Rule: The speech of peers is set aside and not reported
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The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, nowadays, whenever a scholar responds to another who has erred, they say, "This is the speech of peers; it is set aside and not reported." What is your view of this rule? Is it applied in its absolute form?
The Shaykh:
I have clarified this for you. I said that it is obligatory to clarify the truth and refute the error. We do not show favoritism to anyone; we do not show favoritism to anyone. We clarify the error and point to the truth in what opposes it. We have no concern with so-and-so or such-and-such. Yes, and it is not permissible to remain silent, because if we leave the error, and the second error, and the third error, the errors will multiply, and people will assume that because the scholars are silent about them, they are considered valid evidence. Therefore, clarification is necessary, especially if the one who erred is a role model that people follow, or if he holds a position of leadership. If he has erred, his error must be clarified so that people are not deceived by him.
The questioner:
As Allah guides you, my honorable friend.
The Shaykh:
It is said that it is reported and set aside; that is not what is said. This is the speech of the remainder. Rather, it is reported and refuted. The one who is upset is upset, and the one who is pleased is pleased. Our goal is the truth, not our goal is to praise individuals or to belittle individuals.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Honorable Shaykh, nowadays, whenever a scholar responds to another who has erred, they say, "This is the speech of peers; it is set aside and not reported." What is your view of this rule? Is it applied in its absolute form?
The Shaykh:
I have clarified this for you. I said that it is obligatory to clarify the truth and refute the error. We do not show favoritism to anyone; we do not show favoritism to anyone. We clarify the error and point to the truth in what opposes it. We have no concern with so-and-so or such-and-such. Yes, and it is not permissible to remain silent, because if we leave the error, and the second error, and the third error, the errors will multiply, and people will assume that because the scholars are silent about them, they are considered valid evidence. Therefore, clarification is necessary, especially if the one who erred is a role model that people follow, or if he holds a position of leadership. If he has erred, his error must be clarified so that people are not deceived by him.
The questioner:
As Allah guides you, my honorable friend.
The Shaykh:
It is said that it is reported and set aside; that is not what is said. This is the speech of the remainder. Rather, it is reported and refuted. The one who is upset is upset, and the one who is pleased is pleased. Our goal is the truth, not our goal is to praise individuals or to belittle individuals.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Source
شرح الكافية الشافية في الانتصار للفرقة الناجية [ القصيدة النونية ] [ صالح الفوزان ]، بداية من قوله : وكذلك الشحام والعلاف والنجار أهل الجهل بالقرآن — islamhouse.com (21:10)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.