Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (6/457)

Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-MasīhIbn Taimiya

This, then, is a report that carries within it a claim: the claimant is reporting, the denier is reporting, the witness is reporting, and the one who confesses is likewise reporting. Just as He forbade them to brand the claimant a liar without knowledge, He likewise forbade them to credit an accused denier, to charge an innocent person without proof, or to pronounce anyone guiltless and commendable without certainty. It is for this reason that the Exalted said:

“Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth so that you may judge between people according to what Allah has shown you. So do not be an advocate for those who betray.” ⦗Q 4:105⦘ (105)

“And seek Allah’s forgiveness; truly Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” ⦗Q 4:106⦘ (106)

“And do not contend on behalf of those who betray themselves; surely Allah does not love anyone who is habitually treacherous and sinful.” ⦗Q 4:107⦘ (107)

“They hide [their plots] from people, but they cannot hide from Allah, for He is with them when they spend the night planning words that displease Him. Allah ever encompasses what they do.” ⦗Q 4:108⦘ (108)

“Here you are—you argued on their behalf in the life of this world—but who will argue with Allah for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will then act as their guardian?” ⦗Q 4:109⦘ (109)

“Whoever does evil or wrongs himself and then seeks Allah’s forgiveness will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.” ⦗Q 4:110⦘ (110)

“Whoever earns a sin earns it only against himself, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” ⦗Q 4:111⦘ (111)

“And whoever commits a fault or a sin and then casts it on an innocent person has indeed shouldered a slander and a manifest sin.” ⦗Q 4:112⦘ (112)

“Were it not for Allah’s bounty upon you and His mercy, a group of them were bent on leading you astray; but they lead astray none except themselves and they will not harm you in the least. Allah has sent down to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you what you did not know. Great indeed is Allah’s favor upon you.” ⦗Q 4:113⦘

Likewise, He forbade them to accept the word of a slanderer who accuses someone whose goodness is well established, saying:

“When you heard it, why did not the believing men and believing women think well of their own people and say, ‘This is a blatant falsehood’?” ⦗Q 24:12⦘

وَهَذَا خَبَرٌ يَتَضَمَّنُ دَعْوَى لَهُ، فَإِنَّ الْمُدَّعِيَ مُخْبِرٌ، وَالْمُنْكِرَ مُخْبِرٌ، وَالشَّاهِدَ مُخْبِرٌ، وَالْمُقِرَّ مُخْبِرٌ، وَكَمَا نَهَاهُمْ عَنْ تَكْذِيبِ الْمُدَّعِيَ بِلَا عِلْمٍ نَهَاهُمْ عَنْ تَصْدِيقِ الْمُنْكِرِ الْمُتَّهَمِ، وَرَمْيِ الْبَرِيءِ بِلَا حُجَّةٍ، وَتَبْرِئَتِهِ وَتَزْكِيَتِهِ بِلَا عِلْمٍ، فَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَكُنْ لِلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا} [النساء: ١٠٥] (١٠٥) {وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} [النساء: ١٠٦] (١٠٦) {وَلَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا} [النساء: ١٠٧] (١٠٧) {يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَى مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا} [النساء: ١٠٨] (١٠٨) {هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ جَادَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ يُجَادِلُ اللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا} [النساء: ١٠٩] (١٠٩) {وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} [النساء: ١١٠] (١١٠) {وَمَنْ يَكْسِبْ إِثْمًا فَإِنَّمَا يَكْسِبُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا} [النساء: ١١١] (١١١) وَمَنْ {يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُبِينًا} [النساء: ١١٢] (١١٢) {وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَهَمَّتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا} [النساء: ١١٣] وَكَذَلِكَ نَهَاهُمْ عَنْ تَصْدِيقِ الْقَاذِفِ الرَّامِي لِمَنْ عُرِفَ مِنْهُ الْخَيْرُ فَقَالَ: {لَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَذَا إِفْكٌ مُبِينٌ} [النور: ١٢]