We’ll Scrutinise Everyone Who Brandishes Credentials to Mislead Our Sons and Younger Companions

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked: “The believer does not get stung in the same hole twice. Is this a hadith?

Answer: Yes, it is an authentic Hadith and its meaning is that it is obligated to a believer that he is cautious if he was harmed by a person. If Zayd once deceived him, he is then cautious so that Zayd does not deceive him again. If Amr committed injustice against him in a mutual dealing, he is cautious in another mutual dealing. This is what the affair is, meaning that it is obligated to him to prevent the evil of the one who deceived or harmed him the first time. [1] [end of quote]

You are being closely observed, whether those watching you are speaking or staying quiet. Over the last thirty years, we have seen that some cunning and opportunistic individuals wait for the right moment to mislead those who are unaware of past events. With more life experience than many in the younger generation, they intentionally take advantage of a younger person’s lack of Manhaj historical knowledge, creating an information gap. Young people of Sunnah depend on older scholars and experienced students of knowledge to understand events they haven’t lived through, so evil indeed is the one who misuses that trust.

We witnessed how some tried to twist our understanding of the history of the Salafi Manhaj and Dawah Salafiyyah in the West. They worked hard to change the truth, and some of us ended up forming ideas based on selective facts, misleading stories, and false comparisons, instead of a knowledge-based understanding based on the Book, the Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf. Because of those deceptive individuals, such as Kahlan, confusion about the truth spread widely on certain issues, particularly Hizbiyyah and Al Walaa Wal Baraa. By continuously creating doubt, they made it hard to tell clarity from confusion, specifics from general ideas, and the restricted from the unrestricted in these topics.

After causing confusion, they portrayed themselves as reliable guides. This was a typical persuasive strategy: initiate doubts and ambiguities, then provide so called certainty. Once history was distorted, many overlooked the lessons from past Fitan, except for the one whom Allah safeguarded. Whenever new distortions appeared, the damaging orientations reemerged, leading to a very negative result, as twisted narratives always split people into simplistic groups and prevent constructive dialogue based on clear knowledge based proofs. So, do not merely take everything from an older person who says: “I was there.” “You weren’t alive then.” “Trust me—you can’t understand.”

Certainly, personal experience holds great value, but it is not infallible. Memory can be shaped especially when deceivers intentionally recall events in a different way. Furthermore, keep in mind that deceivers do not always directly challenge principles; instead, they alter their definitions and realities. They might change some suble principles of Al-Jarh Wat Tadeel to rationalise actions – whether Ghuluw or Tamyee. They could reinterpret the call to ‘follow the truth’ to mean loyalty to a specific group. You might encounter some Mumayyi who tries to redefine tolerance as accepting any claim without robust scrutiny. You might come across an extremist or forceful person who deceitfully seeks to redefine critical thinking to make you reject established proofs. Thus, over time, familiar terms maintain the emotions attached to them while their true meanings gradually change.

So, O young people! Take care of yourselves! A robust way to safeguard yourselves is by asking questions, such as: What proof backs this claim? Is this person fairly presenting the strongest opposing views? Are they pushing me to think for myself, or are they trying to make me depend on them, name-dropping, or just engaging in back-and-forth arguments? Is this someone who evades questions, such as those refuted by Shaikh Abu Iyaad due to their lies and distortions?

Finally, there is no doubt that older generations hold valuable knowledge that younger ones cannot learn directly. The aim is not to distrust the elderly, but to assess their claims based on evidence, consistency, and willingness to be questioned. A reliable elder encourages independent thinking within the limits of Shariah, while a deceitful elder makes others reliant by dictating their beliefs about history, knowing that one’s view of the past influences his current thoughts and choices, especially when required to establish sound alliances.

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

The seeker of truth is not diverted from the truth, fairness and justice due to admiration of the big personalities and being amazed by them, for indeed the truth is more worthy to be followed. It is not permissible to drop the proofs for the sake of this or that great man. The principle [rule] of the Muslim – the unbiased one, the seeker of truth – is always:

قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Say, bring forth your proofs if you are truthful. [An-Nahl. 64]

Al-Mulakh-khas Al-Jameel Fee Bayaan Manhaj Ash-Shaikh Rabee Fid-Da’wati Wal-Jarhi Wat-Ta’deel. Page 87

[1] https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/12579/%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%BA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AC%D8%AD%D8%B1