Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan on the Status of Imams: Abu Haneefah, Ibn Hajar, and An-Nawawi

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, stated:

The scholars have their status and value. For this reason, indeed, (false) Tabdee only arose from the statements of some ignorant people or those who are beginners in seeking knowledge. Indeed, they regard someone who makes an (unintentional) erroneous interpretation and a blind follower as a Mubtadi. [I] Indeed, they have openly manifested this view, with some of them making Tabdee of one another. Thus, they began showing hostility towards each other, severed ties, and turned away from one another.

And they did not limit the matter between themselves; rather, they attacked earlier scholars. So, you find these ignorant people saying: “Ibn Ḥajar is a Mubtadi, an-Nawawī is a Mubtadi, Abū Ḥanīfah is a Mubtadi,” and other than them among the senior Imams, due to mistakes in matters of ijtihād that do not warrant Tabdee of them. This is because, indeed, the mistake is related to a partial, specific matter (regarding which an upright scholar made Ijtihad and erred).

These scholars have great virtue in Islam, scholarly leadership, and status. They have contributed many beneficial things to Islam and the Muslims. The Muslims benefit from their authorships and books to understand Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Even if there are some errors in the speech of some of them, their status, virtue, knowledge of Islam, and service to the Prophetic Sunnah far outweigh and encompass this small, partial issue.

Therefore, it is incumbent to know the worth of our scholars—those of the earlier generations and those who came later—and ask Allah to have mercy upon them and make Du’a for them, as Allah, The Most High, said:

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ

“And (there is also a share) for those who came after them, saying: “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.” [Al-Hashar 10]

An Excerpt from Ẓāhirat al-tabdīʿ wa-l-tafsīq wa-l-takfīr wa-ḍawābiṭuhā, pages 22–23

[I] Ijtihad and Taqleed: https://spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ06&articleID=MNJ060001&articlePages=1