Salafism, Do You Really Get It?
September 20, 2009
I had originally began this article a few months ago in hopes that it would be completed well before Ramadân. Circumstances however, have prevented its completion until fairly recently. I’ve been waiting on some feedback from some brothers I sent the completed article to before; so far only a few brothers have responded with their input. I thought, however, that I’d post it now despite not hearing back from some of them, since most of the feedback I was getting while working on it was fairly positive.
I’m not sure how this article’s going to be received, especially by some of my other salafî friends. I hope, however, that it brings about more benefit than harm and that it causes those who take it for what it is as a cause to reevaluate their thinking and mindset.
Here’s the link to the article: Salafism, Do You Really Get It? An Actual Methodology or Merely Empty Slogans? (PDF), as well as a bit from the beginning for those interested (Allah willing, what’s mentioned in this excerpt doesn’t become the focus of this piece—as it’s just an explanation for my inactivity):
My wife and I had a discussion not too long ago about what Salafism is. That discussion is the basis of this article. Before I get into the whole topic of Salafism, however, I first wanted to address those who regularly visit my blog to read my posts. As they’re well aware, I’ve gone on a bit of a hiatus and haven’t posted anything of real substance in quite some time, save the odd quote to remember or whatnot. I’m only mentioning what follows, because firstly, I feel I owe my regular readers a bit of an explanation for the inactivity (some have asked me what’s up) and secondly, because some of the reasons behind it are related to what I want to discuss in this article. So please note that this is not a rant or a complaint; I’m just explaining my situation.
To sum it up in a single word, I’ve become jaded. Those of you who regularly read my writings may have gotten a tiny sense of this in my What’s the Deal with QSS?! article and its subsequent comments, while a few of you who have actual contact with me, whether through the internet or in person, have probably heard me express it or at least hint at it. For those thinking that I’m going through what’s been termed “salafî burnout”, I’m not. I’m just fed up. Fed up of all the turmoil, fed up of all the bickering between Salafîs (between laymen and scholars alike), fed up of all the retards. As such, I made a conscious decision to step back and take a break from translating texts, from participating on internet discussion forums, and from Islamic propagation in general. I’ve been preoccupying myself largely with worldly matters and living life as any normal mundane person would. Being that I’ve been a bit of a loner my entire life, I’ve been restricting myself to only showing my face at Friday sermons, QSSC’s occasional functions; not really much else.
With that said, let’s get back to the topic.
Read on … Salafism, Do You Really Get It? An Actual Methodology or Merely Empty Slogans? (PDF).
Oh, and to all my brothers and sistes: may you all have a blessed Îd; may Allah accept from us and from you and may He forgive us and you for our shortcomings.
Filed in Current Events, Heresies & Heretics, Islam, Jurisprudence & Comprehension, Little Reminders & Advices, Methodology, Misconceptions, Morals & Conduct, Polemics & Apologetics
Tags: Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad, Abdullah bin Salih al-Ubailan, Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Khaliq, Abul-Hasan al-Ma'ribi, Ali Hasan al-Halabi, exaggeration, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Ibn Taimiyyah, Muhammad Ali Farkus, Muhammad bin Salih bin Uthaimin, Muhammad Husain Ya'qub, Muhy ad-Din an-Nawawi, Nasir ad-Din al-Albani, pretense, pretext, Rabi' bin Hadi al-Madkhali, rigidity, Salafism, Salman al-Awdah, turmoil
October 19, 2009 at 5:45 am
As salaamu alaikum,
Akhee I wanted to know what was your take on this:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Muhaajir/message/14032
October 19, 2009 at 6:37 am
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah,
Unfortunately, I’m not subscribed to the group and thus can’t view the message.
October 19, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I think I posted it, but this is the list of all the “Salafi Masjids” in North America. So if you’re not on the list, is it assumed you’re not on it?
October 19, 2009 at 3:56 pm
You posted it twice. Both times the spam filters caught it and marked it as spam because of all the links it contained. I’ve deleted them though … mainly because I think these lists are retarded. I even poked fun at these lists in my article.
October 19, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Assalamu ‘Allaykum,
Akhee, no offense but I don’t think it is necessary to post this on the forum. I mean it has become common amongest ahl bidah that they would use such an article in order to damage Salafiyyah. In other words, I don’t think there is benefit in posting such stuff. And Allah knows best.
October 19, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah,
Posting what to what forum?
October 20, 2009 at 6:25 am
Wa alaikum salaam akhee kareem Abu Zayd,
I don’t know if you were directing that at me or not, but you and I share the same sentiments, as far as it not being a benefit posting this kind of stuff. I was interested in Bro Rasheed’s take on this stuff. The original posters of this are the ones who should be advised. And the “damage” to Salafiyyah has come from within, if anything.
October 20, 2009 at 6:31 am
Faheem, brother Abu Zayd could have been referring to the article I wrote (i.e., Salafism, Do You Really Get It?) as it’s not exactly clear from his comment, which is why I asked.
October 20, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Yes, I wasn’t sure, but just in case….But I don’t see how the article could be used by ahlul bid’ah, because it was EXTREMELY beneficial!! As a matter of fact, I am about to re-read it right now!
October 20, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Assalamu ‘Allaykum,
Sorry I wrote that in hurry. What I am saying is that the whole tone of the article seems as if you got bored of da’wah salafiyyah. People will use this type of information to attack the da’wah. You don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say, ’so-and-so was serious hardcore salafi, but he only shows up to friday prayers now.’
October 21, 2009 at 7:38 am
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah,
If that’s what you got from the article, Abu Zayd, then I’m afraid you’ve done what I was hoping people wouldn’t: focus on the explanation I gave at the beginning of the article for my recent inactivity instead of focusing on the point behind the article itself.
Ask anyone of my close friends and they’ll tell you that I’m very passionate about Salafism, which is one of the reasons I felt the need to write the article. Many people who claim to adhere to it simply just don’t get it and it leaves me extremely frustrated at times. I’m not bored of the da’wah. I’m tired of the BS from some of its claimants and adherents, whether from its laymen or its learned people. If I was bored of the da’wah and didn’t care much for it anymore, I wouldn’t have written the article in the first place.
Faheem, it makes me very happy to know that some of my readers find my writings to be of some benefit. It reassures me that my efforts (however tiny they are) aren’t a complete waste; my Allah reward and bless you for your comments.
October 21, 2009 at 11:03 am
So you finally completed it. Enjoyed the read.
October 21, 2009 at 11:11 am
Yeah, thank Allah. Posted it on ‘Îd morning before heading out to the prayer. Glad you liked it. Coming from one of my best friends, it means a lot! Give me a call if you’re free this weekend or something. We need to hook up; we’ll go out for burgers or something. There’s a dope burger joint you’ve got to try. It’s Nasir and Munir approved!
October 22, 2009 at 10:24 pm
good article rasheed. May Allah reward you in full. I hope your article will open the eyes of some people who’ve been living in the igloo of “salafism” where every other “non-salafi” muslim is considered an opponent.
October 23, 2009 at 10:03 am
As Salamu laykum
Ok have not looked at the PDF yet but will inshaallah, but the thing I wanted to post is one ahul bid’ah already knows all about the Salafi’s dirty laundry basically cuz the salafi’s display it all over the Internet, in the masjid, MP3’s and Cd’s… so know point in trying to hide anything or be paranoid. Second when I entered this I was told Salafism was Islam in its pure form, but my impression is that some people think they are not apart of the Ummah anymore like they are a special class of infallible Muslims, I personally think many of our issues could be solved with more knowledge of usool of fiqh – like just because you follow shaykhs ABC’s ijtihad its not incumbent for the whole Ummah to do so as well..that’s basic stuff that many us don’t get even after being told. If we insist that we all have to agree on the foundations and the branches as well then we are destroyed because human beings where not created to agree about every single last detail of anything… but all this bickering over branch issues is from Shaytaan to make us weak. I speak to random Muslims all the time and they all for the most part have athari aqidah but they are not trying to openly affiliate themselves with the Salafis because some of us got serious issues mentally and spiritually and that not hate that just being truthful.
October 25, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Asalamu alaikum.
Read the article. Don’t see the ‘jadedness’ in it. Personally, i’ve never thought this was a struggle between those who erred, during their attempt to be sincere. I feel very very strongly that this entire madness can be narrowed down to insincerity and corruption, period. Alhamdulillah, as time has passed we see their corruption spread among them as well. Now no one is off bounds. How long before they openly declare salafiyah to be a deviant ‘manhaj’ altogether? I give them another 10 yrs.
Alhamdulillah, the sunnah is whatever it was. Some people tried to disrupt it and failed. That’s all. There has NEVER been an internal struggle for the sunnah, among its followers in the past 10 yrs. This entire episode was an attempt to derail our belief system. Don’t be jaded. We won! I knew we would..
October 26, 2009 at 6:31 am
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah Abu Talha,
Being that sincerity is a matter of the heart that is only truly known by Allah and no one else, I tend to shy away from such thoughts and accusations. Don’t get me wrong, while a person’s sincerity (or in this case, supposed insincerity) can be perceived through various things (e.g., the person’s actions and statements), there’s no definite way, other than perhaps “hearing it from the horse’s mouth” so to speak, of knowing one way or another. For that reason alone, I prefer to leave such matters out of the discussion. In the end, Allah will judge them for that any way, so they’ll get their just desserts if that really is the case (i.e., they were insincere).
October 27, 2009 at 1:58 am
As salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,
Rasheed, I pray this reaches you in the highest of Emaan and Health inshallah. I didn’t know where to post this so inshallah I’ll post here. Rasheed, can you inform me on where is the best place online to purchase all the published works from the Jordian Mashaykh including Shaykh Saleem inshallah. It would be very much appreciated.
October 27, 2009 at 5:32 am
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah,
I don’t know where you’ll be able to find all of their published works as some of their previously published books are undoubtedly out of print (especially their older stuff), but you might be able to find a few of Shaikhs Ali’s, Saleem’s, and Mashhur’s books on the QSSC site. Not all the books we have on sale are posted, however, so it might be good to email the admin asking for a list of the books we do have on sale. I think we may have a few by Shaikh Abu Anas and a couple of their other lesser known colleagues as well (can’t recall their names at the moment–I just woke up).
May Allah reward and bless you for your supplication; may He grant you the same. Best of “luck” with your search.
October 27, 2009 at 1:36 pm
As salaamu alaikum,
This article is very relevant, especially since the “correct salafi stance” concerning some individuals and groups have not been “correct” at all; rather, they have been one-sided. I myself was cautioned against concerning Abul Hasan al-Ma’ribee, and by default, Abu Usaamah ath-Thahabi, and only because I was able to read what Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee said concerning it. It didn’t make me a difference either way, but after reading the Shaykh’s take on it, I knew I wasn’t compelled to take the position that this man had to be warned against. And as it was popular some years ago, if you took a position other than what Shaykh Rabee’ said, you were accused of tamyee’, opposing the sunnah, and whatever other rallying cry they were able to come up with.
Now, these issues don’t mean anything, but the caution remains, even to the point where people who I know don’t even know how to recite the faatihah correctly, but they know that they should stay away from me, and for NO other reason except I didn’t tow the line. It’s sad the number of clones that are walking around, and how some of these students are using what I call a “bogeyman” approach, where they are using principles of specialized sciences (jarh wa ta’deel) to create paranoia in the laymen, and even in other students! And overall the “salafi da’wah” has been devastated, but al hamdu lillaah, the da’wah of islaam is still in effect!
October 31, 2009 at 5:21 am
as salaamu ‘alaykum akhee, hayyaakAllaah. This blog entry kind of expresses the similar condition of many other Salafees, who’d love to have some respite from constant argumentation and bickering amongst themselves regarding such-and-such.
However akhee I request you NOT to stop translating texts, etc. If brothers at salafimanhaj.com, etc stop translations, then all we are left with are SP, Troid and SunnahPublishing! Taking a break from all these is probably a very good idea, and you do not have to get involved in all the issues anyway. But translation of general beneficiary matters and refutation of general innovations and innovators would be of great benefit to the laymen inshaaAllaah.
I like the fact that some of the Salafees have now turned their attention to asharis.com and abovethethrone.com types of website, where there are refutations but not defamations of contemporaries. Sites like sunnah.org have great deal of ‘refutations’ of Salafees from GF Haddaad and I wish there were more refutation of him and his articles, instead of wasting all day ‘refuting’ those who listen to Salafee Shaykhs like ‘Alee al-Halabee, al-Maghrawee, etc.
You get the point. Very few of us in the West can actually understand Arabic unless it is translated and if Salafee brothers who DO understand Arabic do not engage in more translation of authentic materials, innovation and its people would keep rising. InshaaAllaah keep using the blessings that Allaah ‘azza wa jal has given you for the service of the Ummah of RasoolAllaah, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him.
October 31, 2009 at 8:35 am
Wa ‘alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullah Aboo Yoosuf,
May Allah reward and bless you. Allah’s is the praise, there are still quite a few brothers and sisters benefitting the English speaking population with some nice translations; the thing is, you have to really search for them. Of course, a large bulk of what is out there in English with respect to Salafi material is put out by the guys at SP, TROID, Sunnah Publishing, and those affiliated with them in some way (this includes the two sites you mentioned: Asharis & AboveTheThrone, which are obvious SP’s), but there are those who are putting out a good effort to produce material in English for those who cannot understand Arabic.
Brother Jalal Abualrub and his son Amr (IslamLife.com) are very busy with things.
There is also a site that Amr (Abualrub) showed me that has some pretty good stuff (although some still turmoil related): http://www.athaar.org/, which has a blog (http://blog.athaar.org/) and forum (http://forum.athaar.org/) associated with it.
And there are still others (including many blogs and forum sites, some of which I have a lot of issues with, but still think have some very beneficial offerings), that aren’t coming to mind right now.
November 11, 2009 at 7:51 am
As salaamu alaikum,
Yes, it is indeed important that someone takes up the task of producing works that are not only beneficial, but relevant! We still see stuff nowadays, like people trying to convince us to not take from Shaykh Faalih, but he was just “Allaamah” yesterday! The same with Shaykh Ali Hasan al-Halabi, and a host of others who have been maligned in the name of manhaj. And overall, our communities are in shambles! I am right across the bridge from Philadelphia, a haven for this fitnah! You go to the Salafee masjids, and you almost feel like you have to watch your back, that is how bad the tension is there. And somehow, the leaders, and the movers and shakers of these communities don’t think it’s important to reach out to people, or to cater to the concerns of the members.
It’s like we missed the spiritual boat completely! And there has been an influx of lectures lately, but me personally, I am tired of hearing all the kalaam, but we don’t see it manifested in the communities. I mean, there was a lecture recently about the importance of education, and in the Salafee communities, we don’t have any schools, and nothing really cohesive as a foundation for education. We have nothing to empower the people, nothing for the development. But we have time for refutations about people who are in another part of the world, or we publish books about matters that are not of immediate concern for the ills plaguing our communities.
November 17, 2009 at 10:43 am
As salaamu ‘alaykum.
Rasheed I have read your articles and the comments from those read it too.
This is what I have understood from it; you are fed up with the Salafees: the claimants. You love Salafiyyah and want to see those around to be serious about what they are claiming.
Rasheed, you want to see brothers reciting the Book of Allaah instead of listening Qeela wa Qal, nasheed and other rubbish they listen to.
You want them to read books of ahaadeeth with its shurooh instead of reading useless magazines and kuffar newspapers.
Where I live it is fashionable to say ‘Anaa Salafee’ I told them privately and publicly that we should be ashamed of saying we follow Quraan and Sunnah with understanding of the Salaf. Not only are we unaware of who the Salaf are? We are unaware how they practised Islaam.
Many of those who claim to follow Salafiyyah have not read the Quraan or books of hadeeth, yet they claim to follow it with the understanding of the Salaf!!