THE STATE OF

THE UMMAH
CAUSES THAT LED TO ITS WEAKNESS
AND THE MEANS OF RECTIFICATION
A comprehensive discussion with proofs
from the Qur’ān and Sunnah

By Abu Khadeejah ‘Abdul-Wāhid Alam

ISBN: 978-1-902727-64-6
© Copyright Salafi Publications 2020

All rights reserved.

First Edition:
February 2020CE / Jumāda Al-Ākhirah 1441AH
Available from: Salafi Bookstore, 472 Coventry Road,
Birmingham, UK, B10 0UG
tel. 0121.773.0003 tel. 0121.773.0033
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Contents
The Muslims are in a state of Turmoil and
Tribulation Everywhere… 2
Causes of Weakness in the Ummah and Jihād
in the Path of Allah… 10
Disobedience to Allah and His Messenger
() is a Cause of Weakness… 14
A Group from this Ummah that Enjoins what is
Good and Forbids what is Evil… 25
The Rectifiers: The Saved Sect, the Jamā’ah,
the Aided Group and the Strangers… 29
The Closer the Hour, the Greater the Tribula-
tions… 39
The Methodology for Rectification is not open
to Opinions, Desires and Reasoning… 45
Starting Point of Rectification: Tawhīd and
‘Aqīdah…. 60
The Prophetic Methodology in Da’wah… 65
Rectification is Built Upon Knowledge of the
Religion… 69
When the Ummah is in a State of Weakness,
Should it Fight the Enemy?… 75
Conclusion… 83
The Muslims are in a State of
Turmoil and Tribulation Every-
where
ُ ُ ْ َّ ُ ُ َ َ ُ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ ُ َ ْ َ َ ُ ُ َ ْ َ َّ َ ْ َ ْ َّ
ِ‫ِٕان المد ِ*ِ نمده ونستعِينه ونستغفِره ونعوذ بِا*ِ مِن شور‬
ْ ْ َ َّ ُ َ َ ُ َّ ْ َ ْ َٔ َ ّ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َٔ
‫ضل ُل َو َم ْن يُضل ِل‬ ِ ‫ م‬I‫ات اع َمالِ َا م ْن َيه ِده ِ ا* ف‬ِ ‫انفسِنا ومِن سيِئ‬
ََّ ٔ ُ َ ْ ٔ َ َ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ ُ َّ َّ َ َ ْ ٔ َ ُ َ ْ ٔ َ َ
‫شيك ُل َواشهد ان‬ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َ
ِ X ‫ ا* وحده‬X‫ ِٕال ِٕا‬X ‫ هادِي ل واشهد ان‬I‫ف‬
ُ ُ ‫م َّم ًدا َعبْ ُدهُ َو َر ُس‬
‫ول‬
َُ

Verily, all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, we

seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge
with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from
our evil actions. Whomsoever Allah guides will
not be led astray and whomsoever He misguides,
no one can guide. I bear witness that none has
the right to be worshipped but Allah, alone
without partner or associate, and that Muhammad
() is His slave and His Messenger. To pro-
ceed:

Every Muslim can see that the Ummah is in a state

of turmoil, factionalism and tribulation. Muslims
are suffering, facing oppression, being forced to
2 abukhadeejah.com
flee and dying in conflicts around the world. We
see tens of thousands of them rising up against
the rulers, protesting and marching in the streets
that lead to violent clashes with the authorities
that result in the destabilisation of Muslim societ-
ies.

In the midst of this, the enemies invade the their

lands, bringing further misery, stripping resources
and causing more ruin and desolation.

This booklet will show that the trials that the

Muslims are facing today are due to what their
own hands have earned and to remedy the de-
cline and weakness of the Ummah requires fol-
lowing the Methodology of the Quran and Sun-
nah. The Revealed texts prove that every other
approach will inevitably fail, and has proven to fail
in the past.

The truth is that most Muslims have never studied

the ‘Aqīdah (Creed), the Sunnah of the Prophet
() and the Path of the Righteous Prede-

3 abukhadeejah.com
cessors1. They wander in the dark aimlessly jump -
ing from one cause to another, and moving from
one calamity to another because they have no
guidance. They throw their religion and lives into
ruin by following the innovators and the deviated
preachers who stand at the gates of Hell, inviting
the heedless, careless and inattentive Muslims.

I will make reference to the injustices, torture and

death the Companions suffered at the hands of
the pagans and how the Prophet ()
would guide them, advise them and command
them, and which in the end resulted in honour,
safety, security, victory and glory for Islam and the
Muslims.

So, the Muslims in the time of Prophethood

suffered great oppression and trials. Some of the
Companions () complained to the Messen-

1 The Pious Predecessors known in Arabic as the

“Salaf”. This refers to the earliest generations of
Muslims: the Companions of the Prophet ()
and those who followed them precisely in the following
few generations.
4 abukhadeejah.com
ger () whilst they were being persecuted
by the polytheists of Makkah as is narrated in the
following hadīth:2
َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ ّ َ َٔ ْ َّ َ ْ َ
‫ َر ُسو ِل ا*ِ صل ا* عليه‬d‫ت قال شك ْونا ِٕا‬ ِ ‫اب ب ِن الار‬ ِ ‫عن خب‬
َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ َٔ ُ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ّ َ ًَ َُ ْ
Xٔ ‫ص لَا ا‬ ِ ‫ تستن‬X‫وسلم َوه َو مت َو ّس ٌِد بُ ْردة ُل ِف ظ ِِل الكعبةِ قلنا ل ا‬
َ َ َ ْ ُ ُ َ َ َ ُ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َّ ُ ْ َ
‫ِيم ْن قبْلك ْم يف ُر ُل ِف الا ٔ ْر ِض‬ ‫تدعو ا* لا قال كن الرجل ف‬
ْ َ َ ْ َ
ُّ ُ َ ْ َ َ ُ َُ َ ْ ْ ُ َ َُ
َ َُ ْ َُ
‫ي َو َما‬ َٔ
ِ ‫ را ِسهِ فيشق بِاثنت‬ƒ ‫فيجعل فِيهِ فيجاء بِال ِمنشارِ فيوضع‬
َ َ ُ َ ْ ‫اط‬ َ َْ َ َ َ َ
‫الدِي ِد َما دون لْ ِمهِ م ِْن‬ ِ ‫يَ ُص ُّدهُ ذل ِك ع ْن دِينِهِ َو ُي ْمش ُط بِا ٔمش‬
َْ َ َ َ َّ َ َ َ َ ‫َع ْظم ا َ ٔ ْو َع‬
‫ب َو َما يَ ُص ُّدهُ ذل ِك ع ْن دِينِهِ َوا*ِ لُت َِّم َّن هذا الا ٔم َر‬ ٍ ‫ص‬ ٍ
َٔ َ َّ َّ ُ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ ُ
َ َ َّ َ َ َّ َ
ِ‫ ا* او‬X‫ ياف ِٕا‬X ‫ حضموت‬d‫حت يسِي الراكِب مِن صنعاء ِٕا‬
َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ّ
‫جلون‬ ِ ‫ غن ِمهِ ولكِنكم تستع‬ƒ ‫الِئب‬
Khabbāb bin Al-Aratt () said: We com-
plained to Allah’s Messenger () of the
persecution while he was sitting in the shade of
the Ka’bah, reclining on his cloak. We said to him,

2 A hadīth (plural: ahādīth) is a reported saying or ac-

tion from the Prophet (). Throughout this book,
I have relied only on authentic ahādīth.
5 abukhadeejah.com
“Will you not seek Allah’s aid for us? Will you not
invoke Allah for us?” He replied, “Among the na-
tions before you, a man would be brought and
put in a ditch that was dug for him. A saw would
be put over his head and he would be cut into
two pieces, yet that would not cause him give up
his religion. A man’s body would be scraped with
iron combs that would remove the flesh and
veins from his bones yet that would still not
cause him to abandon his religion. By Allah, this
religion will prevail until a man will travel from
San’ā to Hadramaut and he will not fear except
Allah, or that a wolf should snatch away his
sheep. But you are a hasty people.”3

This was a period wherein Allah tested the be-

lievers with severe hardship, and so they sought
guidance from Allah’s Messenger ().
They listened and obeyed, and then they bore
the hardship with patience, and they persevered
upon the worship of Allah, knowing that He
would give them victory just as the Prophet

3 Al-Bukhari (no. 3612).

6 abukhadeejah.com
() had promised. The Sahābah wor-
shipped Allah alone, they shunned idolatry and
followed their Messenger ( ). Then a time
came when Allah blessed them with safety and
countless blessings, to which the Sīrah 4 and his -
tory bears witness. Treasures from Allah’s bounty
were bestowed upon them, they were given vic-
tory after victory, oppression was replaced with
justice and people lived in safety and security as
Allah () had willed.

It was due to the establishment of Tawhīd and

Sunnah, piety, worship and obedience to Allah
that they were given the glad tiding of an eternal
life of happiness in Paradise. Allah () said
about them:
َ َ
ُ ‫ا* َعنْ ُه ْم َو َر ُضوا َعنْ ُه َوا ٔ َع َّد ل َ ُه ْم َج َّنات َتْري َتْ َت َها الْا ٔنْ َه‬
‫ار‬ ُ َّ ‫ض‬َ ِ ‫َّر‬
ِ ٍ
َ
ُ ‫ِيها ا ٔبَ ًدا ۚ َذٰل َِك الْ َف ْو ُز الْ َعظ‬
‫ِيم‬ َ ‫ِين ف‬
َ ‫ال‬
ِ ‫خ‬
َ

“Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-

pleased with Him. He has prepared for them

4 Biography of the Messenger of Allah ().

7 abukhadeejah.com
Gardens in Paradise under which rivers flow, to
dwell therein forever. That is the supreme suc-
cess.”5

After the death of the Messenger (), the

Sahābah (Companions) remained steadfast upon
the truth, united upon the same ‘Aqīdah (belief)
and the principles of the Sunnah, free from in-
novations and misguidance. Many thousands of
scholars and righteous Muslims in next two gen-
erations followed their example. They did not fear
the blame of the blamers and they stood firm
against those who tried to pollute and corrupt the
Religion from among Ahlul-Bid’ah―who innovate
into the Religion that which is not from it. 6

5 Surah At-Tawbah: 100.

6 The scholar, Al-Baghawī (died 535AH) stated: “And
there has already transpired the speech of the Sahā-
bah, the Tābi’ūn, then those who followed them, from
the scholars of the Sunnah, that they united and
agreed upon having enmity towards Ahlul-Bid‛ah and
boycotting them.” Sharhus-Sunnah (1/227) The Tābi’ūn
are the generation of righteous Muslim after the Com-
panions.
8 abukhadeejah.com
By the end of the time of the Sahābah, there
began to appear sects that deviated from the
path of the Sahābah, they innovated into the Re-
ligion and they disobeyed Allah and His Messen-
ger ().

9 abukhadeejah.com
Causes of Weakness in the
Ummah and Jihād in the Path of
Allah
The more Muslims started to oppose the teach-
ings of the Quran and Sunnah, the more they di-
vided and their power began to ebb away, which
in turn emboldened their enemies. So the
Ummah faced humiliation at their hands which
only increased with the increase in misguidance,
innovated beliefs, disobedience and sins of the
Muslims.

This is proven by the hadīth of Ibn ‘Umar ()

who narrated that the Prophet () said:
ْ َ
‫الز ْر ِع َوت َرك ُت ُم‬
َّ ‫يت ْم ب‬ ِ‫ِ ض‬ َ َ‫ِينةِ َوا َ ٔ َخ ْذ ُت ْم ا َ ٔذْن‬
ُ ‫اب ْالَ َقر َو َر‬ َ ‫ا َذا َت َب َاي ْع ُت ْم بالْع‬
ِ ِ ِٕ
ُ َ َ ْ َ
ْ َّ َ ُ ُ ‫ َي‬X X‫ك ْم ذ‬ًّ ُ ُ ْ َ ُ َ َّ َّ َ ْ
‫ دِين ِك ْم‬d‫ج ُعوا ِٕا‬ ِ ‫نعه حت تر‬ ِ ‫ال َهاد َسل َط ا* علي‬ ِ
“When you partake in usury, hold on to the tails
of cattle, become satisfied with cultivation and
abandon Jihād, Allah will send upon you humili-

10 abukhadeejah.com
ation and He will not remove it until you return
back to your religion.”7

In this hadīth, we can see what brings about Al-

lah’s humiliation upon the Muslims. We also see
the cure, which is to return back to the Religion as
it was practised in the time of the Prophet
(). As for Jihād, and its types, then Imām
Abdur-Rahmān As-Sa’di () stated in some
amazing speech:

“Jihad is of two types: Firstly, Jihad by which is

intended the rectification of the Muslims, recti-
fication of their ‘Aqīdah (beliefs), their manners
and conduct, and all of their religious and
worldly affairs. And likewise their cultivation in
terms of knowledge and action. This type of Ji-
hād is the foundation of Jihad and its backbone.

And upon this is built the second type of Jihad,

and the intent of this Jihad is to repel those who
transgress against Islam and the Muslims, from

7 Abu Dāwūd (no. 3462). Declared sahīh by Al-Albāni,

see As-Sahīhah (no. 11).
11 abukhadeejah.com
among the unbelievers, the hypocrites, the
heretics, and the rest of the enemies of Islam and
their oppositions.” 8

Al-Imām Ibnul-Qayyim () stated: “Jihād with

evidences and speech takes precedence over
Jihād with the sword, arrows and spearheads.”9
Striving against corruption in belief takes preced-
ence over striving against the non-believers.

Shaikh Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah () stated:

“From the well-known narrations that have
reached us is that Shaikh Abu ‘Amr bin As-Salāh
(died 643H) commanded that the school of learn-
ing that was in the hands of Abul-Hasan Al-Āmidi
be seized. Ibn Salāh said: ‘Seizing it from him is
more virtuous than seizing control of Acre from
the Crusaders.’“ 10

8 Wujoob at-Ta’āwun baynal-Muslimeen, pp. 7-8.

9 Sharh An-Nooniyyah of Al-Harrās (1/12), and see Al-
Jawāb As-Sahīh of Ibn Taymiyyah (1/237).
10 See Majmū’ Al-Fatāwā (28/232). Abul-Hasan Al-Āmidi

was a Sufi, a philosopher and misguided doubter.

12 abukhadeejah.com
So the Jihād with proofs in the defence of Islam
and Sunnah from the corruption of the sects of
Ahlul-Bid’ah takes precedence over Jihad with
the sword. That is because the innovators harm
the Religion from within like a disease that afflicts
the body such that its defences are weakened.

Blessings are sent from Allah to those who de-

serve them and are removed due to disobedi-
ence and sins. And Allah will not return His bless-
ings unless people return to the Sunnah. Allah
() stated:
َ ُ َّ َ َ ٔ َ َ َ ْ ُ ٔ َ َ ُ ّ َ ُ ٰ َّ َ ْ َ َ ُ ّ َ ُ َ َ َّ َّ
‫ا* بِق ْو ٍا‬ ِ ‫ يغ ِي ما بِقو ٍا حت يغ ِيوا ما بِانف‬X *‫ِٕان ا‬
‫س ِهم ۗ و ِٕاذا اراد‬
َ ُ ّ ُ َ َ َ ُ َ َّ َ َ َ َ ً ُ
ٍ ‫ مرد ل ۚ وما لهم مِن دونِهِ مِن و‬I‫سوءا ف‬
‫ال‬

“Verily Allah will not change the condition of a

people until they change what is in themselves.
And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is
no repelling it. And there is not for them besides
Him any protector.” 11

11 Surah Ar-Ra’d: 11.

13 abukhadeejah.com
Disobedience to Allah and His
Messenger () a Cause of
Weakness
The story of the battle of Uhud contains a great
lesson for the Muslims who seek the aid of Allah
and wonder why they are in a state of weakness
and humiliation today.

The Messenger () prepared and ar-

ranged his Companions for the fight ahead. There
were fifty horsemen and fifty archers. He com-
manded the archers that they should not move
from their positions on the small outcrop of
mountain, and that they should guard the backs
of the Muslims against any attack from their direc-
tion.

Al-Barā’ bin ‘Āzib () said: On the day of the

battle of Uhud, Allah’s Messenger () ap-
pointed Abdullāh bin Jubair () as the com-
mander of the archers who were fifty in number.
The Messenger () said, “Even if you see
that the birds are snatching at us, do not move

14 abukhadeejah.com
from this place of yours until I send for you and if
you see that we have defeated the enemy and
trodden them down, still do not move until I
send for you.”

So Allah defeated them and I swear by Allāh, I

saw women fleeing into the mountain. The arch-
ers with Abdullāh bin Jubair said, “The spoils of
war await us and your companions are victorious
so for what are you waiting?”

Abdullāh bin Jubair said, “Have you forgotten

what the Messenger of Allah () told
you?” They said, “By Allah, we shall join the
people and take the spoils of war. So they came
down to join the people. Their faces turned away
from their positions and they were defeated.”12

Here, we have some of the Companions of Allah’s

Messenger () who made a decision to
leave their posts thinking that the pagans were
routed and would not return. However, in leaving
their posts, they disobeyed the Messenger

12 Abu Dawud (no. 2662).

15 abukhadeejah.com
(). Then the horseman of the pagans with
Khālid bin Walīd at their head made a charge and
found the gap unprotected by archers―they
passed through and were able to attack the be-
lievers. So whatever Allāh willed to happen oc-
curred, and seventy of the believers were mar-
tyred.

After the battle, the believers sought an explana-

tion for their defeat. At the battle of Badr, they
were victorious with fewer numbers and
weapons. So Allah () informed them of the
reason for the defeat at Uhud:
ُ ْ ُ َ َ ٰ َّ ٔ َ ْ ُ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ّ ُ ْ َ ٔ َ ْ َ ٌ َ ُّ ُ ْ َ َ ٔ َ َّ َ َ ٔ َ
‫ن هٰذا ۖ قل ه َو م ِْن‬ ‫اولما اصابتكم م ِصيبة قد اصبتم مِثليها قلتم ا‬
ٌ ‫ش ٍء قَد‬ْ َ ‫ك‬ ّ ُ ٰ َ َ َ َّ َّ ْ ُ ُ َ
‫ِير‬ ِ ƒ *‫عِن ِد ا ٔنفسِكم ۗ ِٕان ا‬

“When a single disaster struck you [on the day of

Uhud], though you had struck the enemy [at the
battle of Badr] with a victory twice as great, you
said, “From where did this disaster come?” Say,

16 abukhadeejah.com
“It is from your own selves.” Indeed, Allah is over
all things powerful.” 13

Ibn Sa’d ()14 stated that Abdullāh bin Jubair

admonished the archers―however they dis-
obeyed and went off and only ten remained with
him. So Khālid bin Walīd (who was a polytheist at
that time) saw that the hill defence had been
abandoned so he came to the place of the arch-
ers and attacked those who remained. The re-
maining archers defended with arrows until they
were killed. Abdullāh bin Jubair () fired his
arrows until they were finished. Then he fought
with his spear until it broke, then he broke the
scabbard of his sword and fought them until he
was martyred ().

Ibn Al-Qayyim () mentioned that one of the

points of wisdom gained from the battle of Uhud
is: “Recognition of the evil consequences of sins,
weakness of resolve and disputation―and that

13 Surah Āli ‘Imrān: 165.

14 At-Tabaqāt (3/476).
17 abukhadeejah.com
which befell them was a result of that, just as Allah
() stated:
ْ َ َ َّ َ َ ُّ ُ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ُ َّ ُ ُ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ
ٰ ‫ون ُهم ب ِ ِٕاذْنِهِ ۖ ح‬
‫ت ِٕاذا فشِ ل ُت ْم‬ ‫ولقد صدقكم ا* وعده ِٕاذ تس‬
ُ َ ُ ُ َ ْ َ َْْ ْ َ َََ
‫ازع ُت ْم ِف الا ٔم ِر َوع َصيْ ُتم ّمِن َبع ِد َما ا ٔ َراكم َّما ت ُِّبون ۚ مِنكم‬ ‫وتن‬
ْ َ ُ َ َ َ َّ ُ َ َ ْ ُ
ُ ‫ِنكم َّمن يُر‬ ْ ُّ ُ ُ َّ
‫صفك ْم عن ُه ْم‬ ‫يد الخِرة ۚ ثم‬ ِ ‫الن َيا َوم‬ ‫من ي ِريد‬
ْ َ
َ ‫ ال ُم ْؤ ِمن‬ƒَ ‫ضل‬ ْ َ ُ ُ َّ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ ْ َ َ
‫ِي‬ ٍ ‫ِلبتل ِيكم ۖ ولقد عفا عنكم ۗ وا* ذو ف‬
‘And Allah did indeed fulfil His promise to you
when you were vanquishing your enemy by His
permission until the moment you lost your cour-
age and started to dispute the command [of the
Prophet], and you disobeyed after Allah showed
you the spoils of war which you love. Among you
are some that desire this world and some that
desire the Hereafter.

Then He made you flee from your enemy, that He

might test you.

But surely, He forgave you, and Allah is Most

Gracious to the believers.’ 15

15 Āli ‘Imrān: 152.

18 abukhadeejah.com
So when they tasted the punishment (and defeat)
due to their disobedience of the Messenger
(), disputation and loss of courage―after
that they became the most cautious, wakeful and
attentive to the reasons that lead to being for-
saken [by Allah].” 16 So Allah pardoned them and
they learned a mighty lesson. Allah revealed sixty
verses in Surah Āli ‘Imrān regarding the battle that
serve as a lesson, admonition and reminder to
the true believers.

Seventy among the Companions were martyred

at the battle of Uhud. At the battle of Badr, the
Prophet () and his Companions ()
had inflicted a strike that was twice as great: one
hundred and forty casualties. Seventy pagans
were taken prisoners and seventy were killed.
That is why Allah stated in the verse above, “Al-
though you had struck the enemy [at the battle
of Badr] with a victory twice as great.” For this
reason, Abu Sufyan (a leader of the pagans at the

16Zād Al-Ma’ād (p. 401), Mu’assasah Ar-Risālah edition,

Beirut, 2009 CE/1430 AH.
19 abukhadeejah.com
time) said at the end of the battle of Uhud, “This is
a day [of revenge] for the defeat on the day of
Badr―and the issue of war is still undecided.” 17

So this proves that victory is snatched away from

the Muslims due to disobedience to Allah and His
Messenger ().

So, what does the Muslim Ummah expect in our

times?―Many Muslims oppress others without a
care, they deceive one another and engage in
major sins such as fornication and lewd sexual
conduct, lying, theft, drinking alcohol, gambling,
backbiting―then there are Muslims who deal in
interest (ribā), view pornography, women who
discard the hijāb, listen to music, are addicted to
movies, TV soaps―and they break the ties of kin-
ship, cheat on their spouses and the list goes on!

Do they really believe that Allah will give them

victory and lift their state of humiliation while they
are in this state? Even worse than these sins is the
fact that many millions of Muslims in our times do

17 See Al-Bukhari (no. 3986).

20 abukhadeejah.com
not even know the correct Islamic Belief which is
the very foundation of the Religion, they do not
study it, and most of those who “practice religion”
are entrenched in their sectarian beliefs in oppos-
ition to the Quran, Sunnah and the Methodology
of the Companions!

