On July 14, 2018 our brother Abu Yusuf Khaleefah -under Masjid Nur Allah’s official twitter account- tweeted the following: 
This was a direct response to a portion of a tweet from Anwar Wright, wherein the mixing of truth with falsehood by twisting the reality of certain occurrences was utilized, in order to substantiate false accusations against several (unnamed) Salafi callers. The portion of his tweet addressed here is as follows:
“I’m Amazed at a people that have the likes of Muftari Munir causing confusion in their own backyard (NYC) and we’ve yet to see one ilmi refutation from them on him. Add to that no refutation from their زعيم who claims to “know Tahir better and longer than everyone else”. And the amazement doesn’t stop here…!”
Although it is widely believed that Anwar’s speech was directed at Abu Yusuf Khaleefah, this conclusion -at this point- is speculative due to the absence of any name being mentioned. Likewise due to the presence of several salafi callers within New York i.e. our two elders Dawud Adib and Abdur Ra’uf Shakir along with our brother Abu Yusuf. Thus keeping in accordance with the principle لا ينسب إلى ساكت قول والسكوت في وفت الحاجة بيان There’s no attributing to one who remains silent (in an affair) a statement (clarifying his view and or position), and silence in the time of need is a declaration (i.e. of one’s view/position) we will leave it to Anwar to make clear who it is he criticized in his speech.
Regardless if the criticism is directed at all three or one among the three, one thing is made explicitly clear, that being that the basis of Anwar’s criticism is incorrect, false, and blatantly misplaced. This is made clear when contemplating on the following points extracted from this conversation.
1: Anwar’s criticism is a non issue
Khaleefah clearly illustrates this by mentioning the ruling to enjoining good and prohibiting evil. It is a communal obligation and not an obligation made binding upon every individual. Thus Anwar’s amazement and criticism is not due to any violation of Islamic principles and guidelines, on the contrary it’s based solely on his own preference, and his preference bears no weight when compared to truth and guidance. Thus his criticism -in reality- is a non issue.
Sheikh Rabee ibn Haadi said: “Criticism is for the purpose of purifying the people, often times it is a criticism of them (specifically) and other times it is a notification with regards to their mistakes or their misguidance. These affairs Islam has brought forth consequently prohibiting the wealth, blood, and honor (of a Muslim). However the blood is permissible if -the one whose blood is spilled- is a taker of life (i.e. murderer, killer), or an adulterer, or one who has abandoned his religion (an apostate) and separated from the Muslim body/community. These things make permissible his blood.
Coinciding with that is he who errs and or goes astray, he losses his honor. Thus that is made clear with the condition that the clarification is advice for Allah’s sake and that the one giving advice intents to clarify the truth and warn the Islamic Nation against falling into the mistakes and misguidance. Hence the presence of these conditions are imperative.” [النقد منهج شرعي]
In light of this, Anwar’s amazement is deemed to be baseless, and nothing more than his imagination getting the better of him by way of whispers from the Shaitan. As Anwar has done nothing here but give precedence to his preference and nothing more. Furthermore, if preference was a yardstick in this matter, wouldn’t it be more preferred that Anwar puts out something knowledge based against Mufti Muneer? After all Mufti did do a 3 part series against Anwar that-to my knowledge- he has not responded to til this very day. Thus one of three conclusions can be drawn concerning Anwar and his awareness of the rulings pertaining to enjoining good and prohibiting evil.
- One who is ignorant with regards to its rulings and as a result should remain quiet with regards to affairs that are beyond his knowledge.
- One who is fully aware of its rulings yet strives to deceive his audience into believing there’s an actual issue with whoever the intended criticism is directed towards, while knowing that his criticism -in light of the principles- is one big fat nothing burger.
- One who is aware of its rulings but has not been given success by Allah in how to properly apply what he knows, resulting in the overt blunder he has fallen into with his baseless criticism.
What is evident from Anwar’s own writing is that the first possibility is the least probable. As Anwar said, in a document titled “Meeting the people where they are, or meeting the people where they need to be“: “I would like to conclude by mentioning some important Fatwa by the Imam, Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz. The Shaykh was asked about the ruling on commanding the good and forbidding by those charged with authority or those who are from the general people. Here is a portion of what he said in his lengthy reply:
...And in summary, commanding the good and forbidding the evil is a great affair and a holy obligation and a duty upon the Muslims; if those who are sufficient from (the people of) a land or town performs it, its obligation falls from the rest (of the Muslims). but if it’s not performed by those sufficient to do so, it becomes a duty upon the rest (of the Muslims) and they are sinful for leaving it off. Also, if you are in a locality, a town, a country, a masjid or a neighborhood where there is a manifest evil and it is not prohibited, it is upon you to prohibit it and not to be negligent in that, because perhaps there is no one other than you who can prohibit it and take your place… to the end of the speech he quoted.
Thus the first option is the least probable, and only Allah is well acquainted with his reality as it relates to the last two options.
2. Anwar’s usage of sensationalism
Sensationalism is the use of shocking or exciting stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest or excitement. This is exactly what Anwar utilizes in a cheap attempt to legitimizes his non issue. In reality it is a twisting of truth, a fallacy, and an unsubstantiated claim that resembles a characteristic of hypocrisy related to action. The Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said: “There are four If combine in a person is (by way of these four characteristics) a pure hypocrite, and if there is a characteristic from these four -within him- then he has within him a characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it..” From the four he -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- mentioned was: “When he disputes he is immoral.”
Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani said about this characteristic: “It is a turning away from truth and trickery/dupery as pertains to disproving it. It is quite often classified under the first characteristic (of hypocrisy as relates to action) that being lying in speech/conversation.” This was done quite often in his declaration of amazement, especially in the portion pertaining to Shadeed (which will be addressed sooner than expected inshaa’llah), and likewise in the focal part of his speech being addressed now.
Anwar dishonestly said: “Add to that no refutation from their زعيم…” which he translated as ringleader suggesting that the previously mentioned brothers or one among them are flunkies, yes men, and lackeys to some personality. But none of the aforementioned brothers are known to be stooges to anyone, nor is anyone at Masjid Ahlul Hadith, or the contributors to Salafy Ink. On the contrary this is an accusation that has been hurled at Anwar and his cohorts for years. As some honestly wonder if he were to disagree with Abu Khadeejah on a matter, what would his status in the crew be? This is pure sensationalism and nothing more, it’s a repulsive slander expected from a lowlife degenerate, not from a Islamic University graduate. Now that’s truly amazing.
3. Anwar’s double standards
A double standard is the application of different principles for the exact same circumstance or in laymens’ terms having a different rule for the same thing or circumstance. It’s two identical things and or circumstances being measured with different standards or rules. Thus it is, in reality, a bias or prejudice for something (i.e. a person, group, organization, etc) that leads to unfair conduct in judgement. Thus whoever there is a bias held for, an excuse is always made and judgement concerning him/her is favorable. However he who is not looked at with that same sentiment, conduct and judgement of him is always negative. Allah says:
يأيّها الذين آمنوا كونوا قوّامين لله شهداء بالقسط ولا يجرمنكم شنئان قوم على ألا تعدلوا اعدلوا هو أقرب للتقوى
“O you who believe! Stand firm for Allah as just witnesses, and do not let enmity and hatred ofa people prevent you from justice. Be just as that is nearer to piety…” [Al-Ma’idah: 8]
Unfortunately Anwar and his cohorts are drowning in double standards and have been accused of such for years. Within his brief statement above is yet another example of such. Anwar said: “Add to that no refutation from their زعيم who claims to ‘know Tahir better and longer than everyone else.’ “ In this statement he mentions Tahir Wyatt and the absence of a refutation against him. Tahir is accused of speaking against salafis yet keeping quiet against the people of innovation. As a result Anwar and his cohorts have criticized, warned against, and ostracized him from their communities yet this same exact characteristic that Tahir is described with, fits Abu Muhammad Al Maghribi to the letter. Al Maghribi is not known to have -in the past- warned against or refuted any person from the people of innovation, on the contrary the only known warning he has ever made against anyone is Abu Abdis Salaam Al Juyaanee, a well known salafi caller.
So why question your imaginary best friend O Anwar whom you referred to as a ringleader about a refutation against Tahir yet you don’t ask Al Maghribi that? Where is his refutation against the people of innovation in his locality or in any locality of which he has been a resident? Why, while Maghribi was in Newark, was his dawah referred to, by some salafis, as the love boat dawah? Anyone who is able to answer these questions truthfully will see that there’s a clear double standard. Once again he prefers that someone he does not think of favorably refute Tahir while he who he does think of favorably doesn’t refute anybody whatsoever except salafis, which is the very claim levied against Tahir that justifies refutations against him. Now that’s the real joke Anwar.
In conclusion, when looking at the previously highlighted points we see the childish nature of Anwar and the reality of his elementary scribbling found in the pitiful tweet. As Anwar has done nothing more than expose the fact that he holds animosity for salafis over non issues and encourages others with the same by utilization of deception. The remainder of his tweet will face the same scrutiny to illustrate the reality of this individual and his lowly conduct by Allah’s permission, and with Him is success.
Written by Najeeb Al Anjelesi
7/28/2018