With the Name of Allah, All-Merciful, Most Merciful
QUESTIONS FOR A FITNAH-MONGER
AN OPEN LETTER TO “ABU ABDULLAH” OF THE SO-CALLED “SAVE MASJID TAWHID” PETITION
To Abu Abdullah,
As-Salamu ‘alaykum.
I have the following comments and questions for you, in response to your foolish petition. I will also publish this letter on my blog (https://unity1.wordpress.com). Please note that any reply from you may also be published there, since you have made this a public matter.
- Who are you? What is your real name, and do you worship at MT? Did anyone else help you write the petition and set up the website? If so, who? Real men and women do not hide behind pseudonyms and kunyahs, except when absolutely necessary.
- Your petition is despicable and rejected because it is based on a pack of lies, as detailed below, and upon a hasty and ill-advised fatwa from an overseas-based sheikh who had not listened to the other side of the debate, and furthermore appears to have no grounding in modern science, a prerequisite for anyone giving a fatwa on the subject. (For example, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim establishes in his I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in that anyone giving a fatwa on a subject must be grounded in that subject matter as well as in the foundations of Islam.) As I have already mentioned on my blog, my father has sent a five-page handwritten letter to Sheikh Sadlan, politely demanding that he reconsider his fatwa. Personally, I do not care whether he retracts it or not, for he had no right to give it in the first place, and I shall continue to ignore it.
- It does not matter how many people sign your petition: these signatures will not strengthen your argument, since its foundation is based upon a collection of falsehoods. Your petition is like a fabricated hadith that remains fabricated, no matter how many isnads are provided for it.
- You and the petition-signers do not represent the “community of MT” as you falsely claim: another lie. Evidence for this is the fact that the petition has been circulated by email and texts around the UK and overseas, as I know from people who have received it. One person who has been living abroad for years emailed me to say that he had signed it, illustrating that it has very little to do with the community, but more to do with ignorant fanatics and extremists. Further evidence for this is the fact that the petition has been promoted by the notorious, extremist website so-called “Islamic Awakening,” run by someone who is accurately described by a fellow neo-kharijite of his as “the tantrum-throwing takfiri toddler from Tooting.”
- Were you involved with procuring similar fatwas in the past from sheikhs in Madinah and Kuwait? We heard rumours about such things. Sheikh Haitham al-Haddad told me that he heard alleged fatwas from some sheikhs about me but ignored them since he knows me. Were you involved in circulating the false rumour for over a year that Sheikh Ahmad Owais the Somali had given a similar fatwa? When my father eventually asked him about it, he said that he had said no such thing. Congratulations on obtaining your fatwa finally from Sheikh Sadlan, after two years of failed efforts with lesser sheikhs. But this will backfire on you, as you will see insha’Allah.
- Another huge lie and massive slander is that you accused me of denying the Qur’anic account of the creation of Adam a.s. As I made clear in my Guardian CIF article and BBC Radio 4 “Thought for the Day” on the subject, the theory of evolution agrees with the Qur’an in that the creation of humanity began from water, earth, clay and dust. Evolution, as a scientific theory, describes the kayfiyyah of this creation, i.e. how water, earth, clay and dust eventually became moulded into the human form. Therefore, I have been reconciling the scientific theory with the Qur’an, something that you have failed to understand and therefore fallen into circulating serious lies.
- I imagine you are well-intentioned in attempting to prevent disrespect to Prophet Adam a.s. But do not you, I and all Muslims believe that all of the great Prophets and Messengers of Allah, except Adam and Jesus Christ, peace be upon them, were created from a human sperm and ovum, the “despised fluid” (ma’ mahin) mentioned in the Qur’an? Believing in the humble origins of humanity that we can see for ourselves is not the same as insulting or disrespecting the Prophets!
- Are you aware that it was Muslim thinkers that produced many of the ingredients of Darwin’s theory, and that some researchers believe that Darwin was influenced by these Muslim writings? Ibn Miskwayh, Ikhwan al-Safa, Jahiz, Ibn Tufayl, Rumi, Ibn Khaldun, etc. And if you say that they are unorthodox, then you must disown all of the glorious history of “Islamic science” as unorthodox, and never again quote the scientific achievements of Muslim civilisation in your da’wah. Evolution is essentially a Muslim theory – Darwin’s genius lay in synthesising the strands and collecting overwhelming evidence for it from the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere.
