The Ruling on Listening to Tapes Containing Exchanges Between Students of Knowledge
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The Shaykh! What is your opinion regarding tapes that contain exchanges between students of knowledge?
I see that tapes containing back-and-forth exchanges, where upon reflection one finds it is nothing but argumentation, should not be released; because this causes the listeners to waver and divide into factions. However, if it is a response that is necessary, such that a person has announced something false in a tape, then it must be clarified; this must be published.Meaning: This response is necessary.
A person knows this by the circumstances, meaning he knows whether what is published is merely argumentation between people or a clarification of the truth. What is a clarification of the truth must be published, and what is merely argumentation, I do not see that it should be published; because people are in urgent need of what unites them, not what divides them. And as you know—may Allah reward you—many people do not grasp matters as they should, so perhaps one of them will be deceived by this and perhaps one of them will be deceived by that, and thereby fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) will occur.
I see that tapes containing back-and-forth exchanges, where upon reflection one finds it is nothing but argumentation, should not be released; because this causes the listeners to waver and divide into factions. However, if it is a response that is necessary, such that a person has announced something false in a tape, then it must be clarified; this must be published.Meaning: This response is necessary.
A person knows this by the circumstances, meaning he knows whether what is published is merely argumentation between people or a clarification of the truth. What is a clarification of the truth must be published, and what is merely argumentation, I do not see that it should be published; because people are in urgent need of what unites them, not what divides them. And as you know—may Allah reward you—many people do not grasp matters as they should, so perhaps one of them will be deceived by this and perhaps one of them will be deceived by that, and thereby fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) will occur.