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Imām Ibn ʿUthaymīn was asked:[1]
What do you say about the manhaj of al-Muwāzanah (counterbalancing) between the positive and negative points and the good and the bad points, since some people apply this issue of al-Muwāzanah absolutely, even with respect to Ahl al-Bid’ah, in all their varying levels.
They say that when you mention the innovation of a particular person with a view to caution against it and give advice, then if you do not mention and enumerate the good points at the same time you have wronged this person. So what is you view on this, may Allāh preserve you?
The Shaykh (رحمه الله) replied:
Our saying regarding this is that when a person speaks about an individual in order to make an (overall) appraisal of him, so that he can evaluate him as they say, then it is necessary to mention both the good and the bad points.
Subsequently, if the bad points overwhelm the good points then the person is amongst the people worthy of rebuke and censure. And if it is the opposite case, then he is from praiseworthy people.
This is when you desire to evaluate a person (comprehensively).[2]
However, when you desire to refute his innovation, then it is not absolutely desirable that you mention his good points.
For mentioning the good points while refuting him only weakens and impairs the refutation. The reader or the one being addressed will say, “In that case, this (i.e. good) counters that (i.e. the bad), and all praise is due to Allāh”. Hence, every situation requires a different type of speech. And therefore, evaluation and appraisal has its own circumstances and ruling and likewise refuting the falsehood has its own circumstances and ruling…
Then the questioner said:
In that case, when one is explaining the errors or mistakes or innovations of a person in order to warn and give advice (to others), it is not necessary to employ the principle of al-Muwāzanah?
The Shaikh replied:
No, it is not good or befitting as I have said to you. Since, if you mention his good points, the aspect of refuting his falsehood will become weak, and it is for this reason that we find the Scholars who refute Ahl al-Bidʿah and others, they do not mention their good points. However, when you wish to appraise an individual, then it is necessary to mention both the good and the bad points, and then you see (i.e. what his condition is). This is the approach of the muḥaddithīn as well in the books pertaining to narrators.
The Shaykh (رحمه الله) has clarified the same as Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله), distinguishing between the contexts of making biographical accounts and refuting and warning against Ahl al-Bidʿah, those who are upon deviation and innovation.