The Position of the Scholars of Knowledge Regarding Fitnah (Trials, Discord or Temptation) and the Duty of People Toward Them
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: What is the position of the firm ones among the scholars of knowledge during times of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)? And what is the duty of people toward the scholars of knowledge in these contemporary circumstances?
Answer:
The position of the scholars of knowledge during fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is steadfastness, that they do not rush into issuing rulings, and that they do not speak except to the extent of necessity.
This is their position: steadfastness, not rushing, and not speaking in them except to the extent of necessity, while seeking the truth and seeking the right, and a person should not be one who constantly speaks and warns without need, or speaks while he does not know or recognize, speaking about what he does not know. A person holds his tongue, he holds his tongue always except in what is needed, especially in the days of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because there are dangers that result from it. So it is safer for a person to remain silent, safer for him and for others. This is the obligation.
It is not the right of every person to intervene in general affairs. These are general affairs, and it is not the right of every person to intervene in them. Rather, this is the exclusive domain of the authorities among the scholars of knowledge and the rulers to whom the matter pertains. The scholars of knowledge clarify the ruling of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), and the rulers adopt the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) policy with which they face these problems. As for the general public, they should not enter into what they do not understand. Also, if they do enter, what is the result? Disagreement among the scholars of knowledge. If the scholars of knowledge intervene, there is a result; there are solutions to the problems. Likewise, if the authorities intervene, there is benefit for the people, solutions. As for the general public who have no power to solve or bind, there is no benefit in their intervention. Rather, agitation occurs, and argumentation occurs among people, or perhaps some severance or anger occurs between them, and there is no result in solving these problems.
A person looks at his own problems and attends to his own problems, while the problems of the people are for the authorities and the scholars, who are concerned with these matters. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: What is the position of the firm ones among the scholars of knowledge during times of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)? And what is the duty of people toward the scholars of knowledge in these contemporary circumstances?
Answer:
The position of the scholars of knowledge during fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is steadfastness, that they do not rush into issuing rulings, and that they do not speak except to the extent of necessity.
This is their position: steadfastness, not rushing, and not speaking in them except to the extent of necessity, while seeking the truth and seeking the right, and a person should not be one who constantly speaks and warns without need, or speaks while he does not know or recognize, speaking about what he does not know. A person holds his tongue, he holds his tongue always except in what is needed, especially in the days of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because there are dangers that result from it. So it is safer for a person to remain silent, safer for him and for others. This is the obligation.
It is not the right of every person to intervene in general affairs. These are general affairs, and it is not the right of every person to intervene in them. Rather, this is the exclusive domain of the authorities among the scholars of knowledge and the rulers to whom the matter pertains. The scholars of knowledge clarify the ruling of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), and the rulers adopt the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) policy with which they face these problems. As for the general public, they should not enter into what they do not understand. Also, if they do enter, what is the result? Disagreement among the scholars of knowledge. If the scholars of knowledge intervene, there is a result; there are solutions to the problems. Likewise, if the authorities intervene, there is benefit for the people, solutions. As for the general public who have no power to solve or bind, there is no benefit in their intervention. Rather, agitation occurs, and argumentation occurs among people, or perhaps some severance or anger occurs between them, and there is no result in solving these problems.
A person looks at his own problems and attends to his own problems, while the problems of the people are for the authorities and the scholars, who are concerned with these matters. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Source
75-اللقاء الأسبوعي مع الشيخ صالح الفوزان - 11 — archive.org (23:18)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.