Watering Down of Jarḥ by Dismantling the Principles Set by the Salaf (Part 12)

Sheikh Abdulḥamīd Az-Zu'kari hafidahullāh wrote: Their Call to Mercy, Compassion, and Having a Clean Heart Towards Muslims This is among the methods employed by Hizbis and those who water down the religion. They claim that the enemies of Islam are many—such as the Jews and Christians—so our enmity should be directed toward them. This, in itself, is correct: we are indeed obligated to hate and warn against the Jews and Christians. However, we must also be cautious of—and warn against—those who follow their path and resemble them in many ways: namely, the misguided innovators. Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah said: «من فسد من علمائنا ففيه شبه من اليهود ومن فسد من جهالنا ففيه شبه من النصارى». “Those among our scholars who are corrupt resemble the Jews, and those among our ignorant ones who are corrupt resemble the Christians.” It is also important to note that the deception of Muslims by those from within Islam who imitate the Jews and Christians is more dangerous than their deception by the disbelievers themselves. For this reason, when Imām Aḥmad was asked about whether it is better to employ a Jahmī or a Jew or Christian, he replied: “A Jew or a Christian (is better)!”—and he explained this by stating that Muslims are not deceived by Jews and Christians to the same extent that they are deceived by the people of innovation(1). [التمييع...فتنة العصر ١/١٨٢] ___ (1) If that is the case, imagine the deception and confusion that would arise when someone defends certain innovators under the pretense of clarifying the Manhaj of the Salaf.