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Tag: methodology

This Man is from Ahlul Bidah! [Does This Necessitate That He is a Mubtadi?]

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

Questioner asked Shaikh Ubaid [may Allaah preserve him]: The questioner says: Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuhu. We hear a statement from some of the Mashaayihk of Ahlus Sunnah: ‘’This man is from the people of Bidah’’; is it understood that he is a Mubtadi [an innovator] or not?’’

Answer: What I have knowledge of is that this statement has two applications according to Ahlus Sunnah. The first of them and it is what is meant in most cases is that he is a Mubtadi [an innovator]. He knows the truth but he is an obstinate person. He refuses [truth], but not deviation; he knows the Sunnah, but refuses to follow it and [follows] Bidah. He commits Bidah whilst knowing that it is bidah.

The other meaning is that this man is a person upon innovation-meaning: He commits bidah even though he is not an innovator, because what we know regarding the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaaa’ah is that they do not declare any specific person an innovator until the proofs are established against him.


[Source: Al-Haddul Faasil Bayna Mu-aamalah Ahl As-Sunnah Wa Ahl Al-Baatil 60. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

The People of Jaahiliyyah Claimed That They Followed Their Pious Predecessors, Even Though Their Beliefs and Practices Opposed That of Their Pious Predecessors

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

Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’They [People of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance] claimed to follow [their Salaf – pious predecessors], while they clearly opposed and contradicted them.

Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] commented on the above statement saying:

The common [people] amongst the Jews and the Christians and the people of misguidance amongst those who attribute themselves to Islaam– all of them claim to follow the believers who preceded them.  So the Jews claim that they follow Moosaa [alyahis-salaam] and those who believed in him; the Christians claim that they follow the Messiah [alayhis-salaam] and those who believed in him; the people of misguidance of this Ummah claim that they follow the pious predecessors of this Ummah- the Sahaabah, the Taa’bi’een and the At’baa At-Taabi’een- and that what they are upon is the way of the pious predecessors. The claim of everyone who claims to be upon the path of the pious predecessors or upon the methodology of the pious predecessors cannot be  sound, until he makes apparent what he is upon based on the Methodology of the pious predecessors. So if that conforms to [the Methodology of the pious predecessors], then he is upon the Methodology of the pious predecessors, and if it is in opposition, then he is not upon the Methodology of the pious predecessors, even if he makes that claim.

Every deviated party [or sect] at present claims to be upon the way of the pious predecessors, but they are not upon the Methodology of the pious predecessors- because the statement of the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] regarding the way of the pious predecessors is: ‘’those upon that which I [Muhamad] and my companions are upon’’ is not applicable to them. This is what it [means] to be upon the methodology of the pious predecessors.  As for the one who is in opposition to this, then he is not upon the methodology of the pious predecessors even if he claims that.  Those who claim Salafiyyah are many, but they must make apparent what they are upon and if that is in conformity [with Salafiyyah], then it is truth; but if in opposition, then they are not upon the Methodology of the pious predecessors.

Likewise, there are those who attribute themselves to the Madhabs of the Four Imaams whilst being in opposition to the Imaams in Aqeedah, so their ascription is not correct because they oppose [the Imaams] in the most important of affairs and that is the Aqeedah.


[Sharh- Ma’saa’ilil Jaahiliyyah of Sheikh Fawzaan (Page: 295-296). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

[1] Principles We Must Revise and Apply in Stoke -on- Trent, and Do Not say, ‘’It does not concern me.’’

Question to Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi (may Allaah preserve him)

A lot of mistakes and differing occurs amongst the Salafi youth as a result of the return or claimed return of an opponent of the Salafi Manhaj to the domain of Salafiyyah; what is your advice to the youth, (because) some of them accept the repentance of (such a person) and others do not?

Answer:
Whatever the case may be, if a person falls into Sin, doubts, Bidah, and then repents- turning in repentance and obedience to Allaah, then it is not permissible for anyone to close the door of repentance in his face because the door of repentance is open until the sun rises from The West.  If a person repents and returns, it is obligatory to praise and encourage him.

However, some people are well known for lying and alternating (i.e. being inconsistent with their claims and stances); so he (the person) acts as if he is repentant.  So with regards to this person, we say: In-shaa-Allaah, your repentance is accepted, but we are cautious of him until he manifests his sound/correct repentance (i.e. by being consistence in what he manifests that he has abandoned his past mistakes)

Abul Hasan Al-Ash’ari announced his repentance on the Minbar. He used to be an extreme Mutazili–a leader amongst the leaders of the Mutazilah. He persisted in defense of this evil school of thought for forty years and repented thereafter. He announced his repentance. And from the proofs of his repentance is that he began to author books of astounding refutation against the Mutizalah–rebuttal of their doubts.   So there are signs of truthful acts of repentance that dismisses doubts (about the soundness of his repentance); meaning: He publicized and manifested to the people that he is one who follows the truth.

 So there are affairs that show the truthfulness of (the repentant one) and there are factual evidences that show the untruthfulness of (the one who merely claims to have repented).  He (the person) is encouraged if there are factual evidences showing his truthfulness. (On the other hand) it is incumbent upon the Salafiyyoon to be cautious of him if there are factual evidences showing only the mere claims of his (repentance), as it may be that he is being deceitful.

The groups are widespread and it is not possible to ruin the Salafi youth and hinder the Salafi youth from the Salafi Methodology, except with either claims of (ascription) to Salafiyyah or (claims) of withdrawal from mistakes that are in opposition to the Salafi Manhaj.  So if they (i.e. the Salafi youth) incline towards him (i.e. the one who claims repentance), he may be able to entice the one he can entice amongst them towards a corrupt Methodology.  This does take place.

Whatever the case may be encouragement is given to the one from whom repentance is manifested and it is obligatory to be cautious of the one from whom playing games is manifested.  The Salafiyyoon should be alert with regards to the likes of these (people).

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[Source: Siyaanatus Salafi Min Waswasati Wa-Talbeesaat Ali Al-Halabi. page: 79-80. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]