The Pledge To Unite On Falsehood of The West

Bismillaah. All praise is to Allaah Lord and Cherisher of the worlds. I testify that none and nothing has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone and Muhammad is His Final Messenger.

Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge
SalafiTalk.Net

Allaah (swt) says,

Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided. (Qur’an, 3:103)

Surely, those who have made divisions in their religion and turned into factions, you have nothing to do with them. Their case rests with Allah; then He will inform them of what they used to do. (Qur’an, 6:159)

In light of the Divine Word, we recognize that the historical nature of Sunni Islam is a broad one that proceeds from a shared respect for the Qur’an and Sunnah, a shared dependence on the interpretations and derivations of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and a shared respect for the writings of a vast array of scholars who have been identified by their support for and affiliation with the Sunni Muslims and have been accepted as the luminaries of Sunni Islam – as broadly defined.

Likewise, detailed discussions in matters of theology are the specific domain of trained specialists, and proceed on the basis of well-defined principles and methodologies, which are beyond the knowledge of the generality of Muslims.

Our forebears in faith, with all the dedication, brilliance and sincerity clearly manifested in their works, have debated and discussed abstruse and complex issues of creed and practice, and have failed in most instances to convince their opponents of the veracity and accuracy of their positions.

The average Muslim is only responsible for knowing the basics of creed as they relate to a simple belief in Allah, His Angels, Scriptures, the Prophets and Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine Decree.

Recognizing that the specter of sectarianism threatens to further weaken and debilitate our struggling Muslim community at this critical time in human affairs, and recognizing that Allah, Exalted is He, has given the Muslim community in the West a unique historical opportunity to advance the cause of peace, cooperation, and goodwill amongst the people of the world, we the undersigned respectfully:

- Urge Muslims to categorically cease all attacks on individual Muslims and organizations whose varying positions can be substantiated based on the broad scholarly tradition of the Sunni Muslims. We especially urge the immediate cessation of all implicit or explicit charges of disbelief;

- Urge Muslim scholars and students of sacred knowledge to take the lead in working to end ad hominem attacks on other scholars and students; to cease unproductive, overly polemical writings and oral discourse; and to work to stimulate greater understanding and cooperation between Muslims, at both the level of the leadership and the general community;

-Urge Muslims in the West, especially our youth, to leave off unproductive and divisive discussions of involved theological issues that are the proper domain of trained specialists, and we especially discourage participation in those internet chat rooms, campus discussion groups, and other forums that only serve to create ill-will among many Muslims, while fostering a divisive, sectarian spirit;

-Urge all teachers to instruct their students, especially those attending intensive programs, to respect the diverse nature of our communities and to refrain from aggressive challenges to local scholars, especially those known for their learning and piety;

- Urge our brothers and sisters in faith to concentrate on enriching their lives by deepening their practice of Islam through properly learning the basics of the faith, adopting a consistent regimen of Qur’anic recitation, endeavoring to remember and invoke Allah in the morning and evening, learning the basics of jurisprudence, attempting to engage in voluntary fasting as much as possible, studying the Prophetic biography on a consistent basis, studying the etiquettes that guide our interactions with our fellow Muslims, and the performance of other beneficial religious acts, to the extent practical for their circumstances;

- Finally, we urge the Believers to attempt to undertake individual and collective actions that will help to counter the growing campaign of anti-Islamic misinformation and propaganda that attempts to portray our religion as a violence-prone relic of the past unsuitable for modern society, and by so doing justify indiscriminate wars against Muslim peoples, occupation of Muslim lands, and usurpation of their resources.

Saying this, we do not deny the reality of legitimate differences and approaches, nor the passionate advocacy of specific positions based on those differences. Such issues should be rightfully discussed observing established rules of debate. However, we urge the above measures to help prevent those differences from destroying the historical unity and integrity of the Muslim community, and creating irreparable divisions between our hearts. Further, we do not deny the urgency, especially in light of the situation in Iraq, of efforts to foster greater cooperation between diverse Muslim communities. Hence, this document should not be seen as negating any statements, or declarations designed to foster greater peace and harmony between diverse Muslim communities. However, we feel, as Sunni Muslims, a pressing need to first set our own affairs in order.

In conclusion, having called our brothers and sisters to act on these points, we, the undersigned, pledge to be the first to actively implement them in response to the Divine Word:

Do you enjoin righteousness on the people and refuse to follow it yourselves and all along you are reciting the scripture!? Will you not reflect? (Qur’an (2:44)

We ask Allah for the ability to do that which He loves. And Allah alone is the Grantor of Success.

Signed,

Abdelrahman Helbawi

Abdul Karim Khalil

Abdullah Adhami

Abdurraheem Green

Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera

Abu Aaliyah Surkheel Sharif

Abu Eesa Niamatullah

Aisha Faleh AlThani

Asma Mirza

Cheikhna B. Bayyah

Dawood Yasin

Ebadur Rahman

Faraz Rabbani

Fuad Nahdi

Gul Mohammad

Haitham al-Haddad

Hamza Yusuf

Hasan al-Banna

Ibrahim Osi-Efa

Jihad Hashim Brown

M. Abdul Latif Finch

M. Afifi al-Akiti

Mehdi Kader

Mokhtar Maghroui

Muhammad Alshareef

Muhammad Ash-Shaybani

Muhammad ibn Adam

Omar Qureshi

S. Abdal-Hakim Jackson

Shamira Chothia Ahmed

Siddique Abdullah

Suhaib Webb

Tahir Anwar

Talal Al-Azem

Tanveer Hussain

Tawfique Chowdhury

Usama Canon

Usama Hasan

Walead Mosaad

Yahya Rhodus

Yasir Qadhi

Zaid Shakir

UPDATE to SIGNATORIES: The following names were missed from the original list of signatories and will be likely added in the next update: Yaser Birjas, Mohammed Faqih, Waleed Basyouni

YASIR QADHI’S VISIONS OF UNITING THE SECTS:

quote:

Yasir Qadhi states:

“It is important to stress, however, that the purpose of this pledge is not to vindicate or justify one ideology over another. These differences have existed within Sunni Islam (in the broad sense of the term) for the last twelve centuries, and the fact of the matter is that, barring some sort of Divine Intervention, it does not appear that these difference will leave us any time soon.

Therefore there needs to be a more pragmatic and realistic attempt at cooperation, one that retains our traditionalisms and respects our historical traditions, yet at the same time takes into account the context of our current political and social situation.”

This call of Yasir Qadhi is to the destruction of the principle of “enjoining the good and forbidding the evil” in the name of unity with the sects of misguidance. May Allaah protect us.

The author of this pledge quoted the saying of Allaah, the Most High:

quote:

Surely, those who have made divisions in their religion and turned into factions, you have nothing to do with them. Their case rests with Allah; then He will inform them of what they used to do. (Qur’an, 6:159)

This verse and all of the verses prohibiting splitting are in relation to the innovators and the people of desires when one looks into the books of Tafseer and the sayings of the Companions and Taabi`een. Thus, to oppose the Book and the Sunnah and to depart from the `aqeedah and way of the Salaf is unlawful and is the subject of the threat contained in this and other like verses in the Qur’an.

Thus, what each signatory is signing to is a pledge to wilfully oppose the very verses quoted at the beginning of the pledge. Namely: to have everything to do with those who made divisions in the religion and turned into factions, to accommodate them, welcome them, love them, endorse them and present them to the people. To treacherously hide their opposition, their splitting away from the Book and the Sunnah, and to include them all under the deceptive banner of “vast array of Scholars”, and “luminaries of Sunni Islam – as broadly defined”.

This statement of Allaah the Most High quoted at the beginning of this pledge of soofee fabrication falsifies everything that comes after it. This pledge is nothing short of a farce.

WHO ARE THE AHLUS-SUNNAH IN THE VIEW OF YASIR QADHI & HIS COMPANIONS?

Yasir Qadhi states in his support of the pledge to co-operate with Ahlul-Bid’ah:

quote:

“All of the parties that have signed on to this document identify themselves as being from the tradition of Sunni Islam. And it is an undeniable historical reality that this label has been used by a number of diverse, and at times contradictory, theological groups, for the last thousand years of Islam. I personally have no qualms considering these groups within the broad fold of Sunni Islam.”

