O Muslims: Do not be deceived by lies, false claims, plots, deceptions of People of Bid'ah and Desires!

[Maher.ibn.Ahmad.Attiyeh]

Introduction:

Allaah commanded that He be singled out in worship - and in every matter specific to Him (His Lordship, and His Beautiful Names and Perfect Attributes) - and commanded this nation to take Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as an example in how to believe, what methodology to traverse, how to worship Allaah, how to interact with the creation, and even how to appear and dress, and answer the call of nature. Allaah, The Most High, said: I did not create mankind and jinn except to worship Me alone. (Adh-Dhariyaat, ayah 56) Allaah, The Exalted, said: Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad, salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. (Al-Ahzab, ayah 21) Allaah, The All-Knowing, All-Wise, said: We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered. (Al-An'aam, ayah 38) And Allaah perfected and completed our religion for us: ...This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion... (Al-Ma`idah, ayah 3) This is why it is authentically reported upon the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) from numerous paths of narration that he said: I have not left anything that will bring you closer to Allaah, and distance you from the Hellfire except that I have commanded you with it. And I have not left anything that will bring you closer to the Hellfire, and distance you from Allaah except that I have forbade you from it. So the truth and what is pleasing to Allaah is known and legislated, and the falsehood and what is displeasing to Allaah is known and forbidden. And to those who have fiqh of this blessed Deen, the truth is easily distinguished from falsehood. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "...I have left you upon clear guidance (whiteness). Its night is like its day. No one deviates from it after me except that he is destroyed." [Ahmad, Ibn Maajah (no. 43) and al-Haakim. It is declared saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no. 937)] This is why 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radiallaahu 'anhu) said: There is no excuse for anyone going astray thinking that he is upon guidance. Nor for abandoning guidance thinking it to be misguidance, since the affairs have been made clear, the proof established and the excuse cut off. (Ibn Battah in, al-lbaantul-Kubraa, no. 162) So the truth is clear, and due to this Imam as-Sa'dee (rahimahullaah) said that the deviance of people is not because of a lack of clarity of the truth that Allaah revealed, but rather it is due to the disbelief itself of the deviant. (The Tree of Faith) All that is upon us is to follow and not introduce new matters into the religion: 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radiallaahu 'anhu) said: "Follow and do not innovate. You have been sufficed, and every innovation is misguidance." [Reported by Abu Khaithamah in Kitaab Ul-'Ilm (no. 540)] It is shaytan and his supporters who seek to adorn the path of error for mankind to mislead them from the Straight Path. [Iblees (satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them." (Al-Hijr, ayat 39-40) And Allaah - The All-Wise, The Most Beneficent - warns His slaves against shaytan and his plots, and commands us to oppose and fight shaytan and his supporters, and warns us of the evil results of following shaytan. Allaah, The Exalted, said: Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allaah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taaghoot (satan, etc.). So fight you against the friends of Shaitaan (satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan (satan). (An-Nisa, ayah 76) O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaitaan (satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaitaan (satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahsha` [i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islaam, etc.)]... (An-Nur, ayah 21) Did I not ordain for you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is a plain enemy to you. And that you should worship Me [alone, and do not set up rivals with Me]. That is a Straight Path. (Ya-Sin, ayat 30-31) As for the one who adheres and clings to the Qur`an and Sunnah upon the correct understanding, he will see that the truth that Allaah revealed - the Qur`an and Sunnah - exposes falsehood. Allaah said: And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Qur`an), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof. (Al-Furqan, ayah 33) Imam as-Sa'dee pointed out: "...falsehood is unveiled via many ways, the greatest of which is the sure knowledge that it contradicts the truth. [Allaah said:] ...So after the truth, what else can there be, save error?... (Yunus, ayah 32)" (The Tree of Faith) All praise is for Allaah, Who legislated a simple cure: hold firmly to the book of Allaah and the Sunnah, in accordance with the Prophet's statement in the farewell khutba: O people. Indeed, I have left amongst you two things. If you hold firmly to them, you will never go astray: the book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. [Al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, and Ibn 'Abdul-Barr in Jaami'ul-Bayaan] Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) said this is proof that: "The Sunnah has been protected from falling into error, and safeguarded from going astray." This exposes the deviance of people who seek success and solutions from other than the Qur`an and the Sunnah. Then the shaikh added this tremendous advice: "The same does not hold true for the opinions and ijtihaadat of men. Due to this, Imaam Malik (rahimahullaah) said, 'I am only a human being. I err and I am correct. So look into my opinions. So everything you find in agreement with the Book [Qur`an] and the Sunnah, then take it. And everything you find that is not in agreement with the Book [Qur`an] and the Sunnah, then leave it off.'" [Jaami'ul-Bayaan (2/32)] The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: This Ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them in the hellfire except one. He was asked, "Which one is that, o Messenger of Allaah?" He (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: That which I and my companions are upon. [Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah, Ahmad, Ad-Daaramee] Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan said: "Everyone who opposes the Jamaa'ah of Ahlus-Sunnah, then he is astray. There is no jamaa'ah according to us, except one: it is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah [the Taa`ifatul-Mansoorah (the Victorious Group), the Firqatun-Naajiyah (Saved-Sect), Ahlul-Hadeeth, Ahlul-'Ilm (people of knowledge)]. Whatever opposes this Jamaa'ah, then it is in opposition to the manhaj of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). We also say, everyone who opposes Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, then he is from the people of desires. And elements of opposition vary in ruling of them being misguided or outside of Islaam with relation to how large, small, far or near they are from the truth." [al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah (p. 10) of Saalih al-Fawzaan, with the annotations of Jamaal al-Haarithee] Allaah ('Azza wa Jall) said in the Qur`an: "And verily this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Muttaqoon (pious)." (Al-An'aam, ayah 153) 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radiallaahu 'anhu) said: The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) drew a line with his hand (in the sand) and said: 'This is Allaah's path, leading straight.' He then drew lines to the right and left of that line and said, 'These are the other paths, on each path there is a devil who calls to it.' He then recited (Allaah's statement): And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. (Al-An'aam, ayah 153)." (Al-Albanee authenticated it in his checking of Ibn Majah) Ibnu Jareer at-Tabari reported with his chain of narration that a man asked Ibn Masood, "What is As-Sirat Al-Mustaqim (The Straight Path)?" Ibn Mas'ood replied, "Muhammad left us at its lower end and its other end is in Paradise. To the right of this Path are other paths, and to the left of it are other paths, and there are men (on these paths) calling those who pass by them. Whoever goes on the other paths will end up in the Fire. Whoever takes the Straight Path will end up in Paradise." Ibn Mas'ood then recited the ayah: And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. (Al-An'aam, ayah 153) Mujaahid (rahimahullaah) said: "As-Subul (the paths) means the innovations and the doubtful matters." Shaikh al-Albanee explained: "So after the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) read this verse, he ran his finger along the straight path and said: This is the Path of Allaah. And on these paths on both sides of this Straight Path, there is a Shaytan at the head of every path calling to it. There is no doubt that these short lines were made to represent the numerous sects and groups. Therefore, it is obligatory on every Muslim who sincerely longs to be part of The Saved Sect that he sets out to follow this Straight Path and does not turn left or right." Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) explained: "The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), while explaining this ayah, drew a straight line and said: This is the path of Allaah. Then, he drew lines to the left and right (of this straight line) and said: These are the other paths, and on every path is a devil calling the people to it. (Ahmad 1/435) This is a depiction of the callers to misguidance, their methodologies and objectives. It has been thoroughly illustrated for us that indeed whatever opposes the Straight Path is a path leading to Jahannam (hellfire). Whoever abandons the Straight Path is heading towards the Jahannam (hellfire), even if he regards himself civilized, progressive and open minded." So, in sha` Allaah, after establishing with proofs that there is only one way to Jannah (Paradise), and many, many ways that lead to the hellfire, it is upon those with knowledge to refute falsehood so that those who are sincere and want Paradise can know the truth and follow it, and recognize the falsehood and avoid it. And know - may Allaah protect you - that falsehood is not always going to come in the form of falsehood. Mufaddal ibn Mahallal (rahimahullaah) said: "If the companion of the bid'ah were to speak to you about his bid'ah at the beginning of sitting with him, then you would have kept away from him and left. But he will speak to you at the beginning with the Sunnah, then he will put in you his bid'ah and your heart accepts it, so when will it leave your heart?" [Kitab ut-Tafsir, no. 3004] Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said: And this is the state and condition of Ahlul Bid'ah, that they hide the truth. Their other deceptive path is they have something from misguidance and they mix it with something from the truth, so they can spread it without the people realizing that there is falsehood mixed in with the truth. So you see in the Qur`an how much blaming, and warning against, and refuting [there is against] those misguided scholars of those previous nations. Why? Because they are those ones who corrupted Allaah's religion, and Ahlul Bid'ah are upon the same affair. And they also have a share of the blame that Allaah mentioned regarding those previous nations. And the proof for this is the statement of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam): Indeed, you shall follow in the ways of those who came before you, imitating them exactly. Even if they were to enter a lizard's hole, you would enter it also. So Ahlul Bid'ah have fallen into this evil, and have followed the previous nations in regards to altering the meanings of text, and lying and spreading falsehood. So there is a great similarity between Ahlul Bid'ah and those people. And the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) had already informed us that they would follow them. (From Al Mawqiful Saheeh Min Ahlul Bid'ah, pg. 22-24) If these deviant sects were to reveal their falsehood at the beginning, even the ignorant people would recognize their evil and abandon them. So these groups of bid'ah open with false claims to lure people away from what Allaah revealed to Prophet Muhammad, thus separating and weakening the Ummah. When their invitations are accepted, these groups lead astray - indoctrinate - whom they can into giving precedence to their slogans and opinions above the Qur`an and Sunnah, and the deviance grows after that. So it is imperative that their lies be exposed and divulged, and it is essential that the taqiyah (hidden deception) of these deviant sects is uncovered so that those who are sincere and truly want guidance may know the saved sect that leads to Jannah and therefore follow it, and so those who are sincere and truly seek safety from the hellfire may know those many paths that lead astray and therefore avoid them. As Shaikh Falah ibn Isma'eel (hafidhahullaah) recently said: "The Religion of Allaah cannot be established except with refutations." And from the means that Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) has legislated to prevent this corruption is enjoining the good and forbidding the evil that is performed by Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, in accordance to one’s ability. Allaah said: Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'roof (all that Islaam orders) and forbidding Al-Munkar (all that Islaam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. (Aali Imran, ayah 104) Ad-Dahhak said: "They are a special group of the Companions and a special group of those after them, that is those who perform Jihad, and the scholars." Imam Ahmad recorded that Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman said that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, or Allaah shall send down a punishment from Him to you. Then, you will supplicate to Him, but He will not accept your supplication! Ibn Mas'ood (radiallaahu 'anhu) narrated that the Prophet ('alayhi salaat wa salaam) said: The one who strives with his hand against those who oppose the truth, he is a believer. The one who strives with his tongue against those who oppose the truth, he is a believer. The one who strives with his heart against those who oppose the truth, he is a believer. And beyond this, there is nothing not even the weight of a mustard seed of Eeman. [Saheeh Muslim] Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allaah said: Whoever among you witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then let him change it with his tongue. If he is unable, then let him change it with his heart, and this is the weakest faith. Allaah said: You [true believers in Tawheed, and true followers of Prophet Muhammad, and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'roof and forbid Al-Munkar, and you believe in Allaah... (Aali Imran, ayah 110) And this is why Ahlus-Sunnah are the most merciful among the people to the people, because they enjoin what is good (the greatest good being Tawheed) and they forbid one another the evil (the great evil being shirk and then bid'ah that does not reach the level of shirk). Shaikh Rabee' commented about the ayah (which means): You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind. Imam al-Bukharee stated that Muhammad ibn Yusuf narrated on the authority of Sufyaan on the authority of Abu Meseerah on the authoprity of Abu Haazeem from Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu ‘anhu) that he said regarding the verse You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind: This means the best of peoples towards the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks until they embrace Islaam." This same explanation was given by Ibn 'Abbaas (radiallaahu 'anhummaa), Mujaahid, Ikrimah, 'Atta and ar-Rabee'a ibn Anas. 