Question:
Is being silent regarding the truth and the lack of clarifying it to the people considered excluding oneself away from trials?
Answer:
Rather it’s the essence of trials, it’s not from excluding oneself from trials
(وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ)
“(And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Nasārah) to make it (the news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the religious knowledge) known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it) [Āl-i-‘Imrān:187]
(إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ)
“Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance” [Al-Baqara:159]
The speech of the people of knowledge which has evidences for it is guidance for the people, how many people were in a state of heedlessness, then insight unlocked infront of them, and similarly the path and guidance.
Or do you think it’s the case that everyone knows what the scholar knows?
Never by Allah, meaning this is an affair which nations can overlook, of realities, sciences, and since the affair is like this it’s a must the command of Allah is implemented, Allah didn’t command with it except due to its importance.
(إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ)
“Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah” [Al-Baqara:159]
(يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ)
“they are the ones cursed by Allah”
Because they didn’t implement His command and His legislation
(وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّعِنُونَ)
“cursed by the cursers”
They are cursed by the cursers because they betrayed them, concealed the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance from them.
(إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَبَيَّنُوا۟ فَأُو۟لَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ)
“Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” [Al-Baqara:160]
This is it, it’s an obligation, an obligation, to have patience upon the truth, whoever is pleased is pleased who ever is angered is angry, like this without any flattery, by Allah.
We might flatter regarding some affairs but I ask Allah to overlook it from us.
The scholars of al-Jarh wa-Ta’dīl in our day and age are scarce, do you think it’s the case that al-Jarh wa-Ta’dīl is only so-and-so is weak and so-and-so is trustworthy? No.
Al-Jarh wa-Ta’dīl is regarding sects, al-Jarh wa-Ta’dīl is in the midst of trials, al-Jarh wa-Ta’dīl is regarding those wrong and correct, in what relates to giving Ta’dīl to the people of the truth, and clarifying the truth from falsehood and the sorts.
Wallāhl Musta’ān
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: t.me/ShaykhYahyaEn/604
Translated by: Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani