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.
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
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.
What is your advice, may Allah preserve you, for one who has fell into the sea of desires and doubts?
My advice, for him is to repent to Allah and that he recalls the statement of Allah the Blessed and Most High,
Say: “O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (Az-Zumar: 53)
Therefore, even if you were swimming in a sea of disbelief, you have indeed performed good, by way of repenting to Allah the Blessed and Most High, because the door of repentance is open for all of the servants. So, upon him is to repent to Allah and return to the truth.
Source an audio with title: Asbaab al-Inhiraaf wa Tawjeehaat Manhajiyyah: from Shaykh Rabee’s (hafidahullah) official website.
A Tremendous Principle which brings Ease to the Muslims – Shaykh Al-Uthaymīn
Every Muslim who has ever had doubt regarding their prayer or other act of worship, or knows someone who is or has been afflicted with whispers from the Shaytān which affect their worship and make them believe it wasn’t completed, wasn’t performed properly, they were not in purification (if it is required) then you will find in the explanation of Shaykh Al-Uthaymīn much enlightenment:
The Shaykh said:
Whoever is certain about being in a state of Tahārah [purification] and doubts regarding being in a state of Hadath [ritual impurity], he remains in a state of Tahārah. And whoever is certain about being in a state of Hadath [ritual impurity] and doubts whether he is upon Tahārah, he remains in a state of ritual impurity; because the principle [regarding this] is: Al-Yaqīn laa yazūl bish Shakk [Certainty is not removed merely due to doubt] and the foundation is that a thing remains upon that which it was.
This is an important principle and it has numerous subsidiary issues attached to it, and it is founded upon the narration of Abu Hurayrah and Abdullah ibn Zayd (Allāh be pleased with them both) regarding a man who notices something he had in his stomach [i.e. wind] and he was unsure whether something had exited from him or not [passing of wind etc].
The prophet (عليه السلام) said, “do not leave [i.e. the Salāh] unless you hear a sound or notice a smell.” And in the Hadīth of Abu Hurayrah, [the wording of the hadīth is], “Do not leave – meaning the Masjid – unless you hear a sound or notice a smell.”
This Hadith [and the principles extracted from it] resolves many problems and this is from the ease [facilitated] by Islaam, for its goal to remove the Ummah from being in a state of uneasiness, disquiet and confusion, rather it makes affairs explicitly clear. If a person submitted to the likes of these doubts, his life would become difficult, therefore the Legislator, Allāh has cut off these whisperings and doubts.
So as long as these doubts are not proven with certainty, they carry no weight. It is obligatory to repel them and not let them affect you in your [heart and mind], and thus you will be at ease and many problems will be removed from you.
Majmū Fatāwa wa Rasā’il Shaykh al-Uthaymīn Vol.10 Chapter Nullifiers of Wudū
Seek Protection from Diseases of the Body and Heart – Shaykh al-Uthaymīn
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-Uthaymīn (رحمه الله) in explanation of the Dua of Qunūt, mentions a tremendous benefit relating to diseases.
He said, that when supplicating for health and wellbeing the Muslim should bring to mind the diseases of the body and diseases of the heart (those which affect your religion). This is because diseases of the heart are more severe and harmful than the diseases of the body.
He (رحمه الله) continues to say:
The diseases of the body (and their harms) are well known, however the diseases of the heart (are often overlooked and they) are of two types:
The first disease is the Shahawāt and its origins are whims and lusts. (Meaning) a person knows the truth, however he doesn’t want to follow it due to his desires and whims being in opposition to that which the Prophet (عليه السلام) came with.
The second disease is the disease of shubuhāt (i.e. beliefs, ideas, thoughts that are made to resemble the truth but are falsehood in reality), and its origin is ignorance, because the ignoramus acts upon falsehood whilst thinking thaf it is the truth. And this is an extremely dangerous sickness.
The Shaykh continues to advise that we should supplicate to Allāh and ask that he gives us health, wellbeing and protection from (both) diseases of the body and diseases of the heart; which are the (aforementioned) doubts and desires.
Slightly Paraphrased from the Explanation of the Qunūt Supplication of witr by Shaykh Uthaymīn
Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Az-Zumar: 53]
So if you swam in the sea of disbelief for you is to exit with repentance to Allah (tabaaraka wa ta’aala), therefore upon him is to repent to Allah and return to Allah, the door of repentance is open for all of the servants (of Allah).
Question 7 from Asbaab al-Inhiraaf wa Tawjeehaat Manhajiyyah.
“If you arm (equip) yourself with Quran and Sunnah, you will never be overpowered. However if you don’t possess knowledge you will go (astray) with the first doubt (which is given to you)”
Among the causes of decrease in imaan is ignorance concerning Allah The Most High. (Ignorance) of His names and attributes, as well as inattention and disregard towards contemplating over His universal and legislative laws. For indeed that is what results in (either) sickness of the heart or it’s death, due to doubts and desires overwhelming it (i.e. the heart). Likewise perpetrating sins decreases one’s imaan, in accordance to the type of sin commited, the degree of the sin, laxity concerning it, as well as the strength or weakness of the factors that invite one to it.
