Sheikh Muhammad as-Sowmalee (hafidahullah)
The Imaam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Khair in Sana'a, Yemen.
The following question was directed toward him after a lecture on Yawm al-Jumu'ah, Jumaada at-Thaanee, 1428.
The questioner asks: What is your advice to the one who slanders Sheikh Rabee'a and accuses him of having fallen into the innovation of irjaa', may Allaah bless you!
He replied, may Allaah preserve him:
"Firstly, the one who has accused him of this, who is he, such that he can stand and accuse him? Who is he, such that it can be said that he is from those with the ability to bring forth an accusation, or that he is from those people who are able to put forth criticism and commendation of individuals!?
It is likely that he is some unidentified individual on the internet or something like this. As these people do not stand up clearly, raising their heads to be seen and recognized. So the one who strikes with his head at a mountain, you should feel pity for his head and not for the mountain! Sheikh Rabee'a is known to be from the senior scholars of the people of the Sunnah, may Allaah preserve him, and is considered a leading scholar in the science of criticizing and commending individuals in regard to the religion, and one who has exposed and clarified the true states of many of those who deviated from the truth, may Allaah reward. Indeed, isn't he the one whom we heard, regarding him, from Sheikh Muqbil, may Allaah have mercy upon him, during his lifetime saying:
"Brothers, we would assume that such and such individual was from the people of the Sunnah until Sheikh Rabee'a, may Allaah preserve him, exposed his true condition!" or words to this meaning. Therefore I advise my brothers not to pay any attention to these troublemakers. As, all praise is due to Allaah, the standard bearer is truly a standard bearer, and the mountain is indeed a mountain. We seek help from Allaah, and to him do we entrust our affairs.
Such speech, brothers, is from someone adhering to his desires, and these desires - they generally come to dominate an individual, meaning that he is an individual who generally follows those desires; then he becomes one who wishes to strike out at others. The Creator is not even safe from this; yes even the Creator Himself is being spoken and talked about. Indeed, the Creator, meaning the Lord of the heavens and the earth, is Himself not free from being spoken against by His own slaves! As He says,
"The Jews say: "Allâh's Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend of His Bounty)." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what they uttered..." [Surah Al Maa'ida:64]
And Allaah, the Most Glorified and the Most Exalted, says,
"Indeed, Allâh has heard the statement of those (Jews) who say: "Truly, Allâh is poor and we are rich!" We shall record what they have said..." [Surah Aal-'Imraan:181]
The Prophet, upon him be Allaah's praise and salutations - you are all aware of what was said about him by those who associated others in their worship of Allaah. As before Allaah sent him as a prophet and messenger, they had given him the title of "the truthful one" and "the trustworthy." But when he came in them with that which conflicted with their desires, they began to say "afflicted one," "crazy one," "magician," "sorcerer," "poet," and even more than this from what is found within the Qur'an. So do not turn your head to what is said by these people who only adhere to their desires.
As consider, what do they say regarding that recognized individual who saysabout one of the leaders among the Christians, 'May Allaah have mercy upon him.' What do you say about this one, what is your ruling upon him??
What is your ruling regarding the individual who, if a Christian dies, for instance, or if the one called the Pope dies, this one suggests that we supplicate for him, and says, 'May Allaah have mercy upon him, and we ask his Lord to compensate this Christian with goodness, as he was a hard worker.' This is what they say for the one who invited to his false Christian religion and strove to achieve domination over the Muslims!
Certainly, the Messenger of Allaah said, [The one who changes his religion, should be executed (by the Muslim ruler).] And he said that [The one who wishes for other than the religion of Islaam, it will never be accepted of him by Allaah.] So in light of this, whatwould the ruling be upon those who rule upon Sheikh Rabee'a and Sheikh al-Albaanee and others that they fell into the innovation of irjaa'?
How can you rule upon the one who claims this, except to say that he is solely upon his desires, that he is an individual of biased partisanship (hizbee), that he is someone clearly astray, showing the lack of his being blessed with success and goodness by his Lord?
So we say to this individual, have pity upon your own self and repent to Allaah. We say, search for the truth, and accept it from anyone who brings it forth to you, and stand with the truth wherever it may be found. Then, if Allaah wills, you will achieve and live in a contented noble condition as a true worshipper of Allaah.
Not worshipping your desires, nor your school of thought, nor your devised methodology, nor your organization. But standing as a true worshipper of Allaah, standing among the Muslims in cooperation upon goodness and the fear of Allaah. As for the one who lives his life worshipping this thing or that other thing, then indeed the Prophet, may Allaah's praise and salutations be upon him, said, [Wretched is the worshipper of money.]
via Ilyas Aidarus in our email forum
