Questions and Answers on Manhaj

Question: What is the position of the brothers/sisters who follow the way of the Salaf regarding the movement of the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen and their scholars like Hasan Al-Banna and Sayid Qutub? Do we take knowledge from them and consider them shaheed (martyrs) or not?

Answer: Our stance - us meaning as followers of the Salaf - towards the Muslims in general and towards the Ikhwaan Al-Muslimoon in particular, is that we advise them and remind them and clarify to them what they (Ikhwaan Al-Muslimoon) are upon from errors, with wisdom and good admonition. And we don't participate with them in their acts of partisanship (tahazzub) amd what they do from innovation (bid'ah). As for saying that 'such and such' person is a martyr', then Imaam Al-Bukhaaree has headed a chapter in his Saheeh titled: “Chapter: It must not be said that such and such person is a Shaheed (martyr).” So we hope for martyrdom for the one that is killed, but we don't particularize anyone with martyrdom. We are not able to particularize the Sahaabah with martyrdom, except for those whom the Prophet (saws) has particularized with it.

For example, the Prophet (saws) said about Hamza that he is the leader of the martyrs (in Paradise). And he testified for many of the Sahaabah that they died (or were to die) as martyrs. As for individuals amongst the Sahaabah, then we are not able to particularize any of them with martyrdom, so what about those below them or those apart from them? And indeed there was killed people who were better than Sayyid Qutub and Hasan Al-Banaa, but in spite of this, the people of knowledge did not particularize any of them with martyrdom.

So we ask Allaah to have mercy on all of us and to forgive all of our sins. And we must not go to extremes with regard to people or shuyookh, such that we go above Allaah and say this person is a martyr and that person is a martyr or this person isn't a martyr. This is from the aspects of insolence in the Religion of Allaah. We hope for forgiveness and a high level for the good-doer. And we hope for the evildoer that Allaah forgives him. So we do not particularize anyone with Paradise or the Hellfire. This is the belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. And Allaah knows best.

Question: How should one make Hajar (boycotting) of a Person of Innovation? Clarify the point on avoiding reading books written by people who have left the correct Manhaj. Is it permissible to read their books if it is not on the subject of their misguidance (going astray). If not what about their argument that Imaam Al-Bukhaaree had an incorrect belief – that one's recitation of the Qur'aan was created - so why do you read books written by this Imaam?

Answer: First of all, taking from the books of the People of Innovation, this is for the scholars. For it is the scholar who will distinguish between the good and the bad. As for if the person is unlettered, ignorant or a beginning student of knowledge, then we advise him to not look into the books of the innovators, because they will put doubts into him that will corrupt his Religion. As for the people of knowledge and the scholars, then they know the good from the bad. This is why Abu Al-Munayyir said: “I have closely examined the Tafseer of Az-Zamakhsharee and taken out its deficiencies with a rake (i.e. with scrutiny).”

So when the scholar looks into the books of the innovators, he is able to distinguish between what is correct and acceptable and what is wrong and rejected. As for if he is weak in knowledge, then he is not to read these books and he is only to take what is pure. As for what is attributed to Imaam Al-Bukhaaree that he said: “My recitation of the Qur'aan is created”, then this is a slander and a lie against him. This is only from his opponents, which they conspired against him and which they invented for him and attributed to him. But he is free from this, as can be seen in his biography found in As-Siyar (Siyar A'alaam An-Nubalaa of Imaam Adh-Dhahabee) as well as other biographical collections.

Question: After giving someone advice for over four months on correcting their misconceptions about Islaam, when is it permissible to just give them their rights and not socialize with them?

Answer: The Muslim must not despair about his brother, and he must advise him until he feels that it is not likely that he will answer to the Call (da'wah) - meaning that it becomes confirmed in his mind that he has completely rejected it. So at this point, he must show him his hate for the sake of Allaah, and boycott him, and warn against him and not eat with him nor accompany him. And it is permissible for him to boycott him religiously, so when he sees him he doesn't give Salaam to him and if he is sick, he doesn't visit him - this is after the proof is established against him. And Allaah does not burden a soul with more responsibility than it can handle.

Question: A person wants to go to Palestine to fight - what is the advice of the Shaikh?

Answer: Our advice to him is to seek knowledge of Islaam and to get religious understanding and to become firm in his Islaam and Creed. And we advise him to sit in the gatherings of the people of knowledge and to ask their advice and refer to them. And we advise him to not be hasty with over-enthusiasm by going to Palestine, because the present situation now in Palestine is that there is a state of instability there. So you will find some parties that are in support of Jihaad but at the same time you will find in opposition to them ruling authorities that cooperate with the Jews against these Mujaahideen. That is why one is not able to enter into Palestine to make Jihaad against the Jews under such circumstances, because he will fall into the hands of the Jews and perhaps the Arabs or those who claim to be Muslims will kill him before the Jews do.

Therefore, we advise him to become firmly established in his Religion and to take provision from Taqwaa and to take provision from knowledge. So when he becomes firmly grounded in his Belief and his Religion, then Allaah will grant him the ability to make Jihaad under the banner of Islaam and a well-established foundation. This is our advice to this brother - to not be hasty with regard to this matter. Because going to Palestine and fighting there is not an easy matter. This is since there are authorities there that provide information to Israel and perhaps one will be ambushed or faced with other types of aggression, and maybe he will even be killed by those who claim to be Muslims before the Jews do so. So he should improve himself and busy himself with making Da'wah (Calling) to Allaah, 'azza wa jall. And then Allaah will make easy for him the ability to make Jihaad. So whoever Allaah enables to make Jihaad, then all praise be to Allaah, but if not, then his intention for that will intercede for him before Allaah (on the Day of Judgement), in shaa Allaah.

Question: Please comment on the status, knowledge, character, etc., of Sheikh Muhammad S. Al-Munajjid. I am asking this because of a 'rumor' based out of Brixton [UK] claiming that Sheikh Muqbil of Yemen is labeling Al-Munajjid to be a 'Suroori' with no evidence to this claim. I am not looking for fitnah, but merely the comments of scholars to dispel this rumor.

Answer: Shaikh Al-Munajjid, may Allaah grant him success and uprightness, is from the present-day speakers, and he has a web site on the Internet. We ask Allaah to benefit Islaam and the Muslims with it. However, he inclines towards the Surooris and this can be observed from him. And we do not see him promoting Shaikh Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee, his school and his students, even though he does quote some words from him…

If what Shaikh Muqbil said about him can be confirmed, then Shaikh Muqbil is perhaps more knowledgeable of his condition than us because he has connections with the people of the Arab peninsula, and he has students that are spread throughout Makkah, Jeddah, etc. that can relay news to him. If the quote from him is authentic, then he is more aware of him. However, up to now, we have not seen from his condition an open and pronounced enmity and attacking. And I have met with him some years ago and he accepted me kindly, so we ask Allaah to grant him success, guidance and uprightness.

Question: How should we deal with innovators?

Answer: If it is confirmed that they are innovators, then we must advise them and forbid them from the innovations…and the one who persists after being told, we show enmity towards him and are not gentle with him, because the person that respects and praises an innovator, he has assisted in the destruction of Islaam.