Is it obligatory to engage in the critique and vindication of narrators?
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Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. There has been much talk among the youth regarding the critique and vindication of narrators, which has led to disagreement and widespread harm. Some have said that anyone who does not accept it is an innovator and not a follower of the Salaf, and that it is obligatory for us to track the mistakes of preachers and scholars to warn against them in defense of the Sunnah. They claim that the default position regarding preachers and scholars is that they are defective until their integrity is proven. What is your Eminence’s view on this, and do you have any advice? May Allah bless you.
Answer:
This is false speech. This is false speech, and the gatherings of knowledge must be kept free from such talk.
Accusing students of knowledge and accusing scholars without clear proof or evidence, and publicizing their faults—this is not permissible. If one of the scholars makes a mistake, it is the scholars who are responsible for clarifying the mistake. It is the scholars who clarify the mistake, and the response should be in the best manner.
[An-Nahl 16:125] As for insults, quarrels, and divisions, this is not permissible. It is not permissible for beginning students, young people, and the common people to engage in these matters.
Because a great deal of corruption and division among Muslims results from this. Those who undertake criticism and respond to errors are the people of knowledge and insight who know how to respond, how to discuss, and how to debate.
And they do not fall into the quarrels and such matters that these young people and these beginning students fall into. Yes, the matter is referred back to the people of knowledge. This is referred back to the people of knowledge.[An-Nisa 4:83] And the ones in authority are the scholars. And if they refer it back, [An-Nisa 4:83] then matters must be referred to the scholars, to the scholars who have penetrating insight and who are firmly grounded in knowledge. Yes.
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. There has been much talk among the youth regarding the critique and vindication of narrators, which has led to disagreement and widespread harm. Some have said that anyone who does not accept it is an innovator and not a follower of the Salaf, and that it is obligatory for us to track the mistakes of preachers and scholars to warn against them in defense of the Sunnah. They claim that the default position regarding preachers and scholars is that they are defective until their integrity is proven. What is your Eminence’s view on this, and do you have any advice? May Allah bless you.
Answer:
This is false speech. This is false speech, and the gatherings of knowledge must be kept free from such talk.
Accusing students of knowledge and accusing scholars without clear proof or evidence, and publicizing their faults—this is not permissible. If one of the scholars makes a mistake, it is the scholars who are responsible for clarifying the mistake. It is the scholars who clarify the mistake, and the response should be in the best manner.
with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُBecause a great deal of corruption and division among Muslims results from this. Those who undertake criticism and respond to errors are the people of knowledge and insight who know how to respond, how to discuss, and how to debate.
And they do not fall into the quarrels and such matters that these young people and these beginning students fall into. Yes, the matter is referred back to the people of knowledge. This is referred back to the people of knowledge.
And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them
وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْto the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it
إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل يجب الاشتغال بالجرح والتعديل؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.