The Meaning of the Poet's Statement: (And an explanation of the Salaf's fear of hastening in issuing fatwas and asserting prohibition or permissibility without knowledge) and I seek refuge in the Merciful from asserting without *** knowledge
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The Shaykh : Then he said "And I seek refuge in the Merciful from asserting without *** knowledge"
Yes, he sought refuge in Allah from asserting one of the two opinions without knowledge. This is obligatory for every Muslim, every believer. If he has hesitation regarding a matter, it is not permissible for him to assert it. This was the practice of the Salaf. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), who is one of the Imams of the Salaf, when asked about something, would say, "I hope," or "It seems to me," or "It does not seem to me," or "I do not say," or "I am hesitant about this," or similar words that indicate his scrupulousness (may Allah have mercy on him). But in our time, praise be to Allah, we have young men in the first stage of seeking knowledge, and then they speak about a matter in which the great scholars of knowledge hesitate, saying, "This is definitely forbidden," and "This is definitely obligatory," and "It is obligatory to show loyalty and hostility regarding this issue." How is this? This is a serious error. It is obligatory for a person to be polite with Allah, because the one who issues a fatwa or speaks about the religion of Allah, the Shari'ah of Allah—the scholars are the heirs of the prophets and the successors of the prophets—must be cautious and not assert anything except with knowledge. Therefore,
"I seek refuge in Allah from asserting without *** knowledge"
Indeed, assertion requires knowledge. Suspicion is not sufficient; knowledge is required. But a person is human and may not encompass the evidence or may not encompass its understanding. In such a case, he says, "This is, to my knowledge," or "This is, in my general opinion," or similar phrases. As for asserting without knowledge, and his stock of knowledge being a mere trifle, where he has not known except one or two hadiths or an interpretation of one or two verses, and then he says in his inner state, "I am the son of Jal and the one who sees the peaks", this is not correct. It is obligatory for a person to be polite in the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We ask Allah to make us so. He said,
"And I seek refuge in the Merciful from asserting without *** knowledge, and this is the utmost of what is possible"
May Allah reward him with good. I mean, this is the utmost that I was able to do. I presented to you the research and discussion, and even so, it has not matured for me and has not become clear to me.
Yes, he sought refuge in Allah from asserting one of the two opinions without knowledge. This is obligatory for every Muslim, every believer. If he has hesitation regarding a matter, it is not permissible for him to assert it. This was the practice of the Salaf. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), who is one of the Imams of the Salaf, when asked about something, would say, "I hope," or "It seems to me," or "It does not seem to me," or "I do not say," or "I am hesitant about this," or similar words that indicate his scrupulousness (may Allah have mercy on him). But in our time, praise be to Allah, we have young men in the first stage of seeking knowledge, and then they speak about a matter in which the great scholars of knowledge hesitate, saying, "This is definitely forbidden," and "This is definitely obligatory," and "It is obligatory to show loyalty and hostility regarding this issue." How is this? This is a serious error. It is obligatory for a person to be polite with Allah, because the one who issues a fatwa or speaks about the religion of Allah, the Shari'ah of Allah—the scholars are the heirs of the prophets and the successors of the prophets—must be cautious and not assert anything except with knowledge. Therefore,
"I seek refuge in Allah from asserting without *** knowledge"
Indeed, assertion requires knowledge. Suspicion is not sufficient; knowledge is required. But a person is human and may not encompass the evidence or may not encompass its understanding. In such a case, he says, "This is, to my knowledge," or "This is, in my general opinion," or similar phrases. As for asserting without knowledge, and his stock of knowledge being a mere trifle, where he has not known except one or two hadiths or an interpretation of one or two verses, and then he says in his inner state, "I am the son of Jal and the one who sees the peaks", this is not correct. It is obligatory for a person to be polite in the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We ask Allah to make us so. He said,
"And I seek refuge in the Merciful from asserting without *** knowledge, and this is the utmost of what is possible"
May Allah reward him with good. I mean, this is the utmost that I was able to do. I presented to you the research and discussion, and even so, it has not matured for me and has not become clear to me.