'Atta al-'Awfee said: You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind. Meaning the best of peoples towards the people. And the meaning of the statement that they are the best of nations is that they are the most beneficial of the people towards the people. Because of this, it is immediately followed by: You enjoin Al-Ma'roof and forbid Al-Munkar, and you believe in Allaah." ("A LightHouse of Knowledge From a Guardian of the Sunnah," pg. 298-299) Shaikh Rabee' added: So I say enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is an obligation which has been prescribed upon the Ummah collectively, yet it is not permissible for anyone to abandon what he is individually capable of from fulfilling it. As turning away from such a matter that you are capable of fulfilling, inevitably and surely, only results in you earning a sin. It is from these evidences found within the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah and the ijma' of the Muslims which indicate the obligation of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil that we derive the proof of the obligation of refuting that which conflicts with the truth." (Pg. 299) Instead of ganging up and rallying and speaking out against the people of the Sunnah for forbidding and refuting the evil, these people would be much, much better off in speaking out against the evil itself. Just as Allaah has promised to guard the Qur`an from corruption, likewise Allaah has preserved His religion by means of at-Taa`ifatul Mansoorah (The Aided Group), in accordance with the Prophet's statement: There will never cease to be a group from my Ummah upon the truth, uppermost. They will not be harmed by those who desert them or those who oppose them, until the affair of Allaah - the Blessed and Exalted - arrives, and they are in this state. One of the means this Aided Group uses is Al-Jarh wa-Ta'deel (the science of disparagement and praise). Shaikh Muhammad al-'Aqeel (hafidhahullaah) said: Al-Jarh wa-Ta'deel is the main reason for the preservation of Islaam, the knowledge of criticism and grading the narrators. Why was the Torah lost and perverted? Because there was no Jarh wa-Ta'deel... The Christians had scholars, the Jews had scholars. The one distinctive matter is Islaam's golden scale of Jarh wa-Ta'deel. Dr. Sawdha Khalaf made a comparitive study: Why was the Torah perverted? Why were the Qur`an and Sunnah the only [revelations] perserved? Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur`an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Al-Hijr, ayah 9) And Bukhari and Muslim; we can swear that the majority of Bukhari and Muslim is authentic. The Dr. said, "I did not find any distinctive matter except Jarh wa-Ta'deel. Their ears were like our ears, their eyes were like our eyes, they loved Islaam just as we loved it, they (also) had scholars who studied, but they had no Jarh wa-Ta'deel." [Their methodology was:] any statement, write it down, take it, accept it, write it down, take it, accept it...anything. For this reason, may Allaah preserve you, just as Allaah preserved the Book and the Sunnah, likewise the Sunnah was preserved by means of Jarh wa Ta'deel. If each scholar's statements was accepted, there would be no religion. For this reason, the (true) scholars say, 'Whoever follows the strange allowances of the scholars will leave Islaam. If he follows every weak opinion, he will leave Islaam.' The scholar's statement - in and of itself - is not a proof. When someone criticizes someone, compare the speech to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah. If it's in accordance to the Book and the Sunnah, accept it, because the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is the only one [from the creation] exempt from mistake. Keep in mind that the religion of al-Islaam is only that which Allaah legislated. Allowing Bid'ah and innovative (false) principles, and neither forbidding them nor warning against them would result in the religion being altered, although this is the only religion that Allaah will accept on the Day of Judgement, in accordance with Allaah's statement: And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers. (Aali 'Imran, ayah 85) Imaam Al-Awzaa'ee (rahimahullaah) said, "When innovations emerge and the People of Knowledge do not show rejection against them, they become the sunnah [in the mind of the ignorant]." [Tahdheeb Sharaf Ashaabul-Hadeeth of al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee] Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said, "In fact, the kufr of Jews and Christians is because of bid'ah. They introduced new things into the religion and those things took them completely away from the true message of Musa (Moses) and 'Eesa (Jesus) 'alaihumma salam." So from His Infinite Mercy and Wisdom, Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) has preserved and aided His religion by means of at-Taa`ifatul Mansoorah (The Aided Group) which will defend the religion, refute that which does not belong to the religion, not fear the blame of the blamers, and they will be unharmed by those who oppose them. This is why Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah) said: "The Angels guard the heavens while Ahlul-Hadeeth (People of Hadeeth) Guard the Earth." (Sharaf Ashhaab-il-Hadeeth, by Imam al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee) And the most prominent of these guardians of the earth, the leaders of at-Taa`ifatul Mansoorah are the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, such as Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee al-Madkhalee and Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan and Shaikh 'Abdul-Muhsin al-'Abbaad, and Shaikh 'Ubaid al-Jabiree and Shaikh Saalih Aali Shaikh (hafidhahumullaah), and before them Shaikh al-Albanee, Shaikh Ibn Baaz, Shaikh al-'Uthaimeen, and Shaikh Muqbil (rahimahumullaah, tracing all the way back to the Salaf (radiallaahu 'anhum). And know - may Allaah bless you - that anyone who tries to bring a bid'ah into the Deen has accused the Deen of being incomplete and has denied the truthfulness of Allaah's statement: ...This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion... (Al-Ma`idah, ayah 3) Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said: "He who innovates an innovation in Islaam regarding it as something good, has claimed that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) has betrayed his trust to deliver the message as Allaah says: This day, I have perfected your religion for you. And whatsoever was not part of the religion then, is not part of the religion today." [al-I'tisaam] Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: "Therefore, the innovations in reality are indirect criticisms of the Sharee'ah, because they necessitate the implication that the Sharee'ah is incomplete and that the innovation is a more perfect form of worship to seek nearness to Allaah as the innovator claims." [Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il - Volume Two, Number 345] Al-Imam Ibnu Rajab (rahimahullaah) said: What compels a person to order the good and forbid the evil on one occasion is hoping for the reward from Allaah, and perhaps what may compel him to enjoin the good and forbid the evil is the fear of the punishment of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala. And perhaps he will be compelled to enjoin the good and forbid the evil for being angry for the sake of Allaah, that what Allaah has made enviolable and forbidden is being committed without shyness. And perhaps a person will order the good and forbid the evil as a goodwill to the Muslims and that he has sympathy for them and what they are doing to themselves of opening themselves up to the punishment and wrath of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala. Perhaps what will compel the person to order the good and forbid the evil is that he realizes that the people in the past sacrificed their lives and their wealth to spread the Deen of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala. The foremost in enjoining the good and forbidding the evil today are the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah - Taa`ifatul Mansoorah (The Aided Group) - and their students upon the pure Sunnah who defend the religion, refute that which does not belong to the religion, not fearing the blame of the blamers, and they will be unharmed by those who oppose them, in accordance with the Prophet's statement: There will never cease to be a group from my Ummah upon the truth, uppermost. They will not be harmed by those who desert them or those who oppose them, until the affair of Allaah - the Blessed and Exalted - arrives, and they are in this state. So be someone who supports the genuine scholars and their true students - ya 'Abdullaah, ya Amatullaah - and be someone who relays their advices and benefits - ya 'Abdullaah, ya Amatullaah - and be someone who supports them in defending this perfect and complete religion. And do not be someone who supports those who introduce new matters. As student of knowledge Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis said concerning the characteristics of the people in the above hadeeth: "From their characteristics is that they defend the Religion and repel from it the false interpretations of those who are ignorant and those who fabricate and add to the religion that which is not from it. As the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, in