Criticism of Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Muhammad bin 'Awad bin Laden (; born 10 March 1957), the militant Islamist, founder of al-Qaeda, and widely thought to be responsible for the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington DC. has come under criticism from a number of sources.

Muslims

Wahabi or Salafi scholars

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (Salafee-Wahabee Scholar of Saudi Arabia) said: "Those who set of the explosions in the Kingdom admitted with their own mouths, that they were affected by the JAMAA'atut-Takfeer (One of the Egyptian Qutubist groups) and that they were from the group of Usamah bin Laadin and al-Mas'aree, and they were spreading their literature. Usamah bin Laadin; who taught this man? Who educated him in Sharee'ah? He is a businessman, this is his field of specialization...they admitted, as we said, with their own mouths, we saw it and read it in the newspapers, and I have it here with me recorded with their own voices, that they were affected by some of the people of takfeer (from the Qutubist groups) of Afghanistan. The majority of our youth that returned from the jihaad in Afghanistan to our country were affected, either by the ideology of the Ikhwaan (The Muslim Brotherhood) in general, or by the revolutionary, takfeeree ideology. So they left us believing that we were Muslims, and they returned to us believing that we were disbelievers. So with that, they saw us as being disbelievers, the rulers, and the (Wahabi) Scholars, not to mention the common-folk. They labeled the (Saudi "Wahhabi") state apostate, and they rendered the major ("Wahhabee-Salafee") Scholars apostate. They admitted this with their own mouths. They made takfeer(label of disbelief) of the scholars, and mentioned specifically the two Shaykhs, Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz and Shaykh al-'Uthaymeen, may Allaah preserve them. They mentioned their connection with al-Mas'aree and Usaamah bin Laadin. Did they get this from the scholars of Salafism? No! Rather they got it from the people of Takfeer(Qutubi, Ikhwani, Sufee ideology)."

Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn Baaz(died 1999), the former head of the council of scholars for Saudi Arabia, warned people far and wide AbOUT the destructiveness of the Qutbist ideology and its followers, such as Usaamah bin Laadin: "...It is obligatory to destroy and annihilate these publications that have emanated from al-Faqeeh, or from al-Mas'aree, or from others of the callers of falsehood(bin Laadin and those like him), and not to be lenient towards them. And it is obligatory to advise them, to guide them towards the truth, and to warn them against this falsehood. It is not permissible for anyone to co-operate with them in this evil. And it is obligatory upon them to be sincere and to come back to guidance and to leave alone and abandon this falsehood. So my advice to al-Mas'aree, al-Faqeeh and Bin Laadin and all those who traverse their ways is to leave alone this disastrous path, and to fear Allaah and to beware of His vengeance and His Anger, and to return to guidance and to repent to Allaah for whatever has preceded from them. And Allaah, Glorified, has promised His repentant servants that He will accept their repentance and be good to them. So Allah the Glorified said: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves. Do not despair of the Mercy of Allaah; verily, Allaah forgives all sins.' Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [39:53].

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (Head of the Permanent Committee of Scholars of the "Wahhabee-Salafee" Scholars in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia)also warned of the dangers of this imported and revolutionary Qutbist call when he said, "...and Bin Laadin, who was also ungrateful, deviated from the path of the People of the Sunnah to the methodology of the Khawarij, and began to spread chaos and turmoil in the earth, and circulating corruption, but your Lord lies in wait of him and his kind."

Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Hadee al-Waadi'ee (died May 2001) one of many of the "Wahhaabee-Salafee" scholars of Yemen have also warned the people about the deviance and plots of Usaamah bin Laadin and the Khaarijite Qutbists. In the past few years, there have been unfounded accusations in certain Western media circles attempting to link the late Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Haadee al-Waadi'ee to Usaamah bin Laadin. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth, as Shaykh Muqbil was known to be severe in his criticism towards all religious innovators, particularly those who attempted to stir up trouble in the land and harm the call to "Tawheed and the Sunnah. Shaykh Muqbil refuted Bin Laadin and his way, calling him a "murderous man."

See also

  • Al-Qaeda
  • Ayman al-Zawahiri
  • Islamist [...]