8/4/2019 Making Judgments

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Making Judgments

All praise and thanks is due to Allah Most High and may His salaat and salaam be upon the nobleMessenger Muhammad and all those who follow his way until the Last Day,aameen.

A general issue of concern regarding learning Islam is that of passing judgments on matters not onlywithout having really read or understood them for one's self, but without any substantiated evidence thatthe material is indeed incorrect or objectionable.

We find it regrettable and somewhat surprising that Muslims who consider themselves knowledgeableenough to make so many important decisions in life, raise children, work in professions, even teach andthe like, would not only pass judgments but even encourage others to avoid even looking at orconsidering the words of certain authors or publications without having read anything for themselves orhaving gotten any specific direction from scholars of Islam regarding that material pointing to what isclearly objectionable or incorrect in them according to the criterion of the shariah of Islam. They insteaddo so based on the say-so or opinions of others who themselves may be viewing the matter incorrectly ordue to prejudices or misconceptions, and who may themselves misinterpret or misrepresent what theyread.

No doubt if one finds any author or group having established themselves as not bringing forth goodinformation from substantiated Islamic sources or otherwise or who advocates that which is clearlyagainst established Islamic belief and practice or truthfulness, that those who are not well-grounded orsure of their Islamic knowledge should avoid reading or listening to such material if only to protectthemselves from perhaps falling into error and confusion. Indeed even great scholars of the past wouldneither read, sit with or listen to certain individuals known and established to possess deviations nomatter if they wanted to even relate a hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). This is soundwisdom and the exercise of reasonable caution. It can indeed be a sensitive matter, especially if oneconsiders that if people are not well-grounded that they are dependent upon the word and assessment ofothers and thus the level of trust one puts in others' judgments is crucial.

What is objectionable is the uncritical following of unsubstantiated statements of opinion made about any

person or entity and then this ill-word circulates until it seems an unsubstantiated "fact" by virtue of itswide circulation with the result of cutting off many people who could otherwise benefit from useful andimportant information.

We should certainly always read carefully and even critically and if anything objectionable or shortcomingis found (i.e. inaccuracy or not suiting the criterion of Islamic shari ah), it should be brought to theattention of the writers or publishers of that given material - me included. Perhaps the error orshortcoming will be corrected and many will then benefit. At the least, the burden of ordering the goodand preventing the evil will have been lifted from the one who is indeed able to do so, and the resultantaction or reaction to that rests with Allah. It is certainly preferable to what may amount to the major sin ofbackbiting, slander or spreading doubt and sowing undue suspicion which hurts far more than it helps andthat may instead place a burden of having blocked the road to benefit and/or knowledge from others whobadly need it, and Allah knows best.

Be smart, be safe, but be fair.

Abdul-Qaadir Abdul-Khaaliq