Dr. Abdur-Razzaaq considers that the various Islamic groups such as al-Ikhwaan, at-Tabligh, at-Takfeer, at-Tahreer, at-Tawaqquf, at-Tabayyun etc. are from Ahl us-Sunnah. As for declaring them to be from the Ahl ul-Bid’ah due to their opposition to the Salafi manhaj, then this [in his estimation] is a principle from the principles of misguidance. And here is the text of his words: "And amongst these principles - that is the principles of misguidance - is that every jamaa’ah of da’wah to Allaah at the present time is an organisation of innovations and misguidance and that they are offshoots of the sects of the pasts that were outside of Islaam" (p.3)
Then you should know right at the beginning that these words - in this particular way - not a single one of the scholars has said them, nor the well-known students of knowledge and those upon the way of the Salaf. No one has said that Ansaar us-Sunnah is an astray sect. Or that the Ahl ul-Hadeeth in India and Pakistan is an extension of the sects of the past. And similarly, none of them have said that al-Ikhwaan or at-Tabligh are astray sects that are outside the fold of Islaam!! Rather, what they have said is that they are from Ahl us-Sunnah but are not upon the way of the Salaf us-Saalih, and these are merely calculated and devised ways [on behalf of ash-Shaayijee] and great exaggerations.
And there is no doubt that the groups "at-Tabligh, al-Ikhwaan, at-Tawaqquf, at-Tabayyun, Hizbut-Tahrir, at-Takfeer wal-Hijrah and others" have reached the level of innovating in the religion and as such placing them within the umbrella of the Islamic sects in opposition to the guidance of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) is correct and justified. And this has been said by the scholars of Madinah and also other than them. In fact a group from the scholars has made this clear and amongst the strongest of those who have done this and have clarified and explained this matter in such a way that no more explanation is required is Shaikh Bikr Abu Zaid - may Allaah grant him success - and ash-Shaayijee affiliates himself with the Shaikh a lot. So the Shaikh authored a book: ‘The Ruling on Membership to Sects, Parties and Groups’ and here are some of his words:
Then let us consider/assert them as ‘sects’ not as the Jamaa'atul-Muslimeen – because the Jamaa’at ul-Muslimeen (main body of Muslims) is one and does not separate into many groups - upon the likes of what the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and His Companions (radiallaahu anhum) were upon - and whatever is other than the Jamaa’at ul-Muslimeen then they are from the sects of the Jamaa’at ul-Muslimeen. (p.14)
And amongst the scholars who have said the same thing is Shaikh al-Albaanee in many of his cassettes, and amongst his sayings is:
And I say then, that it is not correct for it to
be said that al-Ikhwaan ul-Muslimeen are from Ahl us-Sunnah, because they fight
against the Ahl us-Sunnah [From the tape: Debate with a Suroori]
And similarly, Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan when he said:
And the end part of that is what we are living
in now, the arrival of strange and suspectful ideas in our land in the name of
‘da’wah’ - through the hands of the various groups which are
called by various names such as al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, Jamaa’at
ut-Tabligh and the Jamaa’ah of such and such. And the goal of all of them
is the one and same and that is to drive away the da’wah of Tawheed and to
take up is place [with something else]. And in reality, the purpose/intent of
these groups is not different from the purpose/intent of those who have preceded
them from amongst the enemies of this blessed da’wah - all of them desire
to put an end to it. However the difference between them is only with respect to
their plans/modes of action. And if not, then if these groups had desired -
truthfully - da’wah to Allaah, then why do they overlook and abandon their
own countries - from where they are dispatched to us? And yet these same
countries are most in need of da’wah and rectification. They overlook
their own countries and then they come out to battle against the land of
Tawheed, desiring to change its correct course of rectification to one that is
twisted - and they desire to deceive its youth and to bring about fitnah and
enmity between them... [Haqeeqat ud-Da’wah ilallaah of Sa’d
Abdur-Rahmaan al-Haseen]
And the Shaikh and Alaamah, Bin Baaz has some strong words in the magazine ‘al-Majallah’ where he said:
The leading personalities from the People of
Knowledge have criticised the movement of al-Ikhwaan ul-Muslimeen because they
do not have any interest/activity in the da’wah to Tawheed and rejection
against Shirk and innovations. They have certain, specific ways which are
impaired by their lack of interest/activity in calling to Allaah, and turning to
the correct ‘aqeedah - that which the Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah are
upon. So it is necessary for the al-Ihkwaan ul-Muslimeen that they concern
themselves with the Salafi Da’wah, the da’wah to the Tawheed of
Allaah and rejection against the worshippers of graves, against the attachment
to the dead and seeking aid from the inhabitants of the graves, such as
al-Husain, al-Hasan, al-Badawi and what is similar to that.
And Shaikh Hamood at-Tuwaijaree - may Allaah have mercy upon him - authored a book about Jamaa’at ut-Tabligh and called it: ‘The Profound Word in Cautioning from Jamaa’at ut-Tabligh’ and he said in the introduction:
This is a response to a book which some of the
brothers sent to me, consisting of a question about Jamaa’at ut-Tabligh
and regarding many of the statements that have been made about them - from those
who speak for them and for those who rejct their actions. And the questioner
asked that he read the fatwa of Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibraheem in which holding
back from them [is advised]. And the questioner said: Shall I advise him to go
out with them on khurooj inside the country of Saudi or outside of it or not?
And the answer: I say: As for Jamaa’at ut-Tabligh, then they are a
jamaa’ah of innovation and misguidance and they are not upon the affair
that the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), His Companions and those
following them in goodness were upon. But they are upon some of the ways of the
Soofees and their innovated methodologies.
Then we say: He [ash-Shaayijee] got excited [thinking] that a very clear difference of opinion has occurred between the scholars. Is it not required from the students of knowledge to look at the evidences of the scholars and at the reality and true nature of these groups? Whilst holding onto the sharee’ah principle ‘the burden of proof is upon the claimant’ or should they support an opinion, from the many opinions, due to hawaa (desire) and the blameworthy party-spirit (ta’assub)?!
And with the knowledge that many of the scholars besides those whom we have quoted, clearly and openly perform tabdee’ (declaring to be innovatory) of these groups - even those who do not deem the groups to be innovated sects, then they are not pleased with the methodologies of these groups and with the fact that many of the proponents/propounders of these groups deviate from the way of the Salaf such as al-Qardaawi, al-Ghazaali, Sayyid Qutb, at-Tilmisaanee, Hasan al-Banna etc. So why this exaggeration and [undue] excitation? Why such a desperation to defend the Ahl ul-Bid’ah and to attack the scholars? Those who expose - with evidences - the methodologies of these deviant groups by which everyone who battles against our Righteous Predecessors has entered [into the realm of da’wah] from amongst the Ash’arees, Soofees, the Mu’tazilah, the worshippers of the graves and others...!!?
The scholars who do not have anything clear to say about these groups have not criticised their brothers, the other scholars, who have spoken and exposed and explained the misguidance of these groups, because they know that they have a good and strong perception.
And no one defends these groups with such desperation and at the same time attacks the Salafis, except the tails [back ends] of these groups, those who conceal themselves with ‘Salafiyyah’ and there is no power nor movement except by Allaah.