These claimants to the Sunnah (and Salafiyyah) should not surprise us in the least. After all, Yasir Qadhi, Abdur-Rahmeen Green, Usamah Hasan (son of Suhaib Hasan) are all key speakers for the ‘Jamiat Ahle-Hadith UK’ and who have for years been diluting and polluting the pure Salafi manhaj. So this document signed by this group of speakers along with a group of extreme Soofee, Jahmee, Ash’aree, Dervish, Muqallid callers to innovation, should not shock us.

Indeed what they have signed to now, is something that Suhaib Hasan and Abdul-Haadi Omari and the Jamiat Ahlel-Hadith have been upon for years!

Hafeez Ullah Khan, one of the heads of the ‘Jamiat Ahle-Hadith UK’:

quote:

“The whole purpose of this discussion is that the Ummah is a victim of splitting and splintering – it is in dire need of unity and strength and brotherhood. My friends, me stating this does NOT mean that the Religious and Islamic organizations that exist have to lose their specific identities and titles and become one entity – No, but rather every organization and every jamaa’ah should remain established upon their own individual identities and come together making their unity apparent and it is in this unity that the blessing lies…”

(‘Itihad – Unity Muslim’ Channel, 7th September 2006)

So Yasir Qadhi states in his justification of the pact:

quote:

“It is important to stress, however, that the purpose of this pledge is not to vindicate or justify one ideology over another… Therefore there needs to be a more pragmatic and realistic attempt at cooperation, one that retains our traditionalisms and respects our historical traditions, yet at the same time takes into account the context of our current political and social situation.”

Abdul-Hadi Omari stated several years ago:

quote:

“..In every school of thought for their great Scholars, such as Shabir Ahmad Uthmaanee, who was a GREAT SCHOLAR of the religion from the Deobandee school of thought. He has written some small commentaries of the Qur’aan and other good works.

Also, AHMAD REZA KHAN from the BRELAWEE school of thought, who was a GREAT SCHOLAR of the religion who has written many books.

Likewise, we have Sayyid Abu A’laa Mawdudi, who was a very great scholar of the religion, rather he was the founder of JAMAT-E-ISLAMI, and has written a VERY GOOD and detailed explanation of the Qur’aan known as ‘Tahfeemul-Qur’aan’ and he has written many other books which have reached an international level, and of them are those which are FINAL REFERENCE POINTS for their particular topics…

…So all of these VERY, VERY GREAT SCHOLARS, then may Allaah be pleased with them all and may Allaah fill their graves with noor (light)..”

(Recorded from a live broadcast across Birmingham on ‘Radio Ramadan’)

And Yasir Qadhi also states in his flattery of them:
quote:

“I am eager to further my relationship with them; I sense a genuine spirit of Islamic brotherhood whilst amongst them; I wish the best for them and their da`wah; I am desirous to benefit from their wisdom and knowledge.”

What is disturbing, however, is the re-packaging of this evil, corrupt manhaj and it’s re-sale to the unaware Muslim youth in the West.
quote:

“All of the parties that have signed on to this document identify themselves as being from the tradition of Sunni Islam. And it is an undeniable historical reality that this label has been used by a number of diverse, and at times contradictory, theological groups, for the last thousand years of Islam. I personally have no qualms considering these groups within the broad fold of Sunni Islam.”

They claim this is a “Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students”. So what is their definition of Sunni? Looking at the list of signatories, a Sunni, according to them, can be: Ash’aree, Soofee, Deobandee, Tableeghee, Qaadiree, Qutubee, Ikhwaanee, Jahmee, Ittihaadee etc. How can anyone who claims to be upon the Sunnah count these sects as being Sunni? They even justify their evil by stating: “We recognize that the historical nature of Sunni Islam is a broad one”. Broad enough to include the Soofiyyah and Jahmiyyah and Ash’ariyyah and Maatureediyyah?! This a truly a shameful pact. A pact that gives honour and credence to the innovations and those who carry them. A unity for the sake of political expediency.

It is clear that these people have not understood the da’wah of the early Salaf, the likes of Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imaam Maalik bin Anas, Imaam Al-Barbahaaree, Sufyaan ath-Thawree and Ibnul-Mubaarak. Nor have they comprehended the books of Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah and his students, nor do they any perception of the works of Shaikhul-Islaam Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhaab and those who followed him till this day. It is the very twelve centuries (or fourteen centuries) of the Imaams of Sunnah that Yasir Qadhi and his co-signatories wish to push to the side and ignore in the name of unity, that we must adhere to.

