Important Naseehah to Those Following the Way of the Salaf

Firstly: It is necessary for Ahlus-Sunnah to take to learning and taking their deen seriously. For the very first calamity to befall one who claims Sunnah and Salafiyyah is the lack of zeal and desire for seeking knowledge, travelling to the people of knowledge, acquiring books, tapes, reading the Qur’an, the Sunnah and the books of the salaf. The cure to every doubt is knowledge. A sign of a person’s “repentance” to Salafiyyah is that he displays his sincerity by his seeking of knowledge.

Secondly: There are many Usool (foundations) in Islaam, the first of which is no doubt Tawheed. However, there are many other Usool as well, which have unfortunately been neglected. For example, making sure one seeks knowledge, especially on issues of creed and manhaj, from a person of the Sunnah, knowing the strengths and weakness of individuals and callers, avoiding people who are not upon clarity and a straight way. A person might have good manners but he is affected by Qutubism (dangerous ideology). So don’t be deceived by his good behavior and don’t advance him merely on account of his good manners, while he is afflicted by a dangerous ideology. Our salaf warned from that. The point here is that we ought to acquire all of the Sunnah and implement all of the Sunnah. We do not differentiate between aqeedah and manhaj. To us, there is only one thing: the Sunnah. All of the Sunnah is our aqeedah and manhaj.

Thirdly: It is necessary for the Salafis to understand well the concept of al-Walaa wal-Baraa in Islam. It has different levels. It first begins with the Kuffaar. We make baraa’ (disownment) of them in absolute terms and our walaa (friendship, loyalty) is for the people Islaam. Then within Islaam. We make baraa’ of the innovators and the groups and parties of innovation, those upon shirk and innovation and deviation in Allah’s Names and Attributes. We make sure that our baraa’ is based upon Tawheed and Aqeedah. Then we make baraa’ based on adherence to the manhaj and to the foundations of the Sunnah. Our total walaa’ is for the people of the Sunnah, its scholars, students of knowledge and followers - those who are upon the sound aqeedah and manhaj, internally and externally. This is the saved sect, the Aided Group, and their signs and characteristics are amply described in the Sunnah and the words of the early Salaf and their way is manifestly clear. Then within this group we make baraa’ of the sinners and disobedient ones, such that we befriend the pious friends of Allaah and make them our companions.

Fourthly: It is necessary for us to purify our souls and characters and manners from the various blemishes and shortcomings. As we know, the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was sent to perfect the manners and characteristics of people. So in addition to correcting our deen, our aqeedah, our manhaj and our Ibaadah, we also correct our characters. The Ahlul-Ahwaa always seek to argue against our creed and manhaj by using the argument of bad manners. Don’t let this affect you. They have not been able to bring proofs for their innovated manhaj, so this is the only way they can establish it. So don’t fall for this. This is what they always use.

Fifthly: We judge people by their company and look and see who they are mixing with, which books are they reading, who do they speak with, whose ideas do they promote, who are their true scholars and actual points of reference and whose platforms do they sit on. This is the point of methodology which the Innovators hate and detest. It enrages them, fills them with anger, and gives them sleepless nights and lasting headaches.

Source: Ma’naa Qawlil-Hizbiyyeen: “Murji’ah Ma’al Hukkaam, Kwawaarij Ma’ad-Du’aat, Raafidah Ma’al Jamaa’aat, Qadariyyag Ma’al Kuffaar” Wa Maa Feehi Minal Abaatil, p. 85-90. Published online by Salafipublications