A Recall of al-Allāmah Rabī’s Various Circumstantial Clarifications on Softness and Harshness- Part 2

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in his refutation against Dr Ibrahim Ar-Ruhayli, may Allah rectify his affair:

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, once urged the poets among his companions to disparage the Quraish. Aishah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, “Lampoon the Quraish, for it will hurt them more than arrows”. He sent word to Ibn Rawahah, saying, “Lampoon them”. So he lampooned them but it was not good enough. Then he sent word to Ka’b Bin Malik, then he sent word to Hassan bin Thabit. When he entered upon him, Hassan said, “Now you have sent for this lion who wreaks vengeance then waves his tail about”, then he stuck out his tongue and moved it. He said, “By the One Who sent you with the Truth, I shall tear them with my tongue as leather is torn”. Allah’s Messenger said, “Do not be hasty. AbuBakr is most knowledgeable about their lineage, and I share a lineage with them. (Wait) until he summarises my lineage for you”. Hassan went to him, then he came back and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! He has summarized your lineage for me. By the One Who sent you with the Truth, I shall draw you out from them as a hair is drawn out of the dough”. Aishah said, “I heard Allah’s Messenger say to Hassan, “The Ruhul Qudus (i.e. Jibreel) will continue to support you, so long as you are defending Allah and His Messenger”. She said, “I heard Allah’s Messenger say, “Hassan has lampooned them and has satisfied himself and others”. [Sahih Muslim. Number 2490]

Al-Bara’ah Bin Aazib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying to Hassaan Bin Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, “Lampoon them and Jibril is with you”. [Al-Bukhari 3213]

So when the people of falsehood become overbearing towards the people of truth through evil speech, defamation, lies and praising (other) people of falsehood, then the people of truth cannot (do anything else) except to subdue the people of falsehood- clarifying their oppressive (behaviour, views etc), their barefaced lies and unveiling their falsehoods. [1]

The Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him, also spoke about the Fard Kifayah in the context of Jihad, saying:

For example, Jihad one of the Furud al-Kifaayaat (Communal obligations), thus, if one person goes for Jihad in order to repel a threat faced by Islam and the Muslims, will the legislated Islamic goal of this Jihad be fulfilled by one person; or if hundreds of people went but neither the legislated Islamic goal is fulfilled nor is the threat repelled, would it be permissible for the scholars to remain silent in such circumstances; or is it obligated that they exhort the people to go for Jihad in order to fulfil this communal obligation? (This is because) there has to be sufficient numbers of people to fulfil this (Communal) obligation in order to put a stop to the threat face by the rest of the Muslims. If this sufficient number is not reached, then all the Muslims are regarded to be sinful in such a case and held responsible for the harm that comes to Islam and the Muslims.

Similarly is the same thing stated regarding enjoining good and forbidding evil, because there has to be sufficient numbers to prevent the Fitnah, if one, ten or twenty are unable to do so.

Therefore, it becomes clear that many of the students- those who ascribe themselves to the Sunnah-who seek from the Scholars to clarify their stances have sought after something appropriate and correct if there is a sound reason for seeking after it. It is not to be regarded as a mistake, but the mistaken one is he who declares those students to be mistaken.

The silence of the scholars at the time of need or necessity to clarify the truth is tantamount to concealment of the truth and it is from those grave mistakes that will result in corruption, trials, splitting of the people into two groups, two parties, boycotting one another and so on. [2]

Classifying people according to their beliefs, religions, and characteristics —particularly in the context of rendering judgments and establishing principles—is not an innovated or a new (aspect) of knowledge; rather, it is knowledge of Al-Jarh Wat Tadeel (the science of criticism and commendation within Islam); and this practice will endure within this Ummah as long as the cycle of day and night persists.

Those who endeavour to extinguish the light of this discipline for the sake of their party or out of concern for their beloved ones—individuals who have been justly criticised—are, without a doubt, misguided who lead others astray. Classifying people with discernment and truth serves as a safeguard for the religion ordained by Allah. It is a force among the Allāh’s forces through which is repelled the distortions of those two exceed the limits, the false claims of the falsifiers, and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones; the deviations of the innovators in religious matters, the schemes of the Khawarij, and all the (deviant) sects that arise from the Ummah of As-Sadiq Al-Ameen [the Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)- the truthful and trustworthy one].” [3]

[1] An Excerpt from Bayaan Maa Fee Naseehati Ibrahim Ar-Ruhayli Minal Khalal Wal Ikhlaal. p 23-25

[2]An Excerpt from Bayaan Maa Fee Naseehati Ibrahim Ar-Ruhayli Minal Khalal Wal Ikhlaal. p 62

[3] Al-Haddul Faasil Bayna Mu’aamalah Ahl As-Sunnah Wa Ahl Al-Baatil 60