Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

salam o Alaikum wrwb brother,

I want to ask a very simple but an important question.

Who is a Scholar?

Because many people argue that people like Dr Zakir Naik, Dr Israr Ahmed, Maulana Maududi etc are not scholars and people should refrain listening to them. The reason they give is since they have not went or graduated from any Madrassa !!!

Jaza Kallah.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Zakir, Maududi, Dr. Israr not Scholars

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Who is a Scholar?

A scholar is one who has acquired knowledge in a particular subject regardless of whether it be through formal education, experience, or through self striving, etc.

A good Islamic scholar or ‘Aalim’ is one who is blessed with and acquired Islamic Knowledge from the Quran and the Sunnah with the absolute essential and additional quality that they are blessed with genuine ‘taqwa’ or the fear of Allah.

The statement: Because many people argue that people like Dr Zakir Naik, Dr Israr Ahmed, Maulana Maududi etc are not scholars and people should refrain listening to them. The reason they give is since they have not went or graduated from any Madrassa !!!

If one wills, pleases, or dares they may reserve the right to argue about the formal qualifications of our beloved brothers like Dr. Zakir Naik, Dr. Israr Ahmad, or Syed Abul Aala Maududi, etc. who have selflessly served the Cause of Allah; but it would neither be wise nor prudent to challenge the service these respected brothers have rendered in the Cause of Allah Subhanah.

If only formal education or qualification is the criteria of the brothers who claim that one not should derive benefit from the works of respected brothers like Syed Abul Aala Maududi, or Dr. Israr Ahmad, or Dr. Zakir Naik, etc., then those brothers should be asked:

1. Which university did eminent scholars of Islam like Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.), Hadrat Uthmaan (r.a.), or Hadrat Ali (r.a.) graduated from???
2. Which university did respected scholars of Islam of the stature of Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafei, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, etc. graduate from??

Beloved brother in Islam, the thing that determines honor in the Sight of Allah Subhanah is not which university or what degree in which science does one hold; for the most honorable in the Sight of Allah are those who have the most ‘taqwa’ or piety.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13:
O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the Sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

There might be many a scholar who has devoured an enormous amount of books and knowledge and has the absolutely highest qualifications from the best universities; but if such a person does not possess ‘taqwa’, his knowledge will neither be spiritually beneficial to him or his students, nor will he and his knowledge possess any value or weight in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 62 Surah Jumuah verse 5:

5 The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law but who subsequently failed in those (obligations) is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not)! Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.

In contrast, another scholar may possess limited knowledge, but is blessed with an enormous amount of ‘taqwa’, his knowledge will be beneficial to him and his students, and he and his knowledge will have honor in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Thus, in our humble opinion, to make the decision of whether one should listen to or acquire any benefit from any scholar in the deen, it would be wise and prudent to gauge the person’s taqwa and piety from his words, works, acts, and deeds, rather than solicit his formal qualifications.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan