A Brief Caution by Shaikh Abdus Salam Burjess on Takfeer, Tabdee, and Tafseeq

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

In a rebuke against those who seek to compare Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Sayyid Qutb, Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and al-Mawdudi, or Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Hasan al-Bannah, Shaikh Abdus Salam Burjess, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Thus, how can Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama’ah remain silent about the likes of such disgraceful (things)? A journalist being compared to Ibn Taymiyyah, a Sufi compared to Ibn Taymiyyah, and a deviant revolutionary who deviated from the Sunnah being compared to Ibn Taymiyyah! May Allah protect us and you from every misleading trial, and grant us life upon Islam and the Sunnah. How much in need is everyone – scholars, students of knowledge, and the common people – of reviving the methodology of the (pious) predecessors in many matters within ourselves, our families, and our societies!

And let everyone fear Allah -The Most High – and not be deviated along with volatile emotions, fior indeed, the religion is not based on opinion. If they refuse to disassociate themselves from these people and their ilk, then let them inform us about the stances of our scholars who authored many books in refutation – by name – against the people of Bidah and (vain) desires, even though those Mubtadi’ah had many good deeds.

Let them inform us about the refutations by Uthman Ibn Sa‘id against Bishr al-Mareesee; about “Kitab As-Sunnah” by Abdullah Ibn Imam, “Minhaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah Fee Naqd Kalam ash-Shi‘ah Wal-Qadariyyah”, and the book “Siyanat al-Insan an Waswasat ash-Shaykh Dahlan, and the book “Iqamah al-Hujjah Wa ad-Dalil, wa Idah al-Mahajjah wa as-Sabil ala Ma Mawwaha Bihi Ahl al-Kadhib Wal-Mayn, min Zanadiqah Ahl al-Bahrayn, and other books of Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jama‘ah — are they truth or falsehood? Did their authors do wrong, or did they do well?

And in concluding this statement, I point to two important matters:

The first is that indeed we are within a time wherein we call to refutation against everyone who opposes the sound creed and the upright methodology. We call upon the youth whom Allah has safeguarded from those illegal partisanships and dubious groups to establish verification, and not to unleash their tongues by declaring people Mubtad’ah and misguided, except based on the clear Shariah proofs and the prophetic path. Let their footsteps in this matter be based on the footsteps of our scholars and our Mashayikh, for indeed, at present, we complain regarding a people who have become bold enough to engage in this matter, thus, declaring others Mubtadi’ah and misguided without proof. Therefore, let them fear Allah in their souls and be mindful of this dangerous matter. For indeed, the Msaa’il of Takfeer, (declaring others disbelievers), Tabdee (declaring others Mubtadi’ah) and Tafseeq (declaring others sinners) are not the right of a person, rather, they are the right of Allah – The Most High. It has Shurut and Dawabit that none truly knows except the scholars, and none is proficient in applying it on the real situations (circumstances) except a few among the scholars. The beginner does not preoccupy himself with these issues; if he does, it is feared that its outcome will be evil. It is incumbent upon him to adhere to the statements of the scholars of Sunnah in this regard, such as Ibn Baz, Ibn ‘Uthaymin, and al-Albani, and InShaAllah, they will be safe.

The second matter: Indeed, we are blessed with the methodology of Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab – this Salafi methodology. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to limit ourselves to it and give it close attention, for indeed, it – all praise, grace and blessings belong to Allah – gathers virtues derived from Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger.

Source: Majmūʿ Muʾallafāt wa Taḥqīqāt Faḍīlat ash-Shaykh ad-Duktūr ʿAbd as-Salām Ibn Burjess. 3/145-147. Paraphrased

Also read:

Painful Memories About Some of Those Who Set Ablaze the Flames of Transgression and False Tabdi

Read a brief biography of the Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him:

[3] Brief Biographies of Some Prominent Contemporary Scholars – Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgis