He was asked about purification and upbringing, and whether a large number is required in them.

The questioner : The Shaykh : Your Excellency, you are working in Algeria. When we address some of the youth regarding purification and upbringing, and that it is necessary, in order to resume the true Islamic life, to return the society to the state of the righteous Salaf,

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The questioner: Scholars and non-scholars.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The questioner: They object to us and say that it is not required that the overwhelming majority of the Muslim society be on this path. Rather, it is sufficient that the majority exists, or a cohesive group exists who agree on understanding this methodology, and it is not required that all of them be so. We object to them and say, rather, it is necessary that we return them, all of them or the majority, to this. The issue of purification and upbringing: is it required that it be in the majority, or?

The Shaykh: Their objection is correct, but this large number that they refer to, has it been realized? Have they achieved it?

The questioner: As far as we know, no.

The Shaykh: Yes, that is it. So be content with the little, my brother, you will be provided with much. Be content with the little first, in terms of discussion and argumentation. When this group raises this issue, it is a correct issue from the Shari'ah perspective, without a doubt, because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: and so on. So their raising of the point is correct. We can now change the phrasing and say: It is a word of truth intended to be used for falsehood. It is a word of truth in which we do not debate them, because the companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who laid the foundation for the Islamic society and the Islamic state, were very few. But the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) raised them under his own eye, and he educated them well and taught them the best of knowledge, and so on. But when these people say that it is not required that the overwhelming majority of Muslims be on this straight path that we explain and that you mentioned just now, therefore, it is not good for the Salafi Muslim to debate this, because we will say: How many Muslims are there on the face of the earth today? A million? Is there a Muslim scholar who says we must reform the millions? And there is no way to this except if 'Isa (peace be upon him) descends and all religions become one religion. But we follow the example of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in terms of purification and upbringing, as I said, and then we never try to hope for the reform of all people or most people. This is a fact that no one disputes. But as for those who say this is not a condition, but rather they say that there must be a good number from these people, and that they do not have to be the majority, we ask them at that time: Is this large number, and this is a matter that is never hidden, is this large number that you are cohesive on the basis of, have you realized in it these two conditions: purification and upbringing? The answer, as I said, if they are just, is no. So where is this condition that you accepted with us in the few, and not in the majority? Is the answer clear?

The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh: All right.