Omar Subedar is a Khateeb at the Islamic Society of Peel (Makki Masjid), the COO of Halal Monitoring Authority (HMA), the CEO of Bukhari Publications, and a director of Mathabah Institute.
He studied in Newsbury in the Institute of Islamic Education, which is one of the Darul Uloom’s in the U.K. In terms of his beliefs and opinions, then they can be seen in his answers to questions and courses/material he teaches. The following are some examples:
1. He argues that Imaan does not increase nor decrease, but only its certainty and conviction increases or decreases [Reference]. This is clearly the belief of the Asha’ris and the Murji’ah who believe that Imaan is Tasdeeq (affirmation) in the heart and therefore does not increase/decrease. They argue that one’s conviction and certainty increases depending on someone’s knowledge of the evidences. Subedar quotes Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy upon him) in Fiqh al-Akbar to support his point. However, this book is not authentically attributed to Abu Hanifa.
Also, Subedar quotes ar-Raazi, may Allah have mercy upon him, who is from the senior Scholars of the Asha’ris, in his answer saying: “In reality Imān, as Imam Al Rāzī has stated, does not accept any increase or decrease in terms of the actual faith but rather in terms of conviction, for people vary in religious excellence as the Glorious One has alluded to in his statement”. End quote. [Reference]
This is not the ‘Aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jam’aah. Ahlus-Sunnah believe Imaan increases with the obedience of Allah and decreases with disobedience. This applies to the heart (Tasdeeq), speech, and actions. The Scholars refuted the false belief of the Asha’ris and the Murji’ah [See: at-Tankeel (2/368-372) of ‘Allamah al-Mu’allami, Sharh at-Tahawiyyah (1/589-596) of Shaikh Salih Ala Shaikh, and Imaan Bayn as-Salaf wal-Mutakallimeen (pg. 197-201) written by Doctor Ahmad al-Ghaamidi which is a masters dissertation that was awarded the level of excellence by ‘Allamah Abdurrazzaq ‘Afeefi]
2. He allows gatherings for the Mawlid with certain conditions and discusses the Burda poem without any criticize of it [Reference]. He first writes: “It is also important that the poems that are recited and the songs that are sung within the gathering do not contain content that denote shirk due to over exaggerating the Prophet’s (peace and blessings upon him) praises or else it would not be permissible to attend”. He then later says about the Burda poem: “The poem was composed on the premise of expressing love for the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him)”
However, the Burda poem has in it statements of Shirk [See: A Brief Refutation on Hamza Yusuf Hanson (pg. 2)]! Why then did the author not mention that this poem is not permissible to recite? Indeed it is strange.
The Mathabah institute claims to be following the methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jam’ah as they write on their website: “The Mathabah Institute expounds and promotes the teachings of the Ahl-Sunnah wa al-Jamā’ah” End quote. [Reference]. However, as we see from their curriculum and the material on their website, they expound the beliefs of the Ash’ari creed and the Hanafi mathhab (e.g. they teach Mukhtasar al-Quduri).
If we look at Subedar’s institute named Bukhari Academy, we find that they teach the works of the Sufis.
For example, they teach from al-Ihyaa al-Uloom ud-Deen of Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy upon him) [Reference]. We mentioned the stance of the scholars in regards to that book before [See: A Brief Refutation of Hamza Yusuf Hanson (pg. 2-4)]
They also teach the book the Hikm of Ibn ‘Ata Allah al-Iskandari [Reference] who is a famous Imam from the Shadhili Tareeqah. He is one of the most severe opponents of Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him).
Hafidh Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy upon him) wrote: “And he was the speaker on behalf of the Sufis of his time and he was from those who stood against Shaikh Taqi ud-deen Ibn Taymiyyah and was extreme in that” [Durrar al-Kaaminah (1/273)]
al-Zirikli (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “He (Ibn ‘Ata Allah) was from the most severe opponents of Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him). He has books which from them is: al-Hikam al-‘Ataa’iyyah in the subject of Tassawwuf . . .” [al-‘Alaam (1/222)]
This book, often translated as Sufi Aphorisms of Ibn ‘Ata Allah, has in it misguidance. From the misguidance are the following:
- Wahdatul-Wujood and Hulool:
He writes: “164- Whoever knows the Truth witnesses Him in everything. Whoever is annihilated in Him is absent from everything. And whoever loves Him does not prefer anything over Him”.
- Denying Allah is above His Throne:
He writes; “37- God was, and there was nothing with Him, and He is now as He was.”
Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “The intent of this statement by the people of Rhetoric and the Jahmiyyah is to deny the Attributes which Allah described Himself with, in terms of His ascension over the throne and His descending to the lowest Heaven” [Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (2/273)]
And other than that of misguidance in that book.
In sum, this is a little about Omar Subedar and his colleagues. They hold views and positions which are not those of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, and so, it is advised not to take knowledge from them.
And Allah Knows Best
Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
