Becomes Angry When Asked For Proof – Part 1

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked:

There are some who ascribe to knowledge- issues fatwa without evidence; then, when asked for proof, he becomes angry and furious, saying: “Am I to exhaust my life searching for evidence?!” What is even (more) astonishing is that he taught this to his students and followers that indeed a scholar should not be asked for evidence. What is the ruling on this statement by one who ascribes himself to knowledge? What is the ruling on his issuing fatwas without evidence, and his becoming angry when evidence is requested? And what is the ruling on the statement of his students and followers that a scholar should not be asked for evidence? Also, what is the ruling on seeking fatwas from someone in such a condition? Please give us a ruling regarding this serious matter, may Allah reward you with good, and let the answer be backed by proofs

The reality is that what the questioner mentioned may be found among some people, especially among those whose greatest concern is to attain status and prestige among the common people. For indeed, among people are those who issue fatwas regardless of whether their fatwa is based on evidence or whether it is merely blind imitation of scholars- past or present – whom they hold in venerate (exalt).

Indeed, Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy upon him, mentioned the Ijmaa of the scholars that a blind follower is not considered among the scholars, because the blind follower is nothing more than a copy of a book from the school of jurisprudence of the one he blindly follows, and he has nothing of (true resemblance) to the true scholars. Due to this, I indeed hold that blind following is not permissible except in cases of necessity. Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, likened blind following to eating carrion- permitted only in cases of necessity. But when one is able to know the proof, then blind following is not permissible. This is what is understood from Allah’s statement:

 فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know”. [An-Nahl 43]

As for the state of this man who becomes angry when asked for proof and says, “How would I exhaust my life searching for evidence?!” Indeed, this shows his ignorance and also his foolishness, for indeed, it is befitting a person – a scholar – to rejoice (or become happy) when a questioner asks him for proof, because if the questioner’s aim is not obstinacy or to cause hardship, then his request for proof shows his love for establishing his creed, statement and deed upon a foundation from Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, so that he may worship Allah with insight. Because in reality, knowledge is to know the guidance through its evidence and a person will be asked on the Day of Resurrection what answer he gave to the Messengers, as Allah, The Most High, said:

وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أَجَبْتُمُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

And (remember) the Day (Allah) will call to them, and say: “What answer gave you to the Messengers?” [Al-Qasas 65]

Besides the Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, it will not be said to him: “What answer did you give to so-and-so among the people?”

My advice to this scholar is that he should fear Allah concerning himself and that he does not give Fatwa except through evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah – except in cases of necessity – and that he should make his students eager to seek evidence from Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and train them to derive rulings from their proofs so that Allah may benefit (them) through it. [Paraphrased]

https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=56106

To be continued…InShaAllah