Home Manhaj Holding to the Sunnah Q&A on Manhaj Establishing the obligation of Salafiyyah | Establishing the obligation of Salafiyyah |
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| Wednesday, 13 June 2007 | |
 By Shaykh Saalih al-FawzaanThe final nail in the coffin of those who still stubbornly reject the da'wah of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) by refusing to affiliate themselves to it.
[Q]: What is Salafiyyah? Is it obligatory to traverse its manhaj (methodology) and to hold onto it?
[A]: Salafiyyah is to traverse upon the methodology of the Salaf from the Companions, the taabi’een and the virtuous generations in ’aqeedah, understanding and manners. It is obligatory upon the Muslims to traverse this manhaj (methodology). [2] Allaah the Exalted said, “And the foremost from amongst the emigrants (muhaajireen) and the helpers (ansaar), and those who followed them in goodness. Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.” [Sooratut-Tawbah 9:100] And Allaah the Exalted said, “And those who came after them saying, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who proceeded us in faith. And do not place enmity in our hearts for the Believers.” [Sooratul-Hashr 59:10] And the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto it with your molar teeth. And beware of newly invented affairs, since every newly invented affair is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance and every innovation is in the Fire.” [3]
[Q]: Is a person who calls himself Salafee to be referred to as a hizbee (bigoted partisan)?
[A]: If calling oneself Salafee is done truthfully, then there is no harm. [4] As for when it is just a claim, then it is not permissible to ascribe oneself to Salafiyyah whilst he is upon other than the manhaj of the Salaf. So the Ashaa’irah for example, say, ‘We are Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah,’ yet this is not correct because that which they are upon is other than the manhaj of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. Likewise, the Mu’tazilah call themselves Muwahhideen (people of Tawheed).
‘Everyone ascribes themselves to Laylaa; Yet Laylaa does not affirm that for anyone.’
So the one who claims that he is upon the manhaj of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah must follow the way of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah and leave off its opponents. As for the one who wishes to ‘combine between the lizard and the fish,’ as they say; then that is to say, the one who does not differentiate between the land and the sea. So it is not possible to combine between water and fire. So the madhhab of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah cannot be combined with the madhhab of those who oppose them, such as the Khawaarij, the Mu’tazilah and the Hizbiyyeen from amongst those who call themselves ‘modern Muslims.’ They are those who wish to unite the misguidance of the people of this age with the manhaj of Salaf. So, ‘the latter part of this Ummah will not be corrected, except by that which corrected its former part.’ [5] So the outcome is that it is inevitable to distinguish the affairs and clarify them.
Footnotes: [1] The following is taken from al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah (p. 103-105); Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan said on (p. E) of this book, “The praise is for Allaah, and may Prayers and Peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his Family and his Companions. To Proceed: So I approve the publishing of al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah ’an As‘ilatil-Manaahijil-Jadeedah which contains my answers and notes from the brother, Jamaal Ibn Fareehaan al-Haarithee. And I hope that it is of benefit in explaining aspects of the truth which have been hidden from some of the people today. And may the Prayers and Peace of Allaah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his Family and his Companions. Signed: Saalih Ibn Fawzaan Ibn ’Abdullaah al-Fawzaan 18/4/1417.” [2] Salafiyyah is not a hizb (party) from the ahzaab (parties) as some think and propagate. Rather, it is an ascription to the Salafus-Saalih and following their manhaj, as the Shaykh – may Allaah preserve him – has stated. This is because they – that is, the Companions – are as Ibn Mas’ood described them in his statement, “Whoever wishes to follow someone, then let him follow one who has already died. Since those that are living are not safe from the fitnah (trial, discord). These are the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), the people with the most righteous of hearts, and the most earnest of them in knowledge, and the least of them in hypocrisy,” may Allaah be pleased with them. Refer to Jaami’ Bayaanul-’Ilm wa Fadlihi (p. 49), Mishkaatul-Masaabeeh (no. 193) and al-Hilyah (1/305) of Aboo Nu’aym. [3] Saheeh: It has been authenticated due to its numerous routes. It is related by Ahmad (4/126), at-Tirmidhee (no. 2676), al-Haakim (1/96) and by al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah (1/105). [4] Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said in al-Fataawaa (4/149), “There is no blame upon the one who makes apparent the manhaj of the Salaf and affiliates himself with it and ascribes himself to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by agreement. Since the madhhab of the Salaf is nothing, except the truth.” I say, reflect – dear reader – upon the speech of Shaykhul-Islaam which took place eight generations ago. It is as if he were refuting one of the modern day people to whom knowledge is attributed; and he says, ‘Whosoever makes it obligatory upon the people that he must be either an Ikhwaanee, Salafee, Tableeghee, or Surooree, then he must seek repentance. And if he does not do so, then he must be killed.’ He (’Aa‘id al-Qarnee) said it in a cassette that is widely spread amongst the youth, under the title, Firra minal-Hizbiyyah Firaaraka minal-Asad. [Note: After completing this book, some papers containing some of the recantations of ’Aa‘id al-Qarnee reached me. So I found amongst his recantations that he recanted from this error. So it is due to justice and fairness that we mention this recantation from him. So he says, “Fourteen: Indeed, I said in a cassette, Firra minal-Hizbiyyah Firaaraka minal-Asad, “Whosoever makes it obligatory upon the people that he must be either an Ikhwaanee, Salafee, Tableeghee, or Surooree, then he must seek repentance. And if he does not do so, then he must be killed.” So this was an error in expression from me, and I seek refuge in Allaah from it. I meant that whosoever does that, then he has legislated into the Religion of Allaah. However, it was incorrect whatever the case may be, and I excuse myself from it. And I believe that the madhhab of the Salaf is the correct madhhab which it is obligatory to follow and be guided by and to traverse.” End of quote from the papers.] So I say, how free is Allaah from all imperfections! How he has granted himself the privilege of gathering the true Salafee methodology along with these methodologies and innovated, false and astray sects! Our question to this one who lives in the country of Tawheed is – and he holds a Masters degree in Hadeeth – that if you are not Salafee, then what are you? Indeed, al-’Allaamah ’Abdul-’Azeez Ibn ’Abdullaah Ibn Baaz – the Muftee of Saudi Arabia – was asked, ‘What do you say about the one who calls himself ‘as-Salafee’ and al-Atharee,’ is this a term of commendation?’ So his eminence – may Allaah preserve him – replied, “If he is truthful in saying that he is Atharee or Salafee, then there is no problem. This is like what the Salaf used to say, ‘So and so is Salafee, or so and so is Atharee.’ This is a term of commendation from which there is no escape, rather it is a term of commendation that is obligatory.” From the lecture entitled, Haqqul-Muslim which took place on 1/16/1413H in Taa‘if. And Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd says, “If it is said, ‘Salaf’ or ‘Salafiyyoon’ or ‘upon the path of Salafiyyah,’ then this is an ascription to the Salafus-Saalih: all of the Companions – radiyallaahu ’anhum. So whosoever follows them in goodness, not those who were led astray by desires, and those who are firmly established upon the minhaaj (methodology) of Prophet-hood; they are attributed to their Salafus-Saalih in that. So it is said about them, ‘as-Salaf’ and ‘as-Salafiyyoon’ and their term of affiliation is ‘Salafee.’ So this term Salaf refers to the Salafus-Saalih. So this is a term that generally refers to anyone who follows the way of the Companions – radiyallaahu ’anhum – even if he is in our age, and so on. And this is how the people of knowledge have understood this term. Therefore, this is an ascription that does not have any aspect that departs from the requirements of the Book and the Sunnah. It is a term of affiliation that does not separate from the first generation for one moment. Rather, it is from them and to them. As for the one who opposes them with a particular name or custom, then no, even if he lived amongst them and in their time.” End of quote from the book, Hukmul-Intimaa‘ (p. 36). I say, this term has occurred continuously in the books of biography. So Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d.748H) said concerning the biography of Muhammad Ibn Muhammad al-Bahraanee, “He was a good Salafee with respect to the Religion.” Mu’jamush-Shuyookh (2/280). And he said in the biography of Ahmad Ibn Ni’mah al-Maqdisee, “He was upon the ’aqeedah of the Salaf.” Mu’jamush-Shuyookh (1/34). So the ascription to the Salaf is an ascription from which there is no escape, until the true Salafee is distinguished, and until the affair is no longer covered up for anyone who wishes to follow them. So the deviant madhaahib are many and the partisan groups that are misguided and misguiding others. So the people of the truth openly announce their affiliation to the Salaf in order to free themselves from those who oppose them. And Allaah the Exalted says about His Prophet and the Believers, “And who is better in speech than the one who calls to Allaah, does righteous deeds and says, ‘I am from amongst the Muslims.’” [Soorah Fussilat 41:33].” [5] Translator’s Note: This statement is derived from the Imaam of Daarul-Hijrah, Maalik Ibn Anas (d.159H) – rahimahullaah – when he said, “Whosoever introduces into Islaam an innovation, and holds it to be something good, has indeed alleged that Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has betrayed his message. Read the saying of Allaah – the Most Blessed, the Most High: “This day I have perfected your Religion for you, completed My favour upon you and I have chosen for you Islaam as your Religion.” [Sooratul-Maa‘idah 5:3]
So that which was not part of the Religion at that time, cannot be part of the Religion today. And the last part of this Ummah cannot be rectified, except by that which rectified its first part.” Prepared by Jamaal Ibn Fareehaan al-Haarithee
Translated by Maaz Qureshi [1]
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