10 REASONS WHY ‘IMAM’ SUHAIB WEBB SHOULD BE AVOIDED
So it seems as though Suhaib Webb, or ‘Imam Will’ as he likes to call himself these days, is going back on his word and planning a tour of the UK. Whereas previously he expressed distaste for the British Muslim scene, presumably due to their greater reluctance to be as amenable to his modernist preaching compared to his American audiences, it seems after sending his female counterpart, Yasmin Mogahed, to test the waters earlier this year, the brave man himself will attempt to preach his brand of ‘American Islam’ on this side of the pond. Whether he succeeds or not in his mission of preaching what is now nothing less than completely watered down, modernist Islam will depend much on how well both the proposed hosts and the audience understand just how much this individual has changed, and ultimately how detrimental to our youth it would be to bring him over.
“So what exactly is the issue with Suhaib Webb? I remember him speaking back in 2006 and he was ok!”
This is precisely the problem. The memories we have of him are of yesteryear when by all accounts he preached with sincerity. Sure, he’s always been a bit confused, one minute in the Sufi corner at Sunnipath, then after unceremoniously being kicked out of there, claiming to be an Athari and switching to the Salafis at Al-Maghrib, before doing yet another volte-face and now claiming to be a “Sufi-Ashari-Azhari”.
Irrespective of group affiliation or aqeedah, at least he always stood by some of the basic tenets and morals of what is clearly halal and haram in Islam, basic boundaries accepted by all the different sects. Surely he hasn’t change that much right? I mean no way does this Imam we remember support gay marriages, no way is that picture of him in a bar real, and no way he’d ever say anything that may further propagate the persecution of Aafia Siddique right?
Wrong.
A lot can, and has, changed over the last half a decade.
Here are ten reasons why allowing this ‘Imam’ to preach here in the UK would be tantamount to poisoning the minds of our youth:
1. AMERICAN ISLAM
What exactly is ‘American Islam’?
Quite simply, it’s the attempt to distort every aspect of Islam that doesn’t conform to American values. A desperate attempt to paint a hazy picture of what used to be accepted as haram to now ‘debateable’ or an ‘iktilaaf’ issue. Doesn’t matter that the Quran, Hadith, vast majority of scholars or even all four madhabs may oppose a particular issue – if this issue doesn’t sit well with the all American lifestyle, then American Islamists, with Suhaib Webb as their protagonist, will do their utmost to blur the lines between haram and halal.
What is the aim of American Islam? And what has Suhaib Webb got to do with it?
The aim of ‘American Islam’ is sadly very clear to those discerning enough – quite simply to please the watching American media and politicians. Whether Webb is actually on the US government’s payroll or not has long been debated and is a contentious issue. What is quite clear, however, is that Suhaib Webb is at the forefront of preaching this shameless and corrupted version of Islam, something he has made no secret of, often dedicating entire khutbas and talks for the cause.
Allah guides and Allah misguides whom he pleases.Usama Hasan, Taj Hargey, Majid Nawaz are all examples of Islamically educated yet shameless sell outs here on our shores. Individuals who would be celebrated as ‘progressives’ in America, but thankfully marginalised in the UK by the more discerning British Muslim audience. If Suhaib Webb resided here, he would undoubtedly be at the top of that list.
Read more about the ugly face of American Islam here:
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f20/exposing-shaming-notion-american-islam-greatest-threat-65535/
2. SUPPORTING HOMOSEXUALITY AND GAY MARRIAGES
“Webb tweeted that he had made “mistakes” (re homosexuality) and, in an interview last week, said he had rethought the gay marriage issue. Even if Islam regards homosexuality as a sin, Webb said the constitution guarantees the rights of everyone to get married.” Boston Globe, May 2013.
Islam complete and utterly forbids the abhorrence known as homosexuality. The American way of life promotes and support it. Remember that definition of American Islam mentioned above? The blurring of what is halal and haram to please the watching non-Muslim audience? Well here’s a prime example of how far Suhaib Webb will go.
