Translated by Abu Nuaym Tayyib Al-Imaam
Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzan - may Allaah preserve on goodness - said in his Book "Commentary on Kitaab al-Kabaair (Book of Major Sins) of Shaykh Muhammad Bn Abdil-Wahaab,"The Chapter of the Evils of the Tongue / Warning against the Harms of the Tongue:
"It is a pity that most people nowadays do not have any other business than peddling hearsays, backbiting and gossiping, censuring, and engaging in condemnation, disparaging and unjust excommunication (from the Sunnah). This is what most people are busy with nowadays.
I am addressing students of knowledge specifically. Some of them have even quitted their pursuit of knowledge and their major pre-occupation has become "what do you say about so-and-so?", "are you surprised by his words?", "we are followers of so-and-so scholar while you are followers so-and-so."
My brethren, this is not appropriate for an ordinary Muslim. let alone students of knowledge. It is fundamental for students of knowledge to be conscious of Allaah with his knowledge and guard his tongue and refrain from mixing with the common people. When he hears the ignorant ones talk (about others), he ought to turn away and not pay attention to it. If you want success and safety for yourself, busy yourself with knowledge alone and guard your tongues, because this is a time of trial and tribulation, especially now that false information and misconceptions are on the rise.
Fitnah may come in the guise of religion, knowledge or scholars. So, beware of this, face your studies, turn to Allaah in worship. Also exercise caution around those who only fish in troubled waters as they extract words from you and spread them, leading to misconstruing the words out of context, and misrepresenting the speaker for what he did not say. Especially now with the proliferation of tape recorders whereby someone with ill intention can hide it in your company and record you without your knowledge in order to trap you.
Source: Explanation of Kitaab al-Kabaair (p. 86-87)
First transcribed in Arabic by: Muhammad Abdu-r-rahmaan Al-Kallaaree in the month of Ramadan 25, 1438 which. was around May, 2016.
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