[2] Scrutinise matters above status and eloquent speech, as trickery increases among some people

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In his explanation of al-Masā’il al-Jāhiliyyah, Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (ḥafidahullāh) comments on the 26th issue, “The Severe Plotting to Establish Shirk and Repel Truth.”

Shaykh al-Islām Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab wrote, “Major plotting is like the deeds of the people of Nuh (alayhis salaam).”

Explanation:

[Evil] plotting is the means of arriving at that which is detested in a hidden manner; planning or plotting is of two types, good planning and evil plotting.

As for evil plotting, then it is hidden trickery which results in evil for the person who is not deserving of it. Allāh (The Most High) said,

 وَمَكَرُواْ مَكۡرً۬ا ڪُبَّارً۬ا (٢٢) وَقَالُواْ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّ۬ا وَلَا سُوَاعً۬ا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسۡرً۬ا (٢٣) وَقَدۡ أَضَلُّواْ كَثِيرً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَـٰلاً۬ (٢٤)

“And they have plotted a mighty plot. (22) And said, ‘Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa’ or Yaghuth and Ya’uq and Nasr. (23) And already they have misled many. And, [my Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error.” (24)  (Nūh: 22-24)

Therefore, with this trickery they plot against the people with a great plot. This is a loathsome approach by way of which they call to shirk, and when the call to at-Tawḥid reaches them, they warn the people against it, and they say, ‘They want to become your leaders and elevate themselves above you.’

So, the reprehensible is beautified for the people and the good is made loathsome. This is the [type of] great plot which the callers of misguidance – past and present- continue to pursue, so that they can divert people from the truth to falsehood and remove them from light into darkness. He (The Most High) said,

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَوۡلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخۡرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ‌ۗ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (٢٥٧)

Allāh is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into the light. And those who disbelieve – their allies are Ṭaghūt [false deities and false leaders]. They take them out of the light into darkness. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. (Al-Baqarah: 257)

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّ۬ا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلۡجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ زُخۡرُفَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ غُرُورً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ‌ۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ (١١٢)

And so, We have appointed for every Prophet enemies among the devils of mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications.  (Al-An’ām: 112) 

Meaning, abandon them and their lies. Do not pay any concern to them. Therefore, there is a prohibition against listening to the callers of misguidance, except for the purpose of knowing their falsehood and refuting it. (1)

(1) This is for the steadfast resolute scholars, those who are aware of the truth in detail and falsehood in detail. And only when there is a need. Shaykh ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh) stated, “It is not suitable for a Muslim to read other books – such as the Tawrah and Injil – except for the one who the need necessitates that he read them. This is for the scholars, those who wish to refute the (doctrine of the) Jews and the Christians from their own books. Therefore, when there is a need for a scholar to refute, and clarify their falsehood, he can review their books for this purpose. There is no issue with this when there is a need,. This is for the scholars. The possessors of sure knowledge. Slightly Paraphrased. Shaykh ibn Baz Official Website

Sharh al-Masā’il al-Jāhiliyyah Dar al-‘Āsimah pp. 215-216