The Shaykh’s mention of some deviant sects, and his explanation that every Hanafi in the branches is a Maturidi in creed

The Shaykh : You know that there are among them: the Mu'tazilah, the Murji'ah, and the Khawarij. And recently we spoke about a new phenomenon where questions have started coming from Oman from the Ibadis. We said, "What are these Ibadis?" They are a sect of the Khawarij, and so on. And among these sects are the Maturidiyyah and the Asha'irah. The Maturidiyyah and the Asha'irah. Of course, these are scholarly matters known by those who have studied them. So now, listen to something you may not have heard before: every Hanafi in the branches of jurisprudence is a Maturidi in creed.

The questioner : Subhan Allah!

The Shaykh : Yes, every Hanafi in the branches, in acts of worship and in transactions, must necessarily be a Maturidi in creed. And every Shafi'i in the branches must necessarily be an Ash'ari in creed. The Maturidiyyah and the Asha'irah say—and here is the crux of the matter—"The knowledge of the Salaf is safer, and the knowledge of the Khalaf is more knowledgeable and more precise." So, by the admission of the Khalaf, there are two types of knowledge. But they erred and were wretched when they preferred the knowledge of the Khalaf over the knowledge of the Salaf. They say, "The knowledge of the Salaf is safer, but the knowledge of the Khalaf is more knowledgeable and more precise." Therefore, in response to this statement, we say: We are Salafis, meaning we understand the Shari'ah as the righteous Salaf understood it. The Shari'ah in general, and specifically the foundation and the head, which relates to creed and the oneness of Allah. Now, a famous example of how the Salaf interpret: , and how the Khalaf interpret: ? The Salaf say, as Imam Malik said, and he is one of the heads of the Salaf: "The rising is known, the how is unknown, and asking about the how is a religious innovation." The Khalaf say: No, the rising is dominion; the rising is dominion and control. Yet they say, "The knowledge of the Salaf is safer, and the knowledge of the Khalaf is more knowledgeable and more precise." We say: No, we are Salafis. Now, even if we do not go far with you, the situation does not work if you are asked, "What is your madhhab?" and you say, "I am a Muslim. What do I need madhhabs for? I am a Muslim." The situation does not work. Why? Because there is no Muslim, no matter how deeply entrenched in deviation from what the righteous Salaf were upon—whether from the Mu'tazilah, the Khawarij, or the Maturidiyyah and the Asha'irah, the Murji'ah, and the like—they all say, "We are Muslims." So if you are asked, "O Abu Faris, what is your madhhab?" and you say, "Muslim," you have not answered what I wanted, because I will say to you: For example, are you a Hanafi Muslim or a Shafi'i Muslim? No, I have none.