In the Name of Allaah, and may Allaah's peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah. This tape, a continuous series of fataawaa (rulings) of Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee, was recorded by Abu Laylaa al-Athharee on the 7th of Sha'baan in the year 1413, corresponding to the 31st of January 1993. Shaykh Naasir has addressed a series of questions sent by the youth from the United Arab Emirates; important questions which it is hoped will benefit the ummah.

Questioner: What do you say, O Shaykh, about those who claim that mercy should not be asked for those who contradict the belief of the salaf like Ibn Hajar and an-Nawawee, ibn Hazm and ibn al-Jawzee and those like them from the scholars of the past, as well as those modern leaders like Hasan al-Bannah and Sayyid Qutb, considering that you are familiar with what Hasan al-Bannah wrote in his book Muthakkiraat ad-Da'wah wad-Daa'iyah, and Sayyid Qutb in Fee Thilaal al-Qur'aan.

Shaykh Naasir: We believe that rahmah (mercy); that is, a statement supplicating to Allaah to have mercy upon someone; is permissible for any Muslim and forbidden for any disbeliever. This answer refers to the belief which is held in the soul of the individual. So whoever believes that those who were mentioned in the question and those similar to them are Muslims, then the answer is known from what was said previously; that is, it is permissible to make du'aa (supplication) for them that Allaah has mercy on them and forgives them. And whoever considers those mentioned in the question to be non-Muslims - may Allaah not let it be so - then asking for Allaah's mercy for them would not be permissible, because mercy has been made forbidden for the disbelievers. That is the response relative to what came in the question.

Questioner: They say that it was from the minhaj (methodology) of the salaf (pious predecessors) that they would not ask for mercy for the people of innovation. Consequently, since those who were mentioned in the original question are considered amongst the people of innovation (i.e. ahlul bid'ah), they do not ask for mercy for them.

Shaykh Naasir: We have already stated that mercy, or the supplication for mercy, is permissible for any Muslim, and not permissible for any non-Muslim. If that is correct, then the second question is without foundation. If it is not correct, then there is basis for discussion. Didn't those who have been labeled by some as among the people of innovation have salaatul janaazah prayed on them? It was from the belief of the salaf, which has been acquired by the khalaf (later generations), that we pray behind the righteous as well as the un-righteous. We also pray salaatul janaazah (funeral prayer) for any righteous or un-righteous Muslim. The disbeliever, on the other hand, has no salaatul janaazah performed for him. Therefore, those whom the question circulates around, whether or not they were among the people of innovation, should one pray salaatul janaazah for them or shouldn't one do so? I do not wish to get into a discussion on this unless I am forced to. If the answer as to whether one should pray salaatul janaazah on them or not is that one should, then the answer is finished. The subject has ended and there remains no place for conversation for the second question, as the grammarians would put it. If [you believe that] it is not acceptable to perform prayer for them, then the opportunity for discussion is open and it may proceed.

Questioner: If it is said that we do not pray for them because they are from among the innovators, what would your answer then be?

Shaykh Naasir: What is the evidence that you do not make salaah for them?

Questioner: They use as evidence the practice of the salaf and they make a distinction between sinful people and the innovators, who make innovations in the religion. The salaf did not used to make salaatul janaazah for the people of innovation, nor did they sit with them or have link with them. And on the basis of that, they made this claim.

Shaykh Naasir: What was the question?

Questioner: Whether we should make salaah for them or not.

Shaykh Naasir: No, you extended your answer to the question and missed the point. The question was “What was the evidence?” You mentioned the claim and the claim is not the same as evidence. And the claim was that salaatul janaazah should not be made for the innovating Muslim.

Questioner: There is no evidence, they only use as evidence the actions of the salaf.

Shaykh Naasir: Is the action of the salaf evidence?

Questioner: This is what they claim.

Shaykh Naasir: Where is the evidence for this evidence?

Questioner: The arguments are usually very general on this issue.

Shaykh Naasir: Didn’t the scholars of the salaf cut off certain individuals for some sin or innovation? Did that mean that they used to declare them disbelievers? No, it did not. Therefore, they ruled that they were Muslims. We do not have any in between position between the Muslim and the disbeliever. Either they are Muslims and treated as Muslims, or are disbelievers and are treated as such. We do not have any intermediary position, as claimed by the Mu‘tazilites, who say that there is a place between belief and disbelief. Furthermore, may Allaah bless you my brother, this is merely a claim; that is, that the salaf did not make funeral prayers for the innovators in general. It is merely a claim which has found its way into the minds of some people, the minds of some good people, who have taken on several issues with great enthusiasm, not accompanied by correct knowledge based on the statements of Allaah and the Messenger of Allaah. I have presented to you a reality which no two people will differ on. That is, that either the individual is a Muslim or that he is a disbeliever. And the Muslim, regardless of what his state is, has salaatul janaazah performed for him. In addition, his inheritance is distributed among the inheritors, his body is washed and shrouded, and he is buried in the burial place for Muslims. If he is not a Muslim, he is thrown like a seed, and buried in the graveyard for the disbelievers. We do not have any middle position.

However, if an individual person does not make salaatul janaazah for this Muslim, or some scholar does not do so for a Muslim, that does not indicate that salaah for this individual is not permissible. This means that the individual was trying to practice some wisdom and address some point, which could not be fulfilled by other than him. As in the case of the hadeeth, which you must remember, in which the Prophet (pbuh) had said in some of its narrations: “Make salaatul janaazah for this companion of yours.” The Prophet (pbuh) himself did not make salaah for the individual. What do you think? Is the Prophet (pbuh), who prevented himself from making salaatul janaazah for a Muslim, more significant or is a salafee scholar who refuses to pray on some Muslim more significant? The refusal of the Prophet (pbuh) is more important. If the Prophet’s refusal to pray for a Muslim does not indicate that prayer for that Muslim is prohibited, then obviously, the abandonment of the salaah by a scholar of the salaf does not indicate that one should not make salaatul janaazah for the individual. Furthermore, if it did indicate that salaah should not be performed for him, does that then mean that one cannot ask for Allaah’s mercy and forgiveness for the individual, considering that we believe that that individual is a Muslim? Briefly, the refusal of some of the scholars of the salaf to pray for some Muslims because of some of their innovations does not cancel the legality of salaah for every Muslim of the like. This is because this was from the general category of warning away from an evil and indicating to those similar to them the correct manners, as the Prophet (pbuh) had done with regards to that individual who he did not pray for. The only thing that was on him [i.e the man whom the Prophet (pbuh) refused to pray for] was that he died owing a debt for some part of the war booty which he had kept for himself. The refusal of the Prophet to pray for an individual, which is more important, as well as the refusal of some of the scholars of the salaf to do so, does not negate or cancel the legality of salaah for such individuals, that is, the innovating Muslims.

From here, there is a necessary research that needs to be done. It is just as necessary for us to know who the innovator (al-mubtadi‘) is as it is for us to know who the disbeliever is. There is a question which must be asked at this point. Does anyone who falls into disbelief through actions become a disbeliever? Likewise, does the label of “innovator” in its totality apply to anyone who falls into an act of innovation, or is that not the case? If the answer is that it is not the case, then we can continue to look into the subject. And if it is not clear, then it needs to be clarified. I will repeat the issue involved in this question with additional detail. What is an innovation? A new affair or a new action which contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). The one who does it does so desiring to increase his or her closeness to Allaah, may He be Blessed and Exalted. Does everyone who commits an innovation become an innovator?


Questioner: No.

Shaykh Naasir: Who then is the innovator?

Questioner: One to whom clear and convincing evidence has been brought and he insists on continuing to practice the innovation which he has committed.

Shaykh Naasir: Good. So those about whom it was stated that mercy should not be asked for them, was clear evidence brought to them? Allaah knows best. What then is the foundational principle regarding them; that they are Muslims or disbelievers? It is that they are Muslims. Therefore, it is permissible for one to seek for Allaah’s mercy to be on them. The foundational principle, again, is that we should be able to seek forgiveness or mercy for them. Isn’t that the case? Then the issue has ended.

It is not permissible for us to adopt a mathhab (school of thought) today in which we say that it is not permissible to request Allaah’s mercy for so-and-so, so-and-so, and so-and-so among Muslims in general, or even in particular, or with regards to the scholars amongst Muslims. Why? For two reasons, which will be a summary of what was previously said. The first reason is that they are Muslims. The second reason is that if it is that we know that they are innovators, we do not know that evidence has
been brought to them and that they insisted on following the innovation and continuing in their misguidance. Because of that, I say that among the grave mistakes today is that the young practicing Muslims who firmly hold on to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, according to their belief, fall into contradicting the Qur’aan and the Sunnah without realizing it. Consequently, according to their mathhab, it is my right to label them as innovators, because they have gone against the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. However, I would not go against my mathhab; the basic principle regarding their state is that they are Muslims, and that they are not intending the innovation, and that they are not rejecting clear evidence which is brought to them. Instead, we say that they have made a mistake while seeking what is correct. And if we realize this, we will escape from many of the affairs which are prevalent at this time.

From this very same situation is that group known as at-Takfeer wal-Hijrah, which was in Egypt. It spread its ideas, some of which reached Syria in the days when I was there, as well as today. And we had some brothers there who were on the path of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, who were salafees, who were affected by this false call and they abandoned prayer in congregation. Even salaatul jum‘ah was abandoned. They used to make salaah in their homes until we had a meeting with them. We had three different sittings. The first session was between Maghrib and ‘Ishaa, and they refused to pray behind us salafees. They said about myself, “We rely on your books”, and in spite of that, they would not pray behind me. Why? Because we did not label those who they declared as disbelievers the same way. The second sitting was in the midst of their headquarters, and the discussion continued until the middle of the night. However, some good signs began to appear, al-hamdulillaah, as they began to respond to our call to the truth. So when we announced and established the prayer at almost midnight, they prayed behind us. That was the second session. Regarding the third session, it continued from after salaatul ‘Ishaa all the way until the aathaan of Fajr. This was the decisive sitting, and they have been with us since then, which is close to twelve years. Al-hamdulillaah. All it had been was mere misunderstandings, which came to them due to the lack of fiqh (deep understanding) of the Allaah’s book and the Sunnah. Perhaps you can understand, brother Khaalid, that the fiqh of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah is not easy in our times today, after our inheritance of many different mathhabs and many, many sects in ‘aqeedah (belief) as well as in fiqh. Therefore, the new student of knowledge will not be able to guide them to the root of all of these differences until he goes through a very long period of study of what is now called al-fiqh al-muqaaran (comparative fiqh), and the study of the various evidences of those who have differed in the fundamental principles and the tertiary principles in the different schools of thought. In reality, it requires a long life, firstly. Secondly, it requires the guidance of the Lord of the worlds before Allaah enables the Muslim to actuate the call which the Messenger left as a sunnah for us to follow. He used to say in some of his night prayers, “O Allaah, guide me in those issues regarding the truth in which people have differed. Indeed, You guide whomsoever you wish to the straight path.” Because of all this, we advise our growing youths today, who are on the mathhab of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, to unite and contemplate matters carefully, and not to declare rulings based on some of the apparent meanings of the evidences. This is because it is not suitable for a Muslim to stop at every seemingly obvious ruling. Otherwise, we would end up living in a confused state of knowledge which has no ending to it.

I think you know that the mathhab which is closest to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah is the mathhab of the people of hadeeth. You know that the hadeeth scholars relied on narrations of some innovators if they were reliable, truthful, good narrators. This means that they did not include them among the group of disbelievers, nor among those on whom the seeking of mercy for is forbidden. In fact, there are leading scholars who are followed today, about whom no true Muslim scholar doubts that they are Muslims; people who are considered notable scholars. Despite that, they have contradicted the Qur’aan and the Sunnah and contradicted the position of the as-salaf as-saalih, in a number of issues. I mean by that, for example, an-Nu‘maan ibn Thaabit Abu Haneefah, may Allaah’s mercy be on him, who said that eemaan neither increases nor decreases. He also said that it is not permissible for a Muslim to say “I am a believer, inshaa’Allaah”. And if he says “inshaa’Allaah”, he is not a Muslim. There is no doubt that this is an innovative statement in the religion because it is in contradiction to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. However, he did not intend an innovation. He was seeking the truth but erred. Consequently, to open this avenue of doubt about the leading Muslim scholars of the ummah, whether they are amongst the salaf or the khalaf, is in contradiction to what the Muslims have followed. And our Lord, Allaah the Most Great and Glorious, has said in the Qur’aan: “Whoever goes against the Messenger after the evidence has been made clear to him and follows a path different than that of the Muslims, We will link him with whatever he has chosen. And We will put him in Hell, an evil return.”

