Shaykh Saalih ibn Abdul-Azeez Aal us-Shaykh Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan
1) Shaykh Saalih ibn Abdul-Azeez Aal us-Shaykh:
So Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah, this word was coined at the end of the second generation after Hijri by the followers of the narrations [Aathaar], and the opponents to the various sects that left the way of the companions [Sahaabah] and their students [Taabi’een].
And the first to use it [terminology] were some of the teachers of Al Bukharee – rahimahumuAllaah – and they joined the two words as-Sunnah and al-Jamaa’ah because there are those who call towards following Sunnah but they might not be with the Jamaa’ah. And there are those who call towards Jamaa’ah without following the Sunnah.
So the differentiation of the way of the people of Hadeeth and narrations [Athar] and the followers of the pious predecessors [Salaf-us-Saalih] is based upon two things:
“Following the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah”
And each from both of these is bound to the other.
Here are the links to a two part series of lectures titled: TheHistory of the Salafi Da’wah in America – Dawud Adib.
Delivered respectively on the 16th and 17th of Rajab 1432 H / 18th and 19th June 2011 CE.
Like the series: “The History of the Salafi Da’wah in the UK” These lectures by Dawud Adib contain some beneficial insight into the history of this blessed da’wah in the US.
Click on the links below to be taken to the download page, barak Allaahu feekum!
Scholar: Imâm Muhammad Nâsir-ud-Dîn al-Albânî
Source: Silsilat-ul-Hudâ wan-Nûr (280)
aFatwa.com
Question:
What do you think of Salafiyyûn going out with Jamâ’at-ut-Tablîgh in order to improve their way of thinking and to teach Tawhîd and spread the Sunnah among them. Especially since they have noticed that they have changed when they have gone out with them.
Shaykh al-Albânî:
That which I know about this group via some of our brothers who have been with them on their trips and outings, is that they do not accept their call towards the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. They are just as all other groups in this matter, as I have earlier indicated. They say, and awful is what they say:
Reference: Darulhadith.com
Translated by afatwa.com
Question:
Why are all of those who call towards Tawhîd called as “Wahhâbiyyah” ever since Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhâb (rahimahullâh)? This word scares off many people from those who call towards Tawhîd.
Shaykh al-Fawzân:
No, it doesn’t scare off at all. We are proud of the fact that the one who calls towards Tawhîd is called as “Wahhâbî” and all praise is due to Allâh. What is the one who calls towards Shirk (idolatry, polytheism) called then? What is he called? Jâhilî!
We are proud of it. Let them then say “Wahhâbî”. They are thusly themselves witnessing that the call of Wahhâbiyyah is a call towards Tawhîd. The author of “al-Lanjah” (rahimahullâh) said:
“If the one who follows Ahmad is a Wahhâbî, then let the humans and Jinns witness that I am a Wahhâbî.”
Ahmad here is the messenger (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam);
“If the one who follows Ahmad is a Wahhâbî, then let the humans and Jinns witness that I am a Wahhâbî.”
They say that the call of Salafiyyah is based upon speech about the creed and Tawhîd and (it) forgets, or ignores, theoretically or practically, governance (Hâkimiyyah) and human Tawâghît who constitute their own laws next to Allâh. What do you say about this?
Shaykh al-Albânî:
We agree with this to some extent. However, we do not agree with them on removing the Tawâghît, as they call them, without first having removed the Tawâghît of their souls.
This type of speech springs from the methodology of this group. They accuse us with this accusation. We deem that it is not time for this action (I.e. to overthrow rulers). We do not deny that it is obligatory to condemn each and every one who rules by something other than that which Allâh revealed. Is there some Islâmic group today that is ready to confront the rulers who do not rule by that which Allâh revealed without having prepared with the preparation we always speak about, namely spiritual and material preparation? They are in a hurry. They think that raising the voice against these rulers is enough in order to support Islâm. However, true victory is to make them understand true Islâm and practice it as good as they can.
I consider that history repeats itself. The first Muslims only cared about understanding the call of Islâm from its source, namely Allah’s messenger (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam). They didn’t care about confronting the disbelievers and polytheists. The only exception is perhaps occasional, individual cases. But collectively, it first took place after the emigration of the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from Makah to al-Madînah. This type of speech is thusly known to us from far back. We have experienced this in several Islâmic countries when they declared war against the disbelieving leader who does not rule by that which Allâh revealed. This was done without the spiritual and material preparation. It only ended with setbacks in the Islâmic call in several Islâmic countries.
Scholar: Imâm Muhammad bin Sâlih bin ´Uthaymîn Source: Fatâwâ al-Haram al-Madanî (53) Reference: Darulhadith.com, Sweden
aFatwa.com
Question:
What is the ruling on ascribing to the Salaf as-Sâlih and saying that one is Salafî in ‘Aqîdah (creed)?
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymîn:
It is obligatory to subscribe to the Salaf since they followed that which the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) followed.
As for calling oneself “Salafî” intending to establish a sect or subscribe to a sect, then we fight against the sects. We deem that the Islâmic Ummah should be one single group in accordance with the way of the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his companions.
However, if he means by the word “Salafi” that he is following the Salaf without intending to establish a sect that accuses dissidents to be deviant, then this is correct. We’re all Salafiyyûn! We all ask Allâh to allow us to die upon the way of the Salaf. We ask Allâh for it.
To establish a sect by the name “Salafî”, or some other by the name “Ikhwânî”, or a third by the name “Tablîghî” and so on is not something I deem to be allowed. Did the companions divide in this way? No. The one who says the opposite has to prove it.
The question:
When this person begins Ruqiyah (reciting Qur’aan upon a person as a form of treatment) he says: ‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’The Shaykh Answered:
‘As for the saying: ‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’ Then this statement is contradictory!
The Sunni – O you Miskeen (impoverished person), is the Salafi, and the Salafi is the Sunni. Whoever distinguishes between the two then he has distinguished between two things which resemble each other; so the Salaf are the Ahl-ul-Sunnah and the Salafeeyoon are the followers of the Sunnah, and whoever absolves himself from that then he is not a Sunni nor a Salafi!
Just because some of the people claim Salafeeyah and they do not actually exemplify it, then this does not allow you to free yourself from Salafeeyah, rather it is obligatory upon you to honour yourself by ascribing yourself to the Salaf and to the Manhaj of the Salaf, since indeed ascription to that is obligatory.
Ahl-ul-Sunnah, the Salaf, the followers of the Salaf, the Firqat an-Najjeeyah, the Taifat-ul-Mansoorah, the Jamaa’ah, the Salafi and the Sunni, all of these mean one title: and they are the Jamaa’ah, and they are similar to those whom were upon what the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– and his Companions were upon.
So be a serious Salafi – be a serious Salafi, just like the Salaf used to say – a Salafi ascribing to the Manhaj of the Salaf in sayings, actions and belief.
And I believe that whoever brags with this type of talk (‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’) is very far from the Manhaj of the Sunni which is the Manhaj of the Salaf.
May Allaah give everyone the capability to obtain beneficial knowledge and righteous actions. May Allaah send prayers, peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his Family and all his Companions.’
[Taken from the Shaykh’s lesson from the ‘Explanation of ‘an-Nasihah al-Waladeeyah liAbee al-Waleed al-Bajee Rahimullaah-’ end of tape one.]
Shaykh Muhmmad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen affirms that the Salafis are following the Hizb of Allaah.
The Shaykh explains that the Salafis who follow the truth, the way of the Salaf, without tahazzub (partisanship), are the party of Allaah in truth, and that it is obligatory for everyone to associate himself with it. The Shaykh also explains that none can be from this party of Allaah (of Salafiyyah) unless they actually follow the way of the Salaf in reality.
Note: The Shaykh praised the refutations of Shaykh Rabee’ bin Haadee and his defending the manhaj of calling to Allaah. These matters are well-recorded and known. Thus, when the Shaykh is warning from tahazzub as occurs in other statements of his, even if it be in the name of “Salafiyyah”, then that applies to those deviants who followed other methodologies (like those of the Ikhwanis) whilst claiming to be “Salafis” and declaring others to be astray unless they join their group. This behaviour was manifest in the way of Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Khaliq and his so-called “Scientific Salafiyyah” movement, he reviled some of the major Scholars, and brought destructive false principles under the banner of Salafiyyah.
No matter how hard people have tried to malign the Salafis who follow the way of the Salaf in aqidah and manhaj, following the scholars in that, all their attempts to use the various statements of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin in which he warns, correctly, from falling into tahazzub in the name of Salafiyyah, have failed. This is because the very issues around which the Salafis based their criticism and warning against the opposers, were similarly spoken of and outlined by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin by the time he passed away (rahimahullaah) and they include matters pertaining to Sayyid Qutb, Takfir of the rulers, rebellion, multiplicity of groups (jamaa’aat), false methodologies in calling to Allaah, and calling to Tawhid, demonstrations and so on. Further, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin praised Shaykh Rabee on many occasions and explained that the only reason the opposers attack him because he spoke of some of their figureheads.
So the truth is clear and only those are blind who choose to be blind, despite the matters being as clear as daylight.
