We live in a world where there are thousands of religions and spiritual beliefs. Yet, we still see much divisions, distortions, and misguidance especially in Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). And as a truth seeker, a question that often comes to mind is which person do I go to to seek guidance to the religion of Allah (swt)?
InshaAllah (God willing) in this article we will provide evidence on how we can only seek guidance through individuals whom Allah (swt) has given authority and it has never been through the scholars as some people state. Whether it has to deal with jurisprudential matter or interpretation/explanation of religious scriptures. Not only that, but it is because of the religious non-working scholars why there is so much division and misguidance in religion.
But before we move on, we must first note that we are not saying that every single religious scholar or ‘learned man’ is evil and upon misguidance. Rather, our argument is that the majority of the religious scholars we have today are many and are non-working, while true, righteous scholars are few. For the Qur'an has always mentioned that the true believers were the minority
Now, let us see what the Qur'an says concerning those whom Allah (swt) have given authority and if we find any verse that says that the scholars or jurists/judges have such authority.
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. - Surah Al-Nisa [4]: 59
And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
- Surah An-Nahl [16]: 43
Those who dispute the revelations of God without having received any authority do so because of their arrogance, but their arrogance cannot bring them any success. Seek protection from God for He is All-hearing and All-aware.
- Surah Al-Ghafir (40): 56
{It is He Who has revealed unto you the Scripture wherein are explicit revelations—they are the Mother of the Book—and others [which are] allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue that which is allegorical seeking [to cause] dissension and seeking its interpretation. None knows its interpretation except for Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge, they say, We believe therein; All is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really remember.}
- Surah Al-Imran [3]:7
So we clearly see in these verses [and there are many more] that neither the scholars, nor jurists or even the ‘Ulama’ or elder scholars have never been given authority by Allah in regards to religion, nor are they the doors to guidance. Rather, it has always been Prophets, Messengers, Vicegerents, and Righteous Servants whom have such authority. And that Taqlid is only performed through them.
However we still find people [especially those who believe in Taqlid] try their best to bring evidence that the jurists or scholars are needed for they ‘inheritors of knowledge’ and their duty is to save the people from misguidance.
Yet we find the scholars failing miserably in another aspect, and that is not helping and reminding the people of recognizing the Messenger of our time or the Hujjah [Proof] of Allah (swt), Imam Al Mahdi (PBUH & His Family). For you find them calling people to themselves or other individuals who have not been given authority by Allah (swt).
And by doing so, we fall into the same trap as the Jews, Christians, and Quraysh.
'And they will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way.'
(Holy Quran 33:67)
In the book Al-Fawa’id, which are a collection of saying by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya who is a renowned Sunni scholar, he says,
Sufyan bin 'Uyainah and others said, "Beware of the trial of the immoral (religious) scholar and that of the ignorant worshipper, for both are apparent trials. The latter avoids knowledge out of ignorance, and the former calls for wrong doings out of immorality.
- Al-Fawa’id by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya First Edition 2004 (English Version), Publisher: Umm Al Qura
Also in the book 'Talbis Iblis '(The Devil's Deceptions) by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya he says,
It is from lblis’ deception of Scholars of Fiqh to make them intermingle with rulers and Sultans. They look away from their faults and never admonish them in spite of their ability to do so. Some of them might even give fatwas allowing them to do things just for worldly gain. Three aspects of harm are involved with such behaviour:
First: The ruler assumes that had he not been on the right path, then the scholars would have admonished him. And had my wealth been gained through illegitimate ways, scholar would not have eaten from it.
Second: The general public will think that this ruler, his wealth and his actions are fine because the scholar of Fiqh is always visiting him.
Third: The scholar himself ruins his religion. Sometimes the scholars use an excuse just to (be able to) mix with the rulers. They say: ''We will only visit the ruler to intercede for so and so."
However, what proves that this is from the devil is that if someone else goes to intercede he would get annoyed, and might even attack that person for visiting the Sultan. lblis also deceives them to take from the ruler's wealth. It is known that if the ruler's money was from an impermissible source then it would be a sin to take from it. And if it was from a suspicious source then it is best not to take from it. And if the money was gained from a permissible source then the scholar ought to only accept an amount that was appropriate in return for his services.
The general public might follow the scholar's footsteps in taking that which is not theirs.
