by Bint-e-Hamed
Ulema will teach us the right way.
Why just are we united by names like “Islam” and “Muslim” but our actions are different. Some pray five times of Salah and some dance to get closer to Allah.
We say we worship and believe in one Allah but why does our ways of worship differ? Why Abdullah goes to the shrines and Zaid goes to the Masjid? Why Salma does prostration like men while Iqra just squats in an unsuiting way in her prostration?
Why Sarah wears niqab and burqa but the Maryam comments on her being too extreme? Why is that Maimoonah’s marriage is a burden upon her parents but Fatima’s parents rejoices her simple marriage ceremony. Why are we differing? Why have we split into sects?
All the answers to the above questions is that many of us have left the ways of Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him and his companions. Allah ordered us not just to worship Him but to follow Him and His Messanger so that we may be successful.
Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him ): “Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him ).” But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers. [Qur’an 3:32]
As the fitna or calamity around us is massively increasing we as Muslims need to understand that our success lies in obeying Allah and His Messenger Mohammed peace be upon him.
However, you may wonder if all Muslim scholars and preachers call towards the Qur’an and Sunnah then why are we differing? The answer to the question is that following Qur’an and the sunnah is just not enough we also need the understanding of Salaf as Saaliheen (pious predecessors).
Who are Salaf as Saaliheen (pious predecessors)?
They are the sahaba (companions), tabaeen (those who followed them) and tabe tabeen (those who followed above two).
But why do we follow sahaba?
Allah said in the Qur’an: “And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun and the Ansar and also those who followed them exactly (in faith)! Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [Al-Qur’an 9:100]
Hadeeth: It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not revile my companions, for by the One in Whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Uhud in gold, it would not amount to a mudd of one of them, or half of that.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3673) and Muslim (2540).
So now it’s clear that we have to follow Allah, Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him and his companions.
But who is going to teach us the truth from Qur’an and the sunnah according to the understanding of the salaf?
Ulema (scholars), yes, ulema will teach us the right way.
As ulema are the inheritors of Prophets.
“Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, for the prophets do not leave behind a dinar or a dirham for inheritance, but rather, they leave behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it, has acquired a large share (i.e. of inheritance).” [Sahih Bukhaari]
Respecting scholars and sticking to them and seeking guidance from them will not only enlighten our ways to the truth but mould our future into success.
To conclude we Muslims will not get successful unless we entirely turn our ways to what Allah and Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him taught us.
Then we shall have ultimate success. And success demands us to begin by learning our Deen/faith from not just any Tom, Dick and Harry but from authentic scholars.
