A series of manhaj benefits from Shaykh Rabīʿ bin Hādī (رحمه الله) regarding scholarly integrity, always seeking evidence and truth, avoiding bigotry, accepting the reports of the trustworthy, not restricting daʿwah affairs to one or two shaykhs and how to treat Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Bidʿah.
We praise and thank Allāh (عز وجل) for providing us with scholars of the calibre of Shaykh Rabīʿ bin Hādī, Shaykh Aḥmad al-Najmī, Shaykh ʿUbayd al-Jābirī, Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhalī (رحمهم الله) and others, all of whom authored tremendous works in methodology and have important statements and clarifications which are concise and full of important principles. With this important contribution, they have provided Ahl al-Sunnah a solid criterion to judge the words and deeds of those who claim attachment to the Salafī methodology. This knowledge of the scholars does not die with them but remains for the ummah and provides them with milestones of truth along the path for all those who come after them.
11 Beware of the slip of the scholar and the true scale of evaluating statements and deeds
Muʿādh bin Jabal said: I caution you from the slip of the wise (scholar), for verily, Shayṭān can say a word of misguidance through the tongue of the wise, and a hypocrite may say a word of truth.
10 “Leave it for the scholars”
From the numerous doubts of the Ḥizbīs used to confuse the truth is to say: “Leave this matter for the scholars, it is not for us and you”, and this is a form of intellectual terrorism against the Salafi youth from speaking with the truth in clear matters.
09 Ḥaddādiyyah is a barbarous methodology
The Ḥaddādī methodology is a wild, beastly and barbarous methodology. It operates upon the law of the jungle where might is right, and the aim is to kill the prey, without any mercy.
08 Knowledge-based criticisms and refutations are based on integrity and justice
The way of the people of truth is to abide by justice and to always maintain integrity and utmost truthfulness, even towards non-Muslims and the Polytheists, let alone Muslims and Ahl al-Sunnah who are upon the way of the Righteous Salaf.
07 The people of truth follow evidence even in issues of (permitted) differing
The way of the people of truth is to adhere to principles and to follow the evidences, even in issues of differing between Ahl al-Sunnah, so that the truth in every issue becomes manifest and the differing is resolved and removed.
06 The truth is greater and older than everybody
The truth is older and greater than everybody, and its age is from the creation of Ādam (عليه السلام) till today, hence, nobody can claim or be claimed to be above it.
05 On not being diverted from the truth by personalities and statuses
The pursuit of the seeker of knowledge and truth is to arrive at the truth in every affair, without fear of statuses and personalities and to hold on to it without flinching, without fear of scorn or blame.
04 On accepting the reports of the trustworthy for religious rulings and judgements
One of the most important foundations of the religion and the world is that of reports (akhbār) and reporting (ikhbār). They are the route through which information and knowledge are conveyed, and upon which the affairs of the religion and world proceed.
03 A cunning scheme to conflate manhaj issues with personal disputes requiring arbitration
From the schemes of the Ḥizbiyyīn is that when their errors in methodology are made clear, with correct, valid evidence, they resort to calling for taḥākum (arbitration) to a shaykh by presenting the matter as a personal dispute.
02 Disparagement of individuals by those who are not scholars
Returning to a scholar, in matters which are clear and have become apparent and known among the people, is not a condition for disparaging people, provided a person has sound creed, has knowledge regarding valid reasons for disparagement, and has piety and fear of Allāh.
01 Specifying particular shaykhs in daʿwah and resolution of conflicts.
“We did not know of this distinction and this separation (i.e. of specifying certain shaykhs only) except [now] in these days. And some attempts have begun now to specify (only) so and so and so and so (shaykh) to solve the problems, and this has been rejected, may Allāh bless you.”