What is the ruling on the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) existing between students of knowledge and the shaykhs, and the fanaticism of each for a statement and his refutation of the other?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh, O Shaykh. What is your opinion regarding the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) present between some students of knowledge and shaykhs, concerning the youth? Some of them are fanatical about a statement and refute the other. What do you say about this?
The Shaykh : What I see is that this is something Satan throws between people by sowing discord among them. When Satan saw the opening in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the strength of Islam, he despaired of being worshipped in this peninsula, but [he resorted] to sowing discord among them, and this is the reality.
And what we see is that it is obligatory for the youth and non-youth to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to reform their relations among themselves, as Allah has commanded:[Al-Anfal 8:1] And that their concern not be gossip and excessive questioning, but rather that every person sees to his religious and worldly benefit and attends to it. As for exposing people by their persons, by disparaging them, when they may not be worthy of disparagement, this is a great error.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about backbiting, and he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4874Sahih (Al-Albani)
The backbiting of scholars and rulers is more severe than the backbiting of others, because the backbiting of scholars leads to the lowering of the scholar's status among people. And when the scholar's status is lowered among people, they do not accept what he brings from the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) of Allah. Thus, the backbiting of the scholar becomes a disparagement of him and a prevention of what people benefit from of what he conveys from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The backbiting of rulers is also, likewise, a great calamity, because if people lower the status of their rulers in their eyes, they will not submit to their orders, and they will look down upon them. Thus, chaos will result, and security will be disrupted. For this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:[An-Nisa 4:59] This includes scholars and rulers. If these people are those whom we are commanded to obey in other than disobedience to Allah, then it is obligatory to respect them and respect their honor. And if we know of an error or a slip from one of them, it is obligatory to advise him so that the issue is resolved.
The important thing is that I advise the youth against this division, and I say: Beware of fanaticism for a person. Be fanatical for the truth wherever it is. Do not hate this one because he is not on the opinion of this one, or that one because he is not on the opinion of this one. Rather, it is obligatory to love the people of good and to avoid spreading faults. After that
The Shaykh : What I see is that this is something Satan throws between people by sowing discord among them. When Satan saw the opening in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the strength of Islam, he despaired of being worshipped in this peninsula, but [he resorted] to sowing discord among them, and this is the reality.
And what we see is that it is obligatory for the youth and non-youth to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to reform their relations among themselves, as Allah has commanded:
So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about backbiting, and he said:
It is saying something about your brother which he would dislike. He was asked again: Tell me how the matter stands if what I say about my brother is true? He replied: If what you say of him is true, you have slandered him, and if what you say of him is not true, you have reviled him.
هي: ذِكْرُك أخاك بما يَكْرَه، قال: أرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه ما تقول فقد بَهَتَّهThe backbiting of scholars and rulers is more severe than the backbiting of others, because the backbiting of scholars leads to the lowering of the scholar's status among people. And when the scholar's status is lowered among people, they do not accept what he brings from the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) of Allah. Thus, the backbiting of the scholar becomes a disparagement of him and a prevention of what people benefit from of what he conveys from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The backbiting of rulers is also, likewise, a great calamity, because if people lower the status of their rulers in their eyes, they will not submit to their orders, and they will look down upon them. Thus, chaos will result, and security will be disrupted. For this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْThe important thing is that I advise the youth against this division, and I say: Beware of fanaticism for a person. Be fanatical for the truth wherever it is. Do not hate this one because he is not on the opinion of this one, or that one because he is not on the opinion of this one. Rather, it is obligatory to love the people of good and to avoid spreading faults. After that