The scholars (‘ulema) have great merit and status in Islam compared to worshippers (‘abidun). This is due to the knowledge that Allah has bestowed upon them, which they have learned and spread among the people, thereby removing their ignorance and leading them towards the paths of goodness that will improve their religious and worldly affairs.
Sufyan ibn Uyayna said: “The greatest people in rank are those who stand between Allah and humanity: the prophets and the scholars.”
The status of the people of knowledge in the Qur’an
Allah The Most High has testified to the high status of the people of knowledge (‘ulema) in various passages of the Qur’an, including:
(1) “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ ” (Qur’an, 39:9).
(2) “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” (Qur’an, 35:28).
(3) “Allah raises those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge to high degrees.” (Qur’an, 58:11).
The status of the people of knowledge in the Sunnah
Similarly, there are many hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that elevate the ranks of the people of knowledge above regular believers and pious worshippers.
Hadith 1 – “The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like my superiority over the least of you…”
Abu Umamah Al-Bahili said: “Two men were mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). One of them a worshiper, and the other a scholar. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like my superiority over the least of you.’
Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Indeed Allah, His Angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth – even the ant in his hole, even the fish – say Salat upon the one who teaches the people to do good.'” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi (2685) in the chapter, “What Has Been Related About The Superiority Of Fiqh Over Worship” and he said: This is a hasan gharib sahih hadith. Also narrated by Al-Tabarani (8/278), Ibn Shaheen (216) and Al-Darimi (1/88, 97). Classed as Sahih by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami’ (4213)).
In this hadith, there is an indication that the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is very great, and his virtue is like the superiority of the Prophet (ﷺ) over other human beings. The only criterion is knowledge and nothing but knowledge, because the scholar is the one who illuminates for the worshipers their path to Allah Almighty, and he is the one who warns them of Shaitan and his deception. Clarifying the correct path is entrusted to the people of knowledge, which is why the scholar is distinguished from the worshiper by this criterion.
Hadith 2 – “The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets…”
Qais bin Kathir reported: “A man from Al-Madinah came to Abu Darda when he was in Dimashq. So he said: ‘What brings you O my nephew?’ He replied: ‘A Hadith reached me which you have narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ He said: ‘You did not come for some need?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Did you come for trade?’ He said: ‘No, I did not come except seeking this Hadith.’ So he said: ‘Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying:
“Whoever takes a path upon which he seeks knowledge, then Allah makes a path to Paradise easy for him. And indeed the angels lower their wings in approval to the one seeking knowledge. Indeed forgiveness is sought for the knowledgeable one by whomever is in the heavens and whomever is in the earth, even the fish in the waters. And the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the celestial bodies. Indeed the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind Dinar or Dirham. The only legacy of the scholars is knowledge, so whoever takes from it, then he has indeed taken the most able share.
(Narrated by Abu Dawud (3641), Al-Tirmidhi (2682), Ibn Majah (223), Ahmad (21715), Ibn Hibban (88), al-Darimi (342) and al-Tabarani in Musnad al-Shamiyyin (1231). Classed as Sahih by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami’ (6297) and Hasan by Shuaib Al-Arnaout).
Hadith 3 – “The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper, like the superiority of the moon…”
Muadh ibn Jabal reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper, like the superiority of the moon on the night of the full moon over all the other planets.” (Sahih Al-Jami’ (4212)).
This is because the moon is brighter and brings the greatest benefit, especially if it is completely full, than the stars and planets, the light of which can only be seen as a slight flicker.
In the hadith of Abu Darda (cited above):
“And the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the celestial bodies.”
Hadith 4 – “One scholar is more formidable against the Shaitan than one thousand worshippers…”
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is reportedly to have said:
“One scholar (faqih) is more formidable against the Shaitan than one thousand worshippers.”
(Narrated by Ibn Majah (222) in the chapter, ‘The virtue of the scholars, and encouragement to seek knowledge’, al-Tirmidhi (2681), Al-Bukhari in “Al-Tarikh” (3/308), Al-Bayhaqi in “Shu’ab al-Iman” (1715), Al-Tabarani in “Al-Kabir” (11099) and Al-Dailami (4398). Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a Gharib (strange) hadith. Classed as Da’if by Al-Sakhawi in “Al-Maqasid Al-Hasanah” (396)).
This hadith indicates that one jurist is more severe against the Shaitan than many worshipers because the scholar knows the paths of the Shaitan and warns people against them, while the worshiper is ignorant of them and may fall into his traps and be unable to escape them unless the scholar shows him how to do so.
Hadith 5
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out of one of his apartments one day and entered the mosque, where he saw two circles, one reciting Qur’an and supplicating to Allah, and the other learning and teaching. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Both of them are good. These people are reciting the Qur’an and supplicating to Allah, and if He wills He will give them, and if He wills He will withhold from them. And these people are learning and teaching. Indeed, I have been sent as a teacher.’ Then he sat down with them.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah (229), Al-Tayalisi (2365) and Al-Darimi (349) with a weak chain of narrators.)
Conclusion
The ‘Ulema who teach the people their religion have a distinct virtue and merit over the worshippers who engage in individual acts of worship such as praying, fasting and reading the Qur’an. Whoever wishes to raise their rank in the sight of Allah should strive to become among the people of knowledge.
As you embark on this journey of becoming a scholar of Islam, know, may Allah have mercy on you, that your act of seeking knowledge is more rewarding and beneficial than your acts of voluntary praying and fasting. Al-Munawi said: “The supererogatory acts of seeking knowledge are superior to the supererogatory acts of worship. Just as the obligatory acts of seeking knowledge are superior to the obligatory acts of worship.”
‘Umar ibn Abdil-’Aziz said: “Become a scholar if you are able. If you are not able, then be a student. If you can not,then show love for them. If you are unable to do that,then (at least) do not hate them.” (Ibn Abdul Barr, Jaami’ bayaan al-‘Ilm wa Fadluhu, 143)
And Allah is the Source of Strength.
