The Trial of the so called Caliphate of ‘Iraaq - Sheikh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise is due to Allaah and may the peace and blessings be upon whom there is no Prophet after him, our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his companions, as to what proceeds.

Some years ago in ‘Iraaq a group that called itself the Islamic State of ‘Iraaq and Shaam¹ has emerged and they have become known by four letters (داعش).² And those who have taken its leadership, as those who have followed news about them mention, are many whose names are Abu so and so or Abu so and so the son of so and so, appellations which are ascribed to a particular country or tribe as is the state of those unknown who hide behind appellations and ascriptions³. And after some time passed with the war which occurred between the Syrian government and those who oppose them, groups of these fighters came who didn’t oppose the government. Rather, they fought Ahlus Sunnah (Sunnis) who were opposed to the government and slew them. And it has become widespread that they slay those who they wish to slay by using knives which is from the most loathsome and offensive ways in killing human beings⁴.

In the beginning of the current Ramadan⁵ they changed the name of their group to the Islamic State and their leader, who is called Abu Bakr Al-Baghdaadi, gave a sermon in the Mosul congregational Masjid and from that which he said in his sermon: “I was made your leader and I am not the best of you.” He is truthful in saying that he is not the best of them because if the murder those who were killed using knives came by his order or knowledge or permission he would be the worst of them because of the statement of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم): “Whoever calls to guidance he would have the reward like that of those who followed him and this does not decrease from their reward, an whoever calls toward misguidance he would have the sin like the sins of those who followed him and this would not decrease from their sins.”⁶

And that sentence which he said in that sermon was said by Abu Bakr As Sideeq (رضي الله عنه)  the first Khaleefah of Islaam after the Messenger of Allaah (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) and he was the best of this nation which is the best of nations. He (Abu Bakr As Sideeq) said this out of humility yet he and the companions knew that he was the best of them according to the evidences which showed such from the speech of the Messenger of Allaah ( صلّى الله عليه وسلّم).

That which is good for this group (the so-called Islamic State) is that they reconsider and to return to guidance before their state disappears in the wind similar to those which came before it in different eras.⁷

From what is saddening is that this trial of this so called Khalifah which has emerged some days ago has gained acceptance from some of the youth in the lands of the Haramain (Makkah and Madeenah). They have demonstrated their happiness because of it similar to the one who when thirsty becomes happy when he sees a mirage. And from them are those who believe that one must pledge allegiance to this unknown Khaleefah!⁸ How can one hope good from one who has been tested with Takfeer⁹ and with the most loathsome and severe types of murder? What is upon these youth is to reconsider racing toward the bray of every donkey¹⁰ and to return to everything to what has come from Allaah and His Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) because upon doing this there is safety in this world and the hereafter. And also they should return to the trustworthy Scholars who can advise them and the Muslims.¹¹ And from the examples of those have been saved from misguidance, after contemplating it, because they returned to the people of knowledge is what Muslim narrated in his authentic collection on the authority of Yazeed Al-Faqeer he said:

“The view of the Khawarij (i.e. those who commit major sins and would be eternally doomed to Hell) had obsessed me, and we set out in a large group intending to perform the hajj and to preach to the people (for the propagation of the views of the Khawarij).

He (the narrator) said:

We happened to pass by Medina and found Jabir bin 'Abdullah sitting near a column narrating to the people (the Ahadith of) the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم). When he mentioned the inhabitants of Hell, I said: O companion of the Messenger of Allaah what is this that you narrate, whereas Allaah says: “Verily whomsoever Thou shall commit to the Fire, you indeed have humiliated him” (Al-Qur'aan,3:192) ; and “All those who are trying to get out of it (the Hell-Fire) would be thrown back into it” (Al- Qur'aan, 33:20)? So what is it that you say? He said: Have you read the Qur'aan? I said: Yes. He said: Have you heard about the (exalted) position of Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم), i. e. to which Allaah would raise him? I said: Yes. He said: Verily the position of Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) is that of great glory and that is by which Allaah would bring out whomsoever He would wish to bring out. He then described the Path (the Bridge) and the passing of the people over it, and said: I am afraid I may not have remembered (other things) but this much is still in my memory that people would come out of the Hell after having gone into it, and he said: They would come out of it as if they were the wood of the ebony tree. He (the narrator said) They would enter a river, one or the rivers of Paradise, and would bathe in it, and then come out as if they were (white like) paper. We then turned back and said: Woe be upon you! How can this old man tell a lie against the Messenger of Allaah (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم)? We turned back (from the views of the Khawarij), and by Allaah every one of us abandoned this except one man. A similar saying has been made by Abu Nu’aim.¹²

Abu Nu’aim he is Fadl Ibn Dakeen and he is one of the men in the chain of narrators. And he is showing that this group was amazed with the ideology of the Khawarij regarding calling the one who does major sins a disbeliever in addition to believing that he would remain in the fire forever. And they renounced this ideology after Hajj. And this is from the greatest of benefits for the Muslim when he returns to the people of knowledge.

From that which demonstrates the danger of extremism in the religion and deviation from the truth and opposing that which Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah were upon is his statement (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) from a Hadeeth narrated by Hudhaifah (رضي الله عنه): "Verily that which I fear most for you is a man who reads the Qur’aan, until its beauty is seen upon up and he becomes a strength for Islaam. He then detaches himself from it and throws it behind his back. And he then goes to his neighbour (to fight him) with the sword and accuses him of making partners with Allaah. I said: O Messenger of Allaah which one is most deserving of being accused of Shirk the accuser or the one who is accused? He said: "Rather the accuser". Imaam Al-Bukhaari narrated it in his history¹³ and Abu Ya’la narrated it as well as Ibn Hibbaan and Al-Bazzaar. Look at the Saheehah of Al-Albani (3201).

And with youth there is usually lack of understanding, that which demonstrates this is what Al-Bukhaari narrated in his authentic collection with his chain of narration to Hishaam Ibn ‘Urwah on the authority of his father that he said: "I said to `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet رضي الله عنها, and I was at that time a young boy, "How do you interpret the Statement of Allaah: "Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allaah." So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj (to the House of Allaah) or perform the Umra, to ambulate (make Tawaf) between them. In my opinion it is not sinful for one not to ambulate between them.” `Aisha said, "Your interpretation is wrong for as you say, the Verse should have been: “So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj or Umra to the House, not to ambulate between them.” This Verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who (during the Pre-Islamic Period) used to visit Manat (i.e. an idol) after assuming their Ihram, and it was situated near Qudaid (i.e. a place at Mecca), and they used to regard it sinful to ambulate between Safa and Marwa after embracing Islam. When Islam came, they asked Allaah's Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) about it, whereupon Allaah revealed:

"Verily, As-Safaa and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allaah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage) of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawaaf) between them (As-Safaa and Al-Marwah). And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allaah is All-Recogniser, All-Knower."

(2.158)¹⁴

And ‘Urwah Ibn Zubair is from the best of the Tabi’een (students of the Sahabah) and he is from the seven scholars of Fiqh in Madeenah who lived during the times of the Taabi’een. And he excused himself for his incorrect understating stating that at the time when he asked that he was young. And this is clear that youth is usually accompanied with incorrect understanding and that returning to the people of knowledge leads to good and safety.

And in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari on the authority of Jundub Ibn ‘Abdillah (رضي الله عنه):

"The first thing the human body should purify is the Abdomen, so he who can eat nothing but good food (Halal and earned lawfully) should do so, and whoever is capable of nothing coming between him and Paradise by not shedding even a handful of blood, (i.e. murdering) should do so."¹⁵

Al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajar) said in Fathul Baari (13/130): "And it has occurred from the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) according to Tabarani also by the way of Isma’eel Ibn Muslim, on the authority of Hasan on the authority of Jundub: "You know that I heard the Messenger of Allaah  (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ) say: "Don’t let there be a barrier between yourselves and Jannah and he has a handful of blood from a Muslim without right". Even if it is not narrated straight from the Prophet it has its ruling because it does not emanate from opinion. And it is a stern threat to the one who kills a Muslim without right."

And these Ahadeeth and narrations have been put forward by myself in the treatise: “By which intellect and religion can bombings and destruction be called Jihaad? Woe to you, wake up O Youth,” and in it there are several verses and Ahadeeth and narrations showing the illegality of killing oneself and others without right. And I have published this single treatise in the year 1424 A.H. And I published it with another treatise called: “Advice and admonition to those who have been tried with Takfeer and bombings” with the collection of my books and treatises.

And it is upon these youth who have raced behind the leader of this group to recheck themselves and return to righteousness and to not contemplate upon joining them thereby leaving this life with suicide belts which they wear or through being murdered using knives which is something that distinguishes this group. And it is upon them to hear and obey the Sau’di government¹⁶ which they, their fathers and their grandfathers have lives under their rule safely. And it is truthfully the best (Muslim) country in the world with what it has from faults, ¹⁷ the greatest of them being the trial of those who are westernised in these countries who pant behind blind following the west in everything which brings about harm.

And I ask Allaah to rectify the situation of the Muslims everywhere and to guide their youth to all which is good and to preserve the country of the two Harams, its rulers and its people from all evil. And to guide it toward that which is good and to protect it from the evil of those who are evil and the plans of the sinners. He is the one who answers all prayers. And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

Translation and Footnotes by: Musa Millington
  Click to view source

---------------------------

1 Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan

2 Dawlah Islaameeyah Lil ‘Iraaq Wa Shaam (the Islamic State of ‘Iraaq and Shaam) now just called IS (Islamic State)

3 Meaning their real names and the names of their fathers remain unknown to most people.

4 They have displayed this proudly on video where they cut the necks of their opposers with knives that may be

used to cut goats and sheep.

5 This was written recently by the Shaikh.

6 Saheeh Muslim: 6804

7 Benefit: There have been many groups who have claimed the Caliphate for themselves before such as the

Ahmadeeyah who are disbelievers, the twelver Shias (such as the Fatimids), the Sufis and other than them.

However, a claim is simply a claim unless supported by evidence.

8 The background of this man called Abu Bakr Al Baghdaadi is itself dubious and those who have appointed him as

Khaleefah are unknown. One wonders where are the intellects of those who follow them.

9 Calling the Muslims Kuffar.

10 نعيق كل ناعق is a very general expression. It can mean the crow of every cock, the braying of every donkey etc.

11 This is their major problem. Not ONE scholar from Ahlus Sunnah has endorsed this foolishness and it resembles

the statement of Ibn ‘Abbas wherein he said to the Khawarij: "I came here from a gathering of the companions

and I don’t see one of them amongst you". They even call the scholars disbelievers and hypocrites and therefore

do not reconsider their stances.

12 Saheeh Muslim

13 Called the history of Baghdaad

14 Saheeh Bukhari: 4497

15 Ibid: 7152

16 Although this was written specifically for Saudis it is also a general advice for all the youths who think about

joining this group.

17 For those who have travelled throughout Muslim countries they would recognize this. The country of the two

Harams is the only Muslim country where graves are not worshipped and where the correct ‘Aqeedah is

widespread among the people and where the books of the Righteous Predecessors are taught.