An illustration of exemplary behaviour of senior scholars when truth reaches them
In the Name of Allāh, The Most-Merciful (to His creation), the Ever-Merciful (to His believing servants). [1]
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Arabic Text
Accepting Advice and Wholehearted Submission to The truth is One of the Great Obligations (Obligated) to all Muslims
All praises be to Allāh, [2] and may peace and blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger, his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:
I came across what some internet websites have disseminated (or posted) regarding a statement attributed to me, that I stated during one of my lectures: “If the Messenger of Allah disowned (or freed himself) from you through (or upon) the tongue of our Lord”. I said it while citing (or utilising as proof) the statement of Allah, the Exalted:
إن الذين فرقوا دينهم وكانوا شيعا لست منهم في شيء
“Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) have nothing to do with them” [3] regarding the prohibition of splitting (divergent sects, groups, parties). Then I stated: “How can we, my brothers, not fear while we choose this splitting and live with it for generations and ages?”
I seek Allah’s forgiveness – a hundred times – for this ugly (disgusting) and false statement. I request the removal of this statement from all cassettes (recordings) in which it appears, and I emphasise that anyone who possesses a recording containing this statement should delete it. And I say: Indeed, this statement is ugly (disgusting) and false; exalted is Allah above it, and free is He from it. That is because He, The Exalted, is free from any resemblance to the created things, as He, Glorified be He and free from all imperfections, says:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
There is nothing like (similar) to Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. [4]
Likewise, He, The Mighty and Majestic, says:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Say (with a firm, resolute statement): “He is Allāh, (who is) uniquely One (in His perfect names, attributes, actions, and His right to worship). Allāh, the Eternal, Self-Sufficient Master (of utmost perfection in His attributes, to whom all creatures turn for their needs whilst He has none). He did not beget (such that He became a father) nor was He begotten (such that He became a son). And there is none equal, similar or comparable to Him (in His perfect names, attributes and actions).” https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/112/1
And He, the Exalted, says:
هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيًّا
Do you know of any that is worthy of His name (due to having similarity to Him)? [5]
In these noble verses are an affirmation of the Attributes of His Perfection and the descriptions of His majesty, while also exalting Him above attributes and descriptions of deficiency and the likeness to created beings. Neither is anyone similar nor comparable to Him in His Dhat (Self), and His Attributes, nor in any of His Magnificent Attributes. [6]
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah affirm all of the attributes mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah without Tashbih, Ta’teel, Takyeef, or Tamtheel with regards to anything of His Attributes, such as Ascension above His Throne – above all of His creations, His Highness, Descent, Hearing, Sight, Ability, Iraadah, knowledge, Speech, and Wisdom, and the fact that He, The Exalted, is the Creator, the Provider, Giver of Life, and Causer of Death, among the other affirmed Names and Lofty Attributes of His. Ahlus Sunnah affirm them without Takyeef, Tamtheel, Tashbih, or Ta’teel, standing in opposition to Ahlul Ahwa (the sects upon vain desires in their creed), such as the Jahmiyyah, Khawarij, Mu’tazilah, Rawaafid, and Ash’ariyyah. [7]
And all praises be to Allah, I am from those whom Allah blessed with this methodology, which I firmly believe in the depth of my inner-self. I teach it, advocate for it, and defend it as a student and a teacher; calling to it with all my ability, establishing allegiance and enmity based on it from the beginning of my life (i.e. when he became acquainted with it). This statement, which I made during my lecture- in which I called to this path and urged those who oppose it to revise it – is extremely hated to me. This ugly (repugnant, disgusting) statement was a slip of the tongue on my part and had someone alerted me at the moment I uttered it, I would have rejected and distanced myself from it. It is not justified for anyone who comes across it to remain silent about it. It is akin to the statement made by the man whom the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, cited as an example, who said out of overwhelming happiness: “O Allah! You are my servant and I am Your Lord”. [8] Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stated, “He (i.e. this man) erred due to overwhelming happiness.” Nevertheless, I experience profound pain from it and strongly condemn it for both myself and others (.e. not to utter this statement).
