1 Holy Prophet
(PBUH&HP) said: Allah The Sublime has termed
casting a look at the houses of Ulema as "Ibadah".
(Uddatud Da'ee)
2. Whenever
you go to an Aalim (learned man) and there
are people along side him. Say salam to all
but specially to the aalim with respect. (Kafi)
3. Hazrat Imam
Jafer sadiq (AS) said that an aalim (learned
man) is supreme than one thousand
worshippers and devotees. And an aalim from
whose knowledge people get advantage is
supreme than the worship of 70, 000
worshippers. (kalma e Tayyabah)
4. Hazrat Imam
Jafer Sadiq (AS) said Allah would weigh the
ink of the pen of ulema (learned man) with
the blood of martyrs on the Day of Judgment.
The ink of the pen of ulema will overcome
the blood of martyrs. (kalma e Tayyabah)
5. Holy
Prophet (PBUH&HP) said that sitting of an
aalim on his bed with his pillow and
deliberation in ilm (knowledge) is better
than 70-year worship of a worshipper. (kalma
e Tayyabah)
6. Hazrat Imam
Muhammad Baqir (AS) said that the example of
an aalim is that of a candle, which light is
beneficial for people and when a man sees
this candle prays for it. Aalim removes
darkness as candle does. So a man who gets
salvation from darkness due to this light he
is free of hell and Allah grants to that
aalim in turn for that freed body reward
which is supreme than 1,000 rakat prayer
performed in Ka'aba. (Beharul Anwaar)
7. Holy
Prophet (PBUH&HP) said that supremacy of an
aalim (learned man) over an aabid
(worshipper) is like that of sun over stars.
And supremacy of a worshipper over others is
like that of moon over stars. (kalma e
Tayyabah)
8. Aaimmah
(AS) said that ziarat of ulema is favourite
in the sight of Allah than 70
circumambulation of Holy Ka'aba and is
better than 70 accepted hajj and umrah.
Allah elevates 70 grades for him and showers
his mercy upon him and angles give evidence
that paradise is obligatory upon him. (Iddatud
Da'ee)
9. Hazrat Imam
Moosa Kazim (AS) said if it is not possible
to visit our graves then visit virtuous
momneen (ulma e Haqqa) - (it means he will
have the same reward as if he visits
Masumeen (AS)'s Holy graves).
10. Hazrat
Ameerul Momeneen (Ali yibne Abi Talib (AS))
said to make a look at an aalim is dearer to
Allah than one year of etakaf e Baitullah
(retirement to Ka'aba for continued prayer).
(Iddatud Da'ee)
11. It is
reported from Hazrat Ameerul Momeneen (Ali
yibne Abi Talib (AS)) that Holy Prophet
(PBUH&HP) said an Aalim (learned man) has
such supremacy over an Abid (worshipper) as
the moon of 14th night has over all stars.
(Irshad, Sheikh Mofid)
12. Aimmah
(AS) said a momin who sits close to an aalim
for a moment, Allah says 'By my honour,
dignity and glory I will surely seat him
(momin) with aalim (learned man) in
paradise'. (Amaali)
13. Hazrat
Ameeral Momeneen (AS) said sitting with ulma
(learned men) for a moment is dearer to
Allah than the worship of 1,000 years.
