If the Scholars Are Tested, What About Us?!
Greetings, my brothers.
Questions about the Fall of Scholars
Many of us wonder these days and say: We had scholars and noble scholars whom we listened to and trusted, and from whom we learned our religion. Suddenly, they turn on their heels and change their principles with this terrifying speed, and we see shameful positions from them. If the trial affected these people, then what about us, ordinary humans? This question may also occur to you.
And if you want to express yourself more frankly, perhaps you would say: If God did not save these scholars from falling into the trial, even though they called to Him and spent their lives for His sake, then why would He save us when we do not have their good deeds?
Having a Bad Opinion of God
Brothers, this question may contain having a bad opinion of God. And our Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "None of you will die except while having a good opinion of God, the Almighty." This is the goal of my words to you: to have a good opinion of God.
Categories of Fallen Callers and Scholars
These mentioned callers and scholars are one of two categories: Either they are originally fallen, who have worked and polished themselves for the mission of promoting falsehood and misleading people. And another category is not like that, but they have major sins and transgressions that have let them down in moments of trial.
Do Scholars Have Major Sins?
Is it possible that scholars have major sins? Yes. For example: Hypocrisy, envy, unwillingness to sacrifice for the sake of God, eagerness to please followers lest they lose their popularity, quoting fabricated hadiths in an era when a middle school student can easily distinguish the authenticity of a hadith from its weakness on the internet. Nevertheless, some of these callers belittle the proportion of speech to God and His Messenger without verification, to bring something new on satellite channels even at the expense of the truth, and there is much more.
And in all of this, he knows the diseases of his heart, but he neglects them, proud of himself that many have been guided by his hand, as if he is bestowing a favor upon the religion. Thus, the diseases of the heart have become rampant, until when he is put to the test, he stands in shameful positions that destroy more than he has built, and causes the trial of the people, and becomes like the one who unraveled his spinning after strength.
God Does Not Cause a Servant's Heart to Fall Without Sin
So beware, brother, of thinking that God causes a servant's heart to fall without sin or reason. These people have a trial that may be greater than their misguided fatwas and shameful positions. It is the doubt that occurs in the hearts of those who thought they were righteous, and now they see their fall. Thus, it occurs to them that God did not preserve the love for His friends, so He caused their hearts to fall and did not care about the abundance of good they did.
Far be it from God! God does not wrong the people anything, but the people wrong themselves. The Messenger of God, peace be upon him, said: "A man may do the work of the people of Paradise in the eyes of the people, but he is from the people of Hell." Or did God give them much, then they do not repent nor remember, and they bring about His hatred when they say to the people what they do not do.
And God Would Never Misguide a People After He Had Guided Them
"And God would never misguide a people after He had guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid." Ponder this verse: "And God would never misguide a people after He had guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid." And it is not befitting of Him, exalted is He. "Until He makes clear to them what they should avoid," what they should avoid of the causes of destruction, a general legal clarification among the people. And often it is also without a trial for them and reminders and signs and lessons when they go astray. So whoever falls after all of this, the fault is in him.
And perfection is in the names of God and His attributes, and among them is the Loving. Among the names of God is the Loving, so God is the most preservative of love that He would cause the heart of a sincere, devoted person to fall, and He is the Forgiving, the Loving, "Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Loving." And God is the Appreciative.
The Messenger of God, peace be upon him, said: "One of you may utter a word that pleases God, which he does not think will reach what it reaches, so God writes for him His pleasure until the day he meets Him." Imagine you say a word that pleases God, for example, you pass by a group of youth doing something forbidden and you are enraged for the sake of God. What about a caller who has hundreds of lessons, articles, speeches, and lectures that have spread among the people? Can he be sincere, truthful, and pious to God, then God causes his heart to fall like this without reason? No, by God. What do you think of the Lord of the Worlds?
Personal Experiences with Falls
Brothers, I have lived and seen what I know that no one has fallen and failed in trials except that he had actions and precedents of evil in days of ease that foretell danger in the future. Otherwise, by God, if they were sincere, God would have steadied them in times of hardship. "God will steady those who believe with the firm word in this world and in the Hereafter, and God will misguide the wrongdoers." Do you believe God or do you believe them? Woe to you, who says God caused them to fall after they called to Him, you have had a good opinion of the fallen and a bad opinion of the Lord of the Worlds.
And by God, I have seen with my own eyes the kindness, generosity, mercy, patience, and forbearance of my Lord despite my severe shortcoming, so how about a heart that is devoted to Him, turning to Him in sincerity and devotion, would God cause it to fall without reason? No, by God, I will never believe that. "What would God do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And God is Appreciative, Knowing."
And now I say it to everyone who hears: If a fall befalls me in the coming days, by the will of God, then by God, I know myself and the diseases of my heart and my shortcoming that deserve it, that deserve this fall. And nothing prevents the fall except the mercy of my Lord. So, O God, protect us and seal for us with the best of endings, and do not leave us to ourselves or to our deeds, O Most Merciful of the Merciful.
The Story of Ibn al-Jawzi and the Danger of Having a Bad Opinion of God
Ibn al-Jawzi, the preacher, understood the danger of being a cause for people to have a bad opinion of their Lord, that you make them think that God caused your heart to fall while you are calling to Him sincerely. So he said in Sayd al-Khatir a great and eloquent word, so do not be surprised that people accept him and are influenced by his speech. So he said: "And once I sat and saw around me more than ten thousand, none of them but their hearts were softened or their eyes shed tears. So I said to myself: What about you if they are saved and you are destroyed? What is your condition, O Ibn al-Jawzi, if these people benefit from your speech and enter Paradise, then you plunge into the Fire for what God knows of sins that He has concealed from them?"
He said: "So I shouted with the tongue of seriousness: My God and my Lord, if You decree punishment for me tomorrow, then do not let them know of my punishment." Meaning: O Lord, if You are going to punish me for sins and heart diseases that I deserve punishment for, I have one request: Do not let them know that You are going to punish me by sealing me with evil, for example. Why, O Ibn al-Jawzi? He said: "So do not let them know of my punishment to preserve Your honor, not for my sake, lest they say: He was punished who guided them." Meaning Ibn al-Jawzi guided us to God, then God punishes him. Ibn al-Jawzi feared being a cause for people to have a bad opinion of their Lord, and God has concealed from them sins and faults that He knows, exalted is He, and they do not know.
Final Messages
In conclusion, three messages:
- Brother, do not have a bad opinion of your Lord, but have a good opinion of God and have a bad opinion of the fallen.
- And take a lesson from their fall not to neglect your sins and heart diseases until they become rampant and you fall in trials. And do not justify your disobedience with the excuse that even the scholars have been tried, but remember the word of God: "O you who believe, take care of yourselves. He who goes astray cannot harm you if you are guided." Remember the word of God: "But man is a witness against himself, even if he brings his excuses."
- The rulings of Islam are clear, the permissible is clear, and the forbidden is clear. And know that in the nation there are many good scholars and callers, but they are not prominent. Your role and my role are to seek them out and benefit from them.
We ask God to guide those who have gone astray and to steady us upon the truth until we meet Him. Peace be upon you.