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The Corruption of Christian Leadership

Al-ʿAllāmah Abū al-Thanāʾ ibn Abdullāh al-Alūsī

A brief look at the Christians’ mindless following of their leaders, despite their apparent corruption.

Al-ʿAllāmah Abū al-Thanāʾ ibn Abdullāh al-Alūsī (d. 1270 AH) said:

They [the Christians] have fancifully imagined their religious leaders to be on earth controlling the affairs of the servants of God the way the Lord of all Lords exerts control over them. They believe that happiness and despair itself exist in their (leaders’) hands. All of this despite the fact that their religious leaders are of less moral fibre than the very lowest of society, more detestable than the most despicable of people. One of their bishops may sleep the night, while his own faecal matter mars his thighs. While, for the course of his life, he accepts bribes in return for the issuing of rulings and judgements. He nourishes himself with that which is unlawful. In a state of ignorance more extreme than common livestock. They lack the ability to distinguish their knee from their elbow, or a friend from foe [Arabic proverbial expressions for an extremely ignorant, stupid person]. Their speech is uncultured, their hearts sealed, characterised by ineffectual hearing and adoption of dubious opinions. Far removed from busying themselves with blessed acts, obstinately turning away from gardens of knowledge. Thus, they and those who follow them find themselves in a state of perpetual mindlessness; an unending slumber, until they finally reach death and are awakened [to reality]. They find themselves not among the followers of the manifest truth from the Children of Ādam, nor among the animal kingdom free of responsibility of taking account. [In Hell], they will bite their hands out of regret, their souls overflowing with regret. We ask Allāh for forgiveness and pardon in this life and the hereafter.

Source: Al-Ajwibah al-Fākhirah: 61
Translated by: Riyāḍ al-Kanadī

Published: June 14, 2023
Edited: June 14, 2023