Shaykh Rabīʿ: On Utmost Gentleness in Salafi Daʿwah, Abandoning Harshness, and Respecting Ahl al-ʿIlm Worldwide.
This is a well-known and important advice of Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī رحمه الله, given in response to disputes that arose among Salafi brothers in Algeria. In this statement, the Shaykh strongly emphasizes unity upon the Qurʾān and the Sunnah, brotherhood for the sake of Allah, gentleness in daʿwah, and the abandonment of harshness, division, nationalism, and partisanship.
He also clarifies a foundational Salafi principle: that the truth is accepted from the scholars wherever they may be, and that restricting oneself to scholars of a single land while rejecting others is blameworthy partisanship that harms the Salafi daʿwah.
What follows is the full advice of the Shaykh, preserved as it was delivered.
Key Points
Brotherhood and Unity upon the Truth
I advise the Salafi brothers generally to maintain mutual brotherhood for the sake of Allah, mutual love for the sake of Allah, and mutual affection for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and to hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ upon the way of the Righteous Predecessors (Salaf al-Ṣāliḥ), and to respect the scholars, whether they are from Algeria or from elsewhere.
Rejecting Nationalism and Partisanship
For indeed, restricting [oneself] to the scholars of that country, and rejecting the speech of the others, this is racism, partisanship (ḥizbiyyah), and nationalism. Let them fear Allah and abandon these ways.”
Taking Knowledge from Scholars Everywhere, Respecting Ulama
And let them respect the Salafi Manhaj, and their brothers, and respect the scholars, even if they were from the farthest reaches of China or from any country, as long as they speak the word of truth, and proceed from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Manhaj of the Righteous Predecessors.
🎙 Our Shaykh, the ʿAllāmah, Rabīʿ bin Hādī al-Madkhalī—may Allāh have mercy upon him—said:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family, his companions, and whoever follows his guidance. As to what follows (Ammā Baʿd):
It has indeed reached me that there are existing differences among the Salafi brothers in Algeria, and this was not expected of them. Indeed, their Daʿwah was strong when their word was united through their gathering upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
And indeed, it has reached me that these differences have profoundly impacted the Salafi Daʿwah and have distorted it.
So, I advise the Salafi brothers generally to maintain mutual brotherhood for the sake of Allah, mutual love for the sake of Allah, and mutual affection for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and to hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ upon the way of the Righteous Predecessors (Salaf al-Ṣāliḥ), and to respect the scholars, whether they are from Algeria or from elsewhere.
For indeed, restricting [oneself] to the scholars of that country, and rejecting the speech of the others, this is racism, partisanship (ḥizbiyyah), and nationalism. So, let them fear Allah, and let them abandon these methods.
And let them respect the Salafi Manhaj, and their brothers, and respect the scholars, even if they were from the farthest reaches of China or from any country, as long as they speak the word of truth, and proceed from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Manhaj of the Righteous Predecessors.
I emphasize my advice that they abandon division and its causes; because this leads to failure. Allah the Exalted said:
{وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ}
“And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart.” [Al-Anfāl: 46]
And let them call to harmony, and it is upon them to adhere to gentleness and leniency, for indeed, Allah is Gentle and He loves gentleness as is in the authentic ḥadīth, and likewise the Messenger ﷺ says:
«عليكم بالرفق، إن الرفق لا يكون في شيء إلا زانه، ولا يُنزع من شيء إلا شانه».
“You must be gentle; for indeed, gentleness is not in anything except that it adorns it, and it is not removed from anything except that it mars it.”
Harshness (Shiddah) and violence (Unf), even against the enemies, do not benefit the Salafi Daʿwah.
Allah the Exalted said:
{ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ}
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” [An-Naḥl: 125]
This is regarding the enemies, so how about with the Salafis? Harshness (Shiddah) against the Salafis, and severe defamation of them; this is a dangerous matter, and it opposes the Manhaj of the Salaf.
So let them fear Allah concerning this Daʿwah, and let them hold firmly together, and let them maintain mutual brotherhood, and let them be like a single body. And the one who errs is to be advised with wisdom and good instruction.
May Allah grant success to all, and bring their hearts together [in harmony]. Indeed, our Lord is the Hearer of supplication.
And may Allah exalt the mention of our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his companions, and grant them peace.
Recorded on Saturday, 19 Rabīʿ al-Ākhir 1439 AH.
النص الكامل لكلام الشيخ رحمه الله
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وعلى آله وصحبه، ومن اتبع هداه، أما بعد:فقد بلغني أن هناك خلافات قائمة بين الإخوان السلفيين في الجزائر، وما كان يُنتظر هذا منهم، لقد كانت دعوتهم قوية حينما كانت كلمتهم واحدة باجتماعهم على كتاب الله وسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.
ولقد بلغني أن هذه الخلافات أثرت تأثيرًا كبيرًا على الدعوة السلفية وشوهتها.
فأنصح الإخوان السلفيين عمومًا بالتآخي في الله، والتحاب في الله، والتواد في الله عز وجل، والتمسك بكتاب الله وسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على طريقة السلف الصالح، واحترام العلماء سواء كانوا من الجزائر أو من غيرها.
فإن الاقتصار على علماء ذلك البلد، ورفض كلام الآخرين، هذا عنصرية وحزبية ووطنية، فليتقوا الله، وليتركوا هذه الأساليب.
وليحترموا المنهج السلفي، وإخوانهم، ويحترموا العلماء، ولو كانوا من أقصى الصين أو من أي بلد، ما داموا يقولون كلمة الحق، وينطلقون من كتاب الله وسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ومنهج السلف الصالح.
أؤكد نصيحتي أن يتركوا الفرقة وأسبابها؛ لأن هذا يؤدي إلى الفشل، قال الله تعالى:
{وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ}وليدعوا إلى الألفة، وعليهم بالرفق واللين، فإن الله رفيق يحب الرفق كما في الحديث الصحيح، وكذلك الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
«عليكم بالرفق، إن الرفق لا يكون في شيء إلا زانه، ولا يُنزع من شيء إلا شانه».الشدة والعنف حتى على الأعداء، لا تنفع الدعوة السلفية.
قال الله تعالى:
{ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ}هذا في الأعداء، فكيف بالسلفيين؟ الشدة على السلفيين، والطعن الشديد فيهم، هذا أمر خطير، ويخالف منهج السلف.
فليتقوا الله في هذه الدعوة، وليتماسكوا، وليتآخوا، وليكونوا كالجسد الواحد، والذي يخطئ يُنصح بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة.
وفق الله الجميع، وألَّف بين قلوبهم، إن ربنا سميع الدعاء.
وصلى الله على نبينا محمد، وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
سُجِّل يوم السبت 19 ربيع الآخر 1439 هـ
