Soundness of Manhaj

[madeenahsh]

Soundness of Manhaj


By Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan
Prepared by Jamaal Ibn Fareehaan al-Haarithee
Translated by Maaz Qureshi [1]





[Q]: Is entry into Paradise or the Fire dependent upon the soundness of manhaj (methodology)? [2]

[A]: Yes, if the manhaj is sound, then the person will be from amongst the people of Paradise; since he will be upon the manhaj of the Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and manhaj of the Salafus-Saalih. He will be from amongst the people of Paradise by the permission of Allaah. If he traverses a misguided methodology, then he will be an innovator in the Fire.” [3] So the soundness of manhaj – or lack thereof – determines a persons entry into Paradise or the Fire.

[Q]: What is the true statement with regards to reading the books of the innovators and listening to their tapes?

[A]: As for the person who is a beginner, or a student of knowledge, or someone from amongst the common-folk, or the one who does not read, except for sake of perusal; not for the sake of refutation or explaining their condition, then these are not permissible for him to read. This is due to the reason that they will affect his heart [4] and cause him to have doubt, so he will fall into their evil. So it is not permissible to read the books of the people of misguidance, except for those from amongst the people of knowledge who specialize in refuting them and warning against them.

Footnotes:

[1] The following is taken from al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah (p. 77-79); Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan said on (p. E) of this book, “The praise is for Allaah, and may Prayers and Peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his Family and his Companions. To Proceed: So I approve the publishing of al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah ’an As‘ilatil-Manaahijil-Jadeedah which contains my answers and notes from the brother, Jamaal Ibn Fareehaan al-Haarithee. And I hope that it is of benefit in explaining aspects of the truth, which have been hidden from some of the people today. And may the Prayers and Peace of Allaah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his Family and his Companions. Signed: Saalih Ibn Fawzaan Ibn ’Abdullaah al-Fawzaan 18/4/1417.”

[2] Translator’s Note: The Scholar of Hadeeth, Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee (d.1420H) was asked in the 22nd issue of al-Asaalah, “Some of the youth differentiate between the ’aqeedah (creed) of the Salaf and the manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf. So you see some of them upon the ’aqeedah of the Salaf, yet they allow themselves to work with some of the methodologies that exist today, even though there may be that which opposes the manhaj of the Salaf within them in terms of practice. So is there a binding link between the ’aqeedah (creed) and manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf in the practical implementation of the Salafee methodology?”

So the Shaykh replied, “That which I believe and worship Allaah with is that there are both generalities (in similarity) and specific (aspects) between the Salafee manhaj and ’aqeedah. ’Aqeedah is more specific than manhaj as all of you know. ’Aqeedah has a link with what is called – in the view of many of the jurists – the “knowledge of Tawheed” and this is the chief and fundamental aspect of Islaam. However, manhaj is more vast than ’aqeedah or Tawheed. As for those who claim that the differentiation has come in the question (between ’aqeedah and manhaj), then they desire by this to make it permissible for themselves to adopt ways and means in their da’wah (call) to Islaam which the Salafus-Saalih were not upon. To say this in a different way, they think that they have the liberty to adopt whatever ways and means they think will help them to convey (and actualize) Islaam, and you are aware of this type or these types of means.

For example, open demonstrations and rallies in order to force the rulers to turn their attention to what the society complains about and similar matters. So we say that what has come in the Book and the Sunnah and what the Salafus-Saalih were upon with respect to objectives, goals, ways and means are sufficient for the Ummah. However, the reason which leads some of these people to permit themselves to adopt these ways and means, in fact, it is correct for me to say that they permit themselves to blindly-follow the disbelievers in the ways that they have adopted in order to actualize what they call either democracy or social justice and other such words which have no reality to them. So they – I mean these Muslims – permit themselves to blindly-follow the disbelievers in these ways and means. We say, our Lord, Mighty and Majestic has removed us from having any need, by our Sharee’ah, of this separation which has been explained (i.e. between ’aqeedah and manhaj) and that we should be needy of the disbelievers and that we should take from their ways and means, that which might be good for them, but only because they have no Sharee’ah by which they guide themselves. It is for this reason that we say that manhaj is more vast than ’aqeedah or Tawheed. Hence, it is obligatory to adhere to what the Salafus-Saalih were upon with respect to both of these affairs; the one that is vast (manhaj) first and foremost and the one that is narrow (Tawheed), meaning ’aqeedah.”

[3] So he is under the will of Allaah the Exalted; this is the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. So if soundness of manhaj, or lack of it, does not determine entry into Paradise or the Fire, then what is the benefit of the statement of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), “And my Ummah shall split-up into seventy-three sects; all of them will be in the Fire, except one.” They said, ‘Which one is it?’ He said, “That which I am upon today, and my Companions.” So whoever is upon the guidance of the Prophet and his Companions, then he is from the people of Paradise. And whosoever is upon other than the correct manhaj, then for him is the Fire. From that which is firmly established amongst Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah is that the seventy-two destroyed sects mentioned in the hadeeth will not abide in the Fire forever, nor does anyone from amongst Ahlul-Hadeeth say that. So this is the case, except for those whose innovation takes one outside of the realm of Islaam, or the sects that have apostated. And Allaah knows best.

[4] Indeed, many narrations have come from the Salaf in cautioning from the people of desires and innovations. So these are some of the aathaar (narrations) that we have brought for you – O brother of mine seeking the truth: Aboo Qulaabah (d.104H) said, “Do not sit with them – the people of innovations – and do not mix with them. So I fear that you will become immersed in their misguidance, or they will cover up from you much of that which you used to know.” Related by al-Laalikaa‘ee (1/134), al-Bida’ wan-Nahee ’anhaa (p. 55) and al-I’tisaam (1/172) of ash-Shaatibee. And Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee (d.95H) said, “Do not sit with the people of innovation and do not speak with them, since I feel that this will affect your hearts.” Related by ash-Shaatibee in al-I’tisaam (1/172) and al-Bida’ wan-Nahee ’anhaa (p. 56). And Aboo Qulaabah said, “O Ayyoob – meaning as-Sakhtiyaanee – do not give the people of desires a chance to have you listen to them.” Related by al-Laalikaa‘ee (1/134). And al-Fudayl Ibn ’Iyaad (d.187H) said, “If you see an innovator upon a road, then take another road.” Related in al-Ibaanah (2/475).

When Aboo Zur’ah (d.264H) was asked about al-Haarith Ibn Asad al-Muhaasibee and his books, he said to the questioner, “Beware of these books. These are books of innovation and misguidance, cling firmly to the narrations.” It was said to him, ‘But in these books is an admonition!’ So he said, “Whoever has not received an admonition from the Book of Allaah, then there is no admonition for him in the likes of these.” Then he said, “How quickly the people rush towards innovation.” Refer to at-Tahdheeb (2/117) and Taareekh Baghdaad (8/215). And Imaam Ahmad (d.241H) spoke the truth about al-Muhaasibee when he said in stern speech, “Do not be fooled by how he lowers his head, since he is an evil man...do not speak to him, and do not honour him and do not show him a happy face.” Refer to Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (1/223). So this is the methodology of the Salaf with respect to working with the people of innovations, and this is their position towards reading their books and listening to their speech, and likewise their cassettes. How I wish that our youth were intelligent enough to apply this manhaj and to warn against the books and tapes of the people of innovation and desires in this age of ours!