In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ
“They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire”.
The person who lacks sound Imaan and creed revealed by Allah, the Creator of the universe, will find themselves in one of two situations: either their knowledge becomes corrupted or their intentions become corrupted. The first situation arises when they rely on assumptions and the second situation arises when they are driven by their desires, or one may combine both. [1]
Hasan Hasan, a researcher, said some things that showed he didn’t know much when he spoke about Jihadism, extremism, and militancy. He connected these methodologies with the terms Sunni and Salafi in an article he wrote against Al-Qaida, Jabhat An-Nusrah, and other groups like them. He said, “Ahrar al-Sham, a Salafi-jihadist group close to Jabhat al-Nusra”. He also stated, “Sunni jihadism has been characterized by transnational terrorism, suicide bombing, and ex-communication”. “The Isis ideology is generally viewed as identical to al-Qaida’s or the Saudi version of Salafism – adherence to fundamental Islamic tenets – and so there does not seem to be a serious effort to study it more closely”. [End of quote]
Response
To begin with, it is undeniable that Hasan Hasan accurately characterised the trajectory of ISIS and Al-Qaida as identical ideologies because their course of action undoubtedly represents a novel and innovated creed. However, his ignorance in this particular field became evident when he linked them with Salafiyyah. The noble Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “You must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs [Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan and Ali] after me. Adhere to it and cling to it firmly, and beware of newly invented matters in the religion, for every newly invented matter in the religion is an innovation in religion and every innovation is a path leading to misguidance”. [2]
Imaam Barbahaaree [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: It is not permitted for a man to say, “So and so is a person of the sunnah” until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah, so it is not said of him, “A person of the Sunnah” until he combines all the Sunnah”. Al-Allamah Saalih Al-Fawzan [may Allah preserve him] said: The characteristics of the Sunnah are creed, knowledge, and adherence to the (path of the) As-Salaf As-Salih (the pious predecessors). But if there is nothing in him except a single trait of the (sunnah), he is not regarded to be from Ahlus Sunnah based on a single characteristic or one thing, then what about the one who has nothing from that? [3]
Hasan Hasan stated about the Imams of the mosques that were under ISIS’s control: “These Imams are generally asked to preach about three key concepts that are shared by all Salafi and jihadist groups, but ISIS has its own take on their functionalities, namely tawhid (strict monotheism), bida’a (deviation in religious matters) and wala wal baraa (loyalty to Islam and disloyalty to anything un-Islamic)”. [End of quote]
First, read https://www.abukhadeejah.com/a-response-to-western-academics-who-categorise-salafis-into-quietists-politicos-and-jihadists-and-why-this-is-a-false-categorisation/
Secondly, what is the true meaning behind Hasan Hasan’s concept of “Strict monotheism”? This is simply a deceitful ploy utilised by some researchers to confuse the matter and mislead the reader into believing that there are different forms of monotheism. However, Tawheed is the cornerstone of Islam and should be comprehended and followed in the same manner as the Prophet and his companions did. Read below
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/introduction-to-the-five-pillars-islam-2-1/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-fundamentals-of-tawheed-monotheism-part-1-quran/
Tawheed: The Greatest Foundation of Islām – Khutbah by Abu Khadeejah
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-methodology-of-the-prophets-in-calling-to-allaah-the-path-to-rectification/
Thirdly, concerning Bida’a, Muslims are obligated to follow the Sunnah as it was interpreted by the Prophet’s companions and to keep a distance from all deviated sects. Read below:
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/this-ummah-will-divide-into-73-sects-shaykh-al-fawzan-explains-what-it-means/
Clinging to The Sunnah, Avoiding The Sects of Innovation and Knowing the Straight Path – The Excellence of Islam (Fadlul-Islam) by Abu Khadeejah
https://salaficentre.com/2022/06/09/the-jews-divided-into-seventy-one-sects-the-christians-divided-into-seventy-two-sects/
As for Walaa Wal Baraa, Abu Umaamah [may Allah be pleased with him] said that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and withholds for the sake of Allah has perfected the faith.” [Sahih Abu Dawud 4681]
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/having-alliance-with-the-non-muslims-is-of-two-types-misunderstanding-this-affair-leads-people-astray/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/treaties-with-the-non-muslims-do-they-necessitate-allegiance/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/
Hasan Hasan stated that one of the Khaarijites of ISIS said: “In the videos we produce, you see the sentence ‘deal with them in a way that strikes fear in those behind them’, and that verse speaks for itself. One more thing: the prophet told the people of Quraish, ‘With slaughter, I came to you'”. [End of quote]
“With slaughter I came to you”. [4]
Response
Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Aas [may Allah be pleased with him and his father] was asked about the worst thing he saw committed by the Quraysh against Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], so he said, “I was present when their notables met together one day in al-Hijr. They spoke about Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and said, ‘We have never exercised patience in anything similar to that which we are exercising patience regarding this man. He has declared us fools, reviled our forefathers, criticised our religion, split our ranks and insulted our gods. Indeed, we have exercised patience regarding him in a great affair – or they stated some statement to that effect. So while they were engaged in that discussion, Allaah’s Messenger appeared and kept on walking until he touched the corner [of the Ka ‘bah, where the Black Stone is]; then he went past them as he performed Tawaaf around the Kabah. When he went past them, they made fun of some of the statements he was uttering, and I could see from [the expression] on his face that it [offended him]. Then he carried on and when he went past them the second time, they made fun of him in the same manner and I could see from [the expression] on his face that it [offended him]. Then he carried on and when he went past them the third time, they made fun of him in the same manner. Then he said, “O Quraish! Listen to me. By the One in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, I have brought slaughter to you”. The people were very shocked by his statement to the extent that there was not a man amongst them except that he froze as if there was a bird on his head, and those who uttered the harshest statements to him – before that – began speaking to him with the best words, saying, “O Abul Qaasim! Go away, go away, because by Allaah you have never been an ignorant person”. So he left them. Then the next day, they gathered at al-Hijr and I was with them. They said to one another, “You stated how impatient you are becoming with him, what you have heard about him and what he is saying, then as soon as he said something that alarmed you, you left him alone”. Whilst they were in that state, Allaah’s Messenger appeared and they all rushed towards him together, surrounded him and said, “You are the one who said such and such” – referring to what has reached them regarding the criticism he directs at their gods and religion. He said, “Yes, I am the one who said that”. Then indeed I saw a man amongst them grab the neck of his garment, so Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq [may Allaah be pleased with him] got up to defend him and said whilst crying, “Would you kill a man just because he says, ‘My lord is Allah?’ Then they left him and that was the worst incident of aggression I saw from the Quraish. [5]
In another hadeeth reported by Imaam Bukhaari, Urwa Bin Zubayr [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: I asked Abdullah Ibn Amr [may Allaah be pleased with him], “What was the worst thing the Mushrikoon did to Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]?’ He said, “I saw Uqbah Bin Abee Mu’ayt coming to the Prophet while he was praying and put his sheet around his neck and squeezed it hard. AbuBakr [may Allaah be pleased with him] came and pulled Uqba away from the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and said, ‘Do you intend to kill a man just because he says, ‘My Lord is Allaah’, and he has brought forth clear signs (proofs) from your Lord?'”. [6]
It is evident from the narrations mentioned above that the Prophet faced significant harm from the prominent figures of the Quraish. And regarding the statement of the Prophet, “O Quraish! Listen to me. By the One in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, I have brought slaughter to you”, Shaikh Saalih Aala Ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] said, “These people come forward and express their doubts by claiming that the Prophet said, ‘I have brought you slaughter’… ‘I have brought you slaughter’. They understand the word ‘slaughter’ as cutting off the head. However, this interpretation is completely incorrect and far from what is correct. One of the reasons why it is far from what is correct is that no one from the Ummah among the companions of the Prophet to whom this statement was uttered, has ever implemented it in this manner until in recent times when these Khaarijites have started implementing it in such a way. The Prophet’s statement “I have brought you slaughter” was made in response to the cruel treatment of captives and enemies by the Arabs and disbelievers before Islam. They would torture, punish, and humiliate them in various ways. However, the Prophet prohibited such actions and instead introduced the concept of killing through confrontation, specifically in the context of war between combatants. In this context, slaughter means to kill and engage in combat, rather than simply pulling out a knife as some may assume. Islam abolished all the torture and mutilation that the Arabs used to inflict on people during war, such as cutting off ears and mutilating bodies. The only thing that remained was the act of killing during war between combatants. If a person is not killed, they are to be treated with honour, protection, and respect, and they fall under the well-known rules regarding captives. This hadith has many implications and requires a detailed explanation”. [7]
Hence, we would like to inquire from the malicious and uninformed researchers, once they have gained knowledge about the accurate interpretation of this hadeeth from a knowledgeable Saudi Salafi Scholar, will they continue to associate the actions of the Khawaarij (ISIS, etc.) with Salafiyyah or Suniyyah?! By Allah, they have spoken a grave accusation and a vile remark. May Allah guide them or shield us from their defamatory words. Aameen.