- The new Muslim Marriage Contract was written by Mufti Barkatullah, who is also associated with the Islamic Sharia Council. It is thus a matter of disagreement amongst Muslim scholars and jurists, and I advise you not to poke your nose into matters that are beyond you.
- About veiling, you have again lied by misrepresenting my view. Are you aware that Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, in his book Sina’ah al-Fatwa (“The Crafting of Fatwas”), under the section, “The Issue of Veiling in the West,” goes out of his way to quote Ibn ‘Ashur’s statement in his tafsir that the ‘awrah of women possibly does not include the head? A minority opinion admittedly, but nevertheless there, and probably worthy of being magnified in the West. Veiling is a cultural and religious practice, and I have tried to raise the level of debate about it in Western societies, for Islam has always manifested itself according to different cultural contexts. i.e. I am asking the simple question, “How should the Eastern and Islamic practice of veiling be manifested in the West?”
- Are you aware that many muftis of the recent past and present have a similar view to mine about veiling? These include Zaki Badawi and Javaid Ghamidi. I am also told that the Azhari Sheikhs Tantawi and Sha’rawi had a similar view, but have not been able to confirm this yet.
- Are you aware of the numerous cases of extra-marital sex involving bearded Muslim men and headscarf-wearing Muslim women? Of bearded, practising Muslim men being addicted to porn? Of women wearing a headscarf along with revealing and provocative clothing for the rest of the body? In one case, a niqab-wearing sister left her husband and ran away with another man (who was not Muslim btw). In other cases, young men who serve as imams and khatibs committed adultery (Alhamdulillah, I was not one of them), as did headscarf-wearing Muslim women. Do you think these problems could be related to my point that the noble Qur’anic concept of hijab, which at its zenith refers to the reality that creation is veiled from God, is usually reduced to a headscarf, with an unhealthy obsession with how women dress? Would you agree that we need to move beyond an obsession with headscarves and niqabs, and focus on the values of modesty, chastity and spirituality that can help to solve these problems?
- Have you discussed any of these matters with me over the past few years? A number of decent, honest and courageous young men have come to me after Friday prayers to discuss these matters, rather than engaging in cowardly backbiting and gossiping.
- Are you aware that my father asked me to translate for Sheikh Sadlan at MT, but that I was unavailable?
- You refer to my father as “our sheikh” more than once. How is he your sheikh? How long have you been studying, serving and/or accompanying him? Alhamdulillah, I have been doing these things for over 30 years. For a start, did you consult him about any of these matters or before launching your petition? If not, what kind of a student are you?
- What formal knowledge or tarbiyah have you gained from my father? In terms of the latter, it is very little, evidently. In terms of the former, I doubt that it is very much – besides, it would be useless without your learning any tarbiyah from him.
- Are you aware that my father has suffered from serious loss of sleep since you began your campaign via Sheikh Sadlan and then the petition? That one person forwarded your petition to Sheikh Manwar Ali of JIMAS (who, like many others not with you, has done far more for MT by the grace of Allah than you and your supporters could ever dream of doing) along with an insult directed at my father? All of this proves that my father is not your sheikh, and your claims otherwise constitute another enormous lie.
- There are many other matters that I could address, but I shall stop here due to a lack of time. Thank you for complimenting me, at least in the past.
- If you are a man of courage, you will identify yourself to me next time you see me. We can then have a civilised discussion about these matters.
- I advise you to withdraw the petition, for your own good in this life and the Hereafter. Beware of the Divine Promise, “Whoever shows enmity to My friends, I declare war on him.”
May Allah forgive me and you.
Was-Salam,
Usama Hasan
London, 11th January 2011.
UNITY 
January 11, 2011 at 9:06 pm |
Hello ok please clarify as i am mislead by your answers.
Please give me a yes/no answer for the following:
1. Do you believe Adam alayhis salam evolved from a Monkey like creature possibly?
2. Are you saying that it is not obligatory for someone to wear hijab according to some scholars and why do you promote such understanding against the ijmaa’aa if that is the case?
3. Do you believe in macro evolution for human in the sense that humans can evolve from creatures such as monkey?
4. Lastly, are you in favour of secularism or are you saying secularism is complacement with the Shariah, and if so why would you promote secularism as such?
I hope i was clear and appreciate that i can get an answer soon
Thanks
January 11, 2011 at 9:12 pm |
Sorry, I did say yes/no answer that should be understood as a short answer with yes/no to some of the above questions.
