Asking for less refutation [signs of Ahl Al-Bidah]

It is reported from Al-’Abbâs b. Al-Walîd that ‘Uqbah said:

I was once with Arta’ah b. Al-Mundhir when one of the people in the gathering said, “What do you say about a man who sits with the followers of the Sunnah and mixes with them, but when the followers of Bid’ah are mentioned he says, ‘Spare us from mentioning them, do not talk about them?’” Arta’ah said, “He is one of them, do not let him confuse you about his condition.” I felt this was strange, so I went to Al-Awzâ’î – and he used to clarify these matters when they came to him. He said, “Arta’ah is right, the matter is as he said; this person forbids talking about [Ahl Al-Bid'ah], so how can [people] be on guard against them if they are not exposed?”

Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 8:15.

July 23, 2011 | 'Aqîdah, Bid'ah, da'wah, Sunnah

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A Morning with the Salaf

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

At the time of Fajr, or a while before it, the Salaf would be as if birds were sitting on their heads: (still ) concentrating on themselves [and their worship], so much so that even if one of their closest friends came to them after having been parted from them, they would not notice him. They would remain in this state until just before sunrise. Then, they would meet each other and sit in the circles. The first thing they would discuss is the matter of their afterlife and what would become of them in the hereafter. Then they would begin the circles of Quran and Fiqh study.

Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 35:184, 185.

September 17, 2010 | knowledge, Quran, remembering Allah, the hereafter

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Guilty by Association

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – used to say:

Whoever hides his heresy (bid’ah) from us, his companionship is not hidden from us.

Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 420.

It is reported that when Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – came to Basrah he started to look into the matter of Al-Rabî’ – i.e. Ibn Sabîh
(1) – and his status amongst the people. [Sufyân] asked, “What does he believe?” [People] replied, “He believes in nothing but the Sunnah.” He asked, “Who are his companions?” They replied, “The People of Qadr (those who denied Allâh’s pre-decree).” He said, “Then he is a Qadarî (like them).”

Ibid. article 421.

(1) Al-Rabî’ b. Sabîh is described in biographies as being a truthful reporter, but with a bad memory; a devout worshipper and a mujâhid.

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

The souls [of people] are in groups gathered together: those of them that identify with each other come together, and those that are different diverge. It is not possible for an adherent of the Sunnah to incline towards an adherent of Bid’ah except out of hypocrisy (nifâq).

Ibid. article 429.

July 14, 2010 | 'Aqîdah, Bid'ah, hypocrisy

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Faith is not just in the heart [definition of Iman]

Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Faith (îmân) is not sound except with [correct] words. Faith and words are not sound except with [good] works. And faith, words and deeds are not sound except with [the correct] intentions in conformance to the Sunnah. Those who went before us of our Salaf did not separate faith from deeds: deeds are a part of faith, and faith is from [ones deeds]. îmân is a word that brings together these aspects of the religions [of Allâh] and is confirmed through [a person's] works.

So whoever believes in word, knows in his heart and confirms [his belief] through his works, then this is the strongest handhold that will never break. And whoever says [words of faith] but does not know [faith] in his heart nor confirms it with his works, it will never be accepted of him and he will be in the hereafter from those who suffer in loss.

Ibn Ba tt ah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 1097.

June 23, 2010 | 'Aqîdah, Good deeds, iman

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Imam Al-Awzai’s Letter of Warning against Heresy and Heretics

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î (d157H) wrote:

O Muslims, fear Allâh and obey Him, and accept the advice of the sincere advisers and the exhortation of the exhorters, and know that this knowledge is religion, so be careful about what you do [in it] and from whom you take [it] and who you follow and who you trust your religion to. For verily, the followers of Bid’ah are all falsifiers and liars, neither are they careful nor do they fear and protect [against wrongdoing], and nor are they to be trusted to not distort what you hear. They say what they know not when criticizing and decrying or when affirming their lies. But Allâh encompasses what they do. So be on guard against them, suspect them, reject them and distance yourselves from them, for this was what your earlier scholars and the righteous latter ones did and instructed others to do.

Beware of rising against Allâh and becoming instruments in the destruction of His religion and undoing its handholds by respecting the innovators, for you know what has come down to us about respecting them. And what stronger respect and veneration can there be than taking your religion from them, following them, believing them, being close to them and helping them in alluring those they allure and attracting those they attract of the weak Muslims towards their ideas and the religion they practice? This is enough to be considered a partnership and contribution to what they do.

Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 6:361, 362.

October 15, 2009 | Advice from the Salaf, Bid'ah, knowledge

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