Assalamu ‘alaikum wa Rehmatullahi wa Barakaatuh !
Firstly I am so glad and satisfied that ulama-e-haqq like you hazraat guide us through each and every theological and worldly matter. Thanks to Almighty Allah. I want to ask about the newly converted muslim speakers like Yusuf Estes, Bilal Philips, Abdur Rahim Green, and the like. I heard much controversial views about them. I saw certain videos on YouTube revealing their faulty ‘aqaaid. please guide the Muslim ummah regarding listening to their speeches. Jazakallahu khyran…
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Imam Muhammad ibn Sirin (rahimahullah) advised:
إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ، فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ
This knowledge is din, so be cautious of from whom you take your din.[1]
The following criteria serve as a guideline in determining a reliable scholar of din:
- He is from the Ahl al-Sunna wa ‘l-Jama‘a in ‘aqida (creed) and fiqh (jurisprudence).
- He is a graduate of an accepted Islamic institute.
- He does not violate the laws of shari‘a.
- His teachings and statements are in accordance with the shari‘a.
- He does not engage in bid‘a (reprehensible innovation).
- He is recognized and authorized by righteous learned scholars.
If any of the above guidelines are violated, then one should not follow such a person.
One should also bear in mind that an expert in one field is not necessarily reliable in other fields. For example, a person may be an expert in da‘wa or in comparative religion but unreliable in fiqh and ‘aqida.
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best.
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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صحيح مسلم (المقدمة) (١/١٤)
حَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَهِشَامٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَحَدَّثَنَا فُضَيْلٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ قَالَ: وَحَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ: إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ، فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