The text below is reproduced from Abu Iyaad’s article, How the Scholars Dealt With The Fitnah of Ibn Hādī and the Muṣaʿfiqah (opens in a new tab).
For a couple of years, Ibn Hādī spoke about some of his students, first by insinuation, then it advanced until he likened them to the people of innovation and spoke about them with such descriptions, as occurred in the lecture he gave to an American audience in a particular centre (markaz) in Michigan on 15 Ṣafar 1439, (4 November 2017). There was some private written advice by Shaykh Nizār bin Hāshim (PDF, 16 pages)[3] which followed, dated 5 Rabīʿ al-Awwal 1439 (23 November 2017) which was sent to him upon the advice of Shaykh Rabīʿ.
Shaykh Rabīʿ advised that the advice be spread openly—[given that the fitnah was open by this time]—but Shaykh Nizār wanted to send it privately first, which he did. Sadly, this incensed Ibn Hādī, and he became puffed up with pride, became more stubborn, and began to lash out even more, now including others in his oppression.
This is from what led Ibn Hādī to do his infamous lecture, titled, “The Time Has Come For Ibn Hādī to Leave His Silence” known as the “Ṣumāt” lecture, on 1 Rabīʿ al-Ākhir 1439, corresponding to 19 December 2017 in which he attacked Shaykh Nizār among others, and alluded to this advice in the lecture itself.
Instead of being grateful and heeding the advice, he rewarded the one who sent it to him, from the first of those to stand up to him and his evil in this way, by saying: "His face is like the back of his head" and "I desire his life and he wants my death."
When Ibn Hādī rejected the advice, the document was spread openly to let the people see the reality of the matter, so they are not dragged behind Ibn Hādī with blind-following. After this, Shaykh Nizār went from being “from the best of people” to a “ṣaʿfūq, kadhdhāb, with little manners who is to be warned against” which was said by Ibn Hādī in his infamous lecture. It was after this advice and its rejection, that a clear position was taken against him.
Over the next few months, his direction became apparent (stubbornness upon falsehood and refusal to recant from his oppressive tabdīʿ and taḍlīl) and an open and uncompromising stance was taken against him in early 2018, after his rejection of the private advice and that of others and his “breaking the silence” lecture.
Summary of the issues and foundations involved or violated:
- Oppressive tabdīʿ of Salafīs without evidence[4]
- Demanding loyalty and disloyalty around this tabdīʿ
- Calling for boycotting of Salafīs upon this tabdīʿ
- Splitting the ranks of Ahl al-Sunnah
- Making the issue a trial (miḥnah) to test people.
Footnotes
- When Shaykh Nizār wrote this advice, he sent it to a group of shaykhs and students in Madīnah, including those who were attacked. Later Ibn Hādī said that this advice to him was written for Shaykh Nizār, not by him. Sadly, this claim has been carried on today, by those people who have continued the way of Ibn Hādī towards Salafī shaykhs and students. ↩
- Followed by post-tabdīʿ compilation of evidences to justify the tabdīʿ to defend Ibn Hādī and his falsehood. ↩