JiHaDiYa
15-06-07, 08:54 PM
How Should the Mistakes of a Scholar be Viewed
The scholars should not be followed in their mistakes, nor does it necessitate abandoning or degrading their scholarship. Rather, being justly balanced is a requirement:
"O you who Believe! Stand firmly for Allaah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you swerve away from justice. But be just; that is closer to piety." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:8].
"Do not reduce thing that are due to the people." [Soorah Hood 11:85].
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, said: "Recognising the excellence of the Scholars of Islaam, their capabilities, their rights, their station and their sincerity to Allaah and His Messenger, and advising for His sake, does not necessitate acceptance of all that one of them may say. Whatever is to be found in their rulings and verdicts which conflicts with what the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with; then they expressed a position based upon their level of knowledge, even though it was in opposition to the truth. However, this does not neccessitate completely abandoning all their sayings, criticizing them and distancing oneself from them. These two stances [i.e. absolute acceptance or rejection] are outside the realms of correctness; and the correct path lies in between these two extremes. We also do not say that they have sinned, or that they are infallible. Rather, we travese the path they traversed; and [which was traversed by] those before them from the Companions ... There is no contradiction between these two matters for the one whom Allaah has expanded his chest with Islaam. It may, however, seem contradictory to two types of people:- Firstly: One who is ignorant of the capabilities and excellence of the Scholars. Secondly: One who is ignorant of the realities of the Sharee'ah with which Allaah sent His Messenger. So whosoever possess knowledge of the Sharee'ah and knowledge of the true state of affairs, knows for certainty, that a Scholar having nobility in Islaam; who possesses a pious disposition and good manners, then mistakes and slips will occur from such a person - for which he is excused, yet rewarded for his ijtihaad.It is not permissible to follow him in his mistake, nor is it permissible to belittle him, nor to degrade his status and scholarship in the hearts of the Muslims."
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said: "From that which is connected to this issue is that you should know that a person having a high and lofty status, with regards to knowledge and the Religion - from the Companions, the Taabi'een, and those who come after them, up until the Day of Judgement - then there will occur from him a type of ijtihaad which is connected to dhann, and a type which is from the hidden desire. So this will result in giving rise to that which is not allowed to be followed; even if he is from the awliyaa (friends) of Allaah and the pious. And the likes of this, when it occurs, leads to fitnah for two groups of people: One group who honour the Scholar in such a way that they desire to consider correct his wrong actions so that they can follow it. And another group who censure him, so they use this as a means to attack and malign his wilaayah (his being a walee), his taqwaa (piety) and his eemaan (faith); to the extent that they expel him from the fold of eemaan. And both of these ways are false and destructive. Indeed the Khawaarij, the Rawaafidh and others from the people of innovations and false desires, enter into the likes of this."
The scholars should not be followed in their mistakes, nor does it necessitate abandoning or degrading their scholarship. Rather, being justly balanced is a requirement:
"O you who Believe! Stand firmly for Allaah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you swerve away from justice. But be just; that is closer to piety." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:8].
"Do not reduce thing that are due to the people." [Soorah Hood 11:85].
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, said: "Recognising the excellence of the Scholars of Islaam, their capabilities, their rights, their station and their sincerity to Allaah and His Messenger, and advising for His sake, does not necessitate acceptance of all that one of them may say. Whatever is to be found in their rulings and verdicts which conflicts with what the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with; then they expressed a position based upon their level of knowledge, even though it was in opposition to the truth. However, this does not neccessitate completely abandoning all their sayings, criticizing them and distancing oneself from them. These two stances [i.e. absolute acceptance or rejection] are outside the realms of correctness; and the correct path lies in between these two extremes. We also do not say that they have sinned, or that they are infallible. Rather, we travese the path they traversed; and [which was traversed by] those before them from the Companions ... There is no contradiction between these two matters for the one whom Allaah has expanded his chest with Islaam. It may, however, seem contradictory to two types of people:- Firstly: One who is ignorant of the capabilities and excellence of the Scholars. Secondly: One who is ignorant of the realities of the Sharee'ah with which Allaah sent His Messenger. So whosoever possess knowledge of the Sharee'ah and knowledge of the true state of affairs, knows for certainty, that a Scholar having nobility in Islaam; who possesses a pious disposition and good manners, then mistakes and slips will occur from such a person - for which he is excused, yet rewarded for his ijtihaad.It is not permissible to follow him in his mistake, nor is it permissible to belittle him, nor to degrade his status and scholarship in the hearts of the Muslims."
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said: "From that which is connected to this issue is that you should know that a person having a high and lofty status, with regards to knowledge and the Religion - from the Companions, the Taabi'een, and those who come after them, up until the Day of Judgement - then there will occur from him a type of ijtihaad which is connected to dhann, and a type which is from the hidden desire. So this will result in giving rise to that which is not allowed to be followed; even if he is from the awliyaa (friends) of Allaah and the pious. And the likes of this, when it occurs, leads to fitnah for two groups of people: One group who honour the Scholar in such a way that they desire to consider correct his wrong actions so that they can follow it. And another group who censure him, so they use this as a means to attack and malign his wilaayah (his being a walee), his taqwaa (piety) and his eemaan (faith); to the extent that they expel him from the fold of eemaan. And both of these ways are false and destructive. Indeed the Khawaarij, the Rawaafidh and others from the people of innovations and false desires, enter into the likes of this."