I didn't want to post this in the Mufti Menk thread for fear of contaminating it, but I was wondering about this post of brother abu mohammed:
abu mohammed wrote:
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I was surprised to read it as I thought the contrary was apparent, since he was a student of the "Islamic University" of Madinah. May Allaah accept from the Mufti Sahib; I don't mean to attack his status or ignore his virtues. However, it seems that he has Salafi tendencies, if he's not an outright Salafi.
There were allegations going round a few months back that Mufti Ismail Menk is Salafi coz of a talk he gave in SA some years back. He came back to UK last week and gave some talks (Edmonton talk was absolutely packed) but some people still were unsure about him. Below is Mufti Menk's explanation to these allegations and which ulamah of SA are behind it. Really shocking!
Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh
Beloved Brother ibn Khuzaymah
I appreciate your mail. You are the FIRST person to actually send me this article and suggest that it could be the source of the matter.
The rest have chosen to gleefully knock themselves over by slanderous accusations whether simply forwarded or fabricated.
Allah Alone knows what the hearts conceal.
The attached document was presented in the midst of many SA Ulama at a symposium on Da'wah in Africa as a continent in 2002. Several of our Ulama also participated & presented papers according to the guidelines by organisers who happened to be the Saudi Embassy at the time.
Remember, my work and that of my family is directly and almost fully amongst local black rural indigenous Muslims in Zimbabwe. We also assist others doing the same. It is very hard work. Only recently have I started lecturing amongst non-blacks because of being invited.
The paper that you attached is regarding Africa as a continent & not South Africa as a country which doesn't really have issues besides the lack of sufficient work amongst black Muslims as compared to ethnic Indian Muslims. This too is improving in a slow way. Alhamdulillah.
I have travelled extensively throughout east, west, central & north Africa. If you have any knowledge of these countries you will know that the bulk and vast majority belong to mystical sufsim orders, dancing in Masaajid, hadra thikr, with graves in most Masaajid and wording beliefs of Badawi, Tijaani, Haqqaani silsilahs which are worse than any Barelvis we know.
Capetown is also slightly affected by this in the south.
The indigenous Africans of the South are also mostly Qadiri Sukooti and Jahriyyah which are outside the fold of what we consider acceptable. They are ignorant though of what they are doing though in Malawi etc unlike those in other parts of Africa.
They also did NOT tolerate and still have issues tolerating anyone following anything else in terms of math-hab or belief.
So mention was made in that paper about problems in Africa.
We do not have and still don't have correct syllabuses in most madaaris in Africa.
There is inter-math-hab intolerance. There is a lot of shirk & bid'ah in most of these countries still and this from a Deobandi point of view.
The need to carefully teach them what the true status of the math-habs are and the correct beliefs can never be understated. A few ideas were mentioned.
Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and a dozen other countries are deep into speaking to the spirits (wardens & shayaateen) of the deceased and using them as mediums and helpers. This is considered part of the Shafie math-hab by them. They refuse to listen to others saying their math-hab differs yet it is nothing to do with math-habs.
Now read the paper you attached AGAIN bearing in mind this background given to you by the one who wrote it many years ago.
It is in support of the four math-habs & the correction of shirkiyyaat that are still rife throughout Africa.
When I presented the paper at the convention centre, I clearly explained all this and we even had a Q&A session. Maulana Ebrahim Bham of the original Jamiatul Ulama of South Africa was the chair of my panel. Nobody had a doubt nor did I dream that something was about to happen.
Two boys with short virgin beards met me on my way back to my room the same day. They literally blocked me and started asking questions as to WHY did the Saudis invite YOU? I asked them who they were. They responded very rudely that that was irrelevant. I told them to ask the Saudis themselves and also ask all the other Ulama. Why pick on me? They asked me why I wear a red scarf and abaya. I said I always did since I was small. These boys were the most arrogant I have come across. They then said why did you write against math-habs? I was shocked at their conclusions and clear ignorance. Hatred was dripping from their eyes and jealousy was clear from their mouths.
They refused to tell me who they were and then they said, "You are a liar, you are a salafi. That answer everything."
I was shocked at these children talking to me like this. I told them to get lost as they are still smelling of their mothers breast and have no respect. I told them they should have asked open questions when there was a time publicallly to ask.
I left them and went off.
Years later I found out that these were two final year students of Azaadville. Muhammad Bhana and Masud Cassim who went on to become Muftis and have made it their business to convince the world that the Menks are salafis.
Masud Cassim is a now a senior Ustaadh in Azaadville and declares open hatred for me. They have become god-like figures where everyone must go to them to make Taubah and clarify that they are not salafi or deviant.
In fact Ml Abdul Hamid Ishaq who is head of Azaadville has a very big weakness of believing his students. So he too made his mind up yet they know our credentials. This then got to the Zimbabwean few whom we have had a fair share of politics with that no community is spared from and they too jumped on the bandwagon. It seems people forget they have a grave to go to and a Rabb to answer.
Now I see the label crazy AS Desai who has blasted the whole world also took off. AH Elias whose name appears as translator of many books whom a group of employed Ulama have actually translated, whom we have had major issues with, has also jumped in. Fearing backlash of such outspoken "ulama" other decent Ulama choose to remain silent as they are gaining nothing. If anything its good to just label Menk a salafee because he is not a South African & he has a huge following in South Africa.
