The Scholar is Rewarded for His Mistake, but the Layman is Punished for His Gheebah

Follow @AhleDhikr

Ibn al-Qayyim [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

The one who is in touch with reality, and has even a little bit of intellect, will realise that there might be an honourable person - someone who is extremely pious and has a goodly impact on others, however it may be that he makes a mistake. He is not sinful for this and his status does not diminish in the slightest. Rather he is rewarded because he has tried to make Ijtihaad.

However, it not permissible for one to follow his mistakes and it is certainly not permissible, whatsoever, to defame him or seek to downgrade his status or to create enmity or resentment in the hearts of the Muslims towards him.

Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted Said:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. ” [an-Nisaa’ 4: 59]

From the Salaf, Mujaahid, Hakam bin ‘Utaybah, Maalik and others [May Allaah have Mercy upon them all] all have been reported to say, “There is no one except that his statement is accepted or rejected, except for the Messenger of Allaah.” End quote.

[Summarised from ‘Ilaam al-Muwaq’ieen (3/206-221)]

 

Seeking to Find Mistakes in Scholars

Follow @AhleDhikr

On the authority of Tahwabaan [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said,

"There will be a group of people from my Ummah who will seek the mistakes of the scholars over trivial issues. These are the worst of my Ummah.”

[As-Suyootee declared this narration to be authentic (Jaami’ as-Sagheer, 4767) however al-Albaanee declared this to be extremely weak (Da’eef Jiddun) (Silsilah ad-Da’eefah, 3717)]

Despites it weakness, here are some statements from the Imaams of the Salaf which support its meaning:

Hasan al-Basree [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “The worst Slaves of Allaah are those who pursue the most vile of issues. They are a cause of worry and distress for the Slaves of Allaah.”

Al-Awzaa’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “If Allaah Intends to Deny a person from beneficial knowledge; Allaah Will Allow for that persons tongue to be engrossed with other peoples mistakes. This person sees others from being the most ignorant of people (whilst himself being unfailing).”

[Jaami’ al-‘Uloom al-Hikaam of Ibn Rajab (1/240)]

Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Ghudayaan [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

Ask sensible questions…

There are questions that are extremely inappropriate.

For example, a person once asked me in the Haram, “What is your opinion about Shaykh Ibn Baaz?!” 

Is this a type of question that a student of knowledge asks?

This person asked me this question after the Shaykh had passed away, may Allaah have Mercy on him (i.e. talking about the deceased is extremely disliked unless if there is a pressing reason).

Then a second approached me and asked, “What is your opinion about Shaykh Ibn Jibreen?”

Is this the manners of a student of knowledge?!

Then a third came and asked, “What is your opinion about Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah!!??”

And a forth came and asked, “What is your opinion about al-‘Izz bin Abdus-Salaam!?”

All of this occurred in the Haram!!??

I mean, these people who are asking these questions, what do they know about the basics of al-Islaam? It is highly possible that some of these don’t even know how to pray properly, or make Wudhoo properly.

All of this is a result of their hearts being dead.

So I stress, questions must be asked with proper etiquettes and manners. There are many questions that are asked and there is no need for them whatsoever. 

[Madkhal ila Tafseer al-Quraan al-Kareem (Tape 1: 29-31mins)]