Answers to Doubts
A Twitter reaction:
Response:
Firstly, and most importantly, don't you think your first question should be to Abd al-Haqq Baker: Which scholar preceded you in calling Maktabah Salafiyyah a "cult"? What blinded you from this obvious question?
Second, sit down. Then, read the article, slowly, with focus and with care and you will find that it is explaining how Abd al-Haqq is slandering Salafis with the slander of the Qutbists from the 1990s. It states nowhere that Abd al-Haqq is a Qutbist. Also note how it did not anger you that Abd al-Haqq referred to Salafis as a "cult" and what this implies of following pseudo-religion and erecting and worshipping figures. So this mighty slander did not shock and anger you, but it angered you that Abd al-Haqq's slander was traced to its origins.
Also follow the line of argument in the article from beginning to end. This whole issue starts with the manhaj of Qutb and al-Banna and those who wore the gown of Salafiyyah, such as al-Ma'ribi, and invented principles to shield these misguided deviants and their methodologies. They then tried to push these principles, deceptively, to Salafi audiences. The article explains the various positions that were taken towards these individuals and how that led to splits.
It explains why Abd al-Haqq, today in 2017 is regurgitating the slanders of the Qutbists of the 1990s. It is because they were put to trial by the fitnah of an Ikhwani, Abu al-Hasan al-Ma'ribi, and despite the advice of the scholars to them, to remain with Maktabah Salafiyyah and remain united, they chose their own way. But now, close to two decades later, they wrongly believe that they can sideline these issue and throw around these slanderous accusations by misrepresenting history or omitting details from it. In doing so, they are trying to deceive thousands of people who never experienced these affairs two decades ago, and many of them were perhaps not even born then!