Refuting the False Principles of Ali Al-Halabi Regarding Getting Closer to Innovators

[Omm AL-Homayra'a]

Refuting the false principle of 'Ali Hasan regarding getting closer to the innovators due to a benefit
translated by Br. Abd Allah Lahmami

Sheikh Rabee' ibn Haadi al-Madkhali advised to translate refutations against some of these incorrect principles that 'Ali Hasan has been calling to so that the Muslims do not fall into them due to the doubts been mentioned.
Sheikh Rabee' stressed that these doubts are dangerous in that they attack the methodology of the pious predecessors in how they used to not mix with the innovators and refute them.
Sheikh 'Ubayd al-Jaabiree, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi and Sheikh Abdullah al-Bukhaari also showed the seriousness of these latest mistakes of 'Ali Hasan.

Sheikh 'Ubayd al-Jaabiree advised also to translate what is sufficient for the people to be aware of these errors so that they do not fall into them.

Doubt number 1
'Ali Hasan al-Halabi said in his book "Menhaj as-Salafus Saalih fi Tarjeeh al-Masaalih" p.16 regarding the fundamentals of refuting:
"What will these individuals reply, may Allaah guide them regarding the situation of visiting (innovators), to what was reported by Khateeb (Baghdaadi) in his (Tareekh 10/262) and it seems this is the reason for their fitnahý
On the authority of Ya'qoob ibn Yusuf al-Mutdawi' who said "'Abdulrahman ibn Saalih al-Azdi who was a Raafidi and he used to visit Imam Ahmed, and he (Imam Ahmed) would bring him closer to himself so it was said, "O Aba 'Abdillah, 'Abdulrahman ibn Saalih al-Azdi is a Raafidi?!
So Imam Ahmed said, "SubhanAllaah, he is a man who loved the family of the Prophet, shall we say to him don't love him! He is thiqa (trustworthy in narrating)."
'Ali Hasan said commenting on this in the footnotes, "even though it was known that Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal rahmahullaah refused Dawood adh-Dhaahiree to enter upon him (due to his position with regards the Qur'an being created)." Tareekh Baghdad (8/373) in a report that many quote without a good understanding but times have changed and one must look at the benefits and harms and they are two important principles which many are unaware of who are energetic upon futile matters."

The actual complete story between Imam Ahmed and 'Abdulrahman ibn Saalih al-Azdi, the Raafidi is narrated fully in as-Sunnah of al-Khallal vol.1 p.501 and it is not as 'Ali Hasan portrayed:
Abu Bakr al-Marwazi said that I heard Aba 'Abdillaah (Imam Ahmed), there are a people who write these lowly ahadeeth concerning the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, and it is reported that you do not reject that the one who reports these narrations to be from the people of hadeeth. So he became angry and refuted this strongly and said "This is futile! We seek refuge in Allaah, I don't refute this! Even if this was regarding the lowliest of people then I would have refuted it so how is it then if it was concerning the companions of the Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam! Then he said "I don't write these ahadeeth." I said, "O Aba 'Abdillaah (Imam Ahmed), if you come to know of one who writes these lowly ahadeeth should he be boycotted?" He said "Yes, the one who narrates these lowly ahadeeth deserves to be stoned."

Abu 'Abdillaah (Imam Ahmed) said "'Abdulrahman came to me and I asked him: do you narrate these ahadeeth?" 'Abdulrahman said "so and so narrated it and so and so narrated it." So I tried to have gentleness with him(to advise him such that he leaves his misguidance) but he continued using as proof that so and so narrated these so when I saw him afterwards I turned away from him and did not speak to him.".

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi said that Imam Ahmed initially didn't know that Abdulrahman ibn Saalih was a Raafidi (since he spoke about 'Uthman and Mu'awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyaan (may Allaah be pleased with them)) because he showed his love for the Prophet's family initially and spoke well of Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them). However, when it became known to Imam Ahmed that he was spreading these narrations against the companions, Imam Ahmed turned away from him and didn't speak to him.
Sheikh 'Ubayd al-Jaabiree said that Imam Ahmed's position towards 'Abdulrahman ibn Saalih is his same position towards Dawood adh-Dhaahiree so 'Ali Hasan is mistaken in trying to separate the two incidents.
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi mentioned that 'Ali Hasan is mistaken to use an incomplete story regarding Imam Ahmed's position to allow one to come closer to the innovators in the name of benefit (maslaha) as this opens doors to much evil.
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi said, "Ali Hasan came to my house and I quoted to him the full story from as-Sunnah of al-Khallal so he knew of the boycott of Imam Ahmed regarding 'Abdulrahman ibn Saalih so why is he misquoting when I already advised him regarding this before he printed this book."
Sheikh Abdullah al-Bukhaari said that Ali Hasan's book should not be called Menhaj as-Salaf but rather Menhaj al-khalaf regarding the opposition in it to the methodology of the Sallaf.
Sheikh Ubayd al-Jaabiree said that these doubts concerning the allowance of visiting and mixing with the innovators in the name of maslaha (overall benefit) will open doors to many to mix with the innovators (and sign pledges of mutual cooperation as we have seen in the name of maslaha).
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Haadi mentioned that these errors are clearly the reason for Ali Hasan's defence for cooperating with 'Abdulrahman Abdulkhaaliq's Ihyaa Turath, Abul Hasan al-Misree, Maghrawi, Adnan 'Urur, Muhammad Hassan and others who have refuted by the scholars and until today have not retracted their errors.

May Allaah guide us all to the truth and protect us. Indeed He is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.