duty to defend

This post is dedicated to two friends of mine, with a message don't be disheartened with the arrogant and ignorant people. Take heart and be strong.


May the words of Allah soothe your souls and guide your hearts.

"And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allaah and do not become divided."
[Ali-‘Imraan 3:102]

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful admonition, and argue with them in ways that are better."
[An-Nahl 16:125]

"The Believers – men and women – are protectors to each other, they order the good and forbid the evil…" [At-Tawbah 9:71]

...And help you one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression." [al- Ma`idah 5:2]

"Let there arise from amongst you a group of people calling all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, they are the ones who shall be successful."
[Ali-‘Imraan 3:110]

"And do not be like those who differed and split-up after the clear evidences came to them."
[Ali-‘Imraan 3:105].

Ibn Taymiyyah once said (taken from Majmu' al Fatwa)(28/231-232)

"When some people said to Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal that they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied:

"If I were to remain silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?"

Those who introduce heretical writings which oppose the Quran and Sunnah and those who innovate in matters of worship, then it is obligatory that they be exposed and that the Muslims be warned against them – by unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars.

In fact, when Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal was asked about a man who fasted, prayed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship; if he was dearer to him than a person who spoke against the people of innovation (Ahlul-Bid’ah), he replied:

"When he fasts and prays and secludes himself, then he does so for the benefit of his own self. However, when he speaks out against the innovators, he does so for the benefit of the Muslims in general, and this is more virtuous."

So it is clear that openly opposing the innovators is of general benefit to the Muslims and is considered one of the types of jihad in the path of Allah. Since purifying the Religion of Allah and defending it from their attacks is a collective obligation – as is agreed upon by the scholars.

For if Allah did not raise up some people to oppose the innovators, then the Religion would suffer harm, corruption and deviation. Indeed this type of corruption is even greater than the corruption resulting from the corruption of the disbelievers conquering the Muslims. Since when the unbelievers conquer the Muslims, they do not corrupt their hearts, nor their Religion, except after some time. Whereas the innovators corrupt the hearts from the very beginning.

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said (quoted from ar-Radd ‘alal Jahmiyyah waz-Zanadiqah (p. 2)

"All praise is due to Allah who, in every age and interval between the Prophets, raises up a group from the people of knowledge, who call the misguided to guidance, patiently bearing ill-treatment and harm.

With the Book of Allah they give life to the dead and with the Light of Allah they give sight to the blind. How many a person killed by Iblis they have revived. How beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile the people have been towards them. They expel from the Book of Allah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant-ones – those who uphold the banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords; who upon the Book, oppose the Book and agree upon opposing the Book. They speak about Allah and his Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book, and deceive the ignorant ones with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allah from the trials of the misguided ones."