January 11, 2011 at 10:09 pm |
Praise be to Allah who knows what is hidden and apparent, who guides and misguides, who honours and debases. Peace be upon the Prophet, his family and companions.
Usama,
We meet again, and if Allah wills, we will continue to do so, until every member of the Muslim community is aware of the offensive garbage you propagate, and the way in which both you and your father have held to ransom MT and the sharia council.
I am no scholar, indeed an ignoramus have I proved to be many a time, yet in the absence of scholarly voices the ignorant must hearken to defend the creed of the upright. And for you, a self-perceived polymath in fact, to be shown your stupidity by an ignoramus such as myself should shame you into keeping your lips tightly closed and fingertips to yourself. If you, in claiming to be a sufi, had truly understood the station of the arifin, perhaps you would take your fingers and remember God a little rather than bash away at your keyboard with boorish idiocy.
But that’s what you’d rather act as, an uncivilized and spoiled brat, and although you claim to the public to go for the ‘sit down and discuss’ approach, every person who has done so and then challenged your views met with a loutish creature devoid of reason. Your response to Abu Abdullah is clearly indicative of this, and there is certainly a tone of irritation and rage in your address. Is it that, perhaps, Abu Abdullah is ruining your plans of claiming some form of Muslim legitimacy to the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) in the US (where you’ve just returned from discussing ‘counter-extremism’ with the same individuals who dictate US foreign policy)? You and your chum Ed Hussain must have had a great time plotting against the same people you hypocritically call ‘brothers’ when you’re back home. But then again, given that both you and your father threaten those who speak out against you with shoppin’ them in to MI5, CFR doesn’t seem THAT much of a surprise.
And given that we’re on the topic of MI5 and CIA for that matter, your first question to Abu Abdullah sounded typical of a questioning session:
‘Who are you? What is your real name, and do you worship at MT? Did anyone else help you write the petition and set up the website? If so, who?’
I’m sure readers will find your technique quite familiar!
Out of the idiocy that you repeatedly seem keen to demonstrate, what makes you think that demanding such info would somehow compel Abu Abdullah to ‘come clean’? Your self-perceived authority (lol)?
Your second point is nothing short of amusing, for according to you (and this time you gave up misquoting Ibn Khaldun for Ibn al-Qayyim – a bit closer to the salafite persuasion perhaps!), a scholar cannot posit that Allah created Adam with his own hands as the Qur’an and Sunnah tell us, until that scholar becomes a scientist and negates that Adam didn’t actually come from nothing, but that he is the son of an ape! So the Most High’s retort to the Christians that if Jesus is special (and God’s son) having been conceived with no father, then Adam’s parentlessness makes him even more deserving of being special is actually weak reasoning as Adam did have parents, Mr & Mrs Baboon? Your disbelief is astounding!
As for your father, then he has become as corrupt and ignorant as his son, and for the life of me I have no idea why you keep quoting him or his actions as some form of hujjah against your detractors. If your father sees no creedal problem with your negation of certain verses of the Qur’an, ta’wil of Allah’s attributes, and the other heresies you spout then his creed should be called into question just as yours is. Furthermore, according to your standard, your father’s support for you is meaningless as he has no knowledge of science and thus cannot determine whether what you have done is an acceptable ikhtilaf or not! So according to you, instead of requesting a retraction from shaikh al-Sadlan, he should refrain from doing anything, including supporting your profanity.
Your third point shows your ignorance of the religion and its sciences, what does isnad (chains of narration) have to do with anything?! Abu Abdullah has made claims which you yourself have accepted in your previous piece on the subject – that Allah did not literally create Adam from nothing, but that Adam came into being through the process of evolution, where monkeys turned into him! Your point also shows that you are a corrupt ignoramus who never intends to renounce his ‘position’ afforded to him by his father, and as you said, ‘It does not matter how many people sign your petition’.
The fourth point is interesting, as your neo-con tactics are put into use once again when you call ‘ignorant fanatics and extremists’ those who, in the name of Islamic creed and in rejection to aspects of the evolution theory, rebuke your dogma. What on earth are you on about, and when did this very creedal discussion turn political (and it is aptly clear whose side you’re on)? As for community of MT, your proof that it is not really the community is that it has ‘circulated’ amongst many people and that ONE signatory happens to live aboard? Wow, you seem to become more dim-witted by the minute!
As for the “the tantrum-throwing takfiri toddler from Tooting” and a ‘fellow neo-kharijite’, why not name them as you enjoin everyone else to do so? Instead of responding to Abu Zubair you resort to name-calling, typical. Islamic Awakening promotes many things as well as the Qur’an; shall we ban it on the pretext that Islamic Awakening promote it? (Maybe you should consult your guys at MI5 before making such a rash statement, although I’m sure you’ve given it some thought.)
In regards to you fifth point, we’ll let Shaikh Haitham al-Haddad clarify his own position towards you, although it is certainly worrying that he has failed to say anything. However, it has been stated more than a few times by various people closely associated with him that his concern lies with the sharia council (but regards you a deviant nonetheless), but I will leave him to comment on his own views and pray he does so sooner rather than later.
Your sixth point is as ignorant as the others, given that you attempt to claim that Allah did not state the kayfiyyah of creation in the Qur’an. Secondly, as Abu Rumaysah pointed out, you fail to accept that evolution is a theory (and something that will never be fact), you are actually more resolute in taking the evolution theory literally than in your practice with the Qur’an!
The seventh point is indeed disrespectful to Adam, since at least you afford all humans the fact that we are created from a human sperm and ovum, yet you imply that Adam was created from the sperm and ovum of Neanderthals!
You really need to stop claiming the eighth point about Ibn Miskwayh, Ikhwan al-Safa, Jahiz, Ibn Tufayl, Rumi, Ibn Khaldun; both I and Abu Rumaysah have showed you that you (initially) ignorantly posit the Christian notion of the Great Chain of Being as being evolution when in fact it is a theological concept (that the Christians first devised). See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_chain_of_being. The fact that you repeat your ignorant idea again, after have been corrected, shows that you are despicably deceitful and intend to misguide innocent Muslims to your heresy.
The ninth point: That is a lie and quite expected of you. Yes, Mufti Barkatullah played a role in writing the marriage contract, but you presented it to the sharia council where it was rejected by the judges. Osama, haven’t you been told not to tell porkpies?
Once again, in the 10th point you actually affirm what you are negating! How daft can you get? How is it Islamic, and then Eastern? If it is an Islamic concept, as you claim, then what does the hijab or anything else have to do with either East or West? Indeed, it is people like you who attempt to draw a dichotomy between Eastern and Western lands, thus promoting the idea of a clash of civilisations. Why cannot the ahkam of Allah be made manifest anywhere on the face of the earth. And if you want to argue that the hijab is religious ‘expression’ (which you do), then why not argue that tawhid is also a religious expression and can be manifested in the form of the Trinity? But then again, according to you the Christians are not disbelievers are they Usama?
As for the ‘Muftis’ you quote in the 11th point, I won’t even go there out of not wanting to speak ill of the dead, but for each individual quoted, his deviancy was manifestly and widely known. To even quote them as hujjah shows that you’ll soon be quoting the Pope as a source of Islamic authority.
The 12th point on focusing upon the values of modesty, chastity and spirituality is valid in and of itself, but we all know where YOU are going with this Usama, for soon it’ll be: Be modest even if it be in a mini-skirt!
13th point, come on Usama, we’ve been down this road before. Many people have discussed these issues with you, with Abu Rumaysah coming to mind as being one of them. Why don’t you tell everyone how these little discussion meetings usually end, or rather, how do YOU usually end the meeting?
As for the rest of your points concerning your father, we shall address him in an open letter directly and not through a swindler like you, but let us be frank, you would be an insignificant speck were it not for your father – so hold tight laddy since the reign of Usama ends when either your father removes you or your father himself is removed.
As for being a man of courage, I surely will identify myself next time I see you, yet the sight of heretics sickens me quite a bit and so I tend to drive around (as opposed to through) Leyton these days. As for having a civilised discussion about these matters, you are simply hilarious! After ranting on about Abu Abdullah, you NOW want to have a civilised discussion. As I repeatedly re-iterate, you are not civilised in the slightest, and discussing anything with you (as has been done by those better than me) is like arguing with a Panda.
You are not a scholar, nor intellectual, nor a thinker. In fact, you’re not even rational. You argue like a teenager who has just discovered salafism, who, due to his immaturity always returns back to name-calling. I sincerely think there may be something wrong with you, and if you permit, we can contact shaikh Abu Hanifah to aid you with some ruqyah.
I am very wary of the Divine Promise, “Whoever shows enmity to My friends, I declare war on him”, yet I wonder when actually does Allah become the friend of a person who negates His attributes, insults His prophets, mocks His religion, and would rather befriend His enemies – let alone be YOUR friend!
With Allah lies true success,
Ali Abdullah
January 11, 2011 at 11:27 pm |
What have you got against a democratic vote to remove yourself from Masjid Tawheed? Get with the programme.
January 12, 2011 at 1:37 pm |
As-salaamu ‘alaykum,
While I’m not myself part of the above ‘controversy’, I do have some questions (‘ilmi and otherwise) based on some of the things that you have mentioned above. Hopefully, you can help me insha’Allah.
– Do you know of any other scholars and/or people of knowledge who have promoted the idea that Darwinism and Islam are compatible or are you the first? There isn’t any particular point I’m trying to make here – I’m just curious.
– I was under the impression that covering the head (at the very least) is considered an obligation upon Muslim women by consensus. This is the first time that I’ve heard of a minority opinion that their ‘awrah doesn’t include the head. Is this a very small minority and, if so, would this not be classified as an ‘odd’ opinion? The reason I ask is because I have heard that, when the overwhelming majority of scholars agree upon something, then this is treated as consensus (and therefore binding). How would you respond to that?
– Could you tell me more about Ibn ‘Ashur himself?
January 12, 2011 at 4:09 pm |
Assalamu Alaykum
Many people do not believe the fact that your father actually wrote to Shaykh Sadlan. Why do you not share the letter?
January 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm |
A series of refuation written up against you…
http://www.aqidah.com/creed/articles/eyiig-usamah-hasan-suhaib-hasan-darwinism-and-the-creation-of-man.cfm
January 13, 2011 at 1:32 pm |
Funny how you want a “civilised discussion” on this fitnah of your making, while not allowing people’s comments to be published on this page or the previous one!
January 13, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
As salaamu alaikum,
I am a layman muslim who prays at Masjid Tawheed. I neither have ijaza nor extensively studied under the guidance of shuyookh. I have few simple and straightforward questions, I hope you provide answers in a precise yes/no with brief explanation. Please do not get into academic explanations, as a layman muslim I do not understand it.
1) Do you believe that Prophet Adam (alayhi as-salam) evolved from apes?
2) Do you believe that there should be no punishment for Apostasy is Islam?
3) Do you support the “Muslim Marriage Contract” and all that is stated in there?
4) Do you believe that Muslim women do not need to cover their hair in the west?
5) Do you associate yourself with Quilliam Foundation and agree to their agenda?
What is the opinion of respected Shaykh Suhaib Hasan and Shaykh Haitham al-Haddad about the above 5 points, are they in agreement with you?
Ma’salaama
Syed
January 15, 2011 at 10:07 pm |
assalamualaykum Shaykh Usama,
I am appalled at the nastiness that has been directed to your person. May Allah give you strength and raise your station—Allah (swt) tests those whom he loves.
your brother requesting your duas
jawad
January 16, 2011 at 12:57 am |
The Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever leads a group of people in prayer whilst they dislike him, his salah will not go beyond his collarbone.” (as-silsilah as-saheehah: 2325.)
He also said: “There are three people who will not have their prayers accepted, nor will they (the prayers) rise to the heavens nor will they (the prayers) go beyond their heads: A man who leads a group of people who dislike him…” (as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 650)
January 23, 2011 at 12:27 am |
AA Dr Usama
I have recieved this petition from local brothers who have attended MT, I didnt sign it as Im not a regular at the masjid and Ive known u many years not to engage in such protest in this way
Ultimately this is a local masjid issue and its is important that you understand/educate the masses, the Q&A is a good idea to set the record straight IA from all sides.
January 25, 2011 at 12:25 am |
You are quite the most arrogant and conceited fool. Inshallah, I hope this petition gains wider publicity and more of the ulema unveil your true colours. You should do the decent thing and fall on your wooden sword because you have become a fitna for the people and an obstacle for those who wish to worship at MT. It seems the brothers from Salafi Publications were right all along about you and your misguided father. Your grandfather rahimahullah would turn in his grave to hear the despicable anti-Islamic words coming from your mouth. May Allah subhahu wa ta’ala guide you or silence your voice.
January 25, 2011 at 4:46 pm |
your arrogance has rocketed beyond the Seven Heavens man