In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Al-Istiqaamah

Issue No.8

A SINGLE UMMAH

Page 2

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (d.751H)- rahimahullaah - said: "Jihaad with the clear proofs and the tongue; Comes before Jihaad with the sword and the spear."10

Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullaah - said: "When some people asked Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241H) that they felt uneasy about [criticising people] by saying that such and such is this, and such and such is that, he replied: "lf I were to remain silent, how would the ignorant ones know the authentic [narrations] from the inauthentic?" Similarly, the innovators who introduce heretical writings which oppose the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and those who innovate in matters of worship, then explaining their true condition and warning the Ummah against them is an obligation by the unanimous agreement of the Muslim Scholars. In fact, when Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked whether a person who fasted, prayed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship was dearer to him than a person who spoke out against ahlul-bid'ah (the innovators), he replied: "When he fasts and prays and secludes himself, then he does so for the benefit of his own self. However, when he speaks out against the innovators, he does so for the benefit of the Muslims in general, and this is more virtuous." So it is clear that opposing the Innovators is of general benefit to the Muslims and is considered one of the types of Jihaad in the path of Allaah. Since purifying the Religion of Allaah, and its minhaaj (methodology), its Shoree'ah, and defending it from their attacks and that of their enemies is a collective obligation - a fact which is agreed upon by the Scholars. For if Allaah did not raise up some people to repel the harms [caused by] others, then the Religion would become corrupted. Indeed, this type of corruption is even greater than the corruption resulting from the disbelievers conquering the Muslims. This is because when the disbelievers conquer the Muslims, they do not corrupt their hearts nor their Religion, except after some time. Whereas the innovators corrupt the hearts from the very outset."11

1. From a series of questions and answers, recorded on the 16th of Dhul-Hijjah 1416H (corresponding to the 3rd of May 1996CE).
2. Majmoo' Fataawaa (22/359).
3. Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.481) and Muslim (no.2585), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu 'anhu.
4. Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.6011) and Muslim (no.2586), from an-Nu'maan ibn Basheer radiallaahu 'anhu.
5. Maraaji'aat fi Fiqhil-Waaqi' (pp.44-45).
6. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd 'alaa man Ta'awwallis-Sifaat (pp.31-32).
7. Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa (1015 18).
8. Naqdul-Mantaq wal-Kalaam (p.12).
9. Related by adh-Dhahabee in Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa (10/619).
10. Qaseedah an-Nooniyyah (1112).
11. Majmoo' Fataawaa (28/23 1-232)

"There is no doubt that it is obligatory upon the Muslims to unify their ranks and to unite their word upon the truth and to co-operate in goodness and piety against the enemies of Islaam - as Allaah, the Most Perfect - ordered them with in His saying: "And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allaah and do not become divided." [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:102]. And likewise, Allaah has warned the Muslims against splitting up, as occurs in His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "And do not be like those who differed and split-up after the clear evidences came to them." [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:105]. However, the order to unify the Muslims and unite their word upon the truth and to hold fast to the rope of Allaah, does not mean that they should not censure wrong beliefs and practices - whether from the Soofees or other than them. Rather, what the order to hold fast to the Rope of Allaah necessitates is: To order the good; forbid the evil; to clarify the truth, with the clear Sharee'ah proofs, to whomsoever is misguided or has a mistaken opinion, until they unite upon the truth and turn away from that which opposes it. All of this is included in His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "And help you one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:2]. And His - the Most Perfect's - saying: "Let there arise from amongst you a group of people calling to all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, they are the ones who are successful." [Soorah Aal'Imraan 3:1 10]. And when the people of truth hold back from clarifying the mistakes of those who have erred or are mistaken, then they will not have achieved that which Allaah ordered them with, as regards calling to goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil. So the person in error will remain upon his error, and the one acting in opposition to the truth will remain upon his mistake. And this is contrary to what Allaah - the Most Perfect - prescribed, with regards to sincere advice, co-operation upon goodness, ordering the good and forbidding the evil - and Allaah alone is the One Who grants success."6

Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullaah - said: "Refuting ahlul-bida' (the innovators) is a Jihaad, to the extent that Yahyaa ibn Yahyaa (d.226H) said: "Defence of the Sunnah is more excellent than Jihaad in the path of Allaah."7"8

INDEX