Answered by our Shaykh, the ‘Allaamah, the Sincere Adviser, Abu ‘Abdirrahman Yahya bin ‘Ali Al-Hajoori – may Allaah preserve him – on the 6th, Saffar, 1423H
Question:
Is it a must for the students of knowledge to know the one that’s wrong from the one that is correct, in our time?
Especially in the affairs which we are experiencing, or is it restricted only for the scholars?
And do we say that the speech of some of the scholars in disparagement of someone in opposition is considered chit chat and lack of busying with knowledge?
Answer:
The consensus of the Ummah is established upon Disparagement and Appraisal, while observing the taqwah of Allaah, and knowing the truth and observing justness and fairness and the lack of lying.
Allaah, the Most High, said:
(يَٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ)
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin” [An-Nisaa:135]
And He, Exalted free of all imperfections, said:
(وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى)
“say the truth even if a near relative is concerned” [Al-An’aam:152]
And the student of knowledge is most deserving to know the methodology of falsehood from the methodology of uprightness. He didn’t seek knowledge except to shed light upon his path and benefit himself and to benefit others.
The men of the knowledge and their students take the evidences from the scholars and spread this good to the people. If they were to say: ‘we will stay silent and not convey this good, we will not spread this good from our scholars past and present.’
This would be forsaking the truth and its people, and Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
(يَٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّدِقِينَ)
“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [At-Tawbah:119]
Translated by : Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani