Statements of 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tahan
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Fatwa number ( 17831 )
Q: We received recorded tapes of two eminent scholars, namely the Shaykh, the scholar Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani , the hadith scholar of al-Sham , and the Shaykh, the scholar Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadi'i , the hadith scholar of Yemen . In them, they speak about the well-known da'i 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tahan , as they had received letters and inquiries from the people of the Sunnah in Qatar regarding the validity of the statements made by al-Tahan , including:
1- That he holds it obligatory tofollow the four schools of jurisprudence, and that rejecting the following of these schools is nothing but misguidance. 2- His denial of the principle of the critique and vindication of narrators in its entirety. 3- His glorification of the Sufis and his accusation of those who oppose them with misguidance. 4- His holding thatthe dead hear in their graves, in addition to the fact that they also pray in these graves and see those who come to visit them. 5- His statement that it isseeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world while awake, and he cited as evidence for this thatNur al-Din Zankisaw him in this world while awake. 6- His claim that looking at the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is equivalent to the worship of thousands of years, and that looking at the face of the Companions is equivalent to the worship of thousands of years, and that looking at the face ofImam Ahmadis equivalent to the worship of a year. And some of our brothers here inEgyptexcuse him by saying that perhaps he means the Sufis whomthe Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah(may Allah have mercy on him) praised in his treatise on the Sufis and the Poor, and that seeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world may be permissible, and they cited as evidence for this that'Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak(may Allah have mercy on him) was seen by some pilgrims during his time performing Hajj with them, even though he had not gone to perform Hajj. When they returned to him, they said to him: "We saw you at Hajj," so he remained silent and did not speak.
Is this story authentic, and can it be used as evidence for seeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world while awake? Has this man shifted from the methodology of the people of the Sunnah to the methodology of the people of innovation after he left al-Hijaz and went to Qatar ? Can we describe him as an innovator? Do the dead hear in their graves? Is not following the schools of jurisprudence misguidance and deviation from the path of truth? Are the statements attributed to him authentic and established from him? If they are established, is what he said correct? We in Egypt have been occupied with the matter of al-Tahan , and we want to know what his matter has become: is it the methodology of the people of the Sunnah or the methodology of the people of innovation? Therefore, we ask your Eminence to respond to us quickly.
A: These statements attributed to the one named 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tahan are all invalid statements from which one must be warned, as they contradict the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not obligatory to follow any of the scholars; rather, one takes the statement of a scholar if it agrees with the evidence. It is obligatory for everyone to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for he is the role model for all believers. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ahzab 33:21]
And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Hashr 59:7]. The critique and vindication of narrators is agreed upon by the scholars for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of the hadith, not for the purpose of attacking personalities and disparaging them. However, it is not permissible to enter this field except for the specialists who are firmly grounded in the sciences of hadith. Sufism is an innovated method for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Most of the Sufis in this time are misguided deviants, and it is not permissible to praise them or eulogize them; it is obligatory to follow the Sunnah. As for the hearing of the dead in their graves, it is not established except by evidence, and it is one of the conditions of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) which no one knows except Allah. If specific hearing is established, it is not permissible to call upon them or seek their help because of it, for this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Seeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while awake, or seeing any other of the dead, does not occur and is not possible, and there is no evidence for those who have permitted it, for the dead do not return to this world. Allah the Exalted said:
[Ya-Sin 36:31], and His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Mu'minun 23:15-16]. The claim that looking at the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or anyone else is beneficial is not correct. Many of the disbelievers and hypocrites looked at the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it did not benefit them. Rather, what is beneficial is faith in Allah and His Messenger and righteous deeds. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: We received recorded tapes of two eminent scholars, namely the Shaykh, the scholar Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani , the hadith scholar of al-Sham , and the Shaykh, the scholar Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadi'i , the hadith scholar of Yemen . In them, they speak about the well-known da'i 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tahan , as they had received letters and inquiries from the people of the Sunnah in Qatar regarding the validity of the statements made by al-Tahan , including:
1- That he holds it obligatory tofollow the four schools of jurisprudence, and that rejecting the following of these schools is nothing but misguidance. 2- His denial of the principle of the critique and vindication of narrators in its entirety. 3- His glorification of the Sufis and his accusation of those who oppose them with misguidance. 4- His holding thatthe dead hear in their graves, in addition to the fact that they also pray in these graves and see those who come to visit them. 5- His statement that it isseeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world while awake, and he cited as evidence for this thatNur al-Din Zankisaw him in this world while awake. 6- His claim that looking at the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is equivalent to the worship of thousands of years, and that looking at the face of the Companions is equivalent to the worship of thousands of years, and that looking at the face ofImam Ahmadis equivalent to the worship of a year. And some of our brothers here inEgyptexcuse him by saying that perhaps he means the Sufis whomthe Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah(may Allah have mercy on him) praised in his treatise on the Sufis and the Poor, and that seeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world may be permissible, and they cited as evidence for this that'Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak(may Allah have mercy on him) was seen by some pilgrims during his time performing Hajj with them, even though he had not gone to perform Hajj. When they returned to him, they said to him: "We saw you at Hajj," so he remained silent and did not speak.
Is this story authentic, and can it be used as evidence for seeing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world while awake? Has this man shifted from the methodology of the people of the Sunnah to the methodology of the people of innovation after he left al-Hijaz and went to Qatar ? Can we describe him as an innovator? Do the dead hear in their graves? Is not following the schools of jurisprudence misguidance and deviation from the path of truth? Are the statements attributed to him authentic and established from him? If they are established, is what he said correct? We in Egypt have been occupied with the matter of al-Tahan , and we want to know what his matter has become: is it the methodology of the people of the Sunnah or the methodology of the people of innovation? Therefore, we ask your Eminence to respond to us quickly.
A: These statements attributed to the one named 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tahan are all invalid statements from which one must be warned, as they contradict the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not obligatory to follow any of the scholars; rather, one takes the statement of a scholar if it agrees with the evidence. It is obligatory for everyone to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for he is the role model for all believers. Allah the Exalted said:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواHave they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them - that they to them will not return?
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ(15) Then indeed, after that you are to die. (16) Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ (15) ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.