”If Allaah wishes to deprive a slave the blessings of knowledge [i.e. due his (or her) own fault], Allaah places [الأغاليط] upon the tongue of that person.”(1)
[الأغاليط–they are those obscure and difficult affairs related to the religion, which a person pursues through asking questions in order to pick a quarrel, burdening oneself and harbouring an evil intention through asking questions, which leads to doubts; so quarrel becomes rife and (blameworthy) debate increases. The one whose desire is limited to the ‘Al-Aghaaleet’ and he has no desire to seek the understanding intended by Allaah and His Messenger, and knowledge of the boundaries of the Sharee’ah that leads to fruitful deeds, then indeed he has wasted his time and has been deprived of the blessings (contained) in knowledge. (2)
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[1] [Source: Jaami Bayaanil Ilm Wa-Fadlihi of Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) 1087]
[2] http://al-badr.net/muqolat/2693. Abridged and slightly paraphrased
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said:
[الطبوليات ] are those Masaa-il (affairs of the religion) by way of which fame is sought. They are called Tubooliyyaat because it is similar to a Tabl (drum) which has a sound and an echo. So when an odd affair (i.e. an affair that is exaggerated or exceeds the proper boundaries of the Sharee’ah) comes to the people and a (person) becomes famous by way of it, then it becomes as if it is the sound of a drum.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
The way to know a scholar is that (you) ask the people of knowledge in his era about him. He should be well known amongst the Fuqahaa (the upright jurists) of his era and supported by what they say about his affair. He should be well known for seeking knowledge.
Shu’bah (rahimahullaah) said:
”Take knowledge from those who are well-known(i.e. those who are well-known and established in it).”
Ibn Awn (rahimahullaah) said:
”Do not take this knowledge except from one about whom it is testified that (he acquired it) through Talab (i.e. studied or studies with the scholars).”
Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (rahimahullaah) said: I did not give fatwa until I asked those who were more knowledgeable than me, as to whether I was competent in doing that. I asked Rabee and Yahyah Bin Sa’eed, so they commanded me to do that. So (the one speaking to Maalik at the time) said: O father of Abdullaah! What if they prohibited you? He replied: ‘’Then I would have stopped. It is not permissible for a person to consider himself worthy of anything (i.e. teaching, giving fatwa etc) until he asks someone (from the scholars) who is more knowledgeable than him.’’ [End of quote (1)]
Al-Allaamah Ubaid Ibn Abdillaah Al-Jaabiri (may Allaah preserve him) also stated: If the affair of a person is hidden from you–the one whose books and cassettes are famous and his fame is widespread–then ask those who are well acquainted with him and those who know about his state of affairs. That is because neither is the Sunnah hidden nor are its people. A man’s Tazkiyah (i.e. the clear witness that he is upright upon the Sunnah) are his own actions. His Tazkiyah are his own actions that he is upon the Sunnah. It is the witness and the people mention him with it during his life and after his death. [End of quote (2)]
So just ask yourself a simple question: Who amongst the scholars of Salafiyyah has given the UK pretenders the title ‘Scholar?’ The deceitful pretenders do not have a single recommendation showing that they are upright and trustworthy, rather some of them are well known for Ikhwaanism, Qutubiyyah, Sorooriyyah, Khurooj and others are advocates of Irjaa, philosophical rhetoric and other innovations.
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[1] Source: Al-Mu’een Li-Tawdeeh Athar Ibn Seereen Inna Haadhal Ilm Deenun’ Page 55]
Whoever wants to adhere to a path, then let him adhere to the path of the one who has passed away, for indeed the ones who are alive are not safe from trial, and they (i.e. those who have passed away) are Muhammad’s Companions. They were the best of this Ummah; the ones with the most righteous hearts, the most perfect in knowledge and the most uncomplicated. Allah selected them to accompany His Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and to establish His religion. Therefore, acknowledge their status, follow their footsteps and cling as much as you can to their pattern of behaviour and attitude because they traversed true guidance.
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (d. 187, rahimahullaah) said:
‘If Allaah (the Mighty and Majestic), knows that a man hates a person of innovation, He will forgive him even if his actions are few. A person of Sunnah would not help an innovator except due to hypocrisy. Whoever turns his face away from an innovator, Allaah will fill his heart with faith. Whoever frightens an innovator away, Allaah will grant him safety on the Day of Great Terror and whoever debases an innovator, Allaah will raise him in Paradise by a hundred ranks, so, for Allaah, never shelter an innovator’
Regarding the statement of Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah): ‘If Allaah (the Mighty and Majestic), knows that a man hates a person of innovation, He will forgive him even if his actions are few: Because this (i.e. having hatred for a person of innovation) is from loving and hating for the (sake of Allaah)- love for the people of Imaan and hatred for the enemies of Allaah. This is a fundamental principle from the fundamental principles of Aqeedah.
‘It is not permitted for a man to say, ‘So and so is a person of the Sunnah’ until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah, so it is not said of him, ‘a person of the Sunnah’ until he combines all the Sunnah.’
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) commented on the above statement of Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah), saying:
Do not give Taskiyah to a person and praise of him, except from knowledge; lest the people become deceived by your praise of him, whilst he is not what (you have stated about him). So when his real affair and path is clear to you, his knowledge and steadfastness, then you can give him Tazkiyah. As for giving out praise and recommendation whilst not knowing of anything about him, then this is a dangerous Tazkiyah through which the people will be deceived by this person.
Had only those who give commendations to the people stopped at that (i.e. put it in its proper place), then they would not give recommendation, except for one who fulfils the conditions of giving Tazkiyah; because Tazkiyah is a ‘Witness’, so, if the Tazkiyah is not correct it will be a false witness.
And concerning the statement of Imaam Barbahaaree: ‘until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah’
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on the above statement saying: The characteristics of the Sunnah are to be in Aqeedah, Knowledge and adherence to the Salafus Saaleh. But if there is not in him except a single characteristic of the (Sunnah), then he is not judged to be from Ahlus Sunnah on the basis of a single characteristic or one thing, so what about the one who does not have anything from that?
He who loves the deeds of a people is just like one who commits them; so if those (deeds) are good he gets a reward similar to theirs. And if those (deeds) are bad he bears the burden and sin similar to theirs. And Allaah’s Aid is sought!
And due to this it has been reported regarding the one who wishes to be like the scholar who teaches the people good will receive a reward similar to that of (that Scholar). And the one who wishes to be like the rich person who spends his wealth in the path of Allah will receive a reward similar to that of (that rich person) in accordance with his intention.
Likewise, the opposite of this is the one who wishes to be like the criminal and the people of sin, (and) wishes to be their partners in sin or give support to their views and hold it to be true; he is like them even if he did not commit an act similar to theirs, (but) solely (due to the fact that) he held their views to be correct and took their side.
Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (rahimahullaah) said:
It is not permissible for the one who knows something about the innovation of the partisan group Ikhwaan Al-Muslimeen (i.e. The Muslim Brother’-a deviated sect founded by the Soofee Hasan Al-Bannah of Eyypt) or other than them amongst the people of innovation and error that he remains silent about clarifying their affair, even though he has the ability to clarify. That is because refuting the people of innovation and error is obligatory upon those who have the ability to do so amongst the People of Knowledge. And when (refutation) is established by some of them the obligation is lifted from the rest.
And as for fearing splitting as a result of refutation against the sects, there is no legislated excuse for refraining (i.e. refraining from carrying out such refutation). That is because having love for Ijtimaa (unity upon the sound creed and methodology of the Salaf) is the correct stance and is more deserving to be desired and followed. The Mubtadi (the innovator) is the cause of splitting in the Ummah because splitting is connected to innovation and unity is connected to the Sunnah.
And the obligation of refutation against the Mukhaalif (i.e. the one in opposition to the truth) is not lifted from the scholar due to anticipation of harm, unless it is harm that he is not able to bear (or repel); then (in this case), Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. The earth is not devoid of people of knowledge who will carry out refutation against the innovator and the Mukhaalif.
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[Source: Al Ajwibah Al Mukhtasar Alaa As’ila Al’Ashrati’ Pages 43-44]
It is obligated on the scholars to clarify the reality. They should debate every group and give advice to all, so that they can traverse upon the path Allaah has ordained for His slaves, and the path which His Messenger Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) called to. And whoever oversteps this path or remains upon obstinacy, then it is obligatory to expose him…
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said:
There is nothing in the Book or the Sunnah that allows different groups and parties; rather that has been censured in the Book and the Sunnah. Allaah (The Most High) said: