We see many scholars of evil and misguidance whose only concern is consuming the wealth of people through unlawful means, and who are the ones who have led people into shirk (associating partners with Allah); they wear green turbans

The questioner : We see many scholars of evil and misguidance whose only concern is consuming the wealth of people through unlawful means, and who are the ones who have led people into shirk (associating partners with Allah); they wear green turbans and adopt the characteristics of the righteous, but they do not pray. When asked, "Why do you not pray?" they say, "We pray in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah." Their followers, the muridin, vouch for them, saying, "You do not see him when he goes to Makkah because he is one of the people of al-khutwa (a spiritual rank), and because there is a veil between you and him, so you do not see him." When asked about fasting, they say, "This is a favor from Allah upon us; we do not need to fast because we are people of wealth, and fasting is for the poor who do not have money." When asked about Hajj, they say, "This is also a favor from Allah," and they make excuses, saying, "Makkah is a hot country, full of mountains, with no trees or shade." On the other hand, we see some of the people who follow them; when they perform 'Umrah or Hajj, we see them performing tawaf (circumambulation) for them, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and performing salah (prayer) for them in every part of the Sacred Mosque. What is the ruling on the actions of these people? What is the ruling on believing what they say? And are their deeds acceptable?

The Shaykh : Before answering this question, I would like to offer advice to those shaykhs whom this questioner has described as he has. I say: O shaykhs, it is obligatory (wajib) for you to repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to turn back from what you are upon, as described in you. You must adhere to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, and you must fulfill what Allah has commanded you of apparent and hidden acts of worship, so that you may be leaders of guidance, righteousness, and reform. As for your remaining upon what you are upon, as described by the questioner, it is a loss for you in your religion and your worldly life, and it is misguidance and disbelief (kufr) in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Do not be deceived by this worldly life, and do not let the deceiver deceive you regarding Allah. Do not be deceived by the fact that the naive among creation come to you, kissing your hands and feet, and rubbing against your clothes and turbans. This is deception from Shaytan, who sends these naive people to you so that you may become accustomed to what you are upon and continue on this invalid (batil) path. So fear Allah in yourselves and fear Allah in the servants of Allah. Fear the Day when a father will not be able to compensate for his son, nor a son for his father, in any way. Know that whoever calls to misguidance bears the sin of that call and the sin of whoever acts upon it until the Day of Resurrection. The door of repentance is open; it is upon you to return to Allah and to make clear that your former path, upon which you are, is a path of misguidance, and that you were wrong in it, but you are repenting to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from it.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding their conditions, their denial of fasting and their claim that fasting is only obligatory (wajib) for the poor is disbelief (kufr) and apostasy (riddah) from Islam, because fasting is obligatory (wajib) on every person of legal age . So whoever denies the obligation of fasting for the rich and says that it is only obligatory for the poor has disbelieved in the Qur'an, disbelieved in the Sunnah, and lied about the consensus (ijma') of the Muslims, and he is a disbeliever without doubt. Likewise, whoever is arrogant about Hajj and says that Makkah is hot and has mountains and no trees is a disbeliever who is arrogant about the worship of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because he has disliked what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has revealed as the obligation of Hajj upon His servants. His reasoning is like that of one who mocks the Shari'ah of Allah (Exalted is He). Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has obligated Hajj upon His servants who are able to perform it, and He knows the condition of this land to which Allah has obligated Hajj, as Allah said about Ibrahim, His intimate friend: . The one who is deceived by these shaykhs, who have this description and who are apostates from Islam, is deceived and misled. It is not permissible for anyone to make du'a' (supplication) to Allah for them except for guidance. As for performing Hajj or 'Umrah for them, or taking their words, believing what they say, and following them in what they go to, he is a disbeliever, because whoever believes that fasting is not obligatory except for the poor only, or that obligating people to perform Hajj is obligating them with what is unbearable because Makkah is mountainous and hot, is considered a disbeliever for objecting to the ruling of Allah and His wisdom, and denying what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has obligated upon His servants of fasting, except if he is ignorant and does not know, and has fallen into the lap of these people and they have misled him, and no one has prepared for him to tell him that this is a lie and falsehood; then his case is looked into. But whoever believes them while knowing what the Muslims are upon, he is a disbeliever by believing them, because he has believed them in their denial of the obligation of fasting.
Likewise, their claim, the claim of these shaykhs, when they are ordered to pray that they pray in the Sacred Mosque, is a false and invalid (batil) claim. How can one pray in the Sacred Mosque if he is in Africa or in East Asia or the like? This is impossible. But they deceive the common people with such words. They do not pray in the Sacred Mosque; rather, they want to escape and get rid of the objection against them. In any case, I warn my Muslim brothers from being deceived by such people, and I call them to reject these people and to stay away from them. However, this does not prevent advising them and writing to them, perhaps they will return to the truth.

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.