In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَقَدۡ مَكَرُواْ مَڪۡرَهُمۡ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ وَإِن كَانَ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ لِتَزُولَ
مِنۡهُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ
Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allah, though their plot was a great (one, still) it would never be able to remove the mountains. [Surah Ibrahim 44-46]
وَقَدۡ مَكَرُواْ مَڪۡرَهُمۡ
Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allah.
There are four statements of the scholars regarding the Ayah:
It is about Namrud when he debated with (Prophet) Ibraheem, peace be upon him, about his Lord.
It is about Bakhtanasar.
It is about the nations of the past and their plotting which necessitated Shirk.
It is is about those who plotted against the Messenger (Muhammad), peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when they desired to kill him.
وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ
And their plot was with Allah.
Meaning: Their plot is recorded so that Allah will recompense them.
وَإِن كَانَ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ لِتَزُولَ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ
Though their plot was a great (one, still) it would never be able to remove the mountains.
Az-Zujaj said: Even if their plot reached the intensity where it could move a mountain, they will still not be able to do away with Islam. [1]
Even if their plot were to reach a stage where it could move a mountain, Allah will still aid the religion He has ordained. [2]
Al-Awfee reported from Ibn Abbas who said: Their plot cannot move mountains. Ibn Jareer said: This deed they commit is against themselves, such as ascribing partners to Allaah and disbelief in Him cannot bring any harm to the mountains nor anything, rather it will haunt them. [3]
Allah’s Signs and verses, His divine laws and manifest miracles at the hands of the Messengers are like mountains in robustness and firmness. So, the intent is to belittle their plot and that it cannot remove these Signs and Messenger ships. [4]
Allah, The Most High, said:
قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
Those before them indeed plotted, but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive. [An-Nahl. 26]
This is one the best of parables regarding how Allah nullifies the plots of his enemies, for indeed they pondered and reflected on that which the Messengers brought when they belied them, made up principles and rules for it based on falsehood, referred back to them to reject that which the Messengers came with, employed tricks to bring discomfort to the Messengers, and inflict harm on them and those who followed them, but their plot became a source of evil against them, thus, their plan became their destruction, because their plot was evil as Allah said:
وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ
But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it. [Fatir: 43] [5]
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّ۬ا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلۡجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ زُخۡرُفَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ غُرُورً۬اۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ
And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayaateen (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications. [Al-An’am: 112]
Allah stated that they aid one another in opposing the command of the Prophets through that which some of them inspire others by way of adorned speech, thus, the gullible and feeble minded people are misled by it.
He, The Most High, mentioned the reason behind a perpetrator’s (adorned speech) and why it is accepted by the people; then He, The Most High, mentioned (in Ayah 113 Al-An’aam) the effects it has on those ignorant souls. When those souls incline towards such adorned speech and become pleased with it, they carry out what it calls them to do -in speech and action. Therefore, ponder upon these verses and the sublime meanings they convey, for they clarify the roots of false principles and alert a person against them.
If you contmeplate the statements of the people of falsehood, you will indeed find them clothed with expressions and presented in a good light with sophisticated terms that are quickly accepted by those deprived of sound discernment-to the extent that the wicked sinners would give (good) names to the greatest types of wicked deeds. [6]
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَاۖ وَمَا يَمۡڪُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not. [Al-An’am: 123]
وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا
And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals.
Meaning: Those figureheads whose crimes were great and whose transgressions were severe.
لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَاۖ
Tto plot therein
Meaning: Through deception, calling to the path of Shaytan and waging war – through speech and deeds- against the Messengers and their followers. However, their plots and machinations only backfired on them. This is because they plotted and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.
Similarly, Allah set up great ones amongst the leaders of guidance and the most virtuous of them, who opposed those criminals, refuted their statements and strove against them in the path of Allah. They followed the paths leading to the path (of Allah) and Allah aided them. Allah gave them an acute discernment and kept them steadfast. So the days of victory and defeat alternated between them and their enemies, until the matter came to its final end-victory and triumph (for the believers) and the final good outcome is for the peiople of piety. [7]
Some of The Main Evil Plotters
Shaikh Shamsuddeen Al-Afghaani, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Allah, The Most High, guided mankind through Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the clear manifest evidences given to him, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – a guidance that could not be described by those who were well versed in the art of descriptions and (a guidance) that surpassed the knowledge of those with great perception. And through this guidance, Allah opened the eyes of the blind ones, the ears of the deaf ones and the hearts of the heedless ones. Allah, The Most High, united them on one religion-(the religion of pure Islamic monotheism) – and prior to that they were in complete disunity, enmity towards one another and followed corrupt creeds.
Allah united their hearts, thus they became true brothers in Islam through this great blessing. Thereafter, everything worshipped besides Allah, such as graves, trees, stones and idols ceased to exist and all worship was devoted to Allah alone. People followed the true Religion of Islamic monotheism and worshipped Allah alone, except those whom Allah willed that they were to remain as people of polytheism, hypocrisy and followers of the altered and distorted previous scriptures. The darkness of polytheism was dispelled and the banner of Tawheed was raised in the lands amongst the Arabs and non-Arabs.
Allah’s Messenger passed away, while Islam was established and in authority-superseding all other ways of life and creeds. Then the rightly guided khulafaa of the Messenger [Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali continued to adhere to the path of the Messenger until the two powerful and great nations at the time-Rome and Persia-ended up in humiliation, degradation and in a state of fear after they had been in a state of security, and thus Caesar was restricted and besieged, and khosrau [or Chosroes] was subdued and destroyed.
When the enemies of Islaam saw that they were unable to do away with this religion, they implanted their disbelieving agents within it – those who pretended to be Muslims in order to kindle confusion, trials and tribulations, and spread polytheism by exaggerating the status of the pious people and exalting their graves through [beliefs and practices] that were not ordained by Allaah. So, the Ummah [Islamic Nation] was put to trial through the plots of the [atheist, heretic and hypocrite] Abdullah Bin Saba, who claimed Uloohiyyah for Ali Ibn Abee Taalib [i.e. that Ali (the cousin of the Prophet) had the right to be worshipped besides Allah].
Abdullah Bin As- Sabah’s followers were known as the Saba’iyyah and later on they were known as the Rawaafid (shiites), the ismaaliyyah (shittes), the nusayriyah (shiites) and other than them amongst the Baatiniyyah. They worshipped the graves and its inhabitants, and built places of worship and shrines upon those graves. So, through these practices, they revived the (corrupt ancient practices) of those Jews, Christians and the idol worshippers (who deviated from the straight path of the Prophets and Messengers of Allaah). This is how the practices of the worshippers of graves in this Muslim Nation manifested itself through the practices initiated by the rawaafid (shiites). [NB: The majority of the rawaafid Shiites presently live in Iran & Iraq, and their leader is khamanei]
Secondly: The books of Greek philosophy that propagated the ideas of grave and idol worship were translated into Arabic, so many of those who attributed themselves to Islam busied themselves with these books, such as the likes of Al-Faraabee (a) Ibn Sinaa Al-Hanafi (b) Naseer At’Toosee –an advocate of disbelief and polytheism (c) and other than them amongst those who played tricks with Islaam, just as Paul played tricks with Christianity. They were influenced by the ideas of the Greek Philosophers, so they became callers to grave worship through Greek Philosophy. The practices of these people was rife within the ranks of the people of rhetoric amongst the Hanafi Maatooreediyyah (d) and the Ash-ariyyah Kullaabiyyah due to busying themselves with the Books of the Philosophers. They became callers to grave worship and callers to the creed of the Jahmiyyah at the same time, such as the likes of Taftaazaanee Al-Hanafi [The Philosopher of the Maatooreediyyah and Grave worshipers] and Jurjaanee Al-Hanafi [a caller to superstition]
Thirdly: A people who were more dangerous and misguided than the aforementioned groups emerged amongst the Muslims with a manifestation of asceticism. They appeared in the garb of righteousness – with tearful eyes, long flowing beards, elevated turbans, carrying large rosary beads and pretended to be calling to the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, while they secretly practised the disgraceful acts inherited from false religions. They attempted to mix blatant lies with the Qur’aan and the authentic narrations in order to corrupt the clear evidences found in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. These deviant heretics are known as the Hulooliyyah, Ittihaadiyyah Grave Worshipers (e), such as the likes of Hallaaj (309AH), Ibnul Faarid (632AH) Ibn Arabi (638AH), Ibn Sab’een (669AH) etc [Source: Juhoodu Ulamaa Al-Hanafiyyah Fee Ibtaal Aqaa-id Al-Qubooriyyeen’ of Shaikh Shamshud-deen As-Salafi Al-Afghaanee’ Vol 1 page 19-25]
In the year 1250 King Louis the Ninth was captured while on a crusade against the Muslims of Egypt. He was imprisoned and later released after paying a large ransom. However, whilst in prison he utilised his time to think about ways in which to plot against Islaam and the Muslims, so shaytaan inspired him with the following plots: Firstly: The war in the battlefield between the Christians of the west and the Muslims should be replaced with a war based on ideas and cultural supremacy. Secondly: Prepare the West to corrupt the creed of the Muslims and distort the image of Islaam in the world. [8]
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Amongst these Dajjaals (liars) whom Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, warned against was Musaylimah the Liar at Yamaamah and Al-Aswad Al-Unsee who claimed prophethood, and as a result many Arabs exited Islaam; so Allaah destroyed them and others were destroyed, and their trial was ended by way of the swords of the companions of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. And amongst the liars who claimed prophethood was Mukhtaar Bin Abee Ubayd Ath-Thaqafee, the liar about whom the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stated, “A liar will appear from Thaqeef a blood shedder”. [Saheeh Muslim 2545] The liar was Al-Mukhtaar and the blood shedder was al-Hajjaaj. And from those who claimed prophethood was Al-Haarith the liar, and Ghulaam Ahmad Al-Qadiyaanee Al-Hindee who had followers dispersed in the world and they claim that Prophethood is still ongoing. Every liar has other wicked liars connected to him – those similar to their Shaikh. And from these liars in general was the Yahoodee – the wicked Abdullah Ibn Saba, who falsely claimed to be Muslim and incited many of the rabble against the Rightly Guided Khaleefah Uthmaan Bin Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him, until he was martyred in that trial.
He is the founder of the doctrine of the Raafidha Shiites and its filthy principles, and exaggeration regarding the status of the Prophet’s family until they deified them. Many of them declare Ali [radiyallaahu-anhu] an object of worship and many of them say that Ali is the one whom the Prophet gave the authority of rulership after him. This is from their lies; and that Ali will return to do such and such, meaning, he will kill AbuBakr, Umar and five-hundred Khulafaa of Banee Umayyyah and Banee Abbaas. This wicked one [i.e. Ibn Saba] initiated the act of revilement against the companions of the Prophet and other affairs related to the trial he initiated which the heretics promote and are firmly established upon, as well as the figureheads of the Raafidha- the liars; so they fill the world with lies and slanders. Their religion is established on lies and misguidance. [9]
The Efforts of Different Plotters-
By Imam Abdul Aziz bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him
Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz was asked: What is the definition of intellectual (or ideological) war in your view?
Response: Intellectual (or ideological) war is a modern term meaning a host of efforts undertaken by one nation to overcome or influence another nation until it leads it to a specific orientation. It is more dangerous than a military expedition, because indeed an intellectual war tends to be in secret and the aims are hidden at the beginning. Therefore, the nation being invaded (intellectually or ideologically) neither perceives it nor is it prepared to stop and confront it, until it falls prey to it. And the result is that this nation will become decadent in thought and perception – loving what its enemy wants it to love and hating what it wants it to hate. It is a chronic disease that destroy nations, takes away their personality and removes the meanings of their true identity and strength through that. The nation that is afflicted neither perceives what has befallen it nor knows about it, thus, it becomes a difficult task to cure this nation and to make it understand the path to guidance is something difficult. This (intellectual or ideological) war takes place through the general educational and cultural curricula, mass media, literature (or publications) – small and large, and other matters relating to nations. The enemy hopes to divert it from its (sound) creed and make it cling to what it presents to it. We ask Allah for safety and wellbeing.
Question: Are the Arabs in general and Saudi Arabia in particular exposed to this type of (intellectual or ideological) war?
Answer: Yes, the Muslims in general- including the Arabs and others, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others- have been subjected to a great intellectual war through which the nations of Kufr – from the East and West – gathered against them. And one of the severest and most dangerous is the Christian Crusade (intellectual war), the Zionist (intellectual war) and the atheistic communist (intellectual war). As for the Christian Crusader war, it is at its most intense at present. Since Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi’s victory over the Crusaders who invaded Muslim countries with force and weapons, the Christians realised that this war of theirs, even if it achieved victories, is temporary and does not last, thus, they thought of a more harmful alternative after studies and meetings regarding what would be more dangerous than armed conflicts, which is that the Christian nations – individually and collectively – carry out an intellectual invasion of the young Muslims, because conquering the heart and mind is more probable than conquering the land.
A Muslim whose thoughts have not been polluted cannot bear to see an unbeliever being in charge of authority to give commands and prohibitions in his country, and this is why he works with all his might to expel and distance him, even if he has to give his life and the most expensive price for that, and this is what happened after the great victories of the invading Crusader armies. As for the Muslim who is subjected to this vicious invasion (i.e. intellectual or ideological war), he becomes unperceptive and sick in his thoughts, because he does not see a danger in the presence of Christian (invaders) or others in his land; rather he may see that this is one of the signs of goodness, and one who helps towards progression and civilization. So, the Christian (invaders) suffice with the intellectual war, because it is stronger and more established, for what need do they have to send armies and spend money with the presence of those (brainwashed Muslims) who do what they want with the children of Islam, intentionally or unintentionally, with or without a price?! Therefore, they do not resort to fighting Muslims openly with weapons and force, except in the rare and necessary cases that call for it urgently, as happened in the war against Uganda or Pakistan, or when there is a need for it to establish their programs and organisations, and set up institutions that would carry out fierce intellectual war, as happened in Egypt, Syria, Iraq and others before the evacuation.
As for the Zionist intellectual (or ideological war), it is like (the Crusader ideological war), and they spare no effort to corrupt the morals and beliefs of the Muslims. They have ambitions in Muslim countries and elsewhere. They have plans, some of which have been fulfilled, and they are still working hard to achieve the rest. Even if they fight Muslims with force and weapons, and seized some of their lands, they also fight them with their thoughts and beliefs. This is why they spread – within the ranks of the Muslims – false principles, (innovated) religious paths and sects, such as freemasonry, Qadiyaniyyah, Baha’iyyah, Tijaniyyah and other than them, and they seek the help of Christians and others to achieve their goals and objectives.
As for the atheistic communist (intellectual or ideological war), it spread in the lands of Islam like wildfire. And due to weak faith and lack of purpose in the majority of people; ignorance and lack of proper and sound education, the communist parties in Russia, China and elsewhere were able to seize every hater and agitator amongst those of weak faith or those without faith and established them as pillars in their countries to spread Ilhaad (a) and the filthy communist ideology- prepare and arouse them through the highest positions and ranks. So, when they came under its control and its order made incumbent upon them, some chastised others and shed the blood of the one in opposition or the one who abstains from affiliation, until droves amongst the people waged war against their nations and families, become a torment for their brothers and the children of their people, so they tear the Islamic nation to pieces and made them soldiers for Satan.
Question: What are the means used to promote ideas (in Muslim lands)?
The Imam said:
The means used to promote ideas are many, including:
Attempting to seize the minds of Muslim children and instill Western concepts in them, thus, a child believes that the best path is the path of the West in everything, whether in what he believes regarding religions and creeds, or what he speaks from languages, or what he adheres to by way of manners, habits and the paths he takes to pursue affairs.
Giving close attention to a large group of Muslim children from every country, taking care and nurturing them, so when they are completely submerged in Western ideas and then return to their countries, they are heaped with praise and commended until they take up positions and leaderships in their countries, thus they promote Western ideas and establish educational institutions that go along with the Western curriculum or are subjected to it.
Revitalising the teaching of Western languages in Islamic countries and restricting the language of the Muslims, especially the Arabic language- the language of the Noble Qur’an with which Allah revealed His book and through which Muslims worship their Lord in prayer, during pilgrimage, in their supplications and other than that. Included in this is that they encourage the destructive calls that fight the Arabic language, make attempts to weaken adherence to it in the lands by calling for the vernacular, establishing many study programs intended to corrupt Arabic grammar and so called language development, glorifying what they call folk literature and national heritage. [10] [f]
They seek to conquer the intellects of the Muslim children and nurture their hearts upon their views, either by making them feel that their ways are superior in every affair-be it in affairs of creed and religion, or that which they speak with by way of languages, or what they consider to be civilized manners, customs etc.. They seek to nurture a great number of Muslims in the Muslim lands until they are intoxicated with their views and return them to their lands. Then they start praising and promoting them until they become the figureheads in their countries. So they spread their ideas through these people…etc They encourage the Muslims in the Muslim lands to learn their languages at the expense of the Arabic language, which is the language of the Qur’an- the language by way of which the Muslims perform their acts of worship. They also establish many studies that are intended to cause nuisance and glorify what they call popular literature and national heritage…..etc They prepare a large number of people amongst their people to study Islam and the Arabic language and write books, and take up teaching positions in universities- orientalists….etc They also spread propaganda that Muslim women in the Muslim lands are oppressed in order to take them out of their homes and place them where they want. But Allaah (The Most High) said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” They set up radio programmes designed to mislead gullible young Muslims who do not understand Islam and do not have sufficient knowledge, especially in Africa…. However if the Muslims exercise patience these plots will not harm them. Allaah (The Most High) said:
وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V.2:2), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do]. [11]
The Religion Cannot Be Destroyed
Allah, The Most High, said:
يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطۡفِـُٔواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ وَيَأۡبَى ٱللَّهُ إِلَّآ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ ۥ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ
They want to extinguish Allaah’s Light with their mouths (i.e. the Qur’an, the pure Islamic monotheism and the guidance Allaah sent Muhammad with) but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the disbelievers hate (it). [at-Tawbah 32]
They want to extinguish what Allah sent His Messenger with- the guidance and the religion of truth- merely by way of their arguments and fabrications. So their example in this is that of one who wants to extinguish the light of the sun or the moon by blowing at [them] and this can never be achieved. [12]
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا
Allah will raise for this Ummah at the end of every hundred years the one who will revive its religion for it. [13]
[إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ – Allah will raise for this Ummah]- meaning the Ummatul Ijaabah [i.e. the Muslims]. [عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ – At the end of every hundred years]- meaning at the end of every hundred years when there is little knowledge of the Islamic legislation and the authentic Prophetic Tradition, whilst ignorance and religious innovation is rife.
[مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا – One who will revive its religion for it]- meaning a scholar who is alive and well known. He will clarify the authentic Prophetic Tradition and distinguish it from the religious innovations. knowledge will be abundant again and its adherents will be aided, and the proponents of religious will be overcome and degraded.
This reviver is non else but a scholar who has sound understanding of the religious sciences that deal with acts of worship, the underlying wisdoms of the religion and the texts that deal with beliefs of the heart. [14]
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah upon the truth; neither will they be harmed by those who betray them nor those who oppose them until the command of Allaah arrives [i.e. the day of judgement]”. [Bukhaari]
Al-Allamah Salih al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, said:
This group will not cease to exist in the Ummah. The Ummah will not be deprived of this Sunni Group. This Taa’ifah can be one group. If it adheres to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, it is the Taa’ifah Al-Mansoorah [The Victorious Group], even if it is only one. The Ummah will not lose this Sunni Group, this good group, and all praise be to Allaah – until the command of Allaah comes to pass [i.e. the day of judgment]. ‘They will not be harmed by those who forsake them’. Amongst the people are those who forsake them and those who oppose them, but they will not be harmed.
This is from Allah’s Grace upon His servants and that He will establish the truth for the one who aids the truth and call to it, even if evil is rife. There will be those who adhere to good, call to it and disseminate it amongst the people. Not all the Ummah will be misguided, but some will remain upon truth, but they might be strangers [i.e. their affair will be strange to the people], just as the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Islam began as a strange thing and it will return as a strange thing, and glad tidings to the strangers”, so they said, ‘Who are the strangers O Messenger of Allah? He said, ‘They are those who will be upright when the people become corrupt’.. and in another version of this hadeeth, “Those who rectify what the people have corrupted’. These are the strangers, because the majority of the people oppose them, belittle, forsake and keep away from what they are upon, but this will not harm them, “They will never be harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them’. Allaah will make them remain so that His Proofs remain amongst the creation until the end of time. This group might be in the East, the West, or the North etc…They are not in a specific place, but they are present. Whoever wants will find it. It is present and all praise is due to Allaah. Alhamdulil laah, we – at present – are upon a correct methodology, upon a sound methodology; our methodology is that which the Qur’aan and sunnah necessitate, our learning is based upon the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. We study Tafseer, hadeeth and its explanation, the Aqeedah of the pious predecessors and that which they were upon. Alhamadulil lah at present we are upon a correct path, a sound methodology and straight path. We ask Allaah to keep us firm upon it until we meet him, neither substituting nor changing it. [15]
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
It is obligated to the Taa’ifah al-Mansurah [i.e. the aided group] – those whom Allah’s Messenger gave glad tidings that they will remain (upon truth) and will be aided, neither harmed by those who betray them nor by those who oppose them till the end of time – to establish brotherhood for the sake of Allah, co-operate upon righteousness and piety, roll up their sleeves and embark upon work, so that this great status is maintained, which is that they will be manifest upon the truth, neither harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them. And acquaintance with the truth cannot be except through the knowledge inherited from the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them, and from the seal of the Prophets. The scholars are the inheritors of the (knowledge left behind by) the Prophets in calling to the path of Allah, (in propagating) Allah’s Message, and in enjoining good and forbidding evil. [16] [end of quote]
Finally, in saying all this, we must behave well towards non-Muslims regardless of where we reside, neither violating our covenants nor behaving treacherously like the khawarij and their ilk. Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, advised us in 2000 as follows:
Likewise I invite you to have respect for those people who have the right that they should be respected, from those between you and whom there is an agreement (of protection) [i.e. Non-Muslims]. For the land which you are living is such that there is an agreement between you and them. If this were not the case they would have killed you or expelled you. So preserve this agreement, and do not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the hypocrites, and it is not from the way of the Believers.
And know that it is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said : “Whoever kills one who is under an agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.”
Do not be fooled by those sayings of the foolish people: those who say: ‘Those people are Non-Muslims, so their wealth is lawful for us [i.e. to misappropriate or take by way of murder and killing].’ For by Allaah – this is a lie. A lie about Allaah’s Religion, and a lie in Islamic societies.
O my brothers. O youth. O Muslims. Be truthful in your buying and selling, and renting, and leasing, and in all mutual transactions. Because truthfulness is from the characteristics of the Believers, and Allaah – the Most High – has commanded truthfulness – in the saying of Allaah – the Most High – “O you who believe – fear and keep you duty to Allaah and be with the truthful.”
And the Prophet encouraged truthfulness and said : “Adhere to truthfulness, because truthfulness leads to goodness, and goodness leads to Paradise; and a person will continue to be truthful, and strive to be truthful until he will be written down with Allaah as a truthful person“.
And he warned against falsehood, and said : “Beware of falsehood, because falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. And a person will continue lying, and striving to lie until he is written down with Allaah as a great liar.”
O my brother Muslims. O youth. Be true in your sayings with your brothers, and with those Non-Muslims whom you live along with – so that you will be inviters to the Religion of Islaam, by your actions and in reality. So how many people there are who first entered into Islaam because of the behaviour and manners of the Muslims, and their truthfulness, and their being true in their dealings. (salafipublications.com)
Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan: The Islamic Shariah Provides Security for Muslims and Non-Muslims and Those Who Violate It Are Kharijites Who Are to Be Fought and Severely Punished – ByDr Shaikh Abu Iyaadh [may Allaah preserve him]
http://www.shariah.ws/articles/duviqgl-shaykh-salih-al-fawzan-the-islamic-shariah-provides-security–for-muslims-and-non-muslims-and-those-who-violate-it-are-kh257rijites-who-are-to-be-fought-and-severely-punished.cfm
Living With Non-Muslims In The West: With Fine Conduct
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Living-with-Non-Muslims.pdf
Alliance with the non-Muslims is of two types – misunderstanding this affair leads people astray
Alliance with the Kuffār is of two types, misunderstanding this affair leads people astray: At-Tawallī and Al-Mawālāt: Allegiance with Unbelievers due to Love of Unbelief, and Allegiance with Unbelievers due to Desire of Wordly Gain
Treaties With The Non-Muslims: Is it Allegiance? Is it Apostasy?
Are Treaties With The Jews, the State of ‘Israel’ and other Non-Muslims Permitted? Is it Allegiance? Is it Apostasy?
The Prophet of Islam would not kill diplomats, ambassadors, emissaries or foreign delegations even if they were sent by the worst of his enemies
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-prophet-of-islam-would-not-kill-diplomats-ambassadors-emissaries-or-foreign-delegations-even-if-they-were-sent-by-the-worst-of-his-enemies/
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Footnotes:
[a] Al-Faraabee: Al-Faraabee said that Philosophy is more perfect than Prophet hood. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said about him: ‘’Misguided; a disbeliever’’ Ibn Sinaa adopted his books and ideas of disbelief. [For further details concerning Al- Faraabee, See Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 2/67—86] [Dar At-Ta’aarud 1/10] [Ighaathatul Luhfaan 2/372-373]
[b] Ibn Sinaa: Imaam Ibnu Salaah (rahimahullaah) said about him: ‘’He was a devil amongst the human devils.’’ [See Fataawaa Ibn Salaah 1/209] [Also see: ‘Ar-Radd Alal Mantaqiyyeen’ of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah 278-279] [‘Ighaathatul Luhfaan’ of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim 2/373-380] [Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah’ of Imaam Ibn Katheer 12/43]
[c] Naasir At-Toosee: He was a magician and a minister of the Tartars. He rejected the ‘resurrection’. For further details, see: As-Sawaa-iq Al-Mursalah of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) 2/790; 3/1077-1078
[d] Followers of the Jahmi Abu Mansoor Al- Maatooreedi Al-Hanafi [For further details, see the Book of Shaikh Shamsud-deen al-Afghaanee titled: ‘Al-Maatooreediyyah’ 1/205—376]
Ibn Sinaa [The Heretic]: Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, was asked: What is your view regarding the one who praises Ibn Sinaa and places him within the ranks of the Muslim scholars?
Answer: Either this person is ignorant and is unaware of Ibn Sinaa’s state of affairs, therefore it is not appropriate that he should speak, rather it is obligated on him to keep quiet; or he is aware of Ibn Sinaa’s state of affairs and disbelief, so he affirms that for Ibn Sinaa and thus the ruling that applies to Ibn Sinaa is applicable to him, and Allaah’s refuge is sough; because he affirms Ibn Sinaa’s disbelief and praises him. This is very dangerous. [NB: [Takfir of an Individual (i.e. rules applied by Scholars before passing the judgement of disbelief against a Muslim – By Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and translated by Dr. Shaikh Abu Iyaad (may Allaah preserve him).
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ09&articleID=MNJ090001&articlePages=1
But some people praise Ibn Sinaa only due to the fact that he was a physician – praised due to a worldly science. And amongst the disbelievers, there are those who are more proficient than him in this field. But why do they mention Ibn Sinaa in particular? They say that because he attributes himself to Islaam and this is a credit to the Islaam. Therefore, we say: Islaam is free from Ibn Sinaa and not in need of him. He is not to be praised because he is a Baatini, a philosopher an atheist. [at-Taliqat Al-Mukhtasar Alaa Qasidah An-Nuniyyah 3/1328]
Must Read: Why Ibn Sina, You Exceedingly Shrewd Kafir! Thank You For Supporting Our Aristotelian Metaphysical Creed and Backing Us (Ash’aris) In Our Saying That ‘Allaah Is Not Within the Creation Nor Outside Of It’
http://www.asharis.com/creed/articles/mrsit-why-ibn-sina-you-exceedingly-shrewd-kafir-thank-you-for-supporting-our-aristotel.cfm
[e] Hulooliyyah and Ittihaadiyyah (i.e.Wahdatul Wujood); see link for further details:
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Fo rum=8&Topic=3528
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Fo rum=8&Topic=3528
[f] The basis of a person’s Islaam is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is the Messenger of Allaah, to believe in Allaah, declare that Allaah is One without partner, obey Allaah’s commands, keep away from what Allaah has forbidden and single out Allaah in worship. And safeguarding this path (necessitates) the prohibition of every expression (term or word) that contains Shirk Billaah (i.e. ascribing partners to Allaah), Kufr (disbelief) or will lead to one of the two. [17]
In the Qur’an, there are many words that are utilised to rebut the words (or terms) that are in opposition to the call of the Messengers [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them], the revelation that was revealed to them and the truth they brought”. [18]
One of the general fundamental principles (in Islaam) is to know that words (or terms) are two types- words that are mentioned in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, therefore, it is obligated on every believer to affirm them, affirm what Allah and His Messenger have affirmed and negate what Allaah and His Messenger have negated. The words (or terms) affirmed by Allaah is truth and the ones Allaah negated are (negated) in truth, because indeed Allaah speaks the truth and guides to the straight path. The words (or terms) of the divine legislation are sanctified and it is from perfection in knowledge that one seeks after the (sound meanings) which the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] intended by them, in order to affirm what he affirmed and negate the meanings he negated; because it is obligated on us to believe and bear witness to everything he has stated and follow him in everything he has commanded. As for the words (or terms) that are neither found in the Qur’am and Sunnah nor did the pious predecessors (i.e. the first three generations of Islaam) hold a consensus regarding whether they are negated or affirmed, then it is not incumbent on anyone to agree with the one who negates or affirms them until their intended meaning is explained. So, if their intended meaning agrees with the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, they are affirmed; but if their intended meaning is in opposition to the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, they are rejected. [19]
Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “The one who does not know the language of the Prophet’s companions- the language they used when speaking to (one another), the (language) used by the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] when he spoke to them and the manner in which they spoke in general, he will change words from their right places. For indeed many people are nurtured upon the idioms of their people and their customary usage of words, so he finds those words in Allaah’s Speech or the speech of Messenger or that of the Prophet companions and thinks that what Allaah intends or what His Messenger (intend), or what the companions (intend) is what is intended by the people of his custom and their oral expressions, even though what Allaah and His Messenger intend is the opposite of that. This occurred from a group of people- the people of philosophical rhetoric, the people who spoke about Fiqh, the people who spoke about the Arabic language, the common people and other than them. And there are others who deliberately devise other meanings for the words of the Prophets and that of their [true] followers-meanings that are in opposition to their (true) ones. Then they spoke with those words whilst intending to aid themselves, saying: ‘’Indeed, we are in agreement with the Prophets.’’ This is found in abundance in the speech of the heretical philosophers, the Ismaa’eeliyyah (Rawaafid) and those similar to them amongst the heretical philosophers, rhetoricians and the soofees. The one who (truly) knows the Prophets and what they intend (by their speech) he will know by necessity that the (speech of those heretics) is not what is intended by the Prophets”. [20]
Customs
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is obligated on every Muslim that he does not depend on custom; rather he presents it to the pure Islamic legislation (to be judged), so whatever the Islamic legislation affirms is permissible and whatever it does not affirm is impermissible. The customs of the people are not proof to determine the lawfulness of anything. All the customs of the people in their countries or tribes must be presented to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] for judgement, so whatever Allaah and His Messenger made permissible is permissible, and whatever they forbid, then it is obligatory to abandon it even if it is the custom of the people”. [21]
Imaam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “The customs cannot make something that is not legislated (in the divine revelation) as something legislated, because of Allaah’s statement:
وَلَيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرُّ بِأَن تَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا
It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 189], despite the fact that it was something they took as their custom and considered it to be an act of righteousness. Whoever takes something as a custom and believes that it is an act of righteousness, then it should be presented to Allaah’s divine legislation [i.e. to be judged]”. [22]
Imaam Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, ao said, “Extremism in related to customs is stringent adherence to old customs and not diverting to what is better than them. As for if the customs are equal in benefit [i.e. the ones judged to be permissible by the divine legislation], then a person remaining upon what he is upon would be better than going along with the new (or emerging) customs”. [23]
[1] Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer. By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi
[2] Fat-hul Qadeer. 3/160
[3] Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tah’dheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer
[4] Roohul Ma’aanee 8/362
[5] An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased
[6] An Excerpt from As-Sawaa-iq al-Mursalah of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim: 2/438. Slightly paraphrased
[7] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased
[8] خطة لويس التاسع – page 6
[9]https://salafidawahmanchester.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Outcomes_of_Truthfulness_and_Lying.pdf
[10]https://binbaz.org.sa/discussions/30/%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A paraphrased
[11] مجلة البحوث الإسلامية العدد 8 ص 286 293 أجراها مع سماحته قسم التحرير – مجموع فتاوى ومقالات متنوعة الجزء الثالث
[12] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdeeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer
[13]Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. Vol 9. Pages 303-309. Publisher: Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif and Daar ibn Hazm. 9th Edition. 1414 AH (1994)
[14] Sunan Abee Daawud. Hadeeth Number 4291. Declared authentic by Imaam Al-Albaanee [rahimahullaah] in Saheeh Abi Daawud. Publisher, Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif. Awnul Ma’bood Sharh Sunan Abee Daawud. Vol 11. Pages 259-260. Publisher: Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah. 1st Edition 1419AH (Year 1998).
[15] Listen to audio here: https://youtu.be/5T4j_gPQMVc
[16] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Talib Al-Ilm. page 200
[17 Excerpt from ‘Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Lil Laf’dhiyyah’ page 34. Publisher: Daar Al-Aasimah. 3rd edition 1996
[18 Excerpt from Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Lil Lafdhiyyah’ page 10. Publisher: Daar Al-Aasimah. 3rd edition 1996
[19] Excerpt from ‘Al-Haqeeqatus Shar’iyyah Fee Tafseeril Qur’aan Al-A’dheem Was-Sunnatin Nabawiyyah’ page 17.
[20 Majmoo Fataawaa 1/175.
[21]Majmu Al-Fataawaa 6/510
[22]Tafseer Surah Al-Baqarah 2/299
[23] Majmu Al-Fataawaa 7/7
