A Closer Look at Wahhabism - Part 3

Needless to say, our relationship turned sour. I ceased to attend his weekly early morning lectures. We both merely exchanged faked smiles whenever we bumped onto each other in the masjid. By this time, from the many various muzakarah or discussions and advices that I had with various knowledgeable ustaadzs who are well-versed in all the four madzhahabs, it is crystal clear to me the fitnah of wahhabism that he was trying to advocate and spread.

After about a month, I realised that he was nowhere to be seen at the masjid on his usual weekly lectures. I was told that finally the other namazis had enough of his unconventional lectures. It happened one day when apparently he caused much stir and uproar among the people in the masjid when he gave the most disparaging remarks. He told the people openly in his lecture that the namaaz or prayer of those who pray fajar namaaz behind an imam who recited the qunoot du'a would be invalidated. These ridiculous statement had disheartened many people that finally caused his lectures to be cut off and cancelled. I did not know to what extent the damage of the remarks had caused. I was not there. But I remember feeling glad that the attempt to spread the fitnah of wahhabism in my masjid was finally over.

Meanwhile, my wife and two very young daughters was enjoying an attached relationship with his wife and daughters. Both my daughters were very fond of his daughter, their Quran teacher. Sometimes my wife would cook some food and a portion of it to his family. After all we are very close neighbours. Our house are only a few feet away from their house. And during all these time I kept all the encountering episodes between me and him to myself, seeing no point to involve my family in the matter that did not concern and benefit them.

However, the most unfortunate event happened during my 40 days khuruuj in the path of Allah to Sabah. My wife started to receive photocopied articles and materials in our post box, some of which were from a wahhabis' website and some others originated from Indonesia. Most of the materials written were utter rubbish and craps condemning the effort of dakwah and tabligh with the most deregatory and slanderous statements. A couple day after that, his wife called my wife over the phone asking her opinion about the articles, coaxing and alluring my wife to  accede to the rubbish and craps stated in the materials about tablighi jamaat. Little did she knew that my wife had already traveled with me several times in khuruuj in masturaat jamaat (husbands and wives jamaat) and already had tasted the sweetness of making effort on imaan and aamal. In the end, when my wife refused to subscribe to her constant pestering, his wife then relentlessly told my wife not to send our two daughters to her house for the Quran recitation lessons anymore for her family had to severe relationship with my family for we are the astrayed (sesat) people! I briefly mentioned about this unfortunate event in my earlier notes 40 Days in Sabah.

It was just simply astonishing the extent of brainwashing he and his family were willing to force onto other people.May Almighty Allah have mercy on us and them.

A Closer Look at Wahhabism - Part 2

Towards the end of his series of weekly early morning lectures, there existed fractions between the namaazis of our masjid. His lectures were filled with allegations of bidaah, deviation and shirk to the usual practices of the people, particularly aamal that are being practiced in Malaysia. At the same time, I frequented Mazahirul Ulum, Masjid Jame' Sri Petaling bombarding the ustaadzs there with my questions and queries about his teachings that increasingly confusing to me.

The first bombshell was dropped on me during one of his lectures. In his excitement in convincing the namazis regarding a contested issue, he jolted me with his remarks when he openly said, "The whole of scholars or ulama' during the time of Al-Ghazali had unanimously agreed that Al-Ghazali had deviated (sesat)!" I instantly raised my voice asking him question in a disapproving tone, "Ustadz! Did you mean Imam Ghazali rahmatullah alayhi, the author of Ihya Ulumuddin?" "Yes!", he replied in a high tone. "In fact, the book, Ihya Ulumuddin is more rightly called **** (he mentioned the Arabic words which I could not remember) which means the trap of Shaytaan!", he said. I could not believe what I just heard. I was wrecked and traumatized. I could not think of better action to take but to instantly stood up and walk away from his majlis.

No sooner I found myself at his house for the third invitation. This time he did not spare me and wasted no time in intimidating me. At the very first words he dropped the second bombshell on me with a smile on his face. He told me that he sympathized with me and especially my family. He told me that I worked hard just to stuck myself in the path of deviation (sesat). Not only that I deviated (sesat) but I had also deviated (menyesatkan) my family. He then continuously abused and vilified tablighi jamaat, at the same time slandering and abusing Maulana Ilyas rahmatullah alayh and his family including Maulana Zakariya rahmatullah alayh. He took out a few copies of Fadha'il Aamal which had been marked with different luminous colours on the pages. We exchanged words and engaged in heated arguments until a handsome Arab visitor arrived at his house. I then left his house in pain and distress.

Alhamdulillah, the sting and agony in my heart quickly faded away. If he had the guts and courage to abuse and vilify one of the Imams of the Ummah, Imam Ghazali rahmatullah alayhi,  should I pay heed to his abuses towards me?

A Closer Look at Wahhabism - Part 1

All praise is for Allah Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek help from Him. We believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has caused to go astray.

My close neighbour is a former lecturer at Islamic Faculty in a local university. He first studied in Australia but not in Islamic fields. Later he went to Saudi Arabia and stayed there for a number of years with his family. Obviously he speaks Arabic language after years residing there. 

To my pleasant surprise, he approached me one day inviting me for tea at his house. Before this, we just exchange salam whenever we crossed each other's path. I always admire him for the sunnah appearance in him. Long beard, clipped mustache and wearing robe or shalwar above the ankles.  I called him ustaadz. Sadly, the sunnah of appearance or surah of Rasulullah SAW had been ignored by the general public at large and most of the ustaadzs. I felt we were sharing the same love for the sunnah of Rasulullah SAW. Obviously I was very excited in accepting his invitation. 

The first visit was more on ta'ruf (getting to know each other) and also on the aspects of bidaah (religion practices which does not conform to the sunnah of Nabi SAW) which, according to him, is prevalent in the Ummah, particularly in Malaysia. He talked about the purported bidaah of tahlil, wirid and recitation of surah Yaa Siin every Friday, among other things. At that point of time, I was impressed by his concern for the Ummah since I lacked understanding about those noble practices and not enough appreciation about the importance of madzhaabs. He presented to me a couple of booklets relating to the bidaah of tahlil and some other bidaah  practices. The source of the booklets is from Indonesia. (Later I read a few kitaabs written by prominent ulama' on the importance of madzhaabs and have several lengthy discussion relating to the matter with the ustaads at Mazahirul Ulum, Sri Petaling who are my constant source of reference).

I began to foster a relationship with him. I sent my two daughters, aged 9 and 7, to read the Quran with his teenage daughter. His children are well-versed in the recitation of the Holy Quran. He and his family had been staying in Madinah for many years prior to his appointment as a lecturer in a local university. 

Later he invited me for a second visit to his house. 

At the second visit, our conversation touched on more serious matters. He talked about Tauhid and Aqidah (Rububiyyah,  Uluhiyyah, and Asma Was Siffat), something that was alien to me. Then the conversation drifted on the different fikrah that are in existence today. He made his opinion known to me about Ikhwan Muslimin, Maududiyaat, Jamiat Islami and PAS, among other things. When he started to talk about Sufism, I felt perturbed and upset as he made a sweeping assumptions that Sufism and Tassawuf is a practice that must be shunned and condemned by the Muslims. I could accept his opinion if he meant the practices of ignorant sufis but to impose total rejection is something that agitate me .(You may like to read an article that I posted On Tassawuf) . However, I kept the feeling to myself. I felt disagreement should not be an excuse for disrespect of any kind. I just wanted to maintain good relations with him.

At about he same time frame, someone from my masjid has already invited him to deliver early morning weekly lectures after fajar namaaz at the masjid. Hence, from the beginning I frequently sat i his series of lectures. The first thing that I noticed was that he purposely left the practice of reciting qunoot d'ua whenever he led the fajar namaaz. Sometimes his son who is a haafiz led fajar namaaz with the same attitude. 

The first series of his lectures revolved around Tauhid and Aqidah. As I had heard it before, he explained Tauhid Rububiyyah, Tauhid Uluhiyyah and Asma Was Siffat, which till now is confusing me. He frequently quoted Ibn Tamiyyah rahimahullah. The second series of his lectures turned around  fiqh. They mainly revolved around the issues of taqlid (following one of the four accepted madhahab, namely, Maliki, Hanafi, Shafie and Hanbali). 

Note: I refrain fro writing more about his lectures because I fear that they would unnecessarily create confusion. It is necessary for you to be able to distinguish between his view and the correct views of the majority of the mainstream scholars or ulama'. 

Anyway, he also mentioned "the top ten ulama' in the world" as his basis and authority who I suspected to be the Saudi Arabia's ulama' including Ibn Baz and Nasaruddin Albani. Once after one of the lectures, I urged him not to quote "the top ten ulama' in the world" but rather refer to the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum as his examples since not everyone would agree to the status of "the top ten ulama' in the world" but everyone would unanimously accept the lofty status of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum.

The Journey Continues

I will have to leave writing this blog for awhile to fulfil another journey for rectification of faith, an effort of rectification of my iman and my aamal, for a period of 40 days. Please make du'a for me.

Travelogue - Germany Part 20

Masjid An-Nur, Kleiner Pulver Teich 17 in Hamburg is one of the four masjids that are situated at the same stretch of road within 50 metres distant. The other masjids are Turkish, Albanian and Indonesian masjids. Masjid An-Nur and the Albanian Masjid are just next to one another. It was such a unique sight. At An-Nur Masjid itself, about 50-60 namaazis were present for each fard congregation namaaz. Nazali Sham, one of the hardworking Malaysian students in the effort of dakwah, was not a stranger to the local brothers here. Hamburg brothers from far and near gathered here daily to make local effort of dakwah and tabligh. At the time we reached Hamburg, the local brothers were about to shift the dakwah and tabligh centre from An-Nur Masjid to a new spacious masjid which was still under renovation at Bockmannstrasse 51, Hamburg.

One of the luminaries of Hamburg muslims was Ibrahim, an ahlul-bait, one of the descendants of our Prophet sallalaahu alayhi wassalam. He was one of the imam of the masjid. Ibrahim was also the one who had driven about 300km from Hamburg to Berlin, reaching Berlin at 3.00am and 4 hours later at about 7.00am drove our jamaat back to Hamburg in a van - reached Hamburg about 3 hours later. This type of nusrah or aid was simply astonishing, and commonly received by us from our untiring brothers in Germany. A brother from Hanover drove 170km to reach Hamburg with a 4-months jamaat from India at 8am and immediately drove us back to Hanover. Another brother, Kurshid, had driven 380km from Hanover to Amsterdam, Netherlands and drove back to Hanover an hour later. To us, those brothers had given the new meaning to the term "nusrah", which really reduce to the shame our meagre effort back home in Malaysia. Especially comparing them to me who is frail and sickly in driving and road travelling, the single journey that those brothers made to assist our movement is better than my whole lifetime effort on dakwah and tabligh.

Our last route in Germany was Masjid-ul Ummah, Kornstrasse 25, Hanover. Afzal Qureshi and Kurshid were well assisted by two Afghans, Salim Khan and Yunus, together with Hud, Muslim and Yusoff from Togo. It was here at Masjid Ummah that we met native German Muslims who had spent 4 months and 40 days in the path of Allah, among them Abdul Malek, Ya'cob, Abdul Hakeem and Nick Wolfgang - they were all German youths in their 20's. Abdul Malek spoke fluent English and good Arabic having spent one year in Yaman to learn the language of the Holy Quran. Going out in umumi ghast with them on the streets of Hanover, it was evidently clear the power of iman or faith overcomes every single odd. There, walking with me, were shining-faced heavily bearded German youths in all-white gamis and shalwar, their eyes fixed to the ground ignoring the temptation of the many women on the streets. Ya'cob to me once he was searching in his heart the one special amal or good deed that he would hold onto in his entire lifetime. For his concern, Almighty Allah honoured him with a dream meeting the Prophet sallalaahu alayhi wassalam who told him not to harbour ill-thoughts over other people. I listened to him in zealous for not even once I had been honoured with a dream of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam. Perhaps I'm not worthy of such honour.

On September 27, 2004 we left Hanover and Germany ending an episode of our journey of faith. May Almighty Allah accept our effort. 

