To the right is the cover for the second edition of "Baraa'ah Ulamaa il-Ummah Min Tazkiyah Ahl il-Bid'ah wal-Mudhammah" (The Innocence of the Scholars of the Ummah from the Commendation of the People of Innovation and Censure). This book was prepared by Isaam bin Abdullaah as-Sinaanee. It contains a refutation of the one who used the intercession of Shaykh Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) for Sayyid Qutb as a proof for the 'adaalah (integrity) of Sayyid Qutb and commendation of his (Qutb's) manhaj, when it is not a proof at all.

The book, after compilation and authorship was sent to Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan who checked over it and made recommendations, and also suggested an improvement to the title of the book. Then it was read by Imaam Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah), who made his own written notes on the pre-print copy that was sent to him, and he also advised that the section titled "The Salafi Manhaj", should be placed before "The Qutubi Manhaj" and not after it, unless the author had a specific reason for doing that. And images of these hand-written notes are included at the end of the book. We will be quoting from this book inshaa'Allaah in this series. Both of these scholars endorsed the contents of this book and the purpose for which it was to be published and distributed. And the purpose is clearly outlined in the title of the book itself. Namely, to declare the Scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah free and innocent (in particular Imaam Ibn Baaz, and the other scholars in general) of having made tazkiyah (i.e. given adaalah) to those who are from the people of innovation: In this case Sayyid Qutb, who aside from writing his commentary on the Qur'an upon an Ash'arite creed, added other great calamities, some of which are serious enough that they cannot really be excused by mere ignorance, such as accusing the Scribe of the Prophet (alayhis salaam) the Uncle of the Believers, Mu'awiyah - whose integrity is attested to by the Prophet himself - of treachery, deception and hypocrisy.

And this book essentially sunk their ship, leaving them only the flotsam to hold onto thereafter, which is what they have been doing since then.

Shaykh Saalih bin Uthaymeen on Attending to the Real Books of Tafsir and Doing Away with What is Besides Them

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen said in response to the question posed (Baraa'ah, pp. 40-41, 2nd edition):

The esteemed Shaykh, the Allaamah, Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, was asked - hafidhahullaah - about the author of the book "Fi Zilal il-Qur'an" and his methodology in tafsir? So he replied:

There has been much talk about this man and his book. And in the other books of tafseer such as Tafseer Ibn Katheer and Tafseer Ibn as-Sa'dee and Tafsee al-Qurtubi - alongside what it contains of laxity regarding [the use of authentic] hadeeth - and the Tafseer of [Abee Bakr] al-Jazaa'iree, is the freedom of need and sufficiency, by a thousand times, of this book [of Qutb]. And some of [the people of knowledge] such as ad-Dawaish and al-Albaanee have mentioned observations about this book, and these [observations] are recorded and present. And I have not looked at this book in its entirety, but I have read his tafseer of Surah al-Ikhlaas, and he uttered an enormous saying therein opposing what Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah are upon, in that his tafseer of it indicates that he speaks with Wahdat ul-Wujood (the unity of existence). And likewise his tafseer of al-Istiwaa with dominion, control, authority (haymanah, saytarah). With the knowledge that this book is not a book of tafseer, and its author mentioned that himself when he said, "[In] The Shade of the Qur'an".

And it is upon the students of knowledge that they not make this man or any other a reason for their differing and dissension between them, and that their walaa (allegiance) and baraa (disavowal) should not be for him or against him.

A few points on the above:

Point 1: Concerning Wahdat ul-Wujood

A number of the scholars confirm that what they find in the writings of Sayyid Qutb does not leave leave a person except with the understanding that he is expressing and speaking with Wahdat ul-Wujood. From them Shaykh al-Albaanee, and he has a story on this subject regarding Abdullaah Azzaam who followed an Ikhwaani boycott declared against Shaykh al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) when Shaykh al-Albaanee criticised Sayyid Qutb for this. And also from them Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen. And also Shaykh Abdullaah ad-Dawaish, Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee, Shaykh Saalih Aal ash-Shaykh.

And also Shaykh Muhammad bin Jameel Zainoo who pointed out the presence of the doctrine of Wahdat ul-Wujood in Qutb's early poetical writings, and despite pestering Qutb's brother, Mohammad Qutb, on many occasions to clarify this mistake of Sayyid Qutb, to put it in writing, and add clarifications to the printed works that get distributed. But despite promising to do so, Mohammad Qutb never fulfilled his promise, even after more than a decade passing by. This will be dealt with in another article inshaa'Allaah.

