How to reconcile calling with wisdom with speaking the truth and refuting those who disagree.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The question is: You have clarified that it is necessary to use wisdom with the one being called and to be patient with him at times. The caller performs two things. The first is to point out
The Shaykh : The first thing?
The questioner : Meaning, he points out and clarifies the truth for people, for example, warning against the people of innovation, and so on, and so forth. The second thing is that if an innovator of this type comes to him, he first uses gentleness with him until he sees that he is being stubborn, then he applies the method of the people of the Sunnah, such as not sitting with him, and so on. The observation, and what we have observed, is that some of those who deviate from the correct methodology, from the moment they hear that you are warning, they do not see you. So how do we reconcile now between saying that a person must sit with them, and so on, and the fact that you speak the truth to clarify it for the other people?
The Shaykh : I did not understand from you that there is a contradiction. The one who shines like the sun of a donkey is not to be measured by the other people, for whom you should speak the truth. So I did not understand that there is a contradiction.
The questioner : It is, O Shaykh, what we have observed is that some people, for the sake of the second method, which is wisdom with the one being called, want to silence you from clarifying the truth, so that you come to them, meaning, with ease. This is widespread among callers now.
The Shaykh : Fine, you mention with me the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:105] So if I am calling first to the call of the truth, and secondly with wisdom and good admonition, but you, without offense, as an example, want me not to use wisdom and to speak the truth, what harm does that do me? In the end, and in brief, it is mine and the people's. The important thing is for me to know: did I combine speaking the truth with calling to this truth with wisdom and good admonition, or not? If I did not combine them, I might speak the truth and not use wisdom, and this exists. Or I might use wisdom and be soft with it until I lose speaking the truth. So neither this is correct nor that is correct. Rather, the correct thing is that we combine calling to the truth with wisdom and good admonition. As for Zayd from the people, or a group of people, who want from us, in the name of wisdom, that we do not speak and do not be frank with the truth, this is undoubtedly not of the truth in any way. So if we combine the two matters and strive ourselves to this combination between the two rights, the right of calling and the right of using wisdom and good admonition, please.
Another questioner : Many of the opponents of the Salafi methodology are persistent in attacking the Salafi methodology and its symbols, as it is said.
The Shaykh : And?
The questioner : Its symbols.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : From the imams of the Salaf, like Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : And they are persistent in working, not ceasing. And with their persistence, we do not hear shouts or noise around this scheming work. But if, meaning, the flood reaches the brim, and one takes up this dangerous current regarding the refutation, the criticisms come: "You, for example, so-and-so attacked you, you defended, and you heard the shout, you knew this in Syria? Shouts in this severe style, and wisdom is necessary, and gentleness is necessary, and patience is necessary, because the enemies are Ba'athists, Communists, Nasserists, and so on. So we see this group persistent, not ceasing in writings, in comments, in such and such. So what do we do? Is it wisdom that we never criticize their Shaykhs and strive to clarify the truth without this style? Or also, as part of the call, we must take up this current and clarify what is in it of injustice, aggression, and deviation? Meaning, do we combine the two matters, or do we prefer the side of silence and proceed in our call like this quietly, and remain silent about these waves and keep walking?"
The Shaykh : No, that is not enough. It is necessary to combine calling to the truth and refuting those who invalidate and fight the truth and its callers. And this is very clear from our previous speech: speaking the truth and using wisdom and admonition.
Another questioner : It has become in the people's concept that this is not of wisdom.
The Shaykh : What is not?
The questioner : Discussion is not of wisdom...
The Shaykh : We return to the people. What do we have to do with the people? It is upon us to know the truth and to draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by calling to Him. And all of us know the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) in Surat al-'Asr:[Al-'Asr 103:1-3] It is upon us to call to the truth and to be patient with that, and not to tire or be weary, however much the enemies gather against us and respond to us and attribute to us strictness, and perhaps even rebellion, and the like. That does not concern us if our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) says to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): [Fussilat 41:43] Do you see what our status is, we who claim to be callers? What is our status to our Prophet (peace be upon him)? Nothing worth mentioning. So if the disbelievers and the misguided usually speak about the messengers, and among them our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then we must prepare ourselves that we will hear a lot from those who were misguided. It is necessary for us to prepare ourselves for this and to be patient with our call to be rewarded, as He said the Exalted: [Az-Zumar 39:10] And Allah is the Helper.
The questioner: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The questioner : O our Shaykh, refuting deviant books and following up on deviant opinions in some books, even if the books are generally beneficial, many of the contemporary callers, or those who affiliate themselves to the call in this era with the different groups, see that following up on these books, meaning, is a waste of the call and a loss, and it means.
The Shaykh : And that it is of the chaff.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : This is what we face in reality always, even from among some of our brothers who are originally from the people of creed, and some methodologies have affected them. They see that following up on these books and exposing their faults and falsifying what is in them of falsehood, they see that this is a waste of time with no benefit. Rather, some of them see it as following up on the faults of people.
The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar! Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The Shaykh : The first thing?
The questioner : Meaning, he points out and clarifies the truth for people, for example, warning against the people of innovation, and so on, and so forth. The second thing is that if an innovator of this type comes to him, he first uses gentleness with him until he sees that he is being stubborn, then he applies the method of the people of the Sunnah, such as not sitting with him, and so on. The observation, and what we have observed, is that some of those who deviate from the correct methodology, from the moment they hear that you are warning, they do not see you. So how do we reconcile now between saying that a person must sit with them, and so on, and the fact that you speak the truth to clarify it for the other people?
The Shaykh : I did not understand from you that there is a contradiction. The one who shines like the sun of a donkey is not to be measured by the other people, for whom you should speak the truth. So I did not understand that there is a contradiction.
The questioner : It is, O Shaykh, what we have observed is that some people, for the sake of the second method, which is wisdom with the one being called, want to silence you from clarifying the truth, so that you come to them, meaning, with ease. This is widespread among callers now.
The Shaykh : Fine, you mention with me the saying of Allah the Exalted:
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 أيّها الّذين آمنوا عليكم أنفسكم لا يضركم من ضلّ إذا إهتديتهمAnother questioner : Many of the opponents of the Salafi methodology are persistent in attacking the Salafi methodology and its symbols, as it is said.
The Shaykh : And?
The questioner : Its symbols.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : From the imams of the Salaf, like Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : And they are persistent in working, not ceasing. And with their persistence, we do not hear shouts or noise around this scheming work. But if, meaning, the flood reaches the brim, and one takes up this dangerous current regarding the refutation, the criticisms come: "You, for example, so-and-so attacked you, you defended, and you heard the shout, you knew this in Syria? Shouts in this severe style, and wisdom is necessary, and gentleness is necessary, and patience is necessary, because the enemies are Ba'athists, Communists, Nasserists, and so on. So we see this group persistent, not ceasing in writings, in comments, in such and such. So what do we do? Is it wisdom that we never criticize their Shaykhs and strive to clarify the truth without this style? Or also, as part of the call, we must take up this current and clarify what is in it of injustice, aggression, and deviation? Meaning, do we combine the two matters, or do we prefer the side of silence and proceed in our call like this quietly, and remain silent about these waves and keep walking?"
The Shaykh : No, that is not enough. It is necessary to combine calling to the truth and refuting those who invalidate and fight the truth and its callers. And this is very clear from our previous speech: speaking the truth and using wisdom and admonition.
Another questioner : It has become in the people's concept that this is not of wisdom.
The Shaykh : What is not?
The questioner : Discussion is not of wisdom...
The Shaykh : We return to the people. What do we have to do with the people? It is upon us to know the truth and to draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by calling to Him. And all of us know the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) in Surat al-'Asr:
(1) By time, (2) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (3) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
والعصر إنّ الإنسان لفي خسر إلا الّذين آمنوا وعملوا الصّالحات وتواصوا بالحقّ وتواصوا بالصّبرNothing is said to you, [O Muhammad], except what was already said to the messengers before you
ما يقال لك إلاّ ما قد قيل للرسل من قبلكIndeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."
إنّما يوفّى الصّابرون أجرهم بغير حسابThe questioner: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
The questioner : O our Shaykh, refuting deviant books and following up on deviant opinions in some books, even if the books are generally beneficial, many of the contemporary callers, or those who affiliate themselves to the call in this era with the different groups, see that following up on these books, meaning, is a waste of the call and a loss, and it means.
The Shaykh : And that it is of the chaff.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The questioner : This is what we face in reality always, even from among some of our brothers who are originally from the people of creed, and some methodologies have affected them. They see that following up on these books and exposing their faults and falsifying what is in them of falsehood, they see that this is a waste of time with no benefit. Rather, some of them see it as following up on the faults of people.
The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar! Allah is the One to be sought for help.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.