Refutation of Accusations Against Ibn Taymiyyah Part 1

Refutation of Accusations Against Ibn Taymiyyah Part 1


By Abu Rumaysah


He is the mujtahid and
reformer of his age, Ahmad bin Abd al-Haleem bin Abd as-Salaam bin Abd Allaah
bin Abu Qaasim ibn Taymiyyah al-Harraanee Taqi ad-Deen Abu al-Abbaas bin Shihaab
ad-Deen. He rose the flag of the belief and understanding of Ahus Sunnah in his
time, at a time when innovation, misguidance, and corruption was widespread,
being preached by even some of the People of Knowledge that became well known in
later times.


Due to ibn Taymiyyah’s firm
stance against all that was false and corrupt he earned the envy and hatred of
all those that he opposed - who were many - and as such had many lies heaped
around him. The purpose of this section is to show this scholar in his true
light and expose those lies heaped around him.


Al-Haafidh al-Bazzaar said,
depicting the opponents of ibn Taymiyyah, "you would not see a scholar opposing
him (ibn Taymiyyah), dissuading from him, filled with hatred for him, except
that he was the most greedy of them in gathering the worldly goods, the most
cunning of them in acquiring them, the most ostentatious of them, the most
desirous for reputation…and the most prolific of them in having lies on his
tongue." [ ‘al-A`laam al-Uliyyah’ (pg. 82) of al-Bazzaar.]


The Praise of the Scholars
of him:


Many of the scholars of his
time and after his time praised Shaykh al-Islaam for his knowledge, asceticism,
piety, and following closely the way of the salaf. Many of these statements of
praise were collected in a book written by al-Haafidh ibn Naasir ad-Deen
entitled ‘Radd al-Waafir’ refuting the extreme claim of the one that said
calling ibn Taymiyyah, ‘Shaykh al-Islaam’, was unbelief.


Al-Haafidh adh-Dhahabee
said, "It was amazing when he mentioned an issue over which there was a
difference of opinion, and when he gave evidence and decided the strongest
opinion - and he could perform ijtihaad due to his fulfilling it’s conditions. I
have not seen one who was quicker than he at recalling a verse which pertained
to the issue that he derived from it, nor a man who was more strong in recalling
texts and referring them to their sources. The Sunnah was in front of his eyes
and upon the tip of his tongue with eloquent phrases and an open eye.


He was a sign from the
signs of Allaah in tafseer and expounding upon it. With regards to the
foundation of the religion and knowledge of the differing opinions (on an issue)
then he was unequalled - this alongside his generosity, courage and lack of
attention to the joys of the soul.


And maybe his legal rulings
in the various sciences reached three hundred volumes, rather more and he was
always saying the truth for the sake of Allaah, not caring for the blame that
came to him.


Whosoever associates with
him and knows him well accuses me of deficiency/slackness with regards to him.
Whosoever opposes him and differs with him accuses me of exaggeration, and I
have been wronged by both parties - his companions and his opponents.