What is your opinion of those who say that warning against the publications of Muhammad al-Musayyari is backbiting of him, and is it true that you warn against him and say he has no reputation to be defamed?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive us and you, O honorable Shaykh. One of the brothers gave a talk about backbiting and warned against it, and warned against the false publications that Muhammad al-Musayyari is putting out. Then one of the people stood up and responded to him, saying: “What you are doing is backbiting of this person.” Is this correct?
And is it true that it was mentioned about you that this person, al-Musayyari, has no reputation and no backbiting?
Some of us have transmitted that, so we ask you to verify this.
The Shaykh : As for the one who warned against backbiting and against the publications of the man I mentioned, there is no doubt that he is correct. The prohibition of backbiting is found in the Book of Allah:[Al-Hujurat 49:12], so he is on the right path.
And as for the one who told him that mentioning this man who publishes them is also backbiting, we say to him: Mentioning that is not backbiting, but it is advice. Mentioning a person with what he dislikes, as advice to the Muslims, is advice and good. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when Fatimah bint Qays came to him seeking his counsel and saying: “Mu‘awiyah, Abu Jahm, and Usamah ibn Zayd have proposed to me,” say to her (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 1533 The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the two men with what they disliked, without doubt. But why? For what reason?
The questioner : Advice.
The Shaykh : Advice. So if our mentioning this man who stirs up fitnah among the people and publishes the faults of the scholars and the faults of the rulers, if our mentioning him is by way of advice and warning people against him, then that is good. It is something by which a servant draws near to his Lord. And the prohibition of that, meaning the prohibition of warning against this man, is a prohibition of good and a prohibition of advice. I see that this man should be left alone and not be a cause of debate among the youth and among the people. As the proverb says: “If a well comes to you with a bad smell, plug it up and you will be at ease”, and it is not befitting for such a man to be [promoted].
And I think that if many words are not said about him, his fire will be extinguished, and it will be extinguished by the permission of Allah, as we said before:[Al-An'am 6:21], [Yunus 10:81].
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : I say they are distributing the publications.
The Shaykh : They are distributing what?
The questioner : These publications.
The Shaykh : In any case, they will receive their due.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, a matter was issued from you as some transmit.
The Shaykh : There is the rest of the question.
The questioner : Is it true that it was transmitted from you that this man has no reputation and no backbiting?
The Shaykh : No, absolutely not. And it is my custom that I do not mention a specific person at all. For this reason, you will find that in this answer of mine, I prefer not to mention his name, because attaching things to descriptions is better than attaching them to persons. If you attach it to the person, perhaps that person will repent and return to Allah, and your word about him will remain until the Day of Resurrection. But if you mention it by descriptions, it becomes general for him and others, and if Allah decrees his guidance, he will be safe from being faulted. I say: Every person who spreads division and publishes faults, it is obligatory to warn against him. Yes.
And is it true that it was mentioned about you that this person, al-Musayyari, has no reputation and no backbiting?
Some of us have transmitted that, so we ask you to verify this.
The Shaykh : As for the one who warned against backbiting and against the publications of the man I mentioned, there is no doubt that he is correct. The prohibition of backbiting is found in the Book of Allah:
or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it.
ولا يغتب بعضكم بعضاً أيحبّ أحدكم أن يأكل لحم أخيه ميتا فكرهتموهAnd as for the one who told him that mentioning this man who publishes them is also backbiting, we say to him: Mentioning that is not backbiting, but it is advice. Mentioning a person with what he dislikes, as advice to the Muslims, is advice and good. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when Fatimah bint Qays came to him seeking his counsel and saying: “Mu‘awiyah, Abu Jahm, and Usamah ibn Zayd have proposed to me,” say to her (peace and blessings be upon him):
Muawiyah is destitute and he has no property, and Abul-Jahm is very hard on women
أمّا معاوية فصعلوك لا مال له، وأمّا أبو جهم فضرّاب للنّساء، انكحي أسامةThe questioner : Advice.
The Shaykh : Advice. So if our mentioning this man who stirs up fitnah among the people and publishes the faults of the scholars and the faults of the rulers, if our mentioning him is by way of advice and warning people against him, then that is good. It is something by which a servant draws near to his Lord. And the prohibition of that, meaning the prohibition of warning against this man, is a prohibition of good and a prohibition of advice. I see that this man should be left alone and not be a cause of debate among the youth and among the people. As the proverb says: “If a well comes to you with a bad smell, plug it up and you will be at ease”, and it is not befitting for such a man to be [promoted].
And I think that if many words are not said about him, his fire will be extinguished, and it will be extinguished by the permission of Allah, as we said before:
Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.
إنّه لا يفلح الظّالمونIndeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters.
إنّ الله لا يصلح عمل المفسدينThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : I say they are distributing the publications.
The Shaykh : They are distributing what?
The questioner : These publications.
The Shaykh : In any case, they will receive their due.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, a matter was issued from you as some transmit.
The Shaykh : There is the rest of the question.
The questioner : Is it true that it was transmitted from you that this man has no reputation and no backbiting?
The Shaykh : No, absolutely not. And it is my custom that I do not mention a specific person at all. For this reason, you will find that in this answer of mine, I prefer not to mention his name, because attaching things to descriptions is better than attaching them to persons. If you attach it to the person, perhaps that person will repent and return to Allah, and your word about him will remain until the Day of Resurrection. But if you mention it by descriptions, it becomes general for him and others, and if Allah decrees his guidance, he will be safe from being faulted. I say: Every person who spreads division and publishes faults, it is obligatory to warn against him. Yes.