20. Modern Callers in the West Whom the Mashaykh Refute

Also known as Al-Maghrib Institute circle, Western callers, Neo-Sabaʾites

In their words

Introduction There has been an observable trend in the da'wah over the past 10 years in the form of networks of individuals and organizations whose aim is disconnect the West from having any real concrete attachment to the Scholars upon the Salafi creed and methodology, to raise themselves up as independent scholars who are taken as reference points for the great and serious matters arising in the ummah, and to open doors for the opposers and enemies of the Salafi da'wah to gain access to the ears, hearts and minds of the those Muslims at large who understand, in principle at least, that following the way of the Salaf is obligatory even if they may not know all of its details and may have shortcomings in following that way (due to being deceived by misguided and dishonest callers who feign attachment to Salafiyyah).

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Evaluating the Claim of Salafiyyah by Abu Eesa Niamatullah and His Slanders Against the Adherents to the Salafi Methodology: Part 1 - Introduction (opens in a new tab)

And either with the tongue of flesh or the tongue of disposition, many of them state or insinuate that "scholars in the desert" are out of touch with reality, and therefore cannot properly evaluate and appreciate the conditions in other lands. This being part of their justification to spread the idea of the need for contemporary "intellectually-stimulating" scholars (meaning themselves) who can guide and direct the Ummah. This is alongside our knowledge that the Scholars whom they belittle in this way use modern means of communication in order to be acquainted with the affairs in other Muslim lands and in order to communicate with those from other nations. And also our knowledge that these scholars are visited by people from all over the world who inform them of the condition and situation of Muslims in those lands and some of these scholars (as we have witnessed directly first hand) are so clued-up about some of the internal politics of other nations (stretching from Malaysia, to Turkey, to Britain to the US) that it would leave you surprised.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Evaluating the Claim of Salafiyyah by Abu Eesa Niamatullah and His Slanders Against the Adherents to the Salafi Methodology: Part 1 - Introduction (opens in a new tab)

Introduction Yasir Qadhi stated in the opening of his interview: Well I guess 20 years ago when I was a teenager, I definitely would have self-identified as a Salafi Muslim but over the course of the last decade or so I have kind of sort of grown out of the movement now. I found the movement is not as intellectually stimulating as I would like it to be. I think that its not really capable of addressing modern issues, its very intransigent in the way that it views certain ideas, its also very hostile to anyone who disagree with its interpretation so I find myself disagreeing with quite a lot of the methodological issues associated with the salafi movement.

So this is the first and immediate matter that needs to be pointed out, that when we understand, and Yasir Qadhi also understands from his ten year stretch in Madinah, that Salafiyyah is by definition, the pure authentic Islam, then his speech implies belittlement - a matter he needs to recant from. Next we will look at the meaning of aql (reason) because the aql that Yasir Qadhi and his followers appear to understand (in their pursuit of intellectual stimulation) is not the aql (reason) that is understood and explained by the Scholars of Islam, Sunnah and Salafiyyah.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Yasir Qadhi, Intellectual Stimulation and Salafiyyah: Part 1 - Salafiyyah by Definition Is Authentic Islam (opens in a new tab)

A man speaks with more than just his tongue, and when you combine what a man says with his tongue and you add to that his actions (in da'wah), his affiliations, his relationships, who he sits with and expresses love for, then you can see that he saying much more than what comes from his tongue alone, even if that in itself, is very revealing. Yasir Qadhi's post above of 27th February 2014 comes within the context of his deliberate, calculated attempt to distort and misinterpret the hadeeth of splitting of the ummah whose authenticity he is unable to reject and thus he follows the ways of the Jahmiyyah in making ta'weel of the hadeeth in ways not known by the people of knowledge, clothing truth with falsehood in the process in order to deceive his audience. From his snake-oil academic peddlery is to claim that whilst seventy-two out of seventy-three sects appears to signify a majority (of the ummah), when those that make up the leading figureheads of each of the seventy-two sects are only fifty or a hundred in number, then we realise that the sects are actually a minority and the majority are rightly-guided. This is the falsehood Yasir Qadhi is trying to push, clashing with the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Messenger, the statements of the Companions and the Qadar of Allaah (as in actual historical and current reality).

