What is the reason for al-Dhahabi's severe words in the book *Zaghul al-'Ilm* regarding Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, given that he is known for praising Ibn Taymiyyah?
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The questioner : In the book *Zaghul al-'Ilm* by Shaykh al-Islam al-Dhahabi, he spoke about Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah with severe words. What is the reason for this, given that al-Dhahabi's praise of Ibn Taymiyyah is almost mass-transmitted?
The Shaykh : I believe, if the attribution of the treatise to al-Dhahabi is established, because there is still discussion regarding the authenticity of this treatise as being by al-Dhahabi. If the attribution of the treatise to al-Dhahabi is established, then I believe that was due to the pressure of the public, and it was an attempt to deflect this pressure from al-Dhahabi's shoulders. He was compelled to say such words on the basis that dire necessity permits the prohibited, in his case. And there is no doubt that one who knows Imam al-Dhahabi, and knows his knowledge and his critique of hadith and of the narrators, would have doubt here, because Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is among the giants of scholars and callers to the Book and the Sunnah in his view.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So if we see this word from him in this treatise whose authenticity is doubtful, and then we do not find anything of that in his known books, then the reason is either that the attribution to him is not correct.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Or that he was compelled to do so.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : ... O Shaykh, do we also not doubt the attribution of its correctness to Imam al-Dhahabi? [There are] words that are more severe and uglier.
The Shaykh : I am not recalling it right now.
The Shaykh : I believe, if the attribution of the treatise to al-Dhahabi is established, because there is still discussion regarding the authenticity of this treatise as being by al-Dhahabi. If the attribution of the treatise to al-Dhahabi is established, then I believe that was due to the pressure of the public, and it was an attempt to deflect this pressure from al-Dhahabi's shoulders. He was compelled to say such words on the basis that dire necessity permits the prohibited, in his case. And there is no doubt that one who knows Imam al-Dhahabi, and knows his knowledge and his critique of hadith and of the narrators, would have doubt here, because Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is among the giants of scholars and callers to the Book and the Sunnah in his view.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So if we see this word from him in this treatise whose authenticity is doubtful, and then we do not find anything of that in his known books, then the reason is either that the attribution to him is not correct.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Or that he was compelled to do so.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : ... O Shaykh, do we also not doubt the attribution of its correctness to Imam al-Dhahabi? [There are] words that are more severe and uglier.
The Shaykh : I am not recalling it right now.
Source
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