How can this be equated with someone who knew the falsehood, defended it knowingly, refuted those who opposed it, allied with its advocates, and attacked the pe

Whoever attempts to judge both categories of people with the same standard is pursuing injustice. Is this not like someone trying to weigh camels and gold using the same scale? In truth, those who are guilty of applying double standards are the adherents of the new Hizbi movement—such as Al-Buraʿī, Adh-Dhamārī, As-Sālimī, and Aṣ-Ṣawmalī, among others—for they judged Abul-Ḥasan, Al-Maghrāwī, and ʿArʿūr with a harsher standard than they applied to al-Imām and Al-Waṣābī, even though the latter two affirmed many of the same foundational principles as the former. Yet they accused Abul-Ḥasan, Al-Maghrāwī, and ʿArʿūr of innovation and misguidance while refraining from issuing any criticism, blame, or rebuke upon Al-Imām and Al-Waṣābī, despite the fact that the latter were key contributors in promoting those innovated principles. That, in truth, is the very essence of double standards—if only you understood. This response, by the will of Allāh the Exalted, should suffice. [الجواب المفيد عن شُبَهِ دُعاة الصلح مع أصحاب الحزب الجديد للشَّيخ أبي بكر الحمَّادي حفظه الله]