In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Al-Allamah Abdur Rahman Al-Afreeqee, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:
He (i.e. Ahmad Tijani) said in Jawaahir Al-Ma’aanee: Indeed a single utterance of ‘Salatul Faatiha’ is equal to every ‘Tasbeeh’ (i.e. to say Subhaanallaah) that takes place in the ‘kawn’ (i.e. the entire existence or universe). [Source: Jawaahir Al-Ma’aanee page: 96.طبع مطبعة التقدم العلمية الطبعة الأولى]
Response to the above claim of Ahmad Tijani:
Then Al-Allaamah Abdur Rahman stated:
I think the one who uttered this speech is not really aware who Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is! He is not really aware of what Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was sent with and why Muhammad was sent.
Indeed the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, definitely fulfilled the trust he was entrusted with; conveyed the message and strove in the path of Allah until he passed away. He is the seal of the Prophets and the legislation (in belief and acts of worship) he conveyed abrogates every other law until the day of judgement. There is no human being who has ever brought anything similar to what the Messenger Muhammad brought after he left this world. Whoever claims that there is a revelation or that he has received revelation after Muhammad, then indeed this is the greatest lie against Allah. Allah, The Most High, said:
وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُڪُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ۬ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ۬ لِّتَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ
مَتَـٰعٌ۬ قَلِيلٌ۬ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬
And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment.’’ [An-Nahl. 116-117]
The Prophet said:
وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير
And the best thing said by me and the previous prophets is: ”There is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, who is alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He is, of everything, All-Capable.” [Silsilah As-Sahihah. Number: 1503]
Therefore, will anyone with a sound intellect affirm that a single utterance of Salatul Fatiha is better than a single Dhikr that has been transmitted from the Prophet with an authentic chain of transmission, let alone all the Adhkaar (supplications) that take place in the Kawn (i.e. the entire existence or universe)? Do you not use your intellects?! O people! Did they [Adam, Nuh, Musaa, Eesaa and Muhammad (peace be upon them)] not used to remember Allaah? So is the innovator of this Tareeqah Tijaaniyyah better than these Prophets?
He (i.e. Ahmad Tijaani) stated in Al-Ifaadah (page: 80): ”Whoever does not believe that it (i.e. Salatul Fatihah) is from the Qur’aan will not receive a reward from it [i.e. he or she will not be rewarded for reciting Salatul Fatiha]”.
So we say: Whoever believes that (Salatul Fatiha) is from the Qur’an, then indeed he has committed clear disbelief because revelation is not sent down except to a Prophet. We do not find this (Salatul Fatiha) in the Qur’an; rather not even in a fabricated hadeeth attributed to Allah’s Messenger. Is the one to whom ‘Salatul Fatiha’ was revealed a Prophet or a Wali? If he is a Wali, then revelation is never sent down to a Wali.
The people in this Tijani path are two types of people: The first group: If they believe that ‘Salatul Fatiha’ is from the Qur’an, then indeed they have exited the fold of Islam. (I) The second group: If they believe that ‘Salatul Fatiha’ is not from the Qur’an, then indeed they have exited from their Tijani path because there is no reward in it. (1)
Footnote I: Principles regarding Takfeer (i.e. the principles applied by upright scholars before removing a Muslim from the fold of Islam due to deviation.
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ09&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm ]
Knowledge of The Unseen – A Brief Rebuttal Against All The Extremist Sufis
Neither Do the Prophets, Messengers and Angels Possess Knowledge of Unseen nor Does Allah Reveal the Unseen to Anyone Else, Except What He Wishes to Inform the Prophets and Messengers
Allah (The Most High) said: [وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ – And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He].
In his explanation of the above Ayah, Imaam Ash-Shanqeetee, may Allah have mercy upon him, brought a number of robust proofs to demonstrate and establish that even the most knowledgeable amongst the creation- Allah’s Messengers and Angels-do not posses knowledge of the Unseen. The Imam, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Proof A: Aa’isha (may Allah be pleased with her] was falsely accused and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] did not know whether she was innocent or not until Allah informed him, saying: [ أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ- ‘Such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say].
Proof B: Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, slaughtered a lamb for the angels, whilst not knowing that they were angels until they informed him that they were angels. Allah said that the angels said to him: [إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ – We have been sent against the people of Lout (Lot). (11:70)]
Proof C: When the angels came to Prophet Lut (peace be upon him), he did not know that they were angels, and due to that Allah said: [عَصِيبٌ سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ – He was grieved on their account and felt himself straitened for them (lest the town people should approach them to commit lewdness with them). He said: This is a distressful day]. And because of this Allah said that lut said: [لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ – Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support (to resist you). (11:80)]. He did not know the news the angels brought until they said to him: [إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ – Verily, we are the Messengers from your Lord!]
Proof D: Prophet Ya’qub, peace be upon him, lost his eye sight due to grieving for Yusuf (peace be upon him), whilst he was in Egypt. He did not know anything about Yusuf until Allah reveal news about him.
Proof E: Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him), even though Allah gave him authority over the devils and subjugated the wind in his service, did not know about the people Bilqees until the Hud-hud came with news about them. Allah said that the Hud-hud said: [أَحَطْتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ – I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba’ (Sheba) with true news].
Proof F: Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) did not know that his son – who was drowned- was not from those members of his household who were to be saved, as Allah said that Nuh said: [رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ – O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true.(11:45)]
He did not know the reality of the affair until Allah informed him, saying:
[بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ قَالَ يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍ ۖ فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ – He said: “O Nuh (Noah)! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorant].
And indeed Allah (The Most High) also stated in Surah Hud about Nuh that he said to his people: [وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ -And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allah, “Nor that I know the Ghaib (unseen)].
Proof G: And when Allah said to the Angels: [هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ -Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful]; Allah said that the angels replied: [قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا -They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us.
Therefore, it is very clear that the most knowledgeable amongst the creation, the Messengers and the Angels, do not know anything of the unseen except what Allah makes known to them. Allah (The Most High) informs His Messengers what He wishes from the knowledge of the Unseen, as Allah stated:
[وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ- Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen), but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases].
And Allah said: [إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِنْ رَسُولٍ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَد- (He Alone) the All-Knower of the Gha’ib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Gha’ib (unseen).” Except to a Messenger (from mankind)…(2)
[1] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Anwaar Ar-Rahmaaniyyah Li-Hidaayah Al-Firqah At-Tijaaniyyah. Pages 14-16]
[2] An Excerpt from ‘Tafseer Al-Qur’aan Bil-Qur’aan Min Adwaa Al-Bayaan’ pages 169-170’ Daar Hady An-Nabawiy’ 2nd ed. (1431AH -2010)]
