One of the compulsory types of knowledge upon the Muslims is to respect the Scholars of Islam (Al-Ikraam Al-Ulemah). One of the main references that is cited to understand the great position of an Alim (Scholar) has in Islam is the saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who said, “The Scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” [Abu Dawud and Bukhari]. This and other authentic statements tell us clearly that the Ulemah do not inherit prophet hood, they are not infallible, nor can they perform miracles and they do not receive any revelation from the Angel Gibrael. Therefore these scholars inherit a series of attributes and characteristics that were common amongst the Messengers of Allah such as being steadfast on the truth, being at the forefront of the struggles of their times, being accessible to the people, enjoining righteousness and forbidding vice, inviting the people (nations) to Tawheed, educating, culturing and teaching society. They never compromised in their message nor did they ally themselves with any form of tyranny, despot or oppressive system. Rather they sacrificed their lives to promote and make the word of Allah supreme. A small but much needed article (based upon authentic proofs and books like Warning from The Bad Scholar) has been written to determine the relationship between the Ulemah and the legitimate Umarah (rulers i.e. Caliph).
Severe Warnings:
Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever lives in the desert becomes rough (harsh), whoso follows the game (hunt) becomes careless, and whoso comes to the ruler falls into Fitna.” [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi]
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whenever a person becomes closer to a ruler he will be further away from Allah.” [Ahmad]
Imam Rafi recorded that Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “One of the most hated creation to Allah is the scholar who keeps visiting the government and the people who work in the streets (i.e. smaller departments).”
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The most hated Qarees (Quran Reciters) to Allah are those who visit the rulers.” [Ibn Majah] Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “If you see a scholar mixing with a ruler regularly be aware that this man is a thief.” [Daylami Musnad Firdows]
The question that needs to be entertained is what do we say to those scholars who work for the Tagooth regimes of today, get paid by them and sleep in their palaces. Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There will be a people from my Ummah who will study the Deen deeply (Quran etc.) and will say lets go and visit the ruler we may get some of the worldly benefit (by visiting them) and we will never make them spoil our Deen (i.e. we wont compromise). They will never be like this, it is like saying, ‘I want to work (cultivate) where there are thorns and the thorns will never prick him’. They will never take anything closer to them except the sins.”
Thawbaan (the servant of Muhammad (pbuh)) narrated that he said, “Oh Messenger of Allah am I from the family of your household (Ahlul Bayt), Oh Messenger of Allah am I from the family of your household.” Muhammad (pbuh) never answered him. Thawbaan then said, “Am I one of the sons of your family?” Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Yes unless you spend your time at the gate of the ruler or you go to the ruler regularly asking from him (I need this or I need that etc.).” [Tabarani]
Imam Mundhiri commented on this particular Hadith and said the gate of the Sunnah here is the gate of the Caliph. Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) said, “If you see a scholar visit the Caliph regularly accuse him in his Deen” and he himself refused to work as a judge for the Caliph of his era, because of this he was punished. This is teaching us that the onus is on the ruler to come and see the scholar and not that the scholar should go running after the ruler. It is recorded on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) who said Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There will be rulers after me whoever believes in their lies and helps them in their injustice (oppression) and visits them regularly he is not one of me and I am not one of them (i.e. he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him) and he will never come to my fountain on the day of judgement. And the one who never helped them in their own injustice and doesn’t go to their doors he is one of me and I am one of them and he will come to my fountain on the day of judgement.” [Imam Shirazi and Tirmidhi]
Imam Ali (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The Fuqa’hah (Islamic Juristic Scholars) are the trustees of the Messengers as long as they did not enter or indulge in the Dunyah (materialistic matters) or follow the ruler if they do so be careful from them.” [Imam Askari]
There is an Islamic principle that the Ulemah need to be free to serve the Deen by answering questions studying and not be preoccupied in an occupation. Umar (ra) said, “Prevent your scholars or satisfy your scholars needs (by providing for them) so that they do not seek a job which will preoccupy them from studying the Deen deeply.” Mu’adh ibn Jabal (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said to him, “Whenever a scholar goes to a ruler by his own free will he will be his partner in any form of injustice he did and he will be punished because of that with him in hellfire.” [Hakim and Daylami]
Mu’adh ibn Jabal (ra) reported that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whoever recited the Quran and studied deeply and became a Faqeeh in the Deen and he goes to the door/gate of the ruler in order to get closer to him, to compromise himself on what he sees of the ruler (i.e. doesn’t speak out against his evil) all this to seek the Duniyah (e.g. money, medicine, property etc.) which is in the hands of the rulers either for himself or the people after him he will follow him step by step in hellfire.” [Imam Suyuti]
Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Towards the end of time (i.e. during the last days) there will be scholars who ask or encourage people to work for the hereafter but they never acted upon this themselves. They will also motivate people to desert the Duniyah and yet they themselves never deserted it and they will forbid people to go to the rulers so not to occupy themselves with worldly affairs like seeking businesses however the same people will visit the rulers (double standards).”
Hassan ibn Ali (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “This Ummah (global Muslim community) will always be blessed under the hand of Almighty Allah and His shade unless its Qarees (Scholars) compromise with the rulers.” [Abu Amradaani in his Kitab-ul-Fitan]
Once one Sahabi (companion) came to the Prophet (pbuh) and touched his beard and said, “Oh Messenger of Allah what makes you sad?” Muhammad (pbuh) replied, “All of us belong to Allah and all of us will be returned to Allah. Gibrael came and told me about a great Fitnah (trial).” The companion asked, “Where is this Fitnah going to come from?” Muhammad (pbuh) replied, “From the anger of the good (beautiful) orators of the Quran and the rulers. The rulers will prevent people from getting their rights and the orators will follow the desires of the rulers.” Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Oh Gibrael what will the people from my Ummah who want to save themselves (from this Fitnah) need to do to?” Gibrael responded by saying, “To keep away from those rulers and keep firm. If they are given what they have a right to take it but if they are not given their due rights then leave it (i.e. don’t chase them for it).”
Abdullah ibn Harith (ra) narrated that the Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There will be after me rulers who will have a Fitan (big test) outside their doors, it will be like the big herd of camels, and whenever they give anything to anybody they will take an equivalent amount from his Deen.” [Hakim]
Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that the Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Be careful from the doors of the rulers and all its departments (smaller offices). The people closest to the doors of the rulers and its government departments are the furthest away from Allah. And the one who favours the rulers over the Deen of Allah in any matter by justifying him and even if he is silent (i.e. consenting to the evil) Allah will make Fitnah in his heart (both) inner and outer and will make him have no Wara’ (i.e. no fear of Allah) and Allah will leave him confused.” [Daylami]
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There will be a people after me from my Ummah who will recite the Quran, study the Deen, Shaytan will come to them and say if you go to the rulers they will make sum of your Duniyah better for you however do not let them pollute your Deen.” Ubaid ibn Umayr (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whenever a person comes closer to the rulers (governors, Caliph etc.) he will be far from Allah.” This Hadith is stating that you will not be eligible for the Mercy of Allah.
Abu Darda (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whoever goes to an unjust ruler by his own free will, whether just to go and see him or to have a good relationship with him or to give Salam to him; then the distance he will enter (walk) into the hellfire will be based upon the amount of steps he took to go to see that ruler including the steps that he took to take him back home. Whoever is inclined to the rulers desires or supports him on what he says then whenever Allah’s curse is on that ruler he will get the equivalent amount (of curse). And whenever that ruler is punished in hellfire for anything that so called scholar will get the same punishment.” Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whoever recites the Quran and studies the Deen deeply and goes to the ruler seeking worldly benefit Allah will seal his heart and punish him everyday.”
A man from the tribe called Salim said, “Oh Messenger of Allah advise me.” Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Be careful from the doors of the rulers.” [Bayhaqi]
Imam Ali (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Be careful from the companionship of the rulers this (companionship) is what will make your Deen disappear (erode away) and be careful from helping him you will never be able realise the consequences and you will never be praised after that.” [Daylami]
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “There will be rulers you will know who will condemn you and you will command them to enjoin the good and forbid the evil and those who are silent about them or those who start to incline towards them…” [Tabarani]
Ibn Abi Dharr (ra) narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The best of those from my Ummah are those who do not become close to the gates of the rulers.”
All these narrations (there are many other similar narrations) are warning us from rulers who are Muslims who implement the Shari’ah, are Caliphs and Ameers thus being classed as legitimate rulers. Today we are witnessing the Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Queens, Colonels, Chiefs and Sultans who are far away from implementing the Shari’ah. Who are Faasiqs, Zaalims and Kaafirs so the ruling related to these evil rulers is that they must never be obeyed and completely eradicated and replaced.
