Advice for Writers and Administrators of Internet Forums

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Written by: Shaykh ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Jaabiree (may Allaah preserve him)

All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of all that exists. There is no animosity except for the oppressors. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, who is alone without partners, and He is Al-Haqq Al-Mubeen. And I further bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allaah make high mention of him and his family and companions, and grant them security.

To proceed:

Verily I have reflected over what has taken place in the latest fitnah and the results and outcomes that have appeared amongst our youth and amongst our brothers who are holding to the methodology of As-Salaf As-Saalih. I believe that the great amount of gossip coming from those who do not have much knowledge or awareness of Allaah’s Deen, His Legislation, or what the Salaf were upon is a reason for the kindling of this fitnah and for the spreading of its flames, especially since the majority of these problems can be traced back to the Internet and what is said and written on it, from those whose description I have referred to.

And from the most important causes (of fitnah) is the act of hiding behind (false) names, titles, or kunyahs that hide the identity of a person.

So in an effort to resolve this problem that grows, gains momentum, and spreads day by day, verily I call on my truthful brothers to apply the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace):

“Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or keep silent.” [1]

And as Ibn Seereen (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said, “Verily knowledge is Deen, so look to whom you take your Deen from.”

And this is done by making known one’s real name, for whoever wants to take part in and write in these forums, especially the Sahab Salafee forum, let him take part with us in cutting short the growth of these problems and this gossip. [2]

After looking into the benefits of posting with one’s real name, the following things come to mind at first glance:

  1. One will take his time, contemplate, and think deeply before posting.
  2. We will know the level of the writer’s knowledge and manhaj.
  3. There will be no hastiness or unnecessary rush in spreading things before confirming them and referring them to the people of knowledge.
  4. Writing under one’s real name will bring about a sense of responsibility and accountability for what is being written.
  5. It will reduce excessive writing and spreading (of things devoid of benefit).
  6. It will restrict the writing and the offering of advice to the people of knowledge and their students, and not just every Tom, Dick, and Harry will post.
  7. It will put forth the people of knowledge and make clear their true position and their true right and authority with regards to guidance, education, and criticism.
  8. It will allow the Salafee methodology to be seen in its beautiful form and complete shape, by way of knowing the narrators and their situations and personalities.
  9. We will be able to apply the Sharee’ah ruling on the opponents, those who stubbornly resist (the correct path), and the liars. We will be able to confirm and verify reports if we know the individuals, but this ability will vanish or dwindle so long as we do not know them, or they are anonymous.
  10. There will be an increase in beneficial posts with knowledge, clarifying the manhaj, and weak posts or those devoid of benefit will decrease.
  11. We will nobly remove ourselves from the ways of the biased partisans and people of secret movements and organizations, and we will oppose their stealth and hiding behind nicknames or kunyahs when their attributes and poisons become known.
  12. We will spread clarity and mutual truthfulness, two attributes that are from the foremost attributes of the Salafee methodology.

There are other benefits and good results and outcomes that we hope to gain by the open display of people’s real names. So I hope that we will be the first ones to implement this good way on the Internet, so that we will gain reward for it, and for all those who follow us it.

So I repeat once more, I call upon our concerned Salafee youth, those dedicated to spreading good and repelling evil and reducing it and shutting its doors and avenues, I call on them to respond positively to this request and this suggestion. And I call on them to look into this suggestion with their intellects based upon the pure legislation that seeks to benefit from all forms of goodness and seeks to repel all evil. They will find that it will make them and their da’wah distinct, bring to light its truthfulness and inner purity, and the security of the methodology of their da’wah and its good intention as well.

And I hope that the brothers responsible for Sahab.net will join with us in conveying this invitation and this suggestion, keeping this post at the top of the page long enough for all or most of the youth to read it. And I hope that they will open the way for people to register with their real names and to change their kunyahs and nicknames. [2]

And may Allaah’s Salaah and an abundance of Salaam be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions until the Day of Judgement, and all praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all that exists.

Dated: 07-21-1423

Arabic Source: Sahab.net

Translated by: Moosaa Richardson

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Collected by Al-Bukhaaree (6136) and Muslim (171) on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)

[2] And they implemented the shaykh’s advice, may Allaah reward them generously.

