Bias Toward Opinions and Individuals
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May Allah reward you, O Shaykh! What is your opinion regarding the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that exists between some students of knowledge and the shaykhs concerning the youth? Some of them become biased toward a certain opinion and denounce the other. What do you say about this?
What I see is that this is something Satan throws between people by sowing discord among them. When Satan saw the opening in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the strength of Islam, he despaired of being worshipped in this peninsula. However, he resorts to sowing discord among them, and this is the reality.
And what we see is that it is obligatory for the youth and others to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to reform their relations among themselves,As Allah has commanded: [Al-Anfal: 1] and that their concern not be mere talk and excessive questioning. Rather, every person should see to his religious and worldly benefit and act upon it. As for exposing people by their persons, by disparaging them when they are not worthy of disparagement, this is a great error.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about backbiting?So he said: (Mentioning your brother in a way he dislikes,He said: What if what I say is true about my brother?He said: If what you say is in him, you have backbitten him. If what you say is not in him, you have slandered him).
The backbiting of scholars and rulers is more severe than the backbiting of others. This is because the backbiting of scholars leads to the lowering of the scholar's status among people. And if the scholar's status is lowered among people, they will not accept what he brings from the Shari'ah of Allah. Thus, the backbiting of the scholar becomes a disparagement of him and a prevention of what people benefit from of what he conveys from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And the backbiting of rulers is also a great calamity. This is because if people lower the status of their rulers in their eyes, they will not submit to their orders. They will look down upon them, resulting in chaos and the disruption of security,And for this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Nisa: 59] and this includes scholars and rulers. If we have been commanded to obey them in other than disobedience to Allah, then it is obligatory to respect them and respect their honor. And if we know of an error or a slip from one of them, it is obligatory to advise him until the issue is resolved.
The important thing is that I advise the youth against this division,And I say: Beware of bias toward any individual. Rather, be biased toward the truth wherever it is. Do not dislike this because it is not according to that person's opinion. Rather, it is obligatory to love the people of good and to avoid spreading faults.
What I see is that this is something Satan throws between people by sowing discord among them. When Satan saw the opening in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the strength of Islam, he despaired of being worshipped in this peninsula. However, he resorts to sowing discord among them, and this is the reality.
And what we see is that it is obligatory for the youth and others to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to reform their relations among themselves,As Allah has commanded:
So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about backbiting?So he said: (Mentioning your brother in a way he dislikes,He said: What if what I say is true about my brother?He said: If what you say is in him, you have backbitten him. If what you say is not in him, you have slandered him).
The backbiting of scholars and rulers is more severe than the backbiting of others. This is because the backbiting of scholars leads to the lowering of the scholar's status among people. And if the scholar's status is lowered among people, they will not accept what he brings from the Shari'ah of Allah. Thus, the backbiting of the scholar becomes a disparagement of him and a prevention of what people benefit from of what he conveys from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And the backbiting of rulers is also a great calamity. This is because if people lower the status of their rulers in their eyes, they will not submit to their orders. They will look down upon them, resulting in chaos and the disruption of security,And for this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْThe important thing is that I advise the youth against this division,And I say: Beware of bias toward any individual. Rather, be biased toward the truth wherever it is. Do not dislike this because it is not according to that person's opinion. Rather, it is obligatory to love the people of good and to avoid spreading faults.