Comments from Sheikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz Upon a Lecture Entitled: Adherence To The Methodology Of The First Generations

Source: Sheikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz

All praise is due to Allaah, may the praises and salutations of Allaah be upon Muhammad, his household, and his Companions and all those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:

   We have listened to this excellent and blessed discourse from the esteemed Sheikh Rabee’a Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee regarding the subject of holding fast to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah, and warning from every matter which contradicts them, and warning from the doors or openings which lead to division, differing, and stubborn adherence to desires. Indeed, he has excelled, done well, and truly benefited, may Allaah reward him with good, and increase his reward.

What Is Obligatory

And this is what is obligatory, that we take these two sources as the judge and criterion for weighing all matters small and large, as Allaah the Most High, the Most Magnificent has said, ﴾ Oh you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.. ﴿ – (Surah an-Nisa’: 59) And He, the Most Perfect has said, ﴾And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allaah (He is the ruling Judge ﴿ – (Surah ash-Shuraa: 10) And Allaah, the Most High, the Most Magnificent has said: ﴾ And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah, and be not divided among yourselves ﴿ – (Surah Aal-‘Imraan: 103)

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   So this matter as has been mentioned is obligatory upon the believers; that they adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah’s praise and salutations, and judge by the two of them. Such that they place every matter in which the people differ and dispute in front of these two, so they are used as the criterion against them. And whatever from those matters has a support within the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, indicating that it is correct and in conformance with the truth, then it stands as true.

   And whatever from those matters is indicated by the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, or either one of them, as being falsehood, then it stands as incorrect, unacceptable, and falsehood. This is what is a requirement upon the entire Ummah, because Allaah has clearly commanded this, and made it a requirement upon us.

Walk Upon The Path Of The Salaf

   Similarly the Messenger of Allaah has stated the same, that this is an obligation upon us. Additionally, it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge, the students of knowledge, and everyone who has reached the age of responsibility that they adhere to the Book and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, to proceed and walk upon the path of the Salaf; those being the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, and all those who followed then in goodness and righteousness. As Allaah the Most High, the Most Magnificent has said, ﴾And the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhaajiroon (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhaajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allaah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success. ﴿ – (Surah al-Tawbah: 100)

   This is the reward that awaits the Companions of the Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, and all those who follow them in goodness and walk upon their way and path. Therefore it is obligatory upon the students of knowledge to truly understand this, and to be just and truthful, and to deal in and stand upon the truth, and warn against all the causes of separation and falling into the following of desires. Also, to warn from blind following, as well as from having bias and blameworthy attachment to ‘so and so’ or ‘so and so’ or ‘so and so’s group’ or anything other than that.

Truth Is Most Worthy Of Being Followed

It is obligatory to follow and adhere to the truth and hold fast to it, warning from every matter which differs from it, even if that matter which differs comes from your father or your brother or from someone else similar. It is a requirement upon you that you follow and adhere to the truth, as the truth is most worthy of being followed.

    Allaah the Most High, the Most Magnificent states in His tremendous Book, ﴾But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (Oh Muhammad ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission ﴿ – (Surah an-Nisa’: 65) Allaah the Most High, the Most Magnificent said, ﴾Say (Oh Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you of your sins.﴿ ﴿ – (Surah Aal-‘Imraan: 31) and Allaah the Most Perfect has said, ﴾ And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment. ﴿ – (Surah al-Hashr: 7) And the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, said, { The one who obeys me obeys Allaah, and the one who disobeys me has disobeyed Allaah. } And he, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, said, { All of my Ummah will enter into Jannah except those who refuse’. It was said: ‘Messenger of Allaah, who would refuse?’ He replied, ‘The one who obeys me enters Jannah and the one who disobeys me has indeed refused.’}

   Therefore it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge to convey the truth to the people, and to strive to give them insight and enable them to understand what is obligatory upon them. Similarly, the students of knowledge must be guided by and follow the people of knowledge and walk upon their path in clarifying the truth and warning against those who dispute the truth, contradict and differ with it, and follow their desires.

Be Steadfast Upon The Truth

   Likewise, it is obligatory that the common Muslims that they be steadfast upon the truth and that they ask their scholars who are recognized and well known for their adherence to the Sunnah, who are acknowledged to be steadfast and firm upon the religion of Allaah, and known to truthfully be firm and unwavering- that you ask them about every matter that you have a problem with or do not understand, how you should proceed in that matter.

Just as Allaah the Most High and the Most Exalted, says, ﴾So ask of those who know the reminder, if you know not ﴿– (Surah an-Nahl: 43). Also, in that which is narrated on the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, that he said to those who gave a ruling without have sure knowledge, { Why did you not ask if you did not know? Indeed the cure for the lack of knowledge is to ask and inquire. }

   Likewise it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge to spread knowledge and spread the truth and clarify what is the truth to the people in the masjids, in general sittings, in the various forms of media, and in the different newspapers. That they spread and clarify the truth through every means which will bring knowledge to the people. As the people are in true need of knowledge, meaning “Allaah said” and “The Messenger of Allaah said”, along with the clarification of whatever is considered falsehood and warning from it.

   That which was mentioned by the esteemed Sheikh Rabee’a regarding the call of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahaab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, is in fact the truth. As Allaah has favored this land with this blessed call, and indeed it is the call to the way of the first three generations of believers. But the enemies of Allaah have distorted the appearance of his call, by saying, “This is the innovated movement of Wahabism that did such and such, and such and such.” When actually they are astray and innovators, they are a people who are between being ignorant and blindly following one who is ignorant.

Either Ignorant Or Following Someone Ignorant

   Each of them stands as someone either ignorant or blindly following one who is ignorant. As for the third type of individual from among them, then he is the one who is knowingly following his desires, rebelling against Allaah upon full comprehension of what he does. These are the enemies of the Salafee call and way. Either he is someone ignorant or is a follower of his desires, prejudiced in his biased adherence to his beliefs. And perhaps he is someone only seeking his daily sustenance, and so aims to please the people for the sake of his food and drink as well as his desires. Indeed we ask Allaah to bless us with well being.

   The call of Sheikh Muhammad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, is the call to the way of the first generations. He proceeded upon that same way as the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah proceeded upon it, being satisfied and pleased with them and following them in goodness. Just as they were followed by Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah, and Ibn Qayyim, and Ibn Katheer, and many others like them from the leading scholars of Islaam.

   Then after them came Sheikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahaab in the twelfth century after the Prophets Hijrah, during the second half of that century, may Allaah have mercy upon him, to the part of the Ummah found in the Arabian peninsula. He clarified for them the true nature of worship found within the Sharee’ah which Allaah obligated upon them, and he clarified the reality of the right of Allaah to be worshiped without any partner or associate, and what practices those who worshipped other than Allaah stood upon as opposed to what the first generations of this Ummah stood upon. He clarified for them the path established by the righteous predecessors of this Ummah, and he called them to jihaad upon this. He also authored several works such as ‘Kitaab at-Tawheed’, ‘Kashf as-Shubahaat’, and ‘Thalathatul-Usul’ to clarify the truth to the people, and these are tremendously beneficial books.

   Additionally, at that time, they spread amongst themselves the various writings of Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah, as they contained goodness and knowledge and a call to following the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah’s praise and salutations. Such that Allaah benefited the Muslims by means of this call, and Allaah gathered the people of this land of the peninsula upon it by assisting that call through the family of Sa‘ood and others from those who supported the truth and were steadfast upon the truth.

   They called to Allaah and supported this call to Him, and supported the religion of Allaah, and supported the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah’s praise and salutations. Until Allaah aided them and granted them military successes, and united the people of the peninsula through them, from its west to its east, and from its north to its south, all of it upon the truth and upon following the Sharee’ah of Allaah, and upon the steadfast practice of the religion of Allaah. So all praise is due to Allaah for this.

Adhere Firmly To This Correct Belief

As such it is obligatory to adhere firmly to this correct belief and invite to it, preserve and protect it, spreading it among the people with wisdom and good behavior, through gentleness, not through severity and harshness. That they explain and clarify mistakes and matters of misguidance, and misconceptions, with a clear explanation put forth with gentleness and wisdom, not with severity, harshness or behaviors which are incorrect and distorted. But through putting forth a clear explanation along with actions that stand upon clarity, and the use of gentleness and wisdom, as was mentioned by Allaah the Most High, the Most Magnificent, ﴾ Invite (mankind, Oh Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islaam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur’an) ﴿ – (Surah an-Nahl: 125). This means with knowledge, “Allaah says”, “the Messenger of Allaah says” and the placing of matters in their proper places, ﴾…and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better﴿ – (Surah an-Nahl: 125)

As the Messenger, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, said, {There is not a matter which possess the characteristic of gentleness except that this beautifies it, and gentleness is not removed from a matter except that it becomes deficient.

And Allaah described it with His statement, the Most Perfect and the Most High, ﴾And by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about you ﴿ – (Surah Aal-‘Imraan: 159)

Consider This Carefully

   So it is required upon the callers to consider this carefully, and be discerning and act with gentleness; to take care to put forth actions upon clarity, and to warn against acting with harshness and severity, and that they stay away from having any biased attachment to such and such individual or such and such person.

We ask Allaah to bless all of us with beneficial knowledge and righteous actions, and that He rectify the state and situation of all of the Muslims, and that he endow them with true understanding in the religion, and place the best from amongst them to be in charge of their affairs, and that he rectify their leaders, and that He grant success to the rulers of this Kingdom.

    I ask Allaah to grant success to our rulers by guiding them towards every good, and that He bring about success and victory to the truth through them, and that He make the rulers those who are from the rightly guided rulers, and that He rectify those individuals who surround the people of authority, and that he protect the rulers from having evil associates and advisors.

   And I ask that He grant success to the esteemed Sheikh Rabee’a by guiding him to every good, and that he reward him with good for this lecture which he has given. May the praise of Allaah and his salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his household, and his Companions, and those who followed them in goodness and righteousness until the Day of Judgment.” ¹ 

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1. A Lighthouse of Knowledge From A Guardian of the Sunnah Sheikh Rabee’a Ibn Haadee ‘Umair al-Madkhalee: pags. 185-188