The evilest matter is the introduction of new practices in religion and every new practice in religion is an innovation in religion.

Every innovation in religion is an error and every error will be in Hell

The evilest of matters are religious innovations; every religious innovation is considered Bidah, and every Bidah is a deviation, and every deviation is in Hell

A response by negligent Muslims to libel against the Prophet (1)

A Friday Khutbah by Shaykh Muhammad Ad-Dubaysi, may Allaah preserve and forgive him

Friday Al-Muharram 4, 1427 A. H. / February 3, 2006 All rights reserved First Edition (1427 A. H. / 2006) In the Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Ever Merciful All perfect praise is due to Allaah The Almighty. May He send peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. This is the first release of a Friday Khutbah (sermon) given by Shaykh Muhammad Ad-Dubaysi at Al-Hadyul-Muhammadi Mosque. It is being presented in the current backdrop of the intermittent trials besetting Muslims, with a particular focus on the slanders by the disbelievers against the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. It explains some of its precursors, which Muslims must be aware of, in order to raise the banner of Islam anew. Therefore, we hasten to publish and publicize this Khutbah.

The Shaykh has preferred to entitle this A response by negligent Muslims to libel against the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, for two reasons. Firstly, none but Allaah The Almighty knows perfectly the true esteem of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, no matter how much effort we exert in his defense, we will still fall short in honoring him appropriately; and, consequently, fail in fulfillment of his rights on us and in our claim of standing up for him. The reality is that even the entire world is incapable of giving him his due. Secondly, our shortcomings as Muslims are the main cause of the insolent attacks unleashed by the disbelievers on the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. If we, religious Muslims, constituted a fortress, by means of glorifying him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, loving him, following his Sunnah, obeying him and supporting him, the whole of humanity would not have dared to get in our way. Given this negligent attitude towards out Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and accordingly, Islam, the Quran and Allaah The Almighty, we provide this message as advice, in an attempt to mitigate our heedlessness and the serious crime of not duly defending them. Lastly, if this endeavor should be successful, we attribute it to Allaah The Almighty alone. However, if we fail to achieve our aims, it is only owing to ourselves and Satan. Verily, Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, are far above any blemish. We supplicate to Allaah The Almighty to grant us sincerity in our words and deeds, as well as our public and private conduct. We also invoke Him to guide the Ummah in a manner whereby it will raise the flag of faith and lower that of advocates of disbelief and disobedience. May Allaah The Almighty unite the hearts of the Muslims, reconcile them, guide them to the ways of peace and grant them victory over their weaknesses, Satan, their vile inclinations and over their enemies; surely, He is The Most Powerful.