Mentioning Titles for Scholars and Lecturers

The questioner:
Last week’s paper, and a dear brother who took exception to me for exaggerating in praising the honorable scholars who come to us for lectures and seminars. He asked me to drop the word "Doctor" or the phrase "Honorable Shaykh" or something like that. But in truth, I see nothing wrong with it. I leave it to Your Eminence the Shaykh to clarify and explain this, to set a limit on such matters so that the brothers are on clear ground. Thank you.

The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and peace. To proceed: There is no objection to mentioning the professor, the lecturer, or the participant in the seminar by his appropriate titles and his customary titles. As we know, there is no blame in that. If one says "Doctor So-and-so," or "the honorable So-and-so," or "So-and-so So-and-so," or "Your Excellency the Minister of So-and-so," and the title is known among people, there is no blame in that, provided each person is addressed with what befits him.
As for extravagance and exaggeration in praise, that is not something that should be done. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against praise and spoke of its consequences, stating that it is dangerous. The believer should describe the one he praises—whether a scholar, a ruler, a king, a worshipper, or otherwise—with a few words that convey the intended meaning, without the need for extravagance or flattery. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He is the master of the children of Adam, and he warned against injustice in this regard, peace and blessings be upon him. When some of the Companions said, "You are our master," he said, "I am the slave of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He," and he said, "Proceed with your statement, but do not let Satan make you overstep," fearing for them against extremism, peace and blessings be upon him. Even though he said, "I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection," and he was not arrogant, peace and blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was named so for his truthfulness and his excellence. He was called al-Farouq, and many of the Companions and scholars were given good titles because of their excellence, their knowledge, and the praiseworthy jihad they carried out in the cause of Islam. If a person is given a title by which he is known or by which he is commonly addressed, there is no blame in that, as we believe, but with the observation of avoiding extravagance and any excess that might lead to flattery. The danger is that the person might be afflicted with arrogance, or think of himself what is not the case. We ask Allah for well-being for everyone. Yes.

The presenter:
I am one of the Muslim women, and I ask you to save us from what is happening in the happy home and the family world regarding the call and encouragement to avoid early marriage, and the doubt cast upon it. What is Your Eminence’s opinion?

The Shaykh:
We will look into this, if Allah wills, and we will examine the topic. We will examine the topic, if Allah wills. It is a matter of reality, and we will look into this.