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

Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah; even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 135]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Allaah [Glorified be He and Free is He From all Imperfections] commanded His servants to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone – be it an enemy or an ally. Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] commands us to stand out firmly for justice and testify (for or against) everyone, even if it were someone who is the most beloved person to us. A person should stand out firmly for justice (whether it is for or against) himself, his two parents, his other close relatives and his best friend amongst the people. If a person’s love for himself, his parents and his relatives prevents him from standing out firmly for the truth against them, especially if the truth is with someone he hates and regards as an enemy due to them, then indeed none will stand out firmly for justice in such circumstances except one whose love for Allaah and His Messenger is more than their love for everyone else. Likewise, a person has to establish justice when dealing with his enemies and that one who deprives him of his rights, because indeed it is not permissible that hatred for his enemies leads him to be unjust towards them, just as it is not permissible (to allow) love of himself, his parents and relatives to make him abandon standing firmly for justice against them. Therefore, hatred harboured against someone should not lead him to falsehood, and love of (oneself, parents and relatives) should not make him fall short in establishing truth, just as some of the Salaf said, “The just person is that one who when angry, his anger does not lead him to falsehood, and when he is pleased, it does not remove him from truth”. (1)

Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Ayah 8]

“O you who believe”- Meaning, O you who believe in that which your Eemaan obligates on you! Establish that which your Eemaan necessitates so that you are “Stand out firmly for Allaah and be just witnesses”- being eager and active in establishing justice in all your apparent and hidden deeds, do so for the sake of Allaah alone and not due to some worldly gaol, and intend to do justice- neither going beyond bounds nor falling short in your statements and actions. Do this on behalf one who is close to you and one who is not close to you, on behalf of a friend and an enemy. And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice, as this is what is done by the one who neither deals justly nor gives people the rights due to them; rather stand out firmly for justice – for and against your allies, just as you stand out firmly for justice for and against your enemies. (2)

Allaah [The Most High] said: [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”. (3)

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Beware of (unjustified) suspicion, because suspicion is the most false of speech”. [Saheeh Muslim 2563]

Al-Khattaabee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “(Unjustified) evil suspicion is the source of an abundance of lies”. [Umdatul Qaaree By Badr Ad-Deen Al-Aynee 23/232]

Indeed, this article has not been written because Masjid Al-Furqan, Masjid Abi Hurairah, Al-Markazus Salafi or any other Salafi Masjid is a business partner or an employee of Northroad Academy, lest it is said that the purpose behind it is to secure some financial gain; rather it has been written to repel oppression against a Muslim whose honour is violated by those specific hizbiyyoon at Markaz Tawheed – those who have been refuted and exposed for aiding the people of Bidah in that which would strengthen their Bidah. [see here: https://salaficentre.com/2022/09/02/6-the-affair-of-markaz-tawheed-o-truthful-adherents-to-salafiyyah-in-stoke-on-trent-neither-participate-nor-spend-a-penny-in-an-event-that-will-aid-staunch-soofees-to-strengthen-their-bidah-and-m/ ]

So, during the past few weeks, whilst some of those specific blazing hizbiyyoon are being rebutted for their crimes and lies against the sound Salafi Manhaj, they’ve now decided – based on blameworthy evil suspicion, evil speculation and a desire to gain the upper hand through evil speech – to attack the honour of a Salafi brother in order to divert attention from their bidah of hizbiyyah and the crimes they’ve been committing in the name of the pure Salafi Manhaj. Indeed, even though we’ll not allow these hizbiyyoon to divert our attention from rebutting their crimes against the Salafi Manhaj, however, one cannot remain silent when others are slandered and oppressed. Abu Bakrah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said during his last pilgrimage, ‘What is the day today?’ We kept quiet, thinking he might give the day another name. The Prophet said, ‘Is it not the day of sacrificing?’ We said ‘Yes’. The Prophet said, ‘Which month is this?’ We again kept quiet, thinking he might give it another name. The Prophet said, ‘Is it not the month of Dhul Hijja?’ We said, ‘Yes’. The Prophet said, ‘Verily, your lives, your property, and your honor are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours. Let one present inform those who are absent; perhaps one present will inform another who understands better than him'”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhari. Number 67]

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Lying against an individual is absolutely forbidden- whether the man (i.e. the one lied against) is a Muslim or a disbeliever, righteous or a wicked sinner; but fabricating lies against a believer is more severe”. [Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 28/223]

So, what will make you know that slander and that lying against a Muslim is a more severe crime?! The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the great sins?” We said, “Certainly, O Allah’s Messenger”. He said, “To associate partners with Allaah in worship, to be undutiful to one’s parents.” The Prophet sat up after he had been reclining and added, “And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false witness; I warn you against giving a forged statement and a false witness.” The Prophet kept on saying that warning till we thought that he would not stop”. [Al-Bukhaari. Number 5979] He [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] also said: “Whoever argues based on falsehood knowingly will not cease to be under the wrath of Allaah until he stops. And whoever says about a believer that which is not true, he will reside in Radghat Al-Khabaal (pus) until he recants”. [Abu Dawud. Number 3597. Silsilah As-Saheehah Number 437]

Even though the Manhaj crimes being committed by those hizbiyyoon – at Markaz Tawheed – are more severe than their vile personal attacks, however, they will not be allowed to violate the honour of anyone, especially the honour of a person whose honesty is well known to us – as clear as the mid day sun- over two decades. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to stand firm and defend his honour, whilst not fearing the blame of the blamers. Allaah [The Most High] said: [إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِتَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلۡخَآٮِٕنِينَ خَصِيمً۬ا – Surely, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’an) in truth that you might judge between men by that which Allah has shown you (i.e. has taught you through Divine Inspiration), so be not a pleader for the treacherous (or deceitful person)]. [Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 105]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Do not argue for the one whose treachery (or deception) is known, such as the one who either pursues what does not belong to him or one who rejects a right he must fulfil, whether he is aware of that or not. In this is proof to (establish) that it is forbidden to argue based on falsehood and pleading (on behalf) of one who makes a false claim – in religious or worldly disputes. On the other hand, it is permissible to plead on behalf of someone -in a dispute- who is not known for treachery (or deception)”. [An Excerpt from Tafseer as-Sadi]

Finally, Official Statement 2022: https://www.northroadacademy.com/statement-2022/

The above clarification is the truth and whoever claims otherwise is a malicious liar and a shameless slanderer. We have not made this statement because Al-Markazus Salafi, Masjid Al-Furqan, Masjid Abi Hurairah or any other Salafi Masaajid are business partners or employees at Northroad Academy, lest it is said that this article is written for some financial gain; rather the intent behind this article is to defend the honour of a Muslim – an adherent to the sound Salafi Manhaj – whom the hizbiyyoon seek to slander in order to divert attention from their crimes against the Salafi Manhaj. We ask Allaah to protect us from the spiteful hizbiyyoon and guide them to what is praiseworthy Aameen.

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah). Vol 1. Page 300-303. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2:An Excerpt from Tafseer As- Sadi]
[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. Slightly paraphrased]