Solutions to the Disease of Pretending to Know
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It is well known that the general objectives of the Shari'ah are the purification of souls, but we see among the youth, and especially those called the callers to Allah, meaning: the guides of people, that they learn religious knowledge not to purify their souls, but to argue with the ignorant and to keep pace with the scholars.
The Shaykh: There is no power or might except in Allah. To Allah we belong and to Him we return.
The questioner: Trials and discord spread and penetrate easily among the youth, O Shaykh! So division is happening, and the people of religion who want victory for the religion of Allah and its elevation are complaining about this. What is the radical solution to this problem? When people look at the reality, they do not see religion in it, but rather any trial that penetrates them and spreads among them. What is the sound reality that must be applied so that this phenomenon is lifted?
The sound reality is the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). What lifts this matter is the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that the mufti knows that he is the boldest of people regarding the Fire,As it came in the athar: [The boldest of you in issuing fatwas is the boldest of you regarding the Fire].
And let the mufti know that he is speaking about Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so let him be careful not to say about Allah what he does not know,But the problem, as you mentioned: That some people want to keep pace with the scholars, argue with the ignorant, and make a position for themselves,And as the common people say: (Disagree and be remembered) and this is a problem. His work is futile, and the sin of his fatwa’s contradiction of the Shari'ah is upon him.
And praise be to Allah—my brother—you are in ease, you are in a state of permissibility. The Companions would avoid issuing fatwas until the matter would return to the first one. Why are we in a hurry for leadership? If Allah wills that you be an imam for the Muslims or for the righteous, it will happen for you. But be sure that you will not be an imam for the righteous while you say about Allah what you do not know, or while you take the path of people to be remembered,And it is said: saying so-and-so said, so-and-so said.
So I see no solution for this except the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that a person knows that any word that comes from him is written, and any word that causes harm to people, he is responsible for it, and its sin and the sin of those who follow it are upon him.
The questioner: The result of this matter, O Shaykh! is that there are some among the brothers and the da'wah groups who do not have sufficient knowledge, and you also find from them excessive enthusiasm that goes beyond its limit, which spoils the matter from its root. Some of them are very deficient. All of this is the result of some of the guides, or clinging to fatwas without a reason that necessitates this clinging. A fatwa comes with a burden, and these groups cling to it, while another group rejects it, and so on, O Shaykh! So what is the solution?The Shaykh: As I told you, my brother! The solution is taqwa (fear of Allah).
The questioner: From the scholarly aspect, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh: Even from the scholarly aspect, as for the youth who do not take on this role, we say: Beware of the half-scholars,The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book: Regarding the heated fatwa, it is said: Nothing has spoiled the world and religion except the half-mutakallim, the half-faqih, the half-grammarian, and the half-doctor.
So the half-mutakallim has spoiled the religions, the half-faqih has spoiled the lands, the half-grammarian has spoiled the tongue, and the half-doctor has destroyed the bodies, and this is true. One must be wary of these people and be wary of them as well, and it is said: Praise be to Allah, you have established scholars. Ask them.
For this reason, some of the Salaf said: [Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from].
Then, if you look at the conditions of some of the enthusiasts, you will find that they have much deficiency in many matters. How many women are now weeping with regret because they married committed men and found that they were among the worst people in treating their wives, even though the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family) This poor man argues, saying: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Women are captives among you) and al-'awani is the plural of 'aniyyah, which is a female captive,But it is said: The Messenger said this to encourage gentleness with them, not to open the doors of enslaving them.
To Allah we complain, O brothers! Allah is the one to be sought for help.
The Shaykh: There is no power or might except in Allah. To Allah we belong and to Him we return.
The questioner: Trials and discord spread and penetrate easily among the youth, O Shaykh! So division is happening, and the people of religion who want victory for the religion of Allah and its elevation are complaining about this. What is the radical solution to this problem? When people look at the reality, they do not see religion in it, but rather any trial that penetrates them and spreads among them. What is the sound reality that must be applied so that this phenomenon is lifted?
The sound reality is the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). What lifts this matter is the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that the mufti knows that he is the boldest of people regarding the Fire,As it came in the athar: [The boldest of you in issuing fatwas is the boldest of you regarding the Fire].
And let the mufti know that he is speaking about Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so let him be careful not to say about Allah what he does not know,But the problem, as you mentioned: That some people want to keep pace with the scholars, argue with the ignorant, and make a position for themselves,And as the common people say: (Disagree and be remembered) and this is a problem. His work is futile, and the sin of his fatwa’s contradiction of the Shari'ah is upon him.
And praise be to Allah—my brother—you are in ease, you are in a state of permissibility. The Companions would avoid issuing fatwas until the matter would return to the first one. Why are we in a hurry for leadership? If Allah wills that you be an imam for the Muslims or for the righteous, it will happen for you. But be sure that you will not be an imam for the righteous while you say about Allah what you do not know, or while you take the path of people to be remembered,And it is said: saying so-and-so said, so-and-so said.
So I see no solution for this except the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that a person knows that any word that comes from him is written, and any word that causes harm to people, he is responsible for it, and its sin and the sin of those who follow it are upon him.
The questioner: The result of this matter, O Shaykh! is that there are some among the brothers and the da'wah groups who do not have sufficient knowledge, and you also find from them excessive enthusiasm that goes beyond its limit, which spoils the matter from its root. Some of them are very deficient. All of this is the result of some of the guides, or clinging to fatwas without a reason that necessitates this clinging. A fatwa comes with a burden, and these groups cling to it, while another group rejects it, and so on, O Shaykh! So what is the solution?The Shaykh: As I told you, my brother! The solution is taqwa (fear of Allah).
The questioner: From the scholarly aspect, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh: Even from the scholarly aspect, as for the youth who do not take on this role, we say: Beware of the half-scholars,The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book: Regarding the heated fatwa, it is said: Nothing has spoiled the world and religion except the half-mutakallim, the half-faqih, the half-grammarian, and the half-doctor.
So the half-mutakallim has spoiled the religions, the half-faqih has spoiled the lands, the half-grammarian has spoiled the tongue, and the half-doctor has destroyed the bodies, and this is true. One must be wary of these people and be wary of them as well, and it is said: Praise be to Allah, you have established scholars. Ask them.
For this reason, some of the Salaf said: [Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from].
Then, if you look at the conditions of some of the enthusiasts, you will find that they have much deficiency in many matters. How many women are now weeping with regret because they married committed men and found that they were among the worst people in treating their wives, even though the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family) This poor man argues, saying: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Women are captives among you) and al-'awani is the plural of 'aniyyah, which is a female captive,But it is said: The Messenger said this to encourage gentleness with them, not to open the doors of enslaving them.
To Allah we complain, O brothers! Allah is the one to be sought for help.