Who is the word Shaykh applied to?
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Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Is it correct to apply the word Shaykh to everyone, especially since this term has become widespread? I hope you will clarify this.
The word Shaykh in the Arabic language is not used for anyone but the great one, whether great in age, or great in status due to his knowledge, wealth, or the like. It is not applied to the young.But as I said: It has become widespread now to the point that a person who is ignorant or knows nothing is almost titled Shaykh. In my view, this is not appropriate, because if you apply the word Shaykh to a person who is ignorant and knows nothing, people will be deceived by him and think that he has knowledge. They will then turn to him for fatwas and other matters, and this results in great harm. Many people—may Allah guide us and them—do not care if they are asked to issue a fatwa even without knowledge.Because he thinks that if he says: I do not know; that was a deficiency on his part.And the reality is that if a person says what he does not know: I do not know. That was a perfection on his part, but souls are naturally inclined to love showing off, except for those whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic, protects.
What I see is: That the word Shaykh is not applied except to one who deserves it, whether for his age, or his honor and leadership among his people, or his knowledge. This is just as some people now apply the word Imam to the general scholars.Even if this scholar is one who follows without knowledge, he says: He is an Imam, and this is also not appropriate. It should not be that the term Imam is applied except to one who deserves to be an Imam, has followers, and whose opinion is considered among the Muslims.
And it remains for you to note that you greeted, and the brother before you also greeted when asking the question. This is not from the Sunnah, because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when they wanted to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a question, did not greet him, except for one who came to the gathering, in which case he would greet.
The word Shaykh in the Arabic language is not used for anyone but the great one, whether great in age, or great in status due to his knowledge, wealth, or the like. It is not applied to the young.But as I said: It has become widespread now to the point that a person who is ignorant or knows nothing is almost titled Shaykh. In my view, this is not appropriate, because if you apply the word Shaykh to a person who is ignorant and knows nothing, people will be deceived by him and think that he has knowledge. They will then turn to him for fatwas and other matters, and this results in great harm. Many people—may Allah guide us and them—do not care if they are asked to issue a fatwa even without knowledge.Because he thinks that if he says: I do not know; that was a deficiency on his part.And the reality is that if a person says what he does not know: I do not know. That was a perfection on his part, but souls are naturally inclined to love showing off, except for those whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic, protects.
What I see is: That the word Shaykh is not applied except to one who deserves it, whether for his age, or his honor and leadership among his people, or his knowledge. This is just as some people now apply the word Imam to the general scholars.Even if this scholar is one who follows without knowledge, he says: He is an Imam, and this is also not appropriate. It should not be that the term Imam is applied except to one who deserves to be an Imam, has followers, and whose opinion is considered among the Muslims.
And it remains for you to note that you greeted, and the brother before you also greeted when asking the question. This is not from the Sunnah, because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when they wanted to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a question, did not greet him, except for one who came to the gathering, in which case he would greet.