Who do we Respect?
Source: In Shaykh’s Company
by Abu Abdullah Ibne Ismail
In a recent lecture our Shaykh discussed the need for observing respect towards the people of knowledge. He said:
The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam has stated in a hadeeth that:
The best of all people are those who learn and teach the Quraan
What we need to ask ourselves is that do we really see such people as the best amongst us? If the answer is no, then this means our way of thinking is different from the Prophets way of thinking. We should also remember that the people of knowledge are not in need of our respect for the Quraan itself declares respect for such people by stating that those with the knowledge of deen are not the same as those without knowledge.
The angels respect those acquiring knowledge by spreading their wings for them. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam showed his respect by saying that the best of all people are the people with the knowledge of the Quraan. Thus by respecting the people of knowledge we are only benefiting ourselves.
If we saw a piece of paper with the name of Allah written on it, in the gutter, covered in dirt and mud, would we leave it and disrespect it? No! We would pick it up, clean it and put it in a respectable place. So if this is the respect we show a piece of paper, then how much respect should we display towards a Hafiz who has Allahs word, the holy Quraan, written on his heart.
The great Umar ibn Abdul Aziz rahmatullah alayh, used to say that:
If you can, become an alim. If you cant become an alim, then become a student of deen. If you cant become a student, then display love towards the scholars and students of deen. And if you cant even do this, then ensure that you have no enmity towards the people of knowledge.
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