Unity an Obligation
by Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali حفظه الله
on Saturday August 21st, 2004


Introduction

Indeed we are blessed to have with us our beloved Shaykh wa waalidunaa (and our father) Abu Muhammad Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali hafidahullaahu ta’aala and he is indeed a well-known scholar. We ask Allaah to bless him in his knowledge, actions and his life.

The Shaykh hafidahullaahu ta’aala began by praising Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and sending salaat and salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, his family his Companions and those who follow the guidance. He then thanked Allaah for this conference and for being invited to speak with us and he praised Allaah سبحانه و تعالى that He guided us to Islaam, and to the manhaj of the Salaf.

The manhaj of the Salaf is (adhering to) the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه و سلم upon the fiqh of the Salaf as-Saalih. He said, I order myself, and you with the taqwa of Allaah عز و جلand the uprightness and firmness upon this Deen and upon this manhaj. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gave us advice, and the advices are many and the orders are many; and from them is that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:


وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً
{And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith) …} [Aal-‘Imraan 3:103]


Tawheed

And you must learn tawheed, the tawheed of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى – that we worship Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and we do not associate partners with Him and we all hold together, fast upon this rope. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said that "Verily Allaah likes for you three things: that you worship Him and disassociate anything as partners with Him; that you hold fast to the Rope of Allaah and do not split; and that you submit or you obey the leaders over you; and He hates for you three things: ‘he-said, she-said’ (irrelevant talk), persistent questioning, and wasting of wealth."[1] In this hadith and in the previous ayah there is a commandment regarding: holding onto the Rope of Allaah عز و جل, thabaath (being firm) upon that and the prohibition of splitting and dividing.

He hafidahullaahu ta’aala went on to say that after the Sahaabah were split, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى guided them to Islaam and brought together between their hearts and put love between them. So Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has blessed and has given His favours to this Ummah. It is from the greatest blessings and favours which He bestowed upon us that He made us brothers, the ni’mah (نعمة – blessing) of aquwwah (أخوة – brotherhood) – the blessing of being brothers upon the Kitaab and the Sunnah and that we stay away from associating partners with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. So, after worshipping Allaah سبحانه و تعالى Alone we come together as one, and we forbid shirk and we order with tawheed. The aayaat and ahaadeeth are many to this effect, in these aayaat and ahaadeeth we are shown the danger of shirk. We must learn these aayaat and ahaadeeth, the proofs of at-tawheed and the proofs of shirk.


‘Ibaadah

We must also learn our ‘ibaadah – how to worship Allaah in all types of ‘ibaadah as Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:


وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ {55} مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ {56} إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
{And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them
(i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).
Verily, Allâh is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong. } [adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56-58]

Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (Rahimahullaah) said that “’ibaadah (worship) is a comprehensive term for everything which Allaah سبحانه و تعالى loves and is pleased with from speech and actions – apparent and hidden.” There are many acts of ‘ibaadah, from them are: du’aa, seeking help from Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, hoping in Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, asking of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, having trust in Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, being obedient to your parents, keeping the ties of the womb, seeking refuge with Allaah سبحانه و تعالى from the Shaitaan and other than him, establishing the salaah, giving the zakaah, fasting, performing hajj and so on and so forth.


The Importance of Knowledge

We need to study these ‘ibaadaat, we need to study how they are done – from the aspects of tawheed and doing them sincerely for Allaah سبحانه و تعالى; and we need to learn about shirk so we may stay away from it, and we need to know the halaal from the haraam, and again, all of this comes from the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه و سلم and from the fiqh (understanding) of the Salaf.

This Knowledge is a great affair and the life of the Muslims cannot be upheld without it. Those that are deprived of it are deprived of everything, they cannot go forth. We have to take advantage of the knowledge when it is given and we have to seek the knowledge and strive for it.

