[Part D: Observations on Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli’s Deficient and Defective Advice To Ahlus Sunnah- Dr Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bukhaari Establishes a Third Goal, Aim and Intent Behind Boycotting]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Reader [may Allaah grant us and you thabaat upon the Sunnah(Aameen)]: Before embarking upon this fourth aim (or goal) behind boycotting-by the Aid and Assistance of Allaah- we wish to inform you that this will be the last post in the section of Dr Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bukhaari’s criticism against Dr Ibraaheem ar-Ruhayli’s deficient and defective advice to Ahlus Sunnah regarding boycotting. Shaikh Abdullah’s book is a [Hundred and Sixty pages] and we have now reached [Page Number Eighty-Four]. So after this post, we will return to Shaikh’s Rabee’s observations and as soon as Shaikh Rabee’s observations are completed, we will carry on with Shaikh Abdullah’s observations by the Permission, Aid and Assistance of Allaah (The Most High).
To proceed:
Dr Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) stated a fourth aim (or goal) behind boycotting by way of which the Ummah is given sincere advise. That is because a Mubtadi is corrupt and a corrupter; so it is obligatory to be cautious of him and his bidah; likewise to stop his bidah from spreading and protect the common people from falling into it. Therefore, from those affairs that will bring about safety is that the religion obligates that sincere advice is given, as reported from the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) in the Hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim.
Then Dr Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) stated that Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli (may Allaah rectify his affair) did indicate to this particular aim (goal) behind boycotting, but he restricted it to the affair of the one that when boycotted, the Ummah will be benefitted by it! So regarding this, a clarification will follow to show the deficiency in this view of Dr Ibraaheem.
Indeed this fourth aim (or goal) behind boycotting has been affirmed (or established) by Ahlus Sunnah in practice based on knowledge and justice, and in fulfilment of an affair legislated in the Sharee’ah. Imaam Al-Laalakaa’ee reported in Sharh Usool Al-Itiqaad Ahlus Sunnah 2/256 from Al-Haafidh Qataadah Ibn Du’aamata As-Saddoosiy who said:
“Indeed if a man innovates an innovation (in the religion), it (becomes) obligatory to make a mention of it so that (the people are) cautious (of it). [Ref 1]
Al Uqayliy reported in the introduction of Ad-Du’afaa (3/6) [in the biography of Abdul Azeez Ibn Abee Rawwaad Al-Atkiy (who died in the year 159)] with an established chain of transmission to Mu’ammil Ibn Ismaaeel, who said: Abdul Azeez Ibn Abee Rawwaad died and was brought for the Janaazah prayer; so he was placed at the door of Safaa, whilst the people were making Tawaaf. Ath-Thawri came along, so the people said: Ath-Thawri has arrived; Ath-Thawri has arrived! So he came along (i.e. walked along) until he went past the rows- whilst the people looked at him; (then) he went past the Jazaanah and did not pray (i.e. did not pray the Janaazah prayer of Ibn Abee Rawwaad). The reason behind this was because Ibn Abee Rawwaad used to hold the view of Ir’jaa.
Abu Saaleh Al-Farraa’u said: I narrated something regarding the fitan to Yusuf Ibn Asbaat from Wakee; so he (Yusuf) said: That one is like his Shaikh; meaning Al-Hasan Ibn Yahyah (i.e. this Hasan Ibn Saaleh was influenced by some of the views of the khaarijites). I said to Yusuf, “Do you not fear that this is tantamount to back biting? He said, “Why, O idiot? I am better for these people than their fathers and mothers. I forbid the people from acting upon what they have innovated, so that they do not follow their footsteps in sin and the one who praises them is the most harmful to them. [Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa 7/361]
Abul Wafaa Ibn Aqeel Al-Faqee said, our Shaikh Abul Fadl Al-Hamdaani said, ‘’The innovators (in) Islam and the fabricators of Hadeeth are worse than the Mulhiddoon [i.e. the heretics (2)], for the heretics aim to corrupt Islam from the outside, whilst these (people) want to corrupt it from within. They (i.e. the innovators and the fabricators of hadeeth) are similar to the people of a country who try to corrupt its state of affairs and the heretics are similar to those who lay a siege from the outside; so the ones from within (i.e. the innovators and fabricators of hadeeth) open the fortress. Therefore, they are more harmful to Islam than those who do not (attribute) themselves to it outwardly. [Reported by Ibnul Jawzi in Al-Mawdoo’aat 1/44]
Al-Marwadhiy said, I said to Abu Abdillaah (i.e. Imaam Ahmad), ‘’What do you think- a man preoccupies himself with fasting, prayers (i.e. optional fasting and prayers) and refrains from speaking against Ahlul Bidah?’’ So he frowned and said: ‘’If he fasts, prays and secludes himself from the people (i.e. he performs optional fasts, prayers and stays away from the people, except when he has to mix with them), he only benefits himself; but if he speaks (i.e. against ahlul bidah), he (benefits) himself and others, and that is better.[Tabaqaat Al-Hanaabilah 2/216]
Shaikhul Islam clarified the misguidance and bidah of some of the extreme Soofees, saying that it’s harmful (effects) on the Muslims is greater than the harm of poison they eat, whilst being unaware of it. The harmful effects of their bidah and misguidance on the Muslims is greater than the harm (perpetrated by the) thieves and deceivers whom they are not aware of being thieves and deceivers. That is because the severest the harm of the thieves and deceivers can be is that it causes the death of a person or loss of his wealth, which is a worldly affliction and may be a means of receiving Allah’s mercy in the afterlife. As for these ones (i.e. the extreme Soofiyyah), they inculcate the (beliefs and acts) of disbelief and hearsay through the sound path of Prophets and the friends of Allaah (i.e. they make the people believe that their beliefs, acts of disbelief and hearsay are based on the path of the Prophets and the close friends of Allaah). They portray themselves as strivers in the path of Allaah, but inwardly they are from those who wage war against Allaah and His Messenger. They manifest the statements of the disbelievers and the hypocrites through the statements of the true friends of Allaah (by way of forgery and manipulation); so a man joins them, whilst thinking that he will be from the believers and the friends of Allaah, but ends up being a hypocrite and an enemy of Allaah. [Majmoo 2/360…Abridged and paraphrased]
Shaikhul Islaam also said: For this reason, it is not considered backbiting to talk about one who openly publicizes his innovations and wickedness, as has been reported on Al-Hasan Al-Basree and others. This is because when one publicizes that, he justifies himself to be punished by the Muslims. The least of these forms of punishment is that he should be dispraised and dishonoured so that the people may avoid and refrain from him and his deviance. And if he is not dispraised and the evil or disobedience or innovation that lies within him is not conveyed (to the public), then the people will be deceived by him. Then it is likely that this will bring some of them to act upon what he believes in. At the same time, it will only cause him to increase in his daringness, evil and disobedience. So if the faults that he has in him are mentioned, then he will restrain and others will restrain from his evil and from accompanying and socializing with him. Al-Hasan Al-Basree said: Do you turn away from mentioning the condition of the evil-doer (faajir)? Mention what he has in him, so that the people may be warned of him! This has been reported in marfoo form.
Wickedness (fujoor) is a comprehensive term for every affair that involves disobedience or foul, evil speech, that of which causes the one who hears it to believe that there is wickedness in the heart of the one who spoke it. For this reason, it becomes necessary for this type of individual to be abandoned. If he openly proclaims his innovation or disobedience or wickedness or immorality or his intermingling with someone who does that, such that he doesn’t care about whether the people will speak evilly about him or not, then indeed not abandoning him would then become a form of supporting him. If he openly proclaims his evil deeds, then he must be openly forsaken and if he does his evil deeds in secrecy, then he must be forsaken secretly. This is since Hijrah (abandonment) is the abandoning of something based upon the evil that is found there. And abandoning evil is to stay away from what Allaah has forbidden, as Allaah says: [وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ- And keep away from Ar-Rujz (the idols)! (74:5)]
And Allaah (The Most High) stated:
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ
And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur’an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. [4:140][Ref 3]
