Written by: Shaykh ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Jaabiree (may Allaah preserve him)

All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of all that exists. There is no animosity except for the oppressors. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, who is alone without partners, and He is Al-Haqq Al-Mubeen. And I further bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allaah make high mention of him and his family and companions, and grant them security.

To proceed:

Verily I have reflected over what has taken place in the latest fitnah and the results and outcomes that have appeared amongst our youth and amongst our brothers who are holding to the methodology of As-Salaf As-Saalih. I believe that the great amount of gossip coming from those who do not have much knowledge or awareness of Allaah’s Deen, His Legislation, or what the Salaf were upon is a reason for the kindling of this fitnah and for the spreading of its flames, especially since the majority of these problems can be traced back to the Internet and what is said and written on it, from those whose description I have referred to.

And from the most important causes (of fitnah) is the act of hiding behind (false) names, titles, or kunyahs that hide the identity of a person.

So in an effort to resolve this problem that grows, gains momentum, and spreads day by day, verily I call on my truthful brothers to apply the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace):

“Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or keep silent.” [1]

And as Ibn Seereen (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said, “Verily knowledge is Deen, so look to whom you take your Deen from.”

And this is done by making known one’s real name, for whoever wants to take part in and write in these forums, especially the Sahab Salafee forum, let him take part with us in cutting short the growth of these problems and this gossip. [2]

After looking into the benefits of posting with one’s real name, the following things come to mind at first glance:

One will take his time, contemplate, and think deeply before posting. We will know the level of the writer’s knowledge and manhaj. There will be no hastiness or unnecessary rush in spreading things before confirming them and referring them to the people of knowledge. Writing under one’s real name will bring about a sense of responsibility and accountability for what is being written. It will reduce excessive writing and spreading (of things devoid of benefit). It will restrict the writing and the offering of advice to the people of knowledge and their students, and not just every Tom, Dick, and Harry will post. It will put forth the people of knowledge and make clear their true position and their true right and authority with regards to guidance, education, and criticism. It will allow the Salafee methodology to be seen in its beautiful form and complete shape, by way of knowing the narrators and their situations and personalities. We will be able to apply the Sharee’ah ruling on the opponents, those who stubbornly resist (the correct path), and the liars. We will be able to confirm and verify reports if we know the individuals, but this ability will vanish or dwindle so long as we do not know them, or they are anonymous. There will be an increase in beneficial posts with knowledge, clarifying the manhaj, and weak posts or those devoid of benefit will decrease. We will nobly remove ourselves from the ways of the biased partisans and people of secret movements and organizations, and we will oppose their stealth and hiding behind nicknames or kunyahs when their attributes and poisons become known. We will spread clarity and mutual truthfulness, two attributes that are from the foremost attributes of the Salafee methodology.

There are other benefits and good results and outcomes that we hope to gain by the open display of people’s real names. So I hope that we will be the first ones to implement this good way on the Internet, so that we will gain reward for it, and for all those who follow us it.

So I repeat once more, I call upon our concerned Salafee youth, those dedicated to spreading good and repelling evil and reducing it and shutting its doors and avenues, I call on them to respond positively to this request and this suggestion. And I call on them to look into this suggestion with their intellects based upon the pure legislation that seeks to benefit from all forms of goodness and seeks to repel all evil. They will find that it will make them and their da’wah distinct, bring to light its truthfulness and inner purity, and the security of the methodology of their da’wah and its good intention as well.

And I hope that the brothers responsible for Sahab.net will join with us in conveying this invitation and this suggestion, keeping this post at the top of the page long enough for all or most of the youth to read it. And I hope that they will open the way for people to register with their real names and to change their kunyahs and nicknames. [2]

And may Allaah’s Salaah and an abundance of Salaam be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions until the Day of Judgement, and all praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all that exists.

Dated: 07-21-1423

Arabic Source: Sahab.net