Questions 42

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Questions asked to Shaykh ‘Abdul-Kareem bin ‘Abdullah al-Khudayr [May Allaah Preserve him]Member of Permenant Committee of Senior Scholars and Member of Council of Senior Scholars
Manhaj Fee Dar’ ash-Shubuhaat
Jaami’ ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan, ar-Riyadh
18/11/1433 - 4/10/2012

Question: Do you think it is appropriate for the student of knowledge to allocate time to refute and refutations of doubts?

Answer: Those who seek knowledge must seek knowledge on the methodology of taking from the two sources of revelation, the Quraan and the Sunnah and whatever helps you in understanding them. If you become firm in knowledge then any doubt that may come towards you after you have sought knowledge, will not be an issue for you and you will be able to refute easily. 

Question: Do you recommend students of knowledge, whilst they are still learning and gaining knowledge to author books?

Answer: You shouldn’t combine the two, there is no doubt that if someone tries to do something before its time, then he will fail in doing what he intended. Therefore, writing and authoring books is left to those who are firm in knowledge. Yes, if the student of knowledge is firm in knowledge and is able to author something with precision or refute doubts and he can do this well, then this is something we need. It may also be the case the student of knowledge may publish an abridgment of the bigger books or from the notes and benefits you may have from some books then this is OK but you must be firmly grounded in that book in order to do so. I have seen some youth, in the first year of their studies; they have authored twenty books, what’s this? But if you have a book, like Jaami’ ‘Uloom al-Hikam, two volumes explaining forty Ahadeeth, but if the student was to abridge this to make each Hadeeth into one page of explanation then this is something good. However, if the student wants to write in order benefit the people then I say; wait. 

Question: Some of the students of knowledge are complaining that the Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars don’t forbid some of the bad things we see in society, or they don’t do it enough. What is your response to this?

Answer: The scholars have insight in how to repel evil and how to explain issues to people, especially in the times of Fitnah. Some of the things that we see that appear to be wrong in these times of Fitnah then the scholars have a way of dealing with these issues and on how to change them, and they have a way of dealing with issues then need rejection and refuting and they have ways with dealings with issues that need advice (not so severe). So to answer your question, the ways to repel these evils are operating and working, all Praise be to Allaah, however it is important that whilst repelling these evils we need to pay attention to what is obligatory upon all of us. We all need to increase, yes the scholars refute, they write, they give advice, but forbidding evil is not for them alone. However, we need to seek more from them.

Question: If someone always looks in the bad in people and talks about others, what advice do you give to him?

Answer: The Muslim, especially the student of knowledge, must look after himself first. He needs to program himself, save himself before thinking about saving others because those people who talk about others and try to discredit them, they think they are saving people by doing it. So I say, the Muslim needs to look at himself and save himself before anything else. Know, that Gheebah, even if you are talking about the shortcomings of other people, is Haraam by the texts from the Quraan and the Sunnah. And the honour of the Muslim, like Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eid said, is like a pit from the pits of the Fire. The honour of a Muslim, therefore, is something great in Islaam and it is possible for a person, even though he seeks knowledge and act upon knowledge, that he comes on the day of judgement bankrupt.

The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said:

“Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt?” They said: “Among us, the one who is bankrupt is the one who has no dirhams and no goods.” He said: “Rather the one who is bankrupt amongst my ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and zakaah, but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of that one and beaten this one, all of whom will be given some of his hasanaat (good deeds), and if his hasanaat run out before the scores have been settled, some of their sins will be taken and thrown onto him, then he will be cast into the Fire.” Narrated by Muslim, 2581.

If a person works hard to gather some wealth, so he works hard and saves up a lot of money, and then he spoils it all or lets people take it from him, is he blameworthy? No doubt he is blameworthy, so how about the wealth that will gain you the Pleasure of Allaah and His Jannah? Work hard and save yourself.

Question: I have read that the best way to remove doubts from yourself is to stick to the Quraan and the Sunnah but at the same time, some of the books of Tafseer have mistakes in ’Aqeedah. What is your reconciliation?

Answer: Yes, sticking to the Quraan and the Sunnah is the way to salvation, so stick it to repel any doubts. As for the books of Tafseer having mistakes then it is upon you to take from those who are firmly grounded in knowledge, those who have no mistakes in their ‘Aqeedah. ‘Verily, this knowledge is religion so be careful on who you take your religion from.’

Question: What is the best book to read in repelling doubts?

Answer: The book of the Imaam, the reviver, Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahaab [May Allaah have Mercy on him], Kashf ash-Shubuhaat.