The Noble Shaykh Abdus-Salām Ibn Burjis (may Allāh have mercy upon him) stated:

As for extremism in the passing of judgments upon the people: It is going beyond the (legislated) boundaries in connecting the ruling upon them of: disbelief or innovation or corruption. Concerning the matter of passing these rulings upon the specific individual, it’s a must that the conditions be fulfilled and the obstacles be removed, just as the the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaʿah have agreed upon. From this angle, the statements of the scholars have followed that the one who is going to pass these judgments upon the people regarding their creed or their integrity must be from the people of knowledge and piety. From that is the statement of al-Hāfiẓ adh-Dhahabi (may Allāh have mercy upon him): “The speech regarding the (condition of) men is not permissible except with complete knowledge/understanding and the complete fear (of Allāh).” Continue reading →