Sufyan Ath-Thawri said: “If you see a scholar who has many friends – you may be certain he is a charlatan and fake. Because if he would speak the truth, those friends would hate him.“ |
Another measurement of the knowledge of a person -especially in our time- is based on what position he is given in a so-called Islamic organization, group, or sect. The ‘Grand Mufti’ appointed by the government, for example, or appointed by the people in an organization, group, or sect, is thought to be the most learned by the general public.
Members of Fatwa Council of governments, groups, organizations, or sects, are thought to be the present-day luminaries. The views of scholars prevalent amongst the public are those that governments, groups, organizations, or sects wish to spread. The views of these scholars are spread and widely accepted as truth - and oftentimes even as the only truth - although they often contradict the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Opinions and views that don’t coincide with the view of official Fatawa committees are deemed as blasphemous, even if they are full of evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
The scholars are misleading the masses by either not acting upon the truth, by hiding the truth, by misinterpreting clear Ayah and Ahadith, or by claiming that those who tell the truth are extremists, radicals and terrorists.
A lot of scholars, especially those in our time - but also many of the past- are appointed by the leaders of their countries. They are very close to these leaders, despite the Salaf -whom they claim to follow- regarded closeness to leaders, even if they are Muslims, as a huge sin. How can these scholars be close to these leaders, when these leaders are not following the law of Allah ta’ala? How can they possibly remain neutral and give fatwa or rulings according to the law of Allah, when they are a part of the fatwa committee of an unjust and insincere politician, leader, or a corrupt system? They have joined hands with leaders who don’t follow the law of Allah ta’ala.
The Salaf used to forbid entry upon the unjust and oppressive leaders even for those who wanted to go to command them with good and to forbid them from evil. From those who forbade this were Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak, Sufyan ath-Thawri and others.
Yusuf bin Asbat narrates that Sufyan Thawri said to him: “Whenever you see an Islamic scholar entering into the presence of the unjust and oppressive leaders, then know that he is a thief.” (Shu’ub al Iman of al-Bayhaqi, authenticated by Ad-Dhahabi in Siyar A’lam Nubala Vol. 13 Page 586) |
Ibn al-Mubarak said: “The one who commands and forbids them in our view is not the one who enters upon them and commands and forbids them. Rather the one who commands and forbids them is the one that keeps away from them.” |
Salamah bin Dinar said: “In the past if the unjust leaders sent someone to fetch the Ulama, the Ulama would not go to them, or if the leaders asked the Ulama, the Ulama would not make any concessions for them. The leaders would go to the Ulama at their houses and ask them there and within this was rectification for both the leaders and the Ulama.” |
Sufyan ath-Thawri said: “Knowledge will remain honoured until it is carried to the gates of the unjust kings who take it for a small price, then Allah will remove the sweetness of knowledge from their hearts.” |
Sa’id Ibn ul Musayyib said: “If you see a scholar visits the houses of oppressive leaders, beware of him because verily he is a thief.” |
al Asmaee said: “The worst scholars are those who are close to the rulers (kings, government officials and the like).” |
Sufyaan ath Thawri said: If you see a scholar visiting a judge/ruler without valid need, then do not think good of him nor offer Salam to him. Regard him as an evil person.” |
Fudhail Bin Iyaadh said: A person who only fulfils his obligations and abstains from visiting rulers, is better than a man who perpetually fasts, engages in ibadah the entire night, performs Hajj and participates in Jihad, but also visits the king.” |
Many of those who are considered to be scholars today also are very ignorant. Although they memorized some Ayat of the Qur’an and a few Ahadith, they don’t have knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people; rather, He takes away knowledge with the death of the scholars until, when He leaves no scholar behind, the people turn to the ignorant as their leaders. They are asked, so they give religious judgments without knowledge; thus they are led astray and lead others astray.” (Muslim 2673a) |
The people turn to the ignorant as their leaders, means they turn to them as rulers, judges, muftis, Imāms and Sheikhs. They rule and give religious judgments without knowledge, thus they are led astray and lead others astray, and ignorance prevails in the world.