On the other hand, Iblis has deceived some scholars who refrained from frequenting the Sultan to backbite scholars who do. Thus they combine between two problems: backbiting others and glorifying themselves.
In general, frequenting the Sultan entails great dangers because the intention might be proper at first, but after receiving good treatment, intentions change, and the scholar begins to flatter the Sultan and stops admonishing him.
Sufyan al-ThawrI used to say: I am not worried about them (the Sultan) insulting me. I worry from them acting generously towards me, so my heart becomes softer towards them.
Early scholars used to stay away from leaders because of their oppression, but leaders continued to ask for their services in matters relating to governance. A group of people thus became interested in worldly affairs and learned the sciences suitable for such positions.
The proof that they seek to please the rulers is that when rulers became interested in arguments related to creed, scholars busied themselves with kakim. And when rulers preferred fiqh debates, scholars went towards such debates. Then when leaders tended toward preaching sermons, many scholars practiced preaching. Iblis also persuades jurists to be lenient with respect to some prohibitions. This is why we see some of them wearing silk clothes and gold.
He also says,
People with high ambitions acquired the religious sciences of Qur'an, ryadith,.ftqh and literature. Iblis attempted to deceive (some of) them using subtle techniques. He made them see themselves as great people because of what they had gained and benefited others with. Iblis excites some of these scholars because of the big effort they put into gaining knowledge. He tells them to relax and dwell into lusts because their sins will be forgiven by the knowledge they have gained. If this scholar falls into such a trap it will result in his destruction. If he was smart enough not to fall into this trap, then he should answer Iblis with three answers:
The first response: Scholars gained their advantage because of their knowledge, but this knowledge is not worth anything without it being acted upon. If a scholar did not act upon his knowledge, he would be like someone who fed others his food and had none left for himself.
The second response is to mention traditions that condemn those who do not act upon the knowledge they have gained, such as the Prophet's (PBUH & His Family) description of the man who will be thrown in hell with his intestines coming out of his body and says: I used to order others to do good but never did myself, and I used to forbid others from committing evil and used to commit it myself.- Bukhari #3267, and Muslim #2989
Abu'l-Darda's said: Woe to he who does not learn. I say this once. Woe to he who does not act upon his knowledge. I say this seven times.
The third response is to remember those who were destroyed because they had the knowledge but did not act upon it, such as Iblis. It is enough condemnation for a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge the saying of Allah:"like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books] ." [al-]umm'ah (62): 5]
- 'Talbis Jblis '(The Devil's Deceptions) by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya Chapter Seven
We have other narrations that mention us to be aware of scholars who are close to the rulers.
Ibn Muflih reported: Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “If you see a scholar become too close the rulers, beware of him for he is a thief.”
Source: al-Ādāb al-Shar’īyah 477
Ibn Abdul Barr said, “It is said that the worst rulers are far from the scholars and the worst scholars are near to the rulers.”
Source: Jāmi’ Bayān al-‘Ilm 727 Reference
How many scholars have we heard holding titles such as ‘Shaykh Al Islam’, ‘Hujjat al-Islam’, or ‘Grand Mufti’?
How many of these scholars today are close to the rulers and politicians have strong ties with them?
How many of these scholars today provide for the Muslims knowledge, but do not practice it themselves?
It is clear that the majority, if not all of the scholars today have fallen into this category.
Taqlid in Islam refers to the practice of following a qualified religious scholar's legal opinions or rulings on matters of Islamic law (Sharia). It involves seeking guidance and adhering to the interpretations and decisions made by recognized scholars, known as mujtahids, who have expertise in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Taqleed is particularly relevant in Sunni and Shia Islam, where followers may choose to follow a specific school of thought (madhhab) or a particular mujtahid within their respective tradition. The purpose of taqlid is to ensure adherence to Islamic principles and to provide clarity and consistency in legal and religious matters for individuals who may not possess the knowledge or expertise to interpret Islamic law independently.
However, did the Prophet Mohammed or the Quran mention that we have to go refer to the scholars?
Those whom say that we must refer to the scholars use theses verses to support their position.
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end. - Surah Al Nisa Verse 59
Although there are some scholars and those whom have made Tafsirs have stated that ‘those in authority’ are referring to rulers and sultans, there are others who say that this verse is referring to the authority of the ruler along with the adhering to the scholars.
And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation-- so ask the followers of the Reminder if you do not know. - Surah Naml Verse 43
Although there are some scholars and those whom have made Tafsirs have stated that the ‘followers of the Reminder’ or the ‘people of Remembrance’ are referring to the ones who had knowledge of the Torah and Gospel, there are others who say that this verse is referring to referring back to the knowledgeable scholars.
And here are the narrations that they use to back up their position of referring back to a learned scholar and that they should not be disregarded.
Narrated Qais bin Kathir:
"A man from Al-Madinah came to Abu Ad-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 PBUH & His Family).' 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 (PBUH & His Family) 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 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 Ibn Ka'b bin Malik:
From his father that he heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family) saying: "Whoever seeks knowledge to contend with the scholars, or to use it to argue with the fools, and to have people's faces turn towards him, then he shall be admitted to the Fire."
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, will be in Hell."
- Sunan Ibn Majah 253
What is important to note is that all of these narrations are weak according to ones who graded these narrations. And what is even more strange is that the scholars differ on whether or not we should follow or act upon narrations that are graded as weak.
So how are we supposed to adhere and refer back to the scholars while they never agree when it goes to the monotheism, jurisprudence, political issue, interpretation of the Quran upon so many other things. Rather, they are a source of misguidance, disunity, and fitna upon the people. And this is the reason why we have a narration where it says,
Abu Dhar said, “I was with the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) one day and I heard him saying: “There is something I fear for my Ummah more than the Dajjal.” It was then that I became afraid, so I said: “Oh Rasool Allah! Which thing is that?” He (PBUH & His Family) said; “Misguided and astray scholars.”
- Recorded in Musnad Imam Ahmad (no.20335, 21334 and no. 21335))Musnad Ahmed Volume 14 (Arabic Version)
In Shia Islam, scholars hold significant importance as interpreters and authorities on religious matters. These scholars, often referred to as mujtahids or Ayatollahs, are seen by their followers as highly educated in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and theology. Some are even believed to have the authority to issue legal opinions (fatwas) and provide guidance to the Shia Muslim community on various religious and social issues such as the jurists in Iran who innovated the concept of Wilayat Ul Faqi.
However, we find many narrations where the Ahul Bayt have warned against the scholars and they are worst of creation. What before we go into detail about the scholars, let us ask ourselves, how did the Ahlul Bayt themselves define what a scholar is? Is it permissible to take from their rulings and opinions and more importantly, is it permissible to do Taqlid to them? Let us see.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja'far ibn Bashir from abu Salama who has said the following:
‘I heard Imam Abu ‘Abd Allah (From Him Is Peace) say, ‘We are the ones obedience to who is obligatory by the Commands of Allah. People have no other choice except to recognise us. They will not be excused for not recognising us. Those who recognise us are the true believers and those who refuse to acknowledge our Divine Authority are unbelievers. Those who do not recognise us and do not reject us are straying and lost until they return to guidance and affirm the fact that Allahazwj has made obedience to us obligatory. However, if they die in their straying condition Allahazwj will deal with them the way He would will.
- Al Kafi, Vol. 1 - H 484, Ch. 8, h11
And from Mohammed Bin Al Hassan, and another one, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Mohammed Bin Isa, and from Mohammed Bin Yahya, from Mohammed Bin Al Husayn together, from Mohammed Bin Sinan, from Ismail Bin Jabir, from Abdul Kareem Bin Amro, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al Daylam who has narrated the following:
Abu Abdullah (From Him Is Peace) – in a lengthy Hadith – said:
‘Allah Mighty and Majestic Said, ‘so ask the people of al-Zikr if you do not know – 16:43’, he said: ‘The Book is The ‘Zikr’, and its People are The Progeny of Mohammed (PBUH & His Family). Allah has Order that it is they who should be asked, and has not Ordered to ask the ignorant, and Allah has Named the Quran as ‘Zikr’. The Blessed Says ‘And most surely it is a reminder for you and your people, and you shall soon be questioned - 44:44 ’ and Says ‘and We have revealed to you the Reminder that you may make clear to men what has been revealed to them’ – 16:44 and Says ‘obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you’ – 4:59 and the Mighty and Majestic Says ‘and if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those among them who can search out the knowledge of it would have known it’ – 4:83 The referring of the affairs – affairs of the people – is to those in authority among them (Ul Il Amr), the ones the obedience to whom Allah has Ordered, to refer to them.