There are millions in this Ummah who call upon

the dead in their graves and are engaged in all
types of innovated practices― from celebrating
the birthday of the Prophet () to building
shrines over graves, calling upon the dead and
visiting soothsayers and astrologers! In this state,
do they truly expect the aid of Allah?

Their beliefs and actions bring about humiliation

from Allah and victory to the unbelievers over the
Muslims.

Abu Hurairah () narrated that the Messenger

of Allah () asked his Companions, “Do
you know who the bankrupt person is?” They
said, “O Messenger of Allah! The bankrupt
among us is the one who has no Dirhams
(money) nor property.”

21 abukhadeejah.com
The Messenger of Allah () said: “The
bankrupt person in my nation is the one who
comes on the Day of Judgement having prayed,
fasted and paid Zakat, but he comes having ab-
used this one, falsely accused that one, wrong-
fully consumed the wealth of this one, spilled the
blood of that one and beat this one.

So, he is seated, and his good deeds are taken

from his rewards in exchange. If his rewards are
exhausted before the sins that he committed are
paid back, then some of their sins will be taken
and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the
Fire.”18

So, how much more severe is the situation of

those who do not even pray, or pay Zakāt or fast
Ramadān― and those who engage in polytheist-
ic, superstitious or innovated practices?

This is the state of the Muslim Ummah today, so

how can they expect Allah’s help?

18 Muslim (no. 2581), Tirmidhi (no. 2418).

22 abukhadeejah.com
More street protests, demonstrations, suicide
bombings, terrorist attacks, plotting to overthrow
governments, setting up radical parties, etc, will
not bring about rectification of the Ummah―
these are not from the means at all.

Muslims must abandon their sins and deviation

from the truth, seek Allah’s forgiveness when they
slip, rectify their behaviour, turn to the Quran and
Sunnah for guidance, believe and behave as the
early Salaf did and worship Allah () sin-
cerely― then Allah () will bestow His
bounties upon them. The Prophet Nūh ()
made this point clear to his people:
ُ َّ َ ُ ْ َ ْ ُ ْ ُ َ
ً ‫ك ْم ِٕانَّ ُه َك َن َغ َّف‬
‫ارا‬ ‫فقلت استغفِروا رب‬
ْ ُ َ َ َ َ َّ
‫اء عليْكم ّمِد َر ًارا‬ ‫يُ ْرس ِِل السم‬
ُ َّ ْ
‫ات َو َيج َعل لك ْم‬ َّ َ ْ ُ َّ َ ْ َ َ َ َ َ ‫كم با َ ٔ ْم َو‬
ُ ْ َُْ
ٍ ‫ال وبن ِي ويجعل لكم جن‬ ٍ ِ ‫ويمدِد‬
َ
ً ‫ا ٔنْ َه‬
‫ارا‬

“I said to them: Seek forgiveness from your Lord.

Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain

23 abukhadeejah.com
to you in abundance and give you increase in
wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens
and bestow on you rivers.” 19

19 Surah Nūh: 10-12.

24 abukhadeejah.com
A Group from this Ummah that
Enjoins what is Good and Forbids
what is Evil
Islam teaches that people should not be left to do
as they please. Muslims must enjoin the truth and
forbid falsehood. The Prophet () said:
َ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُ ُ َّ ُ َ َ َ ّ َ ْ َ
‫ كن ُل م ِْن ا ٔ َّمتِهِ َح َوارِ ُّيون‬X‫ا* ِف ا ٔ َّم ٍة قبْ ِل ِٕا‬ ‫ب بعثه‬ ٍ ِ ‫ما مِن ن‬
ْ‫ون با َ ٔ ْمره ِ ُث َّم ا َّن َها َتْلُ ُف مِن‬
َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َّ ُ َ ُ ُ ٔ ْ َ ٌ َ ْ ٔ َ َ
ِٕ ِ ِ ‫واصحاب ياخذون بِسنتِهِ ويقتد‬
ْ‫ون َف َمن‬َ ُ َ ْٔ ُ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ َ ٌ ُ ُ ْ ْ َ
‫ يومر‬X ‫ يفعلون ويفعلون ما‬X ‫بع ِدهِم خلوف يقولون ما‬
ْ‫اه َد ُه ْم بل َِسانِهِ َف ُه َو ُم ْؤم ٌِن َو َمن‬ َ َ ْ َ َ ٌ ْٔ ُ َ ُ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ
‫جاهدهم بِي ِده ِ فهو مومِن ومن ج‬
ِ
ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ََْ ٌ ْ ُ ََُ ْ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ
‫ان حبة‬ ِ ‫جاهدهم بِقلبِهِ فهو مؤمِن وليس وراء ذل ِك مِن الإِيم‬
َ َ
‫خ ْرد ٍل‬

“Never was a Prophet sent by Allah before me to

a nation except that he had among his Ummah
helpers and companions who followed his Sun-
nah and obeyed his commands.

25 abukhadeejah.com
Then there came after them people who would
say what they did not practise, 20 and they prac -
tised what which they were not commanded.21
So whoever strives against them with his hand is
a believer, and whoever strives against them
with his speech is a believer and whoever strives
against them with his heart is a believer. And
beyond that there is not even a mustard seed of
īmān.” 22

Forbidding evil with the hand is for those in au-

thority among the rulers. Forbidding evil with
one’s speech is for those who have knowledge of
the Quran and Sunnah such as the scholars, those
who have diligently studied under them and
those who have knowledge of the truth. Forbid-
ding evil with the heart is for every Muslim to
whom the truth has become clear. Beyond that is

20 They know the truth and claim attachment to it but

do not act on it.
21 They innovate into the Religion that which is not from

it.
22 Muslim (no. 50).

26 abukhadeejah.com
lowest level of īmān (faith). A Muslim who truly
wants good for himself must stay away from sinful
gatherings and companionship where Allah is
disobeyed and His verses and signs are belittled
and desires are followed. Allah () stated:
َ ْ ْ ْ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ ٌ َّ ٔ ُ ْ ُ ّ ُ َ ْ َ
ِ ‫ي َو َيا ٔ ُم ُرون بِال َمع ُر‬
‫وف َو َين َه ْون‬ ِ ‫ ال‬d‫ولكن مِنكم امة يدعون ِٕا‬
َ ْ ْ ُ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ
‫ع ِن ال ُمنك ِر ۚ َوا ٔولٰئِك ه ُم ال ُمفل ُِحون‬

“Let there arise from amongst you a group who

invite to all that is good, that you enjoin what is
right and forbid what is wrong. And those will be
the successful.” 23

A few verses later, Allah informed the Compan-

ions and those who follow them of the good
news:
َ َ َْ ْ ْ َ َْ ْ ٔ ُ َّ ٔ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ُ ُ
ِ ‫ت ل َِّلن‬
ِ ‫اس تا ٔ ُم ُرون بِال َمع ُر‬
‫وف َوتن َه ْون ع ِن‬ ْ ‫خر َج‬
ِ ‫كنتم خي ام ٍة ا‬
َّ َ ُ َ ْ
ِ*‫ال ُمنكرِ َوت ْؤم ُِنون بِا‬

23 Surah Āli ‘Imrān: 104.

27 abukhadeejah.com
“You are the best nation brought forth for man-
kind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is
wrong and you believe in Allah.” 24 These are the
people of Sunnah, the people of Hadīth, the Rec-
tifiers in every age.

24 Surah Āli ‘Imrān: 110.

28 abukhadeejah.com
The Rectifiers: The Saved Sect,
the Jamā’ah, the Aided Group
and the Strangers
The Saved Sect are the Sahābah― they are the
Jamā’ah and likewise those who follow them pre-
cisely in belief and worship in every generation.
The Prophet () said:
ْ ْ ْ ْ َ َ ْ ََ ََ ُ َ َ َّ َ ٔ ْ َ
‫سائِيل َحذ َو الَّع ِل بِالَّع ِل َح َّت ِٕان‬ ‫ بَ ِن ِٕا‬ƒ ‫ ا ٔ َّم ِت َما ا ٔت‬ƒ ‫ِي‬ ‫لَات‬
َّ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ ً َ َ ُ ََ ْ َ َ
‫ن َِية لكن ِف ا ٔ َّم ِت َم ْن يَص َن ُع ذل ِك َو ِٕان بَ ِن‬I‫كن مِن ُه ْم َم ْن ا ٔت ا ٔ َّم ُه ع‬
َ َ ََ ُ ُ َ ْ َ َ ً َّ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ
‫ ٍث‬I‫ ث‬ƒ ‫تق ا ٔ َّم ِت‬ ِ ‫ي وسبعِي مِلة وتف‬
َّ
ِ ‫ ث ِنت‬ƒ ‫ِٕاسائِيل تفرقت‬
َ
َ َ ِ ‫ م َِّل ًة َواح َِدةً قَالُوا َو َم ْن‬X َّ ُّ ُ ً َّ َ ْ َ َ
‫ه يَا َر ُسول‬ ‫ِي مِلة ك ُه ْم ِف الَّارِ ِٕا‬ ‫وسبع‬
َ ‫ص‬ َ َ
ْ ٔ َ ْ َ َٔ َ َ َ َ َّ
‫ح ِاب‬ ‫ا*ِ قال ما انا عليهِ وا‬

“What befell the Children of Israel will befall my

Ummah, footstep by footstep, such that if one of
them had intercourse with his mother in the
open, then there would be someone from my
Ummah who would do the same! Indeed the
Children of Israel split into seventy-two sects,
and my Ummah will split into seventy-three

29 abukhadeejah.com
sects. All of them are in the Fire except one sect.”
They asked: “And which sect is it, O Messenger
of Allah?” He said: “What I am upon and my
Companions.”25

In a narration, the Prophet () said:

َّ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ َّ ْ َ َّ
ِ‫ان وسبعون ِف الار‬ِ ‫ ٍث وسبعِي ث ِنت‬I‫ ث‬ƒ ‫تق‬ ِ ‫ِٕان ه ِذه ِ ال ِملة ستف‬
ُ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َّ َ ْ
‫َو َواح َِدةٌ ِف النةِ و ِه الماعة‬

“Verily this Religion with divide into seventy-

three. Seventy-two of them will be in the Fire and
one in Paradise and that is the Jamā’ah.”

And in an additional wording, he () said:

َ َ ْ ْ ٌ ‫خ ُر ُج م ِْن ا ُ ٔ َّمت ا َ ٔقْ َو‬
َ ‫ج‬
‫ارى‬ َ ‫اء َك َما َي َت‬
ُ ‫ك الا ٔ ْه َو‬ َ َ‫ام َت‬
‫ارى ب ِ ِهم ت ِل‬
ْ َ َ ُ َّ َ
‫و ِٕانه سي‬
ِ
َُ َ َ َّ ٌ ْ َ َ َ ٌ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ
‫ دخله‬X‫ مف ِصل ِٕا‬X‫ يبق مِنه عِرق و‬X ِ‫حبِه‬ ِ ‫ب ل َِصا‬ ُ ْ ‫الْ َك‬

“There will appear from my Ummah people who

will be overcome by these desires26 just like the
rabies of a dog overcomes it victim. Not a vein or

25 At-Tirmidhi (no. 2642), declared hasan by Al-Albāni.

26 i.e. misguidance and innovation.
30 abukhadeejah.com
a joint will remain except that it will penetrate
it.” 27

These narrations prove that sectarianism will oc-

cur due to the people following their desires and
innovating practices that are foreign to Islam.
Those who are saved are the ones who adhere to
the Jamā’ah (the Main Body), and they are the
Companions of the Prophet () and then
those who follow their methodology and path
precisely. The Jamā’ah are the people upon the
truth in this Ummah. They can be few or many.
The Jamā’ah is not about numbers, it is about ad-
herence to the truth as Abdullāh Ibn Mas’ūd
() stated: “The majority of the people aban-
don the Jamā’ah.” Then he said:

‫الماعة ما وافق الق ولو كنت وحدك‬

27 Abu Dāwūd (no. 4597), declared hasan by Al-Albāni.

31 abukhadeejah.com
“The Jamā’ah is whatever agrees with the truth
even if you on your own.” 28

Nu’aym ibn Hammād (d. 239AH ) said re-

garding this narration, “Meaning, when the
people become corrupt, then you are obligated
to follow the Jamā’ah as it was before they be-
came corrupt, even if you are alone because in
that situation, you are the Jamā’ah.” 29

It is not befitting for intelligent Muslims to follow

the masses or to answer the call of political agit-
ators that scream out to them. Rather the pious,
sure-footed Muslim adheres to the Sunnah and
remains patient and steadfast upon that.

So, the Jamā’ah are the people of truth. They are

not harmed or intimidated by the large numbers

28 Al-Lālikā’ī in Sharh Usūlil-I’tiqād (1/121, no. 160), de-

clared sahīh by Al-Albāni in his notes on Mishkāt Al-
Masābīh (1/61).
29 Ibn ‘Asākir in Tārīkh Dimashq (46/408-409).

32 abukhadeejah.com
that oppose them.30 They are the Aided Group
(At-Tā’ifah Al-Mansūrah), apparent and manifest in
every generation just as the Prophet ()
stated:
َ ََ َ ُ ُّ ُ َ َ َّ ْ ٔ َ ً َ َ َّ ٔ ُ ْ ٌ َ َ ُ َ َ َ
‫ضه ْم َم ْن خذل ُه ْم ا ٔ ْو‬ ‫ ي‬X ِ*‫ تزال طائِفة مِن ام ِت قائِمة بِام ِر ا‬X
ََ َ َ ُ َّ َ ٔ ْ َ َّ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ
‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ ال‬ƒ ‫ت ا ٔ ْم ُر ا*ِ َوه ْم ظاه ُِرون‬
َ ِ ‫خالفهم حت يا‬

“There shall not cease to be a group from my

Ummah obedient to the orders of Allah. They are
not harmed by those who betray them or those
who oppose them. They will remain as such until
the Decree of Allah comes [close to the Hour],
and they will be manifest over the people.” 31

In a wording he said:

30 Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyād () stated:

‫عليك بطريق الهدى وإن قل السالكون واجتنب طريق الردى وإن كث الهالكون‬
“Stick to the path of guidance even if only a few tra-
verse it. And avoid the path of ruin even if there are
many who perish upon it.” Cited by Ash-Shātibi in Al-
I’tisām (1/183), An-Nawawi in Al-Majmū (8/275) and
others.
31 Muslim (no. 1037).

33 abukhadeejah.com
 َُُْ ُ ُّ ُ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َّ ٔ ُ ْ ٌ َ َ ُ َ َ َ
‫ضه ْم َم ْن يذل ُه ْم‬ ‫ ي‬X ‫ال ّ ِق ظاهِرِين‬ ƒ ‫ تزال طائِفة مِن ام ِت‬X
َّ ْ َ َ ٔ ْ َ َّ َ
ِ*‫ت ا ٔم ُر ا‬ِ ‫حت يا‬
“There will not cease to remain a group from my
Ummah manifest upon the truth. They cannot be
harmed by those who betray them. They will be
like that until the Decree of Allah comes.”

At-Tirmidhi said that he heard ‘Ali Al-Madīni

() recite this hadīth and say: “They are the
People of Hadīth (Ahlul-Hadīth).”32

And they are the Ghurabā (the Strangers) who

call to the rectification of the Ummah among the
large number of misguided and corrupted
people. The Messenger () stated:
ً ً
‫م غريبا وسيعود غريبا كما بدأ فطوب للغرباء‬I‫بدأ الس‬

“Islam began as something as something

strange and it will return to being strange just as

32 At-Tirmidhi (no. 2229) sahīh.

34 abukhadeejah.com
it began so glad tiding [of Paradise] is for the
Strangers.”

The scholars of hadīth have collected various

wordings of this hadīth. In one narration, the
Prophet () was asked:

‫يا رسول ا* من الغرباء قال الين يصلحون إذا فسد الاس‬

“O Allah’s Messenger! Who are the Strangers?”

He responded: “Those who rectify when the
people are corrupted.” 33 In another narration he
said:

‫يصلحون ما أفسد الاس من سنت‬

“They rectify what the people have corrupted of

my Sunnah.” In another narration, he ()
said:

‫هم الناع من القبائل‬

33 Muslim (no. 145-6), At-Tirmidhi (no. 2629).

35 abukhadeejah.com
“They are individuals that come from each of the
tribes.” In another narration, he said:

‫هم أناس صالون قليل ف أناس سوء كثي‬

“They are a small number of righteous people

among a large number of evildoers.”34 The point
being that they are the rectifiers, they follow the
Sunnah, and they are few among many who op-
pose the truth.

The great scholar, Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azīz Ibn Bāz

() stated: “Islam began in Makkah as some-
thing small. Not many believed in it and most of
the people displayed enmity towards it and they
stubbornly rejected the Prophet () and
caused him harm. They also harmed his Compan-
ions (), those who had embraced Islam.
Then he migrated to Madinah and so did his
Companions along with him. Even there they

34Ahmad (no. 6650), Al-Ājurri in Sifatul-Ghurabā minal-

Mu’minīn (p. 6, 25), At-Tabarāni in Al-Awsat (no. 8986).
Al-Albāni declared the chain of narration to be good in
As-Sahīhah (no. 1619).
36 abukhadeejah.com
were strangers until their numbers swelled in
Madinah and in the rest of the lands. Then the
people entered Islam in huge numbers after Allah
had opened Makkah to His Prophet ()
and gave him victory. So in the beginning, Islam
was something strange among the people and
most of them disbelieved in Allah, committed
shirk (polytheism), and they worshipped the idols,
the prophets, righteous men, trees, rocks and so
on. Then Allah guided whom He guided at the
hands of His Messenger Muhammad ()
and at the hands of his Companions (). So
people entered Islam, and they worshipped only
Allah. They abandoned the worship of idols,
prophets and righteous men. They made their
worship purely and sincerely for Allah, worship-
ping none but Him alone. They would not pray
except to Him and they would not prostrate ex-
cept to Him. They would not direct their supplica-
tions except to Allah, nor seek deliverance except
with Allah, nor seek to be healed except by Allah
(). They would not ask the inhabitants of
the graves for help or rescue, nor the idols, the

37 abukhadeejah.com
trees, the rocks, the stars, the jinn or the angels.
Rather, they worshipped none but Allah alone
(). So, these are the Strangers. This is like-
wise the case at the end of time. They are the
ones who remain steadfast upon the Religion of
Allah when the people fall behind in the Religion
and disbelieve, or when their sins and evil deeds
increase. Through all this, the Strangers remain
upright upon obedience to Allah and His Reli-
gion. For them is Paradise and happiness, a
praiseworthy recompense in this world and the
next.” 35

35 See https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/ no. 7301.

38 abukhadeejah.com
The Closer the Hour, the Greater
the Tribulations
As we approach the Final Hour, the fitan (tribula-
tions) will increase and those who follow way of
the Salaf and Sunnah will be few. Those who recti-
fy will be seen as strange. Abdullāh Ibn Mas’ūd
() stated: “There is not a year except that
the year that comes after it is worse than it. I do
not say it is a year followed by a year with less
rain, or a year followed by a year with less crop
nor a leader followed by a worse leader. Rather it
is due to the disappearance of your scholars and
your virtuous ones. Then there will appear
people who who will judge matters according to
their opinions so they will destroy Islam and
damage it.” 36

36 Ibn Waddāh in Kitāb Al-Bid’ah wan-Nahiy ‘Anhā

(1/17), Ad-Dārimi in As-Sunan (no. 194), Al-Haythaimi in
Majma’ Az-Zawā’id (no. 849), Ibn Hajr declared the is-
nād as good (jayyid) in Fathul-Bāri (13/26-27). Meaning
Islam will be destroyed in the hearts of the people.
39 abukhadeejah.com
In reference to the times of hardship and trials
that were to come, the Prophet ()
stated, “Ahead of you are days of patience, when
holding onto the religion will be like holding
onto hot coals, and whoever holds onto his reli-
gion in that time, then his reward will be the re-
ward of fifty men.” The Companions ()
said, “O Messenger of Allah, fifty times the worth
of their reward?” He said, “Rather fifty from
you.” 37

Who are these people in our times? Those who

patiently hold on to truth whilst responding to the
onslaught from the people of bid’ah and opposi-
tion. Abu ‛Ubaid al-Qāsim Ibn Salām ()
said: “The follower of the Sunnah is like the one
who holds onto hot coals. In this age, I see that it
is better than fighting with swords for Allah’s
sake.” 38

37 Abu Dawūd, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah, Al-Hākim who

declared it authentic and Adh-Dhahabi agreed. Al-Al-
bāni graded it sahīh in As-Sahīhah (no. 494).
38 Tāreekh Baghdād (12/410).

40 abukhadeejah.com
These are the brothers whom the Prophet
() described and desired to see. And
they are the ones who will drink from his lake on
the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet ()
said: “Would that I had seen our brothers.” They
said: “O Messenger of Allah, are we not your
brothers?” He said: “Rather, you are my Compan-
ions but my brothers are those who have not yet
come―and I will reach the lake before them.”
They said: “O Messenger of Allah, how will you
know those of your Ummah who come after
you?” He said: “Don’t you think that if a man has
a horse with a white blaze and white feet among
horses that are completely black, he will recog-
nise his horse?” They said: “Of course.” He said:
“They will come on the Day of Resurrection with
glittering white faces, glittering white hands and
feet because of ablution, and I will reach the
Lake (Hawd) before them.”39

The people who hold on to the truth in times of

hardship are the allies and beloved ones of Allah

39 Muslim (no. 249), An-Nasā’ī (no. 150).

41 abukhadeejah.com
and his Messenger () in this life and the
next. They are the ones whom Allah will aid and
make victorious.

So if the Muslims (or a group of them in a land)

return to Islam as it was practiced in the time of
the Messenger () and his Companions
() and they recognise the true scholars of
Hadīth, Sunnah and Salafiyyah, and they take
knowledge and guidance from them, they avoid
innovations and stay well-clear of the callers to
misguidance, then Allah will return to the Ummah
its honour and glory, and He () will remove
the oppression, provide safety and establish
justice.

However, so long as the Muslims oppose the

Quran, Sunnah and the methodology, creed and
manners of the Salaf, then their lives, honour, land
and wealth will be violated and exploited by oth-
er nations who harbour enmity towards the
Muslims.

Thawbān () narrated that the Prophet

() said:

42 abukhadeejah.com
 َ ََ ْ َ َ َََُ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َ َْ ُ ُ
‫ قص َعت َِها فقال‬d‫يُوشِك الا ٔ َم ُم ا ٔن ت َداع عليْك ْم ك َما ت َداع الا ٔكة ِٕا‬
ٌ ‫ك ْم ُغ َث‬ُ َّ َ َ ٌ َ َ ْ َ ْ ُ ْ ٔ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ ْ َ َّ ْ َ ٌ َ
‫اء‬ ‫قائِل ومِن ق ِل ٍة نن يومئ ِ ٍذ قال بل انتم يومئ ِ ٍذ كث ِي ولكِن‬
ُ ْ ََ َ َْ ُ ُ ّ ُ َ ُ َّ ‫السيْل َو َلَ ْن َع َّن‬
َّ ِ‫َك ُغ َثاء‬
ْ‫كم‬ ‫ا* م ِْن ُص ُدورِ عدوِكم المهابة مِن‬ ِ ِ
َ ْ َّ َ ٌ َ َ ََ َ ْ ُ ُ ُ ُ َّ َّ َ ْ َ َ َ
‫ا* ِف قلوبِك ُم ال َوه َن فقال قائِل يَا َر ُسول ا*ِ َو َما ال َوه ُن‬ ‫ولقذِفن‬
ْ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ُّ ُّ ُ َ َ
‫ت‬ِ ‫قال حب النيا وكراهِية المو‬

“The nations are soon to invite one another, and

come upon you just as one is invited to eat from
a platter of food.” Someone asked: “Is that be-
cause we will be few in number in that time?” He
replied: “No, rather you will be many, but you
will be the scourge like the scourge carried upon
the flood water―and Allah will remove the fear
the enemies once held in their hearts of you, and
He will throw weakness into your hearts.”
Someone asked: “What is that weakness?” He
replied: “Love for this world and dislike of
death.” 40

40 Abu Dawūd (no. 4297).

43 abukhadeejah.com
The true well-being of this Ummah, therefore
does not revolve around numbers, or wealth, or
weapons. Rather, true strength and honour is in
the quality of the Muslims and not their quantity.

44 abukhadeejah.com
The Methodology for Rectifica-
tion is not open to Opinions, De-
sires and Reasoning
Since we know the means of rectification estab-
lished in Revelation from Allah, recourse to in-
novated ideologies is nonsensical. Rectification of
the Ummah will not come about through opin-
ions, or by following ideologies that are foreign to
Islam such as Communism, Socialism or Western
Liberalism. Success of the Muslim Ummah lies in
following the Quran and Sunnah, and its detailed
explanation as understood by the early Salaf.
Nothing else will bring about rectification. In fact,
all of these innovated approaches have been
tried and tested, and have resulted in utter failure.

Is it conceivable that Allah did not inform His

Messenger () about the means of rectify-
ing the Ummah when it is weak, splintered, op-
pressed and downtrodden?

Muslims know that Allah perfected His Religion

through the Prophet () such that he

45 abukhadeejah.com
() taught the believers the minutest de-
tails of hygiene, the rites of the newborn baby
and even toilet-manners. Abu Dharr () said:

‫تركنا رسول ا* صل ا* عليه وسلم وما طائر يقلب جناحيه ف‬

‫ وهو يذكرنا منه علما‬X‫الهواء إ‬

“Allah’s Messenger () left us, and there

was not a bird that flapped its wings in the air
except that he gave us some knowledge con-
cerning it.” Then he said that the Prophet
() said:

‫ بي لكم‬X‫ما بق شء يقرب من النة ويباعد من الار إ‬

“There does not remain anything that brings one

closer to Jannah or distances one from the Fire
except that it has been explained to you.” 41

So it is ignorance, careless negligence and mis-

guidance that leads a Muslim to think that the

41 At-Tabarāni in Mu’jam Al-Kabīr (2/155), Al-Haythami

in Majma’ Az-Zawā’id (8/266). Declared sahīh by Al-Al-
bāni in As-Silsilah As-Sahīhah (no. 1803).
46 abukhadeejah.com
Quran and Sunnah do not give clear guidelines
for the rectitude of the Ummah in its times of
tribulation, weakness and differing.

Know that the true rectitude lies in returning to

the Methodology (Manhaj) of the Salaf, and that is
the path of the Companions and the early pious
generations. Imām Mālik bin Anas ( died
179H) stated this Methodology clearly when he
said:
َ ُ ‫لن يَصلُ َح‬
‫ بما َصلح به أولها فما لم يكن‬X‫آخر هذه المة إ‬
ً ‫ يكون الوم‬X ‫دينا‬
‫دينا‬ ً ‫يومئذ‬
ٍ
“The latter part of this Ummah will never be rec-
tified except by that which rectified its first part.
So, whatever was not religion that day cannot be
considered as religion today.”42

42 This narration is established from Imām Malik. Qādi

Iyād cited it in Ash-Shifā (2/87-88). Ibn Taymiyyah
stated in Majmū’ Al-Fatāwā (1/353, 27/118) that it is
established from Mālik. Shātibi cited it also in Al-I’tisām
(1/111) with a slightly different wording.
47 abukhadeejah.com
It is the Ghurabā (the Strangers) who bring about
rectification by correcting what the people have
corrupted of the Religion. They call them to re-
turn to the Book and Sunnah. So when the people
respond to the call, and then cultivate themselves
upon the pure Religion, Allah will bring them suc-
cess, safety and honour.

Furthermore, the statement of Imām Mālik ()

is proven by the Qur’ān and Sunnah. We have, for
example, the hadīth of Al-‘Irbād bin Sāriyah
() who said:
ْ ْ َََ ً َ ْ َ َّ ُ َ َ
‫ت مِن َها‬ ‫َوعظ َنا َر ُسول ا*ِ ـ صل ا* عليه وسلم ـ موعِظة ذرف‬
ُ َ َ َ َّ َّ َ ْ َُ ُ ُ ُْ َْ ْ َ َ َ ُ ُُْ
‫وب فقل َنا يَا َر ُسول ا*ِ ِٕان ه ِذه ِ ل َم ْوعِظة‬ ‫جلت مِنها القل‬ ِ ‫العيون وو‬
َ َ َ َ َ َُْ ِ َ َْْ ََ ْ ُ ُ ْ ََ ْ َ َ َ ََْ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ٍ ّ َ ُ
‫ اليضاء للها كنهارِها‬ƒ ‫مودِع فماذا تعهد ِٕالنا قال قد تركتكم‬
ًَ ْ َ َ ‫ك ْم فَ َس‬ ُ ْ ْ َ ْ َ ٌ َ َّ ْ َْ ُ َ
‫فا‬Iِ ‫يى اخت‬ ‫ هال ِك من يعِش مِن‬X‫ يَزِيغ عن َها َبعدِي ِٕا‬X
َّ ِ‫اللَ َفاء‬
َ ‫الرا ِشد‬
‫ِين‬ ُ ْ ِ‫ك ْم ب َما َع َر ْف ُت ْم م ِْن ُس َّنت َو ُس َّنة‬ ُ َََْ ً َ
‫كث ِيا فعلي‬
ِ ِ
ً‫اعةِ َوا ْن َعبْدا‬ َ َّ ْ ُ ْ َ َ َ
‫ج ِذ وعليكم بِالط‬ َ َّ َ ْ َ َ ُّ َ َ ّ ْ َْ
ِٕ ِ ‫المهدِيِي عضوا عليها بِالوا‬
َ
َ َْ َ
‫ِيد انقاد‬
ُ
‫ل َم ِل الا ٔن ِِف َحيْث َما ق‬َ ْ ‫َحبَشِ ًّيا فَإِ َّن َما ال ْ ُم ْؤم ُِن َك‬

48 abukhadeejah.com
Allah’s Messenger () delivered to us an
admonition that caused our eyes to shed tears
and our hearts to tremble. So we said: “O Mes-
senger of Allah! This was a farewell admonition.
So what is it that you enjoin upon us?” He
replied: “I have indeed left you upon clear proof,
its night is like its day, an no-one strays from it
except that he is destroyed.

And whoever lives for long from among you will

see great differing and controversy―so cling to
what you know of my Sunnah and the Sunnah of
the Rightly-guided Caliphs after me. 43 Bite on to
it (i.e. the Sunnah) with your molar teeth―and
show obedience to the ruler, even if he is an
Abyssinian slave, for indeed the believer is like a
subservient camel, he goes wherever he is led.” 44

‘Ubādah bin Sāmit () reported that the Mes-

senger () said, “Listen to the ruler and
obey him when it is hard for you and when it is

43 They are Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān and ‘Ali ().

44 Ibn Mājah (no 43).
49 abukhadeejah.com
easy for you, whether you are pleased or dis-
pleased, and when others are given preference
over you, and when he consumes your wealth
and beats your back.” 45

So when tribulation, differing and splitting occurs

in this Ummah, the cure for it lies in returning to
the Religion as it was in the beginning, just as Mā-
lik bin Anas () stated. For sure, rectification is
not attained through newly invented methodolo-
gies and ideologies for which there is no proof in
the Quran, Sunnah and the understanding of the
Companions (). There is no place in the rec-
tification of the Ummah for the ideologies of the

45 Ibn Abī ‘Āsim reported in As-Sunnah (1026) and Ibn

Hibbān in his Sahīh (4062). Declared sahīh by Al-Albāni
in Dhilāl Al-Jannah and At-Ta’līqāt Al-Hisān.
50 abukhadeejah.com
Khawārij46, the Shī’ah 47, Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn48,

46 A very early extremist sect that rose up against the

Muslim authorities. According to them, the rulers and
“those who accept their rule” are disbelievers because
“they judge by other than what Allah has revealed”.
Based on this assumption, they consider it a religious
duty kill anyone who opposes their doctrine.
47 A sect that regards the son-in-law of the Prophet

(), ‘Ali bin Abī Tālib () to be the first right-

ful Caliph―the Shī’ah offer worship him as well as to
their chosen imāms (whom they consider infallible),
supplicating to them at their graves. They hold the rest
of the Caliphs as well as nearly all the Companions
including the Prophet’s wives to be disbelievers. The
Shī’ah, like the Khawārij, believe in violent revolutions
and spilling of innocent blood.
48 A deviated political group that was founded in Egypt

in the 1920’s by Hasan Al-Bannā that calls overthrow of

the Muslim rulers―virtually all the present-day terrorist
groups are offshoots of Al-Ikhwān, influenced by an-
other ideologue of the group, Sayyid Qutb. They also
cooperate with hardline Shī’ites.
51 abukhadeejah.com
Jamā’at At-Tablīgh 49, Sūfi grave-worshippers 50,
the modern-day Mu’tazilah 51 and the other sects
of misguidance.

The early generations were the best of all the be-

lievers in this Ummah and it is their example that
the Muslims are expected to follow. They were
the ones about whom the Messenger ()
said:
َ ُ َ َّ َّ ُ ْ ُ َ ُ َ َ َّ َّ ُ ْ َ ُ ْ ‫َخ‬
‫ِين يَلون ُه ْم‬
‫اس قر ِن ثم الِين يلونهم ثم ال‬ِ َّ‫ي ال‬

49 A group that started in India in the 1920’s, deviated

in belief (‘aqīdah), da’wah and worship―they adhere to
the doctrines of the Deobandies, a sect founded in
India in the 19th Century.
50 An early sect that deviated in belief and worship,

taking the graves of “Sufi saints” and righteous Muslims

as places of worship, pilgrimage and seclusion―they
supplicate to the dead, seeking their intercession.
51 A misguided sect that arose in the early part of Islam

that denied the attributes of Allah. They give preced-

ence to reason and logic (as they claim) over the texts
of the Qur’ān and Sunnah that has led them to to deny
many aspects of the Islamic creed. They remain till this
day as opponents of the Qur’ān and Sunnah.
52 abukhadeejah.com
“The best of mankind is my generation then,
those who come after them, then those who
come after them.” 52

There is no era of Muslims that comprehended

this Religion and the Revelation better than the
Companions and the generations of scholars of
Sunnah and Hadīth who came after them. Who-
ever contradicts the Messenger () and
opposes the Path of his Companions () in
Islam and in the Methodology (Manhaj) of calling
to rectification is astray and threatened with Hell-
fire:

‫يل‬ َ َ ْ َ ْ َّ َ َ ٰ َ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َّ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ َّ َُ ََ
ِ ِ ‫ومن يشاق ِِق الرسول مِن بع ِد ما تبي ل الهدى ويتبِع غي سب‬
ً ‫ت َم ِص‬ْ َ َ َ َ َّ َ َ ْ ُ َّ َ ّ ُ َ ْ ُْ
‫يا‬ ‫ِي ن َو ِلِ َما ت َو ٰل َونصلِهِ جهنم ۖ وساء‬ ‫الم ٔو ِمن‬

“And whoever contradicts the Messenger after

guidance has become clear to him and follows
other than the Path of the believers (i.e. the
Companions), We will leave him in the path he

52 Muslim (no 2533).

53 abukhadeejah.com
has taken and drive him into Hell, what an evil
destination.” 53

Many of Ahlul-Bid’ah, the people of innovation

and misguidance, outwardly attach themselves to
the Sunnah and the early Salaf but that is only to
deceive the people and lead them astray. When
one investigates their methodology and da’wah,
it is found to be at odds with the Methodology
and Creed of the Sahābah and early Salaf.

