BENEFIT 487: A Fair Analysis

Question: What is the condition of Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzaq Al-Badr? Shaykh Abu Bilal Al-Hadrami: Many of them, like Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzaq Al-Badr and a group of scholars from the Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia), are in a state similar to that of An-Nawawi, Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar, Ibn ‘Asākir, and Al-Bayhaqi. They lack insight in this particular matter in which others have been granted clarity, due to the influence and dominance of the society around them, which is overwhelmed by Hizbiyyah. They were raised and educated in universities that were under the control of Hizbis, and so they were greatly influenced by them, even if they did not join them outright. They were influenced by them in their vagueness, their lack of Tamayyuz from the people of desires, and in visiting the people of desires—perhaps even responding to their calls and invitations. For example, the shaykh (i.e. Sheik ’Abdurrazzaq)—may Allah preserve him—was invited to Kuwait and responded to their invitation (i.e. Ihyaa At-Turath). He was criticised for accepting, and he said: "They invited us and we gave them advice." When asked, “Why would you go?”—I heard this myself—he said, “We went to advise them.” By Allah, they will lead you astray. They have no regard—if you are truly Salafi—for what is right or any due covenant. They will distance you from Salafiyyah and from your brothers, and they will distort the image of the people of Sunnah in your eyes. These people are not to be taken lightly. In the first visit, they may say: “Welcome, O Shaykh, and say whatever you like. Criticise us if you wish—we are, by the will of Allah, obedient to you, and you will find us responsive to advice.” They do this to deceive and laugh at you. Many of these individuals have not been exposed to the truth because of the scholars they studied under and received knowledge from, and due to the absence of a strong Salafi da’wah as it appeared with force in Yemen. As a result, they were affected. The dominant figures there—let whoever is angered be angered and whoever is pleased be pleased—are the Hizbis. They have taken control of that country, its universities, and many other places—even some governmental institutions may be run by Hizbis, by the Ikhwan. They present themselves as Salafis, yet they are pure Ikhwanis. They have cloaked themselves in the garment of Salafiyyah and have harmed the people there—truly harmed them. Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzaq is among those who were harmed by the Hizbis and were drawn toward them. He visited them, sat with them. However, by Allah, you do observe goodness in them (i.e. these mashayekh)—you see religiousness and righteousness in them. This is what we judge by, and our Lord will ask us about it. Many among them have piety, religion, and fear of Allah. But the group has indeed deceived them immensely in this matter. The student is influenced by the teacher, and the seeker of knowledge is influenced by the environment in which he lives. Those Hizbis have dominated since the days of Safar and Salman, even from the days of Muhammad Qutb, who was brought to the land of the Haramain to teach at the university—either Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University or another. And with that, he spread evil among them, by Allah—he spread tribulation and Hizbiyyah. Even Prince Nayef—may Allah have mercy on him—used to groan because of them. He said: “We empowered them—we brought them after they were persecuted by ‘Abdunnasir. We welcomed them into the universities and gave them opportunities. And this is how they repay us?!” Those princes were naïve, kind-hearted. They loved religion and loved those who appeared religious. He said: “We empowered them. That man, At-Turabi," he said "was my colleague, my colleague. When he would come to the Kingdom, he would stay at my home, and then they did what they did!” Prince Nayef was harmed by them—may Allah have mercy on him and forgive him. He was kind to them and thought well of them.