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “ Verily, Allaah does not take away knowledge by snatching it away from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to ignorant ones as their leaders; then they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, so they go astray, and lead others astray.[2]

So take advantage of the ‘Ulamaa before they die and take advantage of the knowledge while it is around. Take advantage of them, go to them, call them, ask them, and travel, travel for this knowledge. This Ummah is in great need of those who go out and seek knowledge sincerely for Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, these are few, we don’t have many.

We must know the fadl (فضل – virtue) of the ‘Ulamaa (Scholars) and the fadl of those who seek knowledge, we must know these virtues. ‘Verily the angels put their wings down for the student of knowledge in approval of what they are doing’[3] and Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:


إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء
{… It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh …} [Faatir 35:28]

And He says:

هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
{…Are those who know equal to those who know not?...} [az-Zumar 39:9]

And Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
{…Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge…} [al-Mujaadilah 58:11]

We need this Knowledge more then we need water and air, we are in need of it because it is from this Knowledge that we understand why we were created. We need to find out why we were created, and this Knowledge teaches us why. The Shaykh hafidahullaahu ta’aala said we must learn, we must learn the knowledge of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. We must go forth and seek it; we must take advantage before time runs out.


Manners between the Salaf

Then, if we have understood this Deen upon Knowledge, we become brothers upon this Knowledge, and this is the strongest bond that will be formed upon this knowledge – we will become brothers upon it. Be very nice with each other, be easy with your brother and do not try to be over him, be lowly (humble) and easy with him, and use wisdom and patience with him. Many of the shabaab – the young men, have not been given this at all; and because of this they dispute between themselves. They have not been given patience and rifq (gentleness) and love between each other, and this has caused them to dispute and split apart.

It is upon you to take the asbaab – the reasons for coming together. From them is seeking the knowledge, giving the salaam, making your rows straight and being together in salaah; give much salaam and go over to each other’s houses and be sincere with each other.

And leave the fighting, leave the argumentation, leave it, throw it away – if it comes, throw it away. Leave cutting each other off, leave it! Leave turning your back away from each other, and if one of you thinks he wants to make hajr of the other i.e. where you want to separate from your brother, then this is not the way. If you want to do this then you must have the correct asbaab – the correct means which are clear and which comes from the ‘Ulamaa – an ‘Aalim (Scholar) that understands the benefits and the harm, an ‘Aalim that differentiates between the person being upon the Sunnah or upon bid’ah. This hajr is not between the Salafiyeen at all, we need to leave this. The Salafiyeen are those who follow the Kitaab and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf – ‘Umar and ‘Ali and Abu Bakr etc. رضي الله عنهم. This is what Salafiyyah is.

Also from this, is that we become hareef – to hold on tenaciously, to the reasons, the means of becoming brothers; whatever means makes you get closer to your brother and makes that brotherhood stronger go forth with it, hold on to it and keep it going.

As for the mubtadi’ who is clear upon his bid’ah, calling to it, unwavering from it, not taking the advice, then when this is known you make tahdheer (تحذير) i.e. you warn from him so that the people may not fall into this bid’ah that is clear and known. Warn from him, and give naseehah (advice) to the people to be aware of him and that this is a bid’ah, and leave him.

As for between you, as-Salafiyeen – the people that are upon this haqq, then know that there should be none of this, this is not allowed with you, this is not the way – you have to take the means and you have to take the approach that is correct for bringing together between the brothers so that you may love each other. Leaving each other and turning your backs is not the way, you have to take the correct asbaab that you may come together. And you have to help each other upon this manhaj which you are upon, face your brother with the best face, and deal with him in the best manner; he is your brother, he is the one you deal with best. This will show the correct face of as-Salafiyyah, this will show everyone the true love, the true brotherhood, the correct face of this Deen. When you have come together, when you yourself deal with each other like this, then you have shown the correct Deen.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “Indeed Allaah is Rafeeq (Gentle), He loves rifq (gentleness) in all affairs.” [4] and, “Verily rifq does not exist in something except that it beautifies it; and it is not taken out of something except that it harms it.” [5] This is the meaning of what Rasool صلى الله عليه و سلم said regarding oneself and when dealing with the da’wah. This is what you do when you give the da’wah – give glad tidings and don’t drive the people away; give them glad tidings of what they will receive; and by your actions make it easy and not hard for them to accept it. If this is how you deal even with the kaafir (disbeliever), so how is it then with your brother – he has the highest levels of rifq. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى loves this leniency in all of the affairs and whoever loves this Deen and loves Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and loves the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم and loves the haqq he is upon, then he will force himself to leave his shiddah (harshness) and he will take the means of leniency because of his love for the Deen and the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم and the haqq that he is upon.

