The Ruling on Reading the Books of the People of Falsehood

Question:
The Shaykh is not more informed than us. What I know is that it is forbidden to read the books of the visitors under the pretext of taking the truth from them, while being bound by the harms contained in them.

Answer:
Reading the books of the people of falsehood requires a distinction. If a person has the scholarly qualification to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and knows the correct from the incorrect, and his intention is to clarify the falsehood in these books and warn against them, that is a good thing. He examines them and reads them, then clarifies the misguidance and evil in them in order to warn people against it. This is a good objective, and this is a noble deed, and it is part of calling to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
As for if a person is ignorant and does not have the knowledge to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and guidance and misguidance, then it is not permissible for him to deal with these books. Because if he reads them while not qualified and not armed with knowledge, there is a fear that he will be convinced by what is in them, adopt it, and become one of their people.
Likewise, if he has the qualification and knowledge of the truth, but his goal is not to clarify the misguidance in them, and it is merely looking at them, that is also not what should be done. He should not read them unless he clarifies what is in them. As for if he reads them and remains silent, that is not a second objective. And knowing the truth from falsehood and guidance from misguidance in them is a good thing, but it does not permit him to remain silent, leaving them to live among the people. Perhaps if they see him reading them and not clarifying what is in them, they will say, "So-and-so read this," or "So-and-so looks at it and flatters it." If there was something in it, he would have clarified it, but he said nothing about it, so they will be envious of it. Therefore, these two things are necessary: first, that he has the qualification and preparation, and second, that he clarifies the truth in them and the falsehood in them. As for if he enters them while not knowing, that is a great danger.
For this reason, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says regarding these books: "Look, and you will see, but I see for you to leave them, fearing for you the snares of Satan." He says, "Read these books, but I see for you to leave them, fearing for you the snares of Satan." These are books of evil, but if it is necessary and they have spread among the people and have gained followers, it is not permissible for us to leave them. It is necessary to read them, and perhaps there is good in them.
Rather, I tell you that it is not permissible to change the author's name; rather, it remains. This removes, meaning, many people do not know the Shaykh. They hear the rumors and do not know the reality of the Shaykh and his call. And this is not specific to the Shaykh or a specific individual, but all the people of truth are not known by them. However, they hear the rumors about them and believe them. So if you give him the book and the name of this scholar is on it, and he reads it, and he is one who seeks fairness and seeks to accept the truth, what is in his heart against this scholar will disappear. But if you remove it, he will remain hostile to this scholar, because