Majmu' al-Fatawa - Ibn Taimiya - (20/501)

Majmu' al-FatawaIbn Taimiya

has indeed followed a path other than theirs.

Another is His saying:

“Thus We have made you a just community, so that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger may be a witness over you.”

And His saying:

“So that the Messenger may be a witness over you, and you may be witnesses over mankind.”

The people of Jesus said:

“Then record us among the witnesses.”

This occurs in Āl ‘Imrān and al-Mā’idah, for ours is the role of bearing witness, while theirs is worship without bearing witness. The community described as “just” is upright and the best. Witnesses over mankind must be knowledgeable and just, like the Messenger. Hence, he said concerning a funeral, “It is assured! It is assured!” He also said:

“You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.”

And he said:

“You will soon be able to distinguish the people of Paradise from the people of Hell by the praise or blame they receive.”

It is thus known that their testimony concerning persons and actions is accepted. If they could testify to what is untrue, they would not have been designated witnesses without qualification.

Another is His saying:

“You are the best community brought forth for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.”

This verse contains several proofs, such as His words, “the best community,” and His words, “you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.” They must therefore enjoin everything right and forbid everything wrong. Correctness in rulings is right, and error is wrong.

فَقَدْ اتَّبَعَ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِهِمْ. وَمِنْهَا قَوْلُهُ: {وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا} وَقَوْلُهُ: {لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ} وَقَالَ قَوْمُ عِيسَى: {فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ} فِي آلِ عِمْرَانَ وَالْمَائِدَةِ لِأَنَّ لَنَا الشَّهَادَةَ وَلَهُمْ الْعِبَادَةُ بِلَا شَهَادَةٍ وَالْأُمَّةُ الْوَسَطُ الْعَدْلُ الْخِيَارُ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ عَلَى النَّاسِ لَا بُدَّ أَنْ يَكُونُوا عَالِمِينَ عَادِلِينَ كَالرَّسُولِ؛ وَلِهَذَا {قَالَ فِي الْجِنَازَةِ وَجَبَتْ وَجَبَتْ وَقَالَ: أَنْتُمْ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ} وَقَالَ: {تُوشِكُوا أَنْ تَعْلَمُوا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ بِالثَّنَاءِ الْحَسَنِ وَالثَّنَاءِ السَّيِّئِ} فَعُلِمَ أَنَّ شَهَادَتَهُمْ مَقْبُولَةٌ فِيمَا يَشْهَدُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ الْأَشْخَاصِ وَالْأَفْعَالِ؛ وَلَوْ كَانُوا قَدْ يَشْهَدُونَ بِمَا لَيْسَ بِحَقِّ لَمْ يَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ مُطْلَقًا. وَمِنْهَا قَوْلُهُ: {كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ} وَفِيهَا أَدِلَّةٌ مِثْلُ قَوْلِهِ: {خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ} وَمِثْلُ قَوْلِهِ: {تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ} فَلَا بُدَّ أَنْ يَأْمُرُوا بِكُلِّ مَعْرُوفٍ وَيَنْهَوْا عَنْ كُلِّ مُنْكَرٍ وَالصَّوَابُ فِي الْأَحْكَامِ مَعْرُوفٌ وَالْخَطَأُ مُنْكَرٌ.