Shaikhul-Islaam Muhammad Ibn Aslam at-Toosee (died 242), rahimahullaah, spoke the truth when he said:

quote:

“Whosoever honours, gives respect to, or venerates a person of bid’ah, then indeed he has aided in the destruction of the Religion”

(Ibn Waddaah, no. 120, Aboo Shaamah, no. 36.)

WHO’S FOOTSTEPS IS YASIR QADHI FOLLOWING?

As for Syed Qutb, the innovator and guide of Al-Ikhwaanul-Muslimoon, then he said:

quote:

“And Islaam does not feel uneasy about about the differences of mankind in ‘aqeedah and manhaj, rather it considers this as something necessitated by natural disposition and a goal from a Higher Will…”

(‘Nahwa Mujtami’ Islaami’ p. 103)

Hasan al-Banna, the deviated founder of Al-Ikhwaanul-Muslimoon, said:

quote:

“Let us work together in that which we agree and excuse each other in that which we disagree.”

And:

“You know, O brothers, that there is no Imaam in the present day and it is necessary for us to forget everything and abandon everything (in disputes) for freeing the Islamic lands..”

(From the words of Hasan al-Banna also from the book ‘Fee Qaafilatil-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen’)

“Al-Hayât Kalimah” is Salman Al-Awdah’s (the Qutubee) weekly television program. During one these program’s, Salmaan al-Awdah makes clear his Ikhwaanee/Bannaawee methodology that he is still upon:

quote:

“We need to use this crisis [of the strife in Lebanon] a means to achieve unity. We need to put our differences aside for the time being. We need to assume responsibility for these crises, knowing with full faith that Allah is just in His decisions.”

(Taken from the website of Salman Al-Oadah)

THE POSITION OF THE SALAFI IMAAMS IN OPPOSITION TO YASIR QADHI

Question to Ash-Shaikhul-Imaam Ibn Baaz, rahimahullaah:

quote:

Question:”Based upon the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

Help you one another in al-Birr and at-Taqwaa, but do not help one another in sin and transgression. Soorah al-Maaidah (5):2

It is said that it is obligatory to co-operate with all of the Islamic Jamaa’ahs, even though they differ with us with regard to methodologies and their way in giving dawah. So Jamaaatut-Tableegh has a way of giving dawah different to the way of the Ikhwaanul-Muslimeen and Hizbut-Tahreer and Jamaaatul-Jihaad and the Salafees. So how is this co-operation to be? And is it restricted for example to joint participation in conferences and gatherings? And what is to be the case when dawah is being given to non-Muslims, since confusion may be caused in the minds of new Muslims by the fact that each Jamaaah from these Jamaaahs will direct them to their own centres and their own scholars, which will confuse them. So how will it be possible to avert this matter?”

Answer:”What is obligatory is to co-operate with the Jamaa’ah that proceeds upon the manhaj (methodology) of the Book and the Sunnah and that which the Salaf of the Ummah were upon in calling to the Tawheed of Allaah, the One free of all imperfections, and making worship purely and sincerely for Him, and warning against shirk and innovations and sins, and to advise the Jamaaahs that are contrary to that.

So if they return to what is correct, then they are to be co-operated with. But if they persist upon being contrary then it is obligatory to keep away from them and to adhere to the Book and the Sunnah..”

(Fatwaa no. 18870 dated 11/6/1417H)

SCHOLARLY RESPONSE

Ash-Shaikhul-Allaamah Saaleh al-Fawzaan, hafidhahullaah:
quote:

QUESTION: Is there harm in warning against these Sects that are in opposition to the Methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah?

ANSWER: “We warn against all those who oppose [the Salaf] generally and we say: ‘We adhere to the path of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah and we we abandon those who oppose Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah regardless of whether their opposition is MAJOR or MINOR. This is because if we are lenient with the opposition, then perhaps it may grow and increase. So opposition is not allowed AT ALL.

Furthermore, it is obligatory to adhere to the path of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah in both major and minor issues.”

QUESTION: Are we require to mention the good qualities of those we warn against?

ANSWER: “If you mention their good qualities, then this means that you have called (the people) to follow them. Know, DO NOT MENTION THEIR GOOD QUALITIES. Mention the error they are upon only. You are not entrusted to praise and approve of their actions – you are ONLY entrusted with exposing the error they are upon so that they may repent from it, and so others can beware of it.

It may even be that the error that they are upon wipes away their good deeds if it is kufr or shirk. It could also be that this error outweighs their good deeds. And perhaps it may seem like they are good deeds in your eyes, yet they ARE NOT SO IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAAH.”

(“Al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah ‘an As’ilatil-Manaahijil-Jadeedah”, Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan)

What is amazing is that Yasir Qadhi states that those who oppose him in his decision are:

quote:

“Having said that, there will always be extremisms on all sides, especially amongst over-zealous, under-experienced youth. What is desired, though, is that such extremism not find a voice amongst authentic and respected scholarship.”

So does he regard Ibn Baaz and Shaikh al-Fawzaan to be, “over-zealous, under-experienced youth” who are extremists!!

THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SALAF

Versus

THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNATORIES

Yasir Qadhi, Abdur-Raheem Green, Usamah Hasan, and their fellow signatories began their ‘Pledge’ with a verse from the book of Allaah to justify their unity with the people of deviation. You will see below that the understanding of the Salaf was contrary to what they wish to establish.

Allaah states in the Qur’aan:
quote:

“Surely, those who have made divisions in their religion and turned into factions, you have nothing to do with them.”(Al-An’aam:159)

So the signatories of the pledge use this aayah to justify their unity whereby they are bringing the various ‘doctrines’ together. Yet, in truth, these verses contain great threats to those who oppose the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the true Islamic ‘aqeedah, thus causing them to fall into division, separation and disunity. That is why Allaah informed His Prophet, “you have nothing to do with them”.

These signatories have turned the meanings around to justify uniting upon deviation from the Islamic ‘Aqeedah or Creed. Indeed Allaah, the Most High, stated: “Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided.” So Allaah commands firstly to hold on to Book and Sunnah, and then not to fall into division.

So how has the Ash’aree, Soofee or Maatureedee fulfilled holding on to the Rope of Allaah in his understanding of the aqeedah?! Or is it the case that the likes of Yaasir Qaadhi and Usaamah Hasan are establishing the principle of Hasan al-Bannah:

quote:

“Let us work together in that which we agree and excuse each other in that which we disagree.”

Indeed, this is the principle they have established in this ‘pledge’.

Regarding the statement of Allaah, “Surely, those who have made divisions in their religion and turned into factions, you have nothing to do with them..” Imaam al-Baghawee stated:

quote:

“They are the people of bid’ah and desires.” Sharhus-Sunnah (1/210)

And Imaam Ibnul-Mubaarak (died 181H) said:

quote:

“The people of truth – they do not have division amongst them.” Related by At-Tabaree in Jaami’ al-Bayaan (12/85)
Imaam ash-Shaatibee stated:

quote:

“Splitting is from the particular characteristics of the Ahlul-Bid’ah.” Al-I’tisaam (1/113)

And Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (728H) said:
quote:

“And bid’ah is associated with splitting, just as Sunnah is associated with the Jamaa’ah. So it is said: Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, just as it is said: Ahlul-Bid’ah wal-Furqah (the People of innovation and division).” (Al-Istiqaamah 1/42)

So this is the understanding of some of the Imaams of the Salaf, i.e. those who cause division and separate are the people of bid’ah. These aayaat and verses are in NO way a justification to unite with those who have diverse and deviated ‘doctrines’ that oppose Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.

