No one is of the saved group unless he knows the authentic from the weak in the hadiths and follows what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was upon.

The questioner : I mean, I want to say that this path is long and not everyone can attain it. Therefore, we really need to know what Allah the Exalted said: The shortest path so that I can know, for example, the differences between all the Shi'ah. I have to study the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger, and the life of the Companions. I might die before this happens. So we need, in our reality now, in our current reality, there are famous and apparent sects, and I believe everyone wants to know the principles of these people. I was going to introduce myself a little. I was actually a Friday preacher in Mafraq here. I was opposing the Shi'ah because I was actually a teacher of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) in Saudi Arabia, and I knew a lot about them. So many of our brothers sent me threats because, in their opinion, Khomeini is the caller to Islam and the establishment of the Islamic state. So for me to convince them, I have to tell them, "Go, read the terminology of hadith, the life of the Companions, and the Qur'an." This is a long path that one cannot really travel. So we want you, may Allah reward you, to clarify for us really the existing differences, for example, the Alawites, the Ismailis, the Shi'ah in their various categories, briefly. And I believe that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentioned that in Surat al-Hashr, because He classified the Muslims into three types: the emigrants, the supporters, and those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any rancor toward those who have believed." And may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Your question is to be answered with the second question.

The questioner : It must be specified, Professor.

The Shaykh : Allow me, Professor. His second question, hehehe, his second question has already been answered, and this question has also already been answered, but from one side, so that we are fair to you. The path is long, that is true, but I said earlier and repeated to your ears more than once that if you are a scholar, if you are a jurist, then consult your own knowledge. If you are a hadith scholar, then consult your knowledge. If you are a jurist, to know the forbidden and the lawful, and if you are a hadith scholar, to know the authentic from the weak, consult your knowledge because you are a scholar, because you are a jurist. And if you are not such a person, I said: ...

The questioner : My master, we want to ask ...

The Shaykh : Allow me, allow me a moment. Did you not hear this answer?

The questioner : Yes, yes.

The Shaykh : So is this second path short or long?

The questioner : By Allah, this is short, of course, if ...

The Shaykh : Allow me, allow me. If you took some of my words and rambled around them and exaggerated that this is a long path, and I say with you it is long, and because of its length I said earlier that most Muslims have turned away from it. Do you remember this statement or not?

The questioner : Yes, yes, I remember it.

The Shaykh : So why did you mention this long path and make it an excuse for yourself, saying, "I cannot do it"? Who tasked you, my brother? Allah did not task every Muslim to be a scholar, to be, I mean, a specialist in all the sciences of the Shari'ah. Allah did not task you, but He tasked every Muslim that when he worships Allah with a certain worship, he should be upon clarity in it. And I mentioned the verse So if you have a short path, and it is Now I have reminded you that half of your words, half of your question, was included in the folds of my previous speech, correct?

The questioner: Yes.