The Prophet () described these people

of deviation to Hudhayfah bin Al-Yamān ()
said:
ْ َْ َ َّ َ ُ َ َ ُ ٔ َ ْ َ ُ َّ َ َ
‫ي‬
ِ ‫ال‬ ‫ن‬ِ ‫ع‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ *‫ا‬ ‫صل‬ ِ *‫ا‬ ‫كن الاس يسالون رسول‬
َُّ َّ َّ َ ُ َ َ ُ ْ ُ َ َ ْ ُ ْ ٔ َ َ َ َ َ ّ َّ َ ُ ُ َٔ ْ َٔ ُ ْ ُ َ
‫الش مافة ان يدرِك ِن فقلت يا رسول ا*ِ ِٕانا كنا‬ ِ ِ ‫وكنت اسال‬
‫ن‬ ‫ع‬
َّ ْ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ ّ َ َ َّ َ
‫ش‬
ٍ ‫ي مِن‬ ِ ‫ي فهل بعد هذا ال‬ ِ ‫ش فجاءنا ا* بِهذا ال‬ ٍ ‫ِف جاهِل ِي ٍة و‬
ٌَ َ َ َ
‫ي قال ن َع ْم َوفِيهِ دخن‬
َ َ
ْ ْ ّ َّ َ َ ْ ْ َ
‫ت َوهل َبع َد ذل ِك‬ ُ ْ‫قَ َال َن َع ْم قُل‬
ٍ ‫الش مِن خ‬
ِ
ُْ ْ ُ َْ ْ َ َْ َ َُْ ٌَْ َ َ َُُ َ ََ ُ ُْ
‫ي هدي تع ِرف مِن ُه ْم َوتنك ُِر‬ ِ ‫قلت وما دخنه قال قوم يهدون بِغ‬

53 Surah An-Nisā: 115.

54 abukhadeejah.com
 َ َ ْ ‫ت َف َه ْل َب ْع َد َذل َِك‬
‫اب َج َه َّن َم‬ َ ْ ٔ َ َ ٌ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ ّ َ ‫ال ْي م ِْن‬ ُ ْ‫قُل‬
ِ ‫ ابو‬ƒ ‫ش قال نعم دعة‬ ٍ ِ
ُ َ َ َ ْ َّ َ
‫ت يَا َر ُسول ا*ِ صِ ف ُه ْم لَا قال ه ْم‬ ُ ْ‫ِيها قُل‬ َ ‫َم ْن ا َ ٔ َج‬
َ ‫اب ُه ْم ا َلْ َها قَ َذفُوهُ ف‬
ِٕ
َ َ َ َ َ َْ ْ ْ َ َ ُ ْ ُ َ َ ْ ٔ َ َ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ْ
‫ت ف َما تا ٔ ُم ُر ِن ِٕان ا ٔد َرك ِن ذل ِك قال‬ ‫جلت ِنا ويتكمون بِالسِنت ِنا قل‬ ِ ‫مِن‬
َ َ ٌ َ َ َ ْ َُ ْ ُ َ َْ ْ َ ُ ْ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َ َ ْ ُْ َ َ َ َ ُ َْ َ
X‫تلزم جاعة المسل ِ ِمي و ِٕامامهم قلت فإِن لم يكن لهم جاعة و‬
َ ‫صل َش‬ ْ ٔ َ َّ َ َ ْ ٔ َ ْ َ َ َ َّ ُ َ َ ْ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ ٌ َ
‫ج َر ٍة َح َّت‬ ِ ‫تل ت ِلك الفِرق كها ولو ان تعض بِا‬ ِ ‫ِٕامام قال فاع‬
َ َ َ َ َ ْ َٔ َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ ُ
‫ ذل ِك‬ƒ ‫يدرِكك الموت وانت‬

“The people used to ask Allah’s Messenger

() about the good but I used to ask him
about the evil lest I should be overtaken by it.

So I asked, ‘O Allah's Messenger ()! We

were living in ignorance and evil, then Allah
brought to us this good, will there be any evil
after this good?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ I asked, ‘Will
there be any good after that evil?’ He replied,
‘Yes, but it will be tainted.’ I asked, ‘What will be
its taint?’ He replied, ‘People who will guide to
other than my way. You will approve of some of
their acts and disapprove of others.’

55 abukhadeejah.com
I asked, ‘Will there be any evil after that good?’
He replied,’Yes, there will be callers at the gates
of Hell and whoever responds to them, they will
throw him into it.’

I asked, ‘O Allah’s Messenger, describe them to

us?’ So he () answered, ‘They will be
from our own people and will speak our lan-
guage.’ 54

I asked, ‘What do you order me to do if that

reaches me?’ He replied, ‘Stick to the Jamā’ah of
the Muslims and to their ruler.’ I said, ‘What if
there is neither a united body (Jamā’ah) nor a
ruler?’ He answered, ‘Then turn away from all of
those sects even if you have to bite onto the

54They will ascribe themselves to the Qur’ān and Sun-

nah outwardly, but they will oppose it in their belief
and methodology as you see with Al-Ikhwān Al-
Muslimūn and Jamā’atut-Tablīgh who openly profess
their love of the Sunnah but they call to innovations
and misguidance.
56 abukhadeejah.com
roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you
are in that state.’” 55

This is clear proof that the Muslims are to remain

far away from the sects of innovation and mis-
guidance. They are to adhere to the Sunnah and
the Path of the Salaf and bite on to that with their
molar teeth until death reaches them. That is be-
cause the Sunnah is like the Ark of Nūh (),
whoever embarked it was saved, and whoever
refused was drowned. 56

The Methodology (Manhaj) of the Salaf was to

warn against sitting with the sects of misguidance
and to cling to the Jamā’ah. 57 Imām Al-Lālikā’ī

55 Bukhārī (no. 7084).

56 A saying of Imām Mālik bin Anas ():
َ َ َّ ُ
َ َ‫سفينة نوح َم ْن رك َِبها ن‬
َ ‫جا‬ ُ
‫ومن تلف عنها غرق‬ ‫السنة‬
Collected by Ibn Asākir in Tārikh Dimashq (14/9), Tārīkh
Baghdād (7/336), Dhammul-Kalām of Al-Harawi (4/124,
no. 885). See Majmū Al-Fatāwa of Ibn Taymiyyah
(4/137).
57 i.e. to cling to the truth and its people.

57 abukhadeejah.com
(died 418H) cited his chain of narration to Thābit
bin ‘Ajlān (), who said:

“I met:

• Anas bin Mālik (died 179H),

• Sa’īd bin Musayyib (died 94H),

• Al-Hasan Al-Basrī (died 110H),

• Sa’īd bin Jubair (died 95H),

• Ash-Sha’bī,

• Ibrāhīm An-Nakha’ī (died 96H),

• ‘Atā bin Abī Rabāh (died 114H),

• Tāwūs (died 106H),

• Mujāhid (died 104H),

• Abdullāh bin Abī Mulaikah (died 117H),

• Az-Zuhrī (died 124H),

• Mak-hūl (died 112H),

• Al-Qāsim Abu Abdir-Rahmān,

58 abukhadeejah.com
• ‘Atā Al-Khurasānī (died 135H),

• Thābit Al-Bunānī (died 120H),

• Al-Hakam bin ‘Utbah,

• Ayyūb As-Sakhtiyānī (died 131H),

• Hammād,

• Muhammad bin Sīrīn (died 110H),

• Abū ‘Āmir who had met Abū Bakr As-Siddīq,

• Yazīd Ar-Raqāshī (died 119H) and,

• Sulaymān bin Mūsā.

All of them commanded me to stick to the

Jamā‛ah and they all of them warned me from
the People of Desires.” 58

58 Sharhu Usūl Al-I’tiqād of Al-Lālikā’ī (no. 239).

59 abukhadeejah.com
Starting Point of Rectification:
Tawhīd and ‘Aqīdah
So, the rectification of the Ummah, its beginning
and foundation is the belief in Tawhīd, which is to
single out Allah alone with worship and to under-
stand this well and in detail through the study of
the books of ‘Aqeedah and Tawhīd. Tawhīd was
the purpose behind the sending of the Prophets
() and the foundation of their call. Allah
() stated:
َ ُ َّ ُ َ ْ َ َ َّ ْ َ ً ُ ُّ َْ َ َ ْ ََ َ
ۖ ‫الطاغوت‬ ‫ ا ٔ ِن اع ُب ُدوا ا* واجتن ِبوا‬X‫ك ا ٔ َّم ٍة َّر ُسو‬
ِ ‫ولقد بعثنا ِف‬
“And We sent to every nation a Messenger, call-
ing them to the worship of Allah alone and to
abandon the false deities.”59

Allah () mentioned regarding the Messenger

Nūh ():

59 Surah An-Nahl: 36.

60 abukhadeejah.com
 َ ُ َ َ َّ ْ َ َ ََ َ َ ً ُ َ ْ َ ْ َٔ ْ َ َ
‫ا* َما لكم ّم ِْن ِٕال ٰ ٍه‬ ‫ ق ْو ِمهِ فقال يَا ق ْو ِم اع ُب ُدوا‬dٰ ‫وحا ِٕا‬‫لقد ارسلنا ن‬
َ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ ُ ْ َ َ ُ َ َٔ ّ ُ ُ ْ َ
ٍ ‫غيه ِٕا ِن اخاف عليكم عذاب يو ٍا عظ‬
‫ِيم‬

“And we sent Nūh to his people. So he said to

them: ‘O my people worship Allah! You have
nothing worthy of worship other than Him. In-
deed I fear for you the punishment of a severe
day.’”60

Regarding the other Prophets (), such as

Hūd ():
ُ َ َ َ َّ
ُ ْ ‫كم ّم ِْن ا َلٰه َغ‬ ْ َ َ َ ً ُ ُ َ َ َ
ُ‫يه‬ ٍ ِٕ ‫ َع ٍد ا ٔخاه ْم هودا ۗ قال يَا ق ْو ِم اع ُب ُدوا ا* ما ل‬dٰ ‫َو ِٕا‬
َ ُ َ َ ََ
‫ ت َّتقون‬I‫ۚ ا ٔف‬

“And to the people of ‘Ād, We sent their brother

Hūd. He said to them: ‘O my people worship Al-
lah, you have nothing worthy of worship other
than Him.’” 61

60 Surah Al-A’rāf: 59.

61 Surah Al-A’rāf: 65.
61 abukhadeejah.com
And this was the same mission with which the
Prophet () sent his Companions. Ab-
dullāh Ibn ‘Abbās () stated:
َ َّ َ َ َ ْ َْ ً َ َ َ َّ َ
‫ب صل ا* عليه وسلم ُم َعاذا ن َو الَ َم ِن قال ُل ِٕانك‬ ُّ َّ‫ث ال‬
ِ ‫لما بع‬
َْ ٔ َ ْ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ َّ ٔ َ ْ ُ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ
ْٔ ْ َْ َ ُ َ َْ
‫ ان‬d‫اب فل َيكن اول ما تدعوهم ِٕا‬ ِ ‫ قو ٍا مِن اه ِل الكِت‬ƒ ‫تقدم‬
َ َ َ َ َ َّ َّ ٔ َ ْ ُ ْ ْ ٔ َ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َّ
‫ا* ف َرض عليْ ِه ْم‬ ‫ فإِذا عرفوا ذل ِك فاخ ِبهم ان‬d‫يُ َو ّح ُِدوا ا* تعا‬
َ َّ ‫ب ُه ْم ا َ ٔ َّن‬
*‫ا‬ ْ ‫خ‬ْ ٔ َ َ ُّ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ ْ َ ََ َ َ َْ
ِ ‫ات ِف يو ِم ِهم وللت ِ ِهم ف ِٕاذا صلوا فا‬ ٍ ‫خس صلو‬
َ َ َ ُّ َ ُ َ ْ ّ َ ْ ُ َ ٔ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ ٔ َ ً َ َ ْ ْ َ َ َ َ َ ْ
‫ِيه ِْم‬ ِ ‫ ف‬ƒ ‫افتض علي ِهم زكة ِف اموال ِ ِهم توخذ مِن غن ِي ِ ِهم فتد‬
‫ق‬
َ َ َّ َ ْ ْ ُ َ َ َ ََ َ َ
‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ف ِٕاذا ا ٔق ُّروا بِذل ِك فخذ مِن ُه ْم َوت َوق ك َرائ ِ َم ا ٔ ْم َوا ِل ال‬

“When the Prophet () sent Mu’ādh Ibn

Jabal to Yemen, he said to him: ‘I am sending you
to a people from Ahlul-Kitāb (Jews and Christi-
ans), so invite them first and foremost to the sole
worship of Allah (). If they acknowledge
that, then inform them that Allah has obligated
upon them the five prayers throughout the day
and night. If they establish the pray, inform them
that Allah has obligated upon them Zakāh on
their wealth, to be taken from their wealthy

62 abukhadeejah.com
people and given to their poor. If they accept
that, then take it from them but avoid taking the
best property of the people.’”62

From the benefits of this hadīth is that it explains

the priorities of the caller to Islam. We recognise
that Islam calls to the fulfilment of many essential
duties but how do we prioritise where one begins
his da’wah to the people? From proofs quoted
above, we now know that the most important af-
fair is the belief in the Tawhīd of Allah, upon
which the rest of the affairs of Islam are built. So
Tawhīd is the starting point and the purpose for
which mankind and Jinn were created:
ُ ُ ْ َّ َ ْ َ َّ ْ ‫ت‬ ُ ‫َو َما َخلَ ْق‬
ِ ‫ ِلَعبد‬X‫الن والإِنس ِٕا‬
‫ون‬ ِ
َ ُ ُ
‫ون‬ ُ ْ ُ ٔ ُ ٔ ََ ْ ّ ّ ُْ ُ ٔ َ
ِ ‫ما ارِيد مِنهم مِن رِز ٍق وما ارِيد ان يطعِم‬
“I did not create jinn and mankind except to
worship Me alone. I seek not any provision from
them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.” 63

62 Bukhārī (no 7372).

63 Surah Adh-Dhāriyāt: 56-57.
63 abukhadeejah.com
In these times, there are callers (du’āt) who claim
that they are rectifying the Ummah and calling
people to guidance but they are the severest in
opposition to this methodology of the Prophets
(). Even their understanding of Tawhīd is
corrupted. Some of them, such as the Ash’aris
and Deobandis, negate and deny the Attributes
of Allah, they explain them falsely and metaphor-
ically, they deny the Highness of Allah, they be-
lieve that He is everywhere, and they direct as-
pects of their worship to the dead in their graves
and seek intercession from them. Other deviated
sects spread ideas of revolution and rebellion,
mobilising the Muslim youth into political activ-
ism, sending them out on street demonstrations,
protests and to the downfall of nations leading to
further weakening of the Ummah. Then they have
the audacity to claim that they are “calling people
to Islam and rectification”!

These modern-day orientations do not adhere to

the Methodology (Manhaj) of the Prophet
Muhammad () and the Salaf ().

64 abukhadeejah.com
The Prophetic Methodology in
Da’wah
When the Muslims rectify their beliefs and estab-
lish the Tawhīd (pure monotheism) that the
Prophets and Messengers () called to,
abandon shirk (polytheism) and bid’ah, and work
righteous deeds sincerely and in accordance to
the Sunnah, then Allah will establish the Muslims
on the earth in safety and security. He will protect
them and make firm their Religion. Allah
() has enjoined upon us this Methodology
in His Book:
َ ْ َ َ َّ
‫ات ل َي ْس َتخل ِف َّن ُه ْم ِف‬
ِ ‫ال‬
ُ ُ
ِ ‫ِنك ْم َو َع ِملوا الص‬ ‫آم ُنوا م‬ َ ‫ا* َّال‬
َ ‫ِين‬ ُ َّ ‫َو َع َد‬
َّ َ ْ ُ َ َّ َ ّ َ ُ َ َ ْ ْ َ َْ
‫ِين ُه ُم الِي‬ ‫ِين مِن قبل ِ ِهم ولمكِن لهم د‬ َ ‫خلَ َف َّال‬ ْ َْ َ َ
‫الا ٔ ْر ِض كما است‬
َ ُ ْ ُ َ َ ُ ُ ْ َ ً ْ ٔ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َ ّ ُ َّ َ ّ َ ُ َ َ ْ ُ َ ٰ َ َ ْ
‫شكون‬ ِ ‫ ي‬X ‫ارتض لهم ولبدِلهم مِن بع ِد خوف ِ ِهم امنا ۚ يعبدون ِن‬
َ ُ َْ ُ َ َ َُ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ
‫ِب شي ًئا ۚ َو َمن كف َر َبع َد ذٰل ِك فا ٔولٰئِك ه ُم الفاسِقون‬

“Allah has promised those among you who be-

lieve and perform righteous deeds that He will
certainly grant them succession (and authority) in
the earth just as He granted it to those before

65 abukhadeejah.com
them―and He will establish for them their reli-
gion which He has chosen for them. And He will
surely give them safety and security after they
had lived in fear.

This is so long as they worship Me, and they do

not associate anything alongside Me in worship.
But whoever disbelieves after this, they are the
disobedient wrongdoers.” 64

This is the precise and true Methodology estab-

lished by Allah that will lead to the rectification of
the affairs of the Muslims. If the Muslims wish to
be successful, then they must:

a) Establish the belief (the ‘Aqīdah) as it was in

the era of Prophet () and his Com-
panions.

b) Work righteous deeds in accordance the

Sunnah of the Messenger ().

c) Worship Him alone and establish Tawhīd in

all its categories.

64 Surah An-Nūr: 55.

66 abukhadeejah.com
d) Associate none in worship alongside Allah.

Based upon this, Allah () will:

a) Establish the Muslims on the earth and give

them victory.

b) Remove their fear and give them safety and

security from their enemies.

This requires a change in the condition of the

Muslims and this is in accordance with the saying
of Allah ():
ُ َ ُ ّ ‫ت ُي َغ‬َّ َ ْ َ َ ُ ّ َ ُ َ َ َّ َّ
ِ ‫يوا َما بِا ٔنف‬
‫س ِه ْم‬ ِ ٰ ‫ يغ ِي ما بِقو ٍا ح‬X *‫ِٕان ا‬
“Allah will not change the condition of a people
until they change what is inside themselves.” 65

Rectitude begins with oneself, then his family,

then his relatives, then it will spread to the com-
munity and the nations. If each Muslim was to
take this approach, then Islam, the Sunnah and

65 Surah Ar-Ra’d: 11.

67 abukhadeejah.com
Salafiyyah would spread throughout the Ummah.
Allah () stated:
ُ َّ‫ود َها ال‬ ُ َُ ً َ ْ ُ َْ ُ ُ َ ُ َ َ َّ َ ُّ ٔ َ َ
‫اس‬ ‫آم ُنوا قوا ا ٔنف َسك ْم َوا ٔهل ِيكم نارا وق‬ ‫يا ايها الِين‬
ُ َ َ َّ ‫ون‬ َّ
َ ُ ْ َ ٌ َ ٌ َ ٌَ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ
‫ا* َما ا ٔ َم َره ْم‬ ‫ يعص‬X ‫ظ شِداد‬Iِ‫ئِكة غ‬I‫ارةُ عليْ َها َم‬ ‫وال ِج‬
َ َ ُ ْ
‫َو َيف َعلون َما يُ ْ ٔو َم ُرون‬

“O you who believe, protect yourselves and your

families from a Fire whose fuel is men and
stones, over which are appointed angels, harsh
and severe. They do not disobey Allah in what
He orders but do what they are commanded.”66

66 Surah At-Tahrīm: 6.
68 abukhadeejah.com
Rectification is Built Upon Know-
ledge of the Religion
The Salafi Methodology is built on knowledge of
the Qur’ān and Sunnah, not upon innovated be-
liefs and practices; or on racism, nationalism and
partisanship; or on philosophies conjured up in
the minds of misguided men; or on theological
rhetoric (kalām) or political agitation. Allah
() said:
َ َ ْ َُ َّ َ َ َ َ ٰ َ َ َّ َ ُ ْ ٔ َ َ َٰ ْ ُ
‫حان‬ ‫ي ٍة ا ٔنا َو َم ِن ات َب َع ِن ۖ وسب‬ ‫ ب ِص‬ƒ ۚ ِ*‫ ا‬d‫يل ادعو ِٕا‬ ِ ِ ‫قل ه ِذه ِ سب‬
َ ‫ا*ِ َو َما ا َ ٔنَا م َِن ال ْ ُم ْشك‬
‫ِي‬
َّ
ِ
“Say (O Muhammad): This is my path. I call to
Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever fol-
lows me. Glorified and Exalted be Allah, and I
am not of the polytheists.”67

So, the call to Allah begins with learning and fol-

lowing the path of Allah’s Messenger’s ().
Rectification requires knowledge of the Religion,

67 Surah Yūsuf: 108.

69 abukhadeejah.com
acting on what you know, calling to the truth, be-
ing patience and bearing the harm that comes in
that cause. The downfall of the groups in the
arena of da’wah is because they do not know the
Sunnah and Salafiyyah, or pretend not to
know―they are misguided and they misguide
others. Therefore, instead of bringing about recti-
fication, their methodologies cause further dis-
cord and corruption in the Ummah.

Ahlus-Sunnah hold that whoever treads a path in

search of knowledge, Allah makes easy for him
the path to success in his da’wah and to Paradise.
Kathīr bin Qays said: “I was sitting with Abu Dardā
() in the Mosque of Damascus when a man
came to him and said: “Abu Dardā, I have come
to you from the city of the Messenger of Allah
() for a hadīth that I have heard you nar-
rate from the Messenger of Allah () and I
have come for no other purpose. So Abu Dardā
() said to him: “I heard the Messenger of
Allah () say:

70 abukhadeejah.com
 ً ُ َّ ‫ك‬ َ َ َ ًْ ُ ُ‫يقا َي ْطل‬ً َ َ َ َ ْ َ
‫ا* بِهِ َطرِيقا م ِْن ُط ُر ِق‬ ‫ب فِيهِ عِلما سل‬ ِ‫من سلك طر‬
َ ُ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َّ
َ ْ َّ َ ْ
‫ِب العِل ِم و ِٕان العال َِم‬
ْ َ ً َ َ َ ْ ٔ َ َ َ َّ َ ْ
ِ ‫ئِكة لضع اجن ِحتها رِضا ل ِطال‬I‫النةِ و ِٕان الم‬
ُ َ ْ َ ْ َٔ َّ ‫لَ َي ْس َت ْغف ُِر َ ُل َم ْن ف‬
‫ِيتان ِف َج ْو ِف‬ ‫ات َو َم ْن ِف الار ِض وال‬ ِ ‫الس َم َو‬ ِ
َ ََ ْ َْ َ ََْ َ َْ ْ َ َ َ ْ ََ َ ْ َ ْ َ َّ َ َ ْ
ِ‫ سائِر‬ƒ ِ‫ العاب ِ ِد كفض ِل القمرِ للة الدر‬ƒ ‫الماءِ و ِٕان فضل العال ِ ِم‬
َ َ
‫ارا‬ َ ‫اء ل َ ْم يُ َو ّرثُوا د‬
ً ‫ِين‬ َ ‫اء َو َرثَ ُة الا ٔنْب َياءِ َو ِٕا َّن الا ٔنْب َي‬ َ ‫ك َواكِب َو ِٕا َّن الْ ُعلَ َم‬
َ ْ
‫ال‬
ِ ِ ِ ِ
َ ّ َ َ َ ٔ َ ُ َ َ ٔ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ ْ ُ َّ َ ً َ ْ َ َ
‫ دِرهما ورثوا العِلم فمن اخذه اخذ ِب ٍظ واف ٍِر‬X‫و‬

“Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge,

Allah will cause him to travel on one of the paths
leading to Paradise. The angels lower their wings
in their pleasure with one who seeks knowledge.
The inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and
the fish in the deep waters seek forgiveness for
the scholar. The superiority of the scholar over
the devout worshipper is like the brightness of
the full moon over the twinkling of the stars. The
scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, and
the Prophets leave as inheritance neither dinārs
nor dirhams (currency), rather they leave only

71 abukhadeejah.com
knowledge. And he who takes it takes an abund-
ant portion.” 68

Allah () stated in His Book regarding the

people of knowledge:
ُ ُ َّ َ َّ َ َ ْ َ َ َّ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َّ َْ ُْ
‫قل هل ي َ ْس َتوِي الِين يعلمون وال‬
‫ َيعل ُمون ۗ ِٕان َما َي َتذك ُر ا ٔولو‬X ‫ِين‬
َ
‫اب‬ َ ْٔ ْ
ِ ‫الال‬
“Say [O Muhammad], ‘Are those who know
equal to those who do not know?’ It is only men
of understanding who will remember.”69

Sharī’ah knowledge is acquired from the Scholars

of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah, Ahlul-Hadīth, and
they are the ‘ulamā of Salafiyyah. Knowledge
gives an individual a discerning insight in times of
affliction, it allows him to act in the wisest manner
and in harmony with the texts, not in opposition
to them. He does not act upon good intentions
alone, rather he supports his sincere intentions

68 Abu Dawud, (no 3641).

69 Surah Az-Zumar: 9.
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with knowledge and understanding. Allah
() stated:
ٌ ‫يز َغ ُف‬ َ َّ ‫اء ۗ ا َّن‬
ٌ ‫ا* َعز‬ َُْ َ ْ َ َّ َ ْ َ َّ
‫ور‬ ِ ِٕ ُ ‫ِٕان َما يش ا* مِن عِبادِه ِ العل َم‬
“It is the people of knowledge (‘ulamā) who fear
Allah from among His servants.” 70

Who are the people of knowledge in our times?

They are without doubt the Salafi Scholars, those
who patiently hold fast to truth whilst bearing the
onslaught from the people of bid’ah and the op-
posers. They do not fear the blame of the
blamers:
َّ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُ َُ
ِ*‫ئ ِ ٍم ۚ ذٰل ِك فضل ا‬X ‫ يافون ل ْو َمة‬X‫يل ا*ِ َو‬ َ
ِ ِ ‫ياهِدون ِف سب‬
ٌ ‫ا* َواس ٌِع َعل‬
‫ِيم‬ ُ ‫يُ ْؤتِيهِ َمن ي َ َش‬
ُ َّ ‫اء ۚ َو‬

“They strive in the path of Allah, and they do not

fear the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace
of Allah which He bestows on whom He

70 Surah Fātir: 28.

73 abukhadeejah.com
wills―and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’
needs, the All-Knower.”71

71 Surah Al-Mā’idah: 54.

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When the Ummah is in a State of
Weakness, Should it Fight the En-
emy?
In the early period of Islām when the Prophet
() was in Makkah, the Muslims were for-
bidden from fighting, forbidden from the physical
aspect of Jihād and they were not given permis-
sion to fight.

In fact we have the well known hadīth already

cited where the Companion, Khabbāb Ibn Aratt
() said:

“I came to the Prophet () whilst he was

resting on a cloak in the shade of the Ka’bah. We
were suffering much at the hands of the idolators
in those days. So I said to him: “Will you invoke
Allāh to help us?” He sat up with a red face and
said: “A believer among those who came before
you was torn apart with iron combs so that noth-
ing of his flesh, nerves and veins would remain
on his bones, yet that would not cause him to
desert his religion. A saw would be placed over

75 abukhadeejah.com
the centre of his head and he would be sawn
apart splitting him into two parts, yet that would
not make him abandon his religion. Indeed, Allāh
will cause this Religion to prevail so that a person
will travel from San’ā to Hadramaut (in Yemen)
and not fear anyone except Allāh, or the wolf,
lest it should harm his sheep.” 72

So in this period the Messenger was ordered to

command his Companions with patience and
forbearance. The first migration to Abyssinia had
taken place, but they were not yet commanded
with the migration to Madīnah. So this was
the first stage as it relates to Jihād upon the bat-
tlefield.

So the Sunnah of withholding from fighting in a

state of weakness remains at any time in which
the Muslims are weak and unable. And this is
even more-so the case when they are ignorant of
the Religion and worship, weak in īmān, weak in
practice or have abandoned practicing altogeth-

72 Bukhārī (no. 3852).

76 abukhadeejah.com
er, or deviated in their beliefs (‘Aqīdah), when
they are militarily weak, and divided in their vari-
ous innovated sects.

When the Muslims gained authority and strength

after the migration to Madinah, the Messenger
() and the rulers after him were com-
manded to fight but not against those with whom
there are treaties and agreements of peace. The
verses of warfare are directed to the rulers and
their armies and not towards individual citizens,
vigilante groups and so on. It is the rulers of
countries and their governments who sign treat-
ies and makes pacts of peace on behalf of their
citizens, and they are the ones who make declara-
tions of war. There is no place in Islam for terror-
ism and terrorist groups.

Ibn Taymiyyah (, d. 728H), Ibn Kathīr (, d.

774H), a group from the Salaf and a body from
the latter-day scholars held that the verses of
fighting do not abrogate one another.

So the performance of Jihād on the battlefield is

dependent upon the relative strength or weak-

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ness of the people of Islām and the Muslim coun-
tries. So if the Muslims are in a position of weak-
ness, then it is legislated to withhold from fight-
ing, show patience and worship Allah.

Look at the condition of the Prophet ()

and his Companions () whilst they were in
Makkah. They were oppressed, mocked, beaten,
boycotted and some were killed. Others had to
flee to Abyssinia for fear of their lives and to safe-
guard their religion. They did not fight and they
were not commanded to fight as they were weak
and unable. The Prophet himself was humiliated,
beaten, strangled and mocked yet still no-one
was commanded to fight an insurgency or carry
out assassinations!

Abdullāh () said: “While the Prophet was

prostrating near the Ka’bah in Makkah, he was
surrounded by some of the Quraish. ‘Uqbah bin
Abī Mu’ait brought the rotting abdominal con-
tents of a camel and threw them on the back on
the Prophet (). The Prophet did not raise
his head until his daughter Fātimah came hurry-

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ing and took it off his back and she supplicated
against ‘Uqbah.” The Prophet () himself
supplicated against the chiefs of Quraish who
caused much harm to the innocent Muslims. He
said: “O Allāh! Deal with the chiefs of Quraish,
Abu Jahl bin Hishām, ‘Utbah bin Rabī’ah, Shai-
bah bin Rabī’ah and Umayyah bin Khalaf.” 73

He did not call for their assassinations in Makkah,

or for an insurgency to be raised against them.
That was a time of weakness for the Muslims,
even though the Prophet () was among
them receiving Revelation. Years later, after the
migration to Madīnah when the Prophet
() was the head of state, and the Muslims
were able to fight due to their strength, they had
a ruler, a leadership, all four pagans were killed at
the battle of Badr when the two armies met.

Additionally, look at the authentic reports regard-

ing the descent of ‘Īsā (Jesus) the son of Maryam
() before the Last Hour. He will descend and

73 Bukhārī (no. 3854).

79 abukhadeejah.com
kill the Great Liar, the Dajjāl (Anti-Christ). ‘Īsā
() will rule by the Sunnah and Sharī’ah of the
Messenger Muhammad (). Then he will
pray behind a ruler from this Ummah. He will lead
the Muslims as their ruler. Then, when Gog and
Magog (Ya’jūj and Ma’jūj) appear with their great
corruption and killing in the land, Allāh will com-
mand ‘Isā () to flee:

“I have brought forth some creation of mine

against whom no-one will be able to fight. So
take my servants [O ‘Īsā] to safety in Mount
Tūr.” 74 Meaning: You do not have the strength to
fight them. The Prophet ‘Īsā () will be com-
manded not to confront them. So the affair re-
turns back to how the Messenger Muhammad
() and his Companions were in Makkah
when they were unable to fight, so they withheld
and some migrated to Abyssinia to safety, and
then to Madinah. So neither ‘Īsā () nor the
believing servants will fight in this particular situ-
ation due to their inability. This is how we follow

74 Muslim (no. 2937).

80 abukhadeejah.com
the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad
().

So one should not be surprised when he hears

the great scholars stating that the state of the
Muslims today in the affair of Jihād and fighting
resembles that of the Muslims in Makkah due to
their weakness. 75 Therefore, the Muslims, when in
a state of weakness, show patience just as the
Prophet () did in Makkah. This does not
mean that Makkan period holistically is applied
wherein a Muslim imagines therefore that there is
no Prayer, no Zakāh, no fasting, no hijāb, etc.

Rather, the issue here is specific to the weakness

of the Ummah in its inability to fight in each and
every situation on the battlefield behind a Muslim
ruler.

75 The weakness of the Muslims and their humiliation is

not due to lack of numbers as is cited in the hadīths of
Thawbān and Al-‘Irbād (). Rather it is due to their
sins, innovations, splitting and following desires.
81 abukhadeejah.com
One must not think that just because the Muslims
are too weak to fight or defend themselves at the
present time, they should therefore abandon the
rest of the Islamic duties such as the Prayer, char-
ity, fasting, Hajj, hijāb, etc. No at all. The preserva-
tion of Islām and the lives of the Muslims when
they are oppressed is given precedence over
their annihilation, and this is why the Prophet
() did not fight back in Makkah and ‘Īsā
() will be commanded to seek safety in
Mount Tūr. And know that the actual legislated
Jihād will remain in effect until the last Hour if the
conditions for it are met such as rulership, ability,
etc.

82 abukhadeejah.com
Conclusion
So, the ones who will raise the Ummah from its
troubles are those aided by Allah, they are Ahlus-
Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah, they are the Saved Sect,
Ahlul-Hadīth, the Aided Group, the Salafis, those
who follow the Path of the Salaf in every age and
place, the Strangers — they are one and the same
people, they are the true Rectifiers. They are the
brothers whom the Prophet () described
and desired to see, and they will drink from the
Lake on the Day of Resurrection. May Allāh make
us from them.

We ask Allah to grant us success to worship Him

(), and obey Him as He deserves―we ask
Him () to forgive us and show us His
mercy. And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of
the worlds. And may the peace and blessings of
Allah be upon the Messenger, his family, his
Companions and followers.

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