The most significant factor that distinguishes Ahlus Sunnah (Asha'irs) from other sub-sects within the religion is its precise stance on the issue of "Takfir" (declaring someone a Kafir/unbeliever).
The Ash'aris do not brand anyone in the Muslim world with Kufr based on mere feelings or even strong conjectures (Dlhunoon - ). At the same time, innovative movements like the Khawarij branded anyone who committed any sin as a Kafir.
On the other hand, there were the Murji'ah, who said that committing sins is not an issue at all if one has Iman (faith), and the Mu'tazilah, who said that although the Iman of those who commit major sins is lost, they do not enter Kufr (i.e., they are in a state between Iman and Kufr).
The stance adopted by the Wahhabiyyah, who came later, on the issue of Takfir was not much different from the aforementioned innovative groups. Moreover, their baseless Takfir became excessive, and they even performed Takfir on issues where differing opinions exist among scholars.
They kept proclaiming, directly and indirectly, that any Muslim who did not accept their ideology was not a member of Islam.
This section aims to reveal this "Kafir-making" tendency, which they carried out through numerous writings and other means, from the words of their own leaders.
1️⃣ Ibn Abdil Wahhab
[Death: 1206 H]
"Sincerely, I bring a matter to your attention. By Allah Himself, I sought knowledge, and those who knew me believed I had knowledge, but at that time, I did not know the meaning of the statement 'La ilaha illallah'.
Until then, I did not know the Deen of Islam either. Similarly, among my teachers, there was not a single one who had correctly understood the statement 'La ilaha illallah'. If any contemporary scholar claims that they have understood the meaning of the sacred Kalima 'La ilaha illallah,' or that they had understood Islam earlier, or that any of their teachers had correctly understood that Kalima, it is a blatant lie, misleading, and claiming what one is not entitled to!" (١)
2️⃣ Ibn Abdil Wahhab
[Death: 1206 H]
After quoting two verses that describe the character of the Meccan polytheists, he said: "If you understand the meaning of these verses, you will realize the fact that the majority of existing Muslims in the world are in far more dangerous Shirk and Kufr than the polytheists of that time whom the Prophet (ﷺ) fought." (٢)
3️⃣ The majority of the Muslim world compulsorily follows one of the four schools of jurisprudence. At the same time, they also follow one of the schools of belief, either Ash'ari or Maturidi.
Now, pay attention to the words of Ibn Abdil Wahhab's grandson!
Abdurrahman ibn Hasan ibn Abdil Wahhab [Death: 1285 H]
"This group, attributed to Abu'l Hasan al-Ash'ari, established different 'Sifat' (attributes) for Allah and deviated from the path of the predecessors. The group that slipped from the straight path turned people away from the path of Allah, permitted Shirk, and allowed the worship of others besides Allah. Many books have been written opposing this group of Kafirs." (٣)
4️⃣ Siddiq Khan al-Qannuji [Death: 1307 H]
"Following Madhhabs is Shirk. Just think about those who follow Madhhabs! They follow scholars and Awliya who died and turned to dust, alas!
Moreover, they attribute deep knowledge of the Quran and Hadith only to a few scholars who lived in the past.
And they give precedence to the words of scholars over the words of Allah and the Prophet!" (٤)
How dangerous is this statement!
Siddiq Khan al-Qannuji has highly praised Ibn Abdul Wahhab in many of his books and written about him. According to his statement, how many rightly guided Muslims are there in the world?!
5️⃣ Abdurrahman ibn Qasim an-Najdi [Death: 1392 H]
"After the time of Ibn Taymiyyah's students, Islam had vanished. Stars were worshipped. Many were worshipped besides Allah. Then, after centuries, Ibn Abdil Wahhab, prominent among the Mujtahids who are the leadership of Islam and Muslims and the fountainhead of knowledge, was sent." (٥)
So, this means that between the time of Ibn Taymiyyah's students and the arrival of Ibn Abdil Wahhab, Islam did not exist at all!
