BENEFIT 440: Al-Manhaj Al-Afyah (the all expansive, all inclusive Salafi bandwagon)

Question: The (female) questioner asks: What specific books strengthen a student’s manhaj foundation so that he becomes strong in refutation and understanding that? Sheikh Yahya hafidahullāh: Let him sit with the people of Sunnah, and attend these study circles. If he attends these gatherings seeking knowledge, he will, insha Allah, find much benefit. Let him accompany the steadfast among the people of Sunnah. Let him sit, may Allah bless you, with the righteous, the devout, and the ascetic. Let him stay away from the people of Tamyee, the people of tasweer, and those involved in charity organisations—those who follow a broad, expansive manhaj that brings together the Sufi, the Zaydi, and the hizbiyyoon, saying, “We are all brothers”, “There is nothing between us except dialogue and understanding, otherwise we are all upon the same manhaj,” until one finds himself among the Ikhwanis without even realising. The companionship of such people is a disease. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allāh be pleased with him) said, “Sitting with them (i.e. People of desires) is a sickening.” Put it to the test—look at your brothers who have associated with such people. You’ll see that before they realise it, their commitment, their da’wah, and their seriousness begin to fade. We’ve observed this both in the past and the present. As for the students of the late Sheikh (i.e. Shown Muqbil - may Allāh have mercy on him) who remained with him in pursuit of knowledge and da’wah with sincere intentions—as we assume—they remained steadfast, may Allah preserve them. But those who pursued worldly compensation, university degrees, and later mixed with the Ikhwanis or engaged with these charity organisations—where is their blessing? Where is their benefit? Some of them, sadly, were lured away from the entire Salafi da’wah by mere worldly incentives: “We’ll build you a house, buy you a car, and find you a wife.” My brother, is this what it means to graduate? You are graduating for Paradise—for religious leadership—not for a car or a house or a bus. Will you become a bus driver after twenty years of seeking knowledge? Truly, what benefit did he gain? People had high hopes for you—that after years of study, you would graduate as a scholar, or at the very least, a da‘ee (caller to Allah) who is beneficial to others. That is what a successful graduation looks like—not one defined by a wife, a car, a house, establishing a charity organisation and going from one donor to another. These individuals have truly lost themselves and have been deprived of the goodness they once aimed for—the goodness that Muslims hoped they would achieve. They were cut off midway. Allah knows best what the causes or hidden traps were.