Ibn Bazz: The virtue of knowledge and the honor of scholars

( Part No : 7, Page No: 200) 

The virtue of knowledge and the honor of scholars 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The good end shall be for the pious. May Peace and Blessing be upon His slave, prophet whom Allah entrusted with His revelation, our Imam and master, Muhammad bin Abdullah, the best of inviters to Allah's Path, and upon his household, companions, and whoever follows his way and guidance till the Last Day. 

This is an abstract on the merit of knowledge and the high status of scholars. Legal proofs from the Holy Book and Sunnah indicate the virtue of seeking and understanding the religious knowledge and the related great good, much reward, good remembrance, and the good end for those whom Allah (Exalted be He) made their intentions good and guided them. 

There are many texts in this regard. It is enough to state that Allah (Exalted be He) shows the virtue of knowledge and its seekers by asking them to testify to His Oneness and telling that they are only ones who fear Him in reality. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Allâh bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always) maintains His creation in Justice. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All­Mighty, the All­Wise. 

Allah (Exalted be He) asked angels and scholars to bear witness to His Oneness, they are the scholars who know Him and His religion and who fear Him as if they were seeing Him and stand 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 201) 

away from what He forbids. Allah (Exalted be He) says It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. It is well­known that every Muslim; believing man and woman, fears Allah (Exalted be He) but only scholars namely the messengers (peace be upon them), followed by different ranks of scholars fear Allah (Exalted be He) in an absolute manner. 

Scholars are the heirs of the prophets. The true, real, and perfect fear of Allah (Exalted be He) is known and practiced by the scholars who know very well His Names, Attributes, and His Right to fear Him completely. The prophets (peace be upon them) are the first people in this regard and then the scholars on different ranks in knowing about Allah (Exalted be He) and His religion. Scholars and students have to take care of that, fear Allah, and be aware of Him in all matters; acquiring knowledge, applying and spreading this knowledge, and in all Allah's rights and that of His servants. 

It is authentically reportedin the Two Sahihs of Al­Bukhari and Muslimfrom Mu`awiyah (my Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) says: "If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion."This great Hadith has other proofs narrated by several companions (may Allah be pleased with them). It indicates that the proofs of goodness and happiness are represented in comprehending Allah's religion. Every sincere student in any university, scientific institute, and so on, is only seeking to comprehend knowledge. 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 202) 

May Allah guide them and achieve their goals. 

Whoever turns away from comprehending the religion is the one whom Allah (Exalted be He) does not want to bestow goodness on. There is no might or strength but in Allah. 

It is reported byby Al­Bukhari and Muslimfrom Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like a rain falling on the 

earth; some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. Another was hard but held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they used it for drinking themselves and their animals, and for irrigation. A third soil was barren that could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)" 

There are two categories of scholars who are guided to have this knowledge: Those who are guided to knowledge and comprehend knowledge and extract rules from it till they become jurists who memorize knowledge and impart it to people. So they are teachers, readers, inviters to Allah (Exalted be He), teachers of knowledge, and are involved in other ways of education and comprehension. 

The second category is the one that keeps and imparts it to those who understand and extract rules from it. So both categories are greatly rewarded and greatly benefiting the nation. However, most people are like barren land which could neither hold water nor bring forth

( Part No : 7, Page No: 203) 

vegetation, as they kept away and did not care about attaining knowledge.  Scholars and students play a great role in religious knowledge. They are on the right path as Allah (Exalted be He) guided them to make their intention sincere and truthful in their request. It is a pleasure for religious scholars to comprehend Allah's religion and contemplate what Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) revealed of guidance and knowledge and compete in this regard patiently and with perseverance. Knowledge can not be attained through comfort. It is a must to exert effort patiently. Imam Muslim (may Allah forgive him) in his Sahih, in the chapter of prayer times, mentioned some chains of narrations that quote the saying of Yahia bin Abi Kathir (may Allah forgive him), who said, 'Knowledge shall not be attained without exhausting one's body.' He means that attaining knowledge and comprehension in religion requires patience, persistence, care, time saving, and sincerity to and supplicating Allah (may He be Praised).  The scientific establishments where knowledge is taught and masjids (mosques) in which religious and scientific seminars are held have great benefits as they are prepared to benefit the people and solve their problems. The persons who graduate from them are expected to have great good, great benefits, and public benefit. So any one whom Allah (Exalted be He) endowed with knowledge should not keep away from benefiting people. He should teach and remind them of Allah (Exalted be He), His right, and the rights of His servants through teaching, judging, sermons, reminding, or studying with colleagues and brothers in public and private meetings. Scholars have to  ( Part No : 7, Page No: 204)  share in spreading knowledge via the mass media in order to attain great benefit and impart knowledge to whoever Allah (Exalted be He) wills all over the world. That would have great good and public benefit for Muslims in this age and in every age yet we need it specifically in this age, because of the lack of knowledge and the great number of people who invite to falsehood.  Therefore, any one who is endowed with knowledge has to endure it patiently while teaching people in judging, teaching, inviting to Allah, or in other Muslim affairs so that they would attain great benefits and avail of seeking knowledge.  A scholar should seek knowledge to remove ignorance and gain benefits and come closer to His Lord to please Him with sure knowledge to benefit the people, taking them from darkness to light, deciding their problems, making terms of peace among them, teaching the ignorant among them, guiding those who are astray, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, and so on. Therefore, the duty of students of knowledge includes many things. It is not limited to certain ways, especially on the part of judges. If Allah (Exalted be He) guides the judge and makes him patient, his job will include many things. The judge is considered a scholar, a teacher, an inviter to Allah, a reformist, and so on.  ( Part No : 7, Page No: 205)  He should prepare himself to bear hardships in the cause of Allah (Exalted be He) and make His will high as our good ancestors and Imams were (may Allah forgive them all). They benefited people as much as they could. I advise scholars, students, and every Muslim man and woman to be patient in this regard and to continue their efforts in spending their time and studying more with one another in what they find difficult till they have ample knowledge. That is to attain the good for them and for the Muslims. They should also pay much attention to make their intention good and sincerely devoted to Allah (Exalted be He) in every thing that benefits people.  If the scholars who fear Allah (Exalted be He) judge between people and educate them, people's problems will be solved and justice will prevail. It is known that through judging Allah (Exalted be He) entails great rewards and high ranks for those whom Allah makes their intentions good, grants useful knowledge, and intends the good for Muslims. Judgment is a serious matter and our ancestors feared it, yet conditions vary and times differ. Today, people are in dire need for scholars who judge between people with sure knowledge and who fear Allah (Exalted be He). So those who are qualified and endowed with knowledge should not refuse to be judges, for people need them greatly. They have to accept to judge and prepare themselves to work with their knowledge and carry out  ( Part No : 7, Page No: 206)  what is required of them to benefit people with knowledge and ask the Lord to guide and assist them but when they see that they are unable to do so, they can apologize and resign. However, they should not do so at once. The people of faith and knowledge who are able to benefit others should not open this door; they should have determination, a good intention, and firm desire to benefit Muslims and solve the problems they face. So the ignorant people would not be able to seize this post. When the people of knowledge disappear, the ignorant people will take over. No doubt that in any case, people should have judges who solve their problems, and judge between them justly. If the right people are not assigned this role, others will hold it, so the people of knowledge and every one who fears Allah have to appreciate that, seek his reward with Allah (Exalted be He), be patient, and ask Allah for reward. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray. Reported by Al­ Bukhary and Muslim in their Sahihfrom `Abdullah Ibn `Amr Ibn Al­`As (May Allah be pleased with them).  In this way, the people of knowledge and faith know the seriousness of this matter and the bad end if we

lose scholars or if they resign and leave their place to others. 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 207) 

It is well­known that if a scholar; a judge or others, make Ijtihad (striving and self­exertion) and come to the right conclusion, he has two rewards and if he makes mistakes, he shall only have one reward as indicated by the Prophet's (peace be upon him) authentic Hadih. So, one will be safe if he seeks truth sincerely and attains what is right. Fear and great seriousness would arise, if one undertakes judgment or Fatwa while he is ignorant or judges with injustice as in the Hadith from Buraydah (May Allah, be pleased with him) that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, There are three types of judges; only one will go to Paradise and the other two will be consigned to Hell. The first one is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly, so he will go to Paradise. The second is a man who knows what is right but judges unjustly, and he will go to Hell. The last one judges between peopleignorantly,sohewillgotoHell. ReportedbyAbuDawud,Al­Tirmidhy,Al­Nasa'y,IbnMajah,andAl­Hakimwhoclassifiedit as authentic. 

The one who seeks what is right and does his best to work accordingly to benefit Muslims shall have one or two rewards as told previously by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

I advise all my Muslim brothers in general and scholars and knowledge seekers in particular and myself to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in all matters and practice the knowledge out of obedience to Allah; to abide by His Commands and keep away from His prohibitions. Knowledge seekers are good examples for others in all cases; in judgment, conduct, at homes, in meeting with people, in their cars, planes, and so on. They are good examples in what is good and they have to feel that Allah (Exalted be He) is watching them. They should abide by what Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) taught them and invite people to good by their words and deeds so that people would distinguish them from others and know them by their knowledge, virtue, good guidance, 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 208) 

and following the way that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) adopted humbly and free from arrogance. 

Scholars and others face serious danger. Some may desire to be seen by people, others are arrogant, and so on. They have to fear Allah, work in sincerity for His sake, know that Allah (Exalted be He) sees them in all matters, be humble with Allah's servants and not to be arrogant with them because of the knowledge that Allah provided him with and deprived the others of. They have to thank Allah (Exalted be He) humbly and be free from arrogance. It is a means of thanking Allah to spread knowledge in mosques and other places. 

The judge addresses people, if they need him to do so, teaches knowledge seekers, invites to Allah, enjoins the good and forbids the wrong, does his best to reform Muslims conditions, communicate with those in charge and report to them what he thinks would be advisable to them. So he always works for the benefit of the Muslims; for every thing that proves his innocence and raises the status of Muslims and Islam. 

I also advise all my brothers, namely, scholars and knowledge seekers to pay attention to the Holy Qur'an. Indeed, it is the greatest and noblest book. It contains the best and most useful of knowledge. It is known that it is the best support after Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to help in comprehending religion, contemplating it, and fearing Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). It also assists to follow good people. I advise myself and all to contemplate, think of, and read this Book day and night. 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 209) 

Everyone should resort to it in judgment in every thing and read the interpretations of the Holy Qur'an to know about any difficult thing. It is the best support to understand Allah's Book (Glorified and Exalted be He) as this book is the best and most truthful book. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, Verily, this Qur’ân guides to that which is most just and right 

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as an exposition of everything,aguidance,amercy,andgladtidingsforthosewhohavesubmittedthemselves(toAllâhasMuslims). Allah(Glorified and Exalted be He) says Say: “It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing." Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, We have neglected nothing in the Book It is apt for the believing men and women in general and scholars in particular to take great care of the Holy Qur'an, to hold fast to it, and to do their best to contemplate it, work according to it, and consult the scholars about anything that is difficult. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, (This is) a Book (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, Do they not then think deeply in the Qur’ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)? 

They have to pay much attention to the Prophet's Sunnah. They should memorize it as much as they can and study it especially the issues that are relevant to the creed and the duties of 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 210) 

Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions), as they urgently need much attention. Allah (Glorified be He) says, Say (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلمto mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. There is no way to follow Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but through studying his Sunnah 

and paying much attention to it along with Allah's Holy Book (Glorified and Exalted be He). 

I also advise scholars and knowledge seekers to pay much attention to Hadith books. They should read them much, teach and study them, especially the two Sahih books then the sixth books, Al­Muwatta' of Imam Malik, Musnad of Al­Imam Ahmad, and Sunan Al­Darimy and so on, (May Allah reward their compilers the best). 

Then, they should study the books of the scholars who are known for their right creed, abundance of religious knowledge including Sheikh Al­Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his two knowledgeable students Ibn Al­Qayyim And Al­Hafiz Ibn Kathir (May Allah for give them all), as they excelled in this regard and spread much knowledge among Muslims and showed people the creed Ahl­ul­Sunnah wal­Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body). 

The most important book compiled by Sheikh Al­Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah forgive him) is Minhaj Al­ Sunnah and Fatawa collection (Majmu' Al­Fatawa), Mutabaqat Sareeh Al­Ma`qul Li sahih Al­Mamqul, Al­ Jawab Al­sahih `ala man baddal deen al­Maseeh, and other useful books indicating the right creed and true judgments. 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 211) 

These books also refute the claims of the enemies of Islam. Among the best books of Ibn Al­Qayyim (may Allah forgive him) Al­Turuq Al­Hukmiya, A`lam Al­Muwaqi`een, and Zad Al­Mi`ad. These books have great benefits, especially for judges and Muftis (Islamic scholar qualified to issue legal opinions). 

This is in addition to the Fatawa of the leaders of Da`wah like Al­Durar Al­Saniyah in which many useful essays and answers of Shaykh Al­Islam Muhammad Ibn `Abdul­Wahhab, his students and followers (may Allah forgive them all) were collected. Similarly, the Fatawa of our Shaykh and well­known Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Al Al­Shaykh (may Allah forgive him). They include great knowledge and much benefit. I advise people to read these books after Allah's book and His Prophet's Sunnah (peace be upon him). They contain great knowledge and assistance for every good like similar useful books that pay much attention to evidence such as Al­Mughni, Sharh Al­Muhazab, Al­Muhalla, and other books that pay much attention to evidences and impart the views of scholars. They are very important to scholars, knowledge seekers, judges, and others. I ask Allah with His Divine Names and Higher Attributes to guide us and all Muslims to useful knowledge and good deeds. May Allah grant us all good intention, patience, and comprehension of religion to be rewarded with the good end in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is Most Generous. May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) guide those in charge of us and all those in charge of Muslims, make their advisors good, assist them to do every thing good, use them to make the right overcome, forsake falsehood, and assist them 

( Part No : 7, Page No: 212) 

to judge with Allah's Book and His Prophet's Sunnah in every thing. May Allah keep us and all Muslims from our evil and bad deeds! Allah is All­ Hearer, Near (to all by His Knowledge). May Allah's Peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his household, and companions!