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Yasir Qadhi: Salafiyyah Is a Fallible Human Trend Equivalent to Historical and Modern Sects (opens in a new tab)

DANIEL HAQIQATJOU is a pro-Iranian, Rāfiḍī Shīʿīte apologist,[1] propagandist and agent provocateur who uses his critiques of liberalism and woke ideology as a cover to advance an agenda of seeding and fuelling civil strife and sedition in Sunni Muslim lands by portraying the leaders of Sunni Muslim lands as enemies of Islām, apostates and hypocrites purely on grounds of their use of wealth, their politics and international relations, not on grounds of creed and nor upon sound, correctly applied principles governing takfīr of specific individuals. His recent display of venomous hatred towards the Gulf states is because in the matter of Palestine, they prefer the approach of stability, prosperity and preservation of life through cessation of hostilities, rather than the approach of Iran and its proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas—[a pawn in the game and a strategic asset for both the Rāfiḍah and the Zionists]—which is to provide pretext and cover to the Zionists, for genocide and ethnic cleansing of Sunni Muslim populations and for the Rāfiḍah to either convert or destroy Sunni Muslim populations, whom they consider greater disbelievers than the Jews and Christians.[2] Both the Zionists and Rāfiḍah idol-worshippers want to “liberate” Makkah and Madinah, which indicates a convergence of aims, despite apparent conflict between them.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — The Seditious Propaganda Activities of the Neo-Sabaʾite Daniel Haqiqatjou (opens in a new tab)

From the accusations levelled by the enemies of Tawhīd and Sunnah against the noble scholar, the reviver of the Religion in his era, Shaikhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) is that he made unjustified takfīr of Muslims and declared the ummah to be unbelievers and that there are no Muslims other than him and those with him. This accusation has now been regurgitated by this deceitful misguided innovator, Yasir Qadhi. After years of drinking from the cesspool of a narrow-minded orientalist interpretation of Islam that seeks to malign its purity and aggrandise views that cast doubts at the methodology of the Prophets and the people of Hadīth, he now spouts the same rhetoric as the enemies of Islam and fights in their corner against Ahlut-Tawhīd was-Sunnah. Qadhi claims that Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb made takfīr upon the whole ummah, leaving no one! Read now the words of Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb and judge for yourselves. Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb stated:

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — A Refutation of Yasir Qadhi ―his tirade against Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhāb and the Salafi Scholars ―his praise of ahlul-Bid’ah, revilement of ahlus-Sunnah, incitement against the Muslim rulers and other innovations (opens in a new tab)

The fact that he uses terms such as Qutubi, Suroori and Madkhali, and claims he has met their ‘heads’ shows that he is aware of the claimants to Salafiyyah, and has cunningly used these ascriptions to launch an attack upon the Salafis in truth, even those who take from the noble Scholar of Hadeeth, ‘aqeedah, and Sunnah, Dr Rabee’ Ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī (may Allah preserve him). Naik refers to the actual Salafis in derogatory tones as “Madkhali Salafis”! Naik, in essence, is saying to his audience, “Forget Salafiyyah! I’ve looked into it for you: Salafiyyah is sectarian and partisan; it is split into groups; I will not follow it, and I urge you not to follow it!” This ignoramus knows precisely where he is going with this; and that is to throw his audience into confusion regarding the Salafi Madhhab deliberately, so they turn away from it.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Dr Wasiyullah Abbas: Cooperation with Ahlul-Bid’ah and Support for Zakir Naik (opens in a new tab)

Muhammad Hijab has a video in which he mocks and ridicules Ahlus-Sunnah (the Salafiyyūn) accusing them falsely of resembling Allāh to a man. Let us read the words of Imām at-Tirmidhī (d. 279 AH) quoting the ijmāʿ (consensus) of the early scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah: “The Jahmiyyah oppose these narrations and say, ‘This is resemblance (tashbīh)!’ However, Allāh (ﷻ), has mentioned in various places in His Book His Attribute of Hand, Hearing and Seeing but the Jahmiyyah falsely interpret these verses, explaining them in a way other than how they are explained by the People of Knowledge. They (Jahmiyyah) say, ‘Allāh did not create Adam with His own Hand.’ They say that Hand means power. Ishāq Ibn Ibrāhīm Ar-Rāhūyah (d. 238 AH) stated, ‘Resemblance is when it is said: ‘Hand like my hand, or similar to my hand.’ Or it is said, ‘Hearing like my hearing, or similar to my hearing.’ Then this would be resemblance. But if what is being said is what Allāh Himself has said, ‘Hand, Hearing and Seeing’ and it is not asked how, nor is it said, ‘Like my hearing or similar to my hearing.’ Then it is not resemblance. Allāh, the Most Blessed and Most High, said in His Book, ‘There is none like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.’” (See As-Sunan of At-Tirmidhī no. 662)

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Muhammad Hijab’s video mocking and ridiculing Ahlus-Sunnah (Salafis) accusing them falsely of resembling Allāh to a man: A rebuttal from At-Tirmidhī (d. 279 AH) and the ijmāʿ (consensus) of the early scholars. (opens in a new tab)

Heads

Yasir Qadhi

Yasir Qadhi asserted, “There are profound differences between the two of them. The most important one is Ibn Taymiyyah did not make takfīr of his opponents that did the same things that the opponents of Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb did, and he made takfīr of them and made permissible the spilling of their blood (halāl ad-damm).”

Qadhi said, less than a minute later, that Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb considered himself, “To be the only Muslim in the world… this is a level of fanaticism and takfīr, is a level of neo-khārijism that I simply cannot tolerate. To consider the entire Ummah to be kāfir and mushrik other than yourself is not mainstream Islam…”

Then, after thoroughly reviling this scholar, he goes on to proclaim his love and respect for Ahlul-Bid’ah. Qadhi stated: “My heart has nothing negative and evil now against somebody who’s an Ash’ari or a Māturudi, or a Tablighi, or a Deobandi, or a Jamāti, or an Ikhwāni. All of these groups have good in them, all of them. And they might have some bad as well….” (Recorded webinar with Yasir Qadhi)

Takfīr of a Muslim is to declare him to be an unbeliever, outside the fold of Islam. This is a deliberate and orchestrated attempt by Yasir Qadhi to peddle his falsehood and ascribe to Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhāb that which he is innocent of.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — A Refutation of Yasir Qadhi ―his tirade against Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhāb and the Salafi Scholars ―his praise of ahlul-Bid’ah, revilement of ahlus-Sunnah, incitement against the Muslim rulers and other innovations (opens in a new tab)

Yasir Qadhi misses the mark again―he contradicts the Qur’an and opposes the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in his ‘end justifies the means’ political philosophy. He screams out in exultation of the Rabbis and Jews, “These are our brethren! These are our brethren! They are the REAL followers of Moses! They are the ones who make the Children of Israel proud!”

This is not the belief of the Muslims―this is not what the Qur’an teaches, nor is it from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The REAL followers of Moses (peace be upon him) believe in Jesus son of Mary as the servant and Messenger of God, and they believe in Muhammad (ﷺ) as the servant and final Messenger of God―that is the religion of Islam.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Yasir Qadhi’s statement that the Rabbis and Jews, “These are our brethren! These are our brethren! They are the REAL followers of Moses! They are the ones who make the Children of Israel proud!” (opens in a new tab)

And a little later he says: I say this loud and clear: as Allāh is my witness, my heart jumped for joy as I heard news of these protests, and saw the masses of Egyptians pour out onto the streets, wanting positive change, tired of the puppet-regime that had ruled them for three decades...

And he also said: But for those here in America, who dare criticize the Egyptian masses based upon their own understandings of a set of hadith, I say to them, "Hold your tongues! You are not living in their situation. You have not experienced years and decades of economic, social and political repression. You have no right to pass verdicts on the situation of a people other than your own. Live their lives for a decade, and then feel free to comment on what they are doing."

