What is the obligation of scholars regarding the calamities that have befallen the Muslims?
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Q: What is the obligation of Muslim scholars regarding the crises and calamities that have befallen the Islamic world?
A: It is beyond doubt that sins and straying from the correct creed of Islam in word and deed are among the most important causes of the crises and calamities that have befallen the Muslims. Allah, Glorified is His might, says: [An-Nisa:79] And He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [Ash-Shura:30] So Allah, Glorified is His might, is forbearing with His servants, Forgiving and Merciful. He sends down signs and warnings to them, perhaps they will return to Him so that He may accept their repentance. And if His servant draws near to Him by a handspan, He draws near to His servant by an arm's length; for He, Exalted and Majestic is He, loves repentance from His servant and rejoices in it. He, Exalted and Majestic is He, is free of need of His servants; the obedience of the obedient does not benefit Him, nor does the disobedience of the disobedient harm Him. But He is Compassionate and Merciful to His servants, and He is the One who guides them to perform acts of obedience and abandon sins.
The crises and calamities are nothing but warnings to His servants so that they may return to Him, and a trial by which He tests them. He, the Exalted, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:155] Those who, when a calamity strikes them, say, “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the guided ones. [Al-Baqarah: 155-157]. He, the Exalted, said: [Ar-Rum: 41]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Anbiya: 35]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-A’raf: 168]. And there are many verses in this meaning.
It is obligatory upon the leaders of the Muslims, including scholars, rulers, and others, to pay attention to every calamity that befalls or disaster that occurs, to remind the people and explain what they have fallen into, and for the rulers, among scholars and judges, to be the good example in righteous deeds. They must seek out the causes of Allah’s anger and His retribution, and treat them through repentance, seeking forgiveness, and rectifying conditions. The Ummah follows them, for the guidance of the scholar, the wisdom of the ruler, and their righteousness are among the most important influences on the subjects. Thus,.
If the Muslims become accustomed to sins and the one in his hand is the power to command, prohibit, and bind does not forbid them, Allah is likely to encompass the Ummah with His anger. And if Allah’s anger descends and His retribution befalls, it will include both the doer of good and the doer of evil. May Allah protect us from that. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Anfal: 25]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. And Allah, the Exalted, said: [Ar-Ra’d: 11].
Scholars in particular bear a great responsibility before Allah in enlightening the people and guiding them, and clarifying the right from the wrong and the beneficial from the harmful. We ask Allah to guide all Muslims to the obedience of their Lord and to hold fast to the guidance of their Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and to guide their leaders and enlighten their scholars to the path of guidance so that they may follow it and direct the Ummah to it, and to guide the stragglers of the Muslims and rectify their conditions. Indeed, He is the One capable of that and able to do it.
A: It is beyond doubt that sins and straying from the correct creed of Islam in word and deed are among the most important causes of the crises and calamities that have befallen the Muslims. Allah, Glorified is His might, says:
What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself
مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَAnd whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍThe crises and calamities are nothing but warnings to His servants so that they may return to Him, and a trial by which He tests them. He, the Exalted, said:
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَAnd We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.
وَنَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَAnd We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].
وَبَلَوْنَاهُمْ بِالْحَسَنَاتِِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَIt is obligatory upon the leaders of the Muslims, including scholars, rulers, and others, to pay attention to every calamity that befalls or disaster that occurs, to remind the people and explain what they have fallen into, and for the rulers, among scholars and judges, to be the good example in righteous deeds. They must seek out the causes of Allah’s anger and His retribution, and treat them through repentance, seeking forgiveness, and rectifying conditions. The Ummah follows them, for the guidance of the scholar, the wisdom of the ruler, and their righteousness are among the most important influences on the subjects. Thus,
Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is responsible for his flock.
كلكم راع وكل مسئول عن رعيتهIf the Muslims become accustomed to sins and the one in his hand is the power to command, prohibit, and bind does not forbid them, Allah is likely to encompass the Ummah with His anger. And if Allah’s anger descends and His retribution befalls, it will include both the doer of good and the doer of evil. May Allah protect us from that. He, the Exalted, said:
And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively
وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةًIndeed, if the people see a wrong and do not change it, Allah is likely to encompass them with His punishment.
إنن الناس إذا رأوا المنكر فلم يغيروه أوشك الله أن يعمهم بعقابهIndeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْScholars in particular bear a great responsibility before Allah in enlightening the people and guiding them, and clarifying the right from the wrong and the beneficial from the harmful. We ask Allah to guide all Muslims to the obedience of their Lord and to hold fast to the guidance of their Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and to guide their leaders and enlighten their scholars to the path of guidance so that they may follow it and direct the Ummah to it, and to guide the stragglers of the Muslims and rectify their conditions. Indeed, He is the One capable of that and able to do it.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.