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A Warning Against Belittling the Scholars and Callers to Allah – Shaykh Fawzan

He asks, Noble Shaykh, may Allah bless you. It hurts us deeply, what we see of the attempts to lower the station of our virtuous scholars, and the biggest difficulty is what we see from those weak in intellect getting carried away behind the likes of these (individuals belittling the scholars) on social media platforms. So what advice (do you have) for us and the attendees on respecting and appreciating our scholars?

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The Importance of Reading The Biographies of The Salafus Saaleh [The Pious Predecessors]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said:

I saw that solely being preoccupied with studying Fiqh and listening to [transmission] of hadeeth is not enough to rectify the heart, except [when] combined with [the authentic narrations concerning the] softening of the hearts, and looking into the biographies of the pious predecessors.  As for having knowledge of Halaal and Haraam only, it does not have a great strength in softening the heart; rather the softening of the heart is [attained] by  mentioning the Ahaadeeth on the subject matter and the stories of the pious predecessors. That is because they [i.e. the pious predecessors] grasped the intent behind narrating [ahadeeth]–they demonstrated the tangible obligated actions by way of them, practical encounter with their meanings and the goals behind them. And there is nothing that will make you experience this, except after cultivation and experience.

That is because I find that the ambition of the majority of the Muhadditheen and the students of hadeeth is [focused on acquiring hadeeth that has the closest chain of transmission from the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and gathering numerous authentic Ahaadeeth on a particular subject matter in the religion etc]. And the majority of the jurists [focus on] the science of debate and that which gives one the upper hand [i.e. what he observed during his era]; so how can the heart be softened through these affairs?

Indeed, a group of the pious predecessors aspired to see that a righteous slave should look to his character and upright guidance and not [merely] the knowledge he has acquired. That is [because] his character and upright guidance are the fruits of his knowledge. So understand this!  The student of Hadeeth and Fiqh should combine [seeking after hadeeth and fiqh] with studying the lives of the pious predecessors and the Zuhhaad, so that it can be a means to softening the heart. Indeed, books have been compiled regarding the affairs and manners of each one of those well-known outstanding men [of piety]. A book has been compiled regarding the affairs of Al-Hasan [Al-Basri], Sufyaan Ath-Thawri, Ibraaheem Bin Ad-ham, Bishr Al-Haafiy, Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Ma’roof and other than them amongst the scholars and the Zuhhaad.


[An Excerpt from ‘Saydul khaatir’ Page 171. Daar Ibn Rajab. 1st edition 2003. Slightly paraphrased]

An Example of Hasan Al-Basri’s Amazing Character

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Khaalid Ibn Safwaan (rahimahullaah) reported: I met Maslamah Ibn Abdil Maalik (rahimahullaah) in a state of bewilderment, so he said to me: ”O Khaalid! Inform me of Hasan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah), for indeed I think that you know of his affair that which none else knows”.

So I said, ”May Allaah rectify the affairs of the Ameer, I am the best of those to inform you about him based on knowledge. I was a neighbour of his, I sat with him and I sat in his gatherings”. So he (Maslamah) said to me, ”Give what you have (of information)”. So I said, ”Indeed, he was a man whose private affairs were the same as his public affairs (i.e. what he believed and did in private was the same as what he believed and did in public), and his speech conformed to his actions. When he commanded good, he was the one who acted upon it the most, and when he forbade evil, he was the one who abandoned it the most. Indeed, I saw him free from having any need of the people and abstaining from what the people possessed, but the people were in need of him and sought after what he had.” So Maslamah (rahimahullaah) said, ”Enough O Khaalid! How can a people be misguided when the likes of such a person was amongst them”.

[Source: Suwar Min Hayaat At-taab’een Lis-saf Ath-thaalitha Al-Mutawassit page 14. Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education]

Wearing Watches On The Right Hand: [Deluded Scaremonger Says, ‘’They (i.e. Salafis) Are So Extreme That They Compel People to Wear Watches Only On Their Right Hands]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] was asked: “What is the Sharee’ah ruling on wearing a watch on the right hand?”

The Shaikh [rahimahullaah] stated: Wearing a watch on the right hand or left hand is all the same. That is because the closest thing [in similarity to] it is a [finger] ring, and it has been established [i.e. through text] that the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] sometimes wore his ring on the right hand and at other times on his left hand. So, whoever wears his watch on the right hand is upon what is good and whoever wears it on the left is also upon what is good. However, the majority of the people – at present – wear it on their left hand because the right hand engages in more activity than the left, so if worn on the right, it may obstruct [or hinder] the person when he’s engaged in work and might get damaged or dislocated. So, because of this, the majority of the people choose to wear it on the left hand, and neither is there any blame [or wrongdoing] in that nor is wearing it on the right better than wearing it on the left in relation to this affair. [paraphrased]: Listen to audio on the link https://safeshare.tv/x/DHmdB5GbeBg#

Should We Always Show a Friendly Face? – [A Brief Reminder By Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Question: Should a person show a friendly [or welcoming face] to everyone, even to the criminals?

Answer: It depends on what the situation requires, but your habit should be that you show a friendly [or welcoming face], for this is the best thing by way of which the people will be attracted to you, have love for you and approach you with their confidential affairs [i.e. to seek advice]. But if you are misrable [unfriendly or unwelcoming], the people will fear you and will be unable to speak to you.

However, if the situation requires that you [refrain from] showing a friendly [face], then do so. This is why a person cannot be blamed unrestrictedly for showing an unfriendly [or unwelcoming face] nor praised unrestrictedly for not having a friendly [or welcoming face]

Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ page 52. abridged & slightly paraphrased

Replying to Non-Muslims When They Greet Us Saying, ‘Assalaamu Alaykum’ – [By Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower
If the non-Muslims give us salaam, we return the [salaam] because Allaah [The Most High] said: When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.  [Surah An-Nisaa’ Aayah 86]
So, if they [i.e. non-muslims] say: ‘Assalaamu alaykum [i.e. peace be upon you]’, we say clearly ‘Alaykumus salaam’ [i.e. peace be upon you], because [Allaah] states in the Aayah [i.e. Aayah 86 Surah An-Nisaa]:  Greet in return with what is better than it, or [at least] return it equally.  The only [reason] the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] commanded us to say ‘Wa alaykum’ [i.e. ‘And upon you’ without the word Salaam] is because they [i.e. some of the yahood in Madeenah used to say to the Muslims out of hatred], ‘As-Saam Alaykum [i.e. death be upon you] as occurs in the hadeeth narrated by Abdullaah Ibn Umar: “Indeed, when the Yahood give you salaam, they say, As-saam ‘alaykum [i.e. death be upon you]; so say, ‘Wa alaykum’ [i.e. And upon you].

Part 18: The Upright Scholars-[They Will Succeed One Another Until The Establishment of The Hour, Regardless Their Number- (Numerous or Few)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Question to Shaikh Rabee: Shaikh Albaanee, Shaikh Ibn Baaz and Shaikh Uthaymeen have passed away, so who remains from the scholars?

Answer: Those who remain are numerous and all praise is due to Allaah.  The Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] died and his noble companions [radiyallaahu-anhum] remained. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. Ibn Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] died and his companions [rahimahumullaah] remained. And those ones [i.e. Albaanee, Ibn Baaz, Uthaymeen (rahimahumullaah)] died and their students and brothers remain by Allaah’s Will.  The truth will not be lost.

When Umar [radiyallaahu-anhu] was stabbed, it was said to him: ‘’Appoint a successor!’’ He said: ‘’Allaah will not allow His Religion to be lost.’’  So by Allaah this Religion will never be lost. It is upon you to put shoulder to shoulder and embark upon work-raise the flag of the [authentic] Sunnah and the flag of the truth.  [The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] said: ”There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah manifest upon the truth-neither will they be harmed by those who betray them nor by those who oppose them till Allaah’s promise come to pass (i.e. the day of Judgement)”.

By Allaah! Neither knowledge nor the committee of senior scholars have died-all praise is due to Allaah-and there is good and blessing with them. Our Salafi brothers are in the different regions of the world. The world is filled with senior students of knowledge who fill this gap-all praise is due to Allaah. Therefore, neither can the people of falsehood rejoice nor become happy.


[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة -1/ 208-209. Slightly paraphrased]

Part 12D: An [Upright] Scholar Experienced Many Affairs- For Many Years- Related to The Different Circumstances of The People And This Cannot Be Acquired Merely By Reading Books

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Shaikh Muhammad Baazmool [may Allaah preserve him] said:

An [upright] scholar has precise understanding of the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the various sciences related to the religion. He has knowledge and wisdom related to nurturing and teaching others, and he has experience. He has [good] awareness of the different circumstances of the people, their daily pursuits and general affairs, which is not found in books. And if a person wanted to acquaint himself with all these affairs, he would need a long time [or many years] to do so; but the scholar came across these affairs during his lifetime- from the very beginning of his path in pursuit of knowledge; so how can all of this be merely acquired by [reading] books?!


Source: [في قلب الحدث مقالات متنوعة   – pages 48-49 Abridged and slightly paraphrased]