Students of Knowledge Ruling upon the Scholars?

By Shaykh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Aal Ash-Shaykh

Translated by:

Akram an-Najdee

Source:

Questions on Kashf Ash-Shubuhaat

http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=137067

Question to Shaykh Saaleh Aal Ash-Shaykh:

Some of the students of knowledge make a ruling for himself upon the scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. He views some as mistaken and others as correct from those who are lower (in knowledge). So what is your advice for the one whose situation is like this? WaffaqakumAllaah.

Answer:

I ask Allaah -Majestic and Lofty- for Tawfeeq for everyone.

Without doubt, this issue is an effect of weakness in knowledge; because the student of knowledge, if he learns that the virtue is with its people, he would humble himself with the scholars who are firmly grounded in knowledge. This is because the knowledgeable are revered. Whereas if he has knowledge, then there’s nothing, but he does not have this ability in himself. So he should be humbled a lot. Whenever a person has more knowledge, he has more actions, and more reverence for the people of knowledge.

For example, look at some of them who speak about some of the major scholars, like Abu Haneefah -May Allaah have Mercy on him- and other than him from the Salaf or those who follow the Salaf, specifically the Mutaqaddimeen (earlier scholars). If you look at the books of Shaykh Al Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, the major scholar and Imaam, Shaykh al-Islaam, you will not find in his books any insults of Abu Haneefah. He feared what would be said about him? No, rather he is well-known, he wrote his well-known book “Raf’ al Malaam ‘Ala Aa’imatil A’laam” (Lifting the Blame from the Notable Scholars). Who are they? Ahmad, Ash-Shaafi’ee, Maalik, and Abu Haneefah. So the people of knowledge raise the banner of the scholars. They do not make the people reluctant about them, the publicize their good, and they develop what they think has been diminished from their rights. Because it is well known that it is not a condition that the scholar should be right in every issue, or that he is devout in every issue, this is not from the conditions of a scholar. These are for the prophetic statements. Whereas for the scholars, then they should have a majority of correct opinions and their benefit should be great; and these are the scholars. This is how the scholars are in every time, specifically the people of knowledge who continuously follow the way of the Salaf will have few mistakes in comparison with their correct views. If it is like this, then the student of knowledge should spread the best from the scholars. If he finds something himself that they are not correct in, or he thinks that they are not correct in it, then he should return to them about that to see their explanation or that he should leave his statement for their statements if they unite upon something or agree with something, or take the opinions of some of them with their evidences, this is what is incumbent.

As for spreading their mistakes, then this is a crime upon the generality of the Sharee’ah (legislation) because if you make the people reluctant with the scholars, then who will they follow? There may come a time the Prophet -peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him- described: “Indeed Allaah does not remove knowledge by removing it from the chests of the scholars, rather He removes knowledge by the death of the scholars, until there does not exist a single scholar.” And in another narration, “Until there does not exist a single scholar, the people will take the ignorant as their leaders. They will ask them and they will give rulings based on lack of knowledge and they will mislead and be mislead.” Why did they take the ignoramuses as scholars? Because they thought these leaders had knowledge, but in reality they were ignoramuses. They asked them because they thought that they were from the people of knowledge and they gave rulings and were mislead and misguided others.

Due to this, the people are linked to the scholars by mentioning their benefits and mentioning their virtue, efforts, struggles, and what they do for the Muslims. This one spreads the Sharee’ah and increases in encouraging the people with taking from the people of knowledge and holding fast to them, and asking the people of knowledge about what troubles them.

Making the people reluctant with the scholars, degrading the scholars, or mentioning their mistakes – and the scholar, as we mentioned, is not required to be free of all errors, rather he errs. However, spreading this makes the people become reluctant from going to the scholars and what remains with the people is the spreading of the mistakes and the people are fond of forgetting the virtues and mentioning the flaws – from a long time ago (until now)-. If they found someone who is insulted, they happily run with it; and if they find a righteous they hide it just like was mentioned before.

So the obligation on the students of knowledge is to have good thoughts with the people of knowledge and that they should take from them the understanding of the Sharee’ah, because that’s how they will achieve good in the Ummah (nation of Muslims).