DEFENDING THE RELIGION
Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241H)- rahimahullaah - said:
"All praise is for Allaah who, in every age and intervals between the Prophets, raises up a group from the People of Knowledge, who
call the misguided to guidance, patiently bearing ill treatment and harm. With the Book of Allaah they give life to the dead, and by
Allaah's Light they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblees (the Devil) have they revived. How many people
astray and wandering have they guided. How beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile people have been towards
them. They expel from the Book of Allaah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false
claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones - those who uphold die banner of
innovation and let loose the trials and discords; who differ about the
Book, oppose the Book, and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allaah and His Book without knowledge,
argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant masses with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allaah from
the trials of the misguided ones." 1
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"When some people asked Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied: "If I were to remain
silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?" Those who
introduce heretical writings which oppose the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and those who innovate in matters of worship, then it is obligatory that they be exposed and that the
Muslims be warned against them - by unanimous agreement of the Muslims Scholars. In fact, when
Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked about a person who fasted, preyed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship; if he 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 openly 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
defending it from their attacks is a collective obligation - as is agreed upon by the Scholars.
For Allaah did not raise up some people to oppose the innovators, then the religion would suffer harm, corruption and deviation. Indeed, this type of
corruption is even greater then the corruption resulting from the disbelievers conquering the
Muslims. Since 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 beginning." 2
UNITING THE RANKS UPON THE TRUTH
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz - hafidhahullaah - said:
"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 necessitate 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 and also 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." [Sooratul-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 shall be successful." [Soorah Aal'-lmraan 3:110]. And
when the people of truth withhold 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 opposition. And this is contrary to what Allaah - the Most Perfect -
prescribed, with regards sincere advice, co-operation upon goodness, ordering the
good and forbidding the evil - and Allaah alone is the One who grants success.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz was asked about the correctness of the saying:
"We should unite upon that which we agree, and excuse each other in that which we disagree." The Shaykh commented:
"Yes! It is obligatory to co-operate in that which we agree, by aiding the
truth, calling to it and warning against that which Allaah and His Messenger
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam have prohibited. Its for excusing each other for that in which we differ - then this is
not to be taken in an absolute sense, but rather in a general one. Thus, if the difference involves a
particular issue of ijtihaad wherein the proofs are deep and detailed - then it is obligatory not to reproach or censure one another. However, if it opposes a
clear text of the Book and the Sunnah, then it is obligatory to correct the one who has opposed the clear texts, but with wisdom,
beautiful admonition and debating in the best possible manner, acting upon Allaah -the Most
High's - saying: "And help you one another in righteousness and piety, but do not help
one another in sin and transgression." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:2] And His - the
Most Perfect's - saying: "The Believers - man and woman - are
protectors to each other, they order the good and forbid the evil ...
" [Soorah at-Towbah 9:71]. And His - the Mighty and Majestic's -
saying: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful
admonition, and argue with them in ways that are better." [Soorah
an-Nahl 16:125]. And he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whosoever
sees an evil, then let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do
this, then with his tongue, and if he is unable to do this, then with his heart.
And that is the weakest of eemaan (faith)." And he sallallaahu 'alayhi
wa sallam said: "Whosoever directs a person to do good, will
have a reward similar to the one who does that good." 5 And the aayaat
(verses) and ahaadeeth with this meaning are plenty." 6
1. Ar-Radd 'alal-Jahmiyyah
waz-Zanaadiqah (p.2) of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
2. Majmoo'ul-Fataawaa (28/231-232).
3. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd 'alaa man Ta'awwalis-Sifaat (pp.31-32).
4. Related by Muslim (2/21), from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree radiallaahu 'anhu.
5. Related by Muslim (13/38), from Abu Mas'ood al-Ansaaree radiallaahu
'anhu.
6. Tanbeehaat fir-Radd 'alaa man Ta'awwalis-Sifaat (pp.14-15).
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