And the stance of the predecessors (Salaf) with the leaders of their time – those about whom it would not be correct in any circumstances to compare them with this Tāghūt and the likes of him – were firm, clear, pure stances. And where is the stance of many of the people of the Da‛wah in our time compared to them? Despite their fame and the applause of their followers for them, despite the fact that those predecessors (Salaf) did not graduate from the “Faculties of Political Sciences and Rights” and they did not used to read the stench-filled newspapers or magazines, with the argument of knowing the plots of the enemies, but despite that, they used to flee from the Sultāns and their gates. And the Sultāns would seek them out and attempt to persuade them with wealth and other things. However, those who attribute themselves to them (i.e. the Salaf), from those whom Shaytān has played with their religion, seek for their worldly life (Dunyā) to be good by the destruction of their religion. So they come and seek the entrances of the Sultān and the Sultān humiliates them and turns away from them while the predecessors (Salaf), may the pleasure of Allāh be upon them, used to prevent the entering upon the leaders of tyranny; even those who wanted to order them with the good and forbid them with the evil, due to fear that they might fall into tribulation (Fitnah) because of them. (Therefore, they feared) that they might cozy-up to them or make them appear good, due to their generosity or that they might remain silent upon some of their falsehood or approve of it. And they used to see that being far removed from them and being secluded from them was the best disavowal (Barā’ah) and objection upon their circumstances.
