Advice for Students of Knowledge in the Time of Tribulations
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: What is your advice to us, fellow students of knowledge, in these days in which we are living through much tribulation and commotion, given that many who have no knowledge are overstepping by ruling on matters and directing people?
Answer:
We advise you to fear Allah and to speak little about these matters, except to urge people to find tranquility, to rely on Allah, to trust in Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to await relief.
We also advise you to increase your supplication that Allah will support Islam and the Muslims, that He will cause the disbelievers and hypocrites to fail, and that He will remove this affliction from the Muslims. This is what we advise you to do.
As for speaking about these matters that are the responsibility of the rulers, such as these problems, it is not fitting for everyone to speak about them; rather, one should refer to the rulers, for they are the ones who handle their resolution and consideration. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[An-Nisa 4:83] It is obligatory for the Muslim to hold his tongue and not speak except with what is good, what brings reform to the Muslims, what reassures the Muslims, what instills confidence in them, and what strengthens faith. Likewise, you should urge the Muslims to repent, for what has befallen the Muslims, such as the dominance of disbelievers and other punishments and calamities, is only due to their sins. [Ash-Shuraa 42:30] We advise you to urge the Muslims to repent, to seek forgiveness frequently, and to rectify the flaws that have occurred among the Muslims, each according to his capacity and according to the knowledge he has, advising the Muslims to repent, turn to obedience, and abandon sins and disobedience, abandon forbidden things, and abandon persisting with the satellite channels that have destroyed the beliefs of the Muslims, destroyed their morals, and spread evil among them. Advise them to stay away from these satellite channels, for by Allah, they have brought great evil upon the Muslims and occupied their nights, days, and gatherings. They have never brought any good. So you must advise the Muslims regarding these matters.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: What is your advice to us, fellow students of knowledge, in these days in which we are living through much tribulation and commotion, given that many who have no knowledge are overstepping by ruling on matters and directing people?
Answer:
We advise you to fear Allah and to speak little about these matters, except to urge people to find tranquility, to rely on Allah, to trust in Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to await relief.
We also advise you to increase your supplication that Allah will support Islam and the Muslims, that He will cause the disbelievers and hypocrites to fail, and that He will remove this affliction from the Muslims. This is what we advise you to do.
As for speaking about these matters that are the responsibility of the rulers, such as these problems, it is not fitting for everyone to speak about them; rather, one should refer to the rulers, for they are the ones who handle their resolution and consideration. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.
وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًاAnd whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍThe presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 30/25 شرح العقيدة السفارينية / صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (5:01)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.