Criticizing al-Nawawi and Ibn Hajar, and Studying with Those Who Criticize Them
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
This questioner asks, saying: In one of the Qur'an memorization centers, some of the women in charge of the center criticize Imam al-Nawawi and al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar by labeling them as innovators and misguiders. They do not reveal this to the general public, but only in private gatherings. What is the advice for them, and is it permissible to study with them?
The Shaykh:
No, do not study with them. Al-Nawawi is an imam among the imams of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and among the hadith scholars. Likewise, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar is the commander of the believers in hadith. No one criticizes them except a person who is ignorant or a person who holds a bad belief. Yes, they are imams of Islam, and even if some error occurs from them, they are imams with a high status and they bring great benefit to the Muslims. And who are you, you who criticize Imam al-Nawawi or al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar? Who are you? What do you have? You have nothing, poor thing. Yes.
The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says:
The Shaykh:
Because of a minor and slight error, and they have abundant knowledge and they bring benefit to Islam and the Muslims, being preservers of hadith. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
This questioner asks, saying: In one of the Qur'an memorization centers, some of the women in charge of the center criticize Imam al-Nawawi and al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar by labeling them as innovators and misguiders. They do not reveal this to the general public, but only in private gatherings. What is the advice for them, and is it permissible to study with them?
The Shaykh:
No, do not study with them. Al-Nawawi is an imam among the imams of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and among the hadith scholars. Likewise, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar is the commander of the believers in hadith. No one criticizes them except a person who is ignorant or a person who holds a bad belief. Yes, they are imams of Islam, and even if some error occurs from them, they are imams with a high status and they bring great benefit to the Muslims. And who are you, you who criticize Imam al-Nawawi or al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar? Who are you? What do you have? You have nothing, poor thing. Yes.
The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says:
The Shaykh:
Because of a minor and slight error, and they have abundant knowledge and they bring benefit to Islam and the Muslims, being preservers of hadith. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
شرح العقيدة الواسطية [ صالح الفوزان ] [ 1438هـ ]، الإيمان بما وصف الرسول - صلى الله عليه وسلم - به ربه — islamhouse.com (46:44)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.