Bid’ee Haqiqatjou, mocking upright scholars is a trait of Jahiliyyah!

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

They (People of the era Al-Jahiliyyah) accused the people of the religion of having little understanding and poor Memory.  They utilised this argument to determine the falsity of a religion that the people who followed it had little understanding and poor memory, as Allah said that they said:  [ بَادِىَ ٱلرَّأۡىِ – And they (too) followed you without thinking]. [Hud 27]

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, commented:

Regarding what Allah has stated about the people of Nuh and their saying: “And they (i..e believers) (also) followed you (Nuh) without thinking”- Meaning, the weak ones followed you without thinking, those who possess no understanding. They reviled the followers of the Messengers that they possess neither understanding nor are they well versed in the affairs; and (that) nor do they possess far-sightedness.  This is what many among those who have strayed from the right path and the enemies of Allah brag about today.  They make fun of the Muslims and their scholars, that they neither possess understanding nor far-sightedness.  They seek to diminish the (status of the) scholars with this calumny despite the fact that the scholars of the Muslims are people of clear sightedness and cognizance because they examine (matters) based on Allah’s guidance, command what Allah has commanded and forbid what Allah has forbidden.

Therefore, none diminishes (the status of the) scholars and accuses them of short-sightedness and lack of understanding, except one who shares similarities with the people of Jahiliyyah [Footnote a] and the people of Nuh – those who described the followers of the Messengers with this description, in order to drive the people away from them. This is uttered from the tongues of some of the people today.  They say, “These scholars are Ulamaa Hayd Wa Nifaas [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is limited to the rulings pertaining menstruation and post-natal bleeding], Ulamaa Ahkam Al-Istijmar [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is limited to issues pertaining to Istijmaar (i.e. rulings regarding the use of dry objects such as stones, tissue etc, to clean oneself after using the toilet)], Ulamaa Juz’iyyat [i.e. scholars whose knowledge is restricted to some affairs], and that they do not possess knowledge of current affairs”. [Footnote b] The knowledge of current affairs is the subject matter of politics and revolt against the Muslim rulers. [Footnote c] [1]

——————————————

Footnote a: Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The most hated people to Allah are three: a person who deviates from right conduct sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah; a person who seeks that the traditions of the pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance should remain in Islam and a person who seeks to shed somebody’s blood without any right”.

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

These three actions are major sins. The first major sin is to stray from good behaviour within the sacred sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah. This deviation means to abandon the path of truth and embrace falsehood, and promoting falsehood to suppress the truth. Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, has censured those who engage in such misconduct within the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah, saying:

وَمَن يُرِدۡ فِيهِ بِإِلۡحَادِۭ بِظُلۡمٍ۬ نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬

And whoever intends evil actions therein or to do wrong, We shall make him taste a painful torment. [Al-Hajj. 25]

Allah has promised them a severe punishment for their evil intentions therein, so what about committing such deeds?! It would indeed be a more severe sin, a more terrifying state, and a harsher punishment. This highlights the sanctity of Makkah and Madinah, chosen by Allah as sacred lands where virtuous acts of worship, like Hajj, are performed – a pillar of Islam. The virtues of these places are countless, with increased rewards for good deeds done there, and surpassing all other lands on earth in virtue.

The second major sin is committed by the individual who wants the practices of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance to remain within Islam, as if he prioritises the evil customs that were followed during that era over Islamic practices, Iman and Ihsan, their virtue and the virtue of the Prophet’s Sunnah. This act constitutes a major sin, as it involves favouring Bidah over the authentic Sunnah that leads to the right path.

The third major sin is shedding the blood of a Muslim without any right, especially when it is done out of oppression and animosity. Shedding the blood of a Muslim is a great crime as the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “The extinction of the entire world is less significant than killing a Muslim (without right)”. He stated regarding the rights of the Kabah, “Great you are and great is your sanctity, but the sanctity of a believer is greater than yours in the Sight of Allah”. Therefore, it is forbidden to transgress against Muslims, both male and female, in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah, as well as in any other place, due to the severe consequences and punishment that follow. [2]

Footnote b: Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Some people say that someone who does not grasp current affairs is not a scholar, yet they forget what the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Whoever Allah wishes good for, He grants them understanding in the religion”. They lose sight of the reality that preoccupying oneself with current affairs distracts a person from understanding the religion and may even keep people from engaging in correct worship, which is to worship Allah alone while devoting one’s heart to Allah, contemplating Allah’s divine revelation (i.e. the Qur’an and the Sunnah) and His universal signs (i.e. the things He has created). In reality, preoccupying the youth with current affairs prevents them from understanding the religion Allah has ordained because the heart is a vessel that does not take another thing when it is filled with something else, thus, it is not possible to fill it with this and that. Being preoccupied with seeking understanding in the religion, fulfilling acts of worship, pure Islamic monotheism, and sincerity are the better to do for the individual than learning about current affairs and what such and such a person is about.

It is possible that one receives knowledge of current affairs through flimsy and fabricated media narrations, or bases knowledge of current affairs on the analysis and speculations of a person. The one engaged in the subject of current affairs may seek to establish an analysis that is far from what the current affairs are or they look into affairs that have been concocted for them by the enemies (regarding) a specific event, but this event turns out to be something else and does not exist at all, thus, all those plans come to naught.

Therefore, it is important that one learns what Islam expects of them- the understanding related to one’s self, rectification of the heart through sound belief and wishing good for the Muslims, and this is related to the understanding of halal, haram, and other affairs of a similar nature. (However), if necessary, one can acquire knowledge about current affairs; but when it comes to matters that haven’t actually happened yet, such as lies, deception, analysis, and speculation, attaching absolute emphasis to it has no foundation. [3]

Footnote c:  Concerning Correction of the Rulers

http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ16&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm

The Tyranny Of The Rulers, A Reason For Rebellion?
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

[1] An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Masa’il Al-Jahiliyyah 78-79

[2] An Excerpt from “at-Taliqat Al-Malihah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahadith As-Sahihah 1/429-430

[3] An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 194-195