The danger of scholars backbiting one another, and what is obligatory toward a scholar when another scholar's error is reported to him
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The Shaykh : And unfortunately, some people have fallen into backbiting scholars. You find them to be scholars; this one is a scholar and this one is a scholar, this one is a virtuous person and this one is a virtuous person, yet each one backbites the other. Why? Why does a person attack his partner in the religion of Allah and his partner in carrying the Shari'ah of Allah? He might say: "Because this man made a mistake in one of his statements." We say: Is anyone infallible? Answer, everyone: No, no one is infallible. So, if a statement attributed to a person among the people of knowledge is mentioned to you, and you see that it is an error, it is obligatory to follow the following stages.
The first stage is to verify. You must verify. How many statements have been attributed to some of the virtuous scholars, and when you investigate them, you find no basis for them at all? So the first thing that is obligatory is: what? To verify. Did it actually come from him or not?
Second: If the error attributed to him is established through a sound path, and I am convinced of it and certain of it, then it is obligatory that we reflect and think. Because something may appear to be an error at first glance, but upon reflection, it becomes clear that it is correct. And you yourself do this: at first glance, you see something as a benefit, then it becomes clear to you that it is not a benefit. Likewise, what is reported from scholars should not be rejected at first, especially if it is attributed to a scholar trusted for his knowledge and his trustworthiness. Do not reject it at first. Think and investigate: Did any of the previous scholars say this? Does it have a share of consideration? If it has a share of consideration, then convince the one who reported this statement to you that the one who said it is mistaken. Say: "My brother, this is correct. What you reported from so-and-so is a correct statement." Convince him, and by this, the matter is concluded. If it becomes clear to you that the error attributed to him is truly an error, then it is obligatory upon you not to spread this error among the people, because this is backbiting. It is obligatory that you first contact this scholar and ask him, saying: "It has reached me such and such." Then, when discussing this with the scholar, do not discuss with him as an equal, because you are, for example, a student of knowledge or a layman, and he is a great scholar. Speak to him calmly. Say: "It has reached me such and such. Is this correct?" If he says, "Yes, it is correct," say: "Inform me of its basis so that I am convinced and can convince others." If he mentions a correct basis, it is obligatory for you to accept it and defend it. If he mentions a basis that you see as an error, there is no harm in discussion. There is no harm in discussion, because discussion is the key to knowledge. Discuss with him. Say: "How do you say that?" Do not say "How do you say that?" Say: "How can the ruling be like this when the evidence contradicts it?" At that point, either it becomes clear that he made a mistake, in which case he must return to the truth, or it becomes clear that he is correct, in which case his statement must be accepted and defended. As for the fact that some of us attack the honor of others, and it is consumed and destroyed, and thereby evil, fanaticism, and division occur, this is a matter that is not approved by the Shari'ah, nor by sound reason. The people used to have respect for their brothers and did not backbite them, but Satan stirred up enmity between them by throwing these things among them, which can be resolved, and praise be to Allah.
The first stage is to verify. You must verify. How many statements have been attributed to some of the virtuous scholars, and when you investigate them, you find no basis for them at all? So the first thing that is obligatory is: what? To verify. Did it actually come from him or not?
Second: If the error attributed to him is established through a sound path, and I am convinced of it and certain of it, then it is obligatory that we reflect and think. Because something may appear to be an error at first glance, but upon reflection, it becomes clear that it is correct. And you yourself do this: at first glance, you see something as a benefit, then it becomes clear to you that it is not a benefit. Likewise, what is reported from scholars should not be rejected at first, especially if it is attributed to a scholar trusted for his knowledge and his trustworthiness. Do not reject it at first. Think and investigate: Did any of the previous scholars say this? Does it have a share of consideration? If it has a share of consideration, then convince the one who reported this statement to you that the one who said it is mistaken. Say: "My brother, this is correct. What you reported from so-and-so is a correct statement." Convince him, and by this, the matter is concluded. If it becomes clear to you that the error attributed to him is truly an error, then it is obligatory upon you not to spread this error among the people, because this is backbiting. It is obligatory that you first contact this scholar and ask him, saying: "It has reached me such and such." Then, when discussing this with the scholar, do not discuss with him as an equal, because you are, for example, a student of knowledge or a layman, and he is a great scholar. Speak to him calmly. Say: "It has reached me such and such. Is this correct?" If he says, "Yes, it is correct," say: "Inform me of its basis so that I am convinced and can convince others." If he mentions a correct basis, it is obligatory for you to accept it and defend it. If he mentions a basis that you see as an error, there is no harm in discussion. There is no harm in discussion, because discussion is the key to knowledge. Discuss with him. Say: "How do you say that?" Do not say "How do you say that?" Say: "How can the ruling be like this when the evidence contradicts it?" At that point, either it becomes clear that he made a mistake, in which case he must return to the truth, or it becomes clear that he is correct, in which case his statement must be accepted and defended. As for the fact that some of us attack the honor of others, and it is consumed and destroyed, and thereby evil, fanaticism, and division occur, this is a matter that is not approved by the Shari'ah, nor by sound reason. The people used to have respect for their brothers and did not backbite them, but Satan stirred up enmity between them by throwing these things among them, which can be resolved, and praise be to Allah.