Jarh wa Ta'deel: If the Scholars Differ About the Same Person

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Shaykh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbaad al-Badr [may Allaah Preserve him] was asked:

Question: There are some people asking about al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel; if recognised scholars differed in al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel - one scholar praising whereas another dispraises the same individual, there then remains a difference of opinion between Ahl as-Sunnah. So if a person blindly follows the opinion of one of the scholars, or agrees with opinion of the scholar because of the evidences he has presented (without blindly following him), do we refrain from labeling this person because he is trying to follow the opinion of a scholar?

Answer: Firstly, al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel has traditionally been used to verify narrations by the scholars. For this reason, the books of men are full of examples of scholars talking about its narrators – “such and such person is like this”, or “such and such person is like that”. There are plenty of examples of scholars praising narrators and dispraising others. 

However, it may be that those who praise are not aware of the reason why a person has been discredited and those who discredit may not be aware of the reason why those who have praised. So each scholar speaks according to what is apparent to him. 

Sometimes some discredit on issues which doesn’t necessity a person being discredited over. This doesn’t count as Jarh. Some of them became very stern on making Jarh and made Jarh of people on issues that didn’t necessitate Jarh. 

However, what is a must to know is that al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel was traditionally discussed in order to verify narrations, that which is authentic and that which isn’t. This is how the science of al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel was traditionally used.

As for al-Jarh wa at-Ta’deel nowadays, and becoming preoccupied with it, talking about people, chasing their mistakes and chasing what has been said about such and such people, gathering information against him - this all leads to one being warned against; all of this are not actions which befits dealing with a Muslim, someone who knows the truth and acts upon it. If a person is known to be from the people of innovation and this becomes apparent from him and shares their methodology, then this person becomes eligible to be talked about.

However, as for those who make a mistake and based on this mistake the whole world is brought upon him and is then warned against, then this is not from justice or fairness.

[Recorded in Masjid an-Nabawee on 02/01/1437 – 16/10/2015]