Astray scholars are not only a contemporary phenomenom, there have been misguided and misleading scholars throughout the history. And despite the warning from Allah ta’ala and His messenger, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, they were and still are very influential.
Narrated Abdullah bin Amr that: I heard the Prophet, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, saying: “Allah will not deprive you of knowledge after he has given it to you, but it will be taken away through the death of the religious learned men with their knowledge. Then there will remain ignorant people who, when consulted, will give verdicts according to their opinions whereby they will mislead others and go astray.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7307) |
Abu Dharr, radiyyAllahu anhu, said, "I was walking with the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, and he said: "There is something I fear for my Ummah more than the Dajjal." And he said this three times. I said: "Oh RasulAllah! What is it that you fear more for your Ummah than the Dajjal?" He, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, said; "Misguided and astray scholars." (Musnad Imam Ahmad 20838, Haythami, Majmu’ az Zawaid 9212) |
Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “I fear for my Ummah from the misguiding A'immah (scholars, leaders).” (Abu Dawud 4252; Tirmidhi 2229; sahih) |
Ziyad said that Umar bin al-Khattab, radhiyyAllahu anhu, said to him: “Three destroy the religion, the evil scholar, the arguing of a hypocrite regarding the Qur’an and misguided leaders.” (Sunan Ad-Darimi 15/1220) |
This clearly shows that the misguiding scholars are what RasulAllah, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, fearded most for his Ummah. He, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, was even more afraid from the harm they can and will do to the Ummah than the Dajjal.
Having a certain amount of knowledge, or even having a very high level of knowledge doesn’t benefit the person as long as he or she doesn’t apply this knowledge and doesn’t live by this knowledge. Even worse are those, who not only don’t act upon the knowledge they have, but who actually do the opposite of what the knowledge requires from them.
Allah ta’ala says:
And recite to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc), but he threw them away, so shaytan followed him up, and he became of those who went astray. And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: If you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the description of the people who reject Our Ayat. So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect. (Surah Al A’raf,7:175 -176) |
In this ayah Allah ta’ala tells us the story of a person whom He ta’ala bestowed with knowledge, but this person threw it away.
`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that Allah's statement (And recite to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayat, but he threw them away) "Is about Bal`am bin Ba`ura'a man from the Children of Israel.'' Shu`bah and several other narrators narrated this statement from Mansur who got it from Ibn Mas`ud. |
Sa`id bin Abi `Arubah narrated that Qatadah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He is Sayfi, son of Ar-Rahib.'' |
Qatadah commented that Ka`b said, "He was a man from Al-Balqla' (a province of Jordan) who knew Allah's Greatest Name. He used to live in Bayt Al-Maqdis with the tyrants.'' |
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "He is Bal`am bin Ba`ura', a man from Yemen whom Allah had given the knowledge of His Ayat , but he abandoned them.'' |
Malik bin Dinar said, "He was one of the scholars of the Children of Israel whose supplication was acceptable. They used to seek his lead in suplication in times of difficulty. Allah's Prophet Musa sent him to the King of Madyan to call him to Allah. That king appeased him and gave him land and gifts, and he reverted from the religion of Musa and followed the king's religion.'' |
`Imran bin `Uyaynah narrated that Husayn said that `Imran bin Al-Harith said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He is Bal`am son of Ba`ura'.'' |
Similar was said by Mujahid and `Ikrimah. Therefore, it is well-known that this honorable Ayah was revealed about a man from the Children of Israel in ancient times, according to Ibn Mas`ud and several others among the Salaf. |
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "He is a man from the city of the tyrants (Jerusalem) whose name was Bal`am and who knew Allah's Greatest Name.'' |
`Ali bin Abi Talhah also reported that Ibn `Abbas that he said, "When Musa and those with him went to the city of the tyrants (Jerusalem), the cousins of Bal`am and his people came to him and said, `Musa is a strong man, and he has many soldiers. If he gains the upper hand over us, we will be destroyed. Therefore, supplicate to Allah that He prevents Musa and those with him from prevailing over us.' Bal`am said, `If I supplicate to Allah that He turns back Musa and those with him, I will lose in this life and the Hereafter.' They kept luring him until he supplicated against Musa and his people, and Allah took away what he bestowed on him (of knowledge). Hence Allah's statement, (but he threw them away; so Shaytan followed him up).''' |
Allah ta’ala said,
And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith |
from the filth of this earthly life through the Ayat that We gave him knowledge of, (but he clung to the earth), he became interested in the adornment of this life and its delights. He indulged in the lusts of life and its joys and was deceived by it, just as life deceived others like him, without sound comprehension or a good mind.
Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar narrated from Salim, from Abu An-Nadr that when Musa entered the land of Bani Canaan in the area of Ash-Sham (Greater Syria), the people of Bal`am came to him, saying, "This is Musa, son of `Imran with the Children of Israel. He wants to drive us out from our land, kill us and replace us with the Children of Israel. We are your people and have no other dwelling area. You are a person whose supplication is acceptable (to Allah), so go out and supplicate to Allah against them.'' He said, "Woe to you! Here is Allah's Prophet (Musa) with whom the angels and believers are! How can I supplicate against them when I know from Allah what I know?'' They said, "We have no other dwelling area.'' So they kept luring and begging him until he was tempted by the trial and went on his donkey towards Mount Husban, which was behind the Israelite military barracks. When he proceeded on the Mount for a while, the donkey sat down and refused to proceed. He got off the donkey and struck it until it stood up again and he rode it. The donkey did the same after a little while, and he struck it again until it stood up... So he proceeded and tried to supplicate against Musa and his people. However, Allah made his tongue mention his people with evil and the Children of Israel with good instead of his people, who protested, "O Bal`am! What are you doing? You are supplicating for them and against us!'' He said, "It is against my will. This is a matter that Allah has decided.'' He then said to them, as his tongue was made to loll out of his mouth, "Now I have lost this life and the Hereafter.'' |
In another ayah Allah ta’ala tells us about the learned ones, the scholars, of the jews.
The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah (Torah), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations, did not carry it), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books. How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayat of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrongdoers). (Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62/5) |
What is meant by “They did not carry it”, is that they did not apply it. What usage does a donkey get out of plenty of books? If you put them on a donkey, what does a donkey get out of carrying those books? What does a donkey get out of it on its back but the weight?
That’s exactly the same what the jewish scholars are carrying. And there is no difference between a jewish scholar who doesn’t carry the Tawrah and a scholar who ascribes himself to and is ascribed to Islam by other who doesn’t carry the Qur’an.
One who carries the Qur’an, Bukhari, Muslim, or other books, if he knows it but he does not apply it then what does he get but the burden of carrying it? You get nothing but the burden of the weight, just like the donkey.
Ibn Abbas, radhiyyAllahu anhumma, said “entrusted with” meaning they were ordered to act upon it. They were given it in order to act upon it. However, they did not abide by it, and this is why Allah resembled them to the donkey that carries volumes of books. Surely, when the donkey carries books, it will not understand what these books contain because it is only carrying these books.
This parable is for those who do not know what is in the books. They are given the books to learn but they do not want to learn what is in the books of knowledge. It is also for those who know what is in the books, they memorize it but they do not comprehend it and they do not act upon it. And it is also for those who know it, but tamper and play around with it. They are worse than a donkey because at least a donkey has no intelligence to comprehend. They have the intelligence but do not use their intelligence, so they are indeed worse than a donkey.
In another ayah Allah ta’ala warns those who are hiding clear proofs. These kind of scholars are even worse than those who don’t act upon what they have learned. He ta’ala says:
Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture – those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse. (al Baqarah 2/159) |
These Ayat sternly warn against those who hide the clear signs that the Messengers were sent with which guide to the correct path and beneficial guidance for the hearts, after Allah has made such aspects clear for His servants through the Books that He revealed to His Messengers.
