(Someone might say – “Why do you talk about the Mu’tazilah, the Jahmiyyah, the Zanaadiqah, the Ash’arees, the Khawaarij and the Murji’ah and always mention them when speaking about the issues of Creed, when these groups have ceased to exist and its adherents have died out?”
As the saying goes:
“They have been consumed by time.”
So there is no reason to mention them. Our response is, and with Allaah lies the success: Yes, these sects existed in the past, and their followers and founders have died out ages ago. However, their ideologies still prevail, and their beliefs have not come to an end. Rather, the followers of these ideas and beliefs, who have been influenced by these groups, are still present among us today.
So their ideologies and beliefs are passed on from generation to generation, and they have people who continue to pass them on. As for the beliefs of the Mu’tazilah, then it is still in existence today and in fact it is widely spread amongst those who ascribe to Islaam. This is since the Shee’ah, in all of their various sects and denominations, even the Zaydees among them, adhere to the beliefs of the Mu’tazilah. As for the Ash’arees, then it is a sect that exists in groups amongst a majority of the Muslims today. As for the belief of Irjaa, is can be found also in the Hanafees who believe that Eemaan (Faith) is just tasdeeq (affirmation) and qawl (speech). So actions, according to them, do not fall into the fold of Eemaan. Even though this Irjaa is of a lesser nature, it is still from Irjaa of the well-known people of rhetoric. And as for the apostates, such as those who believe in wahdat-ul-wujood and other than them, then they exist today as well, since the followers of ‘Ibn Arabee can be found today and they are from the extreme Sufis.
So based on this, when we mention these groups, we are not talking about the actual groups of old, but rather we are talking about the groups that exist among the Muslims today. And this is something that is not hidden from the students of knowledge. So it is only those who are unaware of the realities or those who wish to confuse the people and spread false beliefs that condemn us when we mention these groups. So it is upon such people to ask before they condemn. This is just a short discussion on the matter, but in reality this topic is vast, and Allaah knows best. I will present some examples below that make it clear that the ideologies of these destructive groups are present still today:
1) Sayyid Qutb said in his book “In the Shade of the Qur’aan” (4/2328): “The Qur’aan is present and in existence just like the earth and the heavens.” This is the belief that the Qur’aan is created, and this is the view of the Jahmiyyah and other deviant groups.
2) He also said in the afore-mentioned book (6/4002) while interpreting Allaah’s statement: “Say: He is Allaah, the One” (Surah al-Ikhlaas: 1): “This indeed refers to the oneness of existence. So there is no reality except for His reality, nor is there a true existence except for His existence. So everything else that exists, its existence stems from that actual existence.” This is the belief of wahdat-ul-wujood.
3) Muhammad Qutb said: “The matter requires us to call the people to Islaam all over again, not because, this time, they reject saying ‘Laa Ilaaha IllaaAllaah, Muhammad Rasoolullaah’ with their mouths, as the people during the first stage of strangeness would do, but because the people during this time reject the main requisite Laa Ilaaha Ilaa Allaah, which is: Judging by the Legislation of Allaah.” (Quoted from the book “Our Current Situation” pg. 29)
I say: This is declaring the masses to be disbelievers, in the absolute sense. If this is not so, then how can he judge that the people reject Allaah’s Rule. And how can he liken them to the Days of Ignorance prior to Islaam, without going into detail or making exceptions for those who in fact implement Allaah’s Legislation, and who have no constitution except the Book of Allaah? These kinds of general statements are oft repeated by these writers, as if they don’t acknowledge the existence of the huge Salafee Islamic state located in the heart of Arabia. And it is as if they don’t acknowledge the existence of Muslims in various other regions that are from the followers of Hadeeth, supporters of the Sunnah and adherents to the beliefs of the Salaf.
The strange thing is that thee people, or some of them, were living in this Islamic state (The Kingdom of Saudi Arabic) at the time they made such statements, which contain grave deception for the readers, such that an average person is led to believe that there cannot be found an Islamic state today that professes Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allaah, implementing its requisites and ruling by Allaah’s Laws. And it leads the reader to believe that there cannot be found any individuals or groups that adhere to Tawheed on the face of this earth. And this is deceiving, misleading, and deluding the readers. So let the student of knowledge take not of this phenomenon that is widespread amongst these type of writers, may Allaah guide them to what is correct!
, what would you call that? (Just an example, would you mention his good qualities along with these major bad qualities?)