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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