Assalamu Alaykum Shaykh Sahib

I pray that you and your family are all well and that the blessings of Ramadhan have been with you and your family in maximum abundance by Allah Azawajal – Insha-Allah.

May Allah Azawajal continue to bless our Sultan uil Awlia, Gauce uz Zamaan, Shaykh ul Islam wal Muslimeen, Sultan ul Inse Wal Jinn – Sayidi Shaykh Maulana Nazim Q.S – AMEEN.

Shaykh Sahib, I have a quick urgent Question please;

For the last few years we have been giving money to a local Imam who send this money to Karachi, Pakistan to his teacher who runs a school. Within this school, there are poor children who are given the teaching of Hifz and undertake an Aalim course. The money sent covers the cost of one child per year. Now we have reason to believe that this Imam who we are giving money to has the Deobandi belief. I have read your articles in the past and will take your advice. Should the local Imam who we are giving money to have the following beliefs – is it advisable we refrain and not give any continious money?

1) If he agrees and does not condemn comments by Ismail Dihlawi
2) Also words of Ashraf Ali Thanwi (I remember in the past he has given me a book by this author), if this Imam agrees and does not condemn certain comments of Ashraf Ali Thanwi
3) In the past he has agreed with the praising of Yazid (as Zakir Naik has been openly involved with in the past)

I don’t get involved with issues, there is only one teacher for me which is Mawlana and he has MashaAllah given you as a link for guidance to us Alhamdulillah. My concern is one which has arisen, as for the last 7/8 years or so I have been collecting money from others and giving to this Imam. My only concern is, if they are using books from such authors and at the very minimum are not condemning wrongly made statements, then should our money even be used in promooting and molding such possible future scholars who may then preach what we do not want to keep raising issues on.

On my last meeting – Mawlana said “keep with the Alhlus Sunnah Wal Jamaat – keep away from others, they may take your iman away”

Shall I keep to a minimum with anyone who holds the oboen (1-3) beliefs whilst maintaining adab.

Lastly – are the Deobandi, Ahlul hadeeth (tablig jamat) part of the ahlus sunnah wal jamaat?

I’m a person with very little knowledge, please pray I become more knowledgeable. Within a half a mile radius we have 5 masjids. No wonder we are all confused. The closest masjid to speak highly of Alaa Hazrat Ahmed Riza Khan R.A. I tend to go there purely beacuse they make effort to make salaat and salaams on the most honoured of creation. The others are Jamaat e Islami Deobandi, Alhlul Hadeeth (tablig jamat), Ahle Tashi (Shia), and an Iraqi community Masjid.

I will wait for your reply, InshaAllah. This Imam is expecting me to give some money today. I will avoid him until I get your guidance which for me is advice from Maulana Shaykh through yourself.

Thanks and miss you, hope to see you one day InshaAllah.

Your brother in Tariqa

Answer:

wa `alaykum salam,

Amin to your du`a and may Allah Most High bless you and yours here and hereafter.

Our advice is for you to keep respect for all and to also set your mind at rest by practicing the advice of the Holy Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) in these two hadiths:

– “The halal is clear and the haram is clear. Between the two there are doubtful matters concerning which many people do not know whether they are halal or haram. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his religion and his honor is safe.”

– “Take what you are sure of and leave what causes you doubt.”

Hajj Gibril Haddad