The Difference Between Salafis in Creed and the Ikhwan in Methodology, and Between Salafis in Both Creed and Methodology
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The questioner : He saysThe questioner: I hope thatThe Shaykh : you would clarify for us the real difference between Salafis in creed and the Ikhwan in methodology, and between Salafis in both creed and methodology; knowing that these two schools are the prevailing ones in the Arabian Peninsula, and many students of knowledge fall into the first without realizing it?
The Shaykh: Perhaps we can say that in our recent discussions, there was something that could serve as an answer to this question, or at least part of an answer. We stated that Islam must be understood comprehensively from all its aspects, with a correct understanding based on the Book and the Sunnah, and upon the methodology of the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them).
And we said that the Salafi call is built upon two words, and this is a convention we have followed, which are that purification and education are necessary. We explained that the meaning of "purification" is that the people of knowledge should strive to understand Islam from its two pure sources, and upon the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and then spread this correct knowledge among the Muslim community. This is the first point or pillar of the Salafi call: that Islam be understood correctly from all its aspects, based on the methodology mentioned earlier, which is the Book of Allah, the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, and the methodology of the righteous Salaf.
And we said that this task cannot be accomplished by one individual or ten, but rather it is necessary that thousands of Muslim scholars in all the corners of the land of Islam undertake it. Furthermore, this explanation and dissemination of the correct concept of Islam must be accompanied by the education of Muslims in this correct Islam. This is the methodology, and it is not merely a claim where the caller or preacher is far from the correct understanding of this methodology, yet he calls out and shouts that his call is based on the Book and the Sunnah, and then there is nothing more than this mere claim!
And we know through experience from many Islamic groups—and we do not need to name some of them, for the goal is only to remind, and the reminder benefits the believers—we know of some Islamic groups that have a concern, or a semblance of concern, for what we say regarding the second condition that the callers to Islam should fulfill, which is education, or what is called conduct in some terminologies. Some of these groups used to gather every Friday night to keep it alive with prayer, worship, and standing in night prayer. There is nothing wrong with standing in night prayer; however, the condition, if we rely on the correct methodology in understanding Islam, is that standing in night prayer should not be collective; that is, by mutual invitation as these people did. They would invite each other every week to gather on Friday night to keep the night alive. Then, due to their distance from studying Islam from its two sources as we mentioned, they were completely unaware of the saying of (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1144b; so, in the name of reforming souls and improving conduct, they gathered some of their detachments to keep alive this night which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) forbade keeping alive. How, then, can the establishment of Islam stand with such a wrong concept of the Sunnah; rather, of the worship that Islam brought? Therefore, it is necessary for every Islamic caller, each according to his capacity. I do not claim that every Islamic group must do the same work; that is, that every group must be jurists, or hadith scholars, or exegetes. But it is necessary for all these groups to agree on one methodology, even if they differ in their specializations; however, the circle of Islam with the correct Salafi concept unites them. If they truly want the word of the Muslims to be one, and their group to be one group, and not to divide the group of Muslims, then they must all be on one methodology. Then, whoever among them is able to realize this methodology in knowledge, they should adopt this knowledge. This does not mean following a person or persons, but rather the matter—as we said earlier—should be undertaken by thousands of Muslim scholars, but on one methodology.
Therefore, in some conferences that invited the attendees to launch their call to Muslims to their religion based on the Book and the Sunnah, we proposed with some of our brothers that this call—meaning that the call of the callers be based on the Book and the Sunnah—be added to the methodology of the righteous Salaf. We see that many callers, first, do not care ideologically about this condition, which is that the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah be on the methodology of the righteous Salaf. They do not care ideologically! And naturally, and necessarily, this lack of care means they do not care about it in their own souls. Some of them may say with their tongue that this methodology is the correct one, but they do not realize it. Why? Because they do not benefit from the efforts of specialists in calling to Islam in light of the Book and the Sunnah. So, some groups that want to work for Islam; if their work is not on this methodology, their work will not yield what they seek, which is establishing the state of Islam on the face of the earth. So, we call upon all Islamic groups to be on one word, and this word can only be on this methodology. The proof is that no one who has been given a particle of knowledge can bring a methodology that contradicts this methodology, which is based on the Book of Allah, the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, and the methodology of our righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them).
And there is no doubt or ambiguity that establishing the state of Islam, which is the goal of all Islamic groups, is indeed the case, contrary to what some may say about the Salafis that they do not care about establishing the state of Islam. This is a lie we have known for a long time. But the truth is that working to establish the Islamic state is the desire of every Muslim, but the methods differ. We say: that any method of any group that is based on working with Islam, which we have inherited, and which contains, in what concerns creeds, what contradicts the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and contains weak and fabricated hadiths, and contains legal rulings that contradict the Book and the Sunnah, and contains encouragement of effort and deviation from striving on earth that also contradicts the Book and the Sunnah; this conduct that some groups follow without caring to purify this Islam from what has entered it will not yield the desire that they seek, or that all Islamic groups seek. Rather, this state will be established—with the permission of Allah—on the hands and shoulders of those who adopt this correct methodology, agreed upon by all groups. I do not think or imagine that a group claiming Islam can deny this methodology, otherwise that would be a complete deviation from Islam and would fall under the warning of the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):[An-Nisa 4:115]. So, if we are sincere in our good opinion of all the Islamic groups present today in the Islamic arena, they must confirm our good opinion of them by cooperating with us in uniting with us on this correct methodology ideologically, and then cooperating with us in applying this methodology practically. Otherwise, the group that stands will be the most deserving to establish the rule of Allah on earth, which is the one that adopts this agreed-upon methodology ideologically and realizes it practically.
Perhaps with this I have answered the previous question.
The Shaykh: Perhaps we can say that in our recent discussions, there was something that could serve as an answer to this question, or at least part of an answer. We stated that Islam must be understood comprehensively from all its aspects, with a correct understanding based on the Book and the Sunnah, and upon the methodology of the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them).
And we said that the Salafi call is built upon two words, and this is a convention we have followed, which are that purification and education are necessary. We explained that the meaning of "purification" is that the people of knowledge should strive to understand Islam from its two pure sources, and upon the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and then spread this correct knowledge among the Muslim community. This is the first point or pillar of the Salafi call: that Islam be understood correctly from all its aspects, based on the methodology mentioned earlier, which is the Book of Allah, the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, and the methodology of the righteous Salaf.
And we said that this task cannot be accomplished by one individual or ten, but rather it is necessary that thousands of Muslim scholars in all the corners of the land of Islam undertake it. Furthermore, this explanation and dissemination of the correct concept of Islam must be accompanied by the education of Muslims in this correct Islam. This is the methodology, and it is not merely a claim where the caller or preacher is far from the correct understanding of this methodology, yet he calls out and shouts that his call is based on the Book and the Sunnah, and then there is nothing more than this mere claim!
And we know through experience from many Islamic groups—and we do not need to name some of them, for the goal is only to remind, and the reminder benefits the believers—we know of some Islamic groups that have a concern, or a semblance of concern, for what we say regarding the second condition that the callers to Islam should fulfill, which is education, or what is called conduct in some terminologies. Some of these groups used to gather every Friday night to keep it alive with prayer, worship, and standing in night prayer. There is nothing wrong with standing in night prayer; however, the condition, if we rely on the correct methodology in understanding Islam, is that standing in night prayer should not be collective; that is, by mutual invitation as these people did. They would invite each other every week to gather on Friday night to keep the night alive. Then, due to their distance from studying Islam from its two sources as we mentioned, they were completely unaware of the saying of (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not single out the night (preceding) Friday among the nights for prayer and do not single out Friday among days for fasting
لا تختصوا ليلة الجمعة بقيام ولا نهارها بصيامTherefore, in some conferences that invited the attendees to launch their call to Muslims to their religion based on the Book and the Sunnah, we proposed with some of our brothers that this call—meaning that the call of the callers be based on the Book and the Sunnah—be added to the methodology of the righteous Salaf. We see that many callers, first, do not care ideologically about this condition, which is that the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah be on the methodology of the righteous Salaf. They do not care ideologically! And naturally, and necessarily, this lack of care means they do not care about it in their own souls. Some of them may say with their tongue that this methodology is the correct one, but they do not realize it. Why? Because they do not benefit from the efforts of specialists in calling to Islam in light of the Book and the Sunnah. So, some groups that want to work for Islam; if their work is not on this methodology, their work will not yield what they seek, which is establishing the state of Islam on the face of the earth. So, we call upon all Islamic groups to be on one word, and this word can only be on this methodology. The proof is that no one who has been given a particle of knowledge can bring a methodology that contradicts this methodology, which is based on the Book of Allah, the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, and the methodology of our righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them).
And there is no doubt or ambiguity that establishing the state of Islam, which is the goal of all Islamic groups, is indeed the case, contrary to what some may say about the Salafis that they do not care about establishing the state of Islam. This is a lie we have known for a long time. But the truth is that working to establish the Islamic state is the desire of every Muslim, but the methods differ. We say: that any method of any group that is based on working with Islam, which we have inherited, and which contains, in what concerns creeds, what contradicts the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and contains weak and fabricated hadiths, and contains legal rulings that contradict the Book and the Sunnah, and contains encouragement of effort and deviation from striving on earth that also contradicts the Book and the Sunnah; this conduct that some groups follow without caring to purify this Islam from what has entered it will not yield the desire that they seek, or that all Islamic groups seek. Rather, this state will be established—with the permission of Allah—on the hands and shoulders of those who adopt this correct methodology, agreed upon by all groups. I do not think or imagine that a group claiming Islam can deny this methodology, otherwise that would be a complete deviation from Islam and would fall under the warning of the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًاPerhaps with this I have answered the previous question.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.