Critical terrorism

There is a real type of terror is called "critical terrorism" in which a generous person defends his generosity as he defends his existence. A critic does not know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited to attack a person in his honor.

The first who walked in this track were the enemies of Prophets when they criticized their madness or the [poetry] which they came with "Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them, but they said: A sorcerer or a madman!" [Surat Az-Zariyat: 52].

Look at the media machine when it defames and fights the truth under the pretext of criticism: "And they (Arab pagans) wonder that a warner (Prophet Muhammad SAW) has come to them from among themselves! And the disbelievers say: This (Prophet Muhammad SAW) is a sorcerer, a liar. * Has he made the aliha (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God - Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing! * And the leaders among them went about (saying): Go on, and remain constant to your aliha (gods)! Verily, This is a thing designed (against you)! *We have not heard (the like) of this among the people of these later days. This is nothing but an invention!" [Surat Sad: 4 - 7].

The Pharaoh said before, closing the treasure of truth and keeping it to himself alone: "O my people! Yours is the kingdom this day, you are uppermost in the land. But who will save us from the Torment of Allah, should it befall us? Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: I show you only that which I see (correct), and I guide you only to the path of right policy!" [Surat Ghafir: 29].

Likewise were the people of Abraham who were defeated by the strong proof of Abraham when he was a young man. "[Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: Nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it. Ask them, if they can speak! * So they turned to themselves and said: Verily, you are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers). * Then they turned to themselves (their first thought and said): Indeed you [Ibrahim (Abraham)] know well that these (idols) speak not! * [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you, nor harm you? * Fie upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no sense? * They said: Burn him and help your aliha (gods), if you will be doing." [Surat Al Anbiya': 63 - 68].

Thus, when the media machine is directed to turn the truth upside down, defame the righteous, and terrorize whoever thinks to believe and listen to them: "And those who disbelieve say: Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome." [Surat Fussilat: 26], the proof is faced by sword, words with spearheads, and an adviser shall be mixed with a yelper and a critic with a resentful.

Its worst types is done when advisers are bargained to their honors and properties, so if they accept, they shall be corrupt, but if they continued in their way, they shall be harmed. This is one of the meanest type of critical terrorism. Usually those who commit such vile and mean actions do not stop at facts but they make up lies and myths in order to slander innocent people. The matter may extend to reach a critical point such as casting them into destruction and watching them trying to survive. If they come out safe, they come out full of wounds, then they shall realize that their houses are made of glass and they should not cast people with stones.

Media machine is like an octopus, if a person comes out safe from one of its legs, he shall fall into the other seven legs, and if he is thrown into air, octopus shall eat him with its mouth.

This media machine does not leave a thing without criticism: If it is small, it will make it big, and if it is hidden, it exposes it, and if it is cold, it makes it hot and so on. All these are done under the pretext of criticism, but it is not criticism, it is terrorism.

Of the types of critical terrorism is that when a person tries to advise scholars and preachers, it will be said to him "the reputations of scholars are protected," but it is a truth that is mixed with two falsehoods:

1- If some people think that the reputations of ordinary people are allowable to attack, they are mistaken because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A Muslim is inviolable to his Muslim brother in regard to: his blood, honor, and property."[1] This is one of the most eloquent styles, so why do you speak only about scholars?

If people say that the reputations of scholars were protected by Allah's Saying in the Divine Hadith: "I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine,"[2] we say: Allah always says the truth, but does every person who criticizes scholars do that based on enmity or many people criticize based on real fear for the religion and for the scholars themselves? Can advices directed to scholars harm them in any way? Is criticism directed to a scientific issue and is delivered in suitable manner or not? Do all the people who have knowledge are true scholars? Are all scholars included in the call "a pious worshipper of Mine?"

There is no difference between scholars and ordinary people in regard to reputation even if they are oppressors. Riyah ibn `Ubaydah said: I was sitting with `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz and he mentioned Al Hajjaj, so I insulted and slandered him. Thereupon, `Umar said: Go easy Riyah, it was reported to me that an oppressed keeps slandering and insulting the oppressor until he takes his full right and an oppressor will have some right at the oppressed.

So, you should not speak about them badly whether the slandered is a scholar or not, and perhaps an adviser is rewarded and a scholar is not.

2- Some of the people who repeat the saying of "the reputations of scholars are protected" take it out of its real context and the rest of the words of Ibn `Asakir who used that saying for the first time is: "O brother, let it be known, may Allah guide you and me to the things that please Him and make you and me from those who fear Him truly, that the reputations of scholars are protected and the one who slanders them shall be exposed and whoever slanders them, Allah inflicts him with the lack of faith in his heart before his death."

No reasonable person doubts that such speech is directed to those who slander scholars, speaks badly about their honor, and follows their mistakes with the purpose of dispraising them and underestimating their status, so people shall not be able to find someone to take either religious sciences or knowledge from.

As for those who offer advices to scholars, they follow the Prophetic guidance which states: Advices must be offered to Muslim scholars to fix their mistakes.

The Righteous Predecessors (may Allah be pleased with them) used to offer advices to one another and criticize one another, and examples are more than to be counted.

Imam Adh-Dhahaby said: "May Allah show mercy to a person speaks about scholars based on knowledge, keeps silent with forbearance, ponders over their views and sayings, understands then seeks forgiveness, and expands the area of excuses otherwise he does not know and he does not know that he does not know.