From the Manhaj of the Muhaddith, Shaykh, Allamaa’ Muhammad Nasiruddeen al-Albaani
Concerning Boycotting the People of Bida’
Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
Part One
The Issue of giving Advice before Spreading a Refutation
Shaykh Albaani was asked:
‘What branches off from this[previous question: mentioning the good deeds of an individual while refuting him] is the statement of some of the people or more correctly should I say, the condition set by some of the people who say that in the case of refutations it’s necessary before it being printed, that a copy is sent to the one being refuted so that they can look into it. They say that this is from the Manhaj of the Salaf?’
Shaykh Albaani answers:
‘This is not a condition, however if it’s easy to do, and it is hoped from this practice to bring that person closer without making the case well-known between the people, then there is no doubt that this matter is good.
As for firstly making it a condition, and then secondly making it a general condition then this is not at all from wisdom in any circumstances.
The people, as you all know, are of different natures, like the natures of gold and silver. So the one whom you know from him that he is with us on the path and methodology and that he would accept the advice, wherein you can at least write to him without making his mistake public as you see it, then this is good.
However, this is not a condition, even if this was a condition it’s not a possible matter, where can you get that person’s address? How can you contact him? Then, will you get a response from him or not? These are matters which are absolutely speculative.. . . . implementing this condition is very difficult, that is why this point is not conditional.’
[Taken from the cassette entitled: ‘al-Muwwazanaat Fee Naqd’ Side A from the ‘Silsilah al-Huda wa Noor’ No.638]
Part Two
Making (Hajr) Boycotting the Ahl-ul-Bida’
The Questioner: Regarding what is connected to boycotting the Mubtadi’ (person ofBida’) O Shaykh.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
Questioner: What appears from what I heard is that you have a regard for the benefit of the Mubtadi’ himself.
The Shaykh: Yes.
Questioner: And you do not reject the principle of boycotting?
The Shaykh: I do not deny the principle of Hajr, this is obligatory, this Hajr is. .
Questioner: O Shaykh as you notice we see the opinion of the impermissibility of theHajr of the Mubtadi’ – we take into consideration the benefit for this Mubtadi’. Do we not see the general benefit for those who might become misguided due his effecting them, then there’s another thing…
The Shaykh: Leave the other issue until we’ve looked into the first issue. This issue in reality my brother, from a practical view needs precise knowledge and precise practical action, so just now you gave an example of a scholar who mixes with a Mubtadi’ and the general people think that there is good in this Mubtadi’, do you view this scholar as one who flatters people?
Questioner: No.
The Shaykh: Okay, so if you view the opposite of this, as I hoped then it is possible for me to say, that you hold the opinion, that this scholar criticizes them for this Bida’[they practice], he advises them, and he admonishes them. So if this is the case, then from where will the danger come to the general people when they hear him, when he advises them and reminds them etc.
Questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: So this danger which you notice and indicate towards is regarding the one who flatters people and not regarding the one who criticizes the Bida’, this is also better, so there is a difference between one scholar and another scholar.
Questioner: May Allaah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: I mean, in other words, the one who goes along with them and remains quiet about their Bida’ and their misguidance and is over-looking, then we criticize this and it is necessary to make it clear.
[Taken from sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=363847]
Part Three
Is it permissible to defame a companion of Bida’ or to speak against him and criticize him?
Shaykh Albaani answers:
The people of Bida’ are of two kinds:
Either he conceals it to himself – or he is well known amongst the people. As for the first instance then there is no need to make it well know, because his misguidance is limited to his own self.
As for the other type then it is necessary to defame him and warn against him, so that the people who live amongst him are not deceived by him; And this is not backbiting at all – like some of the obstinate ones presume – and the hadeeth Of Backbiting: ‘you mentioning about your brother that which he dislikes to be mentioned’ this hadeeth is from those that are general and which is specific.
I have mentioned to you the saying of some of the Scholars in two lines of poetry, which gathers the type of backbiting which is exempted from being Haram, so they say:
القدح ليس بغيبةٍ في ستةٍ ……….متظلم ومعرِّفٍ ومحذرٍ
ومجاهر فِسقاً ومستفتٍ ومـن…… طلب الإعانة في إزالة منكر
Defamation is not backbiting regarding six types of people**
The oppressed and for recognition and the one warned against***
The one who openly sins and the one who necessitates a verdict***
The one who seeks aid in removing an evil***
Mutathalumin : being oppressed – Mua’arafin: recognition – Muhadeerin: Warning against Mujahir fisqan : One who openly sins – Mustaftin : Inquiring a fatwaa
Istee’ana fee Ezzalatin Munkarin : seeking assistance in changing the evil
So defaming the Mubtadi’ enters into this definition and it also enters into warning against him; this is why the Scholars of hadeeth –May Allaah reward them with goodness- are agreed upon characterizing many of the narrators of hadeeth with what they had innovated into the Deen. The scholars of hadeeth mention all of this due to them standing up with the obligation of clarifying it for the people; So that it would be known who is the strong narrator and his ‘Aqeedah is accepted. The narrator who is aMubtadi’ is abandoned along with his deviated ‘Aqeedah.
[Taken from an audio clip : http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=353601]
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