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

Al-Hasan Ibn Ali [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] reported that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind and falsehood sows doubt”. [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2518]

Indeed, the specific individual or individuals – who claimed that we are people who drop scholars – either speculated or desperately desired to insinuate that we are guilty of abandoning people without justification. This statement is either based on speculation or it was uttered due to being overwhelmed by evil suspicion that leads to slander. Therefore, we remind them that their affair is either that which is addressed in the above hadeeth reported by Al-Hasan Ibn Ali [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] or it is that which is related to Allaah’s statement: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنْ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ – O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. [Surah Al-Hujuraat. Aayah 12]

Imaam as-Sa’di [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Allaah [The Most High] has forbidden much evil suspicion towards the believers, because some suspicions are sins. And that is like the suspicion devoid of reality and factual evidence, and like the suspicion accompanied by much forbidden speech and action, for indeed the settlement of evil suspicion in the heart does not restrict the one (in whose heart is that evil suspicion) only to that; rather, he does not cease until he utters and does that which is not permissible”. [An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi]

The Reality of Faalih and Dr Muhammad Bin Haadi

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allaah protect him] stated: “Faalih had been rushing into (unjustified) elimination and declaring people innovators in religious affairs, so some youth asked him for proofs, but the proofs sought from him were not found with him. Then he resorted to the invention of a principle by removing Tabdee (the ruling related to declaring a person an innovator in religious affairs) from the principles of the Imams of Al-Jarh Wat- Tadeel (the carriers of the science of criticism and commendation), and differentiated (in the science of criticism) between the narrators of hadeeth and (when) declaring a person an innovator in religious affairs. So, he held that it is right to ask about the reasons for criticising (or disparaging) the narrators, (but) as for those about whom he holds that that they are innovators in religious affairs, it is not right to ask about the reasons behind disparaging them and declaring them innovators in religious affairs, even if they are from the best of the Salafis; rather the one who asks regarding the reasons why they are declared innovators is declared an innovator (as well). This premise led him to say that the scholars must be blindly followed and not asked for proof. Who did he ask to blindly follow the scholars? Indeed, they are the intelligent students of knowledge, but rather the teachers (in Islamic University) and amongst them are some who have reached the level of doctorate, and not common people; and that the one who does not blindly follow the scholars has indeed undermined the message of the Messengers and the books, or has belied the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and Islam. (see footnote a)

He and his followers thought that he was the only Imam, the protector and protector of the religion. He pushed (incited) them and they pushed (incited) him, and thus he inflicted the heads of Ahlus Sunnah – the strong and the weak amongst them – with false Tabdee and unjust rulings. Whoever does not blindly follow him, even if he holds a doctorate degree in Islamic Sharaa’ah, is considered a denier of the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Islam. The one who does not blindly follow him in his false opinion, even if he was a teacher (at university level), is judged to be one of the callers at the gates of Hell, and that he has destroyed the messages of the Messengers and the books that were revealed to them. This – in addition to insulting, (unjustified) attacks and warning – are matters that are neither approved by Sharee’ah nor (sound) reasoning. These – despite the fact that my advice to him was accompanied with kindness and contained only some of his mistakes – are affairs that should motivate a sane and just person to return to the truth. We did not see anything from Faalih except false denunciations, false interpretations, war, mobilization, and seeking help through supporters amongst those whose identities were unknown – those hiding behind the curtains. At first, he found nothing from the scholars except advice, then denunciation of these matters. (1) [End of quote]

This is an aspect of Faalih’s reality, so the falsity of claim of the blazing hizbiyyoon within the ranks of Markaz At-Tawheed (Stoke On Trent) becomes absolutely manifest to the sensible observer. These same hizbiyyoon [the specific individual or individuals] also mentioned that we have abandoned Dr Muhammad Bin Haadi! Three weeks ago, we were invited to a barbecue – by our Salafi brother Abu Haleemah [Naeem Bashir (Masjid Abi Hurairah/Masjid Furqan)] – together with two of our teachers [Abu Tasneem Mushaf Al-Banghali and another elder brother from Birmingham – a student of Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadi]; so when another brother asked about how to deal with the fitna of Dr Muhammad Bin Haadi, we asked the elder brother [i.e. the student of Shaikh Muqbil] to give guidance to the questioner, who said to him, “What we say to Shaikh Muhammad Bin Haadi is that you have fallen into one of the same mistakes about which you reprimanded Faalih Al-Harbi, and that is making Tabdee without proof”. Read on the links below by Shaikh Abu Iyaadh and Shaikh Abu Khadeejah: Reminder: Shaykh Rabiʿ’s request for Shaykh Muḥammad bin Hādī to justify his tabdīʿ of Salafī students and shaykhs and to explicitly name the major scholars he accused of being “affected” and “destroyed” by the “Ṣaʿāfiqah” – one month, no answer:]

Reminder: Shaykh Rabiʿ’s request for Shaykh Muḥammad bin Hādī to justify his tabdīʿ of Salafī students and shaykhs and to explicitly name the major scholars he accused of being “affected” and “destroyed” by the “Ṣaʿāfiqah” – one month, no answer. https://t.co/n7n92akjMD pic.twitter.com/D1t218kIXt

— Abu Iyaad (@AbuIyaadSP) July 16, 2018

Muhammad Ibn Hādi’s Allegations and the Response of the Major Scholars in Light of the Manhaj of the Salaf

Finally, we say to those specific individuals – the blazing hizbiyyoon at Markaz and allies of Greenlane, Ihyaa At-Turaath and others: “You are well-known for claiming that Taqleed is Haraam, and both Faalih and Shaikh Muhammad are guilty of making Tabdee without proof, so do we blindly follow them or reject their stances?!” This is enough to manifest the fact that your claim about us dropping scholars (i.e. without justification) is a blatant lie and a smokescreen by way of which you seek to defend other figureheads upon error. Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The fact that a statement regarding something is lies and falsehood is sometimes known based on the statement in and of itself, its contradictions, perplexity and the manifestation of those clear indications which shows that it is lies. Lies may manifest due to what it is in reality, what is apparent and what is being concealed. It is sometimes known due to the situation of the utterer of the lie, for indeed the one who is known for lying, wickedness and deception, his statements do not show anything else except a state of conformity with his deeds. He does not utter a statement or perform an action similar to that of a pious and truthful person – the one innocent of every evil, deception, lie and wicked behaviour; rather the heart, intention, statements and deeds of the truthful one have the same image; and the heart, statements, deeds and intentions of the liar have the same image. (2)

Footnote a: Faalih led his followers in one extreme direction by seeking to compel people not to ask for evidence even when they are able to study the affairs and reach the correct stance; but also the other misguided path followed by some people is that they say, “I don’t make Taqleed” in order to reject the sound evidences. Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah preserve him] said, “Indeed, rejecting the statements of scholars [i.e. their sound verdicts] – by way of statements whose apparent meaning is sound, but those who utilise them intend falsehood and evil – has become widespread nowadays. [And this statement of truth by way of which falsehood and evil is intended is]: “I do not make Taqleed!!’’ Even though you find him [i.e. the utterer of this statement] to be ignorant, understands nothing [i.e. regarding some or many affairs] in the religion and is one of those who are greatly in need of making Taqleed of the scholars as well as following them. There is [the necessity for] Taqleed and Ittibaa. There is a person who is ignorant and he needs to make Taqleed. Taqleed is a necessity for this person, therefore it is incumbent upon him to make Taqleed of the scholars. The student of knowledge can understand by way of the proofs that such and such scholar is correct and thus he follows the person with proof [i.e. Ittibaa]. This is a level above Taqleed and below the level of the Mujtahid. Some of them [i.e. the people] might say: ‘’I do not make Taqleed’’, even though-in reality- he is a commoner or an evil doer, or a malicious person who desires to speak ill against the scholars and keep the people away from them through these cunning ways. Therefore, let the youth be careful lest they fall into the trap of these fools – those who speak ill of the scholars in such a heedless manner. “I do not make Taqleed of such and such [person]”; we say to him [i.e. the one who utters this statement]: Who commands you to make Taqleed if you are a student of knowledge?! However, if that scholar about whom you say, “I do not make Taqleed of him” has truth with him, then is it permissible to reject the truth through this illusion which you call Taqleed and intend falsehood by way of it?! I warn the youth against despicable behaviour. It has become rife amongst the common people and prevents them from [adhering] to good manners, [sound] religion and [good] character. (3)

The Prohibited and Permissible Forms of Taqlid

http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ06&articleID=MNJ060005&articlePages=1

The Methodology of the Salaf Concerning Ijtihad and Taqlid
http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ06&articleID=MNJ060001&articlePages=1

This PDF [https://www.troid.org/media/pdf/areturntothesunnah.pdf] discusses the subject matter of Taqleed -from page 59 onward- based on the clarifications of the scholars, such as Imaam Albaani [rahimahullaah], Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] and others.

To be continued InShaaAllaah

[Ref 1: Al-Majmoo Al-Waadih Fee Raddi Manhaj Wa Usool Faalih. Pages 123-125. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt from As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 2/469-470. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 3: Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ pages 61-62. Slightly paraphrased]