📘 ❞ The Difference between Advising and Condemning ❝ كتاب ــ ابن رجب الحنبلي

عن كتاب The Difference between Advising and Condemning:
Introduction.................................................................. 5
A Brief Biography of Ibn Rajab......................................... 6
Text of the Book............................................................. 9
Forms of Advising........................................................... 17
The Manners of Advising.................................................. 19
The Recompense............................................................ 24
Concerning Condemning.................................................. 26
The Remedy..................................................................

Indeed, the subject for this treatise is extremely important and most deserving of being studied
closely and attentively.
This treatise deals with a summary of the etiquettes of giving advice, while covering many of its
key points, and it warns against what corrupts it and changes it from its pure form – which is
condemning.
And in this country, how much are the Muslims in need of understanding this subject and of
transferring it into practical application in their daily affairs.
Truly, the way towards solving the problems, disputes and divisions that have spread in many
masjids and Islaamic centers can only be achieved by knowing the “Difference between
Advising and Condemning.”
Many people turn towards backbiting as a result of their abandonment of implementing the
etiquette of advising. So when they advise, they in reality degrade, belittle and condemn.
And others leave off advising people in a direct manner, instead criticizing them from a distance,
without realizing the consequences that come as a result of that.
So due to all of this, we strongly advise our Muslim brothers to read this noble treatise and gain
benefit from it. And we ask Allaah that He grant us the ability to do all that He loves and is
pleased with.

In this classical treatise, Ibn Rajab may Allah have mercy on him discusses the differences between advising and condemning, which is an extremely important topic since it is very common that the two are confused for one another. For the most part, his talk revolves around the dealings and affairs of the scholars, and how it was from their way to advise and accept the truth from one another. And he shows how condemning was not from their characteristics, but rather from the signs of the evil and wicked people who held hidden goals and objectives.This book is especially important in these days due to the wide scale confusion that exists on this subject amongst the Muslims. So today when we find scholars of the Sunnah refuting weak opinions of other scholars from the past, they are quickly accused of hating those scholars of the past and just condemning them, when in fact they are really advising the ummah and warning the Muslims against following a man in his error. So, we hope that these matters become clear to the reader upon studying this treatise and that he is able to distinguish those who are truly advising from those who are just condemning.