al_etidaal_gn

flattery, they will get one of them to resign his job to manage the property and to draw his
salary from the joint account. For making this sacrifice they will have to be under his
obligation. He will try to make them dance to his tune. Why will they do all this? Simply
because the property has to be looked after, lest it wastes away and be lost to all of them.
But similarly, there is a need for a man who knows the answers to deem questions and
gives guidance. This need is not for the brothers alone, not only for the people of any
village or town but for all the people of every locality. Is there not a need for deen? Is
there no danger of the deen wasting away out of our lives? If that happens is it not the
loss for all? Today some people want to become Alims after oniy reading a few tracts in
Urdu and having done so, give themselves out to be Ulema. How foolish we are when we
realise that Allah had commanded that for such a great thing as Jihad everyone should not
go, so that such a party remains behind to seek knowledge. Thus we read at the end of
Surah Towbah:
“Nor should the believers all go forth together; if a contingent from every expedition
remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in the deen and admonish their
people when they return to them - that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against
evil).” (IX v 122)
THE EIGHTH POINT which must also be considered is the fact that when the Ulema
are compared with the specialists of other branches of knowledge, they should be
compared with men of the same rank and calibre. It is greatly unjust to compare one who
according to knowledge or lifestyle is of the highest calibre with one from another field
where he is adjudged to the lowest degree. Regarding everyone one should ask: “If this
man had not acquired knowledge, what kind of morals or qualities would he have had,
and what occupation would he have taken by virtue of his environment and position
therein. And how much has he benefitted and been improved by knowledge.”
I have mentioned these few points for consideration. If one thinks hard, many other
points could possibly be added to them. Whatever is written here was done in restraint.
The poet says in Urdu:
“Forced was I to explain due to the attacks of him who showers us with blame to explain
that tale which is beyond me, to explain and narrate.”
Ulema-e-Haq and Ulema-e-Soo
Now after having written all that, I have to admit that there are two kinds of Ulema - the
true ones (Ulema-e-haq) and the false or evil ones (Ulema-e-soo). In the Hadeeth there
very grave warnings of dreadful things awaiting the Ulema-e-soo. They are among those
who will be first to enter into hell. They are astray and are leading others astray.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “A person who seeks knowledge with the
object of acquiring worldly riches, will not even smell the fragrance of Jannat.”
(Targheeb)
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 142