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THE CONSEQUENCES OF ATTACKING AND DISPARAGING THE SCHOLARS - Shaykh Ṣāliḥ Āl al-Shaykh 1. A scholar makes a mistake. A scholar who generally adheres to the evidence exercises ijtihād but errs in one or two matters. 2. His mistake becomes a reason to disparage him. Instead of rejecting his mistake while preserving his honour, people begin attacking and speaking ill of him. 3. The scholars are discredited. Those who guide the people to the Sharīʿah become targets of attacks and disparagement. 4. A blow is struck against the Sharīʿah. The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets and guide people to the religion. Attacking them in this manner undermines their position as guides to the Sharīʿah. 5. Shayṭān and his allies rejoice. Nothing brings them greater joy than seeing those who guide people to the Sharīʿah being attacked. 6. The people become confused. They no longer know whom to turn to for religious guidance. 7. Trust in the scholars is lost. The people no longer have anyone in whom they have confidence and trust. 8. The people are left without reliable guidance. They either have no one to guide them or no longer trust those qualified to do so. 9. The people begin following their desires. Without trusted scholarly guidance, they proceed according to their own inclinations. 10. They go astray and lead others astray. The result is misguidance, both for themselves and for those who follow them. THE CONSEQUENCES IN SUMMARY A scholar makes a mistake ↓ He is unjustly disparaged ↓ The scholars are discredited ↓ A blow is struck against the Sharīʿah ↓ The people become confused ↓ Trust in the scholars is lost ↓ Reliable guidance is abandoned ↓ People follow their desires ↓ They go astray and lead others astray. THE METHODOLOGY OF AHL AL-SUNNAH When a scholar exercises ijtihād and errs, his mistake is not followed, but he is not disparaged on account of it. Safeguarding the tongue from speaking ill of the people of knowledge is among the distinguishing characteristics of the Victorious Group and the Saved Sect. Correcting a scholar’s mistake is one matter. Unjustly attacking and discrediting him is another. May Allah protect us from extremism and injustice in our dealings with the scholars, including the excesses of the Ḥaddādiyyah and watering of the Mumayyiʿah. May Allah preserve the scholars of the Sunnah, protect their honour, grant them steadfastness upon the truth, and enable us to recognise their virtue while accepting the truth and rejecting mistakes with knowledge, justice and fairness.