Question: It is common on the tongues of the people to say: “So and So is not in need of introduction”. So what is the ruling on this statement?
Answer: “I see that no one should say that because if it is said that someone is not in need of introduction it means that everyone knows him. It is a lie. Is there anyone among you that everyone knows?
Whatever level of popularity a person reaches among the people, it is not possible to say he is not in need of introduction. So like that, we say: this speech should not be said.
The one who raises his voice says: Verily of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came here we would say: “verily he is not in need of introduction”. Do all the people know the Messenger (ﷺ) ? No, not everyone. Those whom his message did not reach them do not know.
People have only come with this speech in order to praise the one they say this about. So like that, it is a lie and in it is extremism and exceeding the bounds. If you want to praise a person, then praise him for what he has [of good qualities] and do not exceed the bounds because exceeding the bounds in praise is an extremism that is prohibited”.
[Fataawa Al-Haram al-Makki 1418 no. 15 side B]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
