What is the difference between the saved sect and the victorious group, and if there is a difference, what is the validity of what they attribute to the idea that the saved sect means the general body of the people of the Sunnah?
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The questioner : What is the difference between the saved sect and the victorious group, and if there is a difference, what is the validity of what they attribute to the idea that the saved sect means the general body of the people of the Sunnah and the victorious group is this...?
The Shaykh : I will be frank with you in answering this question, and perhaps I have done so with others as well.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not want you, I do not want you to widen the patch on the patcher, but rather I want you to make the tear as small as you can. Distinguishing between these two texts may involve a nuance for some people that should not lead to the creation of a new sect. Yes, I have no doubt that I have read some of this distinction in the books of al-Ghuraba, which I think is by Salman al-Oudah.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I have also heard from some of our brothers a part of this dispute and disagreement that has arisen recently. So my opinion is that such a partial disagreement, which has no relation to creed, should not be a cause for separating those who are united in creed and methodology. And I say, to a great extent and a very great extent, that such details should not divide the ranks.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And we are in most need of unifying the word and gathering the ranks.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And we all know that the righteous Salaf, praise be to Allah, were not differing in the fundamentals, but they were differing in some rulings. And yet, such a difference in rulings was not a cause for dividing their word or weakening their strength. For some reason, I see that one who belongs to the methodology of the righteous Salaf has no harm in declaring this belonging, because it is a belonging to a methodology for which there is no alternative. We call all people, even the followers of taqlid, let alone those who agree with us on the obligation of returning to the Book and the Sunnah, we call them all to not limit themselves, to not limit themselves to calling to the Book and the Sunnah only, but rather it is obligatory for them to include with that the methodology of the righteous Salaf. The call must be to the Book and the Sunnah and to the methodology of the righteous Salaf. Why? Because the methodology of the righteous Salaf is the regulator for those who hold fast to the Book and the Sunnah, lest they diverge in interpreting some of these texts. So their return to the righteous Salaf also unites them on what the righteous Salaf were upon. We know that the righteous Salaf had some difference among them in some issues, but even so, that was not a cause for division. I see now that this simple, easy issue has created a very severe disagreement among one group, which is the group of the Book and the Sunnah. But I, and peace be upon you, I am asking now: does this that distinguishes between the saved sect and the victorious group, or does not distinguish, do they not meet on the methodology of the Book and the Sunnah and what the righteous Salaf were upon? I am asking this question; this is a fundamental question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is that not so?
The questioner : ... we agree, but there are some...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
The questioner : The disagreement may be in the methodology or in the understanding, and there may be... likewise, because as Imam al-Shafi'i said, "Whoever says in a statement, 'The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not his imam,' has innovated." And likewise Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) says, "Do not say in an issue, 'There is no imam for you in it.'"
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Or as it is narrated from them. We leave it, let us say these issues are for the preservation of the methodology that the righteous Salaf were upon, may Allah be pleased with them.
The Shaykh: Correct.
The questioner : And it is not an issue of sect or schism, but rather it is an issue of preservation and defense of the concept by which we profess our religion to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So if we accept that the belief, for example, is one, and the believer is one, praise be to Allah and thanks and favor, but we differ in understanding this belief, and in the laxity of some parties in this belief and the shortcoming in that area, here, may Allah bless you, it is long, and the issue here is that there is a blurring between creed and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Some parties or some individuals say it... in every issue, and they have no imam in it. We are not against anyone, but rather we are, as we have explained to you, defending this methodology with all we have, praise be to Allah and thanks and favor. We have, we still have scholars like you.
The Shaykh: Excuse me.
The questioner : We return to them in the case of disagreement, and this is in realization of His saying (the Exalted):[An-Nahl 16:43].
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you.
The questioner : So we are not against anyone, but rather we love people according to their holding fast to the Book and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So do not understand from our words that we are with one side or against one side.
The Shaykh : In my opinion.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : In your speech, you are expressing what is in your heart.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And you are sincere.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : But I am speaking about what I have felt.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And about what I have found in many of our brothers whom we describe as Salafis. Hatred has become apparent in their hearts among the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) themselves. Ah, even so, I want to comment with a word, if you allow me, on what you mentioned regarding the preservation of the methodology and the principle.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a very good thing, bismillah, but this does not mean, may Allah bless you.
The questioner : And may He reward you.
The Shaykh : That the methodological person is infallible during his application of his methodology.
The Shaykh : I will be frank with you in answering this question, and perhaps I have done so with others as well.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not want you, I do not want you to widen the patch on the patcher, but rather I want you to make the tear as small as you can. Distinguishing between these two texts may involve a nuance for some people that should not lead to the creation of a new sect. Yes, I have no doubt that I have read some of this distinction in the books of al-Ghuraba, which I think is by Salman al-Oudah.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I have also heard from some of our brothers a part of this dispute and disagreement that has arisen recently. So my opinion is that such a partial disagreement, which has no relation to creed, should not be a cause for separating those who are united in creed and methodology. And I say, to a great extent and a very great extent, that such details should not divide the ranks.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And we are in most need of unifying the word and gathering the ranks.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And we all know that the righteous Salaf, praise be to Allah, were not differing in the fundamentals, but they were differing in some rulings. And yet, such a difference in rulings was not a cause for dividing their word or weakening their strength. For some reason, I see that one who belongs to the methodology of the righteous Salaf has no harm in declaring this belonging, because it is a belonging to a methodology for which there is no alternative. We call all people, even the followers of taqlid, let alone those who agree with us on the obligation of returning to the Book and the Sunnah, we call them all to not limit themselves, to not limit themselves to calling to the Book and the Sunnah only, but rather it is obligatory for them to include with that the methodology of the righteous Salaf. The call must be to the Book and the Sunnah and to the methodology of the righteous Salaf. Why? Because the methodology of the righteous Salaf is the regulator for those who hold fast to the Book and the Sunnah, lest they diverge in interpreting some of these texts. So their return to the righteous Salaf also unites them on what the righteous Salaf were upon. We know that the righteous Salaf had some difference among them in some issues, but even so, that was not a cause for division. I see now that this simple, easy issue has created a very severe disagreement among one group, which is the group of the Book and the Sunnah. But I, and peace be upon you, I am asking now: does this that distinguishes between the saved sect and the victorious group, or does not distinguish, do they not meet on the methodology of the Book and the Sunnah and what the righteous Salaf were upon? I am asking this question; this is a fundamental question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is that not so?
The questioner : ... we agree, but there are some...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
The questioner : The disagreement may be in the methodology or in the understanding, and there may be... likewise, because as Imam al-Shafi'i said, "Whoever says in a statement, 'The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not his imam,' has innovated." And likewise Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) says, "Do not say in an issue, 'There is no imam for you in it.'"
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Or as it is narrated from them. We leave it, let us say these issues are for the preservation of the methodology that the righteous Salaf were upon, may Allah be pleased with them.
The Shaykh: Correct.
The questioner : And it is not an issue of sect or schism, but rather it is an issue of preservation and defense of the concept by which we profess our religion to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So if we accept that the belief, for example, is one, and the believer is one, praise be to Allah and thanks and favor, but we differ in understanding this belief, and in the laxity of some parties in this belief and the shortcoming in that area, here, may Allah bless you, it is long, and the issue here is that there is a blurring between creed and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Some parties or some individuals say it... in every issue, and they have no imam in it. We are not against anyone, but rather we are, as we have explained to you, defending this methodology with all we have, praise be to Allah and thanks and favor. We have, we still have scholars like you.
The Shaykh: Excuse me.
The questioner : We return to them in the case of disagreement, and this is in realization of His saying (the Exalted):
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَThe Shaykh : May Allah reward you.
The questioner : So we are not against anyone, but rather we love people according to their holding fast to the Book and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So do not understand from our words that we are with one side or against one side.
The Shaykh : In my opinion.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : In your speech, you are expressing what is in your heart.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And you are sincere.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : But I am speaking about what I have felt.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And about what I have found in many of our brothers whom we describe as Salafis. Hatred has become apparent in their hearts among the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) themselves. Ah, even so, I want to comment with a word, if you allow me, on what you mentioned regarding the preservation of the methodology and the principle.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a very good thing, bismillah, but this does not mean, may Allah bless you.
The questioner : And may He reward you.
The Shaykh : That the methodological person is infallible during his application of his methodology.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.