According to his Wikipedia page:
“In 2007, Webb wrote an article calling homosexuality an “evil inclination” and told a gay would-be convert to Islam to seek treatment for his “problems.” Webb also gave a public speech where he encouraged his congregation to speak out against gay marriages. He says (in 2013) he has since re-thought the issue and no longer opposes gay marriages. Webb has also had homosexuals join his team and contribute to his website.”
Suhaibwebb.com now hosting homosexuals:
“At a Muslim conference in Long Beach last year, he suggested that mosques adopt a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays. Afterward, he was accosted by a local Imam who accused him of poisoning Muslim youth.” – LA Times, May 2011.
As with many issues, Webb uses ambiguous wording in a forked tongue attempt to please two different audiences. To the American media you’ll see headlines of ‘Imam Webb supports gay marriages’ – to which he not only does not object to, but even reposts on his own fan pages. And to his Muslim audiences he claims, ‘I was only affirming the right of the US government to support gay marriages’. Oh really. The US government needs Suhaib Webb’s affirmation to do what they do? Give us a break. All Webb is looking for is headlines and approval from his American masters, whilst desperately trying to cling on to his increasingly suspicious Muslim following.
We have over 500 British and European Imams standing in unison, having the fortitude to step up for what we all know to be correct and oppose gay marriages:
And we’re now going to invite and promote Mr ‘lets affirm and support gay marriages’ to our shores to poison us with the very disease for which Allah has destroyed entire nations?
3. BLATANT LIES ABOUT THE SUNNAH
Watch the following clip:
Yes, you heard it right. Mr Imam Will, the same Imam who forever blows his own trumpet as to what a rich and extensive Islamic education he’s supposedly had, Azhar this, Azhar that, who are you to question me etc etc. makes the quite astonishing claim in public that the thobe is not a sunnah!
Quite a dumbfounding claim given that within hours of this being uploaded onto YouTube, both laymen and students of knowledge over at sunniforum produced a whole plethora of evidences to prove what we already knew – that the thobe is, without doubt, a sunnah:
4. BLATANT LIES ABOUT SCHOLARS
Again, watch the following video:
Suhaib Webb says: “And that’s why I have a problem with converts taking social fatwas from Islam Q&A. I mean look at one of the fatwas Shaykh Bin Baaz gave. He said that it’s allowed for you to marry an American woman for a green card (American visa) and then dump her…now if you were to ask a local Mufti in America, there’s no way he would give such a fatwa.”
What a blatant lie:
Again, crystal clear. As the clip says you don’t have to be a ‘Salafi’ to realise just how dangerous Suhaib Webb has become. If he can lie so blatantly about one scholar, he can lie about others. He bumbled some half baked response in his usual defiant, arrogant manner but somehow still claimed he said the right thing even though Shaykh Bin Baaz’s fatwa clearly proved Webb to be lying once again.
Perhaps it’s time we implemented one of SW’s own tweets given his blatant slander against the scholars:
5. LACK OF SUNNAH APPEARANCE
Sure, the external physical appearance isn’t the most important factor in the world. But there are a few reasons when this is actually relevant. Firstly, many scholars and laymen hold and expect that a knowledgeable person, an ‘Imam’ or ‘Shaykh’ should at least have some resemblance to our beloved Prophet (saw). But here we have again, the all American Imam, clean shaven, suited and booted, the archetypal mr ‘american islam’. It becomes more of an issue to ponder over when you remember that Imam Suhaib Webb inspired many of us Brits back in the day because of his adherence to the sunnah. Tall, slim, beautiful long beard and thobe…and now?
To be quite blunt, what we have now represents everything that is wrong with ‘American Islam’ – a morbidly obese, stubble at best, suit clad ‘Imam Will’ with foremost on his mind ‘how much will CNN approve of me?’ as opposed to what kind of message he is sending to our Muslim youth. Everyone can understand a revert, or a previously non-practicing Muslim, taking their time in adopting certain aspects of the deen. The hijab, the beard etc or never quite having the courage to grow a full length beard. But seriously, how pathetic do you have to be to go from adorning a full sunnah beard and always wearing a beautiful thobe for years (as Suhaib Webb used to), to chopping it all off and, worse than that, actually going out of your way to now make fun of people who wear the thobe?
Finally, the external appearance genuinely does become all the more relevant when it clearly becomes a manifestation of the interior and ties in with the development of deviant positions such as supporting gay marriages and declaring fellow Muslims as non-Muslims (see below), amongst his many other such Islamically unethical behaviours.
6. CONSTANTLY PROMOTING MUSIC
‘There will be people of my Ummah who will seek to make lawful; fornication, wine-drinking and the use of musical instruments’
Muhammad (saw) Sahih Bukhari
Let’s get one thing clear – Western music as played on the TV, radio stations etc is haraam. No ifs, no buts. Forbidden by the Quran, Sunnah, all four madhahibs etc etc Those who like to claim Imam Ghazali, Ibn Hazm etc really need to go and read their works before commenting. A great book on this topic is ‘Slippery Stone’ by Khalid Baig which addresses all of these issues. At the very most, even the most lenient of scholars allowed only certain music with very strict regulations – use of duff only, at weddings, in battle, no-one under 40 listening and certainly never of music sung by the opposite gender and with lewd content.
Whether Deobandi, Salafi or Brelevi, the British scholars and Imams pretty much all sing from the same hymn sheet (no pun intended) when it comes to the issue of music. Even those with modernist tendencies are respectful of the fact that parents have spent many years advising their children to avoid music and to turn to Quran or other productive activities instead.
And what of our Mr Webb? It appears if he’s going to leave this world having achieved only one goal, that would be to poison the minds of the Muslim youth with the concept that music is permissible. That he considers haram music as permissible and even recommended is no secret. Worse still, the manner in which he goes about promoting certain filth has become increasingly disturbing. An LA Times feature on Suhaib Webb, which he himself proudly uploaded onto his website:
“If Mary J. Blige made the call to prayer, I’d go to the mosque; I’d be in the front row.” Suhaib Webb, LA Times, 2011.
If you don’t know who this Mary Blige is, then may Allah bless you. You only have to google her name to realise how abominable the above quote from a so called learned Imam is.
And more recently spreading lies about Imam Abu Hanifa, insinuating he had two varying opinions on the issue of music:
So lets say you’re reading this and you are from one of the more modern groups that believes music to a certain extent is permissible. Are you then ok to go to a pub too? Do you want your younger siblings or children influenced by this kind of ‘Imam’:
Seriously, need we say anymore? An Imam in a bar? And worse still, being proud of his exploits and putting it as his facebook profile picture? That sort of semi-kufr, hybrid filth may ‘fly’ in America, but this is NOT the kind of guy we want over here for our younger siblings, our children and relatives to be corrupted by.
And now, music concerts and clubbing are not only all kosher, but attended by the great American Imam himself. Such is his delusion that he even perceives ‘noor’ (lit. light or guidance) at these clubs:
7. THE SHEER ARROGANCE OF THE MAN
“Hey why don’t you advise him personally first? He always claims to want to engage in discourse and different points of views!”
Firstly, we have. Many of us have tried to advise him or even politely enquire about some of his queer stances. He didn’t reply to our emails and on facebook/twitter he simply deletes and blocks people. “WHO DID YOU STUDY WITH??!” is the usual, arrogant retort, boomed out by the big, unfriendly giant with his fly shoes n all.
A sign of a true Mu’min is his humility with others. The sheer, almost two faced level of arrogance of this so called Imam has bewildered many. If you don’t post something completely in support of whatever he posts on his website/facebook/twitter, he’ll simply delete your comments and block you. So much for his ‘let’s engage in discourse, exchange different views with love and understanding’. All for the watching audience once again. Many individuals have asked him legitimate questions in a respectful manner, yet they simply get blocked by someone who is clearly just trying to build up an online fan-club.
