudoo'. Some people, if they feel any
coolness on the head of the penis, think that something has come
out.So if you are certain, then do what I have toldyou. What you have
mentioned is not incontinence, because it stops and starts, whereas
incontinence is ongoing and continual. But this happens after movement
and one or two drops come out; thisis not incontinence, because once a
couple of drops have come out, it stops. In this case, he should wash
it off and do wudoo' again. He should always do this, and he should be
patientand seek reward with Allah.
End quote from Liqa' al-Baab al-Maftooh, 15/184
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