In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Make Sure That You Are Absolutely Certain That This Person Is Not One Concealing Facts Regardless His Speech, Efforts or Transmissions of Knowledge
Umm Salamah [may Allaah be pleased with her] reported that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Indeed, I am only a human being and you people (i.e. disputants) come to me with your disputes. And it may be that one of you can present his case more eloquently than the other and I consider him truthful, and judge in his favour. So if I ever judge and give the right of a brother to his brother, then it is a piece of hell-fire and let him not take it”. (1)
Some Benefits Derived From This Hadeeth: [a] The Ummah [i.e. the scholars and judges] have been commissioned to judge based on what is apparent; but the mere judgement of a judge cannot prohibit the lawful and allow the unlawful [i.e. because it cannot be taken if proven erroneous]. [b] This Hadeeth contains a refutation against those who say that the Messengers possess knowledge of the unseen. [c] This hadeeth also shows that speech can be seen to be true based on what is apparent, but it is truly falsehood with regards to what is hidden within it. [d] Also this hadeeth shows that the one who receives a judgement in his favour is more aware than every other person as to whether he is entitled to it or whether he is a falsifier. So, he takes it if he is entitled to it or leaves it if he a falsifier, because in reality a judgment cannot change an affair from what it was in origin [i.e. the original truth in the affair before its distortion or concealment]. [e] Also this hadeeth shows the sinfulness of the one who argues based on falsehood until he receives what he wants publicly, whilst he is upon falsehood. [f] Also in this hadeeth is proof to show that a scholar can make a mistake and it is a refutation against those who say that every Mujtahid is correct. [g] Also this hadeeth shows us that the Mujtahid is forgiven (when he makes a mistake). (2)
Make Sure That You Are Absolutely Certain That This Person Is Not One Who Refuses to Acknowledge His Mistakes or Misjudgements After They Have Become Clear to Him
Indeed, we see some people who have some knowledge, but they are put to trial with the desire for a status they have not attained yet – a status which they have not been given by a scholar in the Muslim lands or by the well-known elder Salafi teachers in the West. In addition, you find them refusing to acknowledge their mistakes or misjudgements on some specific issues of knowledge; but when their affair slowly becomes manifest to people who have been given insight – by the Tawfeeq of Allaah – into their affair, they claim to be victims of envy. This is indeed a very blameworthy trait! Al-Allaamah Abdur Rahmaan Bin Yahyah Al-Mu’allimee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated regarding this affair (i.e. some of the reasons that prevents a person from accepting the truth): “It may be that a person is upon ignorance or falsehood, then another person comes along and clarifies the proofs for him, so he sees that by acknowledging such proofs, it would necessitate that he is lacking (in understanding) and that it was that person who guided him. And due to this we find that it is not difficult for some of those attributed to knowledge to acknowledge their mistakes when it becomes manifests to them in their researches and studies, but it becomes difficult for them if it was others who clarified such mistakes. When another person clarifies the truth for him, he sees that by acknowledging such truth it would necessitate an acknowledgement of the clarifier’s virtue, knowledge and correctness due to that clarification, and thus that becomes great in the eyes of the people and many people follow him [i.e. the person who clarified the truth]. So you will find some of those attributed to knowledge being eager to prove the mistakes of other scholars even if that is done by way of falsehood due to envy and seeking to diminish their status amongst the people. To oppose desires for the sake of the truth -in affairs of knowledge and creed- can indeed be difficult to accomplish, therefore it requires (sincere) research and contemplation. And in this regard, one is in need of asking the scholars and benefiting from them, adhering to fear of Allaah, seeking the Tawfeeq of Allaah and guidance”. (3)
Make Sure That You Are Absolutely Certain That This Person Is Not One Guilty of Fujoor Fil Khusoomah
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Fujoor Fil Khusoomah” is various types: Rejecting what is obligatory upon you (to fulfil, give etc) and claiming what one is not entitled to. https://youtu.be/FGtZtOBbif4
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَيْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
Woe to Al-Mutaffifin [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)], those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure, and when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. [al-Mutaffifeen Ayaat 1-3]
Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: This noble Aayah shows that just as a person takes from the people what he is entitled to, it is also obligated on him to give them everything they are entitled to – whether related to wealth or mutual dealings; rather included in the generality of this Aayah are proofs and statements, because indeed what usually takes place between those engaged in argumentation and discussion is that each of them is eager to establish his proofs, therefore, it is obligated on a person also to make known the proofs possessed by the other person and examine the proofs of the other person just as he examines his own proofs. In relation to this affair, the justice of a person is known as opposed to whether he is afflicted with bigotry, his humility as opposed to being haughty, his common sense as opposed to foolish behaviour. We ask Allah bestow on us every good. [An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi]
Therefore, when someone claims that he is a victim of envy and makes a public announcement regarding it- whether directly or indirectly, then indeed make sure that the affair is investigated. That is because some people in our era – whether attributed to knowledge or not – play the victim game and emotionally appeal to those who hold a good suspicion of them. They play the game of the one mentioned in the statement: [ضربني وبكى … سبقني واشتكى – He hit me and cried….and complained before me]. Many of us can recall when a naughty little brother or sister of ours used to secretly damage a precious item of ours, then when we chastise them, our parents – especially our mothers- would reprimand us immediately without knowing what the little brother or sister initiated. This game is played by siblings who sometimes seek to annoy each other, but be absolutely certain that it has no place in Dawah. Therefore, do not be from those who initiate trouble and then claim that they are envied when caught and stopped in their tracks. This behaviour would be tantamount to lying, especially when making such a claim in relation to Dawah affairs. https://salaficentre.com/2019/01/18/lying-for-the-purpose-of-calling-to-allah-shaykh-saaleh-al-fawzan/
We ask Allaah: [اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي – O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well].
O Allah! Just as You Made My External Form Beautiful, Make My Character Beautiful as Well
[Ref 1: Saheeh Al-Bukhaari -Kitaab Al-Ahkaam (Book of Judgements): Chapter 29: Hadeeth Number: 7181]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt From ‘Saheeh Al-Bukhaari – Kitaab Al-Ahkaam with Fathul Baari’. Paraphrased
[Ref 3: An excerpt from ‘At-Tankeel Bimaa Fee Ta’need Al-Kawthariy Minal Baatil’ 2/180-181 with the checking of Imaam Albaanee (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]
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