Parody of how Suhaib Webb responds to being advised to:
8. SCANT REGARD FOR ISLAMIC POSITION ON FREE-MIXING AND SEGREGATION
We’ll just let the pictures do the talking for this one…
‘On a hot day last year, Webb walked into Chicago’s Marquette Park, where dozens of artists were gathered for a Muslim music festival. At this one, called “Takin’ It to the Streets,” women in shorts, tank tops and tattoos mingled with men in traditional robes. During the headlining performance by Grammy-nominated rapper Mos Def, Webb watched as couples danced and people near him smoked pot…After Mos Def’s performance, Webb hugged him, saying, “Don’t let the community make you feel guilty about what you do.”’
LA Times, 2011.
9. RESTARTING THE ‘TAKFIR’ TREND.
So what exactly is takfir? It’s the declaration of another Muslim as a non-Muslim. For the most part, a very serious and dark practice. Back in the 90s we witnessed an ugly trend of takfir and takfiri Imams, mainly from the extreme Salafis. Alhamdulillah after years of debating, focusing on what unites most of us and generally just growing up, such declarations of takfir have gradually faded away.
Yet lo and behold, it reared its ugly head again earlier this year. However, this time it was not the extreme Salafis, but none other than our Imam Modernist when he declared the Tsarnaev brothers – the Boston SUSPECTS – as non-Muslims.
“Let’s say the attacker is Muslim. I won’t consider him to be a Muslim,” Webb said. “I’m not going to defend him or represent him.”
Take a minute to think about this. No-one can, and no righteous Muslim will, ever condone what happened in Boston, just like no-one can condone the day to day killing of civilians by American drones in Yemen, Pakistan and Iraq (incidentally ordered by US President Obama of whom SW recently said he was ‘proud’ of). Yet until this day, even the likes of Fox TV acknowledge the two brothers are merely suspects. There has been no trial, no guilty verdict, just a lot of media speculation. Yet before any of these, before these brothers had even been caught on suspicion of causing the Boston bombings, our dear please the American media Imam Suhaib Webb declared them as non-Muslims and as ‘savages’.
Perhaps the more disturbing aspect of his declaration of takfir is that, unlike other issues mentioned above, both the Islamic and American legal systems adhere to (or in the case of the latter, claims to adhere to) the same axiom of, ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Yet, despite this, Suhaib Webb felt the need to really put himself out there, calling the two brothers non-Muslim savages even before they were arrested, let alone any trial or guilty verdict, and grabbing a few extra headlines in the process.
Even if it does turn out, after a fair and legitimate trial (is there really such a thing for Muslims in America?), that the Tsarnaev brothers were indeed guilty, then they are no doubt abhorrent criminals, have innocent blood on their hands and, as mentioned, no decent human being can ever condone such actions. But to declare them as non-Muslims? There is absolutely no Shariah basis for that and to date Webb has been unable to provide any Islamic evidence whatsoever for his takfir, just a mish mash of emotional, pro-American diatribe.
A few words on the issue from Webb’s fellow American, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf:
On a side point, much respect to Martha Mullen, a Christian lady, who arranged the burial of Tamerlan Tsarnaev after Suhaib Webb again cowardly hid at the ISBCC refusing to offer janazah or the burial (despite the death occurring in Boston), no doubt fearful of his image being tarnished in the eyes of the American media:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/11/woman-tsarnaev-burial/2152931/
10. BETRAYAL OF AAFIA SIDDIQUE
Last but not least, and perhaps his most despicable act to date in his hypocritical path of trying to please his masters at the White House, is Suhaib Webb’s betrayal of Aafia Siddique. If you don’t know who Aafia Siddique is, you probably shouldn’t even be reading this article. Our sister Aafia is someone dear to Muslims worldwide, her persecution representing the very epitome of everything corrupt and heinous about both the American government and their military. The injustices committed against Aafia and her young children by the American army until this day bewilders and rages millions of Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide.
