Sunday, November 4, 2012

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #54

Respecting the scholars

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (3/231-233) of Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]

The author – (Imaam al-Nawawee) رحمه الله – said: Chapter: “Respecting the scholars, and giving them preference over others, honoring their gatherings and to spreading their dignity” and whatever is related to that with a similar meaning.

The author رحمه الله meant by the scholars – the scholars of the Sharee`ah (of Islaam), those who are the inheritors of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets because the Prophets do not leave behind Dirham or Deenaar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died leaving behind his daughter Faatimah and uncle al-`Abbaas, but they did not inherit anything from him; because the Prophets do not leave behind anything except `Ilm.

The `Ilm of Allaah’s Legislation (Sharee`ah), so whosoever takes from it, has acquired abundantly from the inheritance.

Since from the rights of the Prophets is that they should be respected, exalted and honored; so whoever inherits from them have a share from that as well - that they too should be respected, exalted and honored. Hence the author رحمه الله made a separate chapter for this important issue; for this is verily a great and an important matter.

By respecting the scholars, the Sharee`ah is respected, because they are the ones who carry it; and by humiliating the scholars, the Sharee`ah is humiliated; because when the people disrespected and humiliated the scholars, they will also disrespect the Sharee`ah (the knowledge) which they carry. Then people will have no value for the scholars and it will happen that every person will belittle them which will lead for the Sharee`ah to be lost (or corrupted).

Similarly, it is incumbent that the rulers and those in authority be respected, honored and obeyed, as per the guidelines in the Sharee`ah, because if they are belittled in front of the people, and dishonored and their commands are disrespected, the security is lost and the country will be in chaos and the ruler will have no power or authority (to stop the turmoil).

These two types of people: the scholars and the rulers, when they are disrespected by the people, the Sharee`ah is corrupted, and the security is gone and the authority is lost, everyone will think that he is a scholar, and everyone will think that he is in authority. The Sharee`ah is lost, the security is lost. And that is why Allaah تعالى commanded that the ones in charge from the scholars and the rulers be obeyed. He تعالى said:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ}

{O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and those of you who are in authority.} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 59]

For example: When the scholars and the rulers are not respected, the people, when they hear a matter, will say: “This is easy, and such and such have said in oppose to that.”

Or they would say: “This is easy, and he knows and we know”, as was heard from some of the foolish ignorant. When it is said to them about an issue that this is the saying of Imaam Ahmad or the saying of Imaam Shafi`ee or the saying of Imaam Maalik or the saying of Imaam Abu Haneefah or the saying of Imaam Sufyaan or other than them of the scholars, they reply back: “They were men and we are men” (i.e. they had their opinion and we have ours). (These people should know) that there is a difference between the status (understanding) of those and between the understanding of them. Who are you, that your statement should collide (with theirs) - with your faulty understanding, lack of knowledge, and your falling short in your diligence – and you make yourself equal to those scholars رحمهم الله?

So when the scholars are disrespected, everyone will end up saying: “I am a scholar”, “I am more expert”, “I have more understanding”, “I am more knowledgeable”, and “I am ocean with no shores” (i.e. I have abundant knowledge). Everyone will speak however they wish, and issue fatwa however they will. And because of this, which some of the foolish ones do, the Sharee`ah will be torn apart.

Similarly with the rulers; if it is said to someone: “The ruler has commanded such and such”, he replies back: “he is not to be obeyed as he as violated this and violated that”. I (al-`Uthaymeen) say: “If he (the ruler) has violated such and such, his sin is upon him. But you have been commanded to hear and obey, even if he drinks wine or other than that, as long as we do not see outright Kufr in him about which we have conclusive proof from Allaah. Until then, it is obligatory to obey them, even if they are evil doers, insolent and oppressors.”

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“You should listen to the Ameer and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey.” [Saheeh Muslim (4554)]

And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said to his companions about the rulers who do not fulfill their obligations:

“Listen to them and obey them, for on them shall he their burden and on you shall be your burden.” [Saheeh Muslim (4552)]

As for your desire that the rulers be like Abu Bakr and `Umar and `Uthmaan and `Alee رضي الله عنهم اجمعين, then this is not possible; for we should first be like the Sahaabah or similar to them, so that our leaders are like the Caliphs of the Companions.

But the youth, as we know today, many of them are negligent of the Waajibaat (obligatory acts), and many of them violate that which is Haraam; and still they want Allaah to provide them with a ruler like the Righteous Caliphs. This is a far off thinking. But rather, upon us is to hear and obey, even if they themselves were negligent, for their negligence will be upon them. Upon them is the burden of what they do, and upon us is the burden of what we do.

So, if the scholars and the rulers are not respected, the Deen and the Dunya, both are lost. We ask Allaah for our well being.

[Translaor’s note]: The scholars of al-Haqq have to be distinguished from that of al-Baatil. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had prophesied that a time will come when the ignorant ones will pretend to be scholars.

Also, there is a difference between an `Aalim (a scholar) and a Da`ee (the caller towards Islaam). Every scholar is a caller towards Islaam, but not every caller is a scholar. And from what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, verily there will be Du`aat (callers) towards Hell (as reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from the Hadeeth of Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه). 

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