ALBANIYYAH AND IKHWANIYYAH

A questioner on WhatsApp asked me about a post written by a Nigeria salafi leader, which is a fatwa of Sheikh Al-Albaani(Rahimahu Allah) concerning the evil of the Ikhwanul Muslimeen.

I said to him clearly that I am not a public relation officer of the Ikhwaan, which means I am not under any obligation to defend them or support those regarded as Ikhwanis. But I owe the pristine da’wah an explanation and clarification.

It is delusional to assume that Sheikh Al-Albaani’s view and opinion regarding Ikhwanul Muslimeen represent the true salafi understanding, while it is undisputable that those who turn salafiyyah into Hizbiyyah will always like to fish in trouble water and rely on the old verdict of Sheikh Al-Albaani with respect to Ikhwanul Muslimeen.

It is however puzzling for those who seek to justify their divisive tendency by fanning the amber of discord to rely on an old opinion of a scholar without recourse to other learned scholars of their contemporary and not necessary the students or those influenced by the opinion of the scholar they seek to shove down the throat of every Muslim as the only legitimate view of the salaf.

Those who spend their time trying to get everyone to accept sheikh Al-Albaani’s view as the legitimate and sancrosant consensus of the salaf are doing so out of insecurity, they are Hizbiyyah(partisanship) advocates but pretend to be preaching against Hizbiyyah while in action manifesting the trait of Hizbiyyah. The outcome of their Ikhwanophobia is evident in the bankruptcy of their so called Manhaj which results in continues splitting among their ranks as obvious in south-western Nigeria and other respected sheikhs of the Salafiyyah brand.

How could Sheikh Al-Albani’s call for wrangling among purveyors of Islamic resurgence in modern time be a basis for the legitimate view of the Salaf.

Sheikh Al-Albani’s view or those influenced by his thought cannot obliterate the Salafi view of Sheikh Muhammad Taqiudeen Hilali (1893-1987) or other Ahl sunnah scholars of Islamic discipline scattered across the Islamic world.

Sheikh Al-Albaani’s view is no more salafic than those of Sheikh Allamah Muhammad Khidr Hussain (1876- 1958) , Sheikh Allama Muhammad Bashir Al Ibrahimiyy (1889- 1965), Sheikh Mustapha Zarqa, Sheikh Mustapha Sibai, Sheikh Abu Hassan Ali Nadwi, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq, Sheikh Zuhair Shawish (former publisher of Sheikh Al-Albani’s books), Sheikh Shuaib Arnaut and many great scholars who are senior or colleagues to Sheikh Al-Albaani.

Isn’t it preposterous to limit Islamic views and scholarship to Sheikh Al-Albaani influenced students or scholars inclined to the thought of a particular region?!

The most unfortunate for those who seek to sow the seed of dispute among Ahl sunnah in Nigeria or southwest in particular is to keep relying on an old verdict of Sheikh Al-Albaani with respect to Ikhwanul Muslimeen without recourse to his later Fatwa of No 849 In the same silsilatul Hudan wa Nur!

The truth is clear and it is that established by the two divine. Any form of extremism on others must be shun.