بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said: ‘It is not permitted for a man to say, ‘So and so is a person of the Sunnah’ until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah, so it is not said of him, ‘a person of the Sunnah’ until he combines all the Sunnah.'[1]

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (hafidha-hullaah) commented on the above statement of Imaam Barbahaaree saying:

Do not give recommended to a person and a praise of him, except based on knowledge, lest the people become deceived by your praise of him, whilst he is not what (you have stated about him).  So when his real affair and path is clear to you, his knowledge and steadfastness; then you can give him recommendation. As for giving out praise and recommendation whilst not knowing of anything about him, then this is a dangerous recommendation through which the people will be deceived by this person.

Had only those who give commendations to the people stopped at that (i.e. put it in its proper place), then they would not give recommendation, except for one who fulfils the conditions of (receiving) recommendation because recommendation is a ‘Witness’; so, if the recommendation is not correct it will be a false witness.

And concerning the statement of Imaam Barbahaaree: ‘until he knows that he combines the characteristics of the Sunnah’ Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan commented on the above statement saying: The characteristics of the Sunnah are to be in Aqeedah, Knowledge and adherence to the Salafus Saaleh.  But if there is not in him except a single characteristic of the (sunnah), then he is not judged to be from Ahlus Sunnah on the basis of a single characteristic or one thing, so what about the one who does not have anything from that? [End of quote: It-haaful Qaaree Bitta’liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree, Vol: 2, page:275-276]

So be mindful of those who utilise these foolish statements in order to hide the other deviations and innovations of their figureheads. Likewise, be distant from the obstinate blind followers—those who carry the slogan of Ikhtilaaf, whilst intending falsehood by way of it and to reject the clear unambiguous knowledge based refutations of the scholars against the figureheads of hizbiyyah, bidah and Tamyee.

The Correct stance towards the differing of the scholars

concerning Jarh and Tadeel-Shaikh Ubaid (may Allaah preserve him)

http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/1-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-al-allaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/

http://salaficentre.com/2013/08/2-an-eye-opener-for-the-seeker-of-truth-alallaamah-ubaid-bin-abdillaah-al-jaabiri-answers/