A Clarification for the Youth at Salafi Centre Regarding Books, Certificates, and Conduct

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Al-Barbahari, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

And know, may Allah have mercy upon you, that knowledge is not in being able to narrate much and in having many books, rather the scholar is the one who follows the knowledge and the Sunnah, even if his knowledge and his books are limited, and whoever opposes the Book and the Sunnah, he is a proponent of Bidah, even if he narrates much and has many books.

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadi al-Madkhali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

He [Al-Barbahari] sees that the abundance of books and knowledge is not a criterion for the required knowledge of Shariah. Knowledge is what benefits; even if this scholar has little knowledge and few books, he will benefit from his knowledge and it is benefited from with regards to belief, methodology, and application. This is the knowledge that counts in the Sight of Allah- the knowledge He loves, loves, and praises its possessors. Allah said:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah]. [35:28]

Hence they [the scholars] said, “Knowledge is to fear Allah”. If one with a lot of knowledge does not fear Allah, he is not a scholar and his knowledge has no value because it is a source of evil to him. The Qur’an is proof for or against you, so evil is the state of that scholar- I seek refuge in Allah – who is under the threat of punishment. The Quran is proof against you, the Sunnah is proof against you and knowledge is proof against you, and Allah’s refuge is sought. He may have many books, but he is misguided. He may have a lot of knowledge of the Arabic language, Tafseer, Hadith, and so on, but he is misguided. This is the knowledge that harms and does not benefit, and it is from this that we seek Allah’s protection, and Allah’s Messenger taught us to seek (Allah’s) protection against it. However, knowledge (in and of itself) is beneficial, so if there is a lot of knowledge and books, it is very good, and there are Imams who have abundant knowledge and many books. If the two are combined: a lot of knowledge and many books, it is desirable; and if devoid of benefitting from this knowledge (i.e. due to misguidance or not acting upon it), then neither an abundance of books or knowledge is beneficial, for it is a source of evil on the person. This is why (Allah stated that) some Prophets said: [وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ – I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you]. [11:88]

Allah said:
أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُون

Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason? [2:44]

Allah said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ
ڪَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. [As-Saff.2-3]

Some people are merely speakers and they do not act, therefore, a Muslim must combine statements and deeds so that his actions confirm his statements. He calls to belief and believes, and calls to action and acts. This is beneficial knowledge, calling to the Sunnah and adhering to it, fighting Bidah and being serious about fighting it, and being one of the people who are most distant from it. [1]

Certifications

Al-Allamah Rabi Bin Hadi al-Madkhalee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Knowledge is not just about studying and obtaining certificates, but the aim is to gain sound and accurate comprehension – sound understanding in matters of Aqidah, worship, good manners, good etiquettes, and everything related to a believer’s life. It is obligated to believers to fulfil everything in their lives based on Allah’s Book and Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger. The believer performs acts of worship sincerely for the sake of Allah because Allah commands him to be sincere.

وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ

And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat: and that is the right religion. [Al-Bayyinah. 5] [2]

The Shaikh also said: We have been commanded to learn, therefore, it is obligated to us to learn, practice, and invite (others to the path) of Allah based on the path that Allah has prescribed and made clear to us, the path that the Messenger elucidated and followed, and followed by his companions after him. They propagated Islam across the globe – among various nations. This knowledge and virtue were disseminated primarily through (good) manners – through patience, forbearance, steadfastness in fulfilling duties and responsibilities, truthfulness, honourable behaviour, nobility, noble-mindedness, keeping promises, and similar traits. These manners became apparent to the people, so the hearts, ears, and eyes of the nations embraced this guidance, which the companions of Muhammad upheld. [3]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said that some of the people say “sincere intention in this present era of ours is difficult or it may be impossible because those who seek knowledge do so with the aim of receiving a certificate”.

The Shaikh replied to this statement saying that one’s intention is considered corrupt if knowledge is sought to receive a certificate or a desire for an elevated worldly status through it. But a person’s intention is regarded to be good and not in opposition to sincerity if he wants an elevated status in order to benefit the people, for he knows that at present it is impossible for a person to achieve a high and beneficial position for the Ummah unless he has a certificate. Because of this, even if you were to find a scholar who is good in various affairs of knowledge but he has no certificate, it will not be possible for him to teach even in high school and this is the reality. And you will find that the one lesser in knowledge than this scholar will be accepted (as a teacher) at a university as long as he has a certificate. Therefore, based on a person’s intention and choices, the certificate is not considered harmful and its obtainment enters into the statement of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “And what comes to you from this wealth without asking for it or having greed for it, take it; and if not given, do not run for it”. [Al-Bukhari. 1473][4]

The Shaikh also stated: We add trustworthiness as an additional characteristic alongside proficiency because proficiency is a strength and it has to be accompanied by trustworthiness. Allah said: [ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ – Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.] [Al-Qasas. 26]

It may be that a scholar is proficient and vast in knowledge, able to derive and explain subsidiary issues from fundamental principles, as well as categorise, distinguish and place different subject matters in their appropriate place, but he is not trustworthy and might misguide you from where you do not know”. [5]

[1] An Excerpt from “Awn al-Baaree Bi-Bayaan Maa Tadammanahu Sharh As-Sunnah Lil-Imaam Al-Barbahaaree 2/688-689

[2] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Talib Al-Ilm. 72 – 73

[3] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Talib Al-Ilm. 86

[4 & 5] An Excerpt from Sharh Hilya Talib Al-Ilm. p22