[6] Still Waiting! Where’s The Clear Unambiguous Knowledge-Based Shariah Proof for the Tabdee

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

Imam Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to say:

Indeed, the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the greatest criterion (i.e. amongst mankind and Jinn) and all matters are presented to him [for judgement and judged] based on his manners, path and guidance, thus, whatever is in agreement with this is truth and whatever is in opposition is falsehood. [1]

Imam Al-Barbahari, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“From the Sunnah is that you do not help anyone in disobedience to Allah, whether they be parents or any of the creation.  There is no obedience to a human in disobedience to Allah and no one is to be loved for that; rather all of that is to be hated for [the sake of Allah], the Blessed and Most High”.

“From the Sunnah is that you do not help anyone in disobedience to Allah”. Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, commented: This is a fundamental principle from the fundamental principles of Ahlus Sunnah  Wal Jamaa’ah that has been derived from the statement (i.e. an hadith of the prophet): “There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator”. And he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Obedience is only in that which is good”.

Therefore, whoever commands disobedience to Allah is not to be obeyed.  He is not to be obeyed in disobedience, whether your father, mother, or from the closest of the people to you, or a Ruler or a King.  He is not to be followed in disobedience.  Allah, The Most High, stated about the Yahud and Nasaaraa when they followed (their Rabis and Monks) in disobedience:

ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَـٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah). [at-Tawbah. 31]

“Whether they be parents or any of the creation”. Allah, The Most High, said about parents:

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٍ۬ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ فِى عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡڪُرۡ لِى وَلِوَٲلِدَيۡكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِى مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ۬ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَا‌ۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفً۬ا‌ۖ وَٱتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ مَنۡ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ‌ۚ َ

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.  But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance'[31:14-15]

Allah said:

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حُسۡنً۬ا‌ۖ وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشۡرِكَ بِى مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ۬ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَآ‌ۚ إِلَىَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents, but if they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do]. [Surah Al-Ankabut. Aayah 8] There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator, regardless who that may be, even if he is the closest of the people to you, such as the two parents; then what about other than them! [2]

Emulating Scholars Can Only Be In What Is Good

Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked: The question: Our brother also says: There are personalities- role models for everyone, however, they shave their beards. What is your view on this matter?

The answer is: If a scholar disobeys his Lord, he is not considered a role model in that which he disobeys his Lord. The Jews (i.e. those among them who deviated) were scholars, but despite this, they disobeyed the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and did not respond to the truth, thus, Allah rebuked and became angry with them. Therefore, whoever among the scholars who resemble them will share in Allah’s wrath in accordance with his act of disobedience. And the one who resembles the Christians by performing acts of worship based on ignorance and turning away from the religion, he has a share of misguidance and resemblance to the Christians. This is why Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, may Allah have mercy upon him, or Ath-Thawri stated: “Whoever among our scholars is corrupt, he has a resembles to the Jews, and whoever among our devout worshippers is corrupt, he resembles the Christians (i.e. those Jews and Christians who deviated from the path of their prophets).” 

Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Muslim to be cautious of resembling all two groups. If he finds a scholar committing a sin, he should not emulate him in that sin; rather, he advises him and supplicates to Allah for his guidance, and avoids following his example in that. The true role model is the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – the scholar who should be followed and not the sinful (disobedient) scholar. If he commits an act of disobedience by shaving his beard, wearing his garments below his ankles, or regarding other matters, then layperson should not emulate him in that, instead, he should take emulate the scholars have been blessed with guidance – those who fear Allah and follow the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Following a role model in reality is by following the Messenger, because he is the basis, the Imam, peace and blessings be upon him. The scholars who follow him do so because he is the best example, the one (chosen and specified as a foundation for) emulation.

If you follow the good scholars in growing the beard and in all that Allah has legislated, then indeed, you are, in this regard, emulating the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, whom the scholars follow in truth, following him with regards to that which he prescribed for them. [3]

Once again, we ask the question, “Where are the clear, knowledge-based proofs for the Tabdee against Shaikh Abu Iyaad, may Allah preserve him? It is important to remember that scholars should only be followed in accordance with obedience to Allāh, The Most High, and His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/23/the-false-tabdee-must-be-recanted-because-neither-shariah-nor-sound-intellect-acknowledges-that-harm-can-remain/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/03/still-waiting-wheres-the-clear-unambiguous-knowledge-based-shariah-proof-for-the-tabdee/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/10/2-still-waiting-wheres-the-clear-unambiguous-knowledge-based-shariah-proof-for-the-tabdee/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/13/3-still-waiting-wheres-the-clear-unambiguous-knowledge-based-shariah-proof-for-the-tabdee/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/18/4-still-waiting-wheres-the-clear-unambiguous-knowledge-based-shariah-proof-for-the-tabdee/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/23/5-still-waiting-wheres-the-clear-unambiguous-knowledge-based-shariah-proof-for-the-tabdee/

https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2026/05/20/contemplating-some-reasons-behind-stubbornness-after-being-guilty-of-false-tabdee-or-erroneous-in-other-matters/

[1] Al-Jami Li-Akhlaq Ar-Rawi Wa Aadab As-Sami-page 8

[2] An Excerpt from It’haf Al-Qari Bi-attaliqat Alaa Sharh As-Sunnah Lil Imam Al-Barbahaaree. 2/297-299

[3]https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/6077/%D9%88%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%B6-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA