Question:

The first message of this episode is a letter that reached the program from the Syrian Arab Republic, Damascus. Its sender is a listener from there who referred to himself by the initials A. A. Our brother asks three questions, in one of which he says: I want an overview of the Salafi Da’wah (call) and Imam Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who followed his guidance. To proceed:

The Salafi Da’wah is the call to what Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, with. It is the call to adhere to the Magnificent Quran and the Purified Sunnah. It is the call to follow the methodology that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, walked upon in Makkah and then Madinah—conveying the call to Muslims and others, guiding people to goodness, teaching them what Allah sent His Prophet with regarding the Tawhid (oneness) of Allah, sincerity to Him, faith in His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, abandoning the association of partners with Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, fulfilling what Allah and His Messenger commanded, and abandoning what Allah and His Messenger forbade.

This is the Salafi Da’wah, and upon it walked the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. After his death, the Companions walked upon his methodology in calling to the Tawhid of Allah, denouncing shirk (polytheism), and guiding people to the Tawhid of Allah in their words and deeds, just as Allah commanded them in His statement, the Glorified and Exalted:

“O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah),…“ [Al-Baqarah: 21]

And in His statement, the Exalted: “Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship,…“ [An-Nisa: 36],

And in His statement, the Exalted: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat: and that is the right religion.” [Al-Bayyinah: 5].

The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, called to this. The polytheists used to attach themselves to graves, the dead, idols, trees, and stones: calling upon them, wiping over them, seeking blessings from them, seeking intercession through them, sacrificing for them, and making vows to them. So he, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade them from that and informed them that [these things] neither benefit nor harm, and that the obligation is to direct worship sincerely to Allah alone. He said: “O my people, say: ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) and you will succeed.”

When Allah granted him victory over Makkah after the Hijrah, he smashed the idols, demolished Al-Uzza (which was a tree that used to be worshipped), demolished Manat (which was a rock that used to be worshipped), and demolished Al-Lat (which used to be worshipped in Taif). Likewise, he smashed all the idols and sent [messengers] to tribes and leaders calling them to the Tawhid of Allah and commanding them to abandon the worship of idols, statues, saints, prophets, and angels. Worship is the right of Allah alone, because Allah the Exalted says:

“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [Ad-Dhariyat: 56]

And He the Exalted says: “And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc.i. e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).’“ [An-Nahl: 36].

The meaning of “Worship Allah” is: unify Allah—meaning, single Him out alone for worship. He is the One who is called upon, hoped in, asked, prostrated to, bowed to, sacrificed for, and vowed to. As for graves, they are not to be attached to; no mosques or other structures are to be built over them, nor is anyone besides Allah to be called upon there, nor is aid to be sought from their occupants, nor is intercession to be requested from them. Intercession belongs to Allah alone:

“Say: ‘To Allah belongs all intercession.’“ [Az-Zumar: 44].

Allah rebuked the polytheists in His statement, the Exalted: (And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them and they say, “These are our intercessors with Allah.” [Yunus: 18].

So Allah rebuked them by saying: “Say: ‘Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?’ Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!” [Yunus: 18].

And He the Exalted says: “So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only, (and not to show-off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only.” [Az-Zumar: 2-3].

Then He the Exalted says: “And those who take Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): ‘We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.’“ [Az-Zumar: 3]—meaning, they claimed that they worshipped them for closeness, saying: “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.” That is, they did not worship Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, the prophets, and the angels, and call upon them and seek aid from them, except to bring them closer to Allah.

So Allah rebuked them for that and exposed their lie, saying, the Exalted: “Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.” [Az-Zumar: 3].

He, the Exalted, made it clear that they were liars in their claim that [these deities] brought them closer to Allah, and disbelievers in their worship of idols, angels, and prophets.

Therefore, it is not permissible to go to the occupant of a grave and say: “O my master so-and-so, help me, or relieve me, or fulfill my need, or intercede for me, or I am under your protection.” All of this is a munkar (reprehensible evil) and all of it is major shirk.

During his lifetime, it is permissible [to ask someone] if he is alive, to say: “O so-and-so, intercede for me” or “Pray to Allah for us,” just as the Companions during the life of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say: “Intercede for us, O Messenger of Allah,” and “Pray to Allah for us.” He used to pray for them and invoke aid for them during droughts in the Friday sermon and at other times, and he used to make du’a for them. There is no harm in this during his lifetime.

Likewise on the Day of Resurrection, when Allah resurrects him, he will intercede for the people on the Day of Resurrection. As for after his death in the barzakh (the intermediate realm), neither he nor anyone else is to be called upon—neither prophets, angels, nor righteous people. They are not to be called upon besides Allah, nor is aid to be sought from them. Rather, you should say: “O Lord, forgive me; O Lord, have mercy on me; O Lord, rectify my heart; O Lord, provide for me; O Lord, relieve my distress; O Lord, rectify my children; O Lord, grant me victory over my enemy; O Lord, make Your Prophet intercede for me; O Lord, make me among the people of Your Prophet’s intercession, peace and blessings be upon him; O Lord, grant me success in obeying You and following Your legislation.” This is how you speak; you ask your Lord.

This is the correct path. This is the Salafi methodology that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, walked upon, and upon which his Companions walked, may Allah be pleased with them, and then the Tabi’in (Successors) after them in righteousness. The Companions and those after them called to this path: adhering to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and [calling] to sincere worship of Allah alone. No close angel, nor sent prophet, nor occupant of a grave, nor jinni, nor tree, nor idol, nor anything else is called upon alongside Him. Worship is the right of Allah alone:

“O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah),…“ [Al-Baqarah: 21”

“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [Ad-Dhariyat: 56]

“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him…“ [Al-Bayyinah: 5].

Along with this is the belief that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets; there is no prophet after him. Allah sent him to all of mankind—jinn and humans. This belief is indispensable: you must believe that Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Hashemite, Arab, Meccan, and then Madinan, is truly the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He is the best of creation, the master of the children of Adam. You must believe this, and you must believe that Allah sent him to mankind generally: jinn and humans. Whoever answers his call and follows what he came with will enter Paradise, and whoever deviates from his path will enter the Fire. He is the Seal of the Prophets; there is no prophet after him. Whoever claims prophethood after him—such as the Qadianis—is a disbeliever, because Allah the Exalted says:

“Muhammad (ﷺ) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets.” [Al-Ahzab: 40], peace and blessings be upon him.

The mutawatir (mass-transmitted) Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, state that he is the Seal of the Prophets. He said: “I am the Seal of the Prophets, there is no prophet after me,” peace and blessings be upon him.

Furthermore, from the perfection of the Salafi Da’wah is the obedience of Allah and His Messenger: performing the commands and abandoning the prohibitions. You pray as Allah legislated, you pay zakah as Allah legislated, you fast as Allah legislated, you perform Hajj as Allah legislated, you honor your parents, you maintain ties of kinship, you call to Allah with mildness, guidance, enjoining good, and forbidding evil using a good approach, with gentleness and wisdom. You abandon sins—such as adultery, undutifulness to parents, usury, severing ties of kinship, drinking intoxicants, and other sins. You abandon them and guard against them out of obedience to Allah, glorification of Allah, following His legislation, hoping for His reward, and fearing His punishment. All of this is included in the Salafi Da’wah.

As for Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, he was an imam and scholar who called to Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, and called to this methodology. He was—may Allah have mercy on him—from Najd, from the towns of Najd, and then he moved to ‘Uyaynah as well, which is a well-known town near Diriyah. He studied knowledge, gained deep understanding in religion, and then traveled to the Two Sanctuaries (Makkah and Madinah), studying in Makkah and Madinah. Then Allah opened his chest to the Salafi Da’wah.

The people of Najd at that time had some among them who attached themselves to idols, graves, trees, and stones, just as is the case in many lands. So Allah opened his chest to the reality of Tawhid and to the Salafi Da’wah that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions walked upon. When his chest was opened to this matter and he knew its proofs, he called to this; he called his people and the people in Najd to the Tawhid of Allah.

There was a grave in Najd belonging to Zayd ibn al-Khattab, the brother of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, in Jubaylah near Diriyah, which was called upon and worshipped besides Allah. There were trees and stones that were worshipped besides Allah. So he forbade this, and forbade attaching oneself to the dead, graves, trees, and stones. He informed them that this is shirk against Allah, that Allah sent His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to call to the Tawhid of Allah and denounce this shirk, and that the Companions likewise [did so]. So he called to Allah in Najd—first in Diriyah, then in Huraymila, then in ‘Uyaynah, and then he moved back to Diriyah. Muhammad bin Saud, the Emir of Diriyah, assisted him in that. He continued in the call to the Tawhid of Allah, sincerity to Him, following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, demolishing the domes built over graves, cutting down trees that were worshipped besides Allah, and demolishing the dome over the grave of Zayd ibn al-Khattab, alongside other vestiges of shirk. Allah aided him in that, as did Emir Muhammad bin Saud, and then the Al Saud after him—may Allah reward them with good—and they have continued to be helpers of Tawhid to this day, calling to Allah, assisting scholars in the call to the Tawhid of Allah, denouncing shirk, and establishing the religion.

This is the da’wah of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him—an imam and scholar of Salafi creed, calling to the Tawhid of Allah, to following His legislation, and forbidding shirk (polytheism), “innovations” (bid’ah), superstitions, and sins. This is just like how the Companions called to Allah, how Al-Shafi’i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Malik, and other imams of Islam called to the Tawhid of Allah and sincerity to Him, and just like how Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in his time in the seventh and eighth centuries, and Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, in the eighth century, Ibn Kathir, and their likes called to Allah. He was upon their path, may Allah have mercy on him.

Thus, he was a Salafi imam calling to the Tawhid of Allah, obedience to Allah, and following His legislation.

As for his enemies among the Quburis (those who revere graves) who accuse him of being an innovator or of hating the saints, all of this is false; they lie about him just as they lied about the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and others. He called to the Tawhid of Allah, called to following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called to the truth and guidance, called to sincerity to Allah, and to abandoning innovations and superstitions that afflicted many people. He was a guided, successful imam calling to the Tawhid of Allah and obedience to Him, and calling to the Salafi creed. Likewise, his supporters from the Al Saud and the scholars and righteous people are all callers to the truth.

As for calling [them] “Wahhabism,” this is a title given to them by their enemies in order to alienate people. Rather, they are “Muhammadiyah,” because his name is Muhammad—he is not Abd al-Wahhab; his father’s name was Abd al-Wahhab. The correct term to use is “Muhammadiyah” because he is Muhammad, and the Prophet is Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, so they are followers of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

However, his enemies—out of ignorance, or imitating the ignorant, or imitating the enemies—called them “Wahhabiyah” out of ignorance, obstinacy, and to alienate people from the truth. Therefore, no sensible person should be deceived by this title with which the enemies try to entice them, claiming that they are enemies of the religion, enemies of the truth, or people of innovation. All of this is false. The “Wahhabis” are callers to the truth, callers to Salafiyyah, callers to what the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and the imams of Islam after him were upon.

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, his progeny, and his followers to this day call to the Tawhid of Allah, to following His legislation, and they forbid shirk against Allah and innovations that Allah has not authorized. Among these innovations: building upon graves and taking them as mosques, because it is a means to shirk; and holding mawlids (birthday celebrations) and celebrations of birthdays, because it is a means to shirk, which neither the Prophet nor his Companions did. All goodness lies in following them, because Allah the Glorified and Exalted says:

“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him.” [At-Tawbah: 100].

So those who followed them with good conduct are those who walked upon their methodology; they neither added to it nor subtracted from it. Rather, they walked upon their methodology in the Tawhid of Allah, sincerity to Him, following the legislation, honoring it, abandoning the innovations that Allah forbade, abandoning sins, calling to the Tawhid of Allah, and following His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in word and deed. This is the methodology of the pious Salaf from the Companions and the Tabi’in who followed them in righteousness, and this is the methodology of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and the methodology of his followers among the Al Saud and other scholars who walked upon his methodology.

Likewise, their followers among the scholars who walked upon his methodology in India, the Levant, Iraq, Egypt, and everywhere else—he has many followers in numerous countries and regions of the world who knew the truth, knew his good da’wah from his books and the books of his followers, and that it is a Salafi da’wah, a call to the Tawhid of Allah, following His legislation, and following His Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Therefore, my advice to every Muslim is to fear Allah, and to know the truth by its proof—not through “blind following” (taqlid), the words of the ignorant, or following the ignorant—but rather through evidence. Let him examine the books of the group, let him look at what they established in Al-Durar al-Saniyyah from their books: Fath al-Majid, Kitab al-Tawhid, Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid, and other books and refutations of theirs, so that he may know the truth, and know that they are upon the truth and guidance, and that they are callers to the Tawhid of Allah, to following His legislation, and to abandoning what Allah and His Messenger forbade.

This is the da’wah of the “Wahhabis,” this is the path of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, and this is the path of his followers and supporters among the scholars of Najd and others, including the Al Saud.

We ask Allah to make everyone steadfast upon guidance, to rectify the hearts of everyone and the deeds of everyone, and to guide the straying one until he stands firm upon the truth. We ask Allah to guide those who are astray and to teach the ignorant so that they may know the truth by its proof. We ask Allah to guide the partisans and people of desires until they abandon partisanship and desires, and until they submit to the truth and follow what the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, brought, and submit to it through evidence—not through blind following of the ignorant and followers of desires. Blind following of followers of desires and blind following of the ignorant harms and does not benefit.

Thus, it is incumbent upon the student of knowledge to take the truth by its proof and to look into the books of the group whom he hears things about that contradict the Shariah. Let him examine their books so that he may know the truth with its proofs, and so that he may speak based on knowledge and insight—not based on blind following of Zayd and Amr, and the like.

We ask Allah for success and guidance for everyone, and we ask Allah to rectify the conditions of all Muslims everywhere. We ask Allah to grant them deep understanding of the religion, to guide us and them to His straight path, and to bestow upon all Muslims deep understanding in the religion of Allah, adherence to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and stopping at their limits. Indeed, He, the Glorified and Exalted, is Generous and Gracious.

The Presenter:

May Allah reward you with good and bestow excellence upon you.