Translation: Aboo Aamir Al-Atharee [Dhul-Qa'dah 2, 1433, (18 September, 2012)]

From Abdulazeez bn Abdillah bn Muhammad Aal Shaykh to the generality of the Muslims, May Allaah keep them safe.

As-Salaam Alaykum wa RahmatuLlaah wa Baarakaatu-hu.

After that:

We thank Allaah Who has favoured us by making us the best of nations ever evolved for mankind, a believing nation in Allaah that enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil. Another special favour of Allaah upon us is that He sent His Best Book – Al-Qur'aan the Criterion – to us. Allaah the Mighty said:

Verily, this Qur'ân guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and his Messenger, Muhammad, etc.). who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise). [Al-Israa: 9].

Allaah the Mighty also said:

Blessed be He who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur'ân) to his slave (Muhammad) that he may be a warner to mankind (and jinns). [Al-Fur'qaan:1].

Allaah also favoured us by sending the best of the Messengers to us who is also the seal of His Prophets, the person of Muhammad bn Abdillaah – salaLlaahu alayhi wa sallam. Allaah sent him to His creation and bestowed enormous favour upon him and made him his trusted one. He was Haashimee and Quraishee by nobility. Allaah made the Light of Revelation to glow over him as a favour, and sent him as a Messenger to His slaves reciting the Signs of Allaah unto them, cleansing them (of evil practices that include idol-worship), teaching them the Book of Allaah and Wisdom (in his Sunnah). Allaah said:

Indeed Allâh conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur'ân), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur'ân) and Al­Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet], while before that they had been In manifest error. [aal-Imraan" 163]

With the advent of Muhammad – salaLlaahu alahy wa salla, Allaah the Mighty actualized Tauheed with which He stamped out polytheism. Allaah also sent him with a light which gives life (to the believers) as He said:

Is He who was dead (without faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fair­seeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do. [An'aam: 122]

Allaah the All-Knower also said:

Thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad) Ruhan (an inspiration, and a mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur'ân) a light wherewith we guide whosoever of Our slaves we will. And verily, you (O Muhammad) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the straight path (i.e. Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism). [Shoorah: 52]

The advent of Muhammad – salaLlaahu alayhi wa sallam – was a mercy to all mankind. Allaah the Mighty Lord said:

We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the mankind (and jinns and all that exists). [Anbiyaa: 107].

With his advent – salaLlaahu alahy wa sallam, Allaah assures the mankind of good life and a blissful one in the Hereafter (provided they follow him).

Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. [Taubah: 128].

Just as the Sharee'ah and what Muhammad came with, in terms of extolling the Commands of Allaah, so also does the Sharee'ah came as a mercy to the Slaves of Allaah. Allaah the Mighty said:

As for Him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allâh and fears him. And believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). [al-Layl: 5-7].

The People of Knowledge say: These two principles – Sharee'ah extolling the Commands of Allaah and being of mercy to His slaves – are the nitty-gritty of the Deen of Islam.

Therefore, when this great religion of Islam – built its goals on the safe natural instinct, with its mercy and ease in legislation, justice and fairness as regards rights, good provisions and abundance, its matter traversed the nook and cranny of the globe, that made people enter its fold in multitudes. It is decree of Allaah that there will be struggle between the truth and falsehood, that is according to His Wisdom.

Therefore, these people who insult the Prophets and the Messengers, who hate what they came with of plain truth, they do so due to their dirty essence and the corrupt manner they were created. Allaah said:

So We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayâtin (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by Way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications (And this is in order) that the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter may incline to such (deceit), and that they may remain pleased with it, and that they may commit what they are committing (all kinds of sins and evil deeds, etc.). [Al'An'aam: 122].

He the Mighty also said:

Thus have we made for every Prophet an enemy among the Mujrimûn (disbelievers, polytheists, criminals, etc.). but Sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper. [al-Furqaan: 31]

The aims of these criminals are: [To] put out the Light of Allâh (i.e. the Religion of Islâm, the Qur'ân, and Prophet Muhammad) with their mouths. But Allâh will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it).

There are among these people, devils in the garb of humans and jinns. The history is filled with several plots where the enemies of Islam had tried to attack the personality of the slave and Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam. But Allaah saved him from their plots and machinations. He returned their plot and mockery at them.

Having said this, there was another ill-fated effort recently made in order to tarnish the image of the Messenger of Allaah - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam. That was the film screened to defame the Prophet of Allaah – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam. We have carefully followed the Muslim and international outcry against the reprehensible attempt which no sane or religious-minded person will accept. Meanwhile, we like to pen down the following points:

One: This ill-fated and criminal attempt of the film screening will never affect the person of the Noble Prophet – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam neither will it defame Islam. This is because Allaah had already raised the status of Muhammad – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam, and made failure and disgrace the lot of whoever opposes him. Allaah granted him a plain victory and saved him from all mankind. He sufficed him from the jesters and granted him the Kauthar River (in Jannah) and made his reviler the one to be cut from all good.

