Is it permissible to point out the errors of other groups, such as al-Tabligh and the Muslim Brotherhood, by naming their individuals?
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The questioner : Shaykh, what is the ruling regarding contemporary Islamic groups like al-Tabligh and the Muslim Brotherhood?
The Shaykh : We have spoken about them before.
The questioner : For example, if I want to point out the error in their methodology, is it permissible for me to name names, saying so-and-so has such-and-such, or should I leave this out for the sake of public interest?
The Shaykh : This varies. The original ruling in this matter, as it came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of the group of men who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but did not find him, so they asked his wives about his worship (peace be upon him), about his standing in prayer at night and his fasting during the day, and his intimacy with the women. So they informed them of what they knew of that, and the summary of that was that he (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand in prayer at night and sleep, fast and break the fast, and marry women. The story is long and well-known, perhaps. The important thing is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came, his wives informed him of what the group of men had said. One of them said: "I fast the whole year and do not break the fast." The second said: "I stand in prayer all night and do not sleep." The third said: "I do not marry women." So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) gave a sermon and said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4788Sahih (Al-Albani), he said: So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So if the benefit is achieved without naming a person or persons or a group, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as you heard, had as his etiquette to say:Sunan Abi Dawud 4788Sahih (Al-Albani). So if the public interest is achieved without naming a person or persons or a group or groups, that is sufficient. And if it is not understood and the public interest is not achieved, there is no harm in saying: such-and-such a group says such-and-such and does such-and-such; what is the ruling of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in that?
So there is no harm in that at that time, with the condition mentioned earlier. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We have spoken about them before.
The questioner : For example, if I want to point out the error in their methodology, is it permissible for me to name names, saying so-and-so has such-and-such, or should I leave this out for the sake of public interest?
The Shaykh : This varies. The original ruling in this matter, as it came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of the group of men who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but did not find him, so they asked his wives about his worship (peace be upon him), about his standing in prayer at night and his fasting during the day, and his intimacy with the women. So they informed them of what they knew of that, and the summary of that was that he (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand in prayer at night and sleep, fast and break the fast, and marry women. The story is long and well-known, perhaps. The important thing is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came, his wives informed him of what the group of men had said. One of them said: "I fast the whole year and do not break the fast." The second said: "I stand in prayer all night and do not sleep." The third said: "I do not marry women." So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) gave a sermon and said:
What is the matter with the people that they say such and such?
ما بال أقوام يقولون كذا وكذا وكذاWhat is the matter with a group of people
ما بال أقوامWhat is the matter with a group of people who say such-and-such and such-and-such? As for me, I am the most afraid of you of Allah and the most mindful of you of Allah. As for me, I fast and break the fast, I stand in prayer at night and sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not one of me.
ما بال أقوام يقولون كذا وكذا، أما إني أخشاكم لله وأتقاكم لله أما إني أصوم وأفطر، وأقوم الليل وأنام، وأتزوج النساء، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس منيSo if the benefit is achieved without naming a person or persons or a group, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as you heard, had as his etiquette to say:
What is the matter with the people that they say such and such?
ما بال أقوام يقولون كذا وكذاSo there is no harm in that at that time, with the condition mentioned earlier. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes.