The importance of verification
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
والتثبت أيضا من أهم الأمور إن لم يكن أهمها
فالتثبت فيما يُنْقَلُ عن الغَيْرِ أَمْرٌ مُهِمْ ، لأن النَّاقِلِينَ تَارَةً تَكونُ لهم إِرادَاتٌ
سَيِّئَةٌ، يَنقُلُونَ مَا يُشَوِّهُ سُمْعَةَ المَنْقُولِ عنه قَصْدًا وعَمْدًا، وتارة لا يكون عندهم
إرادات سيئة، لكنهم يَفْهَمُونَ الشَّيْءَ عَلى خِلَافِ مَعْنَاهُ الذي أُرِيدَ به
ولهذا يجب التثبت، فإذا ثَبَتَ بالسَّنَدِ ما نُقِل فحينئذ يناقش صاحب الكلام الذي نقل عنه قَبْلَ أَنْ تَحْكُمَ على هذا القول بأنه خَطَأً أو غير خطأ، وذلك لأَنَّهُ رُبَّما
يظهر لك بالمناقشة أن الصواب مع هذا الذي نقل عنه الكلام
وإلا فمن المعلوم أن الإنسان لو حكم على الشيء بمجرد السماع من أول وهلة لكان ينقل أشياء عن بعض العُلَماء الذين يُعْتَبَرُونَ مَنَارَاتٍ للعلم تَنْفِرُ منها
لكن عندما يَتَثَبِّتُ ويتأمل ويتصل بهذا الشيخ مثلا يتبين له الأمر
Verification is one of the most important matters, if not the most important. Verifying what is transmitted from others is an important matter, as those who transmit information may sometimes have evil intentions – intentionally and deliberately transmitting what may tarnish the reputation of the one transmitted from. At other times, they may not harbour an evil intention, but they understand something the opposite of what is intended. Due to this, it is obligatory to verify. Once the transmission is verified through the (reliable) source, one can then engage in discussion with the individual from whom the information was transmitted before concluding whether the statement is erroneous or not. This is because, through discussion, one may discover that the truth aligns with the one from whom the statement is transmitted; otherwise, it is well known that if one were to pass judgement on something solely based on what is heard at the first instance, he might transmit some things from some of the scholars, who are regarded as beacons of knowledge, that which would cause aversion to such transmissions. But, upon verification, reflection, and communication with this Shaikh in question, the matter becomes clear to the person. [Paraphrased]
Sharh Hilyah Talib Al-Ilm 75-76. 1st Edition Rabi Al-Awwal 1434