A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI AS-SUFI AL-ASHARI

Part 5: Let The Spinners Spin!
Introduction 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Let The Spinners Spin! 5.3 Birthday Celebrations 5.4 Mawlid an-Nabawi is bidah 5.5 Making dhikr in unison is also bidah 5.6 Conclusion

A Five Part series highlighting the misguidance and heretical views of the deviant Sufi Afroz Ali with screenshots of his statements made in cyberspace. With fatwas and additional points of benefit from the various scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah.
by Abdul Hakeem Laughton and some of the brothers from New Zealand
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5.1 INTRODUCTION
Afroz Ali is a Sufi criminal and is wanted for his involvement in continuous spreading of bidah to Muslim communities in New Zealand and Australia. Afroz is believed to be residing in Sydney where he has ties. We do not advise approaching this individual because he is armed with shubahat (doubts) and is dangerous. This is the last part of our 5 part series refuting the Sufi/Asha'ari innovator Afroz Ali. Those who want to know more about this deviant can refer to the previous articles which can be found at the following link http://www.salafidawah.co.nz/library/useful-resources/deviant-groups/ Afroz Ali seems to have a real appetite for bidah and needs many innovations to fulfil his cravings. Another example of this is his support of foolish Sufi's who spin in circles like ballerina's and in his own deviant words he states, let the spinners spin!" In other words let the Sufi's do their bidah!

5.2 LET THE SPINNERS SPIN! SAYS AFROZ

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Afroz says, Its just not cricket, to suggest that this type of dhikr is unislamic/ takes one out of the fold of Islam, etc, purely on the basis that it is not explicitly and descriptively prescribed. Where did anyone say that this dhikr takes someone outside the fold of Islam? Afroz wants to say what is and isn't cricket while this false accusation is definitely not cricket. The Prophet salaAllahu 'alaiyhe wasalam said in a hadeeth reported by Ayesha, "He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected." Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim And in one version by Muslim it says "He who does an act which our matter is not [in agreement] with will have it rejected." Afroz said, Could someone, outline to me, based on the Qur'an and Sunnah, the explicit methodolgy of Dhikr that would be stipulated in the Qur'an?

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Allah said verily in the Messenger you have an excellent example. We do those acts of dhikr that the Prophet salaAllahu 'alaiyhe wasalam did. As for doing other acts that have been newly-invented and calling them dhikr then this is not acceptable and is innovation. Therefore anyone who chants hu hu hu hee hee hee and haaa haa haaa with the claim that this is dhikr will be performing an act of bidah because the Prophet salaAllahu 'alaiyhe waslaam didn't do it. This is something very basic but Afroz seems to have some type of zeal for bidah. There is so many ways of making dhikr in the Sunnah without any need to spin in circles like ballerinas. Afroz says, The rule of thumb of "all forms of Ibadah are prohibited unless specified" has been wrongly used in this thread to suggest that the spin is unacceptable. This rule would work on the particular topic if one can highlight the rules of Dhikr. The fact is that Dhikr is a highly virtuous act. How it is to be done is the question here. We do dhikr according to what is found in the Sunnah of the Prophet salaAllahu 'alaiyhe wasalam with the understanding of the Companions, Imaams of the Salaf and those who followed them. Whoever makes up their own acts of worship that have no basis in the Sunnah is doing bidah. Afroz says, A quick, possibly an oversimplistic example is that Salaat is a permitted form of Ibadah. Its times are prescribed, as well as the Fard, Sunnah and Nafl aspects. So if someone performs salaat outside these times, e.g., 2 rakat nafl at 2pm, does this constitute a prohibited act?? Of course not, by virtue of the fact that Salaat is a prescribed form of Ibadah and that nafl Salaat is permitted any time, generally, and that specific times are STIPULATED when it is not permitted to perform any Salaat. The act of salah already has a basis in the sharee'ah as for the spin it has no basis so this qiyaas (analogy) is false. So it doesn't matter what time you want to spin like a ballerina it is bidah because it has no basis to begin with. Afroz says, If you can, let us start from any prescribed method of Dhikr, or any probibition on Dhikr, that have been stipulated. But if no one can direct us to such a Guidance or Injunction, then let the spinners spin. According to this corrupted principle of Afroz then many forms of worship could be invented and justified and everyone could make up their own acts of worship. The Permament Committee was asked, Q 6: There is a group of righteous and devout people who gather at a certain time and listen to verses talking about love of Allah and other themes. Some of those in attendance may feel ecstasy and start whirling, others may scream and cry out, and others may lose consciousness. Are these acts Makruh (disliked) or not? A: ecstasy and Whirling are Sufi Bid`ahs (innovations in religion). Thus, it is not permissible for Muslims to join or imitate those who practice such Bid`ahs.

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May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions. Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Member Bakr Abu Zayd Member Salih Al-Fawzan Deputy Chairman `Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh Chairman `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

We encourage Afroz to visit www.bidah.com and educate himself on this subject.

(5.3) BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Afroz believes it is allowed for Muslims to celebrate their birthdays. This is clearly imitating the ways of the non Muslims. Aboo Sa'eed al-Khudree (radiAllaahu 'anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: You will certainly follow the sanan (way) of those who came before you, like the feather (of the arrow) exactly resembles the feather - such that if they were to enter the hole of a lizard, you would certainly enter it. They said: O Messenger of Allaah! The Jews and the Christians? He said: Who else? [Bukhari, Muslim]

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Question: What is the ruling on organising celebrations for the birthdays of children or for wedding anniversaries? Answer: There are no celebrations in Islaam except Friday the weekly Eid, the first day of Shawwal Eidal-Adha. The day of Arafah might be called an Eid for those who are at Arafah on that day, and the days of Tashreeq, following Eidul-Adha. As for birthday celebrations for a person or his children, or wedding anniversaries or the like, none of them are legislated and they are closer to being innovations than to being allowed. Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen Fatawa Arkanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, p265

(5.4) MAWLID AN-NABAWI IS BIDAH

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Ruling on Celebrating Prophet's Birthday, with Scholarly Refutation of the arguments brought by those who support it, by Shaykh Dr. Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) Praise be to Allaah the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions. The commands mentioned in the Qur'aan and Sunnah to follow the laws of Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and the prohibitions on introducing innovations into the religion are quite clear. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins.'" [Aal 'Imraan 3:31] "Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur'aan and Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah), and follow not any Awliyaa' (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allaah), besides Him (Allaah). Little do you remember!" [al-A'raaf 7:3] "And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path." [al-A'naam 6:153] And the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "The most truthful of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, and the most evil of things are those which are newly-invented." And he (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 2697; Muslim, no. 1718). According to a version narrated by Muslim, "Whoever doe anything that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected." Among the reprehensible innovations that people have invented is the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in the month of Rabee' al-Awwal. They celebrate this occasion in various ways: Some of them simply make it an occasion to gather and read the story of the Mawlid, then they present speeches and qaseedahs (odes) for this occasion. Some of them make food and sweets etc., and offer them to the people present. Some of them hold these celebrations in the mosques, and some of them hold them in their houses. Some people do not limit themselves to the actions mentioned above; they include in these gatherings haraam and reprehensible things, such as free mixing of men and women, dancing and singing, or committing actions of shirk such as seeking the help of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), calling upon him, seeking his support against their enemies and so on. Whatever form it takes and whatever the intentions of those who do this are, there is no doubt

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM whatsoever that it is an invented, haraam innovation which was introduced by the Shi'a Faatimids after the three best centuries, in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. The first person to do this after them was the king al-Muzaffar Abu Sa'eed Kawkaboori, the king of Irbil, at the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century AH, as was mentioned by the historians such as Ibn Khalkaan and others. Abu Shaamah said: the first person to do that in Mosul was Shaykh 'Umar ibn Muhammad al-Malaa, one of the well-known righteous people. Then the ruler of Irbil and others followed his example. Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah wa'l-Nihaayah (13/137), in his biography of Abu Sa'eed Kazkaboori: "He used to observe the Mawlid in Rabee' al-Awwal and hold a huge celebration on that occasion... some of those who were present at the feast of al-Muzaffar on some occasions of the Mawlid said that he used to offer in the feast five thousand grilled heads of sheep, ten thousand chickens and one hundred thousand large dishes, and thirty trays of sweets... he would let the Sufis sing from Zuhr until Fajr, and he himself would dance with them." Ibn Khalkaan said in Wafiyaat al-A'yaan (3/274): "When it is the first of Safar they decorate those domes with various kinds of fancy adornments, and in every dome there sits a group of singers and a group of puppeteers and players of musical instruments, and they do not leave any one of those domes without setting up a group (of performers) there. The people give up work during this period, and they do no work except going around and watching the entertainment. When there are two days to go until the Mawlid, they bring out a large number of camels, cows and sheep, more than can be described, and they accompany them with all the drums, songs and musical instruments that they have, until they bring them to the square... On the night of the Mawlid there are performances of nasheed after Maghrib in the citadel." This is the origin of this celebration on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday. More recently idle entertainment, extravagance, and wasting of money and time have become associated with an innovation for which Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) has not sent down any authority. quote: What Muslims should do is revive the Sunnah and put an end to bid'ah (innovation); they should not do any action until they know the ruling of Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) concerning it.

Reasons for the Forbiddance of celebrating the Prophet's birthday Celebrating the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is forbidden and is to be rejected for a number of reasons: 1 - It is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or of the khaleefahs who succeeded him. Since this is the case, then it is a forbidden innovation, because the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightlyguided khaleefahs after me; adhere to it and cling to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly-invented thing is an innovation (bid'ah) and every innovation is a

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM going astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi no. 2676). Celebrating the Mawlid is an innovation introduced by the Shi'a Faatimids after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. If a person does anything in order to draw closer to Allaah which was not done by the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or enjoined by him, and was not done by the khaleefahs who succeeded him, this action implies that he is accusing the Messenger of not explaining the religion to the people, and that he disbelieves in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): "This day, I have perfected your religion for you." [al-Maa'idah 5:3] because he is adding something extra and claiming that it is a part of the religion, but the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) did not bring this. 2 - Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is an imitation of the Christians, because they celebrate the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him). Imitating them is extremely haraam. The hadeeth tells us that it is forbidden to imitate the kuffaar, and we are commanded to differ from them. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." (Narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4/314). And he said, "Be different from the mushrikeen." (narrated by Muslim, 1/222, no. 259) - especially with regard to things that are the symbols or rituals of their religion. 3 - Besides being bid'ah and an imitation of the Christians, both of which are haraam, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is also a means that leads to exaggeration and excess in venerating him, which even goes as far as calling upon him (making du'aa' to him) and seeking his help, instead of calling upon Allaah, as happens now among many of those who observe the bid'ah of the Mawlid, when they call upon the Messenger instead of Allaah, and ask him for support, and sing qaseedahs (odes) of shirk praising him, like Qaseedat al-Burdah etc. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade going to extremes in praising him, as he said: "Do not extol as the Christians extolled the son of Maryam. For I am just His slave, so say, the slave of Allaah and His Messenger." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/142, no. 3445; al-Fath, 6/551), i.e., do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the Messiah and venerated him until they worshipped him instead of Allaah. Allaah forbade them to do that when he said (interpretation of the meaning): "O people of the Scripture (Christians) ! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him." [an-Nisaa' 4:171] Our Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade us to exaggerate concerning him lest the same thing happen to us as happened to them, so he said: "Beware of exaggeration, for those who came before you were destroyed because of exaggeration." (narrated by al-Nasaa'i, 5/268; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa'i, no. 2863). 4 - Observing the innovation of the Prophet's birthday opens the door to other kinds of bid'ah and being distracted by them from the Sunnah. Hence you find that the innovators are very active when

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM it comes to bid'ah and very lazy when it comes to the Sunnah; they hate it and regard those who follow it as enemies, until their entire religion is innovated anniversaries and Mawlids. They have split into various groups, each of which commemorates the anniversary of its imaam's birth, such as the births of al-Badawi, Ibn 'Arabi, al-Dasooqi and al-Shaadhili. No sooner do they end the celebration of one birthday but they start the celebration of another. This results in exaggeration concerning these dead people and others, and in calling upon them instead of Allaah, believing that they can bring benefit and cause harm, until they deviate from the religion of Allaah and go back to the religion of the people of the Jaahiliyyah of whom Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And they worship besides Allaah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allaah.'" [Yoonus 10:18] "And those who take Awliyaa' (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): 'We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah.'" [al-Zumar 39:3] Refuting the specious arguments of those who celebrate the Mawlid Those who think that this bid'ah should be continued produce specious arguments which are flimsier than a spider's web. These specious arguments may be dealt with as follows: [First Doubt] - Their claim that this is veneration of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam): quote: The response to that is that the way to venerate him is to obey him, do as he commanded and avoid that which he forbade, and to love him; he is not to be venerated through innovations, myths and sins. Celebrating his birthday is of this blameworthy type because it is a sin. The people who venerated the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) the most were the Sahaabah (radiallaahu 'anhum), as 'Urwah ibn Mas'ood said to Quraysh: "O people, by Allaah I have visited kings. I went to Caesar, Chosroes and the Negus, but by Allaah I never saw a king whose companions venerated him as much as the companions of Muhammad venerated Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). By Allaah, whenever he spat, it never fell on the ground, it fell into into the hand of one his companions, then they wiped their faces and skins with it. If he instructed them to do something, they would hasten to do as he commanded. When he did wudoo', they would almost fight over his water. When he spoke, they would lower their voices in his presence; and they did not stare at him out of respect for him." (al-Bukhaari, 3/178, no. 2731, 2732; al-Fath, 5/388). Yet despite this level of veneration, they never took the day of his birth as an 'Eid (festival). If that had been prescribed in Islam, they would not have neglected to do that.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM [Second Doubt] - Using as evidence the fact that many people in many countries do this. quote: The response to that is that evidence consists of that which is proven from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and what is proven from the Prophet is that innovations are forbidden in general, and this is an innovation. What people do, if it goes against the evidence (daleel), does not prove anything, even if many of them do it. "And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allaah's path." [al-An'aam 6:116 - interpretation of the meaning] quote: Nevertheless, in every age, praise be to Allaah, there have always been those who denounce this bid'ah and state clearly that it is false. Those who persist in following it after the truth had been explained to them have no proof.

Among those who denounced the celebration of this occasion was Shaykh alIslam Ibn Taymiyah, in Iqtidaa' al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem; Imaam al-Shaatibi in al-'I'tisaam; Ibn al-Haaj in al-Madkhil; Shaykh Taaj al-Deen 'Ali ibn 'Umar alLakhami who wrote an entire book denouncing it; Shaykh Muhammad Basheer al-Sahsawaani al-Hindi in his book Siyaanah al-Insaan; al-Sayyid Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa wrote a separate essay on this topic; Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal al-Shaykh wrote a separate essay on it; Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz; and others who are still writing and denouncing this bid'ah every year in the pages of newspapers and magazines, at the time when this bid'ah is being done.

[Third Doubt] - They say that by celebrating the Mawlid they are keeping the memory of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) alive. quote: The answer to that is that the memory of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is constantly kept alive by the Muslim, such as when his name (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is mentioned in the adhaan and iqaamah and in khutbahs, and every time the Muslim recites the Shahaadatayn after doing wudoo' and in the prayers, and every time he sends blessings upon the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in his prayers and when he is mentioned, and

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM every time the Muslim does a waajib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended) action that was prescribed by the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). In all of these ways (the Muslim) remembers him and the reward equivalent to the reward of the one who does that action goes back to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Thus the Muslim constantly keeps the memory of the Messenger alive and has a connection with him night and day throughout his life through that which Allaah has prescribed, not only on the day of the Mawlid and things which are bid'ah and go against the Sunnah, for that puts one at a distance from the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the Messenger will disown him because of that. The Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) has no need of this innovated celebration, because Allaah has already bestowed veneration and respect upon him, as He says: "and raised high your fame." [al-Sharh 94:4] For Allaah is not mentioned in the adhaan, iqaamah or khutbah, except that the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is mentioned after Him; this is sufficient veneration, love and renewal of his memory, and sufficient encouragement to follow him. Allaah did not refer to the birth of the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in the Qur'aan, rather He referred to his Mission, and says (interpretation of the meaning): "Indeed, Allaah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves." [Aal 'Imraan 3:124] "He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves." [al-Jumu'ah 64:2]

[Fourth Doubt] - They may say that the celebration of the Prophet's birthday was introduced by a knowledgeable and just king who intended thereby to draw closer to Allaah. quote: Our response to that is that bid'ah is not acceptable, no matter who does it. A good intention does not justify a bad deed and even if a person died as a knowledgeable and righteous person, this does not mean that he was infallible.

[Fifth Doubt] - They say that celebrating the mawlid comes under the heading of bid'ah hasanah ("good innovation") because it is based on giving thanks to Allaah for the Prophet!

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM quote: Our response to that is that there is nothing good in innovation. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 2697; al-Fath, 5/355). And he said, "Every innovation is a going astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi, no. 2676). The ruling on innovations is that they are all misguidance, but this specious argument suggests that not every bid'ah is a going astray, rather there are good innovations. Al-Haafiz ibn Rajab said in Sharh al-Arba'een: "The words of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), 'every innovation is a going astray' is a concise but comprehensive comment which includes everything; it is one of the most important principles of religion. It is like his words 'Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected.' (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3/167, no. 2697; al-Fath, 5/355). Whoever innovates anything and attributes it to Islam when it has no basis in the religion, this is a going astray and is nothing to do with Islam, whether that has to do with matters of belief ('aqeedah) or outward and inward words and deeds." (Jaami' al-'Uloom wa'l-Hakam, p. 233) These people have no proof that there is any such thing as a "good innovation" apart from the words of 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhu) concerning Taraaweeh prayers, "What a good innovation this is." (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 2/252, no. 2010 mu'allaqan; al-Fath 4/294). They also said that things were innovated which were not denounced by the salaf, such as compiling the Qur'aan into one volume and writing and compiling the hadeeth. quote: The response to that is that these matters had a basis in Islam, so they were not newly-invented. 'Umar said: "What a good bid'ah" meaning innovation in the linguistic sense, not in the shar'i sense. Whatever has a basis in Islam, if it is described as an innovation, is an innovation in the linguistic sense, not in the shar'i sense, because innovation in the shar'i sense means that which has no basis in Islam. Compiling the Qur'aan into one book has a basis in Islam, because the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) had commanded that the Qur'aan be written down, but it was

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM scattered, so the Sahaabah compiled it in one volume so as so protect and preserve it. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) led his companions in praying Taraaweeh for a while, then he stopped doing that, lest that become obligatory on them. The Sahaabah (radiallaahu 'anhum) continued to pray it separately during the life of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and after his death, until 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radiallaahu 'anhu) gathered them behind one imaam as they used to pray behind the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). This was not an innovation introduced into the religion. Writing down the hadeeth also has a basis in Islam. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ordered that some ahaadeeth should be written down for some of his companions when they asked him for that. In general terms writing it down during his lifetime was not allowed, for fear that the Qur'aan might be mixed with things that were not part of it. When the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) died, this fear was no longer a factor, because the Qur'aan had been completed and arranged in order before he died. The Muslims compiled the Sunnah after that in order to preserve it and keep it from being lost. May Allah reward them with good on behalf of Islam and the Muslims, because they preserved the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) from being lost or being tampered with. We may also say to them: why was this act of thanksgiving, as they call it, not done by the best generations, the Sahaabah, Taabi'een and followers of the Taabi'een, who loved the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) most and who were most keen to do good and give thanks? Are those who introduced the innovation of the Mawlid more rightlyguided than them? Do they give more thanks to Allah? Definitely not!

[Sixth Doubt] - They may say that celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is indicative of their love for him; this is one way of showing that, and showing love of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is prescribed in Islam!

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM quote: The answer to that is that undoubtedly loving the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is obligatory for every Muslim; he should love him more than he loves himself, his child, his father and all the people - may my father and mother be sacrificed for him - but that does not mean that we should introduce innovations for doing so that have not been prescribed for us. Loving him dictates that we should obey him and follow him, for that is one of the greatest manifestations of love, as it is said: "If your love is sincere then obey him; for the lover obeys the one whom he loves." Loving the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) implies keeping his Sunnah alive, adhering firmly to it, and avoiding words and deeds that go against it. Undoubtedly everything that goes against his Sunnah is a reprehensible innovation (bid'ah) and a manifest act of disobedience. That includes celebrating his birthday and other kinds of bid'ah. A good intention does not mean that it is permissible to introduce innovations into the religion. Islam is based on two things, purity of intention and following [the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)]. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah (i.e. follows Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin (a doer of good) then his reward is with his Lord (Allah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." [al-Baqarah 2:112] Submitting one's face to Allah means being sincere towards Allah, and doing good means following the Messenger and implementing the Sunnah.

[Seventh Doubt] - Another of their specious arguments is when they say that by celebrating the Mawlid and reading the biography of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) on this occasion, they are encouraging people to follow his example! quote: We say to them that reading the biography of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and following his example are required of the Muslim all the time, all year long and throughout his life. Singling out a specific day for that with no evidence for doing so is an innovation, and every innovation is a going astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/164; al-Tirmidhi, 2676). Bid'ah does not bear any fruit but evil and it leads to a person distancing himself from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). In conclusion, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), whatever form it takes, is a reprehensible innovation. The

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Muslims should put a stop to this and other kinds of bid'ah, and occupy themselves with reviving and adhering to the Sunnah. They should not be deceived by those who promote and defend this bid'ah, for these types of people are more interested in keeping innovations alive than in reviving the Sunnah; they may not even care about the Sunnah at all. Whoever is like this, it is not permissible to imitate him or follow his example, even if the majority of people are like this. Rather we should follow the example of those who follow the path of the Sunnah, among the righteous salaf and their followers, even if they are few. Truth is not measured by the men who speak it, rather men are measured by the truth. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever among you lives (for a long time) will see many differences. I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khaleefahs who come after me. Hold on to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every innovation is a going astray." (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi no. 2676). So the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) explained to us in this hadeeth what we should do when there are differences of opinion, just as he explained that everything that goes against his Sunnah, be it words or deeds, is a bid'ah, and every bid'ah is a going astray. If we see that there is no basis for celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, whether in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or in the way of the rightly-guided khaleefahs, then it is one of the newlyinvented matters, one of the bid'ahs which lead people astray. This principle is what is implied by this hadeeth and is what is indicated by the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination." [al-Nisaa' 4:59] Referring to Allah means referring to His Book, and referring to the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) means referring to his Sunnah after he has passed away. The Qur'aan and Sunnah are the reference point in cases of dispute. Where in the Qur'aan or Sunnah does it indicate that it is prescribed in Islam to celebrate the Prophet's birthday? Whoever does that or thinks that it is good must repent to Allah from this and from other kinds of bid'ah. This is the attitude of the Muslim who is seeking the truth. But whoever is too stubborn and arrogant after proof has been established, then his reckoning will be with his Lord.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM We ask Allah to help us adhere to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) until the Day when we will meet Him. May Allah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. Source: Huqooq al-Nabi (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) bayna al-Ijlaal wa'l-Ikhlaal, p. 139. Shaykh Dr. Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan, Member of the Committee of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia.

MAKING COLLECTIVE DHIKR IS ALSO BIDAH

The Ruling of making Dhikr collectively in Unison according to the Imams of the Salaf The Ruling of making Dhikr collectively in Unison according to the Imams of the Salaf Researched by Ahmad bin Muhammad an-Najjar Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya [The scenario] This is collectively coming together to make Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) in unison (one voice) whether that Dhikr is reciting the Quraan, or making Dua or making Tasbeeh (saying: SubhanAllaah) etc. doing this without the aim of educating or learning. [Its ruling According to the Imams of the Salaf ] Indeed the Imams of the Salaf from the (Sahabah) Companions and those that followed

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM them in goodness are all agreed upon the rejection of every innovation in the Deen, and rejecting every worship or form of worship which the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- did not do, nor what his noble Companions did not practice. There are narrations from a group of the Companions and those who followed their way, concerning this form of making Dhikr, and here are their statements: [Umar bin al-Khattab -Radi Allaahu anhu] From Abu Uthmaan an-Nahdi who said: A worker for Umar bin al-Khattab wrote to Umar saying that there are a group of people who gather together to make Dua for the Muslims and the leader. So Umar -Radi Allaahu anhu- wrote to him: Bring them to me with yourself. The man came and Umar said to the doorman, prepare the whip. When they entered upon Umar -Radi Allaahu anhu- he descended upon their leader by hitting him with the whip. The rightly guided Khalifah Umar bin al-Khattab -Radi Allaahu anhu- rejected that a group gathered to make Dhikr in a form that the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallamdid not do, nor did the best of his Companions. To the extent Umar -Radi Allaahu anhudid not suffice by rejecting what they did by just speaking about it, rather he beat their leader with a whip, and this shows the great concern the Companions had in rejecting innovated Bida in the Deen. [Abdullaah ibn Masood] From Amr bin Salamah: We were sitting by the door of Abdullaah ibn Masood before lunch, so that if he came out, we could walk with him to the Masjid. Abu Moosaa al-Asharee came and said: Has Abu Abdur-Rahmaan come out yet? We said: No. So, he sat down with us, waiting for him to come out, and when he came out, we all gathered towards him, and Abu Moosaa said: O Abu Abdur-Rahmaan! Previously I saw something in the Masjid, which I disliked. But, Alhamdulillaah, what I saw, was nothing but good. He said: What was it? Abu Moosaa said, If you live, you will see it. Then Abu Moosaa said, I saw a group of people, sitting in circles waiting for the prayer. In every circle there was a man and in their hands were small stones and he would say: Say Allaahu Akbar 100 times and they would say Allaahu Akbar 100 times. Then, he would say, Say laa ilaha ilAllaah 100 times and they would say laa ilaha ilAllaah 100 times and he would say, Say SubhaanAllaah 100 times and they would say SubhaanAllaah 100 times. Abdullaah ibn Masood said, So what did you say to them?