Now I see even the UK Ulama are getting sacked in without understanding anything.
It doesn't mean that just because a Maulana you know said something about someone that it is accurate. Also you can't ask me to make a public statement and look like fools infront a makhlooq when they don't really know what's going on.
So Allah deals with it and those who slander are worse than those who backbite so they pay a heavier price. I have already seen results of this.
Anonymous people mail derogatory emails and messages on public and private platforms. Must we stop our work and send emails and divert from the path or do we ignore and carry on?
Those who made their minds up will not change them even if angels came to tell them. The lies is so bad and the falsehood that even if a public clarification was made because of accusations, they would find some loophole in it and still say the same thing.
I was even more shocked to read AS Desai of PE and the men in DeDeur say that we want to impose a salafi moon sighting in this region - when we have NOTHING to do with the moon at all.
Also that we are funded by Saudis and that is well known - when we have it received a cent of aid from them and none of us are employed or affiliated to the Saudis.
So if such is the laughable yet tearful condition of our "senior ulama" then Rasulullah SAS predicted that fitnah will come from Ulama and return to haunt them.
We have a lot of work to do and must ignore people whose statements come from personal vendettas, hatred, jealousy, sour grapes and intentional misinterpretation.
I will forward you some replies that I sent to some ridiculous mails. The funny thing is I am on the mailing list of the same persons who sent ME the about MYSELF! If they have my email couldn't they clarify like you did? It shows they have a mission to accomplish.
I hope you are not one of them. I have taken my time to reply and I am not going to do this again because Wallahi the work on the ground gets affected by sick accusations that are TOTALLY FALSE.
Jazaak Allaahu khayran. I've already read the above post on SF. In fact, even Mufti A Hoosen Elias Sahib was sent that exact same thread and replied with the same response that I linked to in my previous post. I'm not sure if you actually read the experience that Mufti Elias Sahib has with Mufti Menk Sahib.
After the boycott at UK universities over Mufi Menk's views on gays.. the response by him was rather misleading..
i received mails on his statements and sought clarification from those who could reach out to him.. but nothing has come so far..
The following was the mail i sent.. & i welcome any explanation that would come from Him.. or that he has furnished..
" Mufti Menks UK university tour was cancelled due to his views on gays. This was his response to it, what do you guys think:
Mufti Menk's response:
Mufti Menk's response to the cancellation of his UK university tour is being circulated on Facebook. He said the following on his social media page:
"I am very disturbed by being labelled a hate preacher etc by gay rights activists. The truth is that I have never promoted hatred, violence or intolerance against gays or any others for that matter. I have worked hard to promote peace and tolerance which is evident from my Twitter and Facebook accounts.
"Coming from Zimbabwe, I had not been exposed to gays, but travelling to the West has given me a better understanding of the situation. I have had the chance to meet up with some of them and even share a few jokes and discuss their point of view. They have explained to me how as time passes more people are understanding them from politicians to church leaders too. The only difference is with those who say Islam allows gay behavior. That's all.
"We still promote peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and tolerance and shall continue to do so even in the face of untrue, hurtful, defaming comments by some based on an OLD comment taken out of context."
Now *** does it not sound like a typical apologetic response..
what difference does it make between a Homosexual.. a Paedophile.. a necrophiliac living in the UK (or any part of the world)..
why this attitude.. does fame and craving to be acceptable by one and all make one so soft that they are willing to take the points of these Mardood who want to make Halal what Allah Rabbul izzat has Cursed and made Haram..
I've read that link you posted but I'm not sure how listing general salafic traits constitues as evidence in making a claim especially when targeting someone, needs to be a bit more substantial than that. However this is Ikhtelaf of the ulema so lets leave it there.
Walahu'Alam
Personally speaking I think Mufti Menk is a legend and have gained nothing but benefit from him. I know many others as well who have tremendously benefitted from him. May Allah reward him and protect him from haters.
Akhii to me it seems that mufti saheb has taken a tactful 'hikmah' approach that's all, its not always necessary to come out guns blazing. He has to be very careful with words or he'll be another banned speaker in the UK, he has done tremendous good here by the grace of Allah and is a big time hit amongst the youth.
My dear Brother Allah سبحانه وتعالى has himself taken an oath from the Ulema of this ummat .. Latubayyinunnahu linnasi wa la taktumun.."(surah:Ale Imran;187)
(Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it..) (pickthall)
To advocate / Appease Batil is NOT Hikmah but covering up Haq..
Hazrat Maulana Syed Salman Al Hussaini (db) is another Alim we all know.. does he not openly speak the Haq.. knowing well the consequences he may face.. from being detained.. deported.. jailed or even banned..
I do get where your coming from, but at the same time I believe your being unfair and a bit harsh in your criticism so I disagree , I reckon there's a lot more to it though then we actually know.
Serious breaking of rules on this thread. Discussing of personal opinions on ulamah is strictly not allowed...kindly agree to disagree and move on جزاك الله خيرا.
Please maintain respect for each other and Ulamaa (if topic is about a scholar) by avoiding accusations and slanderous comments. Also remember that in order for criticism to be constructive, it must be channeled in the right direction. If there is any doubt in a matter, it is better to ask, clarify or to remain silent rather than to speak ill of another person.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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