This advice was given by the Noble Shaykh Abdullaah an-Najmi today  the7th of al-Muharram 1435/ November 11th 2013 before he started his class “Explanation of The Three Fundamental Principles” with the community at Masjid Ahlil-Hadeeth Philadelphia PA.

Audio Recording: 

The Shaykh (may Allaah preserve him) stated:

All of the praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the creation. May the Salaah and Salaam be upon the best of all the creation of Allaah, his family, companions, their followers and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.

As to what follows:

Oh my noble brothers, we continue our class on the “Explanation of The Three Fundamental Principles” by the Imaam, al-Mujaddid (Reviver of the religion), Muhammad Ibn Abdil-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy upon him). Before that, I would like to advise myself and then my brothers for Allaah’s sake with some important pieces of advice. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) has advised us with them. The advice is that we should be brothers to one another in how we deal with each other. We should be those who love one another in that which is between us. Indeed loving one another for the sake of Allaah is the strongest bond of Eemaan (faith). As Allaah jalla wa alaa stated:

“The believers are nothing but brothers, therefore rectify the affairs between your brothers. And fear Allaah in order that you may receive mercy.” – Soorah al-Hujuraat: 10

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) stated:

“The strongest bond of faith is the love for the sake of Allaah and the hatred for the sake of Allaah.”

 The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) also stated:

“There are seven types of people who will be under the shade of Allaah on the day when there is no shade except for His shade…” Then he mentioned: “Two people who love each other for the sake of Allaah.  They come together upon it and separate upon it.” (Bukhaaree and Muslim)

 Allaah jallaa wa ‘alaa stated in al-Hadeeth al-Qudsee:

“My love is mandatory for those who love each other for My sake, visit each other for my sake and mutually exchange (that which is good) for My sake.”

There’s a tremendous virtue and status in Islaam for loving one another for the sake of Allaah. The noble companions have displayed the best examples in the matter of loving one another, as well as in brotherhood amongst themselves. Therefore my noble brothers how becoming/appropriate it would be for us that we are those who love one another (for the sake of Allaah).  How becoming/appropriate it would be for us that we are those who aid and support one another upon righteousness and piety. How becoming/appropriate it would be for us that we are those who advise one another with the good word and with beautiful mannerisms. Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned in the narration that’s on the authority of Tameem ad-Daaree (may Allaah be pleased with him):

“The religion is Naseehah.” The companions said: “For who oh Messenger of Allaah”? He said: “For Allaah, His book, His |Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” (Saheeh Muslim)

In the Hadeeth of Jareer Ibn Abdillaah al-Bajalee he mentioned:

“I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allaah to establish the Salaah, to pay the Zakaat and being sincere to every Muslim.”

From the right of a Muslim over his Muslim brother is that he advise him. When he sees that his brother has fallen into a mistake or a matter of opposition, he gives him advice. However the advice that you give to your beloved Muslim brother, person of sound Manhaj, the advice should be given in a good manner, privately between yourselves. The advice is not to be given publicly on websites and public forums online. Nor should it be by running the people away from your Muslim brother who is with you upon the correct, good Manhaj. We advise each other, however it is to be done with good words and good mannerisms. It is not to be done by publicly exposing the mistake and running people away from this brother. This is what is befitting to be between us. We have to be people who love one another (for the sake of Allaah) and who advise one another with good mannerisms. If a mistake takes place from your brother, advise him, give him the advice in a good manner. It is not to be done by publicizing his mistake, running the people away him and warning against him. We should meet one another as brothers, who are upon goodness and correct methodology, receiving our brother with a pleasant smile. Indeed this is from the good character of Islaam. Don’t look down upon any matter of goodness even if it is meeting your brother with a smile. Jareer ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Bajalee mentioned:

“The Prophet never prevented me from himself since I accepted Islaam, nor has he ever seen me except that he smiled at me.”

 Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned:

“Smiling in the face of your brother is a good deed.”

This is from the good character of Islaam that we observe with our brothers just as Allaah has stated:

“They are merciful amongst themselves.” – Soorah al-Fath: 29

The Da’wah (Call) of Ahlis-Sunnah is a Da’wah of Rahmah (Mercy). Allaah stated:

“And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the creation.” – Soorah al-Anbiyaa: 107

Allaah stated:

“By the mercy of Allaah you were gentle with them. And if you were harsh and stern with them they would have left from around you.” – Soorah Aali-‘Imraan: 159

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah mercy upon him) mentioned that: “Ahlus-Sunnah are those who have mercy upon the creation and follow the truth.”

We are to advise one another and cooperate with one another upon righteousness and piety. If someone from amongst us makes a mistake, we advise him with good mannerisms and good speech. If he remains upon his mistake and he views his position to be correct, there’s no harm that we contact the people of knowledge or the Mashaayikh of the Sunnah and present to them that which has occurred of problems and differing amongst us. The people of knowledge will direct us and advise us with that which they see to be sound and correct. We are to return to them and take their statements. This is what is required of us. As for each person tenaciously following his view and statement, speaking against his Muslim brother, who is one of sound Manhaj, this is incorrect. The matter could possibly reach the point where one begins to warn against his brother or may not greet him due to view which he could be correct in or wrong. This is an error and something that’s not correct oh my brothers. Ahlus Sunnah advise one another and cooperate with one another upon righteousness and piety. If one of them makes a mistake and his mistake is clear, he is to be advised. If he persists upon that, the matter is to be presented to the people of knowledge *when each person views that he is correct and the other  is wrong and the matter is one where it’s possible that the person can be correct or mistaken in. This in order to hear the advice and direction of the scholars (and they will establish who is correct or incorrect in the matter.* This is what is befitting to take place between us. Baarakallaah feekum. As for disputing and differing, the end result of that is failure. Allaah has stated:

“Do not differ with one another lest you fail and your strength leaves you.” – Soorah al-Anfaal: 46

From that which makes the enemies (of Islaam) happy is that there are differences between the people of the Sunnah, the people of sound Manhaj. This makes the enemies happy and causes weakness in the Da’wah of Ahlus-Sunnah.

I ask Allaah to gives us and you all the success.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

This is the end of the Shaykh’s advice to us all. Baarakallaah feekum. May Allaah make us amongst those who hear a good word and follow it.

NOTE: I called Shaykh Abdullaah an-Najmi and played the recording for him at this point due to there being some wording which was unclear to me. What I translated here is what he explained to me from the meaning of his speech may Allaah preserve him. The Shaykh then mentioned that our Ulamaa, the likes of Shaykh Rabee (may Allaah preserve him) and Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmi (may Allaah have mercy upon) have addressed this topic many times and we should return back to their speech. He stated that he hope that this advice will have a positive effect upon us all.

Translated by: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah, NYC, USA
On the 9th of Muharram 1435
(November 13th 2013)