Said the Mighty Lord:

Have we not opened your breast for You (O Muhammad)? And removed from you your burden, which weighed down your back? And raised high your fame? [Al-Inshiraah: 1-3]

Allaah the Mighty also said:

Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory. That Allâh may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, and complete His Favour on you, and guide you on the Straight path; And that Allâh may help You with strong help. [al-Fath: 1-3].

Allaah the Mighty also said:

Allâh will protect you from mankind. [Al-Maaidah: 67]

He also said:

Is Allâh not Sufficient for His slave? [az-Zumar: 36]

He the Mighty also said:

Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers. [Hijr: 95]

He the Mighty also said:

Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kauthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). For he who makes you angry (O Muhammad), - he will be cut off (from every good thing in this world and in the hereafter). [Al-Kauthar: 1-4]

Thus the more these criminals intensify their attempts to defame the Prophet – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam, the more his honour and fame increase. The honour of Islam today testifies to what these Noble Verses are saying.

Two: A Muslim is enjoined to conduct all his actions in accordance with the guidance and Sunnah of the Prophet – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam, with the intention of earning rewards thereof.

Allaah said:

Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much. [Al-Ahzaab: 21]

Therefore, the rejection by the Muslims of these evil attempts to defame Islam should be in accordance with what Allaah has legislated in His Book and Sunnah of His Messenger – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam. They should not allow fury and anger to make them overstep the bounds of the Sharee'ah such that they fall into what is prohibited. Doing so will make the enemy achieve their aim behind the production of this evil film while the Muslims do not know. It is forbidden to hold an innocent person responsible for the crime of the criminals, neither is it permissible to spill innocent blood or destroy their property, or burn or destroy public facilities. Such acts depict Islam in a negative picture, and Allaah is not pleased with them, neither are they in accordance with the tradition of the Prophet – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam in the least. Allah the Mighty indeed rebuked those who destroyed their dwellings (among the Kuffaar-Jews); He asks us to ponder over their silly act.

Let us mention here that indeed the Prophet – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam because of whom we want to lose our souls, families and wealth was such that any time any of the evil people made jest of him, would not go beyond the bounds rather he would take it calmly. Allâh said about him:

Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers. Who set up along with Allâh another Ilâh (God), they will come to know. Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say. So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him). And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death). [Hijri: 95-99].

Allaah described him in the loftiest term by His this Word:

And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character. [Al-Qalam: 4].

It was written in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree on the authority of Abdulllah bn Amr – may Allaah be pleased with both – that Abdullah was asked: 'Tell us something of the trait of the Messenger of Allaah in the Torah.' He replied: 'He is described in the Torah with some of what he is described with in the Qur'aan: 'O Prophet, indeed We sent you as a witness, a giver of glad tidings and a warner, and a shield for the unlettered. You are My slave and Messenger, I named you al-Mutawakkil, you are not foul at speech nor aggressive in anger, you are not a roamer in the markets, you do not reciprocate evil with evil, but evil with good, he overlooks and forgives. I will not take his life until the (then) Old Deen is perfected, such that I will open the blind eyes through him, make the deaf hear, and open the dead hearts, such that they will all proclaim: 'There is none worthy of worship except Allaah.'

Therefore this widespread condemnation in the Muslim countries, unless concrete actions are taken towards entrenching the foundations of the Deen, it will just pass away and will be of no effect; it will be as if nothing had happened. Therefore, the best way to help the Messenger of Allaah – salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam, is by following his guidance, his Sunnah and spreading his honour, so also making people to know about his lifetime and spreading the ethos and teachings of Islam.

Three: The Muslims must have the proper understanding that this criminal attempt to defame the person of the Messenger of Allaah - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam - was not indeed aimed at him because they can never achieve that, rather what we know without an iota of doubt is that, from the time past till the present moment, is that these enemies who spread this evil about, and other one evil, their aim is to shift the attention of the Muslims from building their countries and break their unity by distracting them from means of attaining growth and development. Therefore, the Muslims can only condemn the evil act effectively by striving to build their nations to the level of responsibility and trust expected of the best nation evolved for mankind.

Four: We also use this medium to call on countries of the world and international bodies to make effort towards criminalizing the act of defaming the Prophets and Messengers such as Ibraahim, Moosa, Eesa and Muhammad, may the peace and blessing of Allaah be upon all of them. The Prophets who have some claims of respect, reverence and honour upon humanity. The lands of the Two Holy Sanctuaries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a number of responsibilities in this regard.

We ask Allaah the Mighty to cause good and justice to spread in all habitations, and to make the Muslims attain unity and mutual benefit. Allaah has the power to grant the request.

Peace and blessing upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and his Companions altogether.

Statement Issued By:

The Grand Mufti, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and President, the Committee of the Senior Scholars in Charge of Religious Researches and Ifta.

source: www.sahab.net