I beseech Allah, the Generous Lord of the Mighty Throne, to forgive me for all my sins, both those I have concealed and those I have made known. I ask for forgiveness for my slips and errors, including those of the pen, the tongue, the limbs, and the heart. “All the children of Adam commit mistakes, and the best of those who err are the repentant.” I beseech Allah to make me among the repentant and the purified. Accepting advice and adhering to the truth is one of the most obligatory duties for all Muslims, regardless of the source. It is not permissible for a Muslim to belittle or disdain the advisor, no matter their status. I seek refuge in Allah from rejecting advice or defending any wrong or falsehood that originates from me, for such behavior is characteristic of the corrupt, arrogant, obstinate, and those who, when given a reminder do not reflect (or take heed). I seek refuge in Allah from these ugly (repugnant, disgusting) traits. I ask Allah to include me among those about whom He says:
وَٱلَّذِینَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَمۡ یَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَیۡهَا صُمࣰّا وَعُمۡیَانࣰا
And those who, when they are reminded of the Signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. [9]
I advise myself and all Muslims to adhere to this methodology and remain steadfast in it, to accept the advice of those who advise, and to follow the path of the righteous predecessors in mutual advice, enjoining one another upon truth, and accepting guidance, in consideration (and application) of Allah’s statement:
وَٱلْعَصْرِ
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allah manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss. Except those who believe (in Allāh, His Angels, Books, Prophets, the Last Day and the Divine Decree) and work righteous deeds (which are sincere and correct) and mutually advise each other (in calling to and abiding by) the truth and mutually advise each other with patience (in facing the inevitable harms brought by calling to the truth). https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/103/1 [10]
And in consideration (and application) of Allah’s statement:
والمؤمنون والمؤمنات بعضهم أولياء بعض يأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر
The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin good and forbid evil. [11]
Among the signs of upright guidance, uprightness, truthfulness (in statement and action), and salvation in this worldly and the Hereafter is to be steadfast upon the Book and the Sunnah, and to follow this methodology in belief, action, manners, and in enjoining good and forbidding evil, addressing shortcomings with wisdom and through (honourable, straight forward, honest) ways.
And I beseech Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, to grant success to this Ummah, particularly Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, to advance this great methodology, unite their word upon it, and enable them to achieve (or attain upright) leadership, dignity, and honour in this worldly life; enable them to adhere to this methodology that will lead them to safety and salvation in the Hereafter. Indeed, my Lord is All-Hearing of supplications.
May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Written by:
Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali
8/7/1425 AH
Makkah Al-Mukarramah
[1] https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/sura/1/1
[2] https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/1_2
[3] Al-An’aam. 159
[4] Ash-Shura 11
[5] https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/19_65
[6] and [7] https://abukhadeejah.com/categories-of-the-attributes-sifat-of-allah/#:~:text=Examples%20are%20Life%20(Al%2DHay%C4%81t,such%20Attributes%20of%20the%20Self.
https://abukhadeejah.com/ibn-uthaimeen-important-principles-regarding-the-names-and-attributes-of-allaah-the-aqeedah-of-ahlus-sunnah-and-a-refutation-of-the-opposers/
https://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=AQD03&articleID=AQD030007&articlePages=1
[8] Anas Bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant when he turns back to Him than one of you would feel upon finding his lost camel in a desolate land, which had carried his food and drink. When he loses hope of recovering it, he lies down in the shade and is disappointed about his camel, thus he suddenly sees his camel standing right beside him. Overwhelmed with joy, he grabs its reins and exclaims: “O Allah! You are my servant, and I am Your Lord.” He has made a mistake due to the intensity of his happiness. [Sahih Muslim 2747]
[9] https://salafidawah.uk/2024/03/21/medication-from-the-quran-for-one-who-only-desires-reminders-from-a-specific-person/