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Yasir Qadhi, Intellectual Stimulation and Salafiyyah: Part 3a - The Egyptian Revolution and the Divine Law (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Haqiqatjou

DANIEL HAQIQATJOU is an online personality active on the tube and social media. He provides critiques of materalism, atheism and liberalism. However, the absence of grounding in Islāmic sciences that would have checked his philosophy and sanitized his polemics and kept him within the limits of safety and respectability, has led him to much sin and transgression in the form of blanket takfīr of other Muslims,Because Madkhalis are liberal secular political activists - who have left Sunni Islam…” This is explicit blanket takfīr, upon the way of the Quṭbiyyah, Surūriyyah, the ideological precursors of ISIS and Daesh." title="Footnote">[1] denigration of Muslim societies, speaking about them in the most evil of ways,Many Muslim countries resemble a giant concentration camp, which doubles as a gay nightclub…”" title="Footnote">[2] and putting the blame for the woes and ills of the ummah upon the rulers and those whom he calls ‘Madkhalis’.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Daniel Haqiqatjou: A Case Study in the Art and Science of Bootlicking and a Refutation of Fake ‘Madkhali Bootlickers’ (opens in a new tab)

Response: He believes that the Salafi scholars, the students of knowledge and the callers to Salafiyyah (whom he calls “Madkhalis”) are run by state intelligence agencies. We know, and he knows that this a great lie against the People of Sunnah and something impossible to prove! It is no different to accusing a praying, fasting and pious Muslim of being a munāfiq (a hypocrite) based only on one’s hatred of other Muslims. So, Haqiqatjou seeks to belittle and revile the Salafis and accuse them falsely―and Allah will call him to account for his lying.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — A Concise and Adequate Response to the Scorn, Lies and Deceit of Daniel Haqiqatjou against Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah (opens in a new tab)

For the purposes of this article, Daniel Aaron Shapiro and Benjamin Reza Haqiqatjou are two entirely fictional characters and they are non-identical twins, brethren. One of them pretends to be with Christian conservatives, penetrating and championing certain talking points, defending traditional values and opposing leftism, liberalism and wokeism. He actively encourages them to become more Christian and to go to church. However, his overall, true and real intention is to acquire the trust of and direct large numbers of Christian populations through these talking points into pro-Zionist stances in order to advance the interests of the Jewish Zionist state, by creating a large American support base in terms of wealth and voting power. When it comes to the crunch however, he will quickly abandon his “America first” rhetoric in front of conservative Christian audiences of not sending Americans into foreign wars, and not wasting taxpayers' money overseas and so on, and very quickly show his true colours, which is to demand that Americans fund and also fight and die for the advancement of the Zionist project. So that’s one of the twins.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Daniel Shapiro, Benjamin Haqiqatjou, the Rāfiḍah and the Weapon of Taqiyyah (Dissimulation) for Concealing Beliefs and Advancing Agendas (opens in a new tab)

Mohammad Hijab

Muhammad Hijab is a deviant innovator (mubtadiʿ) who never entered Ahlus-Sunnah in the first place; he is a mutakallim, muʿtazili philosopher, an opposer of the Creed of the Four Imāms and the early Salaf — his beliefs lie among the 72 misguided sects.

2. As I stated, Hijab is not a Salafi (Sunni) nor a Scholar — he is not on the manhaj or ʿaqeedah of the Salaf, so the comparison with some of the Salaf who erred is extremely faulty. If fact, Hijab fights the ʿaqeedah of the Salaf, reviles it and mocks it, calling it Tajseem and Hinduism!

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Muhammad Hijab: Revilement of the Sahābah and the Scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah: A Refutation by Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wāhid. (opens in a new tab)

He is a Jahmi-Muʿtazili who attacks the Creed of Imām Ahmad, Ibn Taymiyyah etc., regarding the Names and Attributes of Allāh. Even the Sahābah such as Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) are not safe from his criticisms.

