[4] Scholars Know When to Speak Based On Their Ijtihad

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked:

Some people have made remaining silent about the mistakes of Islamic groups and partisan groups a methodology, (claiming) that this is indeed wisdom. This methodology has now become one that has followers who adhere to it. What is the ruling on this new methodology today?

Response: I fear that there may be an over-statement (exaggeration) in this question. I do not believe that a scholar would hold this methodology, especially a Salafi scholar. So, I fear that there may be an over-statement (exaggeration) in this question.

However, assuming its occurrence and existence, then indeed, this is a mistake. It is incumbent upon the one who says this statement, formulates this view and establishes this foundation to repent to Allah, the Blessed and Most High.

For indeed, Allah has distinguished this Ummah and favoured it over all the Ummahs through not remaining silent, but rather through speaking openly, clarifying and striving (Jihad). And at the head of this is enjoining good and forbidding evil.

كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس تأمرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنكر وتؤمنون بالله

You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. [Aal Imran 110]

And indeed, Allah cursed the Children of Israel for adopting the likes of this methodology of silence, one that tacitly approves falsehood disguised as wisdom. He said:

لعن الذين كفروا من بني إسرائيل على لسان داود وعيسى ابن مريم ذلك بما عصوا وكانوا يعتدون كانوا لا يتناهون عن منكر فعلوه لبئس ما كانوا يفعلون

Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel on the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed (their Lord) and used to transgress (His limits). [Al-Maa’idah 110]

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart—and beyond that, there is not an atom’s weight of faith”. [Sahih Muslim 49]

Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a great principle among the principles of Islam. Neither can Islam be upheld (established) without it, nor can the Ummah attain this great welfare, goodness and superiority over other Ummahs except when they fulfil it. If they fall short (i.e. deliberately in carrying it out), they deserve the displeasure of Allah, rather (also) His curse, just as He cursed the Children of Israel (i.e. those among them who deliberately failed in establishing this obligation).

If the Children of Israel deserved the curses because indeed they did not enjoin good, then even more so ourselves — and Allah’s refuge is sought. This is because our religion is greater than theirs.

So, if we fall short in this religion, leave it to the people of desires and misguidance to toy with it, go along with them, remain silent about them and call that wisdom, then indeed, we make ourselves liable to the displeasure of Allah, the Blessed and Most High.

And we seek refuge in Allah from His displeasure. We ask Allah, if this type of (people), that He guides them, grant them insight into the path of truth, and make them aware of their grave error which they have fallen, so that they may be exited from it and (entered into) the ranks of those who call to Allah based on truth- those who enjoin good and forbid evil, and those who proclaim it openly.

فاصدع بما تؤمر وأعرض عن المشركين

Therefore, proclaim openly what you have been commanded, and turn away from the polytheists.’ (Al-Hijr 15:94)

Similarly, proclaim openly what you have been commanded, and turn away from the innovators in the religion, the misguided ones. [1] [Paraphrased]

فالتاريخ القريب يشهد أن العلماء لم يكونوا على درجة واحدة من

الصبر في جميع القضايا، ولم يتركوا الانحرافات الكبرى دون بيان، بل كانوا يبادرون إلى الإنكار عند الحاجة، كل بحسب اجتهاده وتقديره للمصلحة والمفسدة، والأمثلة على ذلك كثيرة، وسنكتفي بعرض بعض الأمثلة فقط:

معلوم أن العلماء لم يصبروا على المصعفقة كثيراً؛ بل حذروا منهم لما عاثوا في الدعوة فساداً، كما أنهم لم يصبروا على هاني بن بريك لما أظهر نواياه الخارجية ضد ولاة الأمر في اليمن، وحتى في فتن سابقة كان بعض العلماء يحذرون من بعض المنحرفين، ويصبر عليهم آخرون.

فمسألة الصبر على المخالف مسألة اجتهادية تقديرية تختلف باختلاف الأحوال والأشخاص والآثار المترتبة، وليست قاعدة جامدة تُطبق في كل زمان ومكان دون نظر

Recent history testifies to the fact that scholars have not been upon the same level with regards to patience in all issues, nor have they overlooked great deviations without providing clarification. Instead, they took the initiative to denounce such deviations when necessary—each of them based on their Ijtihad and evaluation of the benefits and harms. The examples of this are many and we will suffice with some (as follows).

It is well known that the scholars did not patiently wait for an extended period with regards to the Mas‘afiqah; rather, they warned against them when they caused corruption in the Dawah.

Similarly, they did not patiently wait regarding Hani Bin Burayk when he manifested his Kharijite-like motives (intentions) against the rulers in Yemen. Even during earlier Fitan, some scholars warned against the deviants, while others were patient with them.

Thus, the subject with regards to exercising patience with the Mukhalif is a subject of Scholarly Ijtihad and evaluation that varies based on different circumstances, the individuals involved, and the potential effects, and it is not a fixed principle that is applied in every time period and place without examination…..

A Paraphrased Excerpt. Source: Shaikh Fawwaz al-Madkhali’s Telegram Channel

To be continued InShaaAllah

[1]https://rabee.net/alfatawi/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B0-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%B6-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84/