A Warning Against the Statement: The Shaikh Is Influenced by The Youth Surrounding Him–[By Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool (may Allaah preserve him)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Excerpt:
O my brothers! Be warned against this statement, for indeed it is a statement of the people of Bidah and Ignorance. I use to hear it being uttered regarding Shaikh Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah], Shaikh Al-Albaani [rahimahullaah] and other Mashaayikh. It is a false statement when examined from several perspectives.
Firstly: Indeed, this statement is an insult against the Shaikh, that he is not one who determines affairs precisely and that he accepts information merely based on what his students transmit. However, what is known about the Shaikh- the basis of his affair-is that he is trustworthy and one who determines affairs precisely. Therefore, this [i.e. insult] is contrary to the basis of what is known about the Shaikh, so either proof is produced to substantiate it or otherwise it is rejected.
Secondly: Allaah made it unlawful to utter this type of statement about the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. [Allaah (The Most High) said]:
وَمِنۡہُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ۬ۚ قُلۡ أُذُنُ خَيۡرٍ۬ لَّڪُمۡ يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤۡمِنُ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬
And among them are men who hurt the Prophet [Muhammad] and say: “He is (lending his) ear [to every news].” Say: “He listens to what is best for you; he believes in Allah; has faith in the believers; and is a mercy to those of you who believe.” But those who hurt Allah’s Messenger [Muhammad] will have a painful torment. [Surah At-Tawbah’ Aayah 61]
Imaam At-Tabari [rahimahullaah] stated about this Aayah: Allaah [The Most High] stated that amongst those hypocrites there is a group that seeks to hurt the Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] and declare him deficient [in judgement or character], saying that he is one who listens to every news- listens to everyone [or too willing to listen], accepts and believes what that person says. This statement was made by the people of hypocrisy as an insult against the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]; but at present it is uttered by the people of Bidah and the ignoramuses as an insult against the scholars- a means of repudiating their statements [i.e. verdicts of the scholars] and to hinder people from their knowledge. Therefore, they [i.e. those who utter this insult against the scholars] resemble – in relation to this deed of theirs- the people of Nifaaq.
Thirdly: Indeed, those who make this statement utilise it as a veil to reject the statements [i.e. verdicts] of the people of knowledge against certain individuals or affairs, and this is the evilest and falsest state this affair can be, because the statement of a scholar is not rejected except based on a Sharee’ah proof. So, is this statement of theirs [i.e. that such and such scholar is influenced by the youth around him] among those Sharee’ah proofs?
Fourthly: Indeed, this statement contains many perils and among them is that it firmly establishes a lack of trust of the Shaikh’s statements and rulings. And if the Shaikh’s reliability is lost, then the reliability of his Uloom [i.e. his explanations of the Sharee’ah texts in different subject matters, clarifications, verdicts etc] will be lost.
Fifthly: This statement will lower [or drop] the dignity and esteem of the Shaikh in the hearts of the students.
Ibaaraat Moohimah’ pages 51-52. Abridged and paraphrased
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