Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: Cassette tape ”Aqwâl-ul-´Ulamâ’ fîl-Jihâd”
Reference: Darulhadith, Sweden
Translation and Video by aFatwa.com (site is down)
Question: After the reckless attacks, the scholars that follow the methodology of the Salaf have been slandered a lot. They are accused of coaxing the disbelievers and of being to their satisfaction. How do you advise these people who say this?
Shaykh al-Fawzân: What has this person, who slanders the scholars and accuses them of this and that, done himself? What has he done himself? What has he himself done? What has he done against the disbelievers? Or is he only talking without doing anything?
Secondly, he is asked the question: Do you know what is means to coax? Do you know what it means to be to someone’s satisfaction? There is a difference between coaxing and pleasing someone. Does he know the difference? Or is he talking without knowledge?
Thirdly, one should during these circumstances keep one’s mouth closed. One should keep the mouth closed in order not to fall into gossiping, backbiting, and splitting the Muslims. The human is obliged to keep the mouth closed. These issues have their men who take care of them; the scholars and the rulers. They are the ones who treat these issues. It is namely not these people’s concern. There are correct people who take care of them. Allâh says:
“When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly).” (The Qur’ân 4:83, interpretation of the meanings)
Not everyone is able to delve into these matters. These matters are for those charged with authority and they are the scholars and the rulers. This is their responsibility and we are obliged to advise them and pray for them that they get success in what they are doing and that they firmly remain established upon the truth. We have nevertheless no right to sit in our meetings and backbite this one, slander that one and insult the third. This is pure evil. There is no good in it. It is pure evil. All it leads to is the splitting of the Muslims and that one gets evil thoughts about the scholars and the rulers. And in the end, there’s just more tribulations.
It is obligatory to understand these matters. These issues are not a big mess. Religious issues have rules and principles. They have their sources. If you have some knowledge or something to clarify, then you should go to those responsible or write them a letter. However, that you should speak in sittings, this is considered to be disallowed. It leads to tribulations and evilness. You are talking with ignorant people who do not understand anything. You thereafter incite them against their brothers and rulers. Where is the benefit in this? If you have some knowledge or something to say, then you should go to the rulers. The prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The religion is an advice.” They (the companions) said: “To whom, O messenger of Allâh?” He said: “To Allâh, His book, His messenger, the leaders and laymen of the Muslims.”
A Nasîhah means that you advise, not that you disparage people and accuse them of coaxing and that they are to other’s satisfaction. It is worse than what you are afraid of.
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