The Difference between following the path of the salaf (pious predecessors) and the path of the Hadaadiyyah
Sheikh Rabee' (hafithahullah) answered:
The difference between the two of them is the following: Concerning the
Hadaadees; their founder is a man who is an individual who adheres to
his desires, someone characterized by his jealousy, hatred, and contempt
for the scholars. As for his life history, previously he was in Egypt
before he came to this land of Saudi Arabia. He is someone well known
for his acts of oppression and outrages against the scholars.
When
he came to Riyaadh, he established himself here for seven years, but
did not personally meet Sheikh Ibn Baaz, Sheikh al-Fawzaan, Sheikh
at-Tuwayjaree, or any of the well known scholars of the Sunnah – never!
And he did not take from the scholars knowledge of anything, due to the
high degree of his hostility, self pride, and belief in his superiority.
Then
he came to Medina with a specific goal and objective – that being to
instigate trials. He came forward feigning submissiveness, with the
guise of mildness and humility until such a time that he was able to
obtain statements of recommendation from some of the scholars of Medina.
Then he proceeded to gather a group of malicious individuals, and
various rabble around him.
The
people of knowledge in Medinah did not observe any distinguishing
feature about him nor of those with him other than their rebellion and
revolt against them, and against the scholars of the Kingdom. They
attacked the scholars everywhere, to the extent that they attacked
Sheikh Jameel ar-Rahmaan in Afghaanistaan directing attacks at him after
his death through martyrdom, may Allaah have mercy upon him. And we
hope that Allaah makes him from among His martyrs.
As
their way is one of agitating, inciting, and rising up against the
people of the Sunnah, their methodology, and their sincere advisors. By
Allaah, indeed I advised them, and treated them gently, and debated
matters with them in a manner that I hoped would enable them to return
back from their false way. By Allaah, we did not wish any trials.
However, they refused any way except that of rebellion, insitigating
trials, and proceeding onwards as those who ruin and destroy matters
through malicious speech towards the people of Sunnah. They would haphazardly say, “This one is a liar, and this one is a sinner, this one is that and that.'
Additionally, they poured forth attacks against Haafidh Ibn Hajr, and
Imaam as-Shawkaanee, claiming that they are to be abandoned, and
occupying the Salafees with this matter to a degree that there has been
no other parallel for!
One
of the Salafees produced a written response to them, discussing and
critiquing some of the writings and statements of al-Hadaad. So they
sprang forth to attack this individual through audio cassettes and
books! They attack in a devastating manner anyone from the people of the
Sunnah who would write clarifications, by defaming them, assulting
them, and slandering them.
Additionally,
one of the youth refuted them when they attacked Sheikh Muhammad 'Amaan
al-Jaamee', Sheikh Saaleh as-Suhaimee, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Rabee',
Sheikh Rabee' ibn Haadee (myself). To myself, Rabee' Ibn Haadee, they
attempted to attribute the authorship of that book which was written in
defense of Sheikh Muhammad Amaan . Al-Haddaad, the known liar, swore by
Allaah that the one who must have written that book was Rabee'!!
From their distinguishing characteristics is lying,
corruption, and spreading hatred toward the scholars – attempting to
bring them down; as well as self-aggrandizement while at the same time
reducing and belittling all others. This continued until it reached such a level that some of them would say,
'It is upon so and so and so and so – from the major scholars and people of knowledge – to go to the wife of al-Hadaad and to kneel at her hands and take knowledge from her.'
In this way they became those who disrespected and spread contempt for the scholars, while also accusing them of truly being ignorant.
'It is upon so and so and so and so – from the major scholars and people of knowledge – to go to the wife of al-Hadaad and to kneel at her hands and take knowledge from her.'
In this way they became those who disrespected and spread contempt for the scholars, while also accusing them of truly being ignorant.
So, the one who possesses these characteristics, he is a Hadaadee.
The one who revolts against the scholars, and attacks them, desiring to
topple and bring them down through the means which we have mentioned,
he is a Hadaadee. They are liars and deceivers, and slanderers, and
when we clarified the deception of their Sheikh and their mistakes and
falsehoods, they only increased in their extremism. So everyone who
is similar to them, going to extremes regarding individuals, and
rejecting the established proofs and evidences, and slandering the
people of the Sunnah – then he is a Hadaadee, perhaps even worse than
them.
Presently
there is a group of individuals on the internet who are upon this way
and pattern of behaviour. This group on the internet portrays the people
of the Sunnah as being Hadaadees, while the characteristics of the
Hadaadees are actually clearly found among those putting for the
accusation! Meaning extremism, lying, rejection of the truth – this is exactly the way of the Hadaadees.
So understand this, and firmly comprehend these distinguishing characteristics which they possess. Such
that it is clear that the one in whom these characteristics are found
is from the Hadaadees, or is someone who is similar to or close to them,
or perhaps someone even more evil than them.
The
believer loves and respects the religion, values sound intellect,
honours this methodology and path, and respects this connection to the
path of the first generations. He does not surrender or place his
intellect into the hands of the foolish for them to toy and sport with,
and so playing and manipulating his religion. He does not surrender his
religion for the sake of anyone, no matter who that person may be. By
Allaah, he does not surrender his religion to another person, even if
it be the most remarkable and significant of noteworthy individuals
after the Noble Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah's praise and
salutations. Indeed, he does not surrender his religion to anyone.
Because
unrestricted obedience is only for Allaah, and unrestricted allegiance
is only to Allaah and the Messenger of Allaah, and to the noble
Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah's praise and
salutations, was engaged in or related. Likewise the Companions of the
Messenger of Allaah collectively carried and conveyed the truth in
whatever they were engaged in. But as for anyone else, then their case is not the same; at times they are correct and at times they are mistaken.
Extremism
in the religion is from the most offensive and evil of characteristics.
Likewise extremism in relation to individuals is also from the most
offensive and evil of characteristics. The Messenger of Allaah, upon him
be Allaah's praise and salutations, said,
“Do not exaggerate in your praise of me as the Christians have exaggerated in the case of 'Isaa Ibn Maryam.”
If
the Messenger of Allaah, upon him be Allaah's praise and salutations,
did not permit exaggeration in regard to him, then how can we now even
approach exaggeration in regarding small, miniscule individuals! And
we seek refuge in Allaah from exaggerating the status of deficient
individuals and making them as if they were infallible giants and
mountains, and so on! This is to be considered lying against Allaah and
from extremism in regard to individuals, and extremism in the religion.
We seek refuge in Allaah from these characteristics.
In
this same manner, the Hadaadees have extremism towards al-Hadaad,
elevating his position and status, while he is actually an ignorant,
misguided individual who is both unsteady and confused. Yet they endorse
and approve of him, my brothers! He has said, “I have for the past twenty years warned against the Muslim brotherhood organization, and warned against Sayyid Qutb”, and so on.
But
we have not seen form him a single book nor heard from him an audio
lecture in which he seeks to combat and strive against them. However, in
relation to his reaching out to take up arms against the Salafees, then
he proceeds like a savage lion. He actively writes about and produces
and distributes audio lectures about them. Indeed, he wrote a small book
regarding Sheikh al Albaani (rahimahullah), amounting to about 40
pages, which he filled with lies and corruption, which he entitled, “Five: The Introduction, The Conclusion, The Right, The Left, and The Heart.”
Fine,
clearly this is like the efforts of an army, in attacking and engaging
in combat. Then why didn't you direct such works towards the sect of the
Raafidhah?! Why didn't you direct the work “al-Khamees” against
the organization known as the Muslim Brotherhood?! Yet you claim that
you have been warning against them for twenty years?! Why haven't you
directed this violent army of effort towards them?! But instead you
direct it towards Sheikh al-Albaani (rahimahullah), while he is the
Imaam of the people of the Sunnah in this age?!?!
Likewise,
presently there are tremendous attacks from them. Sheikh al Albaani is
no longer here, so the attacks have turned to other than him; and
certainly this is from the evident characteristics of the Hadaadees.
There is currently a group of them, working on the internet. They
presently engage in this fighting against the people of Sunnah. They
still have the work “al Khamees,” of al-Hadaad, and they are
fighting through books, audio lectures, and various statements, while
they label the people the Sunnah as Hadaadees. They accuse me of having
this disease, of being infected or tainted by it.
For that reason, we
advise these individuals to repent to Allaah, to surrender their
affairs to Allaah, to yield and comply to Allaah, and to honour the
Salafee methodology and path, as well as to honour and respect their
intellects and persons; otherwise they will encounter and be faced with a
new affliction which is even worse than the affliction of the deviation
of the Hadaadiyyah.
Equally
from their distinguishing characteristics, is their lack of acting with
mercy. Such that if we supplicate for mercy upon the likes of Imaam Ibn
Hajr, or Imaam as-Shawkaanee, or Imaam an Nawwawi, they say,
“Innovator!” If we say about Ibn Hajr “Haafidh,” they say, “Innovator!”
We repply, “They are from the people of Sunnah, but are known to have
mistakenly fallen into some aspects of the deviations of the
'Ash'arees.” But they say, 'No, it is required that you say that
they are innovators. And if you do not state that they are innovators,
then you likewise are also innovators!!' We reply to them, “Rather,
if we were to only say that so and so Ash'aree, the meaning of this is
that he was primarily upon their innovation in the religion.”
Additionally,
it is clear that the individual who wishes to speak courteously with
good manners it is not always required that he states that so and so is
an innovator. I have read to them from the biographies written by Imaam
al Bukhaaree. We read the biography of Jaaabir al-Ja'fee, as well as
others and we could clearly see that he did not explicitly state that
they were innovators, while he knew clearly that so and so was from the
sect of the Raafidhah. But he did not say about him he was an “innovator
in the religion.” Because this is not a general or absolute
requirement.
One
should clarify their deviation in order to advise the people; however
it is not required that you say explicitly “innovator” or even that “he
is not an innovator.” But they rejected this from us. Similarly,
individuals who are not of any significance have even called me from
outside of the country and said to me, “What is your position towards Ibn Hajr?” I replied, “He is known to have aspects of the innovations of the Ash'aree sect.” He said, “Never could this statement be considered sufficient, you are astray!! It is required that you say he is an innovator!”
So
we see this among them, as well as them having other matters which I
have not brought up but which are similar to these matters which we will
further explain. Meaning, what are the distinguishing characteristics
of the Hadaadees, and who are they? What are their principles and
objectives? We will explain all of this, may Allaah bless you.”
[Source: Various Rulings Regarding Beliefs and Methodology – First Sitting]
