Photo: Collected
Allah the Exalted has clearly stated the high status of the learned in the Holy Quran. In verse 9 of Surah Az-Zumar, He says in the form of a question, ‘Say, are those who know and those who do not know equal?’ This very question makes clear the unique position of the learned compared with ordinary people. In verse 11 of Surah Al-Mujadila, Allah further says, ‘Allah will raise those of you who have believed and those who were given knowledge by many degrees.’
A major trait of truly learned people is that they deeply understand the Most Merciful and fear Him. Verse 28 of Surah Fatir says, ‘Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah.’ That is, the more a person’s knowledge grows, the deeper their fear, respect, humility and obedience towards their Lord become.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spoke about the status of the learned in many hadiths. In one hadith he said, ‘The superiority of a scholar over an ordinary worshipper is like my superiority over the most ordinary among you!’ (Jami at-Tirmidhi). Another hadith says, ‘Everything in creation seeks forgiveness for the learned, even the fish at the bottom of the sea.’ This is a rare honour for the learned — the whole of creation is eager for their well-being.
However, the greatest glory of the learned is that they are the heirs of the prophets and messengers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘Scholars are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets did not leave behind dirhams or dinars, that is, any worldly wealth, as inheritance; they left behind ilm, or divine knowledge, as inheritance.’ (Sunan Abu Dawud)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also gave a beautiful simile to show the importance of the learned in society. He said, ‘The position of a scholar on earth is like that of the stars in the sky. Just as people find their way on a dark night by looking at the stars, without scholars people would lose their bearings in the darkness of misguidance.’ (Sunan al-Bayhaqi)
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
