Shaykh Rabee' (hafidahullah) states in, “Sound Admonition: Advice to Sahab Internet Forum”: “ “...And we advise the administrators of these internet groups to adhere to the truth and to truthfulness within themselves, and to train and cultivate themselves upon this in their statements and deeds, and to distance themselves from political-type maneuverings which are based upon lying and deception. Similarly, we advise them not to use Islaam simply as a vehicle to achieve personal aspirations, worldly financial goals, or any political-type ambitions that they have.
Likewise, we advise them to hold closely to adhering to the methodology of Islaam in all of their various affairs – in their general dealing of their religion and with their Lord, their Prophet, his Noble Companions, and the scholars of this guided Ummah; and to give each of them their proper position and status, defend them against assaults upon their honour, and to feel offense and outrage towards the one who attacks the honour and position of any of them.
In addition, we also warn you against being extreme and exaggerating in honouring individuals, and venerating and elevating them above their position. You should remember the statement of Allaah, the Exalted:
“Oh people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say about Allaah anything but truth.” [Surah an-Nisaa:171]
And Allaah, the Exalted says,
“Say (Oh Muhammad): Oh people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path.” [Surah al-Maa'idah:77]
And the statement of the Messenger, may Allaah's praise and salutations be upon him, “Do not exaggerate regarding me as the Christians have exaggerated regarding the Messiah, the son of Maryam.”
Similarly, we warn you against injustice, from engaging in fabcriation, and from transgressing against the honour of the ones whom you have a legitimate dispute with – if truly you stand upon the truth. Regardless of whether you are engaging in this in defense of the truth, while those whom you dispute with stand upon that which is false.
Indeed Allaah has forbidden injustice upon Himself and upon His servants. As is found in the authentic hadeeth which conveys the actual stated words of Allaah which were narrated by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh, as well as Imaam al-Bukhaaree in his work, “Al-'Adab al-Mufrad”:
“Oh my worshippers, certainly I have forbidden injustice for myself, and I have made it something forbidden between you, so do not commit injustice.”
And even ahead of this is the statement of Allaah,
“Surely, Allaah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom, but if there is any good, He doubts it, and gives from Him a great reward.” [Surah an-Nisaa':40]
and His saying,
“And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.” [Surah Fussilat:46] and so forth in many different verses indicate the prohibition of injustice. In addition to that, is the statement of the Messenger, may Allaah's praise and salutations be upon him,
[Beware of injustice, as indeed injustice will be darkness or punishment and suffering on the Day of Judgement]
Also, the statement of the Messenger, may Allaah's praise and salutations be upon him,
[Allaah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He seizes him, He never releases him.]
So the doing of injustice against the worshipping Muslim and transgressing against his honour – especially when he is from the callers to truth and the Sunnah – is from the most significant forms of injustice. Indeed, it is even more forbidden than the eating of wealth gained through charging interest, just as the Messenger of guidance and justice, may Allaah's praise and salutations be upon him, explained in his wise and just statement,
[Interest has seventy two different categories, the least of them is a man having sexual relations with his (own) mother. And what is considered even worse than dealing with interest is when a man intensly attacks his brother's honour.]
Also within another narration it states, [Worse than interest is that you abuse your brother' honour.] (Refer to Silsilat as-Saheehah of Sheikh al Albaani no.18710. And so forth, as found in other narrations which strongly stress the avoidance of violating the honour of the Muslims through injustice or the following of desires.
As such, I fear for the many of the people of blind passion and those conforming, foolish minded people, that they will fall into making it permissible to attack the blameless honour of those who are callers to the sunnah and the truth, and even more so than other individuals, who are also innocent and free from this action of theirs. Additionally he said, may Allaah preserve him, in, “Explanation of Some of the Statements from the Work of Ibn Rajab, the Difference between Giving Advice and Condemning”:
“If you criticize an individual then it is a requirement that you adhere closely to the truth, truthfulness, and sincerity, and that your goal be to clarify the truth, and warn from those errors which would invalidate or negate that truth. As if this is your goal then this is a noble objective and a tremendous matter of good which the entire Ummah should thank you for, and regarding which it is not permissible for anyone to accuse you of evil due to it. But if you have an evil objective in this, and it becomes evident through scrutiny and examination that you are actually an individual who is simply following his desires, then the people now have the right to speak regading you...”
...Haafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
'Section: The one who you know that he intended with his statement of refutation related to the scholars, the offering of advice for Allaah and His Messenger, then it is obligatory that you treat him with generosity, and honour, and respect just like the other leading scholars of the muslims whom we have previously mentioned and those similar to them, as well as those who followed them in goodness....
Similarly, the one who you know desires through his refutation against someone to humiliate, blame, and simply to expose faults then he is deserving that you direct towards him reprimands or sanctions in order to restrain him and as well as in compensation for this forbidden act of corruption.' Shaykh Rabee' further explains this passage:
“And this latter act is what is done by the enemies of the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa'ah, especially the people of the various groups and parties who have actively opposed the methodology of the first generations, and actively strive to give victory to the people of innovation and desires...but as for the scholars and the people upon guidance, then by Allaah they are only pleased when the truth comes to light even if it criticizes a mistake of one of them, yet clarifies to the people that this leading scholar is mistaken in this issue; then he is pleased.
Due to this we see that the students of these leading scholars did not hesitate ti clarify the mistake of their scholars, nor did they fight against those who opposed them in some of their own statements in which a mistake occurred. They truly considered this as something that those leading scholars would have been pleased with. They could never be pleased that the people engage in any form of worship based upon their mistake, nor could they ever be pleased that their mistake be attributed to Allaah, the Blessed and the Most High. They could never be satisfied with this because we are well aware of their sincerity, and their efforts to offer advice for the sake of Allaah and His Messenger, to His Book, the leaders and the general people from among the Muslims, may Allaah be pleased that someone says about them, “So and so is in error and has fallen in a serious mistake, and is misguided.” Not in any case, as they are astray and deeply entrenched in their deviation! They cannot tolerate criticism at all.
They are stubborn in their resistance, despite the fact that the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa'ah continually clarify and explain to them that they are mistaken and going astray in the matter of such and such and the issue of such and such. The evidences are demonstrated to them yet they persist upon their falsehood, as well as gathering the people upon these misguided deviant thoughts and principles. They have no fear about the detrimental consequences which will result from their actions. Nor are they afraid of the severe accounting with Allaah that awaits them due to their calling the people to falsehood and leading them away from the path of guidance, because their hearts have become corrupted. And we seek refuge in Allaah from this.
Their desires have overcome them, and they are as was described by the Messenger of Allaah, may the praise and salutations of Allaah be upon him,
[There will be a people whose desires will spread among them just as the maddening disease of rabies spreads through dogs, and for the one infected there will not be a single one of his joints spared from being afflicted.]
(This hadeeth is mentioned by Ibn Abee 'Aasim in his hadeeth work “as-Sunnah” numbers 1 and 2, and it was ruled as authentic by Sheikh Al Albaanee (rahimahumullah) in his verification of the work)
