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

“All You Do Is Cause More Splitting and Corruption By Way of Your Refutations”

This above claim reminds us of the statement of Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli [may Allaah Allaah recitify his affair] who stated that consideration must be given in ascertaining the legislated benefits of a refutation, because if there is going to be more harm than the corruption of the Mukhaalafah [i.e. the error or that what opposes the truth], the refutation is not legislated in these circumstances because a Mafsadah [a corrupt affair] is not to be repelled if that will lead to a greater corruption. Then Dr Ibraaheem quoted a statement of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] as follows, “It is not permissible to repel a small (act, deed) of corruption (that will lead to a) more corruption. The lesser of two harmful (affairs) is not to be repelled (and thus leads to one that is) greater, because indeed the Islamic Legislation came to bring about beneficial (affairs) and (accomplish) them completely, put a stop to corrupt (affairs) and lessen them as much as possible. Its aim is to (seek after) the weightier between two good (affairs) if it is not possible to (achieve) both of them, and to repel the eviler of two (affairs if not able to) get rid of both”.

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah protect him] responded to the above statement of Dr Ibraaheem as follows: “Indeed, the speech of Shaikhul Islaam is truth. It is not permissible to repel a smaller (act, deed) of corruption (that will lead to) more corruption”. However, I believe that Shaikhul Islaam does not hold that Shirk, Kufr, the Major Innovations (in the religion), waging war against Ahlus Sunnah and defending the Senior proponents of innovation in religious affairs are either from the small (affairs) of corruption or that disapproving of them (openly) and clarifying their danger is from (that which will lead to) more corruption. There is no greater benefit than disseminating Tawheed and manifesting it, destroying Shirk and Kufr, and purifying the earth of them; (purifying the earth of) bidah about which the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] described as the worst of all affairs.

What is clear (or apparent) is that Shaikhul Islaam intends by way of this statement the one who gives advice to the rulers or disapproves of (the deeds) of the Muslim rulers, or their representatives (i.e. governors, ministers etc), because indeed (such advise or disapproval) has to be carried out by way of (clear-unambiguous) proof and evidence, together with leniency and softness; but if disapproving of their smaller (acts, deeds) of corruption will lead to a greater affair or affairs of corruption, then bear the smaller affair of corruption in order to repel the greater of it. [Then Al-Allaamah Rabee further clarified this affair with a footnote in the same page 54, as follows, “This is the opposite of what the khawaarij and those similar to them do, because indeed their disapproval (of the ruler) is either (done) by way of rebellion with weapons, or incitement and stiring (trouble), so the corruption (that results) from this disapproval (of the ruler’s deeds) becomes greater and more severe than the corruption they wanted to stop”.]

Then Al-Allaamah Rabee continued, saying that if those affairs of corruption committed by the rulers are tantamount to Shirk, or Rafd [i.e. the creed of the Raafidah], or Kufr, then this principle [i.e. bearing the lesser evil] is not applied here [i.e. such beliefs must be refuted in a particular manner and this will become clear to the reader when the Shaikh mentions the stances of Imaam Ahmad, Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibnul Qayyim because they did not refrain from refuting those affairs of Shirk and Major innovations, even when they occurred from those in authority. [Reader refer to the article By Shaikh Abu Khadeejah (may Allaah protect him) regarding rebellion, takfeer, speaking against rulers openly in general, and pay close attention to what Imaam Ahmad advised the delegation that approached him and suggested rebellion, saying, “Keep opposing (the false belief itself) with your statements, but do not remove your hands from obedience and do not encourage the Muslims to rebel and do not spill your blood and the blood of the Muslims along with you. Look to the results of your actions. And remain patient until you are content with a righteous or sinful rule.” http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/ %5D

Then Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee continued his response to Dr Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli’s view about weighing up benefits and harms in refutations, saying that as for bidah, especially that which is tantamount to kufr or shirk, then the likes of that statement of Shaikhul Islaam [i.e. the statement Dr Ibraaheem quoted and applied to the subject matter of refutation] is not to be applied in these circumstances. Then Al-Allaamah Rabee further emphasized this point to Dr Ibraaheem, saying that he should not forget Imaam Ahmad’s stance against those who held that the Qur’aan is created, even though they had (political) authority and kinship. Shaikhul Islaam (Ibnu Taymiyyah) and Ibnul Qayyim have many books in refutation against ahlul bidah, such as Al-Waasityyah, Al-Hamawiyyah, At-Tadmuriyyah, Minhaaj Ahl Sunnah, Naqd al-Mantiq, Dar Ta’aarud Al-Naql Wal-Aql, Talbees Al-Jahmiyyah, Iqtidaa Siraat al-Mustaqeem, Al-Fataawaa Al-Kubraa, Majmoo Al-Fataawaa etc The majority of these books are refutations against the Ash’ariyyah. (a) Ibnul Qayyim’s books, such as As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah Alal Jahmiyyah Wal-Mu’attilah (b) I’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een, Ighaatha Al-Lahfaan and An’Nubuwwah- the majority of these books were a refutation against the Ash’ariyyah Soofiyyah, even though they had political authority.

Then Al-Allaamah Rabee concluded, saying that this is because clarification and disapproval in this affair (i.e. refutation of the major innovations) cannot be anything else except something that has more benefit than harm. This is the call of the Messengers- the first of them Nuh to the last of them Muhammad- because they came out with the truth- clarifying Tawheed and warning against Shirk, regardless the tyranny of their enemies, the station of their authority, strength and transgressions. (1)

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “As for fearing splitting as a result of refutation against the sects, then there is no legislated Islamic excuse for refraining. That is because having love for unity (upon the sound creed and methodology of the pious predecessors) is what is correct and more deserving to be desired and followed. The innovator in religious affairs is the cause of the splitting in the Ummah, because splitting is connected to innovation in religion and unity is connected to the Sunnah. The obligation of refutation against the Mukhaalif (the one in opposition to the truth) is not lifted from the scholar due to anticipation of harm, unless it is harm he is not able to bear, so (in this case) Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. The earth is not devoid of people of knowledge to carry out refutation against the innovator in religious affairs and the one in opposition to the (truth). (2)

Footnote a:

Read on the Ash’ariyyah, visit: http://www.asharis.com/creed/

Footnote b:

Jahmiyyah:http://www.sahihmuslim.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=AQD&subsecID=AQD12&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm

[Ref 1: Bayaan Maa Fee Naseehati Ibraaheem Ar-Ruhayli Minal Khalal Wal-Ikhlaal’ 53-54]
[Ref 2: Al Ajwibah Al Mukhtasar Alaa As-ila Al-Ashra. Pages 43-44]