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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

EEMAAN AND KUFR SERIES VOL.9

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure1

(from the award-winning book Takfeer: Fee Daw is-Sunnah in-Nabawiyyah prize winner of the Naayif bin AbdulAzeez International Award for the Prophetic Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies, 1428 AH/2007 CE)

By Shaykh, Dr Baasim bin Faysal al-Jawaabirah

(Professor of Hadeeth at the Shareeah Department, The University of Jordan and formerly at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh)

Translated by AbdulHaq ibn Kofi ibn Kwesi Addae ibn Kwaku al-Ashanti

Abridged from Dr Baasim bin Faysal al-Jawaabirah, Takfeer: Fee Daw is-Sunnah in-Nabawiyyah

(n.p., 2006 CE/1428 AH, 1st Edn.), pp.11-37.

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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

CONTENTS

3 Introduction 3 The Madhdhab of the Khawaarij and the Mutazilah 5 The Main Deductions that the Khawaarij and Mutazilah made from the Texts 6 The Madhdhab of the Murjiah 10 The Causes of Takfeer and Extremism 15 Evidence from the Book and the Sunnah Censuring Extremism 19 The Negative Effects of Extremism and Takfeer 23 The Cure for Extremism and Takfeer 27 The Danger of Takfeer

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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

INTRODUCTION
Different views have developed in regards to disobedience and sins wherein some have gone to excess, others have been negligent and there are those who are moderate. The intent of briefly mentioning these different views is to make clear the ruling on committing different types of sins according to all of the factions. Within this research we will expound upon three madhaahib:

THE

MADHDHAB

OF

THE

KHAWAARIJ

AND

THE

MUTAZILAH
The Khawaarij and the Mutazilah view that any major sin that is committed by a Muslim, or any sin that a Muslim does not make tawbah from, renders the Muslim to reside eternally in the Hellfire. The Khawaarij however apply, along with saying that the person will reside eternally in the Hellfire, kufr to the person in the dunya. The Mutazilah apply neither kufr nor eemaan to the individual, rather they apply sin in the dunya to the individual. Both of these two factions use the texts that relate to the warnings and threats that are mentioned in the Quraan and Sunnah and for this reason these two factions have been called the Waaeediyyah by the Ulama, due to their reliance on the texts that emphasis the threats and warnings over the texts related to promises.1 The explainer of at-Tahawiyyah,2 may Allaah have mercy on him, and others from the people of knowledge, mentions many texts from the Quraan and Sunnah which these two factions draw upon. From the texts of the Quraan that they use for example are,

And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed then it is those who are disbelievers. {al-Maaidah (5): 44} Also Allaahs saying:

1 2

Abdullaah al-Ahdal, Takfeer wan-Nifaaq wa Madhaahib ul-Ulama fihi, pp.2-3. Sharh ul-Aqeedah at-Tahawiyyah, pp.439-442

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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Whoever kills a believer intentionally then his reward will be (to remain in) Jahannam eternally, and the anger and curse of Allaah will be upon him, He (Allaah) has prepared for him a severe punishment. {an-Nisaa (4): 93} Also Allaahs saying:

And those who do not invoke with All h another deity or kill the soul which All h has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated. Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them All h will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is All h Forgiving and Merciful. {al-Furqaan (25): 68-70} From the texts of the Sunnah that these two factions try to utilise are: the hadeeth of Ibn Masood wherein the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Cursing a Muslim is sin and killing him is kufr, and other hadeeth which mention kufr or nifaaq such as the hadeeth: Whoever has four of the following characteristics is a real Munaafiq, and whoever has a trait of them has a trait of nifaaq: if he speaks he lies, if he makes a promise he breaks it, if he is entrusted he betrays __________________________________________________________________ SalafiManhaj 2008 4

_____________________________________________________________________ the trust and if he argues he is vulgar.1 Or the two factions (i.e. the Khawaarij and Mutazilah) make reference to the texts of the Sunnah that mention a lack of eemaan, such as: By Allaah he does not believe, by Allaah he does not believe, by Allaah he does not believe. It was asked: Who O Messenger of Allaah? the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) replied: The one whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.2 And other texts besides these.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

The main deductions that the Khawaarij and Mutazilah made from these texts: 1. Ascribing kufr to whoever commits an act of disobedience based on for example,

And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed then it is those who are disbelievers. {al-Maaidah (5): 44} 2. Negating eemaan from whoever commits an act of disobedience, based on for example: By Allaah he does not believe and the Prophets (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) saying: The zaanee does not commit zina while being a believer.3 3. Judging the individual who commits and act of disobedience to be from the people of the Hellfire, based on the saying of Allaah,

Whoever kills a believer intentionally then his reward will be (to remain in) Jahannam eternally, and the anger and curse of Allaah will be upon him, He (Allaah) has prepared for him a severe punishment. {an-Nisaa (4): 93}
1

Saheeh Bukhaaree (with the numbering of Muhammad Fuad AbdulBaaqee, 1407 AH, 2nd Edn.) and Bukhaaree and Muslim Bukhaaree and Muslim, from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah.

Saheeh Muslim
2 3

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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Within these texts and the like are evidences for them to say: that the people who commit acts of disobedience are kuffaar in the worldly life, according to the Khawaarij and will remain eternally in the Hellfire, according to the Mutazilah.

THE MADHDHAB OF THE MURJIAH

The intent of Murjiah: The faction which negate actions from being from the meaning of eemaan and they were named as such due to their irjaa (postponement) of actions, meaning: the delaying actions from being from eemaan. They stated: that eemaan is tasdeeq (affirmation) of the heart only and most of them did not make the condition of pronouncing eemaan. They thus characterised the disobedient as having perfect and complete eemaan and they claimed that sins to not affect the root of eemaan, their writings are well-known in the books of aqeedah.1 The madhdhab of the Murjiah has three foundations: 1. Defining eemaan and the regulations that it is based upon in the dunya and in the Hereafter. They have different extensive definitions of eemaan and due to this they split into numerous sects which numbered over twelve sects as Abul-Hasan alAsharee (rahimahullaah) stated when he said:
The first sect of them claimed that eemaan in Allaah is only marifah (knowledge) of Allaah and his Messenger and whatever is similar to marifah such as testificaion on the tongue, humility in the heart, love of Allaah and His Messenger and humility to them actions of the limbs are not from eemaan. They claimed that kufr in Allaah means ignorance of Him2

2. Sticking to the texts which are related to promises and what the Murjiah depend upon in their madhdhab are those verses and hadeeth wherein Allaah promises his servants from the Muwahhiddeen entry into Paradise and salvation from the Hellfire. For example, their utilise verses such as:

1Ibn

Hajar al-Asqalaanee, Fath ul-Baaree bish-Sharh Saheeh il-Bukhaaree (n.p., Daar ur-Rayaan lital-Asharee, Muhammad Muhiddeen AbdulHameed (ed.), Maqalaat ul-Islamiyyeen (al-

Turaath, 1407 AH, 2nd Edn.), vol.1, p.110

2Abul-Hasan

Maktabah al-Asriyyah, n.d.), vol.1, p.132

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Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of All h. Indeed, All h forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. {az-Zumar (39): 53} Also included in this are the texts from the Quraan and the Sunnah wherein Allaah promises forgiveness, mercy and pardon, such as the hadeeth of Aboo Dharr:

the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Allaah says: whoever comes with s good action I will multiple it by ten and increase it, and whoever comes with an evil action then the reward is evil like it or I will forgive. Whoever meets me with the earths fill of sins yet without associating anything with me, will meet me with its like of forgiveness.1 3. Falsely interpreting the texts related to promises, and from the strangest of their false interpretations is that all who are ascribed as having kufr in the Legislation only refers to kufr being a lack of marifah of Allaah or the termination of tasdeeq with the heart of Allaah. Likewise, their false interpretation of the texts related to the threats and warnings as only intending to strike fear into people and warn them from falling into such things, without there being a reality to such warnings.2 The madhdhab of most of the people of Sunnah, which is contrary to the two previously mentioned schools of thought, is median between the two in that the people of Sunnah combine between both the texts related to the promises and the texts related to the warnings and threats, they give both their position with neither objection nor contradiction. So when the first madhdhab went to excess in light of the texts by looking only to the texts related to warnings and threats they opened up the doors of Jahannam to the disobedient among the Muslims and closed the doors of Paradise on them. The
1 2

Saheeh Muslim Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo al-Fataawaa (Madeenah: Majma Malik Fahd, 1416 AH, 1st Edn.), vol.19,

p.150

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_____________________________________________________________________ second madhdhab (i.e. that of the Murjiah) went to excess in that they only viewed the texts related to the promises and opened up the doors of Jannah to all of disobedient, even to the ones who fell into major shirk as long as the individual knows Allaah via mere marifah or tasdeeq in the heart. In this way they closed the doors of Hellfire which establish the proof on some of the disobedient from the believers to enter it and then be expelled from it. The madhdhab of the people of Sunnah is the middle way due to it combining between the texts of the warnings and the texts of the promises, they granted both their status. For the sin which renders an individual to dwell eternally in the Hellfire and render him a Murtad from Islaam is the sin of kufr and major shirk upon which a person dies upon. Other than these two (i.e. kufr and major shirk) from the major sins neither expel the person who commits them from Islaam nor render the person to dwell in the Hellfire eternally, rather such an individual is under the will of Allaah and will be punished depending on the magnitude of the sin committed if Allaah wills and will then leave the Hellfire and be entered into Jannah, if Allaah wills to forgive him. The texts from the Book and the Sunnah indicate this true madhdhab, as Allaah says,

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Indeed, All h does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with All h has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. {an-Nisaa (4): 48}

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_____________________________________________________________________ And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of All h. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, All h loves those who act justly. The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear All h that you may receive mercy. {al-Hujuraat (49): 9-10} Allaah regarded both of the two fighting factions as being believers and made them brothers to whoever of the believers seeks reconciliation between them. It has been authenticated from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) that he said: Whoever dies without associating anything in worship with Allaah will enter Jannah.1 He also said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): Whoever has in his heart a mustard seeds weight of eemaan will depart from the Hellfire.2 Within these texts and the like are a refutation of the Khawaarij and the Mutazilah, this is clear and needs no extra explanation. The texts in regard to this issue are many and the people of the truth act in accordance with all of the texts while the people of baatil only take that from the texts which support their madhdhab. So the matter is between excess, neglect and the middle way, Ibn Taymiyyah said:
There is no dispute among the fuquhaa of religion regarding those who commit sins so long as they accept internally and externally what the Messenger has come with and what is relayed from him, they are people who have been threatened and warned and the individual who Allaah and His messenger informed about will enter hellfire. They will neither remain eternally therein and nor are they apostates whose blood has become permissible. Rather the deviant view is the one which says they will remain eternally within the Hellfire, such as the saying of the Khawaarij and Mutazilah.3

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

So when the symbol of the true Ummah is moderation in aqeedah, ideology and manhaj, just as Allaah said,

And thus we have made you a just community {Baqarah (2): 143}
1 2

Bukhaaree and Muslim Refer to an-Nawawees explanation of Saheeh Muslim, vol.1, p.150. Likewise refer to Fataawaa of

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, vol.7, pp.258, 242, 217, 188; vol.12, p.466; vol.10, p.230. Also see Sharh at-Tahaawee, pp.293, 118, 501, 479.
3

Majmoo al-Fataawaa, vol.7, p.279

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_____________________________________________________________________ And when the people of guidance from the other madhaahib went to extremes in their understanding of the Divinely Legislated texts it became a must to clarify the reasons for extremism, its effects and the cure.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

THE CAUSES OF TAKFEER AND EXTREMISM

There is no doubt that all problems have causes and whoever wants the cure to these problems has to have knowledge of the causes. The reasons of these problems differ from country to country, from group to group and from time to time. However, there are matters which can possibly be associated between many of those individuals and groups throughout many times and nations, such as: 1. Ignorance of: the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam), the regulations of takfeer and its principles and of the statements of the Salaf in regards to this. Likewise, ignorance of aims and intents of the Shareeah, whether that be out of utter ignorance, with some of them or out of partial ignorance due to a false interpretation or ijtihad by one who is not suitable for it. If they truly were the people of ijtihad they would not put forward actions which bring about harms and then apply these false interpretations onto Muslim countries, the rulers, the people, the dawah and those who call to it! 2. Also from the causes of extremism and takfeer is: a lack of adhering to the manhaj of the Salaf when confronted with the fitna of ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed in many of the Muslims lands. Likewise, a lack of adhering to the manhaj of the Salaf in regards to changing manifest evils, provocations and deceptive methods. There is no doubt that the fitna of ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed has become popular and inundated (the Muslim world) and it is part of the cause for the fitna of takfeer. For it is not permissible to refer judgement in making things halaal or haraam, in matters related to blood, wealth, honour and general and particular matters- except with the Shareeah of Allaah, Mighty and Majestic. Allaah says, Is it the rule of Jaahiliyyah that they want? And what is better than the rule of Allaah for a people who are certain? {al-Maaidah (5): 50} Allaah also says, Or do they have associates who __________________________________________________________________ 10 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ legislate from the deen for them that which Allaah did not allow? {Shooraa (): 21} Allaah also says, Judgment is only for Allaah, He instructed that that you worship none but Him. That is the upright deen, however, most of the people do not know. {Yoosuf (12): 40} The verses which outline this basis are many. 3. The third cause for the fitna of extremism and takfeer is: ignorance of the universal Sunan in regards to being established in the earth which does not take place except with patience and bearing the harms of the kuffaar. How can we not be patient with the harms of the Muslims? 4. Defaming the major scholars of the Sunnah, discrediting them and accusing them of being scholars of the government, or at best being ignorant of the reality or as being deceived by the rulers. Also slandering them by describing them as being merely scholars of womens periods and menstrual fluid. As for seeking fataawaa from the major scholars in regards to current affairs then such scholars, according to those who extreme, are not adequate trustworthy reference points for such matters. There is no doubt that the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets except that they are not infallible and Allaah instructed that they be resorted back to, Ask the people of remembrance if you do not know. {anNahl (16): 43}, and Allaah also says,

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

And when there comes to them something (i.e. information) about (public) security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had only referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who (can) draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favour of Allaah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Shaytaan, except for a few of you. {an-Nisaa (4): 83} __________________________________________________________________ 11 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Whoever Allaah wishes good for, he grants him understanding of the deen.1 There are other evidences which indicate the virtue of the Ulama, their elevated position and the necessity to refer back to them, especially in regards to newly-arisen issues. Yet when the Ulama reject the way of those extreme youth in regards to extremism and takfeer, due to such youth not restricting themselves to the principles of the Shareeah, and in regards the way of such youth in regards to bombings and assassinations, they run around and say: Dont listen to those scholars because they are only scholars of the government! Stay away from them because they are not able to speak the truth! 5. Misunderstanding what is intended in regards to referring back to trustworthy reference points for fataawaa. For some of them take a Khateeb as being a reference point due to the Khateeb affecting peoples hearts which must indicate that he is sincere and thus a truthful reference point for fataawaa for contemporary issues! Some of them take a poet as a reference point, some are deceived by the manners of a pious worshipper, while some are tricked by a person who was in imprisoned a few times and then released. Some of the youth think that these types of people are people who are qualified to give fataawaa in regards to contemporary issues and thus take from them. This is even though the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said From the signs of the Last Hour is that knowledge will be taken from the young.2 This is whether the intent of asaagheer (young) is the people of innovation; those who are young in age who are inexperienced in regards to the Divine Legislation and the reality. So such youth have to take a lesson from that and be cautioned from whatever will lead them to tribulation and destruction. 6. It is only just that it be said: also from the causes of extremism are the harsh measures used and the iron-fisted suppression that is meted out- by the security apparatus within many countries when dealing with those who have some connection to dawah unto Allaah, Mighty and Majestic, even if it be a distant link to dawah. This is whether an individual is actually far from any involvement in this extremist ideology or not. It may even be the

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

1 2

Bukhaaree and Muslim, from the hadeeth of Muawiyah (radi Allaahu anhu). Reported by Ibn ul-Mubaarak and others, authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah,

no.695.

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_____________________________________________________________________ case, in some countries for example, that an innocent individual becomes worse than the actual preachers of this extremist ideology due to such treatment.1 Such suppression gives rise to extremism within those who were initially moderate beforehand. As for the one who is already extreme then he increases in his extremism and no door is opened for him to know the truth and then the youth become deluded by such individuals. Yet if the youth knew the truth they would oppose any defence of such extreme preachers and refute their arguments, inshaaAllaah. However, the suppressive measures that are meted out (by the security apparatus) do not bring forth anything fruitful and rather instil the spirit of revenge and retribution and
1Translators

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

note: This is an excellent observation by the Shaykh and one which has unfortunately

been glossed over by many. As there is no doubt whatsoever that the dhulm that is meted out by various state security apparatus whether that be the brutal prison regimes of Guantanamo Bay, extraordinary rendition or the harsh prison systems and policing within many Muslim countries is a cause for nurturing extremism and leading to disenchantment. Unfortunately, within some Muslim and nonMuslim countries torture is routine and regarded as common practice. In many of the Muslim countries torture was inherited from the French colonial period or from others. There are horrific torture tactics implemented such as: water boarding; enforced and prolonged isolation; music torture; sensory deprivation; sleep deprivation; rape; sexual humiliation; cultural humiliation; the use of electric shock battons etc. There is also a vast range of enhanced interrogation techniques used by certain Muslim countries and the US yet contravene human rights and are considered to be torture. Not to mention the fact that some of these extraordinary interrogation methods and practices are straight from Shaytaan (the devil) himself, as we shall observe. So while Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia and Malaysia for example, are seriously working to have humane prison conditions, major Western countries have prisons full of: rape; kuffaar gang culture; drug dealing; murder; violence; enforced homosexuality; denial of family visits; the placing of prisoners in cages; 24 hour lockdowns; inadequate educational, social and psychological programs all within the so-called land of the free!!? The US led occupation and invasion of Iraaq witnessed an exportation of such inhumane treatment of prisons within the country, for the Abu Ghraib Prison was but an example of such vile, crazed and sick torture techniques. Indeed, it was as if the US were following in the footsteps of their old friend Saddam Husayn as opposed to bringing anything different. Herein prisoners were subjected to rape, abuse, torture and summary executions by US military personnel. So much for a war on terror, they need to take their own advice! However, the punishment meted out to the guilty US troops at the prison was mediocre to say the least. A great deal has been written with regards to these horrific abuses committed by the US. For more on the humane prison system within Saudi Arabia and the recent rehabilitation schemes taken place refer to an interesting Canadian Broadcasting Company News report here by Nancy Durham: http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/internationalus/extreme_rehab.html Also see here for prisons in Morocco: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/world/africa/31prison.html

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_____________________________________________________________________ lead to confronting such transgression with what is even worse, if possible, and cultivates many of the youth upon this deviated ideology. Look at the condition of those who were released from prison, for their situation is the greatest testimony to this. How many moderates have become extremists, how many extremists have actually increased in their deviation, except for those who Allaah shows mercy to? What also indicates the general failure of this method (of suppression and harsh treatment from the security apparatus) is the fact that many Muslim states have abandoned the method and have resorted to opening up the door of dialogue (between those who are extreme) with those who are specialised in dealing with the issue. This beneficial transition only took place after experiencing the suppressive method and the manifestation of much harm due to it.1 What also has to be realised is that cautioning against this method (of suppression and harsh treatment from the security apparatus) does not necessitate a caution against resoluteness, against a cessation of preventing such extremism or against stopping such extremism with might, on the side of the security apparatus when confronting such tribulations and its people. Rather, all of this is in order to be restricted to the Shareeah of Allaah, Mighty and Majestic, and not give way to following vain desires and Allaah is the One we ask for help. 7. The presence of eagerness, partisanship and excitability in dealing with others, along with the youth feeling that due to this they are establishing what Allaah has obligated upon them as opposed to others who they view as being negligent. This leads the youth to bloody confrontations and the like. 8. Another cause of extremism is mobilising mistaken revolutionary excitability among the youth via the preachers and ideologues of this (extreme) ideology. When some of the preachers to this ideology find that they are some youth who have some love of the deen, and they see that such youth safeguard the prohibitions of Allaah, and see that the youth have a desire for Jannah and whatever statements and actions can bring nearness to Jannah such preachers mention to the youth ahaadeeth regarding the virtue of armed jihad and the virtue of martyrdom in the way of Allaah. This in itself is good, because jihad is the
1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

The fact that this book also won a prize from Prince Naif bin AbdulAzeez Aali Saud, the Interior

Minister of Saudi Arabia, also goes to show that the people in authority are taking allegations of torture and human rights abuses within Muslim countries.

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_____________________________________________________________________ pinnacle of this deen and is continuous up until the Day of Judgement, according to ability, except for the error here being that they (extremist preachers) convinced the youth that the rulers and their aides within the Muslim countries are the first against whom jihad should be rightfully waged. The extremist preachers mentioned to the youth the verse of Allaah, O you who believe, fight those who disbelievers who are in close proximity to you and let them find in you firmness. {at-Tawbah (9): 123}

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

EVIDENCE

F RO M

THE

BOOK

AND

THE

SUNNAH

CENSURING EXTREMISM
Extremism in all of its manifestations is transgressing the Divinely Legislated bounds and putting something forward before Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) and Allaah has prohibited this. Allaah says,

O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before All h and His Messenger but fear All h. Indeed, All h is Hearing and Knowing. {al-Hujuraat (49): 1} The censure of extremism is due to it leading to the servant (of Allaah) oppressing his own self and others. It also leads to the servant losing out on that which Allaah has obligated upon him and it may even be that what he has lost out on what is more obligatory than which he has gone to extremes in. Extremism is a cause for actions to cease, blocks people from the path of Allaah, frightens people away from the deen, distorts the tolerance of Islaam and its beauty. A number of texts have been relayed in regards to the censure of extremism, such as: a. The clear prohibition of extremism, as Allaah said:

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_____________________________________________________________________

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Say: O People of the Scripture do not go to excess in your religion without right, and do not follow the desires of a people who went astray before {al-Maaidah (5): 77} Allaah says,

O People of the Scripture do not go to excess in your religion and do not say about Allaah except the truth. {an-Nisaa (4): 171} Allaah says,

So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to All h], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do. {Hood (11): 112} The saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): Beware of extremism in the deen1 and he also said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): The extremists are destroyed, the extremists are destroyed, the extremists are destroyed.2 These texts are clear in censuring extremism. b. The texts which exhort to ease, removing blame and encouraging kindness at the same time censure extremism. Allaah says,

1 2

Verified by an-Nisaaee, hadeeth no.3057 and its sanad is saheeh. Saheeh Muslim

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_____________________________________________________________________ And strive for All h with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. {al-Hajj (22): 78} Also Allaahs saying,

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Allaah wants ease for you and He does not want hardship for you. {Baqarah (2): 185} Allaah also says,

And All h wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak. {an-Nisaa (4): 28} Allaah, Mighty and Majestic, does not want for any of the forms of extremism because they are hard and are neither easy nor light (upon a person). From the texts in this regard are the sayings of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): I was sent with the upright moderate way.1 He also said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) This deen is ease and no one is hard on the deen except that it overcomes him.2 He said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) Indeed Allaah is Kind and he loves kindness, He gives for kindness what He does not give for severity.3 He also said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) Rifq is not found within anything except that it adorns it and it is not removed from anything except that it disfigures it.4 The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Whoever is prevented from kindness will be prevented from good.5 He also said (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) If Allaah wants good for the people of the household, he will enter kindness upon them.6
1

Reported by Ahmad, vol.26, p.624, hadeeth no.22291, from the hadeeth of Aboo Umaamah (radi Bukhaaree and an-Nisaaee from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah (radi Allaahu anhu). Reported by Muslim in the hadeeth of Aaishah (radi Allaahu anhaa). Verified by Muslim from Aaishah (radi Allaahu anha). Saheeh Muslim in the hadeeth of Jareer (radi Allaahu anhu). Verified by Ahmad in al-Musnad, vol.40, p.488, hadeeth no.24427; also see as-Saheehah, hadeeth no.

Allaahu anhu), its sanad is Saheeh.

2 3 4 5 6

1219.

__________________________________________________________________ 17 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ c. The instruction is to be moderate, between excess and neglect. For the people of Islaam are moderate among the religions, while the people of Sunnah are moderate among the sects and factions, Allaah says,

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

And thus we have made you a just community to be witnesses over the people and so that the Messenger will be a witness over you. {Baqarah (2): 143} This is not attained except with the testimony of balanced justice and this is the feature of the Muslim Ummah, so whoever goes extreme has resembled the yahood and whoever is easy has resembled the nasaaraa, we seek refuge in Allaah from the path of those who have anger upon them and those who follow the path of the misguided. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) did not permit large stones to be thrown at the Jamaraat and he considered this to be extreme, likewise he did not permit Abdillaah bin Amru to be pre-occupied with worship over his family. The Messenger of Allaah likewise exhorted to not fast all the time just as he exhorted to not remain awake all the time (for worship) and to not abandon marriage (for a life of worship), rather he encouraged moderation in these matters. He (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said to those who were going to excess in their worship: Whoever turns way from my sunnah is not from me.1 The Messenger of Allaah did not permit transgressions of the limits even within acts of worship, so how can one transgress the limits and then make takfeer of Muslims and make their blood permissible to shed along with taking their wealth and honour?

Bukhaaree and Muslim from Anas (radi Allaahu anhu).

__________________________________________________________________ 18 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF EXTREMISM AND TAKFEER

In most cases the individuals and groups that are described as having extremism deem it permissible to kill those who they themselves judge to have committed apostasy, so they transgress in two cases here: 1. Extremism in takfeer and expelling many Muslims from the religion of Islaam without clear proof. 2. Giving themselves the right to implement the Islamic punishments which are the right of the leader in authority. This effects the basic necessities of life the most important of which being the preservation of life which in turn leads to corruption spreading throughout the earth. As a result of this, the Muslims have lost safety and security within their abodes as is the reality that is witnessed today. The dangerous results of takfeer have become apparent within many lands in the form of bombings and killing the innocent in the name of Islaam, wanting change and in the name of establishing the rule of Allaah. These effects and evil consequences of takfeer and extremism are plentiful, the worst of which come in the form of bombings and assassinations. I will mention what I am able to of these consequences so that the youth: Reflect on themselves Comprehend the outcomes of their actions. Fear Allaah in regards to their deen, Ummah and country. Prevent the opportunity for those who wish to harm the Ummah Preserve the manhaj of their Salaf and Be cautioned against evil ways. For a person bears his own burden and the burden of whoever does (the evil way) up until the Day of Judgement, and Allaah is the One Who we ask for help. From these corruptions are: 1. The fact that these bombings and assassinations affect innocent souls including children, the elderly and women and thus involve killing souls which are sanctified in Islam. Allaah says, Whoever kills a believer intentionally then his reward will ne Jahannam, remaining therein eternally, and the anger and curse of Allaah will be upon him. A severe punishment has been prepared for him. {an-Nisaa (4): 93} Allaah also says, Do not kill a soul that Allaah has prohibited to be killed, except with due right.{al-Anaam (6): 151} Allaah says, Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel __________________________________________________________________ 19 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. {al-Maaidah (5): 32} The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: It is not permitted to kill a Muslim person except in three instances: for committing adultery; a soul for soul and leaving the deen, thereby splitting off from the Jamaah. Yet those who are extreme kill Muslims.the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said The end of the dunya is less with Allaah than the killing of a Muslim without right. From the hadeeth of Anas that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: The worst of the major sins are: committing shirk with Allaah and the killing of a soul. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Defaming a Muslim is sin and killing him is kufr. And there are many other hadeeth in this regard. 2. These bombings destroy homes, disturb general interests and areas and affect the wealth of the Muslims. There is ijmaa on the prohibition of committing these crimes. The Muslims wealth, blood and honour is sanctified. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said in his farewell speech, Your blood and wealth are sanctified, just like this day of yours in sanctified, like this month of yours is sanctified in this land of yours. 3. These bombings and assassinations kill many non-Muslims who have contracts of safety and security in the lands of Islaam and they have covenants of security from those in authority in the Muslim lands. This is whether they are tourists, experienced in sciences that the Muslims need or workers and the like. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Muslims are equal in respect of blood. The lowest of them is entitled to give protection on behalf of them, and the one residing far away may give protection on behalf of them. They are like one hand over against all those who are outside the community.1 It is also verified from the hadeeth of Ali (radi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: The dhimmah of the Muslims is one. If the promise is broken by all of them (i.e. of the non-Muslims that Muslims have an agreement with) is the responsibility of the proof to be established by individuals from the masses or does it rather get referred back to
1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Verified by Aboo Daawood, hadeeth no. 2751, Ibn Maajah, hadeeth no.2683 from the hadeeth

Abdullaah bin Amru bin al-Aas. The hadeeth is Saheeh, see al-Irwaa, hadeeth no.2208

__________________________________________________________________ 20 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ the leader in authority? If it is to be referred back to the leaders in authority, as will be explained inshaaAllaah, then it is not permissible for anyone else to transgress his limit and they have to inform those in authority (of such a break in the promise) so as to free themselves. They also have to give dawah in the way of Allaah and warn the Muslims about the evil of whoever is known to have a broken promise or agreement. So the Muslims are warned in order for them to be warned against transgressing against them due to the great harms that are involved in that. So finally killing a muaahad that has not broken a promise or agreement is from the major sins and incurs the wrath of Allaah in the dunya and the Hereafter. 4. These bombings destabilise security and stability and lead to a loss of assurance and tranquillity which in turn produces a climate of fear among people. If such tribulations persist then there will be neither Hajj to the Ancient House nor support of the oppressed, and no one would feel safe over their selves, wealth, women and children. Nothing would remain for us in the deen and the dunya within all of the Muslim lands! Based on this: whoever strives to destabilise security and stability, as found within societies, is striving to destroy an important part of our deen and destroy what remains of good in our dunya, whether he knows this or not! 5. These bombings block people from the path of Allaah and makes a person who wants to embrace Islaam flee from it. It also weakens the testimony of the duaat of Allaah within the Eastern and Western lands who then have to panic to defend themselves and spend their efforts in this. Yet even with this their enemies do not accept them because they are not searching for anything that will free those duaat from the allegations, rather they are searching for how to distort the image of those duaat in order for the people not to accept anything from them.1 So while it is primary for those duaat to exert efforts, energies, wealth and time to defend Islaam, critique the shubuhaat of the enemies and explain the gaps in the ways of the opposers, present the beauty of Islaam and its ease and other matters which are more worthy for the duaat and Muslims to be involved in, they have to clarify these bombings and their effects.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

This is what has developed in the West with the rise of distorted fake-umentaries which openly seek out

to cut, paste, edit and splice up the words of those who call to the Sunnah in order to implicate them in contributing to intolerance which gives rise to terrorism. [TN]

__________________________________________________________________ 21 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ 6. These bombings cause those who have issue with Islaam from within and from outside to spend out from their stagnant good and corrupted beliefs. So you see them revel in this and distort the image of the scholars of the Muslims, the students of knowledge, the rectifiers and those doing good by describing them all as being terrorists and as being blood-thirsty wolves who are enemies of security that hate their lives not to mention the lives of others. Then they claim that the manhaj of the Sunnah gives rise to this and other such false claims. 7. These bombings make non-Muslims focus in on charitable doings, Islamic universities, Islamic centres and dawah institutes. They also try to gain a hold on the correct dawah under the banner of a war on violence and terror and the bombings pave the way for this. The intent here is: an explanation of the pressure that has affected foundations, charitable organisations and academic centres due to the actions of those youth. Even if there is the possibility that there are others who are behind such bombings and causing such corruption and then ascribing these terrorist actions to them, but this is not the place to discuss this here. 8. These bombings increase pressure on the Muslims everywhere and lead those Muslims who are weak in eemaan and ignorant of their deen to have bad opinions about their deen and their scholars. Rather, some of them are ashamed of being Muslim! As has occurred in some countries and all this reveals the weakness of the Muslims as Muslims are mentioned with bad by the lowly and insignificant.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

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_____________________________________________________________________

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

THE CURE FOR EXTREMISM AND TAKFEER

The best cure for extremism and takfeer is to take the statement of the medical doctors: prevention is better than cure. This prevention can be outlined in the following points: 1. Studying the sciences of the deen with the trustworthy scholars who are well known for their knowledge, abstinence and truthfulness. 2. Paying tribute to the efforts of the scholars, spreading their virtues, mentioning their good qualities, clarifying the virtue of following the people of knowledge in that which is the truth, mentioning the difficulties that the Ulama traversed and making excuses for them so that the hearts will be united on them. For within the hearts being united on them the dunya and the Hereafter will be rectified and so that we unite upon our Ulama within the likes of these issues. If any error is to occur then this is better than any splitting or disputation taking place which will lead to failure, disgrace and their prestige being damaged. This important matter is entrusted upon the necks of the students of knowledge. 3. Referring back to trustworthy authentic reference points and every issue has its reference points. So for fatwa, especially in regards to new issues, the people of ijtihaad and comprehension have to be referred back to; for disagreements (to be resolved) then we refer back to the judges and leaders; for medical issues we refer back to those who are specialists in the field and the same is likewise for socioeconomic political issues, reference has to be made back to the specialists in the field. For armies strategies we have to refer back to the military commanders and generals and so on and so on. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: If matters are referred to those who are not the suitable people for those matters, then await the Last Hour.1 4. Advancing the Ulama, students of knowledge and educators in their obligation of curing, cultivating and educating. This is because if the Ulama pass away or are absent then the people will refer back to the figureheads of ignorance, just as the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) stated: Allaah does not take away knowledge abruptly from the hearts of people, rather he takes away knowledge by the death of the scholars until no scholar remains. Then the people will take ignoramuses as their leaders who will be asked and give rulings without knowledge, they are astray and they will lead others astray.2

1 2

Verified by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no. 59 Related by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no.2100, Muslim, hadeeth no.2673 from the hadeeth of Abdullaah

ibn Amru ibn al-Aas (radi Allaahu anhuma).

__________________________________________________________________ 23 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ The statement of the Messenger of Allaah If matters are referred to those who are not the suitable people for those matters, then await the Last Hour, has preceded wherein he stated: If matters are referred to those who are not the suitable people for those matters, then await the Last Hour. As a result, the importance of the cure before danger arises it is not hidden from the scholars, may Allaah preserve them. 5. Attaching importance to the intents of the Shareeah and its spirit, its general principles and the manner of the manhaj of the people of knowledge in achieving this; applying general regulations to subsidiary branches and aspects and having a good understanding of benefits and harms in light of the Divine Legislation. 6. Spreading the madhdhab of the Salaf in how to deal with apparent evils that are prevalent within many societies. Such as the issue of ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed, as the madhdhab of the Salaf combines between truthful advice and an avoidance of opening up the doors to tribulation. It also involves denying evil or lessening evil even with a slight amount, this is when it is not possible to deflect all of the evil. Just as this manhaj is based on patience with transgression and being occupied with giving dawah with wisdom. 7. Spreading the madhdhab of the Salaf in curing the ideology that is conducive to takfeer and bombing. This is via mentioning the evidences which highlight the prohibition of shedding a Muslims blood, the prohibition of killing a disbeliever with whom a Muslim has an agreement with or the disbeliever who has sought safety with the Muslims. This is because safety and security is granted to a nonMuslim (and granted by a non-Muslim to a Muslim) by giving entry visas for the Muslim lands, or whatever is based on this that has a Divinely Legislated aim or a religious benefit that the leaders in authority comprehend. Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah stated: It has arrived in the Sunnah that all that is understood by a disbeliever to be a trust or covenant is taken to be a trust. So as not for him to be deceived, even if deceiving him was not intended.1 The evidences which indicate the prohibition of bombings and assassinations have to be mentioned and spread among the Muslims according to the ability. Of these evidences are: the saying of Allaah But whoever kills a believer intentionally his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and All h has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment. {an-Nisaa (4): 93}, and there are other verses which show the impermissibility of killing an
1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Ibn Taymiyyah, Bayaan ud-Daleel, p.64

__________________________________________________________________ 24 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ innocent Muslim; the saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): Cursing a Muslim is sin and fighting him is kufr.1; the saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam): After me you will not return to be kuffaar, striking the necks of each other.2 From AbdurRahmaan bin Abee Laylaa who said: the companions of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) narrated to us that they were travelling with the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) and one of the men with them slept while some other men tied him up and took him somewhere (as a joke). When the man awoke he was terrified by the ordeal (thinking it real) and when the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) found out about this he said: It is not allowed for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.3 The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: None of you should point a weapon at his Muslim brother; for he does not know whether Shaytaan will cause you to hit him and thus he would fall into the pit of Hell.4 From the hadeeth of Ibn Umar (radi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Whoever brandishes a weapon against us is not from us.5 So then what about bombings which make even the highest lives and buildings become of the lowest?! From the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas (radi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: The murdered person will come on the Day of Judgement with his hand attached to his head and with blood flowing from the veins of the other hand calling out to his killer until the one who was murdered takes the murderer to the Throne of Allaah. The murdered person will say to the Lord of the Worlds This person killed me. Then Allaah will say to the murderer: You have ruined yourself!, then he will be sent to Hellfire.6 It was also reported by an-Nisaaee7 and at-Tirmidhee1 from the hadeeth of Abdullaah ibn
1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Reported by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no. 48 and Muslim, hadeeth no. 218 from the hadeeth of Aboo Reported by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no. 121 and Muslim, hadeeth no. 220 from the hadeeth of Jareer Reported by Aboo Daawood, hadeeth no.5004 and Imam Ahmad, hadeeth no.23064 with a Saheeh Reported by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no. 7072 and Muslim, hadeeth no.2616 from the hadeeth of Aboo Reported by al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no.7070 and Muslim, hadeeth no.276. Muslim has another

Hurayrah (radi Allaahu anhu).

2

(radi Allaahu anhu).

3

sanad. Imam al-Albaanee authenticated it in Ghaayat ul-Maraam, no.447.

4

Hurayrah.
5

narration, hadeeth no.277 from Salamah bin al-Akwa that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Whoever brandishes a sword against us is not from us.
6

Reported by at-Tirmidhee, hadeeth no.3029; an-Nisaaee, hadeeth no.3999; Ahmad, hadeeth no.1941 Hadeeth nos. 3989 and 3990

all with an authentic isnad.

7

__________________________________________________________________ 25 SalafiManhaj 2008

_____________________________________________________________________ Amru (radi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: The end of the world is less with Allaah than the killing of a Muslim without right.2 8. From the beneficial cures, which have to be used for this disease, is for the people in authority to perform that which Allaah has obligated upon them in terms of ruling by what Allaah has revealed within minor and major affairs, openly and inwardly, in statements and in actions, in terms of beliefs and intentions. They should also stay away from all that which Allaah has prohibited and treat their masses as Allah instructed, as the people have rights and obligations. If the people perform their obligations Allaah will find a way out for them from all pressures and calamities, Allaah will be sufficient from them from all the evils of manifest and vague tribulation and He will drive out their enemies from inside and from outside. Allaah has promised for whoever rules by the Divine Legislation of Allaah, wanting by this the pleasure of Allaah, will be rewarded with the best of the dunya and the Hereafter, Allaah says, And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared All h, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning. {al-Araaf (7): 96}

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

1 2

Hadeeth no. 1395 Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami, hadeeth no.5078 and also in Ghaayat ul-Maraam

(439) and it has a supporting witness with the hadeeth of al-Baraa bin Aazib reported by Ibn Maajah, hadeeth no.2619.

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_____________________________________________________________________

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

THE DANGER OF TAKFEER

Takfeer is not to be rushed into, especially for the one who has even a touch of wara and deen or a tiny bit of knowledge and yaqeen. This is because takfeer can have disastrous consequences and bad fruits which impact on the believing hearts and disturb the assured souls.1 It is well-known what entry into Islaam means, for it means: exiting from the darkness of kufr to the light of eemaan. It also means his guidance to the Right Path of Allaah and leaving the path of Shaytaan the enemy of humanity. It also means that he is a member of the Jamaat of the Muslims and has rights to them just as they do to him, and has to fulfil the obligations just as they do. He also has to co-operate with them upon piety and consciousness of Allaah not upon sin and transgression. It (entry into Islaam) also means that he hopes for Allaahs forgiveness, mercy, reward and salvation from Allaahs punishment. It also means, above all of this, that he has become from the people who hope for Allaahs pleasure and for salvation from His punishment. Is it permissible for any human to expel whoever enters this fold (of Islaam) of his own choice via the main principle of Islaam: la ilaha il-Allaah, Muhammad urRasoolullaah? The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) affirmed Jannah and leaving the hellfire for the one who says it truthfully and sincerely from his heart. The Ulama of Islaam have warned from making takfeer of the one who has entered the fold of Islaam, except after the conditions of takfeer have been maintained and the preventative factors removed. Also from the evil actions which come about due to takfeer are: a severe threat, the obligation to curse; anger; ones heart being covered; ones actions being rendered void; disgrace; lack of forgiveness for the person (who has been made takfeer on) and then to remain eternally within the Hellfire facing a painful torment. Along with: divorcing the person from their spouse; enmity from family and friends; deserving execution; inheritance not to be taken from the person (who has been made takfeer on); not praying for the person; not burying the person with the Muslims and other matters which are mentioned in the classifications of fiqh and within the regulations. Many rulings are based upon takfeer which are connected to the one who has been judged to have committed kufr in the dunya and the Aakhirah. These rulings are also connected to those who are linked to those who have some sort of relation to the person whether they be relatives or spouses and those people who have a link to the person (judged to be a kaafir) whether it be financial or via employment. Since takfeer carries this
1

Dr Khalid bin Ali bin Muhammad al-Anbari, al-Hukm bi Ghayri ma Anzala Allaah wa Usool ut-

Takfeer [Ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed and the Principles of Takfeer], p.39.

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_____________________________________________________________________ danger the Ulama of Islaam have warned against slips in regards to the matter and being heedless of its end results, in keeping with the Divinely Legislated warning from all of this. Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:1
It is not permissible to make takfeer of a Muslim due to a sin that he committed or due to an error that he made, such as over the issues in which the people of Qiblah dispute over, for Allaah says,

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in All h and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], We make no distinction between any of His messengers. And they say, We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination. {Baqarah (2): 285} It is verified in the Saheeh2 that Allaah answered this dua and forgave the Muslims of their mistakes. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) instructed that the Khawaarij be fought against and the leader of the believers, Ali ibn Abee Taalib (radi Allaahu anhu) one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, fought against them. The Imaams of the deen from the Sahaabah, the Taabieen and those who came after them agreed on fighting them. Ali bin Abee Taalib (radi Allaahu anhu), Sad ibn Abee Waqqaas and other Sahaabah (radi Allaahu anhum) did not make takfeer of them, rather they considered them as Muslims who had to be fought against and Ali did not fight against them until they had caused blood-shed of sanctified blood and unlawfully took the wealth of the Muslims. So the Khawaarij were fought against in order to prevent their oppression and transgression from the Muslims, not on account of them being kuffaar and for that reason their honours were neither violated nor were their wealth taken as ghaneemah.3
1 2 3

Majmoo al-Fataawaa, vol.3, pp.282-88 Saheeh Muslim, hadeeth no.126 Ibn Aabideen says, that even Khawaarij are not considered as being disbelievers: It is mentioned in Fath al-Qadeer that the Khawaarij who hold that it is permissible to kill Muslims, take away their wealth and make takfeer of the Companions, the

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_____________________________________________________________________
So if those whose misguidance has been affirmed by the texts and consensus were not made takfeer of, even though Allaah and His Messenger instructed that they be fought against, then how can other different groups be made takfeer of who are uncertain about the truth in an issue and err? It is not lawful for anyone from these groups to make takfeer of the other and their wealth and blood are not permissible. This is even if they have specified innovation, but what if the innovators had an innovation which was mukaffirah also? The innovation of these could be worse, but most of those are completely ignorant of the realities in which they differ. The foundation is that the blood of the Muslims along with their wealth and honour is all sanctified and is not permissible to transgress against. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassllam) said in his farewell sermon: Your blood, wealth and honour are sanctified to each other just like this day of yours is sanctified in this land of yours in this month of yours.1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

The evidences indicate the obligation to safeguard and respect the honour of the Muslim and there are many other hadeeth which warn against making takfeer of the Muslims: 1. Thaabit bin ad-Dahhaak narrated, and he was one of those who pledged allegiance under the tree, that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: Whoever swore an oath to a religion other than Islaam, while lying, will become so, just as he professed. Whoever committed suicide with an object will be tormented by that object in the Hellfires. Whoever curses a believer it is as if he has killed him and whoever accuses a believer of kufr it is as if he has killed him.2 2. In the Two Saheehs from Ibn Umar (radi Allaahu anhu) who said: the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"

" .

: . .

ruling regarding them among majority of the scholars (Jamhoor) and the people of Hadeeth is that they are considered as rebelious transgressors (Bughat). See Radd al-Muhtaar alad-Durr il-Mukhtaar (Boolaq), vol.3, p.293. Yet even though Ibn Aabideen mentioned this himself about the khawaarij he erroneously held Imaam Muhammad ibn AbdulWahhab to be from the Khawaarij even though he beleieved in none of the above characteristics of the khawaarij mentioned by Ibn Aabideen himself. [TN]
1

Reported by Bukhaaree, hadeeth no.2442 and Muslim, hadeeth no.2580 from the hadeeth of Ibn Bukhaaree, hadeeth no.6105

Umar (radi Allaahu anhu).

2

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_____________________________________________________________________ Whenever a man says to his brother: O kaafir! then it applies to one of them or it returns to the one who actually said it first.1 The hadeeth is agreed upon and in the narration of Muslim it is mentioned if a man makes takfeer of his brother. 3. From Abee Dharr (radi Allaahu anhu) that he heard the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) say: If somebody accuses another person of Fusooq (evil doing) or accuses him of Kufr, then such an accusation will revert to him (i.e. the accuser) if his companion (the accused) is innocent of that.2 4. From Aboo Hurayrah (radi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said: If a man says to his brother; O kaafir then it goes back to one of them. reported by al-Bukhaaree.3 The conclusion from these ahaadeeth is that if the accused is actually a disbeliever then he is branded as so in accordance with the principles of the Divine Legislation and the accuser has spoken the truth. But if they accused s not a disbeliever then the accusation of kufr will go back to the accuser who will carry the burden of kufr along with his sin, this is the most balanced answer as stated by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar (rahimahullaah). Likewise, from the best sayings in regards to this issue is what was stated by al-Haleemee (rahimahullaah):
If a Muslim said that to another Muslim then there is two aspects to this: that the deen in which the person believes is kufr and thus is to made takfeer of on account of this. Or the accuser intends that the person is a disbeliever internally yet manifests eemaan out of nifaaq, in this case the accused is not made takfeer of. If the accuser does not intend anything then the accused is not to be made takfeer of due to what the person manifests outwardly and the accuser will be accusing without knowing what is in the persons soul.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

However, the accuser would have still committed a major sin. Imaam Aboo Abdullaah Muhammad bin Ali al-Maawarzee stated in his book al-Muallim:
Whoever makes takfeer of anyone from the people of the Qiblah and allows this has disbelieved, but if he does not deem this as permissible is a faasiq and if his case is taken to the Haakim, the person has to be punished and reprimanded and Allaah knows best.

A group of the people of knowledge stated about Allaahs verse,

1 2 3

Al-Bukhaaree, as-Saheeh, hadeeth no.6104; Muslim, as-Saheeh, hadeeth no. 111 Bukhaaree hadeeth no. 6045 Bukhaaree, hadeeth no.6103

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_____________________________________________________________________

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. {Hujuraat (49): 11} Refers to when a man says to his brother: O kaafir, O faasiq! in agreement with the hadeeth. For the Quraan and Sunnah expressly forbid tafseeq and takfeer of Muslims and there is no ambiguity with regards to this. Based upon what the purified Divine Legislation has brought attention to is that the Ulama from the Salaf and the Khalaf have warned from hastiness in takfeer and they have exhorted to safeguard the honour of the Muslims and their blood. Al-Alaa bin Ziyaad, the noble successor said: What harms you is your testimony that a Muslim has committed kufr or your killing of him.1 Aboo Haamid al-Ghazalee (rahimahullaah) stated:
What has to be guarded against is being mistaken in takfeer and the paths that led to it because it involves making permissible the blood and wealth of those who pray towards to Qiblah and expressly say La ilaha il Allaah, Muhammad ir-Rasoolullaah. Being mistaken in leaving a thousand disbelievers in life is lesser than the mistake of shedding Muslim blood.2

Ibn Abil-Izz al-Hanafi (rahimahullaah) stated:

It is from the greatest forms of transgression to declare that a specific person will neither be forgiven by Allaah nor shown mercy, and that the person will remain in Hellfire eternally as this is the judgement on a disbeliever after death.3

Ibn AbdulBarr (rahimahullaah) stated:

The Quraan and the Sunnah clearly forbid making tasfeeq and takfeer of a Muslim without ambiguity. Whoevers Islaam is affirmed at any given time according to the consensus of the Muslims and then commits a sin or makes a false interpretation then after that they differed over whether the person had left Islaam or not. But their difference was only after their consensus with a proof, for one is not agreed upon to have been expelled from Islaam except with another agreed upon ruling, or with an affirmed Sunnah which does not contradict the ruling. Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaah, who are the people of fiqh and athar, have agreed on the fact that one is not expelled from Islaam due to committing a sin, even if it be major. The people of innovation differed from this and what is obligatory upon
1Aboo

Nuaym al-Asbahaanee, Hilyat ul-Awliya (Maktabah as-Saaadah, 1974 CE), vol.2, p.246; adh-

Dhahabee, Siyar Alaam un-Nubalaa (Beirut: Muassasat ur-Risaalah, 1982 CE, 2nd Edn.), vol.4, p.198.
2 3

Al-Iqtisaad fil-Itiqaad, p.269. Ibid., vol.2, p.436

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inspection is that takfeer is not made except when all have reached consensus on the persons takfeer or when there is an evidence justifying the persons takfeer from the Book and the Sunnah.1

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Al-Qurtubee (rahimahullaah) stated:

The issue of takfeer is a dangerous matter wherein many people that have tried to establish it have fallen short and those who have withheld from it have been safe2

Ibn Aabideen (rahimahullaah) stated:

One should not judge a Muslim with kufr especially when his words can possibly be good, or there was a difference of opinion in regards to the persons kufr even with a weak narration. Based on this, most of the relayed terms of takfeer do not justify takfeer and I myself adhere to not give these rulings.3

Ibn Hajar al-Haytamee (rahimahullaah) stated:

The Mufti should be as cautious as can be with regards to takfeer due to its great danger. Our Imaams (meaning from the Shaafiee madhdhab) have always been upon this past and present.4

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:

It is not for any Muslim to make takfeer of another Muslim who has even erred or been wrong in something until the proofs have been established on him and the proofs have been made clear to him. Whoevers Islaam is affirmed with certainty then this is not removed with doubt, rather it is only removed by establishing the proofs and eliminating any doubt. If this is made clear then one should know that issues of takfeer and tafseeq are issues of names and rulings which are connected to promises and threats in the Hereafter and are connected to loyalty, enmity, execution, sanctity and other matters in the abode of the dunya.5

Ibn Naasirudden ad-Dimashqee stated:

It is haraam for a Muslim to curse someone specifically and even worse than that is to accuse another Muslim of kufr and expel him from Islaam, there are some contemptible matters regarding this: Such as: the enemies rejoicing over the misfortunes of the people of this pure religion and using it as an excuse to defame the Muslims and to deem the Divine Legislation of the deen as being weak.

1Ibn

AbdulBarr, At-Tamheed fil-Muwatta min al-Maaani wal-Asaaneed (Morocco: Wazeerat ul-

Awqaf al-Maghribiyyah, 1967 CE), vol.17, p.22

2 3 4 5

Al-Mufhim, vol.3, p.111 and Fath ul-Baaree, vol.12, p.314 Haashiyat Ibn Aabideen (Daar ul-Fikr, 1399 AH, 2nd Edn.), vol.4, p.224 Tuhfat ul-Muhtaaj, vol.4, p.84 Majmoo al-Fataawaa Ibn Taymiyyah, vol.12, p.468

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Such as: it could possibly lead the accuser to gain a following and thus the accusers sinful burden will double due to all those who follow him in sin, and only a few of those who accuse Muslims of kufr are safe.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Then Ibn Naasirudden ad-Dimishqee mentioned the ahaadeeth which warn against takfeer and said:
Is there any further threat after this promise? [fa hal bad hadhal-waeed min mazeed fittahdeed?] It may also be the case that when a person follows his desires Shaytaan beauties this to the person to the extent that a person accuses his brother of kufr and expels him from Islaam. If he spoke the truth about the person then this is from Jarh wat-Tadeel wherein one cannot be quiet about the insignificant, so how about the significant? How far apart are the two! There are obstacles in the path of speaking about people and those who cross them are in danger and have crossed them due to desire which do not save one from bearing sin and a heavy burden. If the accuser only took in account his own self and said: what is the real reason for necessitating that? He would realise that his vain desire destroyed him.1

Ash-Shawkaanee stated:
You should know that the ruling expelling a Muslim man from the deen of Islaam and applying kufr to him is not befitting for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to do except with clear proof that is clearer than the sun. For it is affirmed in the authentic hadeeth via a group of Sahaabah that whoever says to his brother O kaafir! the statement refers to one of them. Within these ahaadeeth are the sternest threats and the major admonitions are with regards to hastiness in takfeer.2

Shaykh Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin AbdulWahhaab (rahimahullaah):

Generally it is obligatory for the one who advises his own self to not speak in regards to this issue except with knowledge and clear proof from Allaah, and in order to warn those who expel people from Islaam merely on account of their misunderstandings or what their minds desire. For expelling a man from Islaam, or his entry, is from the most important matters of the deen and Shaytaan has caused many people to slip in regards to this issue.3

Ibn Naasiruddeen ad-Dimishqee, Zuhayr ash-Shaaweesh (ed.), ar-Radd al-Waafir (al-Maktab alMuhammad bin Ali ash-Shawkaanee, Mahmood Ibraaheem (ed.), As-Sayl ul-Jaraar (Beirut: Daar ulAbdullaah bin Muhammad bin AbdulWahhaab, ad-Durur as-Saniyyah (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami,

Islami, 1400 AH), pp.35-6

2

Alamiyyah, 1405 AH), vol.4, p.578

3

n.d.), vol.8, p.217

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_____________________________________________________________________ Ibn ul-Wazeer was stern in his reprimanding of those who are hasty in takfeer of the innovators from the Muslims. He mentioned thirteen points to observe in regards to takfeer of the one who spreads his innovation and stated:
Firstly: fear of making a major error in regards to this, as the gravity of this has been authenticated from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam). Then he mentioned the ahaadeeth which warn against takfeer and then he said: Within all of that it can be seen that there is an intense threat against making takfeer of a believer and expelling him from Islaam even though he says the Shahaadah of tawheed and Nubuwwah, and especially when he implements the four pillars of Islaam and stays away from the major sinsThen the main example is that the majority do not make takfeer of the Muslim who made a false interpretation which led to his kufr unintentionally. Most of the ahaadeeth depend upon this and the texts are the most authentic way to judge takfeer. If the majority are cautious in regards to making takfeer of a person about whom there are texts related to his kufr, then how can they not be cautious with regards to the takfeer of one about whom there are not even one text relayed about his kufr? So consider the caution of the majority here and their caution has to be known about.

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

Then he said:
Ninth point: to hold off from takfeer when there is a contradiction or doubt takes precedence and safer. This is because the error in withholding (from making takfeer) is falling short in regards to the rights of the Most Rich, The Most Praiseworthy One who possesses extensive forgiveness, the most allowing, the most merciful of the merciful and the wisest of the wise. However, erring in making takfeer in itself is more severe on Allaahs believing Muslim servants and it breaches the rights of the Muslim and affects him, oppressing him with major oppression, disgracing him. It also expels the one from Islaam who bears witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and believes in all of the Messengers and in all of the Books that truly came from Allaah. However, the individual erred in regards to some explanations and reached an interpretation which was incorrect. So for example, he described Allaah with a deficient description yet believed it to be a perfected description, or if something vile was attributed to Allaah, the individual believed it to be good. If the person however intended this vile belief then the location of intentions is the heart, the secrets of which are covered and the one who judges them is the One who knows the unseen (Allaah). The Khawaarij were given the most severe punishment were greatly censured due to their takfeer of those Muslims who fell into sin. Yet they venerated Allaah with a sin and they glorified Allaah by making takfeer of those who were disobedient to Him. The one

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who makes takfeer is not safe from falling into the same sin as they (the Khawaarij) did. This is very dangerous in the noble deen, so it is befitting to have much caution and due to this the one who withholds from takfeer is excused and this is correct with the verifiers (Muhaqqiqeen)just as the evidences and clear proofs are established. Tenth point: the leader of the believers, Ali bin Abee Taalib (radi Allaahu anhu) did not make takfeer of the people of al-Jamal and Siffeen and did not treat them in the way disbelievers are, this is even with the authentic saying of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said to Ali: No one loves you except for a believer and no one hates you except a Munaafiq.1 He treated them as those who go against the rightful leader and did not treat them as he would the people of kufr. For this reason Imaam Aboo Haneefah said: if he did not follow this way the regulations for dealing with those who are rebellious would not be understood, his actions with them are a proof for being distant from making takfeer.2

Extremism: The Causes, Effects and the Cure

There are many statements indeed from the Imaams in regards to the danger of takfeer and fleeing from being hasty in making it. This is to the extent that the one who falls short in its regard is excused.

1 2

Reported by Muslim, hadeeth no.78 from Ali (radi Allaahu anhu). See Ibn ul-Wazeer al-Yamanee, Ahmad Mustaphaa (ed.), Eethaar ul-Haq alal-Khalq (Daar ul-

Yemeniyyah, 1405 AH), pp.420-51

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