Enough with "Doctor...Doctor"

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

Excessive Use of the Title "Doctor"

Dear brothers, for a long time now, I have wanted to discuss the topic of the excessive use of the title "Doctor" by those who hold a doctorate. This phenomenon has many drawbacks, and we all need to rid ourselves of its negative aspects. Some brothers and some students, when they speak to me, must include the word "Doctor" in every sentence. "Yes, Doctor," "Certainly, Doctor." Sometimes they say a whole sentence and forget to mention "the doctorate," so after they pause, as if correcting themselves, they say, "Doctor," as if it were rude and a lack of etiquette not to say it.

Look, brothers, the etiquette of speech is from Islam, but blowing up the small ego in a person is not from Islam. Feeding the love of arrogance in people's hearts is not from Islam. Let us together list the drawbacks of focusing on titles, especially "Doctor."

Drawbacks of Focusing on Titles

1. Promoting Arrogance and Superiority

First: It makes the addressed doctor feel superior to others, which fosters arrogance and superiority over the servants of Allah. Allah the Almighty says: {That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption, and the good outcome is for the righteous.} Therefore, if you tell me, "I fear that if I do not address Doctor So-and-So by his title, he will be upset and feel that I am belittling him," I will tell you: This is someone who you need to address by his name or brother, so that the small ego does not inflate within him, even if he is a preacher or a doctor of Islamic law. The greatest preacher has an inclination towards evil and his own devil. Allah did not make distinction based on the word "Doctor." In people's minds, it has come to mean the important person or the extraordinary person, the distinguished person. Therefore, if people respect someone, they may say to him, "Doctor So-and-So," and he may say, "No, people, I am not a doctor." In people's minds, "Doctor" is something grand, and "not a doctor" is of lower status. No, brothers, the divine rule is: {Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.}

But for some people, you must know when to use "Excellency," when to use "Kindness," when to use "Highness," and so on. Do not say to me that you are preserving ranks, or that you are inflating the small egos of people. We have enough big egos from the tyrants. We, as Muslims, should not also be arrogant towards each other.

You will say to me, "But Islam encourages knowledge, and scholars have a status." I will tell you: Knowledge is not limited to the doctorate. How many great scholars there are without a doctorate, and how many ignorant fools carry the title of professor, not just doctor. Not every scholar is a doctor, and not every doctor is a scholar.

2. Illusory Distinction and Cultural Occupation

Personally, I know a smart, diligent brother from the people of Islamic knowledge who is studying for a doctorate at the university. Although I think he puts all his doctorates in his small pocket, as they say, he does it. He studies for a doctorate because his fatwas and words do not gain sufficient weight with many people because he is not a doctor, so that he can put "Dr." before his name. Although in many cases he does not need it and does not gain knowledge that justifies what he spends of his money and time for it. But it has become a means of illusory distinction, and this is a cultural occupation that we put our hands in its shackles.

An academic system whose reference is not revelation, and whose distinction is not based on piety. Yet we waste our ages and money in competing in it, because we, as Muslim societies, are psychologically occupied by it. The original influencers should work to change the standards of society and establish themselves with their knowledge and work, and should not strive for the certificate unless it brings them real knowledge. At that point, they gain the respect of people who care about titles as an additional benefit if it is accompanied by humility and the use of this respect for the benefit of Islam and Muslims.

3. Extinguishing the Sharia on Ignorance or Misguidance

The fifth harm of focusing on the doctorate is extinguishing the Sharia on ignorance or misguidance simply because its speaker is a doctor. How many misguided fatwas had authority in the minds of people because the speakers were doctors. How much false knowledge that distances from Allah and distorts people's perception gained credibility because the speakers were doctors, as if "Doctor" means a righteous scholar who is truthful in what he says. These are five harms, and there are others.

Recommendations and Conclusion

And let us remember that the great men of the nation were not doctors, and that we reduce its use, and that we do not feel any shame when we address a doctor by his name. And if you are a doctor, do not feel any shame if someone speaks to you for a while without addressing you by the doctorate.

Sometimes it is appropriate to use it repeatedly, for example, when addressing a doctor who is older than you in terms of age, out of etiquette of speech, just like saying "Uncle." Even in this case, it is not a problem.

The second point: "Doctor, Doctor" is also between the genders, especially in the context of mixing in work environments. Addressing the person by name creates affection, so for the sake of formality in dealing and closing the doors of Satan, "Doctor, Doctor" helps to maintain a minimum of discipline in dealing.

I tell you all this, brothers, and I am a doctor with the rank of associate professor, meaning the next step is professor, God willing, and a graduate of an American university in the field of pharmaceutical sciences with excellence by the grace of Allah the Almighty. Yet I tell you: Start with me, Iyad. Call me Iyad, my brother Iyad. Do not inflate people, do not grow their small egos. Allah has accepted brotherhood for us, and His Messenger has accepted it for us, so accept it for yourselves and be brothers, servants of Allah. And peace be upon you.