Advice to the Students of Knowledge

Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaimeen

“The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” [Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi and others];

  • Categories: Seeking Knowledge -

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

 
Finally, I sincerely advise, myself first, and my Muslim brothers, especially the students of knowledge not to make haste and be quick when a new issue befalls a person until he verifies the situation, gains knowledge and then speaks, so that he does not speak about Allah without knowledge.
 
As, the person who gives judgment is an emissary between the people and Allah; he conveys the Shari’ah of Allah as has been reported from the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam): “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” [Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi and others];
 
«إن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء» رواه أبو داود والترمذي وغيرهما
 
And the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) has also said what means: “The judges are three: (only) one of the judges being in paradise and he is the one who knew the truth and judged according to it.” Related by Abu Dawood with the following wording: “The judges are three; one of the judges is in Paradise and two are in the Fire. With regards to the one in Paradise then he is the man who knew the truth and judged according to it. The man who knew the truth and was unjust in his ruling is in the Fire, and the man who judged between the people out of ignorance is in the Fire.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«القضاة ثلاثة: واحد في الجنة، واثنان في النار؛ فأما الذي في الجنة، فرجل عرف الحق فقضى به. ورجل عرف الحق، فجار في الحكم، فهو في النار. ورجل قضى للناس على جهل فهو في النار» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
 
Also of importance, when a new issue befalls you, draw your heart towards Allah and feel in need of Him so that he causes you to understand and imparts knowledge to you; especially in grave and important matters, where many people remain in ignorance.
 
Some of my teachers mentioned to me that it is befitting for the person who has been questioned on an issue, to seek forgiveness from Allah even more; deducing that from Allah’s statement,
 
{Surely, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad SAW) the Book (this Quran) in truth that you might judge between men by that which Allah has shown you (i.e. has taught you through Divine Inspiration), so be not a pleader for the treacherous. (105) And seek the Forgiveness of Allah, certainly, Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surah an-Nisaa’ 4:105-106]
 
{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّـهُ ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا ﴿١٠٥﴾ وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا} النساء: 105-106
 
Transliteration: Inna anzalna ilayka alkitaba bialhaqqi litahkuma bayna alnnasi bima araka Allahu wala takun lilkhaineena khaseeman (105) Waistaghfiri Allaha inna Allaha kana ghafooran raheeman
 
An increase in seeking forgiveness necessitates the wiping away of the repercussions of sins, which is one of the causes of forgetting knowledge and becoming ignorant, as Allah says, {So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them.} [Surah al-Maa’idah 5:13]
 
{فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ ۙ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ} المائدة: 13
 
Transliteration: Fabima naqdihim meethaqahum laAAannahum wajaAAalna quloobahum qasiyatan yuharrifoona alkalima AAan mawadiAAihi wanasoo haththan mimmathukkiroo bihi 
 
Imam ash-Shaafi`ee once said: I complained to Wakee`(*) about my poor memory. So he advised me to abandon disobedience, and he said; “know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.”
 
So it is certainly possible that seeking forgiveness causes Allah to give a person enlightenment.
 
I ask Allah to grant me success, make me upright that He keeps us firm with the Firm Word (Shahaadah) in this life and the Hereafter; and that He does not cause our hearts to deviate after having guided us and to grant us from His self, mercy: Indeed, He is the Benevolent. All praise is for Allah alone, and may He praise, send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his Companions.
 
--------------------------------------
* Wakee’ Ibn al-Jarraah was a famous scholar from the Salaf and one of the teachers of Imam ash-Shaafi`ee. He died in the year 196H.