When the reformers themselves need reformation!

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

It is a sad state of affairs to say, but the ones who cause more harm are the reformers themselves. So one will find these righteous people forming factions and divided (into different groups), and that there is disunity amongst them only because they differed in one of the issues of the religion, in which differences can be tolerated.* This is the reality, especially in the lands where Islaam is not firmly established. So they have enmity, hatred and rivalry towards one other, only because of an issue like Raf`al-yadain (raising of both hands before and after Rukoo`) in the Salaah.

Let me tell you about an incident which happened with me while I was in Mina (during Hajj). In one of those days, one of the heads of a delegation came to me with two groups from Africa which made Takfeer of each other (i.e. calling each other Kaafir), and do you know on what basis?! It was said: One group says: “The Sunnah while standing in Qiyaam (after getting up from Rukoo`) is to put the hands on the chest”. While the other said: “the Sunnah is to release them (to the side)”. This issue was from sub-branches (of the matters if fiqh) and easy (to clarify) and it was not from the Fundamentals (of the religion). They said: “No! For the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

مَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِيْ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّيْ

“He who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5063) and Saheeh Muslim (1401)]”

But the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is free from this type of kufr (for he صلى الله عليه وسلم never did that). And based on this wrong interpretation and understanding, one of them made the takfeer of the other.

*[Translator’s Note: The difference of opinions in the matters of Fiqh should be tolerated when both the parties have proofs for their opinions. Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله has an excellent book on the subject of the various reasons which give rise to the differences of opinion amongst the scholars.

But in the matters of Manhaj and `Aqeedah (Creed), then there is no room for personal opinions and interpretations; neither is there any cooperation with the people of Bid`ah and desires from the Soofees, the Shi`a, the Ash`arees, the Jahmees and other than them from the many different sects, till they follow the `Aqeedah and the Manhaj of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah.

So, difference of opinion in the matters of Fiqh can be tolerated but not in the matters of `Aqeedah and Manhaj.]

[Sharh al-Arba`een al-Nawawee]