The Ruling on Books of Refutation Against Those Who Disagree

Question:
A questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, what is your opinion of the book *Al-Qutbiyyah*? Do you advise reading it? And are books of refutation part of the methodology of the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them)?

Answer:
Refuting those who disagree is the Sunnah (recommended practice) of the Salaf. The Salaf refuted those who disagreed with them, and their books exist. This includes Imam Ahmad’s refutation of the Zindiqs (heretics) and the innovators, and the refutation of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah of the philosophers, the theologians, the Sufis, and the grave-worshippers. It also includes the refutations of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim and many other Imams who refuted those who disagreed with them in order to clarify the truth and make the truth apparent to the people, so that the Ummah (Muslim community) does not go astray and follow the wrongdoers and those who disagree. This is part of giving sincere advice to the Ummah.
As for the book *Al-Qutbiyyah* and other such books, whatever is correct and truthful in them must be acknowledged. If they quote a person’s words from his book or from his tape, and they specify the poem, book, or tape, the page, and the volume, and the quoted words are incorrect—yes, they are incorrect—what prevents this? We find that the intention is to advise the people. The intention is not to target individuals, but rather to give advice to the people and to clarify matters for them. We are not concerned with whether there is clarification or not; we are concerned with clarifying the truth. The book *Al-Qutbiyyah* or others did not mention lies and did not lie about anyone. Rather, they quoted from his words verbatim, without even paraphrasing or summarizing. They quoted his exact words and specified the volume in which it was said, the page on which it was said, and even the line in which it was said. So what is wrong with that? He was truthful in this. However, if we conceal things from the people, sing praises of people, and steal these books with the hands of the youth and the people, and they contain comprehensiveness and errors, this is deception of the Ummah and is not permissible. Clarification is necessary. The Messiah is necessary. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is necessary. These books of refutation have existed for a long time, and no one has criticized them or faulted them when they spoke the truth. There is no injustice to people in them, and there is no lying about people. Rather, they judge them by their words, their explicit statements, and their writings. Praise be to Allah, clarification is necessary.