Shaikhul Islaam also stated in Majmoo 28/231-232:
And such as the People of innovation among the people of the [innovated] sayings that oppose the Book and the Sunnah or the acts of worship opposing the Book and the Sunnah – for exposing their condition and warning the Ummah about them is obligatory by unanimous agreement of the Muslims – until it was said to Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal: “Is it more loved by you that a man fasts, prays and peforms tawaaf or that he speaks about the People of innovation [i.e. exposes them and warns about them]?” He replied: “When he stands, prays and performs tawaaf that is for himself but when he talks about the People ofinnovation then that is for the Muslims and this is more excellent.” So he explained that the benefit of this is for the Muslims in general – for [the protection of] their religion – and it is a form of Jihaad in the Path of Allaah because the purification of the Path of Allaah, His Deen, His Minhaaj (methodology) and His Sharee’ah, repelling the oppressors and having enmity towards them is obligatory with kifaayah (i.e. there must be some amongst the Muslims who do this otherwise all of them are sinful for neglecting this duty). And if it had not been for the one whom Allaah had made to undertake this duty of repelling the harms of these people the Deen would have been corrupted and destroyed. And this corruption is greater than the corruption resulting from the domination of the enemies – amongst the people who fight against the Muslims (i.e. disbelievers) – and this is because these people (the disbelievers) when they dominate and conquer the Muslims, do not corrupt the hearts or whatever faith is contained within them except as a consequence, after time. As for these (the People of Innovation) then they corrupt the hearts right from the very beginning (i.e. since they corrupt the Deen itself).” [Ref 4]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) stated in Madaarij As-Saalikeen 1/372:
And due to this, the Salaf’s and Imaam’s disapproval (or rejection against) it (i.e. bidah) was severe and they spoke out (loudly) against its people from the various regions of the earth. They warned against their fitnah with a more severe warning and did that to an extent that was not the same as their disapproval against lewd acts, oppression and aggression. (That is) because the harm of bidah (on the religion); its destructive (effects on the religion) and negation (of the religion) is more severe.
Then Dr Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bukhaari stated that it was obligatory on Dr (Ibraaheem)- whilst he was giving advice about boycotting and its precise principles– to clarify the true picture of boycotting held by the Salaf because a deficient clarification in this affair is a great shortcoming that will lead to an incorrect understanding of this great fundamental. That is because it is understood from Dr Ibraaheem’s speech that boycotting has a singular image, but the truth is that it of different types, and from them: To refrain from giving salaam (i.e. refrain from giving salaam to the figureheads of bidah, those who openly manifest their wicked acts etc); refrain from sitting with them; refrain from honouring them and the important people (i.e. such as the scholars and other pious leaders) are to refrain from praying their Janaazah.
[Source: At-Ta’aquubaat As-Sareehah Alaa Risaalah An-Naseehah Lid-Doktoor Ibraaheem Bin Aamir Ar-Ruhayli pages 78-84..Abridged and paraphrased]
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Ref 1: Faa’idah from Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool: This Athar that was reported from Qataadah is the same principle we mentioned earlier, but the first one was that they (i.e. salaf) held that the religion is built upon two foundations: That we do not worship none, except Allaah and that we only worship Allaah with what He has legislated; so from this follows on warning against Ahlul bidah because the path of Ahlul bidah is the opposite of what the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and the companions were upon. So here Qataadah acquainted his companions with this principle that indeed if a person innovates a bidah, it (becomes) obligatory to make a mention of it, so that the people are cautious of it and so that the people are cautious of this man. This is the path of the Salafus Saaleh that they mentioned the people of bidah when they become famous and known; so they mention the innovation and warn the people against it, especially if they fear that the people will be affected by it and will follow it. www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7187
[Ref 2] Ilhaad: Complete Il-haad is to turn away from Islaam completely and that is Major Il-haad, which exits a person from the fold of Islaam, such as the Il-haad of the communists, the idol worshippers and those similar to them.
And Minor Il-haad does not exit a person from the Religion of Islaam, such as turning away from some actions. Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ] ”And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste a painful torment.” [22:25][for further details; see links:
http://www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13326 http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/noor/article_1802.shtml
[Ref3]http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=BDH05&articleID=BDH050002&pfriend= NB: The statement of Shaikul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah quoted by Shaikh Abdullaah al-Bukhaari was already translated by the students at Salafipublications in (We ask Allaah by His Greatest Name to grant them Thabaat and Abundant reward in this dunyah and the aakhirah. Aameen)
Abul Hasan al Maribee, Ali Al-Halabi, Knowledge, Manhaj, principles, tamyee'