How does one know an innovator?

Shaikh Saleem Al Hilali said in his book: Innovations and its evil effect on the Ummah:

And a person may say: How do we know the people of innovation in order to stay away from them and warn against them, especially when many of them in this time hide under the Da’wah of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah?

And the answer has some angles:

1) The people of innovation are known by the clarification of the people of knolwedge, and warning against their books and telling the people to flee from their sittings. And there remains- All praise is due to Allah- those who do so in every time. Hence stay with the Ulama and you will be successful.

2) A man is known by whom he enters and from where he leaves. And for this reason it is not possible for an innovator to hide his condition. It is a neccesity that he shows what gives evidence of this.

Imam Al Auza’ee said: “Whomsoever hides his innovation from us he cannot hide his friends from us.” And Mu’aadh Ibn Mu’aadh said: “Even if a man hides his opinions this is not hidden in his child, his friend or who he sits with.”

Therefore if the people one sits with are the partisans, and his scholars are the Islamic Thinkers and Activists and those whom he loves are those who have spoken ill of the scholars… is it sensible to say that he is a Sunni Salafi?

Shaikh Khalid Ibn Abdir Rahman Al Misri said

All praise is due to Allah and may the Salaat and Salaam be upon the Messenger of Allah and upon his family and companions and those who follow them.

I met shaikh Ali Al Halabi, may Allah rectify his affairs and our’s, this Ramadan. And us there was mutual advice about some issues. (Afterward) I put forward what happened between us to the Virtuous Waalid Ash Shaikh Rabee’{may Allah increase him in his guidance}. And Shaikh Ali promised me that he would call me when he reaches Cairo for the book fair. He kept his promise and he phoned me. I then asked of him to meet. He visited me in my house when he returned from Mansuurah and we advised each other and debated about his book Manhaj As Salaf. Then I visited him in Madeenah An Nasr and I completed with him the rest (of the debate)about what I saw from some of the issues {in his book} and I informed him that I read his book and I mentioned to him some of what I saw from his book from matters that deviated from the truth and the Manhaj of the Salaf as Salih. He agreed with me in some issues and went against me in some others. He asked me to read the book another time and this was the fourth time. So I promised to read his book the fourth time. However, this time I found extra issues in which he was incorrect as my previous readings were from the computer version not the published version. For verily in the published version there are some things that are not found in the script that I read and I promised Shaikh Ali that I will refute that which I have seen deviation. And now that I read the book a fourth time I am reviewing it for the fifth time with the reply of the published book that Shaikh Ali gave me.

And I gave to Allah a covenent that I would refute it using prescribed ettiquettes and the principles of salafeeyah according to what I have learnt from the Manhaj of the Salaf. I advise Shaikh Ali to not go according to the way of Abu Hasan Al Ma’ribi and also to my brothers from the small students of knowledge : they should hold their tongues and their pens and leave these issues to the Ulama then the students of knowledge who have the ability to refute with knowledge. And it will be an audio refutation of the whole book. I call to my Lord to give Shaikh Ali Tawfeeq to be granted guidance in his issues and I will put the refutation (to download) in a few days with the review and advises from some of the people of knowledge and may Allah grant everyone Tawfeeq.

http://vb.alaqsasalafi.com/showthread.php?t=1029

Notes: This is the Adab of how Ahlus Sunnah deal with Ahlus Sunnah. Inshallah we hope that Shaikh Ali Hasan returns to what is Ahsan (best)

Advice from Shaikh Al Albani

After praising Allah, seeking refuge from him and bearing withness of Allah’s oneness and the Messengership of the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) Shaikh Al Albani said:

My advice to every Muslim on the earth. Especially our brothers who share with us the ascription to this blessed Da’wah. [Da'wah to the book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf Us Salih].
I advice all of you and myself firstly with the fear of Allah. And then to increase in beneficial knowledge. As Allah has said: “Fear Allah and Allah will teach you.”
And to put together that proper knowledge- which is what is with us all: that doesn’t leave the book of Allah and the Sunnah upon the (understanding) of the Salaf Us Salih, to put together with their ilm and gaining more of it according to their ability in the way of Allah: Actions upon that knowledge so that it would not be an evidence upon them, rather it would be an evidence for them: “The day that money or children would not benefit except for the one who comes to Allah with a peaceful heart.”

And I warn from participating with those who have left the Salafi way in many issues. Joining together the word “Khuruuj” upon the Muslims and their Jama’ah. And we order them to be as he – Salallahu alaihi wa sallam- said in a sound Hadeeth: “And be slaves of Allah brothers unto one another as Allah has ordered you”. Yes.

And upon us- as I have said in previous sittings, and I repeat it again and in repeating it is a benefit. And upon us is to be gentle in giving da’wah to those who have deviated, and to be with Allah’s statement at all times: “Call to the way of your lord with wisdom and beautiful speech and argue with them with what is best.”

And those who are most deserving of this wisdom: they are those who are most opposed to our fundamentals and aqeedah so that we do not join between the heaviness of the true da’wah that Allah have blessed us with and between heaviness in the way we give da’wah.

I hope from all our brothers in Islamic countries to make their behaviours according to the legislated Islamic manners, and to want by this the face of Allah – azza wa jal- and to not want from this any reward or thanks.

And possibly in this is enough and all praise is due to Allah.

http://www.sahab.net/home/index.php?threads_id=110

Notes: This does not mean that one should be gentle to one who opposes da’wah as salafeeyah after he knows the truth with clarity. And Shaikh Al Albani’s stances to Muhammad Al Ghazali who wrote Fiqh Us Seerah, the likes of Zaahid Al Kawthari and others who have opposed the Manhaj of the Salaf.

Let us understand

“For those of you wanting to be fair and be objective, what Shaikh Salîm mentions in his answer is a must read and should be something that should be given consideration when looking at the whole affair. What he mentions corroborates other statements made by other scholars like Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Abbâd that suggest that what occurred between Shaikhs Rabî’ and Abul-Hasan was not religious in nature, but rather, that it was something personal; the religious matters raised were merely a pretext. If one researches the various statements of the scholars from the People of the Sunnah concerning the religious and academic issues held against Shaikh Abul-Hasan, e.g., the issues pertaining to âhâd hadîth, taking a person’s summarized words according to his elaborate words (mujmal & mufassal), etc., this is the only possible just and fair conclusion one can come to. In any case, more of these issues (i.e., the academic, religious issues) may possibly be covered here in the future.”

This is a quote from our brother Rasheed Gonzales. I intend not to start any war of words with him because that is a waste of complete time and it has no benefit. However when someone says something incorrect we have to clarify and show our brothers that which is better. We have to be very cautious when speaking about the people of knowledge Ya Ikhwaan and we cannot be careless when doing so. Especially in dealing with scholars of the calibre of Shaikh Rabee’.
Now, no one can say that Shaikh Rabee’ is Ma’ssum, i.e all his judgements are correct. However whatsoever corresponds to the Sunnah we align ourselves to it and whatsoever is otherwise we throw it against the wall. Because as our noble Shaikh Yahya Al Hajuuri said, respecting the Ulama is respecting their Da’wah and their Manhaj (i.e the Salafi Manhaj).
Now many do not know the exact details of the Ma’ribi fitnah and to this a lot of evil has occured in the west. On one side they have taken matters to the extreme where they cut off those who don’t even know about the issues. And the other side have went to the other extreme in watering down the Manhaj of Ahlus Sunnah. And this is incorrect. Rather what we should do is go back to the Usuul, clarify to the people with evidences from the Kitaab and the Sunnah and the Ijma’ of the Salaf and whomsoever opposes that we know who is who.
Now I am afraid that many haven’t read in detail what Shaikh Rabee’ has written. And even if they read it they didn’t return to the books of the Salaf in Mustalah, Usuul and other sciences to understand what he wrote. In any case the Ma’ribi fitnah can be understood in 6 simple sentences.

(1) Tathabut: Meaning that even if an ‘Aalim of the Sunnah makes a statement about someone, who is not from Ahlus Sunnah like Sayyid Qutb, then he wouldn’t accept it unless he sees it for himself. And this no doubt is incorrect. Because our deen is taken from Thiqaat (people who are trustworthy).

(2) Al Muwazanah: This principle is one which Abu Hasan says that one has to speak well of the innovator when it is that one is mentioning his deviance. And this is Baatil. It is like saying, Auuthu Billah, may Allah have mercy on Shaitaan he gave Abu Hurairah some good advice (for Ayatul Kursi).

(3) Mujmal over Mufassal: Now before going into this. I should make clear what is Mujmal and Mufassal. Mujmal is speech that is unclear and can take up two or more meanings (like a double entendre). And Mufassal is speech that is clear and can only take up one meaning. This principle of Abu Hasan is the most devious of the principles. As it is one that says we cannot take a person’s speech as it is but rather once the person is from Ahlus Sunnah or is known to have fought the Ilmaanees or the Sufis we must make Ta’weel of his statement and think the best of it. This is again incorrect without any doubt. Because the Imams of the Sunnah would put those who use unclear speech e.g My recitation of the Qur’an is created, as the people of innovation even if it is that they may have been Imams of the Sunnah.

(4) We clarify but we do not destroy. And this again is a devious principle. And is a statement of truth wanting by it falsehood. And the likes of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and Sufyaan Ath Thawri used to put people into the ranks of the people of innovation if they did an innovation or said a statement with the knowledge that it was an innovation.

(5) No Jarh Wa Ta’deel. The scholars have clarified this and even if some scholars say there is no Jarh Wa Ta’deel in this time we go with the Haqq. And no doubt as long as it has knowledge and its people it will have the need to know who to take knowledge from from those who not to take knowledge from.

(6) A wide Manhaj. Which is used to bring the Ikhwaan Al Mufliseen and Jama’ah At Tableegh into Ahlus Sunnah. The Manhaj is what Allah, his Messenger (Salallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his companions were upon. Not what the Tableegh and the Ikhwaan and those others were upon.

These matters although they may seem small are those who could damage the root of Da’wah as Salafeeyah. Hence Shaikh Rabee’ had to make it clear Alhamdu Lillah. And not Shaikh Rabee’ alone spoke of him. Shaikh Muqbil Ibn Haadi spoke of Abu Hasan Al Ma’ribi before his death. Shaikh Yahya An Najmi, Shaikh Zaid Al Madhkhali, Shaikh Ubaid Al Jaabiri and others. And they have clear Daleel and principles.

As for those who use to Kalaam of Shaikh Abdul Muhsin and others then bring the proofs that either what all these Shaikhs have said is incorrect or that the principles by which they refuted Abu Hasan Are wrong premises of refutation. Otherwise, I am sticking and I think everyone should hold on to the evidences. Not the personality.

Shaikh Rabee’ asked:

http://www.sahab.net/home/index.php?threads_id=181

He said (Hafithahullah): Oh people take it easy! Give me news about the efforts you have made to conquer Ahlil Bid’ah and to stop their oppression and hatred of the people of the truth and the Sunnah?

Are you upon the way of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah in boycotting the people of innovation, and cutting them off, turning your backs on them and staying away from their their bid’ah and misguidance?

Are you upon their way (Ahlus Sunnah) in dealing with them in your stances and writings that annihalates their misguidance?

Are you upon the way of the Sahabah, the Tabi’een and those who follow the Tabi’een?

Are you upon the way of Hammad Ibn Zaid, Hammad Ibn Salamah, Al Awza’ee, Ath Thawri, and Imam Malik, And Abi Ishaaq Al Fizari, And Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and his contemporaries and his school, and upon the way of Bukhari, Muslim , Abu Dawuud and their brothers?

Are you upon the way of Abdullah Ibn Ahmad, and Ibn Khuzaimah, and Ibn Battah, And Al Laalakai, and the upholder of the Sunnah Al Ansaari?

Are you upon the way of those who were from Baitul Maqdis: Abdul Ghani, Ad Diyaa and Ibn Qudaamah?

Are you upon the way of Ibn Taymeeyah, Ibnul Qayyim and Ibn Abdul Haadi?

Are you upon the way of Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab, his students, his children and his descendents?

Are you upon the way of all of these people- in your stances and your writings- and your lectures in conquering innovation and annihalating it and warning against it and its people?

The present situation proves the opposite of that.

Notes: That was an extract of what Shaikh Rabee’ asked some authors who say that they are Salafi yet their stances do not show such. And these are questions that every Salafi should ask themselves and what everyone should ask about others who claim to be Salafi.