Shaykh Abū Muḥammad Zayd ibn Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī (d. 1435 AH / 2014 CE) ؒ answered a question about scholars described as bearers of the banner of criticism and commendation (al-jarḥ wa-t-taʿdīl). This is a historical excerpt: “those who are alive” refers to the time of the answer. The death dates beside names below are editorial additions.
The Question
وهل يصح أن يقال في هذا العصر لشخص أو أشخاص في بلادنا المملكة العربية السعودية: فلان حامل لواء الجرح والتعديل، أم لا؟
“Is it correct in this era to say of an individual, or a number of individuals, in our country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: ‘So-and-so bears the banner of al-jarḥ wa-t-taʿdīl’?”
The Answer
I say to you: yes, it is correct to say that, in this era, there are individuals who bear the banner of al-jarḥ wa-t-taʿdīl. They are known for their attention to the Noble Qurʾān and its sciences, and to the pure Sunnah and its sciences, spreading and defending it. Allah has granted them understanding of religion generally, and understanding of calling to Allah and of newly arising issues (nawāzil) specifically.
There is no harm in mentioning some examples, limiting the following list to those who are alive at the time of this answer:
- Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Fawzān.
- Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Muḥammad Āl ash-Shaykh (d. 1447 AH / 2025 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Muḥammad al-Luḥaydān (d. 1443 AH / 2022 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān al-Ghudayyān (d. 1431 AH / 2010 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā an-Najmī (d. 1429 AH / 2008 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī ibn ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī (d. 1447 AH / 2025 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh ʿAbd al-Muḥsin ibn Ḥamad al-ʿAbbād al-Badr.
- Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm Āl ash-Shaykh.
- Shaykh ʿUbayd ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Jābirī (d. 1444 AH / 2022 CE) ؒ.
- Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Saʿd as-Suḥaymī.
- Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī ibn ʿAlī al-Madkhalī.
- Shaykh Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Ḥamūd Abā al-Khayl.
Every one of these virtuous scholars has made efforts in preserving the Sunnah and its sciences and in defending it, and has made blessed efforts in refuting the innovated sects. Those efforts are spread throughout the world, out of their guardianship of sound creed and of the great Islamic methodology. I apologise to those whom I have not named alongside these noble scholars, for they are their peers and have honourable contributions in serving the Sunnah and refuting the people of desires and deviant thought; my intention is only to give an example.
Nor do I offer any apology to those known for negative stances towards what has befallen the lands of the Two Holy Sanctuaries (al-Ḥaramayn) of the trial of the new Khawārij, just as I do not excuse those among them who are students of knowledge. They have an allegiance, the most notable sign of which is silence about explaining the corruption of the Khawārij referred to above, who are close to them, and of others from the people of innovation. They claim that speaking about people, by criticising those deserving of criticism and by exposing the innovation of the innovator, hardens the hearts. Allah knows best what lies behind that. Their slogan is:
حَسِّنُوا الظَّنَّ بِإِخْوَانِكُمْ
“Think well of your brothers!”
They say it to those who refute the innovated sects, such as the sect of the Muslim Brotherhood and their like; the sect of the Tablīghīs and those among their supporters who defend them; and the sect of the Quṭbīs and the Surūrīs and whoever sides with them. These are people whose share of understanding in the religion is little, and whose knowledge of the way of the believers is slight.
References
Al-Madkhalī, Zayd ibn Muḥammad ibn Hādī, Al-Ajwibah al-Athariyyah ʿan al-Masāʾil al-Manhajiyyah: Khamsūn Suʾālan wa-Jawāban, pp. 59–60, public book scan (PDF pages 61–62).
