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

Where Were You [in 2004 in the arena of Dawah and Unity in the East or the West] When our UK Elder Teachers Were Striving to Strengthen Unity Under The Supervision of The Senior Scholars

Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him] wrote in September 2004:

Over the last year or so we have been making every effort possible to unite the ranks of the Salafees in the UK and other places. We have been in contact with Ahlul-Ilm in various Islamic countries, seeking their advice and guidance throughout. Our unity has as its basis adherence to the Book and Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf. Ash-Shaykhul-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee’s advice was listened to, absorbed, and acted upon. He has requested that the Salafees be gathered and not be separated. That they should cut off all the avenues of iftiraaq and separation, not get involved in disputes, and overlook the shortcomings of their Salafi brothers. That advice is to be offered to those to whom issues of Manhaj and innovation are unclear. Not to drive them away, but to clarify for them and to explain to them the rulings of the Scholars, hoping that they will accept.

Harshness is to be applied (to those deserving) if and when the scholars apply harshness in the matters they apply harshness and in the manner they apply harshness in accordance with wisdom they perceive, weighing up the relative benefits and harms. So we spent many months implementing these pieces of advice. We aimed to unite our ranks so that ahlul-bid’ah could not come and destroy us and plant suspicion and hatred within us and weaken our strength. So we gathered together in the various places putting past differences behind us. We advised each other with mildness and gentleness and moved forward.

So we are gathered together and united, walhamdulillaah, with our brothers from various towns and cities: Our brothers at al-Maktabah al-Athariyyah in East London, Al-Baseerah in Leeds, Bradford, and Yorkshire, also our brothers in Middlesbrough in the North East of England, likewise Rochdale and Manchester in the North West, also our brothers in Harrow in North London, the Slough brothers near London, Masjid as-Sunnah Hounslow near Heathrow, Salafis of Wales in Cardiff, Leicester in the East Midlands and Coventry near Birmingham. So now we are united with true brotherhood and cooperation upon righteousness and piety. So let the message be disseminated that Ahlus-Sunnah are one and are strengthening their ranks; that we are learning, educating ourselves, and benefiting from the scholars. We are united with our Ulamaa and we are their sons in need of their advice and guidance. We have and will continue to take their positions upon those who deviate, whilst maintaining love, brotherhood, and affection between ourselves as Salafis. And there is no contradiction in this at all.

So we were with the likes of Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Al-Albaanee, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee, Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahumullaah), Shaykh Al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Rabee, Shaykh Abdul-Azeez, Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbaad, Shaykh Ubayd Al-Jaabiree, Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee, Shaykh Zayd Al-Madkhalee and other than them in their positions against the likes of Syed Qutub, Safar al-Hawaalee, Salmaan al-Awdah, the various terrorist and Jihaadee groups upon the evidences that were presented and clarified by the Ulamaa. So likewise today we remain with these scholars and those who inherited the legacy from those who passed away – we propagate their rulings and positions based upon evidences and knowing that they are well-grounded in the Islamic sciences and Usool. So we all take from them the detailed evidences that they have provided in the issues such as that of Al-Maribee, Ar’oor, and others than them who have strayed from the Salafi Manhaj and ‘aqeedah.

I would like to make some additions to that which has been stated above at the request of some of our brothers overseas. In the last few years, we have also made several trips to various lands overseas as our brothers have to us, likewise. Allaah knows that we did not wish to travel nor did we regard ourselves to be worthy of traveling to those lands to disseminate the small portions of knowledge we have. Rather, we have encouraged the brothers of many of those lands to attempt to invite the scholars and Shaykhs as they have more right over and above ourselves. Their reply was: firstly, that the Shaykhs are stretched and cannot make themselves available for these journeys as they find it difficult to leave their commitments of dawah they are involved in. Secondly, that they need someone to first come and connect the masses to the scholars and instill in the hearts of the people love for the scholars in the English language. Thirdly, that once we have established this reference point to the ‘Ulamaa, we can inform the scholars and connect them to the people of the land visited, thus removing ourselves from the ‘equation’. So, we have been traveling and carrying out these efforts to the various predominantly English-speaking audiences, though still reluctantly. By Allaah, this is what we have done. And I am sure that our brothers in Germany, Sri Lanka, the USA, Canada, and Barbados, etc., will bear witness that we have always been extremely reluctant to travel as we did not see ourselves as worthy, and myself more so unworthy! To the extent that those brothers to whom we have not traveled will likewise bear witness that we refused to travel to them and have been reluctant to agree, like our brothers in Atlanta Georgia, India, Texas, New York, etc. The brothers in Sri Lanka and the USA had to try for close to a year to convince us to come. Our brothers in India insisted on us coming and we continually refused and eventually, the visa situation was sufficient to prevent us. Our brothers in Germany, likewise, had to try over and over again before we agreed. All this, so that it is not said that we are putting ourselves forward in the da’wah. And Allaah knows what lies in the chests.

Adding to the above – there is hardly a lecture we deliver, except that we connect the people to the ‘Ulamaa and mention to them the importance of connecting to them directly. Our taped lectures from the various lands bear witness to this. Our tapes are filled with the praises and encouragement of taking from the Ulamaa, the likes of Ash-Shaykh Al-Fawzaan, Ash-Shaykh Rabee’, Ash-Shaykh ‘Ubayd, Ash-Shaykh An-Najmee, Ash-Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin, Ash-Shaykh Abdul-‘Azeez, Ash-Shaykh Zayd Al-Madkhalee, and other than them. So our call is not and never has been (as the taped lectures show) to ourselves, but to the guidance and knowledge of the ‘Ulamaa. Their fatawaa are constantly quoted and referred to in talks and pieces of advice. The brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, Germany, etc, can and will bear witness to what has been stated. Wallaahul-musta’aan!

So the point of all of this is that we have established unity between ourselves and our brothers in the various lands that have been mentioned in accordance with the Book and Sunnah, upon the way of the Salaf and the guidance of the Salafi Shaykhs. So we are in contact with, and in cooperation with our brothers in the various mosques and Islamic Centers in Toronto Canada, Philadelphia, New York, Jersey, Washington, Florida, Atlanta, Trinidad, Barbados, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, etc. – us and them making our reference point for knowledge the ‘Ulamaa, the likes of those whom I have mentioned. We were not, are not, and cannot ever be independent of Ahlul-Ilm. And Allaah, Subhaanahu Wa ta’aalah, knows best. [End of quote]

When efforts like these were made in the arena of Dawah and unity under the supervision of Senior Scholars, some of us had not been born, and some of our elder children were just 9 years old. Some of our Salafi brothers were between the ages of 20 and 25, while others were between the ages of 32 and 56. Some of us had just recently discovered Salafiyyah, while others had already travelled to Yemen to study under Al-Allaamah Muqbil and were still there. Some of us were already at Madina University, others were just starting their 6-year degrees and had no involvement in any Dawah activity in the East or the West, while others had already started looking after the affairs of a Markaz in 2000 and 2001 under the supervision of Al Allaamah Muqbil and Al-Allaamah Rabee, and some of us prior to that were already engaged in Dawah, such as Shaikh Abu Iyaad, Shaikh Abu Khadeejah, and others.

So, when someone younger or older than our elder teachers comes along – either from the East or the West – and reminds us about the love of Scholars, unity, and preoccupation with knowledge, we applaud him for this important reminder and listen attentively. However, we are not duped by anyone who comes along to patronise, attempt to rewrite history, pursue unfounded claims or grievances on behalf of anyone under the guise of Dawah and unity, and attempt to establish himself as an authority to be referred to after the death or absence of those Senior Scholars who are well-acquainted with the affairs of Dawah Salafiyyah in the West.

To this day we – at Al-Markazus Salafi – continue to cooperate with our elders at Salafipublications and all the Maraakiz under that which our Senior Scholars have always advised regarding knowledge, brotherhood, and unity. Therefore, we once again remind you that we in Manchester are not duped by anyone who either inflates his status or Shariah certificate regardless of which institution it was received or discreetly seeks to patronise elder UK students and claims that the reality of such and such elder student of knowledge in the UK would have been unveiled if they sat with those who have obtained a masters or Ph.D.! We remind the likes of these people that neither yourselves nor your ilk can judge any elder UK student whom Al-Allaamah Rabee, Al-Allaamah Ubaid, and Al-Allaamah Hasan al Bannah have already judged, and advised us to co-operate with upon Bir and Taqwah.

We are well aware of the plight of those -from the East or the West- who meddled in the affairs of Dawah in the West by way of association with a person who pursued personal goals! They were confronted sternly without the least hesitation after they spoke based on the false information, misrepresentation, or exaggerations received from their partners and helpers. So, as far as we are concerned at Al-Markazus Salafi, we do not consider anyone more acquainted with Dawah in the West and its Maslahah than the reliable elder Salafi students of knowledge under the close supervision and scrutiny of Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah preserve him], Al-Allaamah Ubaid Bin Abdillah Al-Jaabiri [may Allah have mercy upon him] and Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadi for nearly three decades. We welcome Naseehah from every upright person – regardless of his or her status, but we’ll never entertain the actions of anyone- regardless of their status – who suddenly appears and meddles in our affairs whose history and details he does not know.

This is an independent statement of ours at Al-Markazus Salafi without the suggestion of anyone within or outside the UK. And we ask Allah to keep us safe and all the Salafiyyoon Aameen.

Preserved Historical Record – [Position of Elder UK Students of Knowledge Can Never Be Obscured]

Shaikh – [An Old Man, a Righteous Man or a Man Recognised By Scholar as One With Islamic Knowledge] [Part 1]