What is your opinion on the golden rule, "We cooperate in what we agree upon and we excuse one another in what we differ on"? And do we excuse the Shi'ah and the Murji'ah?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O honorable Shaykh. It is well known that the Shi'ah and the Murji'ah, all of them, differ greatly from the people of the Sunnah and the community.
There is a rule that some scholars call the golden rule: "We help one another in what we agree upon and we excuse one another in what we differ on". So how do we excuse these Shi'ah?
The Shaykh : This golden rule is not a golden rule, nor does it deserve to be called a rule. What we agree upon is a blessing from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and agreement is better than disagreement. As for what we differ on, the one who differs may be excused, or he may not be excused. If the difference is in a matter where disagreement is permissible, then there is nothing wrong with it.
The Imams have continued to differ; Imam Ahmad, al-Shafi'i, Malik, and Abu Hanifah all differ. However, if the disagreement is of a kind where one is not excused, such as disagreement in matters of creed, then we do not excuse one another. Rather, it is obligatory to return to what the Book and the Sunnah indicate.
Therefore, the Murji'ah, the Shi'ah, and every innovator must return to the Book and the Sunnah, and they are not excused. This rule is not a golden rule; perhaps you should call it a wooden rule. Yes, do you understand now?
In matters where independent legal reasoning is permissible, there is nothing wrong with allowing the one who differs. In matters where independent legal reasoning is not permissible, such as issues of creed where a person opposes the Salaf, he cannot be excused. Yes.
There is a rule that some scholars call the golden rule: "We help one another in what we agree upon and we excuse one another in what we differ on". So how do we excuse these Shi'ah?
The Shaykh : This golden rule is not a golden rule, nor does it deserve to be called a rule. What we agree upon is a blessing from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and agreement is better than disagreement. As for what we differ on, the one who differs may be excused, or he may not be excused. If the difference is in a matter where disagreement is permissible, then there is nothing wrong with it.
The Imams have continued to differ; Imam Ahmad, al-Shafi'i, Malik, and Abu Hanifah all differ. However, if the disagreement is of a kind where one is not excused, such as disagreement in matters of creed, then we do not excuse one another. Rather, it is obligatory to return to what the Book and the Sunnah indicate.
Therefore, the Murji'ah, the Shi'ah, and every innovator must return to the Book and the Sunnah, and they are not excused. This rule is not a golden rule; perhaps you should call it a wooden rule. Yes, do you understand now?
In matters where independent legal reasoning is permissible, there is nothing wrong with allowing the one who differs. In matters where independent legal reasoning is not permissible, such as issues of creed where a person opposes the Salaf, he cannot be excused. Yes.