Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Dude! It was a video i could see him clearly saying those words. Its been a year, iv stopped listening to his lectures, dont really remember which lecture was it, i’ll see if i can find it.
We all know Allah doesn’t want us to fight unnecassarily, thats pretty much obvious to everyone.
I still remember those words he said, and i quoted him word by word. Its pretty clear what he meant.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Islam does not promote fighting. YES!
Where does it say in Quran to ‘attack’? Quran allows you to ‘defend’..fight for you religion, land and protection of Islam.
If someone brought you closer to Islam then you owe him more than public bashing. Shame on you.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
I’ve read up on Hamza Yusuf’s beliefs in the past. From what I have read and understood, he is definitely not in accord with the aqeedah or ahl ul sunnah wal jamaah.
Following is what I have referred to in the past: http://www.alarqam.com/docs/articles/sufism_in_the_west.pdf - There’s material on his through out the article as well as on page 21.
Here’s what I came across today. I quickly skimmed through it, while my brother read it in detail (I think). He said this isn’t the best argument against him, but still worth a read. In addition, I don’t use this website (don’t adhere to their beliefs) or refer to it, other than for a few refutations.
http://www.allaahuakbar.net/individual_callers/hamza_yusuf/hamza_yusuf_where_did_he_go_wrong.htm
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
I dont agree with everything Hamza Yusuf says, but then I have never come across a scholar where I agree word for word with him. (Not saying I am right either.)
But I think he has a lot of good to share. I also think a lot of people misinterpret what he says.
There is a hadith about praying behind a hypocrite. Valuable when considering something like this.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
I have attended his seminars and he really is a good speaker. He makes Islam inviting for those around him. Jihad isnt crashing planes into building nor is it attaching bombs to oneself or cars and taking innocent lives. How about setting up islamic schools and spreading islam through education and awareness. It's asked to forcefully defend urself and inflict harm on others in the name of islam when your land (assumed islamic nation) is in danger or attacked. Its also said to spare children and women, and in bombing i dont think anyone is considering the innocent children and women as well as men ofcourse whose life is taken in the name of jihad by extremists. IMO extremists are the ones making islam harsh and brutal and turning people away than towards it. We need speakers to invite people toward islam with warmth and show them how beautiful it really is instead of pointing at others as mere sinners.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Islam not only promotes fighting, fighting is Fardh. It becomes fardh on everyone individually, just like salaah or fasting, when Muslim lands get occupied and Fardh collectively when its a case of offensive Jihad.
That being said, anyone who tries to negate an individual obligation immediate leaves the realm of Islam.
**Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
**(Surah Tawbah: Verse 5)
Rasoolallah (sas) said:
**
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify tht there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakah.”**
(Fath al Bari 1:95 and Muslim 1:53)
I dont know where the idea of “defence only” creeped in from. The salaf never said anything like that. The Prophet (sas) and the Companions waged more offensive Jihad than defensive.
Guidance is in Allah’s Hands only. Everything else is just a means to bring a person closer to Him. Hell, even a kafir could say something that would bring a non practicing person close to Islam, that doesn’t mean you owe him your life.
Anything that stands in opposition to what Allah and his Messenger say, will not be followed and instead will be brought down. This is what Al wala wal Bara, one of the 7 requirements of Shahadah, is about.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
First, Shahadah is the declaration of Faith. La ilaha illal Lah, Muhammadur Rasulullah- There is No God but Allah and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is the Messenger of Allah. Therefore, there are NO 7 requirements of Shahadah.
Second, there are 7 basic beliefs in which every Muslim must believe in.
(Amantu Billahi wa Mala’ikatihi, wa Kutubihi, wa Rusulihi, wal Yawmil Akhiri, Wal Qadri, Khairihi wa Sharrihi minal Lahi Ta’ala, wal Ba’thi Ba’dal Mawt)
Let me point out that Jihad is NOT one of these beliefs!!!
I suggest that you read up on these tenets to further your understanding. 
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
One more note:
One must be extremely careful when quoting ayats from the Qur'an. One must look at the ayats BEFORE and AFTER to truly understand the context of the ayat. The best way to do that is to read a tafseer of those ayats from a scholar.
On another note, this thread was not started so that an argument of whether or not Hamza Yusuf is right or wrong. If you wish to continue, open up your own thread in religion and battle it out there.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
I absouletly love listening to his lectures!!! He "speaks" to me. I have heard him live a couple of times and have his CDs. Absolutely an amazing scholar - May Allah give him much more strength to fight stereotypes - Ameen!
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
In the first century of Hijra some asked Wahab ibn Munabbah whether the words, “There is no god but Allah”, were the key to paradise. “Certainly,” hea said, “but of course every key has teeth, so if you come with one that has teeth, the door will open, but if you don’t, it wont.” The teeth of the key are the prerequisites of the declaration of faith.
(Reported in Bukhari, Kitaab al Jazaiz, 3/109)
And neither is Salaah mentioned in one of those 7 beliefs or fasting or zakaat or Hajj.
Jihad IS NOT a belief. It is an action. You perform Jihad, you dont sit there and just believe in it. Salaah, Hajj, Fasting, Jihad these are actions not beliefs.
For further understanding, consult a dictionary.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
You dont need to worry, I had my Tafsir Ibn Kathir right next to me when i was replying.
The ahl al biddah scholars need to be pointed out. And this will be done exactly where you will be promoting them.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
You are confusing with mandatory beliefs with the basic, mandatory duties that muslims must partake in. Jihad is not a basic, mandatory duty.
"Buniyal Islamu ala khamsin; Shahadati 'an la ilaha illal lahu wa anna Muhammadar rasulu lahi; wa iqamis Salati, wa ita’iz Zakati, wa Hajji, wa Sawmi Ramadan (Bukhari)
Translation:
"Islam is based on five things: declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salah, the payment of Zakah, the Hajj and Sawm in the month of Ramadan.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
sharaabi,
From what you have written it sounds as if Allah and the Quran would have every Muslim up in arms anytime they encountered someone with a belief other than their own. Is that how you perceive Islam? Is that your interpretation?
I find it difficult to believe that any such interpretation would be accurate.
If Yusuf changed his views post 911 to ones of non-violence, why does it necessarily mean that he's on an anti-Muslim payroll somewhere? Why can it not just mean that being in an influential position, he tried to calm tempers and prevent further damage being done to innocent lives?
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Cant believe there are fools here, with no background in Islamic education, who are trying to undermine Sheikh Imam Hamza Yusuf.
Shame on all of you!
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
^^ yea i guess negating 400 odd ayaahs of the quran does make you a Sheikh Imam Maulana, happy following him.
Re: An Evening with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Toronto)
Hamza has clarified his position many times. Bunch of Whabbis all of you!