Point 2: Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen's Recommended Reading

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen used a very strong expression by saying that the other books of tafseer that are based upon hadeeth and athar, do away with the book of Sayyid Qutb "by a thousand times". That shows you the difference in worth. For even if you take out all of the mistakes and innovations in the book of Qutb, the majority of what you are left with is not knowledge. All that remains is Qutb's thoughts and feelings as he reads the Qur'an expressed in a good, eloquent literary style. And this is recognized by some of the Scholars, that his literary expressions can be touching and moving. So were the speech and admonitions of al-Harith al-Muhasibee, and he is better than Qutb by a thousand times. So the crux of the matter is what exactly is the reason why these people are attached to his book? What is there in it, besides eloquent literary expressions that is making these people traverse the lands, conquer the mountains and fare the oceans to defend this man? That is the question. The answer is his Extremism in Takfir and propounding Leninist's manifesto - which gave birth to the madhhab of the khawaarij.

Point 3: Not Making al-Walaa wal-Baraa Over This Man

The Qutbiyyah (see here, here and here) who make al-walaa wal-baraa over this man, and then they accuse those who Scholars who give sincerity (of purpose) to Allaah, to the Book of Allaah, to the Messenger of Allaah, and to the generality of the Muslims in pointing out:

• The aqidah of the Jahmiyyah Ash'ariyyah of Ta'weel of the sifaat, rejection of the Sifaat Fi'liyyah, expressing negation of al-Uluww upon the way of the Jahmiyyah - (see here, here, and here)
• Extremism in Takfir - (see here)
• Rejection of aahaad hadeeth in aqidah - ( see here)
• Mockery of the Prophet Moses (alayhis salaam) - see here
• Revilment and belittlement of Uthmaan (radiallaahu anhu)
• Accusing Mu'aawiyah, the Scribe and Writer of the Revelation with nifaaq (hypocrisy), ghish (deception), khadee'ah (treachery, trickery) lying (kadhib) - see here

And what is much much more than that - they accuse these Scholars and those who love and hate for the sake of the aqidah of Islaam (and not merely for the sake of individuals) - of being "Madkhalis" and of hating this man and showing enmity and allegiance for his sake.

Let it be known that the Scholars who criticized the mistakes of Sayyid Qutb, inclusive of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, did so out of walaa (loyalty) for the truth and not because of a mere man. For Sayyid Qutb, in his person, is irrelevant, it could have been a thousand other people. Rather it is the deviation found in the mans' ideas and books that need to pointed out since these books are spread the world over and they are used to nurture and teach generations of youth. And thus, out of walaa (loyalty) for the truth, it is a religious obligation upon the Scholars to clarify and point out the truth, which they have done, not for the sake of loving or hating an individual, but out of walaa (loyalty) for the truth.

So Ahl us-Sunnah, such as Shaykh al-Albaani, Shaykh Bin Baaz, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbaad, Shaykh al-Luhaydaan, Shaykh Abdullaah ad-Dawaish and the numerous others who have spoken on this subject, have spoken not because of walaa or baraa regarding an individual but because of the deen, and its aqidah, and this is what is obligatory.

For this reason they advise not to be concerned about this man, to abandon his books, and to learn real knowledge from the real books.

However, in the face of this we see a people bending over backwards, and willing to traverse the valleys, conquer the mountains, and fare the raging seas in order to defend Qutb, his exaggerated doctrines, and his books using the saying of some or one of the Scholars that for those who have knowledge and can distinguish between truth and falsehood, they may benefit from the literary style, expression and eloquence in Qutb's commentary - but they use this to defend the man's doctrines and ideologies and to continue to propagandize for them, because really its not Qutb that really matters for them. In reality Qutb is just a means. Its the ideology that Qutb propounded that is what their walaa and baraa is based around - whose revolutionary manifesto came from secular atheist Jews.

And so for what other reason do you think Scholars like Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan read and checked this book "Baraa'ah Ulamaa il-Ummah" which contains their previous statements and those of a multitude of major Scholars, gave it their seal of approval and their agreement upon its being published and spread so that all people are aware of the truth in this matter?! Stand in front of Allaah and answer that question truthfully if it is the religion and the aqidah that you make walaa and baraa for and you will know your answer.