Travelogue - Germany Part 19

After four days at Erfurt, we arrived at Berlin on September 16, 2004. We were brought to Masjid Bait-ul Mukarram, Keinitzerstrasse 98. The chairman of the Masjid was a Bangladeshi and the imam was from Sham. Almost 24 hours there were people joining us for i'tikaaf. They were brothers from Lubnan Palestine, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, etc and most of them had spent time in the path of Allah from 3 days to 4 months. We were brought to visits Muslims from the surrounding masjids.

I felt rather nostalgic arriving at Berlin since it is one of the cities that I had stopped by whilst euro-railing for one whole month during the summer holiday back in 1990 when I was studying in England. I somewhat hope that the journey in the path of Allah would in some way serve as a redemption to all the foolishness that I had made in the same city in 1990 (such as collecting fragments of the Berlin Wall as souvenirs for a symbol of regained freedom!)


We also stayed at Masjid An-Nur, Haberstrasse 3, Berlin for a couple of days. The Arab Muslim community here had bought a  desolated milk factory and turned it into a splendid huge 4-storey masjid complete with a shop, a canteen, a kitchen, IT centre, classes for children and even a gymnasium. Sadly, except for a nikah (marriage) occasion that was held here where many people-men, women and children, flocked in the masjid for a whole day and night, there were only a handful of mussalis that pray fard namaaz here.

At the occasion of nikah, we were utterly shell-shocked to see that the imam himself leading the others in singing songs (or praises) and the men then danced in the masjid in a big circle. Although the women were separated from men a the upper floor, and although the dancing and singing of praises might be an acceptable Arab culture, I personally felt that it was hideous and disgusting thing to do in any masjid. I am relating to you this story not to unnecessarily expose the repulsive and ugliness of the ummah or any specified community but rather to reflect that not all that we had seen and experience were all charming and delightful. The purpose is not to condemn but to ask forgiveness to Almighty Allah on behalf of the entire ummah in the matters that we had transgressed. And how much that I had transgressed! May Almighty Allah give taufeek to me and the entire ummah to practise only the blessed sunnah way of life of our Prophet sallalaahu alayhi wasalam.

And oh! At this masjid we managed to persuade Fairuz and Nazali Sham, the two Malaysian students that were together with us for the most part of our journey, to cut their hair short!

Travelogue - Germany Part 18

We then travelled 170km to the east of Germany to Erfurt that used to be the gateway to the former East Germany from the West before the unification. We reached Masjid Madinah, Trommsdorffstrasse after almost 2 hours on the road. Although there were exciting things and wonderful scenery that could been seen during the road journey, I, as usual, slept all the way to avoid car sickness. 

The imam of Masjid Madinah, Imam Hassan, is an energetic young man absorbed in the work of dakwah and tabligh. He read Riyadus Solihin after asar and Hayatus Sahabah after Isya'. He is fluent in English and acted as our translator, together with a couple of Malaysian students who accompanied us. From Masjid Madinah, the many dedicated brothers made intikali jaulah and tasykil at the surrounding masjids. There used to be bitter and cruel opposition against them from the wahabbi or the so-called salafi hardliners. But their constant tireless effort managed to end the harsh treatment and some of them rough wahabbis even join the effort of dakwah and tabligh and turned to soft and pleasing mannered person. 

Dr Wa'el, a Palestinian brain surgeon working at Erfut Hospital organised a masturat bayan (ladies discources) at his house. As with every other masturat bayan, it had been delivered behind a veiled door as a measure to strictly separate men from women, with Dr Wa'el himself sitting beside translating the bayan. I just do not understand why the so-called learned men of deen here in Malaysia could let the veils separating the two genders in our masjds to be wide open, inviting all sorts of fitan in the pretext of teaching deen. It is such in contrast with any masturat bayan that I and my wife had been, where there was no sound of a woman's voice behind the veil, even their shoes were concealed from any man.

Dr Wa'el later told us that he is married to an American lady who had reverted to Islam. After involving in the work of dakwah, Almighty Allah totally changed their lives, turning their concern for the narrowness of this world to the concern for everlasting aakhirah. The couple shared the hope that one day Almighty Allah will change the environment of Erfut to the environment of Madinah Munawarrah during the time of our Prophet SAW.