(10)Saheeh - related by Muslim (5/132), ad-Daaraqutnee (pp.520-521) and Ahmad (6/146, 180) - from 'Aaishah - radiallaahu 'anhaa.

(11)Iqtidaa ul-'Ilm il 'Aml (13) of al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee. Yet today, it is sufficient for one to be a speaker and that is enough credentials for him to be a guide for the Ummah - regardless of whether he has knowledge or not! So let the noble reader reflect upon the saying of the Companion Ibn Mas'ood (d.32h), related by at-Tabaranee in al-Kabeer (8066) and al-Bukharee in Adab ul-Mufrad (789) and declared to be Saheeh(authentic) by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in Fath ul-Baaree (10/510) that he - radiallaahu 'anhu - said: "You are in a time whose Scholars are many and its speakers are few. After you will come a time whose Scholars are few and its speakers are many." How yesterday's warning depicts todays action!

(12)Tazkyatun-Nufoos (p.4) of Ahmad Fareed.

(13)Saheeh - related by Muslim, Ibn Maajah (4202) and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (8/223) - from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu 'anhu.

(14)Saheeh related by at-Tabaranee in al-Kabeer - from Ibn 'Umar and also by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqee - from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu 'anhumaa

(15)Similar to this are actions based on party-spirit ('asabiyah) about which our Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said - as is related by Muslim in his Saheeh: "Whosoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for party-spirit, or calling to party-spirit, or assisting party-spirit, then if he dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah (pre-Islaamic ignorance)." And how damaging - O seeker of unity - has its modern counter-part, Partisianship (Hizbiyah), been in destroying the very fabric of comprehensive brotherhood. Such that the one immersed in this Hizbiyah loves and hates, builds and destroys - not due to the ties of correct faith (Eemaan) - but due to this vile Hizbiyah - thereby having enmity for the friends (awliya) of Allaah, competing thereby with the enemies of the Prophets!!! We seek Allaah's protection against this and only He guides to a way that is Straight.