A reminder to my noble Salafi brothers and sisters in Stoke–The Correct Stance towards the differing of the scholars concerning Jarh Wat-Tadeel

Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullaah.

This is a reminder to all my brothers and sisters regarding the correct stance related to criticism and praise. These two articles were posted at www.salaficentre.com at a time in which some of the hizbiyyoon sought to utilize Shubuhaat—seeking to justify unexplained, vague and invalid criticisms, whilst rejecting the detailed, explained and clear criticisms that were directed at the corrupt statements, actions and affiliations of deviated individuals and groups. Indeed, just as there are hizbiyyoon in the three main cities [London, Birmingham and Manchester]; likewise, they have their associates in Stoke-On-Trent and other places–hizbiyyoon allied to Greenlane, Abu Usaamah and others etc. Therefore, I remind my brothers and sisters to acquaint themselves with the knowledge based clarification regarding this affair.


Here are the responses of Shaikh Ubaid (may Allaah preserve him)

Question 1:

If I heard the statement of a scholar in a cassette or read it in a book concerning some person that he is indeed an innovator, but I did not see the evidence, is it then binding upon me to be cautious of this person and be satisfied that he is indeed an innovator, or do I wait until I find evidence for that?

Shaikh Ubaid (may Allaah preserve him) answered:

All praise is due to Allaah the Lord of the Aalameen and may Allaah send His Salutations of peace and blessings upon our prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. To proceed: I say: Indeed Ahlus Sunnah do not pass judgement of Bidah (i.e. declare one to be from ahlul bidah) against anyone unless they are fully acquainted with him and completely examine what he is upon and know his methodology perfectly, in general and in detail. And from this point (in our discussion), this affair leads us to two standpoints:




A scholar from Ahlus Sunnah is only a human. He can be distracted and forgetful, and he can be deceived by evil people; or he used to consider a man to be trustworthy–who has now been declared untrustworthy–and he deceives him. The witnesses to this affair are many because many of those whose status has been dropped– due to being declared unreliable based on evidence–are in reality people who wage war against the Sunnah and its people.  So they come along with copies of their books and read it to the distinguished scholars–those considered to be people of leadership and virtue in the religion- whilst the affair of this trickster and plotter is hidden from that noble scholar, which had he known of it the status of this person would have dropped in his eyes. So this scholar gives praise based on what he heard. And if the book (of this trickster) is printed, it is disseminated and transmitted by his supporters and they spread a good reputation about him. Thus there are those who argue saying, “such and such praised him-Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah), or Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah), or Ibn Al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) praised this book. However these scholars are excused; rather this trickster was hidden from that scholar.

So, what remains? We establish the evidence against this ‘deceiver, trickster, intrigant and plotter’ from his books.  We establish the manifest clarifications against him from his books and we say to the one who argues with us, “Take it, this is his speech.” Therefore, it is obligatory on you to be fair and to be free from that wild and zealous attachment, and the desires that blinds a person. It is obligatory upon you that your search should be for the truth.


Question 2:

This questioner says: What is the obligation upon the common Salafis concerning those du’aat (callers) about whom the scholars differ in their commendations and criticisms, regardless whether they (i.e. the common Salafis) are aware or unaware of their mistakes (i.e. the mistakes of those callers)?





Therefore, it is incumbent upon you that when the state of that person is made clear–the one whose fame is widespread etc.–then you should be cautious of him as long as he was warned against by those people of knowledge and Imaan who are upon the Sunnah; for indeed they will unveil his affair with evidences.  And there is no hindrance in unveiling the state of that person who has been warned against by a scholar or scholars with the appropriate etiquettes and in a good manner because that scholar will say to you: “I saw this and that in him, and I saw this and that in the book of such and such, or I heard this or that in the cassette of such and such.” Therefore, you have clear evidence that will unveil what was hidden from you, and that the one whose fame is widespread and his speech is pleasant is one who hides something of innovation and plotting, which cannot be compared to what he manifests from the Sunnah.

Secondly: The one who knows of a mistake and it is clear to him, then it is not permissible for him to blindly follow a scholar to whom an affair is hidden. And indeed you already heard yesterday that the scholars are not infallible in their Ijtihaadaat. Therefore, it is not permissible to adopt them (i.e. the mistakes of the scholars) as a methodology (to follow).


[Source: Slightly Paraphrased and Abridged] See Link: www.sahab.net/home/?p=329

Also see links:



advise, callers to misguidance, scholars