Criticizing the Scholars
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 16873 )
Q: We hear and find people who claim to be Salafis, and their main occupation is
The preoccupation is with criticizing the scholars and accusing them of religious innovation, as if their tongues were created for nothing else, and they say: We are Salafis. And the question, may Allah preserve you: What is the correct concept of Salafiyyah, and what is its position regarding contemporary Islamic sects? And may Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, for He is the Hearer of supplication.
A: If the situation is as described, then criticizing the scholars and accusing them of religious innovation is a degrading path that is not the way of the Salaf of this Ummah and its best people. The path of the righteous Salaf is calling to the Book and the Sunnah, and to what the Salaf of this Ummah were upon, namely the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them in excellence, with wisdom and good instruction, and arguing in the best manner. This is accompanied by striving against the self to act upon what the servant calls for, and adhering to what is known by necessity from the religion of Islam, such as calling for unity and cooperation in good, gathering the words of the Muslims upon the truth, and staying away from division and its causes, such as animosity, hatred, and envy. It also involves refraining from attacking the honor of Muslims and accusing them of false suspicions, and similar causes that lead to the division of Muslims, making them sects and parties that curse one another and strike the necks of one another. Allah the Exalted said:
[Ali 'Imran 3:103-105] , and it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 65 , and the verses and hadiths regarding the condemnation of division and its causes are numerous. Therefore, protecting the honor of Muslims and safeguarding it is among the necessities known from the religion of Islam. It is forbidden to violate it or engage in it, and the prohibition becomes more severe when it involves the scholars, and those among them whose benefit to the Muslims is great. This is due to what has come in the noble texts of the two revelations regarding their high status. Among these is that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, mentioned them as witnesses to His oneness, so He said:
[Ali 'Imran 3:18] , and attacking the scholars without right, by declaring them innovators, open sinners, diminishing them, or making people disdain them—all of this is among the greatest injustices and sins. It is a cause of fitnah and prevents Muslims from receiving their beneficial knowledge and the good and guidance they carry. This results in great harm to the spread of the pure Shari'ah, because if the carriers are criticized, it affects what is carried. This resembles the method of those who attack the Companions from among the people of desires. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) are the witnesses of the Prophet of this Ummah to what he conveyed of the Shari'ah of Allah. If the witness is criticized, the thing witnessed is criticized. Therefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to adhere to the etiquette, guidance, and laws of Islam, to refrain his tongue from obscenity and attacking the honor of the scholars, to repent to Allah the Exalted for that, and to rid himself of the injustices done to the servants. However, if a scholar makes a mistake, his mistake does not negate the knowledge he possesses. The obligation in knowing the mistake is to refer to those who are pointed to among the people of knowledge in knowledge, religion, and sound belief, and not to hand oneself over to just anyone, who may lead one to destruction without one realizing it.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We hear and find people who claim to be Salafis, and their main occupation is
The preoccupation is with criticizing the scholars and accusing them of religious innovation, as if their tongues were created for nothing else, and they say: We are Salafis. And the question, may Allah preserve you: What is the correct concept of Salafiyyah, and what is its position regarding contemporary Islamic sects? And may Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, for He is the Hearer of supplication.
A: If the situation is as described, then criticizing the scholars and accusing them of religious innovation is a degrading path that is not the way of the Salaf of this Ummah and its best people. The path of the righteous Salaf is calling to the Book and the Sunnah, and to what the Salaf of this Ummah were upon, namely the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them in excellence, with wisdom and good instruction, and arguing in the best manner. This is accompanied by striving against the self to act upon what the servant calls for, and adhering to what is known by necessity from the religion of Islam, such as calling for unity and cooperation in good, gathering the words of the Muslims upon the truth, and staying away from division and its causes, such as animosity, hatred, and envy. It also involves refraining from attacking the honor of Muslims and accusing them of false suspicions, and similar causes that lead to the division of Muslims, making them sects and parties that curse one another and strike the necks of one another. Allah the Exalted said:
(103) And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. (104) And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful. (105) And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ (103) وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (104) وَلاَ تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌDo not return to unbelief after me by striking the necks of one another.
لا ترجعوا بعدي كفارًا يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعضAllah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.