Condemned Fanaticism to the Scholars

Question: What is the ruling on some who loves a scholar or caller and says: "I love him very much", "I don't want to hear about anyone refuting him" and "I will take his words even if they are in opposition to the proof because this Shaikh is more aware of the proofs than we are. "

Answer: This is ta'assub (fanaticism), which is detested and condemned, and it is not permissible.

We love the scholars, all praise be to Allah, and we love the callers to the way of Allah. However, if one of them errs in an issue, then we clarify the truth with regard to this issue, based upon evidence. And this does not detract from the love or status held for the one being refuted.

Imaam Maalik, (may Allaah have mercy on him), said: "There is none of us, except that he can refute or be refuted, except for the one buried in this grave - meaning Allaah's Messenger (May Allah's peace and blessing be upon him.)

So, when we refute one of the scholars or one of the noble personalities, this does not mean that we have a hatred for him or that we are belittling him. Rather, we are clarifying what is correct. This is why when one of the scholars saw that one of his colleagues erred, he said: "So and so is our beloved friend; however the truth is more beloved to us than him." This is the correct way.

Do not think that refuting a scholar on an issue he erred in constitutes belittlement or hatred for him. On the contrary, the scholars have not ceased to refute one another (throughout history), but in spite of that, they are brothers holding love for one another.

It is not permissible for us to accept entirely everything an individual says - whether he is correct or wrong - because this is ta assub (blind fanaticism).

The (only) one whom we can take all of his sayings and not leave off any of them is Allah's Messenger, since he is conveying from his Lord and does not speak from his own desire. As for those other than him, then they can err at times and be correct at times. Even if they are from the most virtuous of people and they are Mujtahids (ie scholars), they can err at times and be correct at times. There is no one that is protected from error except Allah's Messenger (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

We must know this. Furthermore, we do not conceal the error out of our love for such individual. Rather it is upon us to expose and clarify the error. The Prophet (May Allah's peace and blessing be upon him) said: "The Religion is Sincerity." We said: "To who?" He (May Allah's peace and blessing be upon him) said "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger , the Muslim leaders and their common folk. "

Clarifying errors falls under Sincerity to everyone. But as for concealing errors, then this is in opposition to Sincerity.

Question Answered by Sh. Saalih al-Fawzaan in Beneficial Answers to Questions on Innovated Methodologies English translation pages 156 to 158