KNOWLEDGE As muslims it is a duty on every single one of us to seek knowledge of Islam and at the least its basic tenants. The Prophet ﷺ said, Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every muslim (malt and female). After understanding the above, it is common sense for us to seek knowledge of Islam from learned scholars who have studied from traditional methodologies and islamic institutes. Scholars who are grounded with deep understanding of Islam and its sacred sciences from an orthodox mainstream background. You wouldnt go to a doctor with a court case when you know your best option is a lawyer nor would you take your car to an aeronautical engineer to fix when your best option is a mechanic likewise you wouldnt take knowledge of Islam from anyone but proper sound orthodox scholars. However it is sad to see so many masses of muslims taking knowledge of Islam from people who are no islamic authority nor are they of any sound orthodox mainstream scholarly background. Sadly, we see someone with a beard or dressed islamic attire or someone with a huge following on social media or thousands of hits on YouTube or he is well spoken and we automatically think he is an authority and his view is correct therefore what he says must be right. These are not the criterias for someone to be deemed knowledgable, learned or necessarily the correct opinion. He or she could be misguiding you and you wouldnt even know cause you havent studied yourself. Imagine you took an ill patient to an unqualified doctor for a check up and he makes a fatal error in his diagnosis, it becomes a life and death situation, its even more dangerous asking islamic issues or taking islamic advice or anything to do with Islam from unqualified people. So please dont be so naive in taking knowledge from anyone and everyone. Be extra careful when it comes to taking knowledge of Islam. Always research who you are listening to (the speaker) or whose books you are reading (the author), his background; religious, academic, his creed, whether he is orthodox and mainstream or not. And Allah knows best Imam Muhammed Asim
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:08:06 +0000