Principles Ignored, Evaded, Or Sidetracked By Some Following The Death of Some Senior Scholars

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Al-Allamah Rabee, may Allah have mercy upon him, continued addressing Falih Al-Harbi, may Allah guide him, as follows:

Finally, I say: Passing judgments on individuals affiliated to the Salafi methodology – whose voices openly proclaim them to be Salafis- without explaining the reasons, and without presenting evidence and proof- has indeed caused great harm and splitting in all countries. Therefore, it is obligatory to extinguish these Fitan by clearly presenting the evidence and proofs that clarify for the people and convince them regarding the justification of these rulings (judgements) and their correctness, or make an apology for issuing these rulings. Do you not see that the scholars of the Salaf established proofs and evidence against the misguidance of the sects, such as the Rafidah, the Jahmiyyah, the Muʿtazilah, the Khawarij, the Qadariyyah, the Murjiʾah, and others? They did not suffice with passing judgments against groups and individuals without establishing the sufficient, convincing proofs and evidence. In fact they authored numerous extensive works in explanation of the truth which Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah adhered to (or were upon), and clarified the misguidance which those sects and individuals were upon.

Observe the refutation of the Jahmiyyah by Imam Ahmad, the refutation of the Jahmiyyah by Uthman ibn Sa’eed Ad-Daarimee, the refutation of Bishr al-Mareesee, the book as-Sunnah by Abdullah ibn Ahmad, as-Sunnah by al-Khallaal, Ash-Shariah by al-Ājurree, the two books titled al-Ibanah by Ibn Baṭṭah, Sharḥ Uṣool Iʿtiqaad Ahlis Sunnah wal Jamaaʿah by al-Laalakaa’ee, al-Ḥujjah by al-Aṣbahaanee, and many other works.

And observe  the works of Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, such as Minhaj as-Sunnah Fee Ar-Rad alaa  ar-Rafidah, Dar Taʿāruḍ al-Aql Wan-Naql Fee Ar-Rad alaa al-Ashaa’ira, Naq at-Ta’sees Fee ar-Rad alaa ar-Raazee, ar-Rad alaa al-Bakree (regarding Al-Istighatha), ar-Rad alaa al-Akhnaa’ee (in al Fatawaa al-Kubraa). 

Observe Majmu al-Fatawaa compiled from his works, and how much he refuted the Sufis, especially Ibn Arabi, Ibn Sab’een, and at-Tilimsaanee, with detailed refutations, clearly explained and based on proofs and evidence. Similarly, the books of Ibn al-Qayyim, such as as-Ṣawaa’iq al-Mursalah and Shifaa al-Aleel Fee al-Qaḍaa wal Qadar wal-Ḥikmah wat-Taleel.  Observe the refutations by the leading scholars of the Salafi daʿwah from the time of the Dawah of Imam Muḥammad ibn Abdil Wahhab, and sufficient for you is Ad-Durar as-Saniyyah. Suppose their criticism had been weak and their arguments feeble—far removed are they from that —or suppose they had sufficed with issuing rulings, thus, saying: “Such-and-such a group is Jahmi and misguided,” “So-and-so is a Jahmi,” and “So-and-so is a Sufi – a grave worshipper,” and “So-and-so adheres is from the people of waḥdat al-wujūd and ḥulūl”.  The Raafiḍah are a people of misguidance and extremism; they make Takfir of the Companions and revile them. The Qadariyyah and the Muʿtazilah are among the deviant sects. Was their criticism weak, thus, when they were requested for proofs and evidence, and to explain the reasons for declaring these sects to be misguided, they said: “We are not obliged to that. This principle (i.e. asking for the evidence, proofs and reasons) is a misguided one – it misguides the Ummah. 

Do you think that if they did this they would have upheld the Sunnah and suppressed misguidance, ilhad and bidah? The answer: No, a thousand times no. And indeed, whoever criticises those who are well-known for (following) the Sunnah is in need of proofs that are stronger and clearer.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon the one who shoulders the task of criticising Bidah and its people to follow the path of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and follow the way of the pious predecessors in being precise in refutation and criticism, in establishing proofs and evidence, in order to clarify the truth that he himself is upon and the misguidance, falsehood, or errors of the sects, groups, individuals, and those who have made mistakes whom he is refuting.

Source: An Excerpt from Juhud Al-Allamah Rabee Al-Mad’khali Fee Naqd Shubuhat Al-Hizbiyyeen pages 228-230
To be continued InShaaAllah

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