Online Writer Traces Historical Roots of Salafism, Warns of Dangers Within

“Until God prepared for this Ummah Shaykh Muhammad Bin Abd-al-Wahab, may God have mercy upon him. God sent him to uphold the religion and to bring people back to the Salafi methodology by following the Book and the prophetic tradition and by rejecting heresy and aberrance.


On 1 November an online writer posted to a jihadist website, an article written by him entitled “Al-Jami and Al-Irja`i Thoughts, Their Danger on the Salafi Da`wah “. The article discusses the history of Salafism and how it stood the “fierce attacks and false accusations,” over centuries. The writer states that “The Salafi concept is not confined to ideological boarders nor is it bounded by a particular period of time. It is a concept which derives its strength from Koran, Prophetic tradition, and the understanding of the concepts and thoughts of the ancestor scholars of the ummah.” The writer warns against those who pretend to be “salafist, and claim that they are the protectors and defenders of the Salafi da`wah.”


A translation of the statement follows:


“Al-Jami and Al-Irja`i Thoughts, Their Danger on the Salafi Da`wah


“Written by Ahmad Bawadi


“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of God, prayers of God be upon him, his household and his companions. I witness that there is no god but God, and He has no partner. I witness that Muhammad is his worshiper and his Messenger.


“What distinguishes the Salafi da`wah (call) from other Islamic calls is that it calls for adhering to the Prophetic tradition and the Book (Koran) and practicing their teachings in the same way as the ancestors of the Ummah during the first benevolent centuries which the Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him described as: `the best of centuries is mine, then the one that follows.` The Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him also said: `Cling to my sunnah (tradition) and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me, even if it be with your teeth`


“This adherence to the Book and the prophetic tradition as a way to understand the ancestors of the Ummah granted it (Salfi da`wah) a strong rhetoric and argumentative power and a clear methodology with good reasoning that does not adopt matters without ascertaining. All that without resorting to odious fanaticism or lethal imitation


“Hence, it has been the right way and the pure destination of which whoever deviates shall perish


“Although this da`wah has been clear in its call for adherence to the Book, the tradition of the Prophet and to the methodology of his companions `, may God be pleased with them, it has not been spared from antagonism and suspicion.


“The first spark of revolt against this da`wah and of opposition to the thought of the companions and the scholars of the ummah was ignited after the death of the Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him. It was as a result of a misunderstanding by those who refused to pay Zakat (Alms) during the caliphate of (Abu Bakr) Al-Siddiq, may God be pleased with him. They understood the issue differently. They stuck to their beliefs and rejoiced over their interpretations without referring to the scholars of guidance and piety. It appeared that the Satan has found someone to spread his lies and fabrications for him.


“They interpret the Koranic verse: `Of their goods, take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily thy prayers are a source of security for them: And Allah is One Who heareth and knoweth` (Koranic verse, Al-Tawbah 9:103) as the following: `Almsgiving was ordained during the life of the Prophet, prayers and peace of God be upon him, so as to purify us, and now that he has passed away, we should not pay it.`


“They refrained from paying the alms and Satan made their misunderstanding seem alluring to them. They became obstinate with their ideas and followed their desires. Thus, God enlightened Al-Siddiq`s sight to fight them and defend the religion and the ideology of the Muslims. Through him, God aided the people of faith and monotheism.


“These were not the only challenges that faced this da`wah, for it has suffered and still suffering ordeals and difficulties.


“In addition to the sedition of those who refuse d to give alms, there was the sedition of the Kharijites who wanted to harm the Salafi da`wah. They started to invoke takfir (holding other Muslims as infidels.) They revolt against the just rulers who adhered to the Book and the prophetic tradition. They deemed shedding Muslims` blood permissible and accused others of apostasy. Therefore, the scholars of that time among the honorable companions fought them and debated with them to show them the truth. Some of them repented after the debate of Ibn-Abbas. The truth prevailed during the reign of Caliph Ali who fought the Shiite in the course of defending Islam and the call of monotheism.


“The companions and the caliphs died, however their call to adhere to the Book and the prophetic tradition did not die.


“The Umayyad Caliphate emerged, followed by several caliphates during which more countries joined the fold of Islam. This made it simple for the people to revolt against Muslims and to engage in seditions. Thus, the interpretations made by ignorant people proliferated.


“Sufism spread among people, and groups such as Al-Mu`tazilah, Al-Murji`ah and Al-Jahamiyah (Early Islam groups) emerged. Topics such as the attributed and names of God were raised, and the debate on the issue of the creation of Koran emerged.


“This was the case until God supported this da`wah with people who defended it and its sanctity in spite of the death, imprisonment, and banishment they suffered at the hands of the unjust rulers and the misguided scholars.


“However God supported this da`wah through peerless scholars who suffered a lot for the cause of this da`wah.


“Imam Ahmad (Bin Hanbal) stood like a high mountain, refusing to pronounce a word that might save him from the torture of those for the sake of upholding this da`wah and adhering to the Book and the prophetic tradition.


“Then came shaykh al-Islam, may God`s mercy be upon him, and his student Ibn-al-Qaym who strongly supported this da`wah. God granted them very soon victory and many people were guided by the efforts of Shaykh al-Islam and Ibn-al-Qaym the way God destined.


“The attacks against the Salafi da`wah were successive and each time it continued to defeat its enemies. Each time they wanted to exterminate this da`wah, God sent someone to renew their lives in this religion.


“The Ottoman Empire contributed largely in the war against this da`wah. The Ottoman era witnessed proliferation of errant practices such as worshiping the graves, and offering sacrifices to other than God. Infidelity was spread in many areas and a belief prevailed that harm and benefit are in the hands of other than God. Thus, the Muslim ummah regressed to the practices of the pre Islam era.


“Until God prepared for this Ummah Shaykh Muhammad Bin Abd-al-Wahab, may God have mercy upon him. God sent him to uphold the religion and to bring people back to the Salafi methodology by following the Book and the prophetic tradition and by rejecting heresy and aberrance.


“The Muslim scholars continued following in the footsteps of the Salafi da`wah ever since. Until some intruders came and tried to pretend to be among its adherents


“The Salafi da`wah stood the changes of time despite the fierce attacks and false accusations.


“The Salafi concept is not confined to ideological boarders nor is it bounded by a particular period of time. It is a concept which derives its strength from Koran, Prophetic tradition, and the understanding of the concepts and thoughts of the ancestor scholars of the ummah. It is more flexible than stringent. It is lenient without being weak and strong without being violent. Nowadays the Salafi call is facing more dangerous threats than before; therefore we should be careful while we call people for it.


“The enemies of the Salafi da`wah in the past were well known for their hatred of this concept and of their continuous attempts to show that it is incorrect and against Shari`ah. But the enemies of Salafi da`wah nowa d ays are pretending that they are Salafist, and claim that they are the protectors and defenders of the Salafi da`wah. Therefore do not be surprised if you hear them saying: `Praise be to God, we are Salafist.` This thing led to the introduction of some of the groups, parties, and concepts which are falsely affiliated to the Salafi da`wah, such as the so called Al-Jamiyyah or the corrupt Al-Marji`ah. These groups are claiming that they are defending the Salafi da`wah, but in real, these are desperate attempt by them to destroy and defame it. As a result of the attempts by these deviated groups and parties, the Salafi da`wah was divided into jihadist Salafism, moderate Salafism, and opposing Salafism.


“The modern Al-Jami and Al-Marji`ah concepts politicized the Salafi Da`wah to serve the enemies of the religion. They issued baseless fatwas using misinterpreted Koranic verses, and what our ancestors said. And even they are saying we should follow only Salafi people, to show that they are real Salafists. It is a word of truth meant for falsehood. Their methodology is based on generalization without conditioning. These groups issued many deceiving fatwas which permitted the enemies to shed the protected blood of Muslims under the pretext that they are oppressors. They aliened with the Jews and the Christians; they came up with innovations; they stalled jihad and they supported the enemies.


“Another group of preachers who thought of themselves as Salafist, knowingly or not, are tarnishing the image of Salafi da`wah. These scholars seemed to be of two faces like the coin, spending their lives turning over in the pockets of others. They exalt the people of innovation without verifying the truth. And the big tragedy is when the words of those people are spread widely, or when there is someone who defends their concepts. It was incumbent on these preachers to disavow such people, and to show the people of God their falsehoods and deceptions. The risk which lies behind this type of people is when they became affiliated to a (political) party or a group, and when people start to trust them and follow their ideas and thoughts. Then, this is will amount to a strong stab in the Salafi da`wah!


“For example, the concept of the Muslim Brotherhood or the concept of the Al-Tahrir (Liberation) Party differ from the concept of the Salafi da`wah, as the concepts of those people are based on their party`s principles, wherein the concept of the Salafi da`wah does not believe in imitation, and is based on the Koran, prophetic tradition, and the understanding of the Koran and prophetic tradition by our ancestors.


“The praise expressed by some for modern preachers such as Amr Khalid, Khalid al-Jafri, Hasan al-Banna, or other Muslim Brotherhood or the Al-Tahrir party , is a praise for the ideas and thoughts of this or that preacher. Some may invoke true words said by Al-Banna or Al-Hudaybi, but these scholars should not be praised in general without explaining their dangerous ideas or false beliefs which may deceive those who read them.


“Therefore, it is not right to adopt the ideas of the people of deviations and innovations without exposing their deviations and innovations. This is so in order to not mislead people into following them and to prevent straying away from our ancestors, may God be pleased with them all.


“Written by Ahmad Bawadi”