Sheik Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albani, may Allah have mercy
on him, was asked:
Sheik I work in an Islamic tape store, and I am curious as regards the responsibility one would hold
(or the appropriateness) of selling and distributing tapes for some people who do not follow the Salafi Manhaj...for example
for people who are related to political groups which are present today, such as the Ikhwaanis and Tableegh and their likes.
Some brothers gave me a verdict concerning this that I should not distribute or record their tapes at all. Whereas some others
said that I should choose the good and appropriate tapes which contain no conflicts with the
Shari'ah or the Manhaj of
the Salaf...I am quite confused regarding this issue...I ask Allah, the Exalted, to remove this confusion, by your Fatwa...Jazaak
Allah.
The Sheik, may Allah have mercy on him answered: There is no doubt that the second opinion which you mentioned
is the correct opinion; for indeed the Hikmah (wisdom) is a thing which the believer seeks most, wherever he hears it...he
takes it. Even though this Hadeeth is a weak Hadeeth; it is enough for us that it can be counted as a few words of wisdom,
which we can then apply...and we do not fanatically become enthusiastic to our Madth'hab as the other followers of the
other Madhaahib have done.
We are the followers of the truth, wherever this truth is, and from
wherever it comes
from...the Hikmah is the thing the believer seeks most, wherever he finds it, he takes it. So if you happen to come across
an article or a research for a person who is associated with one of those groups, which with great sorrow, do
not follow
the Salafi Manhaj, but in it you find a reminder which
reminds you of some Ayat, and some authentic Hadeeth, there is
no reason not to distribute these researches, whether it be an audio cassette, as long as there is nothing in it which conflicts
with the Qur'an and Sunnah,
and the Manhaj of the pious predecessors.
This is a problem (which we face today) which
is not just focused on audio matter...rather it goes beyond that to written works, which are more widespread than audio tapes.
So is it correct or appropriate for the distributor of the books, or the salesperson to print and to sell what is not in accordance
to the Salafi Manhaj? The answer...it is almost impossible for any book to be completely free from any type of conflicting
statement, rather we should consider the following two points (when
considering a cassette or written material):
1.
The first thing that the audio tape or written book should not be
calling to the wrong Manhaj (i.e. a Manhaj other than
the Manhaj of the
Salaf as-Saalih).
2. That the truth (correct issues) are more than the incorrect ones.
Imam
Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 'There is no person
amongst us, except that his statement would be rejected
(or taken) except
for the one in this grave.'
Therefore the printing and distribution of audio cassettes and books
should be scrutinized in light of the two above points.
If then, you are asking about an audio cassette that does
not conflict
with the Salafi Manhaj, I do not see any reason, whatsoever for
preventing the distribution of this sort
of audio material, (it should not be
prevented) just because the one speaking is not on the Salafi Manhaj,
such that
he is a Khalafi, or a Hizbee, or their likes.
This is what the knowledge necessitates, what the fairness
necessitates,
and what the attempt of gathering between the differences between the
different Jama'ah (groups) of today necessitates.
This in summary is my
answer to your question.
The Sheik, may Allah have mercy on him, was further asked: Some
of
those who say that all audio material for those who are not on the Salafi
Manhaj should be prevented, say that
distributing a tape for those
people would be like giving Tazkiyyah to their Manhaj, and would point to
the fact that
we are happy and pleased (with their Manhaj) and all that
say in those tapes...whether correct or incorrect.
The
Sheik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I believe that the above
statement contains a certain extent of exaggeration.
If we assume that
a person wrote a research or a booklet in which he gathered the Hadeeth
pertaining to the Dhikr
(to be said throughout the day and night), from
Saheeh al-Bukhari...and he is not a Salafi...What is the veracity of
the
above statement on this booklet or research? And what is the link
between distributing this booklet and supporting his
Manhaj?
NO, rather we support our Manhaj by distributing his booklet, because
he compiled his booklet in light of
our method, by choosing the
authentic Hadeeth. I believe that the above statement contains a certain extent
exaggeration.
And Allah knows best.
We ask Allah to have mercy on the Sheik, and to admit him into the
highest Level of
Jannah...Jannah al-Firdaws. Ameen.