# Why does he say the backlash against Yasir Qadhi is his own doing?

*Chickens coming home to roost: the refutation culture, and a shaykh who finds everything too controversial*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/atcn8auo8oc/s/3/
- Date: 2020-06-17 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: On Shaykh Yasir Qadhi "How not to do controversy!" | Mufti Abu Layth (6:27–10:24)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATcN8aUo8oc&t=387s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/atcn8auo8oc/

**Topics:** Dawah and debate culture; Exchanges with Yasir Qadhi; Views on contemporary scholars

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says Qadhi and Hijab built the refutation culture that has now turned on them, and that a shaykh who calls Halloween, Christmas greetings, music and the beard too controversial should not open with the preservation of the Quran.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says that for Qadhi and Hijab this is, in many ways, the chickens coming home to roost: they are part and parcel of the mob culture of refutation. He recalls that not long ago Qadhi made a video about him without naming him, saying that this so-called mufti should claim to belong to another, non-Sunni sect rather than call himself a Sunni Maliki, so that they would not have to refute him. He then says, half-joking, that American preachers cannot handle fame or controversy, calls himself the king of controversy, and offers tips. He lists matters Qadhi has, in his account, declined to address as too controversial: whether Halloween is permissible, saying Merry Christmas, whether music is clearly not haram, men's jewellery, the beard, and BukhariGate. The first controversy he chooses to open with, Mufti says, is that the Quran is not preserved, the backbone of Islam, with no preparation.

## Sources and names cited

- Yasir Qadhi
- Mohammed Hijab

## Transcript (machine tier, 6:27–10:24)

[6:10] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] this is what has happened people this is

[6:45] why but I want to say look listen people in many ways share here's an Aldi Mohammadi job in many ways this is for them just chickens coming home to roost they are part and parcel of this mob culture of creating this we need to review people this you know this refutation culture of like oh if you're straight yes and are these one of the biggest proponents of these not so long

[7:22] ago he he made a video where he was speaking about me he doesn't mention my name but he's saying yeah you know this he's speaking about these so-called musti's and and he says that the this this scholar we wish he would rather than claiming to be Sunni Maliki just cool just claim to be of another sect non Sunni Martha silly or something so we don't have to refute you a cha-cha cha-cha and now you know check this out

[7:59] people check this out sure here so far because Issa when you know look this is - aha - two Americans you know Americans really don't know how to handle this stuff - things they can't handle one seems to be they can't handle women as soon as they get uncertain what as soon as they get to a certain kind of Fame usually the big problem you know and two they can't handle controversy

[8:37] people I king of controversy you know come ask me out and I'll help you I'll give you some tips Kazi Saab yes sir Ozzy he look when he's being asked Halloween no no no too controversial won't say Halloween is permissive Oh

[9:04] Merry Christmas huh too controversial music is it is it can you clearly say music is not Haram hmm too controversial to be clear you know too controversial you know this one these are not nice you know men's jewelry controversial controversial no no no a cha cha cha Haeju Oh too controversial beard Oh too controversial Buhari gate can we speak about Bihari no

[9:43] too controversial a cha cha cha the first controversy he wants to begin with is the Quran isn't preserved no foreplay just a new is this what is going on here I mean is that the controversy you want

[10:20] to begin with you know things like Merry Christmas is too controversial Halloween is too controversial so you want to begin with that is not preserved the backbone of Islam this is the thing you know and people might say that Oh Mufti you know you're being harsh on him but am i because in all honesty this is the thing this is what you get one

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment ATcN8aUo8oc/s/3. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/atcn8auo8oc/s/3/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.