The Ruling on Following Shaykhs and Imitating Them
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Question:
This is a letter from the questioner, Ubayd Muhammad Awad al-Sayyid, a Sudanese resident in Iraq, in the Anbar Governorate. He sent three questions. In his first question, he says: In our country, there are divided sects, each sect following a shaykh who guides them and teaches them things. They believe that these shaykhs will intercede for them with Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and that whoever does not follow one of these shaykhs is considered lost in this world and the Hereafter. So, is it obligatory for us to follow these people, or to oppose them?
Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance. After that:
The questioner mentions that they have three shaykhs whom they follow, and that whoever does not have a shaykh is lost in this world and the Hereafter if he does not obey this shaykh.
The answer to this is: This is an error and an abomination. It is not permissible to adopt this practice or to hold this belief.
This is a reality found among many of the Sufis, who see their shaykhs as leaders and believe that it is obligatory to follow them absolutely. This is a great error and great ignorance. There is no one in this world whom it is obligatory to follow and whose words must be accepted, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He is the one to be followed (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for scholars, every one of them errs and hits the mark. Therefore, it is not permissible to follow the opinion of any person, whoever he may be, unless it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah. Even if he is a great scholar, his words are not obligatory to follow unless they agree with the Shari'ah of Allah that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. This applies to the Sufis and non-Sufis alike. The belief of the Sufis in these shaykhs is false and erroneous. It is obligatory for them to repent to Allah from that, and to follow Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in what he brought of guidance. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 31]. The meaning is: Say, O Messenger, to the people: [Ali 'Imran 3:31] The intended meaning is that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says: O people. The meaning is: Say, O Muhammad, to these people who claim love: [Ali 'Imran 3:31] Meaning: Address them with this, and make clear to them and explain it to them. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Hashr: 7]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Taghabun: 12]. He said: [An-Nur: 56].
So the obligatory obedience is obedience to Allah and His Messenger. It is not permissible to obey any person after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) unless his words agree with the Shari'ah of Allah. Every person errs and hits the mark, except the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for Allah protected him and preserved him in what he conveys to the people of the Shari'ah of Allah. Allah the Exalted said: [An-Najm: 1-4].
So it is upon us all to follow what he (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, and to hold fast to the religion of Allah, and to preserve it, and not to be deceived by the opinions of men, and not to accept their errors. Rather, it is obligatory that the words of people and the opinions of people be presented to the Book of Allah and to the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So whatever agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, or one of them, is accepted, and whatever does not, is not. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [An-Nisa: 59]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Ash-Shura: 10]. He (may He be exalted) said: : [Al-An'am: 153].
So imitating the shaykhs and following their opinions, whether they are true or false, is a matter that is not permissible according to all scholars. In fact, it is an abomination by the consensus of the people of the Sunnah and the community, by the consensus of the scholars. But whatever of the words of the scholars agrees with the truth is accepted, because it agrees with the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so. And whatever of the words of people, whether from scholars or Sufi shaykhs or others, contradicts the truth, must be rejected, and the truth that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) brought must be adopted. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
This is a letter from the questioner, Ubayd Muhammad Awad al-Sayyid, a Sudanese resident in Iraq, in the Anbar Governorate. He sent three questions. In his first question, he says: In our country, there are divided sects, each sect following a shaykh who guides them and teaches them things. They believe that these shaykhs will intercede for them with Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and that whoever does not follow one of these shaykhs is considered lost in this world and the Hereafter. So, is it obligatory for us to follow these people, or to oppose them?
Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance. After that:
The questioner mentions that they have three shaykhs whom they follow, and that whoever does not have a shaykh is lost in this world and the Hereafter if he does not obey this shaykh.
The answer to this is: This is an error and an abomination. It is not permissible to adopt this practice or to hold this belief.
This is a reality found among many of the Sufis, who see their shaykhs as leaders and believe that it is obligatory to follow them absolutely. This is a great error and great ignorance. There is no one in this world whom it is obligatory to follow and whose words must be accepted, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He is the one to be followed (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for scholars, every one of them errs and hits the mark. Therefore, it is not permissible to follow the opinion of any person, whoever he may be, unless it agrees with the Shari'ah of Allah. Even if he is a great scholar, his words are not obligatory to follow unless they agree with the Shari'ah of Allah that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought. This applies to the Sufis and non-Sufis alike. The belief of the Sufis in these shaykhs is false and erroneous. It is obligatory for them to repent to Allah from that, and to follow Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in what he brought of guidance. Allah the Exalted said:
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
إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْIf you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you
إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُAnd whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواAnd obey Allah and obey the Messenger
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَAnd establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَSo the obligatory obedience is obedience to Allah and His Messenger. It is not permissible to obey any person after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) unless his words agree with the Shari'ah of Allah. Every person errs and hits the mark, except the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for Allah protected him and preserved him in what he conveys to the people of the Shari'ah of Allah. Allah the Exalted said:
(1) By the star when it descends, (2) Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, (3) Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. (4) It is not but a revelation revealed,
وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَى مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىSo it is upon us all to follow what he (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, and to hold fast to the religion of Allah, and to preserve it, and not to be deceived by the opinions of men, and not to accept their errors. Rather, it is obligatory that the words of people and the opinions of people be presented to the Book of Allah and to the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So whatever agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, or one of them, is accepted, and whatever does not, is not. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAnd, [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. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَSo imitating the shaykhs and following their opinions, whether they are true or false, is a matter that is not permissible according to all scholars. In fact, it is an abomination by the consensus of the people of the Sunnah and the community, by the consensus of the scholars. But whatever of the words of the scholars agrees with the truth is accepted, because it agrees with the truth, not because it is the word of so-and-so. And whatever of the words of people, whether from scholars or Sufi shaykhs or others, contradicts the truth, must be rejected, and the truth that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) brought must be adopted. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.