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IN RESPONSE TO THE DEVIL'S DECEPTION OF HIZB-AT-TAHREER & AL-MUHAJIROUN By Aboo Khadeejah
Abdul-Waahid All praise is for Allaah, lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, his family, his companions, and all those who follow in their footsteps until the last day. "Actions are but by their intentions and there is for every person only that which he intended." {Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 1 / p1 / no. 1. also refer to Sahih Muslim, vol. 3 / p 1056 / no. 4692.}. The following is a letter in response to a member of one the two groups mentioned in the title. I am continuing this discussion for one reason and one reason only; that is that I am assuming that you seek only the truth, and when it comes to you, there will be no resistance in your submission to it. If you believe that you are upon the haq and nothing will change you then there is no need for you to read on as the truth only permeates those hearts as are free from Hizbiyah and Ta'asub (rigidity bigoted upon a track or way). If you feel free from these then please read on as then Allaah will open your heart if you are sincere. My intention within the bounds of this discourse is not to attack you personally, but it is solely to make you understand that the track which you are upon, leads to nothing except destruction ! - may Allaah protect us from this. I have deliberately tried to keep the subject matter free from any opinions that I may hold as an individual. Rather, it is more suitable that we gauge our views in the light of the Qur'ân and authentic Sunnah of the messenger of Allaah (SAW), as understood and practised by the best of generations, and those who followed them in belief and methodology. Indeed this the best course of action to take for as Allaah almighty says: "Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know" {Soorah An-Nahl: 43}. We know that Allaah, the most high sent 124,000 messengers and prophets {Sunan Abu Dawood} to mankind and as He, the most high, says: "I sent a Messenger to every nation calling them to My worship" {Qur'ân). We also know that the one thing that was common amongst all of the prophets and messengers was their belief !. They may have come with different rulings, but their belief was one. For example Adam's (AS) children were allowed to marry each other; some prophets were allowed to be kings - e.g. Daawood (AS); and so on, culminating in that which our Prophet (saas). However, inspite of this difference in rulings (Ahkam) etc., the belief of the prophets was the same and never differed. This is self evident, if one was to study the belief of each prophet, from Adam (AS) right down the chain to Muhammad (saas), to the return of Eesa ibn Maryam (AS), we would find that no difference in belief is to be found. Therefore, it is only reasonable that our discussion begins here - for the sake of argument, I will agree to accept that you have a case; even though your methodology (Manhaj) is away from the truth. One aspect we cannot differ upon is belief ('Aqeedah). If we differ in this, then there is no point in us continuing this discussion. To give you some examples of the importance of this fundamental issue in Islaam refer to 'Al-Ibaanah Magazine' in the English language which shows just a handful of these works from our Salaf. The issue of Khilafah is one of
major importance to the Muslims !. Further, this is not an empty statement on my
part, rather pay heed to the statement of our Shaikh Saleem al-Hilalee
(hafidhullah): We say: the one who denies the need to work for Khilafah is
sinful; but the one who strives to bring Khilafah about through education (tarbiyah)
upon and spreading the correct knowledge that he is the one striving to
establish the Sharee'ah in Allaah's way, So, yes Khilafah is necessary. Also:
"The position of the Salafees is clear - that we strive to re-establish the
Islaamic life and to establish Allaah's laws upon the land by way of correction
and education. We Strive and hope for good always; due to the hadeeth of the
Messenger (saas): 'Prophethood will be amongst you for as long as Allaah
wills, then Allaah will raise it up when He wills, then there will be Khilafah
upon the way of Prophethood, then Allaah will raise it up when He wills, then
there will be kingship, then oppressive kingship, then Khilafah upon the way of
Prophethood'; so we wait for the Khilafah in the way of the
Prophethood and we work to bring it about again. With regard to his (saas)
saying 'Khilafah upon the way of the Prophethood', it is clear that the
criterion for the successful establishment of the Khilafah is that it must
adhere to the way of the Prophethood. This point is of prime importance,
especially if we want Allaah to grant us this supreme victory. Further, upon
analysis, a number of points are evident: Thus, the men who will bring about the return of this Khilafah will be upon the way of the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs and the way of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (saas). It is clear to me that the methodology you are upon and using is itself upon the way of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' and 'al-Muhajirun' parties. I do not say you are a member, but this much is clear, you are upon the same track that these groups are upon. Then I ask you the question, do you just take from their Politics (siyaasah) or do you take from them everything in your deen (belief etc..). If you take from them everything - then your 'Aqeedah is definitely deviated from the way of the Salaf us-Saaliheen (the first three generations within this Ummah) - and this puts both you and them amongst the Ahl ul-Bid'ah (people of innovation and division from the Salaf us-Saaliheen). If you take from them only politics - then from where do you get your belief (Aqeedah)?, if you get your belief from elsewhere, then do you not trust the same people with your politics !!. If, however, you claim to go back to the sources (Qur'ân, Sunnah, Ijma, Salaf etc.) then what ability do you have ? i.e. in Arabic language skills, knowledge of tafseer, ahadeeth, isnaad, nasikh wa mansukh, takhees wa taqyeed, usool ul-fiqh, al-aam wa khaas, al-mutlaq wal muqayyid etc. Then, whichever of the three above options you choose, you will be in ignorance and confusion - and Allaah knows best. Before we continue, allow me to give an example of the belief that just one of the Salaf had, which he summarised into a small treatise. It is the 'Aqeedah of Imaam Muhmammad bin Isma'eel al-Bukhari (the author of many works including Sahih al-Bukhari), as reported by Imaam al-Laalikaa'ee in his "Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahl us-Sunnah' (2 / 172) . In this classical work, Imaam al-Bukhari says: "I met more than a thousand scholars amongst the people of knowledge from the people of al-Hijaz, al-Makkah, al-Madina, al-Kufah, al-Busra, Wasit, Baghdad, Sham, and Misr (Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt). I met them many time, generation after generation, and again generation after generation. I met them while they were ample and widespread for over 46 years; (then he continues enumerating and naming them...For their biographies refer to Siyar A'laam An-Nubala of Imaam Adh-Dhahabi.), and not a single one amongst them differed with respect to the following matters: 1.That the religion consists of
both speech and action. [Then the Imaam continues to give his proofs - in
refutation of a sect called the Murji'ah]. Now a little on Hizb-ut-Tahrir / Mahajiroon and how they have strayed upon belief. And when one deviates upon belief - then how can they be guided upon rules, regulations or politics: From the early sects which denied Eemaan (firm faith) in The Punishment of the Grave were the Khawaarij and other groups from the Mu'tazilah sect. This is because they innovated a rule that only the Mutawatir ahaadeeth amount to knowledge, whereas the Authentic Aahaad Ahaadeeth do not !!. And this saying of theirs, that the aahaad Ahaadeeth do not amount to knowledge means that such Ahaadeeth - in their false opinion - are not free from the possibility of falsehood or error. The Punishment of the Grave (which is established by aahaad Ahaadeeth) is part of the Muslim Creed and therefore aahaad Ahaadeeth do make our 'Aqeedah (Belief): From the Sunnah: Hadeeth related by 'Ai'sha (raa) regarding The Punishment of the Grave in Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1372. Hadeeth related by Ibn Abbaas regarding The Punishment of the Grave Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1378. Hadeeth related by Ibn Masood (raa) regarding The Punishment of the Grave in At-Tabaraanee, 3/78/21. Hadeeth of Hanee of Uthman regarding The Punishment of the Grave in At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah. Hadeeth by Abu Hurayra (raa) regarding The Punishment of the Grave in Saheeh Muslim, 2/93, and Abu Daawood, no. 983. Hadeeth related by Umm Khaalid bint Khaalid regarding The Punishment of the Grave by At-Tabaraanee in Al-Kabeer. The Salaf: Sufyan ibn Uyainah (d.197H), said: "The Sunnah is ten. Whosoever accepts them has completed the Sunnah, and whoever abandons anything from them has abandoned the Sunnah: Affirming al-Qadr. Giving precedence Abu Bakr and Umar. The Pond in Paradise. Shaf'aa (Intercession). The Scales. The Bridge over Hellfire. Eemaan is Statement and Action. The Qu'ran is the Speech of Allaah. The Punishment of the Grave. The Resurrection on the Day of Judgement, and not testifying that any Muslim will definitely be in Paradise and Hell. {Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahl us-Sunnah, Imaam al-Laalikaa'ee, no. 312.}. Imaam Shafi'ee (d.204H), said: "Indeed the Punishment of the Grave is a true fact, the Resurrection is a true fact ..." {Manhaj ash-Shafi'ee, of al-Bayhaqi, 1/415.} Imaam Ahmad (d. 241H): "Eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave. {Refer to Usool us-Sunnah, no. 8 and Risalat us-Sunnah, p72. by Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.}. Abu Daawood (d.275H): Chapter: Questioning in the Grave and The Punishment in the Grave {Kitab us-Sunnah, Abu Dawood, p900.}. Ibn Qutaybah (d.278H): "Upon Eemaan in the Punishment of the Grave" {Taweel Mukhtalif ul-Hadeeth, Ibn Qutaybah, p8.} Imaam at-Tahaawee (d.278H): "We have Eemaan ... in The Punishment of the Grave" {Aqeedah Tahaaweeyah, Imaam at-Tahawi, no. 79-80.}. And we can continue with Abul- Hasan al-Ashari (d.324H); Imaam Aajuree (d.360H); Ibn Abee Hastim (d.327H); Imaam Barbaharee (d.329H); al-Isma'eelee (d. 371H); Al-Qayrawani (d.386H); Ibn Abee Zamneen (d. 399H); Imaam al-Laalikaa'ee (d.418H); Imaam al-Bayhaqi (d.458H). In addition, there are countless others that we can bring in evidence of the issue at hand. We can quote from book after book, even to the extent of including actual chains of narrations; as we have them also!! So this shows without a shadow of a doubt that Aahaad Ahaadeeth were taken as part of our 'Aqeedah by the Salaf for without them we have no 'Aqeedah - except that of those who are under Allaah's punishment. Sufficient for us are our Salaf for explaining our religion !! However, we now have the saying of the later corrupted generations, those of little knowledge coming after the Salaf, those in this century who ignore the teachings of the Salaf. Among these group of people is of Taqee-ud-deen an-Nabahani - the founder of Hizb ut-Tahrir. He said in his book Ad-Dawsiyyah, p.6 "Indeed from them are those which require action, so they are acted upon (i.e. the Aahaad Ahaadeeth). So from Abu Hurayrah who said: When any of you finishes the last tashahud, he should seek refuge with Allaah from the four things: from The Punishment of the Hellfire, from Punishment of the Grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil trials of the Dajjal". From A'isha: from the Prophet (saas): that he used to make supplication in prayer: "O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from The Punishment of the Grave, I seek refuge in You from the trials of the Maseehud-Dajjaal, I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death. O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from debt and sin". So these two ahaadeeth are aahaad narrations and they contain requirement of an action, i.e. to carry out this supplication after tashahud, and it is permissible to attest (tasdeeq) to what is contained in them. However, what is haraam (forbidden) is to hold it with certainty - meaning: to have it as part as one's 'Aqeedah- as long as it has been reported in the aahaad hadeeth, a dhannee (non-mutawatir) proof. However, if it occurs in mutawatir form, then it is obligatory to make it part of one's 'Aqeedah;. This statement clearly represents the innovated ways of the Qadariyyah and the Mu'tazilah. Differentiating between tasdeeq and 'Aqeedah is innovated speech and away from the Salaf. And then we have a speech by Omar Bakri Muhammad - available on audio tape: "Punishment of the Grave", Regents Park Mosque, 22nd May 1992 CE. Within his speech he states: "We trust it, and I encourage all of you to have tasdeeq (attest to) in The Punishment of the Grave. I encourage all of you to have tasdeeq in the coming of the Mahdee. I encourage you for that. But whoever believes in that, he is sinful". Now, I hope you can see why our discussion should begin with belief - for if your belief 'Aqeedah is different from the Salaf - then your politics will be further away from them regardless of what you may think. For verily the Prophets had one belief !!. YES - of course we need Khilafah - I never denied this fact - and the Salafees and their Scholars have never denied this fact. But the Khilafah must be established using the Manhaj of the Prophethood - not the Shi'a, Khawaarij, Bralewiya, Sufiya etc., for this would not be blessed by Allaah for all these are opponents of the way of the Salaf and the way of the Companions!! 'So examine - may Allaah have mercy upon you - the speech of everyone you hear from, particularly in your time. Do not act in haste, nor enter into anything from it until you ask and see: Did any of the Companions of the Messenger (saas) speak about it, or any of the scholars. So if you find a narration from them about it, then cling to it. Do not go beyond it and do not give precedence to anything over it and thus fall into the fire' {Kitaab Sharh us-Sunnah, no. 5}. Qaadee Shareek (d.177H) said 'Ibaad ibn al-Awaam said: 'Shareek ibn Abdullah came to us more than fifty years ago, so we said to him: 'O Abu Abdullah! there are a group of the Mu'tazilah who deny the ahaadeeth about Allaah descending to the Lowest Heaven and that the people of Paradise see their Lord. So Shareek quoted about ten ahaadeeth like that, and then said: "As for us, we have taken our deen from the sons of the Sahaabah, from the Tabi'een. From whom did they take theirs ?".{Ibn Mandah in At-Tawheed, Q. 1/97.} So we see from just a few of the statements of the Salaf (which can go into volumes - and can be provided upon request; for those who seek the truth) - that they affirmed their belief upon one way - and their belief was as the belief of the Prophets - and what do we expect, for indeed the Scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets - not us!! In addition, this is not the time or place to go into the details of the Mustalah ul-Hadeeth (Science of Hadeeth) - as there is not need to go into this science unless we know the people / scholars of the Salaf who gave us this Science and their belief; and their way. For verily they accepted the khabar ul-aahaad in Belief - and Allaah is sufficient as a witness. For further reading in English see Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee's 'ar-Risaala' on the Chapter X on "Evidence to the necessaty of accepting the Aahaad Khabar" and in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, English translation, volume 9, "Chapter: What is said regarding the acceptance of the information given by one truthful person...". Now covering some of your points regarding the narrations of the Prophet (saas) and the claim that he was 'after establishing authority'. The scholar, Shaikh Rabee' ibn Haadi al-Madkhali, said in his book Manhaj al-Anbiyah min ad-Dawah ill-Allaah: "They (the Prophets) thus establish the obligation upon them of fighting Jihaad to raise the Word of Allaah, and of following and applying the Sharee'ah and the prescribed punishment and other matters prescribed for them by Allaah. This is what happened with our Prophet Muhammad (saas) and his noble Companions. Allaah crowned their Eemaan, their righteous actions, and their exemplary perseverance when facing the harm and the oppression of the Mushriks, by aiding them and making their Deen uppermost, and by establishing them upon the earth, as Allaah - the Most High says: "Allaah has promised those who truly believe (have true Eemaan) amongst you and act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger (saas), that He will grant them rulership (Khilaafah) upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them authority to practise the religion He chose for them and ordered. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security , after their fear, providing they worship and obey Me; not associating anything else in worship with Me." {Soorah an-Noor, 24:55}. Then sovereignty was offered to Allaah's Messenger (saas) in Makkah but he refused, except that he should continue calling to Tawheed and in waging war against Shirk and the idols. So when Quraysh became troubled by the call of Allaah's Messenger (saas) they sent Utbah ibn Rabee'ah and he came to Allaah's Messenger (saas) and said: "O son of my brother, you know the excellence you hold amongst us with regard to your position in the tribe and your lineage, but you have a matter which is very serious for your people. Because of it you