The Comparison Among Scholars in the Gatherings of Students of Knowledge
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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, that is a matter of fabrication. However, if it is done to clarify that one should take knowledge from the one who is more knowledgeable and has a deeper understanding, by way of referring to him, then there is no harm. It is a fact that scholars distinguish between one another in terms of taking knowledge and moving from one to another. If this is done out of belittling people or exaggerating about some people, then it is not permissible. But if it is done to clarify that a person is suitable to receive knowledge from and to be certain of the knowledge he conveys, then it is for a correct purpose and not to belittle the other. Yes.
The questioner:
We ask Allah for release.
The Shaykh:
(Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[Yusuf 12:76] Hadith. Yes.
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, that is a matter of fabrication. However, if it is done to clarify that one should take knowledge from the one who is more knowledgeable and has a deeper understanding, by way of referring to him, then there is no harm. It is a fact that scholars distinguish between one another in terms of taking knowledge and moving from one to another. If this is done out of belittling people or exaggerating about some people, then it is not permissible. But if it is done to clarify that a person is suitable to receive knowledge from and to be certain of the knowledge he conveys, then it is for a correct purpose and not to belittle the other. Yes.
The questioner:
We ask Allah for release.
The Shaykh:
(Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
but over every possessor of knowledge
وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ
Source
شرح الكافية الشافية في الانتصار للفرقة الناجية [ القصيدة النونية ] [ صالح الفوزان ]، بداية من قوله : وكذاك إن قلنا يُرى سبحانه — islamhouse.com (2:25)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.