Ahlul Bidah Playing With Words, Terms And Statements to Beautify And Conceal Their Bidah!
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Al-Wasatiyyah – [The Middle Path]
It is widely known amongst some of the people that ٱلۡوُسۡطَ is only that which occupies the middle position between two things, and they do not take note of the other meaning of this term, as mentioned in the Magnificent Qur’aan and the [authentic] Prophetic Sunnah.
[ٱلۡوُسۡطَ ] in the Islamic legislation is that which is ‘Superior.’ [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [حَـٰفِظُواْ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٲتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ – Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially the Salatul Wustaa (the Asr prayer)]’’. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 238] [ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ]- Meaning: The best, more excellent etc.
And [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [مِنۡ أَوۡسَطِ مَا تُطۡعِمُونَ أَهۡلِيكُمۡ (On the scale) of the average of that which you feed your own families].’’ [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 89] [مِنۡ أَوۡسَطِ ] – Meaning: The best and most just.
And [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا – Thus We have made you أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا]- Meaning: The best and most upright Ummah.
The intent behind all this is to understand that [الوسطية] in the context of the Religion is that which is ‘best’ and the ‘Justice of the Religion’, [and that is] to follow that which Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] has commanded and keep away from that which He has forbidden. As for the explanation of [الوسطية] in the religious context with a meaning other than this meaning, then it is [something founded upon a foundation] ready to crumble – a mirage which the thirsty one considers water [i.e. an illusion]. [Ref 1]
Islamic Awakening
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:
All the praises and thanks be to Allaah- the Lord of the worlds- and may peace and blessings [of Allaah] be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. To proceed: Islamic Awakening did not [only] occur in these times or this era, rather it began from that time [in which] Allaah sent His Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] with the Religion of Islaam and the people embraced it in crowds and groups. Good – and all the praises and thanks be to Allaah – has not ceased to continue in this Ummah, as the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: ‘’There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest [upon the truth]. They will neither be harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them until the command of Allaah come to pass [i.e. the day of judgement] whilst they are upon that.’’
Although the struggle between truth and falsehood continues, there has not ceased to be callers to the truth and its helpers- [those who] follow the correct methodology and stand up to call to it. The Ummah has not – in [any] era [during] the various eras- been all asleep or misguided to the extent that a group arose giving itself a name or a name other than it [such as] ‘Islamic Awakening’, because the meaning of this is that all the Islamic World was misguided before these people [began] the awakening.
This opposes the statement of his [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]: ‘’There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest upon the truth’’, and his statement, ‘’My Ummah will never unite upon misguidance.’’
Indeed, this [Islamic Awakening] is commended and safe from criticism when carried out upon the methodology of the righteous callers and that of the pious predecessors- based on the Book of Allaah, the [authentic] Sunnah and that which the pious predecessors of this Ummah were upon, and far removed from affiliations that are in opposition to the methodology of the pious predecessors.
Its aim should be acquaintance with the truth- to act and call to it; acquaintance with falsehood- to avoid and warn against it. Its aim cannot be for seeking leadership or ascendancy in the earth, revolt against the Ja’maa’ah of the Muslims and disobedience to [the Muslim Rulers]. Indeed, this is neither the correct methodology of Dawah nor is it that of the pious predecessors; rather it is the methodology of the Khawaarij and the Mutazilah-those who have deviated from the methodology of the Book, the [authentic] Sunnah and that which the pious predecessors were upon. Indeed, [these deviants] were a disgrace in Islamic History and a wound in the body of the Ummah. We ask Allaah to guide the misguided Muslims to correctness. [Ref 2]
Islamic Idea or Islamic Thought
Islaam is not a set of ideas [or thoughts], rather it is a divine revelation sent down – by the Lord of universe – in the Magnificent Qur’aan and the [authentic] Sunnah of the noble Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] – the Messenger who never speaks based on his desires, rather [إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ – It [i.e. the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah conveyed by the Messenger (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam) is nothing else but a revelation that is inspired]. As for an idea [or thought], it can be [rejected, disapproved etc] and debated [or presented for discussion], and it may be correct or incorrect. Therefore, it is not permissible to associate Islam with the term ‘Idea [or thought] because it [idea or thought] is something specifically attributed to the creation [i.e. humankind and Jinn], because an idea [or a thought] can either be correct or wrong. As for the Sharee’ah [i.e. the sound divine law, creed, acts of worship conveyed by the final Messenger (sallal laahu alayhi wasallam) from the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah], it is infallible. Likewise, it is not to be said, “Islamic idea [or thought], because the scholar who has reached the level of Ijtihaad is restricted by the pure Sharee’ah, so he is not allowed to contemplate [outside the confines of the sound divine revelation] and then legislate; rather he searches and follows the legislated Islamic path of [sound] Ijtihaad in order to derive rulings. Yes, in this era of ours the term ‘Islamic thinker’ is used and what is intended by it is a person who is able to derive [sound rulings] and spread the virtues of Islaam, therefore in this case one is excused for utilising such a term; however it is better to avoid it. [Ref 3]
Islamic Philosopher
Imaam Ahmad [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’I am neither a person of philosophical rhetoric nor do I recognize philosophical rhetoric in anything. [I only recognize] that which is found in the Book of Allaah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]’’. [Ref 4]
Imaam Ahmad [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’Do not sit with ahlul kalaam [people of philosophical rhetoric] even if they defend the Sunnah’’. [Ref 5]
Al-Haafidh Ibn Abdul Barr [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’The people upon the correct understanding of the religion and those who cling to the [authentic] narrations of the [Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and that of the pious predecessors] in all the regions are agreed that the people of philosophical rhetoric are people of Bidah and deviation. [All the scholars of the authentic Sunnah] do not consider them to be from those who have been given sound understanding in the religion; rather the scholars are those who adhere to the [authentic] narrations of the [Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and that of the pious predecessors] and they have been given sound understanding in that.’’ [Ref 6]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’There are no philosophers upon right guidance” [Ref 7]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said: ‘’Philosophy is like the flesh of a camel at the top of a mountain; it is not easy to climb the mountain nor is the flesh good enough to justify climbing, nor is the path leading to it easy to follow.’’ He [rahimahullaah] also said: ‘’Islaam does not have philosophers’’. [Ref 8]
Shaikh Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaami [rahimahullaah] said about the term Islamic Philosopher: This term is blindly utilised, therefore do not be deceived by it. If you hear the term Islamic Philosopher, then know that there is no such thing as Islamic Philosopher. The well-known Raazi [rahimahullaah] was a doctor, but all of them [i.e. him and those like him] were not saved from Philosophy. However, he is not regarded to be from the senior Philosophers, rather he is regarded to be from the scholars of Ilmul Kalaam [i.e. those who sought to establish the Islamic creed based on logical and intellectual arguments and not simply restricting themselves to the Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah and the understanding of the companions] and regreted following this path at the end of his life. And even though his repentance is not explicit, however he was from those who expressed regret and regret is a type of repentance. [Ref 9]
He is Mujtahid
Amr bin Al-Aas [radiyallaahu anhu] narrated that he heard Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] saying, ‘’If a Mujtahid gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct, he will receive a double reward, and if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong, even then he will get a reward.’’ [Bukhari Number 7352]
Few Masaa’il From This Hadeeth
[a] A Mujtahid is not deprived of reward. [b] The judgement of a non-Mujtahid is different from that of a Mujtahid. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said that the one who speaks about the religion without knowledge and out of ignorance [is guilty of] lying and sinning. The one who intentionally speaks to oppose the truth is threatened with entry into the fire of hell, as opposed to the affair of the one who speaks based on permissible Ijtihaad, for indeed he strives, fears Allaah as much as he is able, desires to seek knowledge as much as he was able, speaks for the sake of Allaah, knows the stronger proof and speaks based on that. This person is given two rewards if he is correct; but if he is mistaken, he receives one reward. [c] A Mujtahid can be correct or mistaken. [Ref 10]
Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadee [hafidha-hullaah] said: ”We do not say that there are people of ijtihaad amongst ahlul bidah because they are followers of desires, and Allaah and His Messenger have testified to this. The misguided innovator stirs up discord and errs, and then says to you, ‘This is ijtihaad’. When Hikmatiyaar and the misguided parties [in Afghanistan] murdered Shaikh Jameel Ur-Rahmaan, they said: ‘This is ijtihaad.’ They [ahlul bidah] do not fall into an affair of misguidance or a calamity except that they say, “This is ijtihaad.” This is [tantamount] to diluting Islaam, falsehood, misguidance, bidah and confounding truth with falsehood, when the mistakes of the [true and qualified scholars of ijtihaad]- for which they are rewarded- are placed at the same level with innovation, about which the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] declared to be destined for the hell fire. [Ref 11]
The Manhaj of The Salaf Is Not Suitable In This Era
Question to Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him]: “Some of the people claim that the manhaj of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah is not suitable for this time, and they sight (as proof for their argument) that the precise regulations of the Sharee’ah held by Ahlus Sunnah cannot be actualized in this present era”.
Answer: The one who holds that the manhaj of the Salafus Saalih is not suitable for the rectification of the (affairs) in this time is one to be considered misguided and misguiding others because the manhaj of the Salafus Saalih is what Allaah has commanded us to follow till the establishment of the hour. He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”’Verily those of you who live long after me will see a lot of differences, so hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khulafaah after me. Cling to it tightly and bite unto it with your molar teeth”
This is an address to the ummah till the establishment of the hour. It demonstrates that the Manhaj of the Salaf must be followed and that it is suitable for rectifying the (affairs) in every time and place. Allaah (subhaanah) said:
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِـإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ
‘And the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhaajroon (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhaajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allaah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him.”
[وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِـإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ -And also those who followed them exactly (in faith)]: this includes the entire ummah till the establishment of the hour. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the ummah to follow the manhaj of the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said: ‘The later part of this ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its earlier part.’
The one who wishes to isolate the ummah from the Salafus Saalih is one who wishes evil for the Muslims. He is one who wishes to change Islaam and he is one who wishes to initiate innovations and Mukhaalafaat (things that are in opposition to the pure Religion). It is obligatory to reject this one, cut off his argument and warn against his evil because the Manhaj of the Salaf must be followed and the Salaf must be taken as examples. The Manhaj of the Salaf must be followed and that is what is in the Book of Allaah and in the Sunnah of His Messenger as we have mentioned. The one who wishes to cut off the Khalaf of the Ummah from its Salaf is one who works corruption in the earth. It is obligatory to reject, refute his statement and warn against him. The shee’ah and those in agreement with them are the ones known for uttering such statements, so they are not be to be given any consideration. [Ref 12]
[Ref 1]: An Excerpt from Al Haqeeqatus Shar-iyyah Fee Tafseeril Qur’aanil Adheem Was-Sunnatin Nabawiyyati page: 186. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2]: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Bayaan Li-akhtaa’i Badil Kuttaab pages: 29-30. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 3]: An Excerpt from ‘Mu’jam Al-Manaahiy Lil-Laf’dhiyyah’. pages 430-431. Slightly paraphrased. Publisher: Daarul Aasimah. 3rd Edition 1417 AH (1996)]
[Ref 4: An-Nahjul Aqwaa. Introduction by Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan and Shaikh Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh. page: 126]
[Ref 5: An-Nahjul Aqwaa’ with the introduction of Shaikh Fawzaan and Shaikh Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh. Page: 127]
[Ref 6: An-Nahjul Aqwaa’ with the introduction of Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan and Shaikh Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh: Page: 127]
[Ref 7: Naseehat Ahl- Eeman Fee Radd Alaa Mantiq Al Yunaan’ page 157]
[Ref 8: Naseehat Ahl Eemaan Fee Radd alaa Mantiq al Yunaan. page:157]
[Ref 9: Source: Sharh Tajreed At-Tawheed Al-Mufeed: cassette 1]
[Ref 10: Al-Arba’oona Hadeethaa Fee Usoolil Fiqh. pages 32-33. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 11: An Excerpt from ‘Ajwibatul Allaamatush Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadee Al Madkhalee Alaa As-ilah Abee Rawaaha Al-Manhajiyyah page: 20]
[Ref 12]: Al-Muntaqaa Min Fataawaa Ash-Shaikh Saaleh Al Fawzaan: page:11-12
A Warning Against Belittling the Scholars and Callers to Allah – Shaykh Fawzan
He asks, Noble Shaykh, may Allah bless you. It hurts us deeply, what we see of the attempts to lower the station of our virtuous scholars, and the biggest difficulty is what we see from those weak in intellect getting carried away behind the likes of these (individuals belittling the scholars) on social media platforms. So what advice (do you have) for us and the attendees on respecting and appreciating our scholars?
Contemplation On Aayah 55 Surah Al-An’aam – [By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَكَذَٲلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ وَلِتَسۡتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 55]
Who Are The Most Knowledge Amongst The Creation?
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
Those who know Allaah, His Book and His Religion are acquainted with the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail- the two paths are clearly visible to them, just as a path leading to its destination and the path leading to destruction are made clearly visible. They are the most knowledgeable amongst the creation, the ones that benefit [the people] the most, the ones with the most useful advice for [the people] and they are an evidence of right guidance.
What is One of Those Reasons That Has Given The Sahaabah Virtue Over Everyone Until Yawmul Qiyaamah?
This is why the Sahaabah have excelled all those to come after them until the Day of Judgment, for indeed they were brought up upon the path of misguidance, shirk and paths leading to destruction, and they knew them in detail. Then the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] came to them and took them out from darkness into complete light- out from shirk [and entered them] into Tawheed; out from ignorance [and into] knowledge; out from misguidance [and] into guidance; out from oppression [and] into justice; out from confusion and blindness [and] into guidance and clear sightedness. They knew the worth of that which they received and were triumphant by way of it. [They knew the worth] of that which was contained in what they [received], since what is in opposition to the [truth and right guidance] reveals the goodness of what it opposes, because [upright] affairs are made clear by way of their opposites. So they increased in desire and love of that which they embraced, disliked and hated that which they had turned away from. And of all the people, they had the most love for Tawheed, Imaan and Islaam, and had the most hatred for that which was in opposition to it. They were the most knowledgeable of the path in detail.
What Is One of Those Weaknesses That Led to The Bidah of The Jahmiyyah, the Qadariyyah, the Khawaarij, the Rawaafid and their ilk?
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: As for those who came after the Sahaabah, amongst them is that one who was brought up in Islaam but knows not what is in opposition to it. Therefore, some of the details of the path of the believers and that of the criminals became confusing to him, for indeed confusion occurs due to the weakness of one’s knowledge regarding both paths or one of them, as Umar Ibnul Khattaab [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: ‘The bonds of Islaam will be undone one after the other when a people who grew up in Islaam know not what Jaahiliyyah [Pre-Islamic Ignorance] is.’’ This [statement shows an aspect of] Umar’s perfect knowledge [of Islaam].
And there is that one who is neither acquainted with the path of the criminals nor has it been made clear to him, or he has doubts and thus thinks that some of their ways are from the ways of the believers. This has occurred in this Ummah in many affairs of Aqeedah, Knowledge and Action regarding the path of the criminals, the disbelievers and the enemies of the Messengers, [which] was brought into the path of the believers by the one who does not know the [detailed distinction between] the path of believers and the path of the criminals, so he called to [this path], excommunicate the one in opposition and declares lawful that which Allaah and His Messenger made unlawful, just as what has occurred with many of the people of bidah, such as the Jahmiyyah, the Qadariyyah, the Khawaarij, the Rawaafid and their ilk- among those who initiated an innovation, called to it and excommunicated those who opposed it.
How Many Groups Are The People Categorized Into Regarding Their Knowledge of The Path of The Criminals (i.e. the Disbelievers) and The Path of The Believers?
The people are four categories in this subject matter [i.e. the obligation of having knowledge of the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail]
The First Group: They are those who know the path of the believers and that of the criminals in detail-in both knowledge and action; they are the most knowledgeable amongst the creation.
The Second Group: They are those to whom both paths are invisible- those resembling animals. The path of the criminals is conjured for them and they follow it.
The Third Group: It is that one who concerns himself with (seeking) knowledge of the path of the believers and not its opposite. He only knows (the path of the criminals) by way of its opposition to the (path of the believers) and in a general way, and [holds] that all that is in opposition to the path of the believers is falsehood, even though that is not illustrated to him in detail. Rather, when he hears some of that which contradicts the path of the believers, he turns away and does not preoccupy himself in understanding and knowing its falsity. This person is in a state (similar) to one who is safeguarded from following desires- whose heart is neither put at risk nor is he called to (such desires), as opposed to those who are aware of (such desires) and their souls are inclined towards them, but they strive against it for the Sake of Allaah.
A letter was written to Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radiyallaahu-anhu) and he was asked about this affair, as to which of the two men is the better- a man who is not put at risk by way of desires and does not go through its difficulties, or a man who is pushed towards it but abandons it for the Sake of Allaah? Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) wrote back saying: The one who is desirous of sin but abandons it for the Sake of Allaah is from ‘those whose hearts Allaah has tested for piety. For them there is forgiveness and a great reward.’ [Surah Hujuraat. Ayah: 3]
The Fourth Group: This group knows the path of evil, bidah and kufr in detail and the path of the believers in general. This is the situation of many of those who concern themselves with the beliefs of the previous nations and that of the people of bidah. They are acquainted with (these affairs) in detail, but not with what the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) came with; rather they are acquainted with it in general even though they may know some of its affairs in detail. Whoever examines their books will see that.
Likewise, those who know the paths of evil, oppression and corruption in detail and are followers of it; if they repent, abandon these (affairs) and return to the path of the pious believers, then their knowledge of it will only be general. They will not be acquainted with it in that detailed manner known to those who spend their lives (studying) its regulations and ways.
What Is The Goal And Objective Behind Acquainting Oneself With The Path of The Believers and That of The Criminals In Detail?
