How to Deal with Orientalists and Their Writings

Question:
Our brother has another issue, in which he says: The appearance of books by Orientalist authors in the Arabic language has revealed a looming danger to our thinking, which was formed by reading the books of the righteous Salaf. And I clarify this by saying: Our writers, authors, and historians have continued, and they have not ceased, to use reverent terms for those they write about, whereas we see these Orientalists, as you read their works, that they are moderate in this, meaning: you see that they write with full deliberation and do not throw words around carelessly, meaning that they mention both faults and virtues, while the Arab writer, even if he is writing a story or something about the Muslims, you find that he mentions the virtues without the slips and faults, which has made the reader not confident in what this Arab Muslim writer writes.
I ask for guidance and clarification of this issue. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
There is no doubt that writers differ, and there is no doubt that translators for people differ. Some people are moderate and mention the virtues and good deeds of a man so that he may be emulated and followed in good, and they leave out the sins that should not be mentioned, because it is not permissible to mention the sins of the dead, because that is backbiting, so it is not permissible to mention their faults, rather it is permissible to mention their good deeds in which they are to be emulated.
As for the sins, they should be buried and not mentioned, because that is backbiting, and Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Hujurat: 12]. Unless that man is from the people of innovation, from the people of disbelief in Allah, from those whom one fears will be emulated in falsehood, then you mention his faults so that people may be warned and not emulate him in his falsehood, and this would be from the category of advising the Muslims. So if the translator or historian mentions some of the faults of the dead, which are innovations they committed or propaganda against Islam, or the like, and clarifies this so that people may be warned and not emulate them in falsehood, then this is good.
As for the sins that are between him and Allah, which are less than disbelief, they should not be mentioned and should be left, because that is backbiting, and their great virtues and good deeds, for which they are supplicated and emulated, should be mentioned. This is how it should be for the historian and translator of the dead. But as for one who is famous for evil and innovation, or the like, his innovation and the evil for which he is famous should be clarified so that he is not emulated and so that his condition is known. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.

The presenter: And Allah is the Helper, may Allah reward you with good.