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Do Not Follow That Which You Have No Knowledge – By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah]

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

And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned [by Allah].
[Surah Al-Israa’ Aayah 36]

Meaning:

-Do not accuse anyone of something you have no knowledge of.
-Do not say that you have seen, whilst you haven’t seen.
-Do not say that you have heard, whilst you haven’t heard.
-Do not give false testimony.

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Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilm At-tafseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah]

Be Warned Against These Deceivers!

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

[You] find the likes of this dishonesty today; there is that one who approaches two disputing parties – one group upon truth and the other upon falsehood, so he misguides all of them and does not give greater weight to the truth. He manifests a new doctrine which he considers to be the balance path, whilst it is falsehood and sophistry in and of itself. This category of people are a dangerous trend and their foundation is lying and deception.

Source:
افتراءات دحر
Footnote on page 191

The Great Virtue of Busying Oneself In Worship During Times of Fitan And Returning To The Upright Scholars of The Ummah

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

Maqil Bin Yasaar [radiyallaahu-anhu] narrated that Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: ”Worship during Al-Harj is like emigrating to me.” [Ref 1]

Imaam An-Nawawi [rahimahullaah] said:

The intent behind [the word] ‘Harj’ in this Hadeeth is when the affairs of the people are in a state of Ikhtilaat [i.e. chaos, confusion, disorder, dissarry  etc]. And the reason behind the great virtue of worship during this state of affairs is because the people are heedless of worship and diverted from it, and none fulfils it except [some or few] individuals. [Ref 2]

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:

The intent behind [the word] Al-Harj is Al-Ikhtilaat [i.e. chaos, confusion, disarray] when it occurs between the Muslims. That is because many people are diverted from worship due to this state of confusion [chaos, disarray etc]. Also killing and blood shed occurs during this state of affairs. Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] urges a person to engage in worship during the time of fitan, because the majority of the people are diverted from worship. The one who busies himself with worship [during this time] is like one who has migrated to Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhiwasallam]. You know the virtue Al-Hijrah [migration]! Al-Hijrah in the Arabic language means to abandon. Allaah said: [وَٱلرُّجۡزَ فَٱهۡجُرۡ  – And keep away from the idols][Al-Muddathir’ Aayah 5]

The One who engages in worship during times of fitan and it does not divert him from worship, he has the reward of one who migrated to Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], because a Muhaajir [emigrant] leaves his country and flees to Allaah’s Messenger sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] in order to safeguard his religion, and took place in the early Islamic era – during the era of the Messenger [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]. So, the word Hijrah [miration] in the Islamic legislation means to leave the land of kufr and settle in the land of Imaan in order to safeguard one’s religion.

The word Hijrah is also intended to mean abandonment in general, so the one who abandons Fitna and busies himself with worship, then indeed he has abandoned Fitna and proceeded towards worship. Therefore, Hijrah means to abandon something. Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said: A [true] Muslim is the one whom other Muslims are safe from his tongue and hands, and a Muhaajir [emigrant] is one who refrains from what Allaah has forbidden. [Ref A]

Therefore, he is a Muhaajir because he abandons what Allaah has forbidden and fulfils what Allaah has commanded. This Hadeeth urges [exhorts] a person to engage in worship during times of fitna, because Fitna diverts people from worship except the one whom Allaah blesses with the ability to abandon Fitna and engages in worship.

However, this does not mean that one refrains from warning against Fitna and clarifying for the people, rather – firstly – he abandons Fitna, warns the people and forbids them from it. That is because just as he would like the people to come to him with good, he should also go to them with good. Just as he loves to be safe from Fitna, he should also love the same for the people. This deed of his is Jihaad [striving in the path of Allaah] and Inkaarul Munkar [i.e. the virtuous act of rejecting evil].  [Ref 3]

 

Who to Return to During Times of Fitan

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allaah upon you, you would have followed Shaitaan (Satan), save a few of you.'[4:83]

Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: ”In this ayah (there) is a rebuke against the one who rushes towards affairs and then gives news about it before verifying it – circulates and spreads it -and perhaps there is no credibility in it.”

Therefore, this ayah obligates verification and clarification when (news) is heard, as Ibn katheer (rahimahullaah) mentioned. It rebukes the one who hastens in transmitting and spreading (news) before verifying its credibility.

This ayah (also) guides to another affair and that is (important news touching public safety and fear) is to be relayed to those in authority from amongst the Scholars and the Rulers and not to the common people, for there is no benefit in transmitting it to the common people; rather what is of benefit is that it is transmitted to the people in authority because they are those with a sound understanding of the affairs and the benefits that are extracted from them. They are the ones with the ability to avert the harmful affairs.

Ibn Katheer then mentioned a number of narrations about being careful about hastiness and lack of verifying news- and from them is a narration by Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears’’.

And Mugheerah bin Shubah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said, ‘’The Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) forbade Qeel Wal Qaal (i.e. so and so said)’’.  Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said, ‘’It is the one who narrates a great deal of that which the people say without verification, contemplation and clarification’’.

Then Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) stated:

The hadith of Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) collected by Bukhaari and Muslim should be mentioned here; when Umar was told that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) divorced his wives, he left his house and entered the mosque, where he found the people talking about it; so he could not endure waiting and ask for the permission of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) to speak to him; then Umar asked the Prophet, saying, ‘‘Have you divorced your women?’’ The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said, ‘No’.  So Umar said, I said ‘Allaahu Akbar……’

And in the narration collected by Imaam Muslim, Umar said, I asked, ‘Have you divorced them?’ The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said, ‘No’.  So I stood by the door of the mosque and shouted with a loud voice, saying, ‘The Messenger of Allaah did not divorce his wives’.  Then the ayah (i.e. Ayah 83, Surah Nisaa) was revealed.  Umar said, ‘I investigated this affair properly’ (i.e. whether the Prophet did divorce his wives).

Imaam As-Sadi [rahimahullaah] said about this Aayaah [i.e. An-Nisaa 83]: This is a moral conduct [commanded by Allaah] to His slaves – that they do not do this [i.e. hasten to spread news]. And it is obligated on them that when there comes to them an affair from the important affairs – matters related to a universal benefit for the people, public safety and those affairs on which depends the sorrow or happiness of the believers, or an affair of public fear which may bring about calamity upon them- that they should verify the [news of that affair] and not to be hasty in spreading it; rather they should refer it back to the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and to those in authority- the people of sound opinions, the people of knowledge; those who can give sound advice, the people of intelligence and those who approach affairs with calmness, and they are those who know what is of overriding benefit and that which is in opposition to it [i.e. the scholars].  So, if they see that disseminating such news will bring about an overriding benefit for the Muslims, strengthen them, bring about happiness and make them vigilant over their enemies, then they would disseminate such news; but if they see that there is no overriding benefit in disseminating such news, or that there is benefit in it, but there is more harm in doing so; then they would not circulate such news.  That is why Allaah stated:

وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ

‘’If only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly)’’- Meaning: They would have derived from it [the proper cause of action] through contemplation and through their correct opinions and rightly guided sciences.

Therefore, in this there is proof regarding a principle related to a moral conduct, that when an [important affair] from the [important affairs] suddenly appears, it is obligatory to refer it to those who are competent in the affair and one should not put himself forward before them, for that is closer to correctness and [safer] in preventing mistakes. And in this, there is a prohibition against being hasty in circulating news [that is related important affairs of public safety or fear] and a command to contemplate before speaking- to look into the affair, as to whether it is an affair of overriding benefit to be dealt with, or whether it should be avoided if it does not carry an [overriding benefit].

[وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ وَرَحۡمَتُهُ – Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you]- Meaning: by way granting you the ability to act upon righteousness, instructed you with moral conducts and taught you that which you never knew, then [لَٱتَّبَعۡتُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬  – you would have followed Shaitan (Satan), save a few of you]. [Ref 4]

Shaikh Ubaid Bin Abdillaah Al-Jaabiriy [may Allaah preserve him] says:

When the people of virtue and righteousness were faced with an adversity and an intricate affair, they would go to the Senior People of knowledge to ask them and seek a Jawaab Ash-Shaafee Al-Kaafee [i.e. an appropriate answer that would bring about rectification of the religious affairs and preservation of the well-being of the people based on the Qur’aan and the Sunnah]. This is a followed path –beginning since the era of Prophet’s companions, then the Imaams of the Taabi’een and then –after them- the people of knowledge, virtue, religion and Eemaan. And how beautiful is what Ibn Mas’ood said: The people will not cease to be righteous and upright as long as knowledge comes to them from the companions of Muhammad [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and their elders. But if knowledge comes to them from their young ones, they will be destroyed. [Ref 5]


[Ref 1: Saheeh Muslim: Kitaab Al-Fitan Wa-Ash’raat As-Saa’ah- Chapter: The virtue of Ibaadah During Al-Harj. Hadeeth Number 2948]

[Ref 2: Saheeh Muslim Bi-Sharhi An-Nawawi. Vol 17. page 70. Hadeeth Number 2948. slightly paraphrased. Publishers: Daar al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah. Ist Edition 1421 (Year 200) ]

[Ref A: Bukhaari. Hadeeth Number 2382 and Muslim. Hadeeh Number 84]

Ref 3: https://safeshare.tv/my/add/safeview?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhXhxZQONPlc

[Ref 4: Al-Fitnah Wa Mawqiful Muslim Minhaa’ 78-83 by Shaikh Muhammad Aqeel. Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 5: An Excerpt from:  الطيب الجني على شرح السنة للإمام المزني – page 19. slightly paraphrased]

Leadership Is Not to Be Given to Those Who Crave For It Regardless The Promises They Make When Asking For It

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

Narrated Abu Musa [radiyallaahu-anhu]: Two men from my tribe and I entered upon the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]. One of the two men said to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], ‘’O Allaah’s Messenger! Appoint me as a governor,’ and so did the second. The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’We do not assign the authority of the ruling to those who ask for it, nor those who are keen to have it.’’

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Saheeh Al-Bukhaari

Hadeeth Number 7149

We Should Always Ask Allaah to Show Us The Truth, Enable Us to Follow It And Protect Us From Blind Loyalty

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

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him] said:

And [regarding] the person with the proofs, it is obligatory to take his speech [on the grounds] of following Allaah’s legislation and Proofs, and not [due to] the personality of that person.

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Source: An Excerpt from the ‘Majmoo’ of the Shaikh. Vol 9. page 40

A Faa’idah From Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee [rahimahullaah]

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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَالْمُسْلِمِينَ 
And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: “My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will).”
Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee [rahimahullaah] said:
And in this Aayah [there is evidence to show that] indeed it is befitting for the one who has reached the age of forty to increase in making these supplications.
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَالْمُسْلِمِينَ
My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will).”
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Fat-hul Qadeer’ 5/22

Verify, Contemplate And Ask The Scholars Before Speaking, For Indeed Sometimes The Transmitters Harbour Evil Intentions Or Are Genuinely Mistaken! – A Brief Reminder By Shaikh Uthaymeen

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

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:

Verification is one of the most important affairs, if not the most important. Verifying what is transmitted from others is an important affair, because sometimes the transmitters harbour evil intentions, so they transmit – intentionally and deliberately – that which will tarnish the reputation of the one they transmit from. And sometimes they do not harbour an evil intention, but they understand something in a manner that is opposite to what is intended by it.
Therefore, it is obligatory to verify. So, when the proof [sound source] of the transmission is established, then the one from whom the statement was transmitted is engaged in a discussion [or his statement is examined] before a judgement is passed to [establish] as to whether it is a mistake or not. That is because it may become clear to you – by way of discussion [or observation] – that the one from whom the statement was transmitted is correct.
And if not, then what is [well] known is that if a person were to immediately pass a judgement merely based on what he hears, he will transmit things [i.e. statements, views, opinions etc] from some of the scholars – those considered to be the beacons of [Sharee’ah] knowledge – that which the souls will dislike; but when one verifies, contemplates and attaches himself to the Shaikh [or has close contact with the Shaikh], he [i.e. the Shaikh] will make the affair clear for him.
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Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 75-76.
abridged & slightly paraphrased

Sit Down And Learn From The Scholars – [A Brief Reminder By Shaikh Rabee (hafidhahullaah)]

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

How can you not humble yourself in the presence of a scholar and sit on your knees in his presence with [good] etiquettes and take [knowledge from] him! We do not declare personalities to be free from shortcomings nor do we exaggerate their status, but we [deal with them based] on [good] etiquettes and honor [them]; and we acknowledge – in particular – the station of the scholars of the Sunnah, for indeed the scholars of bidah are not scholars [in reality].
The [true] scholars are those scholars who [possess sound understanding] of the Book of Allaah – the scholars of Tawheed and the [authentic] Sunnah. As long as they do not [hold and propagate] speech that is tantamount to [clear error or misrepresentation], excess and slanderous speech, as is the case with others, then we sit with this scholar and learn from him.
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Source: An Excerpt from ‘Majmoo Kutub Wa Rasaa’il Wa Fataawaa Fadheelatish Shaikh Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Umayr Al-Mad’khalee 1/36. slightly paraphrased

O Allaah! Grant Us Tawfeeq So That What Is Unknown to The People About Us Becomes More Upright Than What They Know!

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah] said:
Indeed, a believer may hide some of his deeds, whilst his inner self is more upright [i.e. the righteousness in his heart etc] than his outward deeds [i.e. the righteous deeds he or she does openly etc]
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Source: Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’  page 223

A Response To The Statement: Do Not Seek After The Mistakes of The People- [By Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool]

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

Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said:

This statement is reiterated by some people when warning reaches them from one of the scholars or a student of knowledge against innovated statements [or views] that have occurred from some of the people, or when informed about mistakes committed in knowledge; so you find that his face becomes red, his [behaviour] changes and he says, ‘’Do not scrutinise the beliefs of the people and do not seek after mistakes.’’ The reality is that this statement is truth by way of which falsehood is intended in this particular instance.

Firstly: The right place to [make this statement] is when one seeks after secrets and hidden affairs that have neither manifested nor are there any factual evidence to substantiate that. The place [where this statement cannot be uttered] is  when innovation appears from one of [the people] or when one of them calls to falsehood, since there is a difference between that which is manifested and that which is either concealed and unknown or there is no indication to [affirm the affair].

Secondly: This statement of theirs will lead to the abandonment of warning against mistakes, innovation and falsehood, and the common people will be beguiled; rather even some of the students of knowledge will become heedless of this situation.

Thirdly: Was the speech of the Salaf in relation to warning against innovation and the people of falsehood not [carried out] from the angle of warning against false beliefs, innovations and affairs that are in opposition to the Sunnah?  So, how can it be said, ‘do not scrutinise the beliefs and mistakes of the people’ to a person who either warns against an innovation that has been manifested or points out a mistake committed by an individual?

Fourthly: Scrutinising the beliefs of the people by way of interrogation and trial as the Khaleefah Mamoon did with regards to the belief that the [Qur’aan is created], then this is an innovation that is warned against.  [However] to make a clarification and [issue] warning against an innovation that is propagated by some people, unveiling the falsehood of the callers to falsehood and warning against them, this is not from that [type of scrutiny that is disapproved].

Fifthly: Those who blame the one who unveils the [affairs] of the people of falsehood and issues warning against them, then it is either that they reject innovations or do not reject them!  If they reject innovation, point out mistakes and falsehood, and warn against them, then indeed they have pursued the right course by the Will of Allaah [The Most High]’ but why would they disapprove of those who take their place in renouncing innovation?! And if they do not warn the people against falsehood, then this [i.e. behaviour or stance of theirs] is not from the methodology of the Salaf and it suffices as a rebuke against them.

Sixthly: It has been reported in Durar As-Saniyyah [1/33] that the Imaam, the Mujaddid, Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] said: I hold that the people of innovation are to be boycotted and their affair is to be made known until they repent.  I pass judgement against them based on what is apparent and I leave their secrets [or hidden] affairs to Allaah.  And I believe that every newly invented matter in the Religion is an innovation.

This [statement of Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] is the statement of a Salafiy Athariy [i.e. a true follower of the Salaf and the authentic narrations] that emanates from the statement of Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaahu-anhu] when he said:

”People were (sometimes) judged by the revealing of a Divine Inspiration during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle but now there is no longer any more (new revelation). Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly, so we will trust and favour the one who does good deeds in front of us, and we will not call him to account about what he is really doing in secret, for Allah will judge him for that; but we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good.’’ [Saheeh Bukhaari; Vol 3; Hadith Number:2641]

So examine the statement of Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] when he said: ”I judge [ahlul bidah] based upon what is apparent” and examine the statement of Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaahu-anhu] when he said, ”But we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good.”  Then examine the [affair] of that person who disapproves of one who warns against ahlul bidah and exposes their falsehood- claiming that ]this warning against ahlul bidah] is tantamount to [blameworthy] scrutiny of the Aqeedah of the people.  Is this [statement of his] correct? Glorified and Exalted You are, O My Lord!  Is not judgement passed against the people except through what is apparent?! This principle affirmed by Al Faarooq, Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaah-anhu] is utiliseed in in warning against a person of innovation when he manifests his innovation.

The Stance of Imaam Ahmad towards Daawood Ibn Ali Al- Asbahaanee

Daawood Ibn Ali Al-Asbahaanee came to Saaleh Ibn Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal with whom he used to have a good relationship.  So he [Daawood] spoke to Saaleh Ibn Imaam Ahmad to make it easy for him to meet his father. So Saaleh approached Imaam Ahmad [i.e. his father] and said: A man asked me to bring him to you.

Imaam Ahmad said: What is his name?

Saaleh replied: Daawood.

Imaam Ahmad said: Where is he from?

Saaleh replied: He is from the people of Asbahaan.

Imaam Ahmad said: Has he being [involved] in fabricating anything?

At this point: Saaleh refrained from describing Daawood to his father [Imaam Ahmad].  So he [Imaam Ahmad] did not stop enquiring about Daawood until he knew who he was.  Then he said: Muhammad Bin Yahyaa An-Naysabooree wrote to me about this [Daawood] saying that he [Daawood] claims that the Qur’aan is something that was brought into existence [i.e. created], so do not bring him near me.

Saaleh said: O my father! he [Daawood] has negated and renounced this [statement].

Imaam Ahmad replied: Muhammad Bin Yahyaa is more trustworthy than him.  I do not give you permission to bring him to me.

O my brother! Contemplate upon the stance of Imaam Ahmad.  He is the Imaam of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah in his adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and the narrations of the Sahaabah; so did he use to scrutinise the beliefs of the people and seek after their mistakes?!  So examine his [above conversation with his son Saaleh] as well as the statement of Umar Ibnul Khattaab mentioned earlier, ”But we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good.”

Therefore, the statement of Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] is certified by the statements of the Rightly Guided Khaleefah Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaahu-anhu] and that of Imaam Ahmad Bin Hanbal [rahimahullaah].


[1] Source: ‘Ibaaraat Moohimah’ pages 66-69. slightly paraphrased]