In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Exalted, said:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا

And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge (e.g. one’s saying: “I have seen,” while in fact he has not seen, or “I have heard,” while he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah). [Al-Isra 36]

Last year, I posted an article regarding speculations some individuals had about Salafibookstore and Shaikh Abu Kahdeejah, may Allah protect him. You can find it at this link. https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2024/08/25/is-the-salafi-bookstore-his-personal-business-pursuit/

Today, I want to briefly clarify a misconception held by some individuals who suggest that no decision is finalised without the consent of Abu Khadeejah, or that if you can get Abu Khadeejah on board with something, others will inevitably follow. This is yet another misconception that leads some to believe that Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, may Allah protect him, is like an army commander in various places. In reality, Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, like other Mashayikh, is consulted on local Dawah matters. Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, along with the other local Mashayikh, is respected for his experience in Dawah issues in the UK, and he has earned the trust of Al-Allamah Rabee, Al-Allamah Ubaid, and Al-Allamah Al-Ghudiyaan, may Allah have mercy upon them. Their trust in him and other Salafi teachers stems from their honesty and commitment to the Salafi methodology for over thirty years.

Secondly, I (Abdullah) have had easy access to Shaikh Abu Khadeejah for nearly 17 years, primarily because of living in Birmingham. However, my ability to meet him in person has decreased recently due to his busy schedule and other commitments. Additionally, the brothers from the Manchester Masjid Committee and the Stoke On Trent Masjid Committees (Masjid al-Furqan and Masjid Abi Hurairah), along with other Salafi brothers, have easy access to Shaikh Abdul Ilah and others. Various Salafi brothers from different cities reach out to these local Mashayikh for a variety of reasons. Our relationship is built on cooperation and mutual advice, and we are all fully aware that certain matters should be addressed only by senior scholars, such as Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, Al-Allamah Abdul Aziz Aala Ash-Shaikh, and Al-Allamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbad, may Allah preserve them. Thus, the situation is quite straightforward to grasp: we work alongside our elder teachers on matters that are widely recognised, and they are the first to insist that serious issues be truthfully referred back to the senior, old, wise, insightful and experienced scholars we previously mentioned. In addition, there is no doubt that our elders and the Marakiz collaborate with others, both at their own level and with those who possess greater knowledge in the Muslim lands. May Allah protect all the Mashayikh in the East and West. Amin.

In this context, allow me to provide an example of how Shaikh Abu Khadeejah ensures that others among his brothers are consulted as well. Here are a few discussions we recently had with him, may Allah preserve him, regarding some matters related to the Masjid in Manchester. You will observe that during these conversations, he emphasises the importance of consulting others. I was the one who posted a proposal and then said: “Give your thoughts”. Then came the following replies:

Following our discussion, we still haven’t reached a conclusion since the issue isn’t urgent or serious. We are continuing to consult with other Mashayikh and some other experienced brothers. Indeed, someone who has witnessed events firsthand is different from someone who has only been informed. I have participated in many of these discussions both through WhatsApp and in person on several occasions. Additionally, we collaborate with others, including Ustadh Abdul Hakim Mitchel, a resident teacher in Manchester, along with others from various Marakiz. Therefore, greatly mistaken and misinformed is the one who thinks that Shaikh Abu Khadeejah is the one whose decision is always taken as the final one. We hold Shaikh Abu Khadeejah and the other Mashayikh in the West and the East in high regard, while placing our senior scholars above everyone. This does not diminish the value of other knowledgeable individuals below these senior scholars; rather, we respect, appreciate, and learn from all of them.

And Allah knows best