(Iddatud Da'ee)
14. The author
of Kalma e Tayyabah says example of an aalim
is that of a scent seller. At the time of
meeting scent seller, a man's mind is
scented with the fragrance of scent even if
he does not buy it. Likewise meeting with an
aalim gives benefit. Therefore a hadith says
that to cast a look at an aalim's face is
ibadat. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
15. Holy
Prophet (PBUH&HP) said to have a look at the
face of an aalim (learned man) is dearer to
Allah than 60 years of worship. (Jame ul
Akhbar)
16. Holy
Prophet (PBUH&HP) said that if an aalim
(learned man) and a student enter a village
or city of Muslims and drink milk from
there, Allah due to his blessing raises the
torment from Ahle Qaboor (people in graves)
of that village or city for 40 days. (Kalma
e Tayyabah)
17. Hazrat
Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said one rakat of an
aalim faqih is supreme than 70,000 rakaat of
a worshipper. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
18. Aimmah
(AS) said the sleep of an aalim (learned
man) is worship. (Jamalus Salehin)
19. Aimmah
(AS) said angels love ulama, and pray for
them, and all creatures (as well) even the
fish in rivers and animals in deserts ask
forgiveness for aalim (learned man). (Jamalus
Salehin)
20. Hazrat
Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said the status of an
aalim is as higher than a worshipper as
traveling of 500 years. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
21. Fazil
Syyed Mohammad Baqir Bin Sharif Hussaini
Isfahani who was from among ulama of the
period of Nadir Shah, reports in Book Noor
Al-Oyoon that an aalim went to Sultan Ameer
Ismail Samani, Sultan of Khurasan, for some
important matter. The sultan paid much
respect to the aalim and he went with him
for seven steps at the time of aalim's
departure. In the night, the sultan saw Holy
Prophet (PBUH&HP) in his dream saying that
you have respected one aalim from my ummah
so I prayed from Allah Almighty to keep you
honoured in the world. And you went with him
for seven steps so this sultanate would
remain in your progeny for seven
generations. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
22. Imam (AS)
says aalim (learned man) among ignorant is
as alive among dead. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
23. Hazrat
Imam Zainul Abidin (AS) said that presence
of a discerning man in religion is tougher
on Satan as compared to one thousand
worshippers. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
24. Holy
prophet (PBUH&HP) said the supremacy of an
aalim is 70 steps high than a worshipper and
among every step is the expanse of one year.
Because Satan causes innovation in people
while aalim removes it and the worshipper
remains busy in his worship. (Maniyatul
Morid Shahid Sani)
25. Holy
prophet (PBUH&HP) said the supremacy of an
aalim (learned man) over an abid
(worshipper) is like mine over lowest man
from among you. Allah, angels, residents of
heavens and earth even ants in their holes
and fish in rivers invoke blessings upon the
man who teaches people aml e khair (good
deed). (Kalma e Tayyabah)
26. Aimmah
(AS) said Allah The Sublime revealed upon
prophet Daniyal (AS) that the ignorant from
among the persons who invited My (Allah)
wrath is that who considers the right of
learned men less and does not follow them.
And that person is nearer to me from among
dearest persons who is pious and seeker of
thawab, and the follower of ulama. (Maniyatul
Morid)
27. Aimmah
(AS) said that to offer prayer after an
aalim in some place other than mosque is
equal to 1,000 rakat while to offer prayer
after him in Jamia Mosque is equal to one
lakh rakat. (Maniyatul Morid)
28. Aimmah
(AS) said that aalim is he whose act
certifies his words, and who does not act so
he is not an aalim.
This hadith
tells that an aalim cannot be with abundance
of knowledge unless he acts upon it. Aalim
is he who avoid sins and leads his life in
piety, abstinence and obedience of Allah,
and prefers hereafter upon this world,
always says truth and avoids false. Lace
himself with good qualities and off himself
from evils. As much as knowledge he
possesses more humbleness should be in him.
Therefore, one day Hazrat Christ (AS) said
to his Hawariyyin that he want from them
something. They said O Ruhullah we accept
what you want. So Hazrat Christ washed their
feet and another hadith says that Hazrat
Christ also kissed. Hawariyyin said that the
act done by you was the act, which we must
do. Hazrat Christ (AS) said only ulma e din
deserve the service and entertainment, and
what I did was an act to tell you that to
what extent hospitality be shown. (Jamalus
Salehin)
29. Aimmah
(AS) said that when an aalim (learned man)
dies, at that time angels, all those places
where he worshipped and the doors of heavens
where his deeds were sent, all cry for him
and there a crack created in religion that
no one has its remedy.
