Is it obligatory to mention the virtues of an innovator when warning against him, or not?
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The questioner : The questioner, may Allah reward you, asks: If a man falls into an innovation, which may be serious, and you discuss it with him, am I required to mention his virtues, or is it obligatory for me to explain only that innovation or error, or am I required to do something else, such as mentioning his virtues? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : This requires a detailed explanation. As for one who intends to evaluate a man and discuss his life, it is obligatory to mention his good deeds and his bad deeds. As for one who intends to give advice and warn against his innovation and its danger, he should not mention his good deeds, because if he mentions his good deeds, this will encourage people to associate with him. The matter requires a detailed explanation. For example, if a person innovates an innovation and we want to speak to warn against the innovation, we mention him, and there is no harm in that, even if it may be in the public interest not to mention him by name.
And as for when we want to speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention what is in his favor and what is against him. The matter requires a detailed explanation.
The questioner : What is the evidence, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, there is no specific evidence for this; rather, there is a reasoning. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned specific names of individuals in the context of advice, as in the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, where Abu Jahm, Mu'awiyah, and Usamah ibn Zayd proposed to marry her. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned regarding Abu Jahm and Mu'awiyah what implied that she should not marry them, and he said: He did not mention their virtues, even though their virtues are undoubtedly many, but he remained silent about them because the context required this. As for a person who writes about the life of an individual, he must speak justly about what is in his favor and what is against him. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Resurrection.
The Shaykh : This requires a detailed explanation. As for one who intends to evaluate a man and discuss his life, it is obligatory to mention his good deeds and his bad deeds. As for one who intends to give advice and warn against his innovation and its danger, he should not mention his good deeds, because if he mentions his good deeds, this will encourage people to associate with him. The matter requires a detailed explanation. For example, if a person innovates an innovation and we want to speak to warn against the innovation, we mention him, and there is no harm in that, even if it may be in the public interest not to mention him by name.
And as for when we want to speak about his life, it is obligatory to mention what is in his favor and what is against him. The matter requires a detailed explanation.
The questioner : What is the evidence, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, there is no specific evidence for this; rather, there is a reasoning. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned specific names of individuals in the context of advice, as in the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, where Abu Jahm, Mu'awiyah, and Usamah ibn Zayd proposed to marry her. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned regarding Abu Jahm and Mu'awiyah what implied that she should not marry them, and he said: