Jamaa'at al-Ahbaash (the Habashis)
Q: what's the
Islamic point of view concerning the new group that appeared in
Islam "AL AHBASH"? what are we supposed to do with them? and would
you please tell me in brief what are the mistakes they have in
their Aqeedah?
A:
Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the one
after whom there is no Prophet, and upon his family and
companions.
The Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwaas
(al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah li'l-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wa'l-Iftaa') has
received questions and requests for information concerning Jamaa'at
al-Ahbaash (the Habashis) and about the person after whom this
group is named, one 'Abd-Allaah al-Habashi, who is based in
Lebanon. This group conducts activities in various European
countries, and in America and Australia. The Committee therefore
examined the books and articles published by this group, in which
their beliefs, thoughts and call are stated clearly. After
examining this material and pondering the matter, the Committee
issued the following statement to the Muslims:
Firstly:
It was reported in al-Saheehayn from the hadeeth of Ibn Mas'ood
(may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
«The best of people are my generation,
then the generation that follows them, then the generation that
follows them», And there are other versions of this
hadeeth.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said:
«I advise you to fear Allaah and to
listen and obey, even if a slave is appointed as your leader.
Whoever among you lives after I die will see differences arise. I
urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of my rightly-guided
successors (al-khulafaa' al-raashidoon); clench your teeth on it
(i.e., hold fast to it). Beware of newly invented things, for every
innovation (bid'ah) is a going astray» [Narrated by Ahmad,
and Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi, who said, it is a saheeh hasan
hadeeth].
One of the most important characteristics by which those first
generations were distinguished and by which the achieved a higher
level of righteousness than all other people, was the fact that
they referred all their affairs to the Qur'aan and Sunnah; the
Qur'aan and Sunnah were given precedence over all individual
opinions, no matter whose opinion it was; they understood the texts
of the two noble Revelations (i.e., the Qur'aan and Sunnah) in
accordance with the principles of sharee'ah and the Arabic
language; the sharee'ah was adopted in its entirety, and with
regard to every single detail; ambiguous texts were referred to
clear texts. Hence they upheld the sharee'ah and adhered to it, and
they held fast to it. They did not add anything to it or take
anything away from it. How could they add anything to it or take
anything away from it when they were adhering to the divine texts
which free from mistakes and errors?
Secondly:
Then these generations were succeeded by others among whom there
were many innovations and invented matters, where everyone who had
an opinion was enamoured of his opinion and forsook the texts of
sharee'ah, and the texts were deliberately misinterpreted and
distorted to suit people's desires and ideas. Thus they went
against the Trustworthy Messenger, and followed a way other than
that of the believers. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad) after
the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other
than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has
chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!"
[al-Nisaa' 4:115], {وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ
الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ
غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ
جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا}, Transliteration: Wa Man
Yushāqiqi Ar-Rasūla Min Ba`di Mā Tabayyana Lahu Al-Hudá
Wa Yattabi` Ghayra Sabīli Al-Mu'uminīna Nuwallihi Mā
Tawallá Wa Nuşlihi Jahannama Wa Sā'at Maşīrāan.
It is a part of the grace of Allaah towards this Ummah that in each
age He sends to it scholars who are well versed in knowledge and
who can stand up against every kind of bid'ah that distorts the
beauty of the faith and contaminates its purity, and competes with
or tries to destroy the Sunnah. This is the fulfilment of Allaah to
protect His religion and sharee'ah, as He said (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the
Qur'aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)" [al-Hijr
15:9], {إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا
الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ}, Transliteration:
'Innā Naĥnu Nazzalnā Adh-Dhikra Wa 'Innā Lahu Laĥāfižūna.
And according to the hadeeth narrated in the books of Saheeh, the
Sunans, the Musnads and others, the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:
«A group of my ummah will continue to
adhere to the commands of Allaah, and they will not be harmed by
those who let them down or oppose them, until the Command of Allaah
comes to pass, and they will be prevailing over the people»,
And there are other versions of this report.
Thirdly:
During the last quarter of the fourteenth century AH there emerged
a group led by 'Abd-Allaah al-Habashi, who moved from Ethiopia to
Syria, taking his miguidance with him, and he moved about in that
region until he settled in Lebanon, where he started to call people
to his way. His number of followers increased and his ideas - which
are a mixture of the ideas of the Jahamiyyah [a group which
misinterpreted the attributes of Allaah], the Mu'tazilah [a
philosophical group many of whose ideas differ from those of Ahl
al-Sunnah], grave-worshippers and Sufis - began to spread. He
fanatically supported his ideas by engaging in debates and printing
books and leaflets which propagate them.
Anyone who reads what has been written and published by this group
will see clearly that their beliefs go beyond the pale of Islam,
i.e. Jamaa'at al-Muslimeen (Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah). Among
their false beliefs, for example are the following (this is not a
complete list):
1. With regard to the issue of faith, they follow the school of
thought of al-Irjaa' [those who believe that sin does not matter so
long as one is a believer] which is condemned in Islam.
It is known that the belief of the Muslims, which was that followed
by the Sahaabah, the Taabi'een and those who follow their path
until the present day, is that faith (eemaan) is the matter of
words spoken by the tongue, beliefs held in the heart and actions
done by the body. Belief must be accompanied by submission to the
laws of Islam, otherwise that so-called faith is not valid.
There are many reports from the Salaf which confirm this belief,
for example the words of Imaam
al-Shaafa'i (may Allaah have mercy on him): "Among the
consensus of the Sahaabah and the Taabi'een and those who came
after them, and those whom we have met, is that they say: faith is
words, actions and intentions; one of these three will not be
complete without the others."
2. They allow seeking help from and seeking refuge with the dead,
and praying to them instead of to Allaah. This is shirk akbar
(major shirk) according to the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and
the consensus (ijmaa') of the Muslims. This shirk is the same as
the religion of the earlier mushrikeen, such as the kuffaar of
Quraysh and others, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meanings:
"And they worship besides Allaah things that harm them not, nor
profit them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with
Allaah'" [Yoonus 10:18], {وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا
يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا
عِندَ اللَّهِ}, Transliteration: Wa Ya`budūna Min Dūni
Allāhi Mā Lā Yađurruhum Wa Lā Yanfa`uhum Wa Yaqūlūna Hā'uulā'
Shufa`ā'uunā `Inda Allāhi.
"Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad) in truth.
So worship Allaah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for
Allaah's sake only.
Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for
Allaah only. And those who take Auliyaa' (protectors, helpers,
lords, gods) besides Him (say): 'We worship them only that they may
bring us near to Allaah.' Verily, Allaah will judge between them
concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allaah guides not him
who is a liar, and a disbeliever" [al-Zumar 39:2-3], {إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ
بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ
﴿٢﴾ أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ ۚ
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ
إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ
يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ۗ إِنَّ
اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ},
Transliteration: 'Innā 'Anzalnā 'Ilayka Al-Kitāba Bil-Ĥaqqi Fā`budi
Allāha Mukhlişāan Lahu Ad-Dīna, 'Alā Lillāhi Ad-Dīnu Al-Khālişu Wa
Al-Ladhīna Attakhadhū Min Dūnihi 'Awliyā'a Mā Na`buduhum 'Illā
Liyuqarribūnā 'Ilá Allāhi Zulfá 'Inna Allāha
Yaĥkumu Baynahum Fī Mā Hum Fīhi Yakhtalifūna 'Inna Allāha Lā Yahdī
Man Huwa Kādhibun Kaffārun.
"Say (O Muhammad): 'Who rescues you from the darkness of the land
and the sea (dangers like storms), (when) you call upon Him in
humility and in secret (saying): If He (Allaah) only saves us from
this (danger), we shall truly, be grateful.'" [al-An'aam 6:63],
{قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ
الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ
أَنجَانَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ},
Transliteration: Qul Man Yunajjīkum Min Žulumāti Al-Barri Wa
Al-Baĥri Tad`ūnahu Tađarru`āan Wa Khufyatan La'in 'Anjānā Min
Hadhihi Lanakūnanna Mina Ash-Shākirīna.
"And the mosques are for Allaah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along
with Allaah" [al-Jinn 72;18], {وَأَنَّ
الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا},
Transliteration: Wa 'Anna Al-Masājida Lillāhi Falā Tad`ū Ma`a
Allāhi 'Aĥadāan.
"Such is Allaah, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you
invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmeer (the
thin membrane over the date stone). If you invoke (or call upon)
them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear,
they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of
Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can
inform you (O Muhammad) like Him Who is the All‑Knower (of
everything)" [Faatir 35:13-14], {ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ
ۚ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
﴿١٣﴾ إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا
دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ
خَبِيرٍ}, Transliteration: Dhalikumu Allāhu Rabbukum Lahu
Al-Mulku Wa Al-Ladhīna Tad`ūna Min Dūnihi Mā Yamlikūna Min
Qiţmīrin, 'In Tad`ūhum Lā Yasma`ū Du`ā'akum Wa Law Sami`ū Mā
Astajābū Lakum Wa Yawma Al-Qiyāmati Yakfurūna Bishirkikum Wa Lā
Yunabbi'uka Mithlu Khabīrin.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Du'aa' (supplication) is worship." This was narrated by the
authors of Sunan with a saheeh isnaad. And there are many aayaat
and ahaadeeth which say the same thing. This indicates that the
earlier mushrikeen knew that Allaah was the Creator and Provider,
the One Who brings benefit or causes harm, and they worshipped
their gods so that they would intercede for them with Allaah and
bring them closer to Him. Thus they committed shirk. Allaah ruled
that they were guilty of kufr and shirk, and commanded His Prophet
to fight them until all worship was for Allaah Alone, as Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the
religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone" [al-Anfaal 8:39],
{وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ
فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ},
Transliteration: Wa Qātilūhum Ĥattá Lā Takūna Fitnatun
Wa Yakūna Ad-Dīnu Kulluhu Lillāhi.
The scholars have written many books on this topic in which they
have explained clearly the true Islam with which Allaah sent His
Messengers and revealed His Books. They also discussed the religion
and beliefs of the people of the Jaahiliyyah, and their actions
which went against the laws of Allaah. One of the best writers on
this topic was Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy
on him), in his numerous books. One of the most concise of his
works is Qaa'idah Jaliyyah fi'l-Tawassul wa'l-Waseelah.
3. In their view, the Qur'aan is not the Word of Allaah in the true
sense.
It is known from the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and by the
consensus of the Muslims, that Allaah speaks whenever He wills, in
a manner that befits His Majesty, may He be glorified, and that the
Qur'aan, both its letters and meanings, is the word of Allaah in
the true sense. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
"And if anyone of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, pagans,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) seeks your protection then
grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allaah"
[al-Tawbah 9:6], {وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ
الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ
اللَّهِ}, Transliteration: Wa 'In 'Aĥadun Mina Al-Mushrikīna
Astajāraka Fa'ajirhu Ĥattá Yasma`a Kalāma Allāhi.
"and to Moosa (Moses) Allaah spoke directly" [al-Nisaa' 4:164],
{وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ
تَكْلِيمًا}, Transliteration: Wa Kallama Allāhu
Mūsá Taklīmāan.
"And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in
justice" [al-An'aam 6:115], {وَتَمَّتْ
كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا}, Transliteration: Wa
Tammat Kalimatu Rabbika Şidqāan Wa `Adlāan.
"a party of them (Jewish rabbis) used to hear the Word of Allaah
[the Tauraat (Torah)], then they used to change it knowingly after
they understood it?" [al-Baqarah 2:75], {وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ
كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا
عَقَلُوهُ}, Transliteration: Wa Qad Kāna Farīqun Minhum
Yasma`ūna Kalāma Allāhi Thumma Yuĥarrifūnahu Min Ba`di Mā
`Aqalūhu.
"They want to change Allaah's Words. Say: 'You shall not follow us;
thus Allaah has said beforehand.'" [al-Fath 48:15], {يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُوا كَلَامَ اللَّهِ
ۚ قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَٰلِكُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ مِن
قَبْلُ}, Transliteration: Yurīdūna 'An Yubaddilū Kalāma
Allāhi Qul Lan Tattabi`ūnā Kadhālikum Qāla Allāhu Min Qablu.
And there are many well known aayaat which say the same thing.
Numerous mutawaatir reports from the Salaf confirm this belief,
which is stated in the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah - to Allaah
be praise and blessings.
4. They think that it is obligatory to interpret the texts of the
Qur'aan and Sunnah which speak of the attributes of Allaah, may He
be glorified and exalted (i.e., to understand them differently from
the apparent meaning). This is contrary to the consensus of the
Muslims, from the Sahaabah and Taabi'een to those who follow their
path until the present day. The Muslims believe that it is
obligatory to believe in what is stated in the texts about the
Names and attributes of Allaah, without distorting the meanings,
denying any of His attributes, discussing the hows and whys or
likening any of Allaah's attributes to human attributes. They (the
Muslims) believe that there is none like unto Allaah and He is the
All-Hearing, All-Seeing; they do not deny any of the attributes
with which He has described himself. They do not change the words
from their (right) places or belie or deny (or utter impious speech
against) His Names or signs. They do not discuss the nature of His
attributes, or liken His attributes to the attributes of His
creation, because there is nothing that can be compared to Him, and
He has no equal or rival.
Imaam al-Shaafa'i (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said: "I believe in Allaah and in what has
come from Allaah as Allaah meant it. I believe in the Messenger of
Allaah and in what has come from the Messenger of Allaah as the
Messenger of Allaah meant it." Imaam
Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "We believe in
it; we do not reject anything that the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, and we do not describe
Allaah with more than He has described Himself."
5. Among their false beliefs, they deny that Allaah is above His
creation.
The belief of the Muslims, as indicated by the verses of the
Qur'aan, the ahaadeeth of the Prophet, sound human nature and clear
common sense is that Allaah is above His creation, over His Throne,
and nothing at all of His creatures' affairs is hidden from Him.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"and then He rose over (Istawaa) the Throne (really in a manner
that suits His Majesty)". [al-A'raaf 7:54], {ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ},
Transliteration: Thumma Astawá `Alá Al-`Arshi
- this phrase appears seven times in the Qura'aan. And Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds
exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless
and until they are followed by good deeds)" [Faatir 35:10], {إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ
وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ}, Transliteration: 'Ilayhi
Yaş`adu Al-Kalimu Aţ-Ţayyibu Wa Al-`Amalu Aş-Şāliĥu
Yarfa`uhu.
"And He is the Most High, the Most Great" [al-Baqarah 2:255], {وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ},
Transliteration: Wa Huwa Al-`Alīyu Al-`Ažīmu.
"Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High" [al-A'laa 87:1],
{سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ
الْأَعْلَى}, Transliteration: Sabbiĥi Asma Rabbika
Al-'A`lá.
"And to Allaah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is
in the earth, of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and
they are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allaah) with
humility]. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they
are commanded" [al-Nahl 16: 49-50], {وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا
يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٤٩﴾ يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن
فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ}, Transliteration:
Wa Lillahi Yasjudu Mā Fī As-Samāwāti Wa Mā Fī Al-'Arđi Min Dābbatin
Wa Al-Malā'ikatu Wa Hum Lā Yastakbirūna, Yakhāfūna Rabbahum Min
Fawqihim Wa Yaf`alūna Mā Yu'umarūna - and there are other similar
aayaat.
And many saheeh ahaadeeth have been narrated from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on this topic, for
example: the story of the Mi'raaj (ascent into the heavens), which
is mutawaatir, when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) passed through the heavens one by one, until he reached
his Lord, Who brought him close or called to him, and enjoined
fifty prayers upon him, then he kept going back and forth between
Moosa (peace be upon him) and his Lord. He came down from the
presence of his Lord to Moosa, and Moosa asked him, "How many
(prayers) have been enjoined upon you?" When he told him, he said,
"Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce them." So he went back
up to his Lord and asked Him to reduce them.
It was reported in al-Saheehayn that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «When Allaah created His creation, He wrote
in a Book which is with Him, above the Throne: 'My Mercy prevails
over My wrath.'»
It was reported in al-Saheehayn from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: «Do you
not trust me, when I am the trustee of the One Who is in the
heaven?».
In Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah and Sunan Abi Dawood it is reported that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «The Throne is above water, and Allaah is
above the Throne, and Allaah knows what you are
doing».
In Saheeh Muslim and elsewhere it is reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to the slave-girl,
«Where is Allaah?», She said,
"In heaven", He said, «Who am
I?» She said, "You are the Messenger of Allaah." He said:
«Set her free, for she is a
believer»
This is the pure belief which was adhered to by the Muslims: the
Sahaabah, the Taabi'een and those who have followed them in truth
until the present day, praise be to Allaah. Because of the great
importance of this topic and the fact that so much evidence
(daleel) - more than one thousand aayaat and ahaadeeth - points to
it, the scholars have devoted books to it, e.g., al-Haafiz Abu
'Abd-Allaah al-Dhahabi in al-'Alu li'l-'Aliy al-Ghaffaar, and
al-Haafiz Ibn al-Qayyim in (Ijtimaa'
al-Juyoosh al-Islaamiyyah).
6. They speak of some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a manner that is not
appropriate.
An example of that is their statement that Mu'aawiyah (may Allaah
be pleased with him) was a faasiq (rebellious evildoer). In this
regard they go along with the Raafidis (may Allaah curse them). The
Muslims should not discuss what happened among the Sahaabah, may
Allaah be pleased with them all; they should refrain from speaking
whilst believing that all of them were good and had the virtue of
having been companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «Do not slander my Companions, for even if
any of you were to spend (in charity) gold equivalent to the size
of Mount Uhud, he would never reach their level, not even half
way» [Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. And Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And those who came after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and our
brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts
any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are
indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful." [al-Hashr 59:10], {وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ
سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا
لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ},
Transliteration: Wa Al-Ladhīna Jā'ū Min Ba`dihim Yaqūlūna Rabbanā
Aghfir Lanā Wa Li'akhwāninā Al-Ladhīna Sabaqūnā Bil-'Īmāni Wa Lā
Taj`al Fī Qulūbinā Ghillāan Lilladhīna 'Āmanū Rabbanā 'Innaka
Ra'ūfun Raĥīmun.
This is the sound belief concerning the Companions of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This is the belief of
Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah throughout the centuries. Imaam Abu Ja'faar al-Tahhaawi (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said, explaining the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah
wa'l-Jamaa'ah:
"We love the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), but we do not go to extremes in
our love for any of them, and we do not disown any of them. We hate
those who hate them, and we do not say anything but good about them
(the companions). Love for them is true religion, faith and
goodness; hatred for them is kufr, hypocrisy and
transgression."
Fourthly:
What we may note about this group is that they follow weird fatwas,
and their fatwas go against the shar'i texts of the Qur'aan and
Sunnah. Examples of that include the following:
They permit gambling with the kuffaar in order to take away their
money; they permit stealing their crops and animals, on the
condition that this stealing will not cause fitnah (tribulation);
they permit dealing in ribaa when dealing with the kuffaar; they
permit those who are in need to buy lottery tickets, which is
haraam.
Other ways in which they obviously go against the sharee'ah
include:
They permit looking at a non-mahram woman in a mirror or on a
screen, even with desire; they say that persisting in looking at a
non-mahram woman is not haraam; they say that for a man to look at
any part of a woman who is not permissible for him is not haraam;
they say that if a woman goes out wearing make-up and perfume but
she does not have the intention of attracting men, this is not
haraam; they permit free mixing of men and women; and they have
other odd and outrageous fatwas which go against sharee'ah and they
consider things which are major sins to be permissible. We ask
Allaah to keep us safe from that which will provoke His wrath and
earn His punishment.
Fifthly:
Some of the outrageous means they use to turn people away from the
scholars who have deep knowledge, and put people off from reading
their books or referring to the reports transmitted from them,
include: slandering them, belittling them and undermining them, and
even denouncing them as kaafirs. Chief among the scholars whom they
defame in this manner is the imaam and mujaddid Shaykh al-Islam
Abu'l-'Abbaas Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Haleem ibn 'Abd al-Salaam ibn
Taymiyah, may Allaah have mercy on him. 'Abd-Allaah al-Habashi even
wrote a book specifically about this reforming imaam, in which he
accused him of being misguided and misled; he attributed to him
words that he did not say, and fabricated other lies about him.
Allaah will deal with him, and it is before Allaah that all
disputing parties will ultimately meet.
They also slander the reforming imaam Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd
al-Wahhaab, may Allaah have mercy on him, and his call for reform
which he undertook in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, where he
called people to follow Tawheed and cast aside Shirk, to honour the
texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah and to act upon them, and to uphold
the Sunnah and do away with bid'ah. Through him, Allaah revived the
teachings of Islam that had been forgotten, and He did away with
whatever He willed of bid'ah and innovation. The effects of this
call - by the grace and blessings of Allaah - spread throughout the
Islamic world, and Allaah guided many people thereby. But this
misguided group have directed their arrows against this call of the
Sunnah and those who make this call; they have fabricated lies and
propagated doubts and confusion, and they have rejected this clear
call to follow the Qur'aan and Sunnah. They have done all of this
to put people off the truth and to prevent them from following the
straight path. We seek refuge with Allaah from that.
No doubt the hatred that this group has towards the great and
blessed scholars of this ummah is indicative of the hatred that
they hold in their hearts towards everyone who calls people to
worship Allaah Alone and adhere to Tawheed, which was the belief
and way of the people of the best generations. This group is far
away from the essence of true Islam.
Seventhly:
Based on what we have said above, and other things that we have not
mentioned here, the Committee makes the following statements:
1- Jamaa'at al-Ahbaash (the Habashis) is a misguided group which is
beyond the pale of the Muslim community (Jamaa'at al-Muslimeen,
i.e., Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah). They must come back to the
truth which was followed by the Sahaabah and Taabi'een in all
aspects of religion, action and belief. This is better and more
lasting for them.
2- It is not permissible to follow the fatwas of this group,
because they adopt odd views which clearly contradict the Qur'aan
and Sunnah, and they follow some far-fetched and corrupt
interpretations of some shar'i texts. All of these are reasons why
ordinary Muslims should not trust their fatwas or believe
them.
3- What they say about the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) is not to be trusted, whether it
has to do with the isnaad or the meaning of a hadeeth.
4- Muslims in all places must beware of this misguided group and
warn others against them. They must beware of falling into their
traps under any name or banner, and they should seek reward by
advising their followers who have been deceived by them, and
explain the faults in their way of thinking and their
beliefs.
Having stated this clearly to the people, the Committee asks
Allaah, may He be exalted, by His Most Beautiful Names and Sublime
Attributes to protect the Muslims from all fitnahs (trials,
temptations), both visible and invisible, to guide those Muslims
who have gone astray, to reform their affairs, to turn the plots of
the plotters against them, and to suffice the Muslims against their
evil. For Allaah is Able to do all things, and He is most Generous
in responding. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions, and those who follow them in truth.
Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah,
12/323
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