The Ruling on Declaring Some Imams of the People of the Sunnah as Innovators
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Question:
What is the ruling on declaring a group of the Imams of the People of the Sunnah as innovators on the grounds that they erred in creed, such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar, and others?
Answer:
One who errs is not to be held to his error; the error is rejected, just as Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "None of us is free from being refuted and having refutation directed at him, except the occupant of this grave," meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Every scholar errs and hits the mark, so his correct statements are taken and his errors are left. If a person is known for following the Salafi creed but falls into some errors, the error is left and he is not thereby excluded from the Salafi creed, provided he is known for following the Salaf. However, if some errors occur in some of his hadith commentaries or in some words that come from him, the error is not accepted and he is not followed in it.
Likewise, all the Imams: if al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifa, Malik, Ahmad, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, or others err, the correct is taken and the error is left. The error is that which contradicts the Shari'ah evidence, which is what Allah and His Messenger said. No one is to be taken except for an error that contradicts the evidence. It is obligatory to follow the truth. Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Hashr: 7].
The scholars have agreed that every person is to be taken from his speech and left, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is obligatory to follow what he brought and accept it, and not to reject anything of what he brought (peace and blessings be upon him), due to the noble verse mentioned and what is in its meaning, and due to His saying, the Exalted: [Surah al-Nisa: 59].
What is the ruling on declaring a group of the Imams of the People of the Sunnah as innovators on the grounds that they erred in creed, such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar, and others?
Answer:
One who errs is not to be held to his error; the error is rejected, just as Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "None of us is free from being refuted and having refutation directed at him, except the occupant of this grave," meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Every scholar errs and hits the mark, so his correct statements are taken and his errors are left. If a person is known for following the Salafi creed but falls into some errors, the error is left and he is not thereby excluded from the Salafi creed, provided he is known for following the Salaf. However, if some errors occur in some of his hadith commentaries or in some words that come from him, the error is not accepted and he is not followed in it.
Likewise, all the Imams: if al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifa, Malik, Ahmad, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, or others err, the correct is taken and the error is left. The error is that which contradicts the Shari'ah evidence, which is what Allah and His Messenger said. No one is to be taken except for an error that contradicts the evidence. It is obligatory to follow the truth. Allah the Exalted said:
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواThe scholars have agreed that every person is to be taken from his speech and left, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is obligatory to follow what he brought and accept it, and not to reject anything of what he brought (peace and blessings be upon him), due to the noble verse mentioned and what is in its meaning, and due to His saying, the Exalted:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.