In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of faith”. (1)
Indeed, Ed’s intense desire for philosophy drove him to make some outlandish claims while desperately striving to dismiss the judgements of upright scholars against philosophy and philosophers. He stated, “What the Arabians gave to the West and Israel, Saudi Arabia should now reclaim and revive at home and abroad again. The neo-Renaissance is rooted in this deep history of open-minded Arabians from Mecca that rekindled what Spinoza called the ‘natural light of reason,’ to strengthen our faith in God with use of our intellect —not sheepish adherence to fatwas of clerics and ayatollahs who forbid Aristotelian philosophy of critical thinking”. [End of quote]
There is no doubt that attacking the upright scholars of Islam and seeking to propagate fallacies and support the proponents of misguidance would be a grave act of treachery. This is exactly what Ed is doing when he desperately wants to promote heretical philosophers while disparaging upright scholars of the Sunnah. Imaam Abu Haatim Ar-Raazee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “One of the signs of ahlul bidah is that they speak ill of those who adhere to the authentic narrations (of the prophet and the companions)”. (2)
Al-Allaamah Shamsuddeen Al-Afghaanee As-Salafi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “When Islam’s enemies realised they couldn’t destroy the religion, they planted disbelieving agents within it, pretending to be Muslims in order to sow confusion, trials, and tribulations, and to spread shirk by exaggerating the status of the pious and exalting their graves with (beliefs and practises) not ordained by Allah. So this Ummah was put to the test by the machinations of the (heretic and hypocritical) Abdullaah Bin Saba, who defied Ali Bin Abee Talib [may Allah be pleased with him]. The disciples of Abdullah Bin As-Sabah were known as the Saba-iyyah, and afterward as the rawaafid (Shiites), ismaaliyyah (Shiites), nusayriyah (Shiites), and others within the Baatiniyyah. They used to worship the graves and the deceased, and they used to erect places of worship and domed (shaped) shrines on top of these graves. As a result, they revived the practises of the Jews, the Christians, and idol worshippers, and so the practises of grave worshippers in this Muslim Ummah manifested in activities carried out by the rawaafid (Shiites).
Second, the books of Greek philosophy that contained the ideas of grave and idol worship were translated into Arabic, then many people who identified as Muslims spent their time with these books. These people included Al-Faraabee, Ibn Sina Al-Hanafi, Naseer At-Toosee, a proponent of shirk and disbelief, (I) as well as others who played religious tricks on Islam, much like Paul did with Christianity.
They were influenced by Greek Philosophers’ ideas, such as the creed of grave worship, and through Greek Philosophy they became advocates of grave worship. Due to preoccupation with the Books of Philosophers, these individuals’ practises became widespread among the proponents of rhetoric among the Hanafi Maatooreediyyah (II) and the Ash-ariyyah Kullaabiyyah (III), and as a result, they were affected by the creed of grave worship. These individuals, such as Taftaazaanee Al-Hanafi (a Philosopher of the Maatooreediyyah and Grave Worshippers) and Jurjaanee Al-Hanafi (a caller to superstition), became proponents of both grave worship and the Jahmiyyah creed at the same time. (3)
The clarification provided above by Shaikh Shamsuddeen Al-Afghaanee As-Salafi reveals the source of the poisonous influence of philosophy in the Ummah. However, due to the bidah of philosophy that has permeated Ed deeply, he is unable to accept the fact that philosophy is not based on the methodology of the Prophets and Messengers. As a result, he employs sophistry, criticises the upright scholars, tries to flatter the Saudis, and then beautifies for them what the pious predecessors have deemed ugly. Imaam Maalik [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “The latter part of this Ummah (i.e. those who will come after the pious predecessors) will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified its earlier part (i.e. the pious predecessors)”. He also said, “Whoever innovates a bidah in Islam and considers it to be something good, then indeed he has claimed that Muhammad betrayed the Risaalah (i.e. the message he was entrusted with) because Allaah said: ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ -This day, I have perfected your religion for you.” Therefore, what was not part of the religion at that time (i.e. during the time of the Messenger) cannot be part of the religion today (i.e. after his departure from this world)”. (4)
Then Ed said: “The neo-Renaissance is rooted in this deep history of open-minded Arabians from Mecca that rekindled what Spinoza called the ‘natural light of reason,’ to strengthen our faith in God with use of our intellect—not sheepish adherence to fatwas of clerics and ayatollahs who forbid Aristotelian philosophy of critical thinking”. [End of quote]
Indeed, statements like this one imply that anyone who does not support Ed’s methodology is not open-minded! To the day of judgement, no one will be able to match the virtue of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) companions in terms of faith, knowledge, and clarity of vision, as well as when it comes to matters that established the well-being, prosperity, strength, and honour of Muslims in their religious and worldly affairs; however, they never engaged in philosophical discussion. Does this lessen their capacity for critical thought, and can it be argued that they lacked minds as a result?!
The noble Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said:
فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا، فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ؛ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ
Verily he lives long among you will see a lot of differing, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafaa ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs). Adhere to it with your molar teeth (i.e. adhere to it firmly). And beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for every newly invented matter [in the religion] is a bidah (innovation in the religion), and every bidah is misguidance.” [Abu Dawood. Number 4607] [Tirmidhee. Number 2676]
Regarding Ed’s comment “Sheepish adherence to fatwas of clerics and ayatollahs who forbid Aristotelian philosophy of critical thinking”, then, based on Shaikh Shamsuddeen Al-Afghaanee’s clarification, we do indeed remind him once more, “When Islam’s enemies realised they couldn’t destroy the religion, they planted disbelieving agents within it, pretending to be Muslims in order to sow confusion, trials, and tribulations, and to spread shirk by exaggerating the status of the pious and exalting their graves with (beliefs and practises) not ordained by Allah. So this Ummah was put to the test by the machinations of the (heretic and hypocritical) Abdullaah Bin Saba, who defied Ali Bin Abee Talib [may Allah be pleased with him]. The disciples of Abdullah Bin As-Sabah were known as the Saba-iyyah, and afterward as the rawaafid (Shiites), ismaaliyyah (Shiites), nusayriyah (Shiites), and others within the Baatiniyyah. They used to worship the graves and the deceased, and they used to erect places of worship and domed (shaped) shrines on top of these graves. As a result, they revived the practises of the Jews, the Christians (those among them who deviated after the departure of their Prophets), and idol worshippers, and so the practises of grave worshippers in this Muslim Ummah manifested in activities carried out by the rawaafid (Shiites). Second, the books of Greek philosophy that contained the ideas of grave and idol worship were translated into Arabic, and then many people who identified as Muslims spent their time with these books. These people included Al-Faraabee, Ibn Sina Al-Hanafi, Naseer At-Toosee, a proponent of shirk and disbelief, as well as others who played religious tricks on Islam, much like Paul did with Christianity. They were influenced by Greek Philosophers’ ideas, such as the creed of grave worship, and through Greek Philosophy they became advocates of grave worship. Due to preoccupation with the Books of Philosophers, these individuals’ practises became widespread among the proponents of rhetoric among the Hanafi Maatooreediyyah and the Ash-ariyyah Kullaabiyyah, and as a result, they were affected by the creed of grave worship. These individuals, such as Taftaazaanee Al-Hanafi (a Philosopher of the Maatooreediyyah and Grave Worshippers) and Jurjaanee Al-Hanafi (a caller to superstition), became proponents of both grave worship and the Jahmiyyah creed at the same time”.
To understand the harm Ed intends for the Ummah, pay special attention to Shaikh Shamsuddeen’s following statement: “The books of Greek philosophy that contained the ideas of grave and idol worship were translated into Arabic, and then many people who identified as Muslims spent their time with these books. These people included Al-Faraabee, Ibn Sina Al-Hanafi, Naseer At-Toosee, a proponent of shirk and disbelief, as well as others who played religious tricks on Islam, much like Paul did with Christianity. They were influenced by Greek Philosophers’ ideas, such as the creed of grave worship, and through Greek Philosophy they became advocates of grave worship”. [End of quote]
Indeed, Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina were among those who attempted to manage Islam and its believers through deception, but they were unsuccessful, much as Paul was successful in manipulating Christianity through deception. Ed, however, praises them, uses sophistry, flattery, and deception to draw attention to their destructive paths, and then tries to belittle the upright scholars of the Ummah who issue upright Fataaawa against the poison and bidah of philosophy.
Regarding the Raafidah heretics, the so-called Ayatollahs Ed Husain mentioned, they inherited their bidah from the Minaafiq Abdullah Ibn Sabah, whereas Ed Husain inherited his bidah from the heretical philosophers he exalts. As for the upright scholars of Ahlus Sunnah – the upright scholars of Saudi Arabia, such as the likes of Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan, Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee, Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad, Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Luhaydaan, Al-Allaamah Ubaid Al-Jaabiriy and other upright scholars of the Sunnah, they follow the footsteps of the pious predecessors in their stance against philosophy. Imam Ash-Shaafi’ee [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “Theological rhetoric is tantamount to ignorance”. Imaam Abu Yusuf [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “Theological rhetoric is ignorance and to be ignorant of it is knowledge”. (5)
Yoonus Ibn Abdil A’laa [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “I heard Ash-Shaafi’ee say, ‘It is better for a man to be put to trial with everything that Allah has forbidden besides Shirk than to look into (or engage in) theological rhetoric because I have come across affairs from the proponents of theological rhetoric that I never thought I would come across'”. (6)
Indeed, Imaam Ash-Shafi’ee’s above remark reveals yet another truth about Ed. He moved to another bidah after abandoning his previous misguided sect, Hizb Tahreer, till he became a supporter of heretical philosophers.
Imaam Ahmad [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “I am not a proponent of theological rhetoric, nor do I see it in anything. (I only recognise) that which is found in Allah’s Book or in the Sunnah of His Messenger.” (7) He also said, “Do not sit with the proponents of theological rhetoric even if they defend the Sunnah”. (8)
When a man asked Qaasim Bin As-Sallam [may Allah have mercy on him] about theological rhetoric, he said, “Indeed, your Lord has guided you to the path of uprightness and truth. Allah [The Exalted] said:
فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً
(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination]. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 59]
Do you not have enough of what your Lord has guided you to regarding His Speech and the Sunnah of His Prophet so that you do not revert to your opinion and thus get destroyed? Indeed, your Lord has forbidden you from speaking (i.e. speculating) about His Essence and Attributes other than what He has revealed to you”. (9)
Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khali [may Allah preserve him] said: “Theological rhetoric is a corrupt field of knowledge, and the pious predecessors unanimously agreed that studying it is forbidden because of the misguidance and evil outcomes in it. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, ‘Neither does a dimwit benefit from it nor is an intelligent person in need of it’. An intelligent person does not require it since such people are intelligent in their inherent disposition and intelligence, and a dimwit does not benefit from it. Even if a person studied all the books of theological rhetoric, they would not gain anything from it. Shaikh Al-Albaani [may Allah have mercy on him] used to debate with proponents of theological rhetoric and they used to be like children in his presence, however, he never studied theological rhetoric. Instead, Allaah gave him (sound) speech and [Shariah] knowledge, and there is no evidence more convincing than the evidence of the Kitaab (i.e., the Qur’an) and the (authentic) Sunnah. The proponents of theological rhetoric are constantly vanquished. By Allaah, no matter how much they (use) theological speech or how strong their theological rhetoric is, they are overwhelmed by the presence of the methodology of the Pious Predecessors (which is) predicated on the Book [i.e. the Qur’aan] and the (authentic) Sunnah”. (10)
By praising the early Arabian believers and denouncing their adversaries, the Raafidah Shiites, Ed attempted to divert attention from his misguided pursuit of theological rhetoric in the name of Islam and gain some support from the early Arabian believers’ real allies. However, his concealed flattery and theological hyperbole were unveiled. Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] stated, “(The callers to evil) do not say to the people, ‘Come to the fire!!’ (Instead), they say, ‘Come to Paradise, these are the deeds of the Paradise people, this is good, this is development, this is rectification, this is and this is….’ and they make it more appealing to the people. As a result, Muslims must exercise caution toward these individuals. They have grown in number in this era, and only Allah knows if they will grow in the future. They may be aided with tools (of misguidance) that the earlier callers to misguidance did not have and are given solid backing through such (means), and this misguidance will quickly reach the masses. The proposal of the seducer and falsifier will be ornamented and made to appear like something good to the people in any location, despite the fact that it is evil. This is the pinnacle of temptation”. (11)
Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah preserve him] stated: “Truth adherents must exercise patience and strengthen their commitment to this religion of truth. When desires become rife, it becomes necessary to increase familiarising (oneself) with the truth and adhere to it, as the Messenger said: ‘The one who lives long amongst you will see a lot of differences, so what is obligated to you is that you follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khulafaa. Bite on it with your molar teeth (ie. firmly adhere to it) and beware of newly invented matters [in religion, i.e. innovated beliefs and acts of worship), since every newly invented matter (in religion) is a bidah, and every bidah is misguidance'”. (12)
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Footnotes:
(I) Al-Faraabee: Al-Faraabee said that Philosophy is more perfect than Prophethood. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said about him: “Misguided; a disbeliever”. Ibn Sinaa adopted his books and ideas of disbelief. [Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 2/67—86. Dar At-Ta’aarud 1/10. Ighaathatul Luhfaan 2/372-373] Ibn Sinaa: Imaam Ibnu Salaah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said about him: ‘’He was a devil amongst the human devils.’’ [Fataawaa Ibn Salaah 1/209. Ar-Radd Alal Mantaqiyyeen’ by Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah 278-279. Ighaathatul Luhfaan. 2/373-380. [Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. 12/43] Naasir At-Toosee: He was a magician and a minister of the Tartars. He rejected the resurrection. [As-Sawaa-iq Al-Mursalah. 2/790]
(II) Followers of the Jahmi Abu Mansoor Al- Maatooreedi Al-Hanafi [For further details, read the Book of Shaikh Shamsud-deen al-Afghaanee titled ‘Al-Maatooreediyyah’ 1/205—376]
(III) http://www.asharis.com/creed/articles/hkjkv-understanding-the-splinter-groups-of-the-kullaabiyyah-the-ashariyyah-and-the-saa.cfm by Shaikh Abu Iyad [may Allah preserve him]
(IV) Amr ibn ‘Ubaid, the head of the Mu’tazilah: https://abukhadeejah.com/sharhus-sunnah-of-al-barbahaaree-yunus-bin-ubayd-advises-his-son-that-sin-is-better-than-bidah/
[1] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 49
[2]: Aqeedah As-Salaf. page 105
[3]: Excerpt from Juhoodu Ulamaa Al-Hanafiyyah Fee Ibtaal Aqaa’id Al-Qubooriyyeen. Vol 1. Page 19-25
[4]: An Excerpt from : أثر العبادات في حياة المسلمpages 4-5. By Al-Allaamah Abdul Muhsin al-Abbaad (may Allah preserve him)
[5]: Dhammul Kalaam by Al-Harwee 5/73
[6]: Aqeedah Ash-Shaafi’ee. Page: 86
[7]: Quoted in An-Nahjul Aqwaa. Introduction by Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan and Shaikh Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh. page: 126
[8]: An-Nahjul Aqwaa’ with the introduction of Shaikh Fawzaan and Shaikh Abdul Azeez Aala Shaikh. Page: 127
[9]: Reported by Al-Ajlee in Dhammul Kalaam 1/85
[10]: An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm page 347. Slightly paraphrased.
[11]: https://youtu.be/t52zaoVNESk?si=WFZNWUJD4GMTP4m0
[12]: Majmoo 14/294.