So, one has to be like this in giving the Da’wah and in his dealings with his brothers etc. We must come together and associate with each other, and especially with the Salafis, in the best manner possible, showing the best face we can. In every single affair we have with them, and in every sphere of life we deal with them in the very best way. If we don’t do this and we don’t leave our harshness for each other, and put forth the means of love and coming together amongst each other, then we will dispute, and we will have differences and we will split. The people that are not from it, they will run away, and Rasool صلى الله عليه و سلم said: ‘O People! Verily there are among you those who chase people away! [6] So ‘give the glad tidings and do not chase the people away, and make easy and do not make hard the affairs’[7].

The Shaykh hafidahu’Allaah went on to make du’aa that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى grant us success so that we act upon this (advice) and that we stay all together upon the haqq – the manhaj of as-Salafiyyah, and he made some other du’aa – du’aa for us to stay true (saadiqeen) and sincere to Him and he made much du’aa for us. Baarak Allaahu Feehi wa Jazaahu Allaahu Khairan and this is where he ended his talk hafidahullaahu, and we ask Allaah سبحانه و تعالى that He grant him shifaa’ (cure) because he was feeling a little bit tired and this is the end of the Shaykh’s hafidahullaahu ta’aala lecture. Jazaka’Allaahu Khairan.



References

[1] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh Muslim by Abu Hurayrah in Kitaab al-Aqdiyya (#1715)

إن الله يرضى لكم ويكره لكم ثلاثا. فيرضى لكم أن تعبدوه ولا تشركوا به شيئا. وأن تعتصموا بحبل الله جميعا ولا تفرقوا. ويكره لكم قيل وقال. وكثرة السؤال. وإضاعة المال

[2] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab al-‘Ilm (#100) and with a similar wording in Saheeh Muslim, The Book of Knowledge (Kitaab al-`Ilm), (#2673)

إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من العباد، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض العلماء، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما، اتخذ الناس رؤوسا جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوا بغير علم، فضلوا وأضلوا

[3] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#6297).

إن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما يصنع

[4] Reported as part of the following hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (#6528) and Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab as-Salaam (#2165)

استأذن رهط من اليهود على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا: السام عليك، فقلت: بل عليكم السام واللعنة، فقال: (يا عائشة، إن الله رفيق يحب الرفق في الأمر كله). قلت: أولم تسمع ما قالوا: قال: (قلت: وعليكم)

[5] Shaykh al-Albaaniرحمه الله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (#5654)

ما كان الرفق في شيء إلا زانه ولا نزع من شيء إلا شانه

[6] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree as part of several ahaadeeth Kitaab al-Jamaa’aat wal Imaamah (#670, #672), Kitaab al-Adab (#5759) and Kitaab al-Ahkaam (#6740) and also in Saheeh Muslim Kitaab as-Salaah (#466)

إن منكم منفرين

[7] Reported with the following wording as part of a hadith in Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Jihaad was-Sayr (#1732)

بشروا ولا تنفروا ويسروا ولا تعسروا

LISTEN to the actual lecture by Shaykh Rabee ibn Haadi al-Madkhali on August 21st, 2004