Advice to Salafees in Nigeria – Shaykh ‘Abdullaah adh-Dhafeeree حفظه الله
The following is some advice by the virtuous Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Salfeeq adh-Dhafeeree (may Allah preserve him) addressed to the Salafi’s in Nigeria. In it, the Shaykh emphasis issues of Taqwa, true Eemaan & Ikhlaas, being firm upon the path of the Righteous Predecessors, seeking knowledge, as well as harmony and compassion among the Salafi’s.
It was recorded after ‘Asr prayer on Friday 27th Rajab 1445 (8th March 2024) in the city of Hafr al-Batin in Saudi Arabia. We ask Allah to reward the Shaykh abundantly for his consistent pieces of advice and good nurturing, and may He benefit the Muslims by way of it.
It is presented below in the following formats: Video (with English subtitles), text (below) and as a PDF Download.
Text:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Advice to the Salafis in Nigeria – Shaykh Dr. Abdullāh Salfīq Adh-Dhafīrī (حفظ الله)
All praises be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may Allah raise the ranks of the Messenger of Allah and grant him peace, his household and all his companions.
As to what follows, I extend this advice and counsel to our Salafi brothers in Nigeria, asking Allahسبحانه وتعالى to grant me and them insightful understanding of the Religion, and to grant us beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.
First, I advise them to have taqwa and fear of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is the Commandment of Allah (عز وجل) to His first and later servants as He (عز وجل) said: “And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah”[1] The Prophet used to advise his companions, saying, “Fear Allah wherever you are.”
And piety is the key to all righteouness, and Allah (عز وجل) is with His servents that are al-Muttaqoon (the pious). Allah (عز وجل) loves al-Muttaqoon (the pious), He (عز وجل) guides them and grant them success in all their affiars, as He (عز وجل) said: “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.”[2] He also said: “And whoever fears Allāh (with reverent obedience), He will make his affair easy for him.”[3] Also, He (عز وجل) said: “O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)]”[4]
As I mentioned earlier, the advice with the fear of Allah عز وجل is what Allah commands His servants that are al-Muttaqoon (the pious) with. Hence, it is obligatory upon the Muslim and the student of knowledge to fear Allah عز وجل under any circumstance and wherever they may be.
Then, I advise you to adhere firmly to al-Eemaan as-Saadiq (the true belief) and at-Tawheed al-Khaalis (the unadulterated tawheed), as this is the foundation of the religion and the (true) path, as Allah stated: “In the Name of Allāh, The Most-Merciful (to His creation), the Ever-Merciful (to His believing servants). By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allah manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss. Except those who believe and work righteous deeds (which are sincere and correct) and mutually advise each other (in calling to and abiding by) the truth and mutually advise each other with patience (in facing the inevitable harms brought by calling to the truth).”[5]
Just as I also advise them with adhering firmly to what the Salaf (the righteous predecessor) of this Ummah were upon, it is the path to salvation, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned: “My nation will split into seventy-three sects, all of them will be in the fire except one. It was said: Who are they (the saved sect), O Messenger of Allah? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Those who are upon what I am today and my companions” and in another narration, He صلى الله عليه وسلم said “the Jam’ah”. Thus, adhering firmly to what the salaf as-saalih (the righteous predecessors) and the noble companions were upon is the path to salvation.
Also, it is upon them to seek and equip themselves with knowledge just as Allah عز وجل commanded His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with His statement: “and say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.””[6] Also, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever Allah wishes good for He bestow upon him the Fiqh (proper comprehension) of the Religion” Having the (proper) Fiqh (understanding) of the Religion is salvation. And whoever treads a path, seeking knowledge by way of it, Allah will make by this (seeking knowledge) the path to Paradise easy for him. And there is no happiness nor insight (and clarity) for a servant except with knowledge, just as Allah عز وجل said: “So (be firm in your) knowledge (O Muḥammad) that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh (alone). And seek forgiveness for your shortcoming”[7] So, He عز وجل began with knowledge before statement and action.
Then I advise them to adhere firmly to the scholars, the scholars of ahlis-Sunnah (those who truly follow the traditions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم), as well as gathering around them (the scholars) and establishing strong connection with them, either through their books and writings or by having sittings (of knowledge) with them, from those of this era (that are alive among them). Also, to pay attention to the writings (and books) of the Imams Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim (رحمهما الله) and the books of the Salaf. These books endow the servant with insight in understanding the Religion and the Sunnah (the traditons of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).
I also advise my brothers in Nigeria to cooperate among themselves upon righteousness and piety, and to be in harmony, reconciliation, and have compassion among themselves, and they should stay away from differing and conflict, for this weakens the strength of ahlus-Sunnah. This is as Allah (عز وجل) said: “… and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart,”[8]
The greatest cooperation is (that which is based) on the Religion of Allah and calling to Allah, as Allah (عز وجل) said: “And who is better in speech than he who [says: “My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.””[9] And the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said to Aliyy Ibn Ab Tlib: “By Allah, for a single person to be guided through you (to Islam) is better for you than a red camel (the most precious wealth).”
And you see the people of falsehold intensifying their effort, the people of falsehood from the people of disbelief, the people of innovation, and the people of immorality and sins (intensifying the effort) in spreading their beliefs and falshoods. Thus, it is more deserving for the People of Sunnah, the People of Tawheed, that their attention to calling to Allah is (given) the greatest priority, so that Allah would bring the people out from darkness into light through them.
They should begin their call (their dawah) from the Masaajid (Mosques). It was the starting place of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the companions and the salaf (in their da’wah). Allah (عز وجل) said in His Book: “The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.”[10] The maintenance of the Masjid is by knowledge and spreading the Sunnah (the traditions of the Prophet) and at-Tawheed (devoting all forms of worship to Allah alone), therefore, cooperate and unite upon this, so that Allah would fortify your strength and make you beneficial to the people of your country.
I ask Allah the Most Gracious, the Lord of the Great Throne, to guide me and you to benefical knowledge and righteous deeds, and that He grant us sincerity in statements and deeds, and seize our forelocks to that which He loves, O our Lord, and which pleases Him.
May Allah extol the mention of our Prophet Muhammad, raise his ranks and grant him peace.
May the Peace, Mercy, and Blessing of Allah be upon you.
– This advice was presented after ‘Asr prayer on Friday 27th Rajab 1445 (8th March 2024) –
[Transcribed & translated by Abu ‘Umar AbdulHakeem & Abu Tayyibah Sadiq]
[1] Surah Nisa’: 131
[2] Surah at-Talaq: 2-3
[3] Surah at-Talaq: 4
[4] Surah al-Anfal: 29
[5] Surah al-Asr: 1-3
[6] Surah Taha: 114
[7] Surah Muhammad: 19
[8] Surah al-Anfal: 46
[9] Surah Fussilat: 33
[10] Surah at-Tawbah: 18
Source of Translations: www.theNobleQuran.com
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PDF: Advice to Salafees in Nigeria 1445 (2024) – Shaykh ‘Abdullaah adh-Dhafeeree