The Dangers of Blind Loyalty to Groups, Shaykhs, or Jama’aat
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Dangers of Blind Following and Loyalty to Groups, Shaykhs, or Jamāʿāt
Islam came to unite the Ummah upon the truth — not to divide it into groups, parties, and personalities.
But today, how many Muslims…
Obey a jamāʿah more than the Qur’an?
Follow a shaykh even when he opposes clear Sunnah?
Defend a group even when it spreads innovation?
The Prophet ﷺ never told us to blindly follow anyone — not a leader, not a movement, not even a scholar.
Blind loyalty has destroyed the Ummah.
“They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah...”
When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about this verse, he said: “Did they not make ḥarām what Allah made ḥalāl, and you prohibited it?”
They said: Yes.
He said: “That was your worship of them”
(al-Tirmidhī, verse of At-Tawbah 9:31)
This is what happens when allegiance to truth is replaced with allegiance to personalities.
The Ḥizbīs say: “Don’t speak about our shaykh!”
The Sufis say: “Our peer is beyond criticism!”
The Ikhwān say: “Support the movement, even if it means silence on bidʿah!”
The sectarians say: “Criticizing our group = dividing the Ummah!”
But the Salaf said:
Imām Mālik رحمه الله:
“Everyone’s statement can be taken or rejected — except for the companion of this grave.”
(Pointing to the grave of the Prophet ﷺ)
Imām al-Barbahārī رحمه الله:
“It is not permissible for a Muslim man to say, "So-and-so is a person of the Sunnah" until he knows that all the characteristics of the Sunnah have come together in him. He should not be called "a person of the Sunnah" until the entire Sunnah is found in him.”
Truth is not known by men — men are known by the truth.
Your loyalty must be to the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the way of the Sahābah — not to parties, shaykhs, or leaders.
If your group contradicts the Salaf — leave the group.
If your shaykh speaks against clear evidence — leave the shaykh.
If your movement compromises the manhaj — abandon the movement.
Unity is only upon truth — not upon names, not upon politics, and not upon personalities.
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