THE BASIS OF RIGHT GUIDANCE
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah
- said:
"The Religion of the Muslims is built upon following
the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of His Prophet and
that which the Ummah has agreed upon. So these are the
three infallible usool (fundamentals). So whatever the
Ummah differs in, then it is referred back to Allaah
and His Messenger. Thus, it is not for anyone to set
up a person for the Ummah, and to call to his way and
form walaa’ (love, loyalty and allegiance) and ‘adaa
(enmity and hatred) based upon that, except for the
Prophet . Nor is any speech set up for them based upon
which they form walaa’ and ‘adaa except for the Speech
of Allaah, and that of His Messenger, and that which
the Ummah has agreed upon. Rather, this is that
practice of the people of innovation, who set up a
person or a saying, with which they cause splits in
the Ummah; forming walaa‘ and ‘adaa based upon that
saying or ascription." [1]
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullaah - said:
"It is not upon anyone to ascribe himself to a
particular Shaykh and to have walaa‘ with those who
follow him, or to have ‘adaa based upon that. Rather,
he should have walaa‘ for everyone from the people of
eemaan (i.e. he is a Muslim) and is known to have
taqwaa (piety and obedience to Allaah and that which
He has ordered and prohibited), from the Shaykhs, or
from others. No one should be particularised with an
increase in walaa’, except if he sees in him greater
eemaan and taqwaa. So precedence is given to those
whom Allaah and His Messenger have given them to.
Allaah the Exalted said:
"O Mankind! Indeed we created you from a man and a
woman and made you into tribes and nations so that you
may know one another. Indeed the most noble of you
with Allaah are those that have the most taqwaa
(piety)" [Sooratul Hujuraat 49:13] [2]
SECTARIANISM AND MISPLACED LOYALTIES
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
"Indeed the people of the Sunnah do not follow anyone
(unconditionally) other than the Messenger of Allaah
who does not speak from desires, rather it is nothing
less than Revelation sent down to him. So it is
obligatory to affirm all that he informs, and to obey
all that he commands. This status is not given to
anyone else from this Ummah. Rather, everyone's
statement can be taken or left except for that of the
Messenger of Allaah. So whoever sets up an individual
other than the Messenger of Allaah; such that the one
who loves and agrees with him is reckoned to be from
Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa‘ah, and the one who differs
with him is reckoned to be from the people of
innovations and sectarianism - as happens with those
groups who follow certain Imaams of kalaam (rhetorical
speech) - then the person doing so is from the people
of innovation, deviation and sectarianism." [3]
He - rahimahullaah - further stated:
"Indeed many - from the people who say such things -
follow their desires in this, in order to elevate
their egos, or to gain leadership, or whatever is
connected to it. Their intention is not to make the
Word of Allaah uppermost, nor is it to make the
Religion purely for Allaah. Indeed they have hatred
for those who oppose them, even if it is a mujtahid (a
scholar striving his utmost to arrive at the truth)
who is excused and whom Allaah is not angry with.
Likewise, they are pleased with those who agree with
them - even if it is an ignorant person with evil
intentions - who neither has any knowledge or good
intent. This leads them to praise those who Allaah and
His Messenger have not praise and to censure those
whom Allaah and His Messenger have not censured. It
also causes them to have walaa’ (love and allegiance)
and ‘adaa (enmity and hatred) based upon their own
self-desires and not upon the Religion of Allaah and
His Messenger ... So whoever does this will only bring
about fitan (trials and tribulations) between the
people." [4]
PRESERVING LOVE AND UNITY
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz (d.1420H) -
rahimahullaah - said:
"The Religion of Allaah orders to judge (with justice)
in all matters and not to have walaa’ (love, loyalty
and allegiance) with your brother merely because he
agrees with you, or to have ‘adaa (enmity and hatred)
merely because he disagrees with you on a certain
opinion or issue. This is not from justice at all! The
Companions (radiyallaahu ‘anhum) differed in many
issues, yet this did affect the overall happiness and
sincerity between them, nor their walaa’ and love for
each other - may Allaah be pleased with them all. So
the Believer acts upon the Sharee‘ah (prescribed and
divine Islaamic Law) of Allaah, follows the truth,
gives precedence to the evidences before anyone - yet
in doing so, he does not oppress his brother, nor
negate doing justice to him when he differs regarding
any issue of ijtihaad (personal reasoning) in which
the evidences are not so apparent. Likewise is the
case for those issues in which differences occur due
to different interpretations of the text. So in such
instances he is excused and it is upon you to
sincerely advise him and to love only the good for him
and not to split-up, nor to have enmity or hatred
between you and your brother - and there is no might,
nor power except with Allaah." [5]
Footnotes:
[1] Majmoo‘ul Fataawaa (20/164) of Ibn Taymiyyah.
[2] Majmoo‘ul Fataawaa (11/512).
[3] Majmoo‘ul Fataawaa (3/346-347).
[4] Minhaajus-Sunnatin Nabawiyyah (5/225).
[5] Majmoo‘ul Fataawaa wal-Maqaalaatul Mutanwwi’ah
(1/346).
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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