Comparing Scholars by Beginner Students of Knowledge
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, some beginner students of knowledge, in their gatherings, get into discussing comparisons between scholars. They say, for example, that one scholar is better than another, or more precise in a certain discipline than in others, or something to that effect. What is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh:
If it is done with the intent of belittling, then it is belittling. But if it is done to clarify that one should learn from the one who has more knowledge and deeper understanding, for the purpose of referring people to him, this is not permissible. People distinguish scholars from one another by their learning and transmission. The bottom line is that if this is a matter of disparaging individuals or exaggerating about some individuals, it is not permissible. But if it is a matter of clarification that is suitable for receiving knowledge from him and transmitting knowledge through him, this is for a valid purpose and not to belittle the other.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh:
(Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[Yusuf 12:76] Is that not so? Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Honorable Shaykh, some beginner students of knowledge, in their gatherings, get into discussing comparisons between scholars. They say, for example, that one scholar is better than another, or more precise in a certain discipline than in others, or something to that effect. What is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh:
If it is done with the intent of belittling, then it is belittling. But if it is done to clarify that one should learn from the one who has more knowledge and deeper understanding, for the purpose of referring people to him, this is not permissible. People distinguish scholars from one another by their learning and transmission. The bottom line is that if this is a matter of disparaging individuals or exaggerating about some individuals, it is not permissible. But if it is a matter of clarification that is suitable for receiving knowledge from him and transmitting knowledge through him, this is for a valid purpose and not to belittle the other.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh:
(Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
but over every possessor of knowledge
وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍThe presenter:
May Allah reward you
Source
شرح نونية ابن القيم [39] — alfawzan.live (2:47)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.