Question: [O] noble Shaykh, with what do you advise us during this age in which “fitnah” [1] has increased, the people of innovation have become widespread, and [we witness] the passing away of the scholars?
Response: The first thing with which I advise you is taqwa [2] of Allāh, glorified and most high, and to increase in supplicating Allāh to make us and you firm [Muslims] upon the religion [of Islām], and that he safeguards us and you from the evil of the fitan.
Then, we advise you to seek knowledge; learn from [well-known] people of knowledge (scholars), and be conscientious in seeking knowledge. Indeed – with the permission of Allāh – protection from the fitnah is not achieved except with sound knowledge.
If, however, you do not possess sound knowledge, perhaps you will fall into fitnah whilst being unaware, and you do not know it is fitnah. So you must seek knowledge from the [well-known] people of knowledge, and do not be lazy and negligent in learning as much as what is possible for you.
Footnotes
[1] Fitnah – confusion, trials and tribulations. [TN]
[2] To be conscious of Allāh at all times – both in private and in public, and in doing so, fulfilling all the religious obligations and abstaining from all the prohibitions – in total obedience to Allāh alone.
نصيحة في زمن كثرت فيه الفتن
السؤال: بماذا تنصحنا في هذا العصر الذي كثرت فيه الفتن وانتشر أهل البدع وموت العلماء؟
الجواب: أنصحكم أول شيء بتقوى الله سبحانه وتعالى، والإكثار من الدعاء أن يثبتنا الله وإياكم على الدين، وأن يقنا وإياكم شر الفتن.
ثم ننصحكم بطلب العلم، طلب العلم على أهل العلم، والحرص على طلب العلم، فإنه لا يقي من الفتن بإذن الله إلا العلم الصحيح، أما إذا لم يكن عندك علم صحيح فربما تقع في الفتن وأنت لا تدري ولا تعلم أنها فتن، فعليكم بطلب العلم على أهل العلم، ولا تتكاسلوا عن طلب العلم مهما أمكنكم ذلك.
jazaakallahu khairan