al_etidaal_gn

Point No. 1:
Is it so that everyone who is dressed in the garb of the Ulema, who had at some time been
registered at some Arabic seminary, who can deliver an interesting lecture or who writes
well, is an Alim? Is everyone with the above description a member of the Ulema
fraternity? Think! Is it not a tremendous injustice to take the statement of everyone who
looks like an Aiim and attribute it to the Ulema?
Is it not a fact that in all worldly things there is the genuine and the artificial, the original
and the imitation, the real and the fake? Look at the most precious worldly things - gold,
silver and jewellery. Do we not find it there too? Now look at the profession, the help of
which is required by all of us is that of the medical man. Is it not a fact that in both these -
precious metals and doctors, there are often more fake than genuine? Do we not find that
the artificial and counterfeit outnumber the real?
Now I ask you. Is it also so that the doctors and physicians are being abused and
denounced because there are in their ranks more quacks dangerous to life
than proper physicians? Is it also so that all gold, silver and jewellery are being thrown
away just because there are more artificial stones than genuine? No, never! You will find
that in the event of any known and famous physician not being available, people will go
for help even to those untrained quacks in cases of emergency. Why? Because of the
necessity, and because of the difficulty of reaching a skilled physician.
Similarly, you will find in cases of necessity people will purposely purchase artificial
gold. That is because they are in need of gold or because the availability of gold is not
easy and even if it is available, the cost is prohibitive. But when it comes to the Ulema,
all and sundry become the victims of abuse just because there are so many imposters
dressed in their garb. Can you understand the difference? Why this difference in attitude?
Is it because the former are being considered as necessary items and the latter (the
Ulema) not so? The former are considered indispensable and the latter (the Ulema) are
looked upon as useless. People will search for the best doctor and if not available any
second-rate doctor will be considered a blessing. Then with all obedience they will act
upon his instructions and value his opinions and diagnosis.
As for the Ulema, if the genuine Ulema are not available, than those who are found are
considered nt to be accomplished performers in our sight with the result that all are
looked upon as being useless. However, if these people should ponder, if a religious need
is looked upon as being a religious necessity, if there is feeling and concern for the deen
in the heart, if there is at least so much concern as is felt at the time of the illness of some
beloved family member or if there is at least so much interest as is felt for the marriage of
a daughter, they would search for a proper Aiim as much as they would search for a
properly qualified and skilled physician. That is if there is really “worry” and concern in
the heart for deen.
The end result of the illness of a beloved relative can be death. To this the best doctor and
the most skillful specialist can do nothing. He is helpless in preventing his own death.
How can he do anything for anyone else in this case if death has been predestined?
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 121