for, by Allah—there is no god but He—were it not that many people are deceived by everything printed and published by anyone whatsoever—mistaking a mirage for water and a bone for meat, when it is only, as the ancients used to say, “a bone on a meat-board”—I would not have written a single line in refutation of this man and others like him, such as that al-Saqqaf, some of whose grave errors will be set out below, and similar callow upstarts who have no prior standing in this field or in any other, who have not been schooled by the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “He is not one of us ... who does not recognize the due right of our scholar,” and who do not accept the counsel of the scholars.

The eminent scholar al-Shatibi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book Al-I'tisam (Holding Fast), while discussing the signs of the people of deviant desires and innovations (3/99):

“The scholar—take note that he did not say: ‘the student of knowledge’—if the scholars do not testify to his knowledge, then, in principle, he remains judged to lack knowledge until another testifies concerning him, and he himself knows within himself what has been testified to in his favour. Otherwise, he is either certain that he lacks knowledge or is in doubt. Choosing to put oneself forward rather than hold back in either of these two states can only be following one’s desires, for he ought to have sought another’s judgment concerning himself, but did not do so. His proper course was not to step forward unless another put him forward, but this did not occur.”

This is Imam al-Shatibi’s advice to the “scholar” who is able to come before people with some measure of knowledge: he advises him not to step forward until the scholars testify to his standing, lest he be among the people of deviant desires. What, then, do you suppose he would advise if he saw some of those who have attached themselves to this field in our time?! No doubt, he would say to him: “This is not your nest, so move on.” Is there anyone who will take heed?!

By Allah, I fear that this group may be included in the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “The minds of the people of that age will be taken away and replaced by a rabble of people. Most of them think that they are upon something, while they are upon nothing.” (1)

Allah is the One whose help is sought.

12-925- “Show mercy to those on earth, and the One above the heavens will show you mercy.”

I say: Despite this hadith’s authenticity, as was mentioned earlier, and the Ummah’s acceptance of it despite