Words from the Senior Scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them)

SHAYKH ‘ABDULLAAH AL-GHUNAYMAAN:

Amongst the consequences of the actions of these individuals is that they have confused the thoughts of many of the youth. Thus, as a result, some youths have strayed from the path of guidance and have begun to follow what those – who criticize others, and who have stood in the path of da’wah and blocked the path of Allaah – have drawn up for them. Some of the youth, as a result of those individuals who criticize others, now sense a great gap between them and the scholars, and now harbour great misgivings, causing them to stay away from the Scholars. Some have begun to categorize people according to what he hears from these people, saying: so and so is from the Ikhwaan, because he talks, visits or sits with a person from the Ikhwaan; or that such and such is from the Suroorees; or such and such is from the profiteers [i.e. those who wish to please everybody, even at the expense of the truth], etc. The amazing thing is that these people imagine that by doing so, they are applying the methodology of aljarh wat-ta’dil. However, they have adopted in this action, ignorant leaders who are misguided and who misguide others. Thus, it is upon the Muslim to fear Allaah regarding himself and those poor souls who are not even a quarter, or a tenth of the learned. There occurs in the authentic hadeeth:

“That Allaah guides through you even a single person, is better than the choicest of camels.” [al-Bukhaaree (2942), from Sahl Ibn Sa’d radiyallaahu ‘anhu] Meaning that it is better for you in this world. Likewise, whosoever misguides even a single person, will bear a great burden; as Allaah – the Most High – said, after mentioning the story of one of the Adam’s children killing his brother: “Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind..” [Al Maa’idah (5):32]

Thus, to send someone astray in his religion is far greater than killing him. So statements regarding matters of religion must be stated along with their proofs from either Allaah’s Book, or the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and that when making such statements one should seek by that the Face of Allaah alone; and also one should ascertain if the harm resulting from such speech is not greater than the benefit, or that one’s intention is not due to envy of a particular individual, or due to the following of one’s desires. [Al Hawa wa Atharuhu fil Khilaf (33-34]