(١) الرسالة الثامنة والعشرون من كتاب الرسالة الشخصية (186)
(٢) الدرر السنية (1/160)
(٣) الدرر السنية (3/209)
(٤) الدين الخالص (1/140)
(٥) الدرر السنية (1/16)
6️⃣ Salih al-Fawzan
"The Meccan polytheists are the predecessors of the Ash'aris. How evil are the predecessors and the successors!" (١)
7️⃣ Khalid ibn Ali al-Mardhi al-Ghamidi
Saying, "I am introducing some so-called scholars who are propagators of Shirk, or who promoted Shirk through some books, or who propagated means leading to Shirk," look at the personalities he mentioned in his book...
▶️ 5th, 6th, 7th Centuries:
• Imam Makki ibn Talib [d. 437 H]
• Imam Qushayri [d. 465 H]
• Imam Ghazali [d. 505 H]
• Imam Kala'i [d. 634 H]
• Imam Sarsari [d. 656 H]
• Imam Qunawi [d. 672 H]
• Imam Abu Nu'man [d. 683 H]
▶️ Eighth Century:
• Imam Khashashi [d. 730 H]
• Imam Ibnul Hajj (author of the book Al-Madkhal) [d. 737 H]
• Imam Taqyuddin as-Subki [d. 756 H]
• Imam Yafi'i [d. 768 H]
• Imam Tajuddin as-Subki [d. 771 H]
• Ibn Battuta [d. 779 H]
• Imam Taftazani [d. 792 H]
▶️ Ninth Century:
• Imam Jurjani [d. 818 H]
• Imam al-Ubbi [d. 828 H]
• Imam al-Muqri [d. 847 H]
• Imam Sulaiman al-Jazuli [d. 870 H]
• Imam Razuq [d. 899 H]
▶️ Tenth Century:
• Imam Suyuti [d. 911 H]
• Imam Qastallani [d. 923 H]
• Imam Busiri [d. 963 H]
• Imam Ibn Hajar [al-Haytami] [d. 974 H]
• Imam Sha'rani
▶️ Eleventh Century:
• Imam Munawi [d. 1031 H]
• Imam Ahmad Sirhindi [d. 1034 H]
• Imam Abdul Haq Dihlawi [d. 1052 H]
• Imam Shihabuddin Khafaji [d. 1069 H]
• Imam Zurqani [d. 1122 H]
• Imam Sulaiman al-Kurdi [d. 1194 H]
• Imam Zabidi [d. 1205 H]
• Imam Ibn Ajiba [d. 1224 H]
• Imam Alawi al-Haddad [d. 1232 H]
• Imam Sawi [d. 1241 H]
• Ahmad Zayni Dahlan [d. 1309 H]
• Imam Ahmad Raza Barelvi [d. 1340 H]
• Sheikh Mutawalli Sha'rawi
Thus, he enumerates many people up to the fourteenth century. (٢)
This Wahhabi, Khalid bin Ali, accused eminent scholars who led the Muslim community in their respective periods, from the fifth century onwards, of Shirk.
By branding as Mushriks these eminent scholars who served this Ummah by focusing as much as possible on fields like theology (Aqeedah), jurisprudence (Fiqh), and Tasawwuf, and their followers, how many Muslims are now left in this Ummah?!!
It is noteworthy that he is a student of individuals like Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen!
He also has a book solely to argue that the Ash'aris are in Kufr, titled "Takfeer al-Asha'irah."
In that book, he also includes eminent scholars like Imam Nawawi, Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and Imam Qurtubi among the aforementioned! (٣)
Who is left now?!!
(١) الإرشاد إلى صحيح الإعتقاد على أهل الشرك والإلحاد (144)
(٢) نقض عقائد الأشاعرة والماتريدية (208-205)
(٣) تكفير الأشاعرة (24)
