The Duty of Scholars Toward the Crises and Calamities That Have Befallen the Muslim World
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Q: What is the obligation of Muslim scholars regarding the crises and calamities that have befallen the Islamic world?
A: There is no 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, Exalted is His might, says: [An-Nisa: 79] And He ﷺ said: : [Ash-Shura: 30] So Allah, Exalted is His might, is forbearing with His servants, Forgiving and Merciful. He sends them signs and warnings so that 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, Exalted is He, draws near to His servant by an arm's length, for He, the Exalted, loves repentance from His servant and rejoices in it. And He, Exalted and Majestic is He, is rich in respect 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 do acts of obedience and leave off 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 ﷺ said: :[Al-Baqarah 2:155] Those who, when a disaster strikes them, say: "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we are returning." For those are upon them blessings from their Lord and mercy. And those are the ones who are guided. [Al-Baqarah: 155 - 157] And He ﷺ said: : [Ar-Rum: 41] And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Anbiya: 35] And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-A'raf: 168] And the verses in this meaning are many.
So it is obligatory upon the leaders of the Muslims, from scholars, rulers, and others, to take care of every calamity that befalls or disaster that occurs, to remind the people and explain what they have fallen into, and for the rulers, from scholars and judges, to be the good example in righteous deeds, seeking out the causes of the anger and punishment of Allah, and treating 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.
And if the Muslims become accustomed to sins and the one who holds the power of command, binding, and unbinding does not forbid them, Allah is likely to encompass the Ummah with His anger. And if the anger of Allah descends and His punishment befalls, then it includes both the doer of good and the doer of evil. May Allah protect us from that. 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 Sublime, said: [Ar-Ra'd: 11]. And upon the scholars specifically lies a great responsibility before Allah in making the people see clearly, guiding them, and explaining the right from the wrong, and the beneficial from the harmful.
We ask Allah to guide all the 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 make their scholars see the path of guidance so that they may walk upon it and direct the Ummah to it, and to guide the astray of the Muslims and rectify their conditions. Indeed, He is the One capable of that and able to do it.
A: There is no 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, Exalted 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 أَصَابَكُمْ 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 ﷺ 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 بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَSo it is obligatory upon the leaders of the Muslims, from scholars, rulers, and others, to take care of every calamity that befalls or disaster that occurs, to remind the people and explain what they have fallen into, and for the rulers, from scholars and judges, to be the good example in righteous deeds, seeking out the causes of the anger and punishment of Allah, and treating 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
Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is responsible for his flock.
فكلكم راع وكل مسئول عن رعيتهAnd if the Muslims become accustomed to sins and the one who holds the power of command, binding, and unbinding does not forbid them, Allah is likely to encompass the Ummah with His anger. And if the anger of Allah descends and His punishment befalls, then it includes both the doer of good and the doer of evil. May Allah protect us from that. 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 خَاصَّةًAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Indeed, when people see a wrong and do not change it, Allah is likely to encompass them with His punishment.
إن 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 بِأَنْفُسِهِمْWe ask Allah to guide all the 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 make their scholars see the path of guidance so that they may walk upon it and direct the Ummah to it, and to guide the astray 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.