Accept the Truth Even if it’s from an Enemy and Deny Falsehood Even if it’s From a Loved One

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‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said:

If someone comes to you with the truth then accept it from him, even if he is a staunch enemy. And if someone comes to you with falsehood then deny it, even if he is a beloved friend. [Hilyah al-Awliyaa (1/134)]

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said about accepting the truth:

And Allaah, the Most High,says:

“And when it is said to them (the Jews), “Believe in what Allah has sent down,” they say, “We believe in what was sent down to us.” And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him to them): “Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?” [Baqarah 2:91]

This Aayah comes after the Aayah:

“And when there came to them (the Jews), a Book (this Qur'an) from Allah confirming what is with them [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], although aforetime they had invoked Allah (for coming of Muhammad Peace be upon him) in order to gain victory over those who disbelieved, then when there came to them that which they had recognised, they disbelieved in it. So let the Curse of Allah be on the disbelievers.” [Baqarah 2:89]

This is the description given to the Jews, those who knew the truth even before the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] proclaimed his prophet hood and began calling to it. When he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] called to prophet hood and for them to follow him, more than one group denied and rejected his call. This is because all those who denied refused to accept the truth from someone who was not from them or wasn’t calling to something that would support them, despite the fact that he called to an ‘Aqeedah which essentially they agreed with.

And this is a problem that occurs in our present day. There are many that seek knowledge only from certain people. Like the Soofees and those like them, have taken heads other than the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] as sources of their religion, therefore they don’t accept the religion from anyone except their leaders. [Iqtidaa’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeeem (Pg. 7-8)]