Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

They Only accept the praise or criticism from their Shaykh ,or from

The People their Shaykh has praised.

The only person criticized in their view is the one their scholar has criticized. If the criticism is general and rejected , due to a detailed praise from a number of scholars, you’ll find they won’t pay any attention to what those ulema have said. i.e the detailed praised.

They say: “ Our shaykh is more knowledgeable about the condition of such and such than those scholars. The detailed criticism takes precedence over the general praise.” This is what those people negligent or ignorant say! This is a correct principle. The detailed criticism takes precedence over the general praise.

Furthermore, if you investigate the situation you’d find that this criticism is based on false reports and hidden hatred or envy. This criticism isn’t supported on a knowledge based research.

Ibn Abdul Bar (May Allah have mercy on him) said: “ A group of scholars in Fiqh and Hadeeth, who have insight in understanding and research have said: “ We don’t accept (the Jarh) from Ibn Ma’een or other people about a person who is well known for knowledge, trustworthiness, and sound understanding. The criticism in this case is rejected until the reason he’s criticizing the Muslim, is in accordance with the actions that validate a trustworthy person to be criticized. Reason being, this person is marked as being reliable. Therefore it’s incorrect to think about him being otherwise.” [ Tamheed Darul Farquq 7/171]



Shaykh Khalid ibn Muhammad Uthman said: “If this type of criticism isn’t accepted from someone like Ibn Ma’een, except with a valid reason, then what about someone less than him in our era?!”

The praise of that person from the senior scholars is based on their experience with him, their relationship with him, and their knowledge about his minhaj. Moreover their detailed praise concerning him is based on their awareness of his actions, which prove his honesty from lies and attest to his sound minhaj.

Nonetheless, despite all this you find those fanatics rejecting the praise from the major scholars for that individual. They hold only the words of their shaykh as being sufficient. They spread their scholar’s criticism (against the person) everywhere heedlessly and ignorantly. Consequently, they make their scholar the leader of their party. He has the right to say who gets membership and who doesn’t. He has the right to say who is on it and who’s off it without proof. And no doubt this is ghuloo.

“They refuse to accept the truth if it comes from other than their Shaykh”
Al-Haythami said: “ This type of action happens due to arrogance, or arguing in issues of Islam coupled with desires and fanaticism. These obsessions prevent him from accepting anything that comes from someone other than his shaykh. He refuses to acknowledge anything, although the path is crystal clear. On the contrary his arrogance summons him to go to the greatest lengths to display his falsehood and baseless arguments. He fits right line with Allah’s words, “

“And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome."[ Fussilat 26]

“And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest![ Al-Baqarah 206]

Ibn Masud (Radi Allahu Anhu) said: “ The sin suffices the man when it’s said to him ,” Fear Allah” , and he replies ,”Worry about yourself.”

Abdul Azeez Al-Bukhari said: “ The fanatic has a damaged aqeedah which prevents him from recognizing the truth when its manifest with evidence.”

Shaykh Khalid al-Misree said: “ The partnership and fanaticism block his spoiled Aqeedah from accepting the truth, even though the proof is clear. When the truth opposes what he believes his hizbeeyah beckons him to deny the truth and accept his falsehood. And certainly , this is arrogance as the Prophet(sallahu alayhi wa salim) defined it.

“الْكِبْرَ مَنْ بَطَرَ الْحَقَّ وَغَمَطَ النَّاسَ”

“ Arrogance is to deny the truth and to belittle people”

[Abu Dawud 4094 Al-Albani graded this hadeeth as being Saheeh]

Taken from : Fanaticism towards the Scholars Emotions contaminated with Desires by shaykh Khalid al-Misree printed by Dar Ilmi As-Salaf 2008 page 73

Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Doha, Qatar 1432 Published 14/Rajab.