In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli stated that it is obligatory to know that Ahlus Sunnah are the people (who) comply with Islaam completely in creed and (good) manners, and that from lack of understanding is to think that indeed a Sunni or Salafi is the one who actualises (establishes) the creed of Ahlus Sunnah without (having) concern for (good) Islamic manners and etiquettes, and not fulfilling the rights of others etc.

Then Dr Ar-Ruhayli quoted the statement of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) in Al-Aqeedah Al-Waasitiyyah concerning affairs that Ahlus Sunnah call to such as enjoining good and forbidding evil, performance of the Hajj, Jihaad, the Juma’ah (prayer) and the Eed prayer alongside the rulers whether they (i.e. the rulers) are righteous or sinful.

Also that Ahlus Sunnah preserve the congregational (prayers), give sincere advice to the Muslim Ummah and believe in the statement of the [Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)]: ‘’A believer is like a structure (or building) for another believer, some parts of which support the other parts.” Then the Prophet clasped his fingers together to explain] and the statement of the [Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)]: [The mutual love, mercy and affection between the believers are like one body; if one limb is hurt the whole body becomes restless with fever]

And that Ahlus Sunnah advice (people) to exercise patience during times of calamity and to be grateful in times of ease, and being pleased with what has been pre-decreed. They call to noble manners and good deeds, and they believe in the meaning of the statement of the [Prophet (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam)]: [The most perfect believer is the one with the best manners]

They (Ahlus Sunnah) urge (people) to keep ties with the one who cuts you off and give to the one who denies you (something). They command (people and themselves) to treat parents with kindness and respect, to keep the ties of kinship and treat neighbours with kindness. They forbid boasting and conceit; transgression and attacking others – whether due to right (i.e. in seeking after a right of theirs) or without right. They command (people and themselves) with noble manners and forbid lowly manners. All they say and do in this regard is carried out whilst adhering to the Book and the Sunnah etc. [For further details, refer to an English translation of the explanation of Al-Aqeedah Al-Waasitiyyah’ by Ustaadh  Taqweem Aslam where the above affairs have been mentioned: http://www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/audio/taqweem-aslam/aqeedah-wasitiyah/aqeedah-wasitiyah-78.mp3  http://www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/audio/taqweem-aslam/aqeedah-wasitiyah/aqeedah-wasitiyah-79.mp3

Response:

Concerning Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli’s statement that from lack of understanding is to think that indeed a Sunni or Salafi is the one who actualises (establishes) the creed of Ahlus Sunnah without (having) concern for (good) Islamic manners and etiquettes etc; Shaikh Rabee replied to him, saying that the one who actualises the creed of Ahlus Sunnah and follows their methodology – (and establishes correct) alliance and disassociation (based on this methodology), but falls short in his manners, he does not exit the fold of Ahlus Sunnah and enter into the fold of Bidah. We do not know from Ahlus Sunnah (i.e. their Imaams, Scholars and notables – the Salaf and khalaf) that they declared a person an innovator due to his shortcomings related to good manners. Even if a follower of the Sunnah fell into some sins, he does not exit the fold of the Sunnah.

And besides this, Ahlus Sunnah of this era are like their predecessors, for they believe in the sound issues of creed and follow the great paths of the Islamic legislation. They establish these great deeds (i.e. they strive in establishing those affairs mentioned by Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah) and noble manners, which the sects of fitan and misguidance cannot catch up with them in that regard. However, the people of fitan and slander hurl accusations at them- out of oppression and transgression- that they do not possess good manners or that they are deprived of good manners. This criminal act (i.e. the false accusations of the people of fitan and misguidance) carried out to oppose Ahlus Sunnah is not something that has occurred in this era, rather it is a repetition of the fabrications of the people of falsehood-the Mutazilah and other than them- and foremost among them were [الجاحظ ] and [النظَّام].

These fabricators (i.e. Al-Jaahiz and An-Nadh-dhaam) of lies against Ahlus Sunnah of old and Ahlus Sunnah of the present era are the vilest people with regards to their manners -though lies, deceptions and slanders in their statements and actions. These evil manners are possessed by Ahlus Sunnah’s adversaries in this era, but they are merely inheritors (i.e. they inherited these evil manners from the old adversaries of Ahlus Sunnah), especially those who wear a false gown of Salafiyyah in this era- those we have referred to in this research (i.e. Al-Maribi, Al-Halabi, Ar’oor etc)

[Source: Bayaan Maa Fee Naseehati Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli Minal Khalal Wal-Ikhlaal’ pages 20-21..paraphrased]

To be continued…In-Shaa-Allaah