As for the other verse that is utilised by the signatories of this ‘Pledge’ is statement of Allaah:

quote:

“Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided.”(Aali Imraan 103)

Imaam as-Sam’aanee stated:

quote:

“And Allaah, the Most High, said: ‘Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided.’ And if you were to look towards the people of desires and innovation, you will find them divided and upon differing, or spearated into factions and parties. You will not find two of them upon a singular path or a sigular doctrine (‘aqeedah). They declare each other to be innovators. Indeed a son will declare his father to be an unbeliever and a man will declare that upon his brother and a neighbour upon his neighbour. You will see them constantly differing and having hatred for each other. Their lives pass and their word is never united [but]: ‘You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who understand not.’ (Al-Hashr: 14). Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil-Muhajjah 2/224-225

The doctrines of the signatories are incompatible and at variance with each other – so this pledge may give an impression of unity, but in reality their hearts are divided because their ‘aqeedah is divided…

quote:

‘You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who understand not.’ (Al-Hashr: 14).

All praise is due to Allaah, and prayers and peace upon His Messenger.

Yasir al-Qadhi stated in a follow up justification of his participation with factions of Ahl ul-Bid’ah, amongst them Soofees, Ahl ul-Kalaam, Ash’arees and others:
quote:

And it is well known that mu`amalah with other groups is a context-based matter, and not one that has specific rulings in the Sharee’ah.

As he is participating in this pledge with Ash’arees, Soofees and Ahl ul-Kalaam then it is clear that by “other groups” he means deviated groups from amongst the sects. Those whom the Salaf declared as astray innovators and deviants. The other signatories on that pledge are callers to innovation. They call to the Milaad, they call to their Ash’ariyyah, Ilm ul-Kalaam, and their negation of Allah’s attributes and innovated practices. Indeed, some of the other signatories teach from the books of Innovation such as Jawharat ut-Tawheed, and as such they are callers to innovation, callers to divestment of Allaah’s names, negators of His Uluww, and promoters of Jahmee beliefs.

Thus, there are a number of observations to be made on the statement of al-Qadhi quoted above:

Allaah the Most High said:

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) you nothing to do with them. Their affair is only with Allâh, Who then will tell them what they used to do. (Al-An’am 6:159)

One can easily refer to the books of tafseer and the statements of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een to learn the meaning of this and other like verses in the Qur’an.

Al-Baghawee said in Sharh us-Sunnah, “They are the people of innovations and desires”.

The Ashaa’irah, Ahl ul-Kalaam, the Soofees are people of innovations and desires in the view of Ahl us-Sunnah, and the refutations against the Ashaa’irah and their being declared astray is to be found in the sayings of the scholars from the various madhaahib.

Contemporary Ash’arees are not the same as the earlier Ash’arees. Today’s Ash’arees are further astray and the earlier Asharees affirmed the sifaat and Allaah’s Uluww. Refer to the recently published Bayaan Talbees ul-Jahmiyyah of Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah.

Al-Qurtubee (d. 671H) said: “And when avoiding the people of sin has been established, as we have just explained, then avoiding the People of Innovations and Desires is foremost [i.e. more befitting].” Tafseer al-Qurtubee (5/418

How can he say that issue is one that does not have a specific ruling in the Sharee’ah?

The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “My Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects, seventy-two in the Fire and one in Paradise” (al-Laalikaa’ee in his Usool il-I’tiqaad.

The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed this ummah will split into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except for one and that is the Jamaa’ah” Ibn Abee Aasim in Kitaab us-Sunnah

The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “My Ummah will split into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except for one”. It was said “What is the one group?” He said, “That which I and my companions are upon today”. at-Tirmidhi

And he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) used to say at the beginning of his lectures, “and the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) , and the worst of all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)” (Muslim)

Qaadee Abu Ya’laa (d. 333H) said: “There is concensus (Ijmaa’) among the Sahaabah and the Taabi’een as regards dissociating and cutting-off from the Innovators.” Hajar ul-Mubtadi’ (p.32)

Al-Baghawee (d. 535H) said: “And the Sahaabah, the Taabi’een, their successors and the Scholars of the Sunnah passed away while they were upon this, united and unanimously agreed upon having enmity towards the Ahl ul-Bid’ah (the People of Innovation) and fleeing from them.” Sharh us-Sunnah (1/227)

