Warning Against Publications and Booklets Containing What Is Not Authentic

Question : May Allah reward you. There are papers circulating among people that contain the names of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and His attributes. Are these names authentic? And is it permissible to make du'a (supplication) with them?

Answer : Yes, I cannot rule on this while I have not seen these names. They may be correct, or they may be incorrect. The names of Allah the Exalted are restricted to what is established in the Shari'ah. For this reason, the scholars of knowledge said that the names of Allah are *taqifiyyah* (restricted to the text), meaning that their establishment depends on their establishment in the Shari'ah. However, I warn against the supplications, daily recitations, booklets, and folded pamphlets that we see in the Sacred Mosque, which their distributors exploit, either in this place or in other countries. Many of them contain hadiths falsely attributed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and hadiths written contrary to reality. The story of Zaynab who fell severely ill—perhaps it has passed before you—and the story of a man who was told by Ahmad, the servant of the Prophet's Mosque, and so on. And if one abandons prayer, he will be afflicted with fifteen traits, and the like of that. Had I known that I would be asked this question, I would have made an effort to remember what comes to me of this. But it comes to me after I have turned to this side: booklets are distributed that contain calamity and evil. But you know that the people of evil do not bring evil all at once. Why? Because it would not be accepted; it would be rejected in any case. But they mix in verses from the Qur'an and hadiths from the authentic hadiths, and they insert poison. Does he say it is in the honey, or in the fat?
It is all fine, my brothers. The important thing is that they insert poison into acceptable things to deceive people and mislead them from the path of Allah. So I ask every one of you, and whoever hears this speech of mine, if he sees such booklets or such publications, that he not distribute them and not read them except by presenting them to scholars whose knowledge and trustworthiness are reliable. And if he presents them and they approve them, he should rely on Allah and distribute them. As for a person accepting everything that is presented to him, that is a great danger, my brothers. The people of evil have their schemes, they have their methods, they have methods by which they mislead people. Beware of taking from these folded pamphlets or publications or booklets and the like of them except after presenting them to...
...the scholars of knowledge. It is necessary to consult the one whose knowledge is reliable. That is one thing. And the second is his trustworthiness and his religion. How many scholars have much knowledge but no trustworthiness, and how many people have strong trustworthiness but are ignorant. So knowledge and trustworthiness are necessary. This is what I advise you to do, and I hope that you hold fast to it, and that you are not deceived. In my hand now are two small papers, but I do not perceive them with my sight. But I have given you the rule, the rule that is the foundation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon...