I spoke at the beginning of the meeting about Chechnya, and some people doubt the Chechens, saying: that they are not from the people of the Sunnah and the community, because they have religious innovations.
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The questioner : He says: Your Eminence, the Shaykh. You spoke at the beginning of the meeting about Chechnya. And some people doubt the Chechens, saying: that they are not from the people of the Sunnah and the community, because they have religious innovations. And some others say: they are the cause of what happened. So how do we help them? Is there a word in response to these people, while our brothers are being massacred en masse, and the Muslims are just watching, and their voice is not heard?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the first point, which is their claim that they have religious innovations, there is no doubt that no people exist without having religious innovations, unless Allah wills otherwise. But the state is a Sunni Salafi state. And I met their leader and their mufti last year at the presence of Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him), and I found from them an acceptance of the truth, indeed a seeking of the truth. And the state of Chechnya in the Caucasus states is called Wahhabi, because its creed is Salafi. As for their being the cause of that, suppose they made a mistake in their actions and erred; if they erred—and they have a reward for their independent legal reasoning, if Allah wills—should we leave them to be eaten by birds? Answer me, everyone. Absolutely not! They erred, and we all err. But when they fell into the net, we must rescue them to the best of our ability. So there is no ambiguity in their matter. It is true that the state next to them is a Sufi state of religious innovation. What is its name?
The questioner : Al-Najusha.
The Shaykh : Al-Najusha. And we have received sermons from their leaders, meaning they have intensified the attack on the Wahhabis. As for the Chechens, no. So with this, we have answered, and praise be to Allah, regarding both matters: First, that it is not a state of religious innovation. And second, that if it is possible that they erred in their judgment and what happened occurred, it is obligatory for us to help them now that they have fallen into the net.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the first point, which is their claim that they have religious innovations, there is no doubt that no people exist without having religious innovations, unless Allah wills otherwise. But the state is a Sunni Salafi state. And I met their leader and their mufti last year at the presence of Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him), and I found from them an acceptance of the truth, indeed a seeking of the truth. And the state of Chechnya in the Caucasus states is called Wahhabi, because its creed is Salafi. As for their being the cause of that, suppose they made a mistake in their actions and erred; if they erred—and they have a reward for their independent legal reasoning, if Allah wills—should we leave them to be eaten by birds? Answer me, everyone. Absolutely not! They erred, and we all err. But when they fell into the net, we must rescue them to the best of our ability. So there is no ambiguity in their matter. It is true that the state next to them is a Sufi state of religious innovation. What is its name?
The questioner : Al-Najusha.
The Shaykh : Al-Najusha. And we have received sermons from their leaders, meaning they have intensified the attack on the Wahhabis. As for the Chechens, no. So with this, we have answered, and praise be to Allah, regarding both matters: First, that it is not a state of religious innovation. And second, that if it is possible that they erred in their judgment and what happened occurred, it is obligatory for us to help them now that they have fallen into the net.