By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (DB)
During the time of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam, a woman by the name of Faatima (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) committed theft. She belonged to the Banu Makhzoomiyyah, a well-known family of the Quraysh tribe.
The matter was taken to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam and Hadhrat Usama (Radhiyallahu anhu) interceded on her behalf. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam responded: “Do you intercede (with me) with regard to one of the legal punishments of Allah?”
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam thereupon addressed the people, saying: “O people! The nations before you were destroyed because if a noble person committed theft (or any crime), they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment (hadd) on him. By Allah, if Faatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.”[1]
From this incident and others, we learn that everyone is subject to the Law of Allah Ta’ala; the rule of law applies to everyone regardless of one’s status. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam further emphasised this by taking an oath, saying he would mete out the same punishment if his daughter, Hadhrat Faatima (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) had to steal.
We take lesson:
Normally, we show respect to an Aalim. We keep in mind his status as an Aalim and scholar. We think and even say: How can you speak against him? He is a learned person. He is a religious person. You cannot speak out against the learned people. Some even go so far as saying that the Aalim is a Khalifah, Qari, Mufti, etc. and is on such a high level that to call him out and to show opposition upon his open transgression is coming within the purview of the Hadith-e-Qudsi wherein Allah Ta’ala states: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him.”
Obviously, this kind of thinking and deduction are based on sheer ignorance. A wali of Allah Ta’ala is a wali due to his abstinence from disobedience. We will not find a wali of Allah Ta’ala openly sinning, promoting Haraam or aligning himself to any kind of fitan. Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur’aan Sharief:
إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهٗٓ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُوْنَ
“…Verily none are the friends of Allah except those who refrain from His disobedience…”
[Surah Al-Anfal 8 : 34]
Furthermore, an Aalim is not infallible. He is not sinless. Only, the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) are ma’soom (sinless). We cannot use this Hadith-e-Qudsi to defend or excuse one who is openly contravening the laws of Allah Ta’ala even though he is learned. When a scholar’s actions are evident and go against the Shari’ah, then his learning, title and status will not be endorsed. Hadhrat Umar (RA) had emphatically stated: “We judge by the apparent.” A scholar - who openly, publicly sins - cannot be considered in the category of the Auliya Allah. This is the assertion of the Qur’aan Sharief: “None are the friends of Allah Ta’ala except those who stay away from sins.” Whoever does wrong is in the wrong. We must not be naïve nor blind followers. This is a matter of the safety of our Dien. Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said: “Indeed this knowledge is religion, so be careful with regards to the one whom you take your religion from.”
Further, Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’aan Sharief:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللّٰهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمٰؤُاْ
“…It is only those who have knowledge among his slaves that fear Allah…”
[Surah Fatir 35 : 28]
The Mufassireen (Commentators of the Qur`aan Sharief) have explained that the Ulama-e-Haq can be recognised and distinguished by virtue of their fear of Allah Ta’ala. This fear is apparent in their adherence and obedience to the Commands of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and their abstinence from sin. If an Aalim is openly transgressing the laws of Allah Ta’ala – whether it be the sins of photography, interfaith, music, free mixing with the opposite gender, etc. - he will not be considered an Aalim despite his titles. ...Instead of inviting towards good, he invites towards sins by his actions.
If khilafat was given by any of our akaabir, that khilafat will be cancelled if the khalifah goes against the conditions of the khilafat and publicly breaks the laws of Allah Ta’ala. Mureedeen need to dissociate themselves from such a Sheikh.
The onus is upon us. We must see what is haq. We must see which camp a scholar has joined and who he fraternises with. If he is with modernists, interfaith leaders, politicians and scholars who have diverged from Dien and promote Haraam, that is sufficient as a red flag and sufficient to raise the alarm.
May Allah Ta’ala give us taufeeq to recognise haq and follow it, to recognise baatil and stay away from it.
