The Shaykh's advice to those who study the canonical recitations and his urging of the Salafi brothers to learn this knowledge.

Al-'Awaisheh: I mean, a listener might hear, for example, that you have not specialized in this field, even though we know, and we do not declare you free of sin before Allah, that you are eager for good. So what do you advise regarding the recitation? Because I notice that some of the brothers are actually exceeding their limits, in that they focus on details and secondary matters and leave off many obligations. Some people even fall into arrogance, thinking, "I have what others do not have." So what do you direct us to in this matter? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : First, our advice in every discipline is that it be sought for the face of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), and that one not seek to stand out in gatherings by arguing with scholars using the knowledge Allah has given him, as you hinted at in your question. Second, one should seek knowledge with insight, as the Exalted said: . I am certain that our Salafi brothers—I say this openly—are falling short in this regard. However, the initial experience, and I do not mean to say "perhaps" in a way that makes me hesitant, leads me to be less enthusiastic about advising them to receive the Qur'an from some of the Shaykhs, even if they are Sufis, for fear that the effects of Sufism will return to them and we will lose them on one hand. But we gain on the other hand, and this requires weighing the issue. You see, the gain is greater than the loss. Therefore, I advise those who want to study, and this is their obligation, because in truth I see some of our brothers leading people in prayer who do not know how to recite, not even in the Arabic style. We do not call it recitation, no. This is a great and very great deficiency. So I advise them to focus on receiving the recitation of the Qur'an from some of the people of knowledge, but not to forget that they are Salafis in their inclination and methodology. And the Salafi does not approve of making taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence) his methodology and his creed, even though I know and you know that I say taqlid is sometimes necessary. But the difference between us and the others is that we do not make taqlid our methodology and religion, whereas they made it their religion and said, "It is obligatory to follow one of their scholars." No, rather we say that one must always intend to proceed with insight. So if something of this nature comes up during the process of receiving and learning, he is not bound or restricted because his Shaykh is a Sufi. He must ask him: Is this issue agreed upon, or is there disagreement? And if there is disagreement, why do we say this and the others say that? So he will be proceeding with insight, even in this knowledge which has little demand among the Salafis and much demand among the opponents. Now, you know that the demand for recitation and tajwid (the rules of Qur'anic recitation) has become desirable because there is material behind it. So we advise that this knowledge, like every religious knowledge, be sought for the face of Allah first, as I mentioned before. Second, one should proceed in it with insight and not submit blindly, so that he is not like a dead body in the hands of the washer. Rather, he should ask: .

The questioner : In the Salafi school, by the grace of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), there were attempts byThe Shaykh : this to drag us into the Sufi path. But the foundation we were walking on was solid. Had we not been in this school, we would have fallen into this, in truth. We faced this for about a year, trying for the Sufi path and its benefits. Had we not had a prior background, we would have fallen into this calamity. So I mean, as you mentioned, our Salafi brothers—this knowledge is very little among them, almost negligible. Why not make what you mentioned, the issue of the difference between the reciters and the people of the Sunnah, a matter of combining this attribute? For the people of the Sunnah to be reciters, so that the people do not remain... I perhaps these errors that occurred were due to the absence of a Salafi school, as there is a school for the Sunnah. It was not a Salafi school for the knowledge of the Qur'an. Why do we not take this knowledge and proceed with it in a way that pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and follow the Sunnah in it, so that this knowledge does not remain in the hands of the Sufis? I am almost certain that in the country, the vast majority of those who teach the Qur'an are Sufis.

The Shaykh : Therefore, I say to you as advice: Learn, but do not teach.

The questioner : We have been learning for three years.

The Shaykh : I have not learned; it is clear from the title that it is written.

The questioner : I tell you, for them now, it is the Sufis.

The Shaykh : My brother, accept the advice. May Allah be pleased with you. Accept the advice. Learn, but do not teach. Say, "I am not understanding, so explain it to me."

The questioner : I want the reason.

The Shaykh : The reason is that we have not heard or seen our answer.