{An e-mail sent by Sheikh ‘Ali at-Tamimi regarding the Salafi cult…}

as-Salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu:

al-Hamdulillah was-Salatu was-Salamu ala Rasulillah:

Over the past few years I have written in this forum on a few occasions in defense of the aqida of Ahl as-Sunna from the onslaught of this contemporary movement of Irja’ that disguises itself as Salafiya. (Indeed, the fatwa by the Permanent Council last year against the book written by Murad Shukri refers to this group espousing Irja’ as calling themselves the Salafis of Jordan.)

The “rabid” (in reference to the hadith of the 73 groups which describes the spreading of desires amongst them as a person bitten by a rabid dog penetrating every joint and vein.) followers of this group in the West - many of them not possessing either knowledge of Arabic or sharia sciences - have over the years claimed many things about me: from forging Sh Ibn Baz’s signature to the Kuwaiti declaration (which I translated and read in the lecture entitled a Word of Advice to the Salafis of the UK) to more recently being an agent of the US government and an associate of Kabbani in fighting Ahl as-Sunna.

Many times brothers and sisters have contacted me asking me to defend myself and rebut these allegations. I would remind them that first of all none of us youth should defend himself as none of those involved - especially me - are of any importance to be a topic of discussion let alone to go about defending one’s self. Secondly, that we should be people of the manhaj of Ahl as-Sunna.

This manhaj means that we defend the aqeeda as it is aqeeda and not because it is esposued by certain personalities.

Secondly, this manhaj means that we recognize the truth because it is truth not because so and so said it. And hence we should double and redouble efforts in learning our religion.

Thirdly, part of this manhaj is not arguing with Ahl al-Bid’a. If we recognize that those who we are in dispute with are not from Ahl as-Sunna in these matters then we should not argue with them but rather present the truth clearly and with good manners (something which they do not display.)

Fourthly, it is only a matter of time before the truth becomes manifest. If we are upon the truth then we should be certain that this truth will become apparent as falsehood by Divine decree must vanish and only the truth must remain.

This latest fatwa by the Permanent Council against the book by al-Anbari is just further proof to the above and is part of a chain of evidences against this group. Among the more notable evidences:

1. Sh Bakr Abu Zaid’s letter against Sh Rabi’ al-Madkhali’s book against Sayyid Qutb in which he cautions Sh Rabi not to pass out his good deeds by twisting the words of the dead. 2. Sh Ibn Jibrin’s fatwa against Sh Rabi’s works against both Sayyid Qutb and Abdurrahman Abdulkhaliq in which he reminds us that Ibn Baz interceded for Sayyid Qutb that he not be executed. 3. The tape by Sh al-Albani regarding Sayyid Qutb in which Sh al-Albani mentions that parts of Sayyid Qutb’s tafseer where Divinely inspired and that all Salafis should read a chapter of Milestones and his description of Sh Rabi’s book against Sayyid Qutb (when a passage of which was read to him) as ignorance. 4. The econium of Sh Ibn Baz to the declaration of the Kuwaiti students of knowledge. 5. The econium of Sh Ibn Baz to Sh Abdurrahman Abdul-Khaliq’s book as-Sirat in which Sh Ibn baz calls for the printing and distribution of the book even though the book has a section entitled Tawhid al-Hukm. 6. The fatwa by The Permanent Council against Murad Shukri’s book Ihkam at-Taqrir describing the book as passing off the beliefs of the astray Murji’a as those of the Salaf and Ahl as-Sunna and calling its author and publisher (Ali al-Halabi) to repent and banning the distribution of the book. 7. The latest fatwa by The Permanent Council against al-Anbari’s book. 8. Sh al-Albani’s agreement with Sh Salman al-Awda’s distinction between al-Firqa an-Najiya and at-Ta’ifa al-Mansura. This issue which is one of ijtihad was used by Sh Rabi to write a whole book against Sh Salman. 9. The book al-Insaf by Sh Bakr Abu Zaid against this group’s attack of the scholars and the du’at.

And much, much more… which I have decided not to mention out of consideration of this already lengthy e-mail as it is.

Truly this group is as they have been described: They are Khawarij with regards to the du’at (preachers); Murji’a with regards to the rulers; Rafida with regards to the jamaa’at (Islamic groups); and Qadariya with regards to the Jews, Christians, and infidels.

I ask my brothers and sisters who have fallen into this fitna that they reconsider some of their positions and repent from these astray beliefs. I also request of my brothers and sisters who have been preserved from this fitna not to rejoice at the error of their brethren but rather to thank Allah for guiding them and use this opportunity to wisely and gently bring our brothers back to the truth. Let us not forget that the overwhelming majority of these brothers/sisters remain staunch supporters of tawhid and sunna who have been deluded into this fitna thinking that they are defending Allah’s religion. While in reality they are only defending a throne which cares less for them or their leaders. May Allah forgive us our transgressions and bring us to His Truth gently.

Akhookum,

Ali