What is the ruling in Islam regarding insulting the imams and scholars, whether living or dead?
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The questioner : One of the questions is: What is the ruling in Islam regarding insulting the imams and scholars, whether living or dead?
The Shaykh : He (peace be upon him) said This means that it is not permissible to insult a Muslim, even if he is one whose Islam is criticized, because there is no benefit in this criticism after he has passed into the judgment of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And it is even more so, and even more so, that it is not permissible to insult righteous Muslims. Then it is even more so, and even more so, and even more so, that it is not permissible to insult the imams, because they combine with their righteousness knowledge, service to the religion, transmitting hadiths, clarifying them, detailing the rulings of the Shari'ah, and other well-known matters. And I am surprised by such a question, because we do not believe that among the Muslims, even in the lowest degree of Islam...
The questioner : Sometimes some scholars may understand it as insult, so this... excludes something.
The Shaykh : If this is what is intended, then woe to what was intended, because pointing out the error of another person is an obligatory matter in Islam. Pointing out an error does not mean criticism, nor does it mean disparagement, let alone cursing and insulting; rather, it is clarifying the truth. And so he (peace be upon him) said in the authentic hadith in al-Bukhari What is going through his mind? That the Messenger, when he says about a judge, about a ruler, that he made a mistake, that he is disparaging him and insulting him, while he is giving him one reward.
Likewise, in the story narrated by al-Bukhari as well, regarding the interpretation of a dream that Abu Bakr interpreted in the presence of the Messenger (peace be upon him), and he (peace be upon him) said to himSunan Abi Dawud 3268Sahih (Al-Albani) Does it occur to the mind of anyone who understands what he is saying that the Messenger insulted his companion in the cave, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, when he said to him, "You made a mistake in some of it."
But this is due to the delay of Muslims in their Islamic culture and their distance from the true legal language, that the later scholars, or perhaps it is more correct to say the jurists, avoid such an expression because this reality has been reversed for them themselves. They may imagine, and the common people follow them in that, that if it is said "So-and-so made a mistake," this is a hint, a joke, and a disparagement of the one who made the mistake. And the matter, as you have heard, is not so. And this is a matter that does not need much explanation, and this extent is sufficient for us.
Yes
The Shaykh : He (peace be upon him) said
Do not insult the dead, for they have passed on to what they sent ahead.
لا تسبوا الأموات فقد أفضوا إلى ما قدمواThe questioner : Sometimes some scholars may understand it as insult, so this... excludes something.
The Shaykh : If this is what is intended, then woe to what was intended, because pointing out the error of another person is an obligatory matter in Islam. Pointing out an error does not mean criticism, nor does it mean disparagement, let alone cursing and insulting; rather, it is clarifying the truth. And so he (peace be upon him) said in the authentic hadith in al-Bukhari
When the judge rules and strives, if he is correct, he has two rewards, and if he makes a mistake, he has one reward.
إذا حكم الحاكم فاجتهد فأصاب فله أجران وإن أخطأ له أجر واحدLikewise, in the story narrated by al-Bukhari as well, regarding the interpretation of a dream that Abu Bakr interpreted in the presence of the Messenger (peace be upon him), and he (peace be upon him) said to him
You are partly right and partly wrong
أصبت بعضا وأخطأت بعضاBut this is due to the delay of Muslims in their Islamic culture and their distance from the true legal language, that the later scholars, or perhaps it is more correct to say the jurists, avoid such an expression because this reality has been reversed for them themselves. They may imagine, and the common people follow them in that, that if it is said "So-and-so made a mistake," this is a hint, a joke, and a disparagement of the one who made the mistake. And the matter, as you have heard, is not so. And this is a matter that does not need much explanation, and this extent is sufficient for us.
Yes