Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh. 

As you know –may Allah protect you- that the greatest blessing of Allah towards His slaves after guidance and Imaan, is to make them among the people of Sunnah and obedience, not among the people who follow their vein desires and innovation in religion.

This entails giving advice on issues of importance, especially the area of dealing with the people who face the same Qibla [same direction in prayer].

ONE

Indeed, the method of Sunnah and adherence, is the most guided and straight method, as well as, the most expanded and merciful method. It did span to incorporate the early companions of our Prophet –peace be upon him- among the Immigrants and Supporters, as it incorporated the Bedouin Muslim, where in between these two grades are so many stations of faith that only Allah knows. Those who take this path, are encompassed within the chosen Ummah, which is referenced by the verse:

ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ (32)

Then We gave the Book (the Qur'ân) as inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him)) Then of them are some who wrong their own selves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allâh's Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur'ân) - that is indeed a great grace. [Surah Fatir (35): 32]

So, the wrong doers among them, does not get astray while marching with the foremost group, albeit, being in the rear. They support one another, and some would heal the wound of another. Eventually, all will reach a pleasant destination, some would enter from any of the eight gates of paradise by choice, and some would enter from only one door, and some in between. Some –among them- who will enter paradise for taking the stand of the Prophets, and some who enter by uttering Dhirk in a moment of sincerity, or by pouring droplets of tear in the darkness of night, or by a Dirham handed to a poor, or removing a branch of a thorny tree from the road of Muslims.

TWO

And the adherents to Sunnah vary in their talents and skills, but unified in their method and goal. Among them is the Mujahid, the one who enjoins virtue and forbid vice, the Mufassir (commentator on Quran), the Muhaddith (scholar of Hadith), the linguist, the poet. And among them also, are the laymen who worship Allah but carry no knowledge. Anyone, who’s divine nature was not mutated by the people of Bidah (innovation), then he is on the fitrah of Sunnah, same like the new born child who is on the fitrah of Islam, before his parents make him a Jew, Christian or fire worshiper.

The people of Sunnah and adherence, fulfill the rights of Ummah as wanted by Allah. Islam tied the entrance to Paradise –when it comes to the rights of Allah- with Emaan (faith), as mentioned in multiple verses and hadiths. However, when it comes to the rights of fellow mankind, then Islam tied rights of preserving blood, money and prestige, with “Islam”, it said:

كل المسلم على المسلم حرام دمه وماله وعرضه

All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his wealth and his honour. [Muslim 2564]

And the Prophet –peace be upon him said:

حق المسلم على المسلم ست

Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim [Muslim 2164]

And He said:

المسلم من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده

A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands [Bukhari: 6119]

So, whoever is called a Muslim, then the above rights are granted to him, and no rights is withhold  except for a certain cause or for the benefits of Islam. Moreover, Allah called the two fighting groups by the name of Imaan, to indicate their rights on all Muslims, Allah says:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (10)

The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy. [al-Hujurat:10]

THREE

They do not abolish the fixed rulings and the fundamental generalities because of side rulings and individual incidences. Among the fundamental perpetual ruling of Islam –according to clear evidences from Quran and Sunnah- is the obligatory act of keeping the Muslim unity. And among the side-by ruling is to forsake the innovator and the dissolute. Hence, the act of forsaking should not be applied until it’s benefits exceed the general ruling of Muslim unity. In fact, in such situations the ruling changes and multiple verdicts (ijtihad) are accepted.

FOUR

Anyone who performs their (people of Sunnah) prayer, and approach their Qiblah (direction of prayer), and eat from their slaughtered beasts, then he is one of them, and enjoys what they enjoy, and becomes liable about what they are liable of. However, the final account is at the decision of Allah, who knows their hidden intensions. It is not allowed to dig inside their hearts, and open their chests, or grow evil thoughts, or carry hatred against those who embraced faith earlier, or discriminate between Muslims based on their names, tribes, nicknames, even if these names are like “Muhajereen and Ansar”, when these names are used for the purpose of only praise and discrimination. It never benefited the Mutajilites to call themselves “The People of Tawheed and just”, as it did not benefit the Sufis to call themselves “The People of [divine] friendship and Nearness”. Earlier, the Jews and Christians said:

وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحْنُ أَبْنَاء اللّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ (18)

And (both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allâh and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and to Him is the return (of all). [surah al-Maedah (5): 18]

FIVE

They consider scrutiny of people for amity or enmity towards a sect or individual among the innovations which the early predecessors disliked. Amity or enmity should be based on facts, not on names and claims. Their minor congregation stipulates an example for their greater congregation. So, as it is obligatory that they should perform their prayer as did the Prophet –peace be upon him- and his guided Caliphs, and their Imam should be among the adherents to Sunnah, and they should not prevent the hypocrites or the sinners to enter their Mosque, or join their prayer. Similarly, their greater congregation should be encompassing the Sunnah by it’s greatest meaning, and this should not prevent those who intend to help Islam and fight it’s enemies to enter into their circle, although many of them might stay on innovations or continue on some sinful acts. However, the people of Sunnah extends their all possible efforts to call these people towards the straight path, same like what the Imam of a Masjid does when he teaches his congregation the correct form of prayer. No doubt, this arrangement is far better that when these sinners get separate into a different Imam and different Masjid, and then a perpetual enmity begins between these two Masjids.

SIX

They are powerful in adhering to the truth without exceeding the limits. And they are merciful to the creatures without excessive leniency. They are severe against the deviated and innovating groups, but without oppression and injustice. They enjoin good in a good way, and forbid vice not through unlawful way.

SEVEN

And they give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in things. They weigh things with the scale of just and wisdom. They commit the less severe among two harmful options, and they stay away from the greater among two mischief. They stay patient after following the less severe among two evils, and walk the easiest among the two paths and they choose the easier among two matters. The oppressed among any nation rush under the shade of their justice. The seeker of truth –from any nation- trusts their knowledge. Thus, justice is an absolute value to them. Allah has made it (i.e. justice) an obligatory on everyone in every situation towards everyone else. Therefore, it is an absolute value not limited even by the difference in religion, let alone other minor differences. Allah says:

وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُواْ

and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part) [from verse 2 of surah Maedah]

In fact, he who does not distinguish between the obligation of enmity with infidels and oppressors and the obligation of treating them with just, then he is not a scholar of religion and not a follower of the best among the messengers, to whom Allah revealed:

وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ

and I am commanded to do justice among you [ from verse 15 of surah ash-Shura]

Ibn al-Qayyem said in his poem An-Nooniyyah, in the context of explaining the message of prophets:

“And we ascertain that they [the messengers] came with just of Allah to be established between the various sects of Mankind.”

EIGHT

And among their wisdom in preaching is to proclaim the quality of the influential scholars of knowledge in behavior and dawah, and announce to the globe that whatever praise and rank they achieved is because of their adherence to truth and their struggle to establish truth. The guidance and success they have attained was because of their adherence to Sunnah. This is their method to call their people and other followers to Sunnah and obedience. In this manner they reject fanaticism but work for the victory of religion in the same way as the predecessors did.

In this way, they will combine between a just treatment of followed scholars and calling the followers with wisdom, as did Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah when giving his verdict on the four Imams and others like al-Ashari and Adei ibn Musafer.

NINE

They are the most who look down on themselves with disdain with regard to Allah. They are the furthest to claim self perfectness. They ascribe no purity on themselves through boastful banners and slogans, and they do not give up adherence on the ground of the noble descent, rather they know that it will not be in accordance with their desire, nor the desire of those of the people of the Scripture. They in their Jidah, their preaching, their enjoining good and forbidding evil, and their harshness on the people of the innovation, and in all other matters; they advance or retreat based on the evidence of Shariah, and religious benefits, with the objective of advice for the sake of Allah to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. They never are motivated by revenge, retaliation and intend of publicity. They punish the dearest friend, and forgive the deadliest enemy if that was what Allah, His Messenger and benefit of Islam requires.

They feel happy when a repented repents, and they accept the excuse of a wrong doer, and they supplicate for the guidance of the sinner. This is so, because they have no self interest except only to seek the pleasure of Allah and they are eager that people are guided by Allah, and they never search after sins and innovations committed by their opponents, because, he who feels happy (to discover a sin), actually he is feeling happy that Allah has been disobeyed. And he who feels happy that Allah is disobeyed; he will not get the help of Allah. They curtain the faults of Muslims, and follow not their private affairs. And they do not mention the faults of scholars, except for the sake of revealing the truth, with the objective of clarification, not for hurting; rather they search for their valid excuses whenever possible.

Some of the predecessors used to advice the preachers and lecturers not to elaborate on the faults of Muslims so that the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the Mushrekeen (idolaters)  would not feel joyous, and inclusive to this is the open criticism of the Muslim groups in the middle of innovative sects. Many people think of a “Sunni” person to mean  exclusively those who are purely practicing Sunnah and has made no mistake or ignorance, and on the other end, those who are “innovator” is he who has acquired all roots of Beda’h (innovation) or committed what the Ummah has unanimously agreed to be an act of an  innovative sect.

The truth is that Bedah [innovation] is like any other sins: there are major and minor, and are clear and vague. He is clean who falls in Bidah seldom or rare. Falling in deviation because of wrong interpretation or error or ignorance is a common trend of the majority of mankind. It is possible that a single person or a group who’s motto is the adherence to Sunnah, yet falls in clear Bedah, similarly, many people of bedah happen to follow sunnah in some situations. The important consideration is to look into the fundamental creed and the methodology in general. The rightly guided is only the one whom Allah guides.

Everyone has to accuse himself, and search for his own faults, and hence, renew his faith. Everyone should exercise advice to each other without being harsh, and to accept truth no matter from which source it came.

