Safeguarding Against Insincerity

Taken from The Righteous Action
Shaykh Muhammad Nasirud-Din al-Albani - al-Hijra magazine (vol.4 no.2)Al-Ibaanah Magazine Issue No.1 - Dhul-Qa’dah 1415H / April 1995

Many people unfortunately neglect the first condition (complying with the Sunnah) because they are astray and believe that bid’ah (innovation) is good in the religion.[12] But there are those upon whom Allâh has granted His favour, by guiding them to the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallâhu ’alayhi wa sallam. They are those who know the reality of this condition and adhere to it the best they can. Yet they must pay attention to the second condition, which either group may fail to fulfill, and that is riyâ’ (insincerity and showing-off). No one is exempt from riyâ’ and all people are susceptible to it in their actions.

This matter is a very serious one and must be stressed here, so that we may know that we are in need of making our actions correct and purely for the Face of Allâh - the Exalted and Sublime. Part of this is that we are tested even while making Da’wah to the Qur‘ân and the Sunnah, for trials are not only in evil matters, but also in the good matters: “And We test you with evil and good, by way of fitnah (trial).” [13]

This da’wah has been neglected by Muslims throughout the world so that the du’ât (the callers) have become strangers. Not only are they strangers in foreign countries, but they are strangers even in their own countries; amongst their relatives and brothers. This makes them praiseworthy, but they must not stand up to be praised for this da’wah. This is the reality, for the Prophet sallallâhu ’alayhi wa sallam said: “Verily Islâm started as something strange and it will return as something strange, so Tûbâ is for the Strangers.” [14]

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12. The evidence to refute the notion of Bid’ah Hasanah (good innovation) are many. However, for the sake of brevity, only one will be mentioned:- The Sahabî ’Abdullâh ibn ’Umar radiallâhu ’anhu said - as is related by ad-Dârimî in al-Madhkal ilas-Sunan (no.191) with a Sahîh isnâd -: “Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people regard it as something good.”

13. Sûratul-Anbiyâ 21:35.

14. Related by Muslim (2/175-176) and Ibn Mâjah (2/320) - fromAbû Hurayah radiallâhu ’anhu.