have split their united body, caused their youth to behave foolishly and abused their idols with it, and their religion. You have declared their forefathers infidels because of it. So listen to me and I will offer you something which you may consider, and hopefully some of them will be acceptable to you". So Allaah's messenger (saas) said in reply "Speak, O Abul-Waleed, I will listen". He said "O, son of my brother, if what you desire by this matter which you have come with is wealth, then we will gather wealth for you from amongst our wealth until you are one of the richest of us. And if you wish by it high position, then we will give you such authority that we will not do anything without your approval, and if you wish by it sovereignty, then we will make you sovereign over us. But if it is the case that what comes to you is a demon which you see and can not get rid of, then we will seek after a medical cure for you and we will expend our money until we can get you cured of it. Since a demon may take hold of a person until he is cured and relieved of it". And Allaah's Messenger (saas) was listening to him, then he (saas) said "Have you finished O Abul Waleed ?", he said "Yes". He (saas) said "Then listen to me", he replied "I will do so". So he (SAW) said "In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy. Haa Meem, this Qur'ân is the revelation sent down by the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. A book whose ayahs are made clear a recital in pure Arabic for those who know, bringing them good tidings of paradise if they believe in it and act upon it, and as a warning to those who disbelieve in it and do not act in obedience to Allaah, that they will receive punishment and dwell in the Hell in the hereafter. But most of them turn away haughtily and refuse to listen to it" {Qur'aan 41:4} Then Allaah's Messenger (saas) continued reciting to him. So when Utbah heard it, he remained silent and sat with his hands behind his back, resting upon them and listening. So when Allaah's messenger (SAW) came to the ayah of prostration in it, he prostrated and then said: " You have heard what you have heard O Abul Waleed, so now it is upon you". So Utbah went back to Quraysh, and when he sat with them, they said : "What has happened to you, O Abul Waleed ?". He said "What happened is that I heard the like of which I have never heard by Allaah. By Allaah, it is not sorcery, nor poetry, nor divining. O Quraysh - obey me and let the decision be mine. Leave the man and let him continue in what he is upon. Keep away from him since, by Allaah, his saying which I have heard will come to have great importance. So if the other Arabs kill him, then you will be rid of him due to the action of others, and if he conquerors the Arabs, then his sovereignty is your sovereignty , his power is your power, and you will be the ones fortunate with regard to him". They said, "by Allaah, he has performed magic upon you with his tongue - O Abul Waleed". He said "This is my opinion with regard to him, you may do what ever you see fit" {Seerah Ibn Ishaq, as-Seerah ibn Hisham, 1 /293 -294. It also has a supporting witness in the hadeeth of Jabir which is reported by Ibn Humayd and Abu Ya'la.} And Ibn Ishaaq reports with his chain of narration to Ibn Abbaas (raa) that a group of Quraysh gathered and made an offer close to the offer made by Utbah. So he (saas) answered by saying: "I am not afflicted by what you say. I have not come with this seeking your wealth, nor seeking status above you, nor sovereignty over you, but rather Allaah has sent me as a Messenger to you, and has sent down a book to me, and has ordered me to be a bringer of good tidings and a warner to you. So I have conveyed to you the revealed messengers from my Lord, and I have sincerely advised you. So if you accept what I have brought to you then you will have your share in this world and the hereafter. But if you refuse to accept it from me then I will patiently wait Allaah's order, until Allaah judges between me and you".{As-Seerah of ibn Hisham, 1 / 295-296, and this one strengthens the previous narration, each of them supporting the other.}. Likewise Allaah's Messenger (saas) rejected the request of one of the tribes that they should be in charge of the affairs after his death, if the report is authentic. Ibn Ishaq said: 'az-Zuhree narrated to me that Allaah's Messenger (saas) came to Banu 'Aamir ibn Sasa'ah and called them to Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic, and presented himself to them. So a man from them called Bayharah ibn Firas said: " By Allaah, if we were to take hold of this young man from Quraysh I would devour the Arabs with him". Then he said: "If we were to give you our pledge of allegiance upon your affair, then Allaah gives you victory over those who oppose you, then will we be in authority after you ?". He (saas) said: "The affair is for Allaah, he places authority where ever He wills". So he said to him: "Are we to risk our necks before the Arabs for you, then when Allaah grants you victory, authority will be for other than us. We have no need of your affair". So they rejected him. {Ibn Hisham, 1/424-425. Also refer to as-Seeratun-Nabayiyah of adh-Dhahabee, p189-190.}. So Prophets (sas), did not come to bring about the downfall of one state and to replace it with another. They did not seek after sovereignty, nor did they organise parties for that. Rather they came for the guidance of mankind and to save them from misguidance and shirk, and to take mankind out of the darkness and into the light, and to remind them of the days when Allaah had sent favours upon them. If rule and sovereignty had been offered to them, they would have rejected it and continued upon their Dawah. Indeed Quraysh offered sovereignty to Allaah's Messenger (saas) and he refused it. It was also offered to him (by Allaah) that he should be a Prophet-King or Slave-Messenger. {Imaam Ahmad, 2 / 231}. So he had not used to take a pledge of allegiance from the Ansar or others except for Paradise, despite the fact that the pledge of the Ansar was given in the most severe and difficult circumstances, yet it contained no promise or position or authority, nor sovereignty, nor leadership, nor wealth, nor any other temporal gain. From Ubadah bin as-Samit (ra) who said: "I am one of those chiefs who gave the Aqabah pledge to Allaah"s Messenger (saas)". And he said: "We gave the pledge that we would not worship anything besides Allaah, nor steal, nor fornicate, nor kill a person whose killing Allaah had made unlawful - except rightfully, nor rob each other, nor disobey, and Paradise would be ours".{Sahih al-Bukhari, 9 / 6 no. 12. Also refer to Sahih Muslim 3 / 925 no. 4238} And, By Allaah, we could continue with evidence after evidence, fully referenced with the quotes and understanding of the Salaf - the scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah wal Jamaah, from the earliest generations, and all of them with the certainty of them being authentic. So rather than prolonging this further, allow this to suffice for now. And my advise to you is to first correct your belief and come whole heartedly into the Dawah Salafiah, the Ahl us-Sunnah wal Jamaah, the Ahlul-Hadeeth, or whatever names the followers of the Prophet (saas) and the Companions used. Once you have done this then put your self upon a path of Tarbiyah (education and cultivation) and Tasfiyah (purifying ourselves from Bid'ah, innovations, that have been added to this religion) - and you will bear its fruits and Allaah will give us what we deserve, as He gave it to those before us. He will give us the opportunity to fight for His deen - if we are worthy of that. Find out about the Saved Sect - the Firqatun-Najiyah, and what the Salaf said about who they are, and how to distinguish them from the other 72 sects the Prophet (saas) said will be in the Fire. And know that the Saved Sect is recognised by its belief and methodology ('Aqeedah and Manhaj) - so it is not the belief of the Khawaarij, Shia, Sufiyah, Qadariyyah and their likes. Let us finish here. May Allaah guide us, Praise be to Allaah, and peace and blessings upon his Messenger. And by way of a note: There was no need for you in your response to write to me about the validity of the Khilafah or the importance of applying the Laws of Allaah - by Allaah, this is already established with us. What we are looking at is your belief and methodology with regard to this Deen. To correct this first and put it in line with that of the Salaf. I do not wish to debate with you further, however any questions you have - I am quite willing to research the answers for you with full references. Even if that means checking for you the references that you thought were from the scholars of the past and now you wish to re-check. Wassalam Alaykum. And Allaah is the Lord of the Worlds. Home Page: http://cswww2.essex.ac.uk/users/rafiam |
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