I want to remind you of a reality on which there is no difference, and then I want to add to it something which the young people of our times are not thinking about. The reality is the statement of the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned in a number of hadeeths: “Whovever declares a Muslim to be a disbeliever has himself disbelieved.” This is a reality in which there is no doubt. The well-known additional clarification of this hadeeth is found in some of the other narrations. That is, if it is that the one who has been declared a disbeliever is in fact a disbeliever, then he is correct. Otherwise, the goes back to him. This does not require any research because the hadeeth is very clear. However, I would like to add to it saying that in the case of someone who declares a Muslim to be an innovator, it is either that the labeled Muslim is in fact an innovator, or the one who made the declaration is himself an innovator. This is the reality which I had said to you earlier: that our young people are declaring our scholars to be innovators and they are the ones who themselves have fallen into innovation. However, they do not know; they do not intend to commit innovation. In fact, they fight innovation. The following saying of the past applies to them: “Awradahaa Sa‘dun wa Sa‘dun mushtamil, maa haakatha yaa Sa‘du, tooradul ibil.” Because of that, we advise our youths to hold fast to acting according to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah within the bounds of their knowledge, and not to have the audacity to accuse others whose knowledge they cannot compare their knowledge to. Nor can they compare their understanding to these people, nor perhaps even their righteousness; that is, people like an-Nawawee and Haafith ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalaanee. Who in the Muslim world today in anywhere near these two? Leave Sayyid Qutb, because he is a regular individual. We praise him for his efforts, his jihaad, but this does not in any way change the fact that he was really only a writer. He had literary skills, but he was not a scholar. So there is no surprise that a number of things would come from him which contradict the correct methodology. As for those who were mentioned along with him, like an-Nawawee and ibn Hajar, it is wrong and oppressive to refer to them as being among the people of innovation. I know that they were amongst the Ash‘arites, but they did not intend to contradict the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. It is only that they mistakenly thought two things regarding the ‘aqeedah which they had inherited from the Ash‘arites. The first is that Imaam al-Ash‘aree actually held that position, when in fact, that was only his early position because he recanted his statement. And secondly, they mistakenly thought it to be correct, when it is in fact incorrect.

Also this second part is either from this same lecture or another lecture.

 

Questioner: Is it correct that the scholars of the salaf would not declare someone to be from Ahlus Sunnah; that is, on the minhaj of the salaf; unless he had the characteristics of Ahlus Sunnah? And if he innovated, or praised those who innovated, he would be considered among them? As the scholars of the salaf used to say that whoever says that Allaah is not above the heavens is a Jahmite.

