From the foundations of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah in deriving evidence ([arb]الاستدلال[/arb]) is to follow what has come in the Book of Allāḥ or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allāḥ [sas], inwardly and outwardly...
When the condition of a man is unknown, or hidden (mastoor ul-hāl), and nothing is known about him, is it permissible to ask about him in order to know his condition, or is it not permissible?
There have appeared such calamities upon the plains of daʿwah, I think that if Ibn al-Qayyim [rh] was alive (today) he would have considered them to be new (forms) of tawāghīt (false gods).
This is frequently mentioned by the pedantic, plotting, deceiving people of doubts: “Is truth accepted from everybody” and sometimes they express it through their saying: “Take the truth from whoever brings it.”
Indeed, the affair [of rule] being destined for the kings and their deputies from the rulers, judges and leaders [who are not upright] is not due to the deficiency in them alone...
Is it from the manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf to criticise the rulers from the mimbar (the pulpit)? And what is the manhaj of the Salaf with respect to advising the rulers?