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

Thorough investigation, careful deliberation, and consultation 

Imam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon him] said:

“Verification is one of the most important affairs, if not the most important. Verifying what is transmitted from others is an important affair because sometimes the transmitters harbour evil intentions, so they transmit – intentionally and deliberately – that which will tarnish the reputation of the one they transmit from. And sometimes they do not harbour an evil intention, but they understand something in a manner that is opposite to what is intended by it. Therefore, it is obligatory to verify. So, when the proof of the transmission is established, then the one from whom the statement was transmitted is engaged in a discussion before a judgment is passed as to whether it is a mistake or not. That is because it may become clear to you – by way of discussion – that the one from whom the statement was transmitted is correct. And if not, then what is known is that if a person were to immediately pass a judgment merely based on what he hears, he will transmit things (i.e. statements, views, opinions, etc) from some of the scholars – those considered to be the beacons of (Shariah) knowledge – that which the souls will dislike; but when one verifies, contemplates and establishes contact with this Shaikh, the affair will become clarified”. [(1)]

During a discussion with our companion Ustaadh Abu Tasneem (Mushaf Al-Banghali) concerning the stability enjoyed when the senior Scholars of Ahlus Sunnah are alive, he mentioned the Tarbiyah given by Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] whilst he was in Dammaj, the Tarbiyah given by Al-Allaamah Ubaid Bin Abdullah al-Jaabiri [may Allah have mercy upon him] to students in the West during his lifetime, as well as the wise manner in which Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah preserve him] protects the Dawah in the West -by the Tawfeeq of Allah- especially during Fitan, misunderstanding or disagreement. Then Abu Tasneem brought up a crucial matter relating to verification, noting that whenever individuals complained to Al-Allaamah Rabee about the brothers in England, he would investigate the claims either when the brothers contacted or visited him, and then pursue a course of rectification.

Indeed, we have seen the results of this same Tarbiyah in Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him] because whenever he is asked for advice about a disagreement between brothers, he either invites the two parties to come along or asks them for specific information first. We have seen that even when one of the Salafiyyoon becomes difficult to deal with, Shaikh Abu Khadeejah advised us to exercise patience and refrain from agitating the person, so we take his advice. This is in contrast to the affair of an individual who receives a claim from one person against another and rushes to pass judgment, either because some of what one party says agrees with some of his views on a specific matter or his judgement is influenced due to some unfounded suspicion harboured for a long time about the other party.

We saw this mistake made by some people during the lockdowns in the West, who did everything they could to convey ambiguities regarding some people in the West who differed with them on matters related to vaccines and other issues, despite the fact that some Muslim scientists and doctors living in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries discouraged people from vaccination and suggested alternative medication. If only they remembered that “The affairs of medicine attributed to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] should be checked as to whether their chains of transmission are authentic, and the affairs of medicine that are established by way of opinions [i.e. through study and research, etc] should be examined to find out whether they are (sound, unsound, or whether they contain flaws, sin, offense, etc). He should not be an easy and legitimate prey whom the enemies of Allaah use as a means to transmit that which opposes the Religion of Islaam and causes harm to the Muslims; rather he should know that everything that comes to him regarding modern medicine has to be subjected to research and has to be ascertained”. [Excerpt from Akhlaaq At-Tabeeb Al-Muslim pages 4- 18]

By Allah’s grace, no one in the East spoke openly about this issue while specifically mentioning any Salafi by name; otherwise, any speaker – regardless of his knowledge and status – would have been asked for clear proof, and failure to do so would have resulted in an unambiguous clarification based on facts by those who are well-versed in the subject matter from a religious and scientific standpoint. First, the article on this link provided a much needed clarification by the Tawfeeq of Allah, https://abukhadeejah.com/advice-regarding-differing-over-covid-19/ and secondly, the outcomes at present clearly shows that there was good reason to suspect the vaccines and masks in the West. Therefore, let this be a reminder to all that we understand first, rather than hastily rushing to the East without thorough verification, or harbouring ulterior motives in our pursuit for clarification. It should also serve as a reminder to anyone in the East who is below the level of the senior Scholars that it is important to employ careful deliberation and thorough verification before saying anything, either directly or indirectly, about the affairs of people whose Salafiyyah and reliability are well-known to Al-Allaamah Rabee, Al-Allaamah Ubaid, Al-Allaamah Hasan Al-Bannah, and Al-Allaamah Abdullah Al-Ghudiyaan. At Al-Markazus Salafi, we’ll not allow anyone among us to initiate problems related to verification regardless of his knowledge or age.

