On the 22nd Jumādā al-Ūlā 1434H (3 April 2013), the Noble Shaykh and Imām, Rabīʿ bin Hādī, gave a beneficial word to the Salafi brothers who had congregated from the UK (Maktabah Salafiyyah, Premier Hajj group), the US, Maldives, Singapore and India.
This was on the occasion of the regular dawrāt organised by Salafi Publications in the city of the Madīnah and which became a time and place of gathering for Salafis from various parts of the world.
He spoke of Tawḥīd and sincerity (ikhlāṣ) as the basis of taqwā, unity and brotherhood and he warned from the way of those who seek to split the ranks of the Salafis using various ways and means. The following is a translation of the kalimah based upon an audio recording which has been transcribed and placed on Sahab.Net (site no longer online). I translated it from the source at the time, and I present it here for benefit.
Alḥamdulillāh, it was these types of advices—in addition to the knowledge-based refutations—which helped to create the unity between Salafis, not just in the UK, but in various parts of the world, along with strong brotherhood.
This type of genuine advice from the likes of this great scholar are sufficient for us, and we are not in need of those who care not in tearing apart the unity and splintering it into factions. Likewise, showing no restraint in slandering Salafis and lending support to trouble-makers in every place, despite speaking with the alluring speach of unity, love and brotherhood, while completely contradicting it in conduct.
Shaykh Rabīʿ Bin Hādī's Advice
The Shaykh (حفظه الله) said:
How often has Allāh praised the pious and how often has He encouraged taqwā (piety) and how often has He explained what awaits them with Allāh, the Sublime and Exalted, of the mighty reward. Hence, it is (required of us therefore) to have the taqwa of Allāh, the Blessed and Exalted, and to have steadfastness (istiqaamah) upon the true dīn of Allāh, [steadfastness] in our beliefs, in our methodologies, in our (acts of) worship and in all the affairs of our [lives]. To show piety (to Allāh), to have steadfastness upon the truth, to remain firm upon it and to keep away from all that angers Allāh, the Blessed and Exalted, and (from whatever) opposes the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of beliefs, methodologies and manners.
It is required of us to hold fast to the rope of Allāh, and this comprises [holding fast to] everything that Islām came with, "And hold fast all of you to the rope of Allāh" (3:103-). Do not leave anything that has come in the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger except that you should adhere to it and hold fast to it. Do not let any one of you refrain from this adherence (iʿtiṣām) to the rope of Allāh, the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
It is upon you to have ikhlāṣ (sincerity) to Allāh, the Lord of the worlds, "And they were not commanded except to worship Allāh, making the dīn sincerely and purely for Him alone, being upright..." (98:5-), meaning [worship Him alone whilst] turning away from shirk, being upon the millah (religion, way) of Ibrāhīm (عليه الصلاة والسلام), "And they were not commanded except to worship Allāh alone, making the dīn purely and sincerely for Him alone, being upright, and to establish the prayer, give the zakāh and that is the upright religion." (98:5-).
The true, upright religion is to make the dīn purely and sincerely for Allāh alone in every affair from all of the affairs with that which pleases Allāh, the Sublime and Exalted, through following His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, being upright (in all of that) upon the way of Muhammad and Ibrāhīm (عليهما الصلاة والسلام) - upon Tawḥīd, being far, in every way, from shirk with Allāh, the Blessed and Exalted... and he should establish the prayer. The prayer is a great affair, it is the second pillar after the two testimonials, and (likewise) he should give the zakāh, the third pillar, and when he establishes these things, he will have [established] Islām inshāʾAllāh, and that is the upright religion.
And you must build brotherly union in [all affairs] between yourselves, go hand in hand (with each other to achieve unity), and cooperate upon righteousness and piety and (you must) keep far away from separation all of its causes. The person who comes to the Salafi Daʿwah must adopt this methodology, he should keep away from all the ways that kindle differences and separation.
There are some people who stir up the causes of separation, they stir up tribulations and thereby tear up the Salafis, rupturing them [into pieces]. This is not from the correct methodology, and nor from the Salafi way, and nor from the methodology of the Ṣaḥābah and Tābiʿīn. Some people (deliberately) seek out and find ways which split and tear apart. Such people are not to be trusted with respect to the dīn of Allāh, the Blessed and Exalted, and they are not truthful in their claim to Salafiyyah. It is obligatory that the light is focused upon them, and it be said to them, (asking them), "Why are you coming with all of these causes of separation?", "Why are you splitting the Salafis?"
The one who errs is to be advised with wisdom, kindness and gentleness,, "And never is gentleness (rifq) [placed] in something except that it beautifies it, and never is it removed from something except that it besmirches it."[1] [And also] "And never is modesty (hayaa) [found] in something except that it beautifies it."[2] You must (adorn yourselves) with the loftiest manners such as patience, gentle forbearance, and truthfulness, may Allāh bless you, and (likewise) firmness upon the truth. [Allāh, the Exalted, said], "Indeed, there is in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent model of conduct for you" (33:21-), and Allāh says, "And indeed you are upon a lofty standard of character" (68:4-). And he should (attempt) to perfect the noblest of manners, the noble manners comprise a mighty affair, may Allāh bless you, I advise you with the noble manners.
So (you should) place all of these affairs in front of your eyes, the taqwā of Allāh, sincerity (ikhlāṣ), benevolence to the servants of Allāh, and building brotherly union between yourselves and keeping far away from all the causes of separation, and (showing) patience, gentle forbearance, mutual advice with wisdom and good admonition, "Call to the ways of your Lord with wisdom and good admonition..." (6:125-), do not (advise and correct) with animosity, harshness, revilement and making examples (of people), no, these (ways) are not from the guidance of the Salaf.
[Further], you must show mutual love for each other for the sake of Allāh, and mutual affection and visit each other, (in the hadeeth), "My love becomes incumbent for those who love each other for My sake, and those who gather together for my sake, and those who visit each other for my sake..." may Allāh bless you,"[3]... and those who spend upon each other for my sake."
These are mighty affairs which are necessary, it is necessary to establish them amongst the (ranks of the) Salafis. Many of the people are negligent of these things, yet they are requisite and necessary. "By Him in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other..." and you will not believe until you love each other, understand this, "...shall I not direct you to something which if you do will cause you to love each other? Spread the salutation (saying السلام عليكم) between yourselves."[4]
Spread the salutation with the intent of actualizing this īmān which leads to entering Paradise. Do not give salutations simply as a habit, give salutations to you brother out of seeking nearness to Allāh and worship (of Him), and your goal behind this is (causing) togetherness, brotherly union and love. "By Him in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other..." understand this, mutual love is necessary, faith is not actualised and perfected except by loving the one whom Allāh loves (and loving) whatever Allāh loves, "...shall I not direct you to something which if you do will cause you to love each other? Spread the salutation (say السلام عليكم) between yourselves."
The spreading of sincere salutations for the Face of Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, between yourselves, may Allāh bless you, will actualize (and bring about) the desired īmān which leads to entry into Paradise. Beware of all of the causes which distance you from Paradise and from them is mutual hatred. The affair of the one who is firm and upright upon the dīn of Allāh is (always) in great danger.
(You should) hate what Allāh hates, and you should love what Allāh loves. Hate kufr (disbelief) and hate innovations and misguidance, seeking nearness to Allāh, the Sublime and Exalted, in that. As for the one who is upon the true dīn of Allāh, [that] you hate him and detest him, then this, by Allāh, is a very, very dangerous affair. This agitates (disturbs) īmān and causes it to shake and it takes you (far) away from entering Paradise.
May Allāh bless you, so bring about mutual brotherly (love), and show mutual affection and show mutual love and visit each other with regards to (the affairs) between you and be like a fortified building, like a single body, when one part of it feels pain, the rest of the body responds to it with wakefulness and fever, just [as if they are] a single body. "The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and affection (towards each other) is like the body, when one part of it feels pain, the entire body responds with wakefulness and fever,"[5] the example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, reflect upon these two points, "The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and affection (towards each other) is like the body, when one part of it feels pain, the entire body responds with wakefulness and fever."
By Allāh, a truthful Salafi believer feels pain (for another) Salafi, even if he was in the furthest region of Japan, or furthest region of America. He (the true Salafi) rejoices with what pleases him (the other Salafi), and he grieves on account of what harms him.
Actualize this aqidah [after its verification], and (actualize) this way (mentioned above), and these manners, and may Allāh straighten your affair, unite the hearts upon the truth, and grant firmness upon His guidance to us and you, indeed our Lord is the Hearer of the supplication. And may Allāh send ṣalāt and salām upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family and his companions.
Summary
- The Shaykh (حفظه الله) advised with taqwā, istiqāmah upon the dīn and upon the correct methodologies, and to keep away from all that angers Allāh.
- He advised with unity through holding on to the rope of Allāh, and advised with ikhlāṣ (sincerity).
- He also advised with sticking firmly to the obligations, and avoiding the prohibitions.
- He advised with building ties of brotherhood and cooperation upon piety and righeousness, while avoiding all the causes of disunity and separation.
- He then warned against the action of people who stir up the causes of separation, they stir up tribulations in order split the ranks of the Salafis, and advised that these people are not to be trusted with Allāh’s religion.
- The Shaykh said it is obligatory that the light be focused upon them and they be interrogated, as to why they are coming with these causes of separation, and why they are splitting the Salafis.
- The Shaykh also mentioned that those who err are advised with gentleness, and that in general we must adorn ourselves with lofty manners.
- Then he advised with mutual love and affection and adopting the means that lead to this. He also advised that our love and hate should be around what Allāh loves and hates.
- He finished by advising that we actualize the ʿaqīdah (practically speaking) and show these lofty manners.
Footnotes
1. See Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr (no. 5654).2. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī (no. 1974)
3. Reported by Aḥmad in al-Musnad (no. 22030).
4. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 54).
5. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (no. 6011).
