Shaykh al-Fowzaan Exposes the Plots to Defame Scholars by Calling Them “Madkhalees” and “Jaamees”

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Ever Merciful…

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan, one of today’s most widely respected scholars of Islaam – may Allaah preserve and protect him – , was asked about people who resort to name-calling with labels like “Madkhalees” and “Jaamees”, and he replied:

Stop these kinds of affairs and this name-calling. Do not insult each other with name-calling. Allaah, the Mighty and Most High, has commanded you:

ولا تنابزوا بالألقاب

Do not insult each other with name-calling! [49:11]

You are all brothers [addressing students al-Madeenah University], all of you are upon the same religion. You are all peers, and to Allaah is the praise. Drop these affairs, and show respect for the scholars. Respect the scholars! Whoever does not respect the scholars shall remain deprived of their knowledge. He will be deprived of being able to benefit from them.

Abandon this thing – the name-calling and speaking ill of the scholars – those who have virtue and status over the rest of the people which Allaah bestowed upon them:

يرفع الله الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات

“Allaah raises the believers among you and the people given knowledge many degrees.” [58:11]

The scholars have their status, they have their ranks that are to be respected. If the scholars are not trusted, then who is trustworthy? When people lose trust in their scholars, then who will the people refer back to?

This is a plot, no doubt, something planted among the people, no doubt. We must recognize this issue, shun it, stay away from it, and forbid (others) from it.

Source: A Q&A after a lecture entitled “What a Student Must Do After Graduation”, delivered at the Islamic University of al-Madeenah in 1431. (YouTube/Safeshare)

Translated by: Moosaa Richardson

5 thoughts on “Shaykh al-Fowzaan Exposes the Plots to Defame Scholars by Calling Them “Madkhalees” and “Jaamees”

  1. As salamu alaykum,

    My question is, what about when the people who call themselves Salafi call people names like Qutbi, Surooree, Hajawirah, etc… Does the Ayah that the shaykh mentioned, where Allah said: ولا تنابزوا بالألقاب — Does this apply here as well?

    • Wa ‘alayk as-salaam. When a deviant sect evolves from another, or is founded, the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah have always given a name to the sect and warned against it. A Qadaree was a nickname given to someone who denied Qadr, for example. A khaarijee, one of the khawaarij. I don’t know of anyone who ever objected to this kind of labeling thinking it to be the prohibited form of name-calling referred to in the Verse, as it is and was necessary to help distinguish truth from falsehood and warn against falsehood. And Allaah knows best.

    • Jazaak Allaahu khairan akh Moosaa. I understand giving a name to deviant sects to identify them and warn against them, like you mentioned calling someone who denies Qadr a qadree, etc. I see how this is necessary to distinguish truth from falsehood. But what about giving a personal nickname to an individual, that has nothing to do with identifying him or his deviations. Like “Goldie” for example.

    • While some scholars in refuting the people of innovation would use insulting nicknames, hoping to aid the people in turning away from them, it is much more appropriate to warn against the individual with proofs and evidences of his misguidance and harm without using any insulting nicknames. This is more beneficial for the people, and safer and more distant from possible violations of the intended meanings of texts of the Quran and Sunnah, like the Verse (that means) “And do not insult one another by nicknames” (al-Hujuraat:10) and the hadeeth (which means) “Insulting a Muslim is disobedience” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim), and this is what I have learned from my scholars in general, from the likes of Shaykh Rabee’ al-Madkhalee and Shakh Saalih al-Fowzaan. And Allaah knows best.

  2. Assalaamu aleikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

    My question is, how should we respond to this name-calling?
    Sometimes people call me Madkhaliyyaah, but I do not know what is the best answer to these people.
    Can you please tell me what I have to answer, because I am afraid I will say wrong things. (I often respond that he is a praised shaykh of Ahlus Sunnaah, can I add something to this saying?)
    (Also, why do they call us Madkhalis? Because shaykh Rabee’ (hafidhahullaah) refutes Ahlul Bida’??)

    Baarakallaahu feekum.

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