This book actually exceeded my expectations. The author touches on almost every "controversial" issue by which the false puritans have made a divisive criterion between "true" Islam and tradition. He cites numerous hadith as the basis of all his contentions, supported by quotes from authorities who are indisputably recognized in their fields, clarifying what Muslims throughout the generations have actually believed. Above all, the tone of the book is refreshingly positive - something which is uncommon in a refutational piece such as this.
I've decided to keep my old review here, but add new thoughts. One important development is that I've chosen to re-rate this book to five stars upon rereading it after more than five years. When I first read it, I had less experience with refutations, and I didn't really know much about Traditional Sunni Islam. Though this book changed my life at the time I first read it, I was still recovering from my original Salafi-leaning ways, and wasn't really used to reading Islamic books in general.
I do have some different qualms now that I know a bit more. For one thing, many of the alleged statements by Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab that are quoted here were likely forgeries, and seem to contradict his actual statements. Another issue is Sayyid Muhammad ibn 'Alawi's praise of the Saudi authorities for allegedly protecting and preserving sacred relics and sites related the Prophet 锓�. I know that when the book was first published in Arabic, they hadn't yet demolished as many structures as they have by now, but this still seems inaccurate. I also know that they horribly mistreated this shaykh in more recent years, so it appears that any attempt to placate them was in vain.
Despite my issues with the book, however, they no longer include the idea that it's boring or repetitive, and they're also not glaring enough that I felt they should bring down the overall rating. This is a very important book that should be read by anyone who considers himself or herself a Sunni Muslim. Five stars, hands down. -------------------------------------- Original Review
I hate to be one of the few who gives this book less than five stars, but I just found that it lagged a bit after a while due to its repetitive nature. As a refutation, it's superb and undoubtedly a perfect five, but as a book that one would want to sit down and read, it wasn't QUITE as exciting. Of course everything detailing the life and nature of the Prophet 锓� and his Companions 乇囟賷 丕賱賱賾賴 毓賳賴賲 was interesting, but the format of the book was such that many of the same ahadith were reproduced in full multiple times. Maybe I'm just not used to books like this, but I thought it could've been ordered a bit more concisely. I will not nitpick any further, though. It is indeed a very good and valuable book that offers much insight on the truth as detailed by a late, great scholar of our Ummah. May God have mercy on him and grant him Paradise.
phenomenal book. the author is intellectually exhaustive in his refutations but he is not malicious against those he is correcting. in fact, he quotes extensively from muhammad ibn abdul wahabb, ibn taymiyya and ibn qayyim to show, to my surprise, that their true stance is in line with the majority of muslim sunnis, and that its been distorted by those who aren't so bright.
i really enjoyed this because the author has great manner and adab, in that he doesn't get one-sided but tries to be as complete and intellectually honest as possible. he consistently takes the reasoning/knowledge offered in various hadith to properly frame an issue. the author does not allow the exaggeration of others to make him (counter-)exaggerate on these issues like some groups do, but is just and fair in his thought.
An in-depth and beautiful book on controversial topics within the realm of Sunni Islam, i.e particular aqida points, the exalted rank of the Prophet Muhammad 锓� and his qualities, seeking blessings (tabarruk) from relics and the grave of the Prophet, tawassul, holding gatherings commemorating certain events (i.e the birth of the Prophet 锓�), and other topics of this nature.
Sayyid Shaykh explained each issue well and, as the title suggests, corrected everything using evidence from particular ah膩dith (with Sayyid Shaykh being a muhaddith himself), and mention what other Ulema have mentioned about them and their grading and soundness, as well as what particular scholars have said of an issue - all of it being incredibly in-depth. This is a brilliant example of the Shaykh's fantastic scholarship and dedication to the Islamic sciences, as well as his dedication to defending particular practices and beliefs.
I find it interesting how diplomatic he seems when it comes to Shuyukh whom are promoted by Salafiyyah, namely Muhammad Ibn AbdulWahab and Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah and Shaykh Ibn Qayyim, going as far as to defending them and clarifying any misconceptions about them. Reading Ibn Abdul Wahab's letter in this for the first time was quite a revelation as to how he actually felt about the issues dealt with this book.
