Is it permissible to seek blessing from the people of knowledge?
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The questioner : This questioner says: I saw one of the students, when he greeted you, place his hand on your head and then wipe his face with his hand, or wipe his face with his hand. I rebuked him for that, and he said that this is a matter of seeking blessing through knowledge. What is your opinion, Your Eminence, on this?
The Shaykh : We view this as an error. Had I been aware of it, I would have forbidden it. How can one seek blessing through knowledge? Knowledge is not on my head. Knowledge is what this person receives. This is an error, a very great error. We do not approve of it, and no one seeks blessing through their body except one person: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for us, humans, yes, one seeks blessing through knowledge, meaning one receives knowledge from the person. This is correct. But wiping his head? If he wipes his head, does that make him a scholar? This is not correct. I ask that our brother be forgiven, whether he is present or not. Inform them that we do not view this as correct; rather, this is pure error. Seeking blessing through anyone other than the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is an error. Even the Black Stone now: do we wipe it and kiss it for the sake of seeking blessing or for the sake of worship? There is no god but Allah. For the sake of seeking blessing or for the sake of worship?
The student: For the sake of worship.
The Shaykh : For the sake of worship. Yes, based on the hadith of 'Umar that he kissed the Stone and said:Sahih al-Bukhari 1597 But, unfortunately, some Muslims today believe that wiping the Stone or wiping the Yemeni Corner is a matter of seeking blessing. I have even seen with my own eyes, and perhaps you have seen the same, a woman wiping the Yemeni Corner and then wiping the face of her child and the rest of his body. What does this mean? It is seeking blessing, and this is an error. We do not wipe the Yemeni Corner or the Black Stone except for the sake of worship to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and following the example of the Messenger. Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is a question different from the one that was asked.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : We view this as an error. Had I been aware of it, I would have forbidden it. How can one seek blessing through knowledge? Knowledge is not on my head. Knowledge is what this person receives. This is an error, a very great error. We do not approve of it, and no one seeks blessing through their body except one person: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for us, humans, yes, one seeks blessing through knowledge, meaning one receives knowledge from the person. This is correct. But wiping his head? If he wipes his head, does that make him a scholar? This is not correct. I ask that our brother be forgiven, whether he is present or not. Inform them that we do not view this as correct; rather, this is pure error. Seeking blessing through anyone other than the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is an error. Even the Black Stone now: do we wipe it and kiss it for the sake of seeking blessing or for the sake of worship? There is no god but Allah. For the sake of seeking blessing or for the sake of worship?
The student: For the sake of worship.
The Shaykh : For the sake of worship. Yes, based on the hadith of 'Umar that he kissed the Stone and said:
No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kissing you I would not have kissed you.
والله إني لأعلم أنك حجر لا تضر ولا تنفع ولولا أني رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقبلك ما قبلتكThe questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is a question different from the one that was asked.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.