Value of the Ulema (scholars)
Prophet (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ
“Indeed the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets” (Tirmidhi)
The Ulema are truly the inheritors of the Prophets since Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has raised their rank among the people and bestowed a responsibility upon them (more than others) to carry the message of Islam upon their shoulders. The Ummah relies on the Ulema to guide them to the Haqq (truth), to keep us on the straight and narrow, to protect our Aqeedah, to protect our Iman and show us the path to attain the mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى . The Ummah also depends on the Ulema to speak on its behalf, to stand against injustice and oppression and to account the rulers. They are the light we seek to guide us in today’s turbulent times.
Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى also reminds the Ulema that since they carry this heavy responsibility they have to be very vigilant about the boundaries of this Deen.
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge (Ulema). Indeed, Allah is exalted in might and forgiving. (Fatir 28)
Moreover, the Ulema in Islam are not priestly. Their accountability cannot be taboo and nor can we raise them to a level of infallibility. Like every human being they can make mistakes and become misguided. It is incumbent upon us to hold our Ulema to account and advise them of their errors.
Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I only fear for my Ummah from the misguiding Ulema.” (Tirmidhi)
Taking Principled Positions
We are obliged to hold firm onto the principles and values of Islam and the example of how the Prophet (ﷺ) carried the Dawah. We are obliged to follow his (ﷺ) path on how to deal with Kufr (disbelief) and the rulers who are upon Kufr.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
(And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought. (Al-Imran 187)
Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not let fear of people prevent you from speaking the truth when you see it; speaking the truth and doing what is right will never advance your Ajal (lifespan) nor prevent Rizq (sustenance).” (Ahmad)
We are obliged to take principled positions on issues that affect the Muslim community. Principled positions based on Islam alone and not on some perceived Maslaha (benefit) or political expediency. Political expediency by its very nature is unprincipled and has a detrimental effect on the Muslim community.
وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا
And do not sell away My verses for a small price (Al-Ma’idah 44)
Some Ulema advocate working with non-Islamic governments (Western or in the Muslim world), as a means of protecting the rights and interests of the Muslims, however, this is clearly not the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). If political expediency and Maslaha (benefit) were the yardstick by which we measure our actions, the Prophet (ﷺ) surely would have ceded his call in Makkah when the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم) faced severe torture.
While Bilal (رضي الله عنه) was burned between the desert sand and crushing stones, the Prophet (ﷺ) refused to compromise or appease the Quraishi elite.
While Sumayyah (رضی اللہ عنھا) was tortured and pierced by a spear, the Prophet (ﷺ) refused to cave in to the demands of the Quraish.
While Ammar bin Yassir (رضي الله عنه) was drowned and tortured, the Prophet (ﷺ) refused to halt his dawah to the disbelieving Quraish.
While the Quraish boycotted the Muslims, Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib, while the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) were forced to eat grass, bark and leather and while babies screams of hunger could be heard resonating through the valley, the Prophet (ﷺ) refused to “advise” the Quraish on any issue other than لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ (There is no god but Allah and Muhammed is his messenger).
Would the Prophet (ﷺ) or the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم) take positions in Dar al-Nadwa (Quraishi government)? Would he (ﷺ) offer a prayer to begin the proceedings of this legislative body?
If political expediency and Maslaha (benefit) were from the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ), he (ﷺ) surely would have advised the Quraish, worked with them, joined their councils, attended their meetings and legitimized their way of life. Instead, he (ﷺ) told the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) to remain patient in the face of adversity and to remember their reward with Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى . In turn, the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) were courageous, emboldened and reaffirmed in their Iman and resolve.
These are the principled positions the Prophet (ﷺ) set for us and it is the only example that the ‘inheritors of the Prophets’, the noble Ulema should follow.
Hence, taking legislative or advisory positions within Western governments who are at war with Islam or cozying up with tyrant rulers in the Muslim world for some perceived Maslaha (benefit) is betraying the ‘amanah (entrusted responsibility) of this Ummah. Such, actions by the Ulema gives legitimacy to the crimes of these governments who have oppressed and persecuted the Ummah. These are not the actions of ‘inheritors of the Prophets.’
Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib (رحمه الله) who was among the Taba’een and a leading figure in Fiqh (jurisprudence) said, “If you see a scholar become too close to the rulers, then beware of him for he is a thief.” (al-Ādāb al-Shar’īyah 477)
Regardless of which administration is in power (Bush, Obama or Trump), the American government has sought to secularize the Muslims, disconnect us from the Ummah at large and transform Islam into a docile, secular ‘American Islam.’ To do so, the American government has spent millions of dollars and employed token Muslim figures to further its agenda. The Ulema can neither be naive to this fact or worse be part of this agenda.
On the authority of Tamim ad-Dari, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The Deen is naseeha (advice). Upon this we said: For whom? He (ﷺ) replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and the general Muslims.” (Muslim)
Naseeha to the Ulema
Respected Ulema of this Ummah, we offer our humble advise and remind you of what Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى says:
أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Is such a person who is obedient, and prostrates himself in the watches of the night, stands (in prayer), is fearful of the hereafter, and looks forward to the mercy of His Lord? Ask them: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only those endowed with understanding take heed. (Az-Zumar 9)
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
The parable of those who were charged with the Torah and then they failed to live up to it is that of a donkey laden with books. Even more evil is the parable of the people who deny the signs of Allah. Allah does not direct such wrong-doers to the right path (Al-Jumu’ah 5)
Respected Ulema, our naseeha is that you uphold the mantle of scholarships as ‘inheritors of the Prophets,’ speak the Haqq, enjoin the good, forbid the evil, account the rulers, be firm with the enemies of this Ummah, join the ranks of the believers, distance yourself from the oppressors, the tyrants and the ones who wage war against the Muslims and Islam. Moreover, lead us in protecting the boundaries of Islam, lead us in defending this Deen against the malicious plans of Western and Muslim governments and lead us to a path that brings us closer to the obedience of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى .
Naseeha to the Ummah
Beloved Ummah, our naseeha is that we maintain our attachment to Islam, mold our hearts and minds to the obedience of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and uphold principled positions based on Islam alone. Our allegiance is to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and His Prophet (ﷺ) alone. Based on this, we cannot unquestionably follow Ulema who promote Maslaha (benefit) or political expediency to validate un-Islamic stances. We must account them for such actions. Conversely, we must support and encourage the Ulema who call for the Haqq (truth), who are vigilant about the boundaries of this Deen, who do not compromise, who firmly speak truth to power and are true to their position as ‘inheritors of the Prophets.’
Hizb ut-Tahrir America
16th Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah, 1440 AH
July 19th, 2019
