Should the virtues of an innovator be mentioned when warning against him?
The word "al-muwazanah" (balancing) linguistically derives from the verb "wazana" (to weigh). Jurists use it when there is a conflict between benefits (masalih) and harms (mafasid), by prioritizing the better of two good things and warding off the worse of two evil things, or by prioritizing the greater benefit and warding off the greater harm. As for warning against the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid'ah), this is the guidance of the Salaf to prevent people from being deluded by them. It is not appropriate to mention their good qualities in this context because the intention is to repel people from them, unless it is in the context of a biography or evaluation, or training students of knowledge in fairness, provided there is security from delusion.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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