Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee 'Umayr Al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) was asked the following question after a recent lecture he delivered in Masjid Al-Qiblatayn, Medinah.

Question: A novel way of putting people off the scholars has appeared, which is to categorize the scholars into those who are harsh and those who are lenient (tolerant), and sometimes [the people who claim this] say the scholars of one region are harsh and those of another are tolerant. What is your guidance on this?

Answer by Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee 'Umayr Al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah):

This is one of the methods of the enemies of the Salafi Manhaj. Amongst the Salaf there were those who were lenient but they never used to hold it against each other. Rather, they used to respect those who were harsh against the followers of falsehood. You have [for example] Hammaad bin Salamah (rahimahullaah). Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) used to praise him greatly and suspect the religion of anyone who spoke against him [saying],

quote:
Whoever speaks against Hammaad bin Salamah, then suspect his religion because he [Hammaad bin Salamah] was harsh against the People of Bid'ah.

Being harsh against the people of falsehood used to be a virtue according to the Salaf. But since the People of Bid'ah and misguidance have come and taken over the minds of many of the youth, very regrettably, being harsh against the people of falsehood has become a "vice and a defect," and being relaxed and flexible [with them] has become a "distinction and an honorable trait."

[You must] adhere to the Salafi Manhaj and take the Salafi position towards the People of Bid'ah. It is not wrong to call them to Allaah wisely and through good exhortation. If they respond, thanks and praise are for Allaah. If they do not, there is no wrong in being harsh against them and...

The Salaf were harsh against them, and [in some cases] ordered some of them to be executed... [The Salaf] wrote many works [in refutation of them]. What do you say about them? Read Al-Sharee'ah of Al-Ajurree, read Al-Sunnah of 'Abdullah bin Ahmad, read Al-Sunnah of Al-Khallaal. Those [who decry being harsh towards the people of falsehood] have not read these works, they have not read these works and seen the position taken by the Salaf towards the People of Bid'ah and deviation.

What should our stance be towards the Jahmiyah, what should our stance be towards the Raafidah and what should our stance be towards their followers and supporters? Many who associate themselves with the Salafi Manhaj got influenced by these currents and became compromised and began to fight against the callers to truth and the Sunnah [by accusing them of being] "harsh."

I have written [refutations], and I am the harshest one. I wrote during the time of Ibn Baaz, Al-Albaanee and Al-'Uthaymeen. I refuted the Ikhwaan Al-Muslimoon (the Muslim "Brotherhood"), Al-Tableegh (Tablighi Fircat) and all the People of Bid'ah and those scholars supported these writings and supported Rabee'. None of them opposed him and none of them said... Al-Albaanee said a statement praising Rabee', "[Shaikh Rabee'] is the bearer of the standard of Jarh and Ta'deel in this era." Hmm, what do you think about this? Then [Al-Albaanee] said [Rabee'] has some harshness in him. These compromisers rejoiced and flew with the quote [spreading it everywhere]. I contacted Shaykh Al-Albaanee and said, "Why o Shaikh do you accuse me of being harsh?" He said, "By Allaah this is what I personally think." I said, "O Shaikh, this harms the Salafi Da'wah and it harms me." So the Shaykh apologized - rahimahullah. Shortly afterwards, I sent him [my book] Al-'Awaasim mimmaa fee Kutub Sayed Qutb min Al-Qawaasim, which is the harshest book I have written. [Shaykh Al-Albaanee] read it and supported it because it was the truth, and said, 'You have spoken the truth, so continue and do more o Shaykh Rabee',' or words to that effect - rahimahullaah.

Ibn Baaz never... He used to say, "Refute the People of Bid'ah with wisdom and good exhortation." He never used to oppose me, and by Allaah he wrote to me saying, "It has reached me that you have refuted Al-Mawdoodee - rahimahullaah - and I hope you can send me a copy of this refutation." He never used to object. Shaikh Al-Tuwayjiree used to refute and refute harshly the People of Bid'ah, and Shaikh Ibn Baaz used to support him and recommend his books. Hmm, he never once said - and [Shaykh Al-Tuwayjiree also] used to refute Al-Albaanee - may Allaah bless you... Shaikh Ibn Baaz never silenced him, he would never say to him, 'be silent,' he would never say, 'you are harsh,' may Allaah bless you. Al-Fawzaan used to refute the People of Bid'ah during the time of Shaykh Ibn Baaz, and he never said, 'be silent,' may Allaah bless you. Rather he would support him... There are so many writings [Shaykh Ibn Baaz] recommended of Shaykh Al-Tuwayjiree and he praised my books and my methodology (manhaj) - rahimahullaah. All of these Mashaaikh used to be supportive.

This is the manhaj in which we have become weak. We are not on the same level as we used to be during their time; rather we have become weak but despite this they say we are "harsh," and they say Ibn Baaz [was not like you]. By Allaah, Ibn Baaz used to fight the People of Bid'ah and support those who fought them and praise those who fought them - may Allaah bless you. Bring me one proof that Ibn Baaz silenced one person who refuted the People of Bid'ah. Did he silence Al-Fawzaan? Did he silence Al-Tuwayjiree? Did he silence Rabee'? Did he silence Al-Albaanee? Not one of them. Likewise, all the scholars used to support and aid those who speak the word of truth and refute what is wrong....

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