Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhalī: Refutation of Innovations and Clarification of Errors is Obligatory and Brings Unity, Not Disunity
refutations clarifications unity
The three volume book “Al-ʿAqd al-Munaddid al-Jadīd Fī al-Ijābah ʿan Masāʾil al-Fiqh wal-Manhaj wal-Tawḥīd” (1421) was compiled by one of the Shaykh's students, Shaykh Fawwāz al-Madkhalī and contains valuable answers to questions on methodology.
Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhalī (رحمه الله) said:[1]
It is not permissible for the one who knows of the innovations of the Muslim Brotherhood or other groups who have deviant beliefs and errors to remain silent about them, when they have the ability to clarify, refuting innovation and correcting errors.
This is because refuting the people of innovations and errors is obligatory upon those with ability from the people of knowledge, and when some of them perform it, the obligation is removed from the rest.
As for (the excuse of) the fear of division taking place due to the refutation, then this is not a legal excuse (in the Sharīʿah), because the love of unity is based upon the truth which is more worthy of being loved and followed.
The innovator is the one who caused the division, because division is connected with innovation, and unity is connected with the Sunnah.
The expectation of harm from the opposer does not negate the obligation of the scholar to respond to the innovator and the opposer unless he expects harm that he cannot bear, for Allāh does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, and the earth is never devoid of people of knowledge who respond to every innovator and opposer.
Notes
01 Innovations and errors are the cause of splitting as they introduce new affairs (of creed, methodology and worship) around and into which people congregate and invest their convictions and emotions. This leads to differences in opinion, and then differences in the hearts and then division. Therefore, refuting the innovation, error or opposition, and clarifying it with knowledge is to remove and end the foundation of the differing itself.
02 The fear of division from the refutation of the error is not an excuse in the Sharīʿah because of the above point, namely, that unity can only ever be upon the truth itself. Hence, not clarifying truth from falsehood, Sunnah from bidʿah, and right from wrong, only perpetuates confusion and division.
03 The expectation of harm from the opposers is also not an excuse to avoid making the truth clear by responding to the innovator or the opposer who has erred and opposed the Sunnah, unless it is harm that is unbearable for that person. This harm relates to that individual and his personal safety and not to the fear of division or the fear of offending those supporting or defending the innovator or the opposer in his mistake and departure from the truth.
04 Shaykh Zayd (رحمه الله) also made clear, just before the above, that those students of knowledge who are not able to establish proofs against the opposers and are unable to refute them, they should not mix with them so as not to be affected by them due to their weakness. Instead, they should return to the scholars and to their peers from the Salafī students of knowledge whose source of knowledge is the noble legislation (sharīʿah) upon a correct understanding.
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Footnotes
1. Al-ʿAqd al-Munaddid al-Jadīd (no. 72).