Beware of These Two Types: A Self-Appointed Leader Obsessed with Authority & The Obstinate Quarreler Persistent Upon His Error
Shaykh Muṣṭafā bin Muḥammad Mubram (may Allāh preserve him) writes:
Beware, may Allāh preserve you, of two types of people, lest they become a cause for your Fitnah and turn you away from the methodology of your Salaf and the path of your firmly grounded scholars.
The First Type: an overbearing person who sets himself up as a leader, seeking authority, spending everything precious and costly to attain it. Rather, he pursues it as though working for the Hereafter, taking every possible path to obtain it.
Do not even ask about the destructive traits found in him. He makes himself the gateway through which everyone must pass, such that truth is only recognised through him. Whoever he praises is considered upright and commendable, and whoever he criticises is treated as discredited and cast aside.
Shaykhul-Islām said: “Whoever appoints a person, no matter who he may be, then allies and shows enmity based upon agreement with him in speech and action, then he is from those who split their religion and became sects.” (Majmūʿul-Fatāwā 20/8)
The Second Type: a mistaken person who has been advised and refuted, yet remains stubborn and refuses to return from his error. Instead, he searches for ugly interpretations and false justifications for it. Because of this type, through his ignorance, stubbornness, and transgression, the first type becomes famous and gains authority. And when these two types wrap themselves in the banner of lies and the cloak of deception, then do not ask about the fitnah nor about those who follow it.
Ibn Ḥazm said: “As for stubborn rejection, we have witnessed in debates regarding religion and worldly dealings more than can be counted from people who know the truth with certainty, yet arrogantly persist upon opposing it.” (Al-Faṣl fil-Milal wan-Niḥal 5/74)
Both of these are gathered under a description used by the Arabs: “An obstinate man, meaning: slow to return to the truth. He does not comprehend an argument when it is established against him, and sees nothing except the opinion which pleases himself.” (Al-Muntakhab min Kalāmil-ʿArab, p. 674) by ʿAlī Al-Hunāʾī (d. 309H).
Link: https://t.me/mbrm1430/10560
Date: 21 Feb 2026
Translation: Zubayr ʿAbbāsī
