Those who are unable to restrict themselves to the Salafi Methodology constantly find themselves searching for avenues of rescue and escape. One common avenue they engage in is seeking out selective statements of the scholars that mention the ill characteristics of backbiting, spreading tales between people to cause corruption, lying, slander etc, – disgraceful and evil characteristics without a doubt – however defenders of innovators seek to utilise such statements to defend themselves against the refutations directed at them from ahlus-Sunnah, as if the refutations upon them are “slander, lies, backbiting” [!], leading to the common people misunderstanding and becoming confused regarding the methodology of the Salaf.
Hence we see here a beautiful explanation of Shaikh Zaid al-Madkhaly رحمه الله on whether refutations and clarifications of the wayward methodology of deviants, innovators and people of desires is considered “backbiting” or “slander” or other than that from the evil characteristics?
Shaikh Zaid al-Madkhaly رحمه الله stated : “Refutations upon the people of desires and innovation, and the open-sinners is not considered following up their faults, and it is not considered striving to find faults and shortcomings, neither is it considered an intent to expose the shortcomings and wrongs [of others] assome who fell behind in understanding claim! The affair has become confusing to him [i.e. to the who claims refutations are backbiting, slander, finding faults in others] due to his shortcoming in knowledge! Rather that [refutations] is from the same type as striving in the path of Allah with the pen and tongue due to what is in that from destroying falsehood and clarifying the truth and advising the creation.
There are so many books that have been written upon justice in refutation of the people of desires and innovation, and those who are open sinners, and they [i.e. the people of desires and innovation and open-sinners] have been debated upon evidences from the Book and the Sunnah until the truth was established and upright and understood, and the falsehood collapsed upon itself until it became known [as falsehood].”
[الأجوبة السديدة عن الأسئلة الرشيدة م2 ص128] (via Sahab.net]
Perhaps, the likes of Madeenahdotcom’s Naveed Ayaaz [and IslamNelson] who continues to co-operate with those who cut the phone-line on Shaikh Rabee and still defend Abul-Hasan al-Ma’riby and his likes, should take note of Shaikh Zaid’s رحمه الله speech since the official stance he and his beloved IslamNelson seem to have taken now is a stance of miraculously becoming the “victims”[!]…and perhaps he should consider retracting his slander against the salafis in stating that we desire “chaos” between people. We wonder how long it will take him to realise it is the deviants the likes of al-Ma’riby that cause the chaos between the people, the likes of al-Halaby, al-Maghrawy…such individuals slander and speak ill against the scholars yet silence upon them…whilst unleashing his tongue upon the Salafis who defend the honour of the scholars?! What a terrible state to be in.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Albaani [rahimahullaah] stated that the one who authored this Book [i.e. Hayaatus Sahaabah] is not merely an individual amongst Jamaat At-Tableegh, but he is a figurehead- if not a figurehead of the figureheads. He authored this book and the Jamaa’ah At-Tableegh apply what it guides to. However, this book is compiled in a haphazard manner- the author did not distinguish what is in this book with a mention- first and foremost- of what is narrated from the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] with authentic chains of transmission. That is because the speech of the Messenger is not like the speech of others, even if they [i.e. others] are from the righteous friends of Allaah.
Secondly: The author mentioned many narrations attributed to the Sahaabah [radiyallaahu-anhum]- but when it is the case that he did attribute unauthentic narrations to the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], which the people of knowledge do not consider to be authentic based on the science of Hadeeth, its chains of transmissions and the biographies of the narrators, then it is most likely that he would mention numerous unauthentic narrations attributed to the actions, methodology and manners of the Sahaabah. Paraphrased…see full discussion here: Paraphrased…see full discussion here: Imaam_Albaanee
When asked about Imaams Bin Baaz and Albaani (rahimahumallaah), Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) stated that they are two Notable personalities amongst the Notable personalities of the Islamic nation in the field of hadeeth, in calling to Allaah and in combatting ahlul bidah. He then said that he knows them to be from the loftiest of the scholars in station and vastness in understanding of the religion, even though one of them posseses more understanding than the other; but both of them have goodness with them.
Then Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) was asked about those who speak ill of the Scholars of Saudi, such as the likes of Shaikh Rabee and some of the scholars in Madeenah; so he (rahimahullaah) said that it is obligated upon them to restrain their tongues from speaking ill of the common Muslims, then how about their scholars. And if it is the case that backbiting a common Muslim is from the major sins, then backbiting a scholar is much greater…