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Salaf Fled From Ahlul Bidah, But Some Masaakeen Youths End Up In Misguidance Due to Accompanying Ahlul Bidah

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi (may Allaah preserve him) said, ”Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَلَا تَرۡكَنُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.

[Hud: Ayah 113]

[The word (ظلم –wrong) in (this ayah) can (mean) disbelief; it can (mean) bidah and it can be (فسوق  i.e. sinful-immoral behaviour) because (ظلم) is applicable to all these types of (affairs). So we refrain from inclining towards the evil doers, the people of bidah, the disbelievers, the secularists and other than them. And we protect ourselves, our Aqeedah and that which Allaah has bestowed upon us of Imaan and sound religion.

It is sufficient for us to remember that the Salaf fled from Fitan- not mixing, sitting and debating with them (i.e. the people of fitan).  And even amongst them, such as the likes of Ayyoub As-Sakhtiyaanee and ibn Seereen did not use to listen to the speech of those (people of bidah).  And when Ibn Seereen was asked: “Why do you not speak; why do you not listen to them?” He said: “Indeed, my heart is not in my hands! I am not in control of my heart; I fear for myself that I may be misguided.”

So the likes of these Imaams feared fitna and deviation for themselves; but you the miskeen possess bravery to enable you to challenge ahlul bidah….! Many people say: “We sit with ahlul ahwaa and we take (from them); we distinguish between truth and falsehood; we take what is truth and abandon what is falsehood;” whilst he (i.e. the utterer of this speech) is a miskeen who can neither distinguish between truth and falsehood nor is he in control of his heart. How many a young person has been put to trial through this satanic view and thus he (becomes) lowered and reverts back on his heels (into misguidance) and depraved, and Allaah’s Aid is sought. He falls prey in the enclosures of the people of fitan! Therefore it is obligated on a student of knowledge not to (consider) himself safe from ahlul bidah; for indeed he is not more knowledgeable than Ayyoub and Ibn Seereen, nor can he reach their station (in knowledge, piety etc) and those who followed them.


[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة…pages 192-193.slightly paraphrased and abridged

 

Whoever sits with ahlul bidah is not safe from one of three calamities! By Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thawri

Imaam Sufyaan Ath-thawri (rahimahullaah) said:

The one who sits with a person of innovation is not safe from one of three (affairs): ”[1] Either he becomes a trial for other than himself; [2] Or something of (misguidance) falls into his heart, so he slips by way of that and Allaah enters him into the hell fire; [3] or he says: By Allaah, I don’t care what they say because I am sure of myself;” but whoever feels safe about his religion (without Allaah’s guidance, protection etc) in the twinkling of an eye, it will be snatched away from him.”

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[Source: البدع والنهي عنها  of Ibn Wadaah page 54]

Reminder and Reflection: What Happened to a People Who Belittled The Blessings of Allaah and Transgressed?!

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ

[وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا – And (remember) when you said, “O Musa (Moses)! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fum (wheat or garlic), its lentils and its onions (2:61)]

They said this [i.e. to be given something else] out of belittling the blessings of Allaah. This (also) shows their lack of patience. [ref 1]

[Allaah said] that Moosa said to them: [أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  – Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? (2:61)]

Therefore, they were recompensed for their (evil) deeds. Allaah said: [ref: 2]

[وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ – And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and they drew on themselves the Wrath of Allah].

[ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ -That was because they used to disbelieve the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress the bounds (in their disobedience to Allah, i.e. commit crimes and sins) (2:61)]

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Refs 1 & 2: Paraphrased excerpts from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)

 

A Characteristic of Those Hostile Ones Who Used to Insist That Their Misguidance Must Be Followed

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Naasir As-Sadi (rahimahullaah) said:

And what is well known is that Allaah neither loves ignorance nor doubts, neither confusion nor misguidance; rather He loves the religion, knowledge and certainty.

Indeed, He (The Most High) rebuked confusion. He (The Most High) said:

قُلْ أَنَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ كَالَّذِي اسْتَهْوَتْهُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُ أَصْحَابٌ يَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى الْهُدَى ائْتِنَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ ۖ

‘’Say (O Muhammad): “Shall we invoke others besides Allah (false deities), that can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn on our heels after Allah has guided us (to true Monotheism)? – like one whom the Shayaateen (devils) have made to go astray, confused (wandering) through the earth, his companions calling him to guidance (saying): ‘Come to us.’ “Say: “Verily, Allah’s Guidance is the only guidance.’’ [Soorah Al An’aam: Ayah: 71]

Indeed, we have been commanded to ask Him (The Most High) to guide us to the straight path and this necessitates knowledge of the truth and acting upon it, and the Qur’aan is the cure, guidance and light.  The Muslims are agreed [upon the fact] that doubt and confusion are unpraiseworthy, and it is expected – absolutely- that a person who does not possess knowledge of something is obligated to keep quiet and seek knowledge via its (sound) sources.  Those atheists – the most doubtful of doubters, who command the people to eradicate the truth from the hearts in order to direct the hearts to other than it –  are opponents of the Book, the Sunnah and the consensus of those considered to be people of sound reasoning. They (atheists) are followers of their misguided leaders. [Ref 1]

Imaam Ismaa’eel Bin Abdur-Rahmaan [known as As-Sadee (rahimahullaah)] said:

The people of shirk said to the Muslims: ‘’follow our path and abandon the religion of Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)’’, so Allaah revealed the ayah: ‘’Say (O Muhammad): Shall we invoke others besides Allah (false deities), that can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn on our heels;’’ Meaning: (shall we turn into) disbelief ‘’after Allah has guided us (to true Monotheism)?’’, and so that we become like you? – those whom the devils have made to go astray in the earth.

And so that we become like you by disbelieving after believing, similar to a man who set out on a road with some people, but he got lost. So, the devils made him confused and he wandered in the earth, whilst his companions are on the (right) road. His companions started calling him saying: ‘’Come to us, we are on the (right) road”, but he refuses to go to them.  This is similar to the one who follows the (people of shirk) after being acquainted with the (message of) Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). And Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) is the one calling to the (right) road and the road is Islaam. [Ref 2]

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[1] [Al-adillatul Qawaatiq Wal-baraaheen Fee Ibtaali Usoolil Mulhideen. Page 15. Abridged & slightly paraphrased]

[2] [Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Page 428]

Mentioning the Name of the Deviants When Necessary’ By Shaikh Fawzaan

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) was asked about some of those students with a weak sense of piety-that when when they hear the sincere advisers among the students or scholars warning against bidah, the people of bidah and the paths towards bidah, and making mention of the reality of what they (i.e. people of bidah) are upon and then refuting them; likewise, (when the sincere advisers) would mention some of the names of (those being refuted), even if they have passed away, due to the trial the people are subjected to through them. And this (warning carried out by the warners) is for the purpose of defending the Religion and to unveil the deception of those who mix truth with falsehood and those who speak ill of (the religion) within the ranks of the Ummah and continue the splitting and differing in the Ummah- they (those with a weak sense of piety) would claim that speaking against the innovators and mentioning some of their names is from the forbidden types of backbiting.

Answer: The principle in this (affair) is about warning against mistakes and deviation, after identifying it as such. If the affair requires making known the name of an individual among the obstinate opponents so that beguilement does not occur through their (affair), especially those individuals with deviated views or deviation in behaviour and methodology, and they are well known among the people and the people have a good opinion of them; then there is no harm in mentioning them by their names and their methodology warned against.

The scholars carry out research in the science of Jarh Wat-Tadeel, then they would mention the narrators and the reproach stated against them. This is not (done) for the purpose of personal (criticism); rather it is (done) for the purpose to giving advice to the Ummah in case they come across affairs from these individuals that are harmful to the Religion or lies against the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam).

Therefore, first and foremost, this principle is about warning against mistakes. However, the one who committed such mistake (s) is not to be mentioned if that would either lead to greater harm or if there is no benefit in mentioning him. However, if the affair requires that his name be made known for the purpose of warning the people against his methodology, then this is from sincerity to Allaah, His Book, His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, especially if he (i.e. the one warned against) is active within the people and they have a good opinion of him, and acquire his books and tapes. Then there has to be clarification and the people must be warned, because (employing) silence will be harmful to the people. His affair has to be unveiled, but not for the purpose of defamation or following one’s desires (in that); rather it has to be (done) for the purpose of sincerity to Allaah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common people.

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[Source: Ajwibah Al Mufeedah; page 162 Question number: 66 Slightly paraphrased]

 

A Reminder to Those Who Shy Away From Warning Against Ahlul Bidah and Those Who Sit With Them After Being Aware of Their Danger

Imaam Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said:

[  أما أهل البدع والضلالة ومن تشبه بالعلماء وليس منهم فيجوز بيان جهلهم وإظهار عيوبهم تحذيرا من الاقتداء بهم ]

As for ahlul bidah wad-dalaalah (the people of innovation and misguidance) and those who imitate the scholars, but are not from them, then it is permissible to clarify their ignorance and manifest their faults (i.e. i.e. their innovations and falsehoods), so as to warn (others) from following them.

[الفرق بين النصيحة والتعبير : page 36]

 

قيل للإمام الأوزاعي إن رجلاً يقول:أنا أجالس أهل السنة وأجالس أهل البدع

فقال الأوزاعي:هذا رجل يريد أن يساوي بين الحق والباطل

الإبانة-2/456

It was said to Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee (rahimahullaah): Indeed a man says, ‘I sit with Ahlus Sunnah and I sit with ahlul bidah.’

So Al-Awzaa’ee said: This man wants to equate truth with falsehood.

[Al-Ibaanah 2/456]


Abu Faatimah (Abdullah Al-Gambi)

A Command to Hold onto the Sunnah and to Shun Innovations In Religion’ -by Shaikh Abdul Muhsin al-Abbaad

Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad (may Allaah preserve him) said:

The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌ

He who innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e., Islam] that is not from it will have it rejected [by Allah].” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Number 2697] [Saheeh Muslim. Number 1718]

And in another wording of this hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim the Prophet said:

[مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد ]

”He who does an act (of worship) which we have not commanded (i.e. not commanded by the Prophet), will have it rejected.”

And he (alayhis salaatu was-salaam) said:

 فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا، فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ؛ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ

Verily he lives long among you will see a lot of differing, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafaa ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs). Adhere to it with your molar teeth (i.e. adhere to it firmly). And beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for every newly invented matter [in the religion] is a bidah (innovation in the religion), and every bidah is misguidance.” [Abu Dawood. Number 4607] [Tirmidhee. Number 2676]

(Also) the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) has clarified in the hadeeth about the seventy three sects amongst whom seventy-two sects will enter the hell fire and one sect will be saved.  He clarified that this saved sect are those who adhere to the path him and his noble companions adhered to. 

Imaam Maalik [rahimahullaah] said: “The latter part of this Ummah (i.e. those who will come after the Salaf) will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified it’s earlier part (i.e. the Salaf).’’ And he [rahimahullaah) said: ‘’Whoever innovates a bidah in Islaam and considers it to be something good, then indeed he has claimed that Muhammad betrayed the Risaalah (i.e. the message he was entrusted with); because Allaah said: ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ -”This day, I have perfected your religion for you.” Therefore, what was not part of the religion at that time (i.e. during the time of the Messenger) cannot be part of the religion today (i.e. after his departure from this world).” [Al-Itisaam of Imaam Shaatibee 1/28]

It is not enough for a person to say: “I am going to do this act of worship even though it was not (performed by) the Prophet because my intention is pure and good.” The evidence (against this statement) is that when it reached the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) that a man amongst his noble companions slaughtered the Eed sacrifice before the Eed Salaah, he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said to him: شَاتُكَ شَاةُ لَحْمٍ– “Your (slaughtered sheep was just mutton (not a sacrifice).” [Saheeh Bukhaari. Number: 5556]; meaning: It is not considered Eed sacrifice because it was not carried out in conformity with my Sunnah. Therefore, what is in conformity with the Sunnah is that the Eed sacrifice is done after the Eed Salaah; but as for sacrificing before the Salaah, then indeed it is outside its specified time and will not be regarded as (Eed sacrifice).

Al-Haafidh said in Fat-hul Baaree (10/17): “Shaikh Abu Muhammad Bin Abu Hamzah said: In this hadeeth is (established the fact that) if an action (i.e. an act of worship) is done with a sincere intention, it is still not (considered) righteous unless it is in conformity with the legislated divine revelation.

Also that which will shed more light on this affair is when Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood came to a people who had gathered in the Masjid, and each of them had a number of stones/pebbles; and there was one man amongst them saying: ‘Say ‘Subhaanallaah’ a hundred times; say ‘Laa-ilaaha Ilal laah’ a hundred times; say ‘Allaahu Akbar’ a hundred times. So they repeated.

Then Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood approached them and said: “What is this that you are doing?” They said: “O Abu Abdurrahman! These are pebbles to count the number of times we say Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha Illal laah and Subhaanallaah.” He said: “Count your sins and I assure you that you are not going to lose anything of your hasanaat. O Ummah of Muhammad, how quick is your destruction! These are the Companions of your Prophet present in great numbers; these are his clothes not worn out yet, and his pots are not broken yet. I swear by the One (i.e. Allaah) in Whose Hands my soul is, either you are following a religion that is better than the Religion of Muhammad or you are opening a door of misguidance.” They said: “O Abu Abdurrahman! We swear by Allaaah that we intend nothing other than good.’’ He said: How many people want good but never reach it! [Sunan Ad-Daarimee 1/68-69] [Also recorded by Imaam Albaanee in As-silsilah As-Saheehah. Number 2005][

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[Source: أثر العبادات في حياة المسلم- page:4-11. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]