- Wasa’il Al-Shi’a Vol, 27 Hadith 33215
And from him, from Mo’ala, from Mohammed Bin Awramat, from Ali Bin Hisaan who has narrated the following:
My uncle Abdul Rahman Bin Katheer said to Abu Abdullah (From Him Is Peace), ‘so ask the people of alZikr if you do not know – 16:43’.
He said:
‘The Remembrance ‘Al-Zikr’ is Mohammed (PBUH & His Family), and we are his people, and we are those who should be asked’. He said that he recited ‘And most surely it is a reminder for you and your people, and you shall soon be questioned - 44:44 ’. He said: ‘We are the ones referred to, and we are the People of remembrance and it is we who should be asked’.
– Wasa’il Al-Shi’a Vol, 27 Hadith 33215
And by its chain from Yunus, from Dawood Bin Farqad, from Hasaan Al-Jamaal, from Umeyrat who has narrated the following:
Abu Abdullah (From Him Is Peace) said:
‘People have been ordered to obtain our ‘Marifat’ recognising us, and to refer to us, and to submit to us’. Then said: ‘And if they were to Fast, and Pray, and bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and decide for themselves that they will not refer to us, they would become, despite that, ‘Mushrik’ (Polytheists)’.
– Wasa’il Al-Shi’a Vol, 27 Hadith 33221
And from them, from Ahmad Bin Mohammed, from Al Washa’, from Tha’albat Bin Maymoun, from Abu Maryam who has narrated the following: Abu Ja’far (From Him Is Peace) said to Salmat Bin Kaheel and Al Hakam Bin Uteybah:
‘East or West, you will not find the correct knowledge except for what has come from us the People of the Household’.
– Wasa’il Al-Shi’a Vol, 27 Hadith 33224
And from Ali Bin Ibrahim from Mohammed Bin Isa from Yunus from Jameel who has narrated the following from Abu Abd Allah (From Him Is Peace):
‘People are of three types – scholar, student, and rubbish. We are the scholars, and our Shiites are the students, and the rest of the people are worthless’.
- Wasa’il Al-Shi’a Vol, 27 Hadith. 33094
Mohammed ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammed ibn ‘Isa from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (From Him Is Peace) who has said the following:
“They (unconditionally) obeyed the rabbis and the monks and worshipped the Messiah, son of Mary, as they should have obeyed God . (9:31).’ “By Allah, they (the people) did not pray or fast for them (rabbis and monks) but they (rabbis and monks) made lawful for the people what was unlawful and unlawful what was lawful and people followed them accordingly.” - Al-Kāfi - Volume 1, Book 2, Chapter 18, Hadith 3 (English Version)
It has been narrated from Abu Mahboob or others from Mathni Al Hanaat from Abu Baseer that he said to Abu Ja’far (From Him Is Peace):
“...Beware of taqleed! Whosoever adorns this in religion is destroyed! Surely Allah has Said: ‘They took their Rabbis and Monks as their Lords besides Allah (9:31). No, by Allah! They did no pray nor fast but they made permissible which was forbidden to them and made the forbidden permissible. They did their taqleed (emulated them) in this and obeyed them, and they did not realise.”
- Tas’heeh ul Itiqaad (Correction Of Beliefs) – Sheykh Al Mufeed, pg. 72
It is clear from these narrations that taqlid is only permissible for the Imams and it is an obligation to refer to them alone and not to scholars in a masjid. On top of that we see from these narrations that the true scholars are the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt, not these non working scholars that we see in the masjids issuing fatwas.
We have numerous reports from the Ahul Bayt that state that in the End Times, the scholars will be the worst of people.
Reported on the authority of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family), he said:
"A time will come for my Ummah during which nothing will remain from the Quran save it's scripting, and nothing will remain from Islam save it's name. They will be called Muslims while they are as far as one can be from Islam. Their mosques will be filled with people but they will be void of right guidance. The jurists of that time will be the most evil ever under the sky; they have sown disorder and disorder they shall reap."
– Al-Bihar, vol. 52, p. 190-190, h. 21 (Arabic Online Version)
The Prophet (PBUH & His Family) said to Ibn Masud:
“… O Ibn Masud, there will come a time when the person who is still adhering to his religion will feel as if he were holding an ember in the palm of his hand. Therefore, he should act like a wolf, otherwise he would be eaten by wolves. O Ibn Masud, their scholars and jurists are dissolute traitors. Even worse, they are the evil creations of Allah and so are their followers, visitors, people who deal with them, love them, sit with them and counsel with them. Behold the Evil creations of God, the fires of hell find their way through them and they are deaf, dumb and blind and would not return. We shall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection and squeeze them deaf, dumb and blind because they belong in hell. Whenever the fires start to die out we shall boost the blaze, and whenever their skins ripen we shall substitute them with other skins so they would feel agony. If thrown in the fire, they would hear it's inhalation ripping through, and the fire would flare up almost furious whenever they want to get out of it, anguished, but they would be thrown back in it and doomed to taste the excruciating pain of burning. In it they have an exhalation but in it they do not hear.
O Ibn Masud, they claim that they follow my religion, my Sunnah, my way, my laws but they have nothing to do with me, neither do I have anything to do with them. O Ibn Masud, do not sit with them in public! Do not pledge allegiance to them in the markets! …”– Ilzaam an Naaseb volume 2 page 129 (Online Arabic Version)
Reported on the authority of the Prophet (PBUH & His Family), who said:
"Allah revealed to some of His prophets: Say unto those who study jurisprudence with aims other than religion, learn with aims other than action, and claim this life with aims other than the Afterlife; and who come forth before people wrapped in scapegoat cloaks while their hearts are similar to hearts of wolves, their words sweeter than honey, their acts bitterer than aloe, deceiving and mocking Me, that I shall inflict upon them an affliction that will throw the wise into confusion."
– Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 224, Iddat Ad-da’I, p. 70.
Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (From Him Is Peace) said:
"When Al-Qa’im comes out to take revenge on the jurists for issuing fatwas in what they do not know, they and their followers will suffer misery. Was the religion incomplete for them to complete it? Was it deviated for them to straighten it? Did people want to oppose Allah so they obeyed Him? Or did He command them to do right and they disobeyed Him? Did the chosen one (the Prophet) misconstrue what was revealed to him so they warned him? Did the religion remain incomplete in his time so they completed it? Or did another prophet come after him, and so they followed him?"
– Ilzam An-Naseb, vol. 2, p. 200
Imam Al-Baqir (From Him Is Peace) said:
"If the Riser emerges from Karbala intending to go to Najaf while the people are around him, he will kill between Karbala and Najaf 16,000 faqeeh (scholar) and the people around him from hypocrites will say: He is not from the son of Fatima or else he would have been merciful to them, and when he enters Al-Najaf while he stays there one night he will then emerge from the door of Al-Nukhaila intending to go to the grave of Hood and Saleh (PBUH), 70,000 people from Kufa will encounter him because they want to kill him, so then he (Mahdi) will kill them all and no one will survive out of it."
– Majma al Nurayn, Al Marandi, p. 345 (Online Arabic Version)
In the book of Al-Yanabi’, it was mentioned:
"When Al-Qa’im (From Him Is Peace) appears, he will not have any apparent enemy save for the jurists, in particular. He and the sword will be inseparable, for if the sword were not in his hand, the jurists would issue Fatwas ordering his death. However, Allah will bring him forth endowed with the sword as well as with generosity, so they will obey, fear and accept his rule without faith therein while harboring disobedience."
– Yanabi’ Al-Mawaddat, vol. 3, p. 215 (Online Arabic Version)
And this is the reason why Imam Ahmed Al Hassan (From Him Is Peace) said,
“Blinded is the eye that does not see the truth or neglects it. What is this trap they have made you fall into, O people? Is it logical that you are driven each time towards killing a Prophet, or successor, or a working scholar and walking by the side of the non-working scholars of misguidance? Then if they eliminate him you beat your chests and shed the tears of your eyes and show remorse for your abominable hideous act? Then you repeat the same thing again time after time, and you follow the non-working scholars of misguidance, and the same snake stings you from the same hole every time. Awaken O sleepers. Awaken O dead. Do you know my status and the status of those deviant scholars on the tongue of Jesus (pbuh)? Then listen to this parable from Jesus (pbuh) "There was an owner of a grape farm and he left it in the hands of workers and travelled. Then it occurred to him to send his deputies to reclaim the farm and the fruits, so the workers killed his deputies. Then he sent his son and said, "They would fear my son and hand over the farm and the fruits to him". But when they saw the son they said, "This is his only son and he is the heir. We kill him so that the farm and fruits remain for us" . And those who seized the farm are the non-working scholars and the owner of the farm is Imam Al-Mahdi (pbuhahf) and his deputies whom he sent are the working scholars who were killed and expelled. Whereas his son, he is the one calling out to you, Awaken O sleepers. Awaken O dead. Awaken. {Nor are the living equal with the dead. Verily, Allah makes whom He wills to hear. You cannot make those who are in the graves hear.} Awaken O sleepers. Awaken O dead, as these non-working scholars for the sake of their world, for the sake of Harun's world, want to kill or imprison Musa Ibn Jaafar (pbuh). Awaken O sleepers. Awaken O dead. And do not follow and walk with them to the chasm of hell. Return to Allah as He the Exalted, in all what He has done and is doing in Iraq and the world, wants the people of earth to pay attention as perhaps they would be guided to the Truth.” - Imam Ahmed Al Hassan (From Him Is Peace), Sermon of Hajj
In Christianity, the concept of false teachers and preachers mainly refers to individuals who distort or misrepresent the teachings of the faith for their own gain or agenda. These false teachers twist scripture, promote harmful doctrines, or exploit their followers for personal benefit.
And we find verses in the Bible that talk about false teachers and scholars.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
- 2 Peter 1-3
"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain."
- 1 Timothy 6:3-5
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
- Matthew 7:15
"For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain."
- Titus 1:10-11
Today we have many false teachers who prioritize material gain and manipulate and exploit others for their own benefit, ultimately leading to spiritual harm and deception. They use smooth and persuasive speech to deceive their followers, leading them away from the truth with flattering words and distort or misinterpret the teachings of the Bible to suit their own agendas, leading others astray.
And for this, Imam Ahmed Al Hassan (From Him Is Peace) said in the book ‘The Calf’:
It was mentioned in the Gospel:
“And then Jesus with greatest vehemence rebuked the people for that they had forgotten the word of God, and gave themselves only to vanity; he rebuked the priests for their negligence in God's service and for their worldly greed; he rebuked the scribes because they preached vain doctrine, and forsook the law of God; he rebuked the doctors because they made the law of God of none effect through their traditions. And in such wise did Jesus speak to the people, that all wept, from the least to the greatest, crying mercy, and beseeching Jesus that he would pray for them; save only their priests and leaders, who on that day conceived hatred against Jesus for having thus spoken against the priests, scribes, and doctors. And they meditated upon his death, but for fear of the people, who had received him as a prophet of God, they spake no word. Jesus raised his hands to the Lord God and prayed, and the people weeping said: 'So be it, O Lord, so be it.' The prayer being ended Jesus descended from the temple; and that day he departed from Jerusalem, with many that followed him. And the priests spoke evil of Jesus among themselves.” - Gospel of Barnabas, Chapter 12
One of the greatest examples of evil scholars were the Pharisees during the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were Jewish scholars who opposed Jesus and attempted to discredit his ministry. The Pharisees held the law of Moses (PBUH) against Jesus while Jesus himself was the law and tried many times to trick Jesus (PBUH), but with no success! Jesus would always expose their evil agenda.
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. 5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Matthew 16:1-12
“When Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
- Matthew 23:1-36
Even John the Baptist knew of their wickedness.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- Matthew 3:7-11
We also find a very interesting verse which includes why the Pharisees did not accept Jesus.
John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
- Luke 7:18-30
Another example of a non working scholar was the Samiri during the time of Moses. Now the Samiri was a close companion of Moses a.s. and was very knowledgeable.
In Tafsir Al-Qumi (explanation of Al-Qumi):
(... And Samiri was at the forefront of Moses when Allah has drowned Pharaoh and his companions, so he looked at Gabriel and he was an animal in the image of Ramaka (a horse which is taken for proliferation), so whenever he [the horse] was putting his hoof on some place of the earth this place moves, so Sameri looked at it and he was the best of the companions of Moses a.s...)
- Tafsir Al-Qumi: V2, Page 61-63
However, we all know that he helped build a golden calf when Moses was away and disregarded Aaron a.s. And this is not a surprise because there are a plethora of verses in the Book of Numbers showing that the people went against Moses Aaron.
Imam Ahmed Al Hassan (From Him Is Peace) mentions in the Book of the Calf,
“And in those forty nights, Samiri took advantage of the absence of Moses a.s, and he made a calf from ornaments, and Samiri has thrown on this calf a handful of soil which he took from under the hoof of the horse of Gabriel a.s, so the image of a the calf mooed like a cow, meaning a voice like the voice of the alive/real calf. Moses a.s said:
(Ô Lord, the Calf is from Samiri, so the lowing is from whom? He said: “From Me
Ô Moses, because when I saw them that they have turned away from [have left]
Me to the Calf, I liked to give them more Fitnah”)
- Tafsir Al-Qumi: V2 Page 62, Bihar Al-Anwar: V13 Page 210, Stories of prophets Al-Jazairi: Page 268
And Samiri said to them this is your god and the god of Moses a.s, meaning that your God has manifested in the Calf!! And many amongst Bani Israel have believed him after they helped him in making the Calf!!
And we should contemplate on this incident/event in the Quran and [to] study it, perhaps Allah will give us life of the happy ones and death of martyrs, like messenger of Allah sawas has promised us when studying/examining the Quran.
From Ismail Bin Abi Ziad, from Ja’far Bin Mohammed from his father a.s he said: The prophet sawas said: (The people of Quran are in higher rank than humans except the prophets and messengers, and do not impoverish the people of Quran and their rights, because they have from Allah a place/position). - Tawab Al-A’mal from As-Saduq: Page 99-100
So if you decided, Ô loved ones, to study this event, so come with me to wonder, who is Samiri? And was he a scholar from the scholars of Bani Israel? And was he a hermitand worshiper? Where: {He said: "I saw what they did not see. I picked up a handful...} Surat Taha (20):96
It seems from the context of the verse that he was seeing Gabriel a.s or unseen things; no one except for him was seeing it. Then, was Samiri a struggler? This meaning was mentioned in the interpretation of this verse: {The man who belonged to his community appealed for help} Surat Al-Qasas (28):15 , that he is Samiri, so if this is correct, Samiri would be a struggler, the killer of the tyrant’s soldiers, Pharaoh in Egypt before the sending of Moses a.s.
In Tafsir Al-Qumi (explanation of Al-Qumi): (... And Samiri was at the forefront of Moses when Allah has drowned Pharaoh and his companions, so he looked at Gabriel and he was an animal in the image of Ramaka (a horse which is taken for proliferation), so whenever he [the horse] was putting his hoof on some place of the earth this place moves, so Sameri looked at it and he was the best of the companions of Moses a.s...) Tafsir Al-Qumi: V2, Page 61-63. And this indicates that Samiri was a leader and at the forefront of the companions of Moses a.s, and was not less than one of the best companions of Moses (pbuh).
And who is the one who forgot? Moses a.s, meaning that he forgot/neglected his God here and went to the mount so the speech is from the tongue of Samiri. And the truth is that this is far [from happening], because Bani Israel know that Moses went to the mount by the order of Allah, so the forgetful one will be Sameri, meaning he left the real faith and the True Deity, so the speech is from Allah Almighty. And what is that, what his soul embellished to him? The truth is that this is the origin of all Fitna (the trial), the lust, ego, Shaytan (l.a.) and gold ornament of this world, his soul which is prone to evil embellished to him that he is better than Harun a.s, and he rebelled against him, didn’t obey his order and was arrogant, his soul embellished to him that he is a scholar, worshipper, hermit and maybe a struggler, and some unseen things were revealed to him, so he is more deserving of leading Bani Israel in the absence of Moses a.s. than Harun a.s, and he envied Harun and Moses a.s, so the arrogance has seized him, and the whim and ego beat him, and Shaytan (l.a.) wanted him in the abyss and made him be arrogant to the great Prophets a.s like he (l.a) was arrogant to Adam a.s, so Shaytan (l.a.) has provoked him by his call, has enticed him with his enticement and has infected him by his disease, so the veils descended on the mirror of the soul when he bartered guidance for error, so he was no longer seeing: {and you see them looking at you while they do not see.} Surat Al-A’raf (7):198
And he forgot the truth and the True Deity Who is not seen by eyes and not comprehended by delusions, so he came back to the lowest types of Shirk (polytheism), to the resemblance. So he produced what his soul was hiding, the image of a calf which mooed like a cow, to be a trial that a people, whom their souls have hid [the trial] beforeits appearance, will rejoice, and they were made to drink the calf before it was made, so how much they opposed Moses and Harun (a.s.), and how much they harmed Moses a.s, {And when Moses, said to his nation: 'Why do you harm me, when you know that I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you' But when they swerved away Allah caused their hearts to swerve. Allah never guides impious people.} Surat As-Saf (61):5
And another example of a non-working scholar is none other than Iblis.
We find a narration from the Ahlul Bayt (From Them Is Peace), where they state that Ijtihad came from Iblis.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-’Aqili from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Qurashi who has said the following:
‘Once, Abu Hanifa came to see Imam Abu ‘Abd Allah (From Him Is Peace) who said to Abu Hanifa, ‘O Abu Hanifa, do you practice analogy as I hear you do’? Abu Hanifa replied, ‘Yes, I do practice analogy.’ The Imam then said to him, ‘Do not practice it; the first person who used analogy was Iblis when he said, “Lord, you have created me from fire and created him from clay.’ He analogised fire with clay. If he had compared ‘نورية’ the light in Adam-as and light of ‘النار’ the fire, he would have learned about the difference between the two lights and the excellence of one over the other.’
- Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Ch. 19, h20
And it is known that Iblis was Azazel, a high ranking angel who has close to God and was every knowledge and was the creator of this material universe. Whoever, he did not obey God’s command to prostrate to Adam a.s. and he fell and all of that knowledge did not benefit him.
Imam Ahmed Al Hassan (From Him Is Peace) mentions in the Book of the Calf,
This is the story of Iblis, the worshipping knower, that fell in the abyss, his arrogance made him fall astray. In it, is a lesson for a learner and a memory to remember. Where are the learners and where are the rememberers?!
The Prince of Believers (From Him is Peace) said:
(Consider what was from the act of Allah to Iblis when He thwarted his long work and dedicated effort. He worshipped Allah for six thousand years; it’s not known either the world years or the hereafter years and all this went from arrogance one time. So who is it after Iblis does such a sin against Allah? No, Allah won’t allow a human to enter Paradise in a command by which he took an angel out of it for. Allah’s ruling for the people of the skies and the people of the earth is the same. Allah doesn’t relent with someone who has done haram.
So beware, O worshippers of Allah, that his disease will infect you, and he provokes you with his lowliness and makes you go to him by the help of his horses and men. He has made the arrow of “Allah’s threat” (disobedience of Allah) a normal thing for you, and he threw you from a nearby place. He said: {He said, “My Lord! Because you misled me, surely, I will make [evil] fair-seeming to them in the earth and I will mislead them all”} - Surat al-Hijr (Rock City) 15:39
"… And seek refuge in Allah from the inoculation of arrogance, just like you seek refuge in Him from the misfortunes of life. If Allah allows one of his worshippers to be arrogant, he would have let His special prophets and people … they were vulnerable people. Allah has tested them by hungriness and poorness, and plagued them by the stressful things. He also tested them in the concerns, and agitated them with difficulties. Moses, the son of Imran, once entered with his brother Harun pbut on Pharaoh wearing ironclads made out of wool and the stick in their hands. They gave him two choices, if he becomes a Muslim, he will stay a king and his wealth will always be with him. So he said: “Aren’t you surprised when these two give me a choice of staying a king and keeping my wealth, and they are, as you can see, in a case of poverty and humiliation? Why didn’t their god give them bracelets made out of gold if they were really the truth. (Giving gold great importance, and disrespecting wool and wearing it), so be careful from the urgency of hurting someone, and taking your time and severe injustice, and the bad consequence of arrogance as it is the major trap for Iblis, and his main trick that wraps around the hearts of men just like the way poison wraps around the whole body. It never becomes tired; neither does it leave anyone, not a scholar for his knowledge, not even a poor person with his one clothing. Allah the Almighty didn’t curse the people that were before you, in front of you (in the Quran), he cursed them because they didn’t promote virtues and didn’t prevent evil. Allah cursed the fools for riding sins and the tolerant ones for not preventing evil. You have exceeded the bind of Islam and have broken its rules and finalized the rulings. And I am surely from a nation that doesn’t take them from Allah the blame of a blamer. The marks on their bodies are the marks of the truthful ones, and their speech is the speech of best of the chosen ones. They stay awake at night and pray during the day to heighten their good deeds. They are very fixed to the rope of the Quran; they make the Sunnah of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger come to life. They don’t become proud, they don’t try to rise, they don’t cheat and they don’t corrupt their hearts by insanity and their bodies by work) - Nahj Al-Balagha: Al-Qasi’a