The Muslim Students Organization

Of the

City College of New York

Our Da'waah 

1. We believe in judging upon the Qur'aan and the Authentic and Pure Sunnah, only upon the understanding of the Salaf-us-Saalih ( The Pious Predecessors, the first three righteous generations of Muslims and those who follow them) in every one of our affairs. 

2. We affirm everything that is established in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah in every issue of Aqeedah (creed) as is mentioned therein without resorting to any form of tahreef (distortion), ta'weel (figurative interpretation), tamtheel (ascribing likeness) or tashbeeh (resemblance), or ta'teel (denial). We affirm such for the Names and the Attributes of Allaah and do not delve into arguments regarding them since this is not something for the intellect.

3. We believe that the Qur'aan is the speech of Allaah and not created.

4. We believe that the Qur'aan and the Sunnah are both revelations from Allaah, and that  they complement each other. We do not say that the Qur'aan preceeds the Sunnah, rather that the Sunnah is that which explains and clarifies the Qur'aan. Indeed those who take only from the Qur'aan and reject the Sunnah are among the heretics.

5. We believe that every issue of Aqeedah (creed), Ibaadah (worship) and Manhaj (methodology) which the Qur'aan and the Sunnah has not provided us a text for and upon which the Sahaabah, Companions of the Prophet of Allaah (saws) did not agree upon is falsehood and an innovation in the deen (religion) of Allah.

6. We do not argue with people of bid'ah (innovation), we do not sit with them, nor do we listen to them nor cooperate in spreading their doubt to others.

7. We believe that the Manhaj of the Prophet (saws) is only that which is found in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and which was agreed upon by Companions. It is not open to interpretations nor is any benefit found on following any other methodologies.

8. We love all the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and detest anyone who speaks ill regarding any single one of them. Furthermore we love the Ahlul Bait ( the family of the Prophet saws.) in the manner that is permitted by the Sharee'ah.

9. We love people oh Hadeeth and all of the Salaf-us-Saalih ( Our Pious Predecessors) of our Ummah (community).

10. We disapprove of the people of innovations, and the people of ilmul-kalaam (knowl-ege of theological rhetoric). We consider the introduction of innovations and theologi- cal rhetoric as the prime reason for the weakening and division of the Ummah.

11. We believe that in order for Muslims to be successful in this world and the hereafter, we have to undergo Tasifyyah and Tarbiyyah. Tasfiyyah is to purify ones religion in terms of aqeedah, ibaadah and manhaj from innovations and vain desires. Tarbiyyah is to nurture oneself and cultivate oneself upon the truth and the correct guidance upon the religion. Honor and success will only return to the Muslims when they return to the pure teachings of Islaam.

12. We believe that Muslims must be united and not divided in their efforts for the sake of Allaah, and this unification must be based upon the proper return to Tawheed and Islaam, as understood by Salaf-us-Saalih (Our Pious Predecessors). We reject each and every call for unification that is based on political and/or social agendas. Unification must be based soley upon the truth and any innovated agenda only contributes to the weakness and divisions that already exists.

13. We consider it to be our obligation to collaborate with only those who follow the methodology and understanding of the Salaf-us-Saalih (Our Pious Predecessors), and advise the groups that refrain from this principle.

14. We believe that the best of the Companions is Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthmaan, and then Ali, then the Promised Ten and so on, and that all the Companions have earned the Pleasure of Allaah. We further believe the Muawiyah was one of the Blessed Companions of the Prophet (saws) and that he was from among the Ameer ul Mu'mineen (Chief of the Believers), and that indeed he is the barrier that protects the honor of the companions, so whosoever reviles Muawiyah has removed that barrier.

15. We believe that Muslims must strive to learn and act upon and adorn themselves with the pure teachings of Islaam from their proper sources. We must strive to keep ourselves away from all forms of Shirk and Bid'ah and follow the truth, absolutely and unconditionally, whether it reaches us as an authentic narration or as a matter that the scholars of Islaam have agreed upon in consensus.

16. We believe that is the duty of every Muslim to learn from and stick to the senior scholars of the past and of our time. We respect them, honor them, and give them their due recognition. We regret their passing and consider it as a sign of the Last Day. We refrain from belittling them or their intentions. We do not abandon them nor their knowledge and we refute those who seek to keep the people away from them and forsake them, leaving their honor to be maligned by the likes of those who call to political agitation, partisanship, and incitement against authorities.

17. We do not specify any scholar or individual or group besides the Messenger of Allaah (saws) as someone to be blindly-followed. Indeed we consider taqleed (blind-imitation) of individuals other than the Messenger of Allaah (saws) as one of the great errors that has divided this ummah. We do not accept any fatwa as binding if it contradicts the Qur'aan or the Sunnaah or the understanding of the Salaf-us-Saalih (Our Pious Predecessors), or the consensus of the Muslim scholars in general.

18. We affirm that Shaikh ibn Baaz, Shaikh Al-Albaani, Shaikh ibnul Uthaymeen, Shaikn Muqbil Al-Waadi'ee, Shaykh Rabee Al-Madkhali, Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan, and other legitimate scholars like them, are from among the senior-most scholars of our time and are authorities in every issue that affects the Muslims, and that they are more knowledgeable regarding our current affairs than any other group or individual.  

19. We do not apply the term ''scholar'' loosely to anyone when it concerns the deen. We affirm only those to be scholars whom the scholars themselves refer to as authorities in the religion. We do not see any academic degree, or popular reputation or level of activity, or graduating from a well-known institution as criteria of ones proficiency in Islaam.

20. We reject those who seek to divide the religion onto categories of trivial matters and important matters. Indeed every affair that leads us closer to Allaah is an important matter no matter how small it seems, and indeed getting closer to Allaah is no trivial matter. 

21. We believe that knowledge is the first step getting close to Allaah, and to talk without knowledge is a vile sin. It is far more honorable and obligatory to say ''I don't know'' than to speak of something of which one is ignorant.

22. We refute everyone who contradicts the Sunnah regardless of what methodology they ascribe to, their status or the level of their error.

23. We do not refer to anyone as becoming kaafir (disbeliever) due to any sin that he commits unless it is from among the actions that take one out of Islaam. We patiently obey whomsoever Allaah has placed over us as an authority and do not rebel against them. We deem it incorrect to revolt against the Muslim rulers as long as they are Muslims and we honor the terms of residing within non-Muslim lands. We consider rebellion and revolutions as a tools of corruption, anarchy and chaos rather than as a solution

24. We believe that politics is part of religion and those who try to separate the religion from politics are introducing a destructive agenda. Rather it must be maintained that none of the precepts of the deen are compromised while pursuing any legitimate goals, political or social.

25. We do not accept any knowledge from doubtful sources regardless of whether it may be the truth or not because it is enough to seek from amongst authentic sources to find the truth. We do not record within our books, nor teach in our lessons, nor maintain as our resources anything that we consider to be unauthentic or containing doubtful knowledge. We reject any speakers, or books, or groups that propagate weak narrations or doubtful knowledge or emotional jargon regardless of popularity, fame or status.

E-mail: mso@ccny.cuny.edu