In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

QUESTION: We are here together, and to Allah is all praise, gathered and talking to one another [cordially], without any differing between us. Yet, I see that when some of us return to their lands, they begin differing, even warning against each other. This happens even though they are all Salafees, their reference points are the same, and they all honor the same scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah in this land. So what is your advice to them, may Allah reward you with goodness?

ANSWER: I always advise my brothers and my children among the students of knowledge to stay away from whatever causes differing. This means that sticking to the texts [of revelation] is an absolutely necessary matter; it is a must. Yet, there are ijtihaadaat (attempts to assess and derive rulings on issues) which lead to division. Some ijtihaadaat are beneficial; Allah provides benefit through them to Islam and the Muslims. For this reason, the door of ijtihaad remains open, open to provide benefit to the Ummah, to guide them, to derive rulings from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace. The one who tries to shut the door of ijtihaad is mistaken, and he has no evidence.

However, firstly, no one is to perform ijtihaad other than one suitable for it, one who has equipped himself with the sciences of the Book, the Sunnah, the [Arabic] Language, and other things. This is the one who performs ijtihaad and investigates relative matters when nawaazil (crucial matters in need of important rulings) take place.

As for students of knowledge, one of them tries to understand as much as he can from the textual evidence. However, in current events and crises, no one is to speak other than the elite people of knowledge. Many of the scholars do not even reach this level. This is why Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:

وإذا جاءهم أمر من الأمن أو الخوف أذاعوا به ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم
“Whenever a matter of safety or fear comes to them, they spread it openly. Yet, had they only returned it back to the Messenger and the people in authority among them, those capable of deriving rulings on it would have known it (i.e. the correct ruling).” [4:83]

The people in authority are the scholars and the rulers. Even among them, not everyone is capable of handling current events by deriving rulings from evidence with deep insight and understanding of the rulings. Only [certain] individuals (i.e. the most elite scholars) can do that. When a current event happens today, the people all talk loosely. Men, women, children, and the young students of knowledge all talk loosely. Yet, these matters are to be returned back to the people of authority among the Muslims, to the one who is highest in rank and most aware of how to deal with such current events.

These affairs now, dear brothers, what is it that causes so many good people to start differing [about them]? It is speaking loosely about matters one is not proficient in. These current events and crises are to be returned to an exclusive category of scholars, may Allah bless you, not to just anyone.

I consider that they (i.e., those differing) are -of course- all upon a single methodology, yet they differ and even warn against each other. What is at the core of this warning (against one another)? From the causes of this warning is engaging in loose talk. When people engage in loose talk, it leads to splitting. Once splitting occurs, corrupt opinions form, which may lead to such warnings.

So I consider that one of the causes of this splitting, differing, name-calling, and other things is that everybody is talking loosely about these serious topics which they are not qualified to deal with. Had they only returned the matter back to its people, the likes of this differing would not be found, nor these warnings or this splitting. So learn [your lesson], dear brothers! The prosperous one is he who learns a lesson from others. The believer is not stung from the same hole twice! So do not be stung multiple times! When a critical event takes place, do not rush to speak loosely about it, because that leads to splitting, and then further on to division into groups, and then to trials and problems which have no beginning or end! Allah has taught us this manner in this Verse which I have recited to you, so understand it with real understanding, and “leave the bow for the one who knows how to shoot it precisely,” as it is said. Not everyone knows how to shoot it proficiently; it is the scholars who are proficient at it, may Allah bless you.

SOURCE: Recording #1 of the series, “Removing the Confusion in Some People’s Minds,” beginning at the 26 minute and 20 second mark, transcribed by Moosaa Richardson. Refer to the shaykh’s Fataawaa collection as well (14/195-197).

Translation: Moosaa Richardson (1445.05.26)

Additional resources: Transcript of the Q&A in both Arabic and English (PDF) | Video recording of the reading of this text in Arabic & English | Audio of the shaykh’s answer [Arabic only] (MP3)