It is obvious that Sayyid Shaykh didn't write this book for the sake of bashing any groups or slandering anybody - rather writing this for the love of Allah and His Chosen Prophet 锓�.
Saya bisa menyelesaikan buku tebal ini hanya dalam satu hari karena dua hal,
Satu, Seratus halaman pertama buku ini berisi pujian atau pengantar dari tokoh-tokoh ulama terkemuka di dunia, itupun dengan catatan bahwa masih banyak lagi pujian dan pengantar serupa yang tidak bisa diikutsertakan karena jumlahnya terlalu banyak ...
... tanpa mengurangi rasa hormat, there goes the first hundred pages of the book ...
Dua, Topik-topik yang dibahas di buku ini kebanyakan adalah hal-hal yang tidak saya lakukan dalam kehidupan keseharian sehingga tidak pernah menjadi dilema, seperti Tawassul, Tabarruk, ziarah dan sebagainya. Jadi saya berselancar dengan -sangat- cepat melalui bab-bab tersebut.
Awalnya saya berharap bisa memahami pemikiran dasar dari kaum Salafi Saudi yang disebut-sebut merupakan kekuatan buku ini, tapi ternyata perilaku mereka tidak (banyak) didasari oleh hal-hal teologis, melainkan bertumpu pada rincian perilaku peribadatan yang ada di ranah fikih. Jadilah buku ini banyak berfokus ke situ, yang meskipun menarik untuk ditelusuri, tapi masih berada di wilayah khilafiyah fiqh yang teknis. Bukannya tanpa kualitas, buku ini dengan teliti menelusuri pemahaman (fiqh) kaum Salafi dan membantah dengan tidak kalah rinci menggunakan dalil-dalil yang autoritatif. Buku ini akan menghipnotis dan memuaskan para pecinta fiqh selama berjam-jam. Adapun bagi saya, dengan keterbatasan saya dalam hapalan, fiqh is not my cup of coffee (dan saya sering merasa pusing kalau minum kopi).
Dengan semua kebaikannya, buku ini bagi saya masih menyisakan satu pertanyaan penting.
Buku ini mengutip ujaran dari Syaikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab dan juga dari ulama acuan beliau, Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyyah, yang bernuansa positif terhadap perilaku peribadatan yang sekarang menjadi sasaran cerca kaum Salafi. Jika sikap suka membid'ahkan dan bahkan mengafirkan orang lain tersebut bukan datang dari konseptor dan pendiri gerakan Salafi sendiri, lalu bagaimana ceritanya sekarang berdiri bermusuhan kaum Salafi dengan mazhab dan teologi lain ... dari mana dan kapan datangnya sikap permusuhan itu?
Jawaban dari pertanyaan itu mungkin bisa ditemukan di buku-buku sejarah, tapi sebelum sampai ke sana, buku ini mengajari saya satu hal, yaitu untuk memberi kepada teman-teman Salafi (ya, saya berteman dengan mereka, dan semua orang baik-baik) benefit of the doubt. Jangan menghakimi sebelum memahami lebih dalam.
Sebagian umat Islam salah memahami dalam Tawassul, Tabarruk, Ziarah Kubur, Asy'ariyah, Tasawuf, dan sejenisnya sehingga mereka beranggapan bahwa hal itu adalah sesuatu yang salah, bid'ah, sesat, dan anggapan jelek lainnya.
Kesalahpahamahan tersebut sudah diluruskan oleh berbagai ulama, di antaranya Sayyid Muhammad Al-Maliki Al-Hasani di bukunya yang terkenal ini: Mafahim Yajib an Tushahhah.
Keistimewaan karya ini adalah beliau semaksimal mungkin menggunakan bahasa yang tidak menyerang kelompok lain, bahasa dan kalimat yang digunakan sopan, bahkan sangat sopan untuk jenis buku bantahan seperti ini.
Tidak semua hal dibahas dengan detil, tapi untuk buku putih meluruskan kesalahpahaman, buku ini sudah lebih dari cukup.