Ath-Thaabit bin al-Ajlaan said: “I met Anas bin Maalik, Ibn al-Musayyab, al-Hasan al-Basree, Sa’eed bin Jubair, ash-Sha’bee, Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee, Ataa’ bin Abee Riyaah, Taawoos, Mujaahid, Abdullaah bin Abee Mulaikah, az-Zuhree, Makhool, al-Qaasim Abu Abdur-Rahmaan, Ataa’ al-Khurasaanee, Thaabit al-Bunaanee, al-Hakam bin Utbah, Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee, Hammaad bin Muhammad bin Seereen, Abu Aamir- and he had actually met Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq -, Yazeed ar-Riqaashee, and Sulaimaan bin Moosaa, all of them were ordering me [to hold on to] the Jamaa’ah and forbidding me from the People of Desires (i.e Innovators) Sharh Usool ul-I’tiqaad of al-Laalikaa’ee (no.239)

Al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyaad (d. 187H) said: ”I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the people of innovation.” Reported by al-Laalikaa’ee (no.267)

Al-Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H) said: “Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them.” Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/121)

Ibraaheem bin Maysarah (d.132H) said: “Whoever honours an innovator has aided in the destruction of Islam.” Reported by al-Laalikaa’ee (1/139).

Imaam Maalik (d. 179H) said: “How evil are the people of innovation, we do no give them salaam.” Reported by al-Baghawee in Sharh us-Sunnah (1/234).

Al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyaad (d. 187H) said: “Whoever sits with a person of innovation, then beware of him and whoever sits with a person of innovation has not been given wisdom. I love that there was fort of iron between me and a person of innovation. That I eat with a Jew and a Christian is more beloved to me than that I eat with a person of innovation.” Reported by al-Laalikaa’ee (no.1149)

From Aboo Qulaabah who said: “Do not sit with them and do not mix with them for I do not feel safe that they will not drown you in their misguidance and confuse you about much that you used to know.” Reported by al-Laalikaa’ee (no.244)

Imaam al-Laalikaa’ee (d. 418H) said in Sharh Usool il-Itiqaad (1/114): “What is related from the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) with regards to the prohibition of debating with the Innovators.”

Abu Daawood (d. 275H) has a chapter in his Sunan (4/197): “Chapter: Turning away from the Innovators and having hatred for them.”

Al-Bayhaqee (d. 458H) said: in al-I’tiqaad (p.236): “Chapter: Prohibition of sitting with the Innovators.”

Imaam an-Nawawee (d. 676H) mentions in al-Adhkaar (p.323): “Chapter: Disassociating from the People of Innovation and the People of Sin.”

This is only a fraction of the thousands of statements that are available from true and authentic Sunni scholarship (as specifically defined) on this issue.

Thus it is established that there are very clear and explicit guidelines in the Sharee’ah, in the Qur’aan, in the Sunnah and from the Salaf in general regarding the astray groups and sects, those who oppose what the Salaf were upon. This includes the Ash’arees, the Soofees, Ahl ul-Kalaam and other than them, those whom al-Qadhi has united with on this pledge. And as such this enormous and utter lie of al-Qadhi is exposed for what it is.

The position of Ahl us-Sunnah is that

* The groups and sects are to be shunned. Their callers refuted and boycotted and warned against. Their books refuted (by those capable, the scholars) and the general folk warned against their evil and their opposition to the Sunnah. This is the clear ruling in the Book and the Sunnah.

* There is no co-operation in affairs of da’wah whatsover with Ahl ul-Bid’ah, not until they abandon what they are upon.

* The scholars are to refute/advise the groups and sects.

* Ahl ul-Bid’ah, the callers, are refuted against and warned against: by name, by book, by belief, by ideology, by manhaj – this is the way of orthodox Sunni Scholarship (as specifically defined)

* The general folk amongst the innovators who are not callers and who don’t really know what they are upon are to be given da’wah but by qualified people and only with the intention of correcting them and inviting them to the truth. This is a restricted affair, with conditions and guidelines and not an absolute one.

It must be clarified here that Ahl us-Sunnah do not prohibit from mixing with the common Muslims who may be upon something of innovation due to certain factors, with the aim of giving them da’wah. This has conditions and has certain guidelines and is not to be confused with what Yasir al-Qadhi has signified with his writings on the pledge. Rather what al-Qadhi is advocating is something much more and extensive. Indeed he is promoting a new manhaj of disassociation in part from the true Scholars, thereby allowing the raising of da’ees in the West to the level of viable alternatives to those true Scholars in the discussion and treatment of issues relating to da’wah and opposing groups.