Scholar: ´Allâmah Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Source: http://alfawzan.ws/node/4942
Date: 1426-02-05/2005-03-16
Reference: Darulhadith.com
http://aFatwa.com

Question: What is your view on refuting the dissident? Is it always prescribed given that we see that some refutations cause dissensions and disagreements?

Shaykh al-Fawzân: A refutation must be done by a scholar and the scholar knows how he should refute. He makes a refutation that does not cause dissensions and disagreements. If the refuter is one of the scholars, he does not cause dissensions and disagreements. It does not consist of slandering, defamation or revenge. It does not consist of a way that is repellent.

First and foremost, a refutation has to be (done) by a scholar and a skilful person who knows how a refutation is done.

If the refutation takes place with perfect justice and clarifies errors, one should not feel ill at ease with it. No one should feel anger towards it. The believer should be happy when the truth is clarified for him. He should not defend his own opinion or deem the one who refutes him as his enemy. The fact of the matter is that he is his advisor. The person who refutes him is his and the Ummah’s advisor. The prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The religion is an advice.”

We said:

“To whom, O messenger of Allâh?”

He said:

“To Allâh, His Book, His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their laymen.”

The one who does not refute with justice and correct clarifications neither advises Allâh, His book, His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims or their laypeople. If he leaves an error without refuting it and the error reaches out to the people, then he has not advised.