Warning against the fitna of Takfeer- Shaykh Mohammad Naasir ad-Deen Al Albani

[أبو عبد الرحمن الرباطي الأثري]

Warning Against the Fitnah of Takfeer

By the

Muhadith, Allama, Ash-Shaykh

Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani

Glossary

Fitan Plural of Fitnah

Fitnah Trials and tribulations

'Jama’at Al-Takfeer' A group which pronounces Takfeer

Jamaa’aah The main body of muslims

Takfeer Pronouncing that an individual has left the religion of Islaam Takfeeri The individual who pronounces takfeer

kafir Disbeliever

khawaarij The first people to rebel against the muslim leader

Khulafaa plural of Khalifah, the muslim leader

khutbah Sermon

kuffar Disbelievers

kufr Disbelief

Mushrikeen Those who associate partners in their worship of Allaah

Salaf-As-Saalih or Salaf The first three generations of Muslims

PART I

Indeed all Praise belongs to Allah, we praise Him, we seek His aid, and we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evil of our selves, and the evil of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, there is none to misguide him, and who ever Allah leaves astray then there is none that can guide him

I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah Azza wa Jal, Alone without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger

Indeed the issue of Takfeer generally, is not only pronounced against the rulers, but also against the ruled. It is an old and extensive fitnah that was germinated by a sect from the Islamic sects of old who were known as the khawaarij

It is with great sadness that – some of the callers to the Deen or those who are too enthusiastic - have fallen outside the realm of the Book and the Sunnah! But in the name of the Book and the Sunnah.The reason for this goes back to two points:The first reason is them being shallow in knowledge

The second reason is - and this point is very important - that they never understood the regulations of the Sharia'. The Sharia' is the foundation of the Authentic Islamic Dawah. All those who are outside the Authentic Islamic Dawah are regarded as being from the deviated sects away from the Jama’ah which the Messenger of Allah - SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam - praised in more thanone hadith. Regarding this Jama’ah which even our Lord Azza wa Jal mentioned, and explained that whosoever went outside this Jama’ah has indeed broken away from Allah and His Messenger. That is the saying of Allah: "And whosoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to him and follows other than the path of the believers. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination." Soorat Nisaa' : 115

So indeed Allah Ta’ala, in a matter, that has a very clear command according to the people of knowledge – did not summarize His statement by saying

And whosoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to him . . . We shall keep him in the path

The clearest evidence here is that Allah associated contradicting and opposing the Messenger with following a way other than the believers' path

So, He said

And whosoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to him and follows other than the path of the believers. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen and burn him in Hell , what an evil destination

The Principle of Understanding the Book & the Sunnah

Therefore, following or not following the path of the Believers is a very important matter in relation to complying or denying that path. So whosoever follows the path of the Believers, then he is successful with the Lord of the worlds and whosoever differs from the path of the Believers, then Hell is sufficient for him – and what an evil destination

From this point, numerous groups, old and new deviated because they never sufficed themselves to adhering to the path of the Believers. Instead, they rode on their own intelligence. Instead, they followed their own desires in trying to understand the Book and the Sunnah. Then they built upon their desires, their very dangerous results, and with that they left what the Salaf-As-Saalih – mayAllah be pleased with all of them- were upon

The Messenger – Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam - emphasized this section of the noble Ayah

"……follows other than the path of the believers …"

He - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - emphasized it by using an eloquent emphasis, in more than just one authentic prophetic hadith. These hadiths, which I will indicate to and mention some of them, are known amongst the main muslims, let alone the muslim scholars. But what is unknown about these hadiths, is that they direct one towards the obligation and necessity of adhering to the path of the Believers in their understanding of the Book and Sunnah.

This point has been neglected – and its importance and its necessity has been forgotten by many of the specific people, not to speak about those who have become known – in these modern times - as 'Jama’at Al- Takfeer '! Or by some of those kinds of groups who ascribe themselves to Jihad, whereas in reality they are the scattered, defeated remnants of Takfeer

From amongst these types of people, there may be some who may very well in the depths of their hearts be righteous and sincere people. However, this alone is not sufficient to be successful in Allah’s path and to prosper with Allah Azza wa Jal. Due to this it is necessary for the muslim to combine two points: Having truthful sincerity in ones intention, with Allaah Azza wa Jal and following correctly what the Prophet - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – was upon

It is not sufficient for a muslim to be sincere and serious in respect to acting upon the Book and the Sunnah and calling towards it. But, in addition to this, his methodology should be correct, good and upright; and his methodology cannot be complete in itself except by following what the righteous Salaf of this Ummah were upon – may Allaah be pleased with them all

From these well known and established hadiths - that build a foundation for what I have said – as I indicated previously it is the hadith of the 73 sects, and it is none other than the saying of the Messenger - SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam

The Jews had split up into 71 sects and the Christians had split up into 72 sects, and my nation will split up into 73 sects all of whom will be in the Fire except one

The Companions asked, ‘Which one O Messenger of Allaah?’ He replied: The Jama’ah.” In another narration: "What I and my Companions are upon"

To be continued