بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Sincerity Toward Scholars
Sheikh Muhammed bin Saleh Al Uthaymeen
Source: Explanation of 40 Hadith (Arabic)
Sincerity toward the scholars is established through various means:
1. Having love for them. If one does not love a person, he will not take that person as an example.
2. Supporting
and assisting them in clarifying the truth. This is accomplished by
spreading their books through various means of media which are presently
available at every time and place.
3. Defending
their honor. If something detested was attributed to an esteemed
scholar, it is upon the Muslim to follow the following steps:
a) To
confirm that the disliked or incorrect issue was actually mentioned by
the scholar. How many lies are attributed to a scholar! Therefore, it is
incumbent that one investigates concerning the issue. Once that takes
place and it is confirmed, then the person moves on to the following
steps.
b) One
should then contemplate the issue and question himself, is this
actually something that should be rebutted or not? It is possible that
at first the issue seems to be something that should be rebutted, but
after one reflects over the matter, they come to the conclusion that it
is actually a true statement. Therefore, it is compulsory that one
contemplates over the issue to conclude whether it is correct or not.
c) If
you conclude that the matter is not something which should be rebutted,
it then becomes mandatory on you to defend the scholar and spread this
defense amongst the people. You should clarify to the people that what
was mentioned by the scholar is true, even if the people are in
opposition to it.
d) But
on the contrary, if you conclude based on your opinion, that the matter
attributed to the scholar is a mistake (by way of the scholar), it then
becomes mandatory upon you to contact him with good manners and
humbleness. You should say: I have heard that you have said such and
such, and I would like for you to explain this issue to me, for indeed
you have more knowledge than me.
If
he clarifies the issue for you, you then have the right to debate him
concerning it, but this should be done with good manners and reverence
for the scholar according to his status and what is suitable with
respect to him.
As
for what is conducted by many ignorant individuals who approach the
scholar who holds an opinion in opposition to what they believe, they
approach him in a rude and impolite manner and it’s even possible that
some of them move or shake their hands in his face. They say to him:
What is this statement that you have invented! What is this detested
statement! You do not fear Allah!
But
if a person were to reflect over the issue, he would find that the
statement of the scholar is in fact in accordance with the text
(hadith), and the other people’s opinion is actually in opposition to
the text. Most of these kinds of individuals are afflicted with this
sort of character due to them being amazed with themselves. They believe
that they are Ahlu Sunnah and that they are upon the way of the Salaf,
but in reality they are the furthest away from the path of the Salaf and
they are likewise furthest away from implementation of the Sunnah. If a
person is amazed with himself – we ask Allah for protection-, this
person views others as extremely small ants. Therefore, one must be
aware of this matter.
4. If you witness a mistake made by a scholar, it is not befitting that you are silent and say: He is more knowledgeable than me.
Rather
you should debate with him concerning the matter with good manners and
respect. This is because, at times a person may be unaware of a ruling
and this individual is informed by someone who is lower in knowledge
than him. This is also considered from sincerity toward the scholars.
5. One
should direct him (the scholar) toward good as it pertains to
propagating Islam amongst the masses. If you notice that this scholar
loves spreading knowledge, and therefore he speaks in (gatherings)
everywhere he goes, but you notice that this is a burden upon the people
and they mention: This scholar has burdened us. Or they say: Whenever
we sit with him, he gives us a lecture! From sincerity toward the
scholar is that you advise him that he should not lecture except when
needed. A person should not feel that if he advises the scholar with the
aforementioned that he has prevented him from spreading knowledge. But
rather, this action (advising the scholar) is considered from that which
protects and preserves knowledge. This is because, if the people become
uninterested, then they will become unconcerned with the scholar and
his lectures.
Translator’s comment:
After reading this valuable advice by Sheikh Muhammed bin Saleh al Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى I
felt the need to translate it and post it for the benefit of those who
consider it a small matter to refute a scholar of Ahlu Sunnah. You find
some individuals who are young and have not sat a significant amount of
time with the many senior scholars of this Ummah, but yet they find
within themselves the courage to refute well known respected scholars
who have been praised by many of their contemporaries from amongst the
people of knowledge. It should also be noted that if one were to read
some of the statements of these individuals, he would find that they are
not at all matters that a scholar should be rebutted for, but instead
they are minor issues not related to Minhaj, Aqeedah nor major issues of
Fiqh, and therefore these issues do not produce hatred amongst Salafi
scholars nor do they lead to refutation or separation. At any rate, we
encourage our brothers and sisters to benefit from the above advice of
Sheikh Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى and may Allah correct the affairs of the Muslims.
Mustafa George DeBerry
Riyadh, KSA
أخوكم
أبو بلال نعيم بن عبد المجيد
(وفق الله الجميع للعلم النافع والعمل الصالح)
(May Allah aid us in acquiring beneficial knowledge & righteous actions)
A Warning to those see an Evil but Remain Silent about it
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) warned us:
مَا
مِنْ قَوْمٍ يُعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي، ثُمَّ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى
أَنْ يُغَيِّرُوا، ثُمَّ لَا يُغَيِّرُوا، إِلَّا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ
اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِعِقَابٍ
"There
is no group of people among whom evil deeds are done in their midst,
and they do not change (the evil, by forbidding it) when they are
capable, except that they are on the verge of being punished by Allaah
collectively."
[Aboo Daawood #4338, Saheeh]
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