Instructions from the Holder of the Haram's Keys
Question :
A brother visited me and gave me a copy of instructions that are alleged to have been written by a man named Ahmad, "the Holder of the keys of the Prophet's Masjid." As I read those instructions, which were addressed to all Muslims of the world, I realized that much of what was written went against Islamic beliefs. And when I counselled this person, he took no heed of my advice, but instead decided to distribute an even greater number of those instructions. Please give your opinion in this matter, may Allâh Almighty reward you well.
Answer:
The publication you described is an invention of false- hood, containing nothing that has any basis in the Shari'ah. That a Muslim must blindly follow this man's counsels is both an innovation and a lie, and a person sins when he distributes such a lie. Allâh Almighty says:
"It is only those who believe not in the Verses Verses of Allah, who fabricate falschood, and it is they who are liars."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that does not belong to it, then it is rejected."
He ﷺ also said:
"Whoever does a deed that is not in accordance with our matter, then it is rejected."
It is the responsibility of Muslims, at least those who come across such publications, to rip them apart and destroy them, and then to warn people against the falsehood contained within them. A person who writes this kind of pamphlet, a person who distributes it, and a person who invites others to read it each one of them is sinful, because we are ordered to abstain from helping others to evil and falsehood, and because we are ordered to stay away from innovation in religion. We ask Allâh to protect us from all evil, and we ask Allâh to deal with those who engage in this kind of evil activity with what they deserve, for they have lied upon Allâh and have engaged the people with what is harmful and of no benefit to them. May Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Pages 356-357