Da’wah in Trinidad: Part 3

This part is for those considered as Students of Knowledge or as the public would term it ‘those that did not graduate’. This group of brothers are the most criticized out of the bunch and are seen as unqualified fitnah mongers by many of the Muslims. And what is the reason that they are not qualified?:

Is it because these brothers did not graduate from Islamic Universities? 

My answer to this is no. Because the same people who claim that these brothers are not qualified to give da’wah are themselves ignorant of Islam. These are the same people that go to the classes of the Ikhwaan Ul Muslimeen listening to the lectures of the so called Muslim intelligencia  who unfortunately can’t even recite Surah Al Faatihah properly. They also go to the classes of certain ‘Maulanas’ and ‘Muftis’ who know nothing about the Arabic language and deliberately mislead people. So what is their motive behind making statements such as these?

They make these statements because they are not on the quest for truth. Rather they are on the quest to satisfy their desires. And I say that this is rather pathetic and unfortunate on their part.

The other group that spreads this misnomer are their colleagues who have graduated themselves. But why do they say it?

Is it because they see that these brothers have nothing of the truth with them? No that is not that case. Rather the case is that many of them want to gain or remain in positions of power and prestige among the common Muslims.  Therefore, they themselves say things to satisfy the desires of others and seek to put down those who try to establish the Sunnah if fear of their status being diminished in the sight of others.

From what I have known about many of these brothers that fall into this category of being Students of knowledge is that many of them are strong in terms of sticking to the Sunnah. And they also try to introduce others to the words of the major scholars of Islam and try to create a connection between them and the common Muslim. Apparently the two aforementioned parties do not consider this as a righteous action. This is because the first party finds it upsetting that they are unable to follow their own desires and the second party are unable to jostle for positions of authority that they held previously.

Therefore, to these two parties of brothers I give them some food for thought to fill their stomachs with. Did the people of Makkah see the Messenger (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a ‘qualified’ individual? If one reads the Qur’an one will realize that this wasn’t the case. In fact the Mushrikeen said that if an angel came they would have believed in the message. Allahu Musta’aan.

Run Musa Ruuuuuuun

Yup I fell like a hamster on a wheel. Yesterday at 12:00 pm I ran like 5.1 miles per hour for 15 minutes. And today I ran for 10 at 5.3 miles per hour. Now people are probobly asking why do I run so much??

Well I have one main reason. Although I am to be married soon I am still unmarried and I need some sort of activity to make me tired for now. And this is working quite well Alhamdu Lillah. Because by the time I am done I just want to take a bath and sleep.

In any case it is only 3 more months I would have to keep this fitness regimen up. And want doesn’t kill you should only make you stronger.

But one thing to add. My brothers, make sure and stay fit for your wives inshallah ta’ala. No sister likes an unfit guy. And as you would like her to look nice and trim she would like you to look nice and trim also.

Take it easy all of you, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

Introduction

Shaikh Salih Ibn Fawzan Al Fawzan said under the title (the Methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah in refuting the people of innovation):

Their Methodology in this is built upon the book and the Sunnah, and it is the Methodology that is sufficient and decisive; in that they bring the doubts of the people of innovations and destroy them, and they use the evidences of the Qur’an and the Sunnah which show the obligation of holding on to the Sunnah and prohibition of innovations and newly invented matters.

And they (the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah) have authored many books on this matter, and they refuted in their books the beliefs of the Shiah, the Khawarij, the Jahmeeyah, the Mu’tazilah, the Asharis in their innovated statements in the fundamentals of Imaan and creed. And they have written books specific to that like how Imam Ahmad wrote the book: The refutation of the Jahmeeyah, and other than him from the Imams have written on this; like Uthmaan Ibn Sa’eed Ad Darimi, and what is within the books of Shaikh Ul Islam Ibn Taymeeyah and his student Ibnul Qayyim, and Shaikh Muhammmad Ibn Abdul Wahhab.. and other than them, from the refutation of these groups, and the grave worshippers and Sufis….. This speech by our honourable Shaikh shows that it is compulsory to command the good and forbid the evil once one has the ability to do so. From the ways of doing so is by refutating the people of innovation who cause more destruction and mischief to the Muslim Ummah than the Kuffar themselves. Therefore, we as Muslims must be aware of those who come into our ranks and deceive us with eloquent speech. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the students of knowledge and the scholars to decisively refute the speech of such people and warn others against it.

A book called: “Honouring the Prophet”, which was written by Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed needs such attention. This very book contains a call toward the innovation of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday which is almost dead in our Island of Trinidad and Tobago.

Upon seeing this Dr. Waffie chose to write this book in order to defend its celebration which I only got my hands on a few weeks ago. Due to my busy schedule I was not able to read the book or write anything upon it until now. And upon reading it this is what I found:

1) In many instances he misquoted major scholars of Ahlus Sunnah such as Imam Ibn Katheer, Shaikh Ul Islam Ibn Taymeeyah and Ibnul Qayyim in order to strengthen his argument.

