People without scholars are remarkable in that the devils of jinn and men deceive them, leading them to wander aimlessly. This is why scholars are among the great blessings of Allah on earth.
Scholars are brilliant lights and leaders of guidance. Through them, the misguidance of thoughts dissipates, and the clouds of doubt are cleared from the hearts. Scholars raise the ire of the devil and instill faith in the hearts.
How beautifully the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) states the example of scholars: “The scholars on earth are like the stars in the sky, which guide travelers in the darkness of the land and the sea. If the light of the stars is not observed in the dark, the travelers will be misled and lost.”
Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) describes the heirs of the prophets in the hadith regarding scholars. This raises the question for many: Why does the Prophet (peace be upon him) make scholars the heirs of the prophets? Because it is the scholars who have the courage to speak the truth, advising the people to uphold what is known and forbidding rulers from injustice. They advise the rulers about the needs and sentiments of the Muslims, tolerating the difficulties they face.
Scholars, who embody the spirit of the prophets, practice the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. They fearlessly tell oppressors that they are tyrants and inform corrupt individuals of their wrongdoing, guiding sinners to obey Allah.
The truth is that this hadith applies to scholars who take action. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “All creatures in the heavens and the earth, even the fish in the sea, ask forgiveness for the scholar. The virtue of the scholar is like the light of the moon against the backdrop of the stars; indeed, scholars are the heirs of the prophets.”
The Rulers Ask the Scholars
Rulers often seek answers from scholars. The courage to provide honest answers, especially when they address uncomfortable truths, is a sign of strong faith. The goal of these answers is to guide inquirer to the truth and to express the path of justice.
When we glance through history, we see different images of scholars—some have been martyred for speaking the truth. We also witness scholars who have upheld the dignity of Islam, courageously standing up against rulers, or compelling those in power to adopt humility in the face of Islam.
An Example of the Testimony of Scholars
Allamah Ghazali writes in the book “Revival of the Religious Sciences”: “Leaders of religion know that the best discourse is to tell the truth to the oppressor. The one who speaks the truth may be martyred if killed; as reported in the news and hadith, they prepared their lives for this and endured all kinds of torture, awaiting martyrdom and sacrificing their lives in the cause of Allah, all due to Allah’s will.”
The great scholar Hatit Ziyad (may Allah have mercy on him) was brought to the Hajaj bin, when he came to him, he said: “Are you Hatit?” He replied: “Yes, ask me whatever you wish.” Whatever you want, ask me that I have made a covenant in the position of Ibrahim Khalil Allah (peace be upon him) in the Holy Ka’bah on three characteristics:
1. If Iam asked, I will be honest.
2. If I am tested, I will have patience.
3. If I see goodness, I will thank Allah.
Hajaj asked: “What do you say about me?” He responded: “I say that you are an enemy of Allah, for you tear the dignity and kill people based on your whims.”
He then asked: “What do you say about Amir al-Mu’minin Abdul Malik?” He replied: “I say his crime is even greater than yours; you are one of his sins.” The Hajaj ordered him to be tortured, and he was ultimately martyred due to their severe and overwhelming cruelty.
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