In the Name of Allah.
It’s so sad that some of us have assumed the position of a scholar because of some little things we presently know about the Deen. Someone who’s just attending Madrasah thinks he’s capable of passing verdicts and commenting on religious issues. Even real scholars don’t know it all. That’s one of the trials of this time; ignorance and arrogance! Many now learn to overcome others and boast.
Recorded in Al-Madkhal al Mufassal li-Madhhab al-Imaam Ahmad wa Takhrijaat al-Ashaab, vol. 1, p. 13, Ibn Qutaibah (رحمه الله) said: “In the past, a student of knowledge would listen to learn, and learn to act, and gain understanding of the religion in order to benefit himself and others. But now it has become such that they listen (only) in order to accumulate, and they accumulate (only) in order to be mentioned, and they memorise in order to overcome (others) and boast.” This was said over one thousand years ago. SubhanaLlah! So, you would understand how bad things have been.
True knowledge makes a person humble, not arrogant (i.e. looking down on others). Looking down on people is a crime, the worst is when it’s done to a scholar. Don’t, because of what you think you know, criticise, backbite or falsely accuse the scholars. The ridiculous thing is even when you carelessly publicize their mistakes. Who doesn’t make mistakes?! Let’s be sincere, if a scholar makes a mistake, does it befit the one who knows nothing to criticize him? Let each of us be careful and know our limits when it comes to knowledge of the Deen.
I’m not denying the fact that there is refutation in Islam but should refutation be done by the one who knows nothing? To preserve the respect of our scholars, let scholars refute themselves (when necessary). This will birth an orderly Muslim community and prevent dishonouring our scholars. It will also save us from slandering and backbiting them.
Let me call your attention to this frightening Hadith regarding the Muflisoon (bankrupt). As recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2581, Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Do you know who is bankrupt?” They said, “The one without money or goods is bankrupt.” The Prophet said, “Verily, the bankrupt of my nation are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting, and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding blood, and beating others. The oppressed will each be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, then their sins will be cast upon him and he will be thrown into the Hellfire.”
To conclude, when you unjustifiably dishonour a person, backbite or wrongly accuse him, he will surely come on the day of Judgement to take his right from you, except he forgives you before then.
I beseech Allah to not make us of the Muflisoon on the Day of Judgement. (Aameen)
