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

“Teach People The Fundamentals of Islam, And Do Not Busy Them With Knowing The Mistakes of This or That One!”

The reply to the one who utters this statement is as follows:

Hudhaifah Bin al Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

People used to ask Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about the good times, but I used to ask him about bad times fearing lest they overtake me. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! We were in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance and evil, and then Allah brought us this good [time through Islam], is there any evil time after this good one?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I asked, ‘Will there be a good time again after that evil?’ He said, ‘Yes, but therein will be a hidden evil.’ I asked, ‘What will be the evil hidden therein?’ He said, ‘[That time will witness the rise of] the people who will follow ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know [their] good points as well as [their] bad points.’ I asked, ‘Will there be an evil time after this good one?’ He said, ‘Yes. [A time will come] when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whosoever responds to their call they will throw them into the fire.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Describe them for us.’ He said, ‘They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What do you suggest if I happen to live in that time?’ He said, ‘You should stick to the main body of the Muslims and their leader.’ I said, ‘If they have no [such thing as the] main body and have no leader?’ He said, ‘Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees [in a jungle] until death comes to you and you are in this state.’’’ [Bukhari and Muslim…. The wording of the above is that of Imam Muslim]

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah protect him, said:

They used to ask him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about the good related to righteous actions, sound Islamic creed, and dealings, but Hudhaifah used to ask him about the evil times fearing lest they overcome him. Therefore, this is evidence that it is not enough to only learn about good; rather one must know about evil to avoid it. If you do not know about evil, you will come close to falling into it, as the poet said, “I acquaint myself with the evil, not for the sake of evil, but to be safeguarded from it. The one who does not know (the distinction between) evil and good will fall into evil”.

A person must learn about the truth- its proofs and evidences. He must learn and know what falsehood is and the doubts associated with it, so that he can be saved from falsehood and warn people against it. How can he avoid and warn people against it if he is unaware of it? With regards to this, the Qur’an has clarified truth and falsehood- clarified Iman and Kufr, Tawheed and Shirk, and Halaal and Haraam. It has not only clarified Tawheed, Halaal, and truth; rather it clarified that which is in opposition to them so that the Muslims can avoid them. Likewise, the Prophet – in his Sunnah- clarified good and evil, truth and falsehood in all affairs of the religion. The scholars clarified – in their written works- what Tawheed, Shirk, disbelief, and hypocrisy are. They have clarified the belief of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah and the beliefs of the deviated sects, such as the Jahmiyyah, the Mutazilah, the Ashaa-irah…..and others.

They have clarified the correct and forbidden (deeds) in mutual dealings; clarified the correct (Islamic) marriage, the false and corrupt marriage, and the women forbidden (for one to marry); clarified the (good manners legislated in the Shari’ah) and the evil manners that are in opposition to it. All of this gives the Muslim an insight into his affairs, so that he knows the truth by its evidences, knows what falsehood is and the doubts associated with it so that he can avoid falsehood and tell the people to avoid it. This is why you find in the books of belief: clarification of the belief in Tawheed and the belief of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah, clarification of the beliefs (that are tantamount) to misguidance, the doubts associated with it and refutation against it, so that the Muslim is not misled by beliefs (that are tantamount to) deviation, false beliefs and deviated schools of thought; and so that the Muslims can be upon a correct understanding with regards to the affairs of their religion and that which is in opposition to it.

Some of the people at present- the majority of them ignorant and amongst them, misguided ones- say, “Do not learn about the false beliefs; suffice yourselves with learning the correct belief only and do not involve yourself in seeking to know the beliefs of the people of misguidance and the refutations against their doubts. Leave this and teach the children of the Muslims the correct belief only. Do not inform them about the statements that are in opposition (to the truth), the doubts and refutation against them”. This one (i.e. the one who makes these statements) is either an ignoramus who knows nothing about knowledge or he is one of those motivated by personal desires- those who want to spread the false schools of thought and their doubts; rather it may be that they say, “It is sufficient for a person to say, ‘I am a Muslim, I am a believer….. a general Islaam suffices, do not say, Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa-ah, (do not say), ‘the people of misguidance, schism and differing, do not say this, because it will cause division between the Muslims’”.

These (statements are tantamount to) misguidance because Allah [The Mighty and Majestic] has clarified the truth in opposition to falsehood, guidance in opposition to misguidance, and Tawheed in opposition to shirk. Allah [The Mighty and Majestic] has clarified all the affairs of the Religion- a detailed clarification of the affairs related to worship, mutual dealings, and manners. Therefore, this must be clarified so that it is made clear to the people, [and in order] that they can be upon clarity, and so that the true Muslim is distinguished from the so-called Muslim and no deviation and forgery enter into Islam. We must make a distinction between this and that one, so that truth is not confounded with falsehood, and [in order] to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and [between] good and wickedness. We do not suffice ourselves with a general Islam because this is misleading, and it is deception. We warn against this propaganda. The truth must be clarified and distinguished from falsehood, and guidance must be distinguished from misguidance. Hudhaifah used to ask the Prophet about the evil and did not suffice himself by only asking the Prophet about the good. The Prophet affirmed that for him and did not say to him, “Suffice yourself with knowing what good is” rather he affirmed and clarified – for him- the evil that was to occur, so that he may beware and warn others. This is the Sunnah, the path of the Qur’an and that of the Messenger. [1]

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Madkhali, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked:  “What do you say about an individual who advises people not to listen to refutations, and when asked why he took this stance, he answered, ‘The person who asked me about this was a common person, and he is unable to recite the Quran properly’. What is your comment on this? May Allah bless you”.

Answer: If he is a layman, he must be taught the Islamic creed and warned against ahlul bidah. Because the majority of ordinary people have become supporters of the people of bidah these days, it is necessary to warn them against (the people of bidah). Say to him, “So and so is on such and such bidah, and you will be harmed if you listen to him”. This is done so that they will not read (his books), listen to his audio tapes, and will be cautious of his statements. This layman needs someone to caution him and remind him of the principle, “This knowledge is religion so look at whom you take your religion from”. During these times, the common people are targeted by the people of bidah, who will tell you, “Do not let them read the books of refutations”. No, No. This will expose them to destruction”. [2]

The Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him, was also asked: “Is it permitted for us as students of knowledge to be silent about the Mubtadi’ah and to nurture the youth and students on the Salafi path without mentioning the names of the Mubtadi’ah?”

Answer: By Allah, if necessary, the Mubtadi’ah are to be mentioned by their characteristics as well as their names. If so and so has put himself forward for leadership, leading this Ummah and the youth to falsehood, he is to be mentioned by name. If there is a necessity, he must be mentioned by name. In this regard, one of the Salafis in Egypt used to teach, and he would just mention generalities (general descriptions without mentioning names), and the people did not understand these generalities. Following that, he began to openly mention the names of the groups and individuals, so they said, “O Shaykh! Why did you not teach us like this in the beginning?” He said, “I delivered many lessons to you, and I would say this and that (i.e. general descriptions without names)”. They said, “By Allah! We did not understand”. [3]

[1] An Excerpt from Sharh Hadeeth Innaa Kunnaa Fee Jaahiliyyatin pages 9-12

[2] Fataawa Fadeelah Ash-Shaikh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee (1/273)

[3] Fataawa Fadeelah Ash-Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee (1/277)