ADVICE OF SHEIKH FAWZAAN TO STUDENTS OF KNOWLEDGE

By 

Sheikh Sālih Ibn al-Fawzān 

Translated by Abu Khadeejah 'Abdul-Wāhid Alam

I advice you to busy yourselves with the pursuit of beneficial knowledge at the hands of the scholars and that you leave off disputing regarding the people, and that you abandon backbiting, tale-carrying, criticizing and spreading stories - for this is a widespread evil that has divided the youth of the Ummah. It has made them sects and parties due to this reviling of people.

So there are those to whom nothing is more important than: "so and-so said this" and "so and-so said that." What concern is so-and-so to you? Rather you should seek knowledge until you become acquainted with the truth. As for you trying to dig up the mistakes of the people before you have learned and studied, and you start saying "so and-so said this" and "so and-so said that" and "I warn you from so-and-so," then this methodology is not a correct methodology.

Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) said:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَٰدِمِينَ

"O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful about what you have done."[Sūrah Al-Hujurāt: 6]

And how are you to get clarification and verification except by studying beneficial knowledge at the hands of the people of knowledge who are well-known for it.

Book: Important Guidance for the Youth of the Ummah, Salafi Publications, P. 20, 21