BENEFIT 429: Make Students Aware of The Correct Salafi Manhaj and Warn Against Extremism

Question: The (female) questioner says: We have a markaz in our village where most attendees are laypeople. Among them are female students of knowledge, but they are few in number, and most have gotten married. My question is: when we speak about matters related to manhaj and they don't understand, am I required to explain these matters to them, or should I suffice with teaching them the books without addressing such topics? Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajoori hafidahullāh: Teaching scholarly books requires explanation—whatever necessitates clarification should be explained and made clear according to the need. There is no harm in clarifying the way of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his companions, and the righteous predecessors (may Allāh be pleased with them) by studying the books of the Sunnah, such as As-Sunnah by Al-Barbahari, As-Sunnah by Al-Kirmani, the book of As-Sabuni, and others of similar kind, alongside the books of 'Aqidah. It is also necessary to draw comparisons between past and present innovations. If one comes across a hadith about sectarian divisions, the concept and harms of such divisions and Hizbiyyah should be explained. The students should be encouraged to adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah, and warned against trials and tribulations. A student affiliated with Ahlus-Sunnah should not merely be learning grammar and other subjects without awareness of what is happening around them, unaware that these fitan are dangerous and can mislead him from the actual path. How many people lack a firm foundation in ‘Aqidah and awareness of the way of the salaf, and when someone comes along—a Mu’tazilite or Sufi steeped in philosophy—they are swept away? Or a Hizbi with a silver tongue who claims to be “open-minded,” and they are drawn in under that banner. You do not need to “open” or “close” yourself in that way. What is required is to remain upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, and to abandon such expressions altogether. The point is that people possess persuasive speech, and if a student is not well-grounded and fortified, he is led astray. So study ‘Aqidah—may Allah preserve you—and study the books of the salaf. You will find, for example, the creeds of Sufyan, and other creeds like it. These are all important books—such as Al-Kirmani’s creed and the creed of Harb ibn Isma'eel, as well as the Aqeedah of Imam Ash-Shafi’i. These are short treatises with great benefit, especially when accompanied by explanation. For instance, Lāmiyyah of Shaykh Al-Islam and various books on creed like Lum’at Al-I’tiqād. It is vital that the student, male or female, is made to understand. The teacher should provide the student with what they require in this regard; beneficial knowledge and awareness of the way of the Salaf. This is the successful method by which Allah protects whom He wills among His servants. O bother, look at the Rawāfiḍ and the like—you might find someone sitting among them for a month, and before long, he is shouting out misguidance, repeating doubts and lies, and they have planted falsehood into his mind. We are more deserving of raising people upon the Sunnah and steadfastness upon it, so that no one leaves our circles weak and unstable. However, some people have gone to extremes. You find them constantly speaking only of "manhaj, manhaj, manhaj..."—and before you know it, they have deviated onto another path, aligning themselves with the Khawārij and the enemies of the Sunnah and the scholars. They are estranged, claiming that no one is Salafi but them. Shayṭān has inflated them like a balloon—I don’t know when it will burst. No excess and no negligence! “So remain on a right course as you have been commanded” [Hud 11:112]. “So remain steadfast to Him and seek His forgiveness” [Fussilat 41:6]. “And indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it; and do not follow the [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way” [Al-An'am 6:153].