Shaykh Naasir: There is some of that present, but do not forget what I said earlier. That does not mean that he is not a Muslim, as was exemplified in the Prophet’s (pbuh) refusal to make salaatul janaazah for the one who had taken some of the booty without permission or the one who killed. This was considered a part of the educating process, but it does not mean that he was not a Muslim. Another point is that the narrations from the salaf, if they are not in large amounts and are not all agreeing, it is not suitable to take from a few individuals, or an individual, among them a minhaj. Then that methodology becomes in contradiction to the practice of the salaf themselves. It is well known that a Muslim does not go outside the circle of Islaam because of a sin or innovation he has done. So if we find what contradicts this basic rule, we turn to what I mentioned from the earlier explanations: that this is from the avenue of cautioning and educating. Take, for example, Imaam al-Bukhaaree- and what could make us really understand who Imaam al-Bukhaaree was? Some of the scholars of hadeeth left Imaam al-Bukhaaree and did not narrate any narrations from him. Why? Because he used to make a distinction between one who said that “the Qur’aan is created”-such an individual would be a misguided innovator, a disbeliever, according to the different positions held by the scholars in their expressions- and between one who says “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”. Imaam Ahmad considered the one who says “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created” to be in the general category of the Jahmites. And based on that, some who came after the time of Imaam Ahmad made the judgement on al-Bukhaaree that one should not take narrations from him because he makes the same claim the Jahmites make. However, the Jahmites did not say “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”; they held that the Qur’aan itself was not the word of Allaah, but one of Allaah’s creations. What do we say concerning Imaam al-Bukhaaree who made this distinction and said that “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”, as well as the statement of a hadeeth scholar like Imaam Ahmad, who said that whoever says that “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created” is a Jahmite? It is not possible for us to say both statements are correct, except by making a correct interpretation which follows the basic rules. Before going on, I believe that you will make a distinction along with me between one who says “the Qur’aan is created” and one who says “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”. Correct? Then how would we respond to the statement of Imaam Ahmad when he said that whoever said “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created” is a Jahmite? There is no response except what I had mentioned to you: that it was a means of warning Muslims away from making a statement which could be used as a means by which the people of innovation and misguidance, the Jahmites, would promote their beliefs. This is because a person might say, in order to deceive those around him,“my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”, while meaning that the Qur’aan itself is created. That does not mean that every Muslim who makes this statement, that is, that “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”, has that same evil intention - like Imaam al-Bukhaaree. He is not in need of anyone to recommend him because Allaah Himself has already done so by making his book the most accepted book in the opinion of the masses of Muslims after the book of Allaah, in spite of whatever differences they have among themselves over other issues. Therefore, when he said “my recitation of the Qur’aan is created”, he intended something which is true. However, Imaam Ahmad, out of fear, said whoever said whatever is a such and such. Therefore, that should be considered in the category of a warning and not a principle of belief, a belief that whoever said so-and-so is actually a Jahmite. If we find in some of the statements of the scholars of the salaf rulings stating that one who falls into an innovation is in fact an innovator, it should be taken from the point of view that it is a statement of warning and not a statement of belief. Perhaps it is also suitable to mention on this occasion the well-known statement of Imaam Maalik: “The setting above is known, and how it is so is unknown, and asking about it is a form of innovation. So expel this man, for he is an innovator.” This famous narration took place in an occasion when a man came to Imaam Maalik and asked him about the rising above the throne, as regards to Allaah. Imaam Maalik responded, “The setting above is known, and how it is so is unknown, and asking about it is a form of innovation. So expel this man, for he is an innovator.” He did not become an innovator for merely asking about it; the man wanted to understand something. But Imaam Maalik feared that while questioning, he may make some statements which are against the belief of the salaf. So he told them to remove the man from the sitting. “Remove the man, for he is an innovator.” Look now how the means have differed. What do you think: if I or any other person of knowledge were asked the same thing by either the generality of Muslims or by specific groups amongst them who have more knowledge, do you think we should give the answer which Imaam Maalik gave? Would we tell the people to get him out of our gathering because he is an innovator? No. Why? Because the times are different. So the methods which were used in those times were acceptable then, but are not acceptable today because they will harm more than they will benefit. And we can add to this the principle of boycotting, which is known in Islaam. We are often asked, “So-and-so, a friend, doesn’t pray, he smokes, and he does this and that. Should we boycott him?” I say, “No, you should not boycott him because boycotting him is what he would like for you to do. Your boycotting him would not benefit him. In fact, it is the opposite, it would make him happy. And it would allow him to continue in his misguidance.” Not to mention, on this occasion, a Shaamee saying relative to a man who is corrupt and has abandoned prayer. This man repented and went to pray his first prayer in the masjid only to find the door of the masjid locked. His response to this was, “You’re closed, so I’ll drop the prayer.” That corrupt individual who has abandoned prayer, does he want the practicing Muslim to boycott him? This is just like the example- “You’re closed so I won’t bother to pray.” The [boycotted] man would similarly say, “I do not need his companionship; I do not want to be with him anyway.” This is because the companionship of the righteous with the corrupt prevents the latter from being free to do whatever he wants to do. The corrupt individual does not really want that. Thus, the boycotting of the un-righteous by the righteous is what the un-righteous prefers. Consequently, the Islaamically legal boycott is intended to fulfil a legal benefit, which is to teach that individual. So if the boycott in no way teaches him a lesson, but in fact, it increases him in misguidance on top of his already misguided state, in such a circumstance, boycotting is not applicable or appropriate. Consequently, today it is not suitable to imitate the methods used by the early scholars because they did so from a position of strength and the ability to prevent. Today look at the how the situation of Muslims is. They are weak in everything. Not only in the governments, but the individuals as well. The situation is as the Prophet (pbuh) described it when he said: “Islaam began as something strange and it will return again to become something strange, so give glad tidings to the Strangers.” He was asked, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He responded, “They are people who believed, a few righteous individuals amongst many people; those who disobey them are many more than those who obey them.” So if we open the door of boycotting and declaring people innovators, we may as well go and live in the mountains. What is obligatory on us today is to call to the way of our Lord with wise preaching and a good expression and discuss with them with that which is better.

Questioner: In order to complete the benefit of this issue, and it is an issue about which there is a number of questions today, I will mention that they say when we advise that we should not ask for Allaah’s mercy for them, the seeking mercy for them is not compulsory, it is a permissible thing. We’re not making haraam the seeking of mercy for them. We avoid it in order that there not be any form of praise and admiration for those people of innovation. Then those who we may not say are innovators, for example, but we just do not praise them or we do not refer to them as imaams, as leading scholars. For example, if a mention is made of an-Nawawee, we do not refer to him saying “Imaam an-Nawawee said”. Or they even avoid narrating from them, or relating certain statements to them, or attributing certain statements to them. Some of the brothers narrated some third hand narrations which are from some of these, and it was said to him, “How can you narrate from these people?” The (latter) are not like those mentioned earlier, like Ibn Hajar or an-Nawawee, but people like Sayyid Qutb or Muhammad Qutb. They say, “How can you narrate from these people and it is so well known that these people are not salafees? So you, as a salafee, if you narrate from them, you are praising them and giving the impression to people that they are salafees.” This is a way by which the up and coming fresh students would be fooled or misinformed about these people, or perhaps cause them to become like them in innovation and deviation and being far away from the correct path. Could you please make some comments on these statements?
Shaykh Naasir: I do not believe that this is their intention, first and foremost. And secondly, if this was in fact their intention, (I do not believe) that this is an acceptable method of educating people, or making them aware. These individuals that you referred to, do they read Fat-hul-Baaree, or do they not read it? Either of these two, if it is supposed, it would be considered error with regards to them. If they say we do not read it, where do they get their understanding for Saheeh al-Bukhaaree from? With regards to explanation as well as fiqh understanding, understanding from the point of view of the hadeeth, regarding the differences as well as the terminologies, etc., they will not find amongst the commentators on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree anywhere in the world a “salafee” according to their definition. If there is any commentary, it will be brief explanations of headings. As for the vast sea of knowledge contained open to anyone who opens it, it cannot be found in any of the books that have taken up the task of writing against it. In that case, they would lose a great amount of knowledge. If they meant by their statements to warn the masses of people away-warning people amongst the general things which they warn people away from- that they do not take benefit from the statements of this obvious imaam, scholar, they have lost knowledge. Even though it was possible for them to combine attaining what is good and preventing or avoiding what is harmful and corruptive, as was the way of the scholars. There is no scholar after the time of Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalaanee or an-Nawawee who could do without taking benefit from their commentaries on Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim. And as the scholars took benefit from the books of these two great scholars, in a number of issues, they are Ash‘arites and they contradicted the minhaj of the righteous forefathers; they were able to take knowledge from these two books. Taking knowledge benefited them and avoiding it was harmful. I fear what is behind these statements-these statements mentioned- that there’s a warning against warning from their books, in which case this would be a great loss. If they say, on the other hand, no, we do take benefit from their books and we read them and we confirm them, in which case, what is the benefit of these methods; wherein they’re refusing to ask for mercy for these scholars? They are Muslims, as we stated in the beginning of our talk. Furthermore, what is the benefit from their statement that they’re not saying that it is not permissible to ask for mercy for them, but we won’t ask mercy for them. Whyý? Because he has committed or made an innovation? As we said earlier, not everyone who makes an innovation is considered an innovator, and not everyone who does an act of disbelief becomes a disbeliever. That individual innovation has become confused to him and for the other, disbelief has also become confused, that is that they’re not clear acts of innovation or disbelief. That so-called precaution has no benefit. Furthermore, brother, the salafeeyah or the khalaf, did the scholars from whom we have inherited this righteous call, was this their position with regards to scholars? Was it like the position of this new group who claim salafeeyah? The opposite is the truth. They should be like those who preceded us to this righteous call.