THE NOBLE SHAYKH, Shaykh ʿAlī al-Ḥudhayfī gave advice to Ahl al-Sunnah regarding oppression and what has been found of loyalty to personalities and attacking people for clarifying the foundations of the Sunnah and speaking about those who violate them. The advice was posted on his Telegram group dated 19 Shawwal 1447, corresponding to 7 April 2026.

In this tremendous advice, the Shaykh speaks about the obligation of justice in every moment and situation and towards every person, absolutely, without exception. Likewise, that Allāh prohibited oppression in every time, against all people, absolutely. Nations, governments, tribes only remain in the presence of justice, even if they are disbelievers. This has been said by Ibn Taymiyyah.

The Shaykh then mentions how even callers and students can be the most oppressive and sinful of people, and when they oppress the weak, and the weak are not aided against the oppression, Allāh destroys the daʿwah, after it had been strong. So when no one establishes justice, Allāh destroys those callers and avenges the weak.

The Shaykh repeats his warning against oppression and advises that in difficulties in daʿwah, you should always be just, be with the truth and to weigh men by the truth and not weigh the truth by men, or by their certifications and commendations.

The Shaykhs asks as to how many a man has taken certifications yet is the most wicked of people, despite having certifications. Likewise, do not weigh by the commendations of scholars, saying that the scholars advised with so-and-so. The shaykh gives examples of people who were given commendations such as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Maʿribī who was mentioned in the legacy of Shaykh Muqbil. But he plotted against the daʿwah, so do not be deceived by appearances.

The shaykh said that truth is truth even if it is with the weak, and falsehood is falsehood even it if it is with the strong. Some people prefer to be with the strong against the weak so that they can escape difficulty. But how will such a person escape from Allāh, oppression is darkness on the Day of Judgement. Respect the truth because it is truth, and speak the truth and defend it.

The shaykh then mentioned great scholars such as Shaykh Bin Bāz, Shaykh al-Albānī, Shaykh Rabīʿ and Shaykh Muqbil, saying that they were just and feared Allāh. He gave the example of Shaykh Rabīʿ siding with the weak who were oppressed against the likes of al-Maʾribi, like a lion, explaining the truth, and that he loved Ahl al-Sunnah, even if they are common people.

The Shaykh says that Allāh raised the daʿwah of Ahl al-Sunnah due to these efforts based on rejecting oppression and falsehood and aiding the weak and those on the side of truth.

The shaykh also says that Shaykh Rabīʿ was not raised because of his certifications and commendations. It is because of his positions, his knowledge, and striving for the Sunnah and refuting Ahl al-Bidʿah, even if they had status and qualifications. The shaykh mentions a group of those whom he refuted such as Salmān and Safar, ʿAdnān Arʿūr, Maḥmūd al-Ḥaddād, Fawzī al-Baḥrainī, ʿAbd al-Laṭīf Bāshmīl, Muḥammad ʿAwwānah, Abū Ghuddah and others.

So he was raised due to these great positions, and so Ahl al-Sunnah should be just, and stand by the truth as witnesses and fear oppression. This build up brought the shaykh to the underlying reason for this advice, something observed in both the Arab and Western lands which we can present here:

Notes

01  This is tremendous and pertinent advice from Shaykh ʿAlī (حفظه الله) within which are many great principles and insights from past tribulations and mention of the way of the Rabbānī scholars who uphold truth and establish justice, even against those with lofty statuses, certifications and commendations.

From the most important of what the Shaykh explained is that Allāh commanded justice, and justice provides longevity to nations and societies even if they are upon disbelief, just as it gives strength and longevity to daʿwah, whereas injustice and indifference to it is what destroys daʿwah. This is because justice is tied to truth and injustice is tied to error and falsehood. So when there is indifference to injustice, error and falsehood persist, along with the resultant confusion, without rejection, and this leads to splintering and dissolution of the daʿwah, because there is no clarity around which unity can be formed, and hence, unity disintegrates and the daʿwah and its adherents follow suit.

02  Unity lies in clarity, and strength lies in upholding truth and justice, especially in apparently deceptive and confusing situations where merely because of the lofty status of some, their errors and violations are denied, and because of the weakness and vulnerability of others their truth is scorned, and they are attacked. When this is allowed to happen, Allāh extracts vengeance in affirmation of His justice.

03  The shaykh mentioned a strange phenomenon among Ahl al-Sunnah, which he sternly warns against, which is that a vicious war is waged against a Salafī merely because he spoke against a shaykh, and then at the same time, they see mighty foundations of the religion relating to rulership, obedience, war, bloodshed, and the unity and disunity of a Muslim nation being violated, and they are silent and do not speak with the truth.

This is indicative of corrupt scales, these are not the scales of justice, the scales of Ahl al-Sunnah.

Then the shaykh mentions the case of those who stand by and see these two parties, wherein one is the oppressor and the other is the oppressed, and they stand by and watch, claiming it is from wisdom (or some maṣlaḥah), whereas in reality it is cowardice, and he concludes by saying this is actually a vile methodology, a dangerous and destructive one.

04  The shaykh later posted an updated version of an earlier document in which he refutes the doubts of one of the opposers whom he alluded to, and then stated that for the time being, upon request, he will not post anything new.

May Allāh reward him for his efforts, his patience in clarifying the truth and offering beneficial advice.