Abu Al-`Aliyah said that these Ayat , "were revealed about the People of the Scripture who hid the description of Muhammad, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam.'' |
Allah then states that everything curses such people for this evil act. Certainly, just as everything asks for forgiveness for the scholar, even the fish in the sea and the bird in the air, then those who hide knowledge are cursed by Allah and by the cursers.
A Hadith in the Musnad, narrated through several chains of narrators, that strengthens the overall judgment of the Hadith, states that Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
Whoever was asked about knowledge that one has, but he hid it, then a bridle made of fire will be tied around his mouth on the Day of Resurrection. (at Tirmidhi 2469) |
It is also recorded by Al-Bukhari that Abu Hurayrah, radhiyyAllahu anhu, said, if it was not for an Ayah in Allah's Book, I would not have narrated a Hadith for anyone: Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down. (Bukhari 118) |
Mujahid said, "When the earth is struck by drought, the animals say, `This is because of the sinners among the Children of Adam. May Allah curse the sinners among the Children of Adam.''' |
Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said that (and cursed by the cursers) means that the angels and the believers will curse them. Moreover, a Hadith states that everything, including the fish in the sea, asks for forgiveness for the scholars. The Ayah (al Baqarah 2/159, the ayah above) states that those who hide the knowledge will be cursed, (in this life and) on the Day of Resurrection, by Allah, the angels, all humanity, and those who curse (including the animals) each in its own distinct way. Allah knows best. |
Allah ta’ala says that the duty of the scholars is to forbid from speaking sinfully and to forbid from consuming “as suht”.
Why do the rabbis and the priests not forbid them from speaking sinfully and from consuming as Suht? Evil is what they have been doing. (al Maidah 5/63) |
As Suht is all kind of wealth that is gathered and aquired unlawfully, including bribes, money earned from gambling, money earned from singing, the price of alcohol, the price of porc, etc. It also includes gifts for distorting the truth and guidance.
It was narrated that Masruq said: "If a judge accepts a gift he has consumed as Suht (something unlawful), and if he accepts a bribe, that takes him to the level of Kufr." Masruq said: "Whoever drinks Khamr (alcohol), has committed Kufr, and his Kufr is that his prayer does not count." (an Nasai 5665) |
It was narrated that Qabisah bin Mukhariq said: "I heard that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'It is not right to ask (for help) except in three cases: A man whose wealth has been destroyed by some calamity, so he asks until he gets enough to keep him going, then he refrains from asking: a man who undertakes a financial responsibility, and asks for help until he pays off whatever needs to be paid; and a man concerning whom three wise men from his own people swear by Allah that it is permissible for so-an-so to ask for help, so he asks until he has enough to be independent of means, then he refrains from asking. Apart from that is suht (unlawful)."' (an Nasai 2591) |
Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas, radhiyyAllahu anhumma, said, "There is no Ayah in the Qur'an that has more severe admonition than this Ayah.” |
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Yahya bin Ya`mar said, “Ali bin Abi Talib once gave a speech, which he started by praising Allah and thanking Him. He then said, `O people! Those who were before you were destroyed because they committed sins and the Rabbaniyyun and Ahbar did not forbid them from evil. When they persisted in sin, they were overcome by punishment. Therefore, enjoin righteousness and forbid evil before what they suffered also strikes you. Know that enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil does not reduce the provision or shorten the term of life." |
As Muslims it is our obligatory to warn others about those who oppose the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the path and methodology of the Sahabah, radhiyAllahu ‘anhum. Because the misguided and misleading scholars are the ones who are violating the rights due to Allah. Warning against them is something that is established from the earliest of generations.
If someone is calling people to a way other than the way of Qur’an and Sunnah - even if he does not clearly declare that and even if there is some goodness in some of his or her messages - he or she must be warned against lest the people be deceived by his words. Therefore with the help of Allah ta’ala we will expose them and their kufr.
List of astray scholars