2) Trying to justify that not all innovation is misguidance.

3) The use of weak Ahadeeth to support his view.

4) Using hypothetical questions for matters of the unseen.

5) Blatant Shirk.

Inshallah ta’ala I will deal with each issue separately when I write my posts. However, for this small introduction I would like to leave some of the rulings of our illustrious scholars on this matter:

Shaikh Ali Naasir Al Faqee said in his book  called  : “Al Bid’ah”

Verily the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday is an innovation, the Prophet (Salallahu alahi wa sallam) never celebrated it, neither did the four rightly guided Caliphs or anyone of his companions celebrate it, and they know most about his Sunnah, and they were the most diligent in praising the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) and having respect for him, and verily the ones who innovated this practice of celebrating the Prophet’s (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) birthday in addition to other celebrating other birthdays were the Faatimiyuun and they are the Sheeah. (In fact they are Kuffar according to many of the scholars)

Taaj Ud Deen Al Faakahaani said: “I do not know any basis of this action from the book of Allah or the Sunnah of his Messenger (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam), and it isn’t written from any of the scholars of this Religion and they are the guiding lights of this religion who hold on to the narrations of those before them. But it is an innovation that the innovators have come up with… .”

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said: “It is unlawful to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) and other than this because it is innovation in the religion, and because the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) never did it, neither did his rightly guided caliphs do it, neither did other than them from the companions (radiallaho anhum) did it neither did the followers of the companions from the first three generations, and they know the most about the Sunnah, and had the most complete love toward the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) and in following the Shar’iah more than those who came after them. And the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said : “Whoever innovates in our deen which is not from it it (the action) is rejected”, and in another Hadeeth he said: “Upon you is my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs who come after me, hold on to it and bite it with your molar teeth, and beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is a bid’ah, and every bid’ah is misguidance.” Taken from the book (The Pillars of Islam)

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al Uthaimeen said: “Celebrating the Prophet’s birthday has no basis and it because if it had a basis it would have been done by the Prophet (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) or he would have informed his nation about it, and if he (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) did it or informed his Ummah about it it would have been preserved (in his sunnah) because Allah said : “We have sent down the Rememberance and he have preserved it”. Therefore since there is no basis of this in the religion of Allah it is known that it is outside his religion, and if it is outside the religion of Allah then it is not lawful to worship Allah by it using it to come closer to him.” Taken from the book (Fatwa on the pillars of Islam)

Shaikh Ibraheem Aaal Ash Shaikh said in his book : The ruling on celebrating Maulid:

 The first doubt : That celebrating this although it is an innovation the ummah has accepted it…. .

 And he mentioned about this doubt:

 Saying that due to the fact that the Ummah has accepted it does not make it good and it does not mean anything. Because the companions and who came after them left it and never did it. Imam Ash Shatibi said: “When Innovation and going against the Sunnah became normal amongst people the Jahil started to say ” If it were evil the people would not have done this”

And Shaikh Ul Islam Ibn Taymeeyah said that using this as a proof is not from the way of the people of knowledge, but it is from ignorance that many people ascribe to even from those who say they have knowledge, and he demonstrated that making something good within the eyes of the people when this matter or issue does not come from the book of Allah or the Sunnah of the Messenger is not from the way of knowledge and Eeman, he said : “And as to depend on something in an Issue of religion that does not depend on the book of Allah or Sunnah of the Messenger in saying or action it is a category from the categories of nifaaq in terms of seeking knowledge, argumentation, rhetoric and action.”

 

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Salih Al Uthaimeen and Shaikh Rabee’

(4) الشيخ العلامة محمد بن صالح بن عثيمين –رحمه الله

قال :” أما بالنسبة للشيخ ربيع فأنا لا أعلم عنه إلا خيراً والرجل صاحب سنة وصاحب حديث”.

Shaikh Uthaimeen said: As for Shaikh Rabee I don’t not know anything of him except good and the man is a person of Sunnah and Hadeeth

((إننا نحمد الله سبحانه وتعالى أن يسر لأخينا الدكتور ربيع بن هادي المدخلي أن يزور هذه المنطقة حتى يعلم من يخفى عليه بعض الأمور أن أخانا وفقنا الله وإياه على جانب السلفية طريــق السلف، ولست أعني بالسلفية أنها حزب قائم يضاد لغيره من المسلمين لكني أريد بالسلفية أنه على طريق السلف في منهجه ولاسيما في تحقيق التوحيد ومنابذة من يضاده

He also said: And we thank Allah that he had made it easy for our brother Doctor Shaikh Rabee’ Ibn Hadi Al Madkhali to visit this town in order from him to know some situations that are hidden from him and this is because our brother is upon the way of Salafeeyah which is the way of the Salaf and I do not mean by Salafeeyah a group that stands up and opposes the other Muslims (if they do not agree with them) but what I mean by it is those who are upon the way of the Salaf in terms of their Methodology especially in terms of calling toward tawheed and opposing what goes against it

، والشيخ ربيع من علماء السنة، ومن أهل الخير، وعقيدته سليمة، ومنهجه قويم.

He also said :And Shaikh Rabee’ is from Ahlus Sunah, and the people of Good and his belief is correct and his methodology is strong

((ما أعلم أنه مخالف، والشيخ ربيع أثنى عليه أهل العلم المعاصرين، أنا ما أعرف عنه إلا خيراً)
He said: I do not know any evil from him, and the people of knowledge have praised him, and I know nothing of him except good

N.B Hence it is known now by what Shaikh Uthaimeen mean when he was speaking about the so called sect called salafeeyah who would just call themselves Salafis and not act upon its teachings like what many of those of the people of takfeer and others like Abdur Rahmaan Abdul Khaliq did. However he made it clear that the way of the Salaf which is Salafi is not a sect rather the correct way that goes upon the methodology which the Prophet salallahu alaihi wa sallam has set

He also said:

Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah are characterised by having the belief of the companions, even those who come later until judgement day, once they are upon the way of the salaf they are salafi.

So when someone says that Ibn Uthaimeen refutes the Salafis know that he was speaking specifically about those who make Takfeer of the Muslims without any evidence and the known caller to Hizbeeyah Abdur Rahmaan Abdul Khaliq. And he wasn’t speaking about those who are Salafi in general.

And the Shaikh himself and also Shaikh Ibn Baaz have much speech on the Jama’ah At Tableegh and their deviance. And they have much speech about the Maturidis and the Asharis and their deviance. And they have speech about the Ikhwan Al Muslimeen. May Allah protect all of us.

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Salih Al Uthaimeen and Salafeeyah.

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http://www.theclearpath.com/viewtopic.php?t=91

What Is Salafiyyah?
Author: Shaykh Muhammad Saalih Ibn al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)
Source: Liqaa-al-Baab al-Maftooh, #1322

Question: What Is Salafiyyah?

Answer: Salafiyyah is following the way of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) and his Sahabah for they are our Salaf (predecessors) who preceded us, so following them is Salafiyyah. As for taking Salafiyyah as a special Manhaj (Methodology) such that everyone who differs with it is considered astray even if he was on the truth; then this is beyond doubt opposite to Salafiyyah.

All the Salaf called to Islaam and to unite upon the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) and they did not declare astray anyone who differs with them (in a certain issue) because of (a different) interpretation (Taweel), except in matters of Aqeedah (beliefs) because they considered him, who differed in Aqeedah as astray.

But, in our time, some who took the path of Salafiyyah consider astray everyone who differs from them even if the truth were to be on his side. And they took a Hizbi (partisan) Manhaj, just like the other Hizbs (parties), who divide the religion. This (their way) must be rejected and not be approved of.

It is said, ‘Look at the way of the Salaf as-Salih and what did they do in regards to differences and wideness of their hearts with regards to Ikhtilaaf (differences) in matters in which Ijtihad was feasible. (They differed with each other) to the degree that they differed in big issues, in (minor) issues of Aqeedah and (minor) issues of knowledge – for example, some of them denied that Allaah’s Messenger (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) saw His Lord and some of them confirmed of it. Some of them said, ‘the deeds would be weighted on the Day of Judgment’, whilst others held that ‘the books which record the deeds will be weighed.’ They also differ in matters of Fiqh, Marriage, obligations, buying and selling, etc. Despite this, they did not declare each other astray.

Thus, Salafiyyah that is taken to mean a special party (Hizb) with specific rules whose members consider anyone who differs with them as astray then they have nothing to do with Salafiyyah.

But the Salafiyyah that is to follow the Salaf in beliefs, sayings, actions, their way of differing and unity, their way of being merciful and compassion to one another as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said,

“You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” [1]

Then this is the true Salafiyyah.

Footnotes
[1] Aqeedah: The principles and specific details of belief that one holds in his heart. (ex. Tawheed, Eemaan). Imaam al-Asbahaanee (d.535H) – rahimahullaah – said:

“The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen.” [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364]

Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah – rahimahullaah – said:

“It is not for anyone to place for the ummah a person calling to his path showing loyalty or enmity because of that path other than the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam).

And it is not permissible to place for them speech, show loyalty or enmity because of it other than the speech of Allaah and His messenger (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) and that which The Ummah has united upon.

Rather, this is what the people of innovation do who place for themselves a person or some speech and they divide with it the ummah, showing loyalty or enmity upon that person or that kalaam or that attribute. [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa vol. 20, pp. 124]