Translated by Abu Talhah Dawud ibn Ronald Burbank

All lectures have been uploaded with the permission of the translator.

Some recordings begin with a summary of the points covered in the previous lesson.


(Please note that point numbers refer to the points in Sh Fawzaan's Arabic Sharh, as against in the English translation)

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan in this excerpt include:

·         a mention of the author, Imaam al-Barbahaaree rahimahullaah
·         about the book and the meaning of its title Sharhus-Sunnah
·         different names that have been give to books of `aqeedah
·         those who (falsely) claim to unite the Muslims
·         what will actually unite the Muslims
·         differing in matters of fiqh will not bring about division amongst Muslims
·         even in matters of fiqh it is obligatory to return to the evidences
·         the People of the Sunnah contain within them those from all four Math.habs

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         praising Allaah
·         Allaah’s favour in guiding us to Islaam 
·         the meaning of  ‘the best nation’
·         we should not feel secure that we will not deviate
·         two du`aas (supplications) made by two Messengers `alayhimas-salaatu wassalaam

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         the usage of the word ‘i`lam’
·         the general meanings of the terms ‘Islaam’ and ‘the Sunnah’
·         the meaning of the Jamaa`ah, its conditions and adhering to it

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·        who are the Jam`aah whom it is obligatory for the Muslims to follow?
·        the intent of those who speak against the Companions
·        the meaning of the term Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah
·        the definition of bid`ah, innovation in the Religion
·        every (religious) innovation is misguidance
·        the people of misguidance will be in the Fire
·        denying Allaah’s Names and Attributes is kufr, disbelief
·        a refutation of the Jahmiyyah who deny Allaah’s Speech 

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         there is no excuse for being misguided for the one who did not seek after the Truth
·         the excuse can only be in matters of ijtihaad, after striving to reach the Truth
·         there is no scope of ijtihaad in matters of creed and belief
·         the Truth is clear in the Book and the Sunnah and the way of the Salafus-Saalih
·         Book and the Sunnah are both preserved from distortion and change
·         a person must learn from the People of Knowledge, the scholars

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         the meanings of ‘Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah’, the Sunnah and the ‘Saved Sect’
·         all of the Religion is contained within the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah
·         the Religion is that which Allaah has legislated, and which His Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam conveyed; whoever deviates from it is destroyed
·         what the Religion is built upon
·         the Religion is not what men deem to be good or what they hold as their opinion
·         there must be proofs from Allaah and His Messenger with regard to the affairs of the Religion
·         a person who wishes his action to be righteous should make his religion pure for Allaah and follow the Sunnah

A side point from Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee rahimahullaah mentions the books of the Sunnah and of `aqeedah.

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         a person who follows his desires may:
   -        depart from the religion
   -        become a slave of his desires and commit shirk
   -        have knowledge of the Book, the Sunnah and the sayings of the scholars, but abandons them, so then he has no excuse
·         Allaah's Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam clearly conveyed the Message
·         the meanings of the Jamaa`ah and as-Sawaadul-A`zam
·         those who belittle the Salaf
·         the Religion is to follow; it is not to innovate
·         laying down Legislation ended with the death of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam
·         “Nothing will rectify the latter part of this nation, except that which rectified its first part.”
·         the majority of people is not to be followed unless it is upon the Truth
·         conflicting with the Salaf is kufr whichmay be major disbelief or lesser disbelief
·         opposing the Salaf can gradually lead to major disbelief

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaanhafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         introducing  innovation into the Religion leads to abandoning  its like from the Sunnah
·         the people of innovation have hatred for the authentic ahaadeeth (narrations) and matters of the Sunnah
·         the People of the Sunnah are happy with  the narrations and increase in knowledge
·         Allaah forbids only that which is purely evil, or its evil outweighs its good or an evil that is equal
·        slight evil found in something along with the greater good is excused
·        every innovation is misguidance, and the proof for this
·        what is meant by the word ‘bid`ah’ or ‘innovation’ in the Legislation
·        what is not included in the legislative meaning of ‘bid`ah’
·        some of the people of innovation will be in the Fire forever and some will not remain there forever
·        some of the people of innovation will be in the Fire for their disbelief and some of them will enter it due to their sin

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         small innovations grow large until they become difficult to stop
·         the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam warned against religious innovations unrestrictedly
·         trials and tribulations first occurred due to being lax with the people of corruption
·         adhering to the Sunnah is what will safeguard from innovations
·         adhering to the Sunnah requires learning and acquiring knowledge and understanding
·         the Salaf had the most knowledge yet took the greatest precautions against innovations
·         Allaah has guaranteed that Islaam will be preserved
·         people of Islaam may become destroyed
·         bloodshed may result from aiding the people of innovation
·         a narration mentions a time when sunnahs will be taken to be innovations and innovations taken to be sunnahs
·         a person’s whole religion may become innovations

Side points from Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah mention that:

·        in the time of the Companions radiyAllaahu `anhum a group who performed thikr in an innovated way later fell into the major innovation of the Khawaarij and fought against `Alee radiyAllaahu `anhu
·         some innovations cause the person who performs them to exit Islaam

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah in this excerpt include:

·         concerning matters of the Religion, Muslims should verify:
          o        who has said this thing?
          o        where did it come from?
          o        what is its basis in the Qur·aan and the Sunnah?
          o        did any of the Salaf say it?
·         if it is just from a person’s own head and own thinking then leave it
·         concerning the person who spoke about this matter, Muslims should verify:
          o        where did he study?
          o        whom did he take knowledge from?
          o        the extent of his knowledge and understanding
·         it may be that a person speaks little, yet he is a person of understanding of the Religion
·         it may be that a person speaks plentifully yet he has no knowledge and understanding of the Religion
·         in our time: 
          o        speech is abundant and knowledge is scarce;
          o        the recitors are many and the people of knowledge and understanding are few
·         the eloquent one can make the Truth look like falsehood and make falsehood like look the Truth
·         Allaah hates those men who are eloquent, the one who moves his tongue around, just as the cow moves its tongue around. (hadeeth)
·         he (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) warned against this one saying, “Some speech is like magic.”
·         it is upon us to:
          o        check affairs carefully,
          o        withhold from many affairs
          o        turn to seeking to understand the Qur·aan and the speech of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam
          o        acquire knowledge and understanding of the Religion of Allaah
·         knowledge and understanding of the Religion contains a protection from trials and tribulations
·         a common person may be better than one who has memorized a lot because he recognizes his own ignorance
·         “There may be a person who conveys knowledge of the Religion but he is not one who comprehends it.” (hadeeth)
·         fiqh, knowledge and understanding of the Religion, is a gift from Allaah
          o        if a person utilizes this gift properly and advances it he will benefit from it
          o        if he neglects it, it will be lost 
·         do not introduce personal deductions, opinions, sayings and wording which have not been preceded upon
·         the danger of bringing something which has not been preceded upon is more than its benefit.  
·         take as your example the Salaf and the speech of the Salaf
·         the Companions took knowledge directly from the Messenger  sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, so they will be the people who are closest to the Truth
·         the Straight Path is one and you will never become lost if you follow it