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)
