If trust in the Scholars is neglected, then to whom will the Muslims refer to in a condition of difficulty, and to explain the rules of the Sharīʿah?

[Q]: Is it from unity to have disdain for the Committee of Major Scholars, and to charge them with hypocrisy and being paid workers?

[A]: It is obligatory to respect the Scholars of the Muslims because they are inheritors of the Prophets. So having disdain for them refers to having disdain for their position, their inheritance from the Prophet ﷺ, and disdain for the knowledge that they carry. From disdain for the Scholars is disdain for other than them in the first case. So it is obligatory to respect the Scholars for their knowledge and status in the Ummah, and for their responsibility which they carry out for the benefit of Islām and the Muslims. If one does not rely upon the Scholars, then whom will he rely upon? If trust in the Scholars is neglected, then to whom will the Muslims refer to in a condition of difficulty, and to explain the rules of the Sharīʿah? So at that point, the Ummah will become neglected, and they will fall into chaos. So if the Scholar performs ijtihād and is correct, then he obtains two rewards. And if he performs ijtihād and is incorrect, then he has one reward and is forgiven for the error. There is not anyone who has disdain for the Scholars, except that he brings a harsh punishment upon himself. History – in old and new times – is a good witness for this, regardless of whether these Scholars are from amongst those who are in charge of the affairs of the Muslims, such as the judges; or the Committee of Major Scholars.²

Endnotes:

[1] The following is taken from al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah (p. 140-142); Shaykh Ṣāliḥ Ibn Fawzān said on (p. E) of this book, “The praise is for Allāh, and may Prayers and Peace be upon our Prophet, Muḥammad, and upon his Family and his Companions. To Proceed: So I approve the publishing of al-Ajwibatul-Mufeedah ’an As‘ilatil-Manaahijil-Jadeedah which contains my answers and notes from the brother, Jamāl Ibn Fareehaan al-Ḥārithee. And I hope that it is of benefit in explaining aspects of the truth which have been hidden from some of the people today. And may the Prayers and Peace of Allāh be upon our Prophet, Muḥammad, his Family and his Companions. Signed: Ṣāliḥ Ibn Fawzān Ibn ʿAbdullāh al-Fawzān 18/4/1417.”
[2] Indeed, the Muslims today have been tested by a group from amongst those who ascribe themselves to the daʿwah. This group has spoken ill of the major Scholars with hidden references. However, they did not remain hidden from those who possessed the knowledge. So in order to clarify the affair and to blow away the dust, we shall mention some of the statements of these people.

The speaker (Salmān al-ʿAwdah) on the audio cassette Haqeeqatut-Tatarruf says, “It is obligatory to say to the Scholars and the callers: Establish your obligations and admonish the masses of the Ummah and carry out your classes without waiting for someone to permit or command you to do that.” He says these words absolutely, without exception. And he speaks about Saudi al-ʿArabīa in this lecture!! So reflect – may Allāh grant you success – upon the speech and its intended meaning. Then he said that which clarified the intended meaning, “It is appropriate to say that the affairs of the Religion have been monopolized by a known group who are skilled in hypocrisy and deceit. These people have been delegated as an organization to speak about the affairs on behalf of Islām and the Muslims, along with the fact that they do not fulfill anything for them except two affairs: [i] Announcing the beginning and end of Ramaḍān; [ii] Attacking those whom they call raḍīcals.”

And he (Salmān al-ʿAwdah) says in the audio cassette, ash-Shareetul-Islāmee Maa Lahu wa Maa ʿalayhi, “What is a Scholar worth who does not explain to politics to the people, the most important affair that they are in need of?” With these words, he wishes for the Scholars to engross the people in politics and political affairs, and he wishes to involve people in that which does not rectify nor benefit the Ummah. Verily the most important affair is to call the people to Tawḥīd and to teach them the acts of worship, and this is what the people are in need of. And politics is not the futility that calls to chaos and ignorance of the Religion. So what is the benefit of knowing politics and the advantages of the Muslims without knowing anything of Tawḥīd, nor anything from the acts of worship except their names. The speaker (Salmān al-ʿAwdah) on the cassette said, “Do you want a Scholar who is confined only to rules of sacrifices, produce, women’s menses and childbirth, ablution, ghusl (ritual bathing) and wiping over the socks?” This represents disapproval from him for these acts of worship and knowing them well, and disapproval of worship which does not become correct until one knows the Sharīʿahruling concerning them.

The speaker (Safar al-Ḥawālī) on the cassette Fafarroo ilAllāh says, “I shall say our statement for the Scholars…we must not always place blame upon a specific side. Especially for those who are living in particular circumstances which necessitate them to be courteous in their conduct!! And difficult conditions! As we are those who are living in comfort, we should say the truth in our houses and our mosques… Our scholars, O brothers! Enough (excuses for them)! Enough (excuses for them)! (Kaffaahum! Kaffaahum!) We cannot justify everything for them, we cannot say that they are infallible!! … We say: Yes! They do have some shortcomings in their acquaintance of the current state of affairs, they have some things and we round them off! Not from our superiority upon them, but because we have lived the events, and they have not lived them because they lived in another time! Or different conditions!!… Nonetheless, I say the following: The essential responsibility is firstly upon us, the students of knowledge! And some of those Scholars have indeed begun to hand over (the authority) of the affair; because – I mean to say – they have become old, or to a certain degree…Think, who can succeed them, think who…” So reflect O readers, since they all speak in one fashion with one meaning along with the fact that this one is in the west and that one is in the east of the land of Saudi al-ʿArabīa. And the likes of these ones are many, and there is no might nor power except for Allāh. And the likes of him – and those similar to him – from amongst the despicable politicians and those who incite fitnah (trial, discord) wish to succeed the major scholars in our country; the likes of al-’Allāmah Ibn Bāz, al-’Uthaymīn, al-Fawzān, al-Luḥaydān, al-Ghudayyān and the rest of their brothers! So may Allāh keep us safe.

The speaker (Safar al-Ḥawālī) on the cassette Fafarroo ilAllāh says, “I shall say our statement for the Scholars…we must not always place blame upon a specific side. Especially for those who are living in particular circumstances which necessitate them to be courteous in their conduct!! And difficult conditions! As we are those who are living in comfort, we should say the truth in our houses and our mosques… Our scholars, O brothers! Enough (excuses for them)! Enough (excuses for them)! (Kaffaahum! Kaffaahum!) We cannot justify everything for them, we cannot say that they are infallible!! … We say: Yes! They do have some shortcomings in their acquaintance of the current state of affairs, they have some things and we round them off! Not from our superiority upon them, but because we have lived the events, and they have not lived them because they lived in another time! Or different conditions!!… Nonetheless, I say the following: The essential responsibility is firstly upon us, the students of knowledge! And some of those Scholars have indeed begun to hand over (the authority) of the affair; because – I mean to say – they have become old, or to a certain degree…Think, who can succeed them, think who…” So reflect O readers, since they all speak in one fashion with one meaning along with the fact that this one is in the west and that one is in the east of the land of Saudi al-ʿArabīa. And the likes of these ones are many, and there is no might nor power except for Allāh. And the likes of him – and those similar to him – from amongst the despicable politicians and those who incite fitnah (trial, discord) wish to succeed the major scholars in our country; the likes of al-’Allāmah Ibn Bāz, al-’Uthaymīn, al-Fawzān, al-Luḥaydān, al-Ghudayyān and the rest of their brothers! So may Allāh keep us safe.

Prepared by Jamāl Ibn Fareehaan al-Ḥārithee

Translated by Maaz Qureshi