Millions worldwide took to the streets at the persecution of Aafia Siddique.
Mauri Saalakan, from the Justice for Aafia Campaign, who has faught tirelessly against Aafia’s perecution, expressed in Boston: “we have an obligation to respond to our sister’s unjust and brutal imprisonment”
Surely Suhaib Webb, like all other Muslims and even many non-Muslims would support the campaign against such abohorrent and brutal injustice of one of our sisters right? I mean pretty much even all the other American Imams such as Zaid Shakir and the Zaytuna have stood up in support of Aafia, so surely Suhaib Webb would at least do the same and support her, right? Wrong. So what are you saying, a public Muslim figure such as Webb actually stayed silent on the issue? (A stance in itself cowardly enough).
Nope, wrong again. Not only did Suhaib Webb cowardly distance himself from the Aafia Siddique campaign by declaring ‘we don’t agree with that speech (on the campaign against Aafia Siddique’s persecution)’, he then specifically ordered for the Justice for Aafia Coalition to remove all their campaign material and leave the premises. Mauri Saalakhan, from the Justice for Aafia Coalition, expressed his disgust and shock at Suhaib Webb’s behaviour:
“Why did you (Suhaib Webb) feel the need to come behind me that evening and state to the audience, “We don’t agree with that speech!” The points I made about Aafia’s case are now widely known to be established facts… The words: “We don’t agree with that speech!” was like a sledgehammer to the chest! I immediately wondered – as I first looked at him in disbelief and disgust, and then looked over at Imams Faaruuq and Siraj – what was there not to agree with?
Let me also note, for this record, that the only reason why I didn’t stand up and challenge Imam Webb on the spot was because of Imam Abdullah Faaruuq’s health. Shortly after our contending remarks, I was requested to take down our display table of books, cds and advertisements in the lobby area (which included a large poster calling for the release and repatriation of Aafia) and to remove them from the premises! I was a guest of Imam Faaruuq. It was his community’s program. Don’t you think that was a tad disrespectful of this fellow imam (who also happens to be your senior)!”
Read the full story here: http://www.justiceforaafia.org/articles/articles/961-an-open-letter-to-imam-suhaib-webb-and-the-isbcc
Dark forces colluding: Suhaib Webb receiving Ijazah from his mentor, the ‘Butcher of Egypt’ Ali Gomaa.
CONCLUSION
There has to be some serious thinking and discourse as to what benefit – and more importantly what potential harms – inviting Suhaib Webb and all that he preaches, will bring to the UK. The Suhaib Webb we remember from yesterday is not the same individual today.
As Muslims who believe in standing by everything that is true to our religion, it is imperative upon us to not allow such a toxic and clearly agenda driven individual to preach his pro-American propaganda to our youth. May Allah forgive Suhaib Webb, may Allah guide him and may Allah protect us all from constantly falling into the traps of shaytaan.
References:
1. Exposing and shaming the notion of “American Islam” – the greatest threat to Islam in the US today: http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f20/exposing-shaming-notion-american-islam-greatest-threat-65535/
2. Homosexuals join Suhaib Webb: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/ummah/community/gay-muslims-the-elephants-in-the-prayer-room/
3. Suhaib Webb affirms rights of gay marriages: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/05/11/imam-william-suhaib-webb-emerges-face-boston-muslim-community-time-crisis/Kd8v0O48vkHSZAnOpYCqOI/story.html
4. More than 500 British Imams in landmark gay marriage protest: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10066730/More-than-500-imams-in-landmark-gay-marriage-protest.html
5. Is the thobe really just cultural and a dawa deterrant? http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?105264-Is-the-thobe-really-just-cultural-and-a-dawa-deterrant
6. Imam teaches Islam with a distinct U.S. style: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/27/local/la-me-american-imam-20110527
7. Christian woman has no regrets over Tsarnaev burial: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/11/woman-tsarnaev-burial/2152931/
8. An open letter to Suhaib Webb and the ISBCC: http://www.justiceforaafia.org/articles/articles/961-an-open-letter-to-imam-suhaib-webb-and-the-isbcc
Excellent, spot on analysis, mashAllah.. Just what I’ve noticed over time.. from your points on American Islam to the evidences about the Boston bombings, our dearest Aafia & more. An absolute tool of the kufr & munafiiqeens reformist agenda.. May Allah swt protect us from him & guide him. JazakAllah khair for putting this together.
Excellent article informing the general Muslims of the dangers of this man.
Beware, he is spying.
Excellent article, Jazak Allah Khair.
As a fellow Imam living in America, I would like to point out that, although at least some of the points mentioned may be valid, there is a proper adab [etiquette] of going about mentioning all of these things publicly. I appreciate that you have tried to reach out to him personally. You probably felt that since he didn’t respond, and since some [or in your opinion, all] of these points are causing a fitnah in the ummah, they Muslim be brought to public light. I respect that as well, but remind you of two things: a) as you acknowledged, Imam Suhaib has been transitioning over the years to different ways of thinking, we should not assume that he may not transition once again to a position that we may agree with. If we are sincere in wanting to guide him and his followers, we should air our criticisms in a way that is more conducive to facilitating their transition away from some of these behaviors; b) whether or not Imam Suhaib changes the way we would like him to, his commands a massive following, so it would be more conducive, in my opinion, to focus on criticizing some of his positions rather than focusing on the individual himself.
As a Muslim in Massachusetts, I especially agree with your reasons numbers 4, 7, 9 and 10 above, but I do not think that you should have included the parody video in reason number 7 because this is not correct adab for such a serious issue.
Also, we should heed ayat 148 from Surat 4 An-Nisa:
“Allah does not like the public mention of wrongdoing except by one who is wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing.”
Also, I forgot to mention that I agree with the great Imam Al-Ghazzali that we should avoid those people who slander the scholars, and I believe that this is especially true for the case of those scholars who are deceased because they are no longer here to defend themselves. For example, Sh. Bin Baaz passed away just over 14 years ago.
Also, I am adhering to the ayat 148 above because I agree with your reason number 7 because if anyone (including myself) should disagree with Suhaib Webb or even try to correct him then he just blocks us and deletes our comments (even if we are actually his elders).
For example, I posted 2 different Sahih ahadeeth from Bukhari with the correct Hadith numbers on the Facebook page of the Ella Collins Institute (ECI), but Suhaib just deleted them with no explanations offered.
(I do not mind at all that Suhaib has severed communications with me because I agree with his decision in a very mutual sense.)
Additionally, a Boston FBI agent named Barry told me that the office of Suhaib Webb reported me to the Boston Police (even though I had done nothing wrong and even though I am Suhaib’s elder). Then, Barry and another FBI agent interviewed me, and then about a week later they interviewed another local brother. Well, this was a complete waste of time because we did not do anything illegal.
`Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Four are the qualities which, when found in a person, make him a sheer hypocrite, and one who possesses one of them, possesses one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it. These are: When he is entrusted with something, he betrays trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he acts treacherously; and when he argues, he behaves in a very imprudent, insulting manner.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Assalamu Alaykum brother,
Brother, when I shared your post some brothers claimed that you are anonymous and that we can’t take your word for this. Do you have objections revealing who you are?
I want to protect the identities of many innocent people. Additionally, I would have to reveal now 5 different hacking techniques used by the NSA, but it might be preferable for Edward Snowden to do this because he is in Russia, seems willing to take the blame, and has only revealed just some of the info that he took. Anyways, it is well known and public information from the MAS Boston website that they convene monthly meetings with the FBI, DHS, etc. (Please note that Suhaib Webb is an employee of MAS Boston, and thus people should not criticize him for doing what is expected of him as an employee.)
Much earlier, some local brothers who are reliable and who actually went to school with the 2 bombing suspects told me that from what they knew that the 2 suspects were Muslim. Suhaib Webb lied to us and the public when he said that they are not Muslim (because only Allah alone can judge whether someone is a true Muslim or whether he is a hypocrite by belief).
Also, back in 2012, a Dr. A. came to me in urgent need of a job, and then I told 3 brothers who were working at ISBCC about 3 evidences that the NSA (and perhaps their British counterpart named GCHQ) were reading all the electronic communications between Dr. A. and I.
It is not at all a surprise that the NSA would be reading all of our communications because we are Muslims in America, and back in the 1970s the NSA got into big trouble with the U.S. Congress for domestic spying on U.S. citizens. Then in 2013, Edward Snowden released to the public some NSA documents which proved what I said months before.
Well, Dr. A. got himself arrested, then the Boston bombings occurred, and then Dr. A. was officially deported back to Egypt and he cannot return to the U.S.
Anyways, Suhaib Webb severed ties with me with no explanation as to why.
The thobe is not sunnah, but Imam Webb has some explaining to do
Alhmadulillah for this beautiful note. May Allah reward you.
I think Americans have gone a step further to see how they can corrupt and destroy the good reputation of islam. From my own perspective and from what i have read in this article,Suhaib Webb is an example of a being used by fellow Americans to fight the growing popularity of islam. JazakALLAHU KHEIRAN to the one who posted this articles InshaAllah i pray that ALLAH will protect the islamic community from such people.
Americans have nothing to do with this. How are you going to blame all Americans, when under the category of American Muslims fall traditional Muslims and Muslim scholars that I personally know. Good people who stick to the roots of Islam. Suhaib Webb does not represent Islam in America. Be very careful of the amount of people you slander. Was salamu alaikum
Brother Fardosa.Suhaib Webb is not being used by those fellow Americans…He himself is portraying his own own ideas and belief. He himself is a corrupted mind man and confused and having identity crisis. He is just looking for fame and to be popular and to be the center of attraction..whatever coming out from his mouth is get people attention….not for the sake in the name of Islam…he himself is a such a big hypocrite..talk and ask people to do good and follow the word of god but he himself never walk the talk.he is a liability to Islam and will ruin the good name of Islam.
As salamu alaikum,
I appreciate this well thought article with your concrete facts. But there is one thing in this article that heavily disturbed me, and that is your attack on what you call “American Islam.”
As a Muslim who was born in raised in California around traditional scholars, I strongly urge you to make the clear distinction between “American Islam” and “Modernist Progressive Islam.” The United States of America is an extremely large and vast place with different scholars who have undergone different methods of schooling. Attacking American Islam as Modernist Islam is highly vague.
It’s like referring to Muslims and saying, “Oh, Muslims believe that bleeding will break your Wudu'” when in fact there are Muslims who do believe that, but SPECIFICALLY in certain madhaahib.
A huge amount of Muslims in America hold onto traditional, authentic Islamic rulings, so please make this distinction clearly. Fremont, CA is a great example of a rebirth of traditional Islam in America, especially with the youth. Please do not be so vague in your writing. JazakAllahu khayran. Was salamu alaikum.
Allaauhu’l Musta’an! I ve read and come across many modernist shuyookh but he tops every1!! No shame, modesty whatsoever. His audience have to be quite ignorant for them to listen to him despite all this trash he comes up with. May Allaah guide him and his audience to the straight path, Ameen.
To all those opposing the “public” exposing of this man, none of the actions mentioned were done privately that they can even be exposed publicly anyway, they are already public and Webb has made no attempt to hide them either.
I enjoy reading some articles in his site that are in accordance with the creed of ahlus-sunnah wal jamaa’ah.
But for those that are progressive, pro-sufi and apologistic, I ignore them.
I even commented months ago in his website that American Muslims should not take fatwas from Imam Suhaib webb especially when he make controversial statements.
I don’t know since then if the admin have deleted my comment.
I do respect him and view him as a Muslim.
It is not good to call a fellow Muslim hypocrite and view yourself as self-righteous.
A Muslim can make mistakes and come back to pure Islam.
We all make mistakes.
Just give him or her time while you spread the truth against falsehood and injustices with gentleness, love and courage.
I am a Muslim. My aqidah is that of ahlus-sunnah wal-jamaa’ah.
My manhaj is salafi- following the way of the salafus- saalih.
And I am not a blind-follower of any sects or groups mentioned in “On salafi Islam” by Yasir Qadhi.
I don’t follow him either especially his belief in part of the false evolution theory though I like watching his good lecures.
To be a true salafi is to have:
1. Pure ‘aqidah free from bid’ah and kufr.
2. Ittibaa’ il-rasool- following the sunnah.
3. Tazkiyah- purification of the heart, soul, mind and body without following false spiritual guide but taking:
a) The Qur’an and sunnah as a guide.
b) Knowledge from reliable scholars or institutions.
c) Making the actions of the heart part of one life: tawbah, tawakkul, ikhlas, dhikr, dua, tilaawah and taddabur fil Qur’an, tafakkur, muhasabah, etc to gain the love and pleasure of Allah.
4. ‘Adl and Ihsaan- spreading justice and goodness and avoiding/ preventing evil.
5. Husn dhan billaah and husn dhan bill insaan- thinking well of Allah and thinking well of people.
Hate the sin, not the sinner. Love for others the good that you love for yourself.
Have spiritual, emotional and social solidarity with fellow Muslims around the world.
May Allah bless reliable scholars and daa’is like:
Middle East-
1. Dr Aid al-Qarni
2. Sheikh Al-Maqhamsy.
3. Sheikh Al-Munajid.
4. Dr. Al-Hashimi- author of Ideal Muslim series.
5. Dr. Umar s. Al-Ashqar.
6. Sheikh Moutasem al-Hameedi.
East Africa-
1. Sheikh Mustafa.
2. Cpt (rtd) Yahya M. A. Odingo.
3. Sheikh Umal.
America:
1. Sheikh Muhammad Shareef.
2. Waleed Basyooni.
3. Wael Hamza.
Publications:
1. Dar-us-salaam.
2. IIPH.
3. Abul-Qasim publishing house/ Saheeh International.
4. Dar al-Manarah.
5. Islamic foundation/ Alhidaayah publishing.
Magazines:
1. Jumuah Magazine.
The websites I visit, the lecture I watch, the books I read and the respect I give to a scholar or daa’i is a reflection of the above publishers, magazines and scholars’ influence on me.
Even good non-muslim sites I visit (or will) like business, technology, science, MOOCs, creativity, networking, news or sports, I seive the good content from the rubbish.
I choose my world-view to be pure Islam, the world-view of the salaf: confidently humble, rightly flexible, ambitious, contributor, lifelong learner, mentor, difference-maker, maintainer of family and kinship ties and feerless believor of the power of sharee’ah in governing all aspects of life: personal, social, economical, enviromental, educational, recreational and political.
Communism is confusion and capitalism is crisis whereas Shariah is life.
I mostly agree with Said Hasan, and we should heed ayat 10 from Surat 49 Al-Hujurat (and perhaps especially during Ramadan):
“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.”
I once asked a scholar if we could partially interpret this ayat to mean that the ties which bind together the ummah are like a reflection of the unity of tawheed, and this scholar said that such an interpretation may be permissible.
Further, the ahadeeth about hypocrisy (nifaq) are meant as warnings
for all Muslims because even some of the sahabah were concerned about their
nifaq. Also, only Allah alone can judge who has nifaq kufr in his or her heart
(versus apparent acts of nifaq).