30. Aimmah
(AS) said that 70 sins of ignorant are
forgiven then Aalim (learned man)'s one sin
is pardoned. (Jamalus Salehin)
31. Holy
prophet (pbuh&hp) said that a man who sits
with an aalim for a while a call is made to
him from Allah that you sit to my beloved.
By My honour I will enter you in paradise
with him. (Amaali)
32. Holy
prophet (pbuh&hp) said that sitting in the
company of an Aalim is supreme than going
with one thousand funerals, visiting one
thousands patients, offering one thousand
namaz e shab, keeping fasts for one thousand
days, giving one thousand dirham in alms,
performing one thousand hajj and one
thousand jehad. (Rozatul waizeen)
33. Hazrat Ali
(AS) said he who sits in the company of
ulama (learned men), he will be honoured.
(Darus Salam)
34 .The worth of the
scholars during the occultation has been
emphasized in a beautiful tradition that has
reached us from the 10th Imam,
Muhammad b. ‘Ali al-Hadi:
لَوْ
لاٌ مَنْ يَبْقى بَعْدَ غَيْبَةِ قَائِمِكُمْ
مِنَ الْعُلَمَآءِ الدَّاعِـينَ إِلَيْهِ وَ
الدَّالِّينَ عَلَيْهِ وَ الذَّابِّـينَ عَنْ
دِيـنِهِ بِحُجَجِ اللٌّهِ وَ الْمُنْقِذِينَ
لِضُعَفَاءِ عِبَادِ اللٌّهِ مِنْ شُبَّاكِ
إِبْلِيسَ وَ مَرَدَتِهِ وَ مِنْ فَخَاخِ
الْنَّوَاصِبِ لَمَا بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ إِلاٌّ
ارْتَدَّ عَنْ دِينِ اللٌّهِ وَ لٌكِنَّهُمُ
الَّذِينَ يُمْسِكُونَ أَزِمَّةَ قُـلُوبِ
ضُعَفَاءِ الشِّيْعَةِ كَمَا يُمْسِكُ صَاحِبُ
السَّفِينَةِ سُكَّانَهَا. أُوْلٌئِكَ هُمُ
الأَفْضَلُونَ عِنْدَ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.
“If
there were not to remain after the
occultation of your Qa’im from among the
scholars, a person from among the proofs of
Allah who would call (others) towards him
(the Imam); represent him (the Imam); defend
his (the Imam’s) religion; grant safety to
the downtrodden servants of Allah from the
evils of Iblis and the wickedness of the
enemies (of the Ahlul Bayt), then there
would not remain a single person (on Earth)
except that he would have left the religion
of Allah. But rather, these people (the
‘Ulama) take it upon themselves to be the
protectors of the hearts of our downtrodden
Shi’a, just as the captain of a boat takes
control of the lives and safety of those on
his ship. Thus, these (the ‘Ulama) are the
people who are the best in the sight of
Allah, the Noble and Great.”
OTHER HADEETH ON 'ULAMA
Imam as-Sadiq (as) has
said, "The
kings are rulers of the people and the 'Ulama are
the rulers of the kings". (Meezan
al-Hikmah)
There is no doubt that
the true and the virtuous 'Ulama have
always enjoyed greater status then all the
kings and rulers put together. History has
shown that
the kings and the
rulers of the world have always bowed down
in respect before the 'Ulama Or
they have used ways and means to either
isolate them from the society or eliminate
them because they considered them as
threats.
"Say (O Muhammad): Can those who know and
those who do not know be equal? Verily only
the men of understanding take the heed". (39:9)
'ULAMA- THE PREFERRED PEOPLE
It is related that:
[ There
was a great Shia'h Scholar in the days of
our 10th Imam
(as). Once a Nasibi (a
person who curses the Ahlul-Bayt) had a
debate with this scholar and the scholar
defeated him through Quranic verses and
Prophetic traditions. One day this scholar
came into a gathering, which consisted
mostly of Alavids and people of Banu Hashim;
and Imam Al-Hadi (as) was also present. In
the centre of that gathering, Imam (as) was
seated and there was a huge pillow placed at
that spot. As soon as the Imam (as) saw this
scholar, he (as) rose from his place and
asked the scholar to come forward until the
Imam (as) made him sit next to him and
offered him the pillow to relax. One old man
from Banu Hashim did not like this, so he
complained saying, "O Son of the Prophet!