Narrations Regarding The Khawaarij
The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon im] informed us about the khawaarij in many ahaadeeth. He said, “A people will come from the east who recite the Qur’an, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will pass through the religion just as an arrow pierces its target and they will not return to it just as the arrow does not return to the bow”. [8]
He said, “During the last days [i.e. end of time], there will be young people with foolish dreams. They will say the best of statements amongst creation, but they will pass through Islam just as an arrow passes through its game. Their Imaan will not go beyond their throats”. [9]
He said, “There will be discord and division in my Ummah and a people will come with beautiful statements but evil deeds. They recite the Qur’an, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will exit the religion just as an arrow leaves its target and they will not return until the arrow returns to its notch. They are the worst of the creation”. [10]
He said, “Some people from my Ummah will emerge from the east, who recite the Quran but it will not go beyond their throats. Every time a group of them appears it will be cut off. The Messenger repeated this and on the tenth time he said, “Every time a group of them emerges, it will be cut off, until Dajjaaj appears from their remnants”. [11]
Ubaydullaah Ibn Abee Raafi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “The Khawaarij came out against Ali ibn Abee Taalib [may Allah be pleased with him] and said, ‘There is no judgement, except the judgement of Allah’, so Ali said them, ‘A statement of truth by way of which falsehood is intended'”. [12]
Imaam Wahb Ibn Munabbih [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “I was acquainted with the early period of Islaam. By Allaah, the Khaawaarij have never had a group except that Allaah caused it to split because of their evil state of affairs. Never did one of them publicize his opinion except that Allah caused his neck to be struck. Never did the Muslim Ummah unite behind a man from the Khawaarij. If Allah allowed the opinion of the Khawaarij to be accepted and established, then the earth would have been corrupted, the carriageways would have been cut off, Hajj to the sacred house of Allah would have ceased and the affair of Islam would have reverted to ignorance until the people seek shelter in the mountains as they did in the time of ignorance. If ten or twenty men among them were to rise, there would not be a man among them except that he claims the khilaafah for himself- every man among them would have ten thousand other men with him and all of them fighting each other, accusing one another of disbelief until the believer fears for himself, his religion, his life, his family, his wealth, and would not know where to travel or who to be with”. [13]
Imaam Ibn Katheer [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If they ever gained strength, they would surely corrupt the whole of the earth, Iraq and Syria (Shaam) – they would not leave a baby, male or female, neither a man or a woman, because as far as they are concerned the people have caused corruption, a corruption that cannot be rectified except by mass killing”.More detail here by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him]: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/isis-in-iraq-syria-ibn-kathir-died-774-ah-if-the-khawaarij-ever-gained-strength-in-iraq-and-syria-there-would-be-mass-killing/
Imaam At-Tabari [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The Khawarij came to a village and captured a man and his daughter. She said to them, ‘O people of Islaam! Verily, my father is an old man so do not kill him, and I am only a girl. By Allaah, I have never committed immorality and I have never harmed anyone’. They brought her out to murder her whilst she kept on saying, ‘What sin have I committed; what sin have I committed?’ She fainted thereafter and they killed her with their swords”. [14]
Indeed, we have all seen the terrible acts committed by the Khawaarij in our time. The Khawaarij show no mercy, not even towards each other, as Imam Wahb Ibn Munabbih stated, “If ten or twenty men among them were to rise, there would not be a man among them except that he claims the Caliphate for himself; every man among them would have ten thousand other men with him and all of them fighting each other, accusing one another of disbelief”. Indeed, this is exactly what was happening in Syria. Furthermore, it is important to remind the Islamophobes, ideologues, rabble-rousers, and demagogues about the heinous acts carried out by certain leaders within the globalist community. The khaarijites distort the teachings of the pure religion and engage in slaughter and transgression, while some globalists initiate hostilities, transgress boundaries, and commit acts of violence in the name of upholding the so-called ideals of the so-called civilized world. May Allah safeguard us from the malevolence of the khaarijites and spiteful secularists. Aameen.
Read the following articles titled: Takfiris on Steroids: The Alleged ‘Jihad’ of ‘The Dogs of Hellfire’ – ISIS and al-Nusrah in Iraq and Syria: By Shaikh Abu Iyaadh [may Allaah preserve him]:
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/xpxlk-takfiri-chaos-isis-make-takfir-and-kills-leader-of-al-nusrah.cfm
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/sewep-takfiris-on-steroids-the-alleged-jihad-of-the-dogs-of-hellfire—isis-and-al-nusrah-in-iraq-and-syria.cfm
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/pqdbf-takfiris-on-steroids-3-saudi-member-of-jabhah-al-nusrah-executes-two-saudis-from-isis-daish.cfm
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/
Salafi Shaikh Fawzaan on Jihaad in our times and the guidelines of Jihaad according to Islam
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/what-is-salafism-and-salafiyyah/
A response to Western academics who categorise Salafis into Quietists, Politicos and Jihadists – and why this is a false categorisation.
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/a-response-to-western-academics-who-categorise-salafis-into-quietists-politicos-and-jihadists-and-why-this-is-a-false-categorisation/
Distinction Between Terrorism of The Jihadists and The Sound Understanding of Jihaad In The Salafi Methodology
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/free-leaflet-understanding-terrorism-a-guide-for-teachers-and-students-excellent/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/terrorism-is-never-islamic-a-refutation-of-terrorism-based-on-the-texts-of-the-quran-and-sunnah-and-the-sayings-of-the-scholars-ebook/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Jihad_ISIS_2014_Final_1_With_Bleed_No_Border.pdf
True Sunniyyah’s Stance Towards Suicide Bombing?
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ14&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm
Distinction Between The False Excommunication Employed by the Terrorists And The Stance of True Sunniyyah and Salafiyyah?
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/why-do-these-militant-khawarij-look-upon-the-rest-of-humankind-and-see-them-as-worthless-scum-who-can-be-killed-without-regard/
http://www.kharijites.com/kj/authors/Abu.Iyaad.cfm
Distinction Between Extremism and Negligence?
http://www.islamagainstextremism.com/
Jabhat al-Nusra has nothing to do with Salafiyyah: Read Takfiris on Steroids (1): ISIS Declares Regional Leader of Rival Faction (al-Nusrah) an Apostate and Kills Him
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/xpxlk-takfiri-chaos-isis-make-takfir-and-kills-leader-of-al-nusrah.cfm
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/sewep-takfiris-on-steroids-the-alleged-jihad-of-the-dogs-of-hellfire—isis-and-al-nusrah-in-iraq-and-syria.cfm
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/pqdbf-takfiris-on-steroids-3-saudi-member-of-jabhah-al-nusrah-executes-two-saudis-from-isis-daish.cfm
Al Qaida:
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/articles/avcwd-shaykh-abdul-muhsin-those-who-have-given-bayah-to-al-baghdadi-isis.cfm
Visit salafis.com
http://www.salafis.com/index.cfm
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/categories/what-is-salafism-our-call-dawah/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/what-is-our-dawah-the-call-to-salafiyyah-the-defining-features/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/what-is-our-dawah-the-call-to-salafiyyah-the-defining-features-sunnah-and-hadeeth-part-2/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/our-dawah-and-the-call-to-salafiyyah-that-stands-the-test-of-time-the-companions-their-virtues-their-differences-those-who-follow-them-and-those-who-oppose-them-part-3/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/our-dawah-the-call-to-unity-the-rope-of-allah-and-a-severe-warning-from-dividing-the-muslims-part-4/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/free-leaflet-isis-jihad-in-the-path-of-satan-an-article-by-shaikh-fawzaan/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Jihad_ISIS_2014_Final_1_With_Bleed_No_Border.pdf
ISIS have NOT established the Khilaafah! (short clip) by Abu Khadeejah
The Historical Roots of al-Qaida and ISIS | Abu Iyad Amjad Rafiq | Manchester
The Ideological Origins of Al-Qaeda & ISIS by Abu Iyaad
http://www.kharijites.com/kj/
http://www.takfiris.com/takfir/index.cfm
http://www.shariah.ws/authors/Abu.Iyaad.cfm
[1] An Excerpt from Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed. Audio Lesson 4
[2] Saheeh Abu Dawud. Number 4607
[3]It’haaf Al-Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. 2/275-276
[4]Saheeh Mawaarid 1404
[5] Fathul Baaree 1/567. Daarus Salaam 1st edition 1421AH Year 2000]
[6] Sharh Umdatul Ahkaam page 96. By Imaam As-Sadi.Publisher Daar at-Tawheed 1st edition 1431AH Year 2010
[7] Listen to the audio here: https://youtu.be/h1j7VXndF2M%5D
[8] Al-Bukhaari 7123
[9] Al-Bukhari 4770
[10] Abu Dawud 4765
[11] Musnad Aḥmad 27767
[12] Ṣaḥeeh Muslim 1066
[13] Taareekh Dimashq 69290
[14] Taareekh At-Tabari 6/124
