Some innovators in this country claim that Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab allied with the English army against the Ottoman Khilafah
Question:
"Some very active callers from amongst the innovators in this country are trying their best to destroy the reputation of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhaab رحمه الله and they claim that he allied with the English army against the Ottomon Khilaafah and fought against it until it collapsed. How do we refute such a claim?"
Answer:
"Firstly, concerning the Shaykh رحمه الله having enemies and people trying to refute him or hurt him and his dawah and to destroy his credibility, then this happened to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم before him. In fact this happened to all the prophets before him they were fought will ill-action and were lied upon and accused of things that they did not do. They did not look towards these things or ask about them because the reason behind their actions are not the people, or making them happy, or for them to accept their dawah. Rather, it is to ensure that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى accepts what is done and is pleased with it. They look towards Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and not these things (that the people do). The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said The one who seeks the acceptance of the people even though it angers Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, then Allaah will be angry with him and make the people angry with him. And, the one who seeks the acceptance of Allaah even if it angers the people, then Allaah will be accept him and cause the people to accept him as well.[1]
Secondly, the people who talk and rant and rave about the Shaykh رحمه الله then Alhamdulillaah, this dawah continues to go forward and be spread despite their opposition towards it. We direct them towards the sayings and works of the Shaykh رحمه الله to find therein what they accuse him of. If they find it we ask them to make it apparent to the people. His books are present and printed so let them look in it and find that which supports their accusations. We challenge them to do that.
Thirdly, as for the question of Khilaafah, the land of Najd was not under the authority of the Khilaafah at that time, rather each town had its own leadership. This is the reason why the Shaykh رحمه الله went to a leader ibn Saud as he was the Amir who had power over the people, and he called ibn Saud to his dawah. The Shaykh did not make khurooj of the khilaafah of that time he went to the leaders present at that time and called them. This is how the Arabian Peninsula came under the jurisdiction of Muhammad ibn Saud."
[1] Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb Vol. 2 (#2250) with the wording:
من التمس رضا الله بسخط الناس رضي الله عنه وأرضى عنه الناس ومن التمس رضا الناس بسخط الله سخط الله عليه وأسخط عليه الناس
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Albaseerah.org.
Source: A lecture titled "Life of Imaam Muhammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab", on the 3rd of December, 2005. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
"Some very active callers from amongst the innovators in this country are trying their best to destroy the reputation of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhaab رحمه الله and they claim that he allied with the English army against the Ottomon Khilaafah and fought against it until it collapsed. How do we refute such a claim?"
Answer:
"Firstly, concerning the Shaykh رحمه الله having enemies and people trying to refute him or hurt him and his dawah and to destroy his credibility, then this happened to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم before him. In fact this happened to all the prophets before him they were fought will ill-action and were lied upon and accused of things that they did not do. They did not look towards these things or ask about them because the reason behind their actions are not the people, or making them happy, or for them to accept their dawah. Rather, it is to ensure that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى accepts what is done and is pleased with it. They look towards Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and not these things (that the people do). The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said The one who seeks the acceptance of the people even though it angers Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, then Allaah will be angry with him and make the people angry with him. And, the one who seeks the acceptance of Allaah even if it angers the people, then Allaah will be accept him and cause the people to accept him as well.[1]
Secondly, the people who talk and rant and rave about the Shaykh رحمه الله then Alhamdulillaah, this dawah continues to go forward and be spread despite their opposition towards it. We direct them towards the sayings and works of the Shaykh رحمه الله to find therein what they accuse him of. If they find it we ask them to make it apparent to the people. His books are present and printed so let them look in it and find that which supports their accusations. We challenge them to do that.
Thirdly, as for the question of Khilaafah, the land of Najd was not under the authority of the Khilaafah at that time, rather each town had its own leadership. This is the reason why the Shaykh رحمه الله went to a leader ibn Saud as he was the Amir who had power over the people, and he called ibn Saud to his dawah. The Shaykh did not make khurooj of the khilaafah of that time he went to the leaders present at that time and called them. This is how the Arabian Peninsula came under the jurisdiction of Muhammad ibn Saud."
[1] Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb Vol. 2 (#2250) with the wording:
من التمس رضا الله بسخط الناس رضي الله عنه وأرضى عنه الناس ومن التمس رضا الناس بسخط الله سخط الله عليه وأسخط عليه الناس
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Albaseerah.org.
Source: A lecture titled "Life of Imaam Muhammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab", on the 3rd of December, 2005. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.