A novel way of putting people off the scholars has appeared, which is to categorize the scholars into those who are harsh and those who are lenient (tolerant), and sometimes [the people who claim this] say the scholars of one region are harsh and those of another are tolerant. What is your guidance on this?
He replied, may Allâh preserve and protect him:
This is one of the methods of the enemies of the Salafi Manhaj. Amongst the Salaf there were those who were lenient but they never used to hold it against each other. Rather, they used to respect those who were harsh against the followers of falsehood. You have [for example] Hammâd b. Salamah. Imâm Ahmad used to praise him greatly and suspect the religion of anyone who spoke against him [saying] ‘Whoever speaks against Hammâd b. Salmah, then suspect his religion because he was harsh against the People of Bid’ah. ’ Being harsh against the people of falsehood used to be a virtue according to the Salaf. But since the People of Bid’ah and misguidance have come and taken over the minds of many of the youth, very regrettably, being harsh against the people of falsehood has become a vice and a defect, and being relaxed and flexible [with them] has become a distinction and an honourable trait.
[You must] adhere to the Salafi Manhaj and take the Salafi position towards the People of Bid’ah. It is not wrong to call them to Allâh wisely and through good exhortation. If they respond, thanks and praise be to Allâh. If they do not, there is no wrong in being harsh against them and … The Salaf were harsh against them, and [in some cases] ordered some of them to be executed … [the Salaf] wrote many works [in refutation of them]. What do you say about them? Read Al-Sharî’ah of Al-Âjurrî, read Al-Sunnah of ‘Abdullah b. Ahmad, read Al-Sunnah of Al-Khallâl. Those [who decry being harsh towards the people of falsehood] have not read these works, they have not read these works and seen the position taken by the Salaf towards the People of Bid’ah and deviation. What should our stance be towards the Jahmîyah, what should our stance be towards the Râfidah and what should our stance be towards their followers and supporters? Many who associate themselves with the Salafi Manhaj got influenced by these currents and became compromised and began to fight against the callers to truth and the Sunnah [by accusing them of being] harsh.
I have written [refutations] and I am the harshest one. I wrote during the time of Ibn Bâz, Al-Albânî and Al-‘Uthaymîn. I refuted the Ikhwân Al-Muslimûn, (the Muslim Brotherhood) Al-Tablîgh (Tablighi Jamat) and all the People of Bid’ah and those scholars supported these writings and supported Rabî’. None of them opposed him and none of them said … Al-Albânî said a statement praising Rabî’, “[Shaykh Rabî’] is the bearer of the standard of Jar<span>h</span> and Ta’dîl in this era.” Hmm, what do you think about this? Then [Al-Albâni] said [Rabî’] has some harshness in him. These compromisers rejoiced and flew with the quote [spreading it everywhere]. I contacted Shaykh Al-Albânî and said, “Why O Shaykh do you accuse me of being harsh?” He said, “By Allah this is what I personally think.” I said, “O Shaykh, this harms the Salafi Da’wah and it harms me.” So the Shaykh apologized – Allah have mercy on him. Shortly afterwards, I sent him [my book] Al-‘Awâsim mimmâ fî Kutub Sayed Qutb min Al-Qawâsim, which is the harshest book I have written. [Shaykh Al-Albânî] read it and supported it because it was the truth, and said, ‘You have spoken the truth, so continue and do more O Shaykh Rabî’,’ or words to that effect, Allah have mercy on him. Ibn Bâz never … He used to say, “Refute the People of Bid’ah with wisdom and good exhortation.” He never used to oppose me, and by Allah he wrote to me saying, “It has reached me that you have refuted Al-Mawdûdî – Allah have mercy on him, and I hope you can send me a copy of this refutation.” He never used to object. Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî used to refute and refute harshly the People of Bid’ah, and Shaykh Ibn Bâz used to support him and recommend his books. Hmm, he never once said – and [Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî also] used to refute Al-Albânî – Allah bless you … Shaykh Ibn Bâz never silenced him, he would never say to him, ‘be silent,’ he would never say, ‘you are harsh,’ Allah bless you. Al-Fawzân used to refute the People of Bid’ah during the time of Shaykh Ibn Bâz, and he never said, ‘be silent,’ Allah bless you. Rather he would support him … there are so many writings [Shaykh Ibn Bâz] recommended of Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî and he praised my books and my methodology (manhaj), Allah have mercy on him. All of these Mashâikh used to be supportive.
This is the manhaj in which we have become weak. We are not on the same level as we used to be during their time, rather we have become weak but despite this they say we are harsh, and they say Ibn Bâz [was not like you]. By Allah, Ibn Bâz used to fight the People of Bid’ah and support those who fought them and praise those who fought them, Allah bless you. Bring me one proof that Ibn Bâz silenced one person who refuted the People of Bid’ah. Did he silence Al-Fawzân? Did he silence Al-Tuwayjirî? Did he silence Rabî’? Did he silence Al-Albânî? Not one of them. Likewise, all the scholars used to support and aid those who speak the word of truth and refute what is wrong. [People] asked Shaykh Al-‘Uthaymîn, they said, ‘People say such-and-such about Shaykh Rabî’.’ He said, “This is because he clarifies the condition of their icons and leaders.” And he supported me time after time…
After Ibn Bâz, Al-‘Uthaymîn and Al-Albânî had gone, they said, ‘these [remaining Shayks] are harsh.’ By Allah they lied, by Allah they were only seizing the opportunity. The death of these scholars was an opportunity for them to pounce on the Salafi Manhaj and upon its followers, tearing them apart with principles and methodologies of the falsest and most corrupt kind. They tore apart the Salafi youth across the world and planted in their minds [this idea] that this group are harsh and extreme. How can this be…? The scholars never criticized [the scholars who used to refute.] How can we assert the Salafi manhaj [in this way] when [the scholars] were the harshest against the People of Bid’ah?
Either we reject the Manhaj of the Salaf and follow the People of Bid’ah or we say we are Salafis and we follow the path of [those Salaf] in taking the decisive and resolute positions towards the People of Bid’ah. Yes, call to Allah with proofs and conclusive arguments, explain and clarify; if there is a heretic in front of you, a Râfi<span>d</span>î, <span>S</span>ûfî, grave-devotee, whatever. Call to Allah with wisdom and good exhortation, and with proofs and conclusive arguments. But when we come to write about the beliefs of the Râfiah, amongst whom there is lying, sinfulness and extremism, we don’t mention these things. We come to the Sûfîs, amongst whom there is lying, sinfulness and extremism, but we don’t mention these things…if you mention this lying and treachery and sinfulness they say you are harsh. A Sûfî, Ikhwânî … Hizbî Thrîrî who transgresses, lies, betrays, who has problems that Allah has explained, which have been explained […audio cuts off…] [the scholars of the Salaf used to say] ‘So and so is a liar, he is like this and he is like that’ Allah bless you; they used to state it clearly. Look in the books of Jarh and Ta’dîl, in the books of ‘Aqîdah, we cannot reach the level [the Salaf reached] in their Jihad against the People of Bid’ah and Shirk. By Allah we cannot reach that level now, why? Because now there stand against us those who associate themselves with the Salafi Manhaj [but] fight against this opposition [to the People of Bid’ah] and describe it as harshness.
We ask Allah to unite the hearts, and I advise the youth – and by Allah I have tens, rather, hundreds of advices to the Salafî youth on this – I advise them to unite together and be brothers to each other and employ the loftiest manners and behaviour when dealing with each other, Allah bless you. They should employ patience, forbearance and wisdom. In my lessons, lectures and tele-links, in which they call me from every place, by Allah I encourage them to come together. But these people who have stood in opposition to this Manhaj are the ones – by Allah – who tear the Salafi youth apart across the world, in the East and West. They tear them apart and plant within them false beliefs, and then accuse us of causing schism. By Allah I bring the youth together, and my books and recordings, which have been transcribed, all bear witness that I try to unite the youth.
In Algeria, Morocco, in Yemen, Shâm (Syria, Jordan(, Palestine, in all places I try to unite the youth who I know to be Salafîs, I try to bring them together in every way I can, but they [the opponents to this manhaj] cause splits and division. Never is the voice of schism and division raised except that they support that sinful voice, Allah bless you. We free ourselves in front of Allah from what these people slander us with. I have already said to you, wisdom is indeed needed, but … about the Râfi<span>d</span>ah, and People of Bid’ah, you clarify their condition, do not wrong them or lie about them, but explain the reality of their affair…
Dividing the Scholars into the Harsh Group and the Tolerant Group -part 2
Translated by Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimî
He replied, may Allâh preserve and protect him:
This is one of the methods of the enemies of the Salafi Manhaj. Amongst the Salaf there were those who were lenient but they never used to hold it against each other. Rather, they used to respect those who were harsh against the followers of falsehood. You have [for example] Hammâd b. Salamah. Imâm Ahmad used to praise him greatly and suspect the religion of anyone who spoke against him [saying] ‘Whoever speaks against Hammâd b. Salmah, then suspect his religion because he was harsh against the People of Bid’ah. ’ Being harsh against the people of falsehood used to be a virtue according to the Salaf. But since the People of Bid’ah and misguidance have come and taken over the minds of many of the youth, very regrettably, being harsh against the people of falsehood has become a vice and a defect, and being relaxed and flexible [with them] has become a distinction and an honourable trait.
[You must] adhere to the Salafi Manhaj and take the Salafi position towards the People of Bid’ah. It is not wrong to call them to Allâh wisely and through good exhortation. If they respond, thanks and praise be to Allâh. If they do not, there is no wrong in being harsh against them and … The Salaf were harsh against them, and [in some cases] ordered some of them to be executed … [the Salaf] wrote many works [in refutation of them]. What do you say about them? Read Al-Sharî’ah of Al-Âjurrî, read Al-Sunnah of ‘Abdullah b. Ahmad, read Al-Sunnah of Al-Khallâl. Those [who decry being harsh towards the people of falsehood] have not read these works, they have not read these works and seen the position taken by the Salaf towards the People of Bid’ah and deviation. What should our stance be towards the Jahmîyah, what should our stance be towards the Râfidah and what should our stance be towards their followers and supporters? Many who associate themselves with the Salafi Manhaj got influenced by these currents and became compromised and began to fight against the callers to truth and the Sunnah [by accusing them of being] harsh.
I have written [refutations] and I am the harshest one. I wrote during the time of Ibn Bâz, Al-Albânî and Al-‘Uthaymîn. I refuted the Ikhwân Al-Muslimûn, (the Muslim Brotherhood) Al-Tablîgh (Tablighi Jamat) and all the People of Bid’ah and those scholars supported these writings and supported Rabî’. None of them opposed him and none of them said … Al-Albânî said a statement praising Rabî’, “[Shaykh Rabî’] is the bearer of the standard of Jar<span>h</span> and Ta’dîl in this era.” Hmm, what do you think about this? Then [Al-Albâni] said [Rabî’] has some harshness in him. These compromisers rejoiced and flew with the quote [spreading it everywhere]. I contacted Shaykh Al-Albânî and said, “Why O Shaykh do you accuse me of being harsh?” He said, “By Allah this is what I personally think.” I said, “O Shaykh, this harms the Salafi Da’wah and it harms me.” So the Shaykh apologized – Allah have mercy on him. Shortly afterwards, I sent him [my book] Al-‘Awâsim mimmâ fî Kutub Sayed Qutb min Al-Qawâsim, which is the harshest book I have written. [Shaykh Al-Albânî] read it and supported it because it was the truth, and said, ‘You have spoken the truth, so continue and do more O Shaykh Rabî’,’ or words to that effect, Allah have mercy on him. Ibn Bâz never … He used to say, “Refute the People of Bid’ah with wisdom and good exhortation.” He never used to oppose me, and by Allah he wrote to me saying, “It has reached me that you have refuted Al-Mawdûdî – Allah have mercy on him, and I hope you can send me a copy of this refutation.” He never used to object. Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî used to refute and refute harshly the People of Bid’ah, and Shaykh Ibn Bâz used to support him and recommend his books. Hmm, he never once said – and [Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî also] used to refute Al-Albânî – Allah bless you … Shaykh Ibn Bâz never silenced him, he would never say to him, ‘be silent,’ he would never say, ‘you are harsh,’ Allah bless you. Al-Fawzân used to refute the People of Bid’ah during the time of Shaykh Ibn Bâz, and he never said, ‘be silent,’ Allah bless you. Rather he would support him … there are so many writings [Shaykh Ibn Bâz] recommended of Shaykh Al-Tuwayjirî and he praised my books and my methodology (manhaj), Allah have mercy on him. All of these Mashâikh used to be supportive.
This is the manhaj in which we have become weak. We are not on the same level as we used to be during their time, rather we have become weak but despite this they say we are harsh, and they say Ibn Bâz [was not like you]. By Allah, Ibn Bâz used to fight the People of Bid’ah and support those who fought them and praise those who fought them, Allah bless you. Bring me one proof that Ibn Bâz silenced one person who refuted the People of Bid’ah. Did he silence Al-Fawzân? Did he silence Al-Tuwayjirî? Did he silence Rabî’? Did he silence Al-Albânî? Not one of them. Likewise, all the scholars used to support and aid those who speak the word of truth and refute what is wrong. [People] asked Shaykh Al-‘Uthaymîn, they said, ‘People say such-and-such about Shaykh Rabî’.’ He said, “This is because he clarifies the condition of their icons and leaders.” And he supported me time after time…
After Ibn Bâz, Al-‘Uthaymîn and Al-Albânî had gone, they said, ‘these [remaining Shayks] are harsh.’ By Allah they lied, by Allah they were only seizing the opportunity. The death of these scholars was an opportunity for them to pounce on the Salafi Manhaj and upon its followers, tearing them apart with principles and methodologies of the falsest and most corrupt kind. They tore apart the Salafi youth across the world and planted in their minds [this idea] that this group are harsh and extreme. How can this be…? The scholars never criticized [the scholars who used to refute.] How can we assert the Salafi manhaj [in this way] when [the scholars] were the harshest against the People of Bid’ah?
Either we reject the Manhaj of the Salaf and follow the People of Bid’ah or we say we are Salafis and we follow the path of [those Salaf] in taking the decisive and resolute positions towards the People of Bid’ah. Yes, call to Allah with proofs and conclusive arguments, explain and clarify; if there is a heretic in front of you, a Râfi<span>d</span>î, <span>S</span>ûfî, grave-devotee, whatever. Call to Allah with wisdom and good exhortation, and with proofs and conclusive arguments. But when we come to write about the beliefs of the Râfiah, amongst whom there is lying, sinfulness and extremism, we don’t mention these things. We come to the Sûfîs, amongst whom there is lying, sinfulness and extremism, but we don’t mention these things…if you mention this lying and treachery and sinfulness they say you are harsh. A Sûfî, Ikhwânî … Hizbî Thrîrî who transgresses, lies, betrays, who has problems that Allah has explained, which have been explained […audio cuts off…] [the scholars of the Salaf used to say] ‘So and so is a liar, he is like this and he is like that’ Allah bless you; they used to state it clearly. Look in the books of Jarh and Ta’dîl, in the books of ‘Aqîdah, we cannot reach the level [the Salaf reached] in their Jihad against the People of Bid’ah and Shirk. By Allah we cannot reach that level now, why? Because now there stand against us those who associate themselves with the Salafi Manhaj [but] fight against this opposition [to the People of Bid’ah] and describe it as harshness.
We ask Allah to unite the hearts, and I advise the youth – and by Allah I have tens, rather, hundreds of advices to the Salafî youth on this – I advise them to unite together and be brothers to each other and employ the loftiest manners and behaviour when dealing with each other, Allah bless you. They should employ patience, forbearance and wisdom. In my lessons, lectures and tele-links, in which they call me from every place, by Allah I encourage them to come together. But these people who have stood in opposition to this Manhaj are the ones – by Allah – who tear the Salafi youth apart across the world, in the East and West. They tear them apart and plant within them false beliefs, and then accuse us of causing schism. By Allah I bring the youth together, and my books and recordings, which have been transcribed, all bear witness that I try to unite the youth.
In Algeria, Morocco, in Yemen, Shâm (Syria, Jordan(, Palestine, in all places I try to unite the youth who I know to be Salafîs, I try to bring them together in every way I can, but they [the opponents to this manhaj] cause splits and division. Never is the voice of schism and division raised except that they support that sinful voice, Allah bless you. We free ourselves in front of Allah from what these people slander us with. I have already said to you, wisdom is indeed needed, but … about the Râfi<span>d</span>ah, and People of Bid’ah, you clarify their condition, do not wrong them or lie about them, but explain the reality of their affair…
Dividing the Scholars into the Harsh Group and the Tolerant Group -part 2
Translated by Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimî
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