[Q5]: There were some brothers who (attempted) to cause some destruction in our community, which led to some splitting in our community. Some of them admitted to be connected to madeenah.com, being advised by them (madeenah.com - something they were called out on and never denied) and that they were involved in directing a plot, al-Hamdulillaah, they failed in their objectives and have now cooperated with a new centre called Dar al-Arqam, this organisation has cooperated with Said Regeah of al-Maghirb Institute, the companion of Abu Usaamah (who the Scholars have spoken against, he who attends KBW), they have links on their pages to Tariq Ramadan and Tariq as-Suwaydan, they continue to speak ill of and attack the salafee centre here, whilst making a multitude of excuses for ahlul-ahwaa, what is your advice to them?

A lecture from the seminar, "The Truth is Not Known by Men, Men are Known by the Truth" in Toronto, Canada (Apr. 2012). The speaker discusses some of the signs of Ahlus-Sunnah amidst the calls to various groups and parties.

Below is a general overview of the topics discussed. It should not be used specifically as the guide. Please listen to the audio for full details, explanation, du'aa etc.

This lecture was requested of the speaker, Abu Khadeejah based on the good impact of a 13yr old lecture entitled: Salafee by Association: Focus on Women, only this lecture was generalised to include both brothers and sisters. It was requested due to the alarming trend these days, of being salafee by association, salafiyyah upon fraterniy, such that there is little concern for seeking knowledge, understanding this blessed manhaj and its principles, so much so, that if fitnah strikes or a beloved one takes a poor stance, one may follow him/her in that, treating the issue of salafiyyah which they claimed to love with fivolity, as if it was simply tied to the understanding of their beloved one, rather than being built upon proofs, evidences, clarity and sticking to the jama'aah.

We need to ask ourselves, are we Salafee by association? Let us look at ourselves, are we, as the speaker mentioned:

"We have people who are driven in their association by those around them."

Are we wives, sisters, daughters of whom:

"She ties her religion to his religion, no longer pursuing knowledge…whatever he is upon I am upon."

The issue of association and following can be from the greatest source of benefit to a person or from the greatest cause of downfall. However some have relegated it to:

"If he prays in this masjid, I pray with him, if he leaves this masjid, I leave with him."

Sadly, what gets lost in this affair, is that one's deen may be at stake:

"If this association is not guided by the usool and aqaa'id of ad-da'watus-salafiyyah then it can be very harmful."

Do not base your salafiyyah upon your friends, so even if the closest of your friends were to go astray, then you do not follow him! Remember why we love Salafiyyah, why we claim to follow it:

"We are driven by evidences, thats what attracted us to salafiyyah, that's what made us fall in love with salafiyyah because this is the way of the sahaabah and the Imaams of the salaf, then (later) we oppose this because of the love of so and so or so and so (more)?"

Would you Leave the Salafee Jama'aah Based on Whispers and Doubts?

In these times, someone comes to you and whispers in your ear, "Ya akhee, you know the brothers here, they are upon this, they are upon that, they're upon misguidance, they steal, they lie, they decieve, they backbite, they this, they that, khalaas! You leave the masjid, where do you end up? Ikhwaanul-Mufliseen, right in the clutches of Shaytaan himself! This is where you end up. Why? Becuase the heart and soul was not strong upon Salafiyyah, that these things (rumours and lies) cause you to split from your salafee brothers."

A Clear Sign of Deviance: Attacking the Salafees in the name of Salafiyyah (A legacy of Muhammad Hasssan, Adnaan Ar'oor, 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdul-Khaaliq etc.) Using it as Justification to Split from the Salafee Jama'aah

"When you find people crticising salafees in the name of salafiyyah, Shadeed Muhammad, Abu Usamaah and their ilk, that you find them that they reserve their emnity towards the salafees, others are free from their tongue, this is the manhaj of Abul-Hasan al-Ma'ribee. Why? Because they want to justify their splitting..."

• Ahuls-Sunnah are the strangers
• Ahlus-Sunnah are tried with fitnah
• Examples of the trials of the Companions and the Imaams of the Salaf (main focus of the lecture)
• How will you proceed in our time, when fitnah comes to you? WIll you always be able to shy away from a decision (between right/wrong)?

1. Introduction -  (Six) Important Principles
2. Analysing the period of 100H to 300H (the first deviated groups that appeared)
3. Analysing the last 200 years (the emergence of al-Ikhwaanul-Muslimoon, Sayyid Qutb, Hasan al-Banna, Taqiuden an-Nabahani etc.
4. Those who Claim Salafiyyah but Implement the Principles of Ikhwaanul-Muslimoon.

A short impromptu advice from Abu Khadeejah in Masjid al-Furqaan (TROID) about the negative effects of hizbiyyah, how it misguides and causes the heart to fall ill (with some sad examples). An importance advice in light of the culture of masjid-hopping which has appeared these days, wherein a person may "buffet-dine" on different ideologies (as our elder Dawud Adib coined, see Benefit: I Go to the Masjid of the Hizbiyyeen to Bring Them Close).

A khutbah aimed at bolstering the eemaan of the Sunnee, reminding him/her of the great rewards that await the patient ones!

Imaam Az-Zuhree mentioned, "We go with the sunnah wherever it goes!"

Do not feel sad, do not feel lowly, when you are observed by others as "someone strange," rather be steadfast and hopeful for Allaah has stated:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ

"For those who believe and work righteousness, is (every) blessedness,
and a beautiful place of (final) return."
[Sooratur-Ra'd, 13:29]