Furthermore, he reviles the Imāms of the Sunnah such as Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab, Al-Albani, Rabeeʿ al-Madkhalī and Al-Fawzān — and he openly displays his hatred for the People of Sunnah; he is an open fāsiq (an abusive liar and slanderer). He is not a scholar so has no right to ijtihād — and, there is no qiyās, place for philosophical reason or ijtihad in matters of belief and methodology in any case.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Muhammad Hijab: Revilement of the Sahābah and the Scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah: A Refutation by Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wāhid. (opens in a new tab)

Abu Eesa Niamatullah

These individuals include Yasir Qadhi, Muhammad Alshareef, Tawfique Chowdhury, Waleed Basyouni, Haitham al-Haddaad, Abu Eesa Niamatullah, Navaid Aziz, Ahsan Hanif and numerous others, and organizations such as al-Maghrib Institute, al-Kauthar Institute, Green Lane Mosque are part and parcel of this agenda. This is clearly observable in the way they cleverly market their speakers in Hollywood style promotionals, their aim being to instill love and veneration in the hearts of the people towards these callers, (largely because there is a financial incentive behind it, in order to draw people to their seminars).

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Evaluating the Claim of Salafiyyah by Abu Eesa Niamatullah and His Slanders Against the Adherents to the Salafi Methodology: Part 1 - Introduction (opens in a new tab)

After his criminal, oppressive, unjust, hate-filled slanders against the Salafis in his first (screenshot) and second (screenshot) articles, which include his treatment of them like the treatment of the Hypocrites in the Qur'an and his making light of the sayings of Allaah the Exalted, (ولو كره الكافرون) and (ولو كره المجرمون) and (ولو كره المشركون) and using these words and in relation to his love of Maturidi Deobandis in order to spite those Salafis and also his saying, "they are from the most deviant of all the Muslim groups" and "they are from the most dangerous of Muslims" and "they are by far the most ignorant Muslim group you will ever come across. Think of what you've heard from back in the peind from some village Muslims and their level of Deeni 'ilm.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — Evaluating the Claim of Salafiyyah by Abu Eesa Niamatullah and His Slanders Against the Adherents to the Salafi Methodology: Part 4 (opens in a new tab)

On the 28th August you wrote an article on Facebook (screenshot) in which you slandered thousands upon thousands who ascribe to and follow the Salafi creed and methodology. You spoke of them with language that is like the language of the Qur'an in dealing with the Hypocrites, and you took opportunity from what is happening in Egypt and Syria to speak of them in this manner. Those thousands upon thousands will be your disputants on the Day of Judgement in front of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — 1st Open Letter to Abu Eesa Niamatullah to Make Tawbah to Allaah and Apologise for His Slanders (opens in a new tab)

Zakir Naik

Naik may not affirm these descriptions for Allah, but he has clearly deviated by allowing the use of these idolatrous names for Allah. It is a grave deviation from the ‘aqeedah of Islam to take the names of the idols of the mushriks and ascribe them to Allah. The Names of Allah are known only by Revelation (tawqeefiyyah) and not by the misguided opinions of ignoramuses like Naik who speak concerning Allah without knowledge. Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said: “So the Names of Allah are known only by way of revealed texts (tawqeefiyyah) and one halts at that which is reported by the legislation (the Sharee’ah), not increasing upon that and not decreasing. That is because the intellect cannot possibly reach, comprehend or encompass what Allah is deserving of in terms of Names.” Read here for a fuller discussion on Allah’s Names and Attributes by the great Scholar Ibn Uthaimeen (may Allah’s mercy be upon him).

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Dr Wasiyullah Abbas: Cooperation with Ahlul-Bid’ah and Support for Zakir Naik (opens in a new tab)

From the ‘scholars’ he has named are Muhammad Hasan Ad-Daddu, Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid, and Abdul-‘Aziz At-Tareefi. Since Zakir Naik himself is an innovator who invites others to his deviation, this should come as no surprise to us.

The Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) warned against the People of Innovation, from befriending, supporting or taking from them: “Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator then upon him is the curse of Allah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.” Reported by Bukhāri (12/41) and Muslim (9/140)

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Zakir Naik Names his Scholars: The Sufi Muhammad Wild al-Daddu; the Khariji, Abdul-Aziz al-Tareefi; and the Ikhwani, Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid (opens in a new tab)

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Bilal Philips is an individual who has gone to great lengths over the years to disguise his Ikhwaanee Manhaj from the Salafi youth, and he has led many people astray from the Salafi methodology. Here I present a brief but amply sufficient article proving that the methodology of Bilal Philips (and by extension the methodology of those who support him and defend him knowingly) is far from the Manhaj of the Salaf. Consider these quotes as the confessions of Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. May Allaah guide him, and protect the Muslims from his misguidance.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips: The Misguided Deceitful Defender of Ahlul-Bid’ah (opens in a new tab)

This is a revolutionary manhaj, not the Prophetic manhaj, in rectification – and promoting these types of ideas only supports the ways and methods of the Harakiyyoon (political activists) and al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimoon – and this in reality is the Manhaj and conduct of Bilal Philips.

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips: The Misguided Deceitful Defender of Ahlul-Bid’ah (opens in a new tab)

Tahir Wyatt

There is immense wisdom in the hadīth of Allāh’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), “A man is upon the religion of his friend.” It encourages companionship with the people of Sunnah and Truth, and avoiding those upon falsehood and misguidance. In this image, we see Tahir Wyatt with his friends from “Al-Maghrib Institute”, a mixture of Ikhwānis and modernists, drowned in innovations. “Al-Maghrib” has a team of speakers such as Omar Suleiman, Kamal El Mekki (the magician trickster) and Yasir Qadhi, who recently stated: “I have had the distinct privilege of being a part of Al-Maghrib Institute for the last 15 years of my life, and its Dean for over a decade. For many people, I became the face of Al-Maghrib: it shaped me and I shaped it.”

These are the people Tahir Wyatt prefers over Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Hadīth. He abandons the principles of Salafiyyah, unites with Ahlul-Bid’ah, joins their ranks, refutes the Salafis and then dares to ascribe his conduct to Islam, Sunnah, and Salafiyyah?

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid — Tahir Wyatt: The misguided caller who misguides others. (opens in a new tab)

Shadeed Muhammad

To say that Ahl al-Kitab and Mushrikeen are "closer to Allaah" in terms of their "worship and religious devotion" than many of the Muslims is a validation of their worship and devotion. Whereas the Qur'an in many places (beginning of Surah al-Ghaashiyah, Surah al-Bayyinah, 25:23) falsifies this worship. This is not acceptable worship, but futile worship, and no one is "close" to Allaah with futile worship resting upon a deen of kufr that is mubaddal and muharraf. To say therefore that maybe a mushrik is closer to Allaah in terms of worship and religious devotion than a muwahhid upon Islam, irrespective of his sin and disobedience, then this is a statement of kufr. Shadeed must recant from this statement, make tawbah to Allaah. It would not have been a problem if Shadeed said: "Some of the non-Muslims and faith traditions have a greater amount of devotion to their religion (and to their deities) than many of us do as Muslims to our religion and to Allah" - this meaning, there is nothing wrong with it, it is saying something that would be factual and true. But as for saying they are "closer to Allaah" on account of their "worship and devotion" then this is baatil and it is a statement that contains validation of their religion.

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — The Misguided Ikhwani Shadeed Muhammad: Part 7: Ahl al-Kitab and Mushrikeen Closer to Allaah in Worship and Devotion than Many Muslims (opens in a new tab)

Shadeed Muhammad using a degrading label for the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) such as "alpha male" and then defending it after it was made clear to him that this is unbefitting and is the way of the disbelievers who use it to refer to him as a worldly-inclined seeker of power, free is he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from their lies. (see here and here). Shadeed Muhammad's lies upon Aa'ishah (radiyallaahu anhaa) that she marched/demonstrated against Ali (radiyallaahu anhu) (see here).

Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq — The Misguided Ikhwani Shadeed Muhammad: Part 6: Belittling Allaah With Evil Speech and Expressing the Bid'ah of al-Qadar (opens in a new tab)

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Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid