What is your comment on one who watches the innovation of the Mawlid on the satellite channels and does not denounce it, knowing that it is the speech of some muftis who affirm the innovation of the Mawlid on the satellite channels?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. As for the celebrations held in those countries that hold them...
The Shaykh : They were, they were.
The questioner : Yes...
The Shaykh : They were established from the beginning.
The questioner : The celebrations used to be held in those countries, and their people would see them and hear about them without them being broadcast to other countries. But now they are transmitted via satellite to the countries, and our sons see them in their homes. The mufti in that country and the leaders attend them. So how should one act?
The Shaykh : And what... it has no basis.
The questioner : What is your comment on that?
The Shaykh : My comment is that this is a mistake. And if these scholars know that it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), then they are sinful, may Allah protect us from that. It is obligatory (wajib) for them to clarify to the people that this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and not to attend it.
But I say, on this occasion, scholars are of three categories. Scholars are of three categories: a scholar of the state, a scholar of the nation, and a scholar of the religion. The scholar of the state looks at what the state wants and issues fatwas accordingly, always looking at what the president or the minister says, and the like. Whatever the president makes lawful is lawful, and whatever he forbids is forbidden. This is a scholar of the state.
A scholar of the nation is one who follows what the common people are comfortable with, even if it is contrary to the truth in his view. This is a scholar, but he follows the nation. And he is sinful like the first one, and his knowledge is a burden upon him.
The third, what is he? A scholar of the religion. He does not care about the state, nor about the common people. He issues fatwas based on what the Book and the Sunnah indicate, whether people are angry or pleased. This is the true scholar, and this is the divine scholar. It is obligatory (wajib) for every scholar of the Shari'ah to be a scholar of the religion and not care about people. He will leave this world with only his shroud and his embalming, and people will not benefit him in any way.[Al-Baqarah 2:166] What? [Al-Baqarah 2:166] [Al-Ahzab 33:67] Even if he is a scholar of the nation and has a reputation among the common people, this will vanish. With his death, everything vanishes. But if he is a scholar of the religion, Allah will raise his mention in this world and after his death, and there will be a blessing in his knowledge. Therefore, I hope my brothers, the students of knowledge, will be of this type, scholars of the religion, clarifying the truth as Allah commanded them to do, and He took a covenant from them. [Ali 'Imran 3:187] And this, just as it includes the Jews and the Christians, includes those from this ummah (the Muslim community) who were given the Book. [Ali 'Imran 3:187] Yes.
The Shaykh : They were, they were.
The questioner : Yes...
The Shaykh : They were established from the beginning.
The questioner : The celebrations used to be held in those countries, and their people would see them and hear about them without them being broadcast to other countries. But now they are transmitted via satellite to the countries, and our sons see them in their homes. The mufti in that country and the leaders attend them. So how should one act?
The Shaykh : And what... it has no basis.
The questioner : What is your comment on that?
The Shaykh : My comment is that this is a mistake. And if these scholars know that it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), then they are sinful, may Allah protect us from that. It is obligatory (wajib) for them to clarify to the people that this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and not to attend it.
But I say, on this occasion, scholars are of three categories. Scholars are of three categories: a scholar of the state, a scholar of the nation, and a scholar of the religion. The scholar of the state looks at what the state wants and issues fatwas accordingly, always looking at what the president or the minister says, and the like. Whatever the president makes lawful is lawful, and whatever he forbids is forbidden. This is a scholar of the state.
A scholar of the nation is one who follows what the common people are comfortable with, even if it is contrary to the truth in his view. This is a scholar, but he follows the nation. And he is sinful like the first one, and his knowledge is a burden upon him.
The third, what is he? A scholar of the religion. He does not care about the state, nor about the common people. He issues fatwas based on what the Book and the Sunnah indicate, whether people are angry or pleased. This is the true scholar, and this is the divine scholar. It is obligatory (wajib) for every scholar of the Shari'ah to be a scholar of the religion and not care about people. He will leave this world with only his shroud and his embalming, and people will not benefit him in any way.