Discussion regarding what is obligatory concerning an error attributed to a scholar.
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The Shaykh : But if an error is attributed to you, or if an error is reported to you from a scholar, you must follow the following stages. First, the...
The student: First, confirmation. Confirm that...
The Shaykh : Confirmation, may Allah reward you. I mean, verify it. Do not rush to accept the truth of what was reported about him.
The student: What was reported about...
The Shaykh : ...the scholar or the student of knowledge, may Allah reward you. The second stage, please proceed.
The student: Looking into...
The Shaykh : Yes, looking into what was reported about him: is it correct or incorrect? If it is correct, what is your position?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I mean, if the statement is correct and contains no error.
The student: His statement is accepted.
The Shaykh : It is accepted, and I also defend him if someone speaks about what was said about him. I defend him, saying, "This is the truth, and I do not care," may Allah reward you. The third stage, yes, that is right.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : So what do I do? I verify, and I see that it actually happened. I reflect, and I see that it is an error. I mean, I go to the scholar with respect and good manners and discuss it with him. It is clear that if the error becomes apparent to him, it is obligatory for him to retract, and there is no blame on him for retracting from his statement. And if the truth is with him, it is obligatory for me to adopt the truth and defend it, may Allah reward you. If we had followed this path, this would not have happened: some people speaking about the honor of their brothers and disparaging them. I ask Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, to unite our hearts upon mindfulness of Allah, to grant us love among us, and to make us among those who love each other for His majesty and greatness. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And now, to the questions.
The questioner : It has brightened.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : It has brightened.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : I say, it has brightened.
The Shaykh : It has brightened? No, my brother, I do not see the sun above me. The sun has brightened now.
The questioner : According to the clock.
The Shaykh : We will take questions; there is no objection.
The student: First, confirmation. Confirm that...
The Shaykh : Confirmation, may Allah reward you. I mean, verify it. Do not rush to accept the truth of what was reported about him.
The student: What was reported about...
The Shaykh : ...the scholar or the student of knowledge, may Allah reward you. The second stage, please proceed.
The student: Looking into...
The Shaykh : Yes, looking into what was reported about him: is it correct or incorrect? If it is correct, what is your position?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I mean, if the statement is correct and contains no error.
The student: His statement is accepted.
The Shaykh : It is accepted, and I also defend him if someone speaks about what was said about him. I defend him, saying, "This is the truth, and I do not care," may Allah reward you. The third stage, yes, that is right.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : So what do I do? I verify, and I see that it actually happened. I reflect, and I see that it is an error. I mean, I go to the scholar with respect and good manners and discuss it with him. It is clear that if the error becomes apparent to him, it is obligatory for him to retract, and there is no blame on him for retracting from his statement. And if the truth is with him, it is obligatory for me to adopt the truth and defend it, may Allah reward you. If we had followed this path, this would not have happened: some people speaking about the honor of their brothers and disparaging them. I ask Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, to unite our hearts upon mindfulness of Allah, to grant us love among us, and to make us among those who love each other for His majesty and greatness. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And now, to the questions.
The questioner : It has brightened.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : It has brightened.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : I say, it has brightened.
The Shaykh : It has brightened? No, my brother, I do not see the sun above me. The sun has brightened now.
The questioner : According to the clock.
The Shaykh : We will take questions; there is no objection.