Author: Sheikh Al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (May Allah have mercy on him)
Translation:
Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (May Allah protect him)
When the people of ignorance became divided into sects, each group only accepted the truth that their members proclaimed, denying the truths held by others. As Allah said:
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ فَاللَّـهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
[2-Al-Baqarah: 113]
"And the Jews say, 'The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on,' and the Christians say, 'The Jews have nothing [true] to stand on,' although they recite the Scripture. Thus, those who do not know say the same as their words. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that in which they used to differ."
This was a specific characteristic of ignorance, and many people today still hold the belief that the truth resides solely with them. This is particularly true among followers of various jurisprudential schools, who believe that the religion exists only within their group, claiming that others have no truth at all. Each group remains absorbed in its own claims.
وكل يدي وصلا لليليٰ . . . وليليٰ لا تقرلهم بذاكا
"And every person claims to have access to Layla, yet Layla does not confirm such claims with any of them."
The fair approach is to examine the evidence. The truth is that which aligns with valid proof; it should be accepted, while anything lacking evidence and argument should be discarded. Any person's words can be accepted or rejected, except for those chosen by Allah for His Prophethood.
Translation:
Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (May Allah protect him)
When the people of ignorance became divided into sects, each group only accepted the truth that their members proclaimed, denying the truths held by others. As Allah said:
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ فَاللَّـهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
[2-Al-Baqarah: 113]
"And the Jews say, 'The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on,' and the Christians say, 'The Jews have nothing [true] to stand on,' although they recite the Scripture. Thus, those who do not know say the same as their words. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that in which they used to differ."
This was a specific characteristic of ignorance, and many people today still hold the belief that the truth resides solely with them. This is particularly true among followers of various jurisprudential schools, who believe that the religion exists only within their group, claiming that others have no truth at all. Each group remains absorbed in its own claims.
وكل يدي وصلا لليليٰ . . . وليليٰ لا تقرلهم بذاكا
"And every person claims to have access to Layla, yet Layla does not confirm such claims with any of them."
The fair approach is to examine the evidence. The truth is that which aligns with valid proof; it should be accepted, while anything lacking evidence and argument should be discarded. Any person's words can be accepted or rejected, except for those chosen by Allah for His Prophethood.
