In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنْ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ – O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins]. [Surah Al-Hujuraat. Aayah 12]

Imaam as-Sa’di [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Allaah [The Most High] has forbidden much evil suspicion towards the believers, because some suspicions are sins. And that is like the suspicion devoid of reality and factual evidence, and like the suspicion accompanied by much forbidden speech and action, for indeed the settlement of evil suspicion in the heart does not restrict the one (in whose heart is that evil suspicion) only to that; rather, he does not cease until he utters and does that which is not permissible”. (1)

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Beware of (unjustified) suspicion, because suspicion is the most false of speech”. [Saheeh Muslim 2563]

Al-Khattaabee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “(Unjustified) evil suspicion is the source of an abundance of lies”. [Umdatul Qaaree By Badr Ad-Deen Al-Aynee 23/232]

Indeed, is there any blame if individual Salafis or organisations – whether they are students of knowledge or not -offer Umrah and Hajj packages, arrange sittings with the scholars during these trips and benefit from their knowledge?! However, foolish Usaamah comes along and accuses them of using the religion for worldly benefit! Firstly, this foolish slanderer cannot produce a single proof to establish that anyone engaged in this activity is guilty of something blameworthy, let alone guilty of utilising the religion for worldly gain. Secondly, not only did his foolish and evil suspicion lead him to slander innocent people, but also necessitates that the scholars – both Al-Allaamah Ubaid and Al-Allaamah Rabee- kept quiet about those who utilise the religion for worldly gain after being absolutely certain of it. Indeed, the foolish behaviour of this fool keeps on clearly manifesting whenever one examines his affair. Also, one greatly appreciates Al-Allaamah Ubaid’s precise observation regarding Usaamah’s state of affairs as follows: “As for preventing his harm, by Allaah, neither I nor you can do this. If I had anything to do with it, I would have stopped it”. The Shaikh also said, “His affair has reached the point of madness, recklessness and lightmindedness”.

Finally, we conclude with few statements regarding fools and their behaviour.

“Foolishness is the barking of a man”. (2) “The reality of foolishness is to place something in other than its rightful place”. (3) “A fool imagines the impossible as the possible and the ignorant cannot differentiate the impossible from the possible. The fool knows the right thing but does not act upon it, and the ignorant one does not know the right thing, but would have acted upon it if he knew”. (4)

We ask Allaah to protect us from the speech of foolish, reckless and heedless Usaamah and guide him Aameen.

To be continued….InShaaAllaah

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Aadaab Ash-Shar’iyyah By Ibn Muflih 2/8]
[Ref 3: Sharh Saheeh Muslim By Imaam An-Nawawi. 18/136]
[Ref 4: Tas’heel an-Nadr By Al-Maawardee. page 5]