Over the past few decades, as part of the Ikhwānī infiltration of the Salafi Daʿwah and their attempts to undermine al-Jarḥ al-Taʿdīl (the science of criticism and appraisal of men) and to innovate false principles as part of that process, a frequent doubt that has been used is that the origin, the base rule concerning a Muslim is that he has a sound creed, or that ʿadālah (integrity, uprightness) is affirmed for him.
There is some tafṣīl (detail) to this matter, and the Ḥizbiyyīn who use this doubt, take advantage of apparently conflicting statements of scholars to spread this doubt.[1] For a detailed treatement of this doubt refer to this document:
Yasir Qadhi and Muḥammad Ḥijāb: Ikhwāniyyah in Theory and Practice.
Part 1: The ‘Aṣl’ (Foundation) of a Muslim and Issues Pertaining to Tabdīʿ of those Who Oppose the Way of the Salaf
Here is the speech of Shaykh al-Islām followed by the speech of Shaykh Rabīʿ who elaborates upon it.
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:[2]
As for the saying of the one who says, 'The base rule (aṣl) concerning Muslims is ʿadālah (uprightness, trustworthiness, integrity, honesty)', then it is baṭil (false, futile).
Rather, the base rule concerning the Son of Ādam is ḍhulm (oppression) and jahl (ignorance), just as the Most High has said, “...But man took it upon himself (i.e. the trust that was refused by the Heavens and Earth). Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).” (33:70).
And the mere utterance of the two testimonies of faith does not necessitate that a person has moved from oppression and ignorance to uprightness.
Shaykh Rabīʿ bin Hādī (حفظه الله)was asked: “Is the origin with respect to people that they are upon the Sunnah?”[3]
His response:
How can the base rule concerning the people be that they are upon the Sunnah, when we have with us the Rawāfiḍ (Shīʿites) and we have with us the Bāṭiniyyah, and we have with us the Communists, and we have with us the Hizbiyyūn (Partisans), and we have with us every type (of people)?
How can the base rule concerning them be that they are upon the Sunnah? Who said these words? And Ibn Taymiyyah, (رحمه الله), refutes the one who says that the base rule concerning a Muslim is that he is upright, just, honest (ʿadālah).
He says that this is “false speech”, because Allāh the Most High has said concerning humankind that he is oppressive (dhalūm), ignorant (jahūl), “Truly, We did offer the trust [of duty and responsibility] to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).” (33:70).
Hence, the origin is that he is upon oppression and ignorance) meaning that his entry into Islām does not confer integrity, honesty, justice (ʿadālah), upon him, or as he [Ibn Taymiyyah] said.
So how can the origin concerning the people in the various places where there is great confusion and where most people are upon other than the Sunnah, how can [the base rule be that] they are upon the Sunnah?
However, if you know a person coming from a specific Salafi school, then there a good opinion is held of him, so we think the best of him.
However, as for the whole world being a place of great confusion, and you do not know one person from another (as to what they are upon), then you should know the person who is upon the truth [from other than him]. And it is for this reason that they [the Salaf] used to say, “Verily, this knowledge is the deen, so look at whom you take it from.”
As for the opinion of the one who says that the origin concerning the people is that they are upon the Sunnah, then in that case you should take it from every person and his brother.
Ibn Sīrīnn said: “Verily the people did not used to ask about the isnād (chain of narration), then when the fitnah (tribulation) occurred...” and the fitnah was not like that of the current times, it was actually less than it, “...they began to say: Name us your men. So if they were from Ahl us-Sunnah, his speech would be accepted and if he was from the people of Innovation, his speech would be rejected.”
So we ask Allāh that he grants to you and to us success, and that Ahl al-Sunnah increase, however statements that are sent without any restraint, then it is not desirable for them to be uttered.
Footnotes
1. This is because in the speech of the scholars, the word ʿadālah (integrity, uprightness) is used with different meanings and intentions), and upon analysis, we find that there is not any conflict at all, but each scholar is addressing a particular aspect of the issue without rejecting other aspects of the other issue.2. Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (15/357).
3. In the cassette recording, "Meeting with the People of Yemen"