Rifqan Ahl al-Sunnah bi-Ahl al-Sunnah
- Author died
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- Editions
- Matba'at Safeer
Rifqan Ahl al-Sunnah bi-Ahl al-Sunnah (Gentleness, People of the Sunnah, Towards People of the Sunnah) is a contemporary treatise on ethics, methodology, and intra-Sunni relations written by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad. The work serves as an advisory counsel aimed at curbing harshness, personal disparagement (tajrīḥ), premature declaring of others as innovators (tabdīʿ), and unwarranted boycotting (hajr) among contemporary Sunni adherents.
Background and Purpose
The book was first printed in 1424 AH (2003 CE) by Matba'at Safir. Al-Abbad composed the epistle in response to what he observed as growing discord, estrangement, and mutual hostility among students of knowledge and scholars adhering to the Sunnah. He noted that some individuals had become preoccupied with refuting, warning against, and ostracizing one another, arguing that their efforts should instead be directed toward addressing opponents outside of Ahl al-Sunnah, while internal differences ought to be managed with lenience, mutual compassion, and fraternal counsel.
Structure and Content
The treatise is arranged around fundamental ethical and methodological themes supported by Quranic verses, prophetic traditions, and statements from classical scholars:
- Definition of Ahl al-Sunnah: The author introduces the book by affirming that Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah are those who follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, noting that their affiliation is strictly to the Sunnah rather than to later sect names or distinct personal titles.
- The Blessing of Speech and Expression (Niʿmat al-nuṭq wa-l-bayān): Al-Abbad highlights speech as a divine favor intended for ordering good, forbidding evil, and uttering beneficial words, warning that misusing it becomes a severe liability.
- Guarding the Tongue (Ḥifẓ al-lisān): Citing numerous texts, he emphasizes guarding speech against backbiting (ghībah), slander (buhtān), and infringing upon the honor of Muslims.
- Avoiding Suspicion and Spying (al-Ẓann wa-l-tajassus): The text warns against assuming ill of fellow believers, pursuing their private faults, and failing to seek valid excuses for their statements and actions.
- Gentleness and Lenience (al-Rifq wa-l-līn): Al-Abbad adduces evidence commanding gentleness in advising others, contrasting harshness with the Prophet's ﷺ character of compassion.
- Dealing with the Errors of Scholars: The author dedicates a central section to the principle that infallibility belongs to no one after the Prophet ﷺ. When an established scholar errs, his mistakes should not be adopted, but nor should they be used as a pretext to disparage him, declare him an innovator, or boycott his works; rather, his minor errors are excused in light of his vast contributions. To illustrate this, al-Abbad cites prominent classical figures whose major works remain indispensable despite disagreements over certain theological issues—such as Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi, al-Nawawi, and Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani—as well as contemporary hadith scholar Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani regarding certain juristic opinions.
- Etiquette of Refutations: The book stresses that corrections must be offered with kindness and a sincere desire to rectify the error, citing the balanced approach of Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz as an example to follow.
Reception
The treatise was widely circulated as a call for moderation, unity, and adherence to scholarly ethics. It also drew criticism from certain contemporary figures within polemical circles who argued against its publication and cautioned against it, contending that its positions conflicted with traditional methods of refutation. Al-Abbad subsequently defended the work and addressed these objections in later writings, reiterating that the treatise's sole aim was to uphold the scriptural principles of mutual mercy, fair counsel, and restrained speech.
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