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THE BASIS OF RIGHT
GUIDANCE
Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) -
rahimahallaah - said:
"The Religion of the Muslims is built upon
following the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, 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
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. 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 the practice of the people of Innovation, who
set-up a person, or a saying, with which they cause splits in the Ummah;
forming walaa or 'adaa based upon that saying or
ascription."1
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah -
rahimahullaah - also said:
"It is not for 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 who is from the people of eemaan
(i.e. is a Muslim) and is known to have taqwaa (piety and obedience
to Allaah in 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 from him greater eemaan and
taqwaa. So precedence and excellence is given to whomsoever Allaah
and His Messenger have given them to. Allaah - the Most High - said: "O
mankind! Indeed We created you from a man and a woman, and made you into
nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed the most noblest
of you with Allaah are those that have the most taqwaa
(piety)." [Soorah al-Hujuraat 49:13]."2
SECTARIANISM AND MISPLACED
LOYALTIES
Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
"Indeed the people
of the truth and the Sunnah do not follow anyone (unconditionally) other
than Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; who does not
speak from his 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, every person's saying can be taken or left, except
that of Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. So
whoever sets up an individual other than Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, such that the one who loves and agrees with him is
reckoned to be from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, and the one that
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 (theology
and rhetorical speech) - then the person doing so is from the people of
innovation, deviation and sectarianism."3
He - rahimahullaah - further
said:
"Indeed many - from the people who say such sayings - 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, nor good intent. This
leads them to praise those whom Allaah and His Messenger have not praised,
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, not
upon the Religion of Allaah and His Messenger ... So whosoever does this
will only bring about fitan (trials and discord) between the
people."4
PRESERVING THE LOVE AND
UNITY
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz - hafidhahullaah -
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 being distant) from him merely because he disagrees with you
on a certain opinion or issue. This is not from justice at all! The
Companions - radiallaahu 'anhum - differed in various issues, yet
this did not affect the 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 priority 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 in which the evidences are not so apparent.
Likewise is the case for those issues in which differences occur due to a
different interpretation of the text. So, in such instances he is excused,
and it is upon you to sincerely advice him, and to love only the good for
him, and not to split-up, nor to have enmity and hatred between you and
your brother - and there is no might, nor any power, except with Allaah.
"5
1. Majmoo' Fataawaa (20/164)
of Ibn Taymiyyah.
2. Majmoo' Fataawaa (11/512).
3. Majmoo'
Fataawaa (3/346-347).
4. Minhaajus-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah
(5/255).
5. Majmoo' Fataawaa wa Magaaalaat Mutanawwi'ah
(11346). |