TEN

And the search for perfection does not prevent them from adjusting with the contemporary affairs. So, they call to the truth in totality with no reduction, and they call to absolute adherence to the path of Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him-, and they accept if  others does the same gradually with varying speed. The biography of the Prophet is their ultimate example in this subject and others.

ELEVEN

Those who’s knowledge falls short to combine between adherence to Sunnah and treating the Ummah –especially the deviants- according to Shariah, then he is not perfect in his adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet –peace be upon him. Example (of this failure to combine the two) is to think that the deviant groups deserves no Shariah rights, or to treat them with justice is a kind of weakness, or to think that any victory to Islam must be attained by a perfect follower of Islam.

Indeed, Allah supports this religion with immoral person or people especially at the time of wars, be it military, ideology or political war. This is why one of the fundamentals of our creed, is to go in Jihad with the righteous and the dissolute. This Jihad includes the field Jihad, the political Jihad, the intellectual Jihad and Jihad in Dawah. As long as this Jihad inflicts terror in the breast of those who if becomes victorious would cause harm more than the harm caused by those who lack the conditions of just and righteousness.

Many Muslim scholars went to Jihad under Hajjaz ibn Yousuf who was an oppressed leader. Also, the people of Sunnah felt happy when some Caliphs and governors punished some  innovative sects, although these Caliphs and governors themselves were not on the pure Sunnah like: al-Mutawakkil and Khalid ibn Abdullah al-Qasri. Therefore, the bottom-line is to look into the benefit that is fetched to the deen and shariah.

Taking the Political Iraqi Context:

There has to be a distinction between those who call towards Quran and Sunnah in general –although indulge in some form of Bidah and deviation in creed, and those who calls for it’s own Bidah and promotes it’s own deviation. Both of these groups are involved in Iraq today, and elsewhere. Some has based their political party on innovation (Bidah), and others fall in general under their sect but they oppose them and rather call to Islam either independently or by being under a general Islamic flag.

And also, there are those who used to be on deviant ideology but later corrected themselves although they till now does not know the details of what Allah has revealed. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between them and those who continue to be on the wrong path.

Islamic history testifies that Allah has bestowed victory to the Ummah against the Crusaders, the Bateniis and the Muguls by those who were not purely on Sunnah, but they used to fight for Islam and not for promoting innovation. So, there is a gulf of difference between them and those states of Kharijites and Shites and else who fought for coercing people to follow their innovation.

Hence, the Islamic groups in Iraq when they clash with Rafedhas (Shites) or socialist parties, in fact they are among the first group, so it is ought to support them against the deviant groups. Also, it is needed to advice them [who are not 100% on Sunnah] to adhere on pure Sunnah. In fact, people of knowledge and vision finds no paradox in combining the two.

However, to waste time just to clash with them [who are not 100% on Sunnah]  instead of clashing with the people of Bidah or the atheists is a clear mistake, even greater than that is to befriend those who seek legislation of those other than Allah, or the secular parties and to make enemy with the Islamic groups. No one does that except a pure hypocrite, or a vision less man with no knowledge or cognition. It is like he who erects a church and closes a Masjid on the basis that the Muslims in that Masjid does not pray according to Sunnah. Or like he who calls for eating from a dead beast instead of the meat slaughtered by a sinner, or like those who prefer to stay illiterate over learning Quran from an expert who has some Bidah, or like those who prefers to make ablution from a filthy water instead of a water which has doubt in it’s purity.

It is imperative on the people of Sunnah to stay far away from the path of Khawarij and their methodology in dealing with people, for they killed the Companion Abdullah ibn Khabbab –may Allah be pleased on him- legitimating his blood and pardoned the Christian because of his sponsorship by Muslims. They used to fight against the Muslims and leave the Statue worshippers alone. The Romans and else gained security by them, whereas the companions of the Prophet –peace be upon him- and their followers, and the scholars could not gain security.

Indeed, the just treatment of the people who face the Qibla of Muslims is the best method to unify this Ummah. It is based on shariah principle that is extracted from divine revelation, and not only based on benefits as many would think. Promoting these principles is part of the method of the People of Sunnah and Jamah, and this Ummah will never unify or gain victory except through adherence to Sunnah and Jamaah.

O Believing Brothers;

The enemy of Islam are plotting great plots against the people of Sunnah in Iraq, and they are looking forward for a devastating victory in future, hence, it is imperative for Muslims to stand in unified rows preparing for a great Jihad, and refuse to incline towards the enemy of Allah, and to make every possible preparation in all fronts. Indeed the best preparation after empowering oneself with Taqwa would be through unifying the voice and standing in one row.  This is by itself is a great victory.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ (4)

[4] Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure. [surah as-Saf 61:4]

On this occasion, I would present these three suggestions:

1.       All resisting Iraqi Sunni Groups should unify as one group against the enemy.

2.       All the people of Sunnah in Iraq should provide their support to the Mujahids in Iraq in all aspects.

3.       It is important that you establish committees from specialized people who would prepare the political ground to establish the new state in Iraq under your control.

And Allah is the source of guidance.

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