How can you give preference to an ordinary
person over a Sayyid who belongs to the
progeny of Abu Talib and Abbas?" When our
Imam (as) heard this, he (as) was extremely
furious with the old man and started quoting
verses from the Holy Quran to prove the
supremacy of a scholar over everyone else.
Imam (as) asked the people present there: "Do
you believe the commands of Allah in the
Quran?" They
all said, "Yes!" Then the Imam (as) said, "Hasn't
Allah (SWT) said: "Allah
will raise those who have faith and those
who have been given knowledge in rank…" (58:11). Then
know that just as Allah loves a Mumin over a
non-Mumin, similarly, He loves a Mumin with
knowledge over a Mumin without knowledge. (Now
tell me) Hasn't Allah (SWT) also said, "Say
(O Muhammad): Can those who know and those
who do not know be equal? Verily only the
men of understanding take the heed". (39:9) Then
why are you people trying to stop me from
giving preference to one who has been
preferred by Allah (SWT)?? This Scholar has
utilized his knowledge, which Allah (SWT)
has blessed him and defeated our enemy with
it. This act is better than any family ties
and relation in my eyes". ] (Al-Ihtijaaj)
The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, "The
superiority of a Scholar over others is like
the superiority of a Prophet over his
nation". (Kanzul-'Ummaal)
He (saww) has also said, "The
–Religious- Scholars are the trustees of
Allah upon His –entire- creation". (Kanzul-'Ummaal)
OUR DUTIES TOWARDS 'ULAMA
Our duties towards our 'Ulama are:
We must accord them with maximum respect;
Follow their guidance as required; Not to
challenge them with our ignorance; Love them
and never show hostility towards them
The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, "Beware!
Never belie a Scholar, and do not come in
confrontation against him, do not be hostile
towards him and love him. For verily their
love is the sign of sincerity and hostility
to them is the sign of hypocrisy. Beware! Do
not insult a Scholar. Whoever insults him
insults me and whoever insults me insults
Allah and whoever insults Allah then his
path is to Hellfire. Whoever honours a
Scholar, honours me. And whoever honours me,
honours Allah. And whoever honours Allah
then his path is towards Paradise
". (Gunahaane-e-Kabeera)
IMAM
AS-SADIQ (AS) HONOURING THE 'ULAMA
Imam Ja'ffar as-Sadiq
(as) was the most knowledgeable person of
his time. Despite this, the people who
studied under him and became virtuous
Scholars, Imam (as) accorded them with maxim
respect and supported them in different
ways.
Abu Hamza Thumali was
a companion as well as a devotee of our Imam
(as). Infact he had the honour of being with
4 Imams (as) during his lifetime. This
companion was also regarded as a Scholar of
a very high calibre. Imam Ja'ffar as-Sadiq
(as) used to say: "I
feel mental tranquillity on seeing him". Imam
ar-Ridha (as) said of him, "He
was the Salman al-Farsi of his age". (Status
of Imam as-Sadiq)
Himraan bin Aayoon. Once
a most learned Syrian scholar came to our
Imam (as) and a controversy occurred in a
matter. Imam (as) ordered Himraan to argue
with the Syrian. He managed to do so with
such skills that the Syrian was dumbfounded.
It is also related that once our Imam (as)
was in Hajj when Bukeer, the brother of
Himraan came to our Imam (as) and conveyed
his brother's salaams to him. Imam (as) said , "Himraan
belongs to the people of Paradise
and his faith is unshakeable". (Status
of Imam as-Sadiq)