a hasan hadeeth by various routes: Indeed this knowledge is carried in every generation by its truthworthy ones, and they repel from it the ta`weel (false interpretations) of those who go beyond bounds, the fabrications of those who fabricate, and the distortions of the ignorant. And the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also said: What I fear most for my Ummah are the Imams of misguidance. It is said about them, "they are people of 'ilm (knowledge) and fihm (understanding)," but in actuality they are a people who are given to misguiding the people." Shaikh Rabee' said: So warning against Ahlul Bid'ah, and hating them, abandoning them, and boycotting them, this is the correct way to preserve and protect the healthy ones from Ahlus Sunnah from falling into the fitnah of Ahlul Bid'ah, or having good thoughts of them. And to have an inclination toward them is the beginning of the path to misguidance and going astray, as Allaah has warned us: And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the fire should touch you. (Hud, ayah 113) And who is more wrongdoing than Ahlul Bid'ah? They are more evil than the people of sin, due to this (following) fact: One of the great scholars of Basra, Salam ibn Abu Muti', said: "It would be more beloved to me to meet Allaah with the deeds of Hajjaj than with the deeds of 'Amr ibn 'Ubaid. 'Amr ibn 'Ubaid was a devout worshipper who abstained from worldly luxuries, but he was an astray innovator. As for Hajjaj, he was a tyrannical sinner responsible for the deaths of many Muslims. So this imam preferred to meet Allaah with the deeds of the oppressive sinner. And why? Because this imam realized and understood the danger and ugliness of bid'ah. And it is sufficient for us that the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) would describe bid'ah in all or most of his khutbas by saying it is sharrul umur, the worst of the affairs. And Bid'ah is also included in Allaah's statement: Or do they have partners with Allaah who have legislated for them a religion that Allaah has not ordained? (Ash-Shura, ayah 21) And this is the state of the followers of Ahlul Bid'ah. No matter what type of bid'ah they're upon, the meaning of these verses apply to them. And why do they apply to them? Because they [Ahlul Bid'ah] give preferences to obeying their leaders over the obedience to Allaah and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam). And many of (Ahlul Bid'ah) will meet Allaah with this statement: Our Lord, verily we obeyed our leaders and our great ones; they misled us from the right way. Our Lord, double their torment and curse them with a mighty curse. (Al-Ahzab, ayah 68) Many of those who will meet Allaah with this answer are those who follow their desires and fight the truth; they are pleased with falsehood and call to falsehood, like what we see among many of the people in these times, wearing the disguise of Islam and Salafiya (Ahlus-Sunnah), but they are the most severe in their battle against Salafiya (Ahlus-Sunnah) and its people. Shaikh Rabee' also said: So, if he [the student] does not practically implement commanding the good and forbidding the evil, especially with the people of desires, perhaps he will be entered into Allah, The Most High's, statement: Those amongst the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Daawood (David) and Eesaa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they (the Children of Israel) disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were always transgressing beyond bounds. They did not forbid one another from the evildoing which they committed. Vile indeed was that which the used to do. (al-Maa`idah, ayah 79) If he [the student] sees that innovations are spreading, and that there are those who invite to it, and that there are those who preserve it, and that there are those who defend it, and that there are those who wage war against Ahlus-Sunnah, how is it that he is quiet [about these things]? [Shaykh Rabee's Salafee Answers on Manhaj Questions Posed by Abu Rawaahah, pg. 34, question #11] Someone asked Shaikh Rabee': Is this hadeeth authentic, "Whoever aids falsehood while he knows (better) will be the recipient of Allaah's anger until he leaves off what was said (i.e. his aid and support of falsehood)?" Shaikh Rabee' (hafidhahullaah) answered: From what I know this hadeeth is authentic, we ask Allaah's safety (from this). We see many people in this time who know the truth but despite this fight against it and its people, while supporting falsehood and sacrificing themselves during the process. They defend falsehood and its people (to the point) of raising them to the station of martyrs and those who fight in the cause of Allaah, so on and so forth from the exaltation they bestow upon the people of falsehood and misguidance. By Allaah this is a dangerous matter, and thus they will be the recipients of Allaah’s anger until they leave off what was said (i.e. their aid and support of falsehood). We ask Allaah to grant us and them the success of repenting and desisting from falsehood and the aid thereof.