The Ruling on Reading the Fitans (Trials) That Occurred Among the Companions
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We have heard from you that one who fears for himself from the stories of the Companions and the fitans (trials) that occurred among them should not read them. I once read what happened to al-Husayn, and I swore that if I had been present, I would have supported him. What do you think of this? Is there a sin on me for it?
I see—as you have heard—that the battles and fighting that occurred among the Companions should not be read by anyone except a man who is secure for himself from being unjust to any of the Companions. This is because history contains distortion in reality, especially what comes from the Rafidah (the Twelver Shi'ah). In fact, they distorted history greatly and lied about the Banu Umayyah with a flagrant lie, may Allah protect us from that. As for the moderate, balanced history, such as al-Bidaya wa al-Nihayah by Ibn Kathir, a person may fear for himself not from leaning toward one of them, for leaning toward one of them is not a problem, but he fears for himself from misleading the others, blaming them, hating them, and being hostile toward them. This is what is prohibited. In any case, every person is the guardian of his own soul; if he fears fitnah (trial) for himself, then leaving what he fears will bring fitnah is better.
I see—as you have heard—that the battles and fighting that occurred among the Companions should not be read by anyone except a man who is secure for himself from being unjust to any of the Companions. This is because history contains distortion in reality, especially what comes from the Rafidah (the Twelver Shi'ah). In fact, they distorted history greatly and lied about the Banu Umayyah with a flagrant lie, may Allah protect us from that. As for the moderate, balanced history, such as al-Bidaya wa al-Nihayah by Ibn Kathir, a person may fear for himself not from leaning toward one of them, for leaning toward one of them is not a problem, but he fears for himself from misleading the others, blaming them, hating them, and being hostile toward them. This is what is prohibited. In any case, every person is the guardian of his own soul; if he fears fitnah (trial) for himself, then leaving what he fears will bring fitnah is better.