Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (ra) said:
"Some of the Shaafi'ee and Hanbalee scholars as well as
others have permitted killing those who call towards innovations that are in
opposition to the Qur'aan and Sunnah. This is the same case with the Maalikee
scholars who say: ‘Maalik and others have only permitted killing the
Qadariyyah for the purpose of eradicating corruption in the land, not because
of their apostasy.’" [2]
And he (ra) also said:
"Any innovator that has the proof established against him, it
is required for him to undergo punishment. And if not, then still, his innovative
and forbidden actions are fruitless and contain no reward in them. Rather,
they subtract from his good deeds, reduce from his reward and serve as a means
for lowering his honor and status. This is the ruling concerning those who are
misguided and their recompense. And Allaah rules with equity and justice, He does
not wrong anything, not even an atom." [3]
Taqee-ud-Deen Abu Muhammad 'Abd-ul-Ghanee Al-Maqdisee (ra) said
concerning the various groups:
"Know, may Allaah have mercy on you, that Islaam and its
adherents are undermined by three types of groups: 1) The first type reject the
ahaadeeth concerning Allaah's attributes and declare their narrators to be
liars. These individuals are more harmful to Islaam and its adherents than the
disbelievers. 2) Another group believes them to be authentic and accepts them,
however, they distort their meaning. These people are far worse in harm than
the first group. 3) The third type of group combines the first two views. According
to their claims they eliminate any anthropomorphic qualities to Allaah,
while they are lying. This directs them to accept the first two views. And
they are more greater in danger than the first two groups." [4]
Ibn Al-Jawzee (ra) said:
"Abul-Wafaa 'Alee Ibn 'Aqeel said: 'Our Shaikh Abul-Fadl
Al-Hamdhaanee said: 'The innovators in Islaam and the fabricators of
ahaadeeth are worse than the disbelievers. This is because the disbelievers
attempt to corrupt the Religion from the outside, whereas these individuals
attempt to corrupt it from the inside. They take the similitude of the
inhabitants of a land, who strive to corrupt its condition (from the inside),
while the disbelievers take the similitude of raiders laying siege to the
land from the outside. Thus it is the ones on the inside that open the doors of
the land’s surrounding barrier (and let the besiegers in). These types (of
people) are far worse to Islaam than the ones who don't attribute themselves to
it." [5]
I say that this type of talk concerning the various (deviant)
groups is a fundamental attribute of Islaam. And there is no doubt that these
innovators possessed good characteristics. However, these great scholars did not
mention any of them, because mentioning them is not an obligation.
Thus, it was from the methodology of the righteous predecessors
to warn against the books that held innovations within them, safeguarding the
methodology of the Muslims from their harmful and dangerous effects. It is not a
form of injustice for a Muslim, who is advising against a book, to mention the
defects that are present in it, since he is warning the Muslims against its
harm. This is even if he doesn’t mention any of its good qualities.
Rather, it is injustice for him to degrade it by labeling it with defects that
are not present there, even if the book’s author is a disbeliever.
Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (ra) said:
"Lying against an individual is completely forbidden, regardless
if he is a Muslim, a disbeliever or an evil sinner. However, fabricating
a lie against a believer is more severe. In spite of all forms of lying
on someone is forbidden, it is allowable during times of a legitimate necessity."
[6]
Indeed the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) warned against reading the
books of the Jews and the Christians. Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdillaah RAA reported
that ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab RAA once approached the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) while
holding a book he had obtained from some of the People of the Book. So he (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)
became angry and said: "Do you have doubts, O Ibn Al-Khattaab? By the One
whose hand my soul is in! I have surely brought it for you in its purified form.
Do not ask them (people of the Book) about anything, for they will either inform
you of truth and you will disbelieve in it, or of falsehood and you will believe
in it. By the One whose hand my soul is in! If Moosaa were alive today, he
would have no choice except to follow me!" [7]
Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (ra) said:
The Methodology of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah in Warning Against Innovators and Their Books
