What is your opinion of the sermons of Ali al-Hajj (Ali Hasan’s opinion on the tapes of Ali al-Balhaj)?

Abd al-Malik: Regarding some of the tapes that one of the brothers brought you, which contain the sermons of the so-called Ali al-Balhaj and some of his lessons, for you to evaluate them and thereby evaluate him, and perhaps you have alreadyThe Shaykh : onAl-Halabi : listened to them, so I think, I mean, if you consider the situation appropriate, thenThe Shaykh : you can tell us what you heard, and we want from you ... .

The Shaykh: I have no objection, but I fear that your time is limited.
Abd al-Malik: No, our time is sufficient, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh: Perhaps you have postponed your travel.
Ali: At a time ... .
Abd al-Malik: Ah, no, I mean, yes.

The Shaykh : Yes.
Abd al-Malik: At a time, if we are not putting you in a difficult position.

The Shaykh: Ah, go ahead.
onAl-Halabi: Shaykh, I say that regarding this issue, I mean, it is difficult for the soul, of course, given these circumstances in which our brother Ali al-Balhaj is in prison and so on, to speak about these issues. But I mean, discussing the call to Islam, advising in religion, reminding, and alerting the brothers who are still perhaps being deceived by his method or his approach, and we ask Allah for him that Allah may relieve his distress.

The Shaykh: ... soon, if Allah wills.
Ali: And that He may rectify his affairs and return him as he was, or better than he was, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh: If Allah wills, that is what we hope for ... .
Ali: But from the standpoint of, I mean, manifesting the truth and clarifying the correct path.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
Ali: In reality, I listened to the tapes, my professor, and I saw that, I mean, emotion is the sole spark in, I mean, all his sermons and lessons. Even in some of the sermons, he spoke about the issue of lengthening the sermon, saying that when we lengthen the sermon, we know that the Sunnah is such and such, but we lengthen it because the situation demands it, and we are such and such, and the conditions are such and so on. And I mean, in some of his sermons, he spoke about the ministers by name: "O Minister of Tourism, you are such and such," and "O Minister of Endowments, you are such and such," and "O Minister of such and such, you are such and such," I mean, in a very strong tone and style. In fact, in some of the sermons or lessons, because of the strength of his speech, for, as we say, he is eloquent.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
Ali: I mean, he is articulate, and you find the worshippers saying, "Allahu Akbar," I mean, they say takbir, what Allah has willed, things like that.

Another questioner: In the sermon.
Ali: Yes.

The Shaykh: I mean, in ... in the Friday sermon?

Another questioner: We heard them saying takbir in the Friday sermon.
Ali: Yes, yes, also in some of the tapes, because

Another questioner: No, I was present.

The Shaykh: You were present.

Another questioner: I was present for the takbir in his mosque.
Abu Layla: Did you say takbir with them?

The Shaykh: Well, no one criticized him after the prayer, for example, asking, "Is this permissible?"
Abd al-Malik: We told him this repeatedly.

The Shaykh: What did he answer?
Abd al-Malik: He says, "I know, but the common people..."

The Shaykh : Ah

Another questioner: He told them not to say takbir, but he cannot stop them; armies are praying with him.

The Shaykh: That is the problem, yes.
Ali: Then, in reality, from the standpoint of fairness, I mean, we heard him cite, I mean, sometimes, and not generally, the words of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) or (may Allah have mercy on them both). But I mean, the general character is that this comes as, I mean, seasoning for the sermon, and not the other way around. I mean, the principle is that the entire sermon should be built upon, for example, the words of these imams, and if there is, for example, a topic of enthusiasm or such, that would be the seasoning. But the reality I saw is the opposite. I mean, from our brother’s sermons and lessons, most of them are, I mean, enthusiasm and emotions and so on. And then, for example, he would speak about patience at the beginning of the sermon, bringing verses about patience and some hadiths, and then, lo and behold, we see that his patience has run out and he has gone to the rulers or such or similar. I mean, this is generally the case. Of course, I do not know if our brothers, because they also have direct knowledge...

The Shaykh : In any case.

Another questioner: ... Shaykh, this was asking me, so I answer him.

The Shaykh: Yes, what I have perceived is that the plan is the plan of the groups that gather people around them on uncontrolled Islamic emotions, not accompanied by purification and education, not accompanied by correct knowledge and correct education for these masses. So I say, and all Muslims who are well-versed in religion have no choice but to say what I say.