How Scholars Should Treat Students and the General Public, and Vice Versa
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And here is the third question: If you permit, and if the brothers permit, the three questions we posed to the Shaykhs, to which they responded, and you may choose any question, and we hope you have the time to answer it.
The third and final question: O His Eminence, the Father! From 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, from his father, from his grandfather,He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones and recognize the honor of our elders,And in a narration: and revere our elders" And as came from the Mother of the Believers, the Lady 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), her saying: [Give people their due] There is no doubt that scholars, as we indicated in the previous question, are the most deserving of people of appreciation, preference, and respect; this is due to the honor of the knowledge they carry for creation. From this perspective, we ask your Eminence to offer your advice and guidance to your young sons, the emerging students of knowledge, especially those enthusiastic about religion and da'wah, given their zeal and care for knowledge and jurisprudence. How does your Eminence see the straight path and the effective treatment that can be described for this type of enthusiastic youth, so that their conduct remains in positions of reverence and respect toward the scholars of the Ummah and the people of ijtihad, rather than positions of criticism and accusation? We also ask you to clarify the obligation of the other party;I mean: our father scholars and the great men of da'wah, toward their sons from this youth, so that the balance mentioned in the aforementioned noble hadith is achieved, between the mercy of the elder to the young and the reverence of the young to the elder.
The text of the questions ends here, and we ask for your guidance. Is this a delegation from the brothers in Jordan?
As for the third question, which is: The treatment of scholars toward youth or the general public must be with gentleness, softness, and humility. One must place oneself before the truth and be humble before Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and likewise, one must not look down upon creation.It is not said: "This is a young boy and I am an old Shaykh, I will not turn to him, I will not look at him, and I will not listen to him." This is a great error. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the highest of creation in status with Allah, used to joke with the young, greet the children, and carry the children while he was praying (peace and blessings be upon him).
There is no doubt that humility has a profound effect in drawing people to Islam.
The youth must also treat those who are older than them in knowledge, age, and status in the manner they deserve, not addressing them as equals, but addressing them with respect, reverence, and honor, so that harmony is achieved between the youth and the elders. As for division, there is no doubt that it is a great harm for the youth to be on one side and the people of knowledge and intellect on another.
This is what pertains to these questions.
And we ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that we may have fulfilled some of it.
The third and final question: O His Eminence, the Father! From 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, from his father, from his grandfather,He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones and recognize the honor of our elders,And in a narration: and revere our elders" And as came from the Mother of the Believers, the Lady 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), her saying: [Give people their due] There is no doubt that scholars, as we indicated in the previous question, are the most deserving of people of appreciation, preference, and respect; this is due to the honor of the knowledge they carry for creation. From this perspective, we ask your Eminence to offer your advice and guidance to your young sons, the emerging students of knowledge, especially those enthusiastic about religion and da'wah, given their zeal and care for knowledge and jurisprudence. How does your Eminence see the straight path and the effective treatment that can be described for this type of enthusiastic youth, so that their conduct remains in positions of reverence and respect toward the scholars of the Ummah and the people of ijtihad, rather than positions of criticism and accusation? We also ask you to clarify the obligation of the other party;I mean: our father scholars and the great men of da'wah, toward their sons from this youth, so that the balance mentioned in the aforementioned noble hadith is achieved, between the mercy of the elder to the young and the reverence of the young to the elder.
The text of the questions ends here, and we ask for your guidance. Is this a delegation from the brothers in Jordan?
As for the third question, which is: The treatment of scholars toward youth or the general public must be with gentleness, softness, and humility. One must place oneself before the truth and be humble before Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and likewise, one must not look down upon creation.It is not said: "This is a young boy and I am an old Shaykh, I will not turn to him, I will not look at him, and I will not listen to him." This is a great error. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the highest of creation in status with Allah, used to joke with the young, greet the children, and carry the children while he was praying (peace and blessings be upon him).
There is no doubt that humility has a profound effect in drawing people to Islam.
The youth must also treat those who are older than them in knowledge, age, and status in the manner they deserve, not addressing them as equals, but addressing them with respect, reverence, and honor, so that harmony is achieved between the youth and the elders. As for division, there is no doubt that it is a great harm for the youth to be on one side and the people of knowledge and intellect on another.
This is what pertains to these questions.
And we ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that we may have fulfilled some of it.