Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

will be a means of the hearts uniting. And do not mention what transpired
between them, so as not provoke the people against them. 1
And Ibn Taymiyah has said:
الخوض فيما شجر يوقع في نفوس كثير من الناس بغضا وذما
Discussing what transpired between them, engenders hatred and criticism
in many people. 2
Thirdly, it can lead to confusing some people, especially the commonality and
the young generation; they will get the impression that there is some sort of
contradiction between the respect and acknowledgement of virtue which
has settled in their hearts regarding the Ṣaḥābah M and the events which
transpired between them. 3
However, even though the general principle of the pious predecessors is refraining
from discussing the topic, but at times, where the need is dire, like when refuting
the misconceptions of the innovators, it is permitted to delve into it.
Ibn Taymiyah has mentioned the following in this regard:
ولهذا أوصوا باإلمساك عما شجر بينهم لنا ل نسأل عن ذلك،كما قال عمر بن عبد العزيز:‏ تلك دماء طهر
الله منها يدي فال أحب أن أخضب بها لساني.‏ وقال آخر:‏ تِلْكَ‏ أُماَّ‏ ةٌ‏ قَدْ‏ خَ‏ لَتْ‏ لَهَ‏ ا مَ‏ ا كَ‏ سَ‏ بَتْ‏ وَ‏ لَكُ‏ م ماَّ‏ ا كَ‏ سَ‏ بْتُمْ‏
وَ‏ لَ‏ تُسْ‏ أَلُونَ‏ عَ‏ ماَّ‏ ا كَ‏ انُوا يَعْ‏ مَ‏ لُونَ‏ لكن إذا ظهر مبتدع يقدح فيهم بالباطل فال بد من الذب عنهم وذكر ما يبطل
حجته بعلم و عدل
Thus they have advised that one withholds discussion regarding what
transpired between them, because we will not be asked regarding that, as
stated by ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, “That is blood from which Allah E
1 Al-Kāmil fī Ḍuʿafāʾ al-Rijāl 4/34; Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ 8/285.
2 Minhāj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah 4/449.
3 Iʿtiqādād Ahl al-Sunnah fī al-Ṣaḥābah p. 77.
46