Question:
May Allah be good to you. This listener, Abu Hudhayfah from Makkah Al-Mukarramah, sent this question in which he says:
We see many of the scholars of evil and misguidance whose only concern is consuming people’s wealth unjustly. They are the ones who have caused people to fall into shirk (associating partners with Allah, polytheism). They wear green turbans and adopt the appearance of righteous people, but they do not pray. When they are asked, “Why do you not pray?” they reply, “We pray in the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.” Some of their disciples and followers then come forward to praise them, saying, “You do not see him when he goes to Makkah because he is among the Ahl al-Khotwah (people of the stride—those believed to travel vast distances in a single step through supernatural means), and because there is a veil between you and him, you cannot see him.”
When they are asked about fasting, they say, “This is from Allah’s bounty upon us. We have no need to fast because we are wealthy, and fasting is only for the poor who do not possess money.” When they are asked about Hajj, they say, “This too is from Allah’s bounty,” and they make excuses, saying, “Makkah is a hot country, entirely mountainous, and has no trees or shade.” Conversely, we see some of the people who listen to them, when they perform Umrah or Hajj, performing Tawaf (circumambulation) on their behalf, supplicating for them, and offering prayers for them in every part of the Masjid al-Haram. So, what is the ruling on the actions of these people? What is the ruling on believing what they say? And are their deeds accepted?
Answer:
Before answering this question, I would like to offer a word of advice to those shaykhs whom the questioner has described. I say: O shaykhs, it is your duty to repent to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, to turn away from the state you are in as described, to adhere to the path of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, and to perform the outward and inward acts of worship that Allah has commanded you to do, so that you may become leaders of guidance, righteousness, and reform. As for remaining as you are in the condition described by the questioner, it is a total loss for you in both your religion and your worldly life; it is misguidance and disbelief in Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.
Do not let the worldly life delude you, and do not let the deceiver deceive you about Allah. Do not be deceived by the fact that the naive among creation come to you, kissing your hands and feet, and wiping themselves against your clothes and turbans. This is merely a deception from Satan, who sends these naive people to you so that you may find your ways acceptable and continue upon this false path. So fear Allah regarding yourselves, and fear Allah regarding the servants of Allah: “And fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father.” (Luqman, 31:33).
Know that whoever calls to misguidance will bear the sin of that call, as well as the sins of those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection. The door of repentance is open, so it is incumbent upon you to return to Allah and to openly clarify that your previous way was a path of misguidance, that you were mistaken in it, and that you are now repenting to Allah Almighty from it.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding their condition: Their denial of fasting and their claim that fasting is only obligatory upon the poor is disbelief (kufr) and apostasy (riddah) from Islam. This is because fasting is obligatory upon every mukallaf (legally accountable individual): “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Al-Baqarah, 2:183).
Whoever denies the obligation of fasting upon the wealthy, claiming it is only obligatory for the poor, has disbelieved in the Quran, disbelieved in the Sunnah, and rejected the ijma’ (consensus) of the Muslims. Such a person is a disbeliever beyond any doubt.
Likewise, whoever turns away in arrogance from Hajj, saying that Makkah is hot, mountainous, and has no trees, is a disbeliever who is acting arrogantly toward the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. This is because he dislikes what Allah has revealed regarding the obligation of Hajj upon His servants. His justification is akin to mocking the legislation of Allah, the Sublime and Exalted. Allah has obligated Hajj upon His servants—upon those who are able to undertake it—while fully knowing the nature of the land to which He directed them, as Allah said regarding His close friend Ibrahim (Abraham): “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqâmat-as-Salat). So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.” (Ibrahim, 14:37)
Anyone who is deluded by these shaykhs—who possess these traits and are actively blocking people from Islam—is deceived. It is not permissible for anyone to pray to Allah for them except to pray for their guidance. As for performing Hajj or Umrah on their behalf, or accepting their speech, believing what they say, and following the path they take, such a person is a disbeliever. This is because anyone who believes that fasting is only for the poor, or that obligating Hajj upon people is charging them with what is impossible because Makkah is hot and mountainous, is considered a disbeliever due to objecting to Allah’s judgment and wisdom, and denying what Allah Almighty has obligated upon His servants.
The only exception is someone who is completely ignorant and does not know any better; someone who simply fell into the custody of these individuals, was misled by them, and never found anyone to tell him that this is falsehood and lies. The case of such a person is to be looked into. However, as for the one who believes them while already knowing what the Muslims are universally upon, he becomes a disbeliever by believing them, because he has agreed with them in denying the obligation of fasting.
Furthermore, their claim—meaning these shaykhs, when they are commanded to pray—that they pray in the Masjid al-Haram is a false and fabricated lie. How can someone who is in Africa, East Asia, or similar places pray in the Masjid al-Haram? This is impossible. They merely delude the general public with such words to evade accountability and escape criticism for not praying.
In conclusion, I warn my Muslim brothers against being deceived by the likes of these individuals, and I call upon them to reject them and stay far away from them. However, this does not prevent advising them and writing to them, in the hope that they might return to the truth.