Craving For Status (4/5)

Al-Hasan [al-Basree] said, “Do not let the share of knowledge that one of you possesses be merely that the people say that he is a scholar.” It also occurs in some reports that `Eesaa, `alaihis-salaam, said, “How can a person be from the people of knowledge if he only seeks knowledge in order to be able to narrate it, and does not seek it in order to act upon it.” One of the Salaf said, “It has reached us that he who seeks ahaaheeth merely in order to narrate them will not find the fragrance of Paradise,” meaning he whose only intention in seeking them is to be able to narrate them, and not to act upon them.

This is similar to the hatred of the Salafus-Saalih (the Pious Predecessors) that a person should put himself forward to give religious verdicts (fataawa) and to crave them, and to hasten to it, and to do it to excess. Ibn Lahee`ah reports from `Ubaydullaah ibn Abee Ja`far in mursal form from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “He who is boldest from you in giving religious verdicts, will be the boldest in proceeding to the Fire.”[1] Alqamah said, “They used to say, ‘The boldest of you in giving religious verdicts is the one having the least knowledge.”

Al-Baraa` said, “I met a hundred and twenty of the Ansaar from the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and when one of them was asked about a matter there was not a single man amongst them except that he wished that his brother would suffice him (by answering).”[2] In a narration there occurs the addition, “…so this one would refer it to another, and he would refer it to someone else until it would eventually return to the first one.” From Ibn Mas’ood, radiyAllahu `anhu, who said, “The one who gives a religious verdict to the people about everything that he is asked is indeed insane.”[3]

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Azeez was asked about a question and replied, “I am not one who is bold about giving religious verdicts.” He also wrote to one of his governors, “By Allah I am not one who craves after giving religious verdicts, as long as I can find a way to avoid it.”

Ibn Yameenah said, “This affair is not for those who love that the people should have need of them, rather this affair is only for those who love that someone can be found to take their place.” It also reported from him that he said the most knowledgeable of people concerning religious verdicts is the one who is most often silent, and the most ignorant of people about them is the one who speaks the most with regard to them.”[4]

Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, “We reached the scholars and they used to hate answering questions and giving religious verdicts until they could find no way out except to give a verdict, but if they were relived of having to do so then that was more beloved to them.”

Imaam Ahmad said, “He who puts himself forward to give religious verdicts has put himself forward to something very serious, unless he is forced into it through necessity.” It was said to him, “Then which is better: for him to speak or to remain silent?” He said, “It is more beloved to us that he should withhold.” It was said, “But if there is a necessity?” So he started saying “Necessity! Necessity!” And he said, “It is safer for him to withhold.”

So those who give religious verdicts should realise that they are transmitting Allah’s orders and prohibitions and that he will be made to stand to account and be questioned about it. Ar-Rabee’ ibn Khaitham said, “O givers of religious verdicts! Look and see how you are giving verdicts.” `Amr ibn Deenar said to Qataadah when he sat to give religious verdicts, “Do you realise the affair that you have fallen into? You have come between Allah and His worshippers and say, ‘This is correct and this is not correct.’”[5]

From Ibnul-Munkadir who said, “The scholar enters between Allah and His creation, so let him look and see how he enters between them.”[6]

When Ibn Seereen was asked about anything pertaining to the permissible and the forbidden his colour would change and he would alter so that he would not seem to be the same person.[7] When an-Nakhaa’ee was asked something then hatred would be seen upon his face and he would say, “Could you not find someone else to ask other than me?” He also said, “I spoke and if I had found any way out I would not have spoken and indeed a time when I am the scholar of Koofah is an evil time.”[8]

It is related that Ibn Umar radiyAllahu `anhu said, “You ask us for religious verdicts in such a manner that is as if we are people who are not going to be questioned about the verdicts that we give you.”[9] Also from Muhammad ibn Waasi’ who said, “The first of those who will be called to account are the scholars. It is reported about Maalik, radiyAllahu `anhu, that when he was asked about a matter it was as if he were standing between Paradise and the Hell-Fire. [10]

One of the scholars also said to a person who used to give religious verdicts. “When you are asked about a matter then do not let your concern be to release and find a way out for the questioner, but rather to release and save your own self.”[11] Another said, “If you are asked about a matter then consider – if you find a way out of it then speak, otherwise remain silent.” The sayings of the Salaf about this are too many to quote and gather.

Also relating to this is the hatred of entering upon and coming near to the sovereigns, this is the means used by the worldly status and position. Imaam Ahmad, Aboo Dawood, at-Tirmidhee and an-Nasaa’ee report from the hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas, radiyAllahu `anhumaa, from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who said, “He who settles in the desert becomes coarse/hardhearted, and he who pursues the game will become negligent, and he who visits kings will be put to trial.”[12]

Ahmad and Aboo Daawood report it’s like from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurairah, radiyAllahu `anhu, from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and there occurs in this hadeeth, “… And no one increases in nearness to the king except that he becomes further from Allah.”[13]

Ibn Maajah also reports from the hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas, radiyAllahu `anhumaa, from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who said, “Indeed some people from my Ummah will boast religious knowledge and will recite the Qur’an and will say, ‘We will enter upon the rulers and attain a share of their worldly riches, but will remain separate from them with our religion. But that will not be the case just as nothing will be harvested from the tragacanth (al-Qataad)[14] except thorns. Likewise nothing will be gained from nearness to them except sins.”[15]

It is also reported by at-Tabaranee and his wording is, “Indeed some people from my Ummah will recite the Qur`an and delve into the Religion. Shaitaan will come to them and say, ‘If only you would enter upon the rulers and benefit from their worldly riches and remain separate from them with your Religion.’ Indeed that will not be the case, just as nothing will be harvested from the tragacanth except thorns. Likewise nothing will be gained from nearness to them except sins.”

Also at-Tirmidhee reports from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurairah, radiyAllahu `anhu, from the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “Seek Allah’s refuge from the pit of grief.” They said: ‘And what is the pit of grief? ‘He said: “A valley in Hell from which Hell (itself) seeks refuge a hundred times a day.” It was said: “who will enter it O Messenger of Allah?”He said: “Those reciters who do their actions for show.”[16] Ibn Maajah reports it’s like and adds: “… And from the most hated of reciters of Allah are those who visit the tyrant rulers.”[17] Its like is also reported from the hadeeth of `Alee, radiyAllahu `anhu, from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

(Continued)