If a riddle is posed to a group that includes a young boy who knows the answer, is it better for him to remain silent out of respect for the elders, or should he say it?
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The Shaykh : He says: If a riddle is posed to a group that includes a young boy who knows the answer, is it better for him to remain silent out of respect for the elders, or should he say it? Yes.
The questioner : It is better for him to speak, because 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his son, "I wish you had said it," or as he (may Allah be pleased with him) said.
The Shaykh : Yes, but Ibn 'Umar remained silent.
The questioner : But 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was more knowledgeable than his son.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If there are elders in the gathering, such as the elders of the Companions?
The Shaykh : Yes, hmm, in any case, this depends on what is in the public interest. As long as the person knows that they will be informed of the answer later, let him speak. But if he fears that it will lead to belittling the elders around him, it is better for him to remain silent. It depends on the situation. For example, there may be great scholars who are asked about a matter they do not know, whether in grammar, rhetoric, or the men of hadith, or the like. If the young person has knowledge of it, and their lack of knowledge involves some degree of mockery or criticism of them, he should prioritize their feelings and leave it, as long as he will be informed of the answer later. I think that is good. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) only wished that so his son would have a point of pride in this matter. His son (may Allah be pleased with him) noticed that he did not like to take pride over people who were older than him. Otherwise, it is well known أن عمر لما جمع الأنصار حين قالوا له كيف تحضر ابن عباس وتدع أبناءنا أحضرهم يوما من الأيام مع ابن عباس وسألهم عن قوله تعالى : إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح ورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجا فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان توابا قال لهم ما تقولون في هذه السورة ؟ قالوا : نقول إن الله أمر نبيه أنه إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح ورأى الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجا أن يسبح بحمد ربه ويستغفره فقال ما تقول يا ابن عباس ؟ فقال : أقول إن هذا نعي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : لا أرى فيها إلا ما رأيت When 'Umar gathered the Ansar, after they had said to him, "How is it that you bring Ibn 'Abbas and leave our sons behind?" he brought them together with Ibn 'Abbas one day and asked them about the words of the Exalted: "When the help of Allah and the conquest come, and you see the people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with the praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance." He asked them, "What do you say about this surah?" They said, "We say that Allah commanded His Prophet that when the help of Allah and the conquest come, and he sees the people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, he should exalt [Him] with the praise of his Lord and ask forgiveness of Him." Then he said, "What do you say, O Ibn 'Abbas?" He said, "I say that this is the announcement of the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." He said, "I see in it nothing but what I have seen." But as you see, in this case, the questioner specifically designated Ibn 'Abbas. If he is specifically designated, he must answer. However, if those older than him are present, and he answers while being younger than them, it may lead to their anxiety and encourage them to be anxious, to blame themselves, and to say, "How is it that this one who is younger than us knows, and we do not?" In this case, it is better for him to speak. This occurs, for example, among students, not between a student and the great elders, where this would involve embarrassing them, blaming them, and criticizing them. The important thing is that every situation has its own appropriate response. Yes.
The questioner : It is better for him to speak, because 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his son, "I wish you had said it," or as he (may Allah be pleased with him) said.
The Shaykh : Yes, but Ibn 'Umar remained silent.
The questioner : But 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was more knowledgeable than his son.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If there are elders in the gathering, such as the elders of the Companions?
The Shaykh : Yes, hmm, in any case, this depends on what is in the public interest. As long as the person knows that they will be informed of the answer later, let him speak. But if he fears that it will lead to belittling the elders around him, it is better for him to remain silent. It depends on the situation. For example, there may be great scholars who are asked about a matter they do not know, whether in grammar, rhetoric, or the men of hadith, or the like. If the young person has knowledge of it, and their lack of knowledge involves some degree of mockery or criticism of them, he should prioritize their feelings and leave it, as long as he will be informed of the answer later. I think that is good. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) only wished that so his son would have a point of pride in this matter. His son (may Allah be pleased with him) noticed that he did not like to take pride over people who were older than him. Otherwise, it is well known أن عمر لما جمع الأنصار حين قالوا له كيف تحضر ابن عباس وتدع أبناءنا أحضرهم يوما من الأيام مع ابن عباس وسألهم عن قوله تعالى : إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح ورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجا فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان توابا قال لهم ما تقولون في هذه السورة ؟ قالوا : نقول إن الله أمر نبيه أنه إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح ورأى الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجا أن يسبح بحمد ربه ويستغفره فقال ما تقول يا ابن عباس ؟ فقال : أقول إن هذا نعي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : لا أرى فيها إلا ما رأيت When 'Umar gathered the Ansar, after they had said to him, "How is it that you bring Ibn 'Abbas and leave our sons behind?" he brought them together with Ibn 'Abbas one day and asked them about the words of the Exalted: "When the help of Allah and the conquest come, and you see the people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with the praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance." He asked them, "What do you say about this surah?" They said, "We say that Allah commanded His Prophet that when the help of Allah and the conquest come, and he sees the people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, he should exalt [Him] with the praise of his Lord and ask forgiveness of Him." Then he said, "What do you say, O Ibn 'Abbas?" He said, "I say that this is the announcement of the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." He said, "I see in it nothing but what I have seen." But as you see, in this case, the questioner specifically designated Ibn 'Abbas. If he is specifically designated, he must answer. However, if those older than him are present, and he answers while being younger than them, it may lead to their anxiety and encourage them to be anxious, to blame themselves, and to say, "How is it that this one who is younger than us knows, and we do not?" In this case, it is better for him to speak. This occurs, for example, among students, not between a student and the great elders, where this would involve embarrassing them, blaming them, and criticizing them. The important thing is that every situation has its own appropriate response. Yes.