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

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said: There were people amongst them who did not eat meat, to the extent that some of them said, “To eat a Durham (worth) of meat hardens the heart for forty mornings”.

There were those amongst them who fabade all good and lawful things, and they used the fabricated hadeeth as proof, “Make good food forbidden for yourselves, for indeed it gives shaytaan strength to run in the veins” [Ad-Da’eefah Number 1879]

Amongst them there was one who forbade himself from drinking pure water and one who forbade himself from drinking cold water, so he drank hot water [instead].

Amongst them was one who punished himself by abandoning water for a prolonged period. [Ref 1]

Indeed, Iblees went very far in his deception of the early soofees, so he commanded them with (eating) very little food and the rough (part) of it, and he forbade them from drinking cold water. And when he reached those (soofees) who came after (the early soofees), he took a rest from toil and preoccupied (them) with self-amazement due to their abundant foodstuffs and comfortable lifestyles. [Ref 2]

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Humaid [rahimahullaah] said: The path of safety is the path of the Messenger and his companions, and not the path of the Nashqbandiyyah, the Rifaa-iyyah, the Tijaaniyyah, the Khaatamiyyah and other than them; rather the (true) path is the path of the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]. Allaah said:

ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۗ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any Auliya’ (protectors and helpers, etc. who order you to associate partners in worship with Allah), besides Him (Allah). Little do you remember!”[Soorah Al-Araaf: Ayah:3]

Allaah revealed this Qur’aan as an explanation of everything. (It is) a mercy, a guidance, a remedy, a proof and a (source) of safety for the one who acts upon it and follows it. Therefore, the correct path-the path leading to Allaah’s [Pleasure] -is the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّڪُمۡ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ‌ۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَـٰدَڪُم مِّنۡ إِمۡلَـٰقٍ۬‌ۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُڪُمۡ وَإِيَّاهُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلۡيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡڪَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا‌ۖ وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُواْ وَلَوۡ ڪَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰ‌ۖ وَبِعَهۡدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡفُواْ‌ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty – We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.

And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfil the Covenant of Allah, This He commands you, that you may remember.

And verily, this (i.e. Allah’s Commandments mentioned in verses 151 and 152 of Soorah Al-An’aam) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” [Soorah Al-An’aam: Aayaat: 151-153]

This is the path of Allaah that is obligatory to follow and hold unto. It is what safeguards from destruction and the hellfire. It is what leads to paradise, and not the Tijaani path, the Rifaa’ee path or the path of such and such. Ref 3]

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[Ref 1: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Talbees Iblees, page 238 with the checking of Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi (rahimahullaah). slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘Talbees Iblees of Imaam Ibnul Jawzi page 234- with the checking of Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi (may Allaah preserve him)]

[Ref 3: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fataawaa Wad-duroos Fil-Masjidil Haraam’- by Shaikh Abdullaah Bin Muhammad Bin Humaid: page: 135-136]

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

Allaah [The  Mighty and Majestic] said:

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Verily, Ibraaheem was an Ummah [leader], Qaanitan [obedient], Haneefan [one who worshipped Allaah alone], and he was not one of the Mushrikeen [polytheists and those who associate partners with Allah in worship]. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 120]

Ibraaheem [alayhis salaam] is the Imaam of the Hunafaa [i.e. Leader of the people of Tawheed- those who single out Allaah in worship] and this is why Allaah said to him: [إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا – Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of humankind]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 124].

It is a customary habit of the people that they do attach themselves to the great personalities, especially those whom they hold in high esteem. Therefore, if a person utilise as proof that the one he follows is an Imaam [An Upright Leader], then there is no Imaam [for humankind] greater than Prophet Ibraaheem [i.e. after Prophet Muhammad], and Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] stated about Prophet Ibraaheem: [وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ – And who turns away from the religion of Ibraaheem (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself?] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 130]

If a person addresses someone else with the statement, ‘My Shaikh’ in connection to a Soofee Tareeqah [i.e. a Soofee Path] or in connection to affairs of misguidance in the name of following someone he considers an Imaam [Upright Leader], then indeed Prophet Ibraaheem is the Imaam of the people who worship Allaah alone [i.e. the greatest Imaam of Tawheed and perfect example after Prophet Muhammad]. If a person utilises this as his proof [i.e. that the one he follows is an Imaam], then examine the Aqeedah [Islamic Creed] of this person whom he gives the status of Imaam and judge it based on the Qur’aan to establish whether he is from the people of Tawheed. If  a person seeks to use the station of Imaam as proof, then indeed this should be the proof [i.e. examine the Aqeedah of the one given the status of Imaam and judge it based on the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah to establish whether he is a person upon Tawheed].

Also, Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said about the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]:

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayah 21]

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An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Kitaab At-Tawheed’. Lesson 1- By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah]. Slightly paraphrased

Al-‘Allaamah Al-Faqeeh the Noble Scholar Muhammad ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) was asked regarding the books of the Soofiyah, 

He responded, my view with regards to tassawuf is the same as to other than it from that which has been innovated into al-Islaam. The Messenger of Allah clarified this when he said,

“Upon you is my sunnah, and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me; and be warned of newly innovated matters, for every innovation is misguidance.” (1)

Therefore, tasawwuf (and it’s people) are in opposition to the guidance of the Messenger (peace and blessings upon him), innovation and misguidance is obligatory for the Muslim to stay far away from. He should take his path to Allah from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. 

As for the books of tasawwuf, then it is impermissible to acquire them or review (or read) them, except(2) for an individual (who is qualified to do so; i.e. a person of knowledge) who wants to know what is in them of innovation, so as to refute it; (in this instance) this persons looking through them is of a tremendous benefit. 

And this benefit is: refuting this innovation so that the people are safe from it. And this is an affair which is sought after; if the person is safe from deviating by way of these books.

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Fataawa Nur ala ad-Darb Vol.2 Pg.66 Fatwa 675 

(1) Ahmad, Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah

(2) See following links for more details regarding books of innovators and their harms

https://salaficentre.com/2013/04/reading-the-books-of-the-innovators-ash-shaykh-saalih-al-fawzaan/

Shaykh Rabee (hafidahullah) clarifies two dangerous doubts; one of them regarding books of people of misguidance; he explains the harms and gives examples of knowledgeable individuals, scholars, who fell into misguidance due to doubts of the people of misguidance. 

https://salaficentre.com/2017/02/24652/

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

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [hafidhahullaah] said:

It is not permissible to transmit false and fabricated ahaadeeth, and then attribute them to the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]. That is because many amongst the people of misguidance and the people of desires fabricate narrations, utilise them as proof and declare them authentic when [such narrations] agree with their desires. As for when the authentic narrations oppose their desires, either they belie them or distort and explain them [in a manner other than what is intended by] their correct meanings. This is the state of affairs of Ahlud-Dalaal [the people misguidance] – they search for fabricated and false ahaadeeth and present them to the people and utilise them as proof if it agrees with their desires. As for the authentic narrations that oppose their desires, they either belie them or change them from their right places [i.e. give them a distorted interpretation]. This is the affair of Ahlud -Dalaal [the people of misguidance]. Likewise among the characteristics of a hypocrite is that he lies when he speaks; so do not speak to the people unless you are truthful [in what you say], and do not speak too much regarding the ahaadeeth in that which there is no benefit [i.e. do not narrate just for the sake of narrating] out of fear of falling into lies. The Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, “It is enough lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears”. [Ref 1]

[An Excerpt from ‘It’haaf At-Tullaab Bi-Sharhi Mandhoomah Al-Aadaab’ page 103’. Slightly paraphrased]

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Ref 1: Hadeeth declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani in his checking of Abu Dawud’ Number 4992. Page 747-748. Publisher: Maktabah Al-Ma’aarif’ 1^st edition]

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

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali hafidhahullaah] said:

Ibnul Jawzi said, Abul Wafaa Ibn Aqeel Al-Faqee said, our Shaikh Abul Fadl Al-Hamdaani said, “The innovators (in) Islam and the fabricators of Hadeeth are worse than the Mulhiddoon [i.e. the heretics (Ref 1)], because the heretics aim to corrupt Islam from the outside, whilst these [people] want to corrupt it from within. They [i.e. the innovators and the fabricators of hadeeth] are similar to the people of a country who try to corrupt its state of affairs and the heretics are similar to those who lay a siege from the outside; so the ones from within [i.e. the innovators and fabricators of hadeeth] open the fortress. Therefore, they are more harmful to Islam than those who do not [attribute] themselves to it outwardly”.[Ref 2]

Imaam Ahmad [rahimahullaah] said, “There is none more harmful on the people of Islaam than the Jahmiyyah; they do not desire except to nullify the Qur’aan and the ahaadeeth of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]”. [Ref 3]

Al-Haafifh Abdul Ghaniyy Al-Maqdisee [rahimahullaah] said, “Know-may Allaah have mercy upon you-that Islaam and its people are undermined by three groups; and the group that rejects the [authentic] ahaadeeth about the Attributes [of Allaah] and belie its narrators are more harmful to Islaam and its people than the disbelievers”.  [Ref 4]

Ibn Aqeel [rahimahullaah] said, “There is none more harmful on the sharee’ah than the innovators of the people of kalaam [i.e. the people of philosophical rhetoric] and the ignorant soofees”. [Ref 5]

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[Ref 1] Ilhaad: Complete Il-haad is to turn away from Islaam completely and that is Major Il-haad, which exits a person from the fold of Islaam, such as the Il-haad of the communists, the idol worshippers and those similar to them.

And Minor Il-haad does not exit a person from the Religion of Islaam, such as turning away from some actions.  Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ – And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste a painful torment] [22:25]

[For further details, see links:

http://www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13326 http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/noor/article_1802.shtml

[Ref 2] [Quoted by Shaikh Rabee (may Allaah preserve him) in his Book titled: Al-Mahajjah Al-Baydaa Fee Himaayati As-Sunnati Al-Gharraa’i Min Zallaati Alhlil Akh’taa Wa Zayghi Ahlil Ahwaa’ page: 47]

[Ref 3]: Tabaqaat Al-Hanaabilah 1/47

[Ref 4]: Al-Iqtisaad Fil I’tiqaad page: 223

[Ref 5]: As-Sawaa-iq Al-Mursalah Alal Jahmiyyah Wal-Mu-attilah 4/1346

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

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [hafidhahullaah] said:

The trials and doubts are brought forth by Ahlul Bidah Wal Ahwaa [the people of religious innovation and desires]. And the call to Allaah-to the Book of Allaah, adherence to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah-is the call that will unite all the Ummah. All the trials, splitting and (blameworthy) differing came from the path of the people of falsehood and the people of trials. And they [i.e. the people of baatil and fitan] do not keep quiet- they spread their falsehoods in their newspapers, magazines and audio tapes, while wishing that the voice of truth should be silent. In their view, the voice of truth is what should be silent and the voice of falsehood should be raised and spread in the earth! Do they remain silent?! The people of falsehood do not remain silent-they neither abate nor slow down. They have [ خطط جهنمية -i.e. paths or footsteps leading to the hell fire] which they enforce and thereafter they demand silence from the people of truth!

So they approach the Salafi Manhaj and say to you, “This tears apart! This [causes] splits!” Rather, the Ahwaa [the bidah etc] and the Dalaalaat [affairs of misguidance] are what splits and tears the Ummah apart, which the people of falsehood are ardent in spreading in the internet -at present- and places of falsehood-in the newspapers, magazines and the schools. They spread their falsehood in every place, but the very thing that is difficult for them is to hear the voice of truth!

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Source: Question number 16. Page 28-29 in الإجابات الجلية عن القضايا المنهجية

Note: This particular excerpt is found in the second section of the book, titled:

كشف الستار عما تحمله بعض الدعوات من أخطار