Giving Someone Credit (Tazkiyah)

A man bore witness to ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab so ‘Umar said to him: “I do not know you, but it does not matter that I do not know you. Bring me someone who does know you.”

A man among the peole said: “I know him.” ‘Umar asked: “What do you know about him?” He said: “He is of good character and is virtuous.”

‘Umar asked: “Is he your neighbour who you know by night and by day, and you know when he comes in and goes out?” The man said: “No.”

‘Umar asked: “Did h have any financial dealings with you which is the way to know whether he is God-fearing or not?” The man said: “No.”

‘Umar then asked: “Has he been your companion on a journey, which is the best way to know whether he is of noble character and attitude?” The man said: “No.”

So ‘Umar said: “Then you do not know him.”

[Sunan Al-Bayhaqi, 10/125 & Mawsoo’ah Fiqh ‘Umar, p. 731]

A Few Requirements Of Faith Which We All Should Know

Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“The declaration of faith, ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allaah’, requires you to love  only for the sake of Allaah, to hate only for the sake of Allaah, to ally yourself only for the sake of Allaah, to declare enmity only for the sake of Allaah. It requires you to love what Allaah loves and to hate what Allaah hates.

It also requires you to ally yourself to the Muslims wherever you find them and to oppose the disbelievers, even if they are your closest kin.”

[Al-Ihtijaj Bil-Qadr, p.62]