What is the advice for one who is deluded by his knowledge and overcome by arrogance?
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Question:
This questioner says in a paper he submitted: This is my advice to the students of knowledge. Please read it so that His Eminence the Shaykh can comment on it: I advise them to have good character, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4800Hasan (Al-Albani), and whoever embodies good character will be on the Day of Resurrection in a rank that the prophets and martyrs will envy him for.
The reason I am giving this advice is that many students of knowledge have bad character, and they are overcome by arrogance and delusion regarding their knowledge, not realizing that they are ignorant; for if they truly had knowledge, they would not behave this way.
Please read it so that His Eminence the Shaykh can comment on it, for religion is advice. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is no doubt that this is important advice. It is obligatory for the scholar, the student of knowledge, and every believing man and woman to take care of good character, to avoid arrogance, and to avoid bad character. Good character has a great status, and for this reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about it:. Muslim narrated in "Sahih" that: . He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2018Hasan (Darussalam). And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4800Hasan (Al-Albani). So improving one's character is among the most important matters.
And it is pleasant speech and a relaxed countenance, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1894, and in another wording: meaning: relaxed. Thus is the believer with his brothers in Allah, and thus is the believing woman with her sisters in Allah. Each of them is relaxed, does not frown, does not scowl, and does not speak ill, but rather he is good in character in his teaching, his calling to Allah, his greeting, his guidance, and his conversations. He is of good character, and this is among the causes for the acceptance of his call, the acceptance of his advice, and the benefit derived from his knowledge. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said to Moses and Aaron when He sent them to Pharaoh:to Moses and Aaron when He sent them to Pharaoh:[Surah Ta-Ha: 44], and He said about our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):[Surah Al-Imran: 159], so He praised him (peace and blessings be upon him) for being gentle in manner and gentle in temperament. Therefore He said:[Ali 'Imran 3:159] meaning: because of a mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them, meaning: you were gentle in manner, lowering your wing to the believers:[Ali 'Imran 3:159] meaning: so that they would flee and stay away.
So it is obligatory for everyone to take care of this matter, to strive for good character, and to avoid being arrogant about knowledge, lineage, wealth, a job, or anything else. You must be humble. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Hijr: 88]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2029Sahih (Darussalam). Why does he become arrogant? Why does he have bad character when he knows himself? You were created from a weak drop of fluid, then your Lord shaped you and developed you until you became a sound man, and until you, O woman, became a sound woman by the favor of Allah upon you.
So it is obligatory for you to recognize the value of this blessing, to thank the Bestower, to be humble before Allah, and to stay away from arrogance, vanity, harshness, and severity. May Allah grant everyone success.
This questioner says in a paper he submitted: This is my advice to the students of knowledge. Please read it so that His Eminence the Shaykh can comment on it: I advise them to have good character, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good
أنا زعيمٌ ببيتٍ في أعلى الجنَّة لمَن حسن خلقهThe reason I am giving this advice is that many students of knowledge have bad character, and they are overcome by arrogance and delusion regarding their knowledge, not realizing that they are ignorant; for if they truly had knowledge, they would not behave this way.
Please read it so that His Eminence the Shaykh can comment on it, for religion is advice. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is no doubt that this is important advice. It is obligatory for the scholar, the student of knowledge, and every believing man and woman to take care of good character, to avoid arrogance, and to avoid bad character. Good character has a great status, and for this reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about it:
Righteousness is good character.
البِرُّ حُسن الخلقRighteousness is good character.
البر حُسن الخلقIndeed the most beloved among you to me, and the nearest to sit with me on the Day of Judgment is the best of you in character.
إنَّ أحبَّكم إليَّ وأقربَكم مني مجلسًا يوم القيامة: أحاسنُكم أخلاقًاa house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good
أنا زعيمٌ ببيتٍ في أعلى الجنة لمن حسن خلقهAnd it is pleasant speech and a relaxed countenance, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.
لا تحقرنَّ من المعروف شيئًا، ولو أن تلقى أخاك بوجهٍ طليقٍWith a pleasant face.
بوجهٍ طَلْقٍAnd speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىSo by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَSo by mercy from Allah
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِAnd if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَSo it is obligatory for everyone to take care of this matter, to strive for good character, and to avoid being arrogant about knowledge, lineage, wealth, a job, or anything else. You must be humble. Allah the Exalted says:
And lower your wing to the believers
وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَnone humbles himself for Allah but Allah raises him
ما تواضع أحدٌ لله إلا رفعهSo it is obligatory for you to recognize the value of this blessing, to thank the Bestower, to be humble before Allah, and to stay away from arrogance, vanity, harshness, and severity. May Allah grant everyone success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.