Manhaj and Sects.

Q: What is the minhaj of the sect, like Khawarij, Asha'irah, Tableghi, etc.
In interested in Asha'irah, because i herd to my friend that according to Dr. Soliman Ashqar(Author of Islamic Creed) he said that they are also Ahlul Sunnah, only few details that i learned from their minhaj, and if u see they are not ahlul sunnah because of what they believe in attribution of Allah s.w.t Malish if I asked u cause i know u only give authenticted information.

A; All-Praise is due to Allah,

There are stern warnings narrated from the righteous salaf against sitting with and keeping company with the people of innovation and whims and desires.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Do not sit with people who follow whims and desires, for sitting with them sickens the heart. Tafseer al-Tabari (4/328).

Abu’l-Jawza’ said: Because sitting with pigs is dearer to me than sitting with any of those who follow their whims and desires. Al-Ibaanah by Ibn Battah (2/438).

Abu Qilaabah said: Do not sit with the people who follow their whims and desires, or talk with them, for I am not sure that they will not tempt you into their misguided ways or confuse you about what you know. Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’ (4/372).

al-Khawarej is a deviant group that strayed from the true religion. This group adopts a number of fundamentals that contradict what Ahl al-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah believe in. In other words, al-Khawarej believe that a person who commits a major sin is not a Muslim. In addition they speak evil of some companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and even believe that some companions are not Muslims. al-Khawarej do not believe that believers will see Allah, The Great and Almighty, in the Hereafter.
They also deny the stoning punishment in Islam and so on.
Thus, there is disagreement among scholars concerning this deviant group. The majority of Muslim scholars do not consider them as disbelievers. It is also reported from the Emir of the faithful Ali (Radiya Allahu Anhu) that al-Khawarej are not disbelievers.

(See Islam Web Fatwa: 84776 )

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said: the Khawaarij, it comprises of three aspects:
Firstly - Takfeer of the Muslims.

Secondly - Disobedience to the ruler.

Thirdly - Making permissible the blood of the Muslims.

This is the manhaj of the Khawaarij, and even if a person believed it in his heart and did not speak (with any of it) or did not act out any of it, he would still become a Khaarijee in his belief and opinion, which he did not express openly.
The ulemaa have differed as to whether the Khawaarij are disbelievers or merely deviants and sinners. And the opinion that they are disbelievers is closer to the truth since the proofs indicate that they are disbelievers. As for praying behind them then it is not permissible except when they gain authority over a nation, as has been mentioned by the ulemaa. In this case, the Muslim should pray behind them and not abandon the congregational prayers.

(See Al-Ijaabaat al-Muhimmah fee Mashaakil il-Mudlahimmah)


The Ash’aris are a sect that is named after Imam Abu’l-Hasan al-Ash’ari (may Allaah have mercy on him). Al-Ash’ari passed through three stages – as mentioned by Ibn Taymiyah in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 4/72 – which may be summed up as follows: a Mu’tazili stage; then following Ibn Kilaab; then following Ahl al-Sunnah, chiefly Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Al-Ash’ari clearly stated his final position in his three books: Risaalah ila Ahl al-Thaghr, Maqaalaat al-Islaamiyyeen, and al-Ibaanah. Whoever follows al-Ash’ari at this stage is in accordance with Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah in most issues. Whoever follows his path at the second stage is going against al-Ash’ari himself, and is going against Ahl al-Sunnah in many issues.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in al-Fataawa, 3/338:

Those later scholars who called themselves after Abu’l-Hasan al-Ash’ari were following the second of his stages of ‘aqeedah. They followed the method of misinterpreting most of the divine attributes, and this only affirmed the seven attributes mentioned in the following line of verse:

“Ever-Living, All-Knowing, Able (to do all things), He speaks, He wills, He hears and He sees.”

They also differed with Ahl al-Sunnah as to how these attributes are to be understood.

The Standing Committee issued a fatwa (no. 6606, vol. 3/220): The Ash’aris are not kuffaar, rather they erred in their interpretation of some of the Divine attributes.

Based on this, it is better for a Muslim to study Islamic knowledge and sharee’ah only with scholars who are well known for their knowledge and sound belief (‘aqeedah), and to keep away from those who follow bid’ah and go against Ahl al-Sunnah, including the Ash’aris. This is something that is easy to do – praise be to Allaah – because the means of learning have become readily available to all people. The knowledge of the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah is available through many means such as Islamic tapes, books, and leaflets; there are Islamic bulletin boards and sites on the internet, and many easy ways of accessing knowledge – praise be to Allaah. End of quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, These people who interpret the Qur’aan in this manner, whether they are called Ash’aris or some other name, have gone astray from the path of the righteous salaf. Not even one letter of what these people say in their misinterpretations has been narrated from the righteous salaf. Let them bring one word from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or from Abu Bakr, or ‘Umar, or ‘Uthmaan, or ‘Ali, to say that they interpreted Allaah’s hand as meaning His power, or that they interpreted His being above the Throne (istiwaa’) as referring to His Sovereignty, or that they interpreted His Face as meaning reward, or that they interpreted His love as meaning reward, etc. Let them produce one word from them to show that they interpreted these aayahs and similar verses in the manner that these people interpret them. If they cannot produce any such thing, let it be said that either the righteous salaf, headed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the leader of the pious, were unaware of the meaning of this tremendous ‘aqeedah (of Islam), or they did know it but they concealed the truth. But neither of these can be said of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or of any of the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs, or of his Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them). If that is the case then we have to follow their path (the path of the Prophet and the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs).

My advice to these people is to fear Allaah and to abandon what So and so said, and to come back to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and the way of the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs who came after him. They should know that there will come a Day when they will return to Allaah, when they will not be able to use the opinion of So and so as evidence. By Allaah, So and so will not be able to help them on that Day. End of quote.

(See Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, Kitaab al-‘Ilm, p. 226)

As for our brothers and sisters in Jam'aa At-Tableegh I think some people are to extreme when it comes to their views on them. They are still considered Ahuls Sunnah Wa jam'aah but there are a few Manhaj issues they have, and not all are upon the wrong Aqeedah because the ones that are in Saudi Arabia and a few other Arab countries follow the right Aqeedah. So in this case they are good people out for a good cause calling people to the Masaajid and encouraging them to the many Virtues in Islam. They are responsible of many entering into Islam and stopping Muslims from committing major sins and turning them into pious religious followers of the Deen. I have been told of stories about those whom where about to commit suicide and was convinced through the will of Allah by Tablighi's to stop this act. There are other that have been rehabilitated through the will of Allah by there consistent efforts of visiting them and calling them to Allah.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the Tablighi's and he said:

Usually in every issue there are two extremes and a middle way. Some people praise this group a great deal and encourage going out with them; others condemn them a great deal and warn against them more than they would warn you about a lion. And some people tread a middle path between those two extremes.

I think that there is some good in this group; they call others to Islam and have a clear influence that no other daa’iyahs have had. How many kaafirs have become believers at their hands, and how many evildoers has Allaah guided through them?

Moreover they have an attitude of humility and selflessness that is not found in many others.

Some people say that they have no knowledge of hadeeth, and so on.

They are undoubtedly good people, but I think that those of them who are in Saudi do not go to Pakistan or other countries, and we do not know anything about the ‘aqeedah of those people (in other countries) or their manhaj (methodology). But there is nothing wrong with the manhaj followed by our companions here in Saudi.

With regard to limiting da’wah to three or four days, or to two or four or six months, or two years, there is no shar’i evidence for that. But they think that this has to do with organization. If a person goes out for three days, and knows that he is limited to these three days, he will focus his mind and forget about worldly matters. This is the matter of organization, and is not an act of worship or a matter of sharee’ah.

I think, may Allaah bless you, that if you have the opportunity to seek knowledge then it is better to do that, because seeking knowledge is good and the people nowadays have a great need for scholars who have knowledge of the Sunnah and who are well-versed in knowledge. If you are not able to seek knowledge, and you go out with them in order to purify yourself, there is nothing wrong with that. There are many people whom Allaah has guided at their hands.

Al-Baab al-Maftooh, no. 10, P. 304.


Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
We are living in the desert. Some of us have settled here and some are working to earn a halaal income. A group from the Tableeghi Jama’at came to us, some of whom we know personally and are sure that their intentions are sincere, but they are not scholars; and some of them are scholars who call us to go out to the villages around us, and say that we should spend so many days or weeks or months doing that. We have not seen anything wrong with the dhikr circles that they hold. Is it permissible to listen to them or to go out with them to the neighbouring villages or outside the Kingdom (Saudi Arabia)?

He replied: If the people mentioned are known to have sound ‘aqeedah and knowledge and to be virtuous and good people, then there is nothing wrong with cooperating with them in calling people to Allaah and teaching and advising them, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever guides others to do something good, he will have a reward like that of the one who does it.”
May Allaah guide us all.

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh, 9/307

My advice is that it is not necessary to go out with these people nor one should condemn their effort in calling people to Islam. But bare in mind that there is a book that they make in English that is called Fadaail-A'amaal and this is a book I am strongly against and should not be read amongst others as a source to learn virtues from. It contains many weak and fabricated Hadiths also not to mention some things that contradict Aqeedah issues that may lead some one to misguided ways of worship. The Arabs from amongst the Tablighi's are allot better then the others, because they mainly read from Imaam An-Nawawi's book Riyaad As-Saaliheen. Thus this is a well know recommended book of Hadith about various Islamic virtues for one to benefit from and has been authenticated by Al-Albaani also been explained by Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen who produced amongst the best of commentary for this book.

Furthermore I personally think that one should not get caught up so much into learning about certain sects, there are allot more important issues for a Muslim to learn and they are the basic of Tawheed and Aqeedah. Know that following the Quran and authentic Sunnah is what assures a believer their upon the truth.

Al-Awza'i said: "Hold fast to the narrations of the Salaf, even if people abandon you. Beware of the opinions of men, no matter how much they beautify it with their speech, for indeed the matter will become manifest whilst you will be upon the correct straight path concerning it." ( Al-Madkhal ila al-Sunan of al-Bayhaqi, number 233)

Following the Allah and His Messenger and the Salaf (the Pious Predecessors which are the three generations whom came after the Prophet) is the only truth and guidance .

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah."

(Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa 2/899, and al-Haakim 1/93, from Ibn 'Abbass radiaalahu'anhu. Itand was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah no.1871).


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also described them in the following terms: “My ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one group.” They said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: “(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow.” This is mentioned in the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr which was recorded and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi (2641). It was also classed as hasan by al-‘Iraaqi in Ahkaam al-Qur’aan (3/432), al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej al-Ihya’ (3/284) and al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

This is the clearest sign that the Muslim can use to determine what is the saved group, so he should follow the way of the majority of scholars, those whom all the people testify are trustworthy and religiously-committed, and he should follow the way of the earlier scholars among the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and the four Imams and other scholars, and he should beware of every sect that differs from the main body of Muslims (jamaa’ah) by following innovation (bid’ah).

(See Islam Q&A Fatwa: 90112)

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said,
I think that Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah should unite even though they differ in the ways in which they understand those texts which may be interpreted in different ways. That is a matter in which there is room for differences, may Allaah be praised. What matters is harmony and unity. No doubt the enemies of Islam want the Muslims to be divided, whether they are enemies who express their enmity openly or they are enemies who make an outward display of friendliness towards Muslims and Islam, but that is not real. We must be distinguished by this characteristic which is the characteristic of the saved group, i.e., being united.

(Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il vol. 1, p. 38-41)

To sum it up the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and the people with the most knowledge of this guidance are the scholars of hadeeth, namely the righteous salaf. Those who follow them will be saved and those who go against them will be doomed.

And Allah knows best...