Qowl us Sahabah:
The sayings of the Sahaba are a binding proof (Hujjah) for all of us and we are not allowed to differ with people who have attained citizenship of Paradise. Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “There will be on the doors of the rulers (doors of the state) and its departments a lot of Fitnah. You will never receive anything from their authority except that they will take away something similar from your Deen.” [Bayhaqi]
Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Whoever wants to protect, respect, honour his Deen he should not go and accompany rulers those whom he will have seclusion with, like the foreign woman (i.e. khalwah (one to one)), those he will compromise with and who follow Hawa (desires).” [Saheeh Sahabi]
Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “A man will enter the ruler (e.g. sit, eat, talk, give him greetings, take a photo with him etc.) with his Deen and he will walk away without his Deen.” [Bukhari's Tareekh & Saheeh Sahabi]
Once Salamah asked his father to tell him what Muhammad (pbuh) advised him of and he said, “Look my son if you visit the ruler and you get anything your people will get from you (i.e. its equivalent). Oh my son I fear to sit with them (rulers) in a congregation (gathering) that will take me to hellfire.” Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Whoever seeks knowledge for four reasons will go to hellfire to challenge the Ulemah and to compromise with the corrupted rulers/people (i.e. find Fatwas for them)…” [Darimi and Saheeh Sahabi]
Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Knowledge and the people will lead in their own times but they study the Deen for the sake of the people of the Duniyah (i.e. get salaries, positions etc.)” [Ibn Majah and Saheeh Sahabi] Hudaifah (ra) said, “Be careful from any position of Fitn.” Someone asked, “Where is all the Fitn?” Hudaifah (ra) replied, “On the door of the Amir (i.e. ruler), a man will go to the Amir and believe all of his lies and he will say about him what he is not.” [Ibn Abi Sheebah and Saheeh Sahabi]
Imam Hassan ibn Ali (ra) was passing by and saw some of the best Qarees outside the gates of the ruler (Caliph) and he dispraised them.
The Salaf and the Scholar:
Hassan Al-Basri found out that some people (which included some scholars) were going to the house of Amru ibn Humayrah. He said, “Oh Qarees did he ask you for advice?” They replied, “No, but maybe we can get some worldly benefit by going there.” Hassan said, “What about if you stay back at home it will be better for you and if he needs you he will come to you. Have Zuhd and the Duniyah will come to you. You violate the sanctity of the scholars (by going there). May Allah violate your sanctity.” Hassan Al-Basri started to supplicate against them. Hassan Al-Basri said, “Do not sit with innovators nor go to the rulers they will confuse (pollute) your Deen.”
Imam Bukhari:
It has been widely said that the most authentic book after the Quran is the Sahih of Imam Bukhari. Let us read about how this Imam responded to the ruler of his time. Imam ibnul Munir narrates that one of the rulers of Bukhara said to Imam Bukhari bring to me the books of Jami and Tareekh so I can hear from you your knowledge (i.e. come and teach me the collections of Hadeeth). Imam Bukhari said to the envoy of the ruler, “Tell him I will never humiliate the knowledge or the Deen. I would never go to the door of the Sultan (ruler) and if you are needy for that knowledge then know that nothing will supercede that knowledge. You come to me, you come to the Masjid (mosque), you come to my home (if you want to learn).”
It has been authentically narrated by Junada bin Abi Umaiya who said, “We entered upon Ubada ibn As-Samit while he was sick. We said, “May Allah make you healthy. Will you tell us a Hadith you heard from the Prophet (pbuh) and by which Allah may make you benefit?” He said, “The Prophet called us and we gave him the pledge of allegiance for Islam and among the conditions on which he took the pledge from us, was that we were to listen and obey (the orders) both at the time when we were active and at the time when we were tired and at our difficult time and at our ease and to be obedient to the ruler and give him his right even if he did not give us our right and not to fight against him unless we noticed him having open kufr for which we would have a proof with us from Allah.” [Bukhari]
Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The one who strikes the head (i.e. kills) of the Pharoah of his time will get the reward of Ahlul Badr.” The reward of the Muslims of Badr was so great that Allah said they could do whatever they wanted to in the rest of their life but it would not upset their scale and position on the day of judgement and in the hereafter. They were guaranteed Jannah.
Conclusion:
Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. [Hadith Qudsi]
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