The Objective: Indeed, Allaah (Glorified be He) loves that one should know the path of His enemies in order to avoid and hate it, just as the path of the His awliyaa (close friends) is known and followed.
[An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’d pages 167-180’. slightly paraphrased]
Is It Permissible to Study [or learn] The Knowledge of Philosophical Logic? [Shaikh Rabee Responds]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Question to Shaikh Rabee [hafidhahullaah]: May Allaah reward you with good; this is also a question from the brothers who are present, saying: Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuhu. Virtuous Shaikh, is it permissible for me to learn [or study] the knowledge of philosophical logic? Benefit me [i.e. with a response] and may Allaah [The Exalted] reward you with good.
Answer: The knowledge of philosophical logic is a corrupt knowledge and the Salaf- by way of consensus- declared that it is Haraam [forbidden] to study it due to the misguidance and disgustingly evil consequences within it. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said, “Neither does a dull-witted person benefit from it nor is an intelligent person in need of it”. An intelligent person is not in need of it because he is sensible in his self, natural disposition and intellect; and a dull-witted person does not benefit from it. Even if he studied all the books of philosophical logic, he will not benefit from it.
Shaikh Albaani [rahimahullaah] used to debate against the scholars of philosophical logic and they used to be like children in his presence, yet he never studied philosophical logic; rather Allaah granted him [sound] speech and [Sharee’ah] knowledge, and there is no proof stronger than the proofs of the Kitaab [i.e. the Qur’aan] and the [authentic] Sunnah.
The people of philosophical logic are always defeated [or overwhelmed]. By Allaah, regardless how much they [utilise] philosophical speech and how strong they are in philosophical logic, they are defeated [or overwhelmed] in the presence of the methodology of the Salafus Saaleh [which is] founded on the Book [i.e. the Qur’aan] and the [authentic] Sunnah.
[Source: An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm page 347. Slightly paraphrased]
Shaikhul Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhaab: [A Brief Acquaintance With the Character and Personality]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Shaikh Ubaid [may Allaah preserve him] said:
He [rahimahullaah (i.e. Shaikhul Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhaab)] was very clever; strong in discernment; hardworking in [affairs] of knowledge and sought after it; brave in [adhering to] truth and defended it. He manifested this clearly in his jihaad against ahlul bidah, even in a western land at Basrah he announced his rejection against bidah, so he was harmed and removed from there. Among his praiseworthy qualities and noble traits is that he had earnest concern for Allaah’s religion and ordainments, and thus he used to repel bidah. He was not able to keep quiet like others and this [deed of his] is from defending the statement of truth, even if it opposed the desires of the people. [Ref 1]
Shaikh Ubaid [may Allaah preserve him] said:
He [i.e. Shaikhul Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah)] was an Imaam in Tafseer and this is clearly manifested in his derivation of evidences from the Aayaat [of the Qur’aan]. He was a scholar of Hadeeth, so you find how he [utilised them] as evidence in their [appropriate] places. He was a scholar of Fiqh without blindly following [others] and it is enough that he was an Imaam in the fundamental [principles] of the religion and knowledge of the [affairs] of creed – Thaabit Fee Aqeedatihi As-Sunniyyah – Firm upon his Sunni creed [i.e. the correct Sunni Islamic Creed of the Salafus Saalih] and Shubuhaat [i.e. doubts that are made to resemble the truth, but are falsehood in reality] did not shake him, rather he used to refute them. [Ref 2]
Shaikh Ubaid [may Allaah preserve him] said:
And among the most important qualities of the Shaikh [i.e. Shaikhul Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah)] is that he gave importance to the citizens [of the nation] and acknowledged everyone’s status, and he did not neglect his dependents [i.e. those under his care]. He knew the status of the leader and the scholar. He knew the status of his students and gave them their [rightful] levels. He gave [close] attention to his children despite being preoccupied with Dawah, writing and teaching. This concern for his children was so much that after him, his children were from the senior scholars, rather among them were some who used to teach the Uloom [i.e. the different subject areas or sciences of the religion] during his lifetime. How can this not be the case, for back in the old days it used to be said, “This cub is from that lion [i.e. from the offspring of that lion]”. [Ref 3]
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tanbeeh Dhawil Uqool As-Saleemah Ilaa Fawaa’id Mustanbatu Minas Sittatil Usoolil Adheemah’ page 11. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt from Tanbeeh Dhawil Uqool As-Saleemah Ilaa Fawaa’id Mustanbatu Minas Sittatil Usoolil Adheemah’ page 11. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Tanbeeh Dhawil Uqool As-Saleemah’ page 12. slightly paraphrased]