Focus On The Speech, Not The Speaker

“Look at WHAT is being said;
Don’t look at WHO is saying it.”

انظر إلى ما قال ولا تنظر إلى من قال

This is a very powerful principle, neglected by many.

Imaam Ibn al-Jawzi wrote:

واعلم أن عموم أصحاب المذاهب يعظم في قلوبهم الشخص فيتبعون قوله من غير تدبر بما قال وهذا عين الضلال لأن النظر ينبغي أن يكون إلى القول لا إلى القائل
كما قال علي رضي الله عنه للحرث بن حوط وقد قال له أتظن أنا نظن أن طلحة والزبير كانا على باطل فقال له يا حارث إنه ملبوس عليك إن الحق لا يعرف بالرجال أعرف الحق تعرف أهله

“And you should know that among the common followers of the schools of jurisprudence, there are people who admire an individual and follow his words without even thinking about what he is saying to them.
This is absolute misguidance, because attention should be paid to the SPEECH (القول) and not to the SPEAKER (القائل).
In a similar context, Ali Ibn Abi Talib said:
“The truth is not known by men.
Know the truth and you will know its people.”

[“Tilbis Iblis”, pp. 81/82].

Note: It means we should not discard a statement, just because it came from a certain individual. It does not mean that we should start listening to speakers of misguidance. Don’t jump into the sea until you can swim.