What is your advice regarding how to respond to Muhammad al-Ghazali?

Al-Halabi : A while back, our brother Bakhit, who is from the Hijrah Ifta' group, and our brother Kamil al-Masri, do you remember when they came to you with Abu Ahmad and they stayed up late with the book *Waqifat*? It encouraged us greatly to renew the idea you proposed long ago, Shaykh, which is responding to Muhammad al-Ghazali, especially after his book "The Sunnah Between the People of Jurisprudence and the People of Hadith." So, I actually gathered four or five books, and we met with our brother Salim, and we saw that, indeed, this is necessary. And by chance, glory to Allah, two brothers from Algeria sent us letters saying that this new Mu'tazili has appeared, and I don't know what he wants, this and that. So, Shaykh, how do you see the approach we can use to deal with this man, especially since all his methods are rhetorical; he has no knowledge, he is emotional, Shaykh. I ask for your guidance?

The Shaykh : By Allah, if I have something, it seems to me that the response to him should be in two parts. The first part: explaining the psychology of this writer and clarifying that he is no different from the prominent figures of the early Mu'tazilah and the rationalists who prioritize personal opinion over the Prophetic text. Explain this as much as you can; this is the first part. The second part: criticizing his words related to refuting some of his views that contradict the Sunnah. He is certainly an ignorant man, without doubt, deluded by the eloquence of his tongue and the ease of his pen. This deluded him and made him think that he has some knowledge, when in fact he has none. So, what seems to me, and Allah knows best, is that the response should be in two parts: one to clearly associate him with the people of opinion and the Mu'tazilah, and then to bring the evidence from this book of his or other books of his, if that is possible for you.
Al-Halabi : Several books now, five books, specifically against the Salafiyyah.

The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar, against him. And you bring some examples of his mockery of the Sunnah. In truth, the field for responding to him is very wide, so that it becomes clear to the person when he delves into it. He does not care about the issue of Islamic identity at all. It is not like this; rather, he mocks, as you know, those Salafis who care about preserving Islamic identity in the heart of the land of disbelief, while this man should be thanked and supported for it. As an Azhari, he does not pay attention to these issues in the country either, as they say, Arabism.
Al-Halabi : Now something comes to my mind. The word "Azhari" moves the mind; he preserved his Azhari attire and clothing more than the youth preserve the attire of the Sunnah.

The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. I wrote a word in some of the comments.
Al-Halabi : On the book itself.

The Shaykh : No, on a hadith or a comment; I no longer remember where. The important thing, and here is the point: what was the occasion I brought up? Yes, the comment on the well-known hadith: So I wrote a comment here in *Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah*. I am now remembering that this hadith contains one of the Islamic etiquettes that Muslims have abandoned due to their ignorance of the Sunnah and their lack of interest in it. In fact, some of those who are called preachers in the present day may deny such things and call them shells or trivial matters or the like. You know this talk. But the thing that might be new, at least in expression, is that at a time when you find many of these people caring about their attire by imitating some famous preachers like Hasan al-Banna (may Allah have mercy on him), you find one of them adopting a short beard with a mustache and maintaining the imitation of Hasan al-Banna, while imitating the Master of Mankind is considered shells and trivial matters. This description applies to al-Ghazali, and the first to be blinded by such talk is one like him. I ask for success for you in what you are doing, if Allah wills.
Abu Layla : May Allah reward you with good.
Al-Halabi : Our professor, I mentioned to you about a letter I had indicated in the third or fourth volume of *Da'if*; I said "Kalamat Sawaa'." You commented on it, I think it followed al-Najari. It would be good if this were added to the book, or the manuscript of Mahmud Sa'id, and if you could send us a copy of it, as well as the letters of al-Ghamari. These are good things if they are added.

The Shaykh : "Kalamat Sawaa'." I don't know if it is with me or with my brother-in-law Hammam. If Allah wills, we will try to find it and see what we can present from it.
Al-Halabi : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Welcome.