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Fariha.'s avatar

They don't love الله and His Messenger ﷺ , they love their own whims and desires.

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not exaggerate my status as the Christians have done with the son of Mary. Verily, I am only a servant, so refer to me as the servant of Allāh and His Messenger.”

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3445

Doing exactly what he ﷺ forbade us.

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Dr Asma Fischer's avatar

Salaam,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve noticed that a great deal of effort is often put into criticizing other Muslims, particularly from those who follow Salafism or Wahhabism. This reminds me of the historical Inquisitions, where anyone outside a certain belief system, even fellow Christians, was condemned.

I must admit I didn’t fully understand the purpose of the article. I had a few thoughts and questions:

1. Is the intention to criticize Muslims who may be imperfect or have different beliefs? If so, this could reflect arrogance, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us that no one with even a trace of arrogance will enter Jannah. It’s essential to first safeguard our own hearts.

2. Is it to sow division among Muslims so that we end up fighting or hating each other? We see the consequences of such division in places like Gaza and Lebanon, where some Sunnis remain indifferent to the struggles of Shia Muslims, even though both recite the same kalima.

3. Is the aim to discourage love for the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Allah Himself, in the Qur’an, tells us that He and His angels send peace and blessings upon the Prophet. Salaam is love expressed in its purest form.

4. Could it be an outlet for feelings of envy or resentment toward other Muslims who have found a path to Allah’s love in a way that may seem unfamiliar to you?

5. Lastly, is it to belittle the Prophet (peace be upon him) ( Astighfirullah) by bringing him down to our level? Allah has clearly stated that the Prophet is “Insan-e-Kamil” (the perfect human) and a “Rahmatul-lil-Alameen” (a mercy for all worlds).

Whatever the reasons, I would like to kindly remind you that for every word we speak or write we will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment. If we lead people astray, we bear the weight of their misguidance as long as they act upon it. Do you truly wish to carry such a burden for the sake of expressing animosity toward those who are, in many ways, still growing in their faith?

If you are from the Indian subcontinent please remember with gratitude that it was the Sufis who brought Islam to your ancestors.

One of the reasons Salafi and Wahabi tribes started slamming other Muslims as doing Bidah and Shirk because it allowed them to label them as mushrik and thus kill off those tribes with impunity.

That is the history of the movement you seem to be supporting, otherwise it is nobody’s business how anyone worships in Islam unless you are asked as a scholar.

On a softer note, I would like to share two quotes for reflection. One is from Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him): “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” The other is from Imam Shafi: “If something bothers you in another person, look within yourself, and you might find it there.”

May Allah guide your heart and pen, and keep you from writing against people who are merely struggling to be faithful. May we all spend our lives in repentance for our own shortcomings.

Please forgive me if I came on too strongly, as my intention is only to express concern. I, too, have been in your position, influenced by Salafi teachings, and for many years, I missed out on the spiritual significance of Rabi’ al-Awwal and Shabaan, fearing they were bid’ah. It took me years of study to realize that much of the rhetoric around “bid’ah” was based on misunderstandings from misguided hearts. May Allah have mercy on them.

I encourage you to redirect your efforts from these divisive articles and seek knowledge from non-Salafi scholars who may offer different perspectives.

Wishing you peace and guidance.

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