The Ruling on Criticizing and Vindicating Narrators Between Students of Knowledge and Those Who Claim Knowledge
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Question:
This is a question from Canada. The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, I am from the country of Canada, and a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) has occurred among the students of knowledge in Canada regarding the criticism and vindication of some preachers and shaykhs. It is rare that a shaykh is mentioned without someone saying, "This one is partisan, this one is misguided, this one is such-and-such," claiming that this is the methodology of the Salaf (the earliest generations). This has even led to the apostasy of some of those who had embraced Islam. And you, Honorable Shaykh Salih, are one whose fatwas are heard there, and you have love and acceptance among everyone. Is there any clarification and advice regarding this? Perhaps the evil will stop, and the Lord will benefit Islam and the Muslims through you.
Answer:
This is a very important question, and many Muslims abroad suffer from it. It is the claim of knowledge (ta'allum) without actually having knowledge. They limit themselves to reading books and listening to tapes, and they do not return to the imams and the people of knowledge. They have self-taught individuals who issue fatwas for them, and they do not understand, or they intend to mislead. So one must be cautious of these people and follow the straight path and the sound methodology, and consult the people of knowledge, the people of opinion, and the people of intellect. As for criticism and vindication, this is for the hadith scholars to preserve the hadith; it is not for the general public. This is for the hadith scholars. It is part of the science of isnad (the chain of narration) in hadith. It should not be violated or degraded in these matters, turning it into backbiting, talebearing, and incitement. Who said this?
It is not permissible to criticize (jarh) except in the science of hadith, for the sake of preserving the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Criticizing people is originally prohibited; it is forbidden to criticize people. But this is specific to the narrators of hadith, for the sake of preserving the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). These people do not know the science of hadith, they do not know the isnad, and they only know that so-and-so is good, so-and-so is bad, so-and-so has such-and-such, and so-and-so has such-and-such. That is all they have. "Follow so-and-so, do not follow so-and-so," and the like.
So I advise them to fear Allah. I advise them to seek knowledge from the scholars in the universities and from the shaykhs. The Islamic law universities and the shaykhs. They should not seek knowledge in a chaotic manner. Does one seek knowledge in a chaotic manner? That is the result. The one who seeks knowledge and receives it from its foundations knows how to deal with such matters and how to deal with people and disagreements. I advise them, first, to seek knowledge with the fear of Allah and to restrain their tongues from speaking about people. Second, I advise them to seek knowledge from the people of knowledge who are known for it. Without this, they will not benefit from anything. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
This is a question from Canada. The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, I am from the country of Canada, and a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) has occurred among the students of knowledge in Canada regarding the criticism and vindication of some preachers and shaykhs. It is rare that a shaykh is mentioned without someone saying, "This one is partisan, this one is misguided, this one is such-and-such," claiming that this is the methodology of the Salaf (the earliest generations). This has even led to the apostasy of some of those who had embraced Islam. And you, Honorable Shaykh Salih, are one whose fatwas are heard there, and you have love and acceptance among everyone. Is there any clarification and advice regarding this? Perhaps the evil will stop, and the Lord will benefit Islam and the Muslims through you.
Answer:
This is a very important question, and many Muslims abroad suffer from it. It is the claim of knowledge (ta'allum) without actually having knowledge. They limit themselves to reading books and listening to tapes, and they do not return to the imams and the people of knowledge. They have self-taught individuals who issue fatwas for them, and they do not understand, or they intend to mislead. So one must be cautious of these people and follow the straight path and the sound methodology, and consult the people of knowledge, the people of opinion, and the people of intellect. As for criticism and vindication, this is for the hadith scholars to preserve the hadith; it is not for the general public. This is for the hadith scholars. It is part of the science of isnad (the chain of narration) in hadith. It should not be violated or degraded in these matters, turning it into backbiting, talebearing, and incitement. Who said this?
It is not permissible to criticize (jarh) except in the science of hadith, for the sake of preserving the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Criticizing people is originally prohibited; it is forbidden to criticize people. But this is specific to the narrators of hadith, for the sake of preserving the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). These people do not know the science of hadith, they do not know the isnad, and they only know that so-and-so is good, so-and-so is bad, so-and-so has such-and-such, and so-and-so has such-and-such. That is all they have. "Follow so-and-so, do not follow so-and-so," and the like.
So I advise them to fear Allah. I advise them to seek knowledge from the scholars in the universities and from the shaykhs. The Islamic law universities and the shaykhs. They should not seek knowledge in a chaotic manner. Does one seek knowledge in a chaotic manner? That is the result. The one who seeks knowledge and receives it from its foundations knows how to deal with such matters and how to deal with people and disagreements. I advise them, first, to seek knowledge with the fear of Allah and to restrain their tongues from speaking about people. Second, I advise them to seek knowledge from the people of knowledge who are known for it. Without this, they will not benefit from anything. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
شرح أحاديث في الفتن والحوادث، تابع باب في الفتن 3 — islamhouse.com (35:28)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.