Therefore, we remind the ex-snooker players that neither is Dawah in need of snooker strategies nor the meddling of anyone. Anyone, whether in the East or West, regardless of their knowledge or Tazkiyyaat, who enters into affairs haphazardly or foregoes thorough verification is likely to either create problems for himself or make incorrect judgments about specific people. This is true even if he is older or more knowledgeable than those older students who are much more familiar with the precise details, history, and Masaalih of Dawah in the West than he is. Al-Allaamah Rabee [may Allah preserve him] has never given any room to anyone – by the Tawfeeq of Allah – to initiate a problem in this subject matter of verification between Ahlus Sunnah in the West. We know, and we have heard and seen – some of us more than others – about these matters for many years now, and we’ll – by the Tawfeeq of Allah through consultation and careful deliberation- employ the means to distance Al-Markazus Salafi from anyone in the East or the West who is either reckless or blind to this very important affair. We greatly value all Salafi students of the senior scholars in the East and West, but none will be allowed to initiate this affair that has been consistently repelled by al-Allaamah Rabee, and anyone who chooses to make life difficult for us will receive a clarification without hesitation – InShaaAllah – if he addresses the Masjid specifically.

Finally, during the early 2000s, we dealt with opinionated people in the West, who had some knowledge but considered themselves as ones who knew better than everyone else, even though no senior Scholar affirmed that for him. We came across people who were afflicted with some inflated self-importance, love of control, and self-amazement, so we dealt with them whilst seeking advice from our elder teachers in the UK who also sought advice from the senior Scholars. After being reprimanded for bad behaviour in the affairs of Dawah, they decided to employ snooker tactics and believed that their discreet long-term strategies and short-term tactics – in order to fulfill their goals – would not be discovered or that everyone was oblivious of it. They persisted and constantly repeated what they wanted people to think – both openly and discreetly. They carefully thought about their actions, laid traps, and watched from a distance, and many amongst them – especially those who had just started coming to the Masjid – found it very hard to detect this game because the perpetrators were very calm and collected. The connections they had with some other senior Scholars such as Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] made them think that neither will they be discovered nor would anyone dare speak against them when necessary, so they increased in error, arrogance, inflated self-importance and self-amazement until their affair became known to everyone.

So, beware of this behaviour and seek Allah’s Protection. These people defended the Sunnah, taught for many years, and even received some praise from Al-Allaamah Rabee. The elder teachers -at the time -refrained from saying anything in public in order not to agitate them or cause more harm than good because many common people were attached to them, so they were even allowed to carry on teaching in the Masjid until they did that which warranted a more severe reprimand. The Dawah is neither in need of snooker strategies nor trickery. Al-Hasan (al-Basree) said, “The wise man does not argue or seek to overcome with stratagem rather he propagates his wisdom. If it is accepted he praises Allah and if it is rejected he praises Allah”.

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] stated, “Al-Hasan Al-Basree: He is Al-Hasan Ibnu Abil Hasan Al-Basree the well-known Imaam from amongst the Taabi’een. He said, ‘The wise man’, is the one who possesses wisdom, and wisdom is to place something in its (proper) place. Likewise, the wise one means the one with understanding. Therefore, two meanings are intended by Al-Hakeem (the wise one). The first intended meaning is one who places the affairs in their (proper) place. It is also intended to mean the one who has understanding because wisdom is understanding and knowledge of what is intended by Allah and His Messenger (i.e. the understanding of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger). He does not argue. He does not debate (with) a fruitless debate that is devoid of benefit. He does not seek to overcome the people of falsehood with stratagem and to make them submit. He propagates his knowledge and if accepted he praises Allah. This is what is sought after. And if it (i.e. his knowledge, wisdom) is not accepted, he is absolved of his responsibility and the proof is conveyed. And concerning the statement, ‘He praises Allaah’ because he established and conveyed the proof, and fulfilled that which is required of him, and guidance for the hearts is in the hands of Allah. [(2)]

At Al-Markazus Salafi, we will pay close attention to this matter of verification, especially after the death of senior scholars or when it becomes difficult to reach them for an extended period of time so that we do not harbour anything about any Salafi in any region of the earth or pursue anything on their behalf until after thorough investigation, careful deliberation, and consultation. May Allah raise many more senior Scholars with the wisdom of Al-Allaamah Rabee, Al-Allaamah Ubaid, Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan, Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad, and others Aameen.

[(1)]: Excerpt from Sharh Hilyatil Taalibil Ilm Pages 75-76

[(2)]: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree. Vol 2. Page:265-266]