The Detail in Speaking About the Innovator
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Your Eminence! If a man falls into an innovation that may be serious, and I discuss it with him, am I required to mention his good qualities, or is it obligatory for me to clarify only that innovation or error, or am I required to do something else, such as mentioning his good qualities? May Allah reward you.
This requires a detailed explanation: As for one who intends to stand up for a man and speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention his good deeds and his bad deeds.
As for one who intends to give advice and warn against his innovation and its danger, he should not mention the good deeds; because if he mentions the good deeds, this encourages people to associate with him.
So the matter involves detail. For example, if a person innovates an innovation and we want to speak to warn against the innovation, we mention him and there is no harm, even if it may be in the public interest that he not be mentioned by name.
And as for when we want to speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention what is in his favor and what is against him.
So the matter involves detail.
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned specific names of individuals in the context of advice, as in the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, where Abu Jahm, Mu'awiyah, and Usamah ibn Zayd proposed to marry her. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned regarding Abu Jahm and Mu'awiyah what implied that she should not marry them, and said: (Marry Usamah), and he did not mention their good qualities, even though their good qualities are undoubtedly many; but he remained silent about that because the context required it. And as for a person who writes about a person's life, he must speak the truth, what is in his favor and what is against him.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
This requires a detailed explanation: As for one who intends to stand up for a man and speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention his good deeds and his bad deeds.
As for one who intends to give advice and warn against his innovation and its danger, he should not mention the good deeds; because if he mentions the good deeds, this encourages people to associate with him.
So the matter involves detail. For example, if a person innovates an innovation and we want to speak to warn against the innovation, we mention him and there is no harm, even if it may be in the public interest that he not be mentioned by name.
And as for when we want to speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention what is in his favor and what is against him.
So the matter involves detail.
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned specific names of individuals in the context of advice, as in the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, where Abu Jahm, Mu'awiyah, and Usamah ibn Zayd proposed to marry her. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned regarding Abu Jahm and Mu'awiyah what implied that she should not marry them, and said: (Marry Usamah), and he did not mention their good qualities, even though their good qualities are undoubtedly many; but he remained silent about that because the context required it. And as for a person who writes about a person's life, he must speak the truth, what is in his favor and what is against him.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.