Is it necessary to declare the holder of a false statement misguided in order to refute that statement?
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The student: ...?
The Shaykh : No, the issue of excuse is a separate matter.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : The issue of excuse is a separate matter. We refute the statement and excuse the one who made it. We tell the man, "If you made a mistake, you made a mistake," and yet we excuse him if we know that his intention is good. In fact, we even love him. We know today of distinguished and noble scholars who followed this path, the path of figurative interpretation (ta'wil) regarding the names and attributes of Allah. And yet we testify to Allah that we love them, because we know that they did not follow that path except out of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) and good intention. Yes, because of their long-standing sincerity in Islam, their advice for the sake of Islam, and their writing in Islam. Yes, such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and many others. No one has the right to dislike them, hate them, or think ill of them. But there is no harm in saying, "If they made a mistake, we say they made a mistake. We say their statement is wrong, their statement is false." But that does not necessitate that we blame this person if we know that their intention is good and that this is what their independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) led them to. And this is the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community (Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah). Therefore, you will not find enmity or hatred between them when their statements differ, because each one of them knows that his brother is excused. But the people of desires, may Allah protect us from them, are those who do not excuse anyone who differs with them, even if they themselves are upon falsehood. And therefore, you will find them harboring enmity and hatred toward those who differ with them. May Allah make you a light in the heavens and the earth.
The Shaykh : No, the issue of excuse is a separate matter.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : The issue of excuse is a separate matter. We refute the statement and excuse the one who made it. We tell the man, "If you made a mistake, you made a mistake," and yet we excuse him if we know that his intention is good. In fact, we even love him. We know today of distinguished and noble scholars who followed this path, the path of figurative interpretation (ta'wil) regarding the names and attributes of Allah. And yet we testify to Allah that we love them, because we know that they did not follow that path except out of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) and good intention. Yes, because of their long-standing sincerity in Islam, their advice for the sake of Islam, and their writing in Islam. Yes, such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and many others. No one has the right to dislike them, hate them, or think ill of them. But there is no harm in saying, "If they made a mistake, we say they made a mistake. We say their statement is wrong, their statement is false." But that does not necessitate that we blame this person if we know that their intention is good and that this is what their independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) led them to. And this is the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community (Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah). Therefore, you will not find enmity or hatred between them when their statements differ, because each one of them knows that his brother is excused. But the people of desires, may Allah protect us from them, are those who do not excuse anyone who differs with them, even if they themselves are upon falsehood. And therefore, you will find them harboring enmity and hatred toward those who differ with them. May Allah make you a light in the heavens and the earth.