Al-I'tidal: The Middle Path in Judging People - Part 2*

*Al-I'tidal: The Middle Path in Judging People - Part 2*

_Inspired by the teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (RA)_

*Introduction: Why Balance Matters Today More Than Ever*

In Part 1 we spoke about the meaning of _I'tidal_ - to be upright, to be just, to avoid both extremes when speaking about the scholars, du'at, and public figures of the Ummah.

Today the world is noisy. Social media, group chats, YouTube comments, and Friday khutbahs have become battlefields. One group calls everyone a deviant. Another group calls every criticism "fitnah". The average Muslim is confused. "Who should I listen to? Who should I trust?"

Shaykh Zakariyya (RA) wrote _Al-I'tidal_ not to defend individuals, but to protect the Ummah from two diseases: *Tashaddud* - harshness, and *Tafreet* - negligence. Both destroy unity. Both close the doors of guidance.

This second part will focus on 5 practical principles of _I'tidal_ that we can apply in our daily lives, in our masjids, in our online discussions, and in our own hearts.

*Principle 1: Judge Actions, Not Intentions*

Allah alone knows the heart. We are only responsible for what is apparent.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "I have not been commanded to pierce open the hearts of people." When Usama bin Zaid killed a man who said "La ilaha illallah" out of fear, the Prophet ﷺ corrected him severely. The action was wrong, but we do not claim to know if that man was a sincere Muslim or a hypocrite.

Apply this today:

1. *If a scholar makes a mistake in a fatwa*, we refute the mistake with evidence, with adab. We do not say "he is selling his deen" unless we have clear proof.

2. *If a da'i slips in a lecture*, we correct the point. We do not cancel 20 years of his khidmah because of 30 seconds.

3. *If a youth posts something ignorant*, we teach. We do not label him "murtad" publicly.

_I'tidal_ means: Criticize the error, make du'a for the person.

The Sahaba differed on fiqh issues. Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik differed. Did they call each other fasiq? No. They said: "Our opinion is correct with the possibility of error, and your opinion is wrong with the possibility of being correct."

That is balance.

*Principle 2: Understand the Context Before You Judge*

One of the biggest reasons for extremism in judgment is that we take statements out of context.

Shaykh Zakariyya (RA) lived through colonialism, partition, and massive political turmoil in the subcontinent and later in South Africa. The 7 questions he was asked came from a place of real fear: "Should we vote? Whom should we vote for? Why don't we get guidance from the Ulema?" 

If you read his answer without knowing Bosnia, Somalia, Algeria, Kashmir were burning, you will misunderstand his tone. He was not being political. He was trying to save iman. 

So before we share that 10-second clip:

- Ask: When was this said? To whom? Under what pressure?

- Ask: What was said 2 minutes before and after?

- Ask: Is this his consistent position, or a one-time slip?

The Qur'an teaches us: _“O you who believe, if a fasiq comes to you with news, verify it”_ [49:6]. How much more verification do we need when the news is about an alim?

_I'tidal_ demands that we become students of context, not just consumers of clips.

*Principle 3: Differentiate Between Usul and Furu'*

Not every disagreement is equal.

*Usul* = Fundamentals of Aqeedah. Tawheed, Risalah, Akhirah, Qur'an, Sunnah. On these, there is no compromise.

*Furu'* = Branches. Fiqh differences, methods of da'wah, political strategies, educational approaches.

The problem today is that we treat furu' like usul.

Example:

- One group does tableegh in jamaats for 40 days. Another focuses on madrasa education. Both are khidmah. To declare one "bid'ah" and the other "the only haqq" is to lack _I'tidal_.

- One masjid does dhikr loudly after salah. Another does it silently. Both have scholars who permitted it. To make takfir over this is extremism.

Shaykh Zakariyya (RA) himself was a muhaddith, a Sufi, a writer of _Fazail-e-Amaal_, and also someone deeply concerned with politics and Muslim suffering. He did not limit himself to one lane, because the Ummah's needs are multi-dimensional. 

So ask yourself: "Is this issue Aqeedah, or is this ikhtilaf?" If it is ikhtilaf, then the adab of ikhtilaf applies: respect, evidence, and silence if you have no knowledge.

*Principle 4: Protect the General Public From Scholarly Disputes*

There is a time and place for everything.

When senior ulama differ, they discuss in majalis-e-ilm, with references, with niyyah of islah. They do not go live on Facebook and start naming names.

Why? Because the awam - the general Muslims - do not have the tools to weigh evidence. When they see two bearded men arguing, they don't become more religious. They become cynical. "All maulvis are the same."

Shaykh Zakariyya's book was written as a private answer, then published as a kitaab so that people could "read and re-read... so that full benefit can be derived". It was not written to create Twitter threads. a48e

_I'tidal_ means:

1. If you are not a student of knowledge, do not jump into scholarly debates online.

2. If you are a student, speak with humility. "Wallahu a'lam" should be on your tongue.

3. If you are a da'i, focus 90% of your time on teaching la ilaha illallah, salah, akhlaq - not on refuting other Muslims.

The Ummah is bleeding in Gaza, Sudan, Burma. Do we really have time to waste on internal mudslinging? a48e

*Principle 5: Make Du'a and Give Husn adh-Dhann*

The final and most important principle: assume good.

Husn adh-Dhann - thinking well of your brother - is an ibadah.

When you hear something negative about a scholar:

1. First, make du'a: "Ya Allah, guide him if he is wrong. Guide me if I am wrong."

2. Second, find an excuse: "Maybe he was misquoted. Maybe he was under pressure. Maybe I misunderstood."

3. Third, if you must act, go privately. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever covers a Muslim, Allah will cover him in this world and the Hereafter."

Shaykh Zakariyya ends his foreword with du'a: "May Allah Ta’ala fill the graves of all our pious elders with noor... May He create in our hearts true love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul ﷺ".

That is the spirit of _I'tidal_. Not anger. Not pride. Love for Allah and His Messenger, and love for the Ummah.

*Common Mistakes That Break I'tidal*

Let's be practical. Here are 3 traps we fall into:

*1. The "All or Nothing" Trap*

"Either you agree with Sheikh X 100%, or you are a deviant."

Islam has never worked like this. Imam Nawawi differed with Imam Ghazali on some points. Both are giants. We can take benefit from both.

*2. The "New Information" Trap*

Someone posts "secret documents" about a scholar. Everyone shares it in 5 minutes. No one verifies.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "It is enough sin for a man to speak about everything he hears." Pause. Verify. Delete if unsure.

*3. The "Jealousy in the Name of Haqq" Trap*

Sometimes we attack a person not because of deen, but because his lecture got 1M views and ours got 100. Check your heart. Make istighfar.

*How to Apply I'tidal in 2026*

We are in Gilgit, in Karachi, in London, in Johannesburg. The fitan are the same, but the tools are new.

1. *On WhatsApp Groups*: 

Before forwarding, ask "Will this bring people closer to Allah, or closer to anger?"

2. *In the Masjid*: 

If you disagree with the imam, speak to him after salah with respect. Not during the khutbah.

3. *For Parents*: 

Teach your kids to respect all 4 madhahib, all major institutions, and to not mock beards, niqab, or lack thereof.

4. *For Students*: 

Read the books of people you disagree with. You will be surprised how much you learn, and how much softer your heart becomes.

*Conclusion: The Path of the Prophets*

Every Nabi came with _I'tidal_. Musa AS was firm against Fir'aun, but gentle with Bani Israel. Isa AS was soft with sinners, but firm on Tawheed. And our Nabi ﷺ - Allah described him as _"and indeed, you are of a great moral character"_ [68:4].

Shaykh Zakariyya (RA) did not write _Al-I'tidal_ to win an argument. He wrote it because he saw the Ummah breaking apart and he wanted to glue it back with adab and hikmah. 

May Allah fill his qabr with noor and allow us to carry this amanah forward.

The world does not need more harsh critics. It needs more balanced, sincere, and loving Muslims.

Let us start with ourselves.

*Aameen.*

*Frequently Asked Questions - Al-I'tidal: The Middle Path in Judging People - Part 2*

*Q1: What does "Al-I'tidal" mean?*  

*A:* _I'tidal_ means balance, moderation, and uprightness. According to Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (RA), it means avoiding two extremes when speaking about scholars, callers to Islam, and Muslim personalities: harshness on one side and blind negligence on the other. It means speaking the truth with justice and good manners.

*Q2: Is it wrong to criticize a mistake?*  

*A:* No. Criticism is allowed but it must meet 3 conditions:  

1. *With evidence* - not just emotions  

2. *With respect* - no insults, mockery, or personal attacks  

3. *With intention of correction* - not to disgrace the person  

The principle is: _Refute the error, not the person._

*Q3: What should an average Muslim do when they see scholars disagreeing online?*  

*A:* Do 3 things:  

1. *Verify* - watch the full clip, understand the context  

2. *Stay silent* - if you are not a student of knowledge, don’t jump into debates  

3. *Make dua* - ask Allah for guidance for yourself and for them  

The public should focus on fundamentals: Prayer, Tawheed, and good character.

*Q4: Is every disagreement minor?*  

*A:* No. There are 2 types of disagreements:  

1. *Usul* - Fundamentals of belief: Tawheed, Prophethood, Qur'an, Hereafter. No compromise here.  

2. *Furu’* - Branches: Fiqh differences, methods of dawah, political approaches. There is room for difference here.  

The problem today is that we treat _furu’_ like _usul_. That breaks the balance of _I'tidal_.

*Q5: Why did Shaykh Zakariyya (RA) write this book?*  

*A:* In the 1990s, Muslims in South Africa were facing confusion, lawlessness, and political pressure. A student asked 7 questions: Should we vote? Who should we vote for? Why aren’t scholars giving guidance?  

Shaykh’s answers were compiled into _Al-I’tidal fi Maratib ar-Rijal_. The goal was to give guidance and protect the Ummah from division.

*Q6: Can we benefit from scholars of other schools of thought or groups?*  

*A:* Yes. As long as they are speaking from Qur'an and Sunnah, we can learn from them. The Sahaba and the 4 Imams had differences, but they maintained respect and love. _I'tidal_ teaches us to take benefit wherever there is truth.

*Q7: What should a layperson do if a scholar makes a mistake?*  

*A:*  

1. *Assume good* - look for an excuse first  

2. *Don’t expose publicly* - if you must address it, do so with knowledge and evidence  

3. *Ask Allah for guidance* - for you and for them  

Remember: On the Day of Judgment we will be asked about our own deeds, not about the deeds of scholars.

*Q8: What will be in Part 3?*  

*A:* InshaAllah Part 3 will cover *"Case Studies of I'tidal from the Seerah and the Sahaba"*. We will look at:  

- How the Prophet ﷺ handled differences among the Sahaba  

- The etiquette between Umar (RA) and Ali (RA) during disagreements  

- How to apply these principles to social media and modern challenges.

PART 1

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