What is the ruling on opposing the three generations: the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the generation after the Tabi'un?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : ... regarding a matter or conditions, and consensus may be either tacit or verbal. This constitutes a deviation from the Shari'ah. So, what is the position... or to what extent can one object to this consensus?
The Shaykh : The answer was given previously; the answer was given just now:
"Knowledge, Allah said, His Messenger said... the Companions said, it is not deception.
Knowledge, you have set yourself up for foolish disagreement... between the Messenger and the opinion of a jurist."
So what do you say if there is no opinion of a jurist, but rather it is the general public? "O people, follow the people," as if it were a verse revealed in the Book of Allah. If a group of people agree on the understanding of a text from the Book of Allah and from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then it is not permissible for the general public to oppose them. However, if people come together and agree on an opinion that is not accepted from the three generations who are attested to as the best in the mass-transmitted hadith, namely his saying (peace be upon him): and what is famous on the tongues of people is , this is an error in narration. The wording established in the two Sahihs and others is: Sahih al-Bukhari 3651 So, if the matter on which people are in a certain time corresponds to what the righteous Salaf were upon, it is as we mentioned earlier in our speech regarding consensus, and we mentioned His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): [An-Nisa 4:115].
If these people agree on something, whether it is a ruling or behavior as I said, and it is contrary to what the righteous Salaf were upon, then they must be opposed and it is not permissible to follow them, because they have adopted a path contrary to the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and they are the people whose companion does not suffer. Have I given you the answer to the question?
The questioner : The second part: To what extent should the opposition be? Is the limit sufficient with negative opposition, opposing them in action or opinion, or is it permissible to correct them?
The Shaykh : Or is it permissible to correct them! You say how, meaning correcting them? With the sword, with the stick? No.
The questioner : Do we break the stick of obedience to the ruler?
The Shaykh : There is no such thing. This is not for the general public or individuals. I am saying that force is not for the general public or individuals, but this is the concern of the ruler. And the way of individuals is, as we also mentioned, perhaps in a session with you:[An-Nahl 16:125] [Al-Baqarah 2:272] Correction by force is the concern of the ruler.
Reform does not occur except through explanation, and explanation is what drives away Satan. And if the caller is sincere and those being called are likewise, then there will be agreement and meeting. But if, may Allah forbid, one of the parties is not sincere, then there will occur what usually occurs between spouses, namely divorce.
The questioner : By Allah, O Shaykh, these are the scholars of images who are similar to us; it is a sad face that makes the heart bleed.
The Shaykh : By Allah, it is true, but the person, as Allah the Exalted said in the Qur'an:[Al-Ma'idah 5:105] And the person in reality, every person fromThe Shaykh : and you are descending to the fry, you forget your state and criticize others. And how wonderful is what he (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith: So it is true that the Muslim is commanded to call to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) and to the Quranic system mentioned earlier: [An-Nahl 16:125] But it is not permissible for him to criticize people in a way that satisfies the anger of his heart, but only to correct what is wrong and deviant in them. That is fine in other matters.
The Shaykh : The answer was given previously; the answer was given just now:
"Knowledge, Allah said, His Messenger said... the Companions said, it is not deception.
Knowledge, you have set yourself up for foolish disagreement... between the Messenger and the opinion of a jurist."
So what do you say if there is no opinion of a jurist, but rather it is the general public? "O people, follow the people," as if it were a verse revealed in the Book of Allah. If a group of people agree on the understanding of a text from the Book of Allah and from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then it is not permissible for the general public to oppose them. However, if people come together and agree on an opinion that is not accepted from the three generations who are attested to as the best in the mass-transmitted hadith, namely his saying (peace be upon him):
The best of people is my generation
خير الناس قرنيThe best of the generations is my generation
خير القرون قرنيThe best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter
خير الناس قرني ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهمAnd whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
ومن يشاقق الرسول من بعد ما تبين له الهدى ويتبع غير سبيل المؤمنين نوله ما تولى ونصله جهنم وساءت مصيراIf these people agree on something, whether it is a ruling or behavior as I said, and it is contrary to what the righteous Salaf were upon, then they must be opposed and it is not permissible to follow them, because they have adopted a path contrary to the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and they are the people whose companion does not suffer. Have I given you the answer to the question?
The questioner : The second part: To what extent should the opposition be? Is the limit sufficient with negative opposition, opposing them in action or opinion, or is it permissible to correct them?
The Shaykh : Or is it permissible to correct them! You say how, meaning correcting them? With the sword, with the stick? No.
The questioner : Do we break the stick of obedience to the ruler?
The Shaykh : There is no such thing. This is not for the general public or individuals. I am saying that force is not for the general public or individuals, but this is the concern of the ruler. And the way of individuals is, as we also mentioned, perhaps in a session with you:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنNot upon you, [O Muhammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.
ليس عليك هداهم ولكن الله يهدي من يشاءReform does not occur except through explanation, and explanation is what drives away Satan. And if the caller is sincere and those being called are likewise, then there will be agreement and meeting. But if, may Allah forbid, one of the parties is not sincere, then there will occur what usually occurs between spouses, namely divorce.
The questioner : By Allah, O Shaykh, these are the scholars of images who are similar to us; it is a sad face that makes the heart bleed.
The Shaykh : By Allah, it is true, but the person, as Allah the Exalted said in the Qur'an:
O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided
يا أيها الذين آمنوا عليكم أنفسكم لا يضركم من ضل إذا اهتديتمOne of you sees the speck in his brother's eye and does not see the log in his own eye
يبصر أحدكم القذاة في عين أخيه ولا يرى الجذع في عينهInvite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.