Post by suhailaku on Feb 7, 2016 22:48:56 GMT
The Salafi-Wahhabi Takfiri Ideology
A Refutation From One of Their Own
A Refutation From One of Their Own
By Maulana Suhail Akubat
Introduction
Since the uprising of the extremist group Daesh, parallels have been drawn with a first century extremist group, The Khawarij. This group deviated from mainstream Islam and was known for the persecution of Muslims under unsubstantiated allegations of Takfir and rebellion against lawful Muslim leaders. This Khariji-esque attitude has now been adopted by the Wahhabi inspired extremist group Daesh. The great Hanafi Jurist Ibn Abidin al-Shami mentions in his Radd al-Muhtar 262/4,
“Muhammed b. Abd al-Wahhab came out and revolted, he and his followers took over the Sanctuaries of Makkah and Medinah. He followed the Hanbali Madhab but believed that it was only them who were Muslims and that those who differed with them in belief were Mushrik. He believed because of this that it was permissible to take the lives of the Ahl al-Sunnah and their Scholars.”
The extremist group Daesh are an off shoot of the ideology of Sheikh Muhammed b. Abd al-Wahhab al-Najdi who in turn claims to have revived the ideology of Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah). Ibn Taymiyyah is a controversial individual and is not to be relied upon on matters pertaining to Aqa'id as well as certain matters pertaining to Fiqh.
This short article is an attempt to refute the takfirist ideology adopted by many a Wahhabi-Salafi. Ironically, this refutation consists of quotations from whom they claim to be their very own, namely, Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah). The following are extracts from Sheikh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghudda's (rahimahullah) version of al-Dhahabi's (rahimahullah), al-Muqizah fi 'ilm Mustalah al-Hadith. He brings quotations from various books of Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) in the fifth appendix of the book.
Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) and Takfir
Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) writes,
“The idea of Takfir of every Mubtadi' (innovator) due to their bid'ah (innovation) is not found amongst the four Imams, nor is it found amongst scholars besides them. None from amongst them did Takfir of an individual based on a bid'ah (innovation), rather narrations attributed to them clearly contradict this.”
Imam al-Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) reports in his Jami regarding the Khawarij, from the Sahabi Abu Umamah (radiyallahu anhu),
“They are more evil towards the Muslims than the others, no-one was more evil towards them, not the Jews, nor the Christians. This is because they had passed judgement upon killing all Muslims that did not agree with them. They considered the lives of Muslims lawful, their wealth and the lives of their children. They considered them apostates.”
Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) states with regards to the above,
“....despite this, the Sahabah, Tabi'un did not do Takfir, they did not consider them apostates, they did not transgress boundaries with their words or actions, rather they feared Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) with regards to them, the Shi'as and the Mu'tazilites. They trod the path of justice.”
He further mentions,
“We will not consider them from amongst those who will enter the Fire because it is possible that they will repent or that their good deeds will wipe out their sins. Alternatively, it is possible Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) will wipe out their sins due to difficulties they have been afflicted with. The true believers of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), who aspire to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam), when they err out of ignorance, it seems more likely that Allah (subhananhu wa ta'ala) will forgive them as opposed to those who sin knowingly and intentionally. This is because the latter is sinning intentionally whilst the former has erred unintentionally and Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has forgiven this Ummah of their mistakes and forgetfulness.”
Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) mentions another interesting point,
“Utterances of Kufr do not necessitate the Takfir of their speaker , due to them being said out of ignorance.”
“Those who do Takfir of the seventy two sects as a whole, have in fact contradicted the Quran, Sunnah and the consensus of the Sahabah and Tabi'un.”
Alongside the Khawarij and the Salafi-Wahhabi sect there is another sect that shares this common characteristic of Takfir, this time he mentions in his Al-Radd 'ala al-Bakri 256-260,
“Similarly, the Rawafidh innovated. They preferred Sayyiduna Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) over the three Caliphs, Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman (radiyallahu 'anhum). They claimed his 'ismah (infallibility)did takfir of those who differed with them, those who differed with them are the majority of the Sahabah and the believers. They even did Takfir of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman and those that followed them (radiyallahu 'anhu). This is the absurdity of what their leaders are upon.”
The above quotations are intended as a reminder for many of the Salafi-Wahhabis today. They claim to be followers of Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) yet they continue to fuel hatred by making unsubstantiated claims of Takfir and Tashrik against those who differ with them. This is the very action that Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah), whom they rely upon heavily, condemned.
As mentioned in the introduction, the Khawarij shared similar sentiments to those of the extremist group Daesh and many Salafi-Wahhabis worldwide. The following narrations showing the attitude of the Sahabah (radiyallahu 'anhu) which should be enough to deter one from hastiness towards Takfir. The vast majority of Muslims worldwide condemn the actions of Daesh but is mere violence enough to consider one outside the fold of Islam?
It has been reported in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah 535/7 from Tariq b. Shihab (rahimahullah),
“I was with 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) after they had finished fighting the people of Nahrawan, he was asked, 'Are they Mushriks?' he replied, 'It is from Shirk that they fled.' He was asked again, 'Munafiqun? (hypocrites)' he replied, 'The Munafiqun do not remember Allah but very little.' He was then asked, 'Who are they then?!' he answered, 'A nation that rebelled against us, so we fought them.'”
Ibn Taymiyyah mentions,
“The Sahabah and the scholars who followed them are unanimous upon fighting them. This is because they rebelled against all Muslims except those who agreed with them. They initiated fighting against Muslims and their evil could only be fought off with war. They were more dangerous to the Muslims than highway robbers because their motive was wealth. If they were granted what they wished (wealth), they'd resist fighting.
Despite this, 'Ali (radiyallahu 'anhu) has clearly stated that they are believers. They are not Kuffar (apostates) nor are the Munafiqun (hypocrites).”
“From amongst those things which show that the Sahabah didnt do Takfir of the Khawarij is that they would perform Salah behind them. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar and other Sahabah would perform Salah behind Najdah al-Haruri[1]. They would speak and discuss with them what would be discussed with fellow Muslims. 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas (radiyallahu 'anhu) would accept invitations to answer queries from Najdah al-Haruri. The hadith is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari[2]. Nafi' b. al-Azraq would debate with them on issues related to the Quran in a manner two Muslims would debate. They did not consider them Murtad (apostates) like those who fought Abu Bakr (radiyallahu 'anhu) were. This was despite the fact the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) ordered them to fight them.”
Conclusion
The narrations above clearly illustrate the attitude of the Ahl al-Sunnah regarding Takfir. It has become quite common for Muslims to hasten towards the Takfir of individuals unwittingly. Recently, '#youaintnomuslimbruv' started trending on social media after a mentally disturbed Muslim went on a frenzy at Leytonstone tube station which led thousands of Muslims to jump on the '#youaintnomuslimbruv' bandwagon. If what they meant was the Takfir of this individual, then although we condemn all types of violence, the above should provide a worthy reminder that Takfir is not to be taken lightly.
The above also deals with the attitude of the Sahabah with regards to the Khawarij. Although we wholeheartedly condemn the actions of extremist groups like the 'modern day Khawarij', Daesh, the question is, would it be correct to stoop to their level of ignorance and call them Kafir? The narrations have clearly established that one should distance himself from such.
And Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) knows best.
[1] Najdah b. 'Amir al-Haruri al-Hanafi d.69AH, from the Banu Hanifah tribe of Yamamah, one of the leaders of the Khawarij, deviated from the Truth – Mizan al-I'tidal 254/4 (Sheikh 'Abd al-Fattah)
[2] This seems to be a mistake on Ibn Taymiyyah's part (rahimahullah), the Hadith is actually in Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jihad. (Sheikh 'Abd al-Fattah)
