A sincere advice to Andrew Tate @Cobratate, and to those who promote him and follow him from the Muslims

A sincere advice to Andrew Tate (X @Cobratate), and to those who promote him and follow him from the Muslims

The first point I’d like to make is that which was mentioned by the great scholar, Shaikh Al-Albānī (may Allah’s mercy be upon him), that we should not rush to promote those who previously led sinful lives and were disobedient to Allah until they have left their old ways, repented, and shown steadfastness upon Islam in speech and action.

Andrew Tate (may Allah guide him) entered into Islam and did not expend the time and effort that is obligatory upon him to learn the Religion. This has led him to contradict many Islamic teachings, make sinful comments and act in a manner that opposes the Quran and the Way (Sunnah) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

So, I advise Andrew (may Allāh guide him) with four matters that are obligatory upon him if he desires rectification and guidance:

Firstly: Knowledge, and that is to have knowledge of Allāh, His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Religion of Islām with its proofs from the Quran and Prophetic Tradition.

Secondly: To act upon that knowledge.

Thirdly: To invite others to Islam with speech and actions.

Fourthly: To bear patiently the harm encountered on that path.

You should know that to speak and act without knowledge is harmful to you, and to those who follow you. The great scholar, Imām Al-Bukhāri (died 256 Hijrah) said: “Knowledge precedes both speech and action, and the proof for that is the saying of Allāh (the Most High): ‘Have knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh, and [then] seek forgiveness for your sins.’  (Quran 47:19) So Allāh began this verse with knowledge before speech and action.”

If you set a good example, you are rewarded, but if you set a bad example, you will be called to account in your grave and the Hereafter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever sets a good precedent in Islam, he will have the reward for that, and the reward of those who acted on it, without any decrease in their reward. And whoever sets an evil precedent in Islam, he will carry the burden of sin for that, and the burden of those who acted on it, without any decrease in their burden of sin.’ (Muslim and An-Nasā’ī)

Andrew invites young men to sin and transgression, even though Allah guided him to Islam! This is primarily (I believe) due to Andrew’s ignorance of Islam alongside his desire to remain controversial, influential, and constantly in the limelight seeking more followers. Therefore I remind him of the saying of Allah (the Most High): “Be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men―and they avert people from the Path of Allah. Yet Allah is thoroughly comprehending of all that they do.” (Quran 8:47)

Whatever the case, he should not be taken as an example to be followed. He is not a person of knowledge, correct belief, righteousness or good morals―nor is he a man who stands firm in the defence of Islam or the Prophetic Way. In the absence of these fundamental qualities, he should not be followed or taken as an example. By warning against him, we hope to save people from Andrew Tate’s misguidance―and maybe he will reflect and feel remorse over his transgressions against the rights of Allah (the Mighty and Majestic).

Know that Allāh created you to worship Him. He gave you provision and sustenance and did not leave you without purpose. Rather, He sent to us a Messenger―so whoever obeys him (ﷺ) enters Paradise and whoever disobeys him enters the Fire. Much of what Andrew Tate says and does as a ‘social media influencer’ opposes Allah’s commands and is in clear disobedience of the Messenger (ﷺ), so he is an unworthy role model for young men.

It is not allowed for the one who obeys the Messenger (ﷺ) and singles out Allāh alone with worship to give his allegiance to the one who opposes Allāh and His Messenger (ﷺ), even if it be the closest of relatives. Allāh (the Most High) said: “You will not find a people who believe in Allāh and the Last Day having love for those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger, even if they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their kinsfolk.” (Quran 58:22)

Andrew Tate, at this stage, should stop speaking, broadcasting and holding interviews until he studies and finds the true path of Islam, and takes the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) as the example to be followed just as Allah has said: “Indeed, you have in Allah’s Messenger a fine example.” (Quran 33:21)

Furthermore, the meaning of the testimony, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh’ is: (1) to obey him in whatever he commanded, (2) to believe in whatever he said, (3) to keep away from whatever he forbade and prohibited (4) and not to worship Allāh except as he prescribed.

Muslims today are divided into many sects but there is no denying the fact that the guided sect in Islam is that which follows the Way of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They are upon the truth, manifest and known in every generation. They fear none but Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. The Prophet (ﷺ) stated: “I have left you upon clear proof, its night is like its day, and no one strays from it except that he is destroyed—and whoever among you lives for long, will see much differing and controversy, so upon you is to cling to what you know of my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Bite onto that with your molar teeth.” (Ibn Mājah)

I (or one of my brothers) have no problem talking to Andrew face-to-face and explaining to him the methodology of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions without the need for videos, broadcasts and podcasts. Just a sincere and honest discussion―seeking nothing but the pleasure of Allah, and the guidance of a brother who has been deceived by Shaytān.

Alternatively, there are books, pamphlets and audios we can send to Andrew (may Allah guide him) that will highlight to him the importance of holding fast to Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) upon the understanding of the early Muslims (known as the Salaf).

With that, I have fulfilled my duty in offering sincere advice to another Muslim, and I ask Allah to guide him to the Straight Path.

Abu Khadeejah.