Busying oneself with refutations - Part 1 Shaykh Ubayd ibn `Abdillaah al-Jaabiree

Reference: Audio Tape: Al Hadul Faasil/4th question

Category: Methodology

O noble shaykh, lately people have busied themselves with books and tapes that contain refutations while being negligent of gaining knowledge. If someone was to advice and encourage the youth to seek knowledge, he may be categorized as one of the followers of fulaan or ‘illaan (so and so or so and so). So what are the regulations in this matter, and what is your advice in dealing with these youth as it relates to this issue, and can you give some general advice to the youth on seeking knowledge?

I have already answered parts of this question, baarak Allaahu feekum, and you know which books I advised you to obtain and which books I warned you against. And I have already explained to you what knowledge of the Sharee’ah is (Review Dealings with the people of innovations). So what I will add here is:

Rudood, (refutations) are a branch from the branches of Da'wah. From amongst its benefits are: The spreading of Sunnah, the repelling of Bid'ah and it purifies Ahlus Sunnah from the danger of the people of innovations. I do not know of any scholar from the scholars of Ahlus sunnah, let alone an Imaam, that prohibits refutations, never! They don’t prohibit it altogether, but they prohibit it in certain circumstances. If a scholar sees that his students or the people of his country have left off the knowledge of 'Aqeedah, 'Ibaadah (worship), and Mu’aamalah (dealings between people) and they turned to refutations, then of course he would warn them and say: “Do not busy yourselves with refutations.” Meaning do not occupy all your time with refutations. By this statement he wants from his students, his beloved ones from his countrymen and other than them and all those whom have gathered together because of the Sunnah and the love of each other for the pleasure of Allaah, he wants one of two things from them:

The first is: The attainment of knowledge. If you look at the scholars who have warned against innovations and its people, refuted the doubts of the Mubtileen [1], preserved this religion from the deviance of the Ghaleen [2], the pretences of the Mubtileen and the ta-weel [3] of the ignorant ones; you would find that they speak with knowledge, not with affection. Likewise those that inherited them from their children, grandchildren and brothers are upon the same way, and this is because they are intent on implementing what the messenger of Allaah, sAllaah Allaahu 'allayhi wa sallam, has informed of: "Whomsoever Allaah wants good for, He will grant him fiqh (understanding) in the religion." The people of knowledge explain this hadeeth by saying: “And whomsoever Allaah does not want good for, He will not grant him fiqh in the religion.” And this is the correct understanding of the hadeeth.

The second is that they only read refutations according to their ability/only to a certain extent, so as it does not occupy them from gaining knowledge. I’m sure you all know that the messengers, 'alayhim assalaat was salaam, did not leave an inheritance of wealth, rather they left an inheritance of knowledge, and whoever takes from it [knowledge], has taken a large portion [of the inheritance]. This is the advice of our Prophet, sAllaah Allaahu 'allayhi wa sallam.

[1] Those who try to invalidate the Quraan and the Sunnah.

[2] Extremists.

[3] Changing the apparent meanings of either the Quraan or the Sunnah without a legislated proof.

Based upon this, those who read refutations are of different categories…

Translator: Nadir Ahmad, Abu Abdul-Waahid

Date Published: Thursday 28 October, 2004

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