SHAIKH SAALIH IBN SA’D AS-SUHAIMEE - hafizahullaah - was asked about a man who fell into many innovations, such as the saying that the Qur’aan is made by Allah and not made by man. *
[‘az-Zilaal’ : 4/2249, 2250; 5/2719, 3006 : 12th edition, Daarul - ‘Ilm, 1406 H],
and who says about Moosaa - ‘alaihis - Salaam - that he is an example for the leader who is excitable and emotional in nature. *
[‘az-Zilaal’ : 4/2280, 2347, 2348; 5/2682, 2683, 2684, 2685, 2690, 2692. 12th edition. Daarul - ‘Ilm, 1406 H ; ‘at - tasweerul - Fannee fil-Qur’aan’ : pp. 200 - 203 : 13th edition, Daarul - Shurooq : 1413 H],
and who holds the saying of Wahdatul - Wujood *
[‘az-Zilaal’ : 6/3479, 3480, 4002, 4033, 4012 : 12th edition, Daarul - ‘Ilm, 1406 H],
and he attacks ‘Uthmaan - radiyallaahu ‘anhu - with many attacks in this book: ‘al - ‘Adaalah al-Ijtimaa’iyyah’ *
[pp. 159, 160, 161, 172, 174, 175, 176 : 9th edition, Daarush - Saurooq, 1403 H]
and doubts about the Paradise and the Fire *
[‘az’zilaal’ : 1/53, 397; 2/805; 6/3679, 3680, 3771, 3805, 3806, 3906 : 12th edition, Daarul - ‘Ilm : 1406H],
and who denies some of the attributes in the manner of the Jahmiyyah and in the manner of the Ash’arees *
[‘az-Zilaal’ : 1/47, 48, 2/805, 929; 3/1762 ; 5/2575, 2807, 3028, 3114 : 12th edition. Daarul - ‘Ilm : 1406 H].
And who declares all of the Ummah to be Unbelievers, and does not make any exception in that except for his own Jamaa’ah *
[‘az-Zilaal’ : 4/2122 : 12th edition, Daarul - ‘Ilm, 1406 H ; ‘al-‘Adaalah al-Ijtimaa’iyyah’ : pp. 182, 183 - 9th edition. Daarush Shurooq, 1403 H ; ‘Ma’aalim fit - Tareeq’ pp. 8, 10, 11, 12, 20 21, 26, 38, 39, 44, 48 : 15th edition , Daarush - Shurooq,
and who says that Tawheed - Ruboobiyyah is that which the Messenger called to, and for which the Books were sent down - opposite to the words of the Salaf -, and he explained ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’ to mean al-Haakimiyyah.
Then the question, O noble Shaikh, is what should ones stance be with regard to him. Is he himself to be declared an innovator, since I have criticised some of the youth for their saying: Do not declare him to be an innovator - since the proof was not established against him. But I have seen in his book ‘Fee Zilaalil - Qur’aan’ that he quotes speech from the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer - rahimahullaah - so is the fact that he quotes from the books of the Salafus - Saalih to be taken as proof that the proof was established upon him, since he was aware of the books of the Salaf. We would like you to clarify this matter in details - and may Allah reward you with good."
So the Shaikh replied:
"The matter does not require great detail: establishment of the proof and knowledge of the evidence and understanding - there is no doubt that this is essential with regard to one who lives in Islaam and testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and then falls into some of these very serious matters mentioned by the questioner. However, I make a distinction between one who has innovation as the basic manhaj that he follows - and upon which he bases all of his affairs - like the manhaj indicated by the questioner, and between one who falls into some innovation - without that being from the bases of his da’wah and his manhaj. So whoever has innovation of the basis of his manhaj and da’wah - then there is not doubt that he is an innovator (mubtadi’) - indeed he would be counted due to this description as being one of the worst types of innovation - and if it were not for his ignorance, then he would be judged to be guilty of what is worse than innovation - however it appears that he was an ignorant person (Jaahil).
You are aware of the words of the Salaf with regards to the ignorance of those who do not know the Sharee’ah - like this man, and like those unfortunate writers whom it may be that they intended good but they were not granted the success of attaining it. So they stumbled blindly and erroneously in their judgements upon people, and in their mentioning matters which they do not have the ability to deal with, and they rashly entered themselves into matters which are beyond them. They should have left these matters to the people of knowledge, and the scholars instead, instead of delving into them themselves. Then there is not doubt that this manhaj - whether the manhaj of this man who is spoken of, or those like, as an innovated manhaj and one upon it is an innovator (mubtadi’).
As for the matter of establishment of proof - then that pertains to what is between him and Allah. As for his action then it is an innovation, and he is an innovator - there is not doubt. Then with regard to what is between him and Allah - then if he was ignorant - and that appears to be the case with him - then he is to be joined along with the ignorant and those having excuses and those whose affair is for Allah - the Perfect and Most High -.
But many of these matters are calamitously serious, it is not fitting, indeed it is not permissible for any Muslim... meaning that whoever believes them is in great danger... so in summary this manhaj that has been indicated is, all of it, innovatioin - whether it is the saying of this man or other than him. Also this manhaj - establishing the call to Allah upon other than the manhj of the Salaf - is upon a foundation of Hizbiyyah (group partisanship), whatever the case - and therefore they fell into these errors due to this manhaj which they do not wish to divert from.
So there is not doubt that they are innovators and are to be judged guilty of innovation. All that remains is to look are some of the followers who do not reach that level: then with regard to them, the judgement of innovation will depend upon the type of innovation that proceeds from them, and upon establishment of the proof also -, and upon the manhaj which they are upon.
So those of them who fell into it due to their being influenced by it, but not believing all of these matters - or who free themselves from these things, except that they fell into affiliation with these Jamaa’ahs - then such a person should be taught and given knowledge and understanding, and do not hasten and to call him an innovator. As for one who then persists in this state - then he is an innovator, no doubt, even if the proof is not established upon him - since that is a matter between him and Allah - the Perfect and Most High -..."*
[Shar at-Tahaawiyyh’ - after completion of the chapter on Israa and Mi’raaj. Al-Masjid an-Nabawee cassette tapes: 1413 H]
Shaikh Salih as-Suhaimee on Sayyid Qutb