In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Is asking about individuals from the guidance of the Salaf?

By Shaykh Rabee’ bin Haadee al-Madkhali may Allah preserve him

Question: Is asking about individuals from the guidance of the Salaf?

Answer: Yes, asking about individuals is from the methodology of the Salaf, just as Ibn Sireen said:

إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم

“Indeed this knowledge is deen, so look to whom you take your deen from.”

There are those who ask about individuals with sincerity and truthfulness, and they want to take their deen from those who are competent. They want to take from the people of knowledge who have the authentic creed and methodology. This is the reason why they ask about individuals.

And then there are some people who ask [about others] to cause fitna [trials]. In these times there are many questions, “What is your view of so and so?” “What is your view of the methodology of so and so?”

And their intention is not to benefit from the answer or to distance themselves from the individual, but rather their intention is for something different. It is to seek rumors and spread fitna between the people…

So these questions [with the intention of causing fitna] is not permissible because it is to cause fitna. And affairs are by their intentions.*

As for if the questioner intends good and asks in order to learn who to take his deen from, then it is incumbent to show them who to take knowledge from, may Allah bless you all, Na’am

*This is a principle in Qawaa’id fiqh: الامور بمقاصدها

Source: Marhaban Yaa Taalibal ‘Ilm pg 337

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله