Keen Scholarly Insight of Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah preserve him) About the Causes of Differing During Crises and Emergencies

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

QUESTION: We are here together, and to Allah is all praise, gathered and talking to one another [cordially], without any differing between us. Yet, I see that when some of us return to their lands, they begin differing, even warning against each other. This happens even though they are all Salafees, their reference points are the same, and they all honor the same scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah in this land. So what is your advice to them, may Allah reward you with goodness?

ANSWER: I always advise my brothers and my children among the students of knowledge to stay away from whatever causes differing. This means that sticking to the texts [of revelation] is an absolutely necessary matter; it is a must. Yet, there are ijtihaadaat (attempts to assess and derive rulings on issues) which lead to division. Some ijtihaadaat are beneficial; Allah provides benefit through them to Islam and the Muslims. For this reason, the door of ijtihaad remains open, open to provide benefit to the Ummah, to guide them, to derive rulings from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace. The one who tries to shut the door of ijtihaad is mistaken, and he has no evidence.

However, firstly, no one is to perform ijtihaad other than one suitable for it, one who has equipped himself with the sciences of the Book, the Sunnah, the [Arabic] Language, and other things. This is the one who performs ijtihaad and investigates relative matters when nawaazil (crucial matters in need of important rulings) take place.

As for students of knowledge, one of them tries to understand as much as he can from the textual evidence. However, in current events and crises, no one is to speak other than the elite Continue reading

Important Advice From Shaykh ‘Arafat al-Muhammadi

Stated Shaykh ‘Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah preserve him), one of the scholars recommended by Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jaabiree shortly before his passing (may Allah have Mercy on him):

We eat, drink, sleep, relax, we read and listen, but despite that there is weakness in us, a lack of action, a lack of remembrance, a lack of supererogatory prayer, night prayer, mid-morning prayer, and other than that from the supererogatory acts of worship.

Among us there is a wastage of time, and a creation of problems between us because of spare time – because we have spare time we end up becoming involved in problems and issues, we stir up problems between us. If you were preoccupied with memorisation of the Qur-ān and its recitation, and memorisation of the Sunnah and lessons, you would not have spare time for gossip.

As for the knowledge of appraisal and disparagement then this field has its men from ahlus-Sunnah, and the students are behind their scholars. However, we have begun delving into matters that do not benefit, matters that are actually harmful, that are causes of splitting occurring. If you know that this particular matter – a matter from the affairs of the world, some statement or action – you know it upsets your brother and is a cause of placing your brother into a difficult situation, and discomforting him, then why do you do it! Why do you do it? Why do you engage in it? Stay away from everything that is a cause for splitting and separating, and likewise from that which causes pain to your brother, or is a reason for causing him pain…

Read the full article here: PDF

Translation by: Shaykh Taqweem Aslam Abu Muadh (may Allah reward him well)

Arabic source: MP3

May Allah bless and reward both Shaykh ‘Arafat and the translator. This is beautiful advice, and I ask Allah to allow it to reach our hearts! This entire passage reminds me of the beautiful admonitions we would hear so often from our beloved shaykh, al-‘Allaamah Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah preserve him). Moosaa Richardson

Avoiding the Misguided Sects: The Prophetic Solution

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

After warning his Ummah about the splitting and differing that will take place, the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) clarified that the one single group of the 73 sects that will go to Paradise is known as “the Jamaa’ah”. [1]

This is further detailed in another narration (what means): “What I and my companions are upon.” [2]

These narrations are authentic by way of their numerous supporting chains. [3]

In another crucially important hadeeth, the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said (what means): “Those of you who live long after me shall witness great differing. So upon you is (to follow) my Sunnah, and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs, hold tightly to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth. And be warned of newly-invented matters (in the Religion), as every newly-invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.” [4]

Which group today remains firm upon this way? When you look to all the various groups and their foundations, you only find one group today that claims pure adherence to the way of the Prophet and his noble companions. They are Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, the people who cling tightly to the way of the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) and his companions. Whether you call them Sunnis, Salafees, Atharees, Ahlul-Hadeeth, Ahlul-Athar, or any other description, they are the only ones whose true allegiance is to the Book and the Sunnah, according to the understanding of the Companions. They are the Jamaa’ah described in the hadeeth. [5]

Is the Jamaa’ah the Majority of the Muslims?

Some people are confused by a common notion that the word “Jamaa’ah” refers to the majority of the Muslims. Based on this Continue reading

Splitting into Groups and Parties

[ In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful… ]

QUESTIONER: All praise is due to Allaah, may His Salaah and Salaam be upon His trustworthy Messenger, and upon all of his family and companions, to proceed:

This is a question for our shaykh, the ‘Allaamah, Shaykh Naasir. The questioner asks, “What is the Sharee’ah’s ruling on these numerous Islaamic groups, sects, and organizations – as they are different from each other in their methodologies, styles, calls, and beliefs, the very foundations that they are established upon? In regards specifically to the hadeeth that proves that the group that adheres to the Truth is a single group?” Continue reading

The Saved Sect May Be Separated on Earth, but They are One in Belief and Methodology

[ This is the conclusion of the article, Splitting into Groups and Parties, by Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaanee (d.1420) – may Allaah have Mercy on him. ]

…The reason why I have brought all these points is so that we understand that there is no way to reach the true, correct understanding of Islaam, except by knowing the seerah of the Companions and how they practiced this great Islaam, the religion that he (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) taught them personally, whether by his statements, actions, or approvals. Continue reading