THOSE WHO WARN AGAINST READING FATH UL BAAREE AND SHARH SAHEEH MUSLIM
If I had authority over those that speak against reading Fath ul Baaree and Sharh (Saheeh Muslim) of An-Nawawi; then I would take them and put them in prison until they repent.
For this statement (of theirs) is not said except by a foolish one, that of not reading Fath and Sharh Muslim.
Some youth once asked me: ‘what do you say about reading the books of the innovators such as Ibn Hajr and An-Nawawi and other than them?’ so I said to them: ‘If I were in charge; I would shackle you all; and then I would throw you all in prisons.’
This questioning of theirs is misguidance and a straying from the right path.
Shaykh Hammaad al-Ansaaree
Majmoo' fee tarjumah Hammaad Al-Ansaaree volume 2 pages 582 & 584
Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq