Landmarks and Distinctions of Scholars and Their Role in Spreading Knowledge and Da'wah
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
As for the second question: From Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him),He said: (I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon on the night of the full moon over the other stars, and the scholars are the heirs of the prophets) Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Majah with a valid chain.
It is not hidden from Your Eminence the status and ranks that knowledge and the people of knowledge hold with Allah the Exalted, and then with people. And He, Glorified is He, has made knowledge like a key to faith in Him, the Exalted, and the straight path to knowing Him, establishing His oneness, and worshipping Him, as He, the Exalted, said: [Muhammad:19] In light of the foregoing, we ask Your Eminence, in this second question, and Allah has bestowed upon you the blessing of knowledge and insight, and we do not praise anyone over Allah, we ask you for an explanation that clarifies for us the landmarks and signs by which this type of scholar is distinguished, namely: the practicing scholars whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed and described with this noble description (that they are the heirs of the prophets) and who are fit to be the good example in the lives of people?
As for the scholars, which is the second question, the scholars undoubtedly have a great role in spreading knowledge and in calling to Allah and in acting based on the Shari'ah of Allah; because the scholars are truly the leaders of the nations. The nations that follow the scholars are the satisfied and tranquil nations. As for the nations that submit only to authority, they undoubtedly will commit violations in secret; because authority, no matter how extensive its intelligence and police, will not be able to seize the minds. But religious leadership is what seizes the minds, and when it seizes the minds, the limbs become righteous.
So the scholars have a great role, first, in seeking knowledge from its true sources, which are: the Book and the Sunnah and the practice of the Companions and the righteous Salaf, not from the opinion of so-and-so of the later scholars or those who are overly enthusiastic.
Second: They must be the first to act upon their knowledge to the extent possible; because if they know the truth and do not act upon it, their knowledge becomes a proof against them, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: (And the Qur'an is a proof for you or against you) It is not from wisdom nor from the Shari'ah that a person knows that something is forbidden and does it, or that it is obligatory and leaves it. So, after seeking knowledge from its places and sources, they must act upon it.
The third: That they spread it among people to the extent possible, whether in study circles or in study classes or in the mosques to the general public, or in the newspapers or on the radio. The important thing is that all means of transmitting knowledge, the scholar must utilize them to the extent of his ability; because Allah took a pledge from those who were given the Book to make it clear to the people and not to conceal it.
The fourth: That they call to Allah with insight, and calling to Allah with insight is from two aspects: The first aspect: insight in the Shari'ah, so that one does not call to Allah in ignorance; because whoever calls the servants of Allah to the Shari'ah of Allah while he is ignorant of it, he corrupts more than he reforms. It is necessary that he have insight in the Shari'ah of Allah so that he calls to it. Insight in the manner of calling; and that is by following wisdom; because the intended goal is reaching the truth, not taking revenge or vindicating the self.
And many of the zealous brothers who call to Allah, you find that he does not use wisdom in the call, but his zeal carries him to violence, as if he wants to take revenge on this one who differs, whether his difference is due to ignorance or stubbornness, or he wants to vindicate himself and his opinion. And this is a mistake;Because Allah says to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): [An-Nahl:125] , [Yusuf:108] Not to my desire and my opinion and my saying. Make your concern calling to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and to the path of Allah, and then it is necessary that you be with insight in the manner of calling to Allah.
Then I say to you: Does the one who calls to Allah not want to reform the one being called? If so, then it is necessary that he follow the path that is a means to his reform. And it is known that if you see one who differs and you shout at him and get angry at him, this will only increase his aversion from you and from what you are calling to. But if you come to him with that which is best, with an easy, gentle, and simple manner, you will achieve your goal. [Luqman:17] Because something will surely befall you, even if it is psychological pressure. Perhaps a word that wounds you or an action that hurts you will not befall you, but the psychological pressure, be patient with it. You may see that you cannot be patient; because you see this man upon a forbidden thing, so you are unable to be patient and you become harsh and angry. But this is not from the path of wisdom. Restrain your self and press it, and the goal is the reform of the one being called. And we have tried this, and others have tried it, that whoever called with violence and excessive zeal did not achieve the intended goal, and whoever called with gentleness, kindness, and facilitation achieved his goal.
It is not hidden from Your Eminence the status and ranks that knowledge and the people of knowledge hold with Allah the Exalted, and then with people. And He, Glorified is He, has made knowledge like a key to faith in Him, the Exalted, and the straight path to knowing Him, establishing His oneness, and worshipping Him, as He, the Exalted, said:
So know that there is no deity except Allah
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَاّ اللَّهُAs for the scholars, which is the second question, the scholars undoubtedly have a great role in spreading knowledge and in calling to Allah and in acting based on the Shari'ah of Allah; because the scholars are truly the leaders of the nations. The nations that follow the scholars are the satisfied and tranquil nations. As for the nations that submit only to authority, they undoubtedly will commit violations in secret; because authority, no matter how extensive its intelligence and police, will not be able to seize the minds. But religious leadership is what seizes the minds, and when it seizes the minds, the limbs become righteous.
So the scholars have a great role, first, in seeking knowledge from its true sources, which are: the Book and the Sunnah and the practice of the Companions and the righteous Salaf, not from the opinion of so-and-so of the later scholars or those who are overly enthusiastic.
Second: They must be the first to act upon their knowledge to the extent possible; because if they know the truth and do not act upon it, their knowledge becomes a proof against them, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: (And the Qur'an is a proof for you or against you) It is not from wisdom nor from the Shari'ah that a person knows that something is forbidden and does it, or that it is obligatory and leaves it. So, after seeking knowledge from its places and sources, they must act upon it.
The third: That they spread it among people to the extent possible, whether in study circles or in study classes or in the mosques to the general public, or in the newspapers or on the radio. The important thing is that all means of transmitting knowledge, the scholar must utilize them to the extent of his ability; because Allah took a pledge from those who were given the Book to make it clear to the people and not to conceal it.
The fourth: That they call to Allah with insight, and calling to Allah with insight is from two aspects: The first aspect: insight in the Shari'ah, so that one does not call to Allah in ignorance; because whoever calls the servants of Allah to the Shari'ah of Allah while he is ignorant of it, he corrupts more than he reforms. It is necessary that he have insight in the Shari'ah of Allah so that he calls to it. Insight in the manner of calling; and that is by following wisdom; because the intended goal is reaching the truth, not taking revenge or vindicating the self.
And many of the zealous brothers who call to Allah, you find that he does not use wisdom in the call, but his zeal carries him to violence, as if he wants to take revenge on this one who differs, whether his difference is due to ignorance or stubbornness, or he wants to vindicate himself and his opinion. And this is a mistake;Because Allah says to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Call to the way of your Lord
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَSay: This is my way; I call to Allah
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِThen I say to you: Does the one who calls to Allah not want to reform the one being called? If so, then it is necessary that he follow the path that is a means to his reform. And it is known that if you see one who differs and you shout at him and get angry at him, this will only increase his aversion from you and from what you are calling to. But if you come to him with that which is best, with an easy, gentle, and simple manner, you will achieve your goal.