The remainder of the answer to: What is the ruling on affiliating with the Islamic groups present on the scene?
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The Shaykh : These are Ikhwan, these are Salafis, these are reformists, and so on. I see that it is obligatory for some of them to gather together, to deliberate on the matter, and to emerge with a single thought and a single opinion. As for them being hostile to one another now, as is the case on the scene, you find these cursing those and attacking their honor. This weakens everyone now. If the common people see that they are in a state of blindness, where this one says, "The truth is with me, and falsehood is with that one," and this one says, "The truth is with me, and falsehood is with the other," the common people remain confused.
The questioner : All right, O Shaykh, a student of knowledge!
The Shaykh : No, you have one question.
The questioner : This is an important topic and it needs clear fatwas, because the youth have become divided.
The Shaykh : I have now given you a clear fatwa. The clear one is: I see that it is not permissible to be partisan, ever.
The questioner : All right, is affiliation permissible, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Nor is affiliation permissible. Affiliation means that you feel that you are separate from the others. How can you separate yourself from the others when they are your brothers among the believers? If your brothers have erred in something practical or doctrinal, gather with them, discuss it with them, and clarify the error to them. But be confident that if they hear, for example, that these people are defaming them or warning against them, they will cling more tightly to what they are upon, even if it is false, because this is the nature of the human soul.
But if we said: O people, we are all Muslim brothers, we all want to reach the Shari'ah of Allah, so let us be equal upon it. If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Ali 'Imran 3:64] How then with our Muslim brothers?! Come to a word of equality between us and you. For example, the Tablighi have a rule: that a person goes out for three days, or four, or a week, or a month. So we investigate this method: what is it?
And they have, for example, a rule against delving into scientific matters and going deep into them. So we discuss with them and say: Why do you decide on three days, or four, or a week, or a month, or the like? Why? And we look to see if they have a correct purpose and a beneficial intention. If so, we do not go to declare them innovators or publicize them for that. And if they dislike discussion in knowledge and delving into it, we ask them: Why?
They said: So that enmity does not arise between the discussants. We say: This is wrong. The person who wants the truth, if another discusses with him to reach the truth, does not hate him. Rather, he may say: This is a blessing of Allah upon me that someone discusses with me, so that if I am in error, my error becomes clear to me.
The questioner : Another question on the same topic.
The Shaykh : No, there is no question.
The questioner : I requested you, O Shaykh. Salem al-Tuwail and Hamad al-Othman, who are with us in Kuwait, are openly fighting against non-partisanship, and they oppose some of the groups, except whom Allah has mercy upon. What is your advice to them? Shaykh Hamad and Salem al-Tuwail.
The Shaykh : This is my advice, and I have just heard it for them and for others. And I also inform you that in our gathering, we do not address a specific person's name. But because you do not know our methodology, we forgive you for this.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Otherwise, we do not accept that anyone speaks about a specific person, whoever it is. Yes.
The questioner : All right, O Shaykh, a student of knowledge!
The Shaykh : No, you have one question.
The questioner : This is an important topic and it needs clear fatwas, because the youth have become divided.
The Shaykh : I have now given you a clear fatwa. The clear one is: I see that it is not permissible to be partisan, ever.
The questioner : All right, is affiliation permissible, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Nor is affiliation permissible. Affiliation means that you feel that you are separate from the others. How can you separate yourself from the others when they are your brothers among the believers? If your brothers have erred in something practical or doctrinal, gather with them, discuss it with them, and clarify the error to them. But be confident that if they hear, for example, that these people are defaming them or warning against them, they will cling more tightly to what they are upon, even if it is false, because this is the nature of the human soul.
But if we said: O people, we are all Muslim brothers, we all want to reach the Shari'ah of Allah, so let us be equal upon it. If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاًAnd they have, for example, a rule against delving into scientific matters and going deep into them. So we discuss with them and say: Why do you decide on three days, or four, or a week, or a month, or the like? Why? And we look to see if they have a correct purpose and a beneficial intention. If so, we do not go to declare them innovators or publicize them for that. And if they dislike discussion in knowledge and delving into it, we ask them: Why?
They said: So that enmity does not arise between the discussants. We say: This is wrong. The person who wants the truth, if another discusses with him to reach the truth, does not hate him. Rather, he may say: This is a blessing of Allah upon me that someone discusses with me, so that if I am in error, my error becomes clear to me.
The questioner : Another question on the same topic.
The Shaykh : No, there is no question.
The questioner : I requested you, O Shaykh. Salem al-Tuwail and Hamad al-Othman, who are with us in Kuwait, are openly fighting against non-partisanship, and they oppose some of the groups, except whom Allah has mercy upon. What is your advice to them? Shaykh Hamad and Salem al-Tuwail.
The Shaykh : This is my advice, and I have just heard it for them and for others. And I also inform you that in our gathering, we do not address a specific person's name. But because you do not know our methodology, we forgive you for this.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Otherwise, we do not accept that anyone speaks about a specific person, whoever it is. Yes.