Reply given by Ibn Baz to written questions posed by a Shaykh from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
From `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz to my esteemed brother, may Allah guide you to useful knowledge and to act upon it! Amen. Peace be upon you! I have received your letter dated 2/3/1394 A.H. May Allah guide you and grant you success! It included three questions about Wahhabism. Following is my answer:
Q 1: You asked about Wahhabism and whether it is a fifth Madh-hab (School of Jurisprudence) or follows one of the four Madh-habs.
A: The term Wahhabism is used by many people to refer to the call initiated by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab ibn Sulayman Al-Tamimy Al-Hanbaly (may Allah be merciful to him). He is called along with his followers ‘Wahhabis’. Every knowledgeable person must have heard about Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Wahhab’s movement (may Allah be merciful to him). He called for pure Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and warned people against all forms of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), such as supplicating to the dead, trees, rocks or the like. He (may Allah be merciful to him) followed in creedal matters the Madh-hab (School of Jurisprudence) of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) while in subsidiary matters he followed the Madh-hab of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal Al-Shaybany (may Allah be merciful to him). This is clear in the books and Fatwas (legal opinions) of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab and in the books of his followers and offspring which are published. Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab appeared at a time when Islam was alienated, the Arabian Peninsula and other areas were engulfed in ignorance and worshiping idols was widespread. So the Shaykh took it upon himself to strive and struggle, and devoted himself to destroying all means of misguidance.
He employed all the possible ways leading to the spread of Tawhid free from any kind of superstition. Allah, out of His Bounty, made Imam Muhammad ibn Su`ud, Prince of Al-Dir‘iyyah at that time, accept the call. Thus, the Prince, his sons, those under his authority and his followers supported the Imam, may Allah reward them, forgive them and grant their offspring success to all that pleases Him and to what sets right the affairs of His Servants! All regions of the Arabian Peninsula have lived under this righteous call to the present day. Thus, Imam Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab’s call was in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet).
Wahhabism is not a fifth Madh-hab as some ignorant and prejudiced people claim; rather, it is a call to the ‘Aqidah (creed) of Salafiyyah (those following the way of the righteous predecessors) and a way of reviving the main aspects of Islam and Tawhid which was forgotten in the Arabian Peninsula.
From the characteristics of the people of the Days of Ignorance is that they would view the majority as proof that something was true and the minority as proof hat something was false. So according to them, whatever the majority of the people was upon, that was the truth. And whatever the minority was upon, that was not the truth. In their eyes, this was the balance used to determine truth from falsehood.
However, this is wrong, for Allah says: And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but lie. [Surah Al-An’aam, ayah 116]
And He says: But most of mankind doesn’t know. [Surah Al-A’raaf, ayah 187]
And He says: And most of them We found to be not true to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed to be evil sinners. [Surah Al-A’raaf, ayah 102]
So the balance is not the majority and the minority. Rather, the balance is the truth. So whoever is upon the truth – even if he is by himself – he is the one who is correct and deserves to be emulated. And if the majority of the people are upon falsehood, then it is obligatory to reject them and not be deceived by them. So consideration is given to the truth. This is why the scholars say: “Truth is not known by way of men, but rather men are known by way of the truth.” So whoever is upon the truth, then he is the one we must follow and emulate.
In Allaah’s stories about the prior nations, He informs us that it is always the minority that is upon the truth, as Allah says: And no one believed with him except for a few. [Surah Hood, ayah 40]
And in a hadeeth in which the nations were presented to the Prophet, he (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that he saw a prophet who had a small group of followers with him, and a Prophet who had a man or two men following him, and another Prophet who had no one with him. (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Tirmidhi #76 records on the authority of Nawwas ibn Sam’an that the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alyhi wa sallam) said:
“Allah has set forth the following as a parable:
There is a road that leads straight to the destination. On either side of the road there is a wall in which there are open doors with curtains hanging on them. From the remote end of the road, a voice calls, ‘proceed straight and do not turn aside’. Whenever someone intends to lift a curtain from the door another voice calls from above. ‘Beware! Do not lift the curtain; otherwise you will be lured inside’.
The prophet (sallallahu alyhi wa sallaam) explained the parable by saying that the straight path is Islam. the walls are the limits imposed by Allah, the open doors are the things that He has prohibited, the voice which calls from the end of the road is the Quran and the voice which calls from above is Allah’s monitor in the heart of every believer”.
It was declared Hasan Gharib by Tirmidhee and sahih by Hakim #245 with Dhahabi agreeing and Al-Albani , Sahih al-Jami’ #3887
Source: Excerpted from the Book “The Spiritual Cure – An Explanation of Suratul Fatihah”, Page 145, Dar us Sunnah Publishers, Birmingham UK.
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