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM He said: I did not say anything to them, rather I waited for your opinion [or I waited for your command]. He said: Why did you not command them to count their bad deeds [i.e. seek forgiveness from your deeds] and guarantee them that their good deeds would not be lost?! Then he walked and we walked with him until he reached one of those circles and he stood there and said, What is this that I see you doing? They said: O Abu Abdur-Rahmaan! These are nothing but small stones with which we are counting, saying Allaahu Akbar, laa ilaaha illAllaah and SubhaanAllaah. He said, Count your sins; I guarantee that you will not lose anything of your good deeds! Beware, O Ummah of Muhammad! How quick you are to your destruction! Here we are, the Companions of your Prophet abundant, everywhere and here is his clothing which has not been [wasted away] and his utensils have not been broken. I swear by Him in Whose Hand is my soul, either you are an Ummah more rightly-guided than the Ummah of Muhammad or you are opening the door of misguidance. They said; We swear by Allaah, O Abu Abdur-Rahmaan, we did not intend anything but good. He said: How many people intend good but never achieve it. Verily the Messenger of Allaah narrated to us, Indeed there will be a people who read the Quraan but it does not pass beyond their throats. I swear by Allaah, I do not know. Perhaps most of them are from amongst you. Then he went away. Amr bin Salamah said, We saw some of those sitting in those circles fighting on the Day of Nahrawaan, along with the Khawaarij. Indeed Ibn Masood -Radi Allaahu anhu- reprimanded a group who were gathered together in the form of circles, remembering Allaah, and Ibn Masood used as an evidence against their misguidance in that they opposed that what the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- were upon, those who had witnessed the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, and they knew his statements, his actions, and his situations, which the Companions used to use to show their guidance. [Abu Hanifah an-Numan] Imam Abu Hanifah -Rahimullaah- said: That raising the voice in making Takbeer (saying Allaahu Akbar) is principally a Bida, because it is Dhikr, and the Sunnah regarding Dhikr is with lowering the voice.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM [Malik bin Anas] From Ibn Wahab who said: I said to Malik -Rahimullaah-: What would you say if you saw a group of people gathering together and all of them together reading one Soorah till the end of the Soorah? Imam Malik rejected that and found fault with that and said: This is not how the people used to do this, rather one man used to recite to another person for learning purposes. Ibn Wahab also said in Taj wal-Ikleel li Mukhtasir Khaleel: Malik disliked that recitors gather together reciting one Soorah, and he said: this was not from the practice of the people, and he regarded it as a Bida. [Yahya bin Maeen & Ahmad bin Hanbal] al-Fadl bin Mihraan said: I asked Yahya bin Maeen and Ahmad bin Hanbal: Indeed we have a group of people who get together and make Dua, recite Quraan (collectively) and remember Allaah Taala together, how do you view these people? As for Yahya bin Maeen he said: They should read from the Mushaf (Quraan), and make Dua after the prayer and remember Allaah individually to themselves. al-Fadl bin Muhammad said: I said: I have a brother who takes part with them. Yahya said: Forbid him from that. I said: He does not accept. Yahya said: Admonish him. I said: He does not accept. Should I boycott him? He said: Yes. Then I came to Ahmad and told him similar to what I had said to Yahya and Ahmad also said to me: They should read from the Mushaf, and remember Allaah Taala individually and seek the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. I said: Should I forbid my brother? Ahmad said: Yes. I said: And if he does not accept.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Ahmad said: Of course he will InshAllaah, since indeed this is an innovation, this type of gathering which you describe. I said: and if he does not accept should I boycott him? Ahmad smiled and remained silent. If an opponent contests what has preceded and says, there are Sharia texts which indicate to the excellence of gathering for Dhikr, and this is what is established in Saheeh Muslim from Abu Hurairah -Radi Allaahu anhu- from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- who said: Indeed Allaah Tabaraka wa Taala has noble Angels who travel around, they search for gatherings of Dhikr, and if they find gatherings where there is Dhikr they sit with those people and they encompass each other with their wings, until they fill that which is between them and the heavens of the Dunyaa, then when they leave they ascend and climb to the heavens. Then Allaah Azza wa Jal- asks them while He knows more about them than they do -: From where did you come? They will reply: We came from worshippers of Yours on the earth, and they were saying: SubhaanAllaah (Far is Allaah from imperfection), Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is the Greatest), laa ilaaha illAllaah (there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah) and Alhamdulillaah (Praise be to Allaah) and they were asking of You. . . . And there are other similar evidences. The reply to this objection is from different points: 1- The wording Dhikr and Tasbeeh is mentioned in the texts (Book & Sunnah) unrestrictedly. For an unrestricted wording in the Sharia it is not allowed to limit it to a particular number or amount, or to a particular form, except if there is a text from the Sharia present regarding it. As for Dhikr in a collective form with voices in unison, then this has not been mentioned in the Book of Allaah nor in the Sunnah of His Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, what is mentioned in the texts, with the encouragement to perform Dhikr in a plural form does not indicate in itself to making Dhikr collectively, because it is an unrestricted wording, and an unrestricted wording cannot be limited except with a Sharia evidence, and there is no proof to restrict making Dhikr in unison in this issue. 2- That the Companions did not understand this form of Dhikr from these texts of the Sharia, rather they rejected this form, and they dispraised the one who did this form of

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Dhikr. They regarded this from the innovated matters in the Deen, as has preceded in the story of Umar and Ibn Masood, and the understanding of the Companions of the texts of the two revealed sources (the Book & the Sunnah) precedes the understanding of other than them. Rather it is an obligation to follow their understanding, and it is not allowed to abstain from it. 3- That the Imams also rejected what the Companions rejected as has been mentioned from Abu Hanifah, Malik, Ahmad bin Hanbal and others. This indicates that they are united upon rejecting and criticizing this form of Dhikr, and along with that I will add two more statements of two Imams from the Maliki Madhab, and they are Qurtubi and Tartooshi. Abul-Abbas Ahmad al-Qurtubi said: As for the saying of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam: No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, without tranquility descending upon them, mercy enveloping them, the angels surrounding them, and Allah making mention of them amongst those who are with Him. The houses of Allaah are the Masajid, as Allaah Taala said: << In houses (Masajid), which Allah has ordered to be raised, in them His Name is glorified in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings>> Those who hold it permissible to read the Quraan in congregation in unison (one voice) adhere to this hadeeth, as is done here in Morocco. Some of our scholars have disliked that, and held the opinion that it is a Bida, since it was not the way of the Salaf in reciting like this. But rather the hadeeth is understood to be that every individual studies the Book of Allaah by them self, or with someone who will correct them. Tartooshi said: These Aathaar (narrations) necessitate the permissibility of congregating to recite the noble Quraan with the intent of studying it, learning it, and revising it. That takes place by a student reading it to a teacher, or a teacher reading it to a student. And if two people have an equal level of knowledge then one of them reads to the other for revision and studying purposes, this is how teaching and learning occur, without having to recite in congregation. Concluding, I bring attention to an issue: which is that being continuous upon gathering for the Dhikr of Allaah even if it does not include doing so in unison has not been legislated, because there is no text from the Quraan nor from the Sunnah being continuous in gathering in this way. Likewise, being continuous upon this type of congregation resembles the congregations which are permissible, like the five daily prayers, the Juma prayer, the two Eid, and the Hajj.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Therefore, there is a distinction between what is taken as Sunnah and custom, and these gatherings, which resemble legislated ones, and between that which is done sometimes, since this is permitted, and this is the guidance of the Companions of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, as they would sometimes gather together. al-Imam Ibn Taymeeyah said: Gathering for optional prayers, or to listen to Quraan, or for the Dhikr of Allaah, etc. if that is done sometimes then it is better since it has been authentically reported from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- that he prayed an optional prayer in congregation sometimes. Likewise, he went out to his Companions and there would be amongst them one who would recite and the others would listen, and the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- would sit with them to listen. And the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- would, if they gathered order one of them to recite while they would listen. . . . . As for taking gatherings successively repeating them, repeatedly and regularly over weeks, months and years, other than gatherings which have been legislated. Then these type gatherings which resemble gatherings for the five daily prayers, the Juma prayer, the two Eid, and the Hajj, that is because those other gatherings are innovated and newly invented. Therefore, there is a difference between what is taken as a Sunnah and what is taken as a habit and that which resembles what is legislated, and this difference has been mentioned by Imam Ahmad and others from the Imams. Abu Bakr al-Khalaal narrated in the book of manners from Ishaq bin Mansoor alKosaj that he said to Abu Abdullaah: It is disliked that a people gather to make Dua to Allaah and to raise their hands to Allaah. Imam Ahmad said: I do not reject for brothers, if they should unintentionally gather except that they should not do it a lot. Ishaq bin Rahawayeeyah said the same as what Imam Ahmad said. As for the wording: not do it a lot means not to take it as a habit so much that it is done a lot, and this is the speech of Ishaaq. Ibn Taymeeyah also said: Gathering upon reading, Dhikr and Dua is good and recommended as long as it is not taken as a regular habit just like those gatherings which are legislated and that there is no evil Bida connected to it.

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A WARNING AGAINST AFROZ ALI WWW.SALAFIYYAHNEWZEALAND.WORDPRESS.COM Shaatabi al-Maliki said: Constantly making Dua in a form of a congregation was not from the actions of the the Messenger, nor was it from that which he allowed. The Prophet salaAllahu 'alaiyhe wasalam said, none of your truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself. So when we see our brothers and sisters being called towards misguidance then we have to warn them because just as we wouldn't want that for ourselves we shouldn't want that for others. We ask Allah by his divine Names and Attributes to guide those who have been mislead by Afroz Ali. We hope Afroz can rehabilitate himself from his bidah and put his criminal past behind him. So far we have not seen any signs of Afroz Ali leaving this deviant path and calling towards it. Until we see a public recantation from Afroz Ali and see that he has cut ties with other criminal organisations such as Zaytuna Institute, Seekers MISguidance and their likes then inshaaAllah we will continue to warn against him. And Allah knows best.

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