The Tijaniyyah Method
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: We have many people who adhere to the Tijaniyyah method, and I heard on your program, *Nur 'ala al-Darb*, that this method is an innovation and it is not permissible to follow it. However, my family has the *wird* of Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani, which is the *Salat al-Fatih*, and they say that *Salat al-Fatih* is the sending of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Is this *Salat al-Fatih* the sending of blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) or not? They say that whoever reads *Salat al-Fatih* and abandons it is considered a disbeliever. They say: if you do not bear this and you abandon it, then there is nothing on you, but if you bear it and abandon it, you are considered a disbeliever. I told my father that this is not permissible, and he said to me: "You are a Wahhabi," and he insulted me. We ask for guidance.
A: The Tijaniyyah method is undoubtedly an innovation, and it is not permissible for the people of Islam to follow the innovated methods, whether the Tijaniyyah or any other. Rather, it is obligatory to follow and hold fast to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, for Allah says: [Al-Imran: 31], meaning, say, O Muhammad, to the people: [Ali 'Imran 3:31], and He says : [Al-A'raf: 3], and He the Exalted says: [Al-Hashr: 7], and He Blessed and Exalted is He says: [Al-An'am: 153]. And the paths are the newly invented ways of innovations, desires, doubts, and forbidden lusts. So Allah has made it obligatory upon us to follow His straight path, which is what the Noble Qur'an indicated, and what the authentic, established Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) indicated. This is the path that must be followed.
As for the Tijaniyyah, Shadhiliyyah, Qadiriyyah, or any other methods that people have innovated, it is not permissible to follow them except for what among them or others conforms to the Shari'ah of Allah, and that is acted upon because it conforms to the pure Shari'ah, not because it is from such-and-such a method or another. This is based on the aforementioned verses, and His saying the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 21], and His saying : [At-Tawbah: 100], and the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718a, agreed upon for its authenticity from the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b, narrated by Muslim in his Sahih, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Friday sermon: Sahih Muslim 867a, narrated by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both). And the hadiths in this meaning are numerous.
And *Salat al-Fatih* is the sending of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as they mentioned, but its wording has not been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They say in it: "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and our Prophet Muhammad, the Opener of what was closed, the Closer of what preceded, and the Victor of truth with truth." This wording has not come in the authentic hadiths in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the description of sending blessings upon him when the Companions asked him about it. So what is prescribed for the Muslim community is to send blessings upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) with the formula He prescribed for them and taught them, and not with what they have innovated.
And among that is what is established in the two Sahihs from Ka'b ibn Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to pray upon you, so how do we pray upon you? So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1288Sahih (Darussalam). And among that is what is established in the Sahih of al-Bukhari and Muslim also from the hadith of Abu Humaid al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Riyad as-Salihin 1407. And in a third hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1285Sahih (Darussalam). So these hadiths and what came in their meaning have clarified the description of the prayer upon him that he was pleased with for his Ummah and commanded them to do.
As for *Salat al-Fatih*, even if its meaning is correct in general, it is not recommended to adopt it and deviate from what is authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in explaining the description of sending blessings upon him that is commanded. Moreover, the phrase "the Opener of what was closed" contains ambiguity that may be interpreted by some people of desires in an incorrect meaning. And Allah is the One who grants success.
A: The Tijaniyyah method is undoubtedly an innovation, and it is not permissible for the people of Islam to follow the innovated methods, whether the Tijaniyyah or any other. Rather, it is obligatory to follow and hold fast to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, for Allah says:
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْIf you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
إن كنتم تحبون الله فاتبعوني يحببكم الله ويغفر لكم ذنوبكمFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَAnd whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواAnd, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِAs for the Tijaniyyah, Shadhiliyyah, Qadiriyyah, or any other methods that people have innovated, it is not permissible to follow them except for what among them or others conforms to the Shari'ah of Allah, and that is acted upon because it conforms to the pure Shari'ah, not because it is from such-and-such a method or another. This is based on the aforementioned verses, and His saying the Exalted:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًاAnd the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThe best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
أما بعد؛ فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله وخير الهدى هدى محمد ﷺ وشر الأمور محدثاتها وكل بدعة ضلالةAnd *Salat al-Fatih* is the sending of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as they mentioned, but its wording has not been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They say in it: "O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and our Prophet Muhammad, the Opener of what was closed, the Closer of what preceded, and the Victor of truth with truth." This wording has not come in the authentic hadiths in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the description of sending blessings upon him when the Companions asked him about it. So what is prescribed for the Muslim community is to send blessings upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) with the formula He prescribed for them and taught them, and not with what they have innovated.
And among that is what is established in the two Sahihs from Ka'b ibn Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to pray upon you, so how do we pray upon you? So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Say: Alahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa barik 'ala Muhammad kama barakta 'ala ali Ibrahim fil-'alamin, innaka hamidun majid (O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim among the nations. You are indeed Worthy of praise, Full of glory.)
قولوا: اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وآل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وآل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيدSay: 'Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima; wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum-Majid (O Allah sent Your Salat (O Allah, exalt the mention of Muhammad and his wives and offspring as You exalted the mention of the family of Ibrahim, and bless Muhammad and the wives and the offspring of Muhammad as you blessed the family of Ibrahim. You are the Praised, the Glorious'.
قولوا: اللهم صل على محمد وعلى أزواجه وذريته كما صليت على آل إبراهيم وبارك على محمد وعلى أزواجه وذريته كما باركت على إبراهيم وآل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيدSay: 'Alahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa barik 'ala Muhammad kama barakta 'ala ali Ibrahim fil-'alamin, innaka hamidun majid (O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim among the nations. You are indeed Worthy of praise, Full of glory.)
قولوا: اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على آل إبراهيم وبارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على آل إبراهيم في العالمين إنك حميد مجيدAs for *Salat al-Fatih*, even if its meaning is correct in general, it is not recommended to adopt it and deviate from what is authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in explaining the description of sending blessings upon him that is commanded. Moreover, the phrase "the Opener of what was closed" contains ambiguity that may be interpreted by some people of desires in an incorrect meaning. And Allah is the One who grants success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.