The Permissibility of Using the Sibha…
Many people have questioned us on the sibha. Some of them were from among the munkiruun (the rejecters) who have lost sight of the clear path and have made careers of searching for the faults of other Muslims; while others were sincere seekers desiring only to place their feet where the Salaf have placed theirs – without deviating from their clear path. The first group have become like those about whom Shehu Uthman Dan Fodio said in his Ihya as-Sunnah,
“Whoever follows after the faults of his brother, Allah will follow after his faults, even if he is in the interior of his home.”
The second group have become like those about whom Shaykh al-Akbar spoke when he said in his Risaala;
“Do not place your feet where you have not seen the footprints of your Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. For you should only place your feet upon his footprints if indeed you desire to be among the people of the highest spiritual ranks and to have perfect witnessing in the stations of intimacy with Allah.”