17 thoughts on “Advice for Writers and Administrators of Internet Forums”

  1. Assalaamu’alaykum wa rahmatullaah. JazaakAllaahu khayran for this post replete with good advice and wisdom. My question is: Have the scholars made any exception to this general advice to allow translators who have become known using a pen-name to continue using this name (by which they are unknown outside the arena of translating), as this is a doubt some people have. I ask since some people seem to think that a person can be known (their truthfulness/level of knowledge) merely by reading their translations (which may be limited). Also writing their name in a way that makes them harder to identify, by adding a kunya (which may not be related to any children, or , for example, referring to the fourth of ten daughters) and just a first name – is this something that Salafees should be engaging in when conveying the Deen?

    Reply ↓

    • السلام عليك

      In no way am I proceeding our brother Abul Abbas Moosa حفظه الله

      But this article explains the Question:

      Shaykh Ubayd said:

      “And from the most important causes (of fitnah) is the act of hiding behind (false) names, titles, or kunyahs that hide the identity of a person…”

      And:

      “And I hope that they will open the way for people to register with their real names and to change their kunyahs and nicknames.”

      Another point to make is: how are the salafis taking from an unknown translator (one who is not know by his real name) when part of our religion is to take our religion from those who are known (and are known to be upon the sunnah).

      Also the one who is writing the truth should not be afraid to make himself known.

      And Allah knows best.

  2. Jazakallahu khyran may Allah Reward all you brothers in your efforts in spreading the daw’ah. I would like to be a member of the circle that get all information about every single details. It’s very important to me Amen

    Reply ↓

  3. As-salaamu ‘alayka wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

    Does this saying of Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jaabiree also apply to women on other forums too? As it may be better for a woman to stay unknown.
    I also want to highlight it’s about women who only spread sayings of the shuyookh and tulaab al-‘ilm. So they do not give fataawa by themselves or their opinion on things.
    Just like sharing benefits on Facebook et cetera..

    Baarakallaahu feeka

    Reply ↓

  4. السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
    What websites to you recommend for taking knowledge from?
    May Allah reward you.

    Reply ↓

  6. Assalamu Alaikum Ustad
    Can we take knowledge from The about web sites you mention even if the translators name is not on the article or tweets, etc

    Jazakallahu Khair

    Reply ↓

  7. Assalamu alaikum Ustaadh.

    How reliable are the Muhsin Khan’s translations of the qur’aan and hadeeth ?

    And Sahih International etc…

    Reply ↓

    • Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab, may Allaah preserve him, said to take the translation of Dr. Muhsin Khan of The Quran (over Yusuf Ali). Therefore, it is safe to say Dr. Muhsin Khan is a reliable translator and we should benefit from him. See here: https://safeshare.tv/x/iNyiqqNWJn

      Dr. Abdulilah Lahmami, may Allaah preserve him, also praised Dr. Muhsin Khan’s translation of the Quran. See here (1:10 in the video): https://safeYouTube.net/w/W2Ap

      As for Muhsin Khan and Saheeh International, then Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafeeq, may Allaah preserve him, said:

      “We have used the Muhsin Khan and Sahih International translations, as they are the best available. Muhsin Khan for its accurate presentation of meanings–though it is cumbersome to read in many places–and Sahih International for its simplicity and readibility though there are issues with translation in numerous places (and to which corrections have been made).” See here: http://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/about

      As of now, you can use http://www.thenoblequran.com for accurate translations as Abu Iyaad updates the translations frequently as he explained in the document section of the websites. May Allaah reward him.

  8. Assalamu alaykum,

    what is your advice about the many channels and accounts online that post the speech of the scholars, but they don’t mention who the admins are and who is behind that account… should they be avoided or is it okay since they are just spreading the words of the scholars? Does it not matter who is behind the account if they are sharing the scholars words? Sometimes these accounts turn out to have behind them someone w some deviation within them, like khawarij beliefs, that the scholars are free from.
    Is there investigation to be done with things like this as well?

    Reply ↓

    • Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. People who convey knowledge need to be upright and trustworthy, no matter what platform is being used to convey Islam. This is important now more than ever, since there is AI which can replicate voices and styles of speech. If we opened up the door to that idea, that so long as someone is conveying something from the scholars, we will accept it, then our Deen becomes potentially compromised in a very dangerous way. And Allah knows best.

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