Sheikh Dr. Saalih Suhaimi hafidhahullaah, concerning oppressing others on the net
Abdulilah Lahmami : Taken from my own notes from the fourth lesson of Sharh Akhlaaq al-Ulama by Imam Ajuree explained by Sheikh Dr. Saalih ibn Sa’d as-Suhaimi during the Madinah Conference, Saudi Arabia 1426/2006
Sheikh Dr. Saalih ibn Sa’d as-Suhaimi said regarding those who write on the internet and oppress others unjustly:
About twenty eight years ago two groups of students differed with one another. The extremity of the situation resulted in argumentation such that they did not seek the truth but rather only to please their own desires. They accused one another of falling into sins. The matter of disagreement was regarding whether one places his hands on the ground before his knees while going down for prostration in the prayer. They charged one another of lying against the Messenger sallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. They claimed that these ones do no want the Sunnah. They fought each other until they threw chairs at one another.
This is from the deceptions of Iblees and whoever occupies himself with pleasing their desires then they ends up being misguided…
These affairs should be taken back to those firm in knowledge… let us consider Imam Ahmed and Imam Shaf’ee rahimahumaallaah. They differed with regard whether one has to make ablution after eating camel’s meat. Imam Shaf’ee says that if one is upon ablution then eats camel’s meat and prays then their prayer is correct, while Imam Ahmed says one’s prayer is nullified. However, both of these Imams pray behind each other without mentioning this difference…
Beware my brothers from some of the problems present on the internet. To the extent that one of these (troublemakers) tried to ascertain what his brother’s saying meant by given it a meaning other than the intended one, thereby being futile…
Another one has accused his brother of being an evil person and a Rafidi (an extreme group amongst the Shi’ah sect). The youths accusing others of being sinners, innovators and disbelievers. It maybe a result of a misunderstanding.
As the poet said,
And how many speak against a correct statement     And his shortcoming is due to his own wrong understanding
By Allaah, we advised them concerning their argumentation and accusingly ascertaining a false meaning to what others say. This has lead others who are weak in faith to accept it.
May Allaah have mercy on Imam Ibn Baz rahimahullaah, when he advised the callers to Allaah in general, some people said that he was referring to the callers in Madinah specifically and to such and such person. Thus, falsely accusing others. So he rahimahullaah replied, “Those who delve in murky waters are the ones who say I am referring to such and such person…”
Allaah said, “Do not go into that which you have no knowledge, indeed the hearing, the sight, the heart, all of it, he will be questioned about.”
We should keep away from accusingly ascertaining a false meaning to what others say…
…I say this to the students of knowledge, Fear Allaah concerning yourself (raising his voice), Fear Allaah concerning your brothers, Fear Allaah with what you put in your tapes falsely accusing and ascertaining a corrupt meaning to what others say.
Fear Allaah concerning the internet websites that are used for falsely accusing and ascertaining a false meaning to what others say.
Very little shame and much distortion in what your brothers say concerning those things that are not meant. By Allaah you will be questioned, by Allaah on a Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit you except the one who came to Allaah with a pure heart. By Allaah you will be questioned.
Someone wrote in that website, the one whose owners don’t have fear of Allaah in reviling the students of knowledge with different types of insults and they even placed a student of knowledge and scholars to be a reference point for the website but I say this with much sorrow.
I heard this tape from the website of someone, may Allaah forgive him, he specified twenty minutes talking against me with very dangerous slanders and he attributed to me and others what is befitting for hypocrites and disbelievers. He said so and so he has such and such and he followed other than the path of the believers…he fell into hypocrisy and disbelief and he differed from the scholars and he went here and there, by Allaah, if you heard those characteristics then they are not attributed except to the disbelievers and hypocrites. I don’t say this to defend myself, but he was not only specifying me with these slanders, only, but also other students of knowledge and scholars…
I say to him two things:  the first of them being that I will not use against him more than the arrows at night for I will not forget in the last third part of the night the supplication against him and those that aid him, Allaah willing.
Secondly, I say to him: say what you say because in front of Allaah the disputers will gather and those that oppressed others will know which place they will end up in.
I say this, my brothers, for the sake of Allaah such that a Muslim is aware that Allaah is watching him, thus being afraid of Allaah in that which he says and writes. That he is accountable concerning every statement he utters for indeed a man says something without realising where it will reach until he falls into the hellfire a distance of 70 years.
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam while holding his own tongue said to Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allaah be pleased with him), “withhold this!” So Mu’adh said, “will we be accountable concerning what we say?” The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “May you be put back in your mothers womb and born again, for the people will be thrown into the hellfire upon their faces or noses on account of what their tongues used to say.”
The great calamity is that this enmity is happening between people who ascribe to this methodology and this one way, except that satan has caused enmity between them. It maybe satan found those who delve into murky waters just as Ibn Baz rahimahullaah said.
If a person makes a mistake, do you take him out of salafiyyah and from the methodology of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah based upon your own specific opinion. Who is the one to clarify these affairs, they are the scholars who cultivate people to the truth, those who speak truthfully and are just upon it not Bakr or Zayd like us young ones.
So FEAR ALLAAH wherever you are (Raising his voice). So FEAR ALLAAH wherever you are. So FEAR ALLAAH wherever you are.
Fear Allaah concerning your brothers from Ahlu Sunnah, Be kind, loving and gentle with Ahlu Sunnah! Be kind, loving and gentle with Ahlu Sunnah! Be kind, loving and gentle with Ahlu Sunnah! Just as our sheikh AbdulMuhsin al ‘Abbad said. I advise myself and you with the fear of Allaah in secret and in open.
Allaah said, “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular veins (by Our knowledge). (Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” [Soorah Qaf: 16-18]
I ask Allaah for myself and you that we gain beneficial knowledge and good, correct actions for He is the One able to decree it and we say the supplication which Jibraeel taught the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to say:
“O Allaah, the Lord of Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and Bearer of witness. You are the One who judges between your servants in that which they differ, guide me with truth in those things that there is difference with your permission. Indeed you guide whom you will to the straight path.”
The hadeeth has is Hasan, see Sunan Abi Dawood (767), Sunan Ibn Maajah (1357), Sunan Tirmidhee (3420).
End of translation.
For those who don’t know Sheikh Dr. Saalih ibn Sa’d as-Suhaimi, then he is in his 70’s a teacher in the Prophet’s mosque and also at The Islamic  University of Madinah and is held in high esteem amongst the scholars of Ahlu Sunnah and the general people. May Allaah protect him. The sheikh is also blind may Allaah grant him paradise for his efforts in calling to Allaah.
Abdulilah Lahmami