Benefiting from the works of those that were upon guidance then went astray

Question:

Like you know, O Virtuous Shaykh of ours, a lot of us have many books that we purchased before the fitnah of Hizbul Jadīd belonging to the Mashāyikh of this Hizb, what is your advise, may Allah reward you with good, in regards to these books, especially the books which were written before the fitnah?

Answer:

It’s a must that the Salafi strives upon the safeguarding of his religion, treading therein the path of methodology of the Salaf, may Allah be pleased with them all.

By avoiding the people of innovation, their books, their audios, all of it.
What is included in this is what came about before they became Hizbi (bigoted and partisan).

Implementing with this the basis of allegiance and non-allegiance and boycotting the people of falsehood and being at contrast with them.

And the legislative texts in this are general, the Most High said:

(فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا)

“Therefore withdraw (O Muhammad ﷺ) from him who turns away from Our Reminder (this Quran) and desires nothing but the life of this world.” [An-Najm:29]

And if this person was from Ahlus-Sunnah but then deviated from their path, then this is not except through a hidden affair in his heart which overtook him and brought about that deterioration, through the Justice of Allah, Exalted is He from any imperfections.

Allah, the Most High, said:

(فَلَمَّا زَاغُوٓا۟ أَزَاغَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم)

“So when they turned away (from the Path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the Right Path).”[As-Saff:5]

And He, Exalted is He from any imperfections, said:

(أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْم)

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilah (god), and Allaah knowing (him as such), left him astray” [Al-Jāthiyya:23]

Whosoever’s condition was to be like this, then his previous books and audios are thought to contain what is to be warned from, so turning away from this would contain preservation of a person’s religion.

Imām As-Sijzi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said in his “letter to Ahl Az-Zabīd”:

“Be careful of the authoring of those whose conditions changed, for verily it contains scorpions and perhaps you will not find an anti-venom.”
[End of speech]

Meaning: not finding a cure after the doubt takes root in the heart.

And Al-Hāfidh Adh-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said in “As-Siyar”:

The Salaf would say:
“The hearts are weak and doubts snatch people away.”

After this, if it became known through the ruling of those that are qualified in this affair, that their books and audios were free from affairs which are warned from.

Then the methodology of the Salaf in regards to boycotting the people of desires and belittling them, necessitates turning away from them, as a chastisement to them.

And due to what buying and benefiting from it contains of:

➖Honoring the Innovator and venerating him.

Imām Rāfi’ bin Al-Ashras said:

“The chastisement of the sinner and the innovator is that their good is not mentioned.”

As it mentioned in “Sharh Al-‘Illal” of Ibn Rajab.

➖Directing the people to them.
➖Increasing their ranks.
➖Deceiving the people by reading their books and listening to their audios.

And other than this of the many harms.

And I have spoken about this subject with further elaboration than I did here in my book “Misbaah adh-Dhullaam”

And success is granted by Allaah.

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allah preserve him.

Source:
t.me/abouhatem/62

Answered on:
30th, Muharram, 1438H

Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani