Placing Our Personal Views upon the People
Author: Shaykh Ahmad Baazmool (hafithahullah)
Source: 29th Majlis from the Majaalis of Ramadaan in the home of al-Allaamah Shaykh Rabee’
Translator: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
Shaykh Ahmad Baazmool (hafithahullah) mentioned one of the reasons that lead to differing amongst us:
"I would like to bring the attention to a reason (of separation) that takes place between us, the Salafis; or with some of our Salafi brothers from the students of knowledge, or from some of the virtuous ones. It is dangerous. This reason (of separation), is that we place upon the people our (personal) views, our desires, our Ijtihaad and make the affair of alliance and disassociation based on it. Not upon the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah along with the Manhaj of the Salaf as-Saalih.
As an example, I have a view (regarding a matter), whoever opposes me I show enmity towards him. My brother, why? If your view and my view has no evidence for it and the matter is one of Ijtihaad, then there's no problem. If your view has no evidence for it, don't try to force me to follow you. Mandate me by way of the evidence and the truth. As for personal views, then personal views can be correct and incorrect. Based upon this, it is not befitting (and this is another matter), to have ta'assub (fanaticism) for individuals (or personalities), magnifying them and raising their affair. Just as it has been mentioned by Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) when he mentioned extremism:
"Extremism is that person goes beyond the boundary regarding a matter, either blaming it or praising it."
So when you go to the extremes regarding a person you love, you praise him, and you go overboard in that, you don't accept nothing said about him (even if it is true), you accept his falsehood, and you are with him upon whatever he is on (even if it is falsehood). And when you dislike an individual, and it can be for a reason that's not based upon the legislation, this opposes that which we have been commanded with of having brotherhood, love and removal of hatred and enmity between ourselves. You dislike him, you say: "I don't accept him. I dislike him." Ok, you don't accept him (personally), the souls are as the Messenger of Allah stated:
"The souls are like armies gathered together."
So the matter of you not having a (natural) inclination towards a person doesn't mean that you have to hate him and combat him to the point that you don't accept from him the truth. You reject his speech (even if it is correct). You belittle him. As has come in the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam):
"Arrogance is rejecting the truth and looking down upon the people."
The meaning of rejecting the truth is rejecting it and not accepting it. Looking down upon the people means to belittle them and put them down. No my brother. The truth is to be accepted from the one who speaks it whoever it may be. Falsehood is rejected upon the one who speaks with it no matter who he may be. We do not make the truth tied to individuals (or personalities). If they say whatever they say, we accept it. If they reject whatever they reject, we reject it (due to being attached to the individuals/personalities). No! This is not what the Salafus Saalih were upon up until the scholars of our time today, by the bounty of Allah."
