In Defense of the Nation's Eminent Scholars

Introduction to the Stirred Fitna and Reason for the Talk

Peace be upon you and the mercy of God. Dear brothers, there is a fitna that I have refrained from speaking about for some time, but I wish to clarify my position on it; firstly because I have been asked about it frequently, especially as the questioning brothers saw it as turning away from eminent scholars and their heritage and increasing the division among Muslims. Secondly, in defense of scholars, I hope that by defending them, God will defend me in this world and keep me away from the fire on the Day of Judgment.

This fitna is related to the dismissal of great scholars such as An-Nawawi and Ibn Hajar, may God have mercy on them. I wish no one would say to me, "Brother, why do you raise these issues?" I do not raise them; they are already being raised and causing great fitna on social media if you are not aware. Rather, I am trying to contribute a good effort in an attempt to reduce their harmful effects.

Position on the Issues of Names and Attributes

As for myself, dear brothers, my belief in the names and attributes is the belief of the first three righteous generations. Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on them, represent me in this matter; we believe in the verses and hadiths of the attributes, and we take them as they come without interpretation, negation, likening, or representation, as is the way of the Salaf, may God be pleased with them.

And the scholars who interpreted them erred in what they interpreted from the texts of the attributes. Some of them did so out of interpretation, intending to glorify and exalt God Almighty and seeking the truth without opposition, as indicated by their many good deeds and their great benefit in the service of Islam. In our view, they are among the great scholars of Muslims whom God has benefited the nation with their knowledge, so may God have mercy on them with a wide mercy and reward them with the best reward.

Each of them strove for what he believed to be right in the matter of the names and attributes of God Almighty and endured harm for it, and we consider that he did not take upon himself the blame of the blamer for the sake of God. The matter of the names and attributes is an important matter related to the essence of God Almighty, so it is not appropriate to belittle its importance.

The Method of Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in Justice

At the same time, Ibn Taymiyyah had a wonderful psychological balance, justice, impartiality, and precision, and you do not see in his speech any sign of an attempt to please people at the expense of religion in what we consider. Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may God have mercy on him, said after mentioning a group of Ash'aris such as Al-Baqillani, Al-Juwayni, and those who followed them:

"Then none of these except that he has in Islam praised efforts and righteous deeds, and he has in refuting many of the atheists and innovators and supporting many of the people of the Sunnah and religion what is not hidden from those who know their affairs, and he spoke about them with knowledge and truth and justice and fairness. But when this principle taken initially from the Mu'tazilites - and they are virtuous, rational people - became confused to them, they needed to reject it and adhere to its implications, so they were compelled because of that to say what the Muslims of the people of knowledge and religion rejected. And the people because of that became from them who glorify them for what they have of virtues and merits, and from them who blame them for what fell in their speech of innovations and falsehood, and the best of matters is its middle."

And Ibn Taymiyyah also says:

"There is no doubt that whoever strives to seek the truth and religion from the side of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) and errs in some of that, God will forgive his error, in fulfillment of the supplication that God responded to His prophet and the believers when they said: 'Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we forget or make a mistake.'"

God Almighty forgives the mistake as long as the Muslim is seeking the truth and intending to follow the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Understanding Reality and Muslim Unity

We are now, dear brothers, in a time when Islam is being fought with a raging war, and thousands of accounts are being used to defame Islam, cast doubt on it, and turn Muslims away from their religion. The money of Muslims and billions are being spent on this, and the minds of our children are being brainwashed in schools, and their curricula are being distorted to erase their religion and nature.

In such a time, there is a great need for the unity of Muslims seeking the pleasure of God Almighty. We may differ with people and disagree with them, and yet we consider that among them are those who seek the truth and exalt God Almighty and His speech and Shariah, while before us is a common enemy who deliberately fights the truth, deliberately spreads falsehood, deliberately denies God, and mocks His Shariah.

So reason and religion in such a case is that we unite as Muslims, with good opinion of those who disagree with us if they show seeking the truth, and with love for them and goodness towards them for their faith. Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said about the Ash'aris:

"For they are the closest of the sects of the people of speech to the Sunnah and the majority and the hadith, and they are counted among the people of the Sunnah and the majority when looking at the likes of the Mu'tazilites and the Rafidah and others. Rather, they are the people of the Sunnah and the majority in the lands where the people of innovation are the Mu'tazilites and the Rafidah and the like."

Look at the reason and wisdom of this man; so when our greatest problem is not only with the people of innovation, but it is the open comprehensive war on Islam, indeed on all human nature?

Conclusion and Advice

This is my position, and I will not delve deeper into this file, but I call upon those who attack these scholars these days to stand in sincerity with themselves, and to search within themselves for suspicion of Muslims, lack of honesty, opportunities of the self, and corruption in controversy. Search within yourself so that you are not prevented from the truth, and do not think only of responding; I ask you, stop and take a calm stance with yourself, O you who attack them, and remember the saying of God Almighty: "O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion."

Know, dear brothers, that what I have said now in defense of the eminent scholars does not prevent me from clarifying the correct belief in some matters, whatever their opinion in them. With the permission of God Almighty, I will speak about the answer to the question "Where is God?", and what prompted me to open all this topic is pictures from the Oman International Book Fair that a friend sent to me, which I looked at this morning, prompting me to open this file that I had postponed opening.

I ask God Almighty to guide us all to what He loves and is pleased with. Peace be upon you and the mercy of God Almighty and His blessings.