[2] Admonitions Shared By Brothers and Sisters

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

A beloved Salafi brother from Manchester, may Allah protect him and his family, shared this reminder few minutes ago.

Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

بم يعرف العالم
والعالم  يعرف بصبره وتقواه لله، وخشيته له سبحانه وتعالى، ومسارعته إلى ما أوجب الله ورسوله ، وابتعاده عما حرم الله ورسوله.
هكذا يكون العالم سواء كان مدرساً أو قاضياً أو داعياً إلى الله، أو في أي عمل، فواجبه أن يكون قدوة في الخير، وأن يكون أسوة في الصالحات، يعمل بعلمه ويتق الله أين ما كان، ويرشد الناس إلى الخير حتى يكون قدوة صالحة لطلابه، ولأهل بيته والجيرانه ولغيرهم ممن عرفه، يتأسون به بأقواله وأعماله الموافقة لشرع الله عز وجل.
وعلى طالب العلم أن يحذر غاية الحذر من التساهل فيما أوجب الله أو الوقوع فيما حرم الله، فإنه يتأسى به في ذلك، فإذا تساهل تساهل غيره، وهكذا في السنة والمكروهات، ينبغي له أن يحرص على تحري السنن، وإن كانت غير واجبة ليعتادها وليتأسى الناس به فيها، وأن يبتعد عن المكروهات والمشتبهات حتى لا يتأسى به الناس فيها.

Through what is a scholar known?

A scholar is known for his patience, his fear of Allah (by fulfilling commands and refraining from sins), and his deep fear of Allah founded upon knowledge and awareness of the Greatness of the One feared. He quickly fulfills that which Allah and His Messenger have obligated and distances from what they have prohibited. This is how a scholar should be, whether he is a teacher, a judge, a caller to Allah’s path, or engaged in any other profession. His duty is to be a role model of goodness and a good example in righteous actions. He should act according to his knowledge, fears Allah wherever he is, guide people towards good so that he becomes a righteous example for his students, family, neighbours, and anyone who knows him. They follow his example in statements and actions that are in agreement with the Shariah of Allah, The Mighty and Majestic.

It is incumbent upon the student of knowledge to be very cautious and not to be overly easygoing in what Allah has made obligatory, or fall into what Allah has forbidden, because others will emulate him in that. If he is overly easy going, others will become overly easy going. The same with regards to the Sunan and disliked acts, it is befitting that he is eager to perform the Sunan that not obligatory, so that they become his habit and people follow his example, distances himself from the disliked acts and the doubtful (ambiguous) matters so that people do not emulate him in that. [paraphrased] [1]

Additional Reminder

Imam Sufyan ath-Thawree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“It is said: Seek refuge in Allah from the fitna of the ignorant devout worshipper and the fitna of the sinful (wayward, wicked, corrupt etc) scholar, for their Fitna is a trial for every Maftun (one overwhelmed by Fitna).” [2]

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“For indeed the people emulate their scholars and devout worshippers, so, if the scholars are sinful and the devout worshippers are ignorant, then the calamity will become widespread through them (i.e. these two types of people) and severe for both the prominent (influential people) and the commoners.” [3]

[1] Majmu Fatawa Wa Maqalat Mutanawwi’ah 2/312-313

[2] Akhlaq al-Ulama by p. 63 by Imam Al-Aajurree, may Allah have mercy upon him.

[3] Miftaḥ Dar As-Sa‘adah 1/160