Ideologies of Falsehood

by Shaykh Muhammad Nâsir ad-Dîn al-Albânî

http://www.islaam.net/
A number of ideologies which are not pure and correct are in circulation amongst the Muslims
today, and so there are many sects which spread the ideas of the Mu'tazila, Khawaarij, Shee'a,
and others. So it is necessary that the scholars establish the obligation of purifying these ideas so
as to present the correct form of Islaam to the people. An example of the incorrect idea
circulating amongst the Muslims today appeared in a book, whose author attributed the statement
, "it is not upon the women to make the Adhaan (call to prayer) nor the Iqaamah" to al-
Bukhaaree, and this is not true, and there are hundreds of such examples which are not part of
Islaam and which Islaam is free of.
And the obligation upon the scholars is to point out these mistakes, and this is what we mean by
(the term) tasfiyyah (purifying the Religion from all the spurious elements that have entered it),
but merely this is not enough, for with tasfiyyah comes tarbiyyah (educating and cultivating the
Muslims upon this purified Islaam). Many of those that pay (only) tarbiyyah attention are
actually cultivating their groups and members with ways of thinking that are connected to their
group, not their Islaam. So they colour their individuals with the ideology of the organisation
which does not represent the whole of Islaam, rather a minute part of it, when it is obligatory
upon them to embrace Islaam in it's totality. Some of them bring up their groups on a type of
worship which includes that which contradicts the Sunnah, such as their gathering on the night of
Jumu'ah to perform the night prayer, and this due only to the fact that they have not puri fied
their knowledge and so have not brought together both purification and cultivation - purifying
Islaam from the (spurious elements) that have entered it, and cultivating the Muslims upon this
purified Islaam so that the effect that Islaam has upon the people be as the effect it had when it
was first revealed. As what was the remedy for them (upon whom the Qur'aan was revealed), is a
remedy for all places and times - that is understanding the Qur'aan and Sunnah upon the way of
the Pious Predecessors.
There is no doubt that tasfiyyah and tarbiyyah requires an organisation. And I do know of
anyone who rejects the use of the word 'organisation', but what is rejected, and I am the first to
do so, is an organisation which is not built u pon these principles - tasfiyyah and tarbiyyah. And
it is beyond the ability of a single scholar to carry out this tasfiyyah and tarbiyyah, rather it needs
tens nay thousands to carry this out. I would hope that no one thinks that such a task can be
carried out by a single scholar, and that is because the scope of knowledge is huge, and tasfiyyah
needs to be carried out in all aspects of knowledge like fiqh, tafseer, language and Hadeeth. Each
scholar should work in their field of specialisation, as it is not possible for a person to make the
whole ummah accept his ideas. So there is a need for scholars to be here and there all upon a
unified methodology - upon the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and the understanding of the Pious
Predecessors. Those not among them should follow this methodology for the process of tasfiyyah
and tarbiyyah to go on. So when it is not possible for a (single) person to establish the obligation
of tasfiyyah, then how about when we consider that the obligation of tarbiyyah goes alongside it!
For if a scholar, in his village, wished to take it upon himself to purify the knowledge from the
strange things that had entered it, he would not then find the time to cultivate the people upon
this correct and pure Islaam, so it is necessary that he have assistants to receive this knowledge
and cultivate the people upon it. And in this way the obligation of tasfiyyah and tarbiyyah is
achieved as it should be.
As for (the option) of cultivating the individuals (by taking them) far from society, then this is a
pretty picture, it is similar to what is known as healthy isolation, but is it possible/realistic? And
where is this pure, untainted at mosphere? The problem with these people is that their Islamic
calls are far removed from a scholarly one or a down to earth one. The surroundings to which
Muhammad (SAW) was sent to were contaminated/infested (with shirk and kufr) yet he did not
call for leaving this surrounding, but after a long time, striving in da'wah he left to another
society in Madeenah, which one cannot say was purified one hundred percent.
Regarding Ahlus Sunnah in Lebanon the Shaykh said:
Generally we do not help any Islamic Group to arm themselves militarily before arming
themselves figuratively, this due to two reasons: scholarly and from experience. As for the
scholarly reason it lies in the verse, 'and prepare for them as best you can from strength', so in
this verse is a clear meaning, and an included meaning - and that is that the address is directed to
the true believers. So it is upon the groups that they understand this figurative arming before
anything else, and that is arming themselves with the correct understanding of Islaam, and to
carry it out as best they can taking into account the places (?). And one of the Callers to Islaam in
our time has said, 'establish the Islamic state in your hearts, and it will be established in your
land.' So it is necessary to establish the Islamic State first in ourselves, our sons and daughters